Seasonal

Lyrid Meteor Shower, Apr 16-25, 2013

It’s here! April's Shooting Stars   The Lyrid Meteor Shower When :April 22-24, 2013 predawn Where: Northeast night sky near the Constellation Lyra

The Lyrid (pronounced LYR-id) meteor shower last from April 16 to 25, and peaks before dawn April 22, 2013 so anytime over the next few nights, you have an opportunity to see a Lyrid meteor, April’s shooting stars!

Lyrid meteors tend to be bright and often leave trails. About 10-20 meteors per hour at peak can be expected around the peak morning on April 22, 2013 and over the next few days. Plus, the Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring the rate up to 100 per hour. Those rare outbursts are not easy to predict, but they’re one of the reasons the tantalizing Lyrids are worth checking out.

The radiant for this shower is in the constellation Lyra, which rises in the northeast at about 10PM. In 2013, the waxing gibbous moon lights up the nighttime until the wee hours, so try watching this meteor shower after moonset and before dawn.

Inside this Issue

• Help us Share the News
• State of the City: ‘Great Energy Building’
• New Drop Box: Safely Dispose Prescription Meds
• Arbor Day Tree Tag Campaign
• Become a Weed Watcher: Apr 16
• Free Earth Day Recycling Event: Apr 20
• Seniors Need Rides, You Can Help
• City Jobs, Meetings and Community Events

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Gresham’s beloved holiday kick-off event Tree Lighting, Music and Santa When: Sat Dec 01, 2012 5 PM Where: Arts Plaza 401 NE Second St Get Map!

The Spirit of Christmas features a program full of music and fun including performances by East County’s Got Talent winner Bo Baskoro, The Dickens’ Carolers and the Gresham Christmas Choir.

Santa Claus will hand out candy canes and help light the tree, a 60-foot Ponderosa pine on the Arts Plaza. The free event starts at 5 p.m. and the tree will be lit promptly at 6 p.m. Read more

A Victorian Holiday Evening When: Tue Dec 04, 2012 4PM-8PM Where: Zimmerman Park 17111 NE Sandy Blvd Gresham, OR Get Map!

An Evening at the Zimmerman House
If you've enjoyed the Zimmerman House during the day, you should see her at night! The historic Zimmerman House was built in 1874 and was home to three generations of the Zimmerman Family. Their furnishings and personal articles remain in this two-story Victorian home. The second ever evening tour will be held on Tuesday, December 4th, from 4PM-8PM.

There will be carols played on the parlor piano, family recipes on exhibit and ginger snap cookies from the family recipe to take home. Reservations are required and can be made at Event Brite – or by calling 503-261-8078. Tickets for this special event are $5.00 per adult.

Oregon Zoo 'Zoolights" Nov 23-Dec 31

ZooLights is coming to the Oregon Zoo for the 25th year Transforming the Zoo into a winter wonderland Daily, Nov 23 thru Dec 31, 5-8PM

Source: KGW.com (Nov 21, 2012)

The traditional holiday light show begins Friday, Nov 23, and runs through Dec 31 at the zoo.

Last year, a record 193,000 visitors came to see ZooLights’ life-size animal silhouettes, moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and light-bedecked train.

In keeping with the zoo’s commitment to sustainability, most of the 1.3 million lights displayed are light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which use only a fraction of the power of standard holiday lights.

A new feature of ZooLights this winter is a magical walk through an illuminated forest, with purple rope lighting and neon tube lights creating a special glow.

ZooLights hours are 5-PM Sunday through Thursday, and 5-8:30PM Friday through Saturday. ZooLights will be closed Dec. 24-25.

Storybook Lane, Train rides, Christmas ships, Colorful lights, 200+ Tuba concert and much more.

22nd Annual Tuba Christmas Concert
Sat, Dec 8, 2012 1:30-3:30PM, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Downtown will pulse with the melodic sounds of big brass as over 200 tubas play in unison for the 22nd Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in the heart of downtown. FREE.

