September 6, 2021 - Newsletter

     Remembering, Redistricting, Return to School and more

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Tomorrow, September 7th, marks one year since the Labor Day wildfires of 2020 swept across our state causing the largest, deadliest, and most destructive wildfires in Oregon’s history. The scars on the landscape remain evident as recovery efforts continue and survivors rebuild their lives and their homes. More than 400,000 acres burned in the Western Cascades as the Beachie Creek, Lionshead and other fires merged during the unprecedented windstorm that devastated both rural and urban areas of our state.

To truly grasp the scale and magnitude of these fires is to see their impact from the air. You can view OPB photographer Todd Sonflieth’s, dramatic aerial view of the Willamette National Forest as it looked before and after the 2020 Labor Day fires here. Don’t forget to enlarge the video image on your screen for the best view.

I also want to share with you the story of “The Battle of High Hill” by Jeffrey Stern published in the Atlantic Magazine. Stern tells the story of the brave citizens of Molalla who sprang into action and saved their town from the Beachie Creek and Riverside 2020 megafires. The heart and soul of Oregon’s rural communities is found in her people. It is my honor to represent the citizens of Molalla and I am incredibly proud of their heroic efforts and of Oregon’s rural communities, like this, who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to support and protect one another in times of crisis. The audio version of this article found here is well worth the listen.

• September is National Preparedness Month
• Redistricting Hearings Begin Wednesday, September 8, 2021
• Northwest Polymers Tour - Molalla
• Students Return to School
• Remembering 9/11- The 20th Anniversary

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. As Vice Chair of the House Committee on Veterans and Emergency Management, I talk about this subject a lot. There is never a better time than the present to prepare. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) September 1, Wildfire Recovery Update below, provides information on Oregon’s cleanup and recovery efforts to date.

Reflecting on this past year, I echo OEM’s call to action for Oregonians to proactively prepare for future disasters to pay tribute to the 2020 wildfire survivors. Oregonian’s resilient spirit is strong. OEM’s 2 Weeks Ready program recommends citizens be informed and know about the hazards where they live; make an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones; and build an emergency kit with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water, and other necessities. The 2 Weeks Ready program offers several resources – including brochures, short videos and family-friendly activities – to help you prepare to be 2 Weeks Ready following a disaster. More information can be found here. The in-depth guide to Citizen Preparedness “Are You Ready” published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA also provides a great deal of information.

Redistricting Hearings Begin Wednesday, September 8, 2021

In my August newsletter, I provided information about the redistricting process. Redistricting is so important it is worth repeating.

Members of the public are invited to participate during one of the following virtual hearings to provide feedback on the draft maps created by the House and Senate Interim Redistricting Committees. You can testify by video or by phone.

To sign up to provide oral testimony​​​ during the meetings, follow the links below. Only sign up for one of the hearings for the congressional district you live in. Alternatively, you may sign up for the either the 1:00 PM or 5:30 PM hearings on September 13th, which are open to residents from across the state. Please note that registration for a meeting closes once that meeting begins. 

To provide written testimony, please email your comments to Oregon.Redistricting@Oregonlegislature.gov. Be sure to include which congressional district you live in in the subject line of the email. The dead​line to submit written testimony for these public hearings is September 14th at 5:30 PM. 

If you are unsure of which congressional district you live in, use this link​ to find out. 

Northwest Polymers Tour - Molalla

On August 31^st, I toured Northwest Polymers in Molalla. Northwest Polymers is an industry leader in post-industrial and post-commercial plastic recycling. Their leadership position has been established with a broad asset and experience base in plastic recovery capabilities combined with an extensive knowledge of the secondary plastics marketplace. 

This combination of assets, experience, and knowledge allows them to offer unique and comprehensive solutions for the designing, building, and managing of systems that transform industrial and commercial plastic waste into a sustainable, reusable, raw material. The tour and information presented was fascinating. A big thank you to Dan Bates who organized the tour to share the impressive recycling work being done right here in House District 18. I also want to extend a personal thank you to Mark Shuholm, president of Northwest Polymers, for the tour. It was very informative and they are doing good work.

Students Return to School

Classrooms around the state are welcoming students back to school. For some students, this is a return to in-person instruction after nearly a year-and-a-half of remote learning. With schools opening it is also a good reminder for drivers to slow down and watch for kids who may be walking, biking, and riding our buses. Health, safety & wellness resources and information about student well-being can be found on ODE’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page here. I know we are all wishing our students a safe and successful year ahead.

Remembering 9/11- The 20th Anniversary

On September 11th, around the country we will pause to remember those who lost their lives on this 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Looking back, I recall how Americans showed incredible strength, courage, and resilience as we came together to support one another during this crisis. Today, as we face so many different challenges, I pray we put our differences aside and that we come together to heal our nation. And as we vow to never forget -- that we always remember to be kind and patient towards one another. 

Wishing you a safe and restful Labor Day.

Sincerely,

Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District

You can view my previous newsletters or e-Subscribe to receive ongoing newsletters here.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-484, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis