Friends of Nadaka

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Spring 2019 Newsletter here!

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Spring 2019 Newsletter here! Wilkes East Neighborhood, Gresham Oregon USA. Diversity, Harmony, Community- Together 'WE' can make a difference.

2019 Spring Newsletter

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


Read it now!

Inside This Issue:

 

  • Rockwood Rising, A New Urban Hub
  • Migration Brewing Opens New Pub
  • Earth Day Recycling Event, April 20
  • Nadaka Happenings & Changes
  • WENA Spring Meeting March 11, 7PM

Download your copy here. (includes active 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.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates

Got a story or tip to share?
Wilkes East residents are encouraged to submit articles and tips for the newsletter. Articles should be limited to 300-350 words and may be subject to editing. Send by email to info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: PO Box 536 • Fairview, OR 97024.

Volunteers Needed
Newsletters are hand-delivered to Wilkes East residents and businesses by neighborhood volunteers. There are always routes that need delivery people. Routes are small and many. We can always use your help.
To volunteer contact info@wilkeseastna.org.

Happening’s At Nadaka Nature Park & Garden, Spring 2019

Happening’s At Nadaka Nature Park & Garden. Nurturing Nature, Food, and Families. Come Visit Your Park Today! Read me here.
Monica McAllister, Nadaka. Click to enlarge

Nurturing Nature, Food, and Families

By Grace Graham,
Confluence AmeriCorps Member, Events & Outreach Specialist

The turning of winter over to spring is one of our favorite seasons at Nadaka Nature Park..

The forest is cool and quiet, patiently holding its breath for the first signs of new life, and the garden lies resting, silently preparing rich soils that will nurture new seeds in the coming months. This is a time of year that gives Friends of Nadaka (FON) the opportunity to reflect on the old year’s accomplishments, and welcome in a new season of beginnings, opportunities, and goals.

This 2019 New Year came with the bittersweet news that our incredible Nadaka Coordinator of the last 5 years, Monica McAllister, has decided to begin a new journey as the Community Connections Liaison with East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. As Nadaka’s first and only Coordinator to-date, Monica leaves behind an amazing legacy of community engagement and education programs, lasting partnerships, and deep ties with our neighbors in West Gresham. We join our partners, neighbors, and park users in thanking Monica for years of dedication, leadership, and initiative in helping bring a community vision to life.

Friends of Nadaka is taking this shift in leadership as an opportunity to review the successes, challenges, and accomplishments of Nadaka’s first five years, and develop a strategic plan for moving forward. This review and planning process will last through the spring, and no permanent hires will be made to replace Monica until the review is complete. In the interim period, Jamie Stamberger of Stamberger Outreach Consulting has stepped in as a part-time Interim Coordinator for Friends of Nadaka, and has begun working closely with Nadaka’s current AmeriCorps Member, Grace Graham, to keep events and programs running through the next several months. Jamie recently served as the Interim Executive Director for the Columbia Slough Watershed Council (FON’s fiscal agent), so she is already familiar with Nadaka’s programs, systems, and partners. Please direct all Nadaka inquiries to info@friendsofnadaka.org, and expect a short delay in response as Grace and Jamie are frequently outdoors, meeting with partners, and navigating a new wave of projects and responsibilities.

Despite all of these organizational changes, Friends of Nadaka hosted a wildly successful MLK Day of Service event on January 21st, in partnership with Friends of Trees, the Nature Conservancy, and several other community organizations. Over 100 volunteers showed up to help us get 750 native plants in the ground in under three hours, an amazing feat that demonstrates the passion and energy our neighbors and partners have for giving back to their community and honoring the legacy of a great community servant and leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The cold snap and snow that followed forced us to cancel February 9th’s Community Planting Event, but we have decided to combine it with the coming Nadaka & Rockwood Neighborhood Planting Event this April 13th from 9am-12pm with Friends of Trees, to form one giant restoration party! If you are interested in volunteering with us, please sign up through Friends of Tree’s website at https://friendsoftrees.org/event-calendar/.

