Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The month began with a May Day Spring Tea & Dessert sponsored by Sandy’s Helping Hands. Center members enjoyed delicious treats and refreshing iced tea–just right for a warm afternoon.
Once again the Lion’s Club Health Van was onsite for the annual Health Fair. Hearing, vision and blood sugar testing was offered. A variety of fitness class demonstrations took place as well.
Parks
After years of anticipation and fundraising, work began on the Sandy Bluff Off-Leash Dog Park. The Leash-Cutting grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17th at 6:00pm. Four-legged friends and their two-legged companions are invited to attend.
City Council and Park Board members held a joint workshop to discuss the future of trails in Sandy. Kathleen Walker, Park Board Chair, provided information on the current trail system and the vision of future trail development. Discussion centered around developing trail connections using current city rights-of-way in the immediate future and planning for long-term connections as properties annex and construction proceeds.
Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Summer Recreation Guide was completed and posted online in May. The electronic data base continues to grow and the new sign board is a great boost to programs. Exciting summer camps and field trips were added to provide a variety of summer options. New this session are drum lessons and cooking classes.
Summer Adult softball teams formed in May and teams are looking forward to another season on the new High School fields.
Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 12,630 a decrease of 39% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 40%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 49%; STAR had a modest decrease, 15% this month; and ED ridership had a sharp decrease of 54%. ED ridership can vary greatly with only a couple of passenger changes.
The expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership was 2101 in May. Summer activities at Ski Bowl, the 7:00am opening of the Palmer run at Timberline and their many summer visitors should keep the buses hopping. Ridership on the new weekend SAM-Gresham Saturday & Sunday service continues to experience slight increases. A “return to fareless” promotion in July will hopefully encourage riders to ride during the new weekend service hours—Saturday between 5:30-9:30am and all day Sunday and holidays (4th of July).
Clackamas County successfully applied for a planning grant to explore the best structure for long term governance and operation of transportation services in the Mt. Hood area inclusive of Clackamas, Hood River and Warm Springs.
Bernice Powell led a Transit Adventure group of 12 to Goose Hollow for a walking tour and lunch at the Goose Hollow Inn where Bud Clark may have been sighted.
Once again, SAM will join the Sandy Mountain Festival Parade in July.