Forging Leadership for a Sustainable Future
Dessert Meetup hosted by SE Portland Eco-School Network moms is Wednesday, September 30, 7 pm.
Eco-School Network parents help “green” the experience of children at school. At the meetup, fellow parents from Franklin and Cleveland school in learning about how to be involved during the 2015-16 school year. Feel free to bring other interested parents.
The Network, directed by a parent steering committee, aims to introduce or upgrade sustainable practices and to increase eco-awareness as a means to enrich the daily experience of K-8 children at school.
Network parents from 30 schools share ideas, experiences, and projects in person and online, and provide mutual support and inspiration.
RSVP to Jeanne Roy at 503.244.0026 or Jeanne@earthleaders.org, and she will send you the name of your host and directions.
The sponsor is the Center for Earth Leadership, www.earthleaders.org.
LWV Civic Education Program
The Columbia River
Tuesday, September 8, 7 pm
Multnomah County Building Board Room
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
With drought in Oregon and in neighboring California and Washington, the issues of water are in the forefront. The Columbia River is a central component in water issues and environmental health and development in the Northwest.
Regulation and use of its waters are governed by a complex mixture of treaties and laws that relate to Canada, the United States, five individual states and the regional Tribes and First Nations of Canada. These complex interactions with the River have created environmental, cultural, economic and legal issues relevant to life in this area every day.
The international Columbia River Treaty signed in 1964 was established initially for hydropower and flood control and impacts the river in many ways. The treaty is under review at the present and decisions on its future must be made. Concerns with impacts on the lifestyles of river communities, as well as with pollution, the salmon fisheries and the potential impacts of climate change must all be taken into consideration.
Join the League of Women Voters (LWV) for a panel discussion with local experts to learn more about the role of the River in our lives and the issues that face the River in the future. It’s free and open to the public. Information about upcoming civic education programs is available at lwvpdx.org
Eastside Village Launches in September
Eastside Village PDX began development in the summer of 2012. It will begin delivering services to members this September 30.
Villages are neighbors helping neighbors. They are networks of support and reduced-cost professional services, developed by neighborhood residents in order to make it possible for older adults and people with chronic illness and disabilities to remain in their own homes for as long as they choose.
Village members continue to live in their own homes and can be homeowners, renters, or living in shared housing, co-housing or with relatives. Anyone over the age of 18 who lives inside Eastside Village boundaries is eligible to become a Social member of the Village.
If you are interested in learning More about Eastside Village PDX membership presentations are: Saturday 9/5 from 3 – 4:30 pm at 3315 SE 43rd (private home/space limited); Wednesday 9/9 from 7 – 8:30 pm at 3848 SE Gladstone (Rally room of Shut up and Eat); Saturday 9/12 from 10 – 11:30 am at 3376 NE Multnomah St. (private home/space is limited).
Presentations are free, but reservations are required. To reserve space, email info@eastsidevillage.org or call 503.866.0571.
Recycling your harvest
By Bonita Davis Master Recycler and Sunnyside resident
Our record breaking hot summer of 2015 has affected Oregon gardens. According to experts at Portland Nursery, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash are coming in early and in abundance, while lettuces and kales may be hindered by the heat.
Preventing the produce we either grow or purchase from our favorite markets and stands from going to waste can be challenging. Here are some food saving tips:
- Freeze It, Can It, Dry It, Preserve It.Master Food Preservation is a program offered by the OSU Extension office offering courses on food preservation and specific classes such as ‘pickling’, using safe, tested recipes.
Get questions answered on the hotline, 800.354.7319, 9 am – 4 pm, through Oct. 16, and during Thanksgiving and Christmas. For information go to extension.oregonstate.edu/community/food-preservation.
- Borrow the toolsAsk if any of your friends have canning or drying equipment sitting idle on a shelf and offer to put it to good use. Consider “co-owning” more costly pieces of equipment you need with a couple of friends and either work together or take turns. Appliances left idle take up space and in the long run, cost you money.
Explore the resources at the Kitchen Share SE, a local kitchen library, located at 2800 SE Harrison St. Open to those over 18 who live within the program boundaries, it is part of network of kitchen tool libraries that promotes sustainability, equity and self-sufficiency. Become part of this group that shares equipment, skills, traditions and food.
