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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2015)
16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 22, 2015 Polk County Education SCHOOL NOTES BPA offers grants in science/energy POLK COUNTY — The Bonneville Power Administration will offer grants in science and energy education to nonprofit organi- zations, schools and others in support of work to educate students in grades K-12 about energy systems of the Pacific Northwest. Funded projects could focus on hydroelectricity, wind and other sources of electric power, methods of conserving electricity, or studies of energy and environment, for example. Applications for project funding are due May 8. Funding will be awarded in June. For more information: 503-230-5131 or www.bpa.gov. From left, Daniel Torres, Matthew Peyton and Kyle Reed stand in the dump truck filled with ivy after their class finished pulling the invasive species at Ritner Creek Park. Two classes spent five hours helping clear ivy in partnership with Luckiamute Watershed Council. Perrydale auction tickets on sale JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer LVCS students help clean park Middle schoolers work with watershed council to tackle ivy By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer PEDEE — Luckiamute Val- ley Charter School seventh- grader Chris Seiber wore his favorite pants to school on April 14. That was a mistake. By the afternoon, he was covered in mud — along with the rest of his class. Dodging rain and hail, LVCS seventh- and eighth-graders helped staff from the Luckia- mute Watershed Council (LWC) remove invasive ivy from Ritner Creek Park on Gage Road near Pedee. “You should have made the announcement sooner,” Seiber said to teacher Steve Diehl, referring to the warn- ing about attire for the after- noon’s project. Diehl reminded Seiber that the school did, in fact, provide enough notice for the kids to plan. But Seiber didn’t seem to mind much; the mud was for a good cause, after all. “I love to help people,” Seiber said as he pulled on a stubborn piece of ivy hang- ing from a tree in the park. JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Seth Ellingsworth helps Robbie Phillips pull ivy away from a tree on April 14 at Ritner Creek Park. LVCS stu- dents removed the ivy as a community service project. “Ivy looks natural, but it would be much nicer if there were flowers or other plants growing here.” Suzanne Teller, LWC’s out- reach specialist who organ- ized the work party, couldn’t agree more. Ivy had taken over the park on one side of the creek and had jumped the bound- ary onto private property. Teller and the two classes spent five hours working in two shifts clearing the ivy — which means raking it, clip- ping it and pulling it off the ground and out of trees. “As you can see, it’s the carpet around here,” Teller said, pointing to the ivy-in- fested ground. “We are really lucky it stayed on this side of the creek.” Covered in mud and wielding rakes and clippers, the students made the most of the soggy day. They cut the ivy out of trees as high as they could reach, as well as have clearer space around trees to keep it from growing back. Teller said the rest will die and fall to the ground. On the ground level, they raked the ivy loose and pulled it out. “Even though we are on them to keep working, they’re actually doing pretty well,” Diehl said. “Our school has been trying to look for community projects to get involved in.” Once the students were finished with the manual labor, the area will be sprayed with herbicides in See IVY, Page 15A PERRYDALE — Tickets are now on sale for Perrydale Parent’s Club annual dinner and auction, slated for May 16. This year’s dinner will be built around the theme “Taste of Italy.” Proceeds from the annual event support school activities, such as field trips, educational assemblies and career exploration oppor- tunities for students. PPC also has assisted with upgrades in the school’s science lab and purchasing playground equipment. Auction and dinner tickets are on sale online at www.perry- daleparentsclub.com or in the school office for $22 per person or $160 for a table of eight. The deadline to purchase tickets is May 12 For more information: Perrydale School, 503-623-2040. Community health fair is Thursday INDEPENDENCE — Talmadge Middle School will host its ninth annual Biannual Community Health Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday in the gymnasium and cafeteria. The event is open to the community and will include interac- tive health exhibits, dental and medical information, and fitness and recreation booths. The Central Lions Club will check people’s vision and blood pressure, while volunteer health professionals will be on hand to test for diabetes and glaucoma. A free dinner will be available from 4:30 to 6 p.m. For more information: Cheri Higgins, 503-606-2462, or via email at chiggins@central.k12.or.us. DHS thespians earn state honors DALLAS — Two Dallas High School thespians brought home awards from the Oregon State Thespians State Festival in Salem held April 9-11. Junior Alicia Scherer took first place in the Short Film division for the second film she directed, “The Kiss.” Senior Rachel Tilgner took second place for her work as stage manager — her first stint in a non-acting role — in the Dallas High School production of “Our Town.” Senior Selena Harris also competed at state in duo dramatic acting with Tilgner in a scene from one-act play, “Miss Polly’s In- stitute for Criminally Damaged Young Ladies Puts on a Show.” Budget meeting set for Monday DALLAS — Dallas School District’s Budget Committee will meet on Monday at 6 p.m. at the district office, 111 SW Ash St. The meeting will include the budget message for the district and discussion on the 2015-16 budget. A copy of the budget will be available at the district office Tuesday. For more information: 503-623-5594. FFA plant sale Friday, Saturday INDEPENDENCE — The Central FFA plant sale is 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Central High School greenhouse. Plants for sale include tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, strawberries, herbs, flowers, hanging baskets and more — all ready to plant in the garden. Proceeds go to the FFA and horticulture classes at CHS.