Thursday, August 31, 2006

Looking for a mailbox? Or a pay phone?

Here's a site which shows you all the mailboxes in a given zip code. Cross reference that with the Postal Service site which shows you all the zip codes for a given city, and you can find a mail box. So, I genned up a list of mail boxes in 97222 and 97267.

Mrs. Clackablog and I were out of town last weekend, and needed to mail something. Sure would be nice to know how many there were, say, 20 years ago, as I feel there's a lot less mail boxes and mail drops around these days, just like there's a lot fewer payphones these days. There's even a movement to legislate retention of payphones, as one out of 13 households in the US don't have a cellphone, landline or Internet phone.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

August Oak Lodge CC meeting

AGENDA
August 23, 2006
Oak Lodge Sanitary District office
Oak Grove, Oregon

7:00 PM -- Call to Order: Dick Jones, Chairperson

ROLL CALL: Bill Bader, Bill Brown, Wilma Brown, Frank Budwill, Sue Conachan, Edith Coulter, Rosemary Crites, George Dietz, Jerry Foy, Bryn Gillem, Chuck Gode, Milo Haas, Thelma Haggenmiller, David Jelinek, Dick Jones, Jim Knapp, Alan Koch, Gloria Koch, Elinor Kuhns, Bill Neels, Elaine Neels, Chuck Petersen, Margaret Pritchard, Paul Savas, Henry Schmidt, George Schneider, Eugene Schoenheit, Eric Shawn, Susan Shawn, Kent Squires, Julie Stanley, Dr. Elton Storment, Bob Waldt, Leonard Waldemar, Don Wake, Suzanne Wake, Roy Wikman and Doug Woods.

7:02 PM – Introduction of Attendees

Name, area of residence and position in the Oak Lodge Community Council, if applicable.

7:05 PM – Council Reports
Approve minutes of the July 26th meeting.
Treasurer’s Report – Sue Conachan

7:10 PM – Sheriff’s Report – Lt. Chuck Slaney

7:15 PM – Special Presentation – Ken Spiegle & Andrea Hall Community Environment

8:00 PM – District Reports

New Urban High School-Tim King

Clackamas County Fire District #1 – James Nowlin

Oak Lodge Water District – Jim Knapp

Oak Lodge Sanitary District – Kent Squires

Clackamas County Service District CAC – Jim Knap
Page 2

8:20 PM – Land Use Issues for Voting

Introduction of procedures by Chairperson. Eligibility for Voting, Time Limits, presentations by those in favor, the Council’s on-site review and those opposed.

Z0588-06 This is a request to build an accessory storage building in the 100 yr. Flood plain of the Willamette River. It is located at 15015 River Forest Rd. The parcel is 1.02 acres and is zoned R-10.

Z0589-06 This is a request to construct the garage in Z0588-06 in the Willamette Greenway. This is located at 15015 River Forest Rd. The area is 1.02 acres and is zoned R-10.

Z0591-06 This is an alteration of a non-conforming use with a side set back of 1 foot contining to allow the replacement of a two-story building with a single story structure. It is located at 15000 Woodland Way. It is .49 acres and zoned R-20.

Update on Land Use Applications:

Other issues:
The applicant appeal of a denial of a variance because the lot was undersized, the Hearings Officer agreed to the reduced area in a R-10 zone.

The Hearing Officer approved Head Start’s expansion proposal on River Rd., however is requiring design review approval.

8:40 PM General Matters for Discussion

Sexual Predator update: No new information

Trolley Trail update- Thelma

FUTURE PUBLIC MEETINGS

Council meetings:
August 23, 2006
September 27, 2006
October 25, 2006

Oak Lodge CC/CIA at Rose Villa unless otherwise noted
August 9, 2006
September 13, 2006
October 11, 2006

Special meetings, if required to vote on land use issues, will be held in conjunction with the monthly CIA meeting normally on the second Wednesday of each month.

