Lake Oswego makes it easy to get in the holiday spirit

Posted on December 1, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

The horse-drawn carriage rides in downtown Lake Oswego, Oregon, have been a big hit with our family.

Lake Oswego, Oregon is making it very easy for you to get into the holiday spirit over the next few weeks. Once again this town of 36,000 belies its size in the variety of activities it offers to ensure that there is more merry and less bah humbug in your December. Here is just a sampling of events to choose from.

WHITE CHRISTMAS: The Lakewood Theatre Company continues its performances of the holiday favorite with shows running from December 1-18 with Thursday-Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on December 4, 11, and 18 and one Sunday evening performance on December 11 at 7 p.m. Held at the Lakewood Center for the Arts at 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego. Ticket prices: $32 for adults, $29 for seniors with other discounts available for students, groups and season ticket holders.  Order online , call (503) 635-3901 or stop by the Lakewood Center for the Arts.

WEST END HOLIDAY MARKET: Enjoy a European style indoor market with crafts, gifts, ornaments, treats and entertainment at the West End Building, 4101 Kruse Way, Lake Oswego. Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get your kid’s photo taken with Santa and his elves at the Youth Action Council  photo booth from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Cost: $6 each or two for $10.

HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES: Snuggle up with a blanket and tour downtown Lake Oswego in holiday style. Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 11 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Rides depart from Millennium Plaza Park, 200 First Street in Lake Oswego. Cost: $3 for ages 11 and older; $1 for children ages 3-10; free for ages 2 and under.

“HOLIDAY MAGIC BREAKFAST THEATRE”: Children from ages 3-12 will enjoy this musical revue featuring some of their favorite holiday and fairy tale characters brought to life by students from Lakeridge, Clackamas, Wilson and Jesuit High Schools. A continental breakfast will be served 30 minutes before each show at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 10 and 17 at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, Community Meeting Room, 368 State Street, Lake Oswego. Advance reservations are required and can be made by purchasing $11 tickets either online or by calling (503) 635-3901.

HOLIDAY CONCERTS: If music helps you get in the mood, then you’re in luck. In addition to local high school holiday concerts, you can check out some of these: The Bells ‘n Brass Holiday Program at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 4 at 1:30 and 4 p.m. featuring the Oregon Symphony Brass Quintet; The Lake Oswego Mellennium Concert Band at Lakeridge High School on Sunday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.; or the Marylhurst Symphony Christmas POPS Concert on Sunday, December 11 at 7 p.m. in the Clark Commons at Marylhurst University. And while it’s not a concert, there will be holiday sounds offered by The Stafford Singers at 2 p.m. during the Lake Oswego Library’s Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Check the links for details to all these events.

LAKEWOOD IN LIGHTS: The Lakewood Center has decked the halls for this annual event to benefit the Rising Star Program which offers performance and education opportunities for youth at the Lakewood Theatre Company. The evening of music, food and silent and oral auctions will be hosted by Tracy Barry and Larry Blackmar. Monday, December 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street. Tickets: $50.00 ($35 tax-deductible) are available online, at the Lakewood Center Box Office or by calling 503-635-3901.

 HOLIDAY HOME TOUR: The Lake Oswego Women’s Club has arranged for you to tour five of Lake Oswego’s finest homes all decked out in their holiday splendor with proceeds benefiting local non-profits and community organizations. Thursday, December 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 with special reduced pricing for groups of four or more. Available online or at local stores.

WINTER BREAK ACTIVITIES: No need for the kids to get bored while waiting for Santa to arrive. The Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department has put together a holiday schedule of camps and events including a Holiday Gift Workshop, Lake Oswego Moms Club Holiday Faire, and Winter Break Holiday Camp. Check it out.

HOLIDAY HOUSES OF LAKE OSWEGO: Businesses of Lake Oswego will compete to see who can create the most popular gingerbread house during this second annual event. Pick up a tour map at the Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department at 4101 Kruse Way in Lake Oswego, check out all the houses displayed in local stores and vote for your favorite between Monday, December 12 and Saturday, December 24. Participating businesses are still being lined up. Call for more information: (503) 697-6500.

