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Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
December's Community Conversation in Forest Grove
Join me at the Starbucks in Forest Grove, just off Hwy 47, at 3424 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove 97116. We will be meeting in person on Saturday, December 16th at 10:00 - 11:00am. I hope to see you there.
In the News
Legislative Updates
Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response
This week, the Joint Interim Committee on Addition and Community Safety Response announced the agenda for its third meeting scheduled for Monday, December 4th at 9AM.
Lawmakers will hear from experts about effective ways to treat drug addiction and build accountable drug treatment programs inside and outside of jails. They will also listen to public testimony about the solutions to the drug crisis Oregonians would like to see the state pursue in their communities. Legislators will carefully consider these ideas as they continue their work to build a response to the drug crisis that saves lives and keeps our streets clean and communities safe.
Public comment is scheduled to occur between 11AM and 1PM. If you're interested in submitting written testimony, or registering to testify, please continue reading below.
The meeting will be livestreamed here. Read the full press release here.
Guidance for Public Testimony
- Testimony should focus on addressing addiction and community safety.
- Testifiers will have two minutes.
- Public Comment will be accepted at future Committee meetings and may also be submitted in writing to JACSR.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.
- Submit written comment:
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Email: JACSR.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov. Please specify agenda topic in subject line.
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Mail: Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response, 900 Court Street NE, Room 453, Salem, OR, 97301
- Written comment may be submitted up to 48 hours after the meeting start time.
- Register to give public comment:
Press Release:
Read the full press release online here.
Listen. Learn. Act.
Virtual Community Conversation
Thank you to those who joined us this week for a community conversation. These smaller groups provide a great opportunity to connect with constituents at a more intimate level and really dig into the issues and concerns they have.
Out and About in Senate District 15
Tree Lighting Events in Forest Grove and Orenco Station
The tree lighting events in Forest Grove and Orenco were so much fun. It's always a great time when you're in community with your fellow neighbors and friends.
Senate District 15 - Small Business Spotlight
Five Starts Family Burger - Cornelius
The Best Burger in Oregon, ranking top 6 in U.S. according to Yelp
In 2015, David Yim, originally opened Five Stars Family Burgers as a food truck in Forest Grove. It's an old-fashioned burger place with small bits of Korean twist, now located in Cornelius. This past month, Yelp.com awarded Five Stars the best burger in Oregon for the second year in a row and the 6th best burger in the country! The Yim's often cook with bulgogi, thin slices of sirloin or other prime cuts of beef, which takes months to a year to marinate to perfection in the family's secret sauce. Both David and his son Goldstar, who now owns the family business, hope to one day serve the best burger in the world. Congratulations to David and his family for this amazing award! It's amazing to see a small business in our community flourish and gain the recognition they deserve.
Five Stars Family Burger is open Monday through Saturday 11AM - 5PM and located at 1284 E Baseline St, Cornelius, OR 97113. Please note, with the sudden influx of customers from the news, they have been selling out much earlier than usual. The owners ask that customers call ahead at (503) 863-8740.
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Community Outreach
Hawthorn Walk-in Center for Mental Health and Addictions Care
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The Hawthorn Walk-in Center is expanding their walk-in hours. Hours are now Sundays from 12 - 4PM. and Monday through Friday from 9AM - 2PM. Even during these times, they encourage you to first call their crisis line at 503-291-9111. This number is answered 24/7 by trained professionals who can help decide the best option for care. This may include helping you over the phone, referring you to other services, arranging a mobile team crisis response, or referring you to Hawthorn.
The Hawthorn Walk-in Center is located at 5240 NE Elam Young Pkwy, Hillsboro, OR 97124.
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Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Now
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-home tests beginning November 20. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests.
Your order of COVID tests is completely free - you won't even pay for shipping.
Place your order for free at-home COVID-19 tests here. Need help placing an order for your at-home tests? Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
The U.S. government will continue to make COVID-19 tests available to uninsured individuals and underserved communities through existing outreach programs. Please contact a HRSA-funded health center or Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) location near you to learn how to access low- or no-cost COVID-19 tests provided by the federal government.
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Oregon Bottle Drop Blue Bag Program - West Tuality Habitat for Humanity
Do you have a lot of cans and bottles to recycle after the holiday weekend? Drop by ReStore (3731 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR 97116) anytime Monday through Saturday, 9AM - 5pm, and pick up a blue bag for yourself (they are right next to the cash register). If you fill the bag with cans or bottles that can be recycled at the Oregon Bottle Drop and take it to the Drop Off, all the proceeds from these drops will go to West Tuality Habitat for Humanity. These funds are used for their home building, critical home repairs and affordable home advocacy right here in Western Washington County. This is a great way to donate to your local nonprofit organizations that are changing lives and positively impacting our community and community members.
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Light up Hillsboro returns to Orenco Station - Thursday, December 7
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Amid international turmoil, Hillsboro’s public Hanukkah celebration will return to Orenco Station to bring light to the local community.
The Chabad Jewish Center of Hillsboro is bringing the community together to celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah through its annual public menorah lighting: Light Up Hillsboro.
The event will take place at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 — the first night of Hanukkah.
Among various attractions, Light Up Hillsboro will feature traditional Jewish foods, music and a captivating fire juggling show.
To find out more about the event, check out chabadh.com.
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Una Noche de Bienestar - Thursday, December 7
Join Bienestar on December 7, 2023 at Holocene for Una Noche de Bienestar, an entertaining and inspiring evening of Latinx music, art, culture and community! Latinx performers, Palmas Del Sol and Mariachi Mexico En La Piel will take the stage in a musical celebration of Bienestar’s legacy of building affordable housing, hope and community for the wellbeing of Latinxs, immigrants and all families in need.
Proceeds from Una Noche de Bienestar will support Bienestar’s Esperanza Fund, which helps provide Bienestar resident families with rental assistance to keep them housed during times of crisis.
This event is open to those who are 21+ and is hosted by Joaquin Lopez: a performing artist, storyteller, and musician raised in Aloha, Oregon, whose work is committed to personal freedom, Latino queer identity, self-expression, and community transformation.
Buy your $25 ticket here!
Event Details:
Thursday December 7th, 2023
Doors open at 7:00pm – Music starts at 8pm
Location: Holocene – 1001 Southeast Morrison Street Portland, OR 97214
Questions?: Email the Event Coordinator, Unique L. Torres at utorres@bienestar-or.org
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Additional Resources
Senate District 15 – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
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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