Category: Community

All about Living in Lake Oswego, Oregon

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A Sight Rarely Seen

The water level draw down of the lake is nearly complete and the sight is really something interesting.  This draw down has happened to allow access to the bottom of the lake for installing the new city sewer line.  The lake should be refilled by the time school lets out next June:  in plenty of time for summer fun.  In the mean time, it is just really something to see.

View of the main lake from the Forrest Hills Easement

Lakewood Bay on the East end of the lake

The Cabanas

Looking West from the Northshore Bridge at Lakewood Bay

The Villas

Equipment staging area by the water overflow/main dam

Water is still being pumped out of the lake

Canoes and floating docks sitting on the bottom

Blue Heron Canal

Check out the boat, suspended in its slip

Kelok Bay

The West end of the main lake

West Bay

The main lake at Springbrook Creek

A word of caution:  don’t be tempted to go out and walk on the lake.  The soil is pretty much loose silt.  One person has already had to be rescued:  a construction worker who sank up to his arms.  Take care also with your pets.

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News & Notes

About Town:

  • What would YOU lock in the vault?  That is what the city of Lake Oswego is asking residents.  On 10/10/10 the city will culminate the celebration of its Centennial with the burial of a time capsule.  Submission of ideas are due by 9/30 HERE.
  • The Foothills Dock is now open!  Ribbon cutting is set for… tonight!  9/30 at 5:30PM.
  • Dianne has given you a heads-up regarding the Lake Draw-Down.  The draw-down will be 22 feet according to the city’s site.  We’re warned of increased truck traffic during this time.  Refill will begin in January, 2011 and continue until May.  Here is a link which includes videos & information on what the lake will look like during the draw-down.
  • October 16 marks this year’s “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” event.  If you would like to contribute your time to helping with yard work, tree & shrub removal, trimming and more… or if you need help yourself, please call: 503 635 0257, or visit the site HERE.

Mortgage Updates from Pat Goodell of Academy Mortgage:

  • Fannie, Freddie and FHA have come out with new condo guidelines that are meant to make it easier for condos to be approved, and for buyers to be able to purchase a condo.
  • FHA will be changing the allowable amount sellers can pay for closing costs/pre-paids.  Currently at 6% and will go to 3% — no date set but expected by the first of the year.

Enjoy that summertime weather for the next few days!   It should be great for touring homes on Sunday.  I’ll be holding two of my listings Open in Lake Oswego on Sunday…. come & say hi!  More on that & the rest of the Open Houses for you on Saturday.

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Lakewood Center for the Arts

Lake Oswego is a pretty art-oriented community. About town you will find the Gallery Without Walls, and art appreciation is taught by volunteers in the elementary schools. And then there is the annual Festival of the Arts which draws about 20,000 visitors each year for a full weekend of art and entertainment each June. I think a cornerstone of art in the city is the Lakewood Center for the Arts.

Located in the old Lakewood Elementary School building on State Street, the center houses the Lakewood Theater Company as well as a dance studio, art gallery, music and art classes, the Community Arts Preschool, community meeting rooms, and Re-Runs, a second hand shop that supports upkeep and renovation of the building.

The Lakewood Theater Company puts on 5 shows each season of extremely high quality. The stage was renovated in 2003 to hold 220 people with no seat more than 35 feet from the stage. Currently showing is the classic, Gypsy. Costs run about $30 for a single show or $130-$140 for a 5-show season. The performers are high-quality-local talent, with excellent sets and costumes. The theater has a history of 85-90% sell-out for performances. I have seen numerous performances and can attest to the value of the great entertainment.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2010-2011 season:
9/10-10/17: Sweet Charity
11/5-12/12: The Foreigner
1/14-2/20: The Hollow
3/11-4/17: Lend Me a Tenor
5/6-6/12: The Secret Garden

I have a soft spot for this theatre and a personal story. Back in the late 1970’s, when I was in High School at Lakeridge, I had a good friend who worked in the costume department. One Halloween she got us permission to use theatre costumes to attend a Halloween Party. She and I, along with another friend, were able to go to the party as a Chinese dragon. Talk about making an entrance!

I highly encourage you to support the Lakewood Center. And whether you are able to attend a play or not, if you are in Lake Oswego you are going to benefit from the presence of the Lakewood Center in our community.

This is just another great reason to live in Lake Oswego!

