Sound Off! Feedback and Meetings This Week & Next
This is your week for feedback, Overlook! Lots of people want to hear from you; share your thoughts on the Public Alerts test, the Urban Food Code and a current police use of force investigation.
There’s a few other interesting things going on, not the least of which is our monthly general meeting; please plan to attend and find out about some grant applications for Beach School, public safety updates and more!
OKNA General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, February 21st
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Kaiser Town Hall: 3701 N Interstate Avenue (at Overlook Blvd)
Remember to 'like' us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OKNAinPDX for news throughout the week and the opportunity for you to interact with OKNA & your neighbors directly.
1) ONeST Sustainability Film Series (2/20)
2) NEW date for Parent/Child Yoga & Overlook House news (2/25)
3) One Fix It Fair Remaining! (2/25)
4) Did You Get The Call? (send an email now)
5) Register for Spring Parks Programs (now)
6) Urban Farming Code Update (2/23)
7) Police Use of Force Investigation (2/28)
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1) ONeST Sustainability Film Series (2/20)
Monday, Feb. 20, Free! 6:00 pm
O•NeST Sustainability Film: The Farmer and the Horse: the story of three young people in New Jersey who’ve made the decision to farm with draft animals, and cut their dependence on petroleum.
Please Join us for our February Sustainability Film! Potluck at 6pm, film at 6:30. Come for one or both!
Daybreak CoHousing Community Room, 2525 N. Killingsworth.
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2) NEW date for Parent/Child Yoga & Overlook House news (2/25)
The new Parent/Child Yoga class has changed its meeting day of the week. It will now meet on Saturday mornings 9:00AM -9:45 AM beginning Feb 25 - April 14.
(Please note this is a change in date and time from what is printed in Overlook Views.) For information contact Heather Hallett at hallett.h@gmail.com
Also on Saturdays, join James Bloom for Children's Breath of Fire Qi Gong every Saturday morning 10:00 - 11:00 AM.
For more information contact James at dragonbreathoffire@comcast.net
Join Jerry Cowan for The Story Teller every Monday afternoon from 3:30-4:30 PM. Parents need to attend with their children. For more information contact Jerry at thestoryteller@whizto.us
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3) One Fix It Fair Remaining! (2/25)
Fix-It Fairs are free events where you can learn simple and effective ways to save money at home and stay healthy this winter and beyond. Featuring exhibits from numerous community partners, these events also include an extensive schedule of workshops held throughout the day. Experts will be available to talk with you about water and energy savings, home and personal health, food and nutrition, community resources, recycling and yard care, lead testing, bike tune-ups and more! Free professional childcare and lunch will be provided.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Jefferson High School
5210 N Kerby Avenue
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Entrance is on the Kerby side of the building.
To find out more information about scheduled workshops, visit www.portlandonline.com/bps/fif To receive information and reminders on upcoming fairs, e-mail fixitfair@portlandoregon.gov.
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4) Did You Get The Call? (send an email now)
Last week, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) engaged in an exercise to help ensure our city’s safety. PBEM did what very few emergency management agencies do: It put our community notification system through an ambitious, citywide “stress test.”
On a practical level, the test was designed to send a single message to as many Portlanders in the shortest amount of time possible. All landline phones were contacted, as well as all cell, text and email devices voluntarily registered atwww.PublicAlerts.org. On a symbolic level, we were challenging our privately contracted vendor, First Call. Though the company had demonstrated success reaching residents on small-scale emergencies during the past year-and-a-half, it had failed in reaching the entire city during a similar test two weeks prior. We wanted First Call to prove it could complete this ambitious task. And we wanted to know long it would take.
As we analyze the results of the test, we want to hear your feedback. Did you get the message? How, when and where did you receive it? Please contact PublicAlerts@portlandoregon.gov to let us know.
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5) Register for Spring Parks Programs (now)
Portland Parks offers thousands of classes for all ages and abilities. Register now for Spring programs; see what’s on offer now that you don’t receive a catalog in the mail. PortlandParks.org
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6) Urban Farming Code Update (2/23)
North Portland Roundtable Discussion: Urban Food Zoning Code Update
When: Thursday Feb. 23, 2012 from 7-7:30pm
Where: Historic Kenton Firehouse, 8105 N. Brandon
Why: The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is releasing a Discussion Draft of changes to the Portland zoning code that will affect the way that food can be grown and distributed in our neighborhoods!
The proposed changes support activities such as market gardens (growing food for profit), community gardens, farmers markets and food buying clubs. Learn more from project staff Julia Gisler and give your input on how the proposed changes could impact your community.
The Discussion Draft will be available on the project website at www.portlandonline.com/bps/foodcode after February 10th. Paper copies will be available at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability offices at 1900 SW 4th Avenue, 7th floor. You may also contact Julia atjulia.gisler@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823- 7624 to have a copy mailed.
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7) Police Use of Force Investigation (2/28)
U.S. Attorney's Office and Civil Rights Division Announce Town Hall Meeting Regarding Portland Police Bureau Investigation
PORTLAND, Ore. – The United States Department of Justice seeks community input concerning the investigation of the Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) use of force policies and practices. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, in conjunction with the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, will conduct a town hall meeting with members of the public on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. John’s Community Center located at 8427 N. Central Street in Portland.
On June 8, 2011, the Justice Department opened a civil investigation pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 United States Code, Section 14141, in order to determine whether PPB has engaged in a pattern or practice of use of force which amounts to a violation of civil rights. During the first week of August 2011, the Justice Department conducted numerous individual interviews with members of the public in three locations throughout Portland. The Justice Department is returning to Portland as part of the investigation and invites any individual who has specific and recent information they would like to share about their personal interaction with PPB officers to participate in this town hall meeting.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the Justice Department will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by officers of the PPB. The Justice Department will consider all relevant information, particularly the efforts that Portland has undertaken to ensure compliance with federal law. The Justice Department has taken similar steps involving a variety of state and local law enforcement agencies, both large and small, in jurisdictions such as New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, and California.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon are jointly investigating this matter. If you have any comments or concerns, but are unable to attend the town hall meeting, please feel free to contact us at community.portland@usdoj.gov or 1-877-218-5228. You may also feel free to contact the U.S. Attorney’s local Civil Rights Hotline at either 503-471-5577 or by email at usaor.civilrights@usdoj.gov.
Events in Overlook
A full plate of a wide variety of activities this week, Overlookers. If you have been thinking about applying for a small grant for a neighborhood project, a PDC opportunity is coming up that you'll want to plan for.
Enjoy the sunshine!
