Finally some good news.
District receives additional $6.2 million in funding
Board votes $2 million to rehire teachers, $2 million for obligations. Places $2.2 million in contingency fund.
Reynolds board votes to spend added millions now, rehire teachers
by Betsy Hammond
The Oregonian, Thursday Aug 13, 2009
A unanimous Reynolds school board voted (tonight) to spend $2 milllion to immediately hire back laid-off teachers in order to reduce class sizes before school starts Sept. 8.
A standing-room-only crowd of teachers and parents applauded loudly.
Many had testified that students would suffer from a lack of attention and individualized instruction if the district stuck to its earlier plans to eliminate one of every four teaching positions and raise class sizes to 35 or larger at most grade levels.
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 everyone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Items Accepted
yard debris, wood scraps, general clean-up items
bulky waste, mattresses, furniture
scrap metal, cardboard
Items Not Accepted
hazardous waste, chemicals, paint
construction and demolition waste, tires, concrete or rocks, dirt
Thank You!
Wilkes East Neighborhood would like express our gratitude to the following for their generous contributions & continued support:
• Jazzy Bagels, Main St & Powell
• Parkrose Hardware, 106th & Sandy
• Growers Outlet, 162nd & Glisan
• SOLV, Bringing Oregon together
• Albertsons, 181st & Glisan
• And, all the many volunteers!
