Pending vacancy, Enhanced Law Enforcement District Advisory Committee

There will be a vacancy soon on the Enhanced Law Enforcement District Citizen Advisory Committee of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

It represents the various geographic and demographic interests of the district and provides the sheriff with advice concerning the operational policies, service priorities and service levels within the district.  Now, it meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM on odd months at the Public Safety Training Center, 12700 SE 82nd Avenue in Clackamas.

The District was approved by voters in the November 1994 general election and became effective July 1, 1995. Its purpose is to increase the level of sheriff's patrols in the district to meet the increased demand of urban Clackamas County. It serves approximately 85,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County within the Urban Growth Boundary, and the city of Johnson City.

Taxpayers within the district pay an additional tax assessment, and receive additional patrol services. The amount of the assessment and the number of added patrol cars varies based on Oregon Ballot Measures which reduce assessments based on what other service districts the voters approve; for example, if a new Parks and Recreation assessment is approved, the ELED assessment is reduced.

For more information, here's a presentation at http://bit.ly/eled-ppt.

The formal notice of vacancy will be posted at http://www.clackamas.us/citizenin/app.jsp

Consolidate 'club cards' into one master card

Just One Club Card makes a card, double-sided, with barcodes for up to eight different stores.

Type in the barcode number for each of the cards you now have, then choose its store. If it's for a store not listed (they have 200-plus), e-mail the site owner to get it added, but don't ask about Blockbuster since their barcode is also your account number. As the developer notes, "best not to be shooting those around the Internet." In other words, he takes security seriously.

Click Create your card to see, review, print, cut, fold, and stick in your wallet. Less wallet clutter is good.

Free Haircut Time in Jennings Lodge

UPDATE: It ended. 
Stay tuned to this blog for the next time, typically in two weeks.

It's haircut time, with 2 stylists that need haircut models, in Jennings Lodge

• Wed 4-13:  2 to 4.  
• Thu 4-14: 9 to 4. 
• Fri 4-15: 9 to 3:45.  

This does NOT happen every week, only on specified days.

If you have questions call 503-xxx-xxxx

Huge Identity Theft and You

So, this careless outfit, Epsilon, let a huge amount of identity data get stolen.  It ignored warnings months ago. It's already appearing in identity theft, says the Better Business Bureau. Here's a partial list of corporations who gave your data to such a careless outfit, instead of protecting it by doing the job themselves:


1800-Flowers
Abe Books, Air Miles CA, Ameriprise Financial
Barclays Bank of Delaware, Beachbody, Bebe Stores Inc., Benefit Cosmetics, BestBuy, Brookstone
Capital One, Charter Communications, Chase, Citibank, City Market, The College Board, Crucial.com
Dell Australia, Dillons, Disney Vacations
Eurosport/Soccer.com, Eddie Bauer
Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s
Hilton Honors, The Home Shopping Network
Jay C, JP Morgan Chase
King Soopers, Kroger
LL Bean
Marks & Spencer (UK), Marriott Rewards, McKinsey Quarterly, Moneygram
New York & Co.
QFC
Ralphs, Red Roof Inns Inc., Ritz Carlton, Robert Half
Smith Brands
Target, TD Ameritrade, TIAA-CREF, TiVO
US Bank
Verizon, Viking River Cruises
Walgreens, World Financial Network National Bank


So, have you ever given your data to any of those outfits? You might want to consider sending an e-mail, something like this:

1. I understand you gave my personal information to Epsilon, who lost it.

2. The Federal Trade Commission says: “The law makes clear that even if you hire another company to handle your email marketing, you can’t contract away your legal responsibility to comply with the law. Both the company whose product is promoted in the message and the company that actually sends the message may be held legally responsible.”

3. The CAN-Spam Act of 2003 says such transgressions can cost $16,000 per violation.

4. Therefore, I want to know what privacy protection [INSERT NAME OF COMPANY HERE] will offer to alleviate the risk you exposed me to.

Who knows, might help you get in on the inevitable class action lawsuit, or at least get you identity theft monitoring.


Might also be time to change your e-mail address, which you can get free from mail.google.com (they will provide you free forwarding ((POP and IMAP both)) to your real e-mail address with your ISP, so you can keep your real e-mail address private while providing a consistent e-mail address for everyone else to use).


And, take the advice of State Attorney General John Kroger (no relation) do NOT answer ANY e-mail from any outfit asking for more info which they ought to already have.

Can a refrigerator be like a subprime mortgage home?

Robert X. Cringely explains how Home Depot and GE have bundled one poor sucker's refrigerator warranty, just like subprime mortgages were bundled, and now the warranty holder is denying service.  Sound familiar?