Overlook Neighborhood Association
www.OverlookNeighborhood.org
facebook.com/OKNAinPDX
1) Town Hall with your Elected Representatives (2/4)
2) Beach School Raffle Tickets (now)
3) QiGong Now at Overlook House (Mondays & Thursdays)
4) Family Yoga at Overlook House (Wednesdays)
5) Solar Drinks Special Guest (2/16)
6) Earthquake Preparedness; Is Portland Ready? (now)
7) Stories at the Overlook House (Mondays 3:30-4:30)
Beach School Auction (2/25)
9) PDC COMMUNITY LIVABILITY GRANT (coming up/plan ahead for March 6)
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1) Town Hall with your Elected Representatives (2/4)
Reminder: Town Hall This Saturday
Join Representative Tina Kotek, Senator Chip Shields and Representative Lew Frederick for a North/Northeast Portland town hall to hear what's going on in Salem for the 2012 Legislative Session. They look forward to answering your questions and discussing the issues that are important to you.
What: Town Hall Meeting
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: St. Johns Community Centern Auditorium
8427 N. Central St., Portland, OR 97203
For more information, call or email Tina Kotek’s legislative assistant, Michelle Rogelstad, at rep.tinakotek@state.or.us or (503) 286-0558.
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2) Beach Raffle Tickets (now)
Enter to WIN!!!
Beach PTA is having a raffle to help raise money to support the brilliant minds of the lovely Beach students!
Tickets are $5 and are available online or email Andee Zeigler at beachschoolauction@gmail.com.
Winners will be announced at the auction on February 25, 2012. Attendance is encouraged, but not required to win.
Grand Prize is an iPad
1st prize Wii
2nd prize is a weekend getaway for two at Salishan Resort on the Oregon Coast!
Tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers!! Your kiddos will thank you!
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3) QiGong Now at Overlook House (Mondays & Thursdays)
Join James H Bloom, an Overlook resident of 38 years, for Dragon’s Breath of Fire QiGong. QiGong dates back 5000 years and is great for all ages. James incorporates his study of Soaring Crane QiGong , Swimming Dragon, Baguan Xun Doa Gong, Ti-chi Yang style, Wudang and Shaolin Styles in sessions for adults and kids.
Adult Classes: Mondays and Thursdays 10:00 am and 6:45 pm
Kids Classes: Saturday mornings 10:00 am
Contact James for more information and bring your own Yoga mat. Phone: 503-285 8331 or email: dragonbreathoffire@comcast.net
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4) Family Yoga at Overlook House (Wednesdays)
There is a new Yoga class being offered for families beginning February 15 – April 11. Classes will be held at the Overlook House Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am.
To sign up or for further information contact Heather Hallett; email: hallett.h@gmail or phone: 503-367-7821
Cost is $5 per family.
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5) Solar Drinks Special Guest (2/16)
All this sunshine have you thinking about solar power for your home? Come out to SOLAR DRINKS, an opportunity for folks in the greater Portland area to meet other community members who support renewable energy. Come join us for a relaxed social and networking event where you can speak with Solar Oregon staff, solar industry members and your neighbors about any topic under the sun!
Join us this month at the Historic Kenton Firehouse!
8105 N. Brandon St.
THURSDAY, February 16th
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
John Patterson of Mr. Sun Solar will be presenting his recent tour of the Chinese solar industry, and and his experience as a panelist at the Low Carbon Earth Summit in Dalian, China.
We expect a large crowd, so please RSVP to let us know you are coming!
Doors open at 6:30pm and the event begins at 7:00pm.
This is a free event, but we are asking for a $5 suggested donation from nonSolar Oregon Members to help us cover the costs of providing this event. You must be 21 or over to attend.
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6) Earthquake Preparedness; Is Portland Ready? (now)
The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) wants to hear your thoughts about our city’s newly proposed earthquake response document.
Having grown into major city long before scientists discovered its unique seismic vulnerabilities, Portland is now expected to experience a potentially devastating earthquake of magnitude 9.0 or greater. Work is underway to identify those vulnerabilities and make Portland a more earthquake-resilient city. This work -now embodied in the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management’s new Earthquake Response Appendix - will help lessen the severity of an earthquake’s impact on residents.
The Earthquake Response Appendix is a supplement to the City’s Basic Emergency Operations Plan and a framework for Portland 's ever-evolving approach to earthquake response. Soon, this document will reach Portland City Council for consideration. In the meantime, PBEM is asking the public to thoroughly examine the appendix and provide feedback.
To learn more about the threats facing Portland’s energy, water, sewer, transportation, communication and building infrastructures; to understand the roles elected leaders, city officials, emergency responders, the private sector and community-based organizations play in the context of earthquake response; and to understand the partnerships established among public and private agencies to help support this response, please read the appendix by clicking here.
To provide insight and comments about the document, click here and fill out the feedback form.
To view a web version of this email, click here: http://www.portlandonline.com/oem/index.cfm?c=53926&a=382009
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7) Stories at the Overlook House (Mondays 3:30-4:30)
Join Jerry Cowan long time Overlook resident as The Storyteller. He will be at the historic Overlook House Community Center at 3839 N. Melrose Drive, every Monday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 PM for a free hour of children’s stories, songs and games around a make believe campfire in an imaginary northwest forest.
Contact Jerry 503.285.0555 or via email for more information thestoryteller@whizto.us
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Beach School Auction (2/25)
A Fun Night Out for You = Supporting Beach School!!!!
The Beach School Auction will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 at the Madeleine Hall, 3123 NE 24th Ave, Portland, Oregon.
Tickets are $35 per person in advance, $45 at the door. Tables are available for eight and are $280.
Only table purchases are reserved, all other tickets are open seating.
Doors open at 5pm, dinner provided by PorQueNo!
Tickets are available for purchase online through this link: https://beachschoolpta.schoolauction.net/auction2012/register
Tickets are currently available in the school office or by contacting Pamela White at 503-740-9871 or email: mickey965 @q.com.
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9) PDC COMMUNITY LIVABILITY GRANT (coming up/plan ahead for March 6)
A new round of PDC Community Livability Grant funds will be announced on February 21. Up to $300,000 in grants will be available in each of the Interstate and Lents Town Center URAs.
These grants support a wide variety of community benefits: historic preservation, open spaces and gardens, community and cultural centers, social services, job training, and the growth of local businesses. All interested applicants are required to attend a mandatory workshop to learn more about project eligibility, completing the application, and the evaluation and selection process. For Interstate, the workshop will be March 6 at the June Key Delta Community Center, 11 am-12:30 pm or 5:00-6:30 pm; for Lents Town Center, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at SE Works.
Watch for the email announcement with program details February 21 or check PDC’s website after that date –www.pdc.us/CLG.
