Happy 2012, Your OKNA Weekly Email
Happy New Year, Overlook! Now that you’ve sent all the out of town company home & recycled all the wrappings, have a look at what’s going on in the neighborhood…
1) Thank you, Brad!
2) Sacred Garden Space Suggestions?
3) Land Use Notice Posted (1/9)
4) Park Lovers, Meet, Speak Up (1/9)
5) City of Portland 2012 State and Federal Legislative Agendas - City Council hearings
6) Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group Meets (1/11)
7) Do you Dig Square Dancing? (1/12)
Beach Parents: PPS & the Future of Schools (1/17)
9) Tree Planting Event This Month (1/28)
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1) Thank you, Brad!
Special thanks to Overlook volunteer and past (maybe future?) OKNA board member Brad Halverson for keeping the meeting room at Kaiser Town Hall reserved for the monthly OKNA general meetings. Yeah, maybe he uses some new fandangled schedule reminder device, but the fact that he does it at all is so helpful. Come check out the room and join us at the next OKNA meeting, Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7pm. Thanks again, Brad!
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2) Sacred Garden Space Suggestions?
Neighbor Kathryn sends the following message:
Hello, I live in the Overlook neighborhood and I am hoping starting an urban farm/garden with a vision of bringing a sacred wild space to the community that feeds it on many levels. It will have the usual beds for vegetables that we will (whomever participates) collectively take to market and share the profit as well as donating the surplus to those in need in the community. Beyond this I also see a sacred garden space with medicinal herbs planted in archetypal forms such as a spiral and a labrynth, the middle of the garden will have a community space for outdoor meditation and ceremony/ artistic expression. I plan on submitting an application to City Repair requesting volunteer help building a cob tea house;). I am just looking for a good space to plant!
If anyone has any interest in or knows of anyone wanting to share the land in such a way or if anyone knows of a vacant lot that could use some love please connect with me. Thank you! -Kathryn
Email Kathryn
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3) Land Use Notice Posted (1/9)
Check out plans for a remodeling job at the Economy Inn Motel on N Interstate Avenue. As part of the Portland Development Commission’s (PDC) Storefront Improvement Program, the motel owners intend new windows and siding. Check it out and submit your comments, if any. http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?c=42261&a=378707
Questions? Contact OKNA at info@OverlookNeighborhood.org Comments are due 1/9/12. This information was posted in a more timely fashion on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/OKNAinPDX; you too can ‘like’ the page to subscribe to midweek updates like these.
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4) Park Lovers, Meet, Speak Up (1/9)
Portland Parks & Recreation will soon submit their proposed budget for the next fiscal year. As directed by Mayor Adams, their budget reflects cuts of up to $3 million. This impacts important programs and services including: community centers, park garbage and restroom service, street trees, and SUN Community Schools.
Learn more about the recommendations at www.portlandparks.org and then join us:
WHAT: An opportunity to share your thoughts about the proposed budget with Commissioner Nick Fish and Director Mike Abbaté
WHEN: Monday, January 9th, 2012 6:30pm-8:30pm
WHERE: Multnomah County Boardroom @ 501 SE Hawthorne (at the corner of SE 6th Ave. )
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5) City of Portland 2012 State and Federal Legislative Agendas - City Council hearings
We wanted you to be aware that Portland City Council will be holding two hearings next week on the City of Portland's 2012 State and Federal Legislative Agendas. All hearings will be held in Portland City Council Chambers.
2012 State Legislative Agenda
Wednesday, January 11th 10 a.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave., 2nd floor
Link to City of Portland DRAFT 2012 State Legislative Agenda
2012 Federal Legislative Agenda
Thursday, January 12th 3 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave., 2nd floor
Link to City of Portland DRAFT 2012 Federal Legislative Agenda
If you have questions about any legislative item contained in these legislative agendas, please contact City Council offices using this link, which has contact information for City Council offices: http://www.portlandonline.com/index.cfm.
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6) Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group Meets (1/11)
Meetings of the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group (PH CAG) are intended to keep the community abreast of developments on the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and to provide a forum for discussion. PH CAG meetings are open to everyone. We encourage you to step forward to share your concerns and advice.
Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: 6543 N Burlington Avenue (at the Portland BES Water Pollution Control Lab)
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7) Do you Dig Square Dancing? (1/12)
We found this post for a Portland MeetUp in Overlook. Contact the group for more information – the name of the group is called Anyone Can Join!, so I guess anyone can! http://www.meetup.com/Anyone-Can-Join/events/46383472/
Old-Time Gathering square dance: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 6:45 PM
Polish Library Association & Grandpa's Cafe 3832 North Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR
Help kick off the 2012 Portland Old-Time Music Gathering with this free square dance featuring two fine bands. It's a smaller version of the big Saturday dance, good for beginners or those who are rusty.
Calling by Zach Hudson and Amy Hofer; Music by Uncle Wiggily and Flat Rock String Band
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Beach Parents: PPS & the Future of Schools (1/17)
Speaking of the OKNA General meeting, if you have a kid, might have a kid in the future or know a kid, you’ll want to attend the next OKNA meeting.
A representative from Portland Public Schools (PPS) will attend the meeting on Tuesday, January 17 to discuss several important issues facing North Portland schools including Beach. Dealing with growing enrollment, aging school buildings needing repairs and delivering strong results for students in every neighborhood are key discussion points. We'd love to see lots of folks representing Beach School and Overlook at that meeting.
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9) Tree Planting Event This Month (1/28)
Come out on Saturday January 28th for Overlook and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods' 13th annual tree planting event. Last year over a hundred people came and we planted over 120 trees. We want you to join us this year!
Bring your kids or anyone else you want too. We will meet at Kaiser Permanente Town Hall at 8:30 for hot drinks and some breakfast items. Then we will go out in small groups and plant trees. Usually people come alone or in pairs, so you will be getting to know some neighbors while out planting trees.
If you want to contribute but can’t plant trees, please consider contributing some breakfast item or a dish for the big lunch we will have after all the trees are planted. Every year we also need people to help organize the meeting places, and to drive other volunteers and trees in your pickup truck. This year we might have close to 200 trees to plant, and will really need volunteers and pickup trucks.
Last year was a huge success and we’re going to make it even better this year. Call Garrett with any questions about how the day will go down, or if you'd like to give a heads up that you are coming with some food or your truck. 503 422 5070. Thanks!
A Couple of Neighborly Notes
Here’s a few posts from this week on our Facebook page. If you haven’t yet, jump over and ‘like’ us to get Overlook news in your feed.
Neighbor Kathryn has a question for you all:
Hello, I am looking to start a garden farm on a piece of empty land in the Overlook neighborhood. it will grow medicinal herbs as well as fruit, vegetables and flowers. I hope to have an area for meditation/teahouse (from cob perhaps) sacred space and art. We would need access to water and that is about it. Any promising roadway not improved areas between houses might be an option also. Thank you everyone!
Overlook Neighborhood PDX
A Land Use Notice has been posted for Overlook; see link for details. If you have a comment after reading, please contact OKNA before the deadline.
http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?c=42261&a=378707
Parking fines are going up, and that includes expired registrations; check it out & know before you go.
Circuit Court announces changes to parking fine schedule
Effective January 2, 2012 - five dollar increase for overtime parking, truck loading zone violations and failure to display current vehicle registration.
Overlook Neighborhood PDX
Is it possible that exactly 6093 people live in Overlook, exactly the same as ten years ago???
Check out the Census data and see how many others just like you live here!
http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=57000&a=376005
Overlook Neighborhood PDX
Say hello to Happy House Chinese Restaurant, our newest business neighbors. Located at N Interstate & Skidmore, they're open daily & do dine in, take out and a lounge. Manager Winnie says 'hello'; stop in to order or call 503.287.9740.
OLT Clean Up this weekend, Police input, The Storyteller & More
Welcome to Fall, Overlook. There are lots of October-festy things going on in North Portland, and some public safety, land use and general info in the email for you this week.
