Everything Old is New Again 

By Karen Hery

 

This will be the tenth year parents, neighbors and friends clean out their closets before the start of school year to bring in bags of clothing, books, toys and school supplies to the Sunnyside Back to School Clothing Exchange.

What started as one single mom’s solution to a tight budget for the new school year, has grown into a neighborhood tradition open to all who want to trade what they already have and don’t need for what they do.

So Thursday, August 20, the doors of the auditorium at Sunnyside Environmental School between 34th and 35th on SE Salmon will open from 6 to 9 pm to take in community donations of gently-used items with plenty of life left, like those jeans that don’t fit any more, a lunchbox or backpack that has cleaned up well, sports gear, art supplies, outgrown books, and anything  in good, usable condition another adult or child would enjoy having for the start of the school year.

Donating continues on Friday, August 21 from 8 am – noon as a line forms outside the auditorium for a noon to 7 pm community swap open to all.

Everyone who brings items in advance gets a free ticket to come back in for the swap. Everyone who comes during the swap event, without donating in advance, needs to have items with them to share and pays a $2 per family entry fee.

Every family is asked to donate as much or more than they take home, leaving plenty of donations at the end of the swap to share with families in need.

Clothing items that remain at the end of the day are bagged up for the Portland Public School’s PTA Clothing Center that clothes Portland school children all year long.

Adult and kids’ clothing comes in throughout the swap so there is a great selection throughout the day.  Families that need more than they have in trade can take whatever they need in the last hour of the swap.

More information with tips for swapping and a link to sign up as a clothing exchange volunteer are at www.sunnysideswapshop.org.

Bags of clothing can be donated directly to the PTA Clothing Center by dropping them off at Marshall High School loading dock M to F, 7 am – 4 pm, 3905 SE 91st Ave.

Sunnyside Environmental School is a neighborhood school and a focus option school with an emphasis on sustainability.

 

Nominations for the Spirit of Portland

 

Celebrated since 1985, the Spirit of Portland Awards Ceremony is an important way for the City to recognize and celebrate those who make outstanding contributions to our community. Each year, there are roughly 20 winners.

The call for nominations for the 31st Annual Spirit of Portland Awards closes Friday, September 12. If you know of an individual or group who has helped make Portland a better place to live, work, study or play, nominate them for one of the 2015 awards.

Nomination forms are available at portlandonline.com/oni/spiritofportland or by contacting Juliette Muracchioli, at 503.823.3093 or spiritofportland@portlandoregon.gov. Forms may also be picked up at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI), 1221 SW Fourth Ave, Room 110, Portland, OR 97204.

The awards ceremony will be Tuesday, November 17, 6 to 8:30 pm, location TBD.

Spirit of Portland Award recipients are chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from the Mayor’s and City Commissioners’ offices, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Neighborhood District Coalition offices, Diversity and Civic Leadership Program partners, Business Associations, non-profit community organizations, and past award winners.

 

Summer Movies

 

Summer Free For All highlights include PP&R’s 49 nights of free Movies in the Park.

• Sunday, August 2: Frozen PG, the SING-ALONG version! This movie smashed attendance records for the Movies in the Park program last year. Kids, and adults who act like kids, can shout/sing at the top of their lungs to this special sing-along version of the film. This screening is in conjunction with Sellwood’s popular “Sundae in the Park” event. Sellwood Park, SE 7th Ave. & Bidwell St. Live music starts at 6:30 pm; movie begins at dusk (approx 8:45).

 

• Friday, August 21: Cinderella(1950) G. The audience is encouraged to wear their best princess dresses and enjoy this Disney classic. Laurelhurst Park, SE 37th and Oak St. Live music starts at 6:30 pm; movie begins at dusk.

 

• Saturday, August 22: Napoleon DynamitePG.  Impress your friends: the low-budget movie initially only paid Jon Heder $1,000 for his role as the title character. If you like to “Keep Portland Weird”, come to Sewallcrest Park, SE 31st and Market St.

