By Sandra Hay Magdaleno
Coming up: STNA May Annual Meeting and Elections, Thursday, 5/17/18, 7 – 8:30 pm. We’re in need of a Vice President, Secretary, Communications Chair and Sustainability Chair. To find out more about the positions or to put your name on the slate of elections email: president@southtabor.org.
Additional upcoming events: 1.) STNA Street Clean-Up, Saturday, 5/19, 10 am to 2 pm. Meet at Division Street Dental, 7600 SE Division St. Thank You, Tin Le, DMD for providing your facilities to sponsor the event.
2.) New South Tabor NET (Neighborhood Emergency Team) meeting scheduled Saturday, 5/26 from 10 – 11:30 am at East Portland Coffee Roaster, SE 78th and Division. To be on the contact list, email: sustainability@southtabor.org or email wchirstine052@gmail.com.
3.) The American Red Cross, in conjunction with the Portland Fire Dept. and support of local businesses is holding an event to install and replace free smoke alarms on Saturday, May 12 from 9 am – 4 pm. Get on the list for free installation of smoke alarms, and for an appointment or to volunteer at 503.528.5783.
The generous delivery of pizza tantalized our taste buds along with a presentation from Joe Ruhoff with Pizzicato Pizza (6041 SE Division – closest to South Tabor), letting us know about their Community Development and Outreach programs. Remember Tuesday nights, 20% of pizza profits go to “Dough for Dollars” for our public schools. Thank you Pizzicato for your donations and community outreach programs and sponsorships, past, present and future.
Jessica Vega Pederson our District 3 Multnomah Co Board of Commissioner is in her 2nd year as commissioner and has a 3-prong approach to inner and outer East Portland and the issues we face. She works hard to get homeless people into homes, provide supportive services and prevention management. She works with state, county and city government to become 100% renewable energy efficient by 2020. Contact her at: district3@multco.us.
East Precinct Police officers Mike Rains and Paul Valdez unfortunately confirmed that car theft was on the rise in our neighborhood. Please diligently lock your vehicles.  Also, please report homelessness, abandoned cars, graffiti issues, etc. through the pdxreporter.org app. It’s a great way to alert police and helps all to stay ahead of the issues before they become problems. 115 officers are in the process of being hired and trained to help take up the near future retirements and needs of the police force in our communities.
Diane Redd and Mary Kinnick with Friends of Mt Tabor Park spoke regarding The Mt Tabor Stewardship Program. They’ve set a goal to raise $100K towards a permanent funding source for ongoing oversight of the Weed Warrior Volunteer Program to remove invasive plants and re-populate with natives in Mt Tabor Park and surrounding areas. To learn more and to donate, go to: TaborFriends.org/Stewardship.
On 3/15, the Land Use Commissioners denied our appeal and approved with conditions regarding the 900 Self-Storage Unit Development at 62nd and SE Powell Blvd. Our STNA Land Use Committee will stay abreast of the project and keep us informed.  Our Treasurer, Ute Munger is working on the STNA budget for the year and will have recommendations at the May or June meeting.
Our next STNA Land Use Committee Meeting is Tuesday, May 15 at 7 pm and the Annual Meeting and Elections is Thursday, May 17 at 7 pm. Both are located at Trinity Fellowship at 2700 SE 67th, with entry from the parking in back.