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Courtesy chromaonline.com
The other day I wrote a post Fall Leaf Lovers…I don’t recall as beautiful a season as we’ve been having this Fall around Portland. Almost any road you go down, there are leaves in every color imaginable. At this time of year, you also hear a lot about the pumpkin patches on Sauvie Island. During the summer months, the Sauvie Island farmers offer their homegrown fruit and produce in open-air stands all summer into the early autumn. Perhaps what you didn’t know is that Sauvie Island also offers bicycling around its quiet byways, canoeing on tiny Sturgeon Lake or quiet Multnomah Channel, or birdwatching of those that migrate on the island making pit stops twice a year to rest and refuel.
Courtesy rootsweb.ancestry.com
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their trek through the Northwest in the early 1800s, somewhat disgruntled wrote about the fact that they and their party couldn’t sleep “for the noise kept up during the whole of the night by the swans, geese, white and grey Brant, ducks on a small Sand Island….They were immensely numerous and their noise horrid”.
You can hear them too, because on October 24, from 8 to 11 a.m., the Audubon Society will be on the Wapato Greenway, on Sauvie Island listening for the song birds and early waterfowl.
About Sauvie Island
Multnomah Indians
The original inhabitants of Sauvie Island were the Multnomah Indians. Numbering about 800 in population when first recorded by Lewis and Clark in 1805, the Multnomah Indians enjoyed the island as a luscious hunting, fishing, and plant-gathering ground in the summer and fall. The island referred to as Wapato Island in the Lewis and Clark journals because of the large beds of wild potatoes, or wappato as named by the native Multnomahs. Unfortunately, the Multnomah Indians were decimated by smallpox and malaria introduced with European exploration to the region. Today, the county in which Portland and much of Sauvie Island lie, together with the channel running along the western side of the island, named for the Multnomah Indians.
Laurent Sauvie
Laurent Sauvie, for whom the island is named, was a French Canadian employee of the Hudson Bay Company. Sauvie oversaw dairy farms on the island for the Hudson Bay Company and supplied goods for Fort Vancouver.
The Oregon Trail
By 1856, most of Sauvie Island was staked out by settlers who had crossed the continent via the Oregon Trail. The settlers were attracted to the fertile soil enriched by seasonal flooding in the winter time, superb hunting, and excellent fishing. During this time, the Bybee-Howell House was built on the western side of the island, where it still stands today.
Sauvie Island Courtesy Department of Oregon Fish and Wildlife
In the 1930’s the Army Corps of Engineers implemented a system to control the annual flooding of the island, and by 1950 the Sauvie Island bridge was constructed to connect the island to mainland. Both of these feats removed the last obstacles to full settlement of the island. To preserve the natural wonder of the area, Oregon Parks and Wildlife set aside 12,000 acres as the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. This has ensured public access to the lakes, beaches, wildlife, and plants that make the island a unique natural experience.
Today
Courtesy of blog @ oregonlive.com
Sauvie Island is still agriculturally vibrant. The island continues to provide local farmers with the most fertile soil and best growing conditions. The vast farms are a visible reminder that Sauvie Island is still a land apart. In recent years the island has become known for its U-pick options and farm stands along Sauvie Island Road and Gillihan Road. From peaches to pumpkins, there are fruits and vegetables to be enjoyed all season long. The island has also become a recreational get-away for Portlanders offering some of the best hiking, beach access, hunting, and street cycling around.
This Fall take a drive over to Sauvie Island and experience all that it offers!
Sources and Links:
National Geographic: Lewis and Clark Journal Logs
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/journals_maps_13.html
National Geographic: Multnomah Indians
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_tribes_095_13_25.html
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Sauvie Island Wildlife Area
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
Sauvie Island Research Group
http://sauvieisland.org/about-sauvie-island/
Source: Information researched and compiled by Katrina Lorne
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Tired of the usual tourist traps or the same places you keep visiting with your children? Here are some out of the ordinary local farms to go to instead. Your trips will be educational, I guarantee.
Rossee Possee Acres Elk Farm. Working elk farm, petting zoo located in Molalla. 32690 South Mathias Road, Molalla, OR. 97038. Check on hours before heading out.
The Willamette Egg Farm. One of the leading producers of shell eggs and processed egg products in the Pacific Northwest. Open
to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10 a.m. Located between Canby, Molalla and Woodburn. Egg processing plant. 31348 S. Hwy 170, Canby, Oregon. (503-651-0000). Did the chicken come before the egg? Or..?
