Councilor Lehan Honored for Commitment to Urban Treescape
Councilor Charlotte Lehan is the recipient of the 2021 Oregon Urban & Community Forestry Individual
Award, presented by Oregon Community Trees and Oregon Dept. of Forestry. The award recognizes inspirational individuals who are engaging citizens, promoting tree planting and quality tree care, raising awareness and knowledge about Oregon’s trees and forests, and protecting Oregon’s urban and community forests to improve the quality of life in towns and cities around the state.
Public Works Director
Earns National Honor
The City’s Public Works Director, Delora Kerber, was named among the National American Public Works Association’s (APWA) Top Ten Public Works Leaders of 2021. The award recognizes Kerber for her distinguished career service to the public works profession. A veteran of more than 38 years in the public works profession, Kerber has served as the City’s Director of Public Works since August 2006.
Wilsonville Maintains
“Tree City USA” Status
For 24 consecutive years running, Wilsonville has been awarded “Tree City USA” status by the Arbor Day Foundation. The honor recognizes Wilsonville’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and promoting its urban forest. To earn this coveted designation, a City must have a comprehensive urban forestry program consisting of a tree ordinance, a City department responsible for trees, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an annual Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The City earned its 12th Growth Award in recognition of achievements beyond those requirements, and is a Sterling Tree City for the third year running.
Sheriff’s Department
Recognizes Life-Saving Heroics
of Wilsonville Police Officers
Wilsonville Police Sergeant Brian Pearson has been issued the life-savings award by the Clackmas County Sheriff’s Office and recognized by the City of Wilsonville for his attentive action late in 2021 during a welfare check. Upon finding a resident in very poor health and unable to get out of bed, Sergeant Pearson called our partners at Tualatin Fire & Rescue to help force the door open. Having been without food or water for several days, the resident was transported to the hospital and able to receive treatment.
The Sheriff’s Office also recognized the life-saving work by Sergeant Matt Swanson, Student Resource Officer Zach Keirsey and staff members at Wilsonville High School in May 2022. During an outdoor wellness class, Wilsonville High School Senior Jair Gamez-Carrasco collapsed unexpectedly and began experiencing cardiac arrest. Three quick-thinking West Linn-Wilsonville School District employees — maintenance member Lance Entzel, teacher Laura Beko, and nurse Mary Groh — began administering CPR. Keirsey took over when he arrived at the scene, and was joined moments later by Sergeant Swanson and the school’s assistant principal, Tate Olson. They arrived with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restore Jair’s heartbeat.
Memorial Park Grove Honored as Oregon Heritage Trees
The Stein-Boozier Walnut Orchard at Memorial Park has been recognized by the Oregon Heritage Tree program. The Travel Information Council (TIC) recognized the English walnut grove as representative of the thousands of acres of walnuts planted in western Oregon in the early 20th century, when walnuts were promoted as the perfect crop for high returns. City Councilor Charlotte Lehan hosted a Sept. 2021 event at which a plaque was unveiled that recognizes the historic designation.
Now-Retired Librarian Steven Engelfried Earns Distinguished Service Award
The Oregon Library Association awarded its 2022 Distinguished Service Award to recently-retired Wilsonville librarian Steven Engelfried, recognizing an exemplary library services career that spanned nearly 35 years. The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to acknowledge the exceptional service of an Oregon librarian or library staff member who has been in the profession for at least 15 years (including 10 or more in Oregon libraries), and who is currently a member of OLA. “I’m honored to receive this award,” said Engelfried. “When I think back about those 35 years, what I’m most proud of is just being part of the public library world. We do so much to make these little buildings such an important part of our communities.”
Prizes Awarded in First “Best of Wilsonville” Photo Contest
Frog Pond Church on Boeckman Rd. was the subject of Charlie Hyman’s photograph, chosen as the Grand Prize winner among the more than 400 photos submitted in the City’s first annual #BestofWilsonville Photo Contest. Prizes were awarded in 10 contest categories after difficult deliberation by the City’s panel of judges. Photos were submitted by community members at “Let’s Talk, Wilsonville!” and on Instagram. The contest was conceived to help the City gather images to include in this report, as well as the 2022-23 Budget, and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
Wilsonville Librarian Helps Select Country’s Best Picture Books
Wilsonville Outreach Librarian Deborah Gitlitz had the honor of serving on the national Caldecott Award committee that selects the “Oscars of American children’s literature” Gitlitz and 14 committee colleagues read, re-read, researched, and discussed about 700 eligible picture books. After deliberations she described as “stringent, passionate, and lengthy,” her committee reached consensus on the most distinguished picture book of 2021
SMART Earns Innovation Award for Bus-On-Shoulder Pilot Project
The Oregon Transit Association (OTA), for the second time in three years, has bestowed its System Innovation Award on Wilsonville’s South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART). The honor recognized SMART’s collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation to launch “Bus-on-Shoulder,” a pilot program that allows SMART buses to ride the highway shoulder on a portion of the I-5 corridor between the I-205 interchange and Elligsen Rd. In 2019, SMART was recognized for its implementation of battery-electric buses.
