De La Salle students at the 2010 SOLV event, Nadaka Park Click to enlarge

A beautiful Autumn day for the 2010 SOLV "Beach and Riverside Cleanup" at Nadaka Nature Park

2010 SOLV "Beach and Riverside Cleanup" Event

De La Salle students lend a hand

On Saturday, September 25th the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association held a cleanup with SOLV at Nadaka Nature Park. There were 24 people who participated in the cleanup including a group from De La Salle North Catholic High School (pictured by the sign). We had a total of 66 3/4 volunteer hours to use as a match for our Metro Nature in Neighborhood grant.

The primary focus of the cleanup was to remove the invasive blackberry and ivy from the park. Jazzy Bagel donated delicious bagels and Starbucks (181st & Glisan) donated coffee for the volunteers. SOLV also provided great cloth tote bags for everyone who volunteered.

Volunteers register for 2010 SOLV event at Nadaka Nature Park Click to enlarge

Next cleanup:
Sunday, October 10th 9AM-2PM. Hope to see you there!

See website calendar for more Nadaka Nature Park events and activities!

Nadaka Nature Park Click to enlarge

Nadaka Nature Park Vegetation Management Plan nears completion, disease threatens firs

Protecting a Natual Resource

In 2009 Wilkes East Neighborhood Association (WENA) applied for and received a Metro Parks & Greenspaces Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant and a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) to be used towards the purchase of the adjacent 2-acre Nelson Property for use as a public park. Both Metro and EMSