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This has been a very busy rolling-into-summer time for Friends. On May 22, we celebrated the
life of our former volunteer store manager, Sharon Miller. There was a big turnout with lots of
remembrances and stories told. Sharon’s sister and nephew were able to join us too which
made the event even more special and meaningful. I still expect to see her face when I walk into
the Visitor Center.
We are commissioning a bench to replace the bench in front of the viewing window in the store.
Virginia Parks, our Store Committee Secretary and an artist, is coming up with a design and
Friends Board Member Phyllis Millan has found a craftsman who will turn Virginia’s ideas into a
lasting memorial to Sharon. It is appropriate that the bench, when completed, will take its place
in the store where she donated so much of her time. If you would like to contribute to this
project in Sharon’s memory, please go to
https://www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org/sys/website/?pageId=1863716
and select the third
option to dedicate your donation to Sharon’s memorial. Thank you!
A few days later, we were honored by a visit by Oregon’s 6th
Congressional District
Congresswoman Andrea Salinas and two of her aides: Erin Chen, Field Aide for Washington
County and Wilsonville and Alexander O’Keefe, Federal Grants Aide. Representing FWS and the
refuge were Eva Kristofik, Deputy Refuge Manager and Natalie Balkam, Visitor Services Ranger.
They were joined by Friends representatives Alan Christensen, Friends Advocacy Chair, Rod
Roberson, one of the refuge’s volunteer naturalists and me, Cheryl Hart, Friends President.
We took the Congresswoman and her Aides on the Seasonal Trail which gave us a great
opportunity to explain the work that has been done, and Friends role in acquiring funding and
volunteers to help to restore that habitat from the dairy farm that it once was. The
Congresswoman lives nearby so comes to the refuge often, but this is the first time she has had
an “official” tour with this knowledgeable group.
Most of the wildlife performed flawlessly during our walk with a Bald Eagle soaring overhead,
Red-Winged Black Birds flitting through the tall grass, of course, a Great Blue Heron perched on
the in-stream logs searching for dinner and numerous Mama ducks and geese and their off-
spring enjoying an afternoon paddle. The turtles were no-shows and have been appropriately
reprimanded for their failure to perform. Apparently, they were just a little slow in arriving.
Unfortunately, the Congresswoman didn’t have enough time to visit Wapato Lake NWR at this
time so, at the conclusion of our walk, we gathered in the Headquarters Conference Room
where Eva, Natalie, and Alan were able to provide some information about that refuge and the
work we are doing there. We will have an opportunity to take Erin and Alexander to Wapato
Lake NWR later this summer.
The Congresswoman is passionate about her love of the refuge and her support of Public Lands
and the Federal Employees who work here. She and her aides have been attentive and
responsive to our needs when we reach out to them with concerns.
It is officially summer. We’ve had our first heatwave and schools are letting out. Be sure to put
Brews for the Birds on your calendar Friday afternoon and evening August 1 and all-day
Saturday, August 2 at Langer’s Family Entertainment here in Sherwood. Great family fun with
music, beverages and exhibitors. Food will be available from Langer's. We hope to see all of you
there!
Cheryl
Cheryl
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