Lynnda Steenslid, SIG Secretary

503-621-7122 or Email: lynnda@bridgetownelectric.com

Plans are being finalized for the 75th anniversary of the Sauvie Island Grange. Organized in 1935, the grange was instrumental in getting roads, electricity and telephones to the island. Grange members relate stories about how much time their parents and relatives spent with county officials to get these things in place. For many years the Grange met twice a month to facilitate the improvements. Without immediate methods of communication, the Grange was the center of social and civic activism. The program will be a tip of the hat to our history and legacy on the island. Please join us for a potluck dinner and our famous pies. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm and the program will start around 7:00pm.

Adopt a Road Clean Up Scheduled

Our first Adopt a Road clean up is scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 9:00 am starting at the bridge turnaround. All the collection supplies will be provided by Multnomah County, we will provide the water and you just need to bring a good pair of gloves. We will be working from the bridge parking lot to Bailey Nursery Wheeler Farm. That is approximately three miles of road to clean up. Thankfully Don Lerch cleans up the rest of Gillihan to Reeder and he also cleans up Reeder Road to the Sauvie Island Kennels. Anyone can help us, just show up and we will give you the necessary safety instruction and have you fill out a participation form. It will be interesting to see what we get from this clean up.

Oregon State Fair

Don’t forget to attend this year’s State Fair and stop in and visit the Grange Hall on the fair grounds. Katholeen McGinty and Ricki Peterson are volunteering for a couple of hours and you might just catch them there.

The Oregon Garden and Summer Luncheon

The July meeting of the GWA was a brief meeting during lunch at the Oregon Garden in Stayton. About 13 ladies carpooled to the Gardens, had a wonderful lunch at the hotel on site and spent a relaxing, summer day touring the beautiful gardens. In August, the GWA met at John and Toni Stevens house on the Columbia for a great barbeque cookout. About forty people attended for a wonderful afternoon of conversation and laughter. See what fun you are missing by not attending GWA. You do not have to be a Grange member to attend GWA events. GWA stands for Grange Workers Activities. It used to be Grange “Women’s” Activities, but was changed to “Workers” to accommodate all participants. GWA is where it’s at!

Ivy Removal

The forested property at the Grange is infested with ivy and it needs to be removed. We are seeking the best way to do this and volunteers are welcome to assist us with the project. The options include doing it ourselves, hiring it done or offering it to a scout group or other volunteer group. Regardless, we need to get a plan of action in place and proceed as soon as possible. Removing ivy is bad enough, removing ivy in the rain might be even worse. Call 503-621-9604 if you have any suggestions or would like to volunteer. Thanks

4th of July Run

We served 2,740 shortcakes to a record number of runners this year. Everyone had a great time and loved the strawberry shortcake. Some runners suggest it is the main reason they come for the event. We appreciate the Fire Department for allowing us the opportunity to participate in this great fund raiser and we are glad to help them make this a premier running event.

Friends of Bybee Howell House

A committee of island residents are working on developing a mission statement and set of by-laws to preserve and manage the Bybee Howell house as an historical treasure of the island and region. For more information please contact committee members Lora Creswick or Mabel Dudley.

Lynnda Steenslid

Secretary

503-621-9604

Berry Good T-Shirt

GET YOUR SAUVIE ISLAND GRANGE: “BERRY GOOD” T-SHIRTS AT DISCOUNT PRICES!!

CHILD SIZES : S – M – L $8.00
ADULT SIZES: M – L – XL $9.00

CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR VICKI MAYBERRY AT 503-621-3074 OR E-MAIL LYNNDA AT: btelectric@qwestoffice.net

Our annual ice cream social celebrating our scholarship program was a big success that included scholarship recipients, ice cream and homemade cookies. This year we were able to add a $1000 scholarship made possible from the Olive Erikson Estate to $3000 from the Edna Graf Memorial/ Sauvie Island Grange Scholarship fund. We are so proud of these students and impressed with their enthusiasm and energy for the next phase of their lives. We were pleased to present the 2010 scholarships to: Julia Alvarez-Garza , $1000 Olive Erikson Estate Scholarship ; and $500 Edna Graf Memorial/ Sauvie Island Grange Scholarships to each of the following: Ashley Egger, NW Nazarene University; Austin Egger, George Fox University; Kelly Johnson, Pacific University, Jorie Ruud, University of Oregon; Emily Peterson, Willamette University; Mack Powell, University of Oregon. The broad interests and schools represented here reflect the wonderful experiences these kids have had growing up on Sauvie Island. Congratulations to all and good luck in the future.

