Christmas Ships

December crept up on me :) and well.......

We have two more Christmas Ship sightings in our harbor - Friday Dec. 14 and again on the 21st..

[the one on the 7th escaped me]

7 PM [ish]  - find a place to watch them go by and enjoy

or see them elsewhere: http://www.christmasships.org

Did you suffer damages from the speeding boats last week?

FROM:

Kevin McAfee
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

I am just coming off if my days off and dive training days and trying to sort through the emails that I have received regarding this case. I forwarded the information off to my Lieutenant and he did some follow up on the case while I was away. We think we know the boat involved in this incident, but we have yet to make contact with the owner. I am working on this today. Thank you for getting the word out. Since you have all the email addresses of those involved, can you send out another email? I would just like to hear from those people who received damages. I need the following information from them;

Name
Date of Birth
Address
Phone #
Brief description of damage
Estimate of cost for repair/replacement

This information would be of great help to me. I will let you know when I have solid information at far as the responsible party.

get your information to:

Kevin McAfee
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Willamette River Patrol Unit

SEED & PLANT SWAP

Lovett Deconstruction Salvage Yard
2030 N Willis Blvd
Portland, OR 97217

(In the Kenton neighborhood, right where Denver and Interstate meet, just off the left shoulder of the 30ft Paul Bunyan)

Saturday May 16, 2009

9am-5pm

Due to the popularity of last month’s community seed and plant swap, there will be another chance to trade your indoor and outdoor seeds, starters and plants with the neighbours. The Seed & Plant Swap will take place at Lovett Deconstruction’s Salvaged Building Material Yard on Saturday May 16th 2009 from 9am-5pm.

The Seed & Plant Swap offers people FREE and easy access to fruit, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, trees, annuals, perennials and houseplants whilst helping support local food growing culture and beautifying our neighborhood homes and yards. As Spring sets in, so too begins Spring Cleaning inside and outside. One person’s surplus is another person’s windfall. On Saturday May 16th 2009 the Lovett Deconstruction lot will be buzzing with the sound of people swapping Himalayan Impatiens for Walla Walla Sweets and more besides.

Last month’s Swap was lively and full of surprises as neighbors shared growing tips as well as plants, and the May 16th Swap promises the same. A longer day will mean more items to exchange. You can trade seed packets with plants (one-for-one) or make a donation to the North Portland Tool Library if you have no seeds or plants to swap, talk to neighbors, AND purchase materials to build a raised planter, garden bench or shed while you’re here.

Sponsored by Lovett Deconstruction, the Seed & Plant Swap is a call to gardeners, farmers, herb and flower enthusiasts, seed savers and the whole community to take action to grow your own food, beautify your surroundings and avoid wasting what you can’t use.

Cost: FREE – Bring One, Take One. Contributions to the North Portland Tool Library will be gratefully accepted if you want something, but don’t have anything to swap.

For more details contact the event organizer: Teri at (503) 505-4832

It's not too early for this....

Christmas ship season [aka party time on Bridgeton Road and Hayden Island] is coming!

North Portland Harbor dates are Thursday Dec 11th and Friday Dec. 19th

Full Columbia schedule:  http://www.christmasships.org/columbia.htm

Full Willamette schedule:  http://www.christmasships.org/willamette.htm

Coming this Sunday

Sunday, December 9 from 1 to 4 PM come and hear Ellen Whyte and Jim Miller sing and play guitar and bass at Channel's Edge!

Channel's Edge is located at: 207 N. Bridgeton Road Portland [503-737-2465]

If you haven't heard either Jim or Ellen - this will be a treat

You can also check out the goodies at Channel's Edge while listening to great music..

There is also a wine tasting - to help Kim and Bob decide what wines to add to their selection

Response to my letter to the DD

The response from Bob Eaton to my email of November 9th came in the mail and was undated and I did not log in when it came but it was within the 10 days I requested of him. I'll quote and/or summarize the one page large font letter here:

1 - "The District does not poison beavers." He said they collapsed the burrow.

