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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This has been a week full of great conversations about important topics. I had a fantastic Constituent Coffee event in Hillsboro last Saturday, visited Adelante Mujeres with the Governor on Monday, met with the American Federation of Teachers-Oregon on Tuesday, and attended a community conversation on Affordable Housing with Bienestar on Tuesday night. The conversations were thoughtful and meaningful and I am always re-energized about my work when I get to engage with constituents and community organizations on a personal level. Thank you to everyone who contributed to an excellent week! You can read all about these events in my "Community Outreach" section in this newsletter.
This week I have also been at the Educator Advancement Council yearly retreat. I am a Liaison to the Council, and have enjoyed coming together with other Education leaders from around Oregon to work on important issues like teacher recruitment and retention. I will provide a more thorough review of the retreat in next week's newsletter.
I am also in the middle of preparing for the upcoming November Legislative Days meetings at the Capitol. I have been working with my Co-Chairs on Committee agendas and when they are posted next week, I'll share more about what you can expect from our meetings and how you can participate or follow along. As a reminder, here are the important Legislative meetings coming up in November:
Oregon-Washington Bi-State Committee Meeting on the I-5 Bridge: November 3rd at 9am
November Legislative Days: November 6-8
Joint Committee on Public Education Appropriations: November 20th at 2pm
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS NEWSLETTER INCLUDE:
- A review of community outreach activities in the last week
- Halloween safety tips
- Upcoming events in Washington County
- Fall vaccine information
- Important resources
ADELANTE MUJERES VISIT WITH GOVERNOR KOTEK
On Monday, Governor Tina Kotek visited Washington County on the 33rd stop of her One Oregon Listening Tour, making stops in Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Roy, and Beaverton. I had the opportunity to join her in Forest Grove for a wonderful visit to Adelante Mujeres. We met with the amazing team of women who run the organization, led by the indefatigable Bridget Cooke. Adelanted provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low income Latina women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community. They have been very successful in their mission through leadership training, providing mental health support, creating educational opportunities, and funding microenterprise programs.
As a lifelong Educator, I have always been particularly impressed with the work that Adelante does to provide educational opportunities to the Latina women in our community. Adelante’s Education programs promote school readiness for young children, pathways to higher education for youth, and lifelong learning for adults. They believe every individual should have the opportunity for a meaningful education and I couldn't agree more and am truly appreciative of their contributions and proud of their success.
BIENESTAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISCUSSION
On Tuesday night, I joined Senator Janeen Sollman and Representative Nathan Sosa for a panel discussion on Affordable Housing. The event was organized by Bienestar, one of our great local nonprofits that works to provide safe, stable, and affordable housing in our community. In 2021, Senator Sollman and I collaborated with former Senator Chuck Riley to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to Bienestar for the building of a covered all-sport court at Plaza Los Amigos. I truly appreciate the work that Bienestar does in our community to not only provide affordable housing but to bring community members together for important discussions like the one we had this week. Thank you to Executive Director Nathan Teske and his team for organizing the event, and to all members of the community who showed up and contributed to meaningful conversation about a critical and pressing issue.
MEETING THE AFT-OREGON PRESIDENT
On Tuesday, I met with the American Federation of Teachers and their Oregon Executive Council President, Ariana Jacob. Also in attendance was their Vice President, Hollie Oakes-Miller, and their Political Organizer, Andrea Haverkamp.
As a teacher of over 42 years, I appreciate the work of AFT-Oregon, which is a non-profit organization representing 18,000 Oregon workers in K-12, our Community College employees, and our Higher Education faculty and classified staff. They also represent child care workers in both public and private sectors. In recent years I have collaborated AFT-Oregon on the passage of meaningful legislation such as Part-time Faculty Healthcare and Education reform and funding. I look forward to working with them in the 2024 Short Session to address how best to support all Educators and classified staff in our schools and on our higher education campuses, and to improve the capacity of our child care work force.
FALL CONSTITUENT COFFEE IN HILLSBORO
We Oregonians are not deterred by a bit of rain and gray skies, so despite the drizzly weather last Saturday, there was a great turnout at my Constituent Coffee event at the Grand Central Bakery in Hillsboro. Thank you to everyone who showed up and contributed to a meaningful conversation on a wide variety of important topics. Led by two active parents from the Forest Grove School District, we talked about the importance of Special Education services in our schools and the need for increased funding and support for Special Education teachers. I also addressed the ongoing issue of Transportation funding, which has been in the news recently. I provided an update on the replacement of the I-5 Bridge and we talked about why it is so important to replace the Bridge as soon as possible. This led to further discussions on vehicle electrification in Oregon and how it helps with our climate goals but also presents challenges and opportunities in how we choose to fund Transportation. Finally, we addressed the critical importance of protecting farmland in Washington County, while simultaneously providing new affordable housing options and expanding opportunities for high-tech businesses to grow in our region. It was one of the best Constituent Coffee events that I have had and I truly appreciate everyone who came for contributing their time and opinions on a Saturday morning.
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TOP TEN HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
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Practice costume safety.
Make sure all costumes, wigs, and accessories are fire-resistant, as your kids could encounter anything from jack-o-lantern candle flames to a neighbor’s bonfire while trick-or-treating. An ill-fitting or uncomfortable costume can also make or break your child’s Halloween. Try before you buy, and ensure that the costume doesn’t pose a tripping hazard.
