BY REID IFORD, TUALATIN LIFE

The United States Postal Service is a pretty formidable organization, but they had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they announced they were moving the Tualatin Post Office from its longtime downtown location to an industrial area on SW Teton Avenue. They quickly found out.

When a flyer announcing the move was posted in the window of the Tualatin Post Office, it was brought to the attention of Susan Noack, chair of the Tualatin Area Aging Task Force. Susan marched right down to the post office and requested a copy of the flyer, and then she called together fellow task force members and they decided to roll up their sleeves and put a stop to this nonsense.

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Mask & Mirror Community Theatre is excited to announce that it has selected three high quality plays for production during its sixth season. These plays were selected, in part, through public comment and participation in the monthly public play readings and discussions held by Mask & Mirror at the Tualatin Public Library.

The season opens November 4 with “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” by Alfred Uhry, the author of “Driving Miss Daisy.” This play won the 1997 Tony for Best Play. It takes place in Atlanta in 1939. Comedy and romance intertwine with the realities of culture and the war as one of Atlanta’s elitist German Jews concern themselves with attending Ballyhoo, the social event of the season.

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Thrills and chills are coming to Tualatin, as they do every year at Halloween. Tualatin residents are in for a fright if they dare to visit the Haunted House at the Van Raden Community Center, located inside Tualatin Community Park.

“This is a terrifying haunted house, created and operated by members of the Tualatin Youth Advisory Council (YAC),” says Julie Ludemann, recreation supervisor for the city. “This year’s theme is the Haunted School, and it will include a scarier than usual trip to the principal’s office.”

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BY KIM DEMARCHI

In my article last month, I introduced the book, The 5 Love Languages of Children, written by Gary Chapman. In his book, he distinguishes five ways that children (and adults) prefer to be shown love. We usually tend to express love to others the way we prefer love to be expressed toward us. However, we need to express love to others the way THEY feel loved. It is our job as parents to figure out what love “language” speaks the loudest to each of our children. They are all unique and individual. They will each have a preference.

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BY CHARLIE HOPEWELL, SUNSET MANUFACTURING/TUALATIN ABC TEAM

If we wish to, as Gandhi put it, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” – then we have to start helping to guide that change along. At the heart of our effort, this is really what the intent of Tualatin’s Mobile Makerspace (MMS) is all about.

Experiential learning is raising eyebrows as research proves how effective it is in engaging young minds, building critical problem solving skills, providing experiences that spark curiosity, building community and, perhaps most important – MAKING LEARNING FUN. That’s what the Maker Movement is all about.

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BY TUALATIN MAYOR LOU OGDEN

Recently we received word from the Oregon Business Council that together, the two communities of Tualatin and Tigard, have been selected as finalists for consideration as a Blue Zones Demonstration Community, part of the Oregon Healthiest State Initiative. Our two cities have come together, along with dozens of community partners, on a mission to become a healthier, happier community. Tigard and Tualatin elected officials and staff have endorsed this proposal; however, this is a “Community” initiative and not a City project. With more than 50 endorsements from elected officials, organizations, and community partners we are excited and ready to embrace the Blue Zones philosophies and practices.

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BY LARRY McCLURE

At age 55, Del Judy decided if the last of her four kids wouldn’t leave home, then she would. In 1978, after the death of husband Clayton, Del joined the Peace Corps and accepted a two-year assignment in Thailand. But taking on an overseas challenge when others her age were dreaming of retirement wasn’t surprising to her friends and neighbors since this Tualatin icon had already made a name for herself as a farmer, piano teacher, 4-H leader, teacher of deaf students, dress shop owner, candymaker, Trailblazer fan, traveler, and church musician.

Coming home after her Thailand adventure in 1980, Del became an active member of the newly-forming Tualatin Presbyterian Church, served a year as president of Tualatin Historical Society, was a prime mover in Tualatin’s first farmers’ market and is still a relentless advocate for today’s Meals on Wheels program and a testament to the benefits of the Juanita Pohl “active aging” Center. In more recent years, Del has been honored for outstanding civic volunteerism.

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SUBM ITTED BY CARLY SANDERS

Fournier Group, Inc. in Portland has earned a 2016 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award for its community work with Community Warehouse in Portland and Tualatin.

The award includes a $4,000 donation to Community Warehouse from Safeco Insurance. Fournier Group, Inc. agent, Dirk Fournier, and Community Warehouse also had a story featured on Safeco.com, which awarded the nonprofit an additional $1,000. For the organization to win the extra money, at least 50 different individuals had to leave a virtual “cheer” on the Safeco.com story.

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BY SUSAN NOACK, CHAIR, TUALATIN AREA AGING TASK FORCE

Social Isolation – what is it and how do you overcome it? The textbooks tell us that social isolation is a result of being physically removed from others, like living in a remote area, or from the perception of being removed from a community, such as being socially isolated from others. These same textbooks also tell us that spending time alone is a good thing unless it means that you have no interaction with others for days. You become socially isolated and meaningful, extended relationships are missing. While there is no medical cure for social isolation, there are solutions.

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