9:00 PM – Meeting Adjourned

Monday, August 14, 2006

Foot Bridge Over Clackamas River Burns

Press Release from: Clackamas Co. Fire Dist. #1
Posted: August 14th, 2006 7:58 AM

Monday August 14th, 2006 Clackamas County Fire District #1 and Gladstone Fire Department responded to a reported brush fire at 0240 AM. When fire crews arrived they found flames shooting 40 feet in the air surrounding the foot bridge between Oregon City and the City of Gladstone just below High Rocks above the Clackamas River. Crews quickly requested additional resources to include 7 fire apparatus. The fire engulfed one end on the bridge and the adjacent brush.

The flames and heat damaged the bridges heavy timber posts, beams and decking. The fire was deemed under control within 1 hour. Crews remained on scene until 0730 ensuring that all of the hot spots were out. Complications to this fire included the bridge decking burning under the 2 inch thick asphalt roadway. Crews had to use specialized cutting saws and pry bars to expose the heat and flames.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries were reported and the foot bridge is closed to all pedestrian traffic.

These types of fires spread quickly and can be very dangerous. Please call 911 immediately to notify emergency responders.

A Reporter's Guide to Education in Oregon

Every state's uniue, and Oregon sometimes seems more unique than most, because we're a little idiosyncratic. Must be something in the water.

I know that government here has a few more rules and wrinkles than Down South, and understanding how things work here is an opportunity for mind expansion sometimes. So, when I found A Reporter's Guide to Education in Oregon from the Oregon School Boards Association, I thought it worthy to share.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Let's Talk Sewage - Monday and Wednesday

Here's a message from "Bulldog" Dick Jones, ever-vigilant watchdog over those who tax us:
The Citizens Informed and Aware group of the Oak Lodge Community Council are hosting an Open Public Discussion centered on the topic of “SEWAGE.”

The Discussion is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at the Rose Villa Retirement Center Fellowship Hall. The location is 13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove OR.

Parking is available on the East side of River Road or along the curb on the West side of River Road. Please do not park on Rose Villa’s property West of River Road.

(Ed. Note.) This meeting follows after the Monday, August 14 meeting of the Citizens Advisory Council for the Clackamas County Service District No. 1 in the Water Environment Services office at the Sunnybrook Service Center, 9101 SE Sunnybrook Boulevard in Clackamas. The link to that meeting holds a wealth of information about what will also be discussed Wednesday night. (Ed. Note ends.)
There will be brief presentations on “Sewage” as it relates to the environment, as it relates to the economic development of the area and some of the new technology that is now available, etc. There will also be brief presentations on the current studies going on, in both Clackamas County Service District No. 1 and in Oak Lodge.

After the presentations, there will be ample opportunity for questions from the audience. Seize this opportunity to become a better informed Citizen about this topic that affects all of us. -- Dick Jones

Folks, this is especially important, for, unlike Multnomah County, we have no Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission to serve as a watchdog over our government's plans to spend (and therefore, tax. Local reporters have an independent analysis on Multnomah County and its cities and agencies spoon fed to them... but for Clackamas County, no such source. So, we must do it ourselves. Why? Take it from a guy who knew all about it....
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. -- George Washington

These meetings lead to ballot measures, which lead to bonds being issued (after large lawyers' fees, paid for by you and me) and taxes levied. The interest on those bonds is handled by investment houses.

Ever wonder why lawyers and investment houses contribute frequently to political campaigns? Well, now you know.

Here's how bonding is supposed to work in Oregon. In other states, the bonding process has been (when inadequately competitive) a source of great opportunity for wealth transfer (from your pocket to theirs). In Oregon? Good question, deserves an answer.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Sheriff's Deputy In WA Ignores Call For Help

Hikers, beware: Here's a cautionary take from rural Washington state, where a sheriff's deputy ignored a call for help from Skagit Mountain Rescue because it was relayed though ham radio. Must we all carry satellite phones everywhere, now?