Looks like a reason to avoid LG, GE, and Home Depot, all in one.

And, if you are wondering which stranger just called your home, enter their Caller ID data at http://whocalled.us and look them up. Isn't perfect, as the same scallawags who ignore the FTC Do Not Call listings can 'spoof' their Caller ID to masquerade as someone other than a phone spammmer, but somethin's better than nuthin'.

We Should Get a Vote on Urban Renewal - Petition Signature Gathering Process

More people are needed to help gather signatures in the  Vote on Urban Renewal - Petition Signature Gathering Process.

John Williams Jr., one of the chief petitioners, will be happy to answer any of your questions along this line.  You can contact John via email at  john.williams38@comcast.net or by phone at: (503) 657-2868

If you aren’t necessarily interested in gathering signatures but just want to sign the petition, stop by the entrance to the Gladstone DMV building at 10 82^nd Avenue.  Laurie Grooman is there with petitions most weekdays from about 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

To be successful, a campaign like this also requires monetary donations for signs, literature, etc. Donation details can be found on the website:

http://voteonurbanrenewal.com

Once enough valid signatures are turned in to the County Elections office a measure will be placed on a future ballot that, if passed, would require a vote of the people in Clackamas County on the creation of future County Urban Renewal Districts and their related Tax Increment Financing schemes (URD/TIF).  Currently the County Commissioners have the authority to create a Clackamas County Urban Renewal District and to issue bonds to fund their pet projects without a vote of the people.  That includes the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project!  

Requiring a vote on money issues seems to be the only recourse we, the Public, have to voice our opinion now days.  Step up to the plate, people, and assist with the signature gathering process, give a donation and also thank those who have had enough courage to take a stand directly in front of the TRAIN.

Feel free to forward this email to other interested people. 

Here are the Technical Ballot Title Details of the Petition:

Reply

Forward

Invite Thelma Haggenmiller to chat

Calendar of Public Meetings: April 2011

Calendar of Public Meetings: April 2011

Monday the 4^th, 6:30 PM Light Rail design update and discussion at Rose Villa Fellowship Hall.

Tuesday the 5th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 6th, 10:00 AM OLCC Board Work Session at the Oak Grove Fire Station

                                     6:00 PM OLSD Preliminary Budget Committee meeting at Board offices.

                                     7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at DSB on Beavercreek Rd.

Thursday the 7th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB on Kaen Rd.

                                  5:30 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board
                                     Budget Committee meets at DSB.

                                  6:45 PM C-4 meets at DSB.

                                  7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

Saturday the 9^th, 3-6 PM State Redistricting meeting at Clackamas Community College.

Tuesday the 12th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.

                                6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Board monthly meeting at Board offices.

                                7:00 PM North Clackamas Planning Assoc. meets at Bilquist School.

                                7:00 PM NC12 Budget Committee Work Session at District offices.

Wednesday the 13^th, 9:30 AM Board of Commissioners Land Use Hearing at PSB.

                                     7-9 PM CIA (Citizens Informed and Aware) meets in
                                     Rose Villa Fellowship Hall 13505 River Rd. Candidates Forum.

Thursday the 14th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

                                    7:00 PM Historic Review Board meets at the DSB.

                                    7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

                                    7:00 PM Oak Lodge History Detectives meet at Oak Grove Fire Station.

Saturday the 16^th, 9 AM to 1 PM First Annual Green Day Community Cleanup Core

                                                  Activities at G.I. Joe’s more information call 503.650.4892

Monday the 18th, 7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 19th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.

                                5:30 PM Oak Lodge Water District Budget Committee meets at 

                                               District offices with Board meeting to follow.

                                7:00 PM County Committee for Citizen Involvement meets at DSB.

Thursday the 21st, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Monday the 25^th, 6:30 PM County Planning Commission meets at DSB on Beavercreek Rd.

Tuesday the 26^th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.

                              5:30 PM NCCWC Budget Committee meets at the plant with Board meeting to follow.

                              7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

                              7:00 PM NC12 Budget Committee Work Session at District offices.

Wednesday the 27^th, 4:00 PM N. Clackamas Park Stewardship Committee at the Milwaukie Center.

                                   7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at Rose Villa.

Thursday the 28^th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

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

Darker Side of Groupon

Take a look at http://posiescafe.com/wp/?p=316 for an explanation of the pitfalls of businesses and Groupon.

