November | 2024 | Parks & Recreation

Carol:

Mt Storm has been open for a month for registration.

The Winter Recreation Guide is being worked on and will have new classes for teens and youth like science and art classes. The goal is to pass out the 2025 Winter Guide before the end of December.

Sandy Library and the Recreation Dept partnered together for the Halloween Hunt in Meinig. It was a little cold but over 100 kids still showed up. Lots of candy was given out. Dutch Bros gift cards were given out to the winners who found the golden pumpkins.

A total of $12,250 has been raised from Winterfest sponsors- that is gold, silver, and friends of the lights.
The team is working on talking to businesses to be part of the merry makeover. The businesses are very excited about doing it again for Winterfest. More details next month.

Amy:

– Mt Storm Instructional League Finished! About 45 children in grades K-2 spent 6 weeks learning the basics of basketball while having fun 🙂
– Wildfire and Pollinator Presentation – Dr. Graham Frank discussed the effects of forest fires on our local ecosystem. Graham is a forest ecologist at OSU studying how the biodiversity in our forests respond to disturbances in the environment.
– Mt Storm Registration Completed – 260 children are fully registered to play Mt Storm Basketball.

-Full Moon Hike on October 17th – OSU Naturalist Lecia and Parks and Rec employee Amy lead a full moon hike and hunt for bats at Sandy Bluff Park.

-Insect Presentation on October 18th – We had a creepy crawly educational presentation at the Sandy Community Center! Folks got up close and personal with fascinating critters (like roaches, crickets, worms, flies, and more!!), while learning about their incredible roles in our ecosystem, and getting tips if you want to raise them in your own home!

-ORPA Conference – Amy learned a lot at the three day ORPA conference in Sunriver, OR.

Caroleana:

October was a rush of meetings and it went by way too quickly.

Caroleana had over 396 senior related calls. This month the center had 7 new MOW clients; which involved home visits with each client and a completed NAPIS form for Clackamas County. Caroleana further offered and assisted each household with other available resources.

Caroleana helped support our team by packing coolers and delivering several routes for meals on wheels.

Caroleana had an Energy Assistance meeting with Marcos and Anfisa. She learned about funding available and where grant funds are coming from. Learned about new requirements for the Clackamas County EA program. As well as the electricity scam going on right now and to advise seniors to be aware.

She scored very well on the program feedback for the last fiscal year. Submitted approximately 140 applications with only 6 corrections and 1 denial. That is a 95.5% score; which was notated as Superior.

It was noted “ Sandy Community/ Senior Center had provided the necessary information to assure the intake process is effective, efficient and reduce the burden to low-income seniors in your community”

The Energy Assistance (winter heating) program started this month, with priority going to seniors 62+. Caroleana started making calls to prior clients and scheduling appts. She also distributed info flyers with the income guidelines at AntFarm, Sandy health Clinic, and Sandy Vista Apartments- giving them a spanish version of flier.

For the month of October Caroleana completed and submitted 28 applications for local senior households, and has 9 applications pending.

Sent out Letters to 3 local lawyers requesting their involvement in the Legal Aid clinics that she is striving to start back up. One Lawyer has responded to the letter and said yes he would most definitely help out again.

Continued to plan and meet with Jolie at Mt Hood Hospice for Veterans event in November. Had one meeting with Bert and Jackie Key, who offered their knowledge, and connections. Advertised for Veterans event publishing on social media and throughout town at local businesses.

Several online trainings that helped enhance my job skills and knowledge base on local community resources in Clackamas county

Serving Older Adults with Limited English Proficiency – translators over the phone
Zoom Sandy Connect learned about Energy Trust in our community help service homes with improvements
Mind and Music series- explores the power of music to reach those with dementia and other neurologic conditions

Coordinated and Hosted NAMI at the Center for staff to attend; Mental Health Matters.

NAMI, Clackamas is a grassroots non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for everyone by providing free mental health education, support, and advocacy. This was an excellent opportunity to expand our understanding of mental health and the resources available in our community.

Event:

Mt. Hood Hospice Class, Grief and The Holidays: 7 attended

AARP Safe driving Class: 18 attended.

Future Events:

Veterans Event

Marc:

SENIOR TRIPS

– Hike & Lunch – Lewis & Clark Discovery trail and Golden Corral in Vancouver – 10 people

– Hood River Harvest Festival with a stop at Packer Orchards and Bakery on the way back – Full bus with a waiting list

– Dine out at Black Bear Diner in Gresham -9 people with 4 meeting us there

– Hike & Lunch – Hawthorn & Douglas Fir trail loop at Powell Butte and lunch at Red Robin in Gresham – 10 people with Carol joining us and 2 people meeting us there

– Lunch at Olive Garden then End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Oregon City – Full Bus

– Dine out at Wan Lungs in Happy Valley – Full Bus with 1 person meeting us there

MOW

– 1108 meals served

John:

Continued work on our Kitchen updates to ensure that we can start serving congregate meals to our local senior population. Stove was delivered and installed. Next steps are to update the suppression system and recruit volunteers.

Attended the annual Oregon Recreation & Parks Association Conference. Lead a one hour session about Special Events and Recreational Sports where we talked goals, needs and best practices in the industry.

Worked with contractor on the installation of the final wayfinding signs, map/legend and rules for Cedar Park.

Coordinated with Spoke N Wheel, the branding and marketing company for American Ramp Company (designers and builders of Basecamp, the skate park, pump track and jumpline at Cedar Park) to film, interview and take still shots to help us market our newest amenity.

Continued the coordination, planning and marketing of our 3rd annual Winterfest.

Chelsea:

Processed invoices related to various park projects.
Attended meetings in regards to various ongoing park projects
Took and recorded meeting notes for ARC’s work at Cedar Park
Shopped for refreshments for Meinig Park’s Open House #2 and worked the front desk for the event.
Drafted various signs and publications for upcoming Parks & recreation needs.
Did a lot of prep for the Cedar Park Grand Opening. I ordered VIP swag, made VIP tickets, put together VIP bags, created the program, and created lists for the day of.
Took a tour of Hidden Creek Park to view the Earthscapes custom playground.
Did a grant update for Cedar Park & submitted for our first reimbursement request for that project.
Completed the November and December newsletter and got it printed for distribution. A copy was also emailed out to those that elect to receive it via email.
Drafted letters to the neighbors of Cedar Park about the Scenic street closure due to paving.
Attended a NAMI presentation on mental health and suicide.