CHRISTMAS SHIPS PARADE: Bundle up and head over to Foothills Park at 199 Foothills Drive in Lake Oswego on Saturday, December 17, for a perfect vantage point (especially if you warm up by the shelter fire) to view up to 60 holiday boats as they make their way from RiverPlace Marina in Portland to George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. Estimated time of arrival is 6:15 to 6:30. Event dependent on weather and river conditions. Check for details.

What’s your favorite holiday event? I’d love to hear about it.

Be sure to stay up-to-date on things to do and reasons to love Lake Oswego. Subscribe to my blog by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

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Giving thanks for living in Lake Oswego, Oregon

Posted on November 23, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

As we gather around our Thanksgiving table, we'll give thanks that we live in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

On Thursday, Lake Oswegans will gather around their tables to give thanks for what is most meaningful to them. With all three of our kids home, our blessings will surround us as we carry on our family tradition of writing what we are grateful for on paper cutout leaves before attaching them to our Thanksgiving tree.

In years past those leaves have spoken of appreciation for home cooked meals from our away-at-college son, friends from our super-extroverted daughter, a job as a columnist with the Oregonian from our writer-daughter.

This blog feels like a weekly Thanksgiving moment as I reflect on why I love living in Lake Oswego, Oregon and why you might too. From the Lake Grove Swim Park to the cross-town rivalry between our two high schools, I have shared 26 Reasons to Love Lake Oswego since this blog started on May 24, 2011 and thanks to this incredible town we live in, there is no shortage of ideas!

I feel blessed to call Lake Oswego home, and will be sure to include that on my contribution to this year’s Costello family Thanksgiving tree.

 ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

One of my favorite reasons to love Lake Oswego is making its annual appearance this week: the 47th Annual Tree Lighting ceremony and parade in downtown Lake Oswego sponsored by both the City of Lake Oswego and Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce. Festivities begin at the corner of 5th and A Avenue at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 25, for the lighting of the Bigelow Plaza Holiday Tree. The Millennium Band will herald in Santa’s arrival as he leads the parade down A Avenue to Millennium Plaza Park for a second tree lighting, refreshments and entertainment by show choirs from both high schools, The Windjammers from Lake Oswego High School, and Company from Lakeridge High School.

 SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

You can also celebrate another asset of Lake Oswego this weekend by taking part in the national Small Business Saturday initiative on November 26. Kick off your holiday shopping season right in town. From A for Art to Y for Yoga, you can find the perfect gift while supporting local merchants who have invested their time, money and resources into our community. Check out the Chamber of Commerce directory to get you started. Enjoy the hunt!

Do you have a favorite small business in Lake Oswego you plan on supporting this holiday season? Why not share what it is and why you love it! Spread the word.

Spread the word about “52 Reasons to Love Lake Oswego.” Join other subscribers by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

Photo credit: MorgueFile photo taken by Mary R. Vogt

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There’s no place like home for the holidays when home is Lake Oswego, Oregon

Posted on November 17, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

There's no place like home for college students returning to Lake Oswego, Oregon for Thanksgiving.

Dorothy had it right when she closed her eyes, clicked the heels of her ruby slippers and recited, “There’s no place like home, There’s no place like home.”  So did Perry Como when he sang, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.” The sentiment is especially true when “home” is Lake Oswego, Oregon. Check out what these college students have to say about coming home to the city of Lake Oswego for Thanksgiving.

CALI REIS, Lake Oswego high school grad at Santa Clara University: I love coming home for Thanksgiving because there are so many wonderful people to see! With such a small, personable community I am always running into someone I know everywhere I go. It is also nice to eat home cooked meals for a week instead of dorm food and usually our football teams are still in the playoffs so I’m able to support my high school.

GEORGE LIN, Lakeridge high school grad, attending USC: Coming home to Lake Oswego is really relaxing. Sure, the city is fun, but there is something about LO that makes it calming. It’s nice to experience the seasons as well. The sun isn’t all that great, believe it or not. I miss the cool weather and the laid back people. Lake Oswego has a homey feeling to it that cannot be described. Something about it makes you want to go home.

