Adopt a Road – As many of you know, the condition of the triangle at the bridge got a little out of control this last year. After making calls to the Road Maintenance department with Multnomah County, they sent a crew out to mow. That was great but what about next year? We may have a solution as recommended by Multnomah County. The Grange is applying for the Adopt-A-Road program for Gillihan Road and we are hoping to incorporate the triangle into what we take care of. Connie Jo Collins and Tom Gibbons have agreed to chair the program and will hold the necessary training for those who would like to participate. We will be working at least three times a year on Gillhan and the turnaround. Bailey’s Nursery takes care of Reeder Road, Sauvie Island Road is available for adoption. We know there are many islanders who walk and pick up litter all year long. Our adoption of Gillihan Road should not interfere with these efforts, in fact, it should enhance the results.

GWA - The annual December GWA luncheon was another big success and we celebrated Elinor Wiley’s 89th birthday. We delivered our food collection to the Scappoose Food Bank, thank you to all who donated. Our January 20th meeting will include planning for our February luncheon at Toni Stevens where we collect donations for the Children’s Relief Nursery. New or gently used clothing, new born to toddler, are welcome as well as cash donations. All of the proceeds from the sale of cards donated by Pat Arnsberg will be going to the Relief Nursery. So far we have $34. Plans will also be discussed regarding our annual Good Deeds Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo in April. It is a busy time of year for us and we welcome everyone to help.

Community Service – Judy Reeder reported our community service hours for 2009. Our members visited friends in the hospital, helped neighbors, drove friends to the doctor, attended meetings and such for a total of 2,392 hours and drove 11,254 miles to do all of our work. We keep track of our service to make sure we fulfill the obligations of our charter.

Telephone Directories – They are coming, honestly. We still are hopeful to have them by the end of January.

Volunteer Fire Fighters Annual Free Pancake Breakfast – Rich Mayberry announced the date of the Volunteer Fire Fighters annual pancake breakfast for Saturday, March 13, from 8:00 to 11:00 am. This is a great chance to meet the fire fighters to thank them for the wonderful job they do for us and to see all your neighbors after being cooped up all winter.

Did You Know? – Mabel Dudley gave a book report about farming in the Willamette Valley, specifically French Prairie and St Paul. She reported that Laurence Sauve, for whom the island is named, is buried in St Paul. Tom Hekker has done quite a bit of research and will bring more information for our February meeting. One of our members, Connie Jo Collins, has been recognized as the National Employee of the Year for the Air National Guard. Congratulations Connie Jo and aren’t we lucky to have her as a member!

Next meeting:

GWA – Wednesday, January 20, 1:30 pm

Grange – Monday, February 8, 7:30 pm

Respectfully,

Lynnda Steenslid
Secretary
503-621-9604

Monday, December 14, 2009

Sauvie Island Telephone Directory:
The 17th edition of the Telephone Directory has been sent to the graphic designer and should in print by the end of December. We expect copies to be available for distribution in January. We would like to thank everyone who pre-ordered directories as that helps us fund the project as we go along. Additional copies may be purchased for $15 in case you need an extra one for your car, boat or RV. We appreciate all of those who chose to advertise and encourage you to use those vendors and please let them know their ad worked.

Annual Giving Program.
Even though we have seen reduced revenues and increased expenses like everyone else in this economy, the members voted to fund our giving program at the full amount of $100 each to the following: Oregon Food Bank, St Vincent De Paul, Portland Rescue Mission, Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, Dogs for the Deaf, Sauvie Island Fire Department, and the Columbia County Food Bank. This is in addition to money donated to Oregon State Junior Grange, Sauvie Island PTC and providing dictionaries to all third graders at Sauvie Island School and Grant Watts in Scappoose. We take pride in working hard to help make others in our community.

Sauvie Island Drainage Improvement Company
In November, Tim Couch, SIDIC Manager, spoke to us about the dike tree removal project after just completing the first of a four year program. Trees within fifteen feet of the dike will be removed with large tracts of trees being done first. Tim said he would be talking to all property owners prior to any scheduled cutting. He is holding a meeting at the Grange on February 4th to share information with landowners about the program. The 2010 cutting will be the large tracts of trees on the ESCO and Trapold properties. Smaller properties won’t be scheduled until 2011 and 2012 and he assured us that nothing will be done without the property owner’s knowledge.

SI Fire Department
Rich Mayberry reported the fire department has had 129 calls so far this year, which is a new record for the department. From medical emergencies to fires to accidents, the volunteers have been plenty busy this year and we appreciate their efforts every day. We are blessed to have such dedicated members of our community providing us with protection twenty-four hours a day. Thank you volunteers!

Sherriff Patrol
Katholeen McGinity reported that Officer Larry Weaver will be back on staff full time starting in January. We are all glad to have him back on patrol and it’s nice to know he likes us as much as we like him.

Community Association
Julia Bergren, Community Association Secretary, introduced the new website and encouraged everyone to check it out for up to date information about the island. The website separates information about the island into two categories: visitors and islanders. You can find out what is happening with various interest groups on the island and keep up with current news that affects us all. You can even sign up to get alerts for meeting notices, lost animals or emergency information. It’s a great tool for a rural community to communicate and make sure the things that matter to us are shared as needed. Check it out and sign up today.

