Mount Angel, OR. No wonder they’re all smiles at Oktoberfest, the community festival has distributed nearly three million dollars to nonprofits since its inception in 1966 and that distribution doesn’t include the money earned each year by 50 local non-profit food booths. For most of these organizations, Oktoberfest is their most important fundraiser of the year. Oktoberfest runs from September 14th through 17th in the quaint town about an hour south of Portland. Most events at Mount Angel Oktoberfest are free, only three of the venues have a cover charge.
The Webertanz and the Engelberg Dance Troupe perform at 12:15 each morning. Mt. Angel School Children are a big part of this group, including the First Graders.
This year, a special collaboration with Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) means festival goers can enjoy a unique Pacific NW take on a Bavarian Session Ale with the limited edition release, Mt. Angel Volksbier on tap at the 52nd Annual Mount Angel Oktoberfest.
“Mount Angel Oktoberfest is pleased to partner with Hopworks Urban Brewery,” said Monica Boschler, Mount Angel Director of Marketing and PR. “Giving back to our communities and supporting family are highly valued shared goals”
There are 3 New Bands on the schedule for 2017: Oberkreiner Juhej – from Slovenia, great biergarten style Dopplebockers – local Oregon band; traditional polka for the Biergarten Chardon Polka Band – from Ohio; Polka meets Punk!
From Oktoberfest:
Did you ever wonder why Oktoberfest is celebrated in September? Even in Munich the bulk of the festival occurs in September. Oktoberfest has come to mean a celebration of German Culture in the fall season. Most fall festivals come at the end of the harvest when the crops are in and everything sits in the lager house. It is time to celebrate the year’s hard work and praise the Creator’s bounty with a grand harvest festival. Few harvest festivals in Germany are called OKTOBERFEST. In Mount Angel, Oktoberfest always starts the second Thursday after Labor Day – about when the hop harvest is in. Another reason for celebrating Oktoberfest in September is that the weather tends to be more cooperative. We can attest to that in Mount Angel.
The venue pricing varies a bit by day and time:
All Festival Pass: four day ALL FESTIVAL PASS/Wristband for $30.00 unlimited entry to all venues for all 4 days at any time. Most economical choice for those with an extended stay, and once on your wrist your wristband allows quick entry any day, any time!
Day Passes: Day passes are available for each day of the festival and are used for unlimited entry and reentry to the 3 venues on that day only. A pass purchased before 5:00 pm is good through the remainder of the day – no additional evening charge. A different colored wristband will be used for each day of the festival.
Day Pass pricing:
Thursday: Before 5:00pm -$5 After 5:00pm – $8
Friday:* Before 5:00pm -$7 After 5:00pm – $12
Saturday: Before 5:00pm -$10 After 5:00pm – $15
Sunday: Before 5:00pm -$10 After 5:00pm – $10
*Friday is our Saluting Our Armed Forces Day – a $2 discount is offered to those who are serving or have served in our Military. Sponsored by Les Schwab Tires and Mount Angel Oktoberfest. Not valid with other discounts.
Portland, OR. Nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate the 4th annual “Together for Good” fundraiser for Nursingale. It’s Oregon’s only nonprofit providing in-home, skilled nursing care for families with medically fragile children, making it possible for families to stay together. Emcee, KGW news anchor Joe Donlon, enjoyed a moment with Juan, one of Nursingale’s clients. The August 19th benefit included music by Rock violinist Aaron Meyer, a pinot tower, live auction, and dessert dash. Total proceeds were just over $100,000. (Photo credit, Andrea Lomas)
Supporters raised their paddles for Nursingale.
Emcee Joe Donlon, KGW news anchor, Patti Sadowski, Nursingale’s Executive Director, and auctioneer Christine DeCastro pose for a photo.
Eric Thomas, whose family founded Nursingale, just recently celebrated his 32nd birthday on full life support. He’s shown with his nurse Codie Philo.
