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Making Tracks
The Newsletter of the Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Joyfully Connecting our Community with the Wonder of the Refuge
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Photo credit: Richard Scheideman | |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
September Board of Directors Meeting
September 19, 2024 2:00 PM
Riparian Room 19255 SW Pacific HWY
Puddle Stompers
September 11, 2024 10:00 AM
Tualatin River NWR
Friends Annual Member Meeting
October 19, 2024
Save the date
More details to come!
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President's Perch
by Cheryl Hart
Board President
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Cheryl is off exploring different parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
We miss you, Cheryl!
-Cheryl
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Focus on Friends
by Bonnie Anderson
Executive Director
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This past Monday I attended US Senator Merkley's Washington County Town Hall. The event was held at the Sherwood Middle School and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas was also invited to speak. Both the Senator and the Congresswoman have spent time at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and Cheryl and I have met several times with them and their staff representatives. We advocate for increased spending on our public lands, especially the National Wildlife Refuge System and in particular Tualatin River NWRC. The National Refuge System faces ever shrinking budgets and USFWS staffing shortfalls while the responsibilities for caring and managing these public lands increases annually. Tualatin River NWRC is a refuge complex in dire need. Shrinking budgets are threatening our beloved space and I encourage all of you to contact your Congressional representatives and let them know how much our refuge complex means to you. | |
OREGON CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
| On a more uplifting note... I was delighted to see that we are the featured "treasure" of Washington County in the Senator's promotional handout Oregon Treasures 2024 Guidebook! | |
The Friends will continue to do everything that we can to advocate for increased funding, filling vacant positions at the Complex, and increasing community awareness of these amazing public lands. Your support of the Friends allows us to do just that.
See ya on the trails,
Bonnie
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Friends Help Cool Things Off
Our Visitor Center and Nature Store were closed for part of July due to a nonfunctioning A/C unit. The Friends of the Refuge were able to step up and help pay for a portion of the repair bill so that the building could be reopened to the public. Friends were able to provide just over $2,000 towards the repair bill.
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The Friends Amazon Wishlist
Looking for a fast and easy way to help the Friends? Our new Amazon Wishlist will take you right to a list of much needed items for the Friends office, special events, public programs and volunteer work parties. Check back often, as we will update our list on a regular bases. All items are shipped directly to the Friends office at the Refuge. Thank you for your support!
Click on the QR code below to get to the Friends Amazon Wishlist.
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Image: A photo of Jorge & Fernando Gutierrez at the August Lam Research Wellness Fair | |
A Special Thank You to Our Green Jobs Summer Interns
The Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge are thrilled to recognize the outstanding work of Jorge & Fernando Gutierrez, our Green Jobs Interns. The brothers joined our team at the end of June through a Metro grant received by Tualatin Riverkeepers. This is the second year the Friends have had the opportunity to host interns.
Jorge & Fernando have been invaluable assets to our team. They have participated in a variety of activities, including:
- Interpretive Tabling: They have represented the Friends at numerous events, including the Lam Research Wellness Fair, Wapato Showdown, and the Brews for the Birds - educating the public about the refuge and its importance.
- Amphibian Surveys: They have assisted with surveys to monitor amphibian populations on the refuge.
- Soil Sampling: They have helped collect soil samples to assess the health of the refuge's ecosystems.
- Restoration Work Parties: They have been active participants in our 2nd Saturday Restoration Work Parties, helping to restore habitat and improve the overall health of the refuge.
We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of Jorge & Fernando. Their contributions have made a significant impact on our efforts to protect and preserve the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.
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Brews for the Birds Music & Beer Festival a Smashing Success!
A big thank you to everyone who came out and made the Brews for the Birds Music & Beer Festival a success! The combination of talented local musicians and fantastic craft beers created an unforgettable atmosphere.
While the weather was a bit warmer than ideal, it didn't dampen the spirits of our attendees. We're especially grateful to The Dudes for their generous donation of time and talent. Their performance on Friday set the perfect tone for the festival and served as a fantastic warm-up for the legendary Lloyd Jones Struggle.
