Portland, OR. After months of pandemic regulatory uncertainty, Oaks Amusement Park is up and running. (The park is a nonprofit located near the east side of the Sellwood Bridge at 7805 SE Oaks Park Way Portland OR, 97202.) Managers are, “thrilled to announce that our rides, mini-golf, and midway games are now reopened on a limited-capacity basis! After a historic period of closure, we are excited to welcome your family to once again connect with an iconic piece of local history while enjoying safe, wholesome, family fun on the midway.” Masks are optional outdoors and are strongly recommended for guests that are unvaccinated or are at high risk of COVID-19. Visitors must buy ride bracelets in advance and only a limited number are sold. Here’s a link to check it out.
Oaks Park has been “where the fun never ends” since 1905 and is among the oldest continually operating amusement parks in America.
Masks are required indoors for all guests five (5) years of age and older, and children between two (2) and five (5) years of age are strongly encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.
All masks and face coverings should be family-appropriate and cover the wearer’s nose and mouth, fit snuggly against the sides of the face, be made of breathable material, and be secured in place.
Here’s a video about all the rides:
A special edition of the Multnomah County Fair is happening at Oaks Park this Memorial Day weekend. This year’s modified fair features creations by local artists, gardeners, crafters, bakers, and more, on display in the Historic Dance Pavilion at Oaks Park. Admission to the exhibits is FREE; capacity limitations apply and timed-entry tickets must be reserved online in advance. Tickets are valid for a 45-minute visit to the exhibit hall during a specified time block on Saturday, May 29th, 12-6 PM, and Sunday, May 30th12-4:30 PM.
For more information about the fair visit multcofair.org.
A limited number of amusement park ride bracelets are available per day. Ride bracelets must be purchased online in advance. Due to capacity mandates, ride bracelet offerings have been updated and simplified to two ticket options:
Ride Bracelet: $39.95
Under 48″ Ride Bracelet: $19.95
Ride bracelets are required for everyone participating in attractions; non-riders are welcome to enter the park at no charge. The ride bracelet includes access to all of the rides (height limits and rider restrictions apply).
Roller skating, miniature golf, and midway games are sold separately. For information about a group discount on ride bracelets, visit the Groups Page. If you have a pass or unredeemed ride bracelet with a 2020 expiration, please click here for information.
Oaks Park Mission Statement:
In honor of the spirit and donation of Robert Bollinger, Oaks Park Association (OPA) serves as a private non-profit organization whose mission is the preservation and perpetuation of the historic amusement park as an affordable, safe, and family-friendly recreation attraction open to the general public.
The OPA will provide stewardship of the real estate of the historic park site on the Willamette River through maintenance of its landscape, buildings, structures, pedestrian and vehicular access ways, and utility infrastructure.
The OPA will preserve, maintain, renew, replace, and develop buildings and attractions appropriate to a historic amusement park including the nation’s longest continuously operating roller skating rink; the unique historic carousel, and other outdoor rides appropriate to a broad range of ages; games, and refreshments.
The OPA will provide management and operation of features of the park, either directly or through a contract with other compatible entities, to achieve a safe and inviting recreation environment for the general public.
The OPA will promote public awareness of the park heritage and its facilities as a destination for family gatherings, group events, community activities, organized recreation as well as individual enjoyment.
A lifestyle story: Portland, OR. We’re approaching the year-and-a-half mark of the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Brown has rolled out a plan to reopen the state in June if 70% of residents aged 16 and older have had at least one dose of vaccine. Many people are champing at the bit to dress up, get out, and socialize. Nonprofit leaders are hoping they will soon be able to have in-person galas! Town & Country magazine is calling it the season of revenge glamour as people tell the virus, enough is enough! Tiffany & Co. at 330 SW Taylor is ready for shoppers who want to splurge. Anya Taylor-Joy (above) admires jewels from the iconic brand. Economic recovery is key because researchers say foot traffic plummeted last year in Portland. During the height of the holiday season, foot traffic was down more than 80% from the previous year. Now, with more Americans vaccinated, retailers have a rosier outlook for a brick-and-mortar recovery.
Gucci has opened a new 6,500-square-foot store at Pioneer Place. The boutique is the luxury fashion brand’s first store in Oregon and features a wide range of men’s and women’s shoes, handbags, luggage, jewelry, and other products. The store officially opened on Feb. 12th.
Mario’s at 833 SW Broadway in Portland, and Mario’s 3.10 at Bridgeport Village, has Manolo Blahnik shoes ready to roll.
