Lake Oswego Housing Market Covid-19 Update

Posted on June 7, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

You ready for some good news?

Portland Metro Area real estate market activity is picking up.

Of course, that follows some bad news.

Home showings dropped by 50% between the beginning of March and the first week of April. And pending sales in April of this year in Lake Oswego/West Linn were down 50% from the year before.

So, we have some climbing out to do, but the good news is that the climb has begun.

Showings in Oregon are up 85% from the low back at the end of March when sheltering in place was in full effect.

Here are some other numbers from the Portland Metro Area that show home sales are on the rise. (Comparisons are for the weeks April 5-May 2 and May 3 through May 30)

  • Pending sales up to $499,000 were up 28%*
  • Pending sales between $500,000 to $999,000 were up 45%
  • Pending sales between $1M and $1.199M were up 120%
  • Pending sales between $1.2M and $1.300M were up 189%
  • Pending sales between 1.4M and $1.599M were up 57%
  • Pending sales between $1.6M and $1.999M were up 67%
  • Pending sales between $2M and $3M were up 100%

And, despite the drop in pending sales during the month of April, the average sales price in Lake Oswego has still managed to increase by 3.4% year-to-date.

New listings are also starting to creep up. Active sellers are one of the keys to a healthy market as they reflect confidence in pricing and value and contribute to a good housing supply.

What’s the takeaway from this?

When it comes to buying a home, Lake Oswego is still a good investment. It has shown value can continue to rise even in challenging times like we’ve just faced.

If you date back to 1997, home values have increased by 8.2% on average. The cumulative increase since then is a whopping 296.3% with the average home value in 1997 at $310,787, compared to today’s average value of $920,720.

And while a good financial investment is one factor that goes into your decision or where to buy a home, as I’ve tried to point out in this blog, it is not the only reason for moving to or living in Lake Oswego. Check out my archives for the 52 Reasons a year I find for living here.

Those aside, the other takeaway is that it always pays to work with a local Realtor who specializes in your area to understand the nuances of that particular market.

For example, I recently listed and sold a house for $1.65 million that Zillow had only estimated at $1.3M. To appreciate true value, you need to work with someone who has his or her foot on the ground and is well versed in good neighborhoods, amenities, and the “hidden” things that can affect a home’s value. I always advise clients considering waterfront property to consider sun exposure for one thing. Some neighborhoods might be better for young families with small children and others for empty nesters. Only a hyperlocal Realtor like myself can offer that kind of information that affects value pertinent to a particular buyer.

If you are considering putting your home on the market or thinking of moving to Lake Oswego, please give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, and/or complete the contact form below. I’d be happy to put my 30+ years as a Realtor to work for you!

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Creative Ways Lake Oswegans and Others Have Been Quarantining During COVID-19

Posted on May 31, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

While things are starting to open up slowly, sheltering in place is still the default mode for many of us. I’ve noticed that quarantining seems to be separating Lake Oswegans and all Americans into two categories: the creatives and the creative-nots.

Take my neighbor, for instance. Well into month 2 of Covid-19 quarantine, he found a way to entertain his teenage daughter by letting her dye his hair purple. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! Somehow social distancing will always bring a smile to her face.

In our own household, we are fortunate enough to be quarantining with our Zumba instructor daughter so every morning at 8:00 a.m., the three of us turn our living room into a dance studio and torch calories to the tunes of J Lo, Taylor Swift and Shakira.

Neighbors are taking happy hour into the streets, parking themselves in front of their yards and catching up with each other from a safe distance away.

And my wife, who is a Peet’s Coffee snob, was running low on her supply so actually bought a jar of Nescafe instant coffee to try a new whipped coffee drink called Dalgona that started in Korea and is sweeping the internet. She made a video to share with her friends with the final result being, “We have a winner” with one caveat: add less sugar, unless you normally like sweet coffee drinks.

The Lake Oswego library has gotten very creative in ways to keep patrons plugged into the services they offer. Since my kids were always “Where’s Waldo” fans, I was particularly impressed with their Wednesday Waldo sightings. Each week Waldo hides out in a different place around town and on Wednesdays, the library posts a picture of his hangout.

Neighbors are posting teddy bears in their windows to be spotted by little ones out on a “bear hunt” with their parents.

Others are taking chalk art to a new level with mosaic chalk art projects. Armed with painter’s tape and sidewalk chalk, artists young and old are brightening our streets and brightening our days.

People are getting creative with birthday cakes too–from Lysol swipes shaped cakes to fake ones shaped out of toilet paper rolls complete with candles!

Lake Oswego firefighters surprised several Lake Oswego kids on their birthdays by paying a drive-by visit complete with fire engines and a street sweeper.

A young Lake Oswego baseball player and fellow Giants fan has retrofitted his garage into a spring training gym, completing all the workouts sent in by his coaches so he is ready to hit the field when conditions lift.

Some are getting back to basics using good old-fashioned sidewalk chalk to set up for a game of hopscotch.

My wife and a few of her friends try to meet every couple of weeks in a random parking lot where they back up their SUV’s in a circle, pop open their trunks, pull out beach chairs and enjoy face-to-face visits from six to ten feet away.

One mom turned her garage into “Club Quarantine” for her son’s 21st birthday. His dad (aka the bouncer) checked his ID at the door, his mom (aka the bartender) served up shots and his sister (aka the waitress) joined him in dancing.

And I have set out on a journey to read the Bible from cover to cover. At ten pages a day, I figure to be done by the middle of September.

If you’ve heard of other creative ways folks are quarantining, let us know. Leave a comment below!

 

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Despite what you may think, summer in Lake Oswego has NOT been canceled due to COVID-19

Posted on May 24, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

While Camp Costello will not be happening this summer, the entire season has NOT been canceled!

For the past five years, our kids have circled back home to celebrate the 4th of July in Lake Oswego along with a group of 15-20 of their friends who take up a 48-72 hour residence under our roof. They’ve christened this annual event “Camp Costello.”