See who you vote for next month

CITIZENS INFORMED and AWARE (CIA)

CANDIDATES FORUM

SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT POSITIONS

in the UPCOMING MAY ELECTION

The CIA Forum Starts at 7:00 pm         Wednesday, April 13, 2011

In the Fellowship Hall at Rose Villa Senior Living Community

13505 SE River Road              in   Oak Grove, OR

It is OK to park on either side of River Road or in the corner lot at River Rd. and Torbank Av.

(Please do not park on Rose Villa’s property West of River Road.)

=======================================

We have extended an invitation to the Candidates who have filed for available elected positions on the Board of Directors of the Special Service Districts that serve the Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge, Oatfield Ridge and North Clackamas areas of Unincorporated North Clackamas County.

Those Districts are the Oak Lodge Sanitary District (OLSD), the Oak Lodge Water District (OLWD), the Clackamas County Fire District #1 (CCFD), the North Clackamas School District #12 (NCSD) and the Clackamas River Water District (CRW).

This Public Forum provides an opportunity for you to meet these people and to hear their views on the issues they will face in their respective positions, if elected.

Rose Villa, being a not-for-profit facility/organization, does not permit political campaign literature or signs to be brought onto their property.  The candidates have been asked to honor this policy.  They may distribute those things off site from their vehicle before and after the Forum.

If there are Land Use Issues to be discussed by the OLCC (Oak Lodge Community Council), a Special Land Use Meeting will be held at Rose Villa after the close of the CIA meeting.  The Special Land Use Meeting will not start before 8:30 PM.

==========================================

Please feel free to pass this Email along to your neighbors, friends and relatives and to share this information with other Citizens who might be interested in, not only the CIA Programs, but other events / activities and issues that affect the Greater Oak Lodge Community.

Questions may be directed to CIA Program and Logistics Coordinator - Thelma Haggenmiller at       thelma.haggenmiller@msn.com      or     503/659-5590.

If you have a Specific Topic you would either like to hear a report on or give a report on please contact Thelma.

We want to be sure this email is being delivered only to Interested Citizens.  If, at any time, you need to change your email address or want to be removed from this email distribution list please send such a reply to Thelma. 

============================================

 There are many other UPCOMING Activities / Events / Meetings

and Projects of Interest to the Greater Oak Lodge Community

• Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Public meeting regarding the Ongoing Design of the Tacoma, downtown Milwaukie and Park Avenue stations, the Kellog Creek Light Rail Bridge and project connections to the Trolley Trail.

Location – The Fellowship Hall at Rose Villa Senior Living Community

13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove, OR

Following a brief update on design progress since March, staff will take questions and comments.

• Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 7:00 pm

The Oak Lodge History Detectives (OLHD) presents “Tracking Local History Through Architecture”

Location – The Oak Grove Fire Station   2930 SE Oak Grove Blvd.

The presenter will be Jane Morrison, a Jennings Lodge neighbor and founding member of Portland's Architectural Heritage Center speaking on how the houses in our neighborhoods tell stories about the area's past.  Bring photos of the architectural details of your own older or historic home for her comments.  See, and learn how to date them by types and period.

Need More information?

Contact Pat Kennedy at 503-653-6553 or at kennedy503@q.com

• BE INVOLVED - Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

First Annual Green Day Community Cleanup and Related Activities

Core activities are centered at the former (GI) Joe’s site on McLoughlin Blvd. at Concord Road.

There are lots of different ways to participate and lots of things going on.  The Green Day Activities will be followed by volunteer care and feeding.  For details and involvement in this great, new Community project please contact Leah Robbins by Email at leahnjimmy@comcast.net or Home – 503/650-4892 or Cell – 503/957-9030

• Monday, April 25, 2011 at 7:00 pm

MAP (McLoughlin Area Plan) committee meeting

For location / details – contact Dave Queener – Clackamas County Project Staff

Email - davidque@co.clackamas.or.us or Ofc. – 503/742-4322

• Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Regular Meeting of the Jennings Lodge CPO (Community Planning Organization)

Location – Homewood Heights Assisted Living Center

17999 SE River Rd. in Jennings Lodge OR.      All are welcome.

The Regular JLCPO meetings are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of each month except the Nov/Dec meetings are combined.

• Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 6:00 to 6:45 pm

Park Avenue Neighbors and Community Forum

A monthly series to provide community members with a consistent forum where we can more fully understand and participate in the variety of activities that are converging on Park Ave - Tri-Met's Light Rail station, the MAP Committee, the TGM grant, the Trolley Trail, and the Nature in Neighborhoods grant.

• Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Regular Meeting of the OLCC (Oak Lodge Community Council)

Location – The Fellowship Hall at Rose Villa Senior Living Community

13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove, OR                    All are welcome.

You can follow the OLCC via their website – www.oaklodgecpo.org

The Regular OLCC meetings are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month except Nov/Dec meetings are combined.

