Portland News Briefs

Learn to Preserve Your Family Heirlooms

Wednesday, July 15th the Washington County Museum kicks off a three part series of Crossroads Lectures focused on the philosophy and technique of heirloom preservation. From old photographs to your great grandmother's wedding dress, the lectures will touch on the most popular and frequently asked questions about keeping family artifacts well preserved. 
The first lecture is "Saving Family Treasures" with Rod Bunnell, Wednesday, July 15 at 3:30 p.m. After retirement, Bunnell found himself pondering some of the objects around the house. He realized that he and his wife had inherited huge number of meaningful treasures, in the guise of ordinary objects. He knew each one was important and needed to be saved, but he wasn't sure where to start.
He began with writing. He wrote down everything he knew about each item, and asked other family members what they remembered to find more information. Then came the research. 
Bunnell's result was a collection of illustrated articles, each one telling the story of an object. He will share the successes and pitfalls of home archiving, and give you ideas about how and where to start with your own collection.
Now, think about the family treasures sitting around your home. Will their history pass along to the next generation, or should you be doing some saving too?
Crossroads Lectures take place on the third Wednesday of each month from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The cost is $3 per person. Admission and Lectures are always free to Museum members, employees of corporate members, and PCC faculty, staff, and students. All ages welcome. Parking is free with permit available at the museum.
For more information, please visit the museum's website at www.WashingtonCountyMuseum.org or call the museum at 503-645-5353. WCM is located on the PCC Rock Creek Campus at 17677 NW Springville Rd. Portland, OR 97229.


OMSI After Dark Announces Summer, Fall Nights

Are you an adult but still want to experience the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry? Come visit the OMSI After Dark program, an adults-only event held at the museum.
During Summer, OMSI After Dark will be held July 22 and Aug. 26 from 7 - 11 p.m.
In the fall, OMSI After Dark will be held Sept. 23, Oct. 28, and Dec. 2 from 6-10 p.m.

Tour Portland's Community Gardens, July 18

Portland Parks & Recreation's Community Gardens program is offering their annual free guided tour of six gardens throughout the city on Saturday, July 18 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Participants can join PP&R Community Gardens staff and learn about various gardening techniques, examine water catchment systems, and view edible greenspaces.

The guided tour will take participants by van and carpool to see community gardens at Gabriel Park (SW 41st and Canby), Col. Summers Park (SE 20th and Taylor), Sewallcrest Park (SE 31st and Market), Brentwood Park (SE 57th and Cooper), Woodlawn Park (7200 NE 11th), and Hazelwood Park (NE 117th and Holladay). The tour leaves from PP&R's Mt. Tabor Central Maintenance Yard at 6437 SE Division Street at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18.
The tour is free, but reservations are required and can be made by calling 503.823.1612 or emailing [email protected] by July 14.
In addition to the guided tour, other community gardens will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon that same Saturday, July 18 for self-guided tours. These gardens include Johns Garden (N. Edison and Johns in St. Johns), Sabin Garden (NE 19th and Skidmore), Kennedy Garden (NE 35th and Jessup), Berrydale Garden (SE 90th and Taylor), Vermont Hills Garden (SW 55th and Iowa), and Beach Garden (N. Campbell and Going Court). No reservations are necessary.
When visiting the community gardens, please follow these rules of etiquette:
- Please stay on the garden paths
- View the marvelous garden plots, but please do not pick plants or fruit
- Enjoy the hospitality of the gardeners
- No pets inside the gardens, please
- Help children enjoy their visit
For more information on PP&R's Community Garden program, call 503.823.1612 or visit [email protected]. 


Neighbors Invited to Master Gardener Hotline Open House

Are you working on a new garden? Are you having trouble or have questions about weeds, watering, soil or when to harvest? Many have questions about soil, landscape plants, fruits and vegetables, and of course, weeds. 
OSU Master Gardeners will throw open their doors Friday, July 17 from noon to 4 p.m. at Montgomery Park, 2701 NW Vaughn St., Suit 453 in Portland, to meet residents, answer questions and inspect plants. The Master Gardener Hotline (503-445-4608) has just relocated to the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District office.
The Master Gardener hotline is open and staffed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year, the gardening hotline in Washington County answered 4,500 inquiries and the hotline in Clackamas County responded to 3,500 calls. 
Master Gardeners are available to answer questions about growing and caring for plants in home gardens and landscapes. Master Gardener volunteers provide unbiased information about sustainable gardening to help the general public make informed management decisions. 
For phone numbers and more information about the gardening hotlines in the Portland metro area, go to http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/questions.

Learn to Write Grants

A Designing Projects for Successful Grants Workshop will be offered in Portland, July 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. The workshop will be at the Oregon Historical Society 1200 SW Park Ave.
The workshop is free to all who are interested. It will cover how to plan your project and write about it for a successful grant application. We will emphasize the Oregon Heritage Grants, the Oregon Museums Grants and the Historic Cemeteries Grant offered by Heritage Programs of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, but the information can be applied to any grant.
Contact: Kuri Gill, Historic Cemeteries Program and CLG Coordinator at [email protected] or (503) 986-0685 for more information.


Self Defense Organization Holds Fundraiser

WomenStrength, which provides free holistic self-defense classes and personal safety workshops, is celebrating its 30th anniversary on July 25, 2009, at 6 p.m. at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. This fun event will include dinner, silent auction, live music and dancing.
In addition to celebrating WomenStrength and its accomplishment of teaching more than 100,000 people in the Portland Metro Area personal safety, the event will help launch the new GirlStrength Program. GirlStrength is the first self-defense program in Portland to focus on the safety needs of middle school girls.
Tickets are $35 per person or $60 per couple. Corporate tables are available for $350. 
For more information about this event: go to www.portlandpolice.com/police/WomenStength, email [email protected] or call 503-823-0260.
If you can't make the event, but want to sustain these programs, donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to: WomenStrength, 10225 East Burnside, Portland, OR 97216. $35 sponsors a WomenStrength/GirlStrength student; $100 sponsors a WomenStrength class; $250 sponsors a WomenStrength/GirlStrength workshop); $500 sponsors a GirlStrength course in a school.