Tualatin City Council moves forward with term limits measure

Josh Kulla
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Tualatin City Council moves forward with term limits measure

The Tualatin City Council has moved forward with plans to place a measure aimed at expanding the city’s term limits for elected officials on the ballot for the May 17, 2022, special election.

The council is split on the issue, with Councilors Cyndi Hillier and Nancy Grimes arguing that the issue of term limits should only go before voters after a successfully petition gathers enough signatures from registered voters. Other councilors, however, feel that the health risks posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen a record number of cases and hospitalizations in Oregon this past month, mean that the type of door-to-door signature gathering effort typically carried out by petitioners is a non-starter. 

“Due to COVID, a lot of people are saying ‘We don’t want folks going door to door,’” Mayor Frank Bubenik said. “A lot of folks have said to me ‘COVID is done,’ But we’re all seeing the resurgence of it, and my concern, to be honest, is the health and welfare of the signature gatherers. That’s why I’m in favor of referring it to the ballot. Ultimately, either way, if we refer it or if it’s done by citizen initiative, it ends up on the ballot for voters to decide.” 

Ultimately, councilors voted 5-2 to refer the measure to the May 2022 ballot. 

The measure was presented to the city council by local residents in July. If approved by voters, it would loosen existing term limits to allow anyone elected to the mayoral position to serve two consecutive terms, even if that means they would serve more than the 12 consecutive years in public office allowed under current rules. 

The issue has already generated substantial public interest, in large part because many Tualatin residents clearly remember the widespread popularity of the original term limits referendum approved by a two-to-one margin in 2016. That measure restricted elected officials to just three terms in office during any 20 year period and put an end to the reign of former Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden, who served for 24 consecutive years. 

Now, some of the same citizens behind that original measure are seeking to revise that policy to allow a person to serve two four-year terms on the city council followed by a second pair of four-year terms as mayor. The policy would apply only to the mayor position. A person serving only as a council member would still be limited to three four-year terms in any 20 year period. 

Much of the controversy over the proposal stems from the council placing such a measure on the ballot on its own authority. Tualatin City Charter, the city’s governing document, is clear about this; TMC 1-24-020 allows the council to place ballot measures before voters by a simple majority vote. 

At the same time, the city charter also allows citizen petitioners to place a referendum on the ballot if “not less than 15 percent” of eligible voters sign the petition.  

The Charter was also amended last October by the council to allow citizen initiatives to be placed on the next primary or general election, where, under a 2015 ordinance, measures referred to the ballot by citizen petition were only allowed at general elections. 

Grimes said it would best serve the council to only refer the measure to voters at the behest of a citizen petition. 

“I’m afraid of I’m not in favor of us referring this to the ballot, due to the nature of it and the fact it amends something that will affect all of us at some point,” she said. “I feel the best way for that to happen – the way that feels the best – is for it to come from a citizen initiative.”  

Currently, a new group called Tualatin Voices United is seeking electronic signatures for an online petition that demands that the city council only refer a term limits measure to the ballot following a citizen petition and signature gathering process. Such a demand would not be legally binding, but supporters say it could sway public opinion on the matter. 

There are also limited legal options for disgruntled residents.

Any registered voter with a Tualatin address who is dissatisfied with the title of a term limits measure referred to the ballot by councilors could also challenge that title in Washington County Circuit Court. 

According to Tualatin City Attorney Sean Brady, this must be done within seven days of the council referring a measure to voters. They must provide notice to the city and state specific reasons why the title should be legally rejected. 

“The court can review it and have a choice after conducting that review to certify that title or a different one,” Brady told councilors at their Aug. 9 meeting. The Circuit Court review is final. There is no appeal.” 

Council approves Herman Road improvements

Josh Kulla
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Council approves Herman Road improvements

It may have stopped generating tax increment financing revenue 11 years ago, but the Leveton Urban Renewal District is still producing improvements for the city of Tualatin. 

Established in 1985, Leveton is a 382-acre urban renewal district that improved a swath of north Tualatin that now houses a big chunk of the city’s tech sector businesses. There were transportation, water, sewer, and storm drainage projects that allowed this to happen over a 26 year period using tax increment financing (TIF). The district stopped generating revenue in 2010, but roughly $2.9 million remained unspent until now. 

That ultimately led to last month’s 11th and presumably final amendment to the district, which will allow the city to carry out an improvement project to Southwest Herman Road with those remaining funds. 

“We’re going to allocate all remaining TIF funds, roughly $2.9 million, to this project with the aim of closing out this district,” Jonathan Taylor, the city’s Economic Development Manager, said at the Aug. 9 Tualatin City Council meeting. 

The idea for the project came from area businesses nearly two years ago, Taylor added, and addressed both transportation and workforce mobility in the area.

The substantial amendment to the district was required because in 1989 the City of Tualatin added an additional 33.3 acres to the Leveton District, exceeding 1 percent of area boundary. Under Oregon law, this meant that any future addition, no matter the size, would require a substantial amendment.

The Herman Road Project is part of the city’s Transportation Systems Plan and will add a sidewalk/walking path on the north side of the road, bike lanes on both sides, fix drainage issues, and add a center turn lane at the industrial driveway of Herman Road. 

The project will be paid for with existing funds; there are no existing long-term indebtedness commitments remaining in the district.

This last point was emphasized by Taylor and other city officials, who have heard from Tualatin residents worried that the district would be reopened. 

“We did get a letter from a citizen thinking we are reopening the zone, but I’m assuming based on what I know that’s not the case,” Mayor Frank Bubenik said. 

Mike McCarthy, the City Engineer, is carrying out design work, which is nearly half complete. Construction of the project is anticipated to take place during 2022-23.  After that, it will be time to disband the district entirely. 

“Closure will be based on that final check being cut to the contractor,” Taylor said. 

From School Lunches to Baseball Games – Angel Dads provide Father Figures

Josh Kulla
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From School Lunches to Baseball Games – Angel Dads provide Father Figures

Men sometimes get a bad rap in today’s society as parental figures. 

Tualatin resident Casey Wood says that’s because many of them do, in fact, come by that reputation the old fashioned way: they earn it. 

But Wood, himself the parent of two boys ages 26 and 17, wanted to do something to demonstrate that there are, in fact, plenty of men out there with outstanding character, integrity and dedication to raising children. So, he created a nonprofit group called Angel Dads that consists of volunteers who are paired with children who lack a father figure in their lives. 

“The goal is to simply be a great father figure for kids, that’s all,” Wood says. 

Angel Dads do all the normal things you might expect, from taking children to the park, ball games, the library or the movies. They buy them ice cream and even show up at school to enjoy a cafeteria lunch alongside the child and their friends. 

Shying away from attention is part of the organization’s DNA. They don’t advertise and they ask the families and volunteers they work with to avoid leaving online reviews of their service. Instead, they use targeted social media posts to find prospective single mothers who are interested in finding a father figure for a young child. 

“We don’t want the credit; we just want to find the kids served by great dads,” Wood said. “If we can see a smile on a child’s face that’s all the credit we need.” 

Wood founded Angel Dads in San Antonio, Texas, in 2015 as a 501c3 nonprofit before moving to Tualatin in 2017. He brought the organization with him and has kept at it since then, despite the difficult task of finding volunteers willing to invest up to 20 hours a week in a child who desperately needs the structure and involvement a dad can bring. 

Right now, Angel Dads serves mothers and their children in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington – essentially the wider Portland metro area. 

