Whew! I went through some transitions and left this blog out of my life for a while. Health issues, job change, etc. Now I'm too busy to blog, except for what I do on Facebook. They canceled the Cedar Mill shuttle, so now I drive to work every day. I'm even shorter on time than ever. My personal life is focused entirely on my health, marriage and home economy. Sound familiar?
I'll be back at some point.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Commuting by MAX - I did it, thanks to the Cedar Mill Shuttle!
I did it! I finally achieved my No. 1 "sustainable living" goal by starting to take MAX to work every day. It's not very easy, because the Sunset Transit Center parking lot is full before 7 a.m., the bus to the STC is slow and infrequent, and I'm not in shape to bike to the STC.
BUT! There is a resource that every Cedar Mill resident should know about: the Cedar Mill Shuttle. Get this: Tri-Met picks you up at your front door at an appointed time in the morning, and takes you to the STC. Tri-Met picks you up at the STC in the evening, and delivers you to your front door. What could be easier? It's scandalous!
We need to increase ridership on the shuttle, to show Tri-Met that this is one good solution for suburban areas where bus routes don't work well. All you have to do is call them. The number is available on the Tri-Met website. If you can ride in the morning at one of the times when a shuttle can pick you up, you are in luck. Otherwise, they will put you on a list of people who are waiting for pickup to be available at different times.
This mass transit commute is certainly not as easy or quick as driving, but it's worth it. I've been able to give up my expensive downtown parking spot, the cost of a monthly pass seems to be less than the cost of gas, and I have more time to keep up on the reading I have to do for work. Plus, I've actually met some of my neighbors. And I feel a lot better about myself. And more relaxed.
BUT! There is a resource that every Cedar Mill resident should know about: the Cedar Mill Shuttle. Get this: Tri-Met picks you up at your front door at an appointed time in the morning, and takes you to the STC. Tri-Met picks you up at the STC in the evening, and delivers you to your front door. What could be easier? It's scandalous!
We need to increase ridership on the shuttle, to show Tri-Met that this is one good solution for suburban areas where bus routes don't work well. All you have to do is call them. The number is available on the Tri-Met website. If you can ride in the morning at one of the times when a shuttle can pick you up, you are in luck. Otherwise, they will put you on a list of people who are waiting for pickup to be available at different times.
This mass transit commute is certainly not as easy or quick as driving, but it's worth it. I've been able to give up my expensive downtown parking spot, the cost of a monthly pass seems to be less than the cost of gas, and I have more time to keep up on the reading I have to do for work. Plus, I've actually met some of my neighbors. And I feel a lot better about myself. And more relaxed.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
WashCo Commuter Rail
Curious about the new Washington County commuter rail line? Me too. They describe it here.
I don't know what I would use these trains for. It will be all too interesting to see whether people ride them. The problem is that -- unlike light rail to downtown -- your destination is relatively unlikely to be within walking distance of the station. You can't use park & ride on both ends, unless your employer runs a shuttle!
So the key question is: where are the stations going to be? See here.
Another problem: the trains will run only every 30 minutes, and only during commuter rush hours. We're all counting on everyone that is able to use these trains to commute to work. Because it sounds like few of us will be able to use them for anything!
Suburban mass transit is really tough. To get people to use it, it has to be really frequent. But it's not very frequent, because too few people use it. Smart people have been trying to figure this out for a long time. We HAVE to figure it out.
I don't know what I would use these trains for. It will be all too interesting to see whether people ride them. The problem is that -- unlike light rail to downtown -- your destination is relatively unlikely to be within walking distance of the station. You can't use park & ride on both ends, unless your employer runs a shuttle!
So the key question is: where are the stations going to be? See here.
Another problem: the trains will run only every 30 minutes, and only during commuter rush hours. We're all counting on everyone that is able to use these trains to commute to work. Because it sounds like few of us will be able to use them for anything!
Suburban mass transit is really tough. To get people to use it, it has to be really frequent. But it's not very frequent, because too few people use it. Smart people have been trying to figure this out for a long time. We HAVE to figure it out.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Beaverton Chamber Symphony
There is a Beaverton Chamber Symphony. It seems their season ends this weekend, but there's still time to go catch them if you're into that sort of thing. They're playing Brahms, Rossini, and Glazunov. (Don't ask me about Glazunov - I'm way out of my element here).
Here are the coordinates, because I know you're short on time:
8pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday
Oak Hills Christian Reformed Church
2815 N. W. Forest Avenue
Beaverton, Oregon 97006
Cost: $5 (general), $1 (students & seniors)
This is an amateur symphony. Look at it this way: even if they're really bad, you get to hear a bit of LIVE music, support your local musicians, and maybe even meet some of your neighbors. All for only $5.
Here are the coordinates, because I know you're short on time:
8pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday
Oak Hills Christian Reformed Church
2815 N. W. Forest Avenue
Beaverton, Oregon 97006
Cost: $5 (general), $1 (students & seniors)
This is an amateur symphony. Look at it this way: even if they're really bad, you get to hear a bit of LIVE music, support your local musicians, and maybe even meet some of your neighbors. All for only $5.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Beaverton city hall
The story of the speeding Beaverton police officer is one of those that just cries out for backstory. What are the factions at City Hall? Why is this teensy case getting so much airtime?
And should I be driving more slowly? The officer was going 40 mph in a 30 mph zone! Don't most people?
I'm full of questions today.
And should I be driving more slowly? The officer was going 40 mph in a 30 mph zone! Don't most people?
I'm full of questions today.
