Highlights from Tillamook and Summer Resources for Students

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To contact me, please click here: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy belated Summer Solstice, also known as the longest day of the year! Thursday was also the official start of summer, and our local weather definitely cooperated. I hope you enjoy the sunshine and find ways to beat the heat. I've included some heat-related resources in this newsletter's "News You Can Use" section.

Late last week, the State Board of Education adopted temporary rules to approve the "Foster Care Student Success Pilot Grant" that was established with the passage of my bill last session that provides educational support to students in foster care. I've included more information in the "Interim Work" section below. In the same section, you'll find my reflections on this week's stop in Tillamook for the statewide transportation tour and highlights from my visit with the Clackamas County Coordinating Committee last Friday.

Additional information in this newsletter includes:

BELOW: Legislators on the ODOT tour during the Joint Transportation Committee's stop in Tillamook on June 18th, and two views from the audience at the public hearing that night.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE VISITS TILLAMOOK

Joint Committee on Transportation (JCT) members went to Tillamook on Tuesday, June 18 for our second stop on our Statewide Transportation Safety and Sustainability Outreach Tour. The goal of our statewide tour is to help build public understanding around the challenges Oregon faces in maintaining a safe, accessible, and reliable transportation system, and to be able to connect with local communities to hear directly about their transportation challenges and opportunities.

We started the day in Tillamook with a tour of the area highlighting the challenges agencies face in maintaining the transportation system and providing customer service to residents. We discussed how this heavily forested coastal area often experiences heavy rains that lead to rock and mud slides, highway sinkholes and flooding. We also heard about the unique challenges that rural DMV locations present. ODOT has just four offices and 11 employees between Newport, Tillamook, Lincoln City and Astoria that serve more than 90,000 customers a year. At times, Lincoln City and Tillamook must operate with only one employee.

Our second event of the day was a roundtable discussion with local jurisdictional parters and topic area experts. We finished the evening with a public hearing so that we could hear as many different perspectives as possible.

You can watch the public hearing from the Tillamook Tour stop here.

We will continue touring the state through September as we work on our transportation plan for the 2025 Legislative Session. The information we learn on the tour will be used to inform the JCT's work with Legislative Leadership, the Governor, ODOT, and other transportation agencies, to identify sustainable funding solutions so that Oregonians can continue to receive essential maintenance and safety services.

Our next two stops are July 16th in Albany and July 17th in Eugene. You can check back at this page closer to the dates to find out how you can participate.

BELOW: Pictures from our day in Tillamook, including our ODOT tour and the afternoon roundtable discussion

TRANSPORTATION CO-CHAIRS JOIN C4 RETREAT

My Joint Transportation Co-Chair, Senator Chris Gorsek, and I joined the Clackamas County Coordinating Committee's (C4) leaders at their annual retreat last week to talk about transportation and our upcoming work for the 2025 Legislative Session. As a brief overview, Clackamas County Coordinating Committee, or C4, meets to provide coordination and cooperation between jurisdictions within Clackamas County and to form unified positions on land use and transportation plans. Membership is comprised of elected officials from Clackamas County, cities, representatives from unincorporated communities and representatives from transit, sewer, water and safety districts.

We had a great discussion around transportation needs and priorities and the various opportunities available to ensure we have stable, sufficient, and diversified funding tools for our multimodal transportation system. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk about our current and upcoming work on the Joint Transportation Committee and to highlight the challenges we face. I appreciated the questions we received from those in attendance because it provided greater insight into what transportation priorities are most important to Clackamas County residents and jurisdictions. We'll be back in Clackamas County for our statewide tour stop in Happy Valley on September 26.

You can read more about the transportation-related opportunities and challenges we currently face in this article from The Oregonian.

UPDATE ON H.B. 4084 SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH

One of my priority bills during the 2024 Legislative Session was House Bill 4084. The bill creates a pilot program to support Foster Youth in educational spaces and provide needed wrap-around services. I am pleased to report that last week, the State Board of Education adopted temporary rules ​to ​​approve the "Foster Care Student Success Pilot Grant" pursuant to House Bill 4084 (2024). This means that the money the bill allocated for the pilot program has been approved for the participating schools to use in the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

The funding provided in this pilot will be used to meet the educational needs of foster care students and improve their academic outcomes. Foster youth face incredible challenges in their young lives, and this often translates to struggles in the classroom as well. For example, the graduation rate for foster youth in Oregon over the last 7 years ranges between 35-46%. Only 5% nationally graduate from a 4-year college, and 81% of foster youth nationally who age out experience food insecurity. 