Overlook Back to Business; Lots to Do This Week
Hi Neighbors, it seems there is a lot to buckle down and do ths month. Considering the rash of petty crime we're experiencing in Overlook and ALL of North Portland right now, Wednesday's PSAC meeting is a great place to invest your time. Let the Commander know your needs and KEEP reporting crime! Our reporting statistics are up, but crime itself might not be. The additional numbers have meant more officers in Overlook.
1) PSAC This Week (1/25)
2) FOT Needs Trucks (1/28)
3) Volunteer at the Tree Planting (1/28)
4) PPS News From the OKNA Meeting
5) Noisy North Portland Needs Volunteers
6) North Portland Greenway Trail PAC
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1) PSAC This Week (1/25)
PSAC Meeting; Come See the Commander
North Portland PUBLIC SAFETY ACTION COMMITTEE (PSAC)
Wednesday January 25th, 2012
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Historic Kenton Firehouse
2209 N. Schofield – across from the Kenton Post Office
On the agenda: North Precinct Command –Commander Mike Leloff gives a presentation and information on Police Bureau’s upcoming budget.
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2) FOT Needs Trucks (1/28)
Need 10 trucks!
Friends of Trees has the annual Overlook/Arbor Lodge tree planting coming up on the 28th of January at Kaiser Town Hall and we are in need of about ten more trucks to move trees around on planting day. I wanted to reach out and see if in any of your worlds you know of individuals who would be willing to truck drive for the Friends of Trees planting. Please pass on my contact information and I can follow up with more details. Whitney Dorer, 503-467-2521 or whitneyd@friendsoftrees.org
Whitney adds: We are planting 220 trees this year! I've been working this planting for many years and this is a record year!
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3) Volunteer at the Tree Planting (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.
Volunteer roles that we seek are
- Pickup truck owners/drivers (I will help you remove and re-install your topper before and after the event, or we can just do it at the event).
- Cooks to bring some lunch dishes from home.
- Tree planters who will go out in groups with experienced tree planters to install the trees.
- Greeters to welcome people in the morning as they arrive
- General operations assistance.
This year we are in special need of neighbors who own pick up trucks. Pick up truck owners bring their trucks to the event, and have them loaded with trees(you can help with the loading if you want, but its not necessary). Then the truck owners drive the trees and a volunteer planting team to locations around the neighborhood where the trees will be planted. Your assistance is critical and greatly appreciated.
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!
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4) PPS News From the OKNA Meeting
At this past Tuesday's OKNA meeting, representatives from Portland Public Schools came by to inform us of the listening and information sessions that will take place in the coming months. It's very likely that PPS will be looking for another bond measure on the ballot for capital improvements. Do those buildings need work? Everyone seems to agree 'yes' but how we pay for it and accomplish the work is a massive job.
Please do your part to become an informed voter and take a look at the selection of meeting topics PPS will cover in the next couple of months:
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/families/Buildings-and-Learning-V01.pdf
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5) Noisy North Portland Needs Volunteers
Well, we do have a lot of noise issues here. Now there's an opportunity for you to do something about it.
Portland’s volunteer Noise Review Board currently has a position the City is looking to fill. One seat is open for a “Citizen at Large” community representative on the board.
The Board is comprised of five members including: three citizen at large positions, a representative from the construction industry, and a professional in the field of acoustics. Appointments to the volunteer Noise Review Board are made for a three-year period.
The Noise Review Board normally meets once a month on the second Wednesday evening of the month. The Board is charged with making decisions on Noise Variances for projects that range from nighttime construction projects to large outdoor concerts. The Board also works to develop long term objectives for achieving reduction of sound levels in the community.
If you have further questions regarding the Noise Review Board, contact the City’s Noise Control Officer, Paul van Orden at (503) 823-5829. Interested parties are encouraged to file an official application for the City of Portland Noise Review Board and attend a Noise Review Board meeting (next scheduled meeting is February 8th, 2012 at 6 PM). Applications can be acquired from the City’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement. Completed applications should be filed by no later than Friday February 15, 2012 .
For applications please see the web at: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=38616
Or contact: Kathy Couch, Office of Neighborhood Involvement
Phone: (503)-823-3992 E-mail: kathy.couch@portlandoregon.gov
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6) North Portland Greenway Trail PAC
Portland Parks & Recreation is moving forward on planning the North Portland Greenway Trail. This means you have a rare opportunity to support the development of a regional, 10-mile trail corridor! The North Portland Greenway trail will offer incredible outdoor recreation to walkers, runners, and cyclists, and will further the Portland Parks & Recreation mission.
Community members, stakeholder and agency representatives have formed an advisory committee for planning this development. Over the next 14 months, the committee will help develop a technically feasible and user-friendly trail plan. Committee members will collaborate with the community, stakeholders and property owners to understand and address various needs and concerns going forward.
The North Portland Greenway Trail project will:
Create an accurate aerial and terrain base map of the alignment corridor.
Recommend a preferred alignment for the entire trail corridor.
Provide trail cross sections and design features.
Identify trail segments and create implementation checklists.
Clarify private property impacts and right of way needs.
Provide preliminary cost estimates for identified trail segments.
The following dates have been scheduled for Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings and open house events. The public is welcome to attend the PAC meetings, and we highly encourage participation in open houses.
All meetings will take place at the University of Portland, Chiles Center, Hall of Fame room, from 6:30-8:30.
Wednesday, January 25 PAC meeting- this will be an introductory meeting
(more meetings coming)
Your Weekly Overlook Email- On the Web
This is the weekly email sent to all the subscribers to the Overlook email list. You too could have this delivered to your inbox weekly; just add your email address in the Yahoo! box over there in the right hand margin.
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Here's your weekly does of Overlook news. Please remember to join us for the monthly general meeting this (third) Tuesday of the month, January 17 at 7:00 pm.
1) OKNA Meeting This Week (1/17)
2) Public Safety Alert - Stay Tuned with Facebook
3) Tree Planting Event Volunteers Needed (1/28)
4) The Storyteller at the historic Overlook House Community Center (Mondays)
5) It's Fix It Fair Time - Learn How To @ Home
6) Trillium Charter School Auction Approaches (2/11)
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1) OKNA Meeting This Week (1/17)
This Tuesday is the OKNA general membership meeting. A representative from Portland Public Schools will attend and give us a short update on what's new with them, then open the floor for your questions.
PPS will be talking about dealing with growing enrollment, aging school buildings needing repairs and delivering strong results for students in every neighborhood. We'd love to see lots of folks from Beach School at the meeting so Beach parents, please represent!
The agenda is not yet final, but it looks like we have a few interesting items to discuss. See you there!
OKNA General Meeting
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kaiser Town Hall
3704 N Interstate Ave
(at N Overlook Blvd)
Everyone is Welcome!
