Not sure who this guy is, but I did have a need to recycle some fluorescent bulbs today.  Naturally, all 4 in the laundry room looked shot, so I zipped on over to Home Depot and picked up a few packs.  (sorry Ace/ BiMart – I had to go out that way anyway)

A few hours later, as my laundry room lit up like Qwest Field again, I now faced the problem of what to do with the old tubes.  My natural reaction – toss them in the can, and then toss something on top so they all shatter.  But no – that would not be – well – green like now would it? Let’s see if we can recycle.

My first internet search turned up this wonderful factoid – you can recycle fluorescent tubes at – wait for it – HOME DEPOT!  Now why didn’t I look this up BEFORE I bought the new ones?  Sheesh, back to Home Depot again.  And then I thought – wait a minute – am I really helping the environment, by using even more gas and oil – just to go back to Home Depot – again – just to recycle these silly things?  There’s got to be another way.

There was.  And it was just a phone call away.  Our own Forest Grove Waste Management.  The nice lady behind the phone informed me they DO take fluorescent bulbs.  There’s just a bit of work to get them ready.

1. Do NOT break the bulbs.  They contain mercury, and the glass can be hazardous to our garbage men.
2. If your new bulbs came totally encased in a cardboard package, simply put your old bulbs back in this package and set it out next to your bin on trash day.
3. Do NOT put the bulbs IN your bin.  But rather lay them on the curb beside it.
4. If your new bulbs did NOT come in a cardboard box, but cellophane (like mine), then simply wrap the bulbs in newspaper.  Tape it all shut and then sit it out on trash day.  Either way, use a permanent marker and label the package FLUORESCENT BULBS so the guys know what they are handling.
5. That’s it.  No fuss really.  And no extra trips back to Home Depot either.

Thank you Waste Management !

So if you did not know you could recycle fluorescent bulbs – now you do.  It may not seem like much, but a whole lot of little things (like this) do add up to make our environment a safer place to live.  Resuse.  Reduce.  Recycle.

No related posts.

As I was coming home from grocery shopping today I saw a few new signs around town…

FOR LEASE signs.

Last month it was Basco’s Burgers in Cornelius.  Thirty years in the business and then gone, just like that.

Today I saw Triple Point Biologics was empty.  They were the protein lab located between Dr Tidwell’s Dental Office and Napa Auto Parts.  I don’t think they closed, but just moved.  According to their website they are now on Douglas, in the old building that used to be Jim’s Automotive.  Cheaper rent maybe?

While discussing this with my wife she noticed another business gone.  Signmesiters.  The entire store located next to OK Floral was empty.  And sadly, I don’t think this business moved, or sold, or anything else but just closed up completely.  No signs in the window, no nothing.  I remember when Tamra and Vern opened this business.  They were located in one of John Hamilton’s buildings over on Main St – pretty close to where The Urban Decanter is now….  They were a nice couple, and hard workers.  Their two dogs were always excited to see me.  And now?  Another sign of the economy?

Good luck  Tamra and Vern, wherever you are.  We will miss you.

No related posts.

I remember when I first moved to Forest Grove in ‘97.  There were at least 3 video stores.  Video USA was in the Safeway Shopping Center, Movie Madness was in my old strip mall next to Da Boys.  And I think there was a smaller video store next to Scotty’s that rented harder to find movies.

And then came Blockbuster.

It was no surprise when one by one the video stores began closing,  leaving us with just the big blue label.  It’s not that I particularly hated Blockbuster, I was just sad to see another corporate giant move into town and do away with the smaller mom and pop shops.  But I did still give them my business.  In fact, I was just there last night to pick up a couple of movies for “Pizza and Movie Night”. I have never tried Redbox, nor do I have a Netflix account.  But after last night, I’m afraid that will change.

Beginning today, March 1, all movies (new release or older films) will be $5 for 5 days.  If the movies are not returned within 5 days, a late fee of $1 per day will be tacked on, up to 15 days.  Then you automatically buy it with your credit card that just happens to be on file.

Five bucks?  For an older movie?  Are they kidding?

Let’s see, with Netflix I can rent 1 DVD at a time, keep it as long as I want, and exchange it as many times as I want, for $9 a month.  Plus they have a 2 week free trial. Hmmmmmm, tough decision.

