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Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Community Conversation #100!!
Join me for my 100th Community Conversation at Insomnia Coffee in downtown Hillsboro, on Saturday, December 3rd, from 10 to 11am. Bring your questions and share your thoughts or concerns. Then stick around to do some shopping in Downtown Hillsboro and support our local small businesses. Please bring NEW socks, gloves, hats and/or hand warmers for the Socks from Cops Project with Hillsboro Police Department. I look forward to seeing you there!
Federal Updates
Merkley, Veterans History Project Partner To Share Veterans’ Stories
Shared from the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs
Oregonians have stepped up to serve in the United States Armed Forces for generations, or have family members, friends, and loved ones who have answered this call to service. Capturing the firsthand, lived experiences of our veterans is an important way we can honor their sacrifices and dedication to our nation while preserving American history for future generations.
That’s why Jeff’s office teamed up with the Library of Congress American Folklife Center’s Veterans History Project to help record and share the unique stories of Oregon veterans from all walks of life.
The Veterans History Project (VHP) was created by Congress in 2000 to collect and preserve the first-person narratives from United States military veterans from World War I through the present so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of military service.
To date, VHP has collected more than 114,000 individual accounts from veterans who have served our country since World War I. In addition to audio and video recorded oral history interviews from veterans and Gold Star Families, VHP accepts and makes accessible memoirs and collections of original photographs, letters, diaries, maps, and other historical documents from veterans. The collections are accessible online, and are used by millions of researchers, authors, filmmakers, students, teachers, and more each year.
How to Participate:
1. If you are an Oregon veteran, sit down and share your service story with a family member, friend, loved one, or community member and record a conversation about your military experiences for 30 minutes or longer, and/or donate an original collection of accepted materials from your time in service. Gold Star Family members may also share the service story of an immediate family member lost in the line of duty of military service.
2. Volunteer to interview a veteran in your family or community. Jeff’s office is building a team of volunteers to interview Oregon veterans around the state. VHP also provides free Zoom or in-person training workshops for organizations interested in learning how to conduct interviews
3. Collect or donate a veteran’s historical documents—check out what VHP accepts and collects.
If you are an Oregon veteran or Gold Star Family members interested in learning more about how to participate, or if you would like to volunteer to interview or collect materials from Oregon veterans, email VHP@merkley.senate.gov for assistance from Jeff’s office.
State Updates
Oregon DEQ Announces New Grant Program: Funding Available for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Technical Assistance
Shared from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is opening the application period for a new Oregon Zero-Emission Fueling Infrastructure Grant program. Individuals, businesses and public agencies are invited to apply for financial assistance from DEQ’s one-time $15 million program to support installation of new charging facilities for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses and equipment.
The OZEF Capital Improvement Grants Application pertains to projects that are ready to implement eligible capital improvements on site. Projects that are currently in need of technical assistance funding should respond to the OZEF Technical Assistance Grant Application.
Visit our webpage for details at https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/programs/Pages/OZEF.aspx.
Eligible Applicants
To apply for funding, a person (as defined in 340-200-0020, including individuals, corporations and government entities) or one of Oregon's federally recognized tribes, must complete the application (Appendix A) and submit it to DEQ. The due date for the initial review period is Jan. 15, 2023. Applications submitted after that date will be reviewed on a rolling monthly basis until all program funding has been spent. All projects and fleets must be based entirely in Oregon to ensure the air quality benefits of DEQ's investments accrue inside the state.
Send comments and questions to dieselgrants@deq.oregon.gov; use the subject line: OZEF Grants.
Education Updates
Computer Science For All
Shared from Portland Metro Stem Partnership
Portland Metro STEM Partnership has received a grant from the state of Oregon for $870,000 with the intention to increase access and inclusion in Computer Science so that historically underserved students feel a sense of belonging.
The application window is now open for a huge contract opportunity for out-of-school K-12 educational providers. The “Computer Science for All” program specifically focuses on engaging historically underrepresented students in computer science. Programs funded by this grant can be typical coding or programming robots, but can also be about using logical problem solving skills to address issues students find in their communities.