Camp Costello has become another casualty of the COVID-19 crisis. My son, who is currently living in London, has been checking local updates on a regular basis. But when the airlines canceled his flight home at the same time the fireworks show over the lake got scrapped, he posted an update on the Camp Costello Facebook page that “Camp Costello has been canceled.”

Mind you, my son, and the rest of us have the big picture in mind and realize the importance of personal sacrifice for the sake of the public good. But that doesn’t dispel the disappointment that the cancellation of traditions—from graduation celebrations to pancakes in the park—creates.

One young woman put it so well recently in an article on Verge, “It was a privilege to love these events — it is a privilege to understand their value and to mourn them in due course. It is profoundly human to care for things other than the preservation of our species. There is so much out there we must feel.”

So, as disappointed as we may be to see the growing list of what is NOT happening in Lake Oswego this summer, we can also be reminded of how much this community has offered us to enjoy all these years. As with any loss the silver lining to feeling it is knowing that something special existed there before in order to create such a strong sensation with its absence.

We live in a place where summer has come to mean music and movies in the parks, fireworks over the lake, adventure runs and outdoor theater. And while this summer may look much different, I am taking comfort in the fact that I know summer in Lake Oswego will still bring weather that makes it the best place to be this time of year, evenings that stay light until 9:30 p.m. and beauty that I enjoy during its seasonal variations year-round.

In addition, some things are still happening, albeit in a COVID-19 version.

They include:

Lake Oswego Farmers Market. Check out my previous blog post detailing all the changes, beginning with a later opening date set for Saturday, June 6.

Lakewood Center Festival of the Arts. The 57th annual arts education program that usually runs across three days is taking to the internet in the short-term with further programming to unfold over the summer and fall of 2020. Organizers have created an Online Gallery to display two of their six 2020 art exhibits: Art in the Park and Artist’s Vision. The Special Exhibit: Brilliant! Jewelers Making Statements has been postponed until next year. Art in Oregon’s exhibit, You are Not a Robot, is being postposted until later this year. In the planning stages still: a smaller version of the Open Show in the fall, if circumstances allow; and online classes for adults and youth.

This change in plans has left the Festival with a $100,000 shortfall so donations are strongly encouraged.

Village Flower Baskets. This incredibly beautiful display will go on! Instead of volunteers hanging the baskets in the wee hours of a May Saturday morning, they were hung by The Garden Corner, the nursery that puts them together every year. Volunteers can still help by donating to this community-funded (and community-enjoyed) event.

Lake Oswego Golf Course. The public golf course is open 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with certain COVID-19 policies in place including the practice of social distancing and a no-touch policy in place for flag sticks. Customers are advised to reserve tee times online or by calling 503.636.8228.

Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation parks, trails, and natural areas remain open to the public for walk-in use only. Restrooms and drinking facilities are closed and visitors are asked to maintain the 6-foot social distancing recommendation from other individuals.

Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation classes. While many of the summer camps and classes have been canceled, you can find enjoy of your favorites online including: Yogalates, Mindfulness Meditation and Hip Hop for Kids. Check offerings online.

Lake Oswego Public Library. While the library’s doors may be closed, the librarians are in…devising all kinds of ways to keep you connected with the love of reading and learning. Stay updated by checking online. Here are some of the ways you can still check things out of your library:

  • Time to Make Art. Get inspired by art challenges and watch video tutorials; then enter weekly drawings.
  • Postcards from Librarians. Check-in every Friday for a virtual visit from one of the Youth Services librarians as they sing songs and share stories from their homes to yours.
  • Early Literacy Challenges. Check the library’s Instagram account for Tuesday tips on how to encourage the love of reading in your kids
  • Cook the Books Book Group. Check out the week’s theme, cook up a meal accordingly, and then share the recipe and the experience live with others on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.
  • Third Tuesday Author Series. This regular event has gone online.
  • Thursday Night Trivia. Check-in Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. and see how well you can do! First, you’ll need to register online and download the Cisco Webex Meetings app. You’ll receive an email inviting you to the meeting.
  • Waldo Sightings. Waldo is out and about in Lake Oswego, but just in case you miss him on one of walks or bike rides, you can check in here every Wednesday to see where he was hanging out that week.

Planning events is very fluid during this time so be sure to check the Lake Oswego website for the latest updates. For example, no decision had yet been made on the Lake Oswego Swim Park which typically opens July 1. And the Lake Grove Swim Park needs to remain closed until Clackamas County enters Phase 2 of the State of Oregon’s Reopening Plan. The earliest that is expected to happen is in late June, but it could be as late as early or mid-July. Check the Lake Grove Swim Park website for updates once Clackamas County enters Phase 1. And while the 4th of July fireworks have been canceled, the jury is still out on Hot August Nights. So keep checking here and on those websites to stay up-to-date.

Summer is also a very popular season for buying and selling a home. COVID-19 has had some impact on that as well as you can read in a previous blog. Please consider me as your resource if you are considering putting your home on the market or buying a home in Lake Oswego. I’d love to put my 30+ years of experience to work for you! Give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, and/or fill out the contact form below. I’m here to help. 

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Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market COVID-19 Edition Opens June 6

Posted on May 17, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

The Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market will be returning this summer in its new, COVID-19 approved version. While the market will be smaller to allow for more space between vendors, Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Supervisor Jamie Inglis says she is “glad we will get to operate in some capacity.”

And, as with everything else, the market has also gone virtual, showcasing a collective of all the farmers’ market vendors where you can connect and order directly. Some offer alternative places to purchase their products, such as farmstands and grocery stores.

Although we may not enjoy all the social interaction that the market has traditionally provided, it still is a valuable resource for bringing us fresh, local food. And, food that comes to us through a shortened supply chain, meaning fewer hands have touched it than the food we buy in the grocery store.

So, at a time when we might be guilty of thinking of everything we can’t do, consider this a blessing of something that we can. Thanks to the due diligence of city staff, we can add our award-winning market to the list of national markets that the New York Times recently called, “Laboratories for new communal safety habits.”