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2) Public Safety Alert - Stay Tuned with Facebook
On the OKNA Facebook page (facebook.com/OKNAinPDX) this week, several public safety alerts from your neighbors. In the past week, there were several reports of strangers entering back yards, garages & sheds with thefts of everything from returnable cans to a bike.
Please take this gentle reminder to
1) Keep your valuables inside your (locked) home or outbuilding
2) Keep your backyard gates locked if possible; use safety lighting
3) Keep your eyes & ears open for people who don't belong in your yard or your neighbors'
4) Call 911 for a crime in progress, 503.823.3333 to report an unwanted person or anything suspicious and file a police report if you are the victim of a crime!
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3) Tree Planting Event Volunteers Needed (1/28)
Come out on Saturday January 28th for Overlook and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods' 13th annual tree planting event. Last year over one 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 (3704 N Interstate Ave - at N Overlook Blvd) at 8:30 am for hot drinks and some breakfast items. Then we will go out in small groups and plant trees.
Volunteer roles that we seek are
- Pickup truck owners/drivers (I will help you remove and re-install your topper before and after the event, or we can just do it at the event).
- Cooks to bring some lunch dishes from home.
- Tree planters who will go out in groups with experienced tree planters to install the trees.
- Greeters to welcome people in the morning as they arrive
- General operations assistance.
This year we are in special need of neighbors who own pick up trucks. Pick up truck owners bring their trucks to the event, and have them loaded with trees (you can help with the loading if you want, but its not necessary). Then the truck owners drive the trees and a volunteer planting team to locations around the neighborhood where the trees will be planted. Your assistance is critical and greatly appreciated.
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!
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4) The Storyteller at the historic Overlook House Community Center (Mondays)
The Storyteller will be at the historic Overlook House Community Center at 3839 N. Melrose Drive, every Monday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 PM for a free hour of children’s stories, songs and games around a make believe campfire in an imaginary northwest forest.
Jerry Cowan (The Storyteller) is a long time Overlook resident and has a current approval by the State of Oregon Child Care Division background registry to work with children. The stories involve imaginary forest animals based on Native American legends and myths. Some stories are “story-songs” that are crafted to be more compatible with younger children. The Storyteller's intent is to host a story hour where families can meet get to know each other and share some quality time with their children. There will be a full sized electronic keyboard and an extra full sized acoustic guitar available (with some music books for each) for any adults or older children who want to practice or share their talent and entertain the group. As always, guest storytellers and entertainers are welcome to perform anytime.
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5) It's Fix It Fair Time - Learn How To @ Home
Fix-It Fair
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Rosa Parks Elementary School
8960 N Woolsey Ave
What you'll find at a Fix-It Fair
Ongoing exhibits and hourly workshops on such topics as:
Water and energy savings
Safe and healthy home
Food and nutrition
Neighborhood and community resources
Recycling
Weatherizing your home
Gardening and growing your own food
Yard care and composting
Transportation
Plus
Free lead blood testing
Free giveaways
Hourly door prizes
Free professional childcare
Free lunch
Free minor bike tune-ups and flat tire repair for students and families
For more information or to receive email notification for future Fairs: 503-823-4309, fixitfair@portlandoregon.gov.
Website: www.portlandonline.com/bps/fif
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6) Trillium Charter School Auction Approaches (2/11)
Trillium Charter School's annual auction is happening on February 11th, 2012. This year’s auction will be a formal event hosted downtown, near PSU and the Crystal Ballroom, at the Eliot Center, 1011 SW 13th Avenue, the weekend preceding Valentine’s Day, and it’s all about feeling the love:
“For The Love of Trillium" is about advisors who creatively nurture learning through dynamic and emergent processes at all levels of education, meeting challenges, and remaining adaptable.
"For the Love of Trillium" is about the administrative staff who work tirelessly to cultivate a platform from which Trillium can meet or exceed the needs, expectations, and goals of our uniquely diverse community, internally, as well as in our relationships to the neighborhood, the city, the school district, and the state.
"For The Love of Trillium" is about parents contributing money, time, and skill, often teaming up with faculty-members to coordinate an array of services and happenings, in addition to staying involved with their children’s learning. It’s about students sharing their stories of learning and growth, through art, experimentation, music, journaling, and more, in an unrestricted setting which encourages critical-thinking, self-inventory and accountability.
Please save the date and support one of the neighborhood schools.
Get tickets, pledge and donate here:
http://trilliumcharterschool.tofinoauctions.com/auction2012/homepages/show
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!
Potluck Tonight, Santa on Sunday & More
Brrr... stay warm this week, Overlook! We're in for another beautiful cold & crisp week. Fortunately, there's lots going on to keep you warm & well fed.
1) OKNA Potluck Dinner - Tonight! (12/9)
2) Santa is Coming to Overlook House This Sunday! (12/11)
3) Dine Out for Beach School (12/15)
4) Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group meeting (12/14)
5) Trillium Charter School Auction - Save the Date (2/11)
6) Are You Interested?
7) OKNA Communications
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1) OKNA Potluck Dinner - Tonight! (12/9)
Please join your OKNA neighbors for our annual Holiday Potluck Dinner and socializing! In lieu of our December general meeting, we will gather at Daybreak CoHousing and break bread together while we take a holiday themed break.
OKNA Holiday Potluck
Friday December 9 6:30—9:00 PM
Daybreak Cohousing
2525 N. Killingsworth Street
Please make something to share if you can (and bring a serving utensil!) and join us for merry company or just drop in for a drink and to say hi! OKNA & Daybreak will provide dishes, flatware, drinks and cups.
But wait, there's more!
Thanks to generous donations from your Overlook business neighbors, we're pleased to announce door prizes from the following businesses, and don't be amazed if there are a few surprises too:
Atomic Pizza
Beaterville Cafe
Blue Buddha Bodywork
Mextiza
Miho Izakaya
Naked Sheep Knit Shop
NoPo Paws
Overlook Restaurant
Kenny & Zukes
Thank you for the donations! And see you all there tonight..
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2) Santa is Coming to Overlook House This Sunday! (12/11)
Overlook House will host a visit from the Jolly Old Elf himself on Sunday, December 11 from 11 am-1 pm.
Come tell Santa what you want for Christmas and have your picture taken with him. Write a letter to the North Pole, get your face painted, play games, and enjoy the special holiday fun with us. See you there!
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3) Dine Out for Beach School (12/15)
Come support Beach Elementary School, your neighborhood school, on Thursday, December 15th at Burgerville (1135 NE MLK Blvd.) from 5-8PM. Burgerville will be donating 10% of the total sales from all the customers who come in and dine from 5-8PM. Come by, have a burger, try the sweet potato fries or treat yourself to a milkshake. Beach School would appreciate all your support. Spread the word & we hope to see you there!
