Feature Stories

By Don MacGillivray   In a few years SE Powell Blvd and Division St. will soon be the region’s first high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route between Portland and Gresham. […]

Clarence and Delora have been residents of SE Portland for over sixty years. In October they celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, and they still live in the house they moved

By Don MacGillivray   82nd Avenue is growing into its new name, the Avenue of Roses, but it remains a congested, auto-centric five-lane highway to those that use it. Pedestrians

by Colin Staub   The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is in the midst of a project that will alter Portland’s Commercial and Central Employment zoning codes. The city’s current

PROJECT INSPIRATION OF THE MONTH Neighborhood Small Grants We Are Public Housing, a project by the Center for Urban Pedagogy, aimed to improve the New York City Housing Authority’s accountability and increase

Jeff “Weirdo” Jacobson is a leading force in the urban art scene in Seattle and his new work is in SE Portland. He has transformed Artifact Creative Recycle’s once nondescript

The Bureau of Environmental Services, Metro and the Expo Center in a joint effort created the Green Wall on the Expo Center’s campus. It is an ingenious way to beautify

By Don MacGillivray   On September 21, 400,000 people marched in the streets of New York City to call on 100 global leaders to take action on climate change during

By Ben Williams   The Green Furniture Hospital turned 100-years-old this year, making it older than much of the antique furniture they repair. Mike McCourt, the co-owner of the small

By Don MacGillivray   In early October the Coalition of Livable Future (CLF) held its 12th annual Livability Summit, Pathways to Prosperity while Advancing Economic Justice. The keynote speaker was

By Nancy Tannler   At a series of meetings held last Spring co-hosted by the Mt Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA) and the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) the public had an

By Karen Hery   The Sunnyside neighborhood is especially magical on Halloween. Old Victorians look spooky in the dark and, at the same time, festive and welcoming with porches lit up on Halloween night. Trick

By David S. Mayne   A milestone was reached as Franklin students begin their final year at the 100-year old Franklin campus before it is completely transformed during an upcoming

By Colin Staub   These days, SE Portland has a lot less street parking than it used to. Bioswales, bicycle parking corrals, a program that extends restaurant seating into the

By Don MacGillivray   Portland’s random home demolitions and unpopular construction practices will continue unabated indefinitely if something isn’t done. One of Portland’s greatest treasures is the distinct character of

By Nancy Tannler   Anyone who has read a copy of The Southeast Examiner in the past eighteen years will probably recognize the name of Jean Baker. A tireless participant

By Don MacGillivray   Portland is considering offering low-income residents and the homeless “tiny houses” that are safe, clean and inexpensive places to live so folks may be able to

By Midge Pierce   Anthology Booksellers is Portland’s newest used bookstore, where time stands still as you wile away an afternoon, discover a rare first edition or spring for a

Portland’s iconic Presents of Mind, 3633 SE Hawthorne Blvd. celebrated 25 years in business on Oct 1. In honor of this momentous achievement for the family-owned business, they invite you

By Nancy Tannler   Feeling glamorous every once in awhile is part of the fun of existence for many women and men. The definition of glamour changes with the times,

By Andrew Wilkins   Portland’s commission form of government is rare and has its weaknesses, but after eight public votes over 100 years, a panel of local government said the

by Blythe Pavlik, Morrison Child and Family Services   Kathi Gladson, tears up when she talks about her grandkids. Like all proud grandmothers, she gushes about their playfulness, laughter and

By Rebekah Jordan       On any given Thursday afternoon, energetic chatter and girlish laughter rise from the Ron Russell Middle School track. At first glance, one might not

By Midge Pierce   A decade ago the corner of SE 57th and Division St. was notorious for a drug ring that operated from Mexico to the Canadian border. Today,

By Andrew Wilkins   Fred McNeil has big plans for his renovated bungalow in the Brooklyn neighborhood. His property backs up to the Willamette River, and he and his partner

By Nancy Tannler   Living in Europe and America during Reuben Deumling’s formative years has given him  a broad perspective on life’s possibilities. A productive member of the community, even

By Midge Pierce   The greenest house is an existing house. Lost in the din over demolition is the environmental cost of razing homes. Carbon is stored in the timber

By Don MacGillivray   Portland’s small town feel and the friendliness of its citizens are a major plus for our city due in part to our neighborhoods. Public safety and

If you photograph an interesting sight on the eastside of Portland and want to share it with our readers, send it to us and we’ll print it in our new

By Andrew Wilkins   The non-profit that’s helped develop Portland’s neighborhood business districts for nearly 30 years has found a new home here in SE. Portland’s 50 unique business districts

By Nancy Tannler   The Hawthorne Street Fair has gone through many incarnations since its inception in 1982. There are people who have worked behind the scenes for years to

In 1914 the motion picture Kid Auto Races at Venice starring Charlie Chaplin was shown in the cinemas. Whether it inspired the first soap box derby in 1933 is not

By J. Michael Kearsey   In anticipation of a Scandinavian-themed Christmas dinner last year, we stopped by the Mead Market to find the honey wine drink of old Europe. We

By Nancy Tannler   In 2011 the Patient/Physician Cooperative (PPC), was founded in Portland by citizens and volunteers  interested in making a positive impact on the health of the uninsured

By Midge Pierce   Churches in SE Portland are developing creative ways to keep their congregations thriving. Those that work have strong community ties that encourage diversity of thought and

Waterwise gardening & lawn care By: Marian Hammond   SE homeowners lose the lawn, gain beauty and livability in a waterwise garden renovation Colorful, vibrant, bountiful, inviting—and water efficient, this

by Karen Hery   Have You Met This Man?   For half a year, he knocked on doors in the inner SE; lots of doors. Over 9,000 doors. If you

By Nancy Tannler   If you’ve been involved in local activities here in SE Portland in the past thirty years, you’ve invariably heard  the name Nancy Chapin. Her name is

By Don MacGillivray   If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Multnomah County budgets and how well the resources are used, you may want to try out a new

by Karen Hery   Leaving just it’s fundraising and administration offices back in Bethesda, Maryland, the internal organization, FARM (Farm Animals Rights Movement) has moved it’s national campaign headquarters to

A Southeast Examiner reader recently wrote asking if we had done a story about LED streetlights. Instead of focusing on the eventual savings to the City, like many of the

By Midge Pierce   Some 2000 Portlanders pass through the broad doors of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church  every week. They attend 5,000 annual events, take classes, network or drink coffee

By Nancy Tannnler   Being  first generation Vietnamese immigrants Hai Nguyen and his brother Hoang are grateful for the opportunities America has offered them. They opened the Columbia Medical Clinic

by Karen Hery   In the beginning there was a toy store . . . and it was good. Mother and daughter, Heather Jackson and Alexis Jenssen, opened Aster &

By Don MacGillivray   Climate change is here and it poses a growing threat to the nation’s citizens and resources. As carbon emissions increase, the atmosphere of the planet is

High performing beneficial bugs   By Laura Mills Blog Writer at Dennis’ 7 Dees Garden Centers   Insects perform many essential tasks in the garden. It is important to have

By Bryan Brumley   Inner Southeast Portland businesses have gotten even greener over the past two years, as illustrated in a colorful map issued by the activist group Sustainable Southeast.

The new SE District Liaison with the District Planning team is Portland native Marty Stockton. Stockton’s job is to be the liaison between people’s ideas about land use and the

Portland has seen a six-fold rise in the number of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the past few years, and more of these small, separate living units are on the

By Karen Hery   There’s a lot more going on at SE Salmon and 3rd St. than meets the eye. Over a million pounds of clay arrives each year. Thousands

By Midge Pierce   Equity issues such as affordable housing rose as a key theme along with design standards at the April 24 meeting of the newly-formed Division Design Committee

On August 10, 1984, Nina Wung opened the doors of Portland Pharmacy on the corner of SE 43rd & Hawthorne Blvd. It was a medical pharmacy for people as well

By Peggy Acott Portland Nursery   Tomatoes are the Holy Grail for home vegetable gardeners. After tasting what fresh tomatoes can really be like, and then paying the hefty price

By Anna David   The March of Dimes’ March for Babies takes place Saturday, April 26, starting at Rose Quarter Commons. The mission of March of Dimes is to improve

If you photograph an interesting sight on the eastside of Portland and want to share with our readers, send it to us and we’ll print it in our new Spotted

By J. Michael Kearsey   At last month’s Buckman Foundation fundraiser, Buckman Art and Sell, Fine Arts teacher Michael Simmons was one of the proudest faces of all, as the

By Don MacGillivray   For years the Eastbank I-5 Freeway has annoyed many Portland residents with its congestion and pollution. One of the busiest stretches of freeway between Seattle and

By Don MacGillivray Portland’s new transit bridge will be named this spring with one of four selections. One of the finalists is Abigail Scott Duniway. Duniway was described as a

By Nicole Forbes education director at Dennis’ 7 Dees Garden Centers       Daffodils, tulips and other spring-blooming bulbs are popping up all over town making us thankful for

If you photograph an interesting sight on the eastside of Portland and want to share with our readers, send it to us and we’ll print it in our new Spotted

By Midge Pierce   Following the recent advance screening of Straw Bales Films’ Den$ity: Profits or People, residents railed against what they called poorly-designed, big box apartments that tear apart

Spring preparations   By Ken Whitten   Late March is always a pleasure. The rains are still around, and there are plenty of cool nights, but freezing weather is almost

By Nancy Tannler   The newest apartment building on a swiftly-changing street, 3339 Division is now open for residency and businesses. This is one of three apartments on the street

By Patricia F. Austen   Big Coal interests pursue hot opportunities to export coal along the Columbia River. Big Coal developers currently plan to open three major coal export terminals

By Rich Riegel   This article is one in a continuing series on homelessness in SE Portland. January’s issue featured “Speaking with the homeless”.   Susan Emmons is the executive

Buckman Pool has been in the spotlight over the past few years as being the pool that keeps coming back from the edge of city budget cuts.  Parks and Recreation

By Karen Hery   It doesn’t always pay to be kind. Jarrett Altman, an established real estate agent specializing in inner Southeast home sales, knows this all too well. She’s

By Nancy Tannler   2014 Oregon’s Teacher of the Year was awarded to SE resident Brett Bigham, special education transitions teacher with Multnomah ESD. Bigham was Oregon’s first special ed

By Don MacGillivray   The goats who live at SE 10th Ave. and Belmont will soon need a new pasture. A full two blocks from SE Belmont to Taylor Streets

By Don MacGillivray   The Planning of the Willamette River is a continuing process for the City of Portland that expects to be included in the Central City Plan. In

By Don MacGillivray   Preserving the past and using it to anchor and enhance the future of is of great importance to the welfare of society. It is for this

By Jennifer Lewis, Laurelhurst Resident   Welcoming in the New Year always makes me realize how lucky I am to have a healthy and happy family. Many people in the

Last month we reported on a “crowdfunding campaign” by Hawthorne artist David Delamare and publisher Wendy Ice to raise funds for the publication of  a deluxe illustrated “Alice in Wonderland”

By Don MacGillivray   The Oregon Lottery was created through an initiative petition amending the Oregon Constitution in the midst of the 1984 recession to support economic development and job

Trends in Land Use    By Bob Kellett   (Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the SE Uplift newsletter) This is a question I frequently hear from neighbors when

By Rich Riegel   [This article is one in a continuing series on homelessness in SE Portland. November’s issue featured “Homeless plight/solutions offered”.  Next month, is an in-depth interview with

   2013 Street Tree Inventory Empowers Neighbors to Care for Street Trees: Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry Welcomes Neighborhood Applications for the 2014 Inventory     (Portland, OR) – In November, Portland Parks

The holidays are a time for charity toward the community we live in as well as to our families and friends. Portland is fortunate to have many service organizations that

Enjoy the 2013 Southeast Examiner Gift Guide    In this Gift Guide we are promoting conscious consumerism for this holiday and everyday. By shopping at local venues you can be

By Cat Wurdack   In 1983, when Peter de Garmo’s appreciation of a good bottle of wine inspired him to help start a euro-style market on Hawthorne Blvd., commercial rents

By Nancy Tannler   Back in 2004 Tom Burkleaux and Mathew Van Winkle, friends from Reed College days, assessed the recession beginning to happen around the nation and it got