Portland, Ore. – About $3 million in funding is available for natural resource projects that restore and improve public lands across western Oregon. The Bureau of Land Management encourages individuals, organizations, and local governments to submit funding applications for consideration. 

Project funding is available through Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Proposed projects should restore land health, improve water quality, or maintain existing infrastructure. Projects must benefit Oregon and California Grant (O&C) lands and resources. O&C lands are located in the 18 western Oregon counties, including: Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties. 

“Title II funds are used to make investments in public lands and create employment opportunities,” said Heather Whitman, Roseburg District Manager. “These projects are vital because they improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for public lands.”  

BLM officials encourage applicants to discuss their project proposals with them prior to submission. Please contact the BLM District representative where the project would be implemented:

• Coos Bay District – Stephanie Messerle, l@blm.gov">smesserl@blm.gov, (541) 751-4230
• Medford District, Roseburg District, and Klamath Falls Field Office of the Lakeview District – Christina Beslin, eslin@blm.gov">cbeslin@blm.gov, (541) 618-2371; or
• Northwest Oregon District – Patricia Johnston, pjohnsto@blm.gov, (541) 683-6181.

The application forms, criteria, and instructions are available through grants.gov. The grant is under the heading Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement L23AS00283 BLM OR/WA Secure Rural Schools, Title II Grants. 

Applications are due by May 15, 2023. 

Examples of previously funded projects include noxious weed treatments, trail maintenance, garbage removal, and stream restoration. 

The Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee will review the applications at their fall 2023 meeting.

Information about the BLM’s Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee is available at: blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/oregon-washington/western-oregon-rac

The 33rd annual fundraiser supports over 18,000 students in the Bellevue School District with 
“Innovator” sponsors Amazon, Microsoft, and The Bellevue Collection

BELLEVUE, Wash. – The Bellevue Schools Foundation is hosting its annual Spring for Schools fundraising event on a Saturday, April 1st, from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. This year’s event, themed “Under the Stars,” marks a new chapter for the organization, which previously hosted Spring for Schools as a luncheon. 

The evening will feature remarks from the new superintendent for Bellevue School District, Dr. Kelly Aramaki, and the master of ceremonies is a district alum, Marc Ossinger. 

“We are hopeful that updating the format and timing of the event will offer greater accessibility to the almost 12,000 families served by the District, as well as our community partners, educators, and philanthropic investors,” says the Foundation’s Executive Director, Juliet Buder. 

“Spring for Schools’ sterling reputation as one of the most impactful community gatherings in Bellevue will be enhanced in this transition to an evening event. We look forward to welcoming anyone in the community who wishes to learn more and amplify the organization’s mission.”

According to the foundation’s development director, Michael Smith, this year also marks a change in the event’s format. “We’ve moved the entire education showcase of our programs into the ballroom and we’ve broken the presentations into smaller pieces. This will allow attendees to spend more time engaging with students, educators, and each other.”
Spring for Schools Leadership Donors have been contributing to the fundraiser already, and additional individuals can join as leaders any time before March 23rd. In addition to private donations from community members, corporate sponsors provide critical funding in acknowledgement of the evening and the organization’s goal to raise at least $500,000. This year, Amazon, Microsoft, and The Bellevue Collection have led with significant contributions, along with FieldTurf, Overlake, Sierra Martin Architects, and T-Mobile.

Funds from the event will support programs sponsored by the Foundation at the Bellevue School District, including mental health, computer science, early learning, inclusive libraries, and national board certification for teachers. “Being recognized by the prestigious National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is an honorable achievement and teachers are very appreciative of the support provided by the Bellevue Schools Foundation,” says second grade teacher Heidi Von Tersch.

“The Foundation offers the District critical funding for programming that would otherwise fall through the cracks of local, state, and federal funding structures,” says Buder. ”Spring for Schools offers our entire community an opportunity to advocate for resources critical to the next generation of leaders in Bellevue.”

To register for the event and donate to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, visit www.bsfdn.org. 

ABOUT THE BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: Established in 1979, Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) is the first foundation dedicated to supporting public K-12 initiatives in Washington State. Its mission is to promote and fund the best possible learning opportunities for all students in Bellevue’s public schools. This year, the Foundation is supporting $800,000 of programming in the Bellevue School District.

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) March 20, 2023— PacificSource Health Plans is pleased to announce a new business collaboration with Aetna Signature Administrators® that will improve access to care for PacificSource members when traveling or residing outside of Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Aetna’s preferred provider organization (PPO) network will give PacificSource members in-network access to more than 6,000 hospitals and 1.5 million participating physicians and ancillary providers. Aetna will replace First Health Network, PacificSource’s current national partner, on June 1, 2023.

Access to Aetna’s PPO network will be offered to PacificSource members covered on individual and family plans, employer group plans and student health plans. Services from Aetna PPO network providers, outside the PacificSource four-state area, will be paid as in-network. The new partnership does not include Medicare or Medicaid members.

“We are pleased to welcome Aetna as a trusted partner and have full confidence our members traveling or residing outside our four-state service area can get the care they need through their comprehensive network of providers,” said Peter McGarry, PacificSource vice president of provider network.

PacificSource in-network plan benefits remain the same for members using Aetna’s provider network outside of PacificSource’s four-state service areas of Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana.  

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,800 people and serves over 600,000 members throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.