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Halloween hauntings 2008, Old fashion fun & current events!

Halloween is fast approaching and every day it seems more front yards are being bedecked in sticky spider webs, soaring witches and grinning pumpkins.

In light of this year's economic situation these neighbors near NE 140th Ave & E Burnside St have combined old fashion fun with current events to make their graveyard howl this Halloween. This year's new tombstones include my IRA, the Stock Market, the Economy, and my 401k!

Now, that's scary!

Katherine Rubina Voge
Dec 11, 1929-Oct 11, 2008

Gresham resident Katherine Rubina Voge, 78, died Saturday, Oct. 11, in Clackamas.

Katherine was born Dec 11, 1929, in Heppner to Thomas and Lucybell O’Brien. She attended boarding school in Pendleton, graduating from St Mary’s Academy in 1947. She then attended beauty school in Walla Walla, Wash., and completed her course work in 1949.

On May 12, 1952, she married Warren Voge in Pendleton. They moved to Portland in 1962 and lived in East County for more than 40 years.

2008 INTEL-SOLV Clean & Green event at Nadaka Park

2008 INTEL-SOLV "Clean & Green" event at Nadaka Park

27 Adults and 8 children braved the crisp weather to participate in the INTEL-SOLV Nadaka Clean-Up on Saturday October 11th, contributing over 110 hours of volunteer effort.

Lots of back breaking work was done, so you can now see from the walking path to the fence at Pacific Street and the homes along the way. A renewal of old friendships and new friends were made and another generation of volunteers learned the ropes of how to have fun and get a job done.

The project was supported by several Wilkes East Neighborhood (WENA) merchants

Have you recently remodeled a major room of your house? Then HGTV is looking for you!

Hi, Wilkes East neighbors. Here's something that may interest you. We got this letter from Keri Grogan, who does casting for HGTV:

I work in the casting department for HGTV. We are excited to announce that we will be looking for 3 lucky homeowners throughout the Portland Metro Area to feature on our new show Bang for Your Buck. I was hoping that some of your residents might be interested in being considered for the show. We plan to be in Portland the week of November 17th

Volunteers clear brush, improve visibility, make new friends

2008 Wilkes East Nadaka Park Clean-Up improves visibility, yields new sign, many fond memories

On Saturday, July 26th the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association (WENA) held a cleanup at Nadaka Park clearing underbrush and lifting the canopy. The Gresham Parks Dept worked with WENA volunteers to advertise this event and provide the necessary tools (rakes, clippers, etc), as well as support staff. Over 35 people volunteered during the three hour event.

Urban Forestry Committee seeking two new advisory members

Gresham's Urban Forestry Committee (formerly Tree Preservation Committee) is looking for additional members from the community. There are currently 5 members on the committee and they would like to add at least two more.

This seven-member citizen advisory committee is appointed by the Gresham City Council. The committee advises Council and staff about tree preservation and recommends tree species for the City's street tree list. It recommends and updates the Significant Tree List, and provides public education on those issues including publishing an approved street tree list.

Don't Become A Victim

Bad guys are always looking for an easy target. Did you know that most crimes occurs in plain sight, without anyone being aware?

This "Observation Skills" video, recorded during a recent Capri Terrace Neighborhood Watch meeting, can teach you simple techinques to help protect yourself! Watch closely as these neighbors are put-to-the-test. Did you see the crime occur? What did these neighbors observed and remember? Their responses just might suprise you!

Transition Residential Districts, Increased Residential Intensity, and New Lot Size Standards Proposed

The City is proposing revisions to the Community Plan Map and Development Code as part of the Residential Districts Review project. Property owners who could be most affected by these changes are being notified by mail. Comprehensive Planning staff also wanted to make sure Neighborhood Association officials are aware of the potential changes.

Complete information is available here on a special page on the City's Web site, in addition to project information available here on the main Residential Districts Review page.

Traffic 'Near Capacity' On The NE 181st Ave Corridor. City 'Signals' Relief Is On The Way!

Ask any rush hour commuter traveling NE 181st Ave in Gresham and they will tell you, traffic congestion between Interstate 84 and NE Halsey St is miserable. In fact at times, it's just downright unbearable!

Over the past few years the increased population and business growth in west Gresham has outpaced the ability of the NE 181st Ave corridor to efficiently handle the additional traffic between the I-84 freeway ramps and the Powell Butte area.

Frustrated commuters rejoice, change is coming!

The City of Gresham Dept of Public Affairs has announced a plan to reduce traffic congestion on NE 181st Ave between NE Sandy Blvd and NE Halsey St. The proposed changes are scheduled to begin spring 2009, and be completed before summer. Changes include installing new state-of-the-art computer-controlled traffic signals, prohibiting southbound U-turn's at NE San Rafael St, eliminating a crosswalk across NE 181st Ave, plus several other changes in hope of improving the flow of traffic along this particularly busy section of the NE 181st Ave corridor.

A public meeting on the proposed changes will likely be held in early to mid-September according to Jill Bradley with the City of Gresham Dept of Public Affairs.

Youth volunteer helps seperate bulky waste for disposal while Event coordinator Brian Heerwagen breaks down larger items

2008 Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up a Huge Success! With the peak of summer came this year's Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up. For the past 3 years, Wilkes East residents have enjoyed the convenient disposal of unwanted trash and yard debris at the annual July fund-raiser sponsored by the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association.

Residents lined-up early for the three hour event held Saturday July 26th from 9AM to Noon in the east parking lot at HB Lee Middle School. Staffed by a dozen volunteers this year's clean-up served 48 families, and filled two industrial sized (40 cubic yard) dumpsters to capacity! One dumpster was dedicated to Yard Debris and Wood Waste, the other dumpster was dedicated to Bulky Waste (trash).

Volunteers directed traffic, helped clean-up participants with their drop-offs, and seperated the debris for disposal. Home pick-up was also available this year for bulky items and to those neighbors without transportation. Many neighbors expressed their appreciation, thanking the volunteers, and stating how much they look forward to the annual event. Disposed items included yard debris, furniture, beds, bbqs, carpet, garage trash, remodeling debris, lots of junk, windows and doors, even an old wooden boat!