Magness Tree Farm. An internationally recognized 80-acre demonstration forest and outdoor education site. Includes a large natural area, stream, 9 forest management zones, 2.5 miles of hiking trails, the historic “Clatskanie” fire tower, recreation field, picnic shelter and rustic log cabins for youth group camping, outdoor schools, and retreats. Open daily. Free to the public, a charge for group tours. Guided tours every Sunday at 2:00.
Alpenrose Dairy. Portland’s popular kids’ attraction and working dairy since the nineteenth century. Florian Cadonau, who in 1891, owned a dairy farm near what is now Southwest Thirty-fifth and Vermont in the heart of West Portland.
Southern Oregon Souay Sheep Farm. British Soay sheep are being kept in the US as part of a global conservation effort to preserve this historical archive, with all of its diversity, as an undiluted genetic reservoir for the future. Southern Oregon Soay Farms, P.O. Box 1382, Merlin, Oregon 97532 kathiem@soayfarms.com (541) 955-8171.
Oregon Oyster Farm. Since 1907, the oldest oyster farm at the Oregon coast at Yaquina Bay. Oysters in the Shell, Oyster Meat, Oyster Cocktails, Smoked Oysters, Steamer Clams, and More! 6878 Yaquina Bay Rd., Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 265-5078.
Zenger Farm. A working urban farm promoting sustainable food practices, youth education, environmental stewardship, and community and economic development. 11741 S.E. Foster Road, Portland, Oregon (503) 282-4245.
Pholia Goat Farm. Farmstead handmade raw milk aged goat cheese. Wine tasting, hay rides, baby goats, milking for the kids and cheese tasting. Classes on cheesemaking too. 9115 W. Evans Creek Rd., Rogue River, Oreon 97537 (541) 582-2883).
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
100% Financing – USDA Loan
If you thought the no money down, 100% financing was a thing of the past, there is still the USDA 100% loan here in Oregon that you
might qualify for. There are income restrictions and limits as to the location of the property.
The USDA Home Loan program is a great program offering 100% financing with no down payment or mortgage insurance for those who qualify. Below are the general eligibility requirements.
- Applicants must not have an adequate down payment to secure conventional credit without the USDA guarantee.
- To intend to live in the dwelling as a primary residence. Non-occupant and co-borrowers are not allowed.
- Must be selling existing home, if applicable.
- To be a citizen of the United States or not restricted from permanent residency.
- Have income less than the maximum allowed by the USDA Home Loan Program.
- Purchase a property in an Oregon USDA Approved Area
Most people living in rural areas qualify for USDA Home Loans. Also, many people living in medium sized cities as well as those living on the outskirts of major metropolitan areas may also qualify. Check this page to see whether your income qualifies you.
- A 100% No Money Down Loan
The USDA home loan program requires no down payment and you may finance up to 102% of the appraised value. Since the end of down payment assistance programs in 2008, the USDA home loan program is one of the only remaining 100% loan programs.
- There are no Limits as to the Amount You Can Borrow
The USDA Home Loan program will finance what you can afford to pay. Unlike conventional loans which are insured by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, there are no official loan limits. The amount of the loan will be directly related to your ability to repay the loan.
- No Mortgage Insurance
The USDA home loan program requires no up front or monthly mortgage insurance; saving you hundreds of dollars each month. With FHA loans, you have both an up front mortgage insurance premium and a monthly mortgage insurance payment.
- No Credit Score Required
Unlike most home loans, the USDA Home Loan does not require a credit score. Instead, borrowers can use things such as rental history, insurance payments or utility bills to verify their credit worthiness. Check the USDA Home Loan credit guidelines to learn more
- Seller Concessions Allowed
The USDA Home Loan program, there are no rules regarding closing costs and who pays what portions. Some loans limit the seller concessions, but under this program the negotiations are not controlled.
- Rural Areas Are Not Necessarily That Rural
The USDA Home Loan is guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture. People may wrongly assume that this loan is meant for farmers or ranchers. Many homes in smaller cities as well as those in outlying suburbs of metropolitan areas are also eligible. Check this link to see if the area you are wanting to purchase qualifies or input the address of a house here in Oregon.
Federal V.A. and State of Oregon G.I. Loans
If you’re a qualifying veteran, there’s still the 100% Federal V. A. Loan program. Here’s the information to see if you are eligible.
