Category Archives: Public Health
Washington County News
Washington County News June 2022
Ash trees cool the water for fish
Community News June 2022

• Celebration of Life for Mr. James
• It’s prep time. Let’s get ready for the wildfire season together.
• Join us “virtually” at the Washington County Public Affairs Forum!
• Metro funding for Westside Trail? Take the survey
• Civics for Adults
• Scavenger Hunt and Food Drive to support DVRC
• Meet Your Watershed Navigator
Legislative Town Hall
• Tualatin Valley Creates: Kaleidoscope from the Sea
• Fourth of July concert with Britnee Kellogg
• Museo Ambulante—Walking Museum
• Ask WCSO: My kids are good swimmers; is there still an expectation for them to wear life jackets?
• Retirement 101
• City of Beaverton events
• Gallery at The Reser
• Access to the arts: Cultural Coalition survey
• Beaverton Community Band Spring Concert
• Sunset HS Marching Band Bottle & Can Drive
• PlanetCon Fair offers recycling, gear swap, learning, and more
• Become a Master Recycler
• Cedar Hills Ready! presents: Emergency Water Filter Workshop
• Viva Village
Recycle News May 2022
Adopt One Block
Community News April 2022

• Student Academic-Contests for Grades 1-12
• Ask WCSO
Neighborhood Ready? How to win friends and survive a disaster!
• SAMBA Can and Bottle Drive
• Summer childcare help from WCK
• Inside WashCo Shows
• Events at The Reser
• Old Wood Stove Turn-in Event
• Donate a bike to Free Bikes for Kids
• Registration for WashCo Bikes Saddle Up Summer Camps is now open!
• Driver’s Ed for Cyclists
• Legislative Town Hall
• State of the County 2022
• Artist Mingle
• Earth Care Fair
• Call for Beaverton Night Market Vendors
• Public Affairs Forum
• Viva Village April activities
• Everyday Choices Can Improve Your Odds
Area wetlands gain a footing again—with help
Community News March 2022

• When the Water Stops: Water Survival Skills for a Disaster
• Inside WashCo Radio shows
• Beaverton Symphony Orchestra Annual Spring Concerts
• Beaverton Community Band Winter Concerts
• James and the Giant Peach at Lovegood Theatre
• Skyline Grange Garage Sale
• James’ Recycling event
• Student Stop at Bonny Slope and Cedar Mill schools
• HomeWord Bound gala to support CPAH
• Civics for Adults
• Join Beaverton’s Human Rights Committee
• SAMBA Band fundraiser
• Washington County Kids Parent Speaker Series is set to launch!
• Academic Contests
• Treekeepers of Washington County
• Join us Virtually at the Washington County Public Affairs Forum!
• ACMA PTO Monthly Fundraiser
• Take action today to prevent fall injuries
• I see an ESPD sign posted on my road. What is ESPD?
• The Cultural Coalition of Washington County Celebrates 2021 Grant Recipients
• In-Person Networking: Artist Mingle
• Viva Village Monthly Calendar
CPO 1 February: Recycling: Beyond the Bin?
Cleaner Air: Coming soon to a highway near you

Sunset Highway is a well-used corridor for traffic, including heavy diesel trucks. In 2018, ODOT counted as many as 285 commercial trucks in a 24-hour period on that route. That translates to a hefty amount of air pollution spewing out of tailpipes, creating health problems for anyone along their path.
Japanese Beetle update
Mighty oaks

Has a towering tree standing alone caught your eye? It’s likely to be an Oregon White Oak, Quercus garryana, the only oak native to this part of Oregon. Some of these slow-growing oaks may live to be 500 years old and can eventually command a space over 100 feet tall and sixty feet wide, with roots growing far beyond the boundaries of its massive branches.
Smoke in the air—not just in the summer!

A crackling fire may make you feel snug and homey, but it’s a significant health threat. Many Washington County households use wood burning stoves for heating in winter and others enjoy fires just for their coziness and ambiance. What many people don’t realize is that, when a lot of people are burning wood in their homes, the cumulative effect on air quality can be similar to a wildfire. It’s time to rethink how—and whether—we burn wood.
Love trees? Be a Treekeeper!

It’s easy to appreciate trees when they are in the glory of their fall colors, but at Treekeepers of Washington County we celebrate trees all year around. Besides being beautiful, trees provide environmental, economic, and social benefits—including fighting climate change—by absorbing carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants, storing the carbon, and emitting pure oxygen.
Community News October 2021

• Cedar Hills Ready: Home Fire Safety
• Older Adult Meals in Washington County
• Ask WCSO: What are some things I can do to make my home less attractive to crime?
• Sunset HS Marching Band Can and Bottle Drive
• Special Age Cafe: Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons
• Tualatin Valley Creates offers ArtPass
• Inside Washington County Radio
• Free lacrosse skills clinics offered this Fall
• Cultural Coalition of Washington County 2022 grant applications open
• West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District is hosting their annual meeting
• Viva Village events
• Free N95 and KN95 masks for the AG community!
WCSO and homeless population in Washington County
Japanese Beetle eradication update
Let’s hear it for these teams!
Gardening in the drought
WashCo News August 2021
Seniors speak out!