Alpenrose Storybook Lane
Dec 7-22, Fri 3-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM, 6149 SW Shattuck Rd, Portland
A family tradition for more than fifty years. Alpenrose's old western town is transformed into a winter wonderland where you are invited to peek at the animals on display in nostalgic Storybook Lane. Visit with Santa. Bring a can of food for the Oregon Food Bank. FREE

2012 Christmas Ship Parade
Nightly thru Dec 31st, Columbia River and Willamette River
The Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 60 boats between the two Columbia and Willamette River fleets. Both fleets will be out most every night. Visit the website for schedule details. FREE.

Lights on Peacock Lane
Nightly Dec 15-31 6PM-11PM, SE 40th between Stark & Belmont
Since the 1920s, each house on Peacock Lane has been decorating for Christmas. Tudors style houses are adorned with sparkling lights, nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees plus Santa, Frosty and the gang. (Dec 15-16 pedestrians only) FREE.

Pittock Mansion Christmas
Daily, 11AM-4PM, 3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland
Home to Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock, pioneer owners of the Oregonian newpaper, this beautiful mansion is decorated will all the splendor of the holiday season. Adults $9.50. Children under six free.

Portland's Holiday Express
Dec 7,8 & 9; Dec 14,15 & 16; 2250 SE Water Ave, Portland
Join Santa and his elves on a steam powered and heated railroad adventure along the scenic Willamette River and Oaks Bottom wildlife refuge. Tickets $8.50 to $17. Each ride about 40 minutes. Check ORHF website for schedule and availability.

Oregon ZooLights
Daily 5PM-8PM, Oregon Zoo
More than a million LED lights transform the Oregon Zoo into a luminous winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes. Adults $10. Children (3-11) $7.

WinterWonderland at P.I.R.
Fri,Sat & Sun, 5PM-9PM, Now thru Dec 25th, Portland Intl Raceway
Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the "Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi", the 20th annual Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. $16 per car.

The Grotto: Festival of Lights
Nightly 5PM-9:30PM thru Dec 30th, 8840 NE Skidmore, Portland
With over 500,000 lights, 150 choral performances, a petting zoo, carolers, puppet shows and hot chocolate this is a special event for the whole family.
The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The 2012 festival features nearly 180 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. Adult $9. Children (3-12) $4.

Need More?
Check out the Oregonian newspaper's 2012 Holiday Events Guide. 20-pages of local bazaars, gift ideas and holiday events. Something for everyone!

Inside this Issue

• Celebrate The Spirit of Christmas: Dec 1
• Free Grease Kits for Holiday Cooking
• Personal Safety Awareness Class: Dec 3 (RSVP Nov 30)
• Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program
• It’s Dark Early Now: Be Safe, Be Seen
• Fall Leaves: Your Help Needed
• Tips for Heavy Rains
• Chamber Honors Businesses, Volunteers: Dec 6
• Holiday Gift of Music: Dec 2
• MHCC Planetarium Show: Dec 3
• Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol: Dec 7-16
• Wings Exhibit Reception: Dec 11

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Every Saturday Now thru October! When: Every Saturday, 8:30AM-2PM Where: NW Miller & Third St Historic Downtown Gresham, OR Get Map!

Fresh & Local
Shoppers will find all-natural meats and cheeses, fresh-picked produce, nursery stock and fresh-cut flowers, hand-crafted jewelry, soaps, artwork, and much more. Live music and food are always part of the market.

Located on Northwest Miller Avenue between Second and Third Street 8:30AM to 2PM each Saturday now through Oct. 27.

Krugers Farm Corn Maze. Click to enlarge

Kick-off Fall With Some Great Family Fun -- Explore a Corn Maze! There's no mistaking that harvest-time feeling. The brisk air, the warm drinks and the sight of children climbing over large pumpkins in a field.

There's another tradition worth exploring this year - the corn maze! So grab a jacket and the kids and head for one of these locations. You're sure to find plenty of family fun, food and even some warm apple cider.

Check websites for schedules, details and discount coupons!

• Fazio Farms Corn Maze
• Kruger's Farm Corn Maze
• The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch

Have a Safe & Happy Halloween!    More info below this break.