This year’s English-led Seed to Supper gardening course with the Oregon Food Bank kicked off on Thursday, February 21st, and will take place as a 5-class series every Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30pm through March 21st. This class is free to attend, and is a wonderful opportunity for beginner gardeners to learn how to get started growing their own food on a budget. Due to some unexpected conflicts, the Spanish-led Seed to Supper class has been tentatively postponed for later in the spring. Friends of Nadaka is working with the Oregon Food Bank to reschedule the Spanish Seed to Supper, and we will post details on our website and Facebook page as soon as possible. Please email info@friendsofnadaka.org with questions or requests to be notified when more details are available.

Friends of Nadaka is excited to announce that for the fourth year in a row, we are once again hosting the Welcome Back Vulture Day festival on Saturday, March 16th from 12-3pm, in partnership with the Audubon Society of Portland.

Welcome Back Vulture Day festival. Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR

This free, family-friendly event is filled with educational activities, live birds, food, games, and more! Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Ruby, Portland Audubon’s live Turkey Vulture, along with many of Audubon’s other education birds. Other activities will include comparing your wingspan to that of a California Condor, exploring the varied cultural significance of different birds, enjoying a scavenger hunt and bird walk in Nadaka Nature Park’s forest, and crafting your own unique bird mask! Learn more about this event at Audubon Society of Portland’s website: http://audubonportland.org/.

If you aren’t able to make it to our Seed to Supper series but are still interesting in buildling or freshening up your gardening skills, Outgrowing Hunger will be hosting a monthly hands-on Natural Gardening Class from 6-7:30pm in the Nadaka Community Garden, starting with April 16th, May 16th, June 20th, and continued once a month through the end of the growing season. Find more event dates at https://outgrowinghunger.org/calendar. We will also be hosting the Creating Edible Landscapes Workshop on May 18th from 9-11:30am with East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Registration is required for this event, and it will fill up fast, so don’t wait! Sign up here:
https://emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/upcoming-workshops/.

For more information about how to get involved in creating positive social and environmental change at Nadaka and the Wilkes East and Rockwood neighborhoods, sign up for Friends of Nadaka’s brand new e-newsletter! Newsletter subscribers will receive an email at the beginning of each month with event information, park news, and other community resources! Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gb1A2r. You can also stay up-to-date by “liking” our page on Facebook @NadakaNaturePark, or following our new Instagram account, @nadakanaturepark_. If you have questions about any events, news, or programs at Nadaka Nature Park, please email info@friendsofnadaka.org. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you at Nadaka soon!

No Ivy Day Cleanup at Nadaka Nature Park; Meet Eddy Morales, City Council Candidate: Sat Oct 27,2018 9AM-12PM

10/27/2018 - 9:00am
10/27/2018 - 12:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
Volunteer! No Ivy Day Cleanup at Nadaka Nature Park; Meet Eddy Morales, City Council Candidate: Sat Oct 27,2018 9AM-12PM. Info here!

Come Lend A Hand,
Meet the Council Candidate

When: Sat, Oct 27, 2018 9Am-12PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
17615 NE Glisan St
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Volunteer!
Come lend a hand to restore a healthy habitat at Nadaka Nature Park with Friends of Nadaka’s Annual No Ivy Day Saturday, October 27th at 9 AM! We will be removing English Ivy and other invasive plants from the 10 acre forested portion of the park and replacing them with native plants!

Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided. Dress to work in natural areas: long pants and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Please bring a water bottle and a friend!

Register HERE!

Candidate Meet & Greet
Meet Eddy Morales, Gresham City Council candidate from 11AM-12PM

There are two locations for parking:

  • St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church parking lot next to Nadaka Nature Park located at 17405 NE Glisan Street Gresham, OR 97230.
  • Nadaka Nature Park’s north entrance is at NE Pacific Street and 176th. You may park in the neighborhood and follow the path through the forest to get to the picnic structure.

More Info
We look forward to seeing you there. For more information about this event contact Monica McAllister at 503-956-8558 or monica@friendsofnadaka.org.

