This past weekend was my tryout for the Portland Timbers. As mentioned before, there were a few things that were standing in the way of my potential run for glory — mostly my age: 40.

The two-day trial started Saturday morning and as I checked in, I noticed that I was clearly the oldest one there. Fortunately, I had a wool hat on so it was difficult to see my grey mane.

The first round were 8-man short-side matches. We were all getting our legs under us and the first match yielded some decent soccer, but the best was clearly yet to come. In the second match, I had what I am now calling the second-best goal in my life. Near the end of the match, a ball arced high over my head about 15 yards out. I had only one choice — and that was to shoot.

The ball dropped over my right shoulder, and I waited to tee it up. What happened next could either be classified as superior soccer skill (not likely) or pure luck (more likely). I caught the ball square and fired a rocket into the right side of the net. The goalie got a hand on it, but I managed to sneak it through. My celebration, though entertaining, was muted — a little twirl of the hand complimented by a “I can’t believe I just did that” giggle. My teammates laughed along because I think we all knew that this was my moment of glory and it would be fleeting.

At the break, Coach Amos Magee noticed I was on my iPhone. He winked and said, “don’t forget to tell them about the goal.”

I am really glad I decided to do this. Not only did I meet some very nice people, but I got a chance to get out and knock a soccer ball around. I also saw the Timbers organization a little bit from the inside. I can say, without question, that the Timbers are A+. It was 100% cool, 100% class the entire weekend. Portland is very lucky to have this team here and I hope that you all get a chance to support them as much as you can this and every year.

Over time, I can guarantee that the legend of this goal will grow. In a few years, the shot will have been from 50 yards out with 4 defenders and the cast of Snow Falling On Cedars draping me in a 60 mile-an-hour headwind. But even if the story changes, the result will be same: I had one goal in an open tryout for a professional soccer team — at age 40. On Sunday, as I hung it up early, Coach Magee said they were still talking about that goal.

And I couldn’t be more proud to have given it a go.

(If you’d like to see proof that I was there, check out the Timbers Facebook Fan Page. I am #56.)

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• January 15, 2010 -- Old Growth Timber? (1)
• March 19, 2009 -- !!!!GOAL!!!!! (1)
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• June 14, 2009 -- SLL: Friday Night With Shawn Levy (0)

On Tuesday, January 5th, we woke to the alarm at 4:15am

Holy crap, what were we thinking? Last time Dave (aka @chefchopper) and I crawled out of bed that early, we were sprinting to make the redeye ferry off of San Juan Island and back to our beloved Portland. We are NOT early morning people.

We have, however, though some bizarre twist of fate, become fitness people. Granted, both of us did the sports thing in high school (and college as well, for me), but in recent years? It’s been all about short dog walks and long sprawls on our +5 Couch of Lounging. The last thing we ever expected was to become role models.

This changed in September when an opportunity to join an indoor fitness “bootcamp” landed in our laps. We’d already started taking slightly longer walks with the dog, but this… this new thing was daunting. Aerobic, even! The first workout? I think I nearly passed out three times. Second workout? Crash and burn in the break room. Third, fourth, fifth, I started to notice improvement. And by the third week, Dave started to drop pounds.

And pounds. And more pounds. As of this date, just over four months into it, he’s lost 74 pounds. (I know, it’s a guy thing…) Me? Two pants sizes. And I have this crazy thing happening called a firm core. As in stomach muscles! I haven’t had those since high school!

When Dave was 40 pounds down, I posted before and after pictures on Facebook. Our trainer immediately asked for copies and the next thing we knew, Dave was the new poster boy at the gym; up on the mighty wall of success. And rather than rest on his laurels, he kept going, sometimes even saying the craziest of things, like “I’m looking forward to exercising today,” or “I love BootCamp!” Soon he was over 60 pounds lost and looking (if I do say so myself) pretty darned good.

Which brings us to the morning of January 5th. See, our trainer managed to snag quite the deal for his business: a New Year’s Resolution fitness segment on KGW at Sunrise. The trick was to get all of us out there in the chilly pre-dawn, showing off our fit selves for Drew Carney and his camera man. And Dave – Dave had to be there because he was a featured success story.

Didn’t wake up quite so early that morning? No problem. Our exploits have been preserved for posterity on Drew Carney’s blog:

I do, however, feel compelled to point out an important behind-the-scenes fact:

Our usual workout (which burns in the neighborhood of 900 calories) lasts an hour. KGW’s crew hung out for two hours — and did we rest between each segment?

