Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2009)
2 News December Large-scale solar energy project in negotiation near 1-205 E lise B rown ___________________ On the north side of the 1-205, the Oregon D epartm ent of Transportation is studying to see if the area is suitable for building an array of solar panels. If the project is pursued, the solar array w ill produce an estim ate of 3.2 m egaw atts of electricity. To create that much energy, betw een 13,600 and 17,000 panels m ust be built. The project w as proposed to the City Council this spring by ODOT. O D O T owns the area, as w ell as the 1-205, and is allow ed to do this project w ithout the support of the West Linn governm ent. "I can assum e they w on't if we don't support it," Jody Carson, president of the City Council, said. The council in July voted 4-1 in favor of supporting the project. "This w ill affect the environm ent," Patti Galle, mayor, said. "There's 400 year old oaks and m any w etlands that m ay be harm ed... O D O T is studying the land to see if it's in the right place." Residents like Rendering by Moyano Leadership Group An artist rendering of solar panels shows what the planned solar highway will look like if it is built. If the land along 1-205 is suitable for building a solar array, the finished product will produce as much as 3.2 megawatts of electricity. The City Council approved a trail to be built in the same area as the array. M ayor Galle, w ho oppose building the solar highway, are w orried that harm ing the habitat w ill not be w orth building w hat they believe to be a large and costly project. The project w ill initially cost $20 m illion. This w ill be paid w ith som e m oney from the recent federal stim ulus, federal tax credits associated w ith building a renewable energy source, a third party developer, w hich will likely be PGE, and the rest will be paid by O regon taxpayers. A dditional cost w ill com e from replacing the panels once they w ear out. "The panels have a 25 year shelf life," C arson said, "but they can be recycled." * A nother concern opposers of the project have is how m uch energy w ill actually be produced. M ayor G alle estim ates that adjusting to how often the sun is out in West Linn, the panels will m ake 600 kilow atts of energy. "It's like baking a cake in 100 degrees or 300 degrees," G alle said. As m any as 150 jobs will be created, directly and indirectly from the project. W hile m any of these, such as the initial building of the site, are short-term , O D O T is also planning about four other projects in the Portland M etro area. In addition to the solar panels, a trail m ay be built in the sam e area. The City Council voted 3-2 in favor of going forward on planning and designing the Oak Savanna trail on Nov. 9. The trail m ay include an interpretive display about solar power. "[The trail has] been in the m aster trail plan for at least ten years," Carson said. A feasibility study has been approved by the City C ouncil and w ill cost an additional $250,000. Holocaust survivor speaks out about her experience in Shanghai E mily R eed Ursula Bacon, a refugee from the Holocaust, told her story to students on Dec. 3. Bacon was in her early teens when the war broke out in her home country of Germany. To escape th e d re a d e d d e a th camps, she a n d h e r parents fled to Shanghai, China. Bacon is the adoptive grandmother of Alec Nakano, freshman. "She was inspiring and revolutionary," Nakano said. The Bacon family avoided the Nazis who killed six million Jewish people. However, they were moved to a ghetto at one point, where they were confined in an 11' x 12' room for three years. "After seven o'clock, there was no money to have light or heat, so we laid in bed her friends could wander the streets within the ghetto. To share her story, she wrote two books, "Eternal Strangers" and "Shanghai Diary" which are both being considered for major motion pictures. The books outline her story and tales from the childhoods of her mother and father. diversity firsthand and learned to converse with children in their native tongues. "Life was lived on the streets, families ate on the streets, and there was even a lending library on the streets of Shanghai," she said. Where the prisoners of the concentration camps were confined, she and Tour of Homes profits support Senior Grad Night J aimie L orenzini Photo by Emily Lyons U rsula Bacon speaks to the freshman class about her youth growing up as a refugee in the streets of Shanghai, China. Bacon survived World War II by fleeing to China with her family. West Linn alum, Class of 2001, killed in Afghanistan E lise B rown & D anny M c G arry Army Specialist Elijah Rao, Cla£s of 2001, was killed on Dec. 5 at age 26 by an impro vised explosive device during his- first tour in the Alin Gar D istrict of West N uristan, Afghanistan and third in the Middle East. Rao earned a Purple Heart and has been recommended for a Bronze Star. He received m any other aw ards w hile serving in the army, including two Army Com m endation Medals, an Army Achieve m ent M edal, an O verseas Service Ribbon and a NATO Medal. "I remember vividly the day that he was deployed as his brother kept me apprised of his situation. He was very proud to represent his country and although he knew the and told stories," Bacon said. She remembers those nights fondly, huddled on her army cot listening to the stories of her father and mother's childhood. Bacon was able to meet many children who had also fled their homes to escape the camps. Bacon experienced Elijah Rao Class of 2001 danger that encom passed such duty, he definitely felt he w as serv in g a strong purpose," Ian Olsen, family acquaintance, said. Rao joined the Army six years ago at age 21. He served two tours in Iraq and was deployed to Afghanistan in June as a meteorological equipment repairman. Rao was fatally l i t _______________________ continued on page 4 Commemorating the holidays, the community is holding the twenty-first annual West Linn Holiday Tour of Homes. The Tour of Homes is an event where families decorate their homes and invite the community to observe the festivities and decorations. All proceeds from the Tour of Homes go toward supporting the West Linn Substance Free Grad Night. "We began in August to look for homeowners willing to open their homes for the tour. After securing the homes, this year we have seven, we formed a committee made up of parents of seniors," Helene Callagan, co-chair of the Tour of Homes, said. The tours commence at the home of the Bailey-Gilliam family at 5075 Maplewood Drive in West Linn. The Tour of Homes will end with the Tucker family home at 6276 SW Delker Road in Tualatin. "I love the fact that this event involves so many of our seniors and their families. It is truly a community effort to support an important cause. The Substance and Drug Free Party helps keep our seniors safe on one of the most memorable evenings of their lives," Callagan said. Tickets for the tour cost $20, however a pack of six tickets may be purchased for $100. Last year, the tours produced nearly $3,000 in profit, roughly doubling the preceding year. Each ticket purchased enters the ticket buyer in a drawing for a rug valued at $500. Tickets are currently on sale at local establishments including Rose's, Hometown Sports, Market of Choice, Dragonfly Greetings, West Linn Senior Center and Round Table pizza. All ticket vendors are local to support the exclusively community financed grad night. "In the true spirit of the season this is an example of a community coming together to make something magical happen," Callagan said. In the past, homes have displayed Christmas bouquets, gingerbread houses and other symbols of the holiday season. There was music being played by either high school students or local artists. All homes toured offered refreshments. "There is a great variety of home styles reflecting our diverse community. I am excited to see the personal collections of holiday decorations distinctive to each home," Callagan said. £ m U fc ? r w , JPrCTFTÉfyf JS11IPC3 mi wmlmm M û SHil i Si ■i .....; lis M Or buy a 6 pack for S ! and include your friends far a great after: Tickets will be available a t Marker of Choice, Dragonfly Greetings & Gifts, Roses Restaurant and Bakery. West Linn Senior Center, Hometown Sports, and Round Table Pizza All Proceeds benefit the Safe & Substance -ree West Linn High School Grad Night Party. im WM
