👋🏀A West Linn Star Rises, a Big I-5 Closure & Your Weekend Plans

TOGETHER WITH

Good Morning, South Metro. Our next South Metro Dinner Club is here, and after hearing from neighbors in Canby and Sherwood, we’re coming your way! It’s pretty simple: answer a few questions, book your seat and meet five new friends for dinner. Get more info here and we’ll see you for dinner!

Coming up in today’s South Metro Weekly:

A West Linn basketball player goes from unknown to nationally known in what seemed like a few minutes
The I-5 South closure in Portland will probably impact traffic here in the South Metro, as well
And over 40 years of pizza in Canby!

On to the weekend!

-Scott & Family

SPONSORED BY

SEVEN LANE HOME & LIFE CONCIERGE

The Kids Are Back in School. Somehow You’re Busier.

September has a funny way of filling the calendar fast.

School is back. Fall sports are underway. Appointments need to be scheduled. Returns are still sitting by the door. The house needs a few things before the weather changes. And somehow that “quick errand” has been on your list for two weeks.

That’s where Seven Lane Home & Life Concierge comes in.

Founded by local neighbor Cayla Beyl, Seven Lane helps busy families and professionals take some of those everyday tasks off their plates—from errands and returns to household coordination, appointments, vendor visits and the little details that keep getting pushed to tomorrow.

Think of it as an extra set of capable hands when life gets a little too full.

Because your free time probably shouldn’t be spent standing in a return line.

Learn more about Seven Lane and how Cayla can help at SevenLaneCo.com.

🏀 West Linn’s Kaylor Buse Is Having a Moment

Courtesy: Kaylor Buse Instagram

Sometimes a summer changes everything.

Just a few months ago, West Linn’s Kaylor Buse wasn’t really on the national radar. Now, the senior has become one of the country’s fastest-rising girls basketball recruits, climbing to No. 52 in ESPN’s 2027 rankings by August.

That kind of jump says a lot.

Buse told KOIN-TV she doesn’t even recognize how quickly it all happened. She credits a special summer team and being “all in, all in” in a way that pushed her game to another level.

And the attention followed.

She went from Gonzaga being her biggest offer at the start of summer to drawing interest from Oregon, Washington, Utah, TCU and South Carolina. Yes — that South Carolina. three-time national champion coach Dawn Staley even called her personally with an offer.

What stands out most, though, is what Buse says she wants next: good people, stability and a place where she can grow and pour into a community.

That feels very West Linn, doesn’t it?

🚧 The big I-5 closure starts tomorrow night — and yes, we’re probably going to feel it down here too.

Starting around 10 PM Friday night, southbound I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter will shut down 24 hours a day for up to five weeks while crews repair the aging elevated freeway just south of the Moda Center. The concrete there was last replaced in 1985, and ODOT says the work can’t really wait much longer.

Here’s the part that matters in the South Metro: regional traffic will be directed to I-205 instead.

Which means a lot more cars and trucks could be headed our way before eventually rejoining I-5 in Wilsonville — at a merge that, as most of us know, doesn’t exactly need help becoming congested.

ODOT is warning that travel times in the region could take two to three times longer than usual, with unpredictable backups well beyond the actual construction zone.

So even if you have absolutely no plans to go anywhere near the Moda Center over the next month, this is one of those Portland traffic projects that may still find a way to become part of your life.

🏞 Wilsonville’s new Memorial Park playground is officially open — and this one was built with everybody in mind. The long-awaited inclusive playground opened just before Labor Day, with climbing structures, slides and accessible play features designed for kids with a wide range of abilities. Even better, the project was almost entirely grant-funded. The city will hold an official grand opening celebration Sept. 16 from 3–5 p.m., with treats and a chance to check out the new space.

🍕 Forty-one years later, Fultano’s is still serving up a little piece of Canby history. Guy Romaine opened the Canby restaurant in 1985, and it has since become the kind of place where kids who once came in for a slice now bring their own families. The menu has changed with the times, but the old-school cornmeal crust and familiar favorites are still there. Romaine says the secret has stayed pretty simple: make a good product and have good people. Thanks to our friends at the Canby Chronicle for telling this story.

Courtesy: Fultano’s Pizza

📞 A nice reminder that 911 dispatchers are a huge part of keeping our communities safe. A Lake Oswego dispatcher monitoring city cameras spotted vandalism happening at Roehr Park last month, then recognized one of the suspects when he returned weeks later and quickly sent officers to the area. Police made an arrest, but the bigger takeaway may be the person behind the screens — paying attention, remembering what they saw and helping connect the dots.

🏫 A brand-new chapter started this week at Lake Oswego Middle School. Students walked into the newly rebuilt school for the first time Tuesday, Sept. 8, after spending the past two years in temporary digs at the Uplands Elementary campus. The new building was one of the final projects from the district’s previous construction bond. After a couple years of making do, this probably felt like a pretty great first day back.

🍽️ Apparently, Wilsonville and West Linn restaurants were on their best behavior last month. Every restaurant inspected in both cities during August received a perfect health inspection score. In West Linn, that included Oregon Golf Club-Halfway House, The Salty Rhino Pub, Elden’s and Youth Music Project. Wilsonville’s perfect-score list included Chipotle, Wendy’s, Red Robin, Burger King and Qdoba. Lake Oswego did well too — every restaurant inspected scored 90 or higher.

☕ No workout required — just coffee, conversation and a chance to meet some new people. Fit 2B Fit is hosting a Women, Coffee & Community meetup Saturday morning at Snyder Park in Sherwood. Bring your favorite morning drink, a chair or blanket, and come as you are. You don’t need to be part of Fit 2B Fit to join — the whole idea is simply slowing down, getting outside and making a few new connections.