Hell, no. When you see Drew talking and all of us working out in the background, you might expect us to be thinking “Whee! We’re on the TeeeVee!” Nope. What we’re actually thinking? “Please stop talking now. We’re been at this for three minutes solid…must rest… please… for the love of God…stop… NOW!” We never knew quite when we’d be on camera for the next segment so we just kept going. And going…

I’m still in awe we made it this far, and Dave even more so. More than once he’s said to me, “If I’d known it felt this good, I would’ve done this years ago.”

Too true. I’d like to think that all it takes is getting over that initial hump of agony, but it’s not always that easy. Sometimes we have to trick ourselves. Or just push through the pain. What I do know is how we did it, and though this might not work for everyone, I figure what’s the harm in getting a little self-helpy for anyone out there with a fitness New Year’s resolution.

1. Start where you are. Six pushups is your limit? Start with six. Don’t go all Lou Ferrigno on your first day out. Dave wants to start running and I’m still working up to it after months of training. I have bad knees, so I start where I am: walking.
2. A little discipline goes a long way. We didn’t go for gimmick diets (do not get me started on those two miserable, constipated weeks on Atkins years ago… really, do NOT), and other than watching portions and cutting out a few excesses (life is too short for cheap beer), we just took the time to think about our food choices before making them. What ever you do, do not give up all your favorite foods. You’ll just want to splurge on them later.
3. The scale isn’t everything. I admit. I’m still working on this one. See, I’ve only shed about 20 pounds compared to Dave’s 74. It’s a girl thing. (Right? RIGHT?) I’m gaining muscle weight and firming up and that’s what’s important. The weight loss is a by-product of getting fit, not the other way around. I need to remind myself of this. Frequently.
4. But… but… but… I’ve already failed! No you haven’t! It’s still January, you donkey. Get back on the horse. It doesn’t matter when you start, or where. Just start somewhere sometime. It might be easier than you think. (Dave once owned the nickname Laziest Man Alive ™, and for good reason. Now look at him. Freakin’ Posterboy.)

So, who wants to share their 2010 fitness goals? Misery loves company, right? If you’re on Twitter and you want some cheering on, use the hashtag #getfit2010. We’ll be there, tweeting our aches, pains, successes, and failures for all to see. And I promise, if I start eating French fries every day and gain those 20 pounds back, I’ll tweet about that, too. But if Dave gains those 74 pounds back…nope. Not gonna happen. This isn’t a diet or a training regimen with a termination point. It’s a long term lifestyle change, and figuring that part out? That’s success.

(Editor’s note: We welcome MizD to the OurPDX family of authors! You can find her on Twitter as (wait for it…) @mizd.)

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$65.

That’s what it’s costing for me to participate in the Portland Timbers open tryout at the end of the month. I love soccer and can’t wait to get out there with everyone to see how I fare. There is one small thing to consider, though.

I’m 40 years old.

Yeah, yeah. I know. But I kind of figured, “why not?” I’ve watched “Invincible” a few times and if Vince Papale can do it, so can I, right? Right?

Stop laughing.

There’s another twist (or two) to this.

I haven’t played organized soccer in quite awhile. I play at lunch every so often. And, I DO actually play really hard. I still have the touch and still am moderately swift of foot. Plus, I have one year of benchwarming college soccer under my belt (had one assist in garbage time that was either a minor miracle or a fluke).

I do recall my coach saying one thing to me back then that may help: “when you get older, you’ll probably be a better soccer player because you’ll have to play more with your mind than your body.” I’m hoping that’s true.

Look, I know it’s a long shot. But I’m in decent shape and I’ve been training pretty hard the past month (hauling a 1-year old up hills in a baby backpack is a superb workout). Plus, one of my resolutions was to endeavor to try new things. Soccer is a huge love of mine, I’m really excited to give this a go and it certainly qualifies as a “new thing.”

I know that some may say, “you should just play club ball for older folks and call it good, old man.” That’s fair. But, this sure will make for a good story.

And, I suppose I could always audition to be the play-by-play guy if this “making the team” thing doesn’t pan out.

GO TIMBERS!