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Later start date. The market is set to open June 6 and run through October 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The new guidelines will be in effect through the month of June during which time city staff will evaluate how things are working.
  • Special entrance time for high-risk population. Seniors and those with underlying medical conditions can enter the market from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
  • One entrance. In order to control the traffic flow, people are being asked to enter and exit at the 2nd Street entrance. You can line up along Evergreen as you wait to enter.
  • Social distancing will be enforced. It seems the pandemic has created a new position—that of “Social Distancing Officer.” This person will be placed at the market’s entrance to ensure that people are honoring the six-foot markers placed around the park. Each vendor booth is also expected to have its own social distancing officer to ensure that people are staying a safe distance from each other.
  • Fewer vendors. In order to allow more space between vendors, the number of booths will be reduced from seasons past. Food item vendors are being given priority with refreshment and value-added vendors participating on a rotating basis. There will be no hot food, cut flowers or alcohol until the restrictions have been lifted.
  • Nonessential programs have also been suspended for the time being. Those include music, kids’ corner and merchandise sales. But you can find many of them on the Lake Oswego Farmers Market Virtual Marketplace!
  • Sampling and exposed food displays will be suspended. Tasting the different varieties of berries or sampling olive oils are a thing of the past (and hopefully of the future). But for the time being, you’ll need to make your purchases based on what you see. And if you touch, you buy. Vendors will provide bags for your purchases. Reusable bags can be used for you to carry everything in but please do not give them to vendors for bagging.
  • Pre-orders are recommended. If you are able, organizers encourage you to contact your favorite vendors beforehand and place and pay for your orders so all you have to do on market day is pick things up.
  • Limit the size of your group. In the interest of everyone’s safety, it’s recommended that you come to the market alone or as a pair.
  • Card purchases are encouraged over cash and the use of $5 tokens has been suspended for the time being. SNAP and SNAP matching tokens will still be offered.
  • Regular COVID-19 safety precautions are encouraged. Protective masks are recommended and as in all situations, please stay home if you are sick.
  • Handwashing stations will be available as well as hand sanitizers.

Some things will remain the same: the beautiful setting, fresh open air, quality vendors, and the knowledge that city employees are making it their job to provide the best and safest experience possible.

Stay up-to-date with what’s open, what’s not, and what’s changing here in Lake Oswego during this time of social distancing. Sign up for my blog by clicking on the “Sign me up” button in the top right-hand column. You’ll receive weekly updates in your inbox.

 

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Lake Oswego Housing Market Covid-19 Update

Posted on May 10, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

While housing market activity has slowed since the pandemic hit, some homes are selling.

Just as stock market predictions fluctuate every day, so do the predictions about the housing market. Take a look at some of the headlines I ran across doing a Google search:

Coronavirus Fallout: U.S. Housing Prices Will Tumble (on April 10 from Bloomberg)

These U.S. Housing Markets are most vulnerable to a coronavirus downtown (April 12 on MarketWatch…and no, Oregon did not make that list)

Housing market plunge looms thanks to coronavirus (April 21 Forbes)

Coronavirus: Housing demand may be bouncing back (April 23 CNBC)

Nearly 3 in 4 Realtors report no reduction in listing price to attract buyers (April 23 NAR)

Real estate experts optimistic coronavirus won’t have long-term impact on housing market (May 2 on KATU)

Who’s a person to believe?

I’d say talk to someone in the trenches, like a professional Realtor working the market you’re living in or hoping to move to.

I’ve been a Realtor in the Portland metro area for over 30 years, specializing in the Lake Oswego/West Linn market and this is what I’ve been seeing.

Market activity has slowed. That being said, I have closed on four sales in the past two months. But we are feeling some impact from the uncertainty facing the job and stock markets and from the fact that people are staying close to home. Out-of-state transfers fuel a big part of our market, especially on the high end in Lake Oswego, and with current travel restrictions in place, that driver has not played the role it typically does when spring rolls around.

Safety measures are in place to enable real estate transactions to continue here in Oregon. For example, in the sales that I handled, in-person showings were allowed but only by following established social distancing protocol. Shoe coverings and gloves were worn, face masks encouraged, and surfaces sanitized both before and after.

Technology is helping navigate the home search process during these unprecedented times. Virtual tours are a given, and in states like California for a while, they were the only way a potential buyer could view a home. Adding in the 3D perspective makes the experience even more interactive as potential buyers can hang out in rooms they’re most interested in and zoom in on specific features. For a narrated tour, I can walk potential buyers through a FaceTime call, enabling them to not only see the house but get their questions answered in real-time. Much of the paperwork can now be handled digitally as well, eliminating the need to meet face-to-face.

With people sheltering-in-place, many are taking the time to re-evaluate the house they are living in as I referred to in a recent blog. The results of those inventories may result in pent-up demand once conditions start to ease—people wanting to move to bigger homes, bigger yards, smaller homes with fewer rooms to clean, houses with office space for working remotely. There was a shortage of homes for sale leading into the pandemic, so there is definitely room for more homes to come on the market to meet the adjustment homeowners may be wanting to make.

Judging by the experiences of the clients I’ve ushered through these challenging times, I can tell you that there are great opportunities in the market right now. It requires doing business a little differently, which is all the more reason why you need a well-experienced Realtor to help you navigate this new territory. Please give me a call at 503.939.9801 and/or check out my website to get the conversation started. I’m here to help.

 

 

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5 Questions to Ask Yourself Now That You’re a Homebody

Posted on May 3, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

Now that we are all spending so much time in our homes, we have a chance to get to know them more—for better and for worse.

So, while we are using this quarantine time to do things like get more reading done, take some mental and physical inventory, add to our skillsets through online learning, we can also use it to assess our living space.

