Tree planting honors Cassidy Ringwald

We had the opportunity to attend a small but emotional tree planting at Lost Park in honor of Cassidy Ringwald, who was struck by a car and killed earlier this year in the Cedar Mill neighborhood. The ceremony was put together by friends and former neighbors of Cassidy.

The Crimson King maple was placed in the ground by Cassidy's father. Our thoughts are with the Ringwald family.

Community rallies to support local father, husband, coach

Steve Yamasaki

Stephen Yamasaki, a local softball player who suffered an aneurysm and massive stroke while playing a men’s softball game on Sept. 10 at the HMT Recreation Complex, is at a local hospital in intensive care and is expected to remain there for several months.

Unfortunately, Yamasaki was recently unemployed and has no health insurance. Anyone wishing to learn more about Yamasaki, his updated condition, and how they can donate to help cover his medical needs can go online to www.steveyamasaki.com.

Yamasaki, 41, has played on two adult softball teams through the Park District, and was a volunteer coach for the Cedar Mill Little League for the past six years. Yamasaki has a wife and two young sons.

Howard Terpenning Recreation Complex - Virtual Tour

Howard Terpenning Recreation Complex - Virtual Tour

The coolest tree in Beaverton

The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District has many very neat natural areas and parks. Those natural areas have many beautiful features, including the wildflowers on Cooper Mountain and the secretive deer at the Tualatin Hills Nature Park.

But I have yet to find a tree quite as cool as the one in Hyland Forest Park. Viewed from just the right angle, it looks exactly like the head of a giant Ent of Tolkien lore with clearly discernible eyes, mouth and a twiggy head of hair.

This old fellow already has a very cool name. Can you tell me what it is?

Party in the Park 2010

We had a great time at this year's Party in the Park, THPRD's largest, free public event of each summer. More than 7,000 people showed up to look at the classic cars, participate in the Family Triathlon, ride ponies, listen to music, and watch the K9 unit demonstration by the Beaverton Police Department.

Plus there was lots of other stuff. Watch the following video to get a taste.

My favorite part is usually a toss-up between the dogs and the cars. But my 3-year-old was all about the ponies and the giant inflatable bouncy things with slides.

I also particularly enjoyed Aaron Meyer, the rock violinist. He was accompanied by guitarist Tim Ellis. To me, it was one of the highlights of the event.

The food was great, and the people were great. Hope to see you there in 2011!

Welcome to Out and About

Hello. I'm John Smithers. I am the Communications Specialist for the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. My goal is to bring you some of the best of what this great park district has to offer each month through blog posts, photos and video.

That's me in Seattle at Safeco Field. As a baseball fan, particularly a Mariners fan, it's one of my favorite places on the planet. I'd like to hear what some of your favorite places, parks or facilities are in the district. Or anything else you'd like to chat about.

I hope you'll tag along as we go Out and About.