BRETT KEHOE, Lake Oswego high school grad, attending Santa Clara University: I love going back to places I spent a lot of time at throughout my high school years. It’s really fun to go back and see my old teachers and hear about how my younger siblings are doing with some of the same teachers I had. And going back to Zeppo, where I worked for two years off and on in high school, is always really fun because a lot of the same people still work there, and the work staff there is like a big family which I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of.

ERIK HILLIER, Lakeridge high school grad, attending Monterey Pacific College: When I get to visit home, I’m sure to hit Miss Kim’s (also known as Oishi Sushi and Teriyaki) and Señor Taco as well as Lakeridge to see old teachers and coaches. I also like to scope out the lake because when you leave Lake Oswego, you realize how beautiful it really is.

 KATY WENDLAND, Lake Oswego high school grad, attending Santa Clara University: I love coming home for Thanksgiving so that my family can all be together for once instead of spread across three different states. It reminds me of when I was younger, and I love that feeling. I’m also super excited to go to my favorite restaurant,  Zeppo, and pumped that the seasonal special at Burgerville will be sweet potato fries because they are my favorite.

ROBBIE MAGILL, Lakeridge high school grad, attending Oregon State: The most important reason to come home for Thanksgiving is definitely spending time with my family. We enjoy a huge home cooked meal together, go to the movies and knock out some early Christmas shopping. I’m also looking forward to some Señor Taco burritos and good quality sushi when I get into LO.

BEN SWINFORD, Lakeridge high school grad, attending Cornell: My favorite parts of coming home to Lake Oswego for Thanksgiving are: catching up with family and friends, saying hi to old teachers and coaches, throwing on the dry-suit to go waterskiing and wakeboarding, boating to downtown with the family to get dinner, not freezing every time I step outside (thank you upstate New York for this new appreciation), and the Turkey Bowl—annual football game with friends on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the high school. (Since he is back in New York going to school, Ben won’t be able to make it home for Thanksgiving this year).

Here are a few more reasons why “There’s no place like home for the holidays” here in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Catch these four holiday events this upcoming weekend:

LAKERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL HOLIDAY BAZAAR Saturday, November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school located at 1235 Overlook Drive, Lake Oswego, Oregon. This is a first-time event sponsored by the Freshman class so why not support it and get a head start on your holiday shopping.

THANKSGIVING REUNION MARKET Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park. Here’s a cure for Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market withdrawal. Close to 30 vendors will be on hand to help you stock up for your Thanksgiving feast including Blue Ribbon Bakery, Hoffman’s Dairy Farms, Zoe Ann’s Cheesecakes and DeNoble Farms. For entertainment, there is live music by Sky in the Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and hay rides through downtown Lake Oswego. Cost is $3 for 10 and older, $1 for 3-9 year olds and free for children under 3.

WHITE CHRISTMAS presented by the Lakewood Theatre Company Thursday through Saturday, November 17-19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 20 at 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego. Performances continue through December 18. Check the schedule for times.

OSWEGO HERITAGE COUNCIL HOLIDAY ART SHOW AND SALE Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 pm and Sunday, November 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Heritage House, 398 10th Street. Let local artists make your gift giving easy and memorable.

What’s your favorite thing about being home for the Thanksgiving holiday? Let us know.

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Get Cultured and Get Healthy in Lake Oswego This Month

Posted on November 9, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

Do your health a favor this next month—attend one of the four stage productions being offered by the local high schools and Lakewood Theatre Company. According to Norwegian scientists who studied the cultural habits of over 50,000 adults, participating in the arts can make you feel better. Don’t worry–you don’t have to be on stage for the benefits to kick in. Just take a seat at one of these upcoming performances and cash in on this deceptively simple but highly entertaining way to take care of your health.

GREASE put on by Lake Oswego High School shines the spotlight on young love as it faces the test of peer pressure. Almost 100 students are involved in bringing this musical to the stage with such favorites as “Greased Lightnin,” and “You’re the One that I Want.”

