NW Portland: Bird Alliance of Oregon

Bird Alliance of Oregon on Cornell was having a baby shower, as spring is a busy time for animal rehabbers.

This had previously been an Audubon location; I had visited it long ago.

One thing I remember at the time is that the trails were very steep.

That makes sense; this is the West Hills. The Wildwood Trail that starts in Washington Park, passes through Hoyt Arboretum and connects to Forest Park goes through here too.

In some ways there is not a lot to see; animals are generally kept private as they recover and are readied for a return to nature.

The one exception is Julio, who imprinted on humans when very young and is a permanent resident.

That may make the alliance better for events.

There was lots of cute decor for the baby shower, along with food and games.

 They even had a camera set up so you could view two of the baby owls being cared for.

Their site has information on classes and camps, so there are various ways to participate and support the mission.

COVID: I wore a mask inside the party and at the store. Most of the area is outside. As stated previously...

Accessibility: that outside is steep! For getting around the buildings and even between them, mobility devices should be fine. Once on the trails, even with no impairment I think walking sticks are a good idea. 

https://birdallianceoregon.org/

PDX NE: Walking with Ramona

It is not unusual to see maps with sites related to Beverly Cleary and her books and characters. 

We recently used one provided by Multnomah County Library, released in conjunction with the addition of artwork to the Hollywood branch showing many of Cleary's characters.

About two years ago I wrote about a bust of Cleary at the Central location, but Hollywood is where Cleary herself would have visited.

https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2024/07/libraries-milwaukie-estacada-and.html 

It is not the same location; that building is now the Fleur de Lis Bakery and Cafe, which does feature historic photos of the old library on its web site.

https://fleurdelisbakery.com/about 

That's one thing that is kind of fun; so much looks the same.

The Hollywood theater hasn't changed.

The library has gotten much bigger, as has the old school. Once called Fernwood for real and Glenwood in the books, it is now Beverly Cleary School.

I am sure the playground looks different, but there is still a sense of how things would have been.

I used to be surprised that there was a wading pool in the park, as they usually don't have those now. Seasonal fountains, however, have become popular, and became a way to restore the pool.

For readers and re-readers, there probably already was a picture, but seeing the sites makes it become more real. 

The familiarity does not have to be all local. I remember my parents taking me hunting for night crawlers, but I don't know if it was at Grant High School like Henry Huggins, and that's certainly not where they went in King of the Hill.  

However, if you are local and appreciated that connection, then it is kind of special to find yourself on Klickitat Street.

COVID: While you can go inside some of the places, the only place you need to enter is the library, and even that is right at the entrance, with a preview on the outside.

(But yes, I did wear a mask while inside.That's just smart.)

Accessibility: This is mostly good, but the standard access point you are directed to for the sculpture garden on 33rd is up a short flight of stairs. There are other entry points that are not as close to the sculptures. If stairs are a problem, plot a different course, maybe from the playground side.

https://multcolib.org/articles/take-walk-ramonas-neighborhood
 

Sweet Home, Oregon: East Linn County Museum

Okay, we would probably not have made our way to the East Linn County Museum if we had not wanted to try out the nearby classic A&W restaurant, but it gave us another reason to go.

It's a nice county museum.

Like many similar places, its strength lies in the wealth of local donations and the dedication of volunteers.

This was pretty well-organized and the volunteers were friendly.

One of the helpful organizational tools was a handout with a guide to all of the portraits and brief biographies.

Some of the lives were more colorful than others.

They were still sorting some of the collections, so it may be even better now.

One of the interesting artifacts was a tree section with various years marked for their historical interest.

Logging was a big part of the local history, as demonstrated by an eye-catching display as you approach.

There were many tools and personal effects.

There were also some interesting models.

Some reflected well-known local bridges, also depicted in art.

Clearly the museum is important for local education.

Sometimes a town has grown much bigger than its historical roots. Sweet Home still has a small town feel, possibly making the past seem not so long ago.

Comprising a fairly small property, there is still a lot to explore and it can be done at leisure.

COVID: While I did stay masked inside, I will also note that the door was kept open on the warm day, allowing some ventilation, and it was not crowded. While they do get regular traffic, it does not appear to be heavy (unless you are there during a field trip).

Accessibility: This is mostly good. There is ramp access for the main building, but there is one area in kind of a sub basement that would not be navigable.

 If you are in the area, you should stop by.

https://www.countyoffice.org/east-linn-museum-sweet-home-or-b8d/