Here are some questions to ask:

  1. What do you love about your home? I have come to appreciate even more having a yard to retreat to and to just lift my spirits. I love my fireplace both indoors and outside and I really like the great room concept that opens up our kitchen to our family room. My hot tub is a given—in fact, I bought a model that is portable so it can go with me wherever I call home. I like having quiet places to read and having a separate workspace to work from home. And I like that my house is light and bright with lots of windows and white walls. Ask yourself—what are the things that have brought you extra comfort these last few weeks? Those are good qualities to know in a house moving forward.
  2. What do you hate about your home? That’s a hard one for me, but you may find it an easy one to answer. Issues that often prompt my clients to move are: too dark, not big enough, too big, small yard or too big a yard, traffic noise, too far from your kids/parents. If you’ve had to let go of your gardener or your housekeeper during this time, you may be questioning all those extra bathrooms you’re having to clean or re-evaluating all that grass you’re having to mow.
  3. Does your home fit your current lifestyle? One of the ramifications of the current measures in place to maintain social distancing is that more and more Americans may find they enjoy working from home and want to continue doing so once the crisis is over. Does your home have that extra office space to allow that? If your college kids came home and sequestered for the duration, did your house feel too big or too small? Were you too far away from aging parents to feel like you could be there when they needed you? How you answer those questions could guide you in what direction to move in next.
  4. Where does your house show its wear and tear? Now that you’re hanging out so much at home, it’s a good time to take inventory of some spring cleaning/repairing projects that might be needed. Consider jobs you can do yourself like a new coat of paint. I’ve been watching YouTube videos on how to update my cupboard drawers to soft-closing ones. After my first trial, I think I can safely say this is a DIY project I can actually accomplish! Home Depot is open but with reduced hours in case you need supplies for whatever you are planning.
  5. How well do you know your neighbors? In a time like this, we realize how important community is. Do you know your neighbors well enough to know of anyone that might need some extra help during a crisis? Do you have a way of watching out for each other during times like this, or in more normal times, like when one of you is away on vacation? Taking some mental inventory of your relationships with the neighbors around you can help you make some resolutions moving forward. Neighbors can also be one of those things that make your “Things I love” or “Things I hate” lists. Again, all valuable information to have and consider this forced downtime a good time to do just that—gather information.

If getting to know your home better has you thinking you may want to move, feel free to give me a call at 503.939.9801 and/or check out my website. I’ve been helping people move in, out, and around Lake Oswego for over 30 years and I’d love to put my experience to work for you!

 

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Keeping Lake Oswego Beautiful All Year Round

Posted on April 26, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

While the City is known for its hanging baskets that line city streets from spring through summer with color, planted meridians along city streets also infuse the town with colors that change with the seasons. Here is a typical spring display that is just one of the many ways the City keeps Lake Oswego beautiful.

April is Keep America Beautiful month which makes it a perfect time to reflect on some of the ways our city keeps Lake Oswego Beautiful all year-round.

FOCUS ON PUBLIC ART. You don’t need to spend much time in Lake Oswego before realizing the importance the city places on public art. This is accomplished through a variety of means including development code standards that encourage the integration of art into building and site design, the Percent for Art program that designates that a percentage of the total cost of city projects be set aside for public art and the works of the Arts Council of Lake Oswego, most visibly the Gallery Without Walls. In explaining its rationale for the City Percent for Art Program, the City listed some of public art’s benefits as instilling beauty and good design and creating a sense of place. Spend a summer morning in Millennium Plaza Park or stroll through Foothills Park and you’ll get an idea of what city leaders meant.

TREE CODE. City leaders have taken their responsibility to preserve the wooded character of Lake Oswego seriously by maintaining a tree board (the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board), establishing and enforcing a tree ordinance which includes the preservation of trees designated as Historic, allotting for a minimum $42 per capita expenditure for tree planting and maintenance, and annually celebrating Arbor Day. These efforts earned Lake Oswego the designation as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation over 30 years ago.

VILLAGE BASKETS. For six months out of every year, the Lake Oswego Village flower baskets grace our main streets and give us one more reason to love Lake Oswego. This program is a testament to what volunteer time and donations can accomplish. Come mid-May, volunteers hit the streets of Lake Oswego in the wee hours of the morning to hang baskets that will be exploding with color over the summer months. The cost of materials and maintenance is entirely covered by contributions. It’s little surprise that Lake Oswego won the prestigious “America in Bloom” award in 2003.

THE LAKE OSWEGO DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. With all that happens at Millennium Plaza Park, it’s hard to imagine it not being there. But until 1999 it didn’t. Thanks to the Lake Oswego Redevelopment Agency formed twenty years earlier in 1979, the City had a vision and a plan for managing urban renewal activities. By using tax increment financing and other public financing programs, LORA has been the driving force behind such city beautification projects such as Sundeleaf Plaza, Lake View Village, Headlee Walkway and the Boones Ferry Road Improvement Project. While many of the LORA projects result in other benefits like increased economic vitality, they also add to the beauty that is one of our city’s greatest assets.

SUSTAINABILITY. Not everything that goes into making a city beautiful can be seen. Some of it is in the background, ensuring that the environment in which a city’s citizens live and work is cared for and tended to. That was the thinking behind the city’s ban on single-use plastic bags that went into effect before the state-wide ban. It also explains the city’s efforts to educate the public on how to become better stewards of the place where we live by offering tips on ways to reduce our use of plastic both on their website and in public presentations, and through the selection of this year’s Lake Oswego Reads book, Rising by Elizabeth Rush, with its focus on the effects of climate change.

CITY BEAUTIFICATION MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. Drive around Lake Oswego and one of the things you’ll notice is the seasonal changing displays planted in street medians. From daffodils in spring to sunflowers in summer to Black-Eyed Susan’s in the fall, our city maintenance staff take pride in their work which gives us pride in our city.

STREET SWEEPERS. The Public Works Department also is responsible for keeping our city streets clean and free from debris. As a rule, the downtown/commercial areas of the City are swept every other week. Arterials and collectors are swept at least 12 times per year. Curbed residential areas are swept as time allows and debris dictates — generally four to six times a year and more often during the fall and winter to remove leaves and debris. And in keeping with the small-town charm that is Lake Oswego, the city-sponsored a contest to name our sweepers a few years ago and the winning names were: Oscar, Roovis and Bert. There is a new street sweeper in town and the City is running a contest right now to name the new addition. Entries must be in by April 30. The new kid on the block will join the others as they travel over 4,000 miles a year in their mission to keep Lake Oswego streets clean and our water clean from debris.