From Nursingale:
Mission To enhance the lives of the medically fragile at home and in the community
Vision To provide the best nursing care to the most vulnerable
Values As a non-profit, Nursingale embraces a set of core values:
Integrity and respect guide all of our actions.
Teamwork and a positive work experience support high-value client care and staff satisfaction.
Partnerships with other community partners helps to maximize our services.
Commitment to keeping families together is a driving force in all that we do.
Portland, OR. People from all walks of life took part in AIDS Walk Portland including families, seniors, and members of the LGBTQ community. AIDS Walk Portland is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most visible AIDS fundraising event. The 2.5-mile walk through the heart of downtown Portland draws nearly 7,000 participants each year. Organizers are still tallying their donations from the September 9th event, but have already seen over $390,000 in donations.
The money raised will help fund Cascade AIDS Project’s mission of preventing HIV infections, supporting and empowering people living with or affected by HIV, and eliminating HIV-related stigma and health disparities.
Today, an estimated 1.2 million Americans live with HIV. One in five of them don’t even know they carry the virus. Locally, nearly 7,000 Oregonians are HIV-positive, and infection rates are the highest among African Americans, the Latino community, the trans community, and men who have sex with men. Each HIV-positive person has, in turn, a network of friends and family who by association are invested in CAP’s mission.
Portland, OR. Photos are streaming in with images of the damage from Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. In Florida, more than seven million people have been evacuated from the state, with tens of thousands huddling in shelters. At least 170,000 homes are without power as the 350 miles wide storm unleashes deadly winds and rain.
Gretchen Summer, 79, and her son, Dave Payson, 52, take shelter from Hurricane Irma inside the Germain Arena in Estero, Florida.
Authorities are asking for the resources they need to help victims recover. Food, clothing and supplies might be the first thing people think to donate; however, cash donations are often more helpful. When items are donated, volunteers have to divert their attention to separating, distributing and storing. “Monetary donations are the most flexible and can be used immediately in response to a crisis,” Divisional Communications Director of the Salvation Army Dulcinea Kimrey said.
It allows the organization to purchase exactly what is needed, when it is needed, Kimrey said.
“Cash gives relief organizations the means to procure supplies near the affected area, which cuts down on transportation time and cost,” Kimrey said.
Make sure to send money to a reputable charity. Check if the charity is trustworthy by visiting Charity Navigator, which uses a team of professional analysts to examine tens of thousands of charities.
Charity Navigator says consider donating to these organizations to help Hurricane Harvey victims:
“One America Appeal is a joint appeal by all five living former American Presidents to encourage their fellow citizens to support recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey — which inundated the Texas Gulf Coast with unprecedented flooding. This special appeal will be expanded to include Hurricane Irma now approaching the mainland United States,” the One America Appeal website reads.
“Hurricane Harvey brought terrible devastation – but it also brought out the best in humanity. As former Presidents, we wanted to come together and join our fellow citizens in supporting Houston and the communities along the Gulf Coast as they rebuild.”
Charity Navigator says consider donating to these organizations to help Hurricane Irma victims:
During emergencies and disaster situations, the blood supply might run low due to the increased quantity needed. Donating blood helps to save lives in the emergency room.
Phlebotomist checking line while a patient donates blood in hospital. (asiseeit/Getty Images)
The Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood or platelets to help ensure life-saving blood products are available for trauma patients and others with serious medical needs.
“It’s the blood products on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency,” said Trish Sablitz, Red Cross director of Donor Recruitment for the Connecticut & Massachusetts Blood Services Region. “When seconds matter, having a readily-available blood supply is critical to trauma patient care.”
Recovery lasts longer than a few days, and disaster areas can take years to recover fully. If donations run out within the first few days, volunteers no longer have the resources and funds to help.
Portland, OR. Oregon’s largest and longest-running volunteer expo returned to Pioneer Square for its ninth year on September 7th. The Standard’s Volunteer Expo brought together more than 125 nonprofits to help Oregonians discover volunteer and donation opportunities that fit their skills and interests.
