Announcement

Friends of the Children, Gresham OR Artists rendering. Click to enlarge.

Focus on At-risk Youth. New Facility Opening Fall 2015. Friends of the Children, a Portland non-profit, is making a significant investment in the East County community.

The non-profit agency Friends of the Children has begun the final planning phase of their budgeted $5 million project—an 8,500-square-foot youth center located next to Pat Pfeiffer Park on NE 172nd Ave. Construction is set to begin in February, and the facility opens in the fall of 2015.

Founded in 1993, Friends of the Children is a mentoring program dedicated to transforming the lives of children in need. Youth are selected in kindergarten and paired with a “Friend,” a full-time professional mentor. Youth’s benefit from this strength-based relationship through high school graduation.

The organization currently serves over 425 youth, half of whom live east of I-205. According to Friends of the Children’s COO, Mark Young, the organization anticipates enrolling many of each year’s new class of kindergartners from East County elementary schools. The program focuses on enrolling youth whose life challenges put them most at-risk of school failure, juvenile delinquency and early parenting.

"Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together we can make a difference!”

Read it Online

Wilkes East Neighborhood 2014 Fall Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE $5M Youth Center Opening Fall 2015 Historic Louise Home Renovation Reynolds Athletic 2014 Hall of Fame Simply Ways to Stay Cozy This Winter Zimmerman House Holiday Events Nadaka Nature Park/Garden Project

Download your copy here. Now with clickable web links!

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.

Looking for a past issue? Check out the newsletter archive.

Walk Among The Colors When: Thu Oct 02, 2014 8AM-5PM Where: Hoyt Arboretum Meet at: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

We will begin this five-mile hike from the zoo and follow the colorful Oak and Maple Trails before entering the web-like trail system of the Hoyt Arboretum. We’ll loop through a display of over 1,000 species of trees and a variety of exotics. Pack a lunch to eat in the covered picnic area across the street from the Arboretum Visitor Center. Hiking boots and poles are recommended.

• Round-trip travel: We'll ride the MAX from Gresham City Hall to the Oregon Zoo.
• Round-trip cost: Honored Citizen (65+) $2; Adults $5
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: 425 feet

Enjoy the Fall Colors When: Sat Oct 04, 2014 9AM-4PM Where: Oregon Zoo 4001 SW Canyon Rd 503-226-1561 Get Map!

As a thank you to our community, the Oregon Zoo is offering free admission today!

The weather is expected to be warm and sunny on Saturday. Don't forget that you do have to pay for parking at Washington Park. Better yet, take the MAX Blue Line west to the Zoo terminal, take the elevator up.

"It's a great time of year to see the animals, and our hope is that everyone who comes through the gates Saturday is inspired to help create a better future for wildlife," said Teri Dresler, interim zoo director. "This zoo has been community supported for more than 125 years, and we want it to be accessible for everyone in the region. We are grateful for the generous support of our presenting sponsor — Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon — for making this free community day possible."

Activities taking place Saturday include the following:

• 10:45 a.m. - animal activity at river otters
• 11 a.m. - monkey feeding at Africa Rainforest
• 12:15 p.m. - reptile encounter at Family Farm
• 1 p.m. - chimpanzee feeding
• 2 p.m. - animal activity at polar bears
• 2:15 p.m. - penguin feeding
• 2:45 p.m. - chameleon feeding at Africa Rainforest
• 3 p.m. - bat feeding

Throughout the zoo, visitors will have a chance to see history in the making, as work advances on Elephant Lands — a sweeping expansion of the Asian elephant habitat that will quadruple the elephants' space and dramatically enhance their daily experiences.

Every Saturday May thru October! When: Every Saturday, 8:30AM-2PM Where: NW Miller & Third St Historic Downtown Gresham, OR Get Map!

Stock-up Now! Final Weeks This Year

Fresh & Local
Shoppers will find all-natural meats and cheeses, fresh-picked produce, nursery stock and fresh-cut flowers, hand-crafted jewelry, soaps, artwork, and much more. Live music and food are always part of the market.

Located on Northwest Miller Avenue between Second and Third Street 8:30AM to 2PM each Saturday now through Oct. 25.

Stock-up Now! Final Weeks This Year

Over 90 vendors • Local Farm Fresh Produce, Fruits & Berries • Crafts • Fine Art • Artisan Foods • Unique Services • Music • Fun

Located in the NE corner of the Gresham Kmart parking lot at Eastman Parkway and NW Burnside Road with plenty of convenient parking. Open every Saturday now through Oct. 25. Accepting SNAP and WIC.

Lunar Eclipse 04-15-2014. MHCC Planetarium website

Two Special Eclipses When: Tue Oct 7, 2014 Show Times: 6PM, 7:15PM, 8:30PM Where: Mt Hood Community College Planetarium Sky Theater 26000 SE Stark St Gresham, OR Get Map!

Admission $2. MHCC students are admitted free.
The Sky Theater is wheelchair accessible.

Season Opening: Two Special Eclipses & The Autumn Sky
(This October we'll experience two eclipses, a lunar and a solar eclipse)
Join us for a tour of the night sky where you'll whiz through universe from the comfort of your seat! 3 shows starting at 6:00PM, 7:15PM and 8:30PM.

The Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Planetarium invites you enjoy another year of great public shows using their state-of-the-art digital star projection system.

Each show is presented under a realistic representation of the night sky, featuring the latest galactic, stellar and planetary images. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions during each program. Children are welcome to attend.

Hunter's Moon Eclipse When: Wed Oct 8, 2014 2AM-5AM Where: Your Night Sky (Find an unobstructed location) Locate the Moon

Start your day with an eclipse of the full moon Wednesday October 8, 2014

Wake-Up Early Oct 8th
A total lunar eclipse is expected to make a colourful peak early Wednesday morning, Oct. 8. The 2014 lunar eclipse will occur during a bright ’s Hunter’s Moon – (the name for the full moon after the Harvest Moon) turning a bold shade of red at totality. Best of all, this amazing sight will be viewable all accross America. This event begins at 2:15am PDT, and ends at 5:34AM PDT, with totality at 3:25am.

What's A Lunar Eclipse?
"During a lunar eclipse, most of the light illuminating the moon passes through the stratosphere where it is reddened by scattering." explains atmospheric scientist Richard Keen of the University of Colorado.

Folks on the West Coast will have the best view of the colourful total lunar eclipse which will end about one hour before sunrise.

Every Saturday May thru October! When: Every Saturday, 8:30AM-2PM Where: NW Miller & Third St Historic Downtown Gresham, OR Get Map!

Stock-up Now! Final Weeks This Year

Fresh & Local
Shoppers will find all-natural meats and cheeses, fresh-picked produce, nursery stock and fresh-cut flowers, hand-crafted jewelry, soaps, artwork, and much more. Live music and food are always part of the market.

Located on Northwest Miller Avenue between Second and Third Street 8:30AM to 2PM each Saturday now through Oct. 25.