Little League & Tree Planting; We’ll See You Tomorrow!

Hi Overlookers, just a couple of quick notes. Be sure to join us for the Friends of Trees planting event tomorrow; drop in at Kaiser Town Hall & there will be something to do & lots of people to see. Did you hear about the food, too?!

Come out tomorrow Saturday for the Overlook's big tree planting event. We are going to try planting over a hundred trees around the neighborhood. It looks like its supposed to be cloudy but warm, in case you were waiting on a weather report. If you want get outside tomorrow to plant trees, come to Kaiser Town Hall (3704 N Interstate Ave) at about 8:30, have some breakfast, and then we will go out in teams to plant trees. If you don't want to plant trees, consider bringing a lunch item over for us, and then join us for lunch. We are looking pretty good on the amount of lunch food, but a little more wouldn't hurt. Fire up some soup in a crockpot, or make a casserole or whatever you want, and bring it over to Kaiser at 11:30 or 12. We hope to see you there!

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The Interstate/Kenton Little League sign-ups start this Saturday 9am - noon at Peace Lutheran Church on N Rosa Park.They are also in need of coaches, if you're interested please contact them at interstatekentonll@gmail.com

Interstate Kenton Little League - Portland, Oregon. North Portland Little League 
www.interstatekentonll.org

Overlook/Arbor Lodge Tree Planting Event Details

Tree Planting Coordinator Garrett Phillips has sent out this important information about the upcoming event. Remember, you can drop in to help; it’s a lot of fun and gives you a chance to meet a lot of neighbors all at once. Come on over to Kaiser Town Hall and join in!

Dear Overlook Neighbors –

After many weeks and months of planning and waiting, the Friends of Trees planting is finally almost here! This (very long, sorry) message contains all the important info and last-minute details you need to know to ensure that we have another successful tree planting. Please don't hesitate to give me (Garrett 503 422 5070) a call if anything is still unclear after you read this. 
The planting date is Saturday, January 28th. See below for important information that you need to make sure that your tree is planted on time in the correct location.  There is also a detailed planting day schedule  for those of you who are coming out for the event. If you haven't decided to come out next Saturday, consider changing your mind and joining us.  There are different roles for people of all ages, abilities, and climate preferences, starting at 7am and ending at 2pm. You can be on your way when you need to be, or you can stay for lunch and head out by 1 or so.   

The planting staging area, where you'll start and end your day, is Kaiser Town Hall, 3704 N Interstate.

Once again, Arbor Lodge is partnering with Overlook neighborhood for our planting. This year we'll plant about 220 trees in the two neighborhoods!  This is about 50 trees more than last year! Thank you for making a huge contribution to our neighborhood’s beauty, livability, and environmental sustainability.

Saturday 1/28 - Planting Day!!!

Let the fun begin! Please arrive by 8:30 a.m. to register and enjoy refreshments at Kaiser Town Hall, 3704 N Interstate. This is a great time for meeting new neighbors and spending time with family and friends.

Planting is rain or shine -- only dangerous road conditions will stop us. Trust me, we'll have fun even if it rains! Come prepared for the elements and wear work shoes/boots and work gloves. Friends of Trees provides all the necessary tools, but an extra shovel is sometimes handy.

Please keep in mind that the planting crew will need a source of water for watering your tree as soon as it is in the ground (they will have a bucket).

Please bring a reusable coffee mug so we can reduce our waste.

Plan on re-joining your neighbors at the church after planting to relax, swap tree stories, and enjoy a great hearty lunch.

Planting Day Schedule

7:00 a.m.: staging area volunteers arrive and sign in (unloading and organizing trees)
8:00 a.m.: pick up drivers and crew leaders arrive and sign in
8:30 - 8:45 a.m.: homeowners and planting team volunteers arrive, sign in, eat pastries, drink coffee
9:00 a.m.: planting begins!
12:30ish: crews finish planting, return to staging area for lunch, relax
12:00 p.m: clean up volunteers arrive

Volunteer Roles

Friends of Trees plantings are all about building community through tree planting. You were asked to sign up for a volunteer role when you placed your order. See below for more information about when to arrive, what to do, and who your main contact is. If you are unable to volunteer in any capacity on planting day, consider finding another way to contribute to either Friends of Trees or the Richmond neighborhood (contact me for ideas). You are definitely always welcome to join a planting team on planting day even if you didn’t sign up for this role.