Volunteer! SOLV Annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup at Nadaka Nature Park: Sat Sep 29, 2018 9AM-12PM

09/29/2018 - 8:00am
09/29/2018 - 12:00pm
Etc/GMT-8

Join Friends of Nadaka for the SOLV Annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup at Nadaka Nature Park on Saturday, September 29th 9AM to 12PM! Tools, gloves, and light refreshments provided. Bring a water bottle and a friend! Register Here!
Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham Oregon

When: Saturday Sep 29, 2018 9AM-12PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
17615 NE Glisan St
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Sign-Up
Here!

Bring A Friend!
Join Friends of Nadaka for the SOLV Annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup to restore a healthy habitat at Nadaka Nature Park on Saturday, September 29th- 9 AM to 12 PM!

We will be removing litter and invasive species such as English Ivy from the 10 acre forested portion of the park. There will also be an opportunity to work in the community garden and front 2-acres of the park.

Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided. Dress to work in natural areas: long pants and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Please bring a water bottle and a friend!

Meet at the picnic structure on the south side/Glisan Street side of the park. Parking available in St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church parking lot and along NE Pacific Street.

FREE EVENT! 8th Annual Nadaka Community Festival: Sat Aug 18, 2018 12PM-3PM

08/18/2018 - 12:00pm
08/18/2018 - 3:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
FREE EVENT! 8th Annual Nadaka Community Festival: Sat Aug 18, 2018 12PM-3PM. Live music, Free hot dogs, Aztec Dancers, Audubon Educational Birds, Activities, Face painting, Sports and more! Nadaka Nature Park, 176th & NE Glisan, Gresham OR. Info here!
Aztec Dancer

It is time for the 8th Annual Nadaka Community Festival!

When: Sat Aug 18, 2018 12PM-3PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
17615 NE Glisan St
Gresham, OR 97230
Get Map!

This fun and exciting event will be at Nadaka Nature Park in Gresham on Saturday, August 18th from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM!

This is a free event for the community with:

  • Aztec Dancers
  • Free food (while supplies last)
  • Nature & sports activities for all ages
  • Portland Audubon’s live educational birds
  • Community booths with information and activities
  • Face painting
  • Live music

Entrances & Parking: NE 175th & NE Pacific has parking in the neighborhood or NE 175th & NE Glisan with parking in St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church parking lot. Parking is also available on the south side of NE Glisan at NE 176th in the neighborhood. Crosswalk available across NE Glisan.

NO SMOKING – There is absolutely no smoking on site.

More Info
Questions prior to and/or during the event contact 503-956-8558.

Free Screening! East County Parks: A Need & Opportunity for Renewal: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:30AM-12:00PM

06/02/2018 - 10:30am
06/02/2018 - 12:00pm
Etc/GMT-8

Free Screening! East County Parks: A Need & Opportunity for Renewal: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:30AM-12:00PM. Support our public parks! Info Here!

East County Parks: A Need & Opportunity for Renewal

Join us to view this new film 10:30 am to Noon Saturday June 2 at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Rockwood!

Click to view trailer!<br />
 East County Parks: A Need & Opportunity for Renewal: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:30AM-12:00PM. Support our public parks! Info Here!
Click to view trailer!

Support Our Public Parks

When: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:30AM-12:00PM
Where: St Aidan's Episcopal Church
17405 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR 97230
(next to Nadaka Nature Park)
Get Map!

Following the 15 minute film we'll have a short discussion. Light refreshments will be served.

Can't Make June 2?
You can catch screenings at the following other times and locations:

  • June 20 screening for High School Students. Email for details.
  • August 18 the Nadaka Community Festival.
  • August 25 Rock the Block
  • Additional screenings will be posted here when scheduled.

Learn More
Springwater Parks & Community is a project of the East Metro Arts, Community & Culture

Volunteer! Nadaka Nature Park Earth Day Cleanup: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9AM-12PM

04/21/2018 - 9:00am
04/21/2018 - 12:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
Volunteer! Nadaka Nature Park Earth Day Cleanup: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9AM-12PM Info here!

Celebrate Earth Day!
Come Lend a Hand!

When: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9AM-12PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
(Meet at the picnic structure)
17615 NE Glisan St
Get Map!