Fire Department Local Option Levy

John Eccles reviewed the importance of supporting the continuation of the local option levy for the fire department. Our local department has the highest insurance rating for a volunteer department and that keeps our insurance rates low. If they were unable to maintain this rating due to unfunded mandates, our insurance rates would surely increase to reflect a lower ISO rating. Everyone was encouraged to return their ballots for the May 18th election and to support our volunteer fire department.

75th Anniversary – September 13th

Plans are being made to celebrate the Sauvie Island Grange 75th anniversary on Monday, September 13th. With a program that includes revisiting islander memories, it will be a great evening of historical and community significance. Save the date now on your calendars.

4th of July Volunteers

It’s not too soon to be thinking about volunteering to help either the Grange or Fire Department in the annual 4th of July half and full marathon. Serving strawberry shortcake or water to runners is a very rewarding task. The participants in the race are appreciative and thankful. It is great to be able to help the volunteers out for a change. They work hard for us all year long, it is easy to volunteer a couple of hours to such a great cause.

Next Meeting: June 14, 2010 – 7:30 pm

Lynnda Steenslid/Secretary/Phone:503-621-9604/Email: btelectric@qwestoffice.net

•  The Barn – Tom and Sheila Trappold
• Fred’s Marina – Cherie Sprando
• Sauvie Island Kennels – Tim and Angela Schilleriff
• Pumpkin Patch – Bob and Kari Egger
• Starbucks
• Our Daily Bread
• Portland Nursery
• Mabel Dudley
• Tim’s Window Cleaning
• Holton Bakery – Gainor Riker
• Joy Creek Nursery
• Kruger’s Farm – Don and Sandra Kruger
• Blue Heron Nursery – Mike and Heather Hanselman
• St John’s Veterinary Clinic
• Icabod’s Restaurant
• Means Nursery
• Columbia Farms – Dave and Diane Kunkel
• Gene and Eileen McVicker
• Columbia Feed and Supply/Flowers by Darlene
• Sauvie Island Lavender Farm – Julie Cleveland
• Charlton Kennels – Kelly Charlton
• Bailey Nursery – Lynda Stenlund
• Victor Reeder Wood Turner
• Sauvie Island Organics
• Reeder Beach RV Park
• Robert and Pam Vetsch
• Decoy Saloon and Restaurant – Peter Li
• Sauvie Island Community Association
• Oregon State Grange
• Keith and Lynnda Steenslid
• Phil and Ricki Peterson
• Mike Jacobson
• Rich and Vicki Mayberry
• Adrienne Rudd
• Judy Reeder

As you can see from the list above, we are blessed with a very generous community.  Thank you so much for your contributions and participation. This year’s efforts were led by our Grange Worker’s Activities President Katholeen McGinty.  Katholeen had a host of helpers to put on this event and knows the success of our event is a result of the volunteers.  Thanks to all of those who worked so hard to make it look so easy. 

 ADOPT A ROAD – A couple of month’s ago, the Grange applied to the Adopt a Road program in order to mow the triangle at the turnaround.  Unfortunately, the Adopt a Road program doesn’t address median strips. We can pick up litter but we cannot mow until they develop a program that would allow us to do so.  In the meantime, the County has committed to keeping the triangle mowed.  In fact, after our meeting Monday night which the Road Operations Manager attended, the triangle was mowed and cleaned up.  We were very pleased to see that they responded so quickly and it looks great! 

 SCHOLARSHIPS – The winners of our annual scholarship program will be announced at our Ice Cream Social Open House on May 10 at 7:30 pm where they are invited to accept their certificates and meet the community.  The Edna Graf Memorial Scholarship started in 1983 and this year’s distribution will total $3000.  In addition, we are pleased to announce the Olive Erikson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1000.  Ms Erikson was an island resident who wanted to help our students with continuing their education.  We are very pleased to be able to offer more to our students as a result of Ms Erikson’s donation.  Please join us for a wonderful evening of celebration. 

 75^th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – The Sauvie Island Grange is celebrating our 75^th anniversary at our open house potluck in September.  We are starting to develop the program that we hope will include some storytelling from islanders.  Mark your calendars for Monday, September 13^th, 6:00 pm. 

 GRANGE HALL = COMMUNITY CENTER  – The Grange offers our hall to non-profit groups on the island free of charge as part of our community service program.  In 2009, community groups held over seventy meetings at the hall.  Groups that regularly use the hall are the Grange, Grange Workers Activities (GWA), Safety Action Team, Sauvie Island Community Association and the Sauvie Island Drainage District.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District also hold meetings at the Grange.  Grange members and islanders can rent the hall at a discount for non-alcoholic events.  If you are looking for a quiet meeting place, this is ideal because we don’t have good cell phone coverage inside the building.  Call 503-621-3620 for rental information.