Dianne

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Open Houses and Happy 4th of July

Along with a few open houses, this Sunday will bring us Lake Oswego’s annual 4th of July festivities:

  • 7am to noon, Lake Oswego Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast.  George Roger’s Park. $6 for adults and $4 for children, in includes pancakes, sausage, coffee, orange juice and milk.
  • 1pm, Star Spangled Parade, A Avenue to Millennium Plaza.  Wear your patriotic colors, decorate your wagons, and march in the parade!  Led by an authentic Fife and Drum Band, the parade includes antique cars, veterans, boy scouts, bikes, strollers, pets—you name it.
  • 1pm, boat parade on Lakewood Bay
  • 1:15 to 5pm, Centennial Star Spangled Celebration at Millennium Park, includes presentation of colors, a chicken barbeque (put on by Lake Grove Lions) face painting, Fife and Drum performance, and live music, including Huge Sally and Southern Nights.
  • 9:45, The Annual fireworks Display will be held over Oswego Lake.  Fireworks are shot off from a barge on the lake.  Best viewing is from Lake Grove Swim Park on Lakeview Blvd between Southshore and Summit.  Arrive early to get best viewing and to find parking.  Remember that most roads around the lake are closed or have limited access during the fireworks display, so plan accordingly.

Here are Sunday’s Open Houses, according to the RMLS:

Address List Price Sq Feet BR BATHS Prop Type Open
18222 SIENA DR $1,088,000 3800 6 4 + .5 DETACHD 1 to 3
18209 SIENA DR $1,097,000 3839 5 3 + .5 DETACHD 1 to 3
18246 BELLA TERRA DR $1,194,000 4196 4 3 + .5 DETACHD 1 to 3
18143 SIENA DR $1,197,000 4152 5 4 + .5 DETACHD 1 to 3
1808 RIDGE POINTE DR $1,269,000 4155 5 4 + .5 DETACHD 1 to 3

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

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Lake Oswego’s Poet: William Stafford

Every community looks to find it’s claim to fame and Lake Oswego’s, beside beautiful homes and top-notch schools, can be found in one of its most famous residents, William Stafford.

William Stafford, born in 1914, lived in Lake Oswego from 1957 until his death in 1993. He was a professor of English at Lewis and Clark College and was world renowned as a poet. In 50 years of writing poetry, which he didn’t begin doing until his 40’s, he is estimated to have written 22,000 poems of which 3,000 were published. In 1970 he was named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a position that today would be the equivalent of being the U.S. Poet Laureate. In 1975 he was named the Poet Laureate for the State of Oregon.

You will find tributes to William Stafford throughout Lake Oswego. In the various parks around town you will find inscriptions of his poems, a walkway named after him, and lovely renderings that pay tribute to his creative genius. I am a huge fan of his work. Absolutely one of my favorite places is the William Stafford path in Foothills Park that culminates in the stone circle that bears his work.

Today I want to introduce you to William Stafford and share with you a few of his poems:

Why I Am Happy

Foothills Park, William Stafford Path

Now has come, an easy time. I let it
roll. There is a lake somewhere
so blue and far nobody owns it.
A wind comes by and a willow listens
gracefully.

I hear all this, every summer. I laugh
and cry for every turn of the world,
its terribly cold, innocent spin.
That lake stays blue and free; it goes
on and on.

And I know where it is.

Little Rooms
I rock high in the oak-secure, big branches-
at home while darkness comes. It gets lonely up here
as lights needle forth below, through airy space.
Tinkling dishwashing noises drift up, and a faint
smooth gush of air through leaves, cool evening
moving out over the earth. Our town leans farther
away, and I ride through the arch toward midnight,
holding on, listening, hearing deep roots grow.

There are rooms in a life, apart from others, rich
with whatever happens, a glimpse of moon, a breeze.
You who come years from now to this brief spell
of nothing that was mine: the open, slow passing
of time was a gift going by. I have put my hand out
on the mane of the wind,

William Stafford thoughts

to give it to you.

And, finally, my favorite:
The Way It Is
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

Thanks for letting me share William Stafford with you. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do.
Dianne

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News & Notes

Real Estate Notes:

Tax Credit Extension Update: Well, most expected HR 4213 to pass the Senate, but it was rejected in a test vote on Monday 52 – 45.  This bill would have extended the mandatory closing deadline for real estate closings to September, thereby cutting some slack to the many Buyers, Escrow officers and Lenders who are working their way through the morass… all with the same deadline.  There is a real concern that as next Wednesday approaches, the bottleneck will strangle many of these deals due to sheer volume and limited capacity and resources to finish on time.

