Community News April 2016

Candidate and ballot forums

The League of Women’s Voters’ Guide, two public candidate forums and an issue forum, as well as interviews of selected candidates for state offices, will be available to the public at various venues, on the internet and elsewhere.

These voter resources are being provided by LWV, well-known for their nonpartisan voter information.

Portland Public Forums:

  • Monday, April 25, 6 to 8:30 pm – Candidates for City Council and Gas Tax Ballot measure, Multnomah County Building, Board Room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
  • Wednesday, April 27 6 to 9 pm – Candidates for Multnomah County Commissioners and Candidates for Metro Councilor, MetroEast Community Media Studios, 829 NE Eight Street, Gresham
  • A third candidate forum for Mayor Of Portland is still being scheduled at press time. Watch for forum updates as well as links to other voter resources on lwvpdx.org.

One-on-one interviews with selected candidates for Oregon State Senator or State representation will be posted as video links with other candidate information on Vote411.org/VoteResource.org, lwvpdx.org and MetroEast.org.

The last day for voter registration for the May 17 Primary is April 26. Ballots for the Primary will be mailed in Multnomah County beginning April 28.

 

Gardeners Gather for Seed Swap

Weaver’s Tale Inaugural Seed Swap is April 2, at 2:30 pm at Taborspace, 54th & SE Belmont St.

The event brings together home and community gardeners to exchange seeds to bolster their gardens for the coming season.

Attendees are invited to bring seeds to share (though it is not a requirement), and any information on seeds for their fellow gardeners.

Weaver’s Tale will provide envelopes to bring seeds home, along with refreshments and a chance for guests to win raffle prizes.

The Seed Swap is free, though a $5 suggested donation is requested to help cover event fees and materials.

For further details on Weaver’s Tale and the Seed Swap, contact director, Kate Bodin. kate@weaverstale.org.

 

Business Beat

 

Taborspace volunteerS Can learn barista training – The non-profit coffeeshop serves as a barista job training facility, where volunteers develop the customer service and craft coffee skills necessary to land a job in Portland’s thriving coffee world. To learn more and apply, visit: taborspace.org/coffee.

 

PLANTSCAPES PDX has an innovative approach to garden design. The Montavilla / Mt. Tabor based gardening and landscape design company delivers pre-designed plant packages. Available gardens include: Native Habitats, Xeriscape, Colorful Parking Strip, Sunny Perennials and Grasses, Zen Gardens for Shade and more. All plants are grown locally, and are bee-friendly (grown without neonicotinoids). Gardens include tips for successful planting and maintenance, suggested layouts, and free delivery. More info and online ordering atPlantscapesPDX.com or call 503.329.5957.

 

Portland Edible Gardens (PEG) helps people grow fresh organic food at their homes. Owner Ian Wilson grew up in Portland and has grown his own organic vegetables for many years. PEG provides a number of services to help Portland residents meet those needs by building Cedar raised-garden beds, creating customized seasonal planting plans, and providing one-on-one mentorship in organic vegetable gardening. They also plant fruit trees and berries. The PEG website has articles and seasonally-relevant posts about growing food in our climate. The latest post is about how to make a seasonal plan for your vegetable garden. portlandediblegardens.com. 503.893.9312

 

Mt Tabor Park events

 

Every Wednesday in April,  there will be a free, guided Songbird Walk on Mt. Tabor at 7 am sponsored by The Audubon Society of Portland. Meet at the main parking lot and bring binoculars if you have them.

Sunday, April 10 at 10:30 am, the Columbia River Orienteering Club will have their annual Mt. Tabor event. Orienteering is the competitive sport of land navigation.

Using a highly-detailed map, choose a route between points marked on the map, and return to the finish line in the shortest amount of time. Choose from four courses from Beginner to Advanced. Brief instruction clinics for newcomers are from 10:45 am – noon. Information is at croc.org/events/2016/4/10/mt-tabor.

Mt. Tabor Tree Identification Walk is Sunday, April 17 at 2 pm. Meet at the Visitor Center in the main parking lot, rain or shine. Bob Rogers leads guests on a walk to identify many species of trees found in the park.

Mt. Tabor Park Weed Warriors Work Party is Saturday, April 30 from 9 am – noon. Bring work gloves if you have them; leather gloves or rubber-palmed work gloves are recommended.

For further information on Weed Warrior service projects and to register, contact Stasia Honnold at fmtpweedwarriors@gmail.com.