“It’s similar to Big Brothers Big Sisters,” he said. “But the main difference is an Angel Dad is someone who is a little more involved in a child’s life, someone who is actually filling in as an actual father figure or dad.” 

Wood makes that comparison because prior to forming Angel Dads he was a volunteer at a San Antonio Big Brother Big Sisters of America chapter and grew to love the work involved. He felt, however, that a lot of the kids involved in the program seemed to crave even more involvement from their adults than the typical one-day-a-week schedule that organization offered. 

“I love what they do, but from a concept of Angel Dads we feel that a child really wants more than an hour a week big brother,” he said. “They want someone they can truly think of as their dad. Growing up without a dad sucks, honestly, and we are trying to help children grow up with a dad.” 

Prospective volunteers are normally men with their own children, but that isn’t a strict requirement. Would-be Angel Dads undergo thorough backgrounds checks performed by the same company used by Big Brothers Big Sisters. This helps ensure the single mothers who are interested in pairing their child with an Angel Dad can feel comfortable with the match. 

Volunteers must sign a legally binding contract with the family of the child that provides protection to both parties. This protection ranges from shielding Angel Dads from possible questions about custody arrangements to a requirement that Angel Dads cannot date the mothers of the children they are mentoring. 

The group provides Angel Dads to mothers with children ranging in age from 1 to 10 years old. The only demographic they can’t serve are children who are wards of the states of Oregon and Washington. 

“It is an initial two-year ask for volunteers with the intention that if you’re with the child for two years, chances are you’re going to build a strong relationship with the child and you won’t want to end it after two years.” 

While the Angel Dads involved in the program shy away from publicity, there are good reasons for that. One is the possibility of becoming entangled with a past domestic abuser. Another is simply a wish to avoid distractions and ensure that their volunteer work remains pure and free of outside motives. This helps ensure that what volunteers do step forward, and it’s a number whittled down by the COVID-19 pandemic, are outstanding candidates.  

“We are asking a huge commitment of them,” he said. “So, we’re trying our best to work in that hard position. We’re a very different organization than you’re probably used to.” 

To learn more about Angel Dads, visit: www.angeldads.com.

Aging in Place: September 2021

Susan Noack
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Aging in Place: September 2021

Remember this image from a column a year+ ago when masks were mandatory? Then, for a month or so this summer after 15 months of wearing masks, we took them off. We could see smiling faces, stand and sit closer together, speak more clearly and not have to raise our voices to be heard, no more foggy glasses. We could hug and give a handshake instead of an elbow, wave or fist bump. Did it feel like we were celebrating or were we still cautious? Probably a bit of both.

Now we are back to being cautious as the health news we see, hear and read often times changes by the hour. Does it seem more overwhelming again, stressful, tiring, worrisome? Are we angry that we are going backwards, scared, complacent, idealistic that it will go away sooner than later? Or do we say ‘It is what it is’ so just deal with it and do the right thing? What is the right thing?

I’m confident that I did what was right for me by being vaccinated, wearing my mask and social distancing. I can’t tell you to be vaccinated but I can ask if you are or not and then decide if I should/could be around you. And you can do the same with me. I am not offended if asked if I’m vaccinated. I’m okay wearing a mask again, even with foggy glasses. 

A short, true story that happened recently…I have a friend, fully vaccinated and cautious, who was on a business trip in another state. She assumed that with the rising COVID numbers with the Delta variant, that people would be masking in other places. Much to her dismay, there were very few masks worn in the hotel, meetings and restaurants and acknowledges that while she wore her mask, it wasn’t every minute. She said she felt more comfortable in the airport and on the plane because masks were mandated than in the city she was visiting. Fast forward to three days after her return and she became a statistic: a breakthrough positive COVID test as a fully vaccinated senior. Thankfully, she was not very sick, more like cold or flu symptoms, because she is vaccinated. She was quarantined for two weeks, masked in her home and recovered. It may sound minimal but it wasn’t – you don’t want to be a statistic.

The point to my friend’s story is we don’t know if we have been exposed, by whom or where. It can happen to any of us. Even if you are vaccinated, let’s be vigilant, not let our guard down, be respectful of others, be cautious, aware and informed. Don’t become a statistic. Protect yourself first and thank you for protecting those around you.

PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK and SOCIAL DISTANCE

Talking Trash in Tualatin

Jackie Konen
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Talking Trash in Tualatin

Be part of the solution, not the pollution!

Thirty-two community members volunteered in our Do It Yourself program to pick up litter. Armed with gloves, litter grabbers, and plastic bags, these families, couples, and individuals scoured parks, trails, neighborhoods, and streets all year long. The one thing all volunteers observed was that trash in Tualatin was constant and on the rise.

We all know that litter is ugly. But did you know that litter is lethal to wildlife, a threat to water quality, and a hazard to human health?

Cleaning up loose trash is one of the best ways to pitch in for your community and the environment.

1. Keeping it beautiful: 

Litter is an eyesore, plain and simple. Studies show that litter can negatively impact your sense of community and safety. Take a walk, breathe fresh air and make it eco-friendly by picking up trash along the way. Salad tongs make great litter grabbers.

2. Protecting children and pets: 

Litter can pose health and safety risks, especially to curious children and pets. Make sure you put litter in a bag or a lined trash can, and not just loosely in an unlined one. Loose trash often winds up as litter again on trash collection day. 

3. Keeping costs down: 

According to Keep America Beautiful, litter cleanups cost the U.S. $11.5 billion a year, and that figure doesn’t include indirect costs, such as decreased property values, commerce, and tourism. These costs are shared by our government and by local businesses. We service 120 garbage cans in parks and on trails. Each can takes 5 minutes of staff time. For example, Jurgens Park has 15 garbage cans requiring 45 minutes per day from staff. That’s 274 hours annually, and that doesn’t include picking up litter that doesn’t make it to the can.

4. Preventing floods: 

Litter often makes its way to storm drains, where it can cause serious clogs that lead to flooding. Litter that does pass through the storm drain flows directly into nearby rivers, streams, and wetlands. The City has 2,389 catch basins for stormwater. Every year catch basins and 80,000 feet of storm lines are cleaned, which keeps approximately 146 yards of storm debris and trash from entering our waterways. Street sweeping collects an additional 1,200 yards of debris (120 dump truck loads) annually.

5. Protecting wildlife: 

Litter poses a threat to local wildlife when they confuse it for food or nesting materials. If litter gets into our local waterways, chances are it will wind up in the ocean. Marine litter can be deadly to seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals.

Join the City of Tualatin as a volunteer either in the DIY program or on Saturday, November 6, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. as we pick up litter for a clean City, green City, dream City.

For More information, please visit
www.tualatinoregon.gov/volunteer.

A month-long ode to… preparation!

Tualatin Life
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A month-long ode to… preparation!

Pride in June, Black History in February, Ice Cream in July, Poetry in April, Breast Cancer Awareness in October, Noodles in March. 

National “Months” – some serious, some just for fun – are typically spent educating and celebrating. 

We observe National Preparedness Month each September (which is also, incidentally, the national month for Honey, Guide Dogs, Childhood Cancer, and Gospel Music Heritage). Established in 2004, the goal is to raise awareness about the importance of – you guessed it – preparing for disasters and emergencies.

