There is such a panoply of amenities in Lake Oswego that Dianne and I have been talking about incorporating profiles of local favorites from time to time. I thought I’d begin with a very special person who I would be lost without… my local “dog-whisperer”, Valerie Pulley.
Ever notice that periodically certain topics tend to pop up any time you turn on the television or are in conversations with different groups of people? Lately it
seems it has been the subject of pets, and dogs in particular. We all know what a Portuguese Water Dog is now, thanks to “Beau” at the White House. I know our own friend & blogging cohort, Ron Ares, wrote a post most recently about his own dog, Nyree (left), adopted by the Ares family to save her from becoming a casualty of foreclosure. I’ve seen pieces on local and national news about the amazing number of dogs that have been abandoned or taken to shelters as fallout from the current economy, and it is heartbreaking to consider.
Recently, a friend of mine who has been experiencing the stress of the economy herself, told me a story that made me race out the door, camera and notepad in hand. My friend’s dog was badly in need of grooming, being a breed that really needs some professional upkeep. It had been awhile, and though she felt horrible about it, she just didn’t have the funds to spare. We both frequent the same wonderful dog groomer, Valerie Pulley, and she told me that Valerie was so concerned about her pooch that she called & asked my friend to please just come in and consider it her gift. Valerie knew the dog needed her attention, and decided that this was the most important thing. Well… word about special people like Valerie spreads quickly in a community like Lake Oswego, and while I don’t want to encourage others to solicit favors : ) I DO want folks to know about her, and others like her, and so a few words about this exceptional person:
Valerie has been a professional dog groomer since 1994 when she completed her schooling in Phoenix. Her mother was a dog breeder, and Valerie’s plan in the beginning was simply to assist her mother. It didn’t take her long to realize that she had a special talent, and wanted to make this her career. Valerie just loves dogs, and they tend to sense it. Her own
Staffordshire Terrier, Fedore, is her pride & joy, I’ve been taking my crazy black Standard Schnauzer, Kato (right) , to Valerie for years, and she is the only one who can calm him down enough to let his toenails be clipped. Turns out others have noticed this talent as well, and dog owners from far and wide bring their “hard to handle” pets to Valerie for tender loving care. Valerie mentions that “Some dogs have been kicked out of every grooming salon in Portland for biting, scratching, and generally squirming and freaking out. They bring them to me because I am the only one they’ve found to be able to handle them.” I 
ask her why she thinks this is, and she says “I’m just not afraid of them, and I care about them.” She has been working in the Lake Oswego area for around 12 years now, spending some of her career at the Lake Oswego Dog Shoppe, and now is working for Groomingdales in Tualatin on Nyberg Rd., just about five minutes from my house & a toe over the Lake Oswego borderline. A customer notices that I am interviewing Valerie and volunteers “I come here all the way from Sherwood. They’re so nice & so good I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” For my part, I’ll go anywhere Valerie is… and Kato is very grateful.
You can reach Valerie at: 503 692 WOOF (9663).
Well, the cherry trees are in full bloom, temps are in the 80’s, and real estate activity continues to move forward… a gradually enlivened, seasonal bustle.
Located along Lake Oswego’s Northern boundary is 
Bridges are necessary because the park is layed out around a canyon that contains a natural watershed. The creek at the bottom is one of the few remaining creeks in the area with an active run of steelhead trout.
People locally began to appreciate the value of the natural area and the Friends of Tryon Creek was formed in 1969 to work toward preserving the area in its natural state.
A discussion about Tryon Creek State Park would not be complete without the subject of the native trillium. 
Lake Oswego is home to a very unique and beautiful facility, Lake Oswego Hunt. The Lake Oswego Hunt is an equestrian training program and a riding school for children and adults of all ages. Unlike many facilities that focus on one discipline, Lake Oswego Hunt works with Combined Training, Dressage, and Hunter/Jumper. So if you have a love for horses, and you want to have access to horses in your life, there is a way to do that here in Lake Oswego.