Performances:   7 p.m. on Thursdays, November 10 and 17; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, November  12 and 19 at the Lake Oswego High School Auditorium at 2501 SW Country Club Road.

Ticket prices: $12 general admission, $8 for seniors and students, and $5 for children 5 and under. Available online or at the door.

WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY at Lakeridge High School takes you on a fanciful musical tour as Willie Wonka searches for the heir to his candy enterprise. Enjoy such popular hits as “The Candy Man,” and “Pure Imagination.”

Performances :  7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, November 11, 12, 18, 19 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13 and Saturday, November 19 at the Lakeridge Auditorium at 1235 Overlook Drive.

Ticket prices: $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and students, $8 for children 12 and under. Available online  or at the door.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND performed by Westside Christian High School at the Alpenrose Dairy Opera House recounts Carroll’s story in a unique way featuring live, original music composed by Michael Allen Harrison and aerial acrobatics choreographed by local dance troupe, Do Jump! Theater.

Performances:  7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13 at the  Alpenrose Opera House located at 6149 SW Shattuck Road, Portland.

Ticket prices: $11.50 general admission, $8.50 for seniors, $6.50 for students and special group pricing of $5 each for 20 or more by calling (503) 307-7474 . Available  online or at the door.

WHITE CHRISTMAS presented by the Lakewood Theatre Company kicks off the holiday season with this classic tale featuring Irving Berlin hits  such as “I Love a Piano,” and the title tune, “White Christmas.”

Performances: The show runs from November 10-December 18 with Thursday – Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. (no performance on Thanksgiving); Sundays at 7 p.m. (November 13, 20, 27 and December 11); Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. (November 13, 27, December 4, 11, 18) and one Wednesday performance on November 30 at 7:30 p.m. Held at the Lakewood Center for the Arts at 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego.

Ticket prices: $32 for adults, $29 for seniors with other discounts available for students, groups and season ticket holders.  Order online, call (503) 635-3901 or stop by the Lakewood Center for the Arts.

Photo credit: stock .xchng Image ID 566218

Check back in after you’ve seen a show and let me know how you liked it and if it made you feel better!

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Community Culture Summit Invites Lake Oswegans to Shape Their City’s Future

Posted on November 2, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

Lake Oswego—it has come a long way from an industrial town with little more than an iron smelter and stump -studded Sucker Lake to brag about. City officials and citizen advocates would like to take it even further with a vision into the year 2035 and are asking residents to get involved in that process.

Under the umbrella of We Love Lake Oswego: Planning for People, Places and Prosperity, the city has conducted surveys, hosted public forums and enlisted public participation through citizen action committees and advisory groups in an effort to update the Comprehensive Plan, the city’s road map for policy and planning. While first established in 1978 and updated in the early 1990s, the state has mandated that cities revisit their plans once again and with the changes Lake Oswego has seen from an increased population to declining school enrollment, the timing is right.

This Thursday, November 3, citizens are invited to attend a Community Culture Summit from 6-8 pm in the Lake Oswego High School Library (preceded by a mixer from 5:30-6 pm). Using a small group discussion format, participants will be asked to give their input on: education, recreation, the arts, the library, history, and civic engagement.

Some of the questions citizens will be asked to comment on include:

  • What should Lake Oswego look like?
  • What’s the best way to sustain a thriving business community?
  • How should we get around town?

If you can’t attend, you can join the online virtual open house  from November 1-11. The opportunity is there to make sure your voice is heard.

One thing you can say and love about Lake Oswegans—they are opinionated with a vested interest in the community in which they live. Just open up the Lake Oswego Review and check out the editorial page. Letters to the editor pose debates in real time as citizens extol the pros and cons of redevelopment, relocating the library, or closing schools.  The city of Lake Oswego is counting on harnessing that engagement in this opportunity to shape Lake Oswego’s future. As their informational video explains, “It’s your turn to imagine the future.”

Consider subscribing to “52 Reasons to Love Lake Oswego.” Just click on the “Sign me up” button in the upper right hand corner. And let me know…what are some of your reasons for loving Lake Oswego?

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Check out these great Lake Oswego neighborhoods for Halloween trick-or-treaters, oh my!