Sometimes the word “preparedness” seems both concrete and abstract, a good idea but also somewhat off-putting. Could it be that because emergencies are often uncontrollable and infinitely unique, it is easier to sweep thoughts of preparation under the rug, instead accepting whatever comes and managing in real-time? What if we thought about it differently by replacing the word preparedness with something similar: forethought, anticipation, planning, far-sightedness, enable, map out, strategize. Perhaps this changes the feel and makes it more personally meaningful.

Why is there so much focus on asking us as individuals to be prepared anyway? The idea is that the more ready we are to react and stay safe in an emergency event, the less harm we will experience. Makes sense. Even bigger picture, if we can be somewhat self-sufficient during and immediately after an emergency, our public organizations (think: fire and rescue, law enforcement, local and federal governments, medical and utility providers) can turn their attention to broader post-emergency problems, like restoring public services and repairing infrastructure.

While the idea of celebrating “preparedness” all month may spark less excitement than, say, bourbon, sewing, or mushrooms (also September), I think we can all find a few ways to celebrate exercising our forethought this year (cue remembering ice storms, fires, and heatwaves).  Here are some ideas:

1. Neighbors

One silver lining of the pandemic has been getting to know my neighbors (shout-out to my awesome cul-de-sac crew).  As we went outside to escape the indoors, we waved, chitchatted, went on walks around the block, and fed pets during weekends away. 

As emergencies and extreme weather piled on top of COVID, I learned what we collectively “have” as a street. One neighbor has extendable clippers for reaching high up branches, one has a generator, one knows radios, one loves Costco (bulk food!), and one has every tool you can think of. 

However, I’ve realized that the most important resource to have on hand during an emergency isn’t any of the stuff my neighbors have – it is my neighbors themselves. I know that I have people who will walk next door, across the street, or down the road to check in on me and my family during the next emergency. Knowing this offers a sense of security that I didn’t realize I needed.  This feeling is backed up by research – communities with strong social connections are more likely to recover quickly after an emergency event. 

Start saying hello to those who live nearest you. Exchange contact information. Better yet, in the spirit of anticipation, host a virtual or in-person Neighborhood Ready Meeting. These are free and focus specifically on emergency planning for neighborhoods (www.tualatincert.org/tualatin-ready). 

2. Lists 

I love a good list. There are MANY resources and checklists that a quick internet search will bring up. If you want to be official about it, start with www.ready.gov, which is the home of National Preparedness Month. If quick and easy lists are your thing, check out Take 5 To Survive, a website devoted to 5-minute preparedness tasks put together by our very own Washington County Emergency Management Cooperative (www.take5tosurvive.com).

3. The five-gallon bucket 

An unsung hero of emergency far-sightedness. There are so many things you can do with a five-gallon bucket!

Use it as your emergency kit. See the aforementioned lists for an exciting variety of things you can store in your bucket. 

Learn about the ins-and-outs- of using buckets as emergency toilets. Fondly known as “Pee and Poo” buckets, the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization has free how-to guidebooks, bucket stickers, and materials lists (rdpo.net/emergency-toilet).

If you’re tight on space, use your prepped bucket as extra seating. Bonus – a conversation starter as to why you have a bucket in your living room.

4. Alerts and Info

This one is easy. Take a few minutes to sign up for emergency alerts and know where you can get information. Most alerts can be sent via text, email, phone call, voicemail, and landlines. 

  1. Public Alerts (www.publicalerts.org) 
  2. Washington County Public Alerts (www.wccca.com/PublicAlerts) 
  3. Clackamas County Public Alerts (www.clackamas.us/dm/publicalerts)
  4. Tune into radio stations like 91.5 KOPB-FM or 101.1 KXL-FM for Portland area news.

5. For local information, visit
www.tualatin.gov and/or follow
@cityoftualatin and @tualatinpolice on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and NextDoor.

Happy National Preparedness Month! 

Hundreds of students start school year with supplies

Barbara Sherman
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Hundreds of students start school year with supplies

The cars started lining up even before 4 p.m. on Aug. 23, which was the time families could start picking up bags of free school supplies at Tualatin United Methodist Church on Martinazzi Avenue. The program started as a ministry of the church with members providing a lot of the funding and volunteers although it is becoming more of a community-based effort.

For the sixth year in a row, many Tualatin students received free school supplies to get their school year off to a good start. The distribution was changed again this year to accommodate Covid-19 protocols, with parents driving up in their vehicles and volunteers handing pre-packaged large brown bags marked with the grade level through open car doors or putting them into trunks.

The program continued for the next two days at Tualatin Elementary School.

At the Tualatin United Methodist Church, organizers Emilie Kroen (third from right) and her husband Tom (right), along with other volunteers greet families who came by. Barbara Sherman/Tigard Life

Emilie Kroen, along with her husband Tom, does most of the fundraising and purchasing, and she runs the program with military precision. On that first day, with 25 volunteers on site, she was armed with forms and checklists as she explained to them their various duties and directed them to their positions. There were people greeting occupants in vehicles and filling out forms with basic information about the students to serve as a record for this year and planning for next year; people at a front table to handle walk-ins; people standing at huge tables loaded with the labeled bags, and runners going between the vehicles and tables to fill orders; there also were volunteer interpreters.

One reason there were lots of volunteers was because “I don’t want to turn young people away when they want to help,” Kroen said.

Between getting people in place, Kroen explained, “We want kids benefitting from this program to feel empowered. We don’t want these kids to feel different, and this way they have all the same things as everyone else at school.”

This year’s fundraising goal was $6,000, and Kroen said that $6,400 was raised. “Some supplies were donated by stores, we shopped every sale, and we got a lot of great discounts when shopping,” she said. “Every year our sponsors are just more and more generous. We have 450 bags here that cost $5,400, which is less than $15 per bag.”

The program has grown by leaps and bounds, starting with 59 kids the first year, 88 the second year and 330 in 2020. “Our goal this year is to provide school supplies to over 400 children,” Kroen said. “The first year we started going to neighborhoods around the church, and now we focus on areas of the city where we learned families can benefit from a little support, plus our two Title 1 elementary schools.” 

(Title 1 is a federal entitlement program that gives funds to schools in need based on student enrollment, the free- and reduced-lunch percentage for each school and other information.)

Pre-Covid, families could come into the church and pick out their own supplies, but the drive-through operation started last summer, with the bags filled with the items on the Tigard-Tualatin School District’s supply list for each grade level. However, families walked into Tualatin Elementary to choose their items on the last two days of the program, which was coordinated with the summer lunch program.

In addition to the school supplies, the Rotary Club of Tualatin’s “Books on Wheels” program also provided three age-appropriate books to each child.

In addition to the Rotary club, other community partners were OnPoint Credit Union, Staples and Fred Meyer, Tualatin, Target and Office Depot, Wilsonville, and Family Promise of Tualatin Valley.

For more information, contact the church at 503-692-1820.

Tualatin Police Blotter: August 2021

Tualatin Life
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Tualatin Police Blotter: August 2021

This information is provided by the Tualatin Police Department and represents a partial log of calls received by the department last month. The Department’s non-emergency phone number is (503) 629-0111. The community tip line can be reached at (503) 691-0285.

Aug. 3: 2:01 p.m. – An unknown suspect fraudulently posing as a Bank of America employee convinced the complainant to transfer money to another bank account. 

7:36 p.m. – A domestic disturbance in the 8600 block of SW Tualatin Road involving a physical altercation between a man and a woman resulted in no arrests after neither party wished to file a complaint. 

