Funding withdrawn from Tigard's little-used neighborhood program

BY GEOFF PURSINGER

The Times, Feb 16, 2012

The city of Tigard plans to eliminate an underutilized neighborhood program that could have brought $130,000 into the hands of neighbors each year for a variety of community-building projects.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE STORY

Be Careful Crossing 99W!

Dear Area 10 Neighbors, 


As you know, our neighborhood borders Highway 99, and it's a busy thoroughfare day and night. Please make use of the crosswalks! One unfortunate person last week decided to tempt fate, and crossed 99 on foot against traffic, and was struck by a Tri-Met bus. She's now in critical condition at OHSU Hospital. Click the link below for more information on this accident. 

TriMet bus driver didn't have enough time to avoid crash with Tigard woman, police said

Did you know about Neighborhood 10's Trails?

Did you know that Tigard has an excellent system of walking / biking trails all around the city? Right here in Neighborhood 10, we have the Pathfinder Genesis trail! From the North, the trail head can be found at the end of SW Pathfinder Ct., which is just off Walnut St. From there, it makes its way southwest for 1.07 miles to the other trail head located on SW 118th Ct., which is just off Gaarde St. 

The trail cuts right through the heart of Neighborhood 10, and spurs off to other streets in various places making for a very vigorous walk! You can CLICK HERE for an interactive Google map that you can expand in order to zoom in on all the street names. It's a beautiful trail that's worth exploring, so grab your water bottle and get moving! 

To find out more about Tigard's walking / bike trails, CLICK HERE for the Tigard Greenways Trail System Master Plan

Your Tigard Area 10 Neighborhood Map!

The Tigard Area 10 Neighborhood is located smack dab in the center of Tigard, and encompasses an area bordered by Walnut St. to the North, Hwy 99 to the East, and Gaarde St. to the South and West. We have a rich variety of old and new subdivisions in Neighborhood 10. We also have two schools in our zone: Gaarde Christian School, and C.F. Tigard Elementary. 


Remember, if you have any stories, photos, or news bits pertaining to our neighborhood, please feel free to share them! CLICK HERE to read up on how to contribute to this blog!

Click here for a more detailed map of all Tigard Areas

New CERT Class begins 3/6/12!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to become better prepared for an emergency or disaster situation? Well now is the time! 

The City of Tigard urges you to join the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT training is free to all residents of Tigard, and will teach you what YOU need to know when disaster strikes. 

 The Spring 2012 class happens on Tuesday nights at the Public Works Building Auditorium on Burnham & Hall, and runs for eight weeks beginning March 6th, 2012. At the end of the eight weeks, there is a final exercise held at the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue training facility in Sherwood. 

The CERT class has become very popular over the years, and available spaces fill up fast, so don't delay. You can sign up for the current class by either visiting the online registration form below, or by calling the City of Tigard Emergency Manager, Mike Lueck at 503-718-2593. 

CERT Participant Application form

Spring 2012 CERT Class Schedule

Cat Owners - Spay & Save in Honor of World Spay Day

Dear Community Partners,

In honor of World Spay Day on February 28, the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland’s Spay & Save program is pleased to offer a special spay/neuter promotion for cats during the week of February 27 to March 2.  The Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland will offer a total of 500 FREE spay/neuter surgeries for the cats of qualifying clients (surgeries normally are $10 per cat).

Find more information about this project on the Alliance website http://asapmetro.org/news/2012-a-spay-odyssey-is-here-free-surgeries-february-27-march-2/.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

  

Anika Moje

Project Manager

Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland/Oregon Humane Society

Office: 503.802.6727

Cell: 503.209.1120

Classical Violin and Cello Trio Will Perform at Tigard Library 2/29/12

Violinists George Shiolas, Casey Bozell and special guest cellist Levi Manselle will perform a variety of music selections from around the world on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room.  The performance will feature solos, duos and trios from Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Haydn, Bartók and Piazzolla. 

 Shiolas was has been a soloist with numerous American orchestras, including the Oregon Symphony. He has released four solo recordings. Bozell is currently an active orchestral chamber and solo performer. She performs with the Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theater and Linfield Chamber Orchestra. Manselle is one of the Northwest's leading young cellists as well as a musical entrepreneur.

This program is sponsored by Friends of the Tigard Library. Admission is free.  For information, please call the library at 503-718-2517 or visit the Library’s website at www.tigard-or.gov/library and click on Programs & Classes.  

Postage Increase Reminder

As of January 22, 2012, it costs an extra penny to mail letters to any location in the United States. 

Letters (1 oz.) – one-cent increase to 45 cents

Letters additional ounces – unchanged at 20 cents
Postcards – three-cent increase to 32 cents
Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – five-cent increase to 85 cents

Prices also will change for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services.

