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.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

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.