Aug. 4: 5:43 p.m. – A 67-year-old man was arrested in the 19400 block of SW Martinazzi Ave. for offensive littering and second-degree criminal trespass. 

Aug. 5: 12:49 p.m. – A person at a residence in the 17700 block of SW 111th Ave. reported that someone attempted to obtain unemployment benefits by fraudulently using their identity.

5:42 p.m. – A 22-year-old man was arrested in the 12500 block of SW Leveton Drive on a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault after reportedly becoming enraged with his manager at work and punching him in the face. 

9:25 p.m. – A vehicle in the 18100 block of SW Lower Boones Ferry Road was broken into and a backpack stolen. Debit and credit cards in the backpack were then used at another location.

10:16 p.m. – A vehicle in the 19200 block of SW Martinazzi Ave. was broken into and a backpack with credit cards inside was stolen. The cards were then used at another location. 

Aug. 7: 2:33 a.m. – A domestic disturbance was reported in the 9300 block of SW Sagert Street. There, a female suspect reportedly struck her husband during an argument. No arrest reported. 

4:29 p.m. – An unknown suspect stole a laptop computer from an apartment in the 20400 block of SW Martinazzi Ave. There were no signs of forced entry into the residence. 

Aug. 8: 2:35 a.m. – A 43-year-old man was arrested for DUII and recklessly endangering another person after being stopped at the intersection of Interstate 5 northbound and SW Lower Boones Ferry Road. 

2:03 p.m. – A 22-year-old man was cited for third-degree theft after reportedly stealing food from the Jackson Food Store in the 7000 block of SW Nyberg Street. 

4:57 p.m. – Two men were arrested at a business in the 7000 block of SW Nyberg Street. A 45-year-old man was charged with first- and second-degree theft and also had an outstanding warrant, while a 37-year-old accomplice was found to have an outstanding warrant for theft. 

5:51 p.m. – A victim in the 20200 block of SW 86th Avenue reported being scammed by a person through Facebook who convinced the victim to send them $1,000 worth of Visa gift cards.

Aug. 8: 11:30 a.m. – An assault was reported in the 8700 block of SW Tualatin Sherwood Road, where an assault male was reported to have wounds on his hands from a machete. 

Aug. 9: 10:11 p.m. – A 40-year-old woman was arrested in the 19200 block of SW Martinazzi Avenue for giving false information – name, birthdate and social security number – to police, as well as for three outstanding warrants

Aug. 10: 7:45 p.m. – A 33-year-old man was arrested for identity theft after being stopped by officers in the 19200 block of SW Martinazzi Ave. on suspicion of fraudulently using credit cards. He was then found to be in possession of someone else’s Washington driver’s license. 

9:42 p.m. – A 27-year-old man was arrested on a felony warrant in the 6600 block of SW Sagert Street. 

Aug. 11: 1:40 a.m. – A 25-year-old Amazon delivery driver was arrested for DUII-Alcohol in the 21400 block of SW 115th Ave. after reportedly reporting to the Tualatin warehouse at the end of his shift and a supervisor smelling alcohol on his breath. 

Aug. 12: 12:19 a.m. – A 39-year-old man was arrested for DUII and reckless driving after being stopped in the 7300 block of SW Nyberg Street. 

Aug. 13: 3:15 p.m. – A 40-year-old man was arrested in the 19300 block of SW Martinazzi Ave. for unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle, while a woman with him was arrested on outstanding arrest warrants. 

2:53 p.m. – A 25-year-old man was arrested for harassment following a domestic disturbance on the SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road. 

8:26 p.m. – A woman in the 22200 block of SW Martinazzi Avenue reportedly was deceived of $381 in a fraudulent merchandise return scheme. 

11:56 p.m. – A 26-year-old woman was arrested at Fred Meyer on charges of identity theft, second-degree theft, giving false information to police and on outstanding warrants. A 26-year-old man with her was also arrested on an outstanding warrant. 

Aug. 15: 8:10 p.m. – A 27-year-old man was arrested for second-degree theft and criminal mischief after reportedly stealing a bicycle from a McDonald’s employee in the 19200 block of SW Martinazzi Ave. Police identified the suspect from surveillance footage. 

Aug. 16: 3:06 p.m. – A woman was arrested after stealing $514.70 from Fred Meyer. Police said she provided false information to avoid an outstanding warrant and was also in possession of a stolen credit card. A man with her was also cited and released on an outstanding warrant. 

Aug. 17: 6:37 a.m. – An unknown suspect broke into a business office in the 19500 block of SW 118th Ave. and stole a payroll check. 

Aug. 18: 11:36 a.m. – Two juveniles reportedly broke into Tualatin High School and stole items from inside. They also damaged an exterior video camera and a magnetic keypad in the Tech Wing Building. 

Aug. 19: 12:05 p.m. – A business in the 18300 block of SW Teton Ave. reported that a forged check for $15,000 was reportedly cashed on a business account. 

Aug. 20: 5:33 a.m. – A 25-year-old man was arrested in the 8900 block of SW Sweek Drive for second-degree theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property, while a second suspect was cited and released for second-degree theft and possession of stolen property. 

3:06 p.m. – A 31-year-old man was cited for criminal mischief after he threw a water bottle at a vehicle at the junction of SW Boones Ferry Road and SW Siletz Drive, causing over $1,500 worth of damage. 

Aug. 21: 1:12 p.m. – A 27-year-old woman was cited for second-degree theft at Fred Meyer and also arrested on several outstanding warrants. She was lodged in the Washington County Jail.

Aug. 22: 3:38 a.m. – A 52-year-old woman was arrested for fourth-degree assault following a domestic disturbance in the 9300 block of SW Sagert Street. She was lodged in the Washington County Jail. 

6:14 a.m. – A 19-year-old man was arrested for DUII-Alcohol in the 7500 block of SW Nyberg Street. 

3:27 p.m. – A 35-year-old woman was arrested at Fred Meyer for first-degree theft, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was lodged in the Washington County Jail, where she was also charged with attempting to smuggle in contraband drugs. 

Aug. 23: 9:16 p.m. A 43-year-old man was arrested at Fred Meyer on a charge of second-degree theft after attempting to steal children’s clothing. A 37-year-old woman with him was arrested on an outstanding warrant. 

Housing production strategy aims at preserving existing stock as much as building new

Josh Kulla
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Housing production strategy aims at preserving existing stock as much as building new

Housing in Tualatin is a complicated issue. 

On the one hand, the shortage of affordable housing is as acute in Tualatin as anywhere else. But on the other, there is a definitely shortage of land set aside for residential building here in the south metro area, not to mention the infrastructure to serve new homes is also lacking. Those two clashing realities have made the creation of a new housing production strategy report quite the challenge for Tualatin city officials. 

Under a 2019 Oregon law, the state requires cities with more than 10,000 people to produce a Housing Production Strategy every six to eight years. These documents identify known housing needs in a community and strategies for meeting those needs. 

In Tualatin’s case, its Housing Production Strategy was unanimously approved by the city council on Aug. 9. It is based, in part, on the Tualatin 2040 plan, which aims to manage growth in the city over the next 20 years and is also a part of the city’s comprehensive plan.

Tualatin city staff crafted 12 separate strategic goals for the Strategy ranging from building and preserving affordable housing, to changing city code to make development smoother and updating public transportation and utility infrastructure. They are broad-based

At the same time, none of the goals in the Strategy are legally binding. 

