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.
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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.
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WM