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!

Residential Districts Review June 2008 Alternative Workshops Public Input Report Now Available

A Public Input Report that describes the information presented at two June community workshops and what we heard from participants during those workshops is now available. The workshops were joint meetings for the Residential Districts Review project and the Development Code Improvement Project.

The document, which is called Public Input Report - Alternatives, can be downloaded at: http://www.ci.gresham.or.us/departments/planningServices/cp/RDR/documents.asp or, if you would like a printed copy, please contact Jamie Zimmerman at the City of Gresham by calling 503-618-2235.

Background RDR documents on topics discussed are available using the following links (these are PDFs):

• Appropriate Locations for Housing
• Similar Lot Sizes
• Innovative Housing
• Residential Compatibility

If you attended the workshops, we encourage you to review the information (particularly the Public Input Summary) to ensure participants comments are correctly described. New comments also are welcome.

Local Photography Artist's Work On Display

Local photography artist Lee Dayfield's inspiring photographs are on display now. We hope everyone has an opportunity to drop by and view her wonderful photographic artwork.

Lee's photographs can be seen at the following locations:

• Cooper's Coffee (until August 1st)
  Across the parking lot from OMSI
  1515 SE Water, Portland OR
  Topic: Mannequins

• Central Cafe
  124 NE 3rd Street, Gresham OR
  Topic: Various photos framed in windows & conventional framing.

Owens Corning Installing Solar System at Gresham Foam Insulation Facility

TOLEDO, Ohio, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens Corning (NYSE: OC - News) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Sun Edison LLC to provide solar-generated energy through the installation and operation of a 206 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of its Gresham, Ore. facility. The facility's solar PV system is scheduled to be installed and operating by the fourth quarter of 2008.

The next time you're in search of a good meal, your favorite adult beverage, or Lottery entertainment check-out the The Red Apple Bar and Grill located at 16126 NE Sandy Blvd for a unique neighborhood experience. The friendly atmosphere, attentive staff, and smoke-free policy makes this a pleasing adventure.

Gresham Plant To Use Renewable Wind Energy Credits

TOLEDO, Ohio, May 15,2008 -- Owens Corning announced today that it has been named a partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use.

To qualify, Owens Corning purchased 25,000 MWh of renewable energy credits that are 100 percent wind generated to offset the electricity consumption of the company's foam insulation plant in Gresham, Ore. The wind energy will be Green-e certified by the Center for Resource Solutions.

Click to enlarge

Beautiful Golden Raindrop and Prairifire Crabapples Trees Added To The Park

Gresham Parks Department recently planted 15 new trees in Columbia View Park. The trees were donated to the Parks Department and they are flowering Golden Raindrop Crabapples and Prairifire Crabapples.

They are in full bloom now and are planted near the fence next to HB Lee Middle School on the north end of the park.

Join us for the Johnson Creek Watershed Council's 3rd Annual Meeting Luncheon with Bill Bradbury

When: Thursday, May 22, 11:30am luncheon,
1:30pm tour of Reed Canyon
Where: Reed College, Kaul Auditorium
Cost: Tickets are $25 per person
Host a table of 8 for $200

Johnson Creek Watershed Council's 3rd Annual Meeting luncheon will take place on the beautiful Reed College campus once again. Our special guest will be Bill Bradbury, Oregon's Secretary of State. The luncheon will include the release of our first State of the Watershed Report, presenting information from a wide array of sources on many aspects of watershed health

Residential Districts Review Public Input Report Now Available

A Public Input Report that describes the information presented at recent community workshops and what we heard from participants during those workshops is now available.

Downlaod the report

The Public Input Report can be downloaded by clicking here or, if you would like a printed copy, please contact Carrie Lopez at the City of Gresham by calling 503-618-2779.

If you attended the workshops, we encourage you to review the information (particularly the Public Input Summary) to ensure participants’ comments are correctly described. New comments are also welcome.

Next opportunity for public input

The next community workshop, during which alternative solutions will be reviewed, is scheduled for the evening of June 10 at City Hall.