Keep up-to-date on what’s happening in Lake Oswego. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right-hand column to receive weekly updates in your inbox. 

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Ideas for Celebrating Mother’s Day in Lake Oswego While Quarantining

Posted on April 19, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

As we are all learning, celebrations are taking a different twist these days. From drive-by birthday parties to Zoom weddings, we are having to get creative and adjust.

There’s no postponing Mother’s Day. It arrives on Sunday, May 10th this year so I thought I’d put together some ideas for how to commemorate the occasion, given the social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines we are all following.

Remember that if you plan on ordering anything, shipping is taking longer than usual, so act now so things arrive in time.

Check local restaurant offerings. You will be amazed at what local restaurants are doing to keep their doors open during the pandemic and keep their customers supplied. You can check out my roundup of Lake Oswego restaurants open during COVID-19 and contact your favorite to see if they have anything special planned. I know my family ordered the special Easter Sunday family dinner from La Provence and were extremely satisfied. They plan to do something similar for Mother’s Day. And they offer a weekend family brunch for four on Saturdays and Sundays complete with four of their delicious croissants for $35.

Download Houseparty and set a time when you and your family can connect and play a game together. We did this on Easter with our son in London and our daughter in San Diego and had a blast with a lot of laughs thrown in. There are several games you can choose from including: Heads Up, Trivia, Quick Draw and Chips and Guac.

Plan a spa day. If you can’t send mom to the spa, bring the spa to her. Assemble all the ingredients from a fluffy robe and fragrant candles to face masks. Follow this link for a DIY recipe for make-your-own face mask with ingredients you probably have on hand.

Mix up her own special “quarantini” with ingredients you already have on hand. Let’s face it. Happy hour has become even more important than B.Q. if for no other reason than that it’s something we can put on our schedule. What better way to perk up the mom in your life than to christen a newfangled cocktail in her name? This Philadelphia bartender has put together some innovative ways to mix what you already have in your pantry that you can then claim as your own special creation in her honor.

Make staying at home an adventure-family style. Without the normal schedule we are all used to, one day can seem like the next so why not make Mother’s Day stand out with a family scavenger hunt that can involve everyone? Let’s Roam features in-home scavenger hunts (perfect for quarantining) complete with photo challenges and trivia in an interactive way. We all know that family bonding is one thing that makes a mom’s heart melt, so this could be a real winner if you have little ones in the house.

Gift ideas. With all this “staying in” chances are a luxurious set of bed sheets with a high thread count would be really welcome right about now. And there’s a reason that joke about setting an alarm to remind you to switch from your daytime to your nighttime pajamas has been going around. Those PJ’s may be getting a lot of wear and tear so a Pajamagram order may be just the ticket! Right now they’re offering a Buy one Get one free special so you might be able to take care of two moms on your list at once!

P.S. Please note that any ads that may appear on my blog are not endorsed by me. They are placed there by WordPress.

Homes are selling during these times. If you’re considering moving or buying a home, feel free to give me a call at 503.939.9801 to get the conversation started. Check out my website to see what has been happening. 

 

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Love Notes Found in Lake Oswego During This Time of Social Distancing

Posted on April 12, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

Discovered this COVID-19 approved version of an Easter display in someone’s yard on Albert Circle.

It’s Easter Sunday and most likely those of us who celebrate that as well as Passover find ourselves improvising this year.

I thought it a good time to spread the good news that I’ve discovered on walks recently. Time and time again I run across Lake Oswego neighbors’ attempts to connect with neighbors while maintaining their social distance. I appreciate the creativity, but even more so, the thoughtfulness and figured you would too.

During these challenging times, there are still ways to bring a smile to a neighbor’s face and hope to a neighbor’s heart. I wanted to pass these on just in case you don’t have the good fortune to pass by these love notes.

Spotted on Melissa Drive

Spotted in River Run neighborhood

Spotted in Village on the Lake neighborhood

Spotted on Albert Circle

This and the ones below were spotted in Village on the Lake neighborhood

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SUPPORT LAKE OSWEGO RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR TAKEOUT DURING COVID-19 (AND CELEBRATE ARBOR WEEK)

Posted on April 5, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

One of the hardest-hit industries during this COVID-19 epidemic has been the restaurant business.

But here in Lake Oswego, many food establishments are doing their best to stay open on a takeout/delivery basis.

And many of them are supporting each other like Deno’s Pizzeria which has been ordering lunch for its staff from local restaurants.

Here is a roundup of what to expect from some of your favorite go-to café’s, pizza parlors, restaurants and burger joints. As you’ve come to experience, things can change rapidly in this environment so be sure to check the website or better yet, social media for the latest updates. This information is based on my research the week of March 30.

ADISAYA THAI is open for takeout or delivery from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. 1235 McVey Avenue, 503.635.0813.

AJI TRAM is open for takeout from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Orders can be placed from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. by either texting 503.701.6909 or calling 503.342.6249. Payment must be made over the phone—cash is not being accepted at this time. 4477 SW Lakeview Blvd.

AVA ROASTERIA is open for takeout or delivery seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Kruse Village 4847 Meadows Road, #147, 503.305.6328.

BABICA HEN AND GUBANC’S. Both establishments are offering curbside takeout from noon to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Place your order by calling and paying over the phone. Babica: 15964 Boones Ferry Rd., 503.636.4012. Gubanc’s: 16008 Boones Ferry Rd., 503.635.2102.

BAIRD’S ON B BAR AND GRILL. Call in after 3:00 p.m. for pickup orders 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 503.303.4771. 485 Second Street.

BAJA FRESH is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for takeout. Order online. 17805 SW 65th Avenue, 503.620.6732.