- Share the bountyIttakes about 30 seconds to find where your produce is wanted. Go online to www.AmpleHarvest.org, type in your zip code for a list of programs near you that would love to take your produce. I found over 30 donation sites within 7 miles of my home after typing in my zip code.
Make sure fruit hanging on your tree doesn’t go to waste. The Portland Fruit Tree Project brings people together to pick fruit and distribute it to those in need.
Find out about registering your tree or volunteering at www.porrtlandfruit.org/harvest-programs.
If you can’t compost, use your green roll cart for produce that can’t be saved. Each year the U.S. generates some 21 million tons of food scraps, that if were composted instead of landfilled would be the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road.
In Portland, we are fortunate to have green roll carts for food scraps.
Community Energy Projects Workshops
Lead Poisoning Prevention Workshop Learn how to prevent lead exposure in your home. Qualified participants receive a free kit of testing supplies. Tues, Sept 1, 6 to 7:30 pm at Community Energy Project, 2900 SE Stark St, Suite A; Mon, Sept 28, 6 to 7:30 pm, Holgate Library, 7905 SE Holgate Blvd.
Lead-Safe Home Projects Workshop Before any demo, scraping, sanding, or remodeling in pre-1978 housing, check out this class before exposure to lead paint by sanding an old window frame or a wwreused door with potential lead paint, or small construction projects in an older home. Tues, September 22, 6-7:30 pm at Community Energy Project, 2900 SE Stark St, Suite A
Do-It-Yourself Insulation Workshop Learn to weatherize a flat attic in this free workshop. Topics include safety, air sealing, ventilation, installing insulation, and incentives to help cover the cost of your project. Sat, Sept 19, 3-5:30 pm at Kenton Library, 8226 N Denver Ave. Register for the workshop at www.communityenergyproject.org or call 503.284.6827×109.
Business Beat
WETDOG FITNESS CENTER is open for business on SE 91st and Stark St. Owner Maddy Turner has coordinated different services coming to her business to keep your dog healthy including underwater treadmill, fitness balls, chiropractic, acupuncture, and multiple trainers in multiple disciplines. Paula Ratoza teaches trick classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Call 503.799.7928 or for information on classes, 503.913.2411.
GHOST TOUR TICKETS FOR PROTEINS – Donate nut butters, canned meat or other dietary proteins to Mainspring Portland food pantry (formerly Fish), 1335 SE Hawthorne Blvd. and receive a free ticket to the Hawthorne Ghost Tour as a reward for your contribution. The Hawthorne Ghost Tour is a fun, exciting and educational adventure through the heart of Portland’s old red light district. This is a walking tour that takes between 1.5 and 2 hours, during which we will walk approximately a mile and a half . For information call 503.233.5533 It’s an ongoing program. All donations are tax deductible.
SUSHI LOVE’S all vegan sushi, a big hit with vegan food lovers, has been tucked away in low traffic mini food cart pod on lower Belmont. Owner/chef, Kelly McCormick made the move to the larger Sellwood pod at 1112 SE Tacoma St.
CRAFTSMAN DESIGN AND RENOVATION moved their offices to the corner of SE 27th and Belmont St. to be closer to the older Victorian and Craftsman homes they specialize in renovating. Tips on preserving historic homes and successful renovations are on their website: www.craftsmandesign.com.
ZHEN WELLNESS AND CHIROPRACTIC – Dr Ti Figeroa has opened her practice in the corner building at 818 SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd. (corner of Chavez and SE Belmont St) She provides general chiropractic care and specializes in functional medicine including treatments for autoimmune deficiencies and food allergies. 971.322.7573 zhenwellness.squarespace.com
Old House Dahlias – 8th Annual
Dahlia Festival
See over 500 plants and 170 varieties of dahlias. Old House Dahlias, 8005 SE Mill St. grows more than 18,000 dahlias a year on farm properties in Corbett, downtown South Waterfront and right there on SE Mill St.
The public is invited to pre-order for spring 2014 tubers. Fresh-cut flowers and potted plants will be available, local vendors featuring garden art and complementary coffee from Bipartisan Café.
