October 2023
Page 7
5 Garage Safety Tips
When you throw open the windows,
you’ll likely be spending more time
with the garage door open, too. Make
access to your outdoor equipment
safer with these tips to get your garage
ready after the warmer months.
Organizing clutter is part of the
process, but cooler weather can also
serve as a reminder to make sure your
garage equipment and features are
secure and functioning properly.
* Your garage floor tends to capture
grime and grit from the outdoors,
especially where your car sits. Take
time to thoroughly sweep and mop,
but also take stock of the floor’s
condition for any chips or other
damage that may grow worse over
time and pose a risk for tripping or
other safety issues.
* Check your garage door performance.
Ensure doors are rolling smoothly with
no hitches. If you do happen to notice
any abnormalities, it’s a good time
to investigate. In some cases, a little
grease or a minor adjustment is all you
need to get things back on track.
* Don’t forget to check your garage
door sensors, too. Colder weather
means animals and children (and
their toys) are more likely to find
themselves in an automated door’s
path when it begins to lower. Ensure
sensors are operating properly to
prevent injury or property damage.
* Verify all outlets, lights and other
electrical features are in proper
operating condition and all wires are
intact and free of damage or fraying.
* Ensure any poisonous materials,
such as paint, garden pesticides,
cleaners and automotive fluids, are
safely stored out of reach of pets and
children that may have increased
access to the garage during summer
months. Also check for spills or
leaks of any potentially hazardous or
flammable materials.
Taking time to safety-proof your
garage can provide your family
months of stress-free use. Find more
tips for getting your garage in order at
eLivingtoday.com.
Watermelon Bourbon Glaze
26 Counties receive $26 Million for Homeless
Story by Milo Van Elder
with Grilled Flank Steak
Douglas County gets $1.4 Million
Servings: 6
Heat grill to high heat.
Remove steak from plastic bag
1 1/2 cups watermelon juice and gently shake to remove
(approximately 2 1/2 cups excess glaze.
chopped watermelon, blended)
Grill steak 4-6 minutes; turn,
2 tablespoon minced garlic
grill 4-6 minutes, depending on
1/4
cup soy sauce
thickness of steak. Remove
1/4
cup brown sugar
from heat. Steak should be pink
2 teaspoon hot sauce
in center.
1/4-1/2
cup bourbon
Allow steak to rest on platter
2 pounds flank steak or London or cutting board 10 minutes.
broil
Mix small amount of watermelon-
1/4
teaspoon cornstarch
bourbon glaze with cornstarch.
In small saucepan over medium-
In medium saucepan over high heat, add cornstarch
medium-high
heat,
reduce mixture to remaining glaze and
watermelon juice to 2/3 cup. simmer 3-5 minutes. Reduce
Toward end of reduction, add to medium heat until mixture
garlic. Remove from heat, cool thickens. Remove from heat.
10 minutes then add soy sauce,
Cut flank steak on bias into
brown sugar, hot sauce and thin strips. Drizzle watermelon-
bourbon. Mix well.
bourbon glaze over top.
Place watermelon-bourbon glaze
in large zip-top bag. Add steak and Source: National Watermelon
massage to cover meat. Close bag Promotion Board
and refrigerate 3-4 hours.
Salem Sept 12, 2023 - Rural Counties
in Oregon will now receive a portion of
the over $200 Million that the Legislature
allotted to address homelessness in
the last early session. Announced by
Governor Tina Kotek on September
12th, 26 counties, including Douglas
County, will be receiving a combined
total of $26 million. Designated to
get people off of the streets, reducing
car camping, alternatives to dangerous
situations and housing or re-housing
people, either temporarily in shelters or
permanently in homes.
According to the governors
press release on September 12th,
“Homelessness is a crisis in both urban
and rural communities throughout
Oregon. This funding, tied to specific
outcomes, will make a measurable
impact in addressing this crisis in rural
Oregon. And we can’t stop here – I will
keep pushing for concrete solutions that
will support community needs going
forward.”
The Legislature, in House Bill 5019,
designated it early in the session as
part of $200 million allocated to fight
homelessness. It is expected to pay
for 100 new shelter beds and get 450
households into stable living situations
by June 2025.
The 26 counties were excluded
from Kotek’s emergency homelessness
declaration in January. It targeted the
counties with the highest increases
in homelessness. Governor
Kotek
allocated nearly $80 million to large
urban counties last April, including
central Oregon and the Portland,
Eugene, Medford, Salem and Ashland
areas.
Each county, individually, applied
by submitting plans and showing how
the money will be spent. Additionally,
they also had to declare a homeless
state of emergency to receive money.
Jefferson County did not make that
declaration, stated Jeff Rasmussen, the
county administrative officer. Jefferson
County did receive money from the
April allocation to central Oregon,
but wasn’t among the 26 counties in
September 12ths release, according
to Rasmussen and a housing agency
spokeswoman.
The governor’s office received
requests for a total of $37 millio, more
than is available. So the $26 million was
divided up based on the applications
and a formula developed by the Oregon
Housing and Community Services
Department.
The Office of Emergency
Management and the housing agency
and will handle implementation details.
The money be will managed by the
Department of Administrative Services,
which oversees contracts,.
Elisabeth Shepard, a Kotek
spokeswoman,
expressed that the
governor expects to closely follow
progress around the state on fighting
homelessness. “This is among her top
three priorities,” she said.
Breakdown on the 26 rural counties, funding and plan:
Baker, Grant, Union and Wallowa counties: $1.2 million to re-house at least 33 households
Benton County: $2.4 million to add at least 50 shelter beds and re-house at least 31 households
Clatsop County: $3.8 million to add at least 80 shelter beds and re-house at least 33 households
Columbia County: $867,453 to re-house at least 20 households
Coos County: $1.9 million to add at least eight shelter beds and re-house at least 32 households
Curry County: $594,000 to re-house at least 14 households
Douglas County: $1.4 million to re-house at least 34 households
Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla and Wheeler counties:
$2.1 million to add at least 25 shelter beds and re-house at least 40 households
Harney and Malheur counties: $1.3 million to re-house at least 34 households
Hood River, Sherman and Wasco and counties:
$1.9 million to add at least 34 shelter beds and re-house at least 29 households
Josephine County: $2 million to add at least 16 shelter beds and re-house at least 31 households
Klamath and Lake counties: $1.4 million to re-house at least 38 households
Lincoln County: $856,178 to add at least 70 shelter beds and re-house at least 16 households
Linn County: $1.9 million to add at least 30 shelter beds and re-house at least 32 households
Tillamook County: $769,404 to add at least 20 shelter beds and re-house at least 12 households
Yamhill County: $1.3 million to add at least 14 shelter beds and rehouse at least 21 households