Volunteer Expo attendees had a chance to learn about a wide variety of nonprofits, like the Children’s Book Bank, that make a difference in the community. Participating organizations represented the arts, culture, the environment, animal welfare, human services and more. If you didn’t have a chance to attend, we’ve got a look at some of the organizations represented, and a complete list below.
Portland, OR. The 30th annual Oregon International Air Show will take place September 22nd – 24th and a portion of the money made will be given to local nonprofits. One of missions of the air show is to give back to the community and there’s still time to apply for one of the organization’s grants. In 2017, organizers gave 30 different organizations a total of $54,850. Since 1988, more than $2.1 million has been donated to the community and over six hundred different projects have been supported. The deadline for this year’s application is September 30th. Click here for a link: Grant Application.
The Air Show offers grants of up to $5000.00 per request. Award amounts are contingent on the overall financial success of the Air Show. The goal of the awards committee is to disperse all awarded grants in January/February of 2018.
The Breitling Jet Team from France and the Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fly in formation at the 2016 Oregon International Air Show presented by Standard TV & Appliance (photo courtesy of the Oregon International Air Show)
Oregon International Air Show Mission is the following: Provide a safe, family event that promotes aviation, honors military and veterans, involves community, and contributes to charitable organizations in Oregon.
Matt Younkin and the Beech 18 performed at the 2016 Oregon International Air Show at Hillsboro Airport.
The Oregon Air National Guard celebrated 75 years with a special private event at the Oregon International Air Show with their specially painted F-15 Eagle as a backdrop.
From The Oregon International Air Show:
The Oregon International Air Show, presented by Standard TV & Appliance, celebrates its 30th year in 2017. The Air Show has been the State of Oregon’s largest aviation event since 1988. This community event is one of the largest charitable events in Oregon and draws an average of 65,000 people to the Hillsboro Airport each year. We gladly accept donation requests from community groups and encourage volunteerism from service clubs, non-profits, businesses and the community.
Applications may be submitted electronically or by US mail and must be postmarked by the deadline below:
Portland, OR. The smell of roses wafted over the crowd celebrating 100 years of roses in Portland. The August 26th event at Washington Park featured rose tours, art displays, rose ice cream from Salt & Straw Ice Cream and a special concert. The 4.5 acre garden is the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States and helped provide Portland with its nickname: “City of Roses”.
The terraced garden attracts nearly 700,000 visitors a year who revel in sweet scents and sweeping views. There are over 7,000 rose plants of approximately 550 varieties.
The roses bloom from April through October with the peak coming in June, depending on the weather. New rose cultivars are continually sent to the garden from many parts of the world and are tested for color, fragrance, disease resistance and other attributes.
Here’s more information about Portland’s Rose Garden:
The garden is located in Washington Park, at 400 SW Kingston Avenue.
Garden hours: 7:30am-9:00pm FREE public tours are offered daily at 1:00pm, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Meet at the Rose Garden store 10 minutes prior.
SPECIAL NOTICE FOR VISITOR PARKING
Effective September 2016 to March 2018, parking is extremely limited in Washington Park due to a multi-year Portland Water Bureau project. Visitors are encouraged to take TriMet MAX Light Rail to Washington Park to avoid delays in parking. Visit explorewashingtonpark.org for further information on parking and the free shuttle bus that runs throughout the park. Find out more about the Reservoir Improvements Project at Washington Park.
Tour Groups Guided tours for groups of 11 or more are available during the year for a nominal fee per person. Call 503-823-3664 to make arrangements.
Visit the Rose Garden Store website at www.rosegardenstore.org. The American Garden Rose Selections organization has eleven test sites nationally:
Portland International Rose Test Garden
Orangeburg, SC
San Jose, CA
Farmer’s Branch ,TX
Baton Rouge, LA
Kennewick, WA
Westfield, MA
Columbus, OH
Glencoe, IL
Ames, IA
Lexington, KY
Program Information
Founded in 1889, the Portland Rose Society is a nonprofit organization offering educational programs on rose culture and encouraging the use of roses in the landscape. For information on Rose Society programs or membership, write or call Portland Rose Society, PO Box 515, Portland, 97207, voice mail: 503-777-4311.