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4) Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group meeting (12/14)
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, Dec. 14, 2011
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: 6543 N Burlington Avenue (at the Portland BES Water Pollution Control Lab)
Agenda:
Roles of Federal/State agencies in responding to spills or releases in/along the Willamette River:
Jim Anderson, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, US Coast Guard, TBD and US Environmental Protection Agency, Dan Heister
CAG input: What are several basic questions/concerns others in community not familiar with Portland Harbor may want to know about the site?
Alanna Conley, US Environmental Protection Agency
CAG Announcements -
Jim Robison
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5) Trillium Charter School Auction - Save the Date (2/11)
Trillium Charter School's annual auction is happening on February 11th, 2012. This year’s auction will be a formal event hosted downtown, near PSU and the Crystal Ballroom, the weekend preceding Valentine’s Day, and it’s all about feeling the love: “For The Love of Trillium" is about advisors creatively nurture learning through dynamic and emergent processes at all levels of education, meeting challenges, and remaining adaptable.
"For the Love of Trillium" is about the administrative staff works tirelessly to cultivate a platform from which Trillium can meet or exceed the needs, expectations, and goals of our uniquely diverse community, internally, as well as in our relationships to the neighborhood, the city, the school district, and the state.
"For The Love of Trillium" is about parents contributing money, time, and skill, often teaming up with faculty-members to coordinate an array of services and happenings, in addition to staying involved with their children’s learning. It’s about students sharing their stories of learning and growth, through art, experimentation, music, journaling, and more, in an unrestricted setting which encourages critical-thinking, self-inventory, and accountability.
Please save the date and support one of the neighborhood schools.
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6) Are You Interested?
The East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District is offering to hold FREE Naturescaping & Rain Garden Workshops that help people learn low impact & chemical free gardening techniques are good for people, water and wildlife.
Before contacting them to schedule this, I'm taking a brief poll... Are You Interested? Workshops are for 20-40 people; if you are vaguely interested in participating, please click reply to let us know and we'll see about scheduling something for the spring season.
OKNA is also soliciting ideas for our annual Earth Day/Spring Clean Up. The project area that has commanded so much attention over the years (N Going, west of Interstate) is finally complete. Removing invasive species somewhere? Hazerdous materials gathering? Plastics round up? What interests you and where can our volunteer efforts best impact Overlook?
Send your ideas to info@OverlookNeighborhood.org
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7) OKNA Communications
From the looks of our email box, lots of you are chomping at the bit for a newsletter. The next issue of Overlook Views will be distributed in February, so you have to hang tight for a bit for your print fix. However, if you've got a news item or other idea for the next newsletter, now is the time to write to Views@OverlookNeighborhood.org to let Michelle know. Your deadline will be in mid January, but space must be reserved beforehand.
Your short neighbor messages can be included in the weekly email; write to OKNA at info@OverlookNeighborhood.org
Keep tabs on midweek stories at our website: www.OverlookNeighborhood.org
Of course, don't forget to look up our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Overlook-Neighborhood-PDX/215220578543609) and 'like' us. You'll get your basic Overlook news, with some quirky items thrown in for fun.
For this tool to work, we need your participation and posts.
Business Neighbors: Don't miss this opportunity to connect with Overlook neighobrs. You are welcome to post your specials and share items from your page with us.
OKNA email: OKNA Potluck, Holiday Bazaars, Beach School News & More
Bundle up, Overlook, it's a chilly weekend to get you in the holiday spirit. If that doesn't do it, there are some fun events for you to check out.
Remember, we post all this and much more on our Facebook page , please click through and 'like' us to get OKNA in your feed.
1) Overlook House Holiday Bazaar (12/3 & 12/4)
2) Overlook Livability Team Clean Up this weekend! (12/4)
3) OKNA Potluck Dinner - This Week (12/9)
4) Join the Beach School/Escuela Beach PTA
5) Dine Out for Beach School (12/15)
6) Public Safety Alert
7) Overlook Village Holiday Bazaar (12/3)
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1) Overlook House Holiday Bazaar (12/3 & 12/4)
Overlook House, 3839 North Melrose Drive
Saturday, December 3rd -- 9 AM to 5 PM
Sunday, December 4th – 9 AM to 3 PM
Shop local!! Crafts, home baked goods, raffle.
Vendors include Overlook neighbors and others from the Portland area.
All original, homemade items. Soap, spices, cards, crayons, calendars, stained glass. Watercolor, wood burning, sewing, knitting, crocheting. Jewelry, hair accessories, hats, pj’s, baby items, kitchen aprons, towels.
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2) Overlook Livability Team Clean Up this weekend! (12/4)
Join your neighbors for a quick tour of work in small teams, cleaning graffiti, picking up trash and generally looking cool in your OLT t-shirts.
New team members are always welcome; meet up this Sunday at Di Prima Dolci (1936 N Killingsworth) for a 9am start time or email graffiti@Overlook Neighborhood.org for more information. Group meets monthly on Sundays.
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3) OKNA Potluck Dinner - This Week (12/9)
Please join your OKNA neighbors for our annual Holiday Potluck Dinner and socializing! In lieu of our December general meeting, we will gather at Daybreak CoHousing and break bread together while we take a holiday themed break.
OKNA Holiday Potluck
Friday December 9 6:30—9:00 PM
Daybreak Cohousing
2525 N. Killingsworth Street
Please make something to share (and bring a serving utensil!) if you can and join us for merry company! OKNA & Daybreak will provide dishes, flatware and cups.
Invite a neighbor and come do something different.. it's fun!
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4) Join the Beach School/Escuela Beach PTA
In effort to strengthen the relationship between Beach School and the community we would like to encourage people to join our PTA. You can now do it easily and quickly online.
Please click here to join now. Our goal is to have 200 members by the end of January and we are currently at 110. Please pass the word and join now.
Beach is also selling some nice new t-shirts which you can at our home page www.beachpta.org . where you can order as well using Paypal. You can also use this form to specialize your order.
Bryn Dearborn
Beach PTA President
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5) Dine Out for Beach School (12/15)
Come support Beach Elementary School, your neighborhood school, on Thursday, December 15th at Burgerville (1135 NE MLK Blvd.) from 5-8PM. Burgerville will be donating 10% of the total sales from all the customers who come in and dine from 5-8PM. Come by, have a burger, try the sweet potato fries or treat yourself to a milkshake. Beach School would appreciate all your support. Spread the word & we hope to see you there!
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6) Public Safety Alert
Elder fraud awareness
Portland Police detectives are investigating three cases of theft in Southeast Portland where unknown males have been posing as Portland General Electric (PGE) employees and seeking to enter residences saying they need to perform inspections.
Elderly victims appear to be targeted. In one case, they forcibly entered an occupied residence and stole property belonging to the homeowner.