When I stopped in to visit the Lake Oswego Hunt, besides the beautiful arena and barn, I was also struck by the warmth and friendliness of the people that I met. Everyone was gracious and welcoming. I was very taken with the attitude that this is a place that wants to be a part of our community. They made it very clear that they love to have people come in and that they are happy to give you a tour. Along with a calendar of events that includes horse shows and parties, there are occassional open houses that invite the general public to come and see what is happening at Lake Oswego Hunt. The next open house is scheduled for February 7th, from 9am to 5pm.
Wow! A newscaster said yesterday that we are experiencing the biggest snow event since 1964! For those of you who tune in to the Blotter from out of state, I am attaching a few photos so that you can see what we are talking about. Dianne has posted some for your amusement as well. We usually focus on real estate pretty much exclusively in our Blog, but with this kind of excitement, we can’t resist giving you a little local flavor.
Main roads are kept pretty passable with mostly packed snow, and are sanded regularly (Oregon does not use salt), but side streets, especially hilly ones, are let’s say… invigorating! Kids who have been out of school an extra week this Winter Break are sledding everywhere. Lots of folks have bagged their aspirations of mobility as evidenced by the feet of snow burying their cars on the sides of many roads. Others who are able and so inclined have headed for Mt. Hood where skiing is incredible, and road crews are always ahead of the curve. Trees laden with snow and ice have released some of their burden in the form of limbs in yards and on roadsides. But hey… it’s pretty!
Christmas has taken on a completely different tone this year. Instead of filling the malls, people gather in kitchens around batches of cookies. Fireplaces are the center of many homes where friends, family and a variety of hot beverages and toddies complete the picture. The uptick in Internet shopping in the area has kept UPS busy all over! This year is definitely one we will never forget.
The Lake Oswego City Council has awarded the $830,785 contract, to Pioneer Waterproofing, Inc. Requiring specialized skills, Pioneer Waterproofing fits the bill and has met the standard for brick and masonry restoration in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Pioneer Waterproofing has also completed impressive restoration projects which include Vista House, Crater Lake Lodge, Timberline Lodge, and the Portland Art Museum.
Kudos to the Lake Oswego Library which was ranked the best library in the state of Oregon by the 
I crunch my way to the mailbox to pick up the daily paper thrown there in the walkway, and look up half asleep at the clear blue sky feathered with white brush strokes.
Construction was completed on the new multi-use field near Lakeridge High School in the spring, the first sporting events being soccer and lacrosse. The field also accommodates football and baseball. It boasts a playing field made of plastic fibers and ground-up rubber which has excellent lasting capacity and drainage according to Gary Evans, assistant director at Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation. Neighbors’ concerns were addressed with state-of-the-art, computer-controlled, “green” lighting that uses a minimum number of fixtures and reduces energy-wasting light “spill”. The park is open until 10:00PM, but lights may be turned off by teams if they’re finished early by calling a toll-free number and entering a password. Most local leagues may use the field for free once a seasonal fee is paid.
Amenities of the 12-acre site include walking paths and access to trailheads, a beautiful 1.5 acre wetland, playground, parking lot, restroom facility and two luxurious off-leash dog parks- one is 1.6 acres and intended for larger gregarious dogs (though it is open to all dogs), whereas the other is 1.1 acres and reserved for smaller and/or timid dogs. Both dog parks include incredible fencing that is seemingly jump-, dig-, and escape-proof with double-entry gates. There are also benches and picnic tables for dog owners to relax and/or socialize, covered/shady areas for rainy or too-sunny days, water-stations, garbage cans, you-scoop-bags, and open areas for playing fetch or just letting the dogs play.
One of the things that I always explain to anyone buying a home in Lake Oswego, and particularly a lakefront home, is that the lake has a history of routine maintenance that occasionally requires a draw down of the water level.