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Saturday saw slightly cooler weather and the reggae vibes of JaSkaMon were a perfect combination. Filthy Skillets made a triumphant return to the festival stage with their Bluegrass rhythms and the zydeco sounds of Swamp Thang ended the festival on a high note! A special Thank you to George & Mike Burnett for their sponsorship of the Lloyd Jones Struggle and to Michael & Sharon Boreing for sponsoring JaSkaMon. | |
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Our sincere appreciation goes out to everyone who braved the unusual warmth and joined us for Brews for the Birds at Langer's. We are equally grateful for Maletis Beverage's generosity in donating Brews and our sponsors, Blue Water Wealth, Camp Bow Wow of Sherwood, Clean Water Services, Branch Point Distillery, Spence Johnston of Edward Jones Portland, CORFA, Rotary Club of Sherwood, and Langer's Entertainment, whose support made this event possible. A special thank you to all of our wonderful vendors and exhibitors that made the festival so attractive with their booths. Each vendor made a generous donation to the Friends raffle prizes that generated $1,460.
Thank you again to all who attended and made the festival a memorable experience.
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Thank you to our Sponsors and to Langer's Entertainment | |
We are a woman-owned, women-led team of activist asset managers and financial planners. We’re carving a new path to what’s possible in the financial industry. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm, we have a fiduciary obligation to always act in the best interest of our clients. Our approach seeks to create more opportunities to generate wealth in ways that align with values for a better world and supports prosperity for all. | |  |
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Your dog deserves the best– they deserve the premier, all-inclusive services of Camp Bow Wow. Here, your pup can romp and play all day long, socializing with other dogs and humans. It’s no wonder pups pull their parents to our front door every time they come to Camp!
Some of the many benefits your dog can experience at Camp include:
- Day Camp included in overnight stays
- All-day play in indoor and outdoor play yards
- Individual cozy cabin and nightly Campfire Treat for Overnight Campers
- No charge for medication administration and other special requests
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2024 Brews for the Birds
Photo credit Spencer Wymetalek, Izzy Sigrist, & Bonnie Anderson
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Thank you to everyone that was able to make it our to the Sherwood Robinhood Festival Parade.
The parade is an important community event and a great way to connect the refuge, the Friends, and the Brews for the Birds Festival.
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Nature Walks on the Refuge with Ran
We're excited to announce that Ran Hammock, a dedicated volunteer and trained Refuge naturalist, has begun offering guided nature walks to the community! Ran is passionate about sharing his knowledge of native plants, wildlife, and the restoration efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, and our partners.
These guided walks are perfect for anyone interested in learning more about the natural world and exploring the beauty of the refuge. Ran will be organizing groups of 10 people for each walk, providing a personalized experience. More details to come on how to sign up for a walk.
Thank you Ran!
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Blue Bags Are Back In Stock- Pick Up In The Visitor Center
Blue Bags can be picked up in the Refuge Headquarters Monday- Friday 9AM- 4 PM- while the Visitor Center is closed due to the non functioning A/C
We Have Raised $1,196.25 towards our Annual Goal of $2,000.00 Last year we raised $1,783.90
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An important notice from Oregon Bottle Drop about donations for the Friends program. Here's the key takeaway:
- Donations must be placed in the blue bags provided by the Friends, not in trash bags with a Friends' sticker.
- Remove any unrelated items (including trash) from the blue bag before drop-off to ensure your donation is counted.
By following these guidelines, you can help ensure the success of the Friends program and Oregon Bottle Drop's participation in it.
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Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a Blue Bottle Drop Bag! Donate your cans and bottles to the Friends!
1. Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up Blue Bottle Drop Bags
2. Fill the bags up with cans- (only fill halfway if donating glass)
3. Drop off at your nearest Donation site
4. No need to wait in line- there is a drop off door just for you!
If you have your own Bottle Drop account you can also donate directly to The Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge from your account.
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Photo credit: Francene Grewe | |
Calling All Photographers
By Phyllis Millan
Let’s share the beauty of TRNWR and other wild places through your pictures. Submit via email to
FriendsPhoto@FriendsOfTualatinRefuge.org
Include your name, where the picture was taken, and any pertinent information.
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The Friends are dedicated to the restoration of this special place and providing outreach to the community so that they too can enjoy and protect Tualatin River NWRC. Please consider making an online donation online donation here, so we can continue to provide these opportunities.
Bonnie
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This Week at Interior | August 9, 2024
Secretary Haaland and Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis host a celebration of the 4th anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act; Interior announces the distribution of $325 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia; $46.7 million in funding through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program will help redevelop or create 10 local parks in 9 states; Interior announces nearly $7 million through the Indian Youth Service Corps for Indigenous-led conservation projects; a nearly $105 million investment is on the way for 67 water conservation and efficiency projects that will enhance drought resilience across the nation; an awards ceremony this week highlights the achievements of women law enforcement officers from across the federal government.
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Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
19255 SW Pacific Hwy Sherwood, Oregon 97140
503.625.5944 x 15227
www.FriendsofTualatinRefuge.org
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