BAMBOO SUSHI is open for takeout or delivery from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. (The first delivery fee is on them!) Order online. 380 First Street. 503.387.6565.

BAMBUZA is open for takeout 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Order online. 4811 Meadows Road, #113. 503.635.3716.

BELLAGIO’S PIZZA is open for delivery or takeout from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 1399 McVey Avenue, 503.635.8700.

CAFÉ MARZOCCA ITALIAN ESPRESSO BAR is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for takeout. 16045 Boones Ferry Road, 503.636.5001.

CASA DEL POLLO is keeping normal hours from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and offering their complete menu. Just call in your order at 503.344.4354. They’ll deliver curbside once you arrive or you can arrange for free delivery on orders over $20 or use UberEats or GrubHub. 15088 Bangy Rd., 503.344.4354.

CHA CHA CHA TAQUERIA is open for touch-free delivery only (the driver will call on their way and leave your order at your front door). Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday. Order online. 4823 Meadows Road, 503.305.6225.

CHUCKIE PIES is open for takeout 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 370 First Street, 503.342.6207. Follow their Instagram account for updates: @chuckiepies

COFFEE PLUS is open for takeout from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. 17777 Pilkington Road, #200, 503.699.8614.

DENO’S PIZZERIA is open for takeout from 11:00 a..m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to pizza, you can order a bottle of their fresh-made Caesar and Balsamic Dressings and/or one of their fresh-made pizza dough balls to make your own at home. 4475 Lakeview Blvd., 503.635.6219,

DOMAINE SERENE WINE LOUNGE will continue to update their menu for takeout and curbside pickup from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. 300 1st Street. Call to place your order: 503.664.7030.

DOMINO’S PIZZA is offering “contactless delivery” where the delivery person will notify you when they arrive instead of meeting you at the door. Takeout also available. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. 1235 McVey Avenue, 503.908.7605.

DUKE’S PUBLIC HOUSE has a To-go menu posted on their website and asks that payments be made over the phone. No cash at this time. Hours: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Please place your orders from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 506 A Avenue, 503.387.5771.

ELEPHANTS DELICATESSEN is open for takeout, delivery and curbside pickup (free delivery on orders over $50). 5885 SW Meadows Road, 503.620.2444.

FIVE SPICE. To-go orders are available here from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week for both curbside pickup as well as delivery through GrubHub. Visit their website to see the menu offerings, then call to place your order at 503.697.8889.

FLYING PIE PIZZA is open on a takeout basis only from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Call ahead to place your order so it will be ready upon arrival. They also over “Par-baked” pizzas which you can finish at home as long as your oven is large enough to accommodate the size. 3 Monroe Parkway, Suite S, 503.675.7377.

FRESHII is open for takeout from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 4811 Meadows Road, Suite 111, 503.908.8124.

GIANT DRIVE-IN is staying open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call to place your order so it’s ready when you come in: 503.636.0255. 15840 Boones Ferry Road.

GUBANC’S AND BABICA HEN. Both establishments are offering curbside takeout from noon to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Place your order by calling and paying over the phone. Babica: 15964 Boones Ferry Rd., 503.636.4012. Gubanc’s: 16008 Boones Ferry Rd., 503.635.2102.

HANKO’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Order from their full menu, including filling your growlers. 4 Monroe Parkway, #F, 503.697.7819.

HAPPY SPARROW, featuring “kolaches” –sweet yeasty dough buns filled with sweet and savory ingredients, is open for takeout from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 5405 Jean Road, 503.305.5968.

HOP N CORK is making sure beer lovers are well supplied, filling cans and growlers. No takeout food at this time. Check their Facebook page for updated hours. 17450 Lower Boones Ferry Road, 503.305.5903.

KURATA’S is open for takeout from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 450 5th Street, 503.675.4496.

KYRA’S. Lake Oswego’s only dedicated gluten-free restaurant is currently only offering next day pre-order done in quantities of 1 dozen unless otherwise specified. Offerings include cookies, galettes, muffins, vegan sandwich bread, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, whole quiche, truffles. Pickup hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. 599 A Avenue, 503.212.2979.

LA PROVENCE is open for takeout or delivery (GrubHub) breakfast, lunch and bakery goods from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday. All tips and donations are going towards hourly employees who have been temporarily laid off. There is also a link to a GoFundMe fundraiser for laid-off restaurant staff. AND they are offering a special Easter Sunday Dinner menu, fully prepared and packaged — all you have to do is take home and reheat. Place your order by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10th, and pick up on April 11 or 12 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 16350 Boones Ferry Rd., 503.635.4533.

LAKE OSWEGO ICE CREAMERY & RESTAURANT is open for takeout from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. 37 A Avenue, 503.636.4933.

LITTLE BIG BURGER is open for takeout from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Order online for pickup or delivery through DoorDash. 3 Monroe Parkway, Suite T, 503.744.0792.

MALEE’S THAI KITCHEN is open for takeout from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 15902 Boones Ferry Road, 503.636.4384.

MANZANA ROTISSERIE GRILL. Online ordering and curbside pickup is now available from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Delivery is also available through GrubHub. Check their website for discounts. When I checked, they were offering 10% off orders. 305 1st Street Lake Oswego, OR 97034, 503.675.3322.

MOD PIZZA can be ordered through their app, online or on the phone to be picked up at their Grab&Go station, curbside or at-home delivery. Available 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. 4811 Meadows Rd., Suite 115, 971.233.7103.

MOMO SUSHI is open for takeout from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 (ish)p.m. Monday through Friday and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call to place your order. 3970 Mercantile Drive, 180-A, 503.387.5118.

MY FIT FOODS is open for in-store and curbside pickup as well as delivery (free on orders over $50). Use the code STAYHEALTHY for 20% off your next order for home delivery. Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. Become a member for $10/month and receive 20% off all meals. Kruse Village, 4835 SW Meadows Drive, #137, 503.305.5038.

NEXT LEVEL BURGER is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily for both takeout and delivery through DoorDash, Postmates and GrubHub. Order online for pickup or delivery. 11 S. State Street, 503.305.6146.