I realize Blockbuster is having trouble.  Both Redbox and Netflix have been putting the pressure on Blockbuster and Hollywood Video.  In fact, it’s so bad that Hollywood just closed a bunch of stores last month.  I have a feeling Blockbuster will be next.

Blockbuster plans for its total 2009 store closures to amount to 580 to 685 stores and for 2010, the retailer expects another 230 to 275 store will close. The retailer is avoiding lease termination costs, as many of the stores will close as leases naturally expire. In its January 2009 annual report, Blockbuster said it had 4,585 U.S. stores, so it has already closed 229 this year. During 2008, it closed 270 U.S. stores and during 2007, it closed 339 U.S. stores.

I wonder when our store will be next.

Blockbuster, I will miss you.  I was sad when you came because you closed down the smaller shops.  And I’ll be sad when you leave, because I liked going to a video store and browsing all the titles.  And when you’re gone, we’ll have nobody.

But when you start charging $5 bucks for a movie, even older movies that used to be $.99.  Well, I think it’s time I cut up my card.

Netflix here I come.

No related posts.

Where do we go from here?

That was the question posed at the Forest Grove Town Meeting last month.  Although I did not have a chance to attend, there has been a lot of discussion on the bulletin boards around town.  Suggestions like turning Forest Grove into a Wine gateway,  adding a Town Center, or bringing in more Arts.

These are all good suggestions – assuming everything is back to normal and our main goal is to attract more people / business to boost our local economy.

But is everything normal?   We are still in the clutches of a major economic recession.  Many people are still out of work.  Job are getting harder and harder to find.  Every day more and more businesses are closing their doors for good.  Hollywood Video closed a dozen Oregon stores just last week.    Basco’s Burgers in Cornelius is closing after 30 years.  Rumor has it that Horton’s Office Supply could be closing soon.

In Colorado Springs, CO the city just turned off a third of its streetlights and has police helicopters for sale on the Internet.  City recreation centers, indoor and outdoor pools, and a handful of museums will close for good in March.  California is near bankruptcy.  Nevada’s budget is so far out of balance that by one account the state could lay off every worker paid from the general fund and still be $300 million in the red.  Prisons may be closed, entire colleges shuttered and thousands left without jobs.  And in Utah, facing massive budget cuts, one school district is considering eliminating the 12th grade altogether.

No, I’m sorry.  This does not sound like everything is back to normal.  And I really doubt if inviting people out for wine tasting will help.

Well then….what should we do?  Where should we focus?  Becoming a better bedroom community?

As I said, encouraging more people and/or businesses to move to Forest Grove is a good idea – assuming the recession is indeed over and our economy will soon be getting back to normal.  But just remember, it has taken us several years to get to this point.  Do you really think it’s going to improve very quickly?  And of course, there is always that possibility….. that it just doesn’t.

Here’s another happy scenario.  Climate change.  The debate could go on for years, but the truth of the matter is this….  our climate IS changing.  Ask Europe who had one of the coldest winters on record.  Ask Washington DC who got hit recently with two, back to back, snowstorms.  Ask Dallas, TX who just got hit with 12.5″ of snow, yes, Dallas.  Google the Iguanas and Manatees in Florida.  It’s happening, whether we are to blame, or not.  What if it happens here?

Remember our little snow storm just two Christmases ago?  I was stuck in my house for 2 weeks!  I had to ask a neighbor to run me down to Safeway for a prescription for my wife.  He had a huge 4 wheel drive truck, with chains, and we still got stuck.  And when we finally made it to Safeway…..(our one and only grocery store in town), many of the shelves were already bare.  You could clearly see panic in many of the faces that were there.

And what would a gloom and doom posting be without mentioning Peak Oil.  Many experts are predicting that worldwide oil production will peak very soon if it hasn’t already.   Remember, we are a bedroom community.  The majority of our residents depend on commuting to work every day.  What happens if oil surged to $147 a barrel again?  Remember what it was like paying $4 a gallon?   What is this time it hits $5?  What about $10?

The town focus?  The future of Forest Grove? We might want to look at communities like Boulder, Colorado for inspiration.

