Beyond Binkies, Code and Make-Believe

Molalla Elementary Family In the Midst of Tragedy

This morning my Girl Scout forum was buzzing.  A mom member of a local Girl Scout troop in the Portland, Oregon, Moalla Elementary School area was killed in a car accident. Her son was with her and in critical condition and may not walk again, if he recovers.  She has left behind 5 children and a husband who has been laid off for some time.  This is tragic and they need help with so many things right now.

If there is any way you can donate to her memorial fund I know her family would really appreciate it, in this very sad time of need. The memorial fund is set up at US Bank under the Melynda Munoz Memorial Fund Acct# 153663250709.  Feel free to call your local US Bank to verify the validity of this fund.  The troops and children are rallying around to pull together financial and emotional support for the Munoz family.

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/12/crash_victim_identified_as_30-.html

 

Memorial Day Remembrance of Those Who Died for Freedom

Monday in America is Memorial Day. Join us in laying a wreath at the grave of a soldier who died for our freedom and the freedom of so many around the world. As our tradition on Memorial Day continues, we bring you the names of ten soldiers who have been awarded the Medal of Honor...posthumously.

1. Albert E. Baesel, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Sept. 27, 1918, France.
2. Marcellus H. Chiles, Captain, U.S. Army, Nov. 3, 1918, France.
3. George Dilboy, PFC, U.S. Army, July 18, 1918, France.
4. Harold Christ Agerholm, PFC, U.S. Marine Corps, July 7, 1944, Saipan.
5. Francis C. Flaherty, Ensign, U.S. Navy, Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor.
6. Ted T. Tanouye, Sergeant, U.S. Army, July 7, 1944, Molino A Ventoabbto, Italy.
7. Harold Gonsalves, Private, U.S. Marine Corps, April 14, 1945, Okinawa.
8. Gary I. Gordon, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, October 3, 1993, Somalia.
9. Randall D. Shughart, Sergeant, U.S. Army, October 3, 1993, Somalia.
10. Herbert Joseph Thomas, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Nov. 7, 1943, Solomon Islands.

There are many...too many...more brave soldiers we can remember this Memorial Day. Between the gulps of burgers and the soda and the beer, may we encourage all of us to remember why it is a holiday, and to remember for whom it is meant to celebrate.

Fly your flag at full staff all weekend until Monday morning.

At 6 a.m. Monday morning (Memorial Day), slowly lower your flag to half staff.

At noon Monday, hoist your flag to full staff for the remainder of the day.

Source (and for complete citations of all MOH recipients): www.history.army.mil/moh.html

Portland, I'm all for public transportion, until it gets in the way.

Today I have a big charity event. I've taken 2 CAR loads to the event to prepare - CAR loads of stuff that could not be carried on a MAX train. The event t-shirts had to be dropped of BY CAR for me to take BY CAR to the event because the co-chair could not take them with her on the MAX.

The co-chair of the event is into being green, public transportation, etc. Good for her!  She's doing her part.  She just called. She'll be 1/2 hour late to set up because her MAX train was decommissioned because someone barfed on it.  She is relying on the people with the CAR to get there on time to start the event set up on time. 

It's idealistic to think, that a greener transportation world will be the answer for all of us. Portland has to face facts that it is not practical to expect everyone to be dependent upon an unreliable system of schedules when one person barfing can throw it off so quickly.  What about parents needing to get to their children in an emergency?  It won't work.  Face the facts, Portland, you need to widen the roads, quit closing off-ramps. The need for cars won't go away. We won't bike to events hauling trailers of the supplies, we won't bike to meetings or rely on MAX to meet our schedule to close the deal.  It's not realistic. It's a great alternative for those who have lost their licenses, can no longer afford cars and insurance due to the unemployment rate.  But this is not our end all transportation solution until we all have big video screens to project ourselves into meeting rooms.

Are you listening, Sam Adams? I'm sure you'll see this Sam Adams Mayor of Portland because you have google alerts on your name.