Volunteer opportunities are available in both garden and non-garden work. Garden tasks include deadheading, planting, pruning, sign painting, and garden improvement projects. Non-garden tasks include strategic planning, fundraising, updating educational materials, leading garden tours, maintaining inventory records, and coordinating volunteer efforts. Contact the Rose Garden, 503-823-3636 or Volunteer Services, 503-823-5121.
Historical Information
Portland has long had a love affair with roses. In 1888, Georgiana Burton Pittock, wife of publisher Henry Pittock, invited her friends and neighbors to exhibit their roses in a tent set up in her garden; thus the Portland Rose Society was established.
Madame Caroline Testout was a late 19th century French dressmaker from Grenoble, the proprietor of fashionable salons in London and Paris. She regularly purchased silks from Lyon, which was an important center for rose breeding. The nurseryman Joseph Pernet-Ducher was called ‘The Wizard of Lyon’ due to his success in developing hybrid tea roses. Madame Testout was an astute businesswoman and understood the value of good publicity. She asked Perner-Ducher to name one of his new roses after her. He agreed, but considered her choice of seedling to be mediocre. The ‘Madame Caroline Testout’ rose made its debut at the salon’s 1890 spring fashion show. It was not strong on scent, but became an immediate success with Madame Testout’s well to do customers as well as the gardening public for its abundant silky, rose-pink flowers. The new variety’s popularity spread to America, and in Portland, nearly half a million bushes of ‘Caroline Testout’ were planted along the sidewalks. By 1905 Portland had 200 miles of rose-bordered streets which helped attract visitors to the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. Portland came to be known as the ‘City of Roses’.
In 1915 Jesse A. Currey, rose hobbyist and Sunday editor of the Oregon Journal, convinced city officials to institute a rose test garden to serve as a safe haven during World War I for hybrid roses grown in Europe. Rose lovers feared that these unique plants would be destroyed in the bombings. The Park Bureau approved the idea in 1917 and by early 1918, hybridists from England began to send roses. In 1921 Florence Holmes Gerke, the landscape architect for the city of Portland, was charged with designing the International Rose Test Garden and the amphitheatre. The garden was dedicated in June 1924. Currey was appointed as the garden’s first rose curator and served in that capacity until his death in 1927.
Part of the original design, the Royal Rosarian Garden is home to the namesake roses of all past Prime Ministers of the Royal Rosarians, a civic group which serves as the official greeters and goodwill ambassadors for the City of Portland. Founded in 1912, the Order of Royal Rosarians modeled their mythical ‘Realm of Rosaria’ after the government of England’s King Henry VII, whose rise to the throne in 1485 ended the War of the Roses. Members are ‘knighted’ into the organization under their chosen variety of rose, which is then their ‘namesake’ rose. The garden also features a stone bench honoring Jesse Currey.
In 1945, the Shakespeare Garden, located at Crystal Springs Lake in southeast Portland, was moved to Washington Park to allow for expansion of Eastmoreland Golf Course. Designed by Glenn Stanton and Florence Gerke, it was originally intended to include only herbs, trees, and flowers mentioned in William Shakespeare’s plays. The garden continues to honor the Bard with roses named after characters in his plays. The focal point of the garden is the Shakespeare Memorial, a brick wall with a plaque featuring Shakespeare’s image and his quote, “Of all flowers methinks a rose is best.” Donated by the LaBarre Shakespeare Club, it was dedicated on April 23, 1946 – the 382nd anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. In 1957 the club added a sundial to the garden.
In 1967, rose curator Rudolph Kalmbach wanted to establish a formal garden featuring Gold Award roses. (In 1919 the City of Portland issued its first annual Gold Award for the best new rose variety.) With the support of the Portland Rose Society, Wallace Kay Huntington was selected to design the garden which was dedicated in June 1970. In 1991, the Portland Rose Society donated the pavilion which overlooks these award-winning roses.