• Planting team - Arrive between 8:15 and 8:45; sign in to get assigned to a planting crew (you'll plant your own trees). Bring your family and friends!
• Staging area set up - Arrive at 7:00 to help unload trees and set up tables and chairs. Trees can be heavy, so unloading them requires a strong back. I’ll contact you to confirm.
• Registration helpers - Arrive by 8:00 to learn how to help homeowners sign in.
• Truck drivers - Arrive by 8:00 to sign in and get assigned to a crew. A Friends of Trees staff member will tell you where to park and your truck will get loaded up with trees and tools. You’ll head out to plant with your crew at 9:00.
• Refreshments (breakfast and/or lunch) – Garrett will contact you to confirm what you are bringing. Or call Garrett (503 422 5070) if you want to bring something but haven't said so yet.
• Staging area clean up - Arrive after noon to help clean up after lunch, wash dishes, stack tables and chairs, sweep floors, clean and load tools, etc.
• Summer inspector - If you signed up for this volunteer role, a Friends of Trees staff member will contact you about the inspector training, which usually happens in April or May.
• If you can't participate on planting day, consider one of these options:

Be on a planting team for another Friends of Trees planting, see http://www.friendsoftrees.org/calendar/portland-vancouver for full planting calendar

Sign up to be a summer tree inspector (aka Tree Team) volunteer; see http://www.friendsoftrees.org/volunteer/be-a-leader

Become a member of Friends of Trees; see http://www.friendsoftrees.org/support-us/membership

Thanks again for being an important part of our neighborhood's future. If you have any questions, please give me a call anytime.

Sincerely,

-Garrett Phillips

Thank You, Overlook Businesses!

We want to take a moment to again thank our great neighborhood businesses for their support of our OKNA activities with their generous donations. As you are making choices this season about where to use your resources, please consider patronizing one of our neighborhood businesses. Long-time residents will agree with me, I’m sure, that it’s much nicer to have a developing business district than none at all.

A special shout out to the following, for their donations to the OKNA Holiday Potluck Dinner. A great time was had by all, as usual!

Daybreak Cohousing, thank you for hosting us in your beautiful communal dining/relaxation area!

The following folks donated gift certificates for discounts on their great stuff; thank you!

Atomic Pizza
Beaterville Cafe
Blue Buddha Bodywork
Greeley Avenue Bar & Grill
Kenny & Zukes Delicatessen
Mextiza
Miho Izakaya
The Naked Sheep Knit Shop
NoPo Paws
Overlook Family Restaurant
Palace of Industry

Tree Ordering Deadline Approaches!

The Overlook Friends of Trees Tree Ordering Deadline is 12/19.. It’s Easy, Go Do It

If you would like a tree for this year’s planting, you must sign up soon; you’ll still have time to choose your tree later.

Trees are available at steeply discounted rates again this year for Overlook residents, and the deadline for signing up is in just a few days, Monday December 19th!
Friends of Trees offers trees for your yard and sidewalk planting strip for only $50. If that is too much, extra discounts are available if you inquire. Go to Friends of Trees’ website, www.FriendsOfTrees.org, and create an account. Once you are logged in, you can order yard trees or sign up to have a tree specialist inspect your planting strip. After the specialist checks out the place that you want to plant trees in the planting strip, you can get back on the website and order trees for that place by January 9th. But you have to do the basic sign-up by December 19th!
So get on it or call them if you want help or have questions!

Happy Halloween Weekend, Overlook!

Happy Halloween, Overlook! Keep a sharp eye out for little goblins & ghouls on Monday night, and enjoy the last week of Daylight Savings.

1) Halloween Party at the Overlook House (10/31)

2) Trick Or Treat for The Oregon Food Bank (10/31)

3) Prescription Drug Turn In Event (10/29)

4) Deadline Alert: Leaf Day Opt Out (11/1)

5) Greenway Trail Group Recruiting (now)

6) Communicate with OKNA

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1) Halloween Party at the Overlook House (10/31)

Calling little Halloween goblins, witches, fairies and robots!

Overlook House holds its annual Halloween party for little kids on Monday, October 31st, from 4-6 p.m. We will have games, crafts and yummy treats for kids from 1 to 5 years old. Bring your young family members and see what we've cooked up for this year's fun. Be sure to wear your costumes! 3839 N. Melrose Drive. www.historicoverlookhouse.org
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2) Trick Or Treat for The Oregon Food Bank (10/31)

On Halloween, neighbor Gilah will be walking the neighborhood with a rolling cart doing "Trick or Treat for the Oregon Food Bank."  Here are several ways Overlook friends & neighbors can participate.