“These strategies are not set in stone, nor is (non)performance of these strategies going to be penalized,” Steve Koper, Assistant Community Development Director, said at the Aug. 9 Tualatin City Council meeting. 

Much as the city may want to boost local housing stock, practical considerations remain an obstacle. 

“It’s obviously a really big need as far as workforce housing and affordable housing,” Councilor Bridget Brooks said. “But because of the conversations we’ve been having, my concerns are going to be at – congestion, congestion, congestion. We have this regional urban growth boundary buildout and nowhere for these cars to go.” 

Senior Housing Program Analyst Karen Perl Fox said much of the Strategy is, in fact, aimed at actions other than building more housing. These include preserving and upgrading existing housing, providing rental assistance and improving city infrastructure. 

“We were allowed to look at programs, project partnerships and policies across the board,” Fox said. “It didn’t have to be just about production, and actually a relatively small part of it is about production.”  

For more information visit: www.tualatinoregon.gov/planning/tualatin-2040.

Mayor’s Corner: September 2021

Frank Bubenik
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Mayor’s Corner: September 2021

As I write this article for the September issue, Washington County is dealing with a huge increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Governor Brown issued a new executive order mandating that all Oregonians five and older wear masks in indoor public places effective Friday, August 13. The governor ordered on Friday, August 27, that masks will also be required in all public outdoor settings where physical distancing is not possible, regardless of vaccination status. While the rule does not apply to outdoor gatherings at private residences, masks are strongly recommended in those settings when it’s impossible to physically distance.

Per Washington County Public Health, the Delta variant is eight times more transmissible than the original strain. Vaccines continue be highly effective at preventing infection, hospitalization, and death. Virtually all deaths and hospitalizations in the U.S. are among unvaccinated people. Breakthrough cases of COVID-19 can occur in fully vaccinated people; however, they are much less common and tend to produce mild illness.

In Oregon, the Delta variant is now the overwhelmingly dominant strain. It is sweeping through our unvaccinated populations, leading to severe illness in some cases, hospitalizations, and unfortunately new deaths.

The county continues to see increases in outbreaks at worksites, schools, and among unvaccinated groups. There are outbreaks in long-term care facilities, congregate settings, in workplace settings, and in schools/daycares/camps. Nineteen percent of COVID infections are in children between birth and 19 years old. Local school districts are taking every precaution to keep our children safe when they return to the classroom.

I ask that if you have not been vaccinated, please do so. Vaccinations are free, effective, and reduce the risk of hospitalization for those 12 and older. On August 23rd the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, having been subject to a full review by the FDA.  This approval puts the vaccine on par with other marketed vaccines. The FDA’s full approval applies to people 16 and older. Those ages 12 through 15 can still receive the vaccine under the existing emergency use authorization.

Discuss the vaccination with your trusted health care professional. If you have questions about the vaccine, you can call 211 or 1-833-907-3520 to receive help in several languages. There is a plentiful supply of vaccine and many walk-in opportunities including pharmacies, mobile clinics, and local events. If you think you may have been exposed to covid there is an information webpage in English (www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/CommunicableDiseases/COVID-19/testing-sites.cfm) and Spanish (www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/CommunicableDiseases/COVID-19-Espanol/prueba-covid-19.cfm). If you are getting tested because you had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, it’s best to wait three to four days after you were together before getting tested. The test may not be accurate if you get it done too soon. You should stay home and away from unvaccinated individuals while you wait.

Hormones play a major role in a multitude of bodily functions

Dr. Roberta Huang
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Hormones play a major role in a multitude of bodily functions

Hormones play a major role in a multitude of bodily functions. This includes the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone as well as other hormones such as growth hormone. It is not widely known is that declining hormone levels can start for some men and women as early as in their 30’s leading to symptoms that often become evident in a person’s 40’s, symptoms we often attribute to being tired, overworked, or just natural aging.  It is also not well known that the hormone testosterone is as important for women as it is for men. 

Menopause is a stage of life which results in a drastic reduction in hormone levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone with the cessation of menstrual cycles in women. Though each woman may experience menopause and the transition into menopause differently, the most commonly recognized symptoms which are related to declining estrogen levels include hot flashes and night sweats and as the low hormone state continues urogenital symptoms can worsen such as vaginal dryness, loss of lubrication, painful intercourse, worsening urinary incontinence and painful urination.  

Symptoms of low testosterone
in women include:

  • Decreased energy levels/fatigue
  • Mood changes including irritability, depressed mood, anxiety
  • Lowered libido or sex drive
  • Loss of muscle mass and increasing body fat
  • Decreased bone mass (which is affected by both estrogen and testosterone)
  • Brain fog with decreased memory and focus

Symptoms of testosterone deficiency
in men include:

  • Reduced sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Decreased energy/fatigue
  • Loss of lean body mass and increasing fat mass
  • Mood changes such as irritability, depressed mood, anxiety
  • Brain fog with decreased memory and focus

Of course, some of these symptoms are not only specific to low hormones but can also represent other physical health or mental health conditions, so before embarking on a quest for treatment with hormone therapy, it is important to have regular health checks with a primary care provider and to strive toward healthy lifestyle habits such as optimizing one’s diet, getting adequate sleep and getting regular exercise.  Also worth mentioning is that despite the boost in well-being that is evident to both men and women who are appropriately treated with hormone therapy, testosterone therapy is still not widely accessible, especially to women. For this reason, men and women who are motivated to improve their quality of life often seek help for their hormonal concerns through clinics that specialize in hormone therapy.  In fact, a drastic reduction in prescriptions for hormone therapy for women occurred after 2002 in response to a study published by the Women’s Health Initiate (WHI) which showed an increase incidence of breast cancer and an increase in blood clot related complications. However, some experts have revisited and criticized that the study on the ground that it did not look closely enough at the different groups of women in the study and what types of hormones were used. We do know now that estrogen hormones taken by mouth can increase the risk for blood clots and that using estrogen either in the form of a cream, patch or pellet does not incur the same risk.  As far as breast cancer is concerned, whether the hormones are bio-identical may make a difference including whether a progestin is used versus a bio-identical progesterone. There is evidence that testosterone can actually lower a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer, including a recent study published in the European Journal of Breast Health showing a 35.5% lower incidence of invasive breast cancer.  None of the participants in the WHI study had testosterone as a part of their hormone replacement program. All of this being said, each person’s decision whether or not hormone therapy is appropriate for them needs to be discussed with a healthcare provider versed in providing these services and the pros and cons of therapy considered. 

What is the State of the local Job Market?

Jonathan Crane
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What is the State of the local Job Market?

 I get asked this all the time, and to be blunt, the employee shortage is more than a little concerning, but I’m very optimistic about more candidates becoming available in the very near future when Oregon’s Extended Benefits program ends September 4th.

As it stands, finding employees continues to be the single greatest challenge for most every business here in Tualatin, as well as across the nation.  This is not limited to any one sector, like the service industry, the effects are being felt across all spectrums, all income levels, all demographics and it’s putting a major damper on productivity.  Employers are competing against more than a year of extended unemployment benefit checks, hyper-aggressive hiring by the ever-expanding Amazon (and other major names), and a new generation of workers who are seemingly disinterested in working despite exorbitant wages for little to no experience.  

This issue continues to baffle so many of us in business.  We see relatively easy, simple, entry-level jobs at $18+/hour with no takers.  We have clients with amazing businesses that are willing to train, teach a new trade, lower standards for drug and background checks, and still so few bites.  