NICOLETTA’S TABLE AND MARKETPLACE. Nicoletta’s is open for business on a takeout/delivery basis. The takeout menu features a limited selection of their popular offerings. Orders can be picked up curbside or delivered using their own local delivery service to ensure sanitation standards are being met. The dedicated online ordering number if 971.252.8100. Revised hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. They are also offering onsite catering in your home or office. 333 South State Street, Suite M.  503.699.2927 – main line; 971-252-8100 – takeout and delivery.

OSWEGO GRILL is open for curbside pickup takeout business from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. Check their featured online menu and then call to place your order. 7 Centerpointe Drive, 503.352.4750.

PAPA MURPHY’S PIZZA is open 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the weekdays; until 9:00 p.m. on weekends. 15630 Boones Ferry Road, 503.636.1785.

PHO’ LAVANG is open for takeout 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. You can request curbside delivery when you call in your order and pay over the phone. 16120 Boones Ferry Road, 503.697.6253. https://pholavangpdx.com/

PINE SHED RIBS AND BARBECUE. After being closed for almost three weeks, this popular local spot re-opened on Friday, April 3 and will be open seven days a week from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for takeout and delivery. Place your order by calling 503.635.7427. 17730 Pilkington Road.

PIZZERIA SUL LAGO is open for delivery (GrubHub) and takeout from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 8:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 315 1st St., Suite 101, 503.305.8088.

PIZZICATO PIZZA is open for takeout (including curbside pickup so you can stay in your vehicle) and delivery from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. You can call in your order and pay over the phone or place your order online. The delivery fee is currently being waived. They also offer par-baked pizzas you can take home to finish. 15180 SW Bangy Road, 503.670.8388.

RICCARDO’S RISTORANTE is serving lunch from noon until 4:00 p.m. and dinner from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday on a takeout basis. Call to place your order and if you pay over the phone, they can bring your order out curbside. 16035 SW Boones Ferry Rd., 503.636.4104. https://www.riccardoslo.com/

SALT & STRAW is now offering local delivery and pick-up via Postmates and UberEats. Flavors are a bit limited right now but it looks like you can get favorites like Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Double Fold Vanilla, Pots of Gold & Rainbows, Pear and Blue Cheese, Bone Marrow and Smoked Cherries, Strawberry and Coconut Water Sherbet as well as some holiday throwbacks like Peppermint Cocoa and Cinnamon Chai Spiced Eggnog. They are also offering shipped packs with a minimum order of 5 pints. Currently, you can choose from the “Treat Yourself” Series featuring one pint each of Pots of Gold and Rainbows, Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Strawberry Coconut Water Sherbet (vegan) and Double Fold Vanilla or the “Seeing Rainbows” pack featuring, you guessed it—five pints of Pots of Gold and Rainbows. Both options are scheduled to ship out April 13. Order online. It appears that the shipping cost to Lake Oswego is $10.

SEÑOR TACO is open for takeout from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 333 S. State Street, 503.635.8226.

ST. HONORE is open for takeout and delivery through DoorDash or Postmate from 6:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., and then, depending on business, they could close any time before 7:00 p.m. 315 1st St., Suite 103, 503.496.5596.

STANFORD’S is offering 10% off to-go orders that can be placed online and picked up curbside or delivered from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. 14801 Kruse Oaks Blvd., 503.620.3541.

STARBUCKS is open for takeout and delivery (limited time offering: free delivery on Uber Eats for orders over $10 in certain locations) at some of the Lake Oswego locations. They include: 16398 Boones Ferry Road (503.699.3000), 15645 Boones Ferry Road (503.635.2266), and the in-store locations at Albertsons, 16199 Boones Ferry Road (503.635.3429) and Safeway , 401 A Avenue (503.675.4480).  Temporarily closed locations are 1175 McVey, 8 Centerpointe Drive, 5800 Meadows, 47 N. State Street, and 3 Monroe Parkway.

STAR TERIYAKI opens Monday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m., closing at 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. 15572 SW Boones Ferry Road, 503.636.9491.

SZECHUAN KITCHEN is open for takeout Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to @8:30 p.m., 12:00 p.m. to @7:30-ish on the weekends. Call: 503.699.5056 for pickup or place delivery order with GrubHub. 15450 Boones Ferry Road.

TADA SUSHI STUDIO offers free delivery for Lake Oswego customers who live within 3 miles. Open for takeout 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 455 Second Street, 503.882.2865.

TAVERN ON KRUSE is offering paid takeout meals and bottles of wine on Tuesdays and Fridays to help support free meals for restaurant workers who have been laid off. Meals can be ordered online ahead of time (they sell out) and then picked up from 4:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the scheduled day. At press time, the meal for Tuesday, April 7 was Moroccan Spiced Lamb Shank. 4835 Meadows Rd., Suite 133, 503.303.5280.

THAI BASIL is open for takeout from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 4:0 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 6328 SW Meadows Road, 503.601.8424.

TOO SWEET CAKES, a new bakery in town, is open for takeout from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily. 5755 Willow Lane, 503.305.8381.

TUCCI. Dinner is being served nightly here on a takeout basis. You can walk in and place your orders personally (honoring the social distancing guidelines), call it in and pick it up (they’ll provide curbside service if requested) or place your order through Postmates for delivery. They open at 4:00 with closing hours subject to change; however, at the moment they are open until 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  220 A Avenue, 503.697.3383.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED:

CASA PEQUENA TAQUERIA – plans to reopen in May

GEMINI BAR AND GRILL

HOLY TACO

JEFE’S

NOLA DOUGHNUTS

PEET’S COFFEE AND TEA

STARBUCKS LOCATIONS: 1175 McVey, 8 Centerpointe Drive, 5800 Meadows, 47 N. State Street, and 3 Monroe Parkway

STICKMEN’S BREWERY (Their Tualatin location is open)

THE DULLAHAN IRISH PUB

WESTLAKE PUBLIC HOUSE

If I missed any of your favorites, please chime in with what you know! Leave a comment and I’ll be sure to add it to the list. And if you have questions about how COVID-19 is affecting the Lake Oswego real estate market or how that impacts your home, please check out a recent blog, give me a call at 503.939.9801 and/or check out my website. I’m here as your real estate expert and would love to put my knowledge to work for you!