The maximum Federal VA loan eligibility in OREGON for a veteran is $104,250 and the maximum loan amount with no down payment is $417,000. U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan guarantees are made to servicemembers, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes. VA guaranteed home loans offer several important advantages over most conventional loans including a guarantee that protects the lender against loss due to nonpayment by the borrower. A VA Certificate of Eligibility is required. To ask about home loan guaranty information, call the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) toll free, 1-888-349-7541 www.homeloans.va.gov or call the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Toll Free within Oregon) 1-800-692-9666 or from outside of Oregon 503-373-2085 www.oregon.gov/ODVA
For more than 60 years, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has made home loans to veterans at favorable interest rates. More than 330,000 home loans have been made to veterans in Oregon. The ODVA’s State Veteran’s Home Loan program offers favorable interest rates and enables honorably-discharged veterans to purchase a single-family owner-occupied home. Eligibility for the program can be established prior to making actual application for a home loan. A veteran’s eligibility for the program expires 30 years after discharge from qualifying active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. For program qualifications, contact the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Toll-Free within Oregon, 1-888-673-8387. From outside of Oregon 503-373-2070.
Portland Development Commission
The PDC has quite a few financing options that you may not know about. You can contact them at the following for further information:
Portland Development Commission | 222 NW Fifth Ave | Portland, OR 97209-3859
Phone: 503-823-3200 | Fax: 503-823-3368
Mortgage Credit Certificate Program
The Portland Development Commission’s Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program works to provide first-time homebuyers with a federal tax credit. This program is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on the amount of income tax you owe instead of a deduction to your taxable income. Better yet, this program is good for the life of your home loan!
You do not have to pay back the MCC if you remain in your residence for the life of your mortgage loan. The MCC’s credit totals 20% of the interest paid on your mortgage annually, so an MCC awarded to a $250,000 mortgage could save you about $3,000, or $250 each month.
If you become a homeowner this year or next year, you could save more or get more money back at tax time! For more information on how the Mortgage Credit Certificate can work for you, visit www.pdc.us/mcc or give PDC a call at 503.823.3400.
Buying A Fixer
The Portland Development Commission has monies available within the City of Portland for renovation work on houses that needs repairs or if you just want to make some improvements. With the right renovations, you may be able to add immediate value to your home or put your personal touch on a previously-owned home. Moreover, in situations where repairs are required before a loan can be closed, the PDC’s Purchase and Renovation Loan is the perfect solution. That’s because the appraisal is performed based on the work to be done, and the work is completed after the loan closes.
Buying a Foreclosure in Portland
There’s a new program from PDC that offers assistance to purchase a foreclosed/bank-owned homes in certain neighborhoods in the Portland metro area. These areas include parts of North, Northeast, and Southeast Portland, and parts of Gresham, Fairview, and Troutdale. It is a silent second loan up to 20% of the purchase price plus closing costs or up to $50,000. This amount varies depending on whether the home requires repairs. It is not a 100% loan, a down payment of $1,000 from a buyer is required.
If you sell within the first 5 years, you need to pay back a portion of the profit. The percentage of the profit to be paid back varies depending on how many years you live in the house. You do not need to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify but the home does need to be owner occupied. Income restrictions apply (no more than 120% of median family income) as well as debt-to-income ratio (45% or less) and liquid assets of no more than $15,000. Not only is there a location restriction as stated above, but the home must be a foreclosure in one of those areas.
Home Repair, Weatherization Help
Home Repair Loans – City of Beaverton, City of Portland
There’s also a Hope-4-Homes program in Beaverton to assist low-income homeowners with help in making home repairs. And, the City of Portland home repair loan information is also here.
Weatherization Project – Clackamas County
Clackamas County offers free services if you meet certain income and resident requirements for insulation, weatherstripping and more depending upon the condition of your home. If you have questions regarding this project or to see if you qualify contact:
Clackamas County Weatherization. (503) 650-3338
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Picture of Autumn in Lake Oswego (City-data Website)
Autumn declares its arrival with leaves turning bright crimson, vibrant orange and vivid yellow and it’s one of my favorite times of year. We here in Oregon are fortunate to experience all four seasons and Fall is now in full swing. With schools in session, there is a brief lull before the holidays. Take a trip on some of Oregon’s winding roads that loop and twist through shades of dark green evergreen trees, amid the colored leaves of big leaf maples, alder and mountain ash sometime this week as it’s supposed to be sunny pretty much for the next seven days.
There are some great sites throughout all of Oregon to view the fall leaves. I have a Fall video link on my side bar under my new videos category for viewing. Pretty much anywhere in Oregon you’ll see the changing of colors, however, here are some places of particular interest:
- A drive thru Oregon’s Coast Range
- Forest Park (southwest Portland)
- University of Oregon (Eugene)
- Oregon State University (Corvallis)
- Lewis and Clark College (southwest Portland)
- Marylhurst University (Lake Oswego-West Linn-southwest Portland)
- Reed College (southeast Portland)
- Tryon Creek State Park (southwest Portland)
- Mary S. Young State Park (West Linn)
- Highway 242 – the old McKenzie River Highway from McKenzie Bridge to the top of McKenzie Pass
- Hoyt Arboretum (southwest Portland)
- Japanese Garden (southwest Portland)
- The western section of the Columbia River Gorge (between Portland and Hood River).