Posted on October 27, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

Our three trick-or-treaters getting ready to hit the Lake Oswego streets

In our house, Halloween wasn’t about the search for the Great Pumpkin…it was all about the hunt for the candy. Our kids had it down to a six part process:

  1. Candy collecting
  2. Candy weighing
  3. Candy counting
  4. Candy sorting
  5. Candy trading
  6. Candy eating

Although we didn’t live in a high-traffic trick-or-treat neighborhood, our kids still managed to come home with at least a six month stash. They would all start their night by visiting our neighbor, Betsy,  who made herself the most popular house on the street by handing out king size candy bars.

Even if you don’t have a Betsy on your street, Lake Oswego neighborhoods won’t disappoint on Halloween. Here are some of the best spots to hit:

WESTLAKE: The biggest haul of my son’s trick-or-treating life was when he joined a group of friends and they vanned their way through Westlake neighborhoods. He came home with over 20 pounds of the sweet stuff.

Westlake resident Lois Barnum knows the drill. Even though she is located in a cul-de-sac, she has handed out candy to as many as 160 kids on Halloween night. Anything under 90 is a slow night for her. Located within a walking school district in a neighborhood of mostly 3-5 bedroom houses, there are lots of kids ready to hit the streets. That’s not to mention the vans whose candy tracking GPS leads them to Westlake.

Barnum dons a witch’s hat when greeting trick-or-treaters at the door and will even do a rendition of “I’ll get you my little pretty,” for the older and wiser crowd. Some of her favorite costumed characters? She has quite a list from the all male high school group dressed as 1950s cheerleaders who formed a pyramid outside her door as their trick for her treat to the baby bumblebees. “They always get me,” she explains.

MARYLHURST: Van drop-offs are common in this neighborhood too. “I think maybe it’s because the neighborhood is contained, making it safer with no outlets…or maybe it’s the Costco-sized candy bars some residents give out,” explains Marylhurst resident Mary Vigo. She can easily go through two of Costco’s large bags of candy in addition to 200 of the full size candy bars in one night.

RIVER RUN: “Our neighborhood totally goes all out,” explains River Run enthusiast, Lisa Andersson. Complete with graveyards for the likes of Will Rott , the homeowners do their best to set the stage for bands of trick-or-treaters. Add to that the fact that it’s a flat, easy-to-walk neighborhood and it’s little surprise that Andersson can easily find 150 kids at her door she has never seen before. “We get first timers to 17 year olds,” she explains, “because they think it’s so much fun they can’t stop.”

BRYANT WOODS: Flat with houses close together is this neighborhood’s strong selling point. “I wouldn’t call it a drop-off neighborhood,” explains resident Wendy Aldrich, except for some kids who might come down to escape the Westridge hills. Even just catering to locals, however, Aldrich easily sees 140 kids in a night, and they tend to be the younger set.

Here’s something to do before you hit the streets with your kids: The Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring the 6th Annual Harvest Festival at Millennium Plaza Park on Monday, October 31 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Features games, crafts, the Dragon Puppet Theater and a stroll down Trick or Treat Street.

Do you have a favorite trick-or-treating neighborhood in Lake Oswego?         I’d love to hear about it.

Remember: if you enjoyed reading this, consider subscribing by clicking on the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column. That way, you won’t miss out on “52 Reasons to Love Lake Oswego.”

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Listen to Mark Twain and get to one of Lake Oswego’s two homecoming parades

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

Our son, Brady, marching in the Lakeridge homecoming pirate-themed parade his freshman year.

The way Mark Twain saw it, a parade was important for two reasons—as a show and as a symbol. When reflecting in “Queen Victoria’s Jubilee,” on the procession in her honor in 1897,  he wrote  “…its minor function being to delight the eye, its major one to compel thought, exalt the spirit, stir the heart, and inflame the imagination.” Over the next two weeks, Lake Oswegans will get an opportunity to be delighted and uplifted as both local high schools parade their school spirit down A Avenue as part of their respective homecoming traditions.