1) Overlook Livability Team CleanUp (10/2)
2) Solar Tours & Celebration (10/6)
3) Portland Police 5-Year Plan (now)
4) The Storyteller Children's Event (Mondays)
5) Learn About Land Use & Help Your Neighborhood (10/22)
6) Leaf Day Information (11/1 deadline)
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1) Overlook Livability Team Clean Up (10/2)
Please join us for our October cleanup, this Sunday. We meet at DiPrima Dolci at 9am. Don't forget to wear your team t-shirt if you have one! Jenna may have some extras on hand if you want to buy one.
Thank you,
David
grafitti@OverlookNeighborhood.org
Overlook Livability Team 2011 Calendar
We meet at 9am the first Sunday of the month unless it falls on a holiday weekend, in which case we meet on the second Sunday.
- October 2
- November 6
- December 4
The OLT is an open group of neighbors against graffiti and trash; they meet once a month for some targeted clean up, and a nice lunch afterward. Please contact David about joining any time.
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2) Solar Tours & Celebration (10/6)
Solarize North Portland Celebration
Thursday, October 6,2011
Historic Kenton Firehouse
5:30-8:30
Take a tour of local solar installations, then gather for refreshments at the Firehouse.
RSVP: Imagine Energy 503.477.9585
solarize North Portland is a volunteer driven project in North Portland
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3) Portland Police 5-Year Plan (now)
Mark Wells, your Crime Prevention Coordinator writes in:
I'd like to thank you all for attending Wednesday's PSAC (Public Safety Action Committee meeting)…we "packed the Firehouse" and had a very productive meeting….so thank you for your time, energy, and thoughtful questions and comments last night with Mayor Adams.
Here is the link to the Portland Police Bureau's 5 year plan soliciting community input. Please pass this link along to any of your friends and neighbors. As Commander Leloff explained, this really is the opportunity for the community to weigh in on what your police force will look like in the upcoming years.
http://www.portlandonline.com/police/index.cfm?c=50417&a=360465
Please click on "asking for feedback" to submit your comments and input.
Thank you all again for a fantastic PSAC and please shoot me your thoughts and ideas on upcoming agendas, guest speakers, and how you would like to see the upcoming City Council Candidates presented to answer your questions and concerns.
Have a safe month and see you all next month, October 26th!
Mark Wells
Crime Prevention Coordinator
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
City of Portland
503-823-4098
mark.wells@ portlandoregon.gov
October is Crime Prevention Awareness Month and we'll be celebrating with events to educate, involve and organize Portland neighbors! Check our website for events and trainings. http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=54880&.
Crime Prevention website: www.portlandonline.com/oni/cp
Crime Prevention FaceBook page: www.facebook.com/portlandcrimeprevention
Crime Prevention Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/58578724@N06/
Follow us on Twitter: @pdxpreventcrime
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4) The Storyteller Children's Event (Mondays)
The Storyteller:
You are invited to a free weekly children’s storytelling event at the Overlook House. Stories based on Ancient Native American legends and myths told in the oral storytelling tradition of gifted storytellers since time began. Stories crafted for children but can also be entertaining to adults. For more information please e-mail long time Overlook neighborhood resident Jerry Cowan (The Storyteller) at mdac@coho.net .
Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
Days: Mondays
Time: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Basement room of the Overlook House
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5) Learn About Land Use & Help Your Neighborhood (10/22)
“ABC's of Land Use” Workshop
Saturday, October 22, 2011
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Historic Kenton Fire House
8105 N Brandon Ave
Learn the basics of how the City of Portland's land use and development review processes work. Get hands-on experience with a land use review case study, including review of a development proposal and site plan, identification of relevant issues, and effective ways to respond to the approval criteria.
Introduction by Mary Jaron Kelley, North Portland Neighborhood Services. Presented by Barry Manning, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and Paul Leistner, Office of Neighborhood Involvement.
Refreshments will be provided, Workshop is free. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited to 40 people.
Who should attend:
Neighborhood and Business Association land use activists
Anyone thinking about getting more active with their Association's land use committees
Anyone interested in general City-related land use decision-making processes
What you will learn:
What does it mean to be a neighborhood land use chairperson?
