Community News February 2014

Eastside Village Wants You!

Eastside Village volunteers are planning a series of social, educational and fitness activities free to the local community.  The first two of these are:

• Mt Tabor Hike: Sunday, February 9.  Network and keep fit with others forming EastsideVillage. Hike 2-3 miles at modest pace in 2 hours with paved and unpaved hill and stair-climbing.

Bring umbrella, snack and water. Come prepared wearing layers and treads. No RSVP needed. Meet at Rain or Shine Coffee House, 5941 SE Division at 1:15 pm.

• Eastside Village Monthly Book Group discusses one chapter of a new book at each monthly meeting. First book: Journeywell: A Guide to Quality Aging. Tuesday March 4, 6 to 7:45 pm at the Belmont Library. Space limited to 24 people. RSVP to Ann Gaffke 503.679.0147 or jagaffke@gmail.com to reserve your place. For info or to make reservation, email info@VillagesNW.org.

 

Safety improvements coming to East Burnside

 

Residents and business owners in Kerns and Buckman are working with Portland Bureau of Transportation’s High Crash Corridor team to improve traffic safety on E. Burnside between 14th and 32nd. This part of East Burnside has been identified by PBOT as a High Crash Corridor, a segment that has more crashes than other similar roadways in the city.

Members of the community and the Burnside East Business Association (BEBA) have long expressed a desire for PBOT to address safety issues along this section and in early 2013 a formal working group was formed.

The group met with PBOT personnel on three occasions to develop goals and discuss different measures that might improve the safety of all users of E. Burnside. PBOT tested various models to determine if new configurations would support current and projected traffic volumes.

In September, a public meeting found significant interest in the business and residential community for a roadway that would re-align East Burnside as one lane westbound (inbound), two lanes east/outbound (as is) with one center two-way turn lane. There’s significant support for pedestrian improvements and an overall posted speed reduction to 30 MPH.

The realignment is expected to reduce crashes by 20%, provide space for left turning vehicles to pull out of the travel lane, provide space at intersections for right turn lanes, space for pedestrian islands and improvement for all users.

Unfortunately, PBOT’s data does not determine a single westbound lane would support traffic volume without increased queuing, travel times or traffic diversion to adjacent streets.

PBOT will test the single westbound lane model this spring by constructing temporary barriers to make one westbound lane at the signalized intersections of 20th and 28th. They will assess impacts on travel times, delay at the signals and other factors. The test will be a few weeks and if it indicates adequate capacity, re-striping of East Burnside could begin in early autumn.

For questions about the project, contact PBOT’s High Crash Corridor program at 503.823.4998 or email clay.veka@portlandoregon.gov . See www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/61206 for more.

 

Oregon Humanities is looking for people eager to traverse the valleys, mountains, and deserts of Oregon’s thirty-six counties, bringing neighbors, friends, and strangers together to exchange words and ideas as Conversation Project discussion leaders.

Conversation Project leaders come from every walk of life, have diverse perspectives, are interested in leading public conversations, and have understanding of a topic through experience, formal education, or professional training.  Leaders receive a $200 honorarium, as well as mileage reimbursement and a meal stipend when significant travel is required for each program they facilitate. Proposals for Conversation Project programs, available from November 1, 2014, through October 31, 2016, are due March 14, 2014. A full request for proposals and the online application may be found at oregonhumanities.org.

Oregon Humanities program staff will host a webinar on developing a strong Conversation Project proposal on Wednesday, February 19 at 11 am. Webinar registration information and sample successful proposals are available at oregonhumanities.org.

 

Open House at

Genealogical Forum

 

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon (GFO) holds its Open House February 9-15, featuring free genealogical classes taught by experts, access to the GFO research library, and a book sale featuring over 1500 used books on genealogy and history. (See www.gfo.org/library/surplus.htm for book list.)

“In celebration of Oregon’s 155th birthday, the GFO is providing seven consecutive days of classes and access to our research library at no cost,” said Genealogical Forum of Oregon President, Laurel Smith.

In addition to over 35,000 books about Oregon, regional, national and worldwide topics, the research library offers access to Ancestry.com’s World Edition, online military records, Newspapers.com, free Wi-Fi and more.

For a complete class schedule see www.gfo.org/edu/open-house.pdf.

Proceeds from the book sale support the Genealogical Forum of Oregon, an all-volunteer non-profit organization.

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is at 2505 SE 11th Ave., B-18.

Details at www.gfo.org, or contact the Genealogical Forum of Oregon at info@gfo.org or 503.963.1932.

 

Elvis Concert

 

World renowned Elvis impersonator Justin Shandor perform at Franklin High School, 5406 SE Woodward, Saturday, February 22 at 2 and 6 pm. (www.justinshandor.com)

Franklin is celebrating their 100 year anniversary this year with special events such as “The Ultimate Elvis Concert Show Band.”

Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/448010, by calling 800.838.3006 or the Franklin HS alumni hot line, 503.972.3396.

 

PCC ushers in Year of the Horse

 

Portland Community College holds its 12th Annual Asian New Year Celebration, Monday, Feb. 17,  11:30 am to 2 pm, in the McGuire Auditorium, Warner Pacific College, 2219 SE 68th Ave.

Festivities begin with the traditional Lion Dance by the NW Learning Studio dance group, live martial arts, dances and music performances from across the Asian continent.

There’ll be Chinese calligraphy bookmarkers, raffle prizes, face-painting and more for the whole family.

Tickets are $4 for general admission, $2 for PCC students and free for children up to age 7. Parking is free at Warner Pacific. PCC will provide a free shuttle between SE Center and Warner Pacific from 11:15 am to 2:15 pm.

The celebration honors the communities in SE Portland that represent more than 45 different Asian countries, from the Middle East to India to Southeast Asia.

The Associated Students of PCC (student government organization) sponsors a free International Market from 10 am to 2 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Great Hall, SE Center. A Showcase of Cultures is presented by PCC students and vendors, along with samples of food from Asian countries.

Contact Josh Peters McBride at 971.722.6328 for more info or email joshua.petersmcbride@pcc.edu.

 

Claylin first place winner for SE resident

 

Oregon BEST and the International Living Future Institute have announced the winners of their inaugural Oregon BEST Red List Design Challenge.

The first-place award went to SE resident Sukita Reay Crimmel of Claylin, LLC, for her Ready-Mix Earthen Flooring, made from a blend of Oregon clay soil, sand and chopped straw.

The mixture is hand-troweled smooth and sealed with a blend of beeswax and oils. Claylin competes with traditional flooring options on performance, pricing and longevity like hardwood, carpeting and concrete (many of which contain toxic materials).

By packaging this all-natural and readily available building material in easy-to-mix portions, Reay Crimmel seeks to reintroduce a practical, healthy alternative to traditional flooring options.

Visit Reay Crimmel’s website at www.claylin.com . She can be reached at 503.957.6132.

 

“Although the surface of our planet is two thirds water, we call it Earth. We say we are earthlings, not waterlings. Our blood is closer to seawater than our bones to soil, but that’s not matter. The sea is the cradle we all rocked out of, but it’s to dust that we go. From the time that water invented us, we began to seek out dirt. The further we separate ourselves from the dirt, the further we separate ourselves from ourselves. Alienation is a disease of the unsoiled.” – Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction

 

Recycling the holidays

 

By Bonita Davis, Certified Master Recycler, Sunnyside Neighbor

 

The tray of expertly hand-decorated cookies at a recent party drew a small crowd. Accepting the compliments, Ellie, the baker, shared she had just finished a year of going “plastic free” and was pleased she was now able to transport and store her baked goods successfully.

Motivated by a report about plastics in our oceans, Ellie decided to find an alternative to plastic film. Her final choices were aluminum foil and decorative tins, both reusable and recyclable. Musing about what would be her next recycling goal, we offered up suggestions from our personal efforts to rethink, reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Switching to refillable coffee cups and water bottles, composting kitchen scraps, making our own frozen convenience meals and brown bag lunches, stopping junk mail, and joining in with neighbors to recycle beyond the curb were some of the suggestions.

The impact? A quick tally of a few of these recycling goals came to some 400 coffee cups, lids and sleeves, 200 lbs. of food scraps, 500 pieces of currently non-recyclable plastic and plasticized food carton paper not going to the landfill in one year. The pounds of plastic and paper not going back into the recycling stream were significant. Huge numbers from just changing one thing over the past 12 months.

One person commented she looked at what was being thrown away as an inspiration for where to begin. No one wanted to revert to old habits, even though lapses sometimes occurred.

Disbanding for other conversations,  my thoughts lingered on what I could do differently this coming year.

For ideas, visit www.oregonmetro.gov and www.portlandoregon.gov/bps.

 

Celebrating Stafford’s 100th birthday

 

William Stafford was 48 years old when his first major collection of poems, Traveling Through the Dark, was published. It won the 1963 National Book Award for Poetry. Despite his late start, he was a frequent contributor to magazines and anthologies. Stafford eventually published fifty-seven volumes of poetry and kept a daily journal for 50 years. He composed nearly 22,000 poems, of which roughly 3,000 were published. In 1970, he was named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a position that is now known as Poet Laureate. In 1975, he was named Poet Laureate of Oregon. He retired from Lewis & Clark College in 1980, lived in Lake Oswego and continued to travel extensively giving public readings of his poetry.

 

An Oregon Message

 

By William Stafford

 

When we first moved here, pulled

the trees in around us, curled

our backs to the wind, no one

had ever hit the moon—no one.

