Volunteers register for the event Click to enlarge
Volunteers plant trees, shrubs. Fill 40-yard dumpster with invasives.
Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Concordia University baseball pitch in.
Perfect morning for the event
What started out as a small Nadaka Nature Park clean-up for Saturday, Nov. 14 soon became a large-scale event with 92 volunteers in attendance. Workers performed tasks involving the planting of 14 native trees, 65 shrubs and 170 small plants and herbs, as well as the removal of invasive species including ivy and blackberry bushes. Members of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council volunteered at this event and played a significant role in getting the Concordia University baseball team members involved in preserving this important 12-acre natural forest park located at 176th and NE Pacific just north of Glisan.
Gresham facility demonstrates its commitment to sustainabilty.
Gresham Strikes Gold
Owens Corning's Gresham Oregon facility celebrated a golden achievement this Fall by receiving the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for new construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (www.usgbc.org).
The LEED award recognizes superior achievement in design, construction and operation of green buildings. Owens Corning's Gresham plant is the only LEED Gold-certified insulation facility in the United States and one of approximately 203 industrial facilities in the U.S. that have been awarded LEED certification. The Gresham plant began operating in July 2009.
During a ceremony at the plant to celebrate the honor, Karel Czanderna, president of the building materials group, said, "Owens Corning is carrying out our commitment to sustainability today by focusing on three areas: greening our products, greening our operations and accelerating energy efficiency improvements in the built environment. This facility reflects all three components of that approach."
By a unanimous vote, Multnomah County commissioners approved moving forward with a plan for a new courthouse in Gresham’s Rockwood area Thursday, Oct. 1.
If built – and it is still an if as the county has yet to approve funding for the $17 million to $21 million project – the courthouse will replace Gresham’s old, single courtroom facility on Powell Boulevard. Get Map!
Because so many citizens signed up to testify – all in favor of the project – the 90-minute hearing ran over and two of the five commissioners had to leave for scheduled engagements before voting. But commissioners Jeff Cogen and Deborah Kafoury voiced support for the resolution before leaving.
Join us in restoring this
beautiful urban habitat.
Wilkes East Neighborhood has received a Metro Nature in Neighborhood grant for improvements in Nadaka Nature Park which requires matching volunteer hours so your support is needed and greatly appreciated. See you at the park!
Quiz?
When was the last time you visited Nadaka Nature Park?
Do you know Nadaka is located in the Wilkes East neighborhood?
Did you know there is a Friends of Nadaka group working to improve Nadaka?
Do you want to volunteer time - even 1 or 2 hours per month for Nadaka?
Answers
The entrance to Nadaka Nature Park is located at NE 175th Ave & NE Pacific St. Parking is curbside. Get Map!
Volunteer opportunities for Nadaka Nature Park include:
Organizing monthly cleanups
Removal of invasive plants
Planting native plants & trees
Removing graffiti
Writing a history of Nadaka Nature Park
Reaching out to organizations, businesses, churches, schools, etc. to become partners for improvements in Nadaka
Fulfilling Metro's Nature in Neighborhood grant which includes:
A new bench
Dog waste stations
Trash can
Purchase of native plants & trees, etc.
Expansion of Nadaka Nature Park onto the recently acquired Nelson property for a community garden, orchard, nature based play area, etc.
Art project on North fence
Handling registration at cleanups
Furnishing baked goods or drinks for volunteers
Donating funds for projects at Nadaka.
Join the effort!
Volunteers are critical for accomplishing these tasks. Volunteer time is also required for fulfilling grants. As you can see there are many tasks to choose from -- so volunteer for one, two, or more, and join our effort! Together we can make a difference!
Neighbors pitch-in to care for Columbia View Park.
Gresham $32 million behind in park maintenance
Because of lack of funds the City's Parks Department has only been able to mow the perimeter of Columbia View Park (See 'Related Content' below. Editor). Columbia View Park is located at NE 169th & NE Pacific Dr. Get Map!
Neighbors pitch-in
Neighbors who frequent the park have been picking up litter, mowing areas the City isn't, mulching around new trees, hauling debris to disposal stations and watering young trees that have been planted in the last couple of years. A big THANK YOU to these many volunteers.
How you can help
Some ivy is beginning to appear under the tree canopy areas and this needs to be removed before it spreads to the trees. This is something anyone can do anytime on their own. It is a good project to take your children to the park, teach them to identify ivy and remove it. This activity can be as simple as taking one grocery bag, filling it with ivy, taking it home and disposing of it.
Plaza del Sol comes to the Rockwood Cultural Marketplace
Rockwood, Sep 19, 2009
When Rockwood coverage happens its commonly due to negative events. So, we felt it was very important to share an amazing community building event that took place today in Rockwood.
Welcome Rockwood's Plaza Del Sol painting!
Plaza del Sol is one of several new interim uses being sited by the Gresham Redevelopment Commission on the Cultural Marketplace (former Fred Meyer store) property in Rockwood at SE 187th & SE Stark St. Get Map!
The plaza is the first piece of a recently approved interim use plan for the Rockwood Cultural Marketplace to transform the site with new sidewalks, paths, benches, a wildflower garden, play area, basketball courts, a food-cart area, and many other family friendly activities.
Using supplies donated by Parr Lumber and Miller Paint, volunteers worked throughout the day to paint the huge 13,000-square-foot “Plaza del Sol,” a colorful scale model of the solar system on the Southeast corner of the site.
Finally some good news.
District receives additional $6.2 million in funding
Board votes $2 million to rehire teachers, $2 million for obligations. Places $2.2 million in contingency fund.
Reynolds board votes to spend added millions now, rehire teachers
by Betsy Hammond
The Oregonian, Thursday Aug 13, 2009
A unanimous Reynolds school board voted (tonight) to spend $2 milllion to immediately hire back laid-off teachers in order to reduce class sizes before school starts Sept. 8.
A standing-room-only crowd of teachers and parents applauded loudly.
Many had testified that students would suffer from a lack of attention and individualized instruction if the district stuck to its earlier plans to eliminate one of every four teaching positions and raise class sizes to 35 or larger at most grade levels.
"Nadaka Nature Park" sign
and a new nature-based play area enhance the park
Volunteers remove invasives, create new play area
Approximately 25 hearty volunteers showed-up to the July 11th cleanup to help restore Nadaka Nature Park's urban habitat. Volunteers removed and disposed of wood waste, including invasive ivy, blackberries and holly, filling a 40 cubic yard drop box provided by the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association to capacity. Volunteers pitched-in to create a small nature based play area at the south edge of the park beside the meadow (photos below).
Nadaka gets a "sign"
Volunteers also installed a beautiful new "Nadaka Nature Park" sign at the entrance to park, and added "Friends of Nadaka" and "Wilkes East Neighborhood Association" to the list of groups contributing to park improvements on the Park Supporter's sign post (photos below). The signs, purchased by WENA through a generous grant from the City of Gresham, are a great addition to our wonderful park.
Cypress Park neighbors send a message to criminals!
Residents join-in the 26th National Night Out
Neighbors gather against crime
The Wasco St. Neighborhood Watch (NE Wasco St. from 172nd to 179th) celebrated their first National Night Out "block party" Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 from 6PM-9PM. Two watch members took the initiative to prepare a flier invitation and others members distributed it.
Great participation
The block party attracted 40 members of the neighborhood, some who had never met. Conversation was fun and lively, one student performed magic.
The neighborhood potluck consisted of wonderful dishes from all families including Russian and Philippine cuisine. Everyone commented on what a great time it was.
An annual event
Wasco St. Neighborhood Watch plans to host an annual National Night Out block party each year.
Wilkes Community Group Emergency Meeting. Public Invited
Trees to be removed along Columbia Slough at NE 164th to make way for new solar array
When: Thursday, July 16th, 2009 6:30PM Where: East Portland Neighborhood Office
1017 NE 117th Avenue Get Map!
Purpose of meeting
As part of the City of Portland’s commitment to sustainability and the development of alternative energy sources, the Portland Water Bureau is currently working with a Solar Developer to install a 270 kW Solar Array in a field on Water Bureau property at the Groundwater Pump Station at 16400 NE Airport Way. This $3.5 million solar project will generate approximately 300,000 kWh of electricity; enough to offset part of the electricity consumed by the pump station and the equivalent to approximately 50 Oregon homes.
Unfortunately the orientation of the Solar Array requires removal of 32 red alder, Douglas fir and western red cedar trees along the south property line in order to prevent shading of the panels. All of the trees are between 15 feet and 30 feet tall.
The removed trees will be replaced by a 36 native cascara, western flowering dogwood and black hawthorne trees, which will not grow tall enough to shade the solar array.
Agenda
To prepare testimony for environmental land use review of Portland Water Bureau's Application (LU 09-128253EN) to remove trees from and environmental zone along the Columbia Slough in Wilkes at 16400 NE Airport Way. Click here to review the City of Portland's complete proposal.
Because the City of Portland must publish their decision within 28 days, they must to receive written comments by 5PM on July 17, 2009.
Thank You!
Wilkes East Neighborhood would like express our gratitude to the following for their generous contributions & continued support:
• Jazzy Bagels, Main St & Powell
• Parkrose Hardware, 106th & Sandy
• Growers Outlet, 162nd & Glisan
• SOLV, Bringing Oregon together
• Albertsons, 181st & Glisan
• And, all the many volunteers!