Overview of the State, Metro, and City land use planning framework
The Planning Bureau’s District Liaison Program
The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code
How to access and read Zoning Maps
What is a Land Use Review and how it differs from a building permit
Comparison of the Land Review Processes: Type I, II, IIX, and III
How to read and respond to a Land Use Review Notice
Perspectives of an experienced Neighborhood Representative
The Appeal Process
For more information, or for help registering, please contact: Mary Jaron Kelley, at 503-823-4099 or mary@ npnscommunity.org
Co-Sponsored by North Portland Neighborhood Services, City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
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6) Leaf Day Information (11/1 deadline)
The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation has been working hard to improve the Leaf Day program for 2011. Information is now available to the public about this year's leaf pickup service.
The city has launched a new website at www.portlandonline.com/leafday with all the details. New program elements include an online Leaf Zone Locator and the ability to opt out or pay the leaf fee online.
In the next few weeks, customers in the city's Leaf Service Area, which includes 30 Leaf Zones, will receive a mailer that highlights the changes in the program, provides the schedule and fee information, explains how to prepare for scheduled Leaf Day(s), and recommends how to get the most out of the Leaf Day service.
Customers who opted out of the service and fee in 2010 will soon receive an additional mailer that walks them through this year's opt-out process.
The Leaf Line customer service phone is open, and operators are interested in hearing from you. Call 503-865-LEAF on Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or email your questions to leafday@portlandoregon.gov.
Overlook Email 9/2/11
1) Land Use Notice/Meeting for N Overlook Blvd (9/8)
2) N Concord Street closure (9/11)
3) Polish Festival Volunteer Opportunity (register now for 9/24-26)
4) Tree Inventory Update (now)
5) Urban Harvest Time (September)
6) Transportation Advocacy Opportunity (now)
7) OKNA Elections at September meeting (9/20)
1) Land Use Notice/Meeting for N Overlook Blvd (9/8)
A Land Use Notice has been posted for Overlook, concerning development on N Overlook Blvd.
Please read the land use notice here: http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?a=361972&c=42261
A meeting to review these plans with, and meet the developer, has been scheduled for Thursday September 8. If you would like to attend, please message to info@OverlookNeighborhood.org with "Land Use Meeting" in the subject line.
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2) N Concord Street closure (9/11)
One block of N Concord will be closed on Sunday, September 11 from 10am-2pm, for the Tour de Lab, a fund raising bike ride between Lucky Labrador locations to benefit Dove Lewis, Portland's only 24 hour emergency care animal hospital. The closure will be on Concord, between N Willamette Blvd and N Killingsworth St
The event will have amplified sound at controlled levels for music and announcements.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Jensi Albright, 503/459-4508
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3) Polish Festival Volunteer Opportunity (register now for 9/24-26)
The Polish Festival at N Failing Street and Interstate Avenue is Overlook’s signature September event. Our neighbors at the Polish Library Building Association need lots of volunteers to make this fun weekend happen. You can now choose the sort of work you would like to do when you register to volunteer at www.iEventOrganizer.com
If you have any concerns, questions or problems of any sort regarding the Festival or Volunteer Registration, please contact donata-plba@comcast.net.
The Polish Festival is an event for families and singles, adults and children, for food connoisseurs, music lovers, concert goers, dance enthusiasts… It is for everyone.
Expect non-stop stage performances, including dance groups and music bands and a polka contest on Saturday and Sunday, a street dance, delicious Polish food and imported Polish beer. The event is held on Failing Street between the two historic buildings of the Polish Library built in 1911 and St. Stanislaus Church built in 1907, both located on N. Interstate Avenue in Portland Oregon. We would love to have everyone help out with this years Festival, the more volunteers we get the better!
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4) Tree Inventory Update (now)
For an update on the Overlook Tree Inventory that Tree Steward/Overlook neighbor Vinny Parisi has been telling us about, please see our web post at http://www.overlookneighborhood.org/2011/08/qa-overlook-volunteer-shares-update-on-neighborhood-tree-inventory-project/
You can always check the OKNA website for mid-week updates: www.OverlookNeighborhood.org
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5) Urban Harvest Time (September)
Because money doesn’t grow on trees… but fruit does!
We bring people together to gather fruit before it falls, and make it available to those who need it most. We register fruit and nut trees throughout the city, bring people together to harvest and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh fruit each year, and teach tree care and food preservation in hands-on workshops.
Visit the website to see dozens of harvest opportunities, food preservation workshops and robust discussion.
www.portlandfruit.org
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6) Transportation Advocacy Opportunity (now)
Neighbors, the City of Portland is offering a free class on the city's transportation system. The class is a great opportunity for someone from our neighborhood association to better understand the transportation system and to work directly on a neighborhood transportation project.
The City of Portland and Portland State University are teaming up for the 20th year to offer the Portland Traffic and Transportation Class. For ten weeks, this free class gives neighborhood activists the opportunity to meet with local policy makers, political leaders, and planners to gain a better understanding of the metro area’s transportation system. Class participants also work directly with former Metro Executive Officer and current Shiels Obletz Johnsen principal, Rick Gustafson, on their own neighborhood transportation or livability projects. Gustafson developed the class in concert with Congressman Earl Blumenauer and is a knowledgeable leader on transportation and community development.
The class begins on 9/30/11 and continues each Thursday evening from 6:40 - 8:40 until 12/8/11 on PSU's downtown campus.
If you would like to represent Overlook in this class, please contact us for further information by emailing to info@OverlookNeighborhood.org
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7) OKNA Elections at September meeting (9/20)
If you have promised yourself that this is the year you’ll step forward to participate in the neighborhood association, good news! The elections for the OKNA board will take place at our next general membership meeting Tuesday, September 20, at 7pm at the Kaiser Town Hall on N Interstate Avenue.
Whether you would like to run for the board yourself, or simply want to cast your vote to participate, we appreciate your interest.
If you have questions beforehand and would like to speak to a current OKNA board member, please email us at info@OverlookNeighborhood.org or call Tom Griffin-Valade at North Portland Neighborhood Services: 503-823-4524.
Free Concert Sunday, Memorial Coliseum News
Memorial Coliseum celebrates 50th anniversary with tribute to veterans and free concert Sunday
Museum Coliseum plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a tribute to veterans of all wars during a free musical concert from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
As part of the musical journey from the Revolutionary War to the present, the arena will host "America's Got Talent" magician U.S. Army medic Scott Anderson and the Hotshots Tap Dancers. Portlanders scheduled to perform or participate include The Brown Sisters, Rev. Richard Probasco, The Dennis Mitchell Band with "The Kingsmen."
World War II veterans Alex Jefferson (Tuskegee Airman and last living Ex-POW) and Leo Champagne (last living flag raiser on Iwo Jima) will be honored and recognized during the ceremony.
The Coliseum, completed in 1960, was designed by the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and was seen as exceptional because of the "bowl in a glass box." In a Sept. 20, 1961 ceremony, the Coliseum was dedicated to veterans.
-- Larry Bingham
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In More Memorial Coliseum news, consider attending this event:
Joint Open House, Nov. 15
Designing the Future of the Rose Quarter, Lower Albina and Lloyd Districts
November 15, 2010
4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Memorial Coliseum
300 North Winning Way
Various plans to enhance the N/NE Quadrant of Portland’s Central City are in the works. PDC, the City of Portland and ODOT staff invite you to a Joint Open House to discuss the Draft Rose Quarter District Plan and the N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans.
More Information
For more information on the Rose Quarter District Plan, contact Kevin Brake at the Portland Development Commission at 503-823-3351.
For more information on the N/NE Quadrant Project, contact Stephanie Beckman at 503-823-6042.
N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans
The Central N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans are collaborative efforts by the City of Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation to integrate land use and urban design planning with freeway planning and concept-level engineering in the N/NE portion of the Central City, which includes Lower Albina and the Lloyd District. Learn more about the project »
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North/Northeast Economic Development Initiative
Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area