Boulder County Going Local was only named an official transition initiative earlier this month, but it’s getting started with a bang. The organization has already launched a series of talks and workshops to teach residents how to survive with local resources entitled “The Great Reskilling”. Planned events include “High Altitude Gardening”, “Garden Design and Planting A La Permaculture”, “The Bountiful Pantry”, and “Solar Greenhouse Design”.

It is sobering to think about how few survival skills most of us have. Perhaps if more transition initiatives like Boulder’s take off, we can relearn the skills that fossil fuel-based industrialization has rendered useless.

No related posts.

I remember the first time I heard them.  It must have been about 12 years ago, right after we moved here.  “What in the heck is that!?” I asked my wife.  She said it sounded like a baby was crying.  Sounded more like some poor woman was screaming at the top of her lungs to me.  Bone chilling is what it was.  I thought, what kind of neighborhood is this!

Well, it wasn’t a baby, or any kind of evil doing going on in the hood.   It was the famous Forest Gale Peakcocks.  

Peakcocks?

According to the local rumor mill – a local farmer used to raise them nearby, long before Forest Gale Heights was fully developed.  I’m not sure what happened to the farmer, but his brood of peafowl remained – and multiplied.   At one point in time they were everywhere.  Oh sure – they are pretty to look at.  But once you get woke up by them screaming at 5am, or have to clean up after them, you may change your mind.  I’ve had them on my roof, in my lawn, on the sidewalk, and everywhere in between.  And they don’t just leave typical little bird droppings when they go.  Oh no.  Think more like – hairballs.  Lots of them.  Nasty.

Peacocks and peahens—are members of the pheasant family. Although most people call the whole species peacocks, the word really only refers to the male bird. Just like chickens,  where the male is called a rooster or cock and the female is called a hen, male peafowl are peacocks, female peafowl are peahens, and babies are peachicks.  There are three species of peafowl in the world: the Indian, or blue peafowl, the green peafowl, and the Congo peafowl.  Up here in the Heights, we have the Indian Blue.

Lucky us.

So if you are out for a Sunday drive, and happen to be in  Forest Gale Heights, don’t be surprised if you see a parade of peakcocks and hens crossing the street in front of you.  One warning – they cross the street very slowly.  Very, very slowly.  If you get out and try and take a picture of them, they usually run, but if you leave the back seat open, maybe you can entice them into your car with some cat food.  They like that.  Then you could take them home with you.  Start another brood.  Say in – Washougal?

Please?

No related posts.

For all of us older folks, do you remember some of the things you grew up with, that have disappeared over the years?  Things like the 8-Track player?  Or how about the Betamax?  I remember as a teenager going to the music store to buy the latest record album.  (that’s those big, round, vinyl things us old folks played to listen to our music).   Just 10 years ago I would have been typing this over a dial-up Internet connection.

My, my,  how things have changed.

I was reading an article this morning from MSN Money about some of the current technologies that may too end up in the forgotten pile.  The list may surprise you.