I introduced and championed H.B. 4084 to improve educational outcomes for foster youth and produce data to help develop best practices for a future Statewide Education Plan for foster children. I appreciate the work that the Oregon Department of Education has done to allocate the grant funding for the pilot given the short turnaround between the bill becoming law and the start of the school year this fall. The adoption of the temporary rules was an important step to ensure that foster youth get the support they need to succeed.

Read my official press release on the adoption of temporary rules here.

GLENCOE ALUM GIVES UO COMMENCEMENT SPEECH

A sincere and proud congratulations to Glencoe High School Graduate Luda Isakharov, one of my former students, who was the student speaker at The University of Oregon's commencement ceremony on Monday, June 17. Luda was also the ASUO Student Body President at UO and graduated Monday with a double major in political science and global studies with a concentration in international relations and diplomacy and a double minor in legal studies and Russian. Luda has been selected as a Truman Scholar, a highly prestigious award bestowed on only 62 college students across the country this year. She is now heading to Washington, DC, to begin her fellowship. I am so proud of her accomplishments and the incredibly moving speech she gave. If you want to view Luda's commencement speech, click the image below. Her speech begins at the 52:00 minute mark. 

CONGRATS TO PAMPLIN'S AMAZING KIDS 2024

I want to shout out and send my congratulations to our local nominees for Pamplin Media's Amazing Kids project. Pamplin has been highlighting amazing kids in our region for 10 years, and I am so proud of our 2024 nominees from Forest Grove, Cornelius, and Hillsboro!

Alina Harrison from Forest Grove: Alina is involved in theater and shines on the stage, but she is also known for helping to support and encourage the other students in the theater department. She also advocates for accessibility in unified activities and volunteers to assist young dance students. 

Angie and Andrea Reyes Aguilar from Cornelius: Sisters Angie and Andrea moved to Cornelius from Mexico three years ago and have quickly made a positive impact on the community. They are peer leaders and volunteers through Forest Grove High School's Latinos in Action class. They organized an event at the school called Children's Day, and both girls tutor other students; Angie in English and Andrea in Geometry.

Saanvi Shah from Hillsboro: Saanvi is passionate about dance and has performed in her school's cultural nights. As an advocate for inclusive learning, she started a cultural club at her school as well. She makes artwork, which she sells to raise money for HomePlate Youth Services, a nonprofit that provides support for unhoused youth in Washington County. 

THE MULTICULTURAL LEAGUE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Congratulations to the Multicultural League on 25 amazing years! The Multicultural League is a local soccer club that was founded in 1999 and is now under the umbrella of the Hillsboro Rush. The purpose of the league is to provide youth of all cultural backgrounds access to a quality competitive soccer environment. Through the years, the League has hosted around 700 high school-aged players each Spring from across the Portland metro area. All income generated by the league goes into a scholarship that provides financial aid for young female players. There are also plans to extend the scholarship boys in the near future. Thank you to the League's founders and supporters for giving young kids in our area a chance to play soccer and connect with one another.

UPCOMING: LATINO CULTURAL FESTIVAL

The Unitus Community Credit Union Latino Cultural Festival is coming up on June 30th at the home of the Hillsboro Hops. Admission and parking are free. There'll be entertainment, food, vendors, music, dancing, art, futsal, a parade, games, prizes, resources, and a play area! 

CONCERTS IN THE GROVE

Forest Grove is the place to be this summer, thanks to the Grand Lodge's Concerts in the Grove! The beautiful lawn at the Grand Lodge holds 3,000 concertgoers, and every seat is a good seat. Click here for information on upcoming shows.

FREE SUMMER LUNCH SERVICES HD 29

The end of the school year does not have to mean that students lose access to free school lunches. Here are the available options for free summer meal programs in our area:

Hillsboro

There are six locations that host a free summer lunch program for youth up to age 18 in partnership with the Hillsboro School District and Hillsboro Parks & Recreation. The six locations are:

• Shute Park (750 SE 8th Avenue)
• Shadywood Park (535 NE 24th Avenue)
• Walnut Street Park (1717 SE Walnut Street)
• McKinney Park (375 NW Dennis Ave)
• Reedville Elementary (2695 SW 209th Ave)
• Lincoln Street Elementary (801 NE Lincoln Street)

A parent or guardian must remain on site. This program will begin June 24th and run through August 15th. It runs Monday through Thursday and each site has different lunch times. More information can be found here.

Forest Grove

Forest Grove School District offers free lunches at five walk-up sites and six parks, starting on June 24th and going through August 23rd. The walk-up sites will also offer breakfasts. More information can be found on the FGSD website here.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Activities are a great way for students to stay engaged over the summer, and of course to have fun. Below are the resources for summer activities in Western Washington County.

Hillsboro Summer Activity Guide

The Hillsboro Summer Activity Guide includes a variety of activities available throughout the season. It includes Hillsboro's Concert Showtime series, classes, activities, arts, and more. The full Summer Activity Guide can be found here. More information about registration and other activities can be found here.

Forest Grove Activity Guide

Forest Grove also has an activity guide available, and it includes a multitude of activities, camps, and sports. The Activity Guide can be found here!

The Aquatic Center also has summer hours and kid-specific events, including "Kids Night Out at the Aquatic Center" this weekend! More information about the Aquatic Center can be found here.

SUMMER READING PROGRAMS

Summer reading programs through the Washington County Library System kicked off on June 1st and run through August 31st! Continue reading below for how to participate in Forest Grove, Cornelius, and Hillsboro.

Hillsboro Libraries:

Hillsboro is having their Summer Reading kickoff party on June 22nd at Shute Park from 11am to 2pm. The Hillsboro libraries offer kid, teen and adult reading logs for you to pick up at any library location. Completion of a reading log, bookmark, or bingo card enters the reader into a random prize drawing that will happen at the completion of Summer Reading. 

More information can be found on the City of Hillsboro's website, here.

Forest Grove City Library:

You can register at the Forest Grove City Library for their "Read, Renew, Repeat" Summer Reading Challenge! Kids and teens receive a reading log and a free book when they sign up, and the challenge is different for each age group. More information can be found at the library's website here.

For Kids: Read for twenty minutes to mark a circle. Or choose your own goal! When every circle is marked off return to the library to for a second free book.

For Teens: Complete activities and reading challenges to mark off bingo squares. Get a bingo and return to the library for a second free book. Don't stop there, keep reading! Each square completed is a raffle entry towards one of the four grand prizes!

For Adults: This year's "Read for a Cause" partner is Meals on Wheels. For every 100 hours adults in the community read or listen to books or podcasts collectively between June 1st and August 15th, the Friends of the Forest Grove City Library will donate a meal. You can sign up (English / Spanish) and track your hours (English / Spanish) online. The library's goal is 10,000 hours and 100 meals!

Cornelius Public Library:

You can sign up for the Cornelius Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge online through the Beanstack app, or in person! There are tracking options for kids, teens, and adults!

Submit a completed log between July 17 - August 31 to participate in the Final Drawing held on Wednesday, September 4. More information can be found on the City of Cornelius' webpage here.

FOUR MILES OF I-5 IN PORTLAND TO CLOSE 6/28-7/1

Four miles of Interstate 5 in Southwest Portland will close in all directions during the weekend of Friday, June 28 to Monday, July 1 while crews rebuild the bridge deck across Southwest 26^th Avenue.

Work on the project began nearly a year ago using a construction method that builds the new bridge underneath the existing bridge which has allowed I-5 to remain open for all but this one weekend.

This approach saves an estimated $5.5 million in costs and six months of construction time. It reduces the impact on traffic, reduces nighttime noise, lessens the environmental impact and improves safety for workers and drivers.

For more information about why ODOT chose this construction method, see this fact sheet.

The I-5 bridge over 26th Avenue was built in 1959 and widened in the 1980s. It carries more than 100,000 vehicles per day and its deck is heavily worn and near the end of its useful life. This project will create a smoother ride for travelers while bringing it up to today’s seismic standards.

The closure will begin at 9 p.m. Friday, June 28 with all lanes open again by 5 a.m. Monday, July 1.

As a detour around the closure, traffic can use major Portland area highways including Interstate 205, Interstate 84, OR 217 or U.S. 26.

Southwest Barbur Boulevard will be available for local traffic.

In addition, to better manage traffic and ensure users don't enter the closure area, the following Southwest Portland on-ramps leading to I-5 will close during the same times.