Our daughter, Casey and her friends, escorting their freshman float calling to "Flush the Kingsmen."

Complete with floats all decked out to win the class competition, princesses practicing their parade wave, bands, cheerleaders and the dance team revving up the crowd, team members singing the school fight song,  and a grand marshal leading the charge, both these events provide an opportunity to revel in what’s good and refreshing about this stage in our kids’ lives. It also is another reminder of one of the benefits of living in a small town—being able to take in a parade down Main Street!

Lake Oswego High School kicks things off this week with activities orchestrated around the theme, “Pun(t) the Lion as they will be facing the West Linn Lions in the football game, Friday, October 21 at 7 pm on their home field. Leading up to that is a week’s worth of activities from noontime competitions like eating contests to relays as well as themed dress-up days that include: Mathlete, Cowboy and Alien, Hipster, Jersey and Navy. A homecoming court was announced at the assembly on Tuesday with the queen being crowned at halftime during the football game. The parade begins at 1:45 pm on Friday, October 21, proceeding down A Avenue from 10th Street to 1st led by Grand Marshal Rick Knouse, a Laker grad and big-time fan.  The week’s festivities conclude with the dance Saturday night.

Lakeridge follows the week of October 24 with an underwater theme, “Getting Fishy with It.” Themed dress-up days include White t-shirt and jeans, Tropical Tuesday, LO Bro, Formal/Casual (formal top, casual bottoms or vice versa) and Pacer Wear. The parade begins at 2 pm on Friday, October 28, followed by a pre-game tailgater from 5:30 -6:30 at the Christian City Church for fans walking to the game or parking off campus. The Pacers face off against the Canby Cougars at 7 pm with the queen coronation at halftime. The homecoming dance Saturday night wraps the spirit-filled week up.

I don’t know about you, but I love a parade. So, if you have the time this week or next, park yourself somewhere along A Avenue in downtown Lake Oswego, and let the good times roll.

If you enjoyed reading this, consider subscribing by clicking on the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column. Keep up-to-date on “52 Reasons to Love Lake Oswego.”

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How to Live Happily Ever After in Lake Oswego, Oregon October 24-29

Posted on October 14, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

Be sure to attend the Lake Oswego Library's Storytelling Festival with free events all week long from October 24-29, 2011

When my kids were young, one of their summer highlights was my brother-in-law’s storytelling night. Holed up in a dark room, he would both scare and engage them with tales of pirates, secret passageways and harrowing escapes. Employing nothing but his voice and their imagination, he would captivate them until his always-suspenseful endings triggered a chorus of screams.

The Lake Oswego Library realizes that storytelling does more than just entertain. It also anchors and connects us in ways that are important. To celebrate the role storytelling plays in our lives, the library is sponsoring a weeklong Storytelling Festival from October 24-29 featuring oral history interviews, storytelling workshops, performances, a video contest, local history presentations and even a haunting tour of Oswego Pioneer Cemetery by lantern light. Space is limited for some of the events so be sure to check the schedule and pre-register if necessary.

Why should you go? Let some of the storytellers tell you themselves:

Terry Jordan: We’re all storytellers—that’s how we connect. We know one another more deeply when we tell stories. What I love about the Lake Oswego Festival is that it’s not just telling stories. It’s teaching folks how to tell stories as well. (Catch Terry on Tuesday, October 25 from 2-3:30 pm at the Lake Oswego Library for: Grandma, Tell Me a Story: A Workshop for Grandparents and Parents).

Leslie Slape:  Historically, storytellers were the tribe’s teachers, historians, entertainers, theologians, and counselors. Today, storytellers still take on those roles, and more. A wise judge once said to me that every attorney who wants to win over a trial jury should learn the art of storytelling. The latest trend in news reporting—a form of recording history—is narrative journalism, or storytelling. The best teachers know that students remember a lesson if it’s put in the form of a story. Counselors have embraced the healing powers of a story, because when our soul needs to heal, story helps in many ways. (Leslie will be sharing her stories on Saturday, October 29 from 7-9 pm at The Age-Old Story Tree: An Evening of Personal and Traditional Tales in the Spirit of the Season along with Alton Chung and Will Hornyak at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, downstairs).

