Season 13 of Cedar Mill Farmers Market kicks off Mother's Day weekend

Need a special last-minute gift for Mom? Visit the Cedar Mill Farmers Market, which returns for its 13th season on Saturday’s May 7, the day before Mother’s Day.


The “friendliest little market around” will continue every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of October in the Sunset Mall parking lot. Sunset Mall is just west of Murray, across NW Cornell Road from Sunset Park and Sunset High School.

Sponsored by the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, the market will again feature a variety of fresh produce from local farmers, including plenty of organic and no-spray natural fruits and vegetables.

Visitors will also find floral bouquets, nursery plants, fresh breads and pastries, gourmet cupcakes, locally grown organic meat, homemade items created by local artisans and crafters, organic coffee, and much more.
Live music will be performed each week, and children will enjoy free balloon animals and face-painting provided by student volunteers.

"We'll offer free recipes to help cooks make the most of their produce purchases," said Dina Gross, Cedar Mill Farmers Market coordinator. "And we'll have other friendly touches you won't find at bigger markets.”
The market accepts food coupons from the State of Oregon's Farm Direct Nutrition Program and Oregon Trail EBTcards from the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Participation in SNAP is partially underwritten by a grant from New Seasons Market.

For more information about the Cedar Mill Farmers Market, visit www.cmfmarket.org. Volunteers are welcome, and those who are interested should call Gross at 503/913-7733.

BES project nearly completed around Garden Home

Fanno Creek Trail

Just a heads up, but after a long winter of construction, the city of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services is wrapping up work around the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District’s Garden Home Recreation Center.

The installation of a new pressure sewer pipe from SW 86th Avenue to SW 69th Avenue along Multnomah Boulevard resulted in the closure of the north end of the Garden Home parking lot since November. It also closed down a stretch of the Fanno Creek Trail, the outdoor play field, and the playground at recreation facility.

Fanno Creek Trail is now completely open between SW Oleson Road and SW 86th, said John Gaddis of THPRD’s Natural Resources Department.

Superintendent of Recreation Eric Owens said a new play structure has been installed and is now open to the public. Trenches in the play field have been filled and need only to be reseeded to complete the restoration process.

Owens said the parking lot, which needs to be resurfaced with pervious asphalt, should be completed sometime in April. When completed, the area will hold 36 parking spaces.

Elevated boardwalk at Center Street Park keeps patrons dry

 

Some creative thinking and teamwork by two THPRD departments (Maintenance and Athletic Facilities) has resulted in an elevated boardwalk at Center Street Park that will keep park users dry after an equally industrious beaver caused a portion of the park’s concrete pathway to become flooded.

That pathway was covered by water after the busy beaver built a dam in a wetland area on the south side of the park near Center Street.

The boardwalk, which was designed by the Athletic Facilities Department, was completed at a savings of several thousand dollars. Part of the savings came from the decision to recycle wooden bleacher boards THRPD crews had recently removed from area athletic fields.

The boards were dried, sanded, and repainted with paint mixed with a product called Tread-Tex that will give the boardwalk grip for safety.

“This really was a great example of a collaborative effort between two Park District departments,” said Jason Monaghan of Athletic Facilities. “I think this is something our patrons will find very useful.”

The boardwalk was built in 4-by-6-foot sections, is removable, and is ADA-accessible, Monaghan said.

Monaghan, who is a licensed contractor, said the boardwalk was built for just $2,300. Had the project gone out for bid, the cost likely would have been anywhere from $9,500 to $11,500, he said.

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?