Shipping sponsor needed to get binkies to flood victims on East Coast

This is an SOS on behalf of the Rhode Island chapter of Binky Patrol.  We have chapters in 7 states with up to 300 blankets each that they want to send to help the flood victims in New England.  The chapters have the heart, the blankets, but not the funding to ship them UPS or Fed Ex ground or truck.

If anyone is willing to donate the shipping expenses, please let us know.  This was our chapter leader's SOS:

I usually do not post or ask for help since my Chapter is very small but I need help. Here is Rhode Island there are thousands of families who have been affected by the floods. Among them are hundreds (if not thousands) of children who have either lost their homes or been traumatized by the flooding of their basements/homes or by being forced to evacuate with no notice. I only have about 30-40 Binkies on hand right now and they are for young children and toddlers since most of this Chapter’s Binkies are delivered to our local children’s hospital. If any of you have Binkies that you could send it would be greatly appreciated. I am especially in need of larger Binkies for the numerous teenagers and families that have lost everything. 

For those you who have not seen the pictures (http://www.projo.com/video/?nvid=413594) (http://www.projo.com/news/content/FLOOD_3_04-03-10_DTI03EF_v16.3b32a58.html) here is an article of the recovery so far and video of the flooding around the state that was taken before the water levels reached their highest height. One of the major problems beyond the water that most have is that in Warwick (where I live) and the surrounding communities of Cranston and West Warwick, the sewer treatment plants flooded (along with individual septic systems) and contaminated the flood waters. This means that everything in those homes is a complete loss and cannot be salvaged. 

I am also trying to organize a stuffed animal (maybe small toys too??) drive so that every child can receive Binky and a stuffed animal with it. If anyone has any suggestions or can offer help with the stuffed animals please let me know. Right now I only have a couple of volunteers who can help me so my manpower resources are low but know that this is something that I have to do.

Her direct contact information is:

Stephanie Terrizzi
RI Binky Patrol
Area Coordinator

RIBinkyPatrol@aol.com
(401) 641-1089

RI Binky Patrol
C/O Stephanie Terrizzi
25 Houston Drive
Warwick, RI 02886

If you can donate shipping, please let me know.  We have chapters in Villa Park and Anaheim, CA, Maryland, Virginia that have blankets they'd be happy to ship if they had help with the expense.

Wildlife Center of the North Coast - educating in Oregon Parks

"WCNC" is a volunteer based non-profit Oregon corporation with IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Their mission is to rehabilitate injured, sick, orphaned and displaced native wildlife with the goal of releasing healthy, viable wildlife back into the appropriate habitat. They operate under permits issued by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Their licensed rehabber is Executive Director Sharnelle Fee.  Sharnelle has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals for over 20 years.  Her first 10 years she did it as a hobby until she realized this was her calling.

Common Murres, Brown Pelican, Spotted Owl, Cormorant, Nature up close. The direct effects of pollution on marine birds. In spite of deformities and injuries, these guys still have personality!

We also saw this little guy.  His beak was damaged.  He cannot feed himself.

Our children learned that they can help with some basic safety tips.

The next day they watched US learn how to make driftwood and oyster shell wind chimes.  I think we should be getting the Jr. Ranger patch.  Oregon parks offer GREAT programs for campers.  We always learn something about local nature and conservation efforts. 

Did you know the spotted owl mates for life?  This little lady was rescued a couple of years ago. She was found on the forest floor with evidence that her mate had been feeding her for some time by bringing her mice.  She was deteriorating, but he was faithful. This team rescued her and kept track of him. By next season he had a new mate and she is comfortably living and part of the education program.

It's time to celebrate Dr.Seuss

Our family needs a break from the school auction, the news, the rain.  "...to wet to go out And too cold to play ball.So we sat in the house.  We did nothing at all. So all we could do was to sit, sit, sit, sit..."

I thought about our author, Dr. Seuss and an appropriate, fun, off-the-wall way to celebrate his life, his contribution to literacy and the man.  My husband and I are going to come up with 5 - 10 activities and put them in ... a hat, of course.  It will be a combination of art activities, zany fun and food fun.