Portland, August 6th. The Friends of Tryon Creek have just received a $150,000 three-year grant from Meyer Memorial Trust to support their efforts towards future sustainability.
The nonprofit is reporting: The funds are part of a $370,000 capacity building project that will improve the organization’s fundraising ability, education program infrastructure and overall marketing program, and will directly support the addition of a Development Director position over that time span.
“This kind of support is the result of years of organizational success through the commitment of a core group of people who have made environmental education and restoration a priority”, says David Cohen, Executive Director for the Friends. “It is nice to be recognized for that and for the huge efforts of so many who brought us to where we are today.” The Trust’s award recognizes the recent efforts by the Friends’ Board, staff and volunteers to develop a clear vision for the future and a forward-thinking strategic plan to achieve those goals. It also affirms that the Friends’ work in public land conservation and environmental education has ever-growing value to the broader community. The Friends’ capacity building effort has also received support from the Community Grants Program of the Oregon Community Foundation and the Gray Family Friends of Tryon Creek Education Fund.
For over 40 years, the Friends of Tryon Creek have been offering a range of educational programs for all ages. Most significant is the School Field Trip Program serving 5,000 students annually with the goal of using this strategically located natural area as an outdoor classroom to connect children directly to nature and instill an ethic of stewardship in each child. In addition, the Friends’ popular Nature Day Camp Program, which provides a safe and nurturing environment for 900 children each summer, is a program where they make meaningful connections with others as well as with the natural world. The Friends also offer adult programs, teacher workshops, a Backyard Habitat Program and Landscaping for Conservation series, additional children’s camps and workshops, and special events with strong educational components throughout the year.
About the Friends of Tryon Creek
The Friends of Tryon Creek are a catalyst for cultivating a lifelong relationship with nature using Tryon Creek State Natural Area, Oregon’s only urban state park, as our classroom. We are known throughout the region for our exceptional environmental education programs and stewardship opportunities.
Tryon Creek State Natural Area is located at 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd in southwest Portland. The 670-acre park currently welcomes over 385,000 visitors each year and is home to over 200 species of birds, mammals and amphibians. Visitors enjoy miles of hiking trails, a paved bicycle path and equestrian trails.
London, August 8th. Wilsonville’s Richard Fellers and his 16-year-old Irish Sporthorse, Flexible (who has his own website flexiblegrandprixjumper.com) came to London on August 1st from their training farm in Holland. Flexible’s owners, Harry and Mollie Chapman report, “Flexible is bright and happy and ready to go…so is Rich.” The 52-year-old was the first American to win the World Cup show jumping finals in 25 years and it’s his first time competing in the Olympics. Steve Guerdat of Switzerl won the Gold medal.
Steve Guerdat of Switzerland celebrates on the podium after winning the Gold medal, Gerco Schroder of Netherlands (L) the Silver medal and Cian O’Connor of Ireland (R) the Bronze medal in the Individual Jumping Equestrian on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In this Olympic team photo, World Cup champion Rich Fellers is on the left. He’s pictured with newcomer, Reed Kessler. Beezie Madden and McLain Ward are returning to the show jumping team and looking for their third-straight Olympic gold medals in the team event. In the second row are staffers George Morris and Elizabeth Parker.
Despite all of Feller’s success, including taking home the FEI Rolex World Cup Championship in April, Fellers isn’t letting it go to his head. “People ask me, how many wins, how much prize money, but none of that really matters to me,” said Fellers. “I just take it day by day, and focus on keeping moving forward,” according to Spruce Meadows Media.
Portland, July 29th. “Get into your river” was the theme of the 2nd annual Big Float . Over 1,400 people hopped into the Willamette River, according to organizer Will Levenson. (Photo credit, Lisa Loving, News Editor of The Skanner) The goal of event is to support river preservation and healthy development of the Willamette as a recreational resource, and have a whale of a good time. The Big Float is a benefit for Willamette Riverkeeper.
Open to all ages, the event begins with a parade. Floaters gather near the east entrance to the Hawthorne Bridge, then carry or wear their flotation devices across the bridge, march south along Waterfront Park and finally launch into the river at the beach area beneath the Marquam Bridge.
The Big Float is an opportunity for the people of Portland to partake in a public display of affection for the Willamette.
Will Levenson was offering “Free Hugs”. He’s the high spirited organizer of The Big Float.
Despite public perception, the Willamette River is approved for swimming, except in the now rare instances when Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) conditions are present. According to DEQ, with the Big Pipe project now complete, it’s expected that a CSO will occur only once every two summers.