Turns out there WAS an issue in play in last Tuesday's Washington County election. If you have kids in the Beaverton schools, you may be interested to know that opponents of the "math curriculum and administration" may have been elected to the school board. The Oregonian story is here.
What's this all about?
What's this all about?
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Monty's
I guess there is nightlife in Beaverton: http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/05/03/friendly-friendly-world-the-big-package-at-montys/. No idea where this place is. Ever been there?
Groceries
Just a quick thought here. You probably know this, but it seems that if you want to buy local and organic in Washington County your choices are limited to the Farmer's markets, New Seasons and Wild Oats. Yes, the other grocery chains are adding to their organic lines, but the named outlets provide more organic choices and also a lot of locally-sourced items.
I don't know of any co-ops or other such things out here.
Thoughts?
I don't know of any co-ops or other such things out here.
Thoughts?
Surprise! Washington County Election May 15!
Who knew we were having an election May 15, until the ballots showed up in the mail a week or two ago? Not me, even though I follow at least four local newspapers plus a local blog or two. Odds are you didn't know about this election either.
Unless you happen to know one of the candidates, the Voter's Pamphlet is probably the only thing you have to go on. (That is, if you care to vote at all. More on that later.)
This is lousy. First, you can't always tell from the Voters Pamphlet if there are controversial issues on which the candidates differ. Second, after eliminating candidates who can't even write a decent statement, you can't tell which candidate has more ability to get things done. For example, an incumbent can usually write a decent statement. But a given incumbent might turn out to be a knave who isn't even on speaking terms with anyone else on the commission. Or a laughing stock. Or whatever. No way to know! Endorsements are only somewhat helpful.
In this day and age, there just has to be a way to inform people about upcoming elections. First of all, the media (TV and print) should be held responsible for reporting them. Second, why not offer a way to get elections information via the Internet?
Everybody pitches and moans about low voter turnout. Well, what do they expect?
Unless you happen to know one of the candidates, the Voter's Pamphlet is probably the only thing you have to go on. (That is, if you care to vote at all. More on that later.)
This is lousy. First, you can't always tell from the Voters Pamphlet if there are controversial issues on which the candidates differ. Second, after eliminating candidates who can't even write a decent statement, you can't tell which candidate has more ability to get things done. For example, an incumbent can usually write a decent statement. But a given incumbent might turn out to be a knave who isn't even on speaking terms with anyone else on the commission. Or a laughing stock. Or whatever. No way to know! Endorsements are only somewhat helpful.
In this day and age, there just has to be a way to inform people about upcoming elections. First of all, the media (TV and print) should be held responsible for reporting them. Second, why not offer a way to get elections information via the Internet?
Everybody pitches and moans about low voter turnout. Well, what do they expect?
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Hazardous Waste in Beaverton
I wondered how many hazardous waste sites there are in Washington County. There is just one, according to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
The former View-Master factory supply well, at 8585 SW Hall Boulevard, is contaminated with a carcinogen called TCE and other toxic substances. This is next to (and/or under) Cascade Plaza, across 217 from Washington Square where Powell's Books is. Supposedly they cleaned up the site, which had contaminated groundwater. I don't know.
Those of a certain age will remember they used to make ViewMaster toys there, which we thought was pretty cool. Well, they used some bad stuff making those toys, and they didn't behave well. It's all detailed here and on Wikipedia. They don't know how this stuff may have affected people who worked at the site, but it seems there's been a lot of cancer.
So that's it. Just a bit of local history, unless someone knows of a continuing story here.
The former View-Master factory supply well, at 8585 SW Hall Boulevard, is contaminated with a carcinogen called TCE and other toxic substances. This is next to (and/or under) Cascade Plaza, across 217 from Washington Square where Powell's Books is. Supposedly they cleaned up the site, which had contaminated groundwater. I don't know.
Those of a certain age will remember they used to make ViewMaster toys there, which we thought was pretty cool. Well, they used some bad stuff making those toys, and they didn't behave well. It's all detailed here and on Wikipedia. They don't know how this stuff may have affected people who worked at the site, but it seems there's been a lot of cancer.
So that's it. Just a bit of local history, unless someone knows of a continuing story here.
Cedar Mill
The place to be in Cedar Mill -- when the Farmer's Market isn't running -- is the library block, on Saltzman just off Cornell. For starters, the Cedar Mill Library is a great community hub. In addition to books, they have tons of CDs and DVDs. And meeting rooms. My favorite area is the entrance, where they sell surplus books, and there are lots and lots of free flyers and magazines so you can see what's up.
Next door is the Village Gallery, which I understand is actually a community of artists. Even if you're a bit of an art snob like me (enough with the pastels and landscapes!) you can find something to like here. It's a nice place for gift shopping.
Next door to that is the Second Edition Resale Shop. This is one of those great little thrift stores where excellent ladies (mostly) volunteer to raise funds -- in this case for the library. They have lots of clothes, and a few shoes, housewares and knick-knacks. Always worth checking out.
Being able to walk or bike to this spot is a saving grace of living in Cedar Mill!
Next door is the Village Gallery, which I understand is actually a community of artists. Even if you're a bit of an art snob like me (enough with the pastels and landscapes!) you can find something to like here. It's a nice place for gift shopping.
Next door to that is the Second Edition Resale Shop. This is one of those great little thrift stores where excellent ladies (mostly) volunteer to raise funds -- in this case for the library. They have lots of clothes, and a few shoes, housewares and knick-knacks. Always worth checking out.
Being able to walk or bike to this spot is a saving grace of living in Cedar Mill!
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