 

Seniors issues

 

The People’s Forum

Tuesday, April 19, 9 – 11 am

SE Multicultural Center

4610 SE Belmont

 

The People’s Forum was created to educate the public and policymakers about the realities of an aging population, gaps in services, and challenges that exist for seniors and adults w/disabilities and veterans.

The issues are financial insecurities, isolation, lack of affordable housing, food security/hunger, elder abuse, lack of transportation and in-home services, broken safety net services for seniors, shrinking resources, waitlist for OPI, Transportation services, respite care for family caregivers, and funding shortfalls for senior services

Legislators are invited from: County, City, Mayoral, State, and Metro.

 

Work party at Laurelhurst Park

 

Friends of Laurelhurst Park (FLP), now in its 12th year, is a group of neighbors and interested individuals who pitch in to work with Portland Parks and Recreation staff to keep Laurelhurst Park functioning well and looking vibrant. New faces for a single work party or on a continuing basis are very welcome.

What do “Friends” do? Projects range from pruning, planting, mulching, and invasive plant removal to planning on special projects like paths and dog off-leash issues. Have something you’d like to accomplish in the park? Bring ideas and energy and meet new friends at the same time.

The next work party will be on Wednesday, April 13, 9 am-12 noon. Meet at 3600 SE Ankeny St.

To join our email list for updates and park news contact: peggy.glascock53@gmail.com, 503.232.2406 or kastb@peak.org, 503.477.7469

 

Scholarship award ceremony and 106th birthday brunch

 

Grieg Lodge #2-15, Sons of Norway, celebrates its 106th birthday, Sunday, April 10 at Norse Hall, 111 NE 11th Ave.

The 2016 Birthday Brunch opens at 8:30 am and goes to 1 pm. The menu includes ham and asparagus strata, au gratin potatoes, riskrem and bløtkake (Norwegian birthday cake) in addition to the popular Viking Breakfast menu of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and fruit.

Tickets may be purchased by calling Kathy Gasperson at 503.235.3643. Brunch tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets for children ages 5-12 are $5; children under 5 are free. Seating is limited so purchase tickets in advance.

Grieg Lodge Scholarship Fund (an affiliate of Grieg Lodge) will present its 2016 Scholarship Awards at 11 am.

This entire event is a benefit for Grieg Lodge Scholarship Fund, which has awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 for the 2016-2017 academic year. The public is invited to attend this special celebration.

 

People’s Co-op events

 

  • Long-term Vision Conversation, Sunday April 3, 6 pm. People’s is creating a plan for the future, and looking to community members to help envision it. This invite encourages communities who have historically had structural or social barriers to accessing healthful and/or culturally appropriate foods to give input.

Dinner will be provided. For childcare, contact: planning@peoples.coop.

  • Grow Your Own Produce: Cole Crops, Greens and Soil-Building,Tues. April 5, 7 pm.Classes are $25 per class or $100 for 5 classes. A 20% discount is available to People’s Member-Owners. Email Marisha (queenbee@herbnwisdom.com) directly to receive the discount.
  • Earth Day at the Farmers’ Market! Wed. April 20, 2 to 6 pm
  • Community Health Screening Saturday, April 23, 2 to 5 pm

There will be free community service screenings for joint and muscle mobility, thyroid, adrenal and hormonal balance testing, and a unique massage therapist who is giving a demo on a new table he designed with transducer speakers. He’s created an app to control the ideal vibrational frequency for helping your nervous system relax. This is an excellent way to ask practitioners questions without an appointment or payment. Free and open to all.

To register: peoplescoop.com, 503.674.2642, 3029 SE 21st Ave.

 

signature Gathering for development conversation

Residents of SE Richmond neighborhood are gathering signatures requesting the developers of a new apartment complex planned on SE Clinton and 50th Ave. to meet with neighbors as soon as possible to discuss the project. As the neighborhood and city continues to develop, residents want to ensure harmony within the community.

Sign petitions at: gopetition.com/petitions/richmond-neighborhood-responsible-development.html.

 

Oregon Fuchsia Society Sale

 

The annual May Fuchsia Sale will be held in the parking lot at Fabric Depot, SE 122nd and Stark St on Saturday, May 14, beginning at 9 am.