This year featured a paddlers parade, kayakers, canoeists, dragon boaters, and crew teams.
A few four-legged friends made the Willamette River Crossing.
Floaters said the water was pretty warm. They headed east across the river and proceeded downstream to the landing area, where swimming was allowed.
Live music was featured on water as well as on land for an after-party.
A Great Crossing celebration featured live music by local bands, plus food carts, exhibits and sponsor booths and a children’s area sponsored by the Grand Ronde Tribes with native American crafts.
Here’s a The Big Float video:
From Willamette Riverkeeper:
Willamette Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to protect and restore the Willamette River. We believe that a river with good water quality and abundant natural habitat is a basic public right. The Willamette River belongs to all of us and should be protected as such.
We invite you to take a look around our website and get to know more about the Willamette River and our Programs. Join us for a Saturday paddle trip, a volunteer training, or sign up for our action alert list and stay up to date on issues affecting our river.
Thank you to Lisa Loving, News Editor of The Skanner.
Portland, August 1st. The VIP screening of “In This Together” was sold out. 380 PHAME supporters gathered at the The Hollywood Theatre to watch the new feature-length documentary about PHAME, and its inspiring student artists and performers. The film, produced in collaboration with Portland’s own Runaway Mustache Productions, follows performers on their ten-city tour, called “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour.”
PHAME visited communities across the metro region, showcasing their remarkable talent and tenacity to audiences in Portland, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Estacada and Beaverton, Oregon, as well as Vancouver, Washington.
The production team assembled for the film, “In This Together” includes: Producer/Director: Alex Huebsch, Associate Producers: Marc Friedman and Stephen Marc Beaudoin, Cinematographer: Paulius Kontijevas, and Lead Editor: Marc Friedman
At the film premier, PHAME raised over $7,000 in donations, ticket sales and merchandise sales. Supporters enjoyed the red carpet treatment.
PHAME board chair Ethan Dunham, and his partner Michelle Schmidt
Here’s are a couple of trailers for the film (they can be viewed in most browsers including Explorer and Safari.)
PHAME’s Chrystal Figueroa
“We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating on this feature length documentary film about PHAME with the incredible vision and talent of Alex Huebsch, Marc Friedman and everyone at Runaway Mustache Productions,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. ‘In This Together’ asks us to look freshly at what it means to be an artist, and to look more deeply at the very definition of art itself.” PHAME will offer DVDs of the film for sale in the near future.
From PHAME Academy: PHAME is the Portland region’s acclaimed fine and performing arts academy for adults with developmental disabilities.
PHAME Academy supports the development of skills and self-esteem in adults with developmental disabilities through education and participation in the fine and performing arts. Our slogan is “Talent Revealed.” In order to accomplish this goal, PHAME practices the “Enlighten, Educate, and Entertain” teaching philosophy. This approach supports the students by providing opportunities that encourage education, enlightening experiences, and entertainment derived from not only the classroom and special event environments, but also from the experiences and support derived from parents, guardians, and the students themselves.
London, August 1st. The 2012 Olympics are being called the “social media games” and one of its most popular players is Kevin Love. The Minnesota Timberwolves power forward from Lake Oswego is standing out, with stats like 16 points and 6 rebounds in a game against Tunisia, and the 24-year-old is tweeting about his Olympic experiences to his 374,596 Twitter followers.
Russell Westbrook high-fives Kevin Love after a play against France on July 29, 2012. ( Jamie Squire/Getty Images Europe)
The 6’10” two time NBA All-Star, in true Oregonian fashion, doesn’t take himself too seriously with his fans, or Facebook followers, that’s where he posted these Olympic snapshots:
Kevin writes, “Since I’m the team photographer…check out the presser.”
This is the type of image Love sends to his followers, USA Teammates sleeping on the plane.
Kevin Love explained on facebook, “Deron Williams & Russ caught me slipping…”
In this interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Love talks about growing up in Oregon, his love/hate relationship with Twitter, and why his chances were good to make Team USA, because he explained, “They always need at least one token white guy.”
Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, James Harden, Kevin Love, Deron Williams and Anthony Davis pose prior to their game against France on Day 2 of the London Games on July 29, 2012.
First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Kevin Love after the Men’s Basketball game between the United States and France on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Kevin Love will have more time in London to post to Facebook, use his Instagram account, and tweet to followers. The twelve member USA basketball team is favored to play through the games and into the Olympic finals in basketball on Sunday, August 12th.
The Men’s Basketball team will play the following games:
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