Special OLCC meetings may be scheduled at other times/locations.

==========================================

TSA Bungled Airport Scanner Radiation Tests

Surprised? Details here.

May Ballot Measure to add to your taxes and benefit Multnomah County

MEASURE 3-372: CLACKAMAS COUNTY $5.00 Annual Vehicle Registration Fee dedicated to acquiring property, designing, engineering and constructing a replacement for the Sellwood Bridge and its approaches.

Superb: Multnomah County lets the Sellwood Bridge rot, and then wants us to pick up the tab. After all, 90% of all trips across the Sellwood begin or end in Multnomah County; why should Clackamas taxpayers pick up the tab?

CITIZENS INFORMED and AWARE (CIA) will have a forum on the subject Wednesday night, 7PM, at the Fellowship Hall of Rose Villa, 13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove. Please do not park on the Rose Villa property itself: It is OK to park on either side of River Road or in the lot across River Road from Rose Villa.

If you show up, you can influence folks who can influence other folks.... and make your voice heard.

Sea-Tac Restaurant Refuses to Serve the TSA

http://piglipstick.blogspot.com/2011/02/tsa-put-on-restaurants-no-eat-list.html explains how a restaurant by the Seattle-Tacoma airport refuses to serve the costumed clowns of the TSA.

Splendid idea, especially since you're more likely to die of cancer from their instant-porn scan machines than from a terrorist attack.

President wants $200 million for Portland-Milwaukie SLAX

The slacker's rail, Portland-Milwaukie MAX, won't die: President Obama wants $200 million for Portland-Milwaukie MAX.

The expense is absurd. 'Light Rail' is anything but, and this will cut deeply into the far more effective buses which don't shut down when ice storms strike. Curitiba, Brazil implemented Express Buses in lieu of rail with a 99.5% savings; not my figures, see the 1996 Scientific American cover story at http://goo.gl/k5qwi .

Now, factor in the fuel and labor savings intelligent driverless vehicles will bring, and this clearly is one of the last 'light' rail projects to be proposed, as 'light rail' boondoogles for the benefit of construction companies and their political friends go the way of the buggy whip and the whale oil lamp.

Fox News: Fairly Unbalanced

You expect Faux News to have a conservative agenda, and factor for it, right? Well, here's proof their agenda is not truly conservative, but self-serving in some other dimension; they falsified reaction to Ron Paul, the sole true conservative in the House, winning the CPAC straw poll, and then covered it up with denial and misdirection.

Red State Socialism Works

North Dakota's got its own state bank. The state's in the black, not slashing services left and right.

It doesn't bar commercial banks, indeed, it works with them.

It gets to recycle the interest in municipal and other government bonds, bonds so expensive the state university system pushed through a ballot measure allowing them access to marginally less expensive bonds.

Government bonds have driven many city and county governments into bankruptcy and cost Oregon billions annually, money we could recycle locally.  

Why not?

 

Fire tracking

C-COM, our county's Public Safety Answering Point, the folks who answer your calls to 911 and non-emergency calls to 503-655-8211, have collaborated with Washington County's similar agency, WCCCA, and offer visual tracking of fire and EMS calls.  You can see every fire and EMS call, with dispatch, arrival and departure times at http://www.wccca.com/PITS which is a laudable benefit to the folks of both counties.

Here's an example of the response list for today's Foxfire Aprtments multi-alarm fire which had 11 engines, including mutual-aid callouts, and many other responders, including voluntary response agencies.

Lie of the day from the Internet slams Beavercreek, Oregon

UPDATE: 'TeleTruth' and 'NewNetworks' caved and rewrote the screed. Now, the only remnant of the original lie is the whiny comment, "NOTE: BEAVER CREEK, the ski resort, is supposedly not affiliated with the phone company." They could confirm that if they wanted to, but as long as no one calls them on their irresponsibility, this, as well as many, many other websites, will continue to post lies as truth.

Reader, beware.

---

The Universal Slush Fund: Or How Out of Control is the Government Phone Tax? Why does Beaver Creek gets over $10,000 a line? is just flat wrong in an important area. Please allow me to quote:

An example?
Beaver Creek is a high-end ski resort which received $11,892 per line.

Wrong.

This amount is unfathomable when the average local bill, according to the FCC data is $25 a month (the last FCC data is from 2008).

Beaver Creek is, among other things, serves a high-end ski resort with the marketing line “not exactly roughing it”. http://www.beavercreek.com/Summer-Site-Home.aspx

You're mixing up Beaver Creek, Colorado, the ski resort, with Beavercreek, Oregon, which has the telco in question, four states over and 1,200 miles away.