*You can give donatable foods when I come to your door. (see below)

*You can give me a check made out to the Oregon Food Bank (for which you'll get a receipt from them).

*You can drop off contributions to a container on my front step through Tuesday November 1st, and/or

*You can join my team on Halloween so we can cover more territory. If you want to walk the streets collecting, with me or dividing territory, please contact me by 8 pm on Sunday the 30th.

Gilah: seabird24 @yahoo.com
The Oregon Food Bank website has helpful information about the types of food they can accept for donation: http://www.oregonfoodbank.org Consider donating healthy, low-fat and low-sugar products; there's a great list at the link.
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3) Prescription Drug Turn In Event (10/29)

Safely dispose of unused and expired medications on Saturday. This is an effort to keep our waterways clean and raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

Saturday, October 29th, 2011 from 10:00am-2:00pm.
North Interstate Fred Meyer (police mobile precinct on site)
7404 North Interstate Avenue

Items acceptable for deposit are:
Prescription medications and samples, all over the counter medications, vitamins, pet medications, medicated ointments, and liquid medication in leak proof containers.

Items NOT acceptable for deposit are:
Thermometers/Sharps/Syringes, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, inhalers, and EpiPens. *NO SHARPS
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4) Deadline Alert: Leaf Day Opt Out (11/1)

www.portlandonline.com/leafday

Leaf Day Opt Out Deadline is November 1. 
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5) Greenway Trail Group Recruiting (now)

Planning for North Portland Greenway Trail has begun; you are invited to join the discussion.

Portland Parks & Recreation and North Portland Neighborhood Services are committed to working together to provide a high quality trail and active transportation opportunity for all Portlanders.  As part of this commitment, we are convening a group of interested community members to advise the development of the alignment study for the proposed Greenway Trail.

A portion of the trail, reaching from at the Steel Bridge to Kelley Point Park, straight through Overlook.

For more information about the project or the advisory committee, please contact Mary Jaron Kelley mary@npnscommunity.org or Kip Wadden atkathleen.wadden@portlandoregon.gov
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6) Communicate with OKNA

The Overlook Neighborhood Association board not only enjoys telling you things, they enjoy hearing things from you as well. If you have a non-commercial item to share with Overlook neighbors, email OKNA at info@ OverlookNeighborhood.org with ‘Post to List’ in the subject line. We appreciate it when your short item is paste-in ready!

Email digests are posted to our website as well, crowded in among the tons of useful information already there: www.OverlookNeighborhood.org

If you prefer Facebook, you can find us there now too; search ‘Overlook Neighborhood PDX’ (<<< or click that fancy link!) and ‘like’ us to subscribe. I’m sure one day there will be a Facebook button on our website.

Public Safety Forum, OKNA Meeting and Oktoberfest

Hello Overlook!

This is the week for the Overlook Public Safety Forum; we hope to see you at the Kaiser Town Hall Ballroom on Wednesday! More details below.

Of course, we'll have the regular OKNA general membership meeting on its regular 3rd Tuesday of the month: 10/18 at 7pm at the Kaiser Town Hall. Come hear about the Bureau of Transportation plans for the bike greenway on N Skidmore, and how the intersection at N Interstate & Skidmore will change. See you this week!

1) Little Kids' Jamboree Sessions at Overlook House (Wednesdays)2
2) Overlook Public Safety Forum: This Week! (10/19)3
) Oktoberfest fun! (10/22)

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1) Little Kids' Jamboree Sessions at Overlook House (Wednesdays)

Little Kids’ Jamboree is an interactive event with simple rhythm instruments, singing and movement! Instructor Lorna Miller, and her guitar, invites children along with their family and friends for an hour of fun!

This is most appropriate for young children up to 6 years. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

October 12th through December 14th **there is still time to join the group!

Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 4:30 PM

Location: Basement room of the Overlook House

Cost: $50

Contact Lorna Miller 503-233-6890 or lorna@westernhummingbird.com

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2) Overlook Public Safety Forum: This Week! (10/19)

Overlook Public Safety Forum

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Kaiser Town Hall Ballroom

3704 N. Interstate Ave.

All Overlook neighbors are encouraged to attend our first public safety forum.

· 6:00-7:00 p.m. Open House with representatives from Portland Police Bureau, Gang Enforcement Team, Transit Police, Parks Rangers and more.

· 7:00-9:00 p.m. forum presentations from many of the above organizations facilitated by Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Wells.

