Nearly 8,000 Cedar Mill and Bethany neighbors rely on a single Facebook group to swap safety alerts, find lost pets and share road conditions.
The Cedar Mill News Group, a private Facebook community administered by Virginia Bruce, has grown to nearly 8,000 members, according to Cedar Mill News. Bruce, who also runs the separate Cedar Mill News Facebook page, said the group fills a different role.
"The Cedar Mill News Group was formed to allow our neighbors to talk to each other, unlike the page where only I can post," Bruce wrote.
The group is open to residents of Cedar Mill, Bethany, Cedar Hills and surrounding communities. It is private, meaning anyone can find it, but prospective members must request access, answer screening questions and agree to rules requiring civil behavior and banning advertising.
Bruce and moderator Claudia Scholtz vet four or five new membership requests each day. Bruce said she also participates in a Facebook Group Admin community to stay current on platform changes and moderation best practices.
The group during the January 2024 ice storm
The group's value became clear during the January 2024 ice and windstorm that knocked out power across Washington County. In a February 2024 Cedar Mill News article, Bruce wrote that the group gained at least 1,000 members during the storm as neighbors spread the word. Members shared road conditions, power outage updates and practical tips, including how to light a gas fireplace without electricity.
After the storm passed, one member compiled contractor recommendations for recovery work into a downloadable file shared with the group.
The group remains active. In March, a member posted about a landslide that closed a section of Cornell Road between Skyline and Thompson roads.
How to join
Facebook users in Cedar Mill, Bethany, Cedar Hills or nearby neighborhoods can search for "Cedar Mill News Group" on Facebook, click the Join button, answer the membership questions and agree to the group rules. Bruce and Scholtz review requests daily.