Bring A Friend!
Join Friends of Nadaka to restore a healthy habitat at Nadaka Nature Park.

REGISTER HERE!

We will be removing invasive species such as English Ivy from the 10 acre forested portion of the park. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided.

Dress to work in natural areas: long pants, brimmed hat, and closed-toe sturdy shoes.

Please bring a water bottle and a friend!

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Spring 2018 Newsletter here!

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Spring 2018 Newsletter here! Wilkes East Neighborhood, Gresham Oregon USA. Diversity, Harmony, Community- Together 'WE' can make a difference.

2018 Spring Newsletter

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


Read it now!

Inside This Issue:

 

  • Rick’s Fencing moving to Wilkes East
  • What Are You Most Concerned About?
  • TriMet Safe Travel Tips
  • Happenings at Nadaka Nature Park
  • Local Business Spotlight
  • Earth Day Recycling: Apr 28, 9AM-2PM

Download your copy here. (includes active 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.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates

Got a story or tip to share?
Wilkes East residents are encouraged to submit articles and tips for the newsletter. Articles should be limited to 300-350 words and may be subject to editing. Send by email to info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: PO Box 536 • Fairview, OR 97024.

Volunteers Needed
Newsletters are hand-delivered to Wilkes East residents and businesses by neighborhood volunteers. There are always routes that need delivery people. Routes are small and many. We can always use your help.
To volunteer contact info@wilkeseastna.org.

Summer & Fall 2017 Happenings At Nadaka Nature Park & Gardens

Summer & Fall 2017 Happenings At Nadaka Nature Park & Gardens. Read here!
Kids explore the bronze otter statue at Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR

By Monica McAllister
Nadaka Nature Park Coordinator

Something For Everyone
This past summer and early fall at Nadaka Nature Park has been abuzz with celebrations under the picnic shelter, free events, new additions to the play area as well as gardeners tending their harvest, and nature lovers exploring our lovely 10-acre forest. Even as the winter days start settling in, we at Friends of Nadaka (FON) have already started planning for next year’s events at the park. From hosting free indoor gardening workshops to forest restoration with local schools and community members, we are excited to offer plenty of opportunities for you to spend time with friends and family at Nadaka. Before we jump straight into next year’s events, let’s take a cue from the fall season to slow down and reflect on the bustle of activity that has occurred over the past few months at our neighborhood park.

Community Festival
This year’s 7th Annual Nadaka Community Festival was one of our best festivals yet! We had over 400 participants, 3 performances, and 35 partnering organizations & businesses, 28 of which hosted a community booth. We were thrilled to have The Aztec Dancers, Ukrainian Folk Singer Natalia Hougan, and the NW Panmen Terry Baber and Brad Hirsch on the Steel Drums perform again at this year’s festival. A big thank you to our Festival Committee, volunteers, partners and everyone who made the festival a marvelous success! Our Festival sponsors and donors included: Metro, City of Gresham, Owens Corning, and St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church. Albertsons & Organically Grown Co., Starbucks, and Rockwood PUD donated hot dogs & chips, organic apples, coffee, and water respectively.

Rip Caswell, Joan Albertson, Chad Caswell, Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR
Rip Caswell, Joan Albertson, Chad Caswell

Art Donations
Nadaka is especially grateful for the generous donation of the magnificent bronze otter and raven by Joan Albertson, the creators of the sculptures, artists Rip Caswell & son Chad Caswell.

as well as the work done by Lee Dayfield and Gresham Outdoor Public Art for making the installation and reveal of these beautiful art pieces possible.

Raven sculpture at Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR
Raven sculpture at Nadaka Nature Park
Giant Xylophone at Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR
Giant Xylophone at Nadaka Nature Park

Another amazing addition to the park is a new Xylophone installed at the north portion of the nature based play area. Thank you to the anonymous donor who made this possible and to the City of Gresham for installing this amazing gift of music for the community.

