For those who have thought of Pringling

They're trying to figure out why sales are dead. Respond to mckenzie@pringlecreek.com if you like. If you've looked at Pringle Creek and want to comment here, that's also welcome.

Thank you for your previous interest in Pringle Creek Community.

We were hoping that you would assist us by sharing some of your thoughts and opinions about the community.

Below are a few questions that specifically interest us:

- Have you visited Pringle Creek Community before? If so, what were your first impressions?
- What do you like / dislike about the community?
- Are you still considering becoming a part of the community?
- What has prevented you from becoming part of the Pringle Creek Community to date?
- What would need to happen for you to consider building a home a Pringle Creek Community (e.g. new pricing, change in the economy, view a model home, have a built home to purchase, etc)?

If you would like to discuss your thoughts over the phone please do not hesitate to contact me at 503.400.1322.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful response. Your opinion is extremely valuable to Pringle Creek Community.

Sincerely,
Mckenzie Farrell
Pringle Creek Community
T: 503.400.1322
E: mckenzie@pringlecreek.com

Salem, Oregon Stimulus Watch

How many of these "shovel ready" projects (gag, the new jargon) reflect the new reality of scarce energy, rising energy prices, and the need to radically reduce greenhouse emissions?

A Worthy Cause

Salem has a group, Friends of Two Bridges, working on an important issue: finishing up the Union Street ped/bike bridge and getting a ped/bike connection from Riverfront Park to Minto Island. They have a web presence now, so check 'em out and help out if you can.

How to Contribute:

You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Salem Parks Foundation, P.O. box 5764, Salem, OR 97304 and put a note on there earmarking your gift for Friends of Two Bridges.

OR, even easier:

Got an American Express card? You can sign up to use Giving Express to make one-time or monthly contributions using your AMEX card, so you don't have to write a check or find a stamp. There are over 1,000,000 nonprofits working on a plethora of issues registered with Giving Express. The Salem Parks Foundation is listed -- in fact, it took less than two minutes to find the listing for Salem Parks Foundation and to give a $5 monthly gift earmarked for Friends of Two Bridges via Giving Express.

(Note that plenty of other worthy Salem area nonprofits are listed there too -- so check it out.)

Speaking of electric bikes

Click on image for larger version

New Washing Machine design top-rated for energy efficiency

And now, a brief commercial message

An ad on Salem Craigslist for an eGO electric commuter/errand/RV bike offered here in Salem.

A great idea in Salem

Representatives Read and Bailey Kickoff Energy Efficiency Plan - February 18th

On Wednesday, February 18th, Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) and Rep. Jules Bailey (D-Portland) will kick off their energy efficiency plan, the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act, which will help homeowners and small businesses make energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades.

They will be joined by Rep. Chris Edwards (D-Eugene), Rep. Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act of 2009 (EEAST) is a bipartisan effort to foster large-scale energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades in existing homes and buildings. The plan would help meet Oregon's energy challenges while creating jobs.

February 18, 2009
11:30 AM
Capitol Press Room, #43, Salem

rep.juleskopelbailey@state.or.us, 503-986-1442
rep.tobiasread@state.or.us, 503-986-1427

What do you want from your transit system?

A very important series of meetings coming up -- your chance to tell the Cherriots Board what you want from the system. Attend one, several, many, or all of them, and share your ideas and perspectives on how the Cherriots Board should deal with the defeat of its second operating levy in a row.

TOWN HALL MEETINGS on:
Redesigning Bus Service/What Does the Community Want

• Feb 19 Thu 6:30 – 8:30 PMWest Salem Roth’s (1130 Wallace Rd NW)
• Feb 25 Wed 6:30 – 8:30 PM Marion County Fire Station (300 Cordon Rd)
• Mar 2 Mon 6:30 – 8:30 PM Leslie Middle School (3850 Pringle Rd SE)
• Mar 3 Tue 6:30 – 8:30 PM McNary High School – Cafeteria (595 Chemawa Rd N) note that this meeting will also discuss Keizer Transit Center Planning.

Next after that is a series of meetings for the public to
OPEN HOUSE – Review Service Proposals/Voice Your Preference

• Apr 27 Mon 6:30 – 8:30 PM South Salem High School (1910 Church St SE)
• Apr 28 Tue 6:30 – 8:30 PM Marion County Fire Station (300 Cordon Rd)
• Apr 30 Thu 6:30 – 8:30 PM West Salem Roth’s (1130 Wallace Rd NW)
• May 7 Thu 6:30 – 8:30 PM Keizer Fire Station (661 Chemawa Rd N)
  

There are also a number of regular Cherriots Board/Committee meetings that are always open to the public. These meetings are all at the county office building next to the Court Street Transit Center, where Cherriots HQ is located:

• Regular Cherriots Board meeting is on Thursday, Feb 26, Meeting starts with a work session at 5:30, with the regular board meeting (and opportunities for public comment) at 6:30 PM (Senator meeting room, first floor).
  