Mario’s features Prada, Lanvin, Brunello Cucinelli, Ermenegildo Zegna, Isaia, The Row, Kiton, Vince, Rag & Bone, Helmut Lang and more.
Mercantile Portland is at 729 SW Alder St. and has high-end clothing for women. Mercantile recently held an Elaine Kim trunk show. @elainekimcollection
Sharon Chuter (pictured above) is making a name for herself at Nordstrom. She founded UOMA Beauty. Chuter speaks to building Black wealth, facing down Western beauty standards in Nigeria, and building a global community.
Nordstrom is featuring a debut collection from Givenchy creative director Matthew M. Williams. It’s a lineup of “bold, gender-fluid designs evoke effortless, raw energy—signaling a new era at the Parisian house.”
Charlotte Tilbury (pictured with her niece Sofia Tilbury on the right) is a hot make-up line at Nordstrom. Managers are hoping to have an uptick in sales as the country reopens.
Counselor Jane Webber says people should be excited to get out into the world again, no matter what they wear. She explains, “Because we are human beings who thrive only with social connections, and because our life is full and fresh when we’re with other people. Isolation was not in any way fun; we survived it, but we still don’t feel human. It’s just scary to take that first step.” She adds, “I’m grateful for the people in my life, even if we haven’t reconnected in so long and I’m a little embarrassed about how that’s going to go. When I finally see them, I’m going to take a breath; I’m going to smile and I’m going say “Glad to see you again.”
Portland, OR. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s efforts to restore its Willamette Falls property in Oregon City recieved a significant boost in the form of an $800,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The funds come from the EPA’s Brownfields Grant Program. “As caretakers of the Willamette Falls area, we’re thankful for the EPA and this funding,” said Cheryle A. Kennedy, Chairwoman of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, seen above. “Tending to the land by addressing the environmental remediation needs will help ensure that the Tribe’s vision can be fully implemented across the site and bring people back to Willamette Falls.”
Tribal leaders said, “We’re grateful to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for believing in our vision for the former Blue Heron Mill and for awarding us the Region’s only Multipurpose Grant. With your help, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, we can begin to heal this land.”
Tribal fisher Brian Krehbiel works the dipnet through the turbulent water at the base of the falls. The ceremonial fishery at Willamette Falls allows tribal members to provide fish for their ceremonies while maintaining a connection to their homelands and keeping traditions alive. (Photo: Bobby Mercier)
The Tribe, the only Multipurpose Grant (MPG) Program recipient in the region, will use the funds to begin environmental remediation at the 23-acre site. The Tribe will begin evaluating the property and identifying any hazardous substances from prior operations at the site, which had been home to the former Blue Heron paper mill. The grant will fund environmental testing and decommissioning of underground storage tanks and allow the Tribe to create plans for larger remediations that will focus on repurposing portions of the site and making preparations for demolition.
The EPA allocates MPGs annually for high priority assessment and cleanup of contaminated properties. According to the EPA website, “Through these grants, EPA and its state and tribal partners will advance priorities to deliver environmental and public health results across the nation.” The Tribe applied for the grant in October 2020 and will begin remediations this year.
The Tribe purchased the site in 2019. The 23 acres site in Oregon City within the Tribe’s ancestral homelands. In March 2021, the Tribe released its vision for the site, which includes environmental restoration, thoughtful mixed-use development and opportunities to share the story of the Tribe. Focused on the central idea of healing, the vision will also be guided by the values of spirit, place, people, and prosperity.
Last month The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde withdrew from the Willamette Falls Trust, the nonprofit organization made up of more than a dozen agencies. Willamette Falls Trust has taken on engaging the public and raising funds to support the Willamette Falls Legacy Project, a major collaborative effort between the tribes and various governmental agencies in the redevelopment of the former industrial land around the falls in a way that pays homage to the sacred site with cultural significance to Pacific Northwest tribes. Willamette Falls Trust members included four other federally recognized tribes and government representatives from Oregon City, Clackamas County, Metro and the state of Oregon.
Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy told Pamplin Media Group that the friction between the Grande Ronde and the Trust stems from perceived disrespect that has perpetuated since the Tribe addressed certain behaviors to the Trust last summer. At that time, Kennedy and her fellow Tribal Council members outlined their grievances as owners of the Blue Heron Mill property.
From Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
On August 15, 2019, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde purchased a 23-acre property at Willamette Falls that was formerly home to a Blue Heron Paper Company mill . The property, which sits on the east bank of the Willamette River in Oregon City, is located within the Tribe’s ancestral homelands land and holds significant historical and cultural importance for the Tribe.
The lands were once home to the Charcowah village of the Clowewalla (Willamette band of Tumwaters) and the Kosh-huk-shix Village of Clackamas people. They were ceded to the United States government under the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty, tribal members were forcibly removed from Willamette Falls and relocated to Grand Ronde.
Since acquiring the property in 2019, the Tribe has been working with a design team from GBD Architects and Walker | Macy to create a vision for the site. Focused on the central idea of healing, the vision will also be guided by the values of spirit, place, people and prosperity.
At the site itself, that vision will come to life through:
Environmental restoration that will restore long-lost natural basalt landscape and water channels.
Native plantings and restored riparian habitat to benefit native fish, birds and other wildlife.
Thoughtful mixed-use development at the north end of the site that would visually and physically connect to the restored landscape.
Opportunities include office, hospitality, institutional or educational spaces, tribal areas, public gathering spots and a long-planned Riverwalk.
Opportunities to share the story of the Tribe and its historical and cultural connection to Willamette Falls.
Access to the falls for members of the Tribe and the general public.
The ownership of this property allows the Tribe to return to the role of stewards and caretakers of these lands, all while rebuilding this special piece of the Tribe’s homelands in the Tribe’s vision.
Environmental Stewardship
Part of bringing the Tribe’s vision for the Willamette Falls site to fruition involves environmental remediation from the past operations of the Blue Heron paper mill.
In August of 2019 the Tribe and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality came to agreement on terms for a clean-up plan at the site. Since then, the two entities have worked together to address multiple areas of concern while also identifying federal funding opportunities to help fund assessment and cleanup efforts on the property.
Tending to the environmental remediation needs will help ensure the Tribe’s vision can be fully implemented across the site.
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon includes over 30 tribes and bands from western Oregon, northern California and southwest Washington. For more information, visit www.grandronde.org.
Portland, OR. For the second year in a row, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) held its annual fundraiser, Celebrate Science, on KGW-TV. The May 1st benefit raised over $700,000 to support OMSI programs that keep world-class science learning accessible to families, students, educators, and community members.
OMSI President and CEO, Erin Graham, welcomed guests to the program, noting that while many museums and organizations have closed their doors for extended periods, OMSI has operated continuously for the past 15 months; “Through OMSI’s history — from our founding in 1944, we have continually innovated to meet the needs and opportunities of the communities that we serve throughout the State. We’ve been able to do this successfully because of you. As a statewide resource, OMSI is uniquely positioned to bring urban and rural communities together to innovate and create solutions to address our collective challenges and improve long-term outcomes for all our children.”
OMSI Educator Brad Alston engages audiences across the state with OMSI Virtual Classes.
Celebrate Science funds support programs like OMSI Homeroom, which offers daily affordable, high-quality care and school work support.
Long-time OMSI supporters, David and Christine Vernier, co-founders of Vernier Software & Technology shared their belief that thanks to science, things are looking better for everyone. “We believe OMSI plays a critical role in educating and inspiring people of all ages. This event is an opportunity to shine a light on the difference OMSI has made in the lives of children, families, and this community, through the current challenging circumstances.”
In the pre-show, Celebrate Science guests hosted Zoom tables to share the evening and enjoyed Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine from Vibrant Table which paired with the VIP wine packages picked up at OMSI before the event. The complementary treat packages even included crickets to snack on from Portland-owned Cricket Flours. And Senator Ron Wyden shared a special message with guests; “Clearly, organizations like OMSI are vital because they continue to inspire generations of scientists to come.”
The main Celebrate Science event was an hour-long family-friendly program featuring OMSI educators, exhibits, experiments, science demos, and highlighting OMSI programming. OMSI’s hosts, Dale Johannes and OMSI educator Rebecca Reilly, led viewers on the fastest and slowest tour of OMSI, introduced experts who shared fascinating information about COVID, and presented an inspiring segment featuring a single mother and her son. It showed that they shared the profound impact of OMSI Homeroom, an OMSI program begun in the first two weeks of the pandemic, which offers daily affordable, high-quality care and school work support. The evening offered viewers an opportunity to call in to become sustaining members and to purchase never-before-offered OMSI experiences, such as reserving the Empirical Theater for a private movie night. OMSI partnered with KGW, Meyer Pro, and Sisbro Studios to broadcast the Celebrate Science program.
