The INDEPENDENT, February 15, 2007
Page 17
Wash. Co. Cultural Summit on Feb. 23
Help the homeless – donate items
Members of the Washington
County arts, cultural and her-
itage communities are invited
to attend a Cultural Summit on
Friday, February 23, from 4:00-
6:00 p.m. at the Glenn and Vio-
la Walters Cultural Arts Center,
527 E. Main Street, Hillsboro
(corner of Fifth and Main, three
blocks from the Hillsboro Cen-
tral MAX Station). The Summit
is sponsored by the Washing-
In January 2006, more than
1,100 homeless children and
adults resided in Washington
County. Connecting homeless
persons to services and involv-
ing citizens in the work to end
homelessness is the goal of
Washington County Project
Homeless Connect.
On February 28, volunteers
from the community, in collabo-
ration with nonprofit, public,
and private agencies, will host
a one-day Project Homeless
Connect event to provide criti-
cal services and resources to
people who are homeless
and/or desperately poor. Ser-
vices will include medical, den-
tal and vision exams, prescrip-
tion glasses, legal advice, help
applying for financial assis-
tance, employment counseling,
transportation guidance, do-
mestic violence consultation,
haircuts, pet care, energy as-
sistance, and housing informa-
tion and referral.
ton County Arts, Heritage and
Humanities Coalition (WCAH-
HC). The Coalition will open its
2007 grant cycle on February
26th. Information on grant pri-
orities will be discussed at the
summit. In addition, represen-
tatives from a variety of arts
and cultural organizations,
such as the Regional Arts and
Culture Council, the Oregon
Cultural Trust, the Oregon Arts
Commission and the Beaverton
Arts Commission, will be on
hand to discuss grant opportu-
nities, event opportunities, con-
tinuing education workshops
and cultural tourism. Light re-
freshments will be served.
View the Washington Coun-
ty Cultural Plan, at <www.west
sideculturalalliance.org>.
Banks set to begin search for new city engineer
From page 15
velop the charges. Parati esti-
mates this will take two weeks
and will cost less than $3000.
Previously, council decided
not to continue with Parati, (for-
merly LDC engineering) as the
city engineer. As a result, the
city needs to conduct a request
for qualifications to find a new
city engineer. Mayor Teri
Branstitre presented a copy of
a recent RFQ used by the City
of North Plains. Council agreed
to modify and use the model
presented.
Lucas spoke to council
about adopting an e-mail policy
soon. He explained that, if the
city doesn’t have a system in
place to capture all public e-
mails sent and received by city
staff and councilors, a situation
could arise where the individ-
ual’s personal computers could
be subpoenaed.
Mayor Branstitre told council
about improvements for city
hall, including carpet cleaning,
electrical updating, and instal-
lation of an ADA compliant front
door. These are all included in
the budgeted.
The city is starting budget
preparations for the next fiscal
year. Council appointed City
Recorder Jolynn Becker as the
city’s budget officer. She will
prepare the proposed budget.
The Budget committee will
meet four times from March un-
til May. The budget committee
includes the councilors, mayor
and eight community members.
Branstitre asked the councilors
to consider committee mem-
bers so they can be appointed
next month.
Families not using available tax credits
From page 12
runs $480 a month and $865 in
a child care center. (Rates vary
for different types of care and in
different areas of the state.)
Nemmers’ agency launched
the campaign after learning
that many families do not apply
for the tax credit benefits. Ac-
cording to Nemmers, the IRS
estimates that at least 20 to 25
State forest plan
From page 5
Annual operations plans identi-
fy and describe specific proj-
ects such as timber sales, road
maintenance, stream enhance-
ment and recreation projects
on state-managed public
forests.
Annual operations plans are
available at each district office,
area ODF offices in Forest
Grove, Roseburg and Prine-
ville, at Salem headquarters,
Please see page 23
Action Ads
INEXPENSIVE – EFFECTIVE
503-429-9410
percent of taxpayers leave
thousands of dollars on the
table just from the federal
Earned Income Tax Credit
alone. “Many families are not
aware of the tax credits or don’t
know where to find help prepar-
ing their taxes,” Nemmers said.
To get the word out, the Net-
work has distributed to Oregon
radio stations public service an-
nouncements that feature Gov-
ernor Ted Kulongoski. Sum-
maries of the tax credits and
sites where families can find
free tax help are listed on the
Network’s Web site at www.
oregonchildcare.org, and cal-
lers may obtain general infor-
mation about the credits by
calling the Network’s toll-free
line, 800-342-6712.
W illiams
M etal
F ab
Project Homeless Connect
will be held at the National
Guard Armory, 848 NE 28 Av-
enue, Hillsboro (across from
the Hillsboro Airport).
How can you help? Dona-
tions of time, funding, and/or
personal items including tarps,
blankets, sleeping bags, hy-
giene items, etc. are being ac-
cepted. NW Medical Teams
Van will be available, but den-
tists and dental hygienists are
needed to staff the event. Any-
one can volunteer to help serve
food or assist. To volunteer
your time, or for more informa-
tion on how you can become
involved in this community
event, go to www.handsonwa
shingtoncounty.org and click on
the red/blue logo for “Washing-
ton County Project Homeless
Connect” or call event coordi-
nator Kim Krohn at the Good
Neighbor Center Shelter, 503-
443-6084.
Tips given for back country trips
From page 13
an outdoor store or talk with
your health care provider about
what is appropriate to carry for
you and your family.
Carry these other essentials,
whether on a day hike, road trip
or sea kayak adventure:
• Shelter. It can be as simple
as a tarp, nylon poncho, cagoul
(a long waterproof, oversized
rain coat affair used by
climbers), or as elaborate as a
tent. Even a couple of big plas-
tic garbage bags can save a
life.
• A portable shovel. You can
dig out a stuck vehicle, make a
snow cave, snow trench or dig
someone out of an avalanche
with a shovel.
• File a trip plan with a friend,
family member or, if climbing or
traveling in the back country,
with the appropriate authori-
ties.
Source: Cecelia Haack, M.S.
OSU Extension Faculty Nutrition
Educator
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