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• January 25, 2010 -- My Portland Timbers Tryout (2)
• March 19, 2009 -- !!!!GOAL!!!!! (1)
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• June 14, 2009 -- SLL: Friday Night With Shawn Levy (0)

Last night Eva and I tried something new: Curling at Lloyd Center with the Evergreen Curling Club. Now, I’m not referring to hair, but rather to 42 pound stones on ice. Curling is a “sport” that came out of Scotland. It involves sliding heavy stones down the ice and hitting other heavy stones. Oh, yes, it also involves running on the ice just in front of said heavy stones, and sweeping the ice in an attempt to influence where the stone will go.

I will admit that Curling is an Olympic sport, and perhaps, as such, deserves more credit than I’m giving it. On the other hand, going off a cliff on skis is also an Olympic sport — so I’m not sure how good a measure that is.

My point, however, is that Curling is a sport that comes to us mainly via Canada, a country known primarily for its politeness. As such, at the end of each game, everyone on both teams shakes each others’ hands and says “nice curling.”

Admittedly, this is a very good sportsman-like way to play, but feels a little odd in Portland. It’s not that Portland isn’t a friendly city, because it is. Rather, its friendliness tends to be a bit more spontaneous, less ritualized. The personalized greeting rather than the predetermined one. We like to talk to each other, to greet one another. But somehow, it feels false when imposed upon us. To me, anyway…

My favorite example of Portland friendliness is the conversations I have in the checkout line of the supermarket. On the East Coast, these conversations just don’t happen. Here, they are an accepted part of life.

What’s your favorite example of Portland friendliness?

(Editor’s Note: Please welcome Rabbi David to the OurPDX author roster, and stay tuned for more new author posts in the days to come! Betsy)

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• February 4, 2010 -- Winter Olympics in the NW (3)

YEEHAW!

As I compiled the list of things to do this weekend, I noticed a theme forming. What with all the warm rainy weather a week from Christmas, my activities took on a southern feel. So, chomp down on a piece of hay, fire up the El Camino and ride along. We gonna have us a time.

Food

The south is known for lots of things, but going hungry isn’t one of them. Despite eight million takeout/food cart options available, I figured I couldn’t get more southern than Hillbilly Bento. A co-worker has been daring me to try the place, and since it’s open 11-6 Monday through Friday, I could get there for breakfast before it closes.

Hillbilly Bento sits across from the US Bancorp Tower, aka Big Pink, in a building that has seen better days. They are the only open storefront on the block, and if not for sidewalk tables it would probably go unnoticed. I approached, peeked inside, and received a warm welcome from the lady at the counter. She was very nice, and not at all like the Granny Clampett I was expecting.

We could have been standing in Granny Clampett’s parlor, though. Country-fried nick-nacks adorn the walls, and a banjo-riffic soundtrack played through my visit. It’s a lot of eye candy to absorb, but the smell of the food keeps calling your attention back to why you are there:

The vittles.

I had Hillbilly Pork with dirty rice and mac & cheese. Served up in a recyclable container, it left little room for what would be the (confession) real reason I went to Hillbilly Bento. Chocolate. Pecan. Pie.

It looked like normal pecan pie. Were those raisins? Because raisins are a deal-breaker. I hate raisins. But I paid $3.50 for this slice of pie, and I will not be denied.

Those weren’t raisins, they were chocolate chips! Such a simple adjustment to a recipe, and such magical results. Look out Memphis Mafia, a new splurge dessert has entered the competition…

I hope this place makes it. I don’t lunch downtown often enough to make a difference, but maybe my bragging up the place will.

Hillbilly Bento (warning: obnoxious musical track kicks in)
211 SW 6th
(503)-808-9283

Clothing

Wondering what to get your guy or outdoor-loving kinda-butch GF for the holidays? Take a trip to the inner eastside to Andy and Bax, Portland’s longtime outpost for military surplus. I frequented Andy and Bax as a teen in the ’70s, and was happy to see not much has changed. I found the clothing I was looking for, saw stuff that will have me returning, and got in some prime people-watching to boot. Not many places you can be knocked out of line by a scruffy guy in a wheelchair looking for “a throwing hatchet, RIGHT NOW!” Since I was already in his way, I hurried along. For about $8, he could probably afford more than one.

Also, their brass knuckles are made of real brass, unlike the $5 pair I got at the gun show last millennium. Excuse me, those are paperweights. My bad.

