Announcement

Greetings, Parks & Recreation Volunteers!

We hope that spring is treating you well. The daffodils and tulips are emerging and reminding us why we like this time of year so much. Not to mention, Earth Day is right around the corner!

This is Gresham Parks & Recreations - Volunteer Program's April Volunteer Update, which contains information about upcoming volunteer opportunities we have to offer. If you can join us for any of the projects below, please use the contact listed.

Volunteer Opportunities and Events April-June 2008

• Apr 11- City of Gresham photography contest
• Apr 12- Gardening at the Zimmerman House
• Apr 19- Earth Day Celebration
• Apr 30- Yamhill Community Garden Workshop: Gardening 101
• May 17- SOLV Down By the Riverside at Butler Creek
• May 28- Yamhill Community Garden Workshop: Composting
• Jun 25- Yamhill Community Garden Workshop: Bugs and Critters
• Needed: Adopt-A-Park/Trail Volunteer Groups!

Before we get to the information below, I want to thank all of you on behalf of Gresham Parks and Recreation for the time you give to take care of the earth and to encourage others to do so. There seems to be a major shift taking place in the public's awareness of environmental issues, and you have helped make that critical change happen.

Project to improve code effectiveness

When: Tuesday April 15, 2008 3:00PM - 5:00PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
Council Chambers
1333 NW Eastman Parkway
Gresham, OR

The Gresham City Council is discussing a progress report and research on the Development Code Improvement Project at its meeting on April 15, 2008. The meeting begins at 3:00PM at the Council Chambers at 1333 NW Eastman Parkway.

Pacific Drive Neighborhood Watch Apr 14, 2008 7:00PM Get involved. Make a difference.

When: Monday, Apr 14, 2008 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Where: 16725 NE Pacific Drive
Gresham, OR 97230

Hosts: Leonard & Barbara Conkling

Guest speaker: Daphne Mathew, Red Cross
"Disaster Preparedness"

This is a great opportunity for neighbors to meet each other as friends! Refreshments will be served. The meeting lasts about 90 minutes, giving us time to talk about how we can mutually prevent crime and better our neighborhood. Please plan to attend.

Meeting is open to all neighbors on NE 168th Ave (between NE Pacific St and NE Oregon St) and NE 169th St (between NE Hassalo St and NE Pacific St).

Don't miss this opportunity to shape Gresham's future!

• 7:00pm Wednesday, April 2
  Powell Valley Elementary School
  4825 S.E. Powell Valley Road
• 7:00pm Thursday, April 3
  Portland Lutheran School
  740 S.E. 182nd Avenue

The City of Gresham would like to invite you to two workshops this week to discuss the Residential Districts Review project.

The City is trying to determine:

• What locations are appropriate for low-density and higher-density residential development?
• How can new development best “fit in” with existing neighborhoods?
• How should new, innovative housing types and arrangements be allowed?

These meetings will help the City identify problems and work toward encouraging better housing development.

Don't miss this opportunity to shape Gresham's future!

• 7:00pm Wednesday, April 2
  Powell Valley Elementary School
  4825 S.E. Powell Valley Road
• 7:00pm Thursday, April 3
  Portland Lutheran School
  740 S.E. 182nd Avenue

The City of Gresham would like to invite you to two workshops this week to discuss the Residential Districts Review project.

The City is trying to determine:

• What locations are appropriate for low-density and higher-density residential development?
• How can new development best “fit in” with existing neighborhoods?
• How should new, innovative housing types and arrangements be allowed?

These meetings will help the City identify problems and work toward encouraging better housing development.

Join Your Neighbors, Be A Part Of Your Community, Plan To Attend

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Where: St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church
17405 NE Glisan Street

Be sure to save Wednesday, May 21st at 7:00 PM for WENA’s Quarterly Meeting. This meeting will be held at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 17405 NE Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon.

Guest Speaker

• Donna Edgley, Board Member
  Reynolds School District
  www.reynolds.k12.or.us
• Brighton West , Program Director
  Friends of Trees
  www.friendsoftrees.org

Meeting Topics

• Neighborhood Update
• Annual Neighborhood Clean-Up
• Nadaka Park- Grant Proposal, & Clean-Up
• Neighborhood Watch Groups in your neighborhood
• Election of Secretary/Treasurer

Mark your calendar and plan to attend your neighborhood meeting.

Expect root veggies, assorted greens and plants starts now... the next few months bring more produce and more markets!

(excepted from the Oregonian 'FOODday' Apr 1, 2008)

Although it brings showers for May flowers, April also brings farmers markets - and lots of them. Starting Thursday April 3, 2008, parking lots and parks around Portland and the surrounding communities will bustle wth tent poles, tarps and metal cash boxes as area farmers present their fare to resident cooks.

Local Area Farmers Markets

• Fairview Farmers and Artists Market
• Gresham Farmers Market
• Parkrose Farmers Market
• Portland Farmers Market at PSU
• Troutdale Farmers and Artists Market

You'll find plenty of root vegitables, braising greens and lettuces, and of course plant starts for your own vegetable garden.

Native Planting at Butler Creek Greenway

When: Saturday, March 22, 2008 9:00AM - 1:00PM
Where: Along SW 27th Drive, between SW 29th Drive and SW 30th Drive Click here for a map!
(Let us know if you can only make part of the project.)

We're still looking for volunteers to help at a native planting this Saturday, and the weather looks like it shaping up to be pretty nice! Come join us at Bulter Creek Greenway to say goodbye to Winter and "Hello!" to the planting season by removing English Ivy and planting 500 trees and shrubs . These restoration efforts will encourage native growth within Gresham's natural areas and in return, improve the creek's water quality, increase biodiversity and enhance local habitat.

Refreshments and snacks will be provided!

10 volunteers are still needed for this clean up. For more information or to sign up yourself or a group, please contact me at Rachel.Zarfas@ci.gresham.or.us or phone (503) 618-2789.

You are invited to participate in our exciting new lineup of Metro natural gardening programs!

• Show off your garden!
  Deadline Apr 1st
• Free seminars with celebrity gardeners and chefs
  March - July
• Visit the new garden at Blue Lake Park
  Daily thru Summer
• Natural Gardening Tips on KATU's AM Northwest
  Watch now!

Enjoy these great outdoor opportunities sponsored by Metro!

When: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 7:00PM

Where: Gresham City Hall, Springwater Trail Room

The Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations next meeting will be Wednesday, April 9th, 7:00PM in the Springwater Trail Room, Gresham City Hall, 1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, OR 97030.

It is open to the public to attend. See you there!