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Tualatin Police Traffic 'Enforcement Action' Tomorrow, Thursday 8-10

The Tualatin Police will be hosting an eight (8) hour traffic enforcement detail on Thursday August 10, 2006 between the hours of 7:30am and 3:30pm. During that time the Multi-Agency Traffic Team (MATT) will be in Tualatin assisting with the enforcement. The detail will focus on community education, speeding violations and controlled intersections in both the core area and residential areas.

The MATT includes members from the Tualatin Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Office as well as other Washington County police agencies.

The MATT operates on an as needed basis and focuses their efforts on specific locations, problem areas and traffic issues throughout Washington County.
Tualatin Police have prioritized the enforcement of speed limits and traffic control devices within the community. This effort will focus on compliance through enforcement.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Got Curry?

Call it yellow ginger, haldi, turmeric or E100, the yellow root of Curcuma longa, a staple ingredient in curry, is turning out to be gratifyingly healthy. Now Tze-Pin Ng and colleagues at the National University of Singapore have discovered that curry eating seems to boost brain power in elderly people.

Curcumin, a constituent of turmeric, is an antioxidant, and reports have suggested that it inhibits the build-up of amyloid plaques in people with Alzheimer's. Ng's team looked at the curry-eating habits of 1010 Asian people unaffected by Alzheimer's and aged between 60 and 93, and compared their performance in a standard test of cognitive function, the Mini Mental State Examination. Those people who consumed curry "occasionally" (once or more in 6 months but less than once a month) and "often" (more than once a month) had better MMSE results than those who only ate curry "never or rarely" (American Journal of Epidemiology, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwj267).

"What is remarkable is that apparently one needs only to consume curry once in a while for the better cognitive performance to be evidenced," says Ng, who says he wants to confirm the results, possibly in a controlled clinical trial comparing curcumin and a placebo.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Steam Up - Last Day Today

Today's the last day for the 36th annual Great Oregon Steam-Up in Brooks. I'll just quote from their website:

Gates Open at 7:00 A.M. -- Close at 6:00 P.M.
Operating Steam, Gas and Oil Tractors, Engines and Machines
Steam Sawmill Operation- twice daily
Wheatfield Threshing, Baling and Binding- twice daily
Street Car and Miniature Rail Rides
Kids Pedal Tractor Pulling- 11:00 A.M.
PARADE - 1:30 P.M.
Blacksmithing
Country Store/ Flour Milling
Trucks, Cars, Street Cars, Local History – Museum Exhibits
Fire Service Demonstrations
Operating Models and Miniature Farm Display
Progressive Tractor Pulling- afternoons
Traditional Tractor Pulling- 4:30 P.M.
Flea Market and Vendor Sales
Live Musical Entertainment- schedule to be announced
Food Concessions- Breakfast available at 7:00 A.M.
Church Service- Both Sundays of the Show at 8:00 - 9:00 A.M.

_____________________________________
ADMISSION - $8.00* (Children 12 and under - Free)
SENIORS (age 62) - AUGUST 6 - $6.00*
RV Campsites - $20.00* per night
Limited Dry Camping - $12.00* per night
FREE TRANSPORTATION ON GROUNDS
CLEAN MODERN RESTROOMS
For more info call the Steam-Up Office (503) 393-2424

* All prices are subject to change

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

9/11 Live: The NORAD Tapes

http://tinyurl.com/rc2dn tells quite a story.. as do excerpts from the the audio tapes downloadable here.

"Commission staff believes that there is significant evidence that the false statements made to the commission were deliberately false," (from) an e-mail summarizing the commission's referral. "The false testimony served a purpose: to obscure mistakes on the part of the F.A.A. and the military, and to overstate the readiness of the military to intercept and, if necessary, shoot down UAL 93."

August Calendar of meetings affecting the Oak Lodge area

Calendar of Public Meetings
August 2006
Sorry, but this was not e-mailed to Clackablog until 3:11 PM on the 2nd...

Tuesday the 1st, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners had a Study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 2nd, 9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing followed by M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB.
1:30 PM BCC meeting with Hearings Officer in Board offices.
7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at SSC.

Thursday the 3rd, 9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC)
9101 Sunnybrook Blvd.
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 7th, 6:30 PM Final Trolley Trail walk of the summer leaving from Arista and Concord.

Tuesday the 8th, No Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Budget monthly Board meeting at Board offices.

Thursday the 10th, No Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
10:15 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at WES SSC offices.

Monday the 14th, 6:00 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Master Plan Advisory Committee meets at OLSD.
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.
6:30 PM Planning Commission meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 15th, No Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Clackamas County fair starts in Canby and runs through August 20th.

Wednesday the 16th, 7 PM CIA (Citizens, Informed and Aware) meet at Rose Villa. The subject for discussion is “Sewage”.

Thursday the 17th, 8:00 AM Board of Commissioners Planning meeting in Board offices.
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 21st, 7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 22nd, CPR training at Fire District #1, contact the Fire Prevention Office 503-742-2660. Cost $10 to residents of Fire District #1.
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water district monthly Board meeting in District offices.

Wednesday the 23rd, 9:00 AM Sidewalk Forum at SSC.
9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.
12:00 Noon Dedication of Osterman Park at Eagle’s Landing.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at OLSD office.

Thursday the 24th, 9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
4-8 PM NC12 Bond discussion at Putnam HS.

Monday the 28th, 6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 29th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
5:30 PM NCCWC Board meets at the Plant on the Clackamas.

Wednesday the 30th, 9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.

Thursday the 31st, 10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.

Note: Meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Milwaukie’s Sunday Farmers Market from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM across from City Hall.

Oregon City’s Farmers Market, Saturdays, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the PSB parking lot.

August Calendar of meetings affecting the Oak Lodge area

Calendar of Public Meetings
August 2006
Sorry, but this was not e-mailed to Clackablog until 3:11 PM on the 2nd...

Tuesday the 1st, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners had a Study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 2nd, 9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing followed by M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB.
1:30 PM BCC meeting with Hearings Officer in Board offices.
7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at SSC.

Thursday the 3rd, 9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC)
9101 Sunnybrook Blvd.
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 7th, 6:30 PM Final Trolley Trail walk of the summer leaving from Arista and Concord.

Tuesday the 8th, No Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Budget monthly Board meeting at Board offices.

Thursday the 10th, No Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
10:15 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at WES SSC offices.

Monday the 14th, 6:00 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Master Plan Advisory Committee meets at OLSD.
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.
6:30 PM Planning Commission meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 15th, No Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Clackamas County fair starts in Canby and runs through August 20th.

Wednesday the 16th, 7 PM CIA (Citizens, Informed and Aware) meet at Rose Villa. The subject for discussion is “Sewage”.

Thursday the 17th, 8:00 AM Board of Commissioners Planning meeting in Board offices.
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 21st, 7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 22nd, CPR training at Fire District #1, contact the Fire Prevention Office 503-742-2660. Cost $10 to residents of Fire District #1.
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water district monthly Board meeting in District offices.

Wednesday the 23rd, 9:00 AM Sidewalk Forum at SSC.
9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.
12:00 Noon Dedication of Osterman Park at Eagle’s Landing.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at OLSD office.

Thursday the 24th, 9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
4-8 PM NC12 Bond discussion at Putnam HS.

Monday the 28th, 6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 29th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
5:30 PM NCCWC Board meets at the Plant on the Clackamas.

Wednesday the 30th, 9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.

Thursday the 31st, 10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.

Note: Meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Milwaukie’s Sunday Farmers Market from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM across from City Hall.

Oregon City’s Farmers Market, Saturdays, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the PSB parking lot.