• The Cherriots Planning & Operations Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, Mar 3 at 1:30 PM, 5th Floor (Cherriots Admin Office – Large Conference Rm).

• Mar 12, Thu, (Both meetings in 5th Floor Conference Rm)
  2:30 PM/Specialized Transportation Subcommittee
  4:00 PM/Finance, Admin & Marketing Subcommittee
  

• Mar 26, Thu (Both meetings in Senator Hearing Room, first floor).
  5:30 PM/Board Work Session
  6:30 PM/SAMTD Board of Directors Meeting
  
  
• Apr 2, Thu (Time TBA)/Budget Committee Training Session (5th Floor Conf. Rm).

• April 7, Tue (5th Floor Conference Room) 1:30 PM/Planning & Operations Subcommittee

• Apr 9, Thu (both in 5th Floor Conference Rm)
  2:30 PM/Specialized Transportation Subcommittee
  4:00 PM/Finance, Admin & Marketing Subcommittee
  

• Apr 9, Thu, Time TBA/Budget Committee Orientation (Senator Hearing Room)
  

• Apr 14, Tue, 6:00 PM/Budget Committee Meeting (Senator Hearing Room)

And if you want to run for the Cherriots Board, here are some dates you should be aware of:

• Mar 19, Thu, 5:00 PM, Filing deadline for District Candidates
  

• Mar 23, Mon, 5:00 PM, Deadline for submitting Candidate Statements for inclusion in county voters' pamphlet
  

You probably need to contact the County Elections Office for information on which districts are up for election and how to proceed if you want to run.

Salem Sustainability Calendar, back half of February 2009

There's a lot of sustainability events in these next few weeks that merit your attention and participation. Please come out and help out in as many of these as you can, starting with

==> Tonight, 2/16, Marion-Polk Food Share's Community Garden planning meeting, details here.

==> Tomorrow, 2/17, Salem City Council will consider a plan to expand bicycle access in the Salem City core by permitting bikes on sidewalks:

One change would allow bike riders to ride on the sidewalk in an area bounded by Front, Cottage Union and Trade streets. The change would give bicyclists easier access between Salem City Center and Riverfront Park.

The second change would allow bicyclists, skateboarders and roller skaters to ride on designated Salem Civic Center property, making it easier to connect between Liberty and Commercial streets NE on the south side of Mirror Pond.

Salem City Council meetings are open to the public. The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at the Vern Miller Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE.

==> Wednesday, 2/18, City of Salem Town Hall meeting to discuss the giant budget hole we're in and hear citizen priorities, North Salem High School, 6 - 8 p.m. You can be sure that plenty of people will be out to argue for continuing business-as-usual priorities, which would only worsen our situation in terms of adopting to the new reality. Come out and speak up for investments in sustainability.

==> Monday, 2/23, C.I.T.Y. (Chickens in the Yard) presentation during public comment period at the Salem City Council meeting (at City Hall, 555 Liberty St. SE). The agenda won't isn't released until the Friday before, so it's hard to say exactly when the public comment period will start; it might be as later than 8, but we still need as many people as possible to come to City Hall and show the council that people are determined to get the city to quit harassing people who want to keep a few laying hens (instead of, for example, pit bulls or loud barking dogs or pot belly pigs). Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at the Vern Miller Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE.

==> Wednesday, 2/25, Salem Transition Initiative for Relocalization (STIR) -- meets at 7 p.m. at the Straub Environmental Learning Center (take A St. off 14th; SELC is right next to Olinger Pool, just south of North High; you can also get there via the pedestrian bridge over the creek that connects the High School to the pedestrian path along 12th St.)

==> Friday, 2/27, Oregon League of Conservation Voters Marion County Chapter invites you to Grand Vines (Corner of Court and High Streets) to hear from Cherriots Board member Lloyd Chapman about efforts to generate support for multi-modal transportation in Salem. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Salem-Keizer transportation, how the recent service cuts effect Marion County and what you can do to as a transit supporter.

==> Saturday, 2/28, Terra Gardens on Cordon (just north of State) is offering a free talk on caring for fruit trees from 10 a.m. to noon.

Word to the Wise

Click on poster to link to a sobering, important talk about why the poster is so vital.