IRS Tax Tip: Get Your Prior Years Tax Information from the IRS

Sometimes taxpayers need a copy of an old tax return, but can't find or don't have the records. There are three easy and convenient options for getting tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts from the IRS: on the web, by phone or by mail. There are eight things you need to know about getting federal tax return information from a previously filed tax return.
1. You can order transcripts online or by phone for the current tax year as well as the past three tax years. Earlier tax years must be requested with Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript.

2. A tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes made after the return was filed.

Tigard Names Tim Tabler as CERT Volunteer of the Year

Tigard resident Tim Tabler has been selected as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteer of the Year! 

Click here to learn why...

http://www.tigard-or.gov/city_hall/departments/public_works/emergency/cert.asp

Clean Water Services asks - sign up for our surface and stormwater survey

We value your input

Clean Water Services along with its member cities improve water quality, protect fish habitat and manage drainage by operating and maintaining the stormwater conveyance system, establishing design and construction standards, regulating activities that can impact the Tualatin River watershed and enhancing streams and floodplains.

Please join our efforts by participating in an electronic survey to enhance the basin’s surface and stormwater program. Sign up for the survey panel at cleanwaterservices.org/survey/signup.

In March, you’ll receive a link to the electronic survey that can be completed at your own convenience over a two-week period. We’ll share the results with you. T

hank you for your participation. For more information, contact Karen DeBaker at (503) 681-3643.

2012's new driving laws - Now in effect!

HB3590: Child Safety Seats

This change allows children over 40 lbs. (but under 49 lbs. and under the age of 8) to use an approved child safety seat. Previously, children had to use a booster seat during this period. Boosters are still allowed. More info and a list of clinics available at

http://www.childsafetyseat.org/

Bottom line: More flexibility in how you secure children in a vehicle.

Pharmaceutical drop-box installed at Tigard Police Dept. lobby

Now you can dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications throughout the year. The Tigard Police Department is pleased to provide the community with a new and convenient Med-Return box in the police lobby, open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Abuse of prescription pain-killers now ranks second to marijuana use as the nation’s most prevalent illegal drug problem.

Tigard Police partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration over the past year by participation in the nationally held Drug Turn-In events. Over 1,400 pounds of pharmaceuticals were collected as a result of the past three collection events held in Tigard.
It became evident the community wanted options to safely dispose of unwanted prescription medications. To that end, Chief Orr began steps to bring a more timely and convenient option to Tigard residents.


Learn more about unwanted pharmaceuticals by visiting www.dea.gov

Acceptable disposal items include: prescription medications and samples, all over-the-counter medications, vitamins, pet medications, creams, ointments and liquid medications in leak-proof containers.

The drop box is not suitable for thermometers, syringes, IV bags, bio-waste, aerosols of any type, inhalers and Epi-Pens. The drop box is not intended to receive large quantities of pharmaceuticals from health care facilities.

Got a complaint about a traffic signal?

The city receives calls from residents with questions, issues, and/or complaints about traffic signals. Here is the contact info we provide to residents:

If you are calling about State-maintained Traffic Signals (those along Pacific Hwy/99W, Hall Blvd. and all freeway interchanges) here are the numbers: 

       
Maintenance Issues (light is out, malfunctioning detector, signal in flash mode, etc.):
        971-673-6201 during the day
        503-731-4652 after hours
Timing issues (waiting too long, capacity, etc.) 
      Contact Dennis Mitchell at 503-731-8218 or dennis.j.mitchell@state.or.us


For City and County-maintained Traffic Signals:
Maintenance Issues: 503-846-7950 during the day and 503-629-0111 after hoursTiming issues with signals on city streets should be directed to Mike McCarthy at 503-718-2462 or mikem@tigard-or.gov

Timing issues on Washington County roads/signals go to Stacy Shetler at 503-718-7947 or stacy_shetler@co.washington.or.us

Celebrate Safely with TriMet

Free rides on New Year’s Eve, plus extra late-night MAX service

All rides on TriMet’s buses and MAX will be free beginning at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve - Saturday, December 31.

Buses and MAX will run on regular Saturday schedules, and MAX will provide extended late-night service.

Are you looking for your kitty?

Ruth B is an Area 10 resident who has found someone's handsome kitty...could he be yours?

"I would like to write a post for my neighborhood blog about a cat I found. There has been a black cat hanging around my house for 3 or 4 weeks. It is very affectionate, friendly, handsome and hungry, so I know it belongs to someone and is not feral. I think it is a male. It's all black except for a very small wisp of white on its chest and has green eyes.

I live on Alberta Street, just off SW 121st Ave. near Walnut. I am going to bring him to my vet to be scanned to a chip."

If this fella is yours, please contact Ruth by leaving a comment on this post.

Thanks!