Presenting sponsors were Vernier Software & Technology and the Jon V. Jaqua and Kimberly B. Cooper Fund of OCF. Jordan Schnitzer and The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation were Platinum sponsors of Celebrate Science.
About OMSI: Anyone can get involved and assist OMSI in its ongoing efforts to extend science learning across Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Visit https://omsi.edu/donate or send an email to[email protected] for more information.
Our Mission: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) inspires curiosity through engaging science learning experiences, fosters experimentation and the exchange of ideas, and stimulates informed action.
OMSI is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and relies on admissions, memberships, and donations to continue our educational mission, programs, and exhibits.
Portland, OR. Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) will administer $40 million of state-funded grants for community organizations to provide summer enrichment activities for K-12 aged students. The programs include day camps and outdoor programs as well as $1.2 million earmarked for parent-child summer programming for families with young children. The move is part of a substantial investment by the State of Oregon to address learning inequities and help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Oregon children and families.
With groups experiencing uneven access to stable homes, learning technology and parental teaching support, the pandemic closures will have disparate effects across the socio-economic ladder.
“The pandemic has caused widespread learning loss and social-emotional setbacks with youth, while also amplifying learning disparities across racial and socioeconomic lines,” says Lisa Bermudez, Development & Marketing Director, Bend Science Station. “The expertise, training, and connections of OCF will help organizations to successfully re-engage youth—particularly marginalized youth—and make up for lost learning this summer.”
OCF will administer two different grant programs, both funded by the State of Oregon, for summer educational and enrichment programs:
K-12 Summer Learning Grants—$40 Million
The K-12 Summer Learning Grants will prioritize community-based programs for underserved youth and families that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The grants will be available to public and nonprofit organizations that provide community-based programming including:
Support enrichment programs for learning outside of the classroom
Support arts, sports, mentoring, workforce development, science, museum education, and many other indoor and outdoor activities
A priority to programs that serve K-12 aged youth from communities of color, youth from low-income families, and youth living in under-resourced rural communities.
“Oregon Community Foundation has a history of investing in community-based out-of-school time and summer programs across the state. National and local data shows that this programming helps build a sense of belonging, develop critical social-emotional skills, and promote greater school attendance and engagement,” says Belle Cantor, Senior Program Officer for Education, OCF. “The trauma of school disruption as well as living with an elevated level of anxiety and uncertainty can have long-term negative impacts on children. This is magnified for children who already experience racial inequity.”
Grants are intended to be used towards ensuring youth and families have access to summer learning and enrichment programs. The pandemic has had wide and varied impacts on youth and families across the state and therefore these grants are intended to ensure youth and families have opportunities to help them address the educational, social, emotional, and other impacts of the pandemic.
OCF will accept, review, and award grants on a rolling basis throughout the spring to ensure programs have funds in hand to begin planning and implementation. OCF will seek the advice of a diverse, community-based advisory committee throughout the granting process to ensure that the program is meeting community priorities.
The application form can be found on the OCF website at:
The Early Childhood Summer Support Grants will support enrichment programs for learning by providing services for approximately 600 children (from birth to 5 years of age) and their parents. These grants will help deliver 12 weeks of parent-child summer programming, including group classes and activities that offer social and learning opportunities for young children and their parents, playgroups, and kindergarten readiness programs.
“The birth to five years are the most critical years for the development of young brains, and parent-child relationships are the foundation of healthy development,” says Mary Louise McClintock, Senior Education Strategy and Policy Advisor, Oregon Community Foundation. “Through Early Childhood Summer Support grants, OCF will support opportunities for young children and their parents – especially those disproportionately impacted by the trauma and isolation of the pandemic – to play and learn with other children and families.”
To apply for a grant or learn more about this program, please visit:
About Oregon’s Summer Learning and Child Care Package for Kids
The state of Oregon is seeking to fund programs that build trusting relationships, connection, and care for children over the summer months, in the critical time between the end of this school year and the beginning of the next. To learn more, please see:
Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) puts donated money to work in Oregon – more than $100 million in grants and scholarships annually. Since 1973, OCF grantmaking, research, advocacy and community-advised solutions have helped individuals, families, businesses and organizations create charitable funds to improve lives for all Oregonians. Impactful giving–time, talent and resources from many generous Oregonians–creates measurable change. For more information about OCF, please visit: oregoncf.org.
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