GRESHAM JAPANESE GARDEN

Tsuru Island
James Card:Editor

KAZ KIDS SCHEDULE

The Kaz Kids schedule for March 16th willcontinue as before unless there is inclement
weather then they will meet in the "ResourceCenter". The construction of Bonsai mossballs will take place indoors with preparedlunch for the students. Wish to join us...KazKids project begins at 9am until 2pm. Several
volunteers are needed to assist with thestudent construction of the take home projects.

Help Us Out ... Main City Saturdays
by James Card

"Main City Saturdays" has been around for ayear now and the garden has enjoyed hosting
many groups and organizations to volunteer
at Main City Park. In many articles I havesaid that more is not better, but in this case,
we are in need of more, more, morevolunteers.
Each year the landscaping along theSpringwater Trail "Spur" becomes moreestablished, additional maintenance isneeded. The first group for 2018 came in
mid-January; 50 plus students from fourcolleges;
PortlandState,Portland
Community, George Fox and Warner Pacific.
They were able to tackle some of the cleanupand pruning. Although we had a great dayof volunteering, there is still an abundance ofpruning and clean up still to beaccomplished.
Do you have a group or organization thatcan volunteer on Saturdays? Everything issupervised, no special requirements forexperience, and easy access to all the work
areas.
Contact Michael Gonzales at
michael.gonzales@greshamoregon.gov or Jim
at gresham.japanese.garden@gmail.com.

ISSUE 25

FEBRUARY 2018 EDITION

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New Workshops Begin

A New Face among Us
As the Garden programs, projects and opportunities
grow there becomes an increase in administrative
procedures.
Taylor Clements has joined the Garden staff inFebruary. Taylor will be providing services on anadministrative level and assisting with communication
to volunteers and supporters, providing information to
our webmaster, and will be a back-up to Katey Card forthe newsletter.
Wendy Coffin manages the communication to thevolunteers and collects and reports the volunteer hours.
Taylor will begin managing this area in February. The
volunteer hours and related documents are retained foruse with acquiring grants for the needs of the Garden
and a requirement for the City of Gresham. Taylor will
also be representing Tsuru Island at events and/ormeetings.

"Pruning of Flowering Trees and Shrubs" isscheduled for April 21st starting at 1pm
until 4:30pm and the cost will be $40.00.
sponsored by Tsuru Island and presented by
Maryann Lewis a member of the Aesthetic
Pruners Association located in Oakland CA.

A series of bonsai classes conducted byMark Vossbrink who has displayed his
bonsai plants at the "Skosh" events. Classes
will take place on the 3rd Thursday of eachmonth. Classes include all materials, will be
2 hours each beginning at 1pm, $45.00 perclass. Classes will continue through June
21st, 2018.

Taylor is the office manager at the Stamp-Connection.
She has been with the company for about 2 years,
overseeing a diverse number of duties. Taylor has
volunteered at the Garden on occasions and has been apart of Main City Saturdays. You might also see Taylor
at other functions around the City since she is involvedin the Chamber of Commerce, the Historic Museum andthe Historic Downtown Business Association.
On Saturdays, Taylor will be at the Resource Center inthe mornings. If there is a clerical need of some sort let
her know or leave a note and she will follow up.
Welcome aboard Taylor

The City of Greshamhonors the Japanesegarden with a postcard

Planning the Plaza
As a part of the Ebetsu Plaza project there will be concrete pavers forthe plaza entrance and the emergency lane that runs through that area.
the potential that this project could fund the "Endowment" for thegarden and provide maintenance funds for the Garden in the future isexciting.
A small committee including John Clark who is planning theengraving program with promotion of the product and engraving of
the pre-sold pavers. He is awaiting delivery of the engraving
equipment that he recently purchased and will begin prototypes inMarch. Sue Hughs will oversee the advertising and promotion aspectof the project and will provide promotional materials to outlets. She
will also utilize social media to spread the word. Taylor Clements andJim Card will oversee the construction of the plaza area and organize
the installation of the "touch stones".
Watch for announcements and information in March 2018. The Garden
will be partnering with other non-profit organizations to promote thesale of these engraved pieces of history.
ISSUE 25

FEBRUARY 2018 EDITION

Page 2Metal Art Tsuru by Jim CardJohn Clark at the Stamp-Connection
wantedsomethingthatthecommunity could see and share in
the name of his employees. He gavemoney to Gresham Outdoor Public
Arts and asked them to find an item
for the Gresham Japanese Garden in
the name of his employees.

2018, Full of Action and Progress
It has been a very fast and rewarding month ofcommunication, meetings, planning andaccomplishments. What is always on the agenda isthe "endowment" to continue the maintenance andupkeep of Tsuru Island. Naturally that does not justinclude the Garden but also involves the Skosh andthe Exchange Program that is constantly undergoing
improvement.
The Plaza and the Endowment are networked
together with the installation of the hardscape andfundraising program which is the engraving of thepavers called "Touch Stones". The promotion of thisfundraiser will begin in April 2018 with the kick offof the revised "Green and Clean" volunteer program
focusing in Main City Park on April 28, 2018.
Site preparation and grading started early February
and by February 15th touch stones began being putin place. Many do not realize that this project has
become an international event. The Garden ispromoting the sale of engraved “touch stones” inEbetsu by making presentations at the two Ebetsu
Rotary Clubs, the International Exchange
Association, and the City of Ebetsu.

ISSUE 25

FEBRUARY 2018 EDITION

The result was a very large metal art
piece that is a Tsuru (crane).
Ithought of the perfect spot at theGarden for the crane. Behind theAzumaya and visible through themoon window.
Judy Han and Leslie Radke found thecrane and brought it to me, so I could
make the installation arrangements.
The next step will be sand blastingand powder coating. This process
will take place in February with final
details to enhance the likeness of theRed headed crane only found inJapan.
Once all of these processes arecomplete, a celebration will takeplace with the employees of StampConnection,
GOPA,
Gardenvolunteers and the public to view thiswonderful piece of art.

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