• DVDs. Thanks to services like cable On-Demand and Netflix,  DVD rentals may soon be gone.  Blockbuster has said it plans to close more than a fifth of its stores by the end of 2010.  Adding to Blockbuster’s demise are those cute little red boxes that have sprung up everywhere.  If nothing else, Blockbuster may soon be Blue Ray only, as it seems everything is going High Def.
• CD’s. Do you remember the last time you went to a music store to buy a CD?  I sure don’t.   Napster was the beginning of the end for music sales.  Then of course came Apple  iTunes, not to mention illegal downloading using software like Limewire.  Today, finding your favorite song is as easy as pulling out your cell phone or turning on the computer.  Most Virgin Megastores in the U.S. have shut down following declines in sales and revenues. In 2004, Tower Records entered bankruptcy, and by 2006 most locations had closed.
• Home Telephone Service The rate people are dropping their land lines and going cell phone only is surprising to me.  I still have an old fashioned analog phone line, and I like it.  No thank you Verizon – I do NOT want FIOS.)  According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, more than one in five U.S. homes had cell phones — and no land lines — in the first half of 2009.  Crazy.
• Books I finally saw a Kindle the other day at work.  It’s about the size of a small clipboard and just as flat.  What’s a Kindle?  It’s an e-book reader.  You download your books from Amazon directly to your Kindle device.  It will store thousands of books, plus has access to popular magazines and newspapers. I’m a old fashioned book lover, so I’ll be one of the last to convert.  But imagine 20 years from now when our kids ask, “You mean you actually had to turn the pages?!  With your hands???”
• Magazines I was browsing through one of my wife’s popular Women’s Magazines last month, and was shocked by the advertising – junk food and drug companies. (I guess they kind of go hand in hand anyway – don’t they?)  But it really doesn’t matter because more and more people are going online for their reading pleasure.  Magazines are slowly disappearing.  In 2009, more than 360 magazines shut down.  Do you think the Dentist’s Offices will soon supply us with one of those cool Kindles?  That would be awesome.
• Newspapers I hate to keep saying it, but Newspapers are also dying.  In 2009,  105 newspapers disappeared for good,  over 10,000 newspaper jobs were lost, print ad sales fell 30% in the first quarter alone, and 23 of the top 25 newspapers reported declines in circulation between  7% and 20%.  Why?  Blame the internet, or blame the generation.  Kids just don’t read newspapers.  They’re too busy playing their Xbox, listening to their iPod, or texting on their Smartphone.  More and more newspapers, in order to survive, are switching to online only versions just to stay alive.
• Phone Books This one’s not on their list, but it is on mine.  Who uses a phone book anymore?  Do you?  With my iPhone in hand I can find the number, address and  map in a matter of a few seconds.  Not only that, I can place my order, read reviews from other customers, and get step by step driving directions all with the touch of a button.

Ah technology – isn’t it…….great?

No related posts.

If you like good dance music, pop on over to the Visitation School Gymnasium in Verboort on Friday, Feb 5.

At 6:30 dance lessons will be provided by the Banks Dance Academy.  Come on, I know you’ve always wanted to learn a little Salsa Dancing, admit it.  It all turns over to dancing at 7:30 with music provided by the Lake Oswego Dance Band.  Two of our members from Everybody’s Hometown Band, Kip and Maureen Van Dyke play in this band, and from what I’ve heard, they are simply outstanding.  Even if you’re not into dancing, you can at least stop by for some good music.

Admission is $5 for adults, $10 for the whole family.  All proceeds go to Visitation School Tuition Assistance.

No related posts.

www.fgcschool.org
information@fgcschool.org

______________________________________________________

The Forest Grove Community School is a free public charter school that engages students in scholarship, stewardship and citizenship with the goal of educating for sustainability.  We provide a caring, smaller school environment that challenges students to reach their highest potential through learning rooted in the local community. Forest Grove Community School, like all public charter schools, is a school of choice intended to offer a unique educational program.

What led to the creation of this new school?  On top of the normal challenges of growing into adults, we foresee that our children will face environmental and cultural challenges that are unprecedented in scope and that will require intelligent and flexible response. We believe that to meet these challenges our children will need the ability to adapt to change, knowledge of environmental systems, and an understanding of how to live sustainably.

As a result, we must prepare our children by teaching them the skills they need to assess and respond to information, to set and accomplish goals for themselves, and to develop strong community bonds.  Scholarship, Stewardship, Citizenship Life lessons are learned by living.  So, we created a school in which the students and teachers take the classroom into the world.

Yes, they will study reading, writing and arithmetic (and much more), but the lessons will be held in the school garden, the wetlands, or downtown as well as in the classroom. These lessons will have impact, meaning, and lasting value because they are hands-on, here at home, dealing with real life issues.

No related posts.

I love Forest Grove.  But there is one subject I complain about when it comes to my town – and that is the selection of Grocery Stores.  Namely the ONE and ONLY grocery store.   Safeway.

I guess I’m just one of those people who loves to hate Safeway.  Sure it’s local, and been in town a long time, and I try really hard to support my local businesses, but…………     Every time I go to Safeway, I usually wish I had taken the extra trip out to Freddy’s.  Why?  Well – first it’s a giant corporation.  I’m not too fond of giant corporations.  Remember when they completed their remodel?  Starbucks?  That was like a slap in the face to all the local family owned baristas in town, including BJ’s just a few doors down.  Second – their prices are steep, especially compared to say Winco.  Third – I can usually find a much greater selection – especially with more organic/natural foods – at Freddy’s.  And fourth – there’s usually not enough checkers – which means long lines.

