Community

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City of Portland Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) Community Forum Seeking ways to share our streets with the homeless

When: Saturday, July 18, 2009 10AM-12PM
Where: Kaiser Town Hall
3704 N. Interstate
Get Map!

When: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7PM-9PM
Where: First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Ave
Get Map!

Share your ideas

The economic crisis has drastically impacted many of our neighbors. Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish invite all members of our neighborhoods to join them in a community forum to find alternative ways to share our streets, and discuss opportunities to support members of our communities who are faced with homelessness and other challenges.

On April 29, 2009 the Portland City Council agreed to postpone a decision on the Sidewalk Obstructions Ordinance rather than vote to continue or allow it to sunset. A recent court ruling and the Portland Police decision suspending the sit/lie ordinance has created a wonderful opportunity for a community dialogue on the next steps. A report by the Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) Committee sets the framework for discussion about which services have been provided and which are needed.

One way that you can help is to join together and come up with ideas to support our neighbors who are struggling in meeting some of the most basic needs.

Possible discussion topics:
• What are the SAFE Recommendations - Areas of agreement, areas of disagreement?
• How are services coordinated/who does what in the City?
• What services are needed/missing/need enhancements?
• Who needs to be at the table?
• What issues are outstanding?
• Next Steps

Join the discussion

Please join Commissioner Fritz and Commissioner Fish, along with other Portlanders, as together we discuss opportunities to make our city friendly, supportive and accommodating for

Signal upgrades, ramp improvements, and pavement repairs are underway. Much needed traffic changes come to West Gresham.

Ask any rush hour commuter traveling NE 181st Ave in West Gresham and they will tell you, traffic congestion between Interstate 84 and NE Halsey St is miserable. In fact at times, it's downright unbearable.

Frustrated commuters rejoice, change is here!

According to the City of Gresham Project Manager and City Engineers the long awaited NE 181st Ave Corridor Signal Improvements project has begun.

Linda Kidby, City of Gresham spokesperson says "signal upgrades, ramp improvements, and pavements repairs are underway right now and should be completed soon" to relieve traffic congestion through this busy area.

Expect delays and weekend closures

Construction workers are currently making improvements to all of the handicap accessible sidewalk ramps at the intersection of NE San Rafael St at NE 181st Ave.

Due to the nature of the asphalt repairs and the high traffic volume along NE 181st Ave city workers will need to close several intersections in the

The Government Affairs Council Presents Going Green in Gresham with Mayor Shane Bemis

When: Wednesday, June 17th 11:30AM -1:00PM
Where: Heidi's Restaurant
1230 NE Cleveland Ave
Gresham, OR
Lunch $20.00

Going Green in Gresham

Where does the City of Gresham stand in the world of going green? Have we implemented green practices at the City and how do we compare to other Cities in the region? What are we doing to leverage our green values for economic development? Do we have a chance of attracting clean technology companies to Gresham? Do we have the infrastructure, work force and tax structure that clean technology companies are seeking? Please join us as we meet with Mayor Shane Bemis to discuss the answer to these and other important questions about our green values and the connection of those values to economic development.

Please RSVP to the Chamber at (503) 665-1131 or by email to gacc@greshamchamber.org.

Going from bad to worse, District lays off 149 teachers, more layoffs coming. Middle School students protest planned budget cuts

Reynolds School District lays off 149 teachers

Source: The Gresham Outlook. By Rob Cullivan. May 29, 2009

The Reynolds School District is laying off 149 teachers as of Aug. 31, with the bulk of the layoffs coming among those hired in the past three years.

Faced with slashing almost $15 million from its 2009-10 budget, the district also will announce further layoffs, including among its music education staff as well as support-staff employees, according to Andrea Watson, district spokeswoman.

The teacher layoffs break down as follows: 5 teachers hired between 1996 and 2001; 42 teachers hired between 2001 and 2006; and 102 hired between 2006 and 2009.

Let's get dirty and have fun too! Help restore our urban habitat. Volunteer opportunity. Invasives removal at Nadaka Nature Park

When:

• Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 9:00AM - 2:00PM
• Saturday Jun 27, 2009 9:00AM - 1:00PM
• Saturday Jul 25, 2009 9:00AM - 1:00PM
• Sunday Aug 02, 2009 9:00AM - 2:00PM

Where: Nadaka Nature Park
NE 175th Ave and NE Pacific St
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Event Info

Be prepared to get a little dirty and to have fun by supporting and volunteering with Friends of Nadaka and Wilkes East Neighborhood Association in their efforts to restore this natural area by removing invasive underbrush and ivy.

Come on by, and give us a hand! Spend all day, or whatever time you can. Dressed for weather. Bring your gloves, waterbottle, clippers, and yard tools.

Coffee, juice, water & refreshments provided by Wilkes East Neighborhood Assn.

No pre-registration required. Volunteers younger than 18 will need a signed waiver (available at the event).

See website calendar for more Nadaka Nature Park events and activities!