Sure makes your case looks better, in the 'throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks' method of litigiousness, in order to serve your corporate interests, but trying to conflate the wealth of Vail, Colorado with the telecom needs of rural Oregon is just plain wrong.

The company states: “Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company (BCT) is a member-owned organization that provides friendly, high-quality, professional service at reasonable rates to the Beaver Creek and Oregon City region. At BCT we focus on combining advanced communications technologies with local customer service.” http://www.bctelco.com/index.asp

Now, I'm just an unemployed PC and telco technician (with no connection to Beaver Creek Telephone, OBTW), but even I know to double check my facts before I go public on the web with a screed.

You didn't. Shame on you, NewNetworks.com and 'TeleTruth'.

An apology to Beaver Creek, in fact, both of them, is in order.

I shall look forward to your response.


PS: You also might want to spell the name of your advisors correctly: It's Robert, not Rober, Garnet at http://www.teletruth.org/About/boa.html

Public meetings to gather feedback on new library designs

Drop-In and See the Designs for the New Library in Gladstone

Two Open Houses:

1. Tuesday February 22, 2011 3:30-5:30pm
Gladstone Senior Center 1050 Portland Ave. Gladstone
Babysitting services will be provided
Cookies and drinks will be served

2. Thursday March 3, 2011 6:30-8:30pm
Rose Villa - Fellowship Room
13505 SE River Rd Milwaukie
Cookies and drinks will be served

You are invited to join us and give us your valued feedback on the designs for the new library in Gladstone. Meet and talk with the architects from THA Architecture and your community members serving on the New Library Design Committee.

Feel free to share with friends and neighbors; the QRcodes at right can be scanned into your smartphone to enter the dates into your calendar.

Questions - call or write Mary Nixon, Library Director 503-656-2411

Information about the new library project can be found at
http://www.ci.gladstone.or.us/library_new.html

A letter to Rep. Dave Hunt

Dear Rep. Hunt:

http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measures/hb2600.dir/hb2602.intro.html is bad law, and I hope you will oppose it.

http://www.blueoregon.com/2011/02/bikeshoes suggested Rep. Schaufler be asked to participate in a 'drive-off' to demonstrate the harmlessness of driving with a Bluetooth earset or Walkman headphones. Not a bad idea, but I don't need that to know cyclists are *very* aware of our environment even with audio devices. However, you and I have both observed many folks driving cars who are unobservant due to stereo systems, as we don't ban those.

Oak Grove and Gladstone are pleasant places to live, in no small part due to the lack of excessive and intrusive silly ideas. Let's leave this one at the curb.

Saturday benefit for stolen food cart

The bar code at right is a QR Code which automatically loads a calendar event into your smartphone (Android-Apple-Blackberry-Treo et al.), and this event is a good idea. Oregonlive details Saturday's upcoming benefit for the owners of a foot cart which was abducted, vandalized, and dumped in an unusable state. It's at their cart pod, http://www.alacartspdx.com, 4921 SE Division. Vendors include:
Jazzy’s Barbeque – Old-fashioned BBQ
VanSchnitzels – German
Azul Tequila Mexican Taqueria – the stolen cart that needs rebuilding
Vagabond Cafe – Ethiopian/Indian/Bento
fon-due-it – on-the-go fondue
Chicken Run – Thai
Coffee Can Cafe – coffee/tea
Off The Griddle – solar powered veggie burgers
Bayou Fixins – Cajun
Over The Top – wild game burgers
Shut Up And Eat – Hungarian/Italian
We Be Weiners – Hotdogs/Corndogs/Chilidogs
Southwestern Pizza Company – Pizza
Om Nom Nom... – Gourmet Sandwiches
The Deadliest Catch Fisherman – Seafood

Elk burgers. Yum yum yum.

Calendar of Public Meetings, February 2011

Calendar of Public Meetings, February 2011
Note that meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Tuesday the 1st
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
6:00 PM Natural Restoration of Risley Park at OLSD offices.

Wednesday the 2nd
10:00 AM OLCC Board work session at the Oak Grove Fire Station
7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at DSB on Beavercreek Rd.

Thursday the 3rd
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing with Hearings officer at DSB.
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB on Kaen Rd.
6:45 PM C-4 meets at DSB.
7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

Monday the 7th
6:30 PM County Planning Commission meets at DSB

Tuesday the 8th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Board monthly meeting at Board offices.
7:00 PM North Clackamas Planning Assoc. meets at Bilquist School.

Wednesday the 9th
7:00 PM CIA meets at Rose Villa 13505 SE River Rd. We will have an in depth discussion of traffic safety devices with Rick Nys from Clackamas County.