Fuchsias aren’t just the beautiful but non-hardy baskets you see in the spring and early summer. There is a huge variety of winter-hardy fuchsias that can be planted in the ground and grown as perennials.   These hardy flowers are most often upright varieties, in a surprising and pleasing selection of blossom colors and foliage tone, leaf size and shape. Some do well in full sun, most are more tolerant of morning sun afternoon shade, or filtered sunlight.

For information call 503.246.7920 ororegonfuchsiasociety.com.

 

Get out and Celebrate Earth Day 2016!

 

By Bonita Davis, Master Recycler and Sunnyside resident

 

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than heading out to one of our 14,000 acres of area parks* to reconnect with the natural environment?

Whether you like to picnic, canoe, hike, bike, or watch the clouds, there is a green space for you. This is an opportunity to appreciate why we reduce, reuse and recycle.

Get festive! Schools, campuses and businesses around the area will be hosting fairs, tables and events to focus on sustainability throughout the month, so watch for opportunities to learn while having fun.

Make a difference while enjoying spring in Portland. Help end the use of one-time paper coffee cups and disposable water bottles, by switching to a mug, travel cup or personal bottle.

A whopping 30.9 billion paper cups are thrown away each year in the US according to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

On top of that, we use some 50 billion plastic water bottles in the U.S. each year with recovery rate of only 23%! Go tobanthebottle.net for more information.

Pitch in and be part of a community-wide effort through SOLV, Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism, solveoregon.gov.

Dozens of local clean-up initiatives invite you to put on your gloves and join in to keep Oregon clean and green.

What about volunteering at the Hoyt Arboretum on Friday morning, April 22 for trail work, removing debris and helping with weed removal? Register at tinyurl.com/j2gxarb.

Your neighborhood may list opportunities for clean-ups, tree planting, graffiti removal and more.

Don’t let earth awareness end with April. Browse hundreds of options for volunteering year round at handsonportland.org. Type in “environment” and take your choice of dozens of opportunities from a one time event to an ongoing commitment. You can make a difference.

 

*Find a green space near Portland at: Metro Green Spaces, oregonmetro.gov/metro-parks-and-natural-areas; Columbia Gorge, gorgefriends.org. Hike The Gorge; Portland Parks, portlandoregon.gov/parks or Tryon Creek State Natural Area, oregonstateparks.org.

 

Celebrating Climate Success: An Earth Call to Action

 

Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer, Oregon House District 46, will host a panel discussion with key climate action groups in Portland Tuesday, April 12 at 7 pm, at TaborSpace, 54th & SE Belmont St.

The event is free and open to the public and is part of the monthly series Let’s Talk Climate held at TaborSpace.

Representatives from Oregon Environmental Council, Renew Oregon, 350PDX, Rising Tide, Citizens Climate Lobby, Sierra Club, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and others have been invited to share their recent successes, their roles in climate action as advocates and activists, and their sense of next steps.

As part of Earth Month 2016, this event will celebrate Oregon’s legislative achievements and other bold climate planning successes.

To facilitate planning, attendees are encouraged to register at  tinyurl.com/earthcall or send an e-mail to climaterenewal@yahoo.com.

For more information, see facebook.com/lets.talk.climate.

 

Buckman Elementary SUN School is seeking tutors and classroom volunteers in its after school program. Commitment is one hour a week from 3:30 – 4:30 pm or 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Starting March 28 and ending June 9. Help students develop math and or reading skills in a fun supportive environment. Contact Brittany at bmorris@impactnw.org for more information.

 

House of Dreams Cat Shelter Annual Plant and Vegan Bake Sale, Saturday, April 23, 10 am – 3 pm, 7634 SE Morrison St. Indoor/outdoor plants, pots, garden art, homemade vegan baked goods. All proceeds benefit our no kill, free roam all-volunteer run shelter in NE Portland. 503.232.2655, kittydreamspdx@gmail.com, kittydreams.org

 

Are you suffering from low back pain? Back pain signs and symptoms may persist for weeks, months or years affecting functions like mobility, balance, strength and sleep patterns. Dr. Todd Turnbull, DC is hosting a free seminar on low back pain evaluation and treatment. During this one hour workshop, he will share how to identify the causes of low back pain, how to restore muscle strength and stretches that improve flexibility. Workshops hosted at Turnbull Clinic 3205 SE 13th Ave. Suite 300. Tuesday April 5 and Thursday April 7 at 7 pm. Limited seating, reserve today at DrToddTurnbull.com or call 503.805.3865.