The pre-movie band starts at 6:30 and the film begins at dusk, but get there early – this is a popular event.  There will be a great raffle, food carts, and Mr. Lizard’s Mobile Reptile Zoo will be back with his assortment of exotic reptiles and toads.

 

• Tuesday, August 25:  101 Dalmatians(1961) G.A rare treat from the Disney vault! Don’t miss this opportunity to see this timeless classic on the big screen. Pets are very welcome… on a leash. Mt. Scott Park, SE 74th Ave. & Reedway St.  Live music starts at 6:30 pm; movie begins at dusk.

 

 

The U.S. population currently stands at over 321 million people.

 

The Census Bureau estimates we are growing by one person every 13 seconds – that’s about 270 people per hour, more than 6,600 per day, 46,500 per week and almost 200,000 per month.

 

Just one person born every 13 seconds totals more than 2,400,000 people in a single year.

 

Family Medicine at Richmond

Serving Our Community Since 1995

 

By Jean Baker

 

August is the month to celebrate community healthcare. August 10 – 14, OHSU Family Medicine at Richmond celebrates 20 years of healthcare in SE Portland.  All week, children can submit drawings for the “What Does Healthy Mean To You?” contest.  At noon on August 12, the clinic will have a party in the parking lot with facepainting for children and frozen treats by 50 Licks Ice Cream.

What are we celebrating?  In 1995, OHSU persuaded three doctors to leave private practice and open the Richmond Family Health Center as a Community Health Center.  A CHC is a non-profit practice that provides primary care regardless of client’s ability to pay.  Fees are based on a sliding scale, but a majority of its income is from federal funding for Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health.

Started nationally in 1965, CHCs are unique because 51% of the board must use the clinic. Today, renamed as OHSU Family Medicine at Richmond, the clinic has 23 full time practitioners, 47 staff and an onsite pharmacy to serve the needs of the neighborhood.

The clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a Patient Centered Medical Home. As an FQHC, the Richmond clinic receives a federal grant for meeting certain strict requirements. FQHCs undergo an all-inclusive federal review every three years. With part of their first grant, Richmond added a Walk in Clinic, sharing space and services with Cascadia Behavioral Health Care.

As a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) the clinic’s clients are assigned to one of four teams, each led by a physician. Each of Richmond’s teams has much the same staff as a private practice, sharing administrative services when needed.  The four teams operate in the same building. A 2014 study shows that small team-oriented medical homes improve patient health and cost less to operate.

The Walk in Clinic provides urgent care to the neighborhood, treating patients less expensively than a trip to the Emergency room and has reduced the number of trips to ER for minor problems.  The Walk-in clinic is a satellite of the Richmond clinic and operates under the same federal guidelines.

The Affordable Care Act brought in newly-insured patients and helped reduce the number of uninsured patients. National and local studies predict more people will apply for health insurance every year as they get used to the effectiveness of the Act.

Currently, both the clinic building and walk in building are full and have no space to grow.  Much of the administrative staff now works from their homes and planning for a new facility is underway.

What has all this accomplished? Today, there are more than 1,200 Community Health Centers serving 23 million people at over 9,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. In communities fortunate enough to have a health center, fewer babies die, emergency room lines are shorter and people live longer, healthier lives.

A study found the total cost of care for health center patients is 41% lower than the total cost of care for individuals served by other providers. Health centers show that high-quality, continuous care can improve health outcomes, and generate up to $29 billion in annual savings — while bringing much-needed economic benefits to low income communities.

 

 

Recruiting stakeholders for infill project

 

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is in the process of recruiting a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) for the Residential Infill Project. This project addresses the City’s Zoning Code regulations for residential development in the single-dwelling zones and will focus on three topic areas: scale of houses, narrow lot development, and alternative housing options. This project will affect the way Portland’s single-dwelling-zoned neighborhoods look, feel, and function.

The SAC will include 25 members with a wide variety of perspectives, representing those involved in the construction of single-dwelling homes (builders, architects, property owners) as well as others interested in how residential infill affects the surrounding area (people who live in the neighborhood).

The Residential Infill Project is an 18-month project with the first SAC meeting scheduled for mid-September 2015.  If you are interested in applying for a position on the SAC, contact Julia Gisler 503.823.7624 or Sara Wright 503.823.7728 if you have questions.

Submit a Statement of Interest Form by Friday, August 7 at 5 pm to Morgan Tracy,Morgan.Tracy@portlandoregon.gov or mail to Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, c/o Residential Infill SAC, 1900 SW 4th Ave. Suite 7100, Portland, OR 972101

 

Green on Green Garden Tour

The annual Green on Green Portland garden tour takes place on Saturday, August 15, 11 am to 4 pm with six spectacular private gardens featuring the gardens of Lauren Hall-Behrens, Glen Andresen, Loree Bohl, Greg Shepherd, Tom Vetter and Jeffrey Bale.  A pre-event container planting demonstration and continental breakfast takes place at the volunteer-operated Albertina’s Kitchen, 424 NE 22nd Ave.

All proceeds from the tour and pre-event help support Albertina Kerr services for children, adults and families with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Pre-event container planting demonstration/continental breakfast: 9:15 am to 10:30 am. Self-guided garden tour 11 am to 4 pm. Pre-event container demonstration/continental breakfast: $20 (limit 50 attendees). Self- guided tour $20.

Tickets may be purchased at AlbertinasPlace.org. Albertina’s Place can be reached at 503.239.8101.

 

SOLVE Honors Weed Warriors 

 

By Mary Kinnick

 

The Friends of Mt. Tabor Park Weed Warriors (WW) received a statewide award from SOLVE at Summerfest 2015 held at the World Forestry Center July 10. The Weed Warriors received the Citizenship Award for a Community Organization.

SOLVE, initiated by Governor Tom McCall and other community leaders in 1969, brings Oregonians together to improve the environment and build a legacy of stewardship. The Weed Warriors have had a close partnership with SOLVE for a number of years with SOLVE helping to recruit volunteers for WW last Saturday of the month habitat restoration service projects in the park (March-October).

Our current WW Stewardship Coordinator Alexa Todd came to the Weed Warriors after participating in a SOLVE leadership program. In the photo receiving the award, from back to front, left to right are Bing Wong and Gayle Marechal, crew leaders; Quintin Bauer, SOLVE Statewide Program Director; Mary Kinnick, WW Coordinator; Alexa Todd; and Susan Hawes, Stewardship Coordinator City Nature-East, Portland Parks and Recreation. For more information about the WWs go to taborfriends.org.

 

 

30 in 30 Co-op Campaign

 

In an effort to boost membership, the Montavilla Food Co-op has launched a new campaign to sign-up 30 new member-owners in 30 days.

Co-op organizers will be reaching out to supporting businesses and organizations, volunteers, and current member-owners to encourage friends, family and residents of Portland to become member-owners in a 30 day campaign to sustain the drive to open a new, cooperatively run grocery in the east Portland neighborhood of Montavilla.

New members and members who refer a new member will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to a local Montavilla business.

Find a friend to join the co-op – 30 members in 30 days! Through  August 15, 2015

For more information, visit:   www.montavilla.coop

 

ADULT SOAPBOX DERBY – August 15, 10 am – 4 pm, Mt. Tabor Park. Witness as riders brave the down hills of Mt Tabor in their own brilliantly-designed and assembled soapbox race cars. Prizes for speed, engineering, fan-favorites and lifetime achievement will be handed out at the finish line. soapboxracer.com

 

FINAL LABYRINTH WALK – Aug. 6, 7 – 9 pm at  Sunnyside United Methodist Church, SE 35th and Yamhil. Final Worship Service is Aug. 30, 10:30 am.  Also at Sunnyside UMC.  All are Welcome.

 

COMMUNITY CARE DAY AT GLENCOE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 825 SE 51st, Saturday August 22 from 9 am to noon. Bring your gloves, water bottle and labeled tools to help us clean up the school grounds. Lunch and treats will be served.

 

BRIDGE PEDAL, August 9 This annual bike ride across Portland’s bridges partially closed to cars for the event, affords bicyclists rare views and a choice of relaxed rides. This will be the first year Portland’s newest bridge, Tilikum Crossing will be included in the ride. To top it off, all participants receive free entry into the Bite of Portland! providencebridgepedal.org.