The suspects have not displayed credentials nor have they driven PGE vehicles. There may be one or two males attempting to contact residents. The men are only described as "scruffy-looking" white males.
All PGE employees carry official identification badges when contacting customers at their homes or businesses. PGE employees typically do not enter residences.
There may be other attempts that have not been reported. Anyone who has someone claiming to be a PGE employee at their door who does not have a PGE identification badge should immediately call 911. Ask the dispatcher to send an officer to check the area to take a report describing the suspects and any associated vehicles.
Anyone with information about incidents like this is asked to call:
Detective Amber Lewis
Desk: 503-823-0887
Email: Amber.Lewis@portlandoregon.gov
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7) Overlook Village Holiday Bazaar (12/3)
This Saturday December 3rd from 10am until 6pm at Podkrepa (2116 N Killingsworth). There will be hand-made gifts by local vendors.
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, Overlook! Weekly Email
1) Overlook House Holiday Bazaar (12/3-12/4)
2) 8th Annual Kenton Firehouse Holiday Sale! (12/3-12/4)
3) Speaking of Shopping...(now!)
4) OKNA Potluck Dinner - Save the Date! (12/9)
5) Dine Out for Beach School (12/15)
6) Helpful Neighbor Tips
7) Meet the Storyteller (Mondays)
Thanks, Chris! Now, What's *Your* Idea?
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1) Overlook House Holiday Bazaar (12/3-12/4)
Overlook House Holiday Bazaar is coming Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th. Shop local!!
Vendors at the bazaar include Overlook neighbors and others from the Portland area. All vendors bring original, homemade items. Local and original!
Soap, spices, cards, crayons, calendars, stained glass. Watercolor, wood burning, sewing, knitting, crocheting. Jewelry, hair accessories, hats, pj’s, baby items, kitchen aprons, towels.
Also – home baked goods sale – and a raffle!
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2) 8th Annual Kenton Firehouse Holiday Sale! (12/3-12/4)
Kenton Firehouse Holiday Sale
Two Days!! Saturday, December 3 + Sunday December 4
11am-4pm 8105 N. Brandon
We're holding our 8th annual holiday sale at the Kenton Firehouse and this year we'll be raffling off some great handmade prizes from our superb craftspeople showing at this event. There will be three jars in which people will have an opportunity to drop their raffle tickets, one for NPTL, one for Oregon Food Bank and one for the Japanese Magnet Program at Richmond School.
Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to these three organizations as earmarked by raffle participants, including the North Portland Tool Library. We're sure there will be supporters of all three organizations in attendance and raffle ticket purchases in bulk will be encouraged so as to make spreading the wealth easier.
Bunny Huggins & Co. -hats and jewelry
Katharina Cahen –Jewelry
Al Flory -photography and cards
Mar$aret Gardner –ceramics
Kim Murton –ceramics
Sachiko Quinn –batik
Red Bat Press -cards and calendars
Studio I -children's tiered skirts
Suzy Root -fiber art
Bunny with a Toolbelt -sculptures, cards, and an alphabet book!
Historic Kenton Firehouse is located 6 blocks north of Lombard, Take the lnterstate Max Yellow Line to the Sale! We're only 3 block from the Kenton Station!
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3) Speaking of Shopping...(now!)
As the holiday season approaches, the Portland Police Bureau wants to remind shoppers that car prowls typically increase this time of year. In the hopes of educating and reminding the community, the Police Bureau is re-releasing its car prowl video-a 15-second public service announcement.
The Police Bureau invites you to share this with the community; Facebook fans are also asked to share it on their Facebook and social media pages.
Police want to remind the community to never leave valuables in their car. If you must store anything in your vehicle, keep it out of sight. Park in busy, well-lit areas when possible.
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4) OKNA Potluck Dinner - Save the Date! (12/9)
Please join your OKNA neighbors for our annual Holiday Potluck Dinner and socializing! In lieu of our December general meeting, we will gather at Daybreak CoHousing and break bread together while we take a holiday themed break.
OKNA Holiday Potluck
Friday December 9 6:30—9:00 PM
Daybreak Cohousing
2525 N. Killingsworth Street
Please make something to share (and bring a serving utensil!) and join us for merry company! OKNA & Daybreak will provide dishes, flatware and cups.
Invite a neighbor and come do something different.. it's fun!
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5) Dine Out for Beach School (12/15)
Come support Beach Elementary School, your neighborhood school, on Thursday, December 15th at Burgerville (1135 NE MLK Blvd.) from 5-8PM. Burgerville will be donating 10% of the total sales from all the customers who come in and dine from 5-8PM. Come by, have a burger, try the sweet potato fries or treat yourself to a milkshake. Beach School would appreciate all your support. Spread the word & we hope to see you there!
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6) Helpful Neighbor Tips
From our friends in St Johns, a valuable reminder or two:
If you find a storm drain clogged, please call 503-823-1700 and report the location, especially now when some are making a street into a river. During a rainstorm is a tough time for the Bureau of Maintenance, but they need your help to know how to prioritize their work.
You can also help by clearing the storm drains in front of and near your home.
As we go through winter, please do your usual good practice of keeping a good look out for your neighbors, particularly our older citizens and shut-ins and with current economic times the way they are, almost anyone might be going without utilities, etc. So with the temperatures rapidly dropping and winter right around the corner, Jeff Cogen reminds us to refer folks to Multnomah County –funded community partners at 211. Operators at 211 will help those seeking shelter sort out their needs and get them connected with other essential services. Visit 211info.org
Thanks for looking out for each other!
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7) Meet the Storyteller (Mondays)
Jerry Cowan is a long time Overlook resident and has a current approval by the State of Oregon Child Care Division background check to work with children. Jerry hosts a free storytelling hour at The Overlook House, 3839 N. Melrose Drive, every Monday Afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 PM with stories, games and songs to entertain children from preschool through elementary grades.
This is an opportunity for parents to relax, meet the neighbors and enjoy some quality time with their children. The stories are based on ancient Native American legends and myths and are meant to inspire an appreciation for our forests and the animals that inhabit them. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
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Thanks, Chris! Now, What's *Your* Idea?
Thanks again to new OVerlook neighbor Chris B who wrote in to Info@ OverlookNeighborhood.org to ask us to add to our website the new curbside collection e-schedule information (that's fancy talk for 'garbage pick up, when IS it now?' and you can find your schedule here: http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=54938&). Taking the few seconds required to email us and make this suggestion in the spirit of helping others is well appreciated and caused me to think, "What other useful Overlook information would neighbors like to have?".
Be like Chris and write in to let us know how your neighborhood association can be useful to you.
Of course, don't forget to look up our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Overlook-Neighborhood-PDX/215220578543609) and 'like' us. You'll get your basic Overlook news, with some quirky items thrown in for fun.