Anne Rutherford: Storytelling is simply and profoundly how we make sense of the world around us; how we interpret events and circumstances. We are programmed, as human beings, to use a story structure to understand our lives. What we believe we can do, what we choose to risk, what we want to save – all of these come from stories we tell ourselves, or have been told by others. Hearing good stories, crafted by humans for humans and told face to face, energizes a part of us that powers decision-making and action. Happily ever after? It’s closer than we think! (Anne will be joining Terry Jordan in the Grandma, Tell me a Story workshop on Tuesday, October 25 from 2-3:30 pm at the Lake Oswego Library).

Rick Huddle: Storytelling is a unique way to connect with others and to learn about ourselves. The goal is to share that universal experience and relate to it in your own life. (Join Rick for a Storytelling Matinee and Open Mike Showcase on Saturday, October 29 from 1-3 pm at the Lake Oswego Library).

Esther Stutzman: I tell the ancient traditional stories of my people, the Komemma Kalapuya people of the southern Willamette Valley-Upper Umpqua. Tribal people tell the stories as a way to pass on history and teach morals and lessons to the younger generation. As a storykeeper, I tell stories to preserve traditions and culture, reinforce history and remember important events. (Hear some of Esther’s Coos and Kalapuya stories on Tuesday, October 25 from 7-8:30 pm at the Lake Oswego Library).

Christopher Leebrick: Storytelling may be the world’s oldest art form. The need to hear and tell stories is inherent, and through the power of story we can grow in our understanding of what it means to be human. (Christopher performs Thursday, October 27 from 7-8 pm in The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Thrillers at the Waluga Masonic Lodge #181).

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Why the Lakeridge Pacers and Lake Oswego Lakers Deserve a Place in the Hall of Fame

Posted on October 5, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

The Lake Oswego Lakers and Lakeridge Pacers face off this Friday, October 7 at 7 p.m. on the Lakeridge home field.

I’d like to nominate a new sports team rivalry to enter the Sports Hall of Fame alongside the likes of the 49ers and the Rams, and the Ducks and the Beavers—that of our very own high school teams, the Lakeridge Pacers and the Lake Oswego Lakers who face off against each other this Friday, October 7 at the Lakeridge field at    7 p.m. (Check out the official countdown) Both are undefeated, with Lake Oswego ranked second in state and Lakeridge sixth in the AP Poll.

I see the rivalry as a good thing. With three kids who went through the ranks as Pacers, I saw firsthand how pumped up and focused they got before a game against their cross-town rivals. While none of them played football, the rivalry crosses sports boundaries. As Lakeridge girls varsity soccer player, Katey Jacobsen said, “When we play LO it’s almost like a state championship because everyone is so ready for it and pumped up.” The team wears rubber bands across their cleats that say, “Take the Lake,” inspire each other with notes, and carpool if it’s an away game, honking and singing their fight song when they arrive.

A rivalry, if it’s a good one will do what it’s supposed to do: define the team and bring them together. Local Pacers and Lakers seem to agree that’s what theirs does:

  • Ian Lamont, Lakeridge Athletic Director: “It’s a chance to take pride in your community and school,” he explains.  And it’s not just the players. Lamont says one of the highlights is “the excitement the fans bring to the games.”
  •  Tom Smythe, Lakeridge Football Head Coach: “It’s a wholesome rivalry. People in this town understand that one team or the other is going to be on a roll,” he explains. That team on a roll was the Pacers during Smythe’s last twelve years coaching at Lakeridge during his first stint from 1971 to 1987 (this is his third season in his second go-around). “Lately, it’s been the other way around,” he admits, “but we are closing the gap.”
  •  Steve Coury, Lake Oswego Head Football Coach: “The rivalry speaks highly of our city—we have two of the best teams in the state in the same city,” he explains. “So kudos to our kids, our community, and the competitive spirit.” Coury’s fondest rivalry memory is his first game as the Laker coach. At that point, the Lakers had been on the losing end of the crosstown match-up for many years.  “We were over-matched, they were three times the team we were, none of our guys could have made their team,” he recalls. “But we won the game. We had no right but it speaks to what a rival game is all about. You can throw out the records and the stats—it has its own weird way of playing itself out.”
  •  Tom Knecht, Lakeridge football quarterback: “It’s definitely the biggest game of the year and we look forward to it,” he explains. His highlight going into Friday night’s game against LO was last year’s match-up when Lakeridge held Lake Oswego to a 7-7 tie, midway through the third quarter before the Lakers took the lead to win the game. “The crowd really got into it,” Knecht recalls.
  • Stevie Coury, Lake Oswego wide receiver. “It’s a whole different game than any other game all year,” he explains. “This year’s game is bigger than any in the last ten years because both teams are coming in with 5-0 records. There is a lot on the line and the hype is going to be up. Whoever wins has bragging rights for the year until we play each other again.”