As of today, June 24th, the Senate will “continue considering” the bill, and a number of amendments.  This bill also includes other considerations including extending unemployment benefits, and will reportedly add 80 billion to the deficit. This is the reason being given for it’s defeat in the test vote on Monday in it’s then-current form.

Community News:

Community-Wide Garage Sale! Get ready to say goodbye to those items you no longer need in your home.  To someone else they will be a “find”!  Register your sale and your location will be mapped with your sale items listed.  Free to Lake Oswego citizens, and Free publicity to boot!    The event is July 10th from 8AM till 3PM.  You have until June 28th to register. Click Here

The Sensitive Lands debate has been quite high profile for some time now, with citizens very concerned on all sides of the issue… concerned with how properties will be affected; concerned about how the natural landscape will be affected; concerned about how local government is handling an issue so important to citizens and the environment alike.   The Second Look Task Force is completing their review of the environmental and regulatory purposes, and providing recommendations for changes that increase flexibility & clarity, and maintain the community’;s committment to the natural environment.  If you’d like to know how you can provide input, Click Here.  (All meetings except for July 10th will be televised live beginning at 6:30 PM on TVCTV Channel 23 or 28.)

Herbicides on Lake Front: From July 21 – 25 aquatic herbicides will be applied to shorelines along the main lake and Blue Heron Canal.  For more information call Casey Deck at 503 636 1422.

Take A Free Tour! Have you been wanting to learn more about all of those sculptures & works of art you see around town?  You can enjoy a walk with a Docent who will show you many of them in Lake Oswego’s “Gallery Without Walls”.  Learn what the artist was thinking and how the piece was crafted. Tours are scheduled for June 25, 26, and 27 from 11AM till noon and 3PM till 4PM.  No reservations are required.  Proceed to the front of St. Honore Bakery at 315 1st St. next to Millenium Park Plaza.  For more information call 503 675 3738.

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Our Own University: Marylhurst

Technically, Marylhurst University is located in Marylhurst, Oregon:  until a few minutes ago I had never heard of such a town! Actually, Marylhurst University is sandwiched exactly between Lake Oswego and West Linn on the banks of the Willamette River.  Founded in 1893 by the Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the West.  Originally a school for girls, it became co-ed in 1974 and was officially incorporated as an entity separate from the Sisters of Holy Names in 1959.  As a school, it has continued to grow and to gain respect.  In 2003 it was ranked by US News and World Report as a “Best Value”

Today the University offers a traditional classroom curriculum as well as on-line education.  Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees are offered in Art, Interior Design, Business, Communications, English and Writing, Religious Studies, Music, Real Estate, and Science.  Master’s Degrees are offered in Education, Business, Sustainable Business, and Interdisciplinary Studies.  So right here, in the backyard of our town, you can pursue higher education and on-going education.  I see this as a real asset to our community.  It makes education easier to obtain when it is nearby, and for our town, it adds many benefits.

Mary’s Woods
Along with the University, there is a retirement community known as Mary’s Woods. Offering all levels of assistance from independent living to extensive care, this retirement community is well regarded. And being attached to the University, it offers many opportunities for retired folks who want to take classes and to remain active.

The Christie School
The Christie School was founded in 1953 and is Oregon’s oldest and largest residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children. The program serves the needs of about 80 kids at any given time. It helps children 8-18 years of age who are coping with any number of needs from depression issues to over-coming abuse. It’s roots go back to the original school, St. Mary’s Home for Girls, which was founded to house and to educate orphaned and abandoned girls.

And then there was the battle with the KKK
One of the more interesting bits of trivia surrounding Maryhurst was the landmark court case known as “Pierce v. Society of Sisters” from 1925. Back in the 1920’s the KKK was pretty strong in Oregon and had a good deal of influence in Oregon politics, including with the Governor of the State, Walter Pierce. The KKK, in concert with the Oregon Scottish Rite Masons, wanted to make public education mandatory, thereby ending access to private education. The Sisters boycotted businesses that supported the KKK and challenged the KKK in court. The 1925 case, decided unanimously by the United States Supreme Court, ruled in favor of the Sisters. The court case ruled that while states may compel attendance at some school, the parents have the constitutional right to choose between public and private schools. The ruling was a legal precedent for our country that has effected court rulings across the United States ever since.