This causes immense frustration among our many clients who keep upping wages, offering incentives, while simultaneously lowering their standards for new hires.  Clients have great demand for their goods and services but can’t get product out the door because of our intense labor shortage. 

This is not a small problem.  Goods aren’t being shipped, restaurants aren’t being opened, those who do work are often being overworked, and yet there seems to be no urgency for so many to get jobs and fill these hundreds of open positions in Tualatin and beyond.  

My expectation is that when the unemployment windfall ends for tens of thousands of perfectly employable people who are currently not working, the problem will begin to correct itself, which would solve so many of our manufacturer’s problems.  

The good news is that there’s never been a better time to enter the job market.  Ridiculously high wages, sign-on bonuses, an amazing selection of jobs, and shifts all combine to create the perfect scenario for the new employee as well as the worker who wishes to retool and find a new trade. If there’s ever been an employee’s market, this is it!

I have high hopes that workers will return to the workforce in the coming months, filling many of the hundreds of open positions in Tualatin. 

Let’s cross our fingers, our economy is depending on it!

Are Houses Less Affordable Now Than They Were in the Past?

Tom and Vicki Gile
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Are Houses Less Affordable Now Than They Were in the Past?

2021 has been an interesting year for real estate both across the country and in Tualatin. Locally we have seen housing inventory decline by 60 percent. Where typically we see 60 or so homes for sale in Tualatin, recently the number has been around 20. Home prices have risen close to 20 percent because of this tight supply. This has caused many people to give the housing market some pause.  When thinking about buying or selling, it is important to understand the true dynamics of the market.

There are many headlines about how housing affordability is declining. The headlines are correct: it’s less affordable to purchase a home today than it was a year ago. However, it’s important to give this trend context. Is it less expensive to buy a house today than it was in 2005? What about 1995? 

Obviously, the price of a home has appreciated dramatically over the last 25 years. However, when we look at housing, price is just one component that makes up the monthly cost of the home. Another key factor is the mortgage rate at the time of purchase. Mortgage rates are still at historic lows helping keep the total cost of ownership affordable. When adjusted for inflation and current mortgage rates, homes today are more affordable than they were in the 1980’s, 1990’s and the better part of the 2000’s. The only exceptions being last year and 2010. 

If you want to buy a home, don’t let the headlines about affordability discourage you. Remember, headlines are meant to terrify, not clarify.  While you can’t get the deal your friend got last year, you will get a better deal than you would have in 2015 or even two years ago. 

School Supply List: New Potting Bar

Hannah Cashman
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School Supply List: New Potting Bar

September used to be my favorite month. The hunt for new school supplies, the rush for a last-minute vacation, and the extreme deliberation over the first day of school outfit. I remember, at the beginning of school, my family would walk to our new classrooms. This made the first day all that much more of an adventure. We didn’t take the bus or drive; we got up extra early and walked. This tradition continued through the duration of elementary school for all four of us children. The school year was always a time to learn, start fresh, and try something new. Some things stick with us, and others were bypassed for bigger and better things. 

One thing that was always a priority for me was the importance of school supplies. The choices always weighed heavily on my mind in the store; I had to pick the best items because I would be stuck with my choices for the rest of the school year. Some things were selected to match my friends, while others were selected to specifically be different from everyone else (as if we did not all shop at the same stores). While this selection has adjusted over my lifetime, I still use an annual planner, and I still stand at the store for what feels like hours before carefully selecting one from the rack. The hardest part, and the easiest, is that you had all of the choices in front of you. Walking away from the store, I knew exactly what was going to appear in my backpack on the first day, and I knew it fit because I had everything packed already. If only plant shopping was just as easy and exciting, but here is the thing, it can be, and even better, it is. 

My experience in the garden has been far from usual. There are many instances where my mother and I will be potting up a planter for the house or the store and something just does not work right. In these instances, there is no problem; we simply go back out onto the floor and find the right plant to fit our designer container. Those plants that we do not use get returned safely to their original tables. We can fiddle and fuss until we have created our masterpiece with no mess and no stress. This eliminates the worry of selecting too many plants, or too few plants, as both of those issues can be resolved in-store before the finalized product gets placed on the floor. My father watched our process many, many times and started to design some creations of his own. From this practical application as a store use to a customer service opportunity. At The Garden Corner, there is a planting bar. It is not just any planting bar. It just so happens to be the exact same planting bar that the staff use to create our magic. The best part, it is available for our customers. 

This past year, school and the planting bar alike have looked a little different. There are new changes, new adjustments. Some things stuck with us and look the same, and others were bypassed for bigger and better things. This fall, we are trying something new, learn, and start fresh. We want to encourage you to bring your planters in and try something new. Our planting bars are open for reservation, and we are happy to discuss return policies if you are working on a project that is just too big to bring into the store. If you have bigger questions surrounding bigger ideas, email jonn@thegardencorner.com. Find some excitement in your garden – it is the beginning of a new season!

Tualatin CIO President’s Report

Barbara Darling Bracken
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Tualatin CIO President’s Report

Tualatin’s CIO Presidents continue to bring information, ideas and concerns of their residents to the attention of the City Council members and various city leaders.  In addition, they communicate important information to those who live and work here.

The Tualatin Neighborhood Ready program brings important safety information to the community.  It provides critical information about emergency preparedness for a variety of potential disasters we may face: urban fire, ice & wind storms, floods, earthquake, and chemical accidents.  

Tualatin Neighborhood Ready continues to offer free Zoom presentations to the public.  The next are scheduled Saturday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. and Monday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.  These Zoom presentations do require a preregistration through the link found at www.tualatincert.org/tualatin-ready. 

Much more fun is to be together in person with your neighbors on driveways, cul-de-sacs or decks.  Dates are of your choosing; trained facilitators are available weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.  To schedule an in-person gathering email TualatinReadyMYN@gmail.com.  

Topics in both formats include: risks we may face, making a Family Plan, documents you should have, assembling Go Bags, “Shelter in place” storage ideas, making your home safe, how and when to shut off utilities, urban fire evacuation levels, and the value of connecting with your neighbors.  A free workbook and several specific topic handouts are also included.

Because of COVID-19, the last 19 months have required the program to adjust to new format and protocols.  All of us have experienced this need in both our personal and professional lives.  Unfortunately, it seems we will need to remain flexible for the foreseeable future.  

Mother Nature’s challenges haven’t been slowed or curtailed by the pandemic!  For our safety and resilience, we must still be prepared in the event of a disaster. Tualatin Neighborhood Ready provides information to help you take steps ahead of time.

Indoor masking recommendation returns as COVID case numbers rise again

Josh Kulla
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Indoor masking recommendation returns as COVID case numbers rise again

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic it feels a bit like Groundhog Day anymore.

Just a few weeks after the State of Oregon lifted its long-standing business restrictions, mask mandate and other safety measures on June 30, rapidly rising case rates led the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to issue a new recommendation on July 27 urging universal mask use in public indoor settings.

The move came the same day as the number of reported COVID cases in Oregon rose above 1,000 for the first time since April. It was followed a day later in California by a similar recommendation for indoor masking by the California Department of Public Health. Washington state’s top epidemiologist also issued an indoor mask recommendation on July 23. 