For this tool to work, we need your participation and posts.
Business Neighbors: Don't miss this opportunity to connect with Overlook neighbors. You are welcome to post your specials and share items from your page with us.
A Busy Week in Overlook: OKNA email 9/23
Happy Fall, Overlook! This is a busy weekend in the neighborhood, and there’s lots of interesting things to keep you occupied this fall; read on! Sorry about the extra long message, but there's a lot you should know about.
1) Public Safety Alert (now)
2) Oops! (now)
3) Polish Festival (9/24 & 25)
4) Build It Green! Home Tour and Information Fair (9/24 & 25)
5) Town Hall with State Rep Tina Kotek (9/26)
6) The ever-popular Overlook Walk (9/28)
7) PSAC Meeting This Week (9/28)
Overlook Park Survey (by 9/30)
9) Waud Bluff Trail Construction Begins (now)
10) Overlook Families Welcome “Little Kids’ Jamboree”Sessions (register now for October)
11) Volunteer with SMART® and Help Children Discover the Joy of Reading! (register now for mid October)
12) Want a paying job? (Oct 10)
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1) Public Safety Alert (now)
Over the past couple of weeks we've had numerous anecdotal reports of strangers in back yards, attempted break-ins and at least one 'cat burglary' (entering a home when occupants are in). Please ratchet up your safety awareness by locking windows and doors and back gates, leaving porch and yard lights on, keeping cars 'showroom clean' and locked and remember to report all crimes.
You should have your new copy of Overlook Views; look for the items on page 7 from Crime Prevention professional Mark Wells, including the details of an upcoming public safety forum and consider participating.
Important numbers to have handy:
Crime in progress: 911
Unwanted person, bad feeling, things out of order, request a patrol car: 503.823.3333<--- Nonemergency police number
Mark Wells, North Portland Crime Prevention Coordinator: 503-823-4098 or email mark.wells@portlandoregon.gov
Contact him with ANY questions or funny feelings; Mark keeps track of all these reports and tries to get the right professionals on the job for us.
Above all, please please please report to the police if anything happens to your property and encourage crime victims to make the call. Some of the incidents are not getting reported to police.
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2) Oops! (now)
A layout error in your new issue of Overlook Views accidentally dropped off part of an important message.
Become one of the Friends of Patton Square Park
We're dedicated to taking care of our beautifully remodeled park and keeping it healthy for everyone! Email us to join in: greenacres @OverlookNeighborhood.org
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3) Polish Festival (9/24 & 25)
Saturday: Sept 24, 11am - 10pm
Sunday, Sept 25, noon - 6pm
3900 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, Oregon
ADMISSION FREE
http://www.portlandpolonia.org/festival/
This is the big weekend you’ve all been waiting for! Get your polka pants on and ready for pierogies!
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. During the festival, we provide non-stop stage performances, including a few dance groups and music bands, 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.
Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the festival. It is prepared and run by over 300 volunteers organized by the Polish Association.
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4) Build It Green! Home Tour and Information Fair (9/24 &25)
Overlook neighbors Corey & Deb Omey invite us all to visit their green home construction project during this weekend’s Build It Green! Home Tour and Information Fair as well as at a special Open House.
Sunday 9/25 Open House. 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Open house for those not going on the tour, but interested in seeing the house and what they've been working on. If you haven't been there in a while, you can see the progress....Landscaping, gardens, GSHP, solar, more eco roofs, and an almost finished basement!
2105 N Webster St - 503-349-4179 Cell
http://ermunch.com/projects/omey_home.html
The 10th annual Build It Green! Home Tour and Information Fair is aself-guided tour of 22 green remodels and new homes around the Portland metropolitan area. Start and stop where and when you choose. Tons more info online including ticket ordering: http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=41893
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5) Town Hall with State Rep Tina Kotek (9/26)
Please join State Representative Tina Kotek at the Historic Kenton Firehouse on Monday to recap the 2011 Session, discuss the upcoming 2012 Session,and talk about community issues that matter to you.
What: Town Hall Meeting
When: Monday,September 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Historic Kenton Firehouse
8105 N. Brandon Ave., Portland, OR 97217 (map)
For more information, call or email legislative assistant, Michelle Rogelstad, at rep.tinakotek@state.or.us or (503) 286-0558 (district).
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6) The ever-popular Overlook Walk (9/28)
Brought to you by the PBOT Senior Strolls program, a narrated tour of part of the Overlook neighborhood.
Wednesday at 10am
Meet at Overlook Park shelter, west side of N Interstate & Fremont
Starting at Overlook Park, we'll explore some of the nooks and crannies in this charming neighborhood, as we hear interesting anecdotes from local resident Dan Haneckow . Total Distance: 2.5 miles
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7) PSAC Meeting This Week (9/28)
North Portland PUBLIC SAFETY ACTION COMMITTEE (PSAC)
Wednesday September 28th, 2011 7:00 PM
Location: Historic Kenton Firehouse, 2209 N. Schofield – across from the Kenton Post Office
Guest Speaker- Mayor Sam Adams
Also speaking:
ONI-Crime Prevention – Angela Wagnon, Mark Wells
North Precinct Command –Commander Mike Leloff /Command staff
Mayor Adams’ Office – Antoinette Edwards, Directorof Public Safety
District Attorney’s Office – DDA Jim Hayden
Bring a neighbor and attend this useful and informative meeting. Neighbors will make the difference for public safety in Overlook.
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Overlook Park Survey (by 9/30)
If you have not yet completed your survey for suggested improvements for Overlook Park, it’s not too late to chime in! Please contact Cynthia THIS WEEK at greenacres@ OverlookNeighborhood.orgor 503.249.7728 to make your thoughts count.
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9) Waud Bluff Trail Construction Begins (now)
Congratulations! After many years of working through the complicated details of engineering, property ownership and easements, Portland Parks and Recreation has begun construction on the Waud Bluff Trail! This is a much-anticipated project that will provide a vital link between Willamette Boulevard and Swan Island. Upon completion, trail users will benefit from improved grading and a paved trail surface. New retaining walls will improve erosion control on the steep bluff, and a new bridge will allow users safer access over active Union Pacific railroad tracks onto Swan Island. Other benefits of the project include the addition of new, native plants on site and creation of a pedestrian island and crosswalk on Willamette Blvd. to address longstanding concerns about access to the trail and the Tri-Met bus stop.