CELEBRATE ARBOR WEEK IN LAKE OSWEGO

One of the things you’re bound to notice on all the social isolation walks you’ve been taking in Lake Oswego is the enormous tree canopy that graces out neighborhoods. They’ve been especially beautiful with all the blossoms heralding the arrival of spring.

So it should come as no surprise that for 31 years, the City of Lake Oswego has earned Tree City USA (TCUSA) designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The TCUSA program recognizes cities for demonstrating a strong commitment to managing and caring for trees. Cities earn TCUSA status by meeting four standards: maintaining a tree board (the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board), having a tree ordinance, spending a minimum $2 per capita on urban forest management, and proclaiming and celebrating Arbor Day annually. There are currently 67 TCUSA cities across Oregon. Visit www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/ to learn more.

Arbor Day is America’s National Tree Holiday, observed on the last Friday of April to celebrate the role of trees in our lives and to promote tree planting and care. In Lake Oswego, we celebrate an entire Arbor Week during the first full week in April. The City Council has proclaimed April 5-11, 2020 as Lake Oswego Arbor Week.

In light of efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the City has temporarily postponed Arbor Week group activities and tentatively scheduled Urban & Community Forestry Workshops. Keep checking back to my blog and the City’s online community calendar and visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning, for events to be announced as they are rescheduled.

Here are some suggestions for ways to celebrate Arbor Week while still observing social distancing guidelines.

  • Be a Forest Hero by protecting neighborhood trees from invasive ivy.

The Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC) is encouraging community members to make a difference by removing tree ivy in their neighborhood. Being an “urban forest superhero” is hard work and the City wants to ensure that they recognize the efforts of their community stewards. Here’s what they ask you to do:

  1. Find out how to remove tree ivy at https://www.oswegowatershed.org/arbor-week-community-ivy-pull/
  2. Please be sure you have permission from the property owner before you attack that ivy.
  3. Take a photo of trees that you saved from ivy.
  4. Send them our way by tagging @oswegolakewcon Facebook or Instagram by using #LOTreeHero. You can also email your pictures to Kat Maloney, Outreach Specialist with OLWC, at kat@oswegowatershed.org.

At the end of the week, the City will post how many trees the community saved from ivy during Arbor Week!

  • 2020 Heritage Tree Designations

The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board recently designated two new Heritage Trees, a 68-inch diameter redwood towering 117-feet in height with a 60-foot crown spread at 905 Laurel Street and a 53-inch diameter Douglas-fir soaring 125-feet in height with a 50-foot crown spread at 937 F Avenue. Dedication celebrations will be held at each tree later this year but you can incorporate a few on one of your walks. View the Heritage Tree Guide and browse the online Story Map.

LOOKING AHEAD:

FORESTRY AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET

Saturday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park, 200 First Street

Celebrate forestry at the Farmers’ Market on opening day! Activities include Urban & Community Forestry booths and activities for children and adults. Spin the prize wheel, do a craft, watch a tree pruning demonstration, receive a free tree seedling, answer tree trivia, win raffle prizes and learn about stewardship opportunities in your neighborhood.

WORKSHOP SERIES

For the 14th consecutive year, the City will offer a series of free Urban and Community Forestry Workshops for the public. Please call 503-635-0290 or email planning@lakeoswego.city for free registration. Space is limited and preference is given to Lake Oswego residents. Dates are subject to change. This year’s lineup includes:

  • Tree Pruning

Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Foothills Park Pavilion, 199 Foothills Road

Understand why, what, and how to prune to develop healthy, strong, and attractive trees and shrubs. Explore pruning types, proper cutting tools and techniques, and tree responses to pruning. Bring pruning tools, if you have them, and wear appropriate clothing for working outside in this hands-on workshop led by ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Damon Schrosk of Treecology, Inc. Refreshments will be provided.

  • Native & Invasive Tree Identification Walking Tour

Saturday, August 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m., meet at Forest Hills Elementary School, 1133 Andrews Road

Identify and discuss common native and invasive tree species with ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Todd Prager of Teragan & Associates on a neighborhood walking tour. Todd will explain common terms, concepts, and techniques used in tree identification, and help you become familiar with how to identify a tree by looking at leaves, fruit, bark, twigs, and form. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring your own water.

  • Understanding the Tree Code: Removal & Protection Permits

Thursday, August 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Lake Oswego City Hall, Council Chambers (380 A Avenue)

Explore the City’s tree code requirements for tree protection and tree removal permits. This workshop includes an indoor presentation to explain the various types of tree removal permits and requirements for tree protection, with a focus on recent tree code amendments, and an outdoor demonstration with examples of measuring tree diameter, tree protection fencing, and techniques for protecting trees during construction.

  • Landscaping for Wildlife

Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Tryon State Natural Area (Meet in the Classroom)

Birdbaths to mason bees – how to add habitat value to your yard using the wildlife stewardship options from the Backyard Habitat Certification program. Join Friends of Tryon Creek Education Director Gabe Sheoships and Backyard Habitat Certification Program Site Technician Cindy Ellison to learn about creating natural habitat in your own yard space. Consider the benefits of the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, which is conducted in partnership with the Audubon Society of Portland and the Columbia Land Trust, to support urban stewards and their efforts to create and enhance native habitats. This workshop will include an indoor presentation, discussion, and native plant hike.

Other Workshops to be Scheduled This Year:

  • Pollinators: Gardening for Bees
  • Right Tree in the Right Place: Selection, Planting and Care

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Lake Oswego and all the reasons to love living here by subscribing to my blog. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right-hand column to receive weekly updates. If you are thinking about moving here, please give me a call at 503.939.9801. I’d love to answer any questions you may have. And be sure to check out my website.

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