Dr. Dean Sidelinger

“Today’s reported sharp rise in cases and hospitalizations in Oregon are sobering reminders that the pandemic is not over, especially for Oregonians who remain unvaccinated,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist and state health officer. “The highly contagious Delta variant has increased tenfold in the past two weeks in Oregon, and it is now estimated to be associated with 80% of the new cases in Oregon. The use of face masks provides significant protection for individuals who are unvaccinated as well as an additional level protection from a small but known risk of infection by the virus for persons who have already been vaccinated.”

Washington County Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Mary Sawyers said county health officials are watching the situation closely in case further action is needed beyond recommendations. 

Mary Sawyers

“I think it is becoming a concern, it’s happening very fast,” she said. “OHA said in the last two weeks the Delta variant has increased tenfold and is responsible for 80 percent of cases, and if you look at our daily case count in the last two weeks you can see it’s jumping up every day. It’s starting to be a concern to everyone in the county.” 

Sawyers said the important thing is to continue to urge unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and continue efforts to allow that to happen. This includes use of a mobile vaccination clinic that is currently traveling around the county. It will make a stop at Atfalati Park in Tualatin on Aug. 14. 

“The key message Is not necessarily about the masks, the key message is, people who are unvaccinated should get vaccinated,” Sawyers said. “We are up around almost 76 percent in Washington County, but that leaves 24 to 25 percent of the population of adults who haven’t been vaccinated and 12 and under can’t get vaccinated. You’re protecting people who choose not to get vaccinated, people who don’t have access to vaccinations and children.” 

The OHA announcement came just one day after the Tualatin City Council voted to formally end the state of emergency it enacted last spring at the start of the pandemic. Mayor Frank Bubenik said the main reason for the state of emergency was to allow the city to provide economic assistance to business owners and residents. 

“The state of emergency allowed the council to approve my moratorium on commercial and residential evictions and allowed me the ability to issue public safety and health orders related to the COVID-19 emergency,” Bubenik said. “The federal and state government are (now) handling the moratoriums and the counties are issuing guidance on masking and the city will be following their lead. If there comes a time where the council feels any of these three levels of government are mishandling the pandemic response, we will act quickly.” 

To find a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic near you, visit www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/

Vintage Tualatin Fire Truck Ready for Public View

Tualatin Life
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Vintage Tualatin Fire Truck Ready for Public View

Rusting away in a farmer’s field near the small central Oregon town of Terrebonne, a vintage firetruck that once served Tualatin has now been restored and will be on public display for the first time Saturday, August 7, across from the police station at Tualatin Heritage Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Many Free gifts for kids will be provided by TVF&R and snacks for kids will be provided by the Tualatin Historical Society.

Accidentally discovered by retired Tualatin volunteer fireman Brian Clopton several years ago, he and a “band of brothers” carefully restored the 1950 truck that served the city and surrounding areas until modern equipment was gradually added.   Tualatin’s fire department served as the catalyst for today’s largest fire district of its kind in Oregon: Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVFR).

Families are invited to inspect the restored truck and also visit a modern engine parked nearby. 

Several volunteers who served or worked on the old truck will also be available to explain its operation.  One of those was Kelvin Staven, who made sure the restoration was period correct.  Goodies for the kids will be available from TVFR, and today’s active engine will be on standby if needed to respond to a call.

Tualatin’s original small volunteer firefighters worked with older equipment in a “lean-to” attached to the old city hall just south of the Gyros to Go building near Boones Ferry and Tualatin Sherwood Road. As the town grew, the Tualatin Rural Fire Protection District was formed, and a new station was built on Seneca Street not far from the Lake at the Commons and Winona Grange, with new ones added later. 

Today’s TVFR now operates from 23 stations and responded to some 50,000 incidents last year in much of Washington County and surrounding areas. Brian served on the TVFR board for many years.

The history of Tualatin’s fire department has been chronicled in a book coordinated by Yvonne Addington, former city manager, whose father served on the board when the vintage truck was used.  The book will be on sale that day.

¡Viva Tualatin! Returns

Immer Honorato
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¡Viva Tualatin! Returns

Celebration of Arts & Culture returns for 3 days at three separate locations

Show off your coloring skills for a chance to win one of TEN Summer Fun prize baskets! Pick up coloring pages at the Tualatin Public Library or print at home by visiting TualatinOregon.gov/VivaTualatin. Entries are due at the Tualatin Public Library by 6:00 p.m. on August 20.

The City of Tualatin is proud to present the return of ¡Viva Tualatin! A Celebration of Arts and Culture. This year we have modified ¡Viva Tualatin! from a festival format to three mini-events: August 22 at Atfalati park, August 25 at the Tualatin Public Library, and August 28 at Tualatin Community Park. We’ll be celebrating with piñatas, Aztec Dance, Ballet Folklorico Corazones Alegres, kids’ comedy with Angel Ocasio (on all three days) and so much more! Cool off with some Whabii shave ice and stay entertained by the performances we have in store for you. Prior to Viva week we’ll have a coloring sheet activity that you can pick up at the Tualatin Library. You’ll be able to win a Viva Tualatin swag bag by putting your coloring skills to the test. We will also have crafts during the events for kids to enjoy!

Viva Tualatin was thought up to be inclusive to people of all backgrounds and for everyone that calls Tualatin home. We had such a fantastic time bringing this event to life in 2019 and highlighting Tualatin’s vibrant arts and culture. ¡Viva Tualatin! is a way for people to create bonds as a community from Tualatin’s growing Pacific Islander community to Tualatin’s Spanish-speaking community. ¡Viva Tualatin! is here for the sole purpose of celebrating all through arts, dance, food and celebration. We hope to bring new experiences to everyone in the community while celebrating what makes Tualatin great. We hope to see you there celebrating with us! 

For more information, please visit TualatinOregon.gov/VivaTualatin.

¡Viva Tualatin! Regresa

Aztec Dance

La celebración de las artes y cultura esta de vuelta durante 3 días en tres ubicaciones distintas

La ciudad de Tualatin se enorgullece en presentar el regreso de ¡Viva Tualatin! Una celebración de las artes y la cultura. Este año hemos modificado ¡Viva Tualatin! de un formato de festival a tres mini eventos: 22 de agosto en el parque Atfalati, 25 de agosto en la biblioteca pública de Tualatin y 28 de agosto en el parque comunitario de Tualatin. ¡Celebraremos con piñatas, ¡Dance Azteca, ¡Ballet folklórico Corazones Alegres, comedia infantil con Angel Ocasio (los tres días) y mucho más! Refrésquese con un raspado del vendedor Whabii y diviértase con las actuaciones que tenemos preparadas para usted. Antes de la semana de VIVA tendremos una actividad de hoja para colorear que puede recoger en la Biblioteca de Tualatin. Podrás ganar una bolsita de regalos de Viva Tualatin poniendo a prueba tus habilidades para colorear. ¡También tendremos bolsitas de proyectos durante los eventos para que los niños disfruten!

Kids’ comedy with Angel Ocasio – All three days!

VIVA Tualatin fue pensado para ser inclusivo para personas de todos los orígenes y para todos los que llaman hogar a Tualatin. Nos la pasamos genial dando vida a este evento en 2019 destacando el arte y la cultura vibrante de Tualatin. ¡Viva Tualatin! Es una forma de que las personas creen vínculos en la comunidad desde la comunidad de habla hispana hasta la comunidad creciente de las islas del Pacífico de Tualatin. ¡Viva Tualatin! está aquí con el propósito de celebrar a través del arte, la danza, la comida y la celebración. Esperamos brindar nuevas experiencias a todos en la comunidad mientras celebramos lo que hace que Tualatin sea grandioso. ¡Esperamos verte allí celebrando con nosotros! 