They have gift certificates, so if anyone you know is into paramilitary clothing, or needs tarps, camping gear, or a SWAT vest, this is your spot. There’s enough gear here to deck you out like a member of the Florida National Guard. (Spit cup not included.)

And now? Time to put on that paramilitary raingear and come up with some northern-baked entertainment to counterbalance the weekend’s southern-fried activities…

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A series of misadventures have kept me from attending Blazer games lately, so I was pretty excited to be back at the Rose Garden for Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic Miami Heat. I needed this game. I needed to sit in the stands and watch something that would take me out of my regular life for a few hours. I needed to cheer for something.

I was also looking forward to this game because my boyfriend has acquired a pair of auto-focusing binoculars which are far superior to our old set of binoculars. I can see the player’s faces pretty clearly now, clear enough to read their lips from all the way up in the 300 level. And the field of vision is a little bit wider, so I can also see more of the action. Unfortunately, while these binoculars are pretty amazing, they do not contribute to my understanding of the game. I’m still not able to identify a pick and roll when I see one. Many people have tried to explain the pick and roll to me. There have been diagrams and exasperated eye rolls, but I still just don’t get it.

The Blazers lost Tuesday’s game. It wasn’t a blow-out, but it was their third loss in a row. There is a pretty lengthy discussion over at Blazersedge about who is to blame for the losing streak. I’ve had a few people ask me why the Blazers have been losing, but I really don’t have a clue. Maybe it has something to do with this nefarious pick and roll everyone keeps talking about. Maybe it has something to do with “points in the paint” but I doubt it because for some reason at the Rose Garden the section they refer to as “the paint” is paintless hardwood.

Usually, when it’s painfully obvious that the Blazers are going to lose, the fans either get quiet or go home. This was not the case on Tuesday night as the crowd remained fairly enthusiastic right up to the final buzzer. One particular fan, sitting a couple of rows behind me, was cheering loudly non-stop for the last five minutes of the game. Sure, he was fairly intoxicated and might have taken either too much or too little Ritalin – but still. He not only chanted “Defense! Defense!” along with the crowd, but he also chanted “Offense! Offense!” when the Blazers had the ball. He had a variety of cheers for time-outs, free throws and other game delays as well. In fact the usher came up at one point and asked the rest of our section if the man was bothering us. We all said no. (The ushers can be real kill-joys – but that is a post for another day.)

Here’s the deal: setbacks are to be expected in life. While it isn’t a bad idea to learn from mistakes, there is nothing to be gained from speculative nay saying. People need space to grow and learn and figure things out for themselves. I think it’s very likely that there is something going on behind the scenes in the Blazer organization that has temporarily thrown off the team’s chemistry. I’m sure in due time it will work itself out.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind it if the next time I fell flat on my face there would be someone standing there cheering me on as if the face plant never happened. I think we all could use someone like that.

But what do I know? I still can’t identify the pick and roll.

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Most of us knew already that Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler is an iron man in the truest sense of the word. He’s completed the Iron Man Triathalon 3 times already, in between excursions to Mt. Everest & showshoeing to the North Pole — not to mention going mano-a-mano with Metro & the City of Portland over the “need” for a convention center hotel.

Many of us have also been applauding Wheeler’s forays into using digital communications to reach his constituents & know that he’s on to something when he asserts…

Accountability doesn’t work if people aren’t paying attention. We have to find ways to deliver information that taxpayers need to hold government accountable. In some cases, that may mean doing it in increments of 140 characters or less. We’ll keep working on that.

So while we’re not at all happy to learn that Wheeler was in a skiing accident yesterday, we’re not surprised to learn that, yes, Wheeler’s reporting *live* about his condition — from his hospital bed, no less. Using Twitter. And yes, he’s going to be fine (his helmet won’t, apparently, but that’s why you wear them on the mountain, no?)

But enough from me — let’s hear from the man himself:

• tedwheeler: In hosp. w/ broken back, shoulder, and slight facial lacerations from skiing accident. Full recovery expected. http://twitpic.com/rgsd3
• tedwheeler: @Jmartens yes. Two verts broken one of which is pretty badly compressed. No paralysis at all expected.
• tedwheeler: @anitakissee I don’t remember anything at all. I was knocked out and had a concussion. Wife said I was out cold for 5 minutes.
• tedwheeler: @grnladybug thanks I really appreciate it. I’m doing well and expect a full recovery.

Ted, we wish you a speedy recovery — and thanks for keeping us in the loop.