Thursday the 10th
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.
5:30 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at the Oak Lodge Sanitary office..

Tuesday the 15th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water District Board meets at District offices.

Thursday the 17th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing with Hearings officer at DSB.
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.
7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

Monday the 21st, Presidents’ Day Holiday

Tuesday the 22nd
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wednesday the 23rd
4:00 PM North Clackamas Park Stewardship Committee meets at the Milwaukie Center.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at Rose Villa.

Thursday the 24th
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Monday the 28th
6:30 PM County Planning Commission meets at DSB
7:00 PM McLoughlin Area Plan Committee meets at OLSD.
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Oak Lodge Sanitary District board vacancy

With the election of Paul Savas to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, there is a vacancy on the Oak Lodge Sanitary District Board of Directors. Applications are being accepted to fill this position through January 31. In February the Board will appoint someone to fill the vacancy. If you would like to apply, please pick up an application from the District office at 14644 SE River Road.

If you have any questions about serving on the Board, please send an email to wwild@olsd.net.

New Library Design Committee Meeting

The Oak Grove library will close, and the closest library as per last year's vote will be shared with Gladstone. A replacement for the current (tiny) Gladstone library is in the works, and a committee is studying its design. Their next meeting is

Thursday, January 20, 2011 6:30-9:30pm
Gladstone City Hall, Council Chamber, 2nd Floor

Want more government and more taxes for Oak Grove-Oak Lodge-Jennings Lodge ?

The soi-disant 'Friends of Local Control' encourages you to consider attending the following Oak Lodge Community Council meeetings. The February meeting should be of special interest to those of you that have concerns about the delivery of county services to our area.

We have added a community calendar to our web site, www.friendsoflocalcontrol.org. There you will find information about meetings and events of interest to our community. We will keep this information updated regularly, so check back often! If you have an item you would like us to post, send an email to friendsoflocalcontrol@gmail.com and enter "Community Calendar" in the subject line.
________________________________________________________________________

January
Wednesday, January 26th, 7 to 9 pm, at Rose Villa Fellowship Hall.
Gail Curtis of ODOT, Mike McCallister of Clackamas County and Christa Gardner of Metro will join us to discuss how these three entities each influence McLoughlin Blvd. They have been asked to address issues of code enforcement, speed, pedestrian safety, right-of-ways, landscaping, zoning, etc. If you are not able to attend and would like a question to be asked, please feel free to send it to me and I'll be sure it gets presented.

February
Wednesday, February 23rd, from 7 to 9 pm, Rose Villa Fellowship Hall.
Commission Chair Lynn Peterson and Cam Gilmour, Director of Dept. of Transportation & Development, to discuss and clarify the relationship and responsibilities between the County and our unincorporated area.

Calendar of Public Meetings, January 2011

Calendar of Public Meetings, January 2011
Meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Mon 1/3rd, 5:00 PM Swearing-in of Clackamas County Officials in Board Hearing room.

Tue 1/4th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
6:15 PM Ped/Bike Advisory Committee meets in DSB on Beavercreek Rd.

Wed 1/5th, 10:00 AM OLCC Board work session at the Oak Grove Fire Station

Thu 1/6th, 9:00 AM Land Use Hearing with Hearings Officer at DSB.
10:00 AM Board of Commissioners Hearing at PSB.
7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

Mon 1/10th, 6:30 PM Planning Commission meets at DSB.
7:00 PM McLoughlin Area Plan Committee meets at OLSD office.

Tue 1/11th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Board monthly meeting at Board offices.
7:00 PM North Clackamas Planning Assoc. meets at Bilquist School.
7:00 PM NC12 Budget Committee meets at District offices.

Wed 1/12th, 7:00 PM CIA (Citizens Informed and Aware) will meet in Rose Villa Fellowship Hall 13505 River Rd. An annual review from various groups on their activities to make Oak Lodge a better place.

Thu 1/13th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioners Hearing at PSB.
5:30 PM NCP&RD DAB meets at the Aquatic Center.
6:30 PM NC12 Budget discussion at Putnam High School.

Mon 1/17th, Holiday: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

Tue 1/18th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water District Board meets at Oak Grove Fire Station.

Thu 1/20th, 9:00 AM Land Use Hearing with Hearings officer at DSB.
10:00 AM Board of Commissioners Hearing at PSB.
1:00 PM Tree planting at Rivervilla Park.
7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

Mon 1/24th, 7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tue 1/25th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
5:30 PM NCCWC meets at the Plant.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wed 1/26th, 4:00 PM North Clackamas Park Stewardship Cmte meets at the Milwaukie Center.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at Rose Villa.