Para obtener más información, visite nuestra página web TualatinOregon.gov/VivaTualatin.

Event Schedule:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Atfalati Park, 6600 SW Sagert St.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Tualatin Public Library Plaza,
18878 SW Martinazzi Ave.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Tualatin Community Park,
8515 SW Tualatin Rd.

My Ride: Tualatin James Jeffery

Josh Kulla
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My Ride: Tualatin James Jeffery

Raspberry Red Duster brings back memories of working with Dad

My dad in the Duster in 1991.

My 1973 Plymouth Duster may not be a show car, but it holds a lot of special memories and seems to grab plenty of attention when it is out for a drive. 

This Raspberry Red Metallic car has been in the family since 1989. It was my Dad’s car, and I helped him do the initial restoration and modifications to it when I was 15. I bought it from him in 2005. 

This car brings back memories of working on it with my Dad. Every time I work on it, I’m reminded of something we did together 30 years ago. When I take it out for a drive, I remember being a 15 and 16-year-old kid sitting next to my Dad as he nails the throttle on the highway on-ramp and rows through the gears getting up to highway speed and getting sucked back into the seat as the car eats up the pavement.

The restored engine bay.

I currently work at So-Cal Speed Shop Northwest in Tualatin, and I have worked in the restoration and hot rod industry for the last 15 years.  

I have always been a “car person.” Matchbox and Hot Wheels were my life as a kid. My Dad helped channel that into the practical application of repairing and restoring cars. I was a jet engine mechanic in the Navy, and I went through Collision Repair and Refinishing classes at Clackamas Community College.

I have been working on the Duster since September of last year, when it was delivered from Michigan. I have completely replaced and rebuilt the fuel system, cooling system, and brake system. I removed every piece of the interior to thoroughly clean everything and replace the carpet, headliner, and package tray cover.

James greeting the Duster as it is delivered from Michigan in 2020.

I removed the windshield and dash so I could rebuild the heater box and repair the rusted-out section of the roof around the corners of the windshield. I have also replaced the tires, shocks and installed a front sway bar for better road control.

It is not a show car. It sat outside for about ten years before I could get it moved out to Oregon from Michigan. I have been working on getting it roadworthy and clean, so I can just go out and enjoy it. It seems to garner attention because one, you don’t see many Dusters running around, and two, the color and wheels draw people in.

If you’re doing a restoration, talk to someone who has done it before. Have a clear vision for your project before you start anything and make a plan. There is most definitely a sequence that needs to happen for a good restoration. Not knowing what type of build you want to do or what order it needs to happen in can not only cost you a lot of extra money, it can suck the fun out of it.  

I have seen many projects that have not been finished or sold because the owner has spent way more than they needed to or just burnt out on the process because it has become stressful instead of fun.  

Join a good car club with similar interests and cars that you have so you can get some ideas of what you want and how to get it done. Remember, this is a passion, and it’s supposed to be fun. Even when it’s hard, hot, and dirty, it needs to be fun.

The Duster as it appears today.

Jack Broome memorialized with redwood in Brown’s Ferry Park

Barbara Sherman
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Jack Broome memorialized with redwood in Brown’s Ferry Park

There is a new tree growing in Brown’s Ferry Park, and it is anything but your typical fir tree. 

While it is only a few feet high now, one day it will be a towering coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens, which is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family) that was planted in honor of a towering Tualatin figure, Jack Broome.

On the morning of July 22, amid all the activities of the Willowbrook Arts Camp, a small group, including members of the Broome family and the Tualatin Historical Society, gathered at the tree for a dedication ceremony and to remember Broome’s leadership in conservation, preserving Tualatin’s history, lending his architectural talent to various projects and promoting education.

Norm Parker, chair of the historical society’s Scholarship Committee and a good friend of Broome’s, talked about Broome’s modesty regarding his World War II military service as a Marine aviator/gunner/navigator in the South Pacific by noting that Broome said he shouldn’t receive any accolades because he wasn’t shot down.

“He wanted to (preserve history) for young people because they will be around in the future,” Parker said. “He helped start the historical society, practically funding it the first year.”

Parker recalled Broome’s sense of humor and driving around town in an orange Volvo that was later replaced by a brown model. 

Esther Lev, the first paid director of the Wetlands Conservancy, followed Broome’s tenure after they co-founded the conservancy and worked to save Hedges Creek and marsh.

“Jack inspired land trusts around the state,” Lev said. “He was an amazing connector.”

Mayor Frank Bubenik recalled being a city councilor when he first met Broome and being inspired by his passion for various projects.

“No better tree could honor Jack Broome than a redwood, since Jack himself stood straight and tall, and his legacies have continued to thrive and will continue to grow into the future,” Bubenik said. “It’s fitting that we’re surrounded by Willowbrook Arts Camp founded by his wife Althea Pratt, a 38-year program that he supported from behind the scenes.”

Broome was responsible for the original design of the Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center as the lead architect, with Bubenik noting, “It opened in the early 1970s and has expanded several (times) since. Since that time, we have welcomed all the major health care systems to our city.”

Broome was later hired to create the city’s first urban renewal plan to improve the downtown core (and get rid of the smelly dog food plant), Bubenik said.

Broome was instrumental in preserving local landmarks, including the 1858 Sweek House, where Pratt lives today. It remains the only building in the city protected by the federal government as a national historic structure. 

“Jack’s skills as an architect helped assure preservation of the structure,” Bubenik said.

Broome’s architectural skills also came in handy with the move of the 1926 Methodist Church from Boones Ferry Road to its present location near Sweek Pond and updating it to become the Heritage Center.

“Nearly to the end of his life, Jack remained active at the Tualatin Historical Society, where he served as president for two years,” Bubenik said. “We are privileged to recognize a living legacy of Jack’s commitment to education, which he himself was grateful for, thanks to the GI Bill as a World War II veteran.

“He urged the society’s board to create a new scholarship program for a deserving Tualatin High School student each year.”

Jack Broome Scholarship 

Tualatin Historical Society Scholarship Chairperson Norm Parker (right) congratulates 2021 scholarship winner Alexei Burgos at Brown’s Ferry Park. (Barbara Sherman/Tigard Life)

The historical society’s 2021 scholarship winner, Alexei Burgos, was at the event, along with his mom and two sisters, to be recognized for his academic achievements. The Tualatin High School graduate plans to attend Oregon State University to study engineering in the fall.

Parker explained that the society’s annual scholarship, which started at $2,000 in 2011, is now called the Jack Broome Scholarship. It is funded by society members’ donations, “doesn’t come out of the budget” and is now worth $3,000 annually.

One of the criteria to receive the scholarship is to write an essay about the value of history and how it relates to people’s lives.

Burgos, whose family moved here from Puerto Rico, wrote in part, “History is arguably the most important topic to learn about in school. It teaches us the origins of our culture and traditions, while also showing us the roots of the world’s present-day issues… Especially in today’s divided political climate, it is essential to know the vulnerability of democracy, and the ways to preserve it by looking at history… By studying our society’s previous atrocities and failures, we can avoid repeating the past and work towards a better future.”

Burgos thanked the Tualatin Historical Society members for the scholarship and said he would put it to good use.

A plaque at the base of the redwood reads, “Celebrating Jack Broome, 1923-2020; Visionary architect/urban planner/Co-founder of the Wetlands Conservancy and advocate for preserving Tualatin history.”

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