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Hello, Blazer Fans.

A few weeks ago, I was so excited because Blazer season was starting back up and that meant it was time for me to put my sports writer hat back on. I really enjoyed writing my Blazer posts last year, especially considering that I have no idea what I’m talking about. The internet is an amazing place where silly things like knowledge and experience need not stand in your way. I called myself a sports writer and in doing so — I became a sports writer.

(It also helps to have a boyfriend who is VERY knowledgeable about the Blazers and has purchased a half-season ticket package for you to enjoy together.)

On the MAX ride to our first pre-season game, I was sketching out my first story in my head. It was going to be about the experience of riding the MAX to and from the games. There was this family sitting next to me on the MAX; a grandfather, father, and two little boys. The boys were wearing Blazer jerseys decorated with Halloween stickers. I was going to write about wonder and optimism. I was going to write about how these boys might remember this night for the rest of their lives. It was going to be poetry.

Two days later, as I was sitting in the salon chair pondering my new do, I felt a tickle in my throat. The next morning I called in sick and spent the weekend in bed with a bad cold. I retraced my steps. Where did I pick up this cold? I don’t know anyone who is sick. Could it be that one of the 20,000 fans at the Blazer game gave this to me? Possibly. I never wrote my post.

I rallied in time to make it to the Blazer season opener. This game was not in our season package and we ended up sitting on the other side of the arena, directly opposite from where we normally sit. Everything about this game was a complete 180 from the last time we played Houston. For example, the Blazers ended up winning this game. I had another blog post in mind about how this game was like watching the Bizarro Blazers. Oden was kicking ass and fan favorite Rudy looked like a scared little boy. Martell Webster was back, but with a different number on his jersey.

I ended up doing the opposite of what I had promised my OurPDX editor. I never wrote that post. I took a nap instead because I was still tired from my head cold.

I was back in the Rose Garden two nights later for another game, this time against Denver. I figured I could just combine all my observations into one big post where I talked about the three games I had been to so far. I was going to write about how I wasn’t really used to the new Blazer roster and it looked like the Blazers were also not used to their new roster. The play so far has been disorganized and uneven, actually that isn’t so new — but the Blazers seem to have lost their ability to rally in the 4th quarter and pull out a win. I think it’s because the team doesn’t have the same sense of camaraderie.

That post never got written either, because the following evening I went to bed feeling exhausted and curiously warm. I woke up with a fever of 102. I diagnosed myself with H1N1 and stayed away from the general public for the next five days.

I cannot say conclusively that I caught a cold and H1N1 from my fellow Blazer fans at the Rose Garden. The culprit could have been a Nuggets fan because we all know that Nuggets fans are dirty. Either way, there appears to be an established pattern: go to a game and get sick a couple of days later. Blazer Fever.

I’m taking my chances again tonight as the Blazers take on the Timberwolves. I have contemplated wearing a surgical mask, but my boyfriend will not sit next to me if I do. He also won’t sit next to me if I break out my red foam #1 finger glove thing. Although I bet if I wore a red foam #1 finger glove thing on each hand I would be pretty much protected from touching my face, which is how most germs get transmitted.

I guess my only option is the very liberal application of hand sanitizer during key intervals of the game. I had stranger Blazer rituals during last year’s play offs so I doubt anyone will notice. They may even ask for a squirt or two themselves.

Here’s to your health and Let’s Go Blazers!

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Some of you are asking yourselves “What the hell is a Puzzle Hunt?”

Good question. A puzzle hunt is an exercise in team puzzle-solving, a contest, and a race. Teams compete against each other in finding and solving puzzles that are hidden in different locations.

The Portland portion of this undertaking is being organized by a husband and wife team (Curtis and DeeAnn) who moved to Portland last fall from California. The couple has previously organized puzzle hunts in the Bay Area, and think that Portland is ripe for puzzle hunting.

The event is called DASH 1 (for Different Area – Same Hunt), and will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2009 in Portland as well as eight other cities in the U.S. Each participating team, regardless of which city they are in, will be solving the same puzzles.

Considering the number of folks in Portland that are clever, athletic, and somewhat eccentric, Puzzle Hunt and PDX really do seem to be made for each other.

Curtis and DeeAnn are limiting participation to just 25 teams, and each team will need to pay an entry fee of $30. If you are interested, you can find all the details at the PDX DASH website.