2- The herbicide use for vegetation control is Garlon 3A - a DowAgro product and he included the DowAgro Safety Data Sheet. Eaton claims animals are "safe" and "Those who use the River may do so with confidence."

3- Eaton adds that if anyone want to inspect the spraying records they are welcome to review them at the MCDD office between 7:30AM and 3:30 PM

4- He claims the DD this year "has gone over the neighborhood notification process procedures" with staff to make sure they will be improved for 2008. As we were never notified - when you and or I go to the office be sure to ask for the current neighborhood notification procedures to see if they even had any.

DowAgro's own Data Safety info suggests that prolonged or frequent exposure needs skin protection and that chemical goggles be used by those spraying. It also states: "...items such as faceshield, gloves, boots, aprons or full-body suit will depend on operation." So let's see - if you are the one spraying it - take all sorts of precautions. BUT if you are near where it is being sprayed and you can be exposed to it - he feels we have no need to know!

Al other info talks to exposure guidelines and of course that was not in the material Eaton sent.

I will make trip there and I suggest anyone else who is interested to go there as well.
Address is 1880 NE Elrod Drive - it's off 33rd

So you don't have to go looking - I'll re-post my letter him below - you can see he did not answer many questions.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Mr. Bob Eaton, Executive Director
Mr. Dave Hendricks, Deputy Director

Multnomah County Drainage District

Dear Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hendricks:

I am a Bridgeton resident. In October of this year a neighbor told me that your office poisoned the beavers in the Columbia River along the levees, including Bridgeton levee, and also sprayed “something” on the levee to curtail vegetative growth.

I find this worrisome and have a few questions:

1 – Did you poison the beavers?

If so, when specifically did this occur? Where were the beaver burrows located that were poisoned?

What poison[s] were used? Please be specific and also list all ingredients including information as to how long each of the ingredients is active.
Did you retrieve the dead animals?
If so, where were they found?
And if not retrieved – why not?

2 - Did you spray or otherwise cause chemicals or poison[s] to be put on the levee?

If so, when specifically did this occur?
Exactly what areas were subjected to this process and how close did the process come to the river's edge?
Did you first take care to note if any water fowl were nesting in those areas?
What specifically was used? Please list all ingredients and also include information as to how long each of the ingredients is active.

3 - Why were the neighbors not notified in advance of any of these events?

Many of us allow our pets to walk on the levee and explore the grasses along the slopes.
Many of us water our plants and vegetables with river water.
Many of us in the neighborhood swim and kayak in the Columbia Channel and River or otherwise come in contact with the water, as do many who do not live here but are out on the river in boats.

Assuming you have all this information readily available I expect a most rapid reply and expect an answer within 10 working days.

Christmas Ships coming soon - eeks!

Eeks = the fact that it's mid November ! [I'm still back in September/October wondering where this year went.]

And that means it's time to start preparing for the Christmas Ships parties : - )

The North Portland Harbor viewings are December 7 and December 14th at 7 PM.

For complete parade route details for both rivers click here.

The Columbia River Bridge Project

The Bridge Project is holding open houses this month

Learn more about the bridge, transit and highway options being analyzed for I-5 between Vancouver and Portland at an upcoming open house.

These community-focused events will provide the public with recent technical findings, cost estimates and a schedule of upcoming decision points. You can talk with project staff, look at detailed maps, get the latest project information and submit your comments.

Wednesday, Oct. 17
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Former Hayden Island Yacht Club
12050 N. Jantzen Drive (across from Safeway)
Portland, OR
Presentation at 6 p.m.


Saturday, Oct. 20
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lincoln Elementary
4200 NW Daniels
Vancouver, WA
Presentations at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

more info available at their website: Click here

Christmas Ship Schedule

The North Portland Harbor schedule is for December 8th and 15th.

For the full schedule go to: http://www.christmasships.org