Thu 1/27th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Have Borders Gift Cards? Spend them NOW.

Appears that Borders has admitted they are in deep financial trouble. If you have a Borders gift card, it's a wonderful idea to spend it *now*.

Why does this happen so often? Because of IRS rules, validated by the Supreme Court, without benefit of Congressional approval. which stress the need to turn over inventory that forces booksellers into borrowing money, and make it very difficult for booksellers to hang onto old inventory.

Unhealthy 'Organic' Eggs in your markets

The healthier the hen, the healthier her eggs, and outdoor access to real chicken food instead of chemically processed feed is a major part of optimal health for food producing animals. A Mother Earth News 2007 study showed big differences in nutrition between factory-farmed and organically raised eggs.

Eggs from hens raised on pasture, compared to federal data on factory-farmed eggs, may contain: 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, 2/3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E and 7 times more beta carotene. These dramatically differing nutrient levels are most likely the result of the differences in diet between free-range pastured hens, vs. commercially farmed hens.

Health conscious organic consumers expect organic free-range eggs to be produced by hens that have ample access to the outdoors. But as The Cornucopia Institute says in a ground-breaking report, "a high percentage of the eggs on the market should be labeled 'produced with organic feed' rather than bearing the USDA-certified organic logo," because many of these birds never actually get to set foot outdoors. Mass-producing organic egg farmers circumvent the free-range criteria by providing tiny enclosed porches with roofs and concrete or wood flooring – a far cry from what most organic consumers would associate with the word "free-range."

According to Cornucopia: "Many of the porches represent just 3 to 5 percent of the square footage of the main building housing the birds. That means 95 percent or more of the birds have absolutely no access whatsoever."

Champoeg Organic Eggs (in Aurora, OR!) got the one-egg award in the report for "ethically deficient - industrial organics/no meaningful outdoor access and/or none were open enough to participate.”

Brands with a “1-egg” rating are generally produced on industrial-scale egg operations that grant no meaningful outdoor access. “Outdoor access” on these operations generally means a covered concrete porch that is barely accessible to the chick- ens. Means of egress from the buildings are intentionally small to discourage birds from going outside, and make it possible for only a small percentage of birds to have “access” to the outdoors. No producers in this category were willing to participate in The Cornucopia Institute’s project, and none shared their production practices with Cornucopia researchers. This is disturbing to many organic consumers, since transparency has always been viewed as a hallmark of the organic food movement.

Also slammed for prison-like farming techniques were producers whose eggs are likely to appear in your local markets: Chino Valley Ranchers, Eggland's Best, Eggology, Glaum Egg Ranch, Horizon Organic, Land O'Lakes, Nest Fresh, and Oakdell.

House brand labels like Costco's Kirkland Signature, Safeway's O Organics, Trader Joe's, Walmart's Great Value, and Whole Foods' 365 Organic also were found to be predominantly jail-farmed.

"Two-egg" outfits were described as

'Some Questions Remain Concerning Compliance with Federal Standards': These are either industrial-scale operations or others with outstanding questions or concerns regarding their compliance with USDA regulations. One of the primary features that distinguish these organizations from the ethically challenged brands below is their willingness to share with their customers (and Cornucopia researchers) some of the details as to how their chickens are cared for and how their eggs are actually produced.

The Country Hen was the only such egg brand likely to appear here.


Wilcox Farms, Stiebrs, Clover Organic Farms and Organic Valley (in order of quality) received a "Three-Egg" rating:

“Very Good”—Organic, Complying with Minimum USDA Standards. Brands with a three-egg rating are very good choices. Eggs from brands in this category either come from family-scale farms that provide outdoor runs for their chickens, or from larger-scale farms where meaningful outdoor space is either currently granted or under construction. All producers in this category appear committed to meeting organic standards for minimum outdoor space for laying hens.

Hi-Q's eggs got the “4-egg” rating:

“Excellent”—Organic Promoting Outdoor Access: Producers in this category provide ample outdoor space and make an effort to encourage their birds to go outside. They provide an excellent outdoor environment, often either rotated pasture or well-managed outdoor runs, with an adequate number of popholes/doors for the chickens to reach the outdoors.

Misty Meadows Farm, Trout Lake Abbey, Skagit River Ranch, Vital Farms, and Phoenix Egg Farm received the top "5-egg" scores:

“Exemplary”—Beyond Organic: Producers in this top tier manage diverse, small- to medium-scale family farms. They raise their hens in mobile housing on well-managed and ample pasture or in fixed housing with intensively managed rotated pasture. They sell eggs locally or regionally under their farm’s brand name, mostly through farmer’s markets, food cooperatives and/or independently owned natural and grocery stores and sometimes through larger chains like Whole Foods.