Annual GWA Christmas Party
We work very hard all year so we can play one day a year and that day is Wednesday, December 16th. There is a potluck lunch, gift exchange and food drive starting at noon. It’s a great time to relax with friends for an afternoon and celebrate the season together. Members have been busy this month visiting islanders who no longer get out like they use to. We deliver a variety of goodies to our friends and make their holiday a little better by showing we care and wishing them a great holiday. It truly is the season of giving and we love to do that! Join us any 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:30 pm at the Grange. You do not have to be a member of Grange to attend the GWA meetings.

Membership
Annual dues notices will be sent out in December and as soon as you get the notice, send in your dues. Only $5 of our annual dues stays with us, the balance goes towards supporting our State and National offices. This puts more of a burden on our fund raising events, but the way we look at it, there is “fun” in fund raising. That’s too corny! Anyone may apply for membership in the Grange, ask a member for an application or call 503-621-9604 for information. There will be an application in the back of the new directory.

New Officers
The 2010 officers were elected in November with Keith Steenslid re-elected as Master/President. Shirley Larson will step down from serving as Treasurer and even Shirley doesn’t remember how long she has been in that role. We recognized her service in December and gave her a certificate of appreciation, gift card and round of applause. We appreciate her service and know that she will continue to play an active role in the Grange. Shirley celebrated 55 years of Grange membership earlier this year. Pam Vetsch will take over the duties of Treasurer in January. Katholeen McGinity was re-appointed as President of the Grange Worker’s Association.

That should do it. Thanks,

Lynnda Steenslid
Bridgetown Electric
Phone:503-621-7122
Fax: 503-621-7123
Mobile: 503-318-7517
Email: lynnda@bridgetownelectric.com
Web: www.bridgetownelectric.com

Grange Open House September 2009 – The Open House this year was well attended and enjoyed by everyone including Representative Brad Witt.  Representative Witt reviewed the legislative work with regards to agriculture and took some time to answer residents’ questions.  We appreciate these updates, his insight into the legislative process and his service to our community.   Marionberry, pumpkin, apple, peach and pecan were just a few of the pies made by the Grange Ladies. Leftovers were taken to the volunteer fire fighters for the weekly Wednesday night training meeting.  A small treat for all the hours our volunteers put in for us.   

Traffic Problems – Here is an opportunity to vent any problems you may have experienced with traffic on the island.  Barbara Scot and Cindy Reid, Safety Action Team members are working to document problems that we are having with congestion, speed, poor signage, etc. and report them to Multnomah County Commissioner Kafoury.  By collectively working as a community we are more likely to be successful than complaining as individuals.  Barbara Scot reported on the progress of the Safety Action Team and Multnomah County to control speeds on Sauvie Island Road near Wapato Park.  While the results of a speed monitor didn’t warrant a change in speed limits, Multnomah County is recommending rumble strips to remind motorists to slow down.  Comments may be directed to Barbara Scot, 503-621-9612.

Island Telephone Directory – Once every three years, the Grange publishes the very popular island telephone directory. To date the project has received less than half of those listed in the 2007-2009 edition.   Grange members will be contacting those who have not responded to remind them they must get their order forms in for inclusion in the new 2010-2012 directory.  An order form will be included in the September newsletter that is delivered to every mail box on the island.  October 15 is the last day to get your listing included in the new edition.  Contact Lynnda Steenslid if you have any questions, 503-621-9604. 

Island Storytelling – Barbara Scot and Julia Bergren invited members to participate in the Sauvie Island Project, an interpretive work about Sauvie Island and its’ residents.  Barbara and Julia will meet with you to capture resident histories about living on the island.  Their hope is the project will at a minimum provide participants with documented memories and at best, get the work published.  Contact either Barbara 503-621-9612 or Julia 503-621-3288 if you are interested.

Bus Service – Tri Met started the new bus service schedule on September 13^th.  Weekday service will be from 6:16 am to 8:15 pm and Saturday from 6:14 am to 12:15 am.  No bus service on Sundays. 

Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Management Plan – The last opportunity for input into the ODFW Wildlife Plan is Thursday, September 22^nd at 7:00 pm at the school. These meetings haven’t been well attended by residents and yet all visitors to these areas must pass by our homes.  With the visitor count at the wildlife check stations approaching one million visitors, we need to make sure we know what is planned for our area.   

Celebrating Service – A retirement party for Deputy Larry Weaver, our island friend and protector, will be held Oct 3^rd, Columbia Farms, 7pm to 10pm.  And congratulations were extended to Shirley Larson for celebrating 55 years of service with the Grange.  Other service year milestones included 5 years: Dennis Gelfand, Sheila and Tom Trapold, and Fred VanAbdoude; 10 years: Steven Marandas and Kim Peterson; 15 years: Jim Baughn, Judy Reeder, Bill and Sharon Robbins, Pennie Trumbull; 20 years: Julie Holmason and Mark Trupp; 25 years Mary Douglas and David Fazio; 30 years: Charlotte Burns and Steve Sylvester.

Next Grange Meeting – Monday, October 12, 7:30 pm;

Next Ladies Grange Meeting* – Wednesday, October 21, 1:30 pm – * Do not have to be a Grange member to attend

 Lynnda Steenslid

Phone:503-621-7122

Fax:  503-621-7123

Mobile:  503-318-7517

Email:  lynnda@bridgetownelectric.com