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Pete Forsyth emailed me the following article, and asked if we’d post it. Gladly, Pete! Update: Welcome new author Pete Forsyth to our ranks!

Lately it seems that some plan involving a $40 million baseball is the biggest thing we hear about from City Council.

But here’s something that’s much more likely to have an impact on Portlanders’ financial future: a filtration plant slated for construction in the Bull Run watershed. It will cost many hundreds of millions of dollars — maybe over a billion, if you include debt service. That might not hit your property or income tax bill, but it’s expected to DOUBLE your water bill.

TOMORROW, City Council will consider ordinance 1071, which will direct the Water Bureau to continue exploring this issue. But the issue has barely been considered by the public, and there’s been very little media coverage. It’s alarming to see such an enormous expenditure moving forward with so little public deliberation.

It’s a complex issue, but here are a few points to consider:

• Above all, it’s clear that City Council and the Water Bureau have been strategic in their planning around this issue, but it’s unclear what the motivations are. Many of us feel that a deliberation of this magnitude should be carried out in public.
• The federal EPA has mandated that all municipal water sources filter for a kind of bacteria called Cryptosporidium by 2014. Cryptosporidium is something that occurs in human and livestock waste, so it’s common in most areas. But Bull Run, which originates in a largely undisturbed area of the Mt. Hood National Forest, has consistently tested as being free of this harmful bacteria.
• The City of Portland has pursued an exemption from this mandate, but has been rebuffed.
• It’s unclear exactly what the consequences for failing to comply with the mandate might be. When hundreds of millions of dollars and the quality of our drinking water are at stake, it’s reasonable to consider resisting a federal mandate that does not take local conditions into account.
• Emotions on both sides of this issue have run high, but the Portland Water Bureau and City Council hold all the cards. In the rare media story that runs, like this one, City Commissioner Randy Leonard makes the unfortunate choice of addressing only the most extreme allegations of concerned citizens. What a terrible waste of an opportunity to stoke some public deliberation of the issue! Additionally, the Water Bureau has been unreasonably resistant to sharing documentation of what they’re planning when requested by citizens.
• The issue has an extensive history. In the late 1970s, the U.S. Congress passed a law permitting logging in the watershed. The resulting runoff resulted in mud in our water supply; so Portland fought back. Laws passed in 1996 and 2001 protected the area from logging. See here for more: Bull Run Watershed article from Wikipedia; Joe Miller papers from the University of Oregon; History from OregonWild; Profile of Joe Miller from Oregon Magazine.
• Portland’s water use has DECREASED dramatically since the 1980s, with the widespread adoption of water-efficient appliances and other measures. (See, there’s some good news in here!) Water usage report from Water Bureau
• Suburbs of Portland, and bottling plants, have moved to use water from the Willamette (and, I believe, the Columbia). How do City Council and the Water Bureau want to engage with this issue? Is there a desire to increase our water production in order to supply other municipalities? If so, where’s the public debate on the relative merits?
• This is connected with another issue of recent concern: covering the reservoirs at Mt. Tabor. City Council’s failure to anticipate or engage with public concerns about that resulted costly and embarrassing retreat, though I think the issue is still likely to resurface. Shouldn’t we have the opportunity to evaluate ALL potential major facility upgrades/expenditures by the Water Bureau, instead of piece-mealing them?

In the end, I don’t really buy into the idea, advanced by some people, that this issue is driven by corruption or laziness. But I do think our City government is terribly resistant to the idea that the public has a right and a responsibility to engage with its future in meaningful ways. With the kinds of communication technology and engaged communities that are evolving in recent years, this posture looks increasingly anachronistic…and I fear it will cost us tremendously if our elected officials at City Hall don’t carefully rethink their entire approach to issues like this.

Please take a moment to write an email to each member of City Council. Ask them not to take this action so soon, to be more forthright with their long-term goals in this process, and to seek to advance the public debate. And if you can attend or testify at tomorrow’s City Council meeting, even better! Email addresses and City Council details at the Friends of the Reservoirs site, listed below.

Some further reading:

• Friends of the Reservoirs site
• Wikipedia article on the Safe Drinking Water Act
• Recent blog entry on the issue from Bojack.org

Editor’s Note: Pete Forsyth, a Portland resident and business owner, was a member of the Mt. Tabor Central Yard & Nursery Planning Group, and has studied the history and future plans relating to Portland’s water supply for several years.

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