 

FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR – Free Fireworks display to celebrate the opening of the new Tilicum Bridge, Thursday August 27. TriMet hosts a public viewing area complete with a BridgePort beer garden, food carts and stunning views of the show. The viewing area opens at 5 pm. Don’t forget your lawn chairs. catchtheorange.com/#/events.

 

LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WORKSHOP – Free workshop where participants learn how to prevent lead exposure in their home. Great for households with children or pregnant women in housing older than 1978, or those concerned about lead exposure. Qualified participants receive a free kit of safety and testing supplies. Register for the workshop at www.communityenergyproject.org or call 503.284.6827×109. Tuesday, August  4, 6-7:30 pm at the Community Energy Project, 2900 SE Stark St., Suite A.

 

ORGANIC BEER FESTIVAL – August 13 -16 at Overlook Park in N. Portland. Organic beer and sustainability come together in an annual celebration designed to raise awareness. Sip on organic beer, cider, braggot and mead along with live music, food and a children’s area round out this family friendly event. naobf.org

 

LEARN TENNIS THIS SUMMER in Mt. Tabor park. Monday – Friday through August. Contact pdxtennis.eventbrite.com. A Portland Parks and Recreation class.

 

COMPLINE NIGHT PRAYER chanting and singing every Sunday at 9 pm at Mt. Tabor Presbyterian, 5441 SE Belmont St.

 

BELMONT KNIT FIX – Do you want to learn to knit, crochet or spin? Need help with a project? Just want to hang out for conversation, project help and inspiration? Bring your own supplies. All experience levels welcome. For ages 8 through adult. Tuesday, August 11, 3:30-5:30 pm and Tuesday, August 25, 3:30-5:30 pm at the Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th Ave., 503.988.5382. Space at programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

EarthTalk on kinetic energy

 

DearEarthTalk: I recently heard about a cafe in the Netherlands that harvests so-called kinetic energy from its revolving door to power its interior lights. Is there potential for kinetic energy to provide significant amounts of electricity to help replace fossil fuels? – Doug Mola, Boise, ID

 

Physicists define “kinetic” energy as the energy of motion (as opposed to potential energy, representing an object’s stored energy). While there is not much practical that we can do with potential energy, kinetic energy is another matter.

We can capture energy from all sorts of everyday activities, and entrepreneurs around the world are working hard on ways to make kinetic energy more accessible. We may be decades from realizing any serious fossil fuel displacement from this age-old energy source, and by then other alternative energy sources may have already made coal, oil and natural gas things of the past.

While the cutting edge revolving door at Natuurcafé La Port in Beerschoten, Netherlands (30 miles southeast of Amsterdam) may be one of the best examples of repurposing the kinetic energy humans generate through movement into electricity to power their stuff — the door connects the cafe to an adjoining train station and generates some 4600 kWh of electricity annually — it’s far from the only one.

The Soccket is a soccer ball that was designed by Harvard undergraduates for a class project — and since incorporated as the company Uncharted Play — that harvests energy when it is kicked around and can then be used to power an included energy efficient 3-LED lamp that runs for up to three hours after just 20 minutes or so of soccer.

The company also makes the Pulse, a portable, emergency battery charging jump rope designed to promote physical activity and spread awareness about the global energy problem.

Another innovative application is from Pavegen, which produces floor tiles that absorb kinetic energy when people walk on them. The tiles are made with recycled materials and contain small LEDs that light up to show they are working.

KinergyPower is applying the same principal to harnessing kinetic energy from vehicles through designed road surfaces that turn vehicle motion into electricity.

While kinetic energy shows lots of potential for helping transition away from fossil fuels, it may never become more than a novelty if we continue to focus our energy resources on other proven clean renewables like solar arrays and wind farms.

Regardless, get used to seeing more and more kinetic energy harvesting from flooring, sidewalks, soccer balls, jump ropes and who knows what else. Going through a revolving door never felt so good.

 

 

 

Community News August

August 1, 2015 | Community News