West Gresham

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Summer 2011 Newsletter is here. Download your copy today. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Nadaka Community Festival Disc Golf, Columbia View Park Reynolds 2011-12 Budget Recycling TV’s and Computers HB Lee MS, Sun Outdoor Club Nadaka Happenings 2011 Saturday Family Walks & Rides and more...

Download the full-color edition here!

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.
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Wilkes East residents are encouraged to submit articles for the newsletter. Articles should be limited to 300 words and may be subject to editing. Send articles by email to: info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: PO Box 536 • Fairview, OR 97024.

Jordan Beehler, Eagle Scout Click to enlarge

What began as a bird house project quickly turned into a passion Making A Difference Wilkes East resident Jordan Beehler is a young man with a warm smile who's interested in making the world around him a better place -- not only for himself, but for others in his community too. Jordan, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 606 is a senior at Central Catholic High School in Portland and plans to attend Oregon State University this fall.

In August 2010 Jordan began work on his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. This project is the opportunity for an Eagle Scout to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of the community. This is the culmination of the Eagle Scout candidate's leadership training and requires significant effort on their part.

For his project Jordan choose to improve Nadaka Nature Park

RBC: Launching the next phase Dinucci resigns, Stegmann appointed as acting chair

Candidates Wanted

After several months of discussion the Rockwood Business Coalition has decided to reorganize.

The RBC is seeking board member candidates for chair, a vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, and two members at large. Local business leaders interested in any of these position should contact the RBC to have their name placed on the ballot. Elections will be held at the April meeting. See contact info below.

Launching The Next Phase

On Feb 8th, Dina DiNucci resigned as Chair after four years saying it is necessary step to launch the next phase of the RBC. DiNucci has agreed to stay on to build membership and manage the activities of the RBC at least thru June 2011. Vice Chair, Lori Stegmann has assumed the role of Acting Chair. Stegmann, owner of Stegmann Insurance Agency is also a member of the Gresham City Council.

About the RBC

The RBC was formed in 2007 and has served as a unified voice for West Gresham's Rockwood area businesses on political, economic, and social issues. Membership is not limited to a specific area. The group welcomes any business interest who holds a stake in the Rockwood community. This area covers the Columbia River (north) to SE Division (south), 162nd Ave (west) to 202nd Ave (east). The Coalition meets on the first Wednesday of each month at a hosting business or organization. Meeting times are from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Gresham Redevelopment Commission Advisory Committee February 9, 2011 Meeting Cancellation Notice

When: Wednesday Feb 9, 2011 7PM-9PM CANCELLED
Where: Gresham City Hall
Oregon Trail Conference Center
1333 NW Eastman Pky
Gresham OR
Get Map!

Please be advised that the February 9, 2011 Gresham Redevelopment Commission Advisory Committee (GRDCAC) meeting is canceled due to the lack of a full agenda.

The next regular meeting is Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:00PM.

Third pre-dawn sighting in the past week

For the third time in the past week a lone coyote has been spotted around 5:30AM roaming the Capri Terrace and Clairmont areas in the Wilkes East neighborhood on NE Oregon & 166th, and NE Multnomah between 165th & 162nd. Residents should be careful to keep small pets and animals indoors at night and keep a watchful eye on them when they're outside.

UPDATED Feb 24, 2011: A pair of coyotes was seen again roaming NE Multnomah St between 165th &162nd a couple of hours before dawn Thursday morning. Residents in the area are advised to leave the coyotes alone as they typically do not present risks to humans unless cornered or threatened.

Urban coyotes sightings are not unusual in the Portland area, especially between the hours of dusk and dawn when they are most active. Just last fall there were several reported sightings in the Alameda neighborhood of Northeast Portland

Jim Clark / Gresham Outlook Disc golfer Jerry Miller, right, helped spearhead a drive to raise funds for Park Place Coffee when owner Dina DiNucci, left, was ready to close up shop.

Unexpected help keeps cafe owner from closing her heart and doors Park Place Coffee will continue serving the community

Source: The Gresham Outlook, Jan 7, 2011, Updated Jan 11, 2011
By Mara Stine

Dina DiNucci opened her coffee and crepe shop Park Place Coffee in Rockwood four years ago, not only to operate a small business, but to give the community a gathering place.

But as the economy tanked it became harder and harder for DiNucci to stay afloat. She squeaked by every month. Yet as 2011 neared, she wondered if it made sense to invest another $1,000 in her annual business licenses, permit and other yearly expenses

GRDC Advisory Committee agenda: Election of Officers, Rockwood Code Compliance Staff Report, 2011 Revenue Projections, Rockwood in Motion Update, Annual Report to GRDC, Plaza del Sol Programming Work Group Update

When: Wednesday Jan 12, 2011 7PM-9PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
Oregon Trail Conference Center
1333 NW Eastman Pky
Gresham OR
Get Map!

On the agenda

Click here for Wednesday night's Gresham Redevelopment Commission (GRDC) Advisory Committee meeting agenda. This link takes you to the City of Gresham webpage that has the attachments and further meeting information.

De La Salle students at the 2010 SOLV event, Nadaka Park Click to enlarge

A beautiful Autumn day for the 2010 SOLV "Beach and Riverside Cleanup" at Nadaka Nature Park

2010 SOLV "Beach and Riverside Cleanup" Event

De La Salle students lend a hand

On Saturday, September 25th the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association held a cleanup with SOLV at Nadaka Nature Park. There were 24 people who participated in the cleanup including a group from De La Salle North Catholic High School (pictured by the sign). We had a total of 66 3/4 volunteer hours to use as a match for our Metro Nature in Neighborhood grant.

The primary focus of the cleanup was to remove the invasive blackberry and ivy from the park. Jazzy Bagel donated delicious bagels and Starbucks (181st & Glisan) donated coffee for the volunteers. SOLV also provided great cloth tote bags for everyone who volunteered.

Volunteers register for 2010 SOLV event at Nadaka Nature Park Click to enlarge

Next cleanup:
Sunday, October 10th 9AM-2PM. Hope to see you there!

See website calendar for more Nadaka Nature Park events and activities!

Nadaka Nature Park Click to enlarge

Nadaka Nature Park Vegetation Management Plan nears completion, disease threatens firs

Protecting a Natual Resource

In 2009 Wilkes East Neighborhood Association (WENA) applied for and received a Metro Parks & Greenspaces Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant and a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) to be used towards the purchase of the adjacent 2-acre Nelson Property for use as a public park. Both Metro and EMSWCD had requirements for the master planning of the Nelson property one of which was to do a vegetation management plan.

At the WENA annual meeting in August 2010, Ric Catron, City of Gresham Parks Planner provided information about this Plan for Nadaka Nature Park. Its purpose is a balance of protection of natural areas and future park development, restoration of the site and creating diversity for native wildlife and providing passive recreation.

Western Screech Owl Click to enlarge

News from Nadaka Nature Park Western Screech Owls reintroduced, Dogipot® added, SOLV volunteers pitch-in, and much more!

Back to the Wild

On September 8, 2010 the Audubon Society of Portland released two juvenile Western Screech Owls at the meadow in Nadaka Nature Park. About a dozen people from the neighborhood watched as the two owls took flight. Both owls came into the Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center as fledglings. Unfortunately they had signs of head injury, probably from being hit by cars while learning to fly. After recovering from the initial injuries, the owls were in a flight cage building up strength and learning to hunt. The Audubon Society decided they were ready to be wild once more and agreed to do the release in Nadaka.

Recycle Your Plastic Bags Here

A Dogipot® has been installed near the north entrance to Nadaka Nature Park which contains litter bags to be used for dog waste. This was provided with grant funds from the Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. If you are looking for a place to recycle your plastic garbage bags you could take a few and put them in the Dogipot® for others on your next walk thru the park. This will save considerable money purchasing the litter bags.