Volunteer Programs
Friends of Nadaka would like to recognize the amazing work of our two Nadaka SummerWorks? Interns and seven STRYVE Interns (Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere) who helped lead and teach bilingual events for the Wilkes Elementary Books in the Park Program, HB Lee’s SUN Program, Home Forward Apartment complexes, and our summer Tadpole Tales event. In addition to these educational events, they were also instrumental in keeping the park in tip top shape by removing invasive plants, caring for two education garden plots, managing for the front 2 acres, helping with the Nadaka Community Festival and more. Four of these amazing interns have joined the ranks of the Nadaka Ambassadors to continue working at the park year round.

Cleanups & more
For the fall season, volunteers from the neighborhood showed their love for Nadaka at our SOLVE Beach and Riverside Cleanup in September and at the No Ivy Day event on October 28th alongside the “College Possible” High School youth to remove invasive plants and replace them with native plants. We also partnered with Audubon Society of Portland to host a September Bird Walk where we cataloged the number and variety of species passing through the park during fall migration. In the garden, we finished up our free hands on gardening workshop series with Outgrowing Hunger with a focus on “Harvesting Your Bounty” & “Shutting Down the Garden”. For those who are interested in gardening at the park, new garden registration for Nadaka begins February 1st. Contact Adam Kohl of Outgrowing Hunger (adam@outgrowinghunger.org) for more information and how to register for a garden plot.

Park Safety
At the end of August, we had over 40 people attend the Nadaka Community Safety meeting to voice their concerns, learn what is being done to keep the park safe, and give suggestions for improvements at the park. We wanted to thank NET (Neighborhood Enforcement Team), CVIP (Citizens Volunteering In Policing), Gresham Parks Department, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, East Metro Mediation, and the Nadaka Ambassadors for sharing what is being done on the ground and behind the scenes to ensure that Nadaka stays safe and clean. One of the areas of concern was the heavily vegetated space between the St. Aidan’s parking lot and meadow. Since the meeting, we have worked with the City of Gresham Parks Department to lift the canopy and create a line of sight from the parking lot into the meadow. We are so grateful for the hard work that the Parks Department to help address this area of concern and have noticed a marked improvement in the activities happening in that area. By our community taking ownership of the park through volunteering, voicing concerns and potential solutions, in addition to simply being a positive presence in the park, we can continues to ensure that Nadaka Nature Park stays a safe and welcoming space to nurture nature, food, and families.

Fall & Winter Activities
As promised, here are a few great events coming up at the park in the next few months! Join us for a Free Beneficial Insect Workshop with EMSWCD on 11/4 from 9am to 11:30 AM, MLK Day of Service Monday, January 15th, and the Community Planting Event in February (date still to be determined). Other great events to keep your eye out for are our Annual Free Indoor Gardening Workshop Series with Oregon Food Bank, Spring Migration Nature Walk and Welcome Back Vulture Day with Audubon Society of Portland.

Connect With Us
These are just a few of the activities we have in store for the community at Nadaka. For more information and opportunities to get involved and help create a positive social and environmental change in the Wilkes East and Rockwood community visit www.friendsofnadaka.org, “Friends of Nadaka” on Facebook, or contact Monica at monica@friendsofnadaka.org or 503-956-8558. We look forward to seeing everyone at the park!

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Fall 2017 Newsletter here!

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Fall 2017 Newsletter here! Wilkes East Neighborhood, Gresham Oregon USA. Diversity, Harmony, Community- Together 'WE' can make a difference.

2017 Fall Newsletter

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


alt=
Read it now!

Inside This Issue:

 

  • Rockwood Boys & Girls Club Opens
  • Zimmerman House Holiday Tours
  • Rosewood/162 Max Stop Name Change
  • Happenings at Nadaka Nature Park
  • Reynolds Athletics Hall or Fame
  • Neighborhood Meeting, Nov 13th 7PM

Download your copy here. (includes active 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.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates

Got a story or tip to share?
Wilkes East residents are encouraged to submit articles and tips for the newsletter. Articles should be limited to 300-350 words and may be subject to editing. Send by email to info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: PO Box 536 • Fairview, OR 97024.

Volunteers Needed
Newsletters are hand-delivered to Wilkes East residents and businesses by neighborhood volunteers. There are usually routes that need delivery people. Routes are small and many. We can always use your help.
To volunteer contact info@wilkeseastna.org.

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