Local briefs for March 13
Troutdale arch goes up Tuesday
The long-awaited Troutdale Centennial Arch will be installed across Historic Columbia River Highway on its decorative pillars between 9 a.m. and noon Tuesday, March 16.
The 13-ton archway is scheduled to be transported by two semi-trucks from its fabrication site on Swan Island to the intersection at 257th Avenue by 9 a.m.
The highway will close from 257th to Buxton Avenue while Bremik Construction workers hoist and position the arch onto the pillars.
Check alarms when changing clocks
Residents are urged to check their smoke alarms when changing their clock for daylight-saving time Sunday, March 14. Many people have smoke alarms with 10-year batteries, so changing the batteries may not be necessary.
Checking the alarm includes testing the battery, vacuuming the alarm to get rid of dust and cobwebs, and inspecting the alarm to determine if it is 10 years old or older. If so, the entire alarm should be replaced.
Rain garden grants available to homeowners
Gresham homeowners who are planning to landscape this spring could be eligible for a grant of up to $100 for installing a rain garden.
The city of Gresham and the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District are offering 10 grants to encourage the building of rain gardens, which are designed to absorb rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, walkways and compacted lawns. Rain gardens can support a variety of shrubs, flowers and grasses, and they prevent runoff from flowing untreated into streams and creating pollution.
Rain garden grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for applicants who meet the criteria. The application and rain garden information is available at greshamoregon.gov/watershed or by calling Jamie Stamberger at 503-618-2793. The city also offers free rain garden assistance and home visits.
Residents can learn how to build a rain garden at a free workshop that will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at Gresham City Hall, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Register in advance at emswcd.org or call 503-935-5383.
Historical society hosts special events
The Troutdale Historical Society is opening its three museums Saturday, March 20, and hosting a special guest author Sunday, March 21.
For more information, e-mail info@troutdalehistory.com or call 503-661-2164.
• The Harlow House, the Barn Museum and the Depot Rail Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20. The Barn Museum will feature artist Kathy Allegri teaching a watercolor class and talking about her work. The Depot Rail Museum will feature artist Sarah Lowe. The Harlow House will have a display of antique quilts and Easter decorations.
• At 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21, Northwest author John Harrison will talk about his recent book, “A Woman Alone: Mona Bell, Sam Hill and the Mansion on Bonneville Rock.” The program will be held at Troutdale City Hall, 104 S.E. Kibling Ave. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.
Hanford cleanup issues discussed
The long-term environmental impacts of cleanup at the Hanford nuclear facility, a mostly decommissioned site located more than 200 miles upstream from Gresham in Washington on the Columbia River, will be discussed at a forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 15, at Fairview Community Center, 300 Harrison St., Fairview.
Participants will learn more about the federal government’s environmental impact statement that evaluates major proposed actions on three aspects of the Hanford cleanup:
• Treatment of 53 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste stored in 177 aging underground tanks, as well as closure of the oldest 149 tanks once the waste has been treated.
• Continued disposal of solid waste generated during on-going cleanups, along with possibly disposing of waste at Hanford from other sites around the country.
• Decommissioning Hanford’s nuclear reactor that operated during the 1980s.
For more than 40 years, Hanford produced plutonium for nuclear weapons. Hanford is now being contained and cleaned up. For more information, visit Hanford.gov or Oregon.gov/energy, or call Ken Niles at 503-378-4906.
Volunteers needed for annual beach cleanup
Volunteers are still needed for the 25th annual SOLV Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup on Saturday, March 20.
The event, held in cooperation with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and coastal garbage and recycling haulers, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the entire Oregon coast from the Washington to the California borders. Oregonians from every corner of the state are invited and encouraged to join in this Oregon tradition.
Volunteers can visit www.solv.org to pre-register online and view a map of registration locations, or call SOLV at 503-844 -9571 or 1-800-333-SOLV for more information. Volunteers should dress for the weather, bring gloves, wear sturdy shoes and stay safe while cleaning the Oregon coastline.