There seems to be a universal human drive to make connections with each other and find meaning in our daily experiences and challenges. In the days before the pandemic, people met in coffee houses, meeting rooms, and living rooms to share ideas and learn from each other. But even though COVID-19 changed the location of those gatherings, it didn’t stop people from coming together.
Meet Jess Fong
Updated vaccination access for Washington County
Earth Month editorial
With some effects of climate change already upon us, we challenge Washington County to view all their actions through the lens of climate.
If we don’t stop contributing to the problem, our efforts at achieving equity will be meaningless. The powerful will find ways to avoid the consequences, and the rest of us will have to adapt to a planet that may not support the life we want for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.
Washington County should establish a Climate Challenge Task Force to advise all county divisions on how to establish goals, make climate friendly decisions, and implement sustainable practices. The Task Force needs to include representatives from commerce, industry, development, science, and community organizations.
We understand that it will take time and effort, but we must begin now. If you agree, send a message to your Washington County Commissioner and to the Chair.
Why get vaccinated? Here’s what our neighbors say
Dining out safely in Washington County

• What is the county’s responsibility in restaurant safety?
• How is HHS getting the updated guidance to county restaurants?
• Does it need to be translated? How many languages? Or are restaurant owners responsible for making sure all employees understand?
• Are there any regulations or guidance about ventilation in the indoor dining spaces?
• About mask wearing while dining and drinking?
• What enforcement powers does HHS have?
• How many staff can do that work?
• What’s the public’s role in reporting? Best practices?
• Aside from you and the state websites, are there other resources for restaurant owners that you know about? Professional groups, unions, etc?
Continuing the “Beetle Battle”

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is continuing its multi-year effort to eradicate the Japanese beetle, an invasive and destructive insect pest in your neighborhood in 2021. Thanks to your support and cooperation, we have had success in reducing the Japanese beetle populations in Oregon, but more efforts are required.
Cedar Mill News Pandemic Resource Guide
• General Information
• Food Resources & Places to Donate
• Rental & Housing
•Jobs & Unemployment
• Health Care
• Mental Health
• Veterans’ Assistance
• Childcare
• Education
• Fitness & Exercise
• Shopping Help
• Internet & Computer Resources
• Social Connections
• Community
• Entertainment & Arts
Mental Health Support
Undoubtedly our lives have changed over the past year. It can be overwhelming to think about addressing mental health issues that may have cropped up or intensified during the pandemic. In this article, I’m sharing some tips to consider implementing, as well as resources for further support.
Getting the COVID vaccine in Washington County
How clean is our air?

Portland Clean Air is a nonprofit that has been working for seven years to study and promote public understanding of government agency industrial air pollution data, and advocate for prevention. We asked them to give us a snapshot of the current situation in the Cedar Mill area, along with some ways to take action if you are concerned.
Oregon recycles! and plans to lead into the future
Sunset students tackle climate change

Climate change has been a looming threat to us for many years. With the short amount of time we have left to make a change, we need to buy more time for permanent, systemic solutions. Though climate change is a difficult problem to solve, there are simple ways for us as a community to delay its destructive progress.
State Legislative Update
August 2020 COVID-19 update
At the July meeting of the CPO Leadership group, CCI, we had a valuable presentation by Adrienne Donner, Washington County Public Health Branch Director, on the current state of things in the county and its response. We have permission to share the PDF version of her PowerPoint presentation here. The links should be active.
Local artist working as contact tracer
June 2020: COVID-19 in Washington County
• State approves Washington County for Phase I starting June 1
• House cleaners and other home services
• Face coverings guidance for businesses and transit
• Reporting violations
• FAQs now available on OHA website
• Safety advice from WCSO
• Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter update
COVID-19 in Washington County

According to Wendy Gordon, Lead Public Information Officer, Washington County Emergency Operations Center, Washington County will follow the governor’s plan on when and how to reopen. On April 14, Brown’s office introduced a “Framework for Reopening Oregon” that outlines the prerequisites for the safe way to move forward.
COVID-19 in Washington County

Most of us are aware that Washington County is leading the state in the number of confirmed cases of the virus. People have been speculating on the reason, so we have included what seem to be some good clues. We have compiled this article from a variety of sources, and links to them are in each section. We’ve also included information about Washington County response and resources…
A closer look at Zoom
Getting your dose of nature
While being stuck at home is a current necessity for the health and well-being of our community, it can be extremely stressful and boring for many people. Nature lovers everywhere who are now forced to stay inside are restless and getting creative in how they feed their passion…
Pharmacies and other shopping
Most patients can get their prescriptions by mail order, although this may be less flexible and take longer than using a local source. The following local pharmacies offer free prescription delivery or have drive through prescription windows…
Grocery shopping in the virus era
COVID-19 has pushed us to find our new normal. Unfortunately, that means our local grocery stores must accommodate our dramatically changing circumstances as well. Health and safety of shoppers is most important to our grocery stores…