Established in 1975, the Miniature Rose Garden is one of only six testing grounds for the American Rose Society (ARS) miniature rose test program. The national annual winners from both ARS and AARS associations are displayed in the middle of the garden along the center aisle.
Set in a sunken section on the upper level of the garden, the Frank Beach Memorial Fountain was dedicated in June 1975. The stainless steel sculpture, titled Water Sculpture, was designed and built by Oregon artist Lee Kelly. The fountain was a gift from the Beach family to honor their father, Frank Edwin Beach (1853-1934), the man who is said to have christened Portland the ‘City of Roses’ and who first proposed the annual Rose Festival.
Awards The award called Portland’s Best Rose was established in 1996. Rose experts from around the world attend a one-day judging in June and select the best rose that day from thousands of submissions. Portland remains the only North American city to issue such an award.
Portland, OR. This was to be Cycle Oregon’s 30th anniversary ride. It was sold out with over 2,000 riders poised to visit Crater Lake, Oregon’s only National Park. The weeklong ride would have covered over 500 miles and taken place, from September 9 through 16. However, the Executive Director of the nonprofit that organizes the ride has called it off because of wildfires.
Steve Schulz notified participants with the following message:
Forty-four percent of acres burning nationally are in Oregon. Fifty percent of individuals fighting fires nationally are in Oregon and Washington. Eight of the highest trained firefighting teams in the nation are working on the fires in Oregon. These fires are spread throughout the entire state, with the heaviest fires being in central and southern Oregon – encompassing our 2017 Classic route. Currently, fires are impacting five of our seven days with smoke and air quality levels ranging from unhealthy to hazardous. Previously designed alternate routes are now affected with fire and smoke from both new and existing fires. Statewide weather forecasts for the foreseeable future are for more hot, dry and windy weather with an associated increase in fire activity and smoke production.
After discussions with numerous authorities including the Oregon Department of Forestry, the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Oregon Department of Transportation and others and conducting on site personal meetings with Incident Commanders at the fires, we have come to the most difficult decision to cancel the 2017 Classic event.
This is an enormous disappointment for all of us. We as a community rise to challenges, but sometimes the risks far outweigh the potential benefits. We have exhausted the options and possibilities of doing anything but cancelling. The one priority that we won’t jeopardize is safety; we feel we cannot go forward without doing just that.
We are sensitive to the current struggles throughout our communities and our state. Right now, Oregon needs our support; Cycle Oregon will not add to these already challenging times.
This situation is unprecedented in Cycle Oregon history; we are in uncharted territory. As we work on next steps, we ask for time as we determine the best path forward. We realize you have many questions and we are committed to answering them. We will focus our current efforts on taking care of our communities as they deal with their struggles, being as generous as possible to our riders and partners, and supporting our state and those standing up and fighting these perils on our behalf. Cycle Oregon is something that we all embrace, and want to experience, but there are much bigger things at play here.
Over the next number of days, we’ll be working on how we stop this freight train and assess. We will reach back out to you by next Wednesday with our next steps.
Cycle Oregon is more than just a brand or a bike ride. It’s a way of being. We will move forward. We will embrace the environment that surrounds us – good or bad – find meaning in it, and remember that we are here to make a difference. And we will ride on.
Steve Schulz, Executive Director
Cycle Oregon is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming individuals and communities through bicycling. Proceeds from the ride go to the Cycle Oregon Fund, which helps preserve and protect the special places of Oregon and supports community development projects in the regions through which participants ride.
Portland, Or. Learn the signs and be proactive about ovarian cancer detection. Ovarian Cancer is one of the most deadly of women’s cancers. Each year, approximately 21,980 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It is estimated by the World Health Organization IARC department that there are over 238,000 new cases diagnosed annually and nearly 152,000 deaths worldwide.
This cancer typically occurs in women in their fifties and sixties with the median age being 63. Many women who are diagnosed with Ovarian cancer have a genetic history that may include carrying the BRCA mutation gene and having a strong family history of ovarian cancer.
