11/10/2022 Senate District 15 Newsletter

Friends and Neighbors,

I am so grateful to be elected to continue to serve as the State Senator for District 15. It was an honor to be appointed to this seat in January, and now to have the support of voters across our district, means so much to me.  

I have dedicated much of my life to serving our community, and being able to serve in the Oregon Legislature is an incredible opportunity that I will never take for granted. My commitment to you is to continue to lead with the values I always have – Listen to my constituents, Learn from them to inform my priorities, and Act for positive change. I have said this before and I mean it; I absolutely know that when I was elected, I am to represent people who vote for me and those that did not. I want to hear from you and get to know you.

The Senate District will change a bit in 2023, sadly losing areas I have represented before, and happily gaining some new ground. Get ready Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and the Rock Creek area residents; I'll be at your events, visiting your local businesses and inviting you to a table near you for a future Community Conversation. Let's work together to find solutions to the issues that Oregonians face and let’s build community together. 

I have missed our weekly outreach and so excited to be back, sharing weekly newsletters, following the end of our blackout period.

Upcoming Events

Community Conversation #99 - Happening Tonight!

Join me tonight, for my 99th Community Conversation at the Cornelius Public Library, from 6 to 7pm. Bring your questions and share your thoughts or concerns. I look forward to seeing you there!

Save the Date! Community Conversation #100 is right around the corner. Celebrate the 100th on Saturday, December 3rd at Insomnia Coffee in downtown Hillsboro. Details to follow in next week's newsletter.

Meet the Interns

I am so excited to welcome three new high school interns to my office this year. Meet Anna, Allison and Mari. We are in the process of bringing on one additonal high school intern that will be joining soon. Stay tuned for a future introduction!

Hi, my name is Anna Kindley. I am a sophomore at Glencoe High School and have lived in Hillsboro my entire life. I love Hillsboro and I think that it is an amazing place to live. I am excited to be more involved in my community and I know volunteering with Senator Sollman will give me that opportunity.  While I am not exactly sure what I want to be when I grow up, I know that helping people has always interested me and is very important to me. I am excited to start this internship because it will open my eyes to new ideas and new ways that our communities need help. I hope to better my community in any way that I can, I look forward to meeting you in our community, if you see me - come say Hi!

My name is Allison Wannberg, and I am a senior at Century High School. I have been involved in the student government program at my school for the past four years, and I am the senior class vice president! Outside of school, I am a competitive dancer at New Vision Dance Studio, where I enjoy a variety of dance styles. In my free time I love to read, as well as explore the beautiful Oregon landscape, and eat delicious food! Next year I am planning on attending college where I will major in business marketing. At home I have three adorable animals, Viktoria, my cat who has been with me since I was nine and my two, crazy, lovable labs, Brooke and River.  I am incredibly proud to have been given the opportunity to intern for Senator Janeen Sollman, and I hope to learn more about the inner workings of our state legislature over the next year. Senator Sollman is an incredibly dedicated person and I aspire to follow in her steps to make our community and state a place of acceptance and inclusion.

Hi, my name is Mari Park and I am a sophomore at Liberty High School. I have always been very interested in social issues and I especially love to read about different historical events. It is my hope that this internship can help me explore pressing issues in my own community and learn how to provide solutions. I tend to be a listener first and I will benefit from hearing different perspectives. I am involved in the Hillsboro Youth Advisory Council which has helped me learn about what is going on within the City of Hillsboro. Participating in YAC and interning simultaneously would provide me with a unique perspective and many learning opportunities. I am also passionate about music. I am a member of the Liberty High School Marching Band and Winter Percussion Ensemble. I have played the marimba, xylophone, and synth in the Front Ensemble. I have created strong bonds of friendship through band and percussion. I have met many new people and these friendships have shed light on how different and alike we all really are. My hope is that interning for Senator Sollman will create more diverse experiences and allow me to gain different perspectives from those around me.

Community Outreach

5th Annual Fiesta de Tamales

Shared from Hillsboro Schools Foundation

Veteran's Day is Friday, November 11th

This Friday, we pause to honor and remember the many Veterans who have served our country, including my mother, husband and other members of my family. Shared below are some ways to participate in community celebrations. 

Operation Green Light

Shared from Washington County

In honor of Veterans Day, Washington County will participate in Operation Green Light, illuminating green the courthouse and Juvenile Services Building in downtown Hillsboro from November 7-13. Community members can light their own homes to show support.

ODVA To Host Statewide Veterans Day Ceremony at Oregon State Capitol Park - Happening Today!

Shared from the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces during its Statewide Veterans Day Ceremony this year in view of the Oregon State Capitol Building.

The event will feature remarks by federal, state and local dignitaries and ceremonial elements including color guard, national anthem, wreath presentation and the playing of “Taps.” Attendees should be advised that this year’s event will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 10 — the day before Veterans Day.

Portland Veterans Day Parade - Friday, November 11th at 10am on NE MLK Jr. Blvd

Shared from Portland Veterans Day Facebook page

Portland’s only Veterans Day parade was established in 1974. Vernon E. Ross, proprietor of Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel, founded the parade to honor all veterans, past and present, living and deceased. Today, the tradition is carried on by local organizations and individuals. The parade would not be possible without our volunteers and generous sponsorships. Visit veteransdayPDX.org to view a map of the parade route, register to be in the parade, sign up to volunteer, and to sponsor.

Thank you to Salvation Army, Moda Health, Aerontii, and Providence Health Systems for your generous support. See less

Oregon’s New Veteran Dental Program Launches November 1

In honor of Veterans Day, sharing from ODVA News Release on October 31st

Oregon House Bill 4095, which creates the state’s first Veteran Dental Program for Oregon veterans who do not qualify for Oregon Health Plan (OHP), passed in the 2022 Legislative Session. Administered by Oregon Health Authority, this state-funded program is separate and distinct from the dental benefit offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Beginning November 1, 2022, veterans can apply for the program using the OHP application.

For veterans who qualify, dental care will start January 1, 2023. Eligible applicants must be veterans as described in Oregon Revised Statute 408.225, except the veteran may be discharged or released under honorable or other conditions and must be at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.

To apply, veterans can visit one.oregon.gov to login or create an account or have an application mailed by calling OHP Customer Service at 1-800-699-9075. Help filling out an application is also available through a network of local certified community partners statewide. You can find a community partner at bit.ly/ohplocalhelp.

If approved for the Veteran Dental Program, members will be enrolled in a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) to access dental care. The Veteran Dental Program offers the same dental care as OHP Plus, such as teeth cleanings, filling and extractions and emergency dental care. Individuals do not need to pay for dental care covered by the Veteran Dental Program.

Funding is limited for the program, so eligible individuals are encouraged to apply now.

“The Oregon Veteran Dental Program will bridge a significant gap in veterans’ access to accessible and affordable oral care in Oregon, which is critical for physical health, confidence and their overall wellbeing,” said Kelly Fitzpatrick, Director of Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “This new program reflects our state’s continuing commitment to serve and support our Oregon veteran community.”

For more information, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/Dental-Programs.aspx.

I have missed our weekly outreach opportunities and excited to be back. We will be sharing our weekly newsletters on Wednesdays now that our blackout period has ended.  

Be good to yourself and each other. ❤

Onward & Upward,

Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we must honor them well into our future.    

• Learn more about land acknowledgment here.
• Learn more about the Afalati-Kalapuya here.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman