Friends of the Children, Gresham OR Artists rendering. Click to enlarge.

Focus on At-risk Youth. New Facility Opening Fall 2015. Friends of the Children, a Portland non-profit, is making a significant investment in the East County community.

The non-profit agency Friends of the Children has begun the final planning phase of their budgeted $5 million project—an 8,500-square-foot youth center located next to Pat Pfeiffer Park on NE 172nd Ave. Construction is set to begin in February, and the facility opens in the fall of 2015.

Founded in 1993, Friends of the Children is a mentoring program dedicated to transforming the lives of children in need. Youth are selected in kindergarten and paired with a “Friend,” a full-time professional mentor. Youth’s benefit from this strength-based relationship through high school graduation.

The organization currently serves over 425 youth, half of whom live east of I-205. According to Friends of the Children’s COO, Mark Young, the organization anticipates enrolling many of each year’s new class of kindergartners from East County elementary schools. The program focuses on enrolling youth whose life challenges put them most at-risk of school failure, juvenile delinquency and early parenting.

Albertina Kerr's Louise Home addition Artists rendering. Click to enlarge.

Albertina Kerr's historic Louise Home undergoes its first major renovation in more than 30 years to complete the 10-acre campus overhaul.

Built in 1925 as a juvenile hospital offering maternity services for dependent girls, the historic Albertina Kerr Louise Home will undergo its first major renovation in more than 30 years.

The 3-story 12,000 sq.ft. Georgian style building is the oldest and most recognizable building on the Albertina Kerr Gresham campus at 722 NE 162nd Ave.

The Louise Home will retain its historic structure and facade and receive a full interior renovation including seismic, structural and ADA building updates. A modern 2-story 4,000 sq.ft. addition between the two wings on the east side of the building will complete the renovation providing much needed space for Albertina Kerr programs and support staff.

While preliminary work has already begun, the planned start for the renovation is December 2014, with project completion scheduled for September 2015.

Winter Tips to Save You Money After a hot summer, temperatures are finally dropping—and winter is just around the corner.

Grab a coffee or a hot apple cider, put on your favorite flannel, and cuddle up to your sweetie because we’ve got you covered when it comes to the best tips for keeping toasty indoors.

Take advantage of winter sun. Yes, there is sun, even in Oregon winter! When it’s shining, be sure to open south-facing window curtains, drapes, and blinds during the day, so the sunlight can naturally heat your home. Close window coverings at night to keep the heat in.

Cover drafty windows. Tape a do-it-yourself, clear, plastic film to the inside of your window frames. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame. Installing window treatments, such as blinds, drapes, or shades, can also help reduce heat loss.

Adjust the temperature. Set the thermostat 10 to 15 degrees cooler when you’re not home to use less energy and lower utility bills. Lowering the temperature slightly at night and adding an extra blanket to the bed keeps the whole family extra cozy.

Nature-based play area Nadaka Park. Click to enlarge

Nadaka Nature Park A Neighborhood Destination Nature-based Play Area, Picnic Shelter, Community Garden, Pacific Street Improvements and more.

By Lee Dayfield, Friends of Nadaka

Wow, 2014 has certainly been the most amazing year yet at Nadaka. Construction began in August on the south two acre site next to St. Aidan.s Episcopal Church. At the time of this article the community garden has been plowed and irrigation installed. The covered picnic shelter should be complete by newsletter distribution. The north end of the nature based play area is finished and the rest is halfway complete. Construction should be complete by the end of November.

So far this year there have been 478 volunteers working at Nadaka for a total of 1,286 volunteer hours! These volunteer hours are used as match for the grants we have received. In addition to groups mentioned in the last WENA newsletter Springwater Trail High School students, Confluence Environmental Center AmeriCorp members and East Hill Church have volunteered at Nadaka.

"Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together we can make a difference!”

Read it Online

Wilkes East Neighborhood 2014 Fall Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE $5M Youth Center Opening Fall 2015 Historic Louise Home Renovation Reynolds Athletic 2014 Hall of Fame Simply Ways to Stay Cozy This Winter Zimmerman House Holiday Events Nadaka Nature Park/Garden Project

Download your copy here. Now with clickable web links!

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 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.

Looking for a past issue? Check out the newsletter archive.

Phase I; Aug 1st Construction Update
A message to our neighbors from Pam Krecklow, Real Estate & Construction Manager, Albertina Kerr:

"Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together we can make a difference!”

Read it Online

Wilkes East Neighborhood 2014 Summer Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE Walgreens Pharmacy Relocating Reynolds HS Gym Renovation Nadaka Groundbreaking Ceremony 10 Simply Ways to Save Water A Tale of Two Wilkes Neighborhoods Nadaka Nature Park/Garden Project

Download your copy here. Now with clickable web links!

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 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.

Looking for a past issue? Check out the newsletter archive.

Phase I; Aug 10th Construction Update
A message to our neighbors from Pam Krecklow, Real Estate & Construction Manager, Albertina Kerr:

Aug 11, 2014 Hello Gresham Neighbors! Starting today, I am pleased to announce that the City of Gresham will be using Nextdoor to help build stronger and safer neighborhoods across the city. City departments plan to share important news and updates, services, programs, public events, and emergency notifications that are relevant to your neighborhood on Nextdoor. Please be assured that your website remains private. City staff will not be able to see any of the content on your Nextdoor neighborhood website except for the direct replies to our posts. We look forward to connecting with you on Nextdoor to make Gresham an even better place to live! Take care, Aaron Abrams, Office of Neighborhoods & Community Engagement City of Gresham

Join here!

Nextdoor, a free social network website geared to individual neighborhoods.

It's the latest hyper-local trend: connecting with your neighbors via smartphones and laptops. Since its launch in 2011, San Francisco-based Nextdoor (is used by) 1 in 5 U.S. neighborhoods, more than 36,000 neighborhoods in all 50 states.

Members must give real first and last names as well as verified home addresses to join