Marylhurst is just one more reason I like living in Lake Oswego. It is a wonderful resource, on so many levels.

Yours,
Dianne

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News & Notes

The City of Lake Oswego is mourning the unexpected passing of it’s beloved Police Chief, Dan Duncan. There will be a memorial service June 4th, 1:00PM at the Rolling Hills Community Church.  Flags in the city will be at half-mast from now until that date.  His family has set up a Memorial Site with photos and information. Well-wishers may leave messages there for them.

The Willamette Shore Trolley is up & running! This has been one of my favorite things to do with visitors to Lake Oswego for many, many years.  I have photos of beloved family members and I enjoying the ride to & from Portland that I will always cherish.  Make your own memories as the train winds along the waterfront & through the trees & neighborhoods that line this historic passage between the two cities.  This route is also the one being considered for a possible streetcar!   For a schedule of times & fares call 503 697 7436, or visit the Website.

The latest Market Activity Report for Portland Metro produced by RMLS shows the following data:

  • Comparing April 2010 with April 2009:  Closed Sales increased 49.1%, and Pending Sales rose 60.8% with New Listings going up by 23.8%
  • When comparing April 2010 with March 2010, the average sale price rose just 0.6%
  • Comparing January – April 2010 with the same period in 2009, Closed Sales increased 41.4%, with Pending Sales rising by 46.3% and New Listings by 15.4%
  • April’s Total Market Time for Portland Metro was: 127 days
  • Lake Oswego and West Linn’s Total Market Time was: 147 days
  • Lake Oswego and West Linn’s Average Sales Price (RMLS lumps the two areas together) was $502,800.
  • Lake Oswego and West Linn posted 101 Closed Sales in April with 1066 Active Listings
  • Lake Oswego and West Linn saw a 113.8% increase in Pending Sales April 2010 compared to April 2009
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News & Notes

Real Estate News ~

Have a wood stove?  Planning to buy or sell a home with one? Note that beginning August 1st, 2010, in an effort to control emissions from smoke, when selling a home you will be required to remove the wood stove if it is “uncertified” by the DEQ.  Here is a link for more information: Woodstoves in Oregon

Greece and Mortgage Rates – MBS Quoteline reports: ” Despite stronger than expected economic data, the financial situation in Greece held the greatest influence on mortgage rates this week. A flight to quality and prospects of slower economic growth in Europe were favorable for mortgage markets and negative for the stock market, and mortgage rates ended the week lower.”

Current Mortgage Rates and Mortgage Insurance Updates – According to Pat Goodell of Academy Mortgage:

  • “Some of the Mortgage Insurance companies have gone to tiered pricing based on credit scores which is good news to those with good credit scores.  Mortgage insurance companies also will now allow “up front mortgage insurance” (in lieu of monthly mortgage insurance) to be paid by the seller.  The potential advantage of this is that the seller can pay the up front mortgage insurance as part of any allowable closing costs that a buyer might negotiate for a seller to pay.  Then the buyer has no mortgage insurance premium to pay as part of their mortgage – this may or may not be an advantage to the buyer depending on their situation; but it does help for qualifying by reducing their monthly mortgage payment.  There are qualifying parameters for this option and the lender also has to approve this option as well.”
  • “Interest rates are holding steady now with the 30-yr fixed still hovering around 5% — 30-yr fixed today is actually available at 4.875% with 0 pts, depending on the buyer’s qualifications.”

    • Community Notes ~

    Farmers Market opens this Saturday, May 15th in Lake Oswego. (yay!)  This is the 10th Anniversary Celebration.  You can find the food  & fun at Millennium Plaza Park from 8:30AM – 1:30PM on Saturdays through October 9th.   Local musical group, Southern Nights, will perform from 10:30AM till 12:30PM at the kickoff, and the Bike Gallery will be there to check your kids’ helmets!

    May is Sustainability Action Month. Take advantage of these local events:

    • Free screening of the film Deep Green with local film-maker Matt Briggs. This is an insightful look at “uncovering the best people with the best solutions for “de-carbonizing energy and restoring the natural world.” It will be held Saturday evening, May 15th at 7:30Pm at the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, 4040 Sunset Drive.  Bring your family and friends!
    • Get a good look at Lake Oswego’s Century Trees on the Century Tree Bike Ride, May 22nd.  The bike ride is hosted by the Planning Dept.’s Green Team, and more information can be had by contacting Laura Weigel at Lweigel@ci.oswego.or.us .

