Carol:

Corn Cross for the kids was a huge success. We had 80 kids signed up but due to the
rain in the morning we had 56 who raced. and 80% of these kids ages 2-16 came from Sandy. The kids course was longer this year with more time in the corn maze. Leipold’s was very happy with the turnout and realized how much fun these kids have on their bike and the other activities the farm offers.
Thanks to Coach Robbie with his skills and bringing his obstacles and air bag. The kids were challenging themselves on these fun obstacles. This was the 3rd year Northwest Trails Alliance came out to be part of Corn Cross. They gave out medals to all the kids. Parents were so excited to have the kids go through the maze and have it more challenging. Everfresh & CCB were our sponsors for this event.

Working on sponsorships for Winterfest events so far. The goal is to raise $20,000 this year in Winterfest Sponsorships.

I have reached out to all the vendors and sponsors from Drop In and everyone was so pleased with the turnout that they want to come back next year.

Amy:

– Amy attended the first Gardening Club Meeting of the Fall season to strengthen connections and share Parks & Recreation news with the group!
– Amy’s been assisting Marc with Senior Trips, making connections with local seniors and making sure everyone is safe and accounted for on their hike and lunch activities.
– Amy assisted with the Volunteer Appreciation Party for the City of Sandy.

– Mt Storm Registration has opened for 3/4 and 5/6 grade leagues. The Mt Storm Instructional League also started. Amy is teaching almost 50 K-2nd grade children the fundamentals of basketball. 

– Amy hosted an Insect Identification Workshop and shared the love of insects with many children in the Sandy Community Gardens

– Amy hosted a Full Moon appreciation event at Jonsrud Viewpoint. 

– Amy continues to plan for Mt Storm Basketball, the Community Gardens, and Winterfest!

Caroleana:

Caroleana had over 241 senior related calls this month.

The center had 2 new clients; which involved a home visit with each client and a completed NAPIS form for Clackamas County.   

Caroleana drove several Meals on Wheels routes throughout the month, providing valuable support to ensure meals were delivered to clients. This additional support was helpful in maintaining consistent service and meeting the needs of the program.  She also tried to spread the word about our ongoing need for additional Meals on Wheels volunteers through community outreach and conversations with potential volunteers. 

The continued need for route coverage demonstrates the importance of recruiting and retaining additional volunteers to support the program. 

Received a generous donation of dahlia flowers from a local resident. We created 22 beautiful bouquets for Meals on Wheels clients, which were distributed by drivers across all four routes to bring a special touch of joy to each household. 

Clackamas County Energy Assistance summer program continued this month and Caroleana helped 2 households with their submission of applications.   

Participated in a review meeting with Marcos Garcia and Anfisa Agonin from the Clackamas County Energy Assistance Program. The new program year begins October 1, 2026.

Developed updated program flyers and distributed them throughout the community at local health centers, apartment communities, the library, and City Hall to increase awareness and outreach. 

Shared program information with Meals on Wheels clients to ensure they are aware of the available utility assistance. Continued community outreach also provided opportunities to introduce the program to individuals who were previously unaware of the available resources. 

In the month of September we served on 5 Tuesdays, with a total of 128 meals served in the month.   Those who attended senior lunch service donated $335 towards the nutrition program for the month of September.   We are continuing to grow each week. 

We had 2 great ‘Lunch and Learn’ presenters this month.  Mt Hood hospice led a new workshop called: Breath Move Express, which had 5 in attendance.  This provides a place for those grieving to be with others in a safe environment.  

Clackamas County Sustainability came and did a presentation on Recycling Do’s and Don’ts.  We learned a lot and went away with great resources and freebies. 

Met with Jolie, from Mt. Hood Hospice to continue planning, organizing and coordinating the annual ‘We Honor our Veterans’ Event in November.  

This year we changed the design of the flyers. As well we are going to send out Save the Dates to prior veterans in attendance and community members.   We secured 2 sponsors, Care Patrol and Sandy Cogir.

Hosted an AARP safe driving class with 16 in attendance.   

As well, Caroleana helped the team with the Volunteer Appreciation Event that was held on Sept 16th at the Sandy Library.  Caroleana made all 6 of the raffle baskets and 8 coffee/tea prize baskets for the scavenger hunt game. 

Marc:

Senior Trips:

• Dine out at Ristorante Di Pompello. 11 people with one meeting us there.
• Hike at Orenco Woods Nature Park with lunch afterwards at P.F. Changs in Hillsboro. 9 people with Amy joining us.

• Salem Art Fair & Festival in Salem. Originally 9 people but we had some last minute cancellations. The rest of us loved it though. It was my first time taking the seniors there.
• Dine out at Roadhouse Grill in Gresham. 12 with one meeting us there.
• Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City. Only 3 this time. Amazing considering the casino trips are one of the most popular. The 3 that went though were happy it wasn’t cancelled because it was a beautiful day at the beach which was one of the main reason 2 of them went.
• Hike at Sandy River Delta and lunch at the Troutdale Station Food Carts. 10 people with Amy joining us.

• Mini Golf at The Aerie at Eagles Landing and lunch at the Happy Valley Station Food Carts. Unfortunately mini golf was not meant to be this year which is unfortunate because they love it. First time cancelled due to me being sick in August. This time due to the weather.