Get ready for increased air traffic as PDX extends their runways

North Runway Extension project underway

Wilkes East residents may notice a change in aircraft flight activity as Portland International Airport begins major runway improvements starting May 1st through October 31st 2009.

During the six-month closure of the north parallel runway jet aircraft will use the south runway and will follow noise abatement procedures that direct them over the Columbia River corridor to minimize overflights of residential areas.

The south runway’s east takeoff and approach path will increase air traffic directly over the Wilkes East neighborhood -- particularly in the Sandstone area.

Click to enlarge Rain Garden

Free workshop! Make your own Rain Garden! Beautify to your yard & protect our streams too.

When: Thursday June 11, 2009 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Where: Fairview Community Center
200 Harrison St
Fairview, OR
Get Map!

What is a Rain Garden?

Rain gardens are a great way to add beautiful landscaping to your yard and protect our overloaded urban streams at the same time. Join us to learn how to build a rain garden on your property to keep our streams clean and healthy!

Participants will learn what a rain garden is and the critical role they can play in the restoration of urban streams, and the “how to’s” of constructing your own rain garden. You will learn the how to assess your site, calculate impervious surfaces, locate and size rain gardens, determine soil suitability with a percolation test, choose appropriate plants, and how to maintain your new rain garden. You will receive a rain garden packet, and where possible, take a field trip to a nearby rain garden.

Advanced registration required. Click here to register!

Clean out the garage! Here come the drop boxes! Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up Saturday June 27, 2009 9AM HB Lee Middle School parking lot

When: Sat June 27, 2008 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Where: HB Lee Middle School
1121 NE 172nd Ave (between Glisan & Halsey)
Get map!

Cost per load:

$15.00 -- auto, standard pick-up truck
$25.00 -- trailer load, large truck

Clean-up Info

"Spring Clean-Up" usually means you discover a lot of things you wish you could take to the dump! Well, now you don't have to take your junk very far! The dumpsters are coming to you!

This event is open to all Wilkes East Neighborhood residents. Click here for a neighborhood map!

Bring all your general debris to the dumpsters located in the parking lot at HB Lee Middle School, 1121 NE 172nd Ave (between NE Glisan & NE Halsey), Saturday June 27th from 9AM to 12PM.

Got Hazardous Waste? Bring it to Metro! Click here for more info!

Join Your Neighbors -- Get involved. Make a difference!

City of Gresham News, Community Activities, Workshops & More

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue...

• Meet the Mediators: May 14
• Community Information Fair
• Neighborhood Safety Training
• Workshop: Tools for Resolving Conflict
• Free Recycle Event: April 18
• AmeriCorps Earth Day Symposium
• Kane Drive Preconstruction Meeting: April 23
• Volunteer! Bird Survey Orientations: May 2 and 9
• Natural Gardening Fair and Plant Sale: May 9
• Volunteer! Help Count Bicyclists and Pedestrians: May 12-17
• Wetlands 101 Class and Tour: May 16
• SOLV Take Care of Oregon Days: May 16
• Volunteers Needed to Help Survey Neighborhood Sidewalks
• Hershey’s Track and Field Games for Youth: June 13
• Meet Quarg: Free DVD Features Environmentally-Savvy Puppets
• Transit Boards Promote Public Transportation in Our Community

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email cathy.harrington@ci.gresham.or.us.

Everyone's invited! Wilkes East Neighborhood Quarterly Public Meeting Monday May 4th 7PM HB Lee Middle School

Join Your Neighbors -- Get involved. Make a difference!

When: Monday, May 4, 2009 7:00PM
Where: H B Lee Middle School
1121 NE 172nd Ave
Click here for map

Be sure to save Monday, May 4th at 7:00 PM for WENA’s Quarterly Public Meeting. This quarter's meeting will be held at H B Lee Middle School, 1121 NE 172nd Ave (between Glisan & Halsey), Portland, Oregon.

Meeting Topics

• Halsey Project
  (Bike lane and light 172nd & NE Halsey St)
  Jonathon David, Gresham Transportation Division
• Is There Hope For Our Parks?
  Understanding the Math
  Kathy Minden, People For Parks
• Nadaka Park Master Plan
  Ric Catron, Gresham Parks and Recreation
• Neighborhood Update
• Nadaka Park
  Lee Dayfield, Friends of Nadaka
• Updates & Earth Day
• Nature in Neighborhoods
  Capital Grants program
• Neighborhood Watch
  Groups in your neighborhood
• And more!

Everyone's Invited to Attend!

This meeting is open to all residents and businesses in the Wilkes East Neighborhood! Be A Part Of Your Community, Plan To Attend.

The Wilkes East Neighborhood is located in the Northwest corner of the City of Gresham, Oregon, and is one of Gresham's sixteen neighborhoods. Wilkes East Neighborhood borders are roughly NE Sandy Boulevard to the north, NE 181st Ave to the east, NE Glisan Street to the south, and NE 162nd Ave to the west. Click here for a map of the Wilkes East Neighborhood.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend this important meeting.