This forum is organized by and for Overlook residents and business owners to educate ourselves about public safety in our neighborhood. Please help us spread news of the forum so we can fill Kaiser Town Hall. Bring all your questions and speak directly to those officials who deal directly with public safety.

Questions or need additional information, please contact:

Mark Wells

Crime Prevention Coordinator

Office of Neighborhood Involvement

City of Portland

503-823-4098

mark.wells@portlandoregon.gov

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3) Oktoberfest fun! (10/22)

Plan ahead now for Oktoberfest fun on Saturday October 22!

SECOND ANNUAL North Portland Oktoberfest - SUPPORT THE OcKLEY GREEN ARTS PROGRAM

Historic Kenton Firehouse -8105 N Brandon Street - (Off N Denver and Lombard)

Saturday, October 22, 2011 3:00 - 10:00

Bratwurst Dinner & Dessert

2 Drink Tickets • Prizes

Commemorative

Glass Mug

TICKETS START AT $15.00 -21 AND OVER

Get the value of your donation back with savings from our sponsor coupon book!

http://northportlandoktoberfest.eventbrite.com

Donations to the North Portland Oktoberfest are made tax deductible through our fiscal sponsor, North Portland Community Works, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving organizations in North Portland.

Overlook Art Car May Make it to “Portlandia”

From Neighborhood Notes, we find the following; an art car familiar in Overlook may make it to the tiny screen near you soon. Here’s an excerpt; click through for the whole story.

The Fin Car Driven by Bill Lockner

The Fin Car

Bill Lockner’s car is a 1979 Volvo that has been enhanced and rebuilt using scrap yard metal, and car parts that were bound for the landfill.
“It started out stock,” Lockner explains, “and as time went by, things got added to it.” These things include truck fenders, the back end of a Rambler, and a fin.
“[The Fin Car] was an idea to use up and change a car that to me represented soccer moms in the ‘70s,” Lockner says. “Every soccer mom had a ‘79 Volvo.”
Lockner’s car features a removable fin, naturally, and is fully operational. He has driven his car to art car festivals throughout Washington, and regularly services his car to keep it running for everyday use.
“What I like about it is that it makes me laugh,” Lockner says. “Wherever I go, when I drive it, it makes me laugh.”
Lockner has owned five or six art cars over the years, and currently has another that’s a work in progress. His newest car project is a 1975 Gremlin that Lockner hopes to turn into a kinetic sculpture.

Q&A: Overlook volunteer shares update on neighborhood Tree Inventory Project

View full size
Melissa Navas/The Oregonian

Volunteers in the Overlook neighborhood began documenting trees on city property in June as part of the Tree Inventory Project.

Since June, people have walked five Portland neighborhoods measuring trees, jotting down species and documenting the city sidewalks in which they sprout.

The effort is part of the Tree Inventory Project sponsored by Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry. The other neighborhoods undergoing inventories are Kenton, St. Johns, Eastmoreland and Sellwood-Moreland.

Vinny Parisi, an Overlook resident who studies horticulture at Clackamas Community College, coordinates the efforts in Overlook and took time to share progress about the project, which just had its second of three walkabouts July 23. His comments have been edited for clarity.

Q: Give an update on the Overlook tree inventory project?

A: We have completed two of the three inventory events in Overlook. Each neighborhood is given three event days to complete the inventory, along with tons of help from Urban Forestry staff. So far both events have been a huge success, with nice staging areas and good volunteer turnout. We have completed approximately two-thirds of the target inventory area in Overlook so far and have identified 2,410 trees to date. I can tell you that I have personally inventoried around 700 trees during the two events and in my free time.

View full sizeVinny Parisi, Tree Inventory Project volunteer

Q: What is the city's goal?

A: The city's eventual goal is to help the neighborhoods to create stewardship plans for their urban canopy. With help from Urban Forestry, using the data collected from the inventories, the neighborhoods will decide exactly what they would like to do, maybe plant trees in empty planting space, help residents care for existing trees, and increase awareness of the important role trees play in making urban environments more livable.

Q: How do you go about collecting information and what are you looking for?

A: Determine the location, species, size, and health of trees. Visually identify the genus of the tree and, in certain cases, identify the species as well. Measure the diameter of the tree at breast height (4.5 feet), measure the planting strip and an overall evaluation of tree health. Good, fair, poor, and dead. Pretty simple. Looking for tree diversity, unhealthy trees, areas for improvement, beautiful noteworthy trees.

Q: Where will this information go?

A: All of the information is put into a database, that I'm not familiar with, that Urban Forestry is using. They have said that they will create custom site maps and Excel sheets illustrating the findings.