Read more about this project, including comments from Overlook Views contributor Lenny Anderson and see photos and maps here:http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com/news/2011/09/waud_bluff_trail_construction_begins_in_north_portland/
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10) Overlook Families Welcome “Little Kids’ Jamboree”Sessions (register now for October)
<this event did not take place>
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11) Volunteer with SMART® and Help Children Discover the Joy of Reading! (register now for mid October)
SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) is an early literacy nonprofit that envisions an Oregon in which every child can read and is empowered to succeed. We engage community volunteers to help PreK-3rd grade children become confident readers by providing one-on-one literacy support, valuable adult mentorship, and books to take home and keep. We need volunteers for our program in the Beach Elementary School. Volunteer to read for one hour per week from mid-October through mid-May. Applications are accepted year-round.
To make a difference at these schools and in your community, call 971-634-1616 or visit www.GetSMARTOregon.org and help start making a reader today!
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12) Want a paying job? (Oct 10)
Portland Police Bureau is accepting applications for their upcoming Police Officer recruitment on Monday October 10, 2011, beginning at 0800. This is a limited recruitment and Lateral police officers or other certified police officers are encouraged to apply, even if they are not currently working in that capacity.
Online applications will be available at www.joinportlandpolice.com or www.portlandonline.com beginning October 10th.
Contact for more information:
Officer Cara Sweeney
Portland Police Bureau
Recruitment Coordinator
1111 SW 2nd Avenue Room 1542
Portland, OR 97204
503-823-0636
www.joinportlandpolice.com
www.facebook.com/joinpdxpolice
Bridge Closures, Celebrations, Ice Cream & More!
Here’s a copy of the OKNA weekly email; sign up in the Yahoo! box on the right to have this delivered to your inbox.
1) Work the Bridge Pedal water station & earn money for Overlook (sign up now)
2) Freemont Bridge Closure (this weekend)
3) Shabbat in the Park 5771 (7/29)
4) Overlook Village Celebration (7/30)
5) Overlook House Raffle and Ice Cream Social (7/31)
6) OKNA Picnic Reminder (RSVP now)
7) Misc
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1) Work the Bridge Pedal water station & earn money for Overlook (sign up now)
Keep Up An Overlook Tradition! Sunday August 14 from 7 am—Noon (volunteer now)
Join the fun of volunteering for the Providence Bridge Pedal! Help over 10,000 cyclists have a good time while earning $25 for a good cause. Over the past 10 years, Overlook volunteers have given about $500 annually to Beach School students, funding homeless students in Portland and to Overlook Views, your neighborhood newsletter.
We’ll be working the water station at the St Johns US Bank Plaza. Contact Alan Cranna at 503.285.7944 or ascran3 @hotmail.com
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2) Freemont Bridge Closure (this weekend)
Freemont Bridge Closure TRAFFIC ADVISORY Fremont Bridge Lane Closures This Weekend
Two lanes will close on the top deck around-the-clock 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Paving will take place on the top deck of the Fremont Bridge four weekends this summer starting Friday, July 22.
From 11 p.m. Friday, July 22, until 5 a.m., Monday, July 25, the two left southbound lanes on the upper deck will be closed. This will require closing the Interstate 5 northbound and North Kirby Street on-ramps to the upper deck. The two right lanes of the upper deck and the I-5 southbound and U.S. 30 on-ramps to the upper deck of the Fremont Bridge will remain open.
The following weekend, starting Friday July 29, the upper deck of the Fremont Bridge will close for three weekends of paving. The closure schedule is below and can change based on weather and other factors.
Full closure of the southbound lanes from 11 p.m. Friday, July 29, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1. All ramps to the upper desk will be closed.
Full closure of the southbound lanes from 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8. All ramps to the upper desk will be closed.
Full closure of the southbound lanes from 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22. All ramps to the upper desk will be closed.
The bridge’s lower deck – the northbound lanes -- will remain open at all times during the upper deck paving work.
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3) Shabbat in the Park 5771 (7/29)
July 29 Overlook Park (N Fremont and Interstate)
5:45 pm Bring your own picnic dinner, relax in the park and enjoy music by the Percy Bernstein Orchestra
6:30 pm Join the group in songs for welcoming Shabbat suitable for all ages- song sheets will be provided
Afterward join us for challah and dessert; bring a blanket or lawn chairs if you like (but no dogs, please).
Learn more about all the great Jewish activities throughout Portland. Open to all.
For more information, contact www.facebook.com/ShabbatInThePark or shabbatintheparkpdx@gmail.com This program is made possible by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Community Impact Grant Fund.
Future events:
August 12 Laurelhurst Park (SE Cesar Chavez & Stark)
September 2 Kenilworth Park (SE 34th & Holgate)
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4) Overlook Village Celebration (7/30)
The Overlook Village Business Association is hosting its 3rd Annual Overlook Village Celebration this year on Saturday, July 30th on North Killinsgworth Street, which will be closed for the festivities between North Greeley and Concord Streets. The fun begins at 11:00 am and goes until 6:00 pm.
There will be 3 music stages, vibrant local artist vendors, the most popular Dog Costume Contest, kids’ activities and GREAT FOOD provided by the businesses on North Killingsworth!
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5) Overlook House Raffle and Ice Cream Social (7/31)
Do you have the Overlook Ice Cream Social marked on your calendar? It is Sunday, July 31 from 6:00-8:00 PM in the backyard of the Overlook House, 3839 North Melrose Drive.
This year the Ice Cream Social will include a raffle. The odds of winning will be good, and you do not need to be in attendance to win. Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are just $1!
(Friends of the Overlook House board members at selling tickets. -- Call the Overlook House 503-823-3188 if you are looking for a location to buy tickets.)
Raffle -- iPad2 & other prizes from area businesses.
$1.00 Buys 1 Chance to Win, $5.00 Buys 6, $10.00 Buys 15, and $20.00 Buys 40 Chances to Win
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6) OKNA Picnic Reminder (RSVP now)
Finally, don’t forget to send your RSVP email to us here at info@OverlookNeighborhood.org! Put ‘Picnic RSVP’ in your subject line.
Come over for dinner and to meet your neighbors. Tuesday, August 16 from 5:00- 9:00 pm at Pause Restaurant, 5101 N Interstate Avenue.
This annual Overlook gathering is always a lot of fun. For $8, the folks at Pause will put out a delicious spread for all to enjoy (veggie & other options available). Your early RSVP helps us plan the meal and earns you a free drink.
See you at the picnic!
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7) Misc
The Overlook Neighborhood Yard Sale & Free Share last weekend was a great success considering the short notice for organizing. Exit polls from participants indicate that people would like to make this an annual event. What do you think? If you'd like to be involved, and have months to get prepared, now is the time to email ONest, the Overlook Neighborhood Sustainability Team organizers, to let them know. Email ONest @ OverlookNeighborhood.org
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Don't forget to check our website www.OverlookNeighborhood.org for midweek updates and additional postings. If you have a non-commercial item about an Overlook-centric event, send your short message to info@ OverlookNeighborhood.org with "Post to List" in the subject line.