Meals on Wheels

• I covered one of the routes for a driver that could not make it.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Took the bus in to get the broken seat belt fixed so that we are back to full capacity.
• Took the bus in for an oil change.

Chelsea:

• Assisted with processing invoices related to various park projects.
• Continued to monitor the budget for Deer Pointe park and Meinig Park Renovations. 
• Park rentals and center rentals continue to be busy
• Continued to communicate with the Bornstedt House property manager on interest in the house. 
• Sent Park rental schedules for the parks team.
• Helped the team proof various documents. 
• Attended the Parks & Trails Advisory Board’s tour of the construction at Meinig Park. Created the agenda and wrote up the meeting minutes after.
• Attended construction meetings for the Meinig Park improvements. 
• Took meals on wheels notes from the drivers in Caroleana’s and Mark’s absence. 
• Created signage for various parks needs and the community/senior center
• Assisted with sponsorship documents for Winterfest.
• Got a head start on various holiday signage. 
• Booked the catering company for our Senior Thanksgiving. I also worked on updating the printed menu and flyers for the event for this year.
• We made the final payment on the Deer Pointe Park project and officially closed out that project. I did a final check of the budget and ensured everything was recorded and matched. 
• Submitted final paperwork to BOLI to close out the Deer Pointe park project. 
• Assisted with putting together flower bundles for our Meals on Wheels clients, thanks to a generous donation of dahlias.

John:

Senior Services – Congregate Meals and Transportation

During September, I provided additional operational support to Senior Services to maintain consistent programming and service delivery during periods of staff leave and scheduling gaps. This included assisting with meal preparation and cooking, coordinating volunteers, and ensuring our congregate meal program continued to serve local seniors.
The congregate meal program provides older adults with access to nutritious, well-balanced, and affordable meals while creating opportunities for social connection, friendship, and community engagement. In addition to supporting meal service, I assisted with transportation to help seniors attend congregate meals and participate in other recreational activities at the Community/Senior Center. These efforts helped maintain access to essential services and recreational opportunities while supporting the overall well-being and independence of our senior population.
2. Mt. Storm Youth Basketball – Program Preparation and Sponsorship
Preparations for the upcoming Mt. Storm youth basketball season continued throughout September. I met with Recreation Coordinators to review program marketing, registration, gymnasium availability, scheduling, and operational logistics to ensure the league is positioned for a successful season.
I also met with staff to discuss upgrading league uniforms from traditional multicolored cotton T-shirts to reversible basketball jerseys. This change would provide a more traditional basketball experience, improve functionality during games, and create a more consistent and professional appearance across the league.
Additionally, Sandy Net stepped forward as a Mt. Storm sponsor. This partnership will provide additional resources to support program improvements and enhance the experience for participating youth. The sponsorship demonstrates the value of community partnerships in strengthening local recreation programs and expanding opportunities for young athletes.
3. Winterfest – Event Planning and Coordination
Planning for the 2026 Winterfest season began in September, with several foundational decisions and logistical arrangements established. Key accomplishments included securing the event tree, coordinating delivery and installation, and establishing dates and times for the season’s scheduled activities.
Initial budget planning and sponsorship revenue goals were also developed to guide event preparation and resource allocation. Establishing these details early provides a framework for coordinating staff, vendors, sponsors, and community partners while helping ensure the department is prepared to deliver a successful holiday season.
Winterfest continues to serve as an important community tradition, bringing residents and visitors together through seasonal activities, family-friendly events, and opportunities to support local businesses and organizations.
4. Professional Development – Oregon Recreation & Park Association (ORPA) Conference
I attended the Oregon Recreation & Park Association (ORPA) Conference in September, participating in professional development and educational sessions covering a broad range of parks, recreation, and related municipal service areas.
A particular highlight was the focus on adaptive recreation and accessible parks. These sessions provided valuable insight into how local jurisdictions are improving accessibility, designing inclusive public spaces, and removing barriers to participation. Learning from communities that have successfully implemented these improvements offered practical examples of approaches, planning considerations, and strategies that may be applicable to Sandy.
The conference reinforced the importance of inclusive park design and equitable access to recreation opportunities. The information and best practices gained will help inform future planning, program development, and opportunities to enhance accessibility throughout Sandy’s parks and recreation system.

Parks & Facilities:

• Our seasonal employee has been promoted to a full-time position and is now providing
  year-round weekend coverage for the parks system. He has also been working to improve
  the care and maintenance of paths and city properties that typically receive less routine
  attention.

• Meinig Park renovations are progressing well. The new picnic pavilions and restroom are
  complete, and paving for the new paths is scheduled to begin October 12.
• Repairs to the Veterans Memorial, following the accident damage, have been completed.

• Seasonal changeover and maintenance work is being completed throughout the parks
  system.

Upcoming events and dates to remember:

October 3rd & 21st- Community Gardens Volunteer Days from 1-4pm

October 19th: Winterfest installation begins.

October 20th- Layers of Grief workshop at 12:45pm at the Community Center

October 27th- Protect yourself from scams and fraud workshop at the Community Center (12:45pm).

October 31st- Creepy Crawly Encounters at the Community Center from 12:00-2:00pm

November 16th- We Honor our Veterans Ceremony at 2:00pm at the Community Center:

December 4th: Tree lighting and Winterfest kickoff at Centennial Plaza and Meinig Park.