Q: How many community members have volunteered and what have they contributed?

A: So far residents have assisted in data collection and allowing use of their space for a staging site. The first inventory on June 25 was held at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center and about 20 residents attended. The second inventory was on July 23 at Daybreak Cohousing and about 15 residents participated. The final event will be at Overlook Park from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Aug. 27.

Q: What have been some of the surprising finds during the inventory process thus far?

A: Thus far some surprising things have been lack of tree diversity, the same genus in clumps throughout the neighborhood. Dead trees, empty space, lack of planting strip in some areas, which is called being curb tight.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add about the project?

A: I have a pretty good tree ID knowledge base, but I have already learned so much about the trees in the Overlook neighborhood. Familiar trees once taken for granted and ignored are now in the forefront of my thinking. I hope to spread this awareness of the necessity of trees, the huge value that planting trees has for the urban environment.

For more information about the project or how to volunteer, visit the Tree Inventory Project website.

-- Melissa Navas

This story was originally published by The Oregonian at http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/08/qa_overlook_volunteer_shares_u.html

OKNA email 8/6/11

Hello Overlook! A few things for you to know about; sorry about the late notice with the bridge.

1) Fremont Bridge Closure (now)
2)  Livability Team Meeting Sunday (8/7) 
3) Sewer Work Begins in Overlook (now)
4) Community Outreach Project Brainstorming (ongoing)
5) OKNA Picnic Reminder (RSVP now)
6) Misc OKNA Reminders
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1) Fremont Bridge Closure (now)

Don't forget about the upcoming Fremont Bridge closure schedule:

** Full Closure of the Upper Deck: Friday, August 5, at 11 p.m., to Monday, August 8, at 5 a.m. -- upper deck closed (southbound); all ramps to the upper deck are also closed

** Full Closure of the Upper Deck: Friday, August 19, at 11 p.m., to Monday, August 22, at 5 a.m. -- upper deck closed (southbound); all ramps to the upper deck are also closed

DETOUR: During the full closure of the Fremont Bridge, motorists on I-5 south will be directed to continue on I-5 south to I-405 north to their destination.

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2)  Livability Team Meeting Sunday (8/7)

We're just a few days away from Sunday's cleanup! We'll meet at DiPrima at 9am. I'll have extra paper towels, garbage bags, latex gloves, scrubbies and solvent on hand.  Also, we'll talk about scheduling a team BBQ before summer's end!

The OLT usually meets on the first Sunday of the month. If you'd like to join the Overlook Livability Team to help with litter pickup and graffiti removal, please contact group leader David at graffiti@overlookneighborhood.org

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3) Sewer Work Begins in Overlook (now)

Sewer Work in 2012

Keep your eyes out for a yellow letter in your mailbox from the Burau of Environmental Services describing the big sewer project that will be happing throughout Overlook starting in the fall of 2012 (you have perhaps already noticed lots of marking and surveying).

Email us if you didn’t get a map in the mail and want one.

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4) Community Outreach Project Brainstorming (ongoing)

From Our United Villages…

Do you have an idea to build community, create a more vibrant neighborhood, or a project that will benefit the community as a whole?

Community Outreach of Our United Villages offers free consultation and brainstorming to individuals and groups working to make a positive difference in their community or neighborhood.

During a one-hour session we listen, brainstorm, strategize, and give feedback to build capacity for people to turn their ideas into action. We may link you to other people or groups working on similar projects or identify community resources that will help bring your idea to fruition.  Following the consultation, Community Outreach will give away the tools and strategies relevant and/or useful to the idea or project.   Individuals, volunteer groups or non-profits with new or existing projects and ideas are eligible.

Visit our website to learn more about Consultation and Brainstorming Sessions, find out if you are eligible and request a consultation online.  You can also call or email us at 503.546.7499 or outreach@ourunitedvillages.org.

Linda F. Hunter & Emily A. Burruel
Community Outreach Team
Our United Villages
3625 N. Mississippi Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
503.546.7499
outreach@ourunitedvillages.org
www.ouvcommunityoutreach.org

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5) OKNA Picnic Reminder (RSVP now)

Tuesday, August 16 from 5:00- 9:00 pm at Pause Restaurant, 5101 N Interstate Avenue

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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6) Misc OKNA Reminders

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.

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Deadlines are approaching for the Fall issue of Overlook Views, your neighborhood newsletter. Please contact Michelle with your story submissions, starting.. NOW!
Views @OverlookNeighborhood.org