    Lake Oswego’s city council created the Sustainability Action Board (SAB) in 2008. For more information on sustainability, visit: The Sustainability Resource Page

    To Move or Not To Move / Lifestyle Options for Older Adults , an educational program for seniors and their families is designed to give information on housing options and resources in Lake Oswego.  You are invited to attend on May 16th, from 2:00PM to 5:00Pm at the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, 505 G Avenue.

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    Secrets of Lake Oswego’s Famous Flower Baskets

    There are several things that Lake Oswego is famous for: the Lake, beautiful homes, great schools, and the glorious flower baskets. The baskets have been hung annually on the main streets of town for many years. They are spectacular with both great size and great color. As someone who loves flowers and working in my garden, I’ve wondered how they do it. What are the secrets that make the LO baskets thrive? They start out pretty and of good size, but by summer’s end they hang about 6 feet down and are a profusion of color that is just amazing. Last Saturday I attended a class put on by the City Park’s and Recreation Department where I learned how they do it. So here it is: the secrets of Lake Oswego’s famous flower baskets.

    Start with a 12 inch hanging pot that is nearly as deep as it is wide. The city uses 16 inch pots, but those are much too large for the scale of most homes. 10 inch pots can also be used, but they require watering twice daily, whereas the 12 inch pot can get by on once daily watering. Also recommended is a pot with a straight side. This allows as much soil and water as possible for root development. These instructions are for a 12 inch pot. If you use one that is either larger or smaller, please make your own adjustments.

    Fill the pot about half full of soil. The recommended soil is NW Best Soil Potting Mix. This is what is used by the City. It is the choice because it contains “Sirfactin” which allows the walls of soil to expand so water doesn’t run around the planting mix and out the bottom of the container. To this soil, mix in about 1/4 cup of Plant-Tone, a fertilizer to get the plants off to a good start.

    Before adding any more soil, remember the planter is only about half full, place 7, 4-inch plant starts. If they are in plastic containers, pull them out. If they are in the kind that are made of compost you can just set them into the planter in the container and the container will decompose as the roots develop. Think about putting a plant that will grow tall in the center such as a geranium. Then place the other 6 plants around the perimeter that will hang as they spread and grow. Think about having a variety of colors and textures. The planters made for the city are designed to be hung in full sun. You can design your own flowers based upon where you intend to hang your planter. Using a 12 inch planter and 4 inch plants you will find that this really packs the pot completely full of plants. The 7th one has to be pretty much squeezed into the planter. This will leave just a few areas between the edges of the plants that need to be filled with dirt. Find those spots and gently fill dirt in around the plants. When you are done the level of the top of the dirt should be about one inch below the rim of the pot. (It’s a good idea when testing the first plant you put into the container to eye-ball the level and see if you need to fill your planter more than half full when you add the initial soil).

    Water immediately and really let the water run. The planter needs to be watered DAILY, even on days that have rain. Rain will not be enough to thoroughly saturate the soil. It is not possible to over-water this planter. Yes, you really have to water it every single day. When you water, let the water gently run and then keep the water going. Count to 50, sing a short song, whatever you can do to force yourself to stand at the planter and thoroughly water the planter.  Do it every single day and on those days with really extreme heat, do it TWICE.

    Once a week fertilize with Proven Winners. This is a fertilizer that is widely sold in the area. You mix it into a big gallon watering can with water and poor it into the planter. It has a balance of fertilizers that is 24-12-17. It contains 15 nutrients, not just nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but trace elements as well.

    When you hang your planter remember a couple of things. This planter is going to get very large. This means that it will be very heavy so make certain that it is on a hook that will hold the growing weight. Also hang it where it has room to grow. By the end of the season it will hang 4 to 6 feet long. It will be a total show piece in your garden.

    If you have questions or need help, or want to buy any and all of the materials listed above, the place to go is The Garden Corner in Tualatin. Located at 21550 SW 108th Ave in Tualatin, this garden center has been the birthplace of the LO hanging baskets for many years. They are proud of their participation in the LO hanging basket program and are happy to be of help to you when you grow a basket of your very own.

    I’ve got my basket hanging at my home. I am eager to see just how big it is going to get. Let me know if you do one too. Maybe we can share some photos in September!

    Remember, gardening is great therapy for your soul.
    Dianne