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Choose makeup wisely.
Many kids have sensitive skin. Choose nontoxic cosmetic products and test makeup on a small area first to see if any irritation occurs. At the end of the night, follow the product’s instructions to fully remove all makeup.
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Rethink the mask.
Masks can obscure kids’ vision, making it difficult for them to see traffic or tripping hazards. Instead, plan a mask-free costume—the options are endless!
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Prepare for the scare.
Especially for young children, Halloween sights and sounds can be intense. It may help to have a discussion in advance about the difference between reality and “make believe.” Reassure kids that it’s OK to feel nervous. If they aren’t ready for the haunted house this year, maybe they can try next year.
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Give kids a refresher on traffic safety.
In the excitement of the holiday, even older kids may forget the traffic-safety rules they follow every day. Sadly, the consequences can be deadly—children have a greater chance of being fatally injured by a car on Halloween than on any other day. So, it’s extra important to remind kids how to cross the street safely.
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Increase your child’s visibility.
Halloween costumes often feature dark colors, making kids harder to see at night. Choose a lighter-colored costume if possible, and pass out glow sticks or use reflective tape to ensure kids are visible to motorists.
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Encourage kids to stay together.
Even if you will be accompanying your children, remind them to stick with your group at all times. For older kids who will be trick-or-treating without your supervision, the buddy system is essential. Make sure their phones are charged in case they become separated from their friends.
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Have kids stick to familiar, well-lit areas.
If you won’t be accompanying your older kids on Halloween night, discuss their route in advance and remind them to stay in your neighborhood. Reiterate that they should never enter a stranger’s house or accept a ride from someone they don’t know.
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Check all treats.
While stories of Halloween candy tampering are mostly urban legends, it never hurts to be safe. Inspect your child’s candy before they indulge and make sure to remove any treats that aren’t age-appropriate—such as gum or jawbreakers your toddler could choke on.
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Be mindful of allergies.
Emergency room visits due to peanut and tree nut allergies surge on Halloween. If your child has an allergy that keeps them from eating many kinds of candy, consider stocking up on allergy-friendly treats and have your child swap out their haul at the end of the night.
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COMMUNITY CHOICE FUNDING EXPO
You're invited to Metro's Community Choice Funding Expo. It's a great opportunity to see all the work you and your neighbors have done! Enjoy free food, learn more about the projects and funding opportunities, and vote for your favorites.
Saturday October 28th
Exhibition will be open from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Centro Cultural, 1110 North Adair Street in Cornelius
JOIN IN THE LOCAL HALLOWEEN FUN!
There are many great ways to celebrate Halloween, and here are just two suggestions for events taking place in our community. As always, I look forward to seeing kids and families out having a safe and fun Halloween and showing off those clever costumes.
DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATIONS
Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday to remember and pay respects to family members and friends who have since passed away.
♦CELEBRATE WITH M&M MARKETPLACE: M&M Marketplace invites you to share in this beautiful celebration of remembrance and love at M&M Market's Community Altars.Bring photos of your beloved departed ones to adorn our two special altars:
  Esquina de Arte y Cultura - Art & Culture Corner
El Gallo Courtyard (under the gondola)
On October 29th, celebrate Dia de Muertos with the community from 3-6 pm, with traditional Day of the Dead bread, champurrado, an arts and crafts workshop, and a Catrina Contest!
M&M Marketplace: 346 South Walnut Street, Hillsboro
♦CELEBRATE WITH CENTRO CULTURAL: Centro will celebrate with the community on November 2 from 5:30-8:00pm, at the Cornelius campus. This event is free and open to all ages. They will be providing pan dulce, hot drinks, and family activities.
En Centro, celebraremos con la comunidad el 2 de noviembre de 5:30-8:00pm, en nuestro campus de Cornelius. Este evento es gratuito y abierto a todas las edades. Estaremos ofreciendo pan dulce, bebidas calientes y actividades familiares.
FLU VACCINES AVAILABLE NOW
Now is the perfect time for people of all ages to get their annual flu shot. Along with COVID-19 vaccines, the flu shot can help protect you from severe illness throughout the flu season. In Oregon, the flu season generally runs from October through April.
GET YOUR FREE COVID TESTS
Beginning September 25, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Before You Throw Out "Expired" Tests: Check FDA's website to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended.
Need help placing an order for your at-home tests?
Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
My office has compiled a list of resources for our community. You can click on the images below to open a document with the relevant links. If you know of a resource that should be included here, or you need a resource and are having trouble finding the information you need, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of Education-related resources. This includes links to the Forest Grove and Hillsboro School Districts, the Oregon and US Departments of Education, information on how to pay for college, student lunch programs, and much more!
WILDFIRE-RELATED RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for important resources related to wildfire prevention and recovery. This list includes links to current fire restrictions and recreation site status maps, the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire prevention tip page, and important resources for wildfire victims.
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RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of important resources for Veterans, including links and phone numbers to the various divisions of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, local Washington County assistance, supportive and community-based groups like the American Legion, and mental health resources.
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STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Click here, or on the image to the right for links to important local and state government pages, including the Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius city government pages. You can also access the Oregon Legislature's page, and other important state agency sites, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Unemployment Department, and the Oregon Health Authority.
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Lovely Fall scenes from the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-493, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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