I’m sorry Safeway – I try to like you.  But I can’t.  If you want to win me over, start with your prices, get a few more checkers, clean up your produce, and add some more natural foods (i.e. New Seasons).

So my question is – how did we get to be a one grocery store town?  From what I have heard from folks who have lived here a lot longer than I have  – we use to have LOTS of grocery stores.  In fact – you might be surprised as to what used to be a grocery store – way back in the day.

Valley Art?  That was the original Safeway.

Assembly of God Church?  (across from Tom McCall) – that’s where Safeway moved to after they left Vally Art.

Forest Grove Health and Fitness? (in the Center Strip Mall) – used to be DaBoys.  That was actually still here when I moved here in ‘98.

Forest Grove Elks Lodge?  Used to be a Piggly Wiggly.

Fuiten/Rose/Hoyt Funeral Home?  Yep – I know it’s kinda creepy – but that used to be a Chet’s Thriftway.

There’s four – and I’m sure I’m missing a few.  I heard there was a Coopers Grocery somewhere downtown as well.

Reminds me of all the Video Rental stores we had when I moved here.  There must have been at least 3 or 4.  And then another giant corporation moved to town.   And soon after there was only one left.  Blockbusters.  I guess the same thing happened with the grocery stores.  Now you know why I dislike giant corporations…they usually put the little guys out of business.

I know people would LOVE to have another store in town.  A few years back – there was town talk about a Haagen’s coming, then it was Albertsons.  Many of us dreamed of a Whole Foods, New Seasons, or a Trader Joes.  But it never happened.  And it’s probably not going to happen.  We just don’t have enough people in this town to support a big name store.

So the only thing we have to look forward to – as far as a new grocery store coming – is Wal Mart.

You know – when you think about it – comparing our options – Freddy’s isn’t really that far away after all.

No related posts.

Christmas and New Years have now come and gone, time to start taking down the decorations.  But what do you do with that tree?  Here are some options for Forest Grove.

Option 1:  Recycle

Many nonprofit organizations offer pickup services or locations where you can take Christmas trees and wreaths to be recycled.  They will charge a small fee or request a donation.  These nonprofit groups accept trees at least one day on the weekend after Christmas.  Nonprofit organizations provide this service as a fundraiser for many worthwhile projects and as a community service.  Once these groups are finished with tree recycling projects, the yard debris processing companies in the region will still accept them.

Here in Forest Grove, the organization that has handled this for us over the last 25 years is the Forest Grove FFA.

• Drop-off location: Ace Hardware, Tom McCall Upper Elementary School
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 2, Jan 3 and Jan. 9
• $4 for green trees; $15 for flocked trees (wreaths, swags and garlands accepted for free with tree)
• Pick-up is available within the cities of Forest Grove and Cornelius
• Pick-up prices: $6 for green trees; $15 for flocked trees (wreaths, swags and garlands taken for free with tree)
• Pick-up hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 2-3 and Jan. 9
• To arrange pick-up, please call 503-357-6526.

Option 2:  Curbside Yard Debris Collection

Residents with curbside yard debris collection service can recycle their trees in their yard debris carts. If placing tree pieces in your cart, cut your tree into small enough pieces to fit so they are able to fall freely when tipped into the truck. Trees can be set out in lieu of yard debris container. If your cart is full, you can set out trees less than six feet tall as additional yard debris materials.  An “extra” yard debris charge will be assessed. Trees must be free of tinsel, stands, ornaments and other added materials. Wreaths can be placed in the yard debris cart with the frames, wire and other non-organic material removed.

Recycling preparation

It is important to remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and other materials that are not part of the original tree. Most trees are ground up as part of the recycling process; foreign material can ruin a chipping machine. Also, nonorganic materials aren’t good for a compost mixture. Some groups or businesses do not accept flocked trees.

Christmas wreaths and swags can be recycled with trees. Most recyclers ask that all frames and wire be removed.

Do not bring yard debris to nonprofit groups that are collecting trees.

No related posts.