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The goal of the programs should be to:
- Increase access to CS education, especially for girls and students of color.
- Increase the diversity of students participating in CS opportunities with a focus on students historically and systemically underrepresented in computer science.
- Support equity-based systemic change in CS education at the building or district level.
- Strengthen engagement and sense of belonging in computer science opportunities using equity based strategies and integration of career connected learning.
- Engage community based organizations to connect communities to the planning and implementation of CS education to build culturally relevant instruction and sustainable programs.
Out-of-School Providers
The Portland Metro STEM Partnership at PSU is looking to fund existing or new programs within our hub boundaries with ten contracts of $24,000 each for out-of-school providers. To apply for contract funds, please click here. The Application Guidance Document is available here.
Deadline for submitting applications is December 16, 2022
*The key to receiving this funding is that it must be experienced by students this school year (2022-2023) or during the summer of 2023.
Out and About in Senate District 15
Meals on Wheels Donate a Dinner
I spent last Wednesday evening volunteering for one of my favorite organizations, Meals on Wheels People for their Donate Dinner fundraising campaign. It was a great way to kick-off a grateful weekend and see friends and neighbors in the community.
Snow Much Fun at Orenco Station
'Snow Much Fun' was a blast over the weekend in Orenco Station. Thank you to the City of Hillsboro and Hillsboro Parks & Recreation for a great event that included a market, local choirs, carriage rides and snow! 
Students Demand Action Community Rally and Vigil
This past weekend, Oregon Students Demand Action students organized a community rally and vigil in Lake Oswego to honor the victims and survivors of the Club Q anti-LGBTQIA+ mass shooting. Thank you Moms Demand Action - OR for supporting this event and thanks to our newest Congresswoman, Andrea Salinas, for speaking. If you want to get involved to end gun violence, text READY to 644-33.
Community Outreach
You’re Invited to Name the Hillsboro Hops Alebrije
Shared from Hillsboro School District Facebook
The Hillsboro Hops are calling all students to help name the Alebrije - mascot for the team’s Spanish-language alter ego Soñadores - for a chance to win an unforgettable VIP experience at the first Soñadores game on Friday, Apr. 14. Submissions are due Friday, Dec. 2: https://bit.ly/3gxjKfO.
Jingle Thru North Plains - Thursday, December 1st at 6:30pm
Cornelius Tree Lighting Event - Friday, December 2nd at 6:00pm
Shared from the City of Cornelius
The city will be hosting the 10th Annual Tree Lighting on Friday, December 2, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park, 1251 Baseline St. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive with the help of the Cornelius Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office to help Mayor Jef Dalin light the tree. Forest Grove High School Choirs will perform at Veterans Memorial Park.
Immediately after the lighting everyone will be led to the Cornelius Elementary School by Santa and the Mayor for more holiday singing! Cornelius Elementary School and Neil Armstrong Middle School Choir will perform. This is a free event, so bring your entire family, sing holiday songs, and have a fun time! Hot Chocolate and cookies will be served.
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Forest Grove's Annual Holiday Light Parade - Saturday, December 3rd at 5:00pm
Shared from the City of Forest Grove
 Forest Grove's Annual Holiday Light Parade will be held Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 5pm.
This year's parade route will begin at Harvey Clarke Elementary School, travel east on 26th Avenue and turn right to travel down Main Street, ending at 19th Avenue.
To view a map of the route please click here.
For additional information please contact the City Club of Forest Grove President, Donna Gustafson by email: cityclubofforestgrove@gmail.com.
Theatre in the Grove - World War II Radio Christmas
Shared from TheatreInTheGrove.org
This inspiring holiday show provides the audience with the experience of attending a recording of a 1940s radio show broadcast on Christmas Eve during World War II. It uses period songs and stories inspired by actual veterans. It will transport you back in time with dialog, music, and even iconic sponsors from that era like Vaseline Hair Tonic and Ipana Toothpaste. World War II Radio Christmas shows the importance of coming together for the holidays and how strength perseveres in the face of hardship. Written by: Pat Kruis Tellinghusen. Directed by Evan Tate.
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.
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
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