Unfortunately many women don’t seek help until the disease has begun to spread, but if detected at its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 93%. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often subtle and easily confused with other ailments.
Symptoms may include:
• Bloating
• Pelvic or Abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary urgency or frequency
Other symptoms may include:
• Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation or diarrhea
• Extreme fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Backaches
• Weight Gain
There is no adequate screening test of ovarian cancer at this time which is one of the reasons that this cancer is often discovered in later stages.
The recommendation for a woman with any of these symptoms is that she see her doctor, preferably a gynecologist, if the symptoms are new and unusual and occur more than 12 times during the course of one month. Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, CA 125 blood test, and a transvaginal ultrasound.
Ovarian cancer awareness supporters wore teal as they gathered for taping of a local TV show. On September 1st, ovarian cancer advocates nationwide were wearing the color teal in support of ovarian cancer awareness.
For more information, here’s a link to the The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and SW Washington: http://ovariancancerosw.org/
Here’s a video from Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
From The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and SW Washington:
In early 2002, two ovarian cancer survivors from Vancouver, WA, (Diane O’Connor and Diane Elizondo), met on an online ovarian cancer website.
Both were recovering from the effects of chemotherapy, and both were looking for a way to use their slowly increasing energy toward helping women with this terrible diagnosis. They met in person and started making plans to reach this goal. The plan was to start a local non-profit organization to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer in the health care community, the community at large and to offer support to women with ovarian cancer.
This dream came true: the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and SW Washington was officially created in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) organization and a partner member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA).
Continuing this work, “the two Diane’s” have found great satisfaction in spreading awareness of ovarian cancer through educating medical professionals and the public, providing support to women and their families, and advocating at the state and federal levels for awareness and research funding.
Thanks to the board of directors, the medical advisory board, and the volunteers and contributors, Diane O’Connor and Diane Elizondo will continue to work hard for the SW Washington and Oregon community.
Receiving a diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be a huge shock. Those of us who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have sought treatment want to be available for newly diagnosed women. It might be an e-mail, a phone call, or meeting in person. Please contact us at our toll-free number 877-682-2679 or by email at info@ovariancancerosw.org.
Portland, OR. “Students working with students to improve the outcomes for all.” That’s the description of a new partnership between Concordia University and Portland Public Schools’ Faubion School in Northeast Portland. On August 29th, supporters will have a grand opening to celebrate the launch of this unique partnership called “3 to PhD”. It’s an ambitious new model of education aimed at helping disenfranchised students and thereby, the whole community.
The home of this new model is a three-story, 138,000 square foot facility, serving up to 800 pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade students and home to Concordia’s College of Education, students, faculty, and staff.
Staff from Concordia University, Faubion School, Trillium Family Services, Basics (formerly Pacific Foods), and Kaiser Permanente have started their training to work in the new facility.
Portland Public School’s Faubion Elementary and Concordia University have been neighbors for 63 years, sharing 24 adjacent acres in Northeast Portland. Now they’ll share the new facility where college students studying education will teach some of the most impoverished kids in the state.
“From day one, Concordia students from every degree program will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in their field while making an appreciable difference in the lives of Faubion students and families.” Administrators explain, “At Concordia, our mission as a Christian university is to prepare leaders for the transformation of society. The 3 to PhD initiative is our mission in action — working collaboratively to strengthen the community from the ground up.”
Concordia education students learn how to be effective teachers by watching, learning, and doing – often inside a real elementary school class. Students also serve as reading tutors and help out in classrooms. And since the entire College of Education is embedded inside a school, students will also have the opportunity to interact with parents, administrators, and support staff, experiencing all aspects of daily life in a school environment. The program was made possible by a capital improvement bond passed by Portland voters and millions raised by Concordia University.
The grand opening party will be Tuesday, August 29th, from 3-5pm at 2930 NE Dekum, Portland, OR 97211. Parking is limited, public transit encouraged.
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