|
If you're having trouble viewing this message, please visit my legislative web page at http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/prozanski/, click on "News" in the lower left-hand column and scroll down.
Dear friends,
With the election and the 60-day general election legislative "blackout" period now over, I'm resuming my regular communications with this combined e-bulletin for October and November. I'm humbled and honored to be reelected as state senator for District 4 and I look forward to continuing to serve our district. Thank you.
Veterans Day is this Sunday, November 11. More than 325,000 veterans call Oregon home. I believe we have a responsibility to support our service men and women. Details on local and statewide Veterans Day events are included below.
In preparation for the 2019 legislative session, my colleagues and I met September 24-27 in Salem for committee hearings and a meeting of the full Senate to consider executive appointments. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, met jointly with the House Judiciary Committee to hear updates on the Behavioral Health Reinvestment Project and the Women's Justice Project, as well as other topics.
The Legislature will meet again from December 11-14 before session kicks off in January. Committees will introduce bills for filing in advance of the 2019 regular session. You can review committee agendas (once posted) and watch live/recorded hearings using the Legislature's online information system.
Below you will find information on:
- Veterans Day Events
- Highway 126 Paving Project
- Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants in Lane and Douglas Counties
- Oregon College Savings Plan Update
I hope you, your family and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please drive safely during the busy traveling and shopping period. Remember to check ODOT's TripCheck.com for road conditions and traffic information. And, as always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
Veterans Day Events
A listing of statewide Veterans Day events can be found, here, including the statewide celebration at the World War II Memorial in Salem. The WWII Memorial is located on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol, at the corner of Court and Cottage Streets. That event will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, which marked the end of hostilities during World War I, and the "100 years of Oregon Veterans" that followed. There will be readings of WWI soldiers' letters, a color guard, national anthem, laying of the wreath and the playing of "Taps."
Details on Eugene and Roseburg events, both free of charge and starting at 11 a.m. on November 11, follow:
Eugene
"11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month"
Primary speaker: Mike Pungercar, Founder Emeritus, South Willamette Honor Flight
Location: Veterans Memorial Building (1626 Willamette Street)
Organized by: VFW Post 293 and American Legion Post 3
Contact: Nick Urhausen (nickurhausen@comcast.net, 541-344-5070)
Roseburg
Douglas County Veterans Day Parade
Veterans color guards, veteran organization floats
Location: Downtown Roseburg (Jackson Street)
Organized by: Douglas County Veterans Forum
Contact: Carol Hunt (carolhunt15@msn.com, 503-504-8198)
Highway 126 Paving Project
ODOT crews have been repairing and repaving Highway 126 between Cornerstone Drive and Terry Street, adding two bus pullouts and a westbound right turn lane at Ellmaker Road; widening the north shoulder between Shady Rest Dr. and Lake Side Dr; replacing a bridge rail at MP 51.7; installing new guardrails; and installing centerline and edge line rumble strips.
All work between Cornerstone Drive and Greenhill Road is now complete. Over the winter, there will be two weeks of 24-hour lane closures and flagging just west of Fisher Road while crews replace a bridge rail. This project is scheduled to be complete by September 16, 2019.
Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants in Lane and Douglas Counties
Eleven local and state park projects in Oregon received nearly $2.9 million in Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants at the end of September. The LWCF State & Local Assistance Program provides matching federal grants for local and state park projects outside national park boundaries. The LWCF grant recipients in Lane and Douglas Counties, their amounts and purposes are:
- Honeyman Bike Camp — $665,000 to replace two 1960-era wood restroom facilities with one new, centrally located ADA-compliant facility including upgraded water, electrical and plumbing systems. Funds will also be used to repurpose original restroom sites for campground firewood services and expanded hiker/biker facilities.
- River Forks Park — $310,375 to replace two obsolete restrooms at Douglas County's most heavily used recreation area.
Oregon College Savings Plan Updates
The Oregon Savings Network, a division of the State Treasury, was created to increase the ability of Oregonians to save for future post-secondary education and training, qualified disability expenses, and to help people save for retirement. The Network offers unique investment tools that provide state and federal tax advantages and more flexibility than many other savings vehicles available.
The Oregon College Savings Plan (OCSP) recently made some enhancements to the program designed to enrich and streamline the online experience and improve its investment options. They include:
- Introduction of new college enrollment date portfolios tied to the year the student is expected to enroll in college;
- A new cash option that is FDIC-insured;
- Completely redesigned website that will make it easier to manage your account;
- Full access to your account on all your mobile devices; and
- A new gifting platform that will make it easier for friends and family to contribute.
These changes are reflected on OCSP's website at: https://www.OregonCollegeSavings.com/.
|