 

Franklin High School PTA Annual Plant Sale – With Spring just around the corner, it’s time to start planning your gardens. Franklin’s annual plant sale will be held Saturday, April 16, 9 am – 3 pm at Karen and Tom Kuhns’s home, 1725 SE 57th, between Hawthorne and Lincoln. Stop by to make your garden glow. Donations of plant starts or cuttings are welcome. Contact Maye Thompson at mayedoug@spiritone.com or leave a message at 503.232.6167.

 

College Night at Cleveland – The Cleveland College & Career Center will host its fourth annual College Night for students and families Wednesday, April 27 beginning at 7 pm in the Cleveland High School auditorium. The program begins with a panel of current Cleveland seniors discussing their college search and selection process, followed by several breakout session choices. Sessions include: Inside the Admissions Office, Crafting the College Application Essay, Financial Planning for College, Financial Aid Basics, Considerations for Applying to Selective Colleges, Public Universities In-State and Out, and Naviance and other Internet Resources for Parents.

 

Build Small Lecture Series – Are you interested in tiny houses on wheels, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), or creating a pocket community in your own backyard? Learn how to design, build and finance different types of small homes, and understand the legal and code requirements you need to know. Specialists in small housing will share successful examples of creative, space-efficient homes and small-scale developments. Network with experts, learn practical information that applies to you, and get important resources and options that can help you create a home that works for your life. Conveniently located in Inner SE. Limited seating, registration required. Cost: $20 each or $60 for all four. Register at: padtinyhouses.com/lectures

 

CASINO NIGHT AT NORSE HALL – Grieg Lodge Scholarship Fund invites you to join us at Casino Royale, Saturday, April 30, from 7 to 10 pm. It’s a fun-filled evening of Blackjack, Craps and Roulette. Enjoy a no host bar. Hors d’oeuvres, dessert, door prizes and $300.00 in play money included in the price of your ticket. Other activities include chances to win at the Wall of Wine and Silent Auction featuring terrific prizes.Tickets are $30 if purchased before April 23, $40 after April 23 and at the door. Open to the public, age 21 and over only. Purchase tickets online: glsf-casino-night-2016.eventbrite.com / 503.771.0283 for ticket information. Norse Hall is located at 111 NE 11th Ave.

 

Introduction to Meditation – Six Monday evenings from March 28 to May 2, 7 – 9 pm sponsored by Portland Friends of the Dhamma, 1404 SE 25th Ave. No registration necessary. Class offered on a donation basis. See pdxdhamma.org for information. Introduction to Meditation is a primer in the Theravada Thai Forest tradition. Students will practice meditating with the breath and the body, developing mind states like loving kindness and compassion, working with thoughts and emotions, and dealing with obstacles to peaceful meditation. Explore ways in which practice in daily life and sitting on the cushion are complementary, practicing and reflecting on different topics each week.

 

Community Budget Forum – East Portland (April 12), Tuesday, April 12, 2016, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Alice Ott Middle School Auditorium, 12500 SE Ramona St. Bus # 10. These meetings offer Portland residents the opportunity to share with City Council how they will be impacted by the City’s budget decisions and to express which services are most important to them. The opportunity to testify depends on the number of people signed up to speak and the time available.

 

STS. PETER & PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO HOST SPRING BELTAINE FAIRE – Mark your calendars for the Celtic May Day “Beltaine Faire” celebration at Saints Peter & Paul Episcopal Church on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. The Beltaine Faire will feature artisan handcrafts, treasures old and new, baked goods, and more. Lunch will be served both days. Saturday hours are from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Saints Peter & Paul Episcopal Church is in the Montavilla neighborhood at 247 SE 82nd Ave., between Pine and Ash Streets.

 

Hosford Husky Hustle, Sunday, May 1, 10 am, Hosford Middle School, 2303 SE 28th Pl. 5k Community Fun Run/Walk, starting and finishing at Hosford, the course goes through Ladd’s Addition around the beautiful rose gardens. You won’t want to miss this exciting event…Husky Mascot, Hosford Intermediate Band, a family friendly community fun run/walk, amazing raffle prizes and it’s all for an amazing cause…Hosford Middle School.Sign up at RunSignup.com/Hosford

 

Annual Birthingway College Plant Sale – Join us this May Day weekend to welcome in the warmer weather by picking up new plants for your garden. Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, from 10 am – 3 pm at Ben and Jerry’s Parking lot, SE 36th and Hawthorne Blvd.

 

Community News April 2016

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