Northbound on-ramp closures:

• Southwest Kruse Way.
• Southwest Haines Street.
• Southwest Capitol Highway.
• Southwest Spring Garden Street.
• OR 99W/Barbur Boulevard.

 Southbound on-ramp closures:

• Interstate 405 on-ramp.
• South Harbor Drive on-ramp.

The project may include occasional nighttime single and double lane closures in both directions in the months ahead. Those closures have not been scheduled.

Work began on the I-5 bridge nearly a year ago. This project will improve the I-5 bridge in both directions over Southwest 26th Avenue with a rebuilt structure and will upgrade Southwest 26^th Avenue under the interstate with better lighting, bike lanes and sidewalks.​ 

For more information go to the I-5 Over 26^th Avenue Improvements project web site.

COMMUNITY EV CHARGING PROGRAM DEADLINE

There are only two weeks left to apply for Level 2 EV charging projects rebates! The second funding round of the Community Charging Rebates program closes on July 3, 2024. If you’re thinking of applying, act soon. ODOT may need to close the round sooner if funding is fully allocated before the July 3 deadline.  Visit the rebate program webpage to start your application (link at top of page) or scroll to the bottom of the page for application resources.

Update on available funding amounts:

HOW TO STAY COOL AND BEAT THE HEAT

We are heading into a stretch of hot weather this week so I wanted to provide some important information for staying safe and cool during the summer. The heat brings unique challenges to our health, requires keeping tabs on vulnerable loved ones and neighbors, and means that we need to change our routines to avoid doing activities during peak temperatures.

Health Threats from Extreme Heat:

Certain groups at are greater risk for adverse health risks due to extreme heat.  Please take a moment to review this list of people who should take extra precautions during this time, and know the signs of heat stroke and exhaustion.

Infants and Young Children: Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of extreme heat, and must rely on other people to keep them cool and hydrated.

• Never leave infants or children in a parked car. (Nor should pets be left in parked cars—they can suffer heat-related illness too.)
• Dress infants and children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Seek medical care immediately if your child has symptoms of symptoms of heat-related illness.

People with Chronic Medical Conditions: People with a chronic medical condition are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. Also, they may be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. People in this category need the following information.

• Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
• Check on a friend or neighbor, and have someone do the same for you.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates regularly.
• Don't use the stove or oven to cook - it will make you and your house hotter.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Seek medical care immediately if you or someone you know experiences symptoms of heat-related illness.

Athletes: People who exercise in extreme heat are more likely to become dehydrated and get heat-related illness. STOP all activity and get to a cool environment if you feel faint or weak.

• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package. 
• Schedule workouts and practices earlier or later in the day when the temperature is cooler.
• Pace activity. Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually.
• Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink more. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat-related illness.
• Monitor a teammate's condition, and have someone do the same for you.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Seek medical care immediately if you or a teammate has symptoms of heat-related illness.

Outdoor workers: People who work outdoors are more likely to become dehydrated and are more likely to get heat-related illness. STOP all activity and get to a cool environment if you feel faint or weak.

• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink.
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing large amounts of sugar.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.
• Ask if tasks can be scheduled for earlier or later in the day to avoid midday heat.
• Wear a brimmed hat and loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Spend time in air-conditioned buildings during breaks and after work.
• Encourage co-workers to take breaks to cool off and drink water.
• Seek medical care immediately if you or a co-worker has symptoms of heat-related illness.
• For more information, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress.

Heat and low income:

• If you have air conditioning, use it to keep your home cool.
• If you can't afford to use your air conditioning:
  • Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
  • You can also contact Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.
• Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
• Check on a friend or neighbor, and have someone do the same for you.
• Seek medical care immediately if you have, or someone you know has, symptoms of heat-related illness.

**First Aid for Heat Illness:

• English
• Español / Spanish
• اللغة العربية / Arabic
• 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese
• 繁體中文 / Traditional Chinese
• 한국어 / Korean
• Русский / Russian
• Af Soomaali / Somali
• Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese

CAMPFIRE RESTRICTIONS: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Camping season is upon us, especially with the hot weather and the holidays upcoming. As it gets hotter and drier, it is likely that fire restrictions will be put on campsites and areas throughout the state. Oregon State Parks has a webpage where they post campfire restrictions. This is a great page to checkout before you leave for your camping reservations.

Remember: Fireworks are prohibited year-round on all Oregon beaches and Oregon State park property.

All updates, campfire safety tips, and evacuation level descriptions can be found here.

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.

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.

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.

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