Now our trees are safer than the stars,

and only other people’s neglect

is our precious and abiding shell,

pierced by meteors, radar, and the telephone.

 

From our snug place we shout

religiously for attention, in order to hide:

only silence or evasion will bring

dangerous notice, the hovering hawk

of the state, or the sudden quiet stare

and fatal estimate of an alerted neighbor.

 

This message we smuggle out in

its plain cover, to be opened

quietly: Friends everywhere—

we are alive! Those moon rockets

have missed millions of secret

places! Best wishes.

 

Burn this.

 

SPRING SALMON BAKE–It’s a spring salmon bake with all the trimmings. Dinner includes salmon, mar fung chicken, rice, broccoli and cucumber salad, all for only $12.  Dessert, manju, (Japanese pastry), kid’s hot dog dinner and beer/wine will be sold separately. The date is Sunday, March 2, 11 am to 8 pm at Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave.–a half block south of Powell Blvd. For details call 503.234.9456 or see oregonbuddhisttemple.com.

 

Brooklyn Cooperative Preschool is hosting their annual Open House at the school (2901 SE Steele), Saturday February 8 from 9:30-11:30 am. See the spacious playground and three big classrooms, meet the teachers and talk to parents who love their school. Applications will be accepted at the event for the lottery for the 2014/2015 school year.

 

Warner Pacific College Library book sale – The Warner Pacific College Library is having a used book sale February 26. All books are $1 each. The sale is being held in the McGuire Auditorium from 9 am to 6 pm. The address is 2219 SE 68th Ave. The entrance to McGuire Auditorium is the first building on the right on 68th Ave.

 

Friends of Portland Community Gardens Seeks Board Members – Friends of Portland Community Gardens is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and expand community gardening opportunities in Portland and to build community around gardening. They work closely with the City of Portland Community Garden program and other community gardens, helping gardens in a variety of ways. Board Members with energy and a passion for gardening or helping community gardens are needed who have the following skills: accounting, membership outreach, social media, corporate sponsorships, web design and marketing, fundraising/grant writing. Want to learn more? Contact info@portlandcommunitygardens.org.

 

Committee advocates southside Mt Tabor Park path

 

The Mt. Tabor, North Tabor, and Montavilla neighborhoods have multiple safe and accessible entrances to Mt. Tabor Park on the west, north, and east sides but there is no good or safe pedestrian or bike access to the park from the south.

A group of neighborhood residents with representatives from the South Tabor Neighborhood Association (STNA), Mount Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA), and Friends of Mt. Tabor Park (FMTP) have formed the Committee for Equitable Access to Mt. Tabor Park.

Their intent is to re-invigorate the implementation of a plan previously developed and approved by the City of Portland to build a multi-use access path to Mt Tabor Park from SE Division.

The Committee is gathering support to convince Portland Public Parks & Recreation to include the project in the upcoming budget cycle.

Although the original 1911 plan for the park included a major entrance at SE 64th and neighborhood residents have been calling for better access for years, no improved access to the park currently exists.

In 2008 with significant community involvement, PPR created the Mt Tabor Master Plan (Amendment C) which included a detailed plan to build a 12-ft wide, 280-ft long multi-use path from Division St. to Mt Tabor Park at 64th Ave. at an estimated cost of $139,000.

The completed plan was approved by the City in 2009 and included in last year’s Capital Improvement Plan but not funded.

In 2013 a road re-configuration supported by the neighborhood associations added bike lanes on Division St. between SE 60th and 80th, which has lead to a subsequent increase in bicycle traffic there.

The multi-use path would allow cyclists to access the Lincoln St. bikeway while avoiding the current car/bike mixing zone at the intersection at 60th & Division, improving bicycle safety.

Increased future bicycle and pedestrian traffic is anticipated with the future plan to install a pedestrian median across Division St. at 64th.

With the planning phases for next year’s PPR budget currently underway the opportunity exists to support the community of neighbors who have been calling for improved bicycle and pedestrian safety and access to one of Portland’s greatest parks.

Informational meetings have been held at the Friends of Mt. Tabor Park Board meeting in January as well as the January meetings of both the Mt. Tabor and South Tabor Neighborhood Associations. A community meeting was held January 28 to share information, hear concerns, and invite participation.

The public is again invited to attend a second community forum Feb.11 at 7 pm at Warner Pacific College, 2219 SE 68th, Egtvedt Hall Room 203 hosted by the Committee for Equitable Access to Mt. Tabor Park

Committee members to contact for more information are:

Allen Vogt, Committee Chair – allen.vogt@gmail.com

Mary Kinnick, Friends of Mount Tabor Park – mary.kinnick@gmail.com

Sandy Hay Magdaleno, South Tabor Neighborhood Association – Sandra@cascadiawm.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community News February 2014

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