- Cook Park (Tigard)
If you want to bring the fall into your own yard, here are some trees recommended for planting:
- Autumn Blaze Maple
- Autumn Flame Maple
- Autumn Purple Ash
- Cascade Snow Cherry
- Chantileer Pear
- Dawn Redwood
- Emerald Queen Norway Maple
- Frontier Elm
- Japanese Stewartia
- Milky Way Kousa Dogwood
- Red Sunset Maple
- Scarlet Oak
- Seiryu Japanese Maple
- Tamarack or Larch
- Vine Maple
As they say on a popular TV show – “Take some time to enjoy the view!”.
Source: In part – Off the Beaten Path – Myrna Oakley
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
From attending classes, lectures, art exhibits to dances, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this campus on many occasions. The grounds are beautiful and boasts a commanding presence, Marylhurst University , sits on the banks of the Willamette River with a marvelous view of Mt. Hood. The
University is situated between two towns recently named by Money magazine as part of their 100 best small towns – #69 West Linn and #74 Lake Oswego. Marylhurst University has its own post office:
- Marylhurst University
- 17600 Pacific Highway (Hwy. 43)
- P.O. Box 261
- Marylhurst, OR 97036-0261
- Phone: 503.636.8141
- Toll-free: 800.634.9982
- Fax: 503.636.9526
HISTORY OF MARYLHURST UNIVERSITY (Watch all these YouTube videos)
From Montreal 12 nuns, the youngest was 18, set sail on a ship to journey for the frontiers of Oregon. The voyage took five weeks and was not without adventure. They had to transfer vessels two times as the ships were in poor condition to set sail, there was a violent storm on sea which threatened to destroy two of the ships but the third – the Northern – landed in Portland October 1, 1859.
On the dock it seemed as if all of Portland’s citizens were there to greet them and they arrived with the boom of a canon. The Sisters had come prepared to educate its children. However, from the moment the doors opened to their new school, they were called upon to care for orphans, the poor, the sick and the despairing. Babies were frequently abandoned on their doorstep. By 1950, there were 800 Sisters and their 18,000 students. Motivated by a deep love of God, and an absolute passion for educating young people, they brought with them from Quebec, what is so deeply integral to their French heritage, a love for the beauty of music and art, and the gift for finding and celebrating God in the natural beauty of creation.
The “Twelve” started St. Mary’s Academy that first year in downtown Portland. Soon the Academy housed a school to educate teachers.
A track of land was purchased in 1906 in Oak Grove and 50 acres on the site of the current Marylhurst location. In the early 1900s, the Sisters’ Province Administration and the Teacher’s College moved to this site on the banks of the Willamette River. Marylhurst University was born. In 1930, it was renamed to Marylhurst College from Saint Mary’s Academy and College. The school and college were combined in 1950. Marylhurst only became co-educational in 1974 and added graduate level programs in the mid-1980s. The name was one again changed to Marylhurst University in 1998.
For more than a century, Marylhurst University has been dedicated to delivering academic excellence in an environment that supports student success. The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, knew how important it is to educate the “whole” person. They created an engaging learning atmosphere at Marylhurst that fuels the imagination, broadens intellectual horizons and strengthens professional expertise still today.
Sources: As recalled by Sister Jane Hibbard, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and Marylhurst University Trustee, at the dedication of Knight’s Green on October 17, 2007, Oregon’s Iron Dream by Mary Goodall, and The Oregon Companion by Richard H. Engeman.
Now these traditions of educating the whole person, ensuring the development of spiritual and artistic growth, cultivating and delighting in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty: all of this is the heritage and pride of Marylhurst
ADULT EDUCATION
With the economy such as it is, many adults are not only needing to go back to school in order to advance in today’s business world, many are needing to change careers. The other day I wrote a post saying Oregon has high ranking college towns. Here are some of the colleges and universities around Portland, Oregon:
- Art Institute of Portland
- Clackamas Community College
- Concordia University
- Lewis and Clark College
- George Fox University
- Linfield College
- Mt. Hood Community College
- Oregon Health Sciences University
- Oregon State University
- Pacific University
- Portland Community College
- Portland State University
- Reed College
- University of Oregon
- University of Portland
- Willamette University
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
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