🥏 A Canby disc golf course that had literally gotten lost in the weeds is getting some much-needed attention. North Eco Park’s 12-hole course opened in 2012, but years without consistent upkeep left fairways overgrown and baskets hard to even find. Its future has been uncertain, with the city looking for volunteers willing to help bring it back. This week, the city thanked Leo, Spencer Polack and Junior for already getting to work — including clearing blackberries from the tees. Nice to see a comeback starting one blackberry bush at a time.

🎨 Wilsonville is about to make a few boring utility boxes a whole lot more interesting. The city is looking for artists to design vinyl wraps for up to seven utility cabinets around town as part of its new “Wilsonville Wrapped” public art program. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Arts & Creativity,” and selected artists will receive a $500 stipend. Applications are due Oct. 21 — so if you’ve ever wanted your artwork on display around the city, here’s your shot.

🎈 - family-friendly event
💲 - ticket or purchase required
🎵 - includes live music
😋 - there will be food

🎵😋🎈 Final Wilsonville Farmers Market of the Season
Montague Park, Wilsonville | Thursday, 4–8 PM | Free
One last chance to make a lap through the Wilsonville Farmers Market before it wraps up for the year. The season finale brings back the usual mix of local farmers, artisans and small businesses, plus the Kids Korner, food and drinks, and live music while you shop. If this has been part of your Thursday routine all summer, consider this your reminder to squeeze in one more visit — and maybe grab a few things you’ll miss when the market is gone.

🎈Vintage Hippie Boho Flea
Oddfellow/Rebekah Lodge, Sherwood | Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM | Free
If vintage finds, handmade goods and creatively repurposed treasures are your thing, this could be an easy Saturday stop. The monthly Vintage Hippie Boho Flea brings together local makers and vintage sellers at the Oddfellow/Rebekah Lodge in Sherwood, with everything from handmade bags to one-of-a-kind finds. Admission is free, and they’re also doing a free raffle while you browse.

🎈😋 Azend Hot Yoga & Wellness Grander Grand Opening
Azend Hot Yoga & Wellness, Wilsonville | Saturday, 11 AM–1 PM | Free
If you’ve been curious about trying yoga — or just want to check out a new wellness spot in Wilsonville — this is an easy way to do it. Azend is celebrating its grand opening with free demos, snacks, beverages, prizes and local vendors. They’re also offering two free yoga classes that day: a 90-minute Hot 26+2 class at 9 AM and a 60-minute Warm Flow class at 1:30 PM.

💲🎵 Curtis Salgado at The Headliners Club
The Headliners Club, Lake Oswego | Saturday, 4 PM | $25+
If you want a Saturday afternoon with some serious Northwest music history behind it, Curtis Salgado is a pretty easy pick. The Portland-area blues and soul singer has spent decades building a national reputation, and he’s bringing that mix of blues, R&B and soul to The Headliners Club in Lake Oswego. Even better, this one is all ages, so you don’t have to leave the younger music fans at home.

😋💲 Tualatin Timberwolves Steak & Bingo
Sherwood Elks Lodge | Saturday, 5 PM | $55 individual, $100 couple
Dinner and bingo is already a pretty solid Saturday night combination — and this one helps support Tualatin High School football too. Your ticket includes a steak dinner, bingo package and one drink ticket, with a silent auction and raffle prizes happening during the evening as well. All proceeds go to the Timberwolves football program, and tables for eight are available for $350 if you want to make a group night out of it.

Tualatin Valley Elks Rummage Sale
Tualatin Valley Elks Lodge, Tualatin | Sunday, 9 AM | Free
If digging through tables for one unexpectedly great find sounds like your kind of Sunday morning, the Tualatin Valley Elks are opening the doors for a community rummage sale. Expect a mix of gently used items, crafts and whatever else local sellers decide to bring along. Proceeds help support yard maintenance and beautification at the lodge, so your bargain hunting can do a little good too.

🎈🎵😋 Fur Baby Love Fest
Meldrum Bar City Park, Gladstone | Sunday, 11 AM–3 PM | Free
Dog people, this one’s basically built for you. Fur Baby Love Fest is taking over Meldrum Bar Park with a costume contest, 50+ pet vendors, music, food, raffles, a photo booth, dunk tank and plenty of opportunities to meet some very good dogs. The event benefits Oregon Dog Rescue, and there’s also an optional one-mile RiverWalk starting at 11 AM for $15 online or $20 day-of. Bring your pup — or just come borrow some puppy energy for the afternoon.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🌳 - outdoor concert
💲 - ticket or purchase required

🌤 Thursday looks beautiful, with sunshine and a high near 77. Friday cools down to around 68, then Saturday turns wet with a good chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. The good news: Sunday dries out with some sunshine and a high near 65, and Monday looks even nicer around 70.

Today 9/10
77 🌡 50 | ⛅

Friday 9/11
68 🌡 52 | ⛅

Saturday 9/12
62 🌡 51 | 🌦

Sunday 9/13
65 🌡 51 | ⛅

Monday 9/14
70 🌡 52 | 🌤

THANKS!

A final thought...

❝

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

It’s easy to feel like the world gives us plenty of reasons to be frustrated, angry or cynical.

Sometimes those feelings are justified.

But adding more anger rarely fixes much.

Most of us have more chances than we realize to bring a little light into someone else’s day — with patience, kindness, encouragement or simply choosing not to make a hard moment harder.

We may not fix everything.

But we can decide what we add to it.

Have a great weekend!

👋🏀 A West Linn Senior’s Summer Changed Everything

SEVEN LANE HOME & LIFE CONCIERGE

🏀 West Linn’s Kaylor Buse Is Having a Moment

🚧 The big I-5 closure starts tomorrow night — and yes, we’re probably going to feel it down here too.

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