When it comes to high school sports, it doesn’t get much better than this!       See you at the game.

Be sure to check out the Good Neighbor Transportation and Parking Guidelines for all Lakeridge home games.

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10 Reasons Why George Rogers Park Has Bragging Rights

Posted on September 29, 2011 by lovelakeoswego

Scenic footbridge in George Rogers Park

George Rogers has bragging rights—the man as well as the city of Lake Oswego park. George Rogers, the man, was so instrumental as a city councilman in developing the park, that the council recognized him for his efforts by naming it after him in 1952. George Rogers, the park at 611 State Street in Lake Oswego, Oregon, holds the distinction of being the city’s first public park.

Lake Oswego Ranger Ben LaBounty figures George Rogers Park in the top three of city parks in terms of foot traffic next to Millennium and Foothills. From bird watchers to brides, there is a reason to visit George Rogers, giving it all the more reason to brag.

1. Walk/Run/Bike. The 3 ½ mile Old River Road pathway begins in lower George Rogers Park across the footbridge and continues up and around the point to Old River Road where runners or walkers can continue on along the paved road following the Willamette River before reaching Highway 43.

2. Get back to nature. George Rogers Park packs an unusual variety of plants, topography and wildlife for such a compact space. The diversity ranges from upland conifer (Douglas Fir, Big Leap Maple and Western Red Cedar) to emergent wetlands (open water and landscaped gardens). Wildlife spottings include coyote, deer, raccoons, opossum, osprey, herons, eagles, owls and a possible cougar.

3. Have a picnic. Whether it’s a romantic rendezvous at a picnic table overlooking the river or a company picnic under one of the covered shelters, George Rogers Park is the perfect destination.

4. Get married. There’s a music stage, covered picnic shelters, beautiful setting—you wouldn’t be the first to get married here. Park Ranger Ben estimates five to ten brides a year say their “I do’s” at George Rogers Park.

5. Play your favorite sport. There is one soccer field, two baseball/ softball fields and two tennis courts so come out and play or watch.  With room to roam, groups gather for informal games of Frisbee, flag football or tai chi.

6. Get on stage. There’s a music stage here so what’s stopping your budding ballerina or fledgling thespian from taking their place in the spotlight? Give them a venue where they can strut their stuff. Bring a few chairs and they’ll have the adoring audience they need.

7.Take your kid to the playground.  All the kid favorites are here from slides to swings so be prepared to hear, “Do it again,” again and again.

8. Eat some pancakes, buy some art, view classic cars, catch a play. George Rogers Park is the venue for many popular annual events including the Lions Club 4th of July pancake breakfast, Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, the Oswego Heritage Council Collector Car Show, and performances by Masque Alfresco.

9. Hit the beach. That’s right. There is Willamette River access from George Rogers Park with a beach that is a popular spot for sunbathing, picnicking and testing just how much of a retriever your Labrador really is.

10. Grab some history. The park is the site of Oregon’s oldest industrial monument—the Oswego Iron Furnace. Built in 1866, the first fire was started in 1867 and helped fuel Oregon’s largest manufacturing enterprise in the 19th century. An informational kiosk sits next to the furnace where you can learn all about this piece of Lake Oswego’s industrial roots.

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