The Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee met Monday Jan. 14 to discuss future transit connections and review approaches to building shared investment strategies that will support, strengthen and connect communities in the Southwest Corridor.

Planting project assists with Metro’s broader restoration goals at the natural area

About 40 high school students from Oregon City Service Learning Academy helped stage a homecoming this month at Metro’s Canemah Bluff Natural Area – but not the kind you’re thinking of. The student volunteers replanted 150 native sword ferns that were temporarily removed from the natural area last year during restoration and stored in pots until they could be returned.

How can Metro engage a diversity of people from throughout the region, be accountable for how public input affects council decisions, effectively evaluate outreach activities and build public trust? That's what the new Public Engagement Review Committee wants to help Metro figure out.

Clear Creek was running high and fast on a recent winter afternoon, splashing against the branches and debris caught against a log and surging downward to carve out a deep pool.

Log jams like this, whether the product of a winter storm or a busy beaver, play an important role in healthy woodland streams. While it looked naturally messy, this particular log jam is special. Designed by experts and put in place by chainsaw, helicopters, and thick cables, its purpose is to protect and restore threatened salmon runs and native fish habitat.

Wondering how to install signs in your community directing walkers and cyclists to local businesses? Interested in creating activities that encourage people to get out of their cars and walk, ride or take transit? If so, your city, public agency or nonprofit organization may be eligible for a Regional Travel Options grant.

Once you’ve taken down the lights, packed up the ornaments and swept up all the tinsel, what do you do with the tree? It’s easy to recycle at the curb with your yard debris, or through a local nonprofit. Metro can tell you how.

Recycle your tree with your curbside yard debris collection service

Residents with curbside yard debris collection programs can recycle their trees at the curb. Tree preparation requirements and fees vary throughout the region. For details, call your local solid waste and recycling office, Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000, or your garbage hauler.

Find a full list of the region’s curbside recycling resources

Support a nonprofit fundraiser

Many nonprofit organizations offer pickup services or drop-off locations where you can take Christmas trees and wreaths to be recycled. They provide this service to help communities, and to raise money for other worthwhile projects, charging a small fee or requesting a donation. When these groups have ended their tree recycling projects, you can either take your tree to a yard debris processing facility or use curbside service.

Find a Christmas tree recycler using Metro’s Find a Recycler web tool

Prepping your tree for recycling

Remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and other materials that are not part of the original tree. Most trees are ground up as part of the recycling process; foreign material can ruin a chipping machine. Also, nonorganic materials aren't good for a compost mixture. Some groups or businesses do not accept flocked trees.

Christmas wreaths and swags can be recycled with trees. Most recyclers ask that all frames and wire be removed.

For more information about Christmas tree recycling, call Metro’s recycling hotline at 503-234-3000.

You and I are human, which means we all walk. No matter how you travel, as some point you are walking to and from your home, your car, your business, the bus or MAX train. You are a pedestrian. Unfortunately we have safety issues in our community with people being hurt by cars driven by fellow community members.