Thanks to Mercola.com for analysis of the report and background, and to The Cornucopia Institute for the research on these, and other, industrial farms masquerading as organic. And, here's a recap on what's really organic on Oregon/Washington eggs, with the best farms at the top, to add to your shopping list:

1. Misty Meadows Farm
2. Trout Lake Abbey
3. Skagit River Ranch
4. Vital Farms
5. Phoenix Egg Farm
6. Hi-Q
7. Wilcox Farms
8. Stiebrs
9. Clover Organic Farms
10. Organic Valley

A New Yorker Don't Understand Necessities of Farm Life

The volunteers of the City of South Fulton Tennessee Fire Department are taking BS from Keith Olbermann, and it ain't fair.

The firefighters kept their word and met their mission, to protect the property of folks who pay for them, plus the lives of all nearby folks, and they could not have done more under the circumstances even if the guy had 'remembered' to pay his (exceedingly cheap in comparison to other rural fire departments) subscription (after, that is, he got his reminder call when he didn't pay from the notice mailed to him).  That subscription pays for the protection gear, equipment and training that lets them save lives, and the insurance which pays their medical if they get hurt on the job; it doesn't come from any county taxes which that overfed farmer paid.

And, the firefighters aren't covered in their health insurance if they fight fires on non-subscriber land. I'm pretty sure that's why the incident commander held them back, for their own safety.

Let's do the math.

It wouldn't have done any good, anyway. It's at least 8 minutes from the fire station to the fire (that far out of town, there are no hydrants, so they have to take a tanker, and tankers are even less like Corvettes than fire engines).

Add in

• the time for the farm owner to notice there's a fire and report it,
• the time for 9-1-1 to receive the call and to process it, 
• time for volunteer firefighters to hear their pages/siren, drive to station, saddle up and get out,
• plus the time once arrived for the chief to size up the situation, 
• unpack the hoses, point them at the point of attack and 
• get up pressure, 

it's more like 15 minutes from the time the fire is noticed to the time the first water pours onto the fire, by which time, that farmhouse is *toast* under the best of circumstances.

OBTW, I not only spent a few years or so growin' up on a similar farm, but I've been going out to fire scenes at oh-dark-thirty and answering fire calls as a volunteer for my local Red Cross chapter for over eight years. That's where my estimate of added time comes from, experience.

Look at the guy's property, and think.

 
If you live on a farm, out in the country (his location is marked with yellow circles), common sense dictates not only do you damn well support the folks who just might save your family, life and farm, you also have extinguishers and a high pressure hose and pump so you can put it fire quick and early yourself (like, in case there's a train sitting on the crossing, east of town, blocking the fire truck - look at the railroad tracks, in red, at left - and there's another rail line east of MLK, not shown in this picture).

And, if the county commissioners have been wrangling over this matter for two years, and your son had a fire three years ago (as noted on Countdown), well, you should be even more conscious of the need to spend the cost of a truck tank of diesel for your fire protection.

This is non-news, and I'm disgusted by the lack of common sense in Keith Olbermann's production team. This stuff is supposed to be checked before air, and they had a field producer on the spot with the camera and sound crew. If I can do it from Portland via the web, they darned well could do it in South Fulton.

Shame, shame on msnbc, and the folks who don't think before they open their mouths.

Secretosity

There are a surprising amount of Top Secret facilities and offices, surprisingly, right here in River City, revealed by a Washington Post investigative series.  Now, the Feds aren't talking about their TS-ness, but there were multiple Top Secret contractors found nearby:

iMove, in Portland
Jive Software, in Portland
PLEXSYS Interface Products, in Camas WA
S&D Eng. Sol., in Lake Oswego
Talent Scout Assoc., in Stayton
Thetus, in Portland

Wall Street's Bailout Hustle

When Dr. Jerry Pournelle, an Opus Dei member and genuine rocket scientist, and Rolling Stone, the preeminent rock magazine, both agree we're about to be swindled, again, by Wall Street, it's worth a read.

Drug War Won in Portugal by decriminalization

Portugal decriminalized all drug possession in 2001 [time.com], and since then:

"(A) Cato (Institute) paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well."

Why are we inflicting very expensive criminality on these losers who are addicted to the abuse drugs inflict on them? When treatment is a much more effective and much less expensive solution than jail?

Why do we inflict the War on Drugs on Mexico, a war which kills many innocents as well as costing us an obscene amount of money better spent?

Do the math; look at those numbers, and tell me why?