Festival dates are September 5 and 6 and 12 and 13 from 10 am – 5 pm. Call Mark at 503.771.1199 for additional details or see www.oldhousedahlias.com.
Mt. Tabor Park 5k and 10k walk/run
The fourth annual Friends of Mt. Tabor Park 5k walk/run and 10K run will be Sunday, October 11 to celebrate autumn in the park.
Prices for the races remain the same at $25.00 for the 10K, $15.00 for the 5K, and $5.00 for kids 12 and under entered in the 5k. The race is a fundraising event to benefit Friends of Mt. Tabor Park. Over the past three years the race has raised over $4,500 for the organization.
Mt. Tabor Park has a well-designed forested trail system consisting of three trails: the Red Trail, Green Trail and Blue Trail circumnavigate Mt. Tabor.
The Red Trail is a 1-mile loop running counter-clockwise; the Green Trail, a 1.7-mile loop running clockwise; and the Blue Trail is a 3-mile loop that runs counter-clockwise. The 10K utilizes all three trails, while the 5K utilizes the blue loop.
The 10K race begins at 9 am and the 5K race begins at 9:05. For check in and same-day registration, come to the parking lot near the caldera between 8 – 8:45 am.
To register in advance online go to www.athletepath.com/mt-tabor-tar-n-trail/2015-10-11
For mail in registration, and to learn more about the race including route maps, www.runannie.net.
Seeking HLC volunteers
The Bureau of Development Services has announced a search for interested citizens to fill two upcoming vacancies on the City of Portland Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC).
The Historic Landmarks Commission hears proposals for large scale infill and new development proposals in Historic and Conservation Districts. They review appeals of smaller scale proposals to existing Landmarks and alterations to existing structures in Historic and Conservation Districts. The Commission meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month during normal business hours.
Applications should be submitted to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement with a cover letter describing the applicant’s interest, background and experience, or a resume. Applications are currently being accepted for these positions, the first coming available on October 1, 2015.
For more information about the HLC, contact Tim Heron with Bureau of Development Services at 503.823.7726, or Tim.Heron@portlandoregon.gov.
Interested citizens should contact the Office of Neighborhood Involvement at 503.823.4519 for the application form. The form may also be accessed through the ONI website at www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/38616.
12TH ANNUAL BIKE-IN MOVIE at HI-USA Portland Hawthorne Hostel, 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Saturday September 19, 6 – 10 pm. This year the featured film is Survey of Open Space. A pair of urbanites embark on a 4000-mile bicycle ride in search of the last wild place in America. To their dismay they find it. Set in the wake of America’s great western expansion, the film is a portrait of bike touring and a meditation on wilderness. The epic journey begins on the Mexican border and spans the continent, touching three oceans before concluding in the Arctic.
BUCKMAN ELEMENTARY SUN SCHOOL seeks volunteers for its after-school classes and tutoring program, which provide enrichment and support for K-5 students in reading, math, the arts, and more. Help build skills and community in a fun environment. Shifts are one hour a week from 3:30-4:30 or 4:30-5:30, beginning September 8 and going through December 11. Contact them at barrillaga@impactnw.org,.
BREAKFAST FORUM – September 17, 7:30 – 8:30 am at Mt. Tabor Pressbyterian Church Library, 5441 SE Belmont. The topic is “The Innocence Project” presented by Nicholas S. Reed. A recent graduate of the University of Washington Law School, Reed worked on the Innocence Project as a volunteer. He will tell us about this national organization which has helped bring justice to hundreds, some of whom were in death row. The Breakfast Forum is an informal group whose members meet monthly to learn about and discuss political issues in respectful ways and all are welcome. Free. No registration required. 503.774.9621.
VIKING PANCAKE BREAKFAST – Sunday, September 13, 8:30 am to 1 pm at the Norse Hall, 111 NE 11th Ave. What better way to start the day than with a plate of delicious, all-you-can-eat pancakes? This popular breakfast includes sides of scrambled eggs, sausages, fresh fruit, applesauce, orange juice, tea and bottomless cups of coffee – all served with Norwegian charm. Adults $7, Children 5-12 $4, under 5 are free. Children’s Nordic story time in our Library at 10 am. Best breakfast in town.
