Get your Portland home on HGTV! HGTV is looking for First-time Homebuyers to be on “My First Place!”

One of HGTV’s most popular series, “My First Place” will be in Portland for its SEVENTH season to film first-time homebuyers through all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and ultimately buying their first place! Each half-hour episode features people making the dream of homeownership a reality!

We are currently looking for homebuyers who are:

• Buying their FIRST place.
• Fun, interesting people who are excited to be a part of this show.
• People willing to share their personal & financial struggles with viewers.
• Buyers that are going to be closing before the end of 2009.
• Will be buying within a 90-minute radius of downtown Portland.

Candidates who are chosen for the show will also receive a housewarming SURPRISE gift at the end of shooting to thank them for being on the show!

Singles, couples and families are all encouraged to apply!

181st Corridor Signal Improvements Coming Spring 2009 Smart signals, wider turns to relieve traffic congestion

The 181st Avenue Corridor project is intended to increase existing street capacity and support new industrial businesses within the Urban Renewal Area, and is supported by the Wilkes East Neighborhood and the Rockwood Business Coalition.

Reason for the project

181st Avenue provides the only connection to Interstate-84 within Gresham city limits. As the areas to the south develop, including Pleasant Valley and Damascus, this corridor will grow more congested because it provides the nearest freeway access. The redevelopment potential of the Wilkes East and North Gresham neighborhoods, including the industrial portion of the Rockwood-West Gresham Urban Renewal Area, will be hampered (without improvement) as intersections on 181st near the freeway reach capacity.

Smart signals, wider turns, and a crosswalk closure are expected to relieve traffic congestion through this busy area.

City of Gresham News, Community Activities, Workshops & More

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue...

• Gresham Landlord Forum For All Multi-Family Rental Landlords and Managers Jan. 21
• On Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Meet the Artist Selected to Create the Art Elements at the Center for the Arts Plaza
• Interested in Organizing your Neighborhood for a Disaster Response?
• Are You Ready? Workshop Jan. 24 from 9AM to Noon
• New Skate Park Community Design Workshop is Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2:30PM
• Register for Free Naturescaping Workshop at Gresham City Hall
• Oregon E-Cycles in Gresham<
• Become a Master Recycler
• Successful Mediation Cases

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email cathy.harrington@ci.gresham.or.us.

Click to enlarge

Free -- Don't delay! Small Leaf Maple saplings Transplant Now!

It's transplant time!

Beautiful Small Leaf Maple Tree saplings available for transplant now. These hardy saplings are from the tree pictured above.

Maple saplings transplant very easily during the dormant season, which is roughly from mid-November to mid-February, taking care to set it at the same level in the soil at which it was previously growing.

To obtain your free Maple Tree sapling please email kjohnk@juno.com.

City of Gresham News, Community Activities & More

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue...

• Learn to Mediate
• Urban Renewal Marks its Fifth Year
• Urban Renewal Welcomes Henningsen Cold Storage to Gresham
• Rape Survivor Edens Receives Humanitarian Award
• Justice Assistance Grant Awarded
• Save the Drain Campaign Targets Holiday Cooking
• Holiday Schedule for Garbage and Recycling Service
• Annual Holiday Construction Ban in Busy Retail Districts Starts Nov. 21
• Gresham Transportation Projects Seek Your Public Comment
• How to Set Out Garbage Cans, Carts and Bins
• Jenne Road Sewer Project Update
• Stark Street Boulevard Transportation Project Open House, Rockwood
• Volunteers Needed for Outdoor Work Party at Kelly Creek
• Free Educational DVD Features Puppet Skits and Environmental Messages

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email cathy.harrington@ci.gresham.or.us.

Pacific Drive and Capri Terrace groups hold Fall meetings

• Pacific Drive Neighborhood Watch
• Capri Neighborhood Watch
• Related Content

The Pacific Drive Neighborhood Watch Group met Saturday November 15th at Art & Gail Abbott’s home. Several households were represented and 3 households were added. The group heard a presentation from Glenn Mathew’s about observing and current 'non-activity' in their area.

Click here for Pacific Drive boundary information.

Kris Freiermuth attended representing the WENA Board and gave an update on upcoming events such as the upcoming Nadaka Park Clean-Up this December (date to be announced), WENA Semi-Annual Meeting next February 16th, and activities in conjunction with the Gresham Police regarding the criminal activity at the corner of NE 162nd & NE Glisan.

The group talked about future meetings & activities including a summer Block Party. Refreshments were served.

Glenn Mathews, Watch Coordinator, gave an update of the happenings in our Watch area, which were relatively ZERO. Glenn suggested members check out the website CrimeReports.com, to follow crimes in the Gresham area. The group requested this website address be added to the Wilkes East Neighborhood website.

Glenn also recapped those things we need to continue to do:

• porch lights on
• motion lights kept fresh
• locking your car doors
• don’t leave anything valuable in the car or around your property
• walk through the neighborhood periodically
• and, be alert to new people in the area

Glenn says "we must be doing something right, so --- let's keep it up!"

Creating a unified voice for political, economic, and social issues for Rockwood businesses

PRESS RELEASE

September 24, 2008

Rockwood businesses urged to use their voice for change

All Rockwood businesses are being asked to speak out about their interests and concerns through a survey specifically targeted to doing business in Rockwood. The information from Rockwood businesses will be used to develop strategies to advocate for action on issues within the community, and to capitalize on the assets of being located within these boundaries. The Rockwood Business Coalition (RBC) is spearheading this effort.

City of Gresham News, Community Activities & More...

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue...

• Rockwood Make A Difference Day – Saturday, October 25
• Volunteers Sought for Make a Difference Day – Saturday, October 25
• Kane Drive Improvement Project Design Review Open House November 6
• TIP 2008 4th Quarter Newsletter
• Crime Prevention Tip
• A Great Way to Give Back to Gresham...Adopt a Park or Trail Today
• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Map your Neighborhood
• Gresham Transportation Projects Seek Your Public Comment
• Senior Citizen Scam Jam 2008
• Forums, Open Houses, and Workshops
• Curbside Recycling Campaign comes to Gresham
• Conserve Water, Reduce Utility Bills
• Local Businesses Earn GREAT Award Through City Program
• View the City’s Street Sweeping Schedule this Fall for Your Neighborhood

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email cathy.harrington@ci.gresham.or.us.

Glisan Center NE 162nd Ave & NE Glisan St

Drug dealers outside ZLB Plasma Services are driving away Glisan Center customers. Local merchants frustrated by the lack of help

Drug dealing rampant

Illegal drug sales outside of ZLB Plasma Services located at the Glisan Center 16225 NE Glisan St, continue to impact the surrounding businesses and their customers at this west Gresham shopping center. First reported in May, customers of DeLeon's Tortilleria Y Tienda have complained of drug dealers approaching them in the Glisan Center parking lot. Still, after numerious complaints to the Gresham Police little is being done to solve the problem. In fact, illegal drugs sales in the Glisan Center parking lot has soared.