FRED MEYER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM is available for St. Philip Neri. If you would like your dollars (while shopping) to be utilized to support St. Philip Neri Church, link your Rewards Card to your favorite nonprofit, just by logging in to your online account. Go to www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. St. Philip’s NPO # is 80262.
KEYS, KEYS AND MORE KEYS. DO WE HAVE YOURS? At Mt Tabor Park Visitor Center, they have another growing collection of automobile, house and other keys. At the most recent count, there are more than 35 sets including the following for automobiles: Cadillac, Honda, Toyota, Scion, Subaru, Ford, Volvo and Chevrolet. Many of these have the key “fobs” which are expensive to replace. Stop and check for your keys at the Visitor Center, open for a few hours most every day except Wednesday. Phone 503.823.2525.
IMPACT NW GARDEN PARTY – September 19, from 6 to 9 pm at Portland Nursery, 9000 SE Division St. Impact NW’s Annual Garden Party is a delightful occasion to enjoy all the best the Northwest has to offer. The event features fresh-from-the-farm cuisine, a beautiful garden setting, live and silent auctions, local wines from Zivo Winery and craft beers from Ex Novo Brewery.
FOUR WORKSHOPS TO CREATE BIRD AND WILDLIFE HABITAT and conserve water in your yard. The workshops are hosted by the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association and will be held at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main St. East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District experts present the workshops as follows: 1) Urban Weeds (aggressive plant invaders): Wednesday, September 9, 6:30-9 pm; 2) Rain Gardens: Saturday, September 19, 9 am – 1 pm; 3) Naturescaping Basics: Saturday, September 26, 9 am – 1 pm; 4) Native Plants: Saturday, October 3, 9 – 11:30 am. Register online at: www.emswcd.org. Snacks will be provided.
REGIONAL ARTS & CULTURE COUNCIL (RACC) invites artists who work in visual, performing, literary and/or media arts to submit qualifications for an artist-in-residence project at the City Archives and Records Center. The selected artist/team will explore records related to 82nd Ave. The artist/team will create work in any media that engages and/or is a result of working with the collections and staff at PARC. Pre-application tours are encouraged on September 8 and 11. Application deadline is Monday, September 28, 2015. To download the RFQ, see tinyurl.com/puj3bxp.
BUILD SMALL LIVE LARGE SUMMIT 2015 – November 6, 8 am – 7 pm at Portland State University. The size of your home has a tremendous influence on your cost of living, environmental impact, and general well-being. The demand for space-efficient housing continues to grow exponentially as people of all ages discover that a smaller home might be the key to a larger life. Leading designers, builders, developers, realtors, policy-makers and community members will gather for the Build Small Live Large 2015, a unique, one-day housing summit, to share what’s working, what’s new, and what’s next. Alan Durning from the Sightline Institute and tiny house pioneer Dee Williams will lead off the day with keynote speeches about how building small can lead to broader community action and how positive change begins at home.
ROOSTER – Portland’s free economy and pay-it-forward movement is kicking off at People’s Food Coop. Originally started in the California Bay Area, the movement quickly grew to 10,000 families and individuals who share their time and resources with one another: They hand down used sofas, TVs and kitchen appliances, borrow baseball bats and baby cribs and get together to paint fences and co-walk their dogs. Roosters are people who embrace giving, sharing, helping, recycling and reusing. Want to be a part of it? Joining Rooster in your neighborhood is easy: sign up with your email address at portland.therooster.com
SPAGHETTI DINNER FOR UMCOR – Tabor Heights United Methodist Church holds its annual Spaghetti Dinner Saturday, September 19. The event is a fundraiser to send a group from Tabor Heights to Salt Lake City in October to work in the warehouse of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The group will take school supplies packed for shipment to Africa. The price is $10 per adult and $6 for children 10 and under. Meals will be served from 5 to 7 pm.This year there will be take out boxes for those who would like them and more places for guests so you won’t feel rushed to leave your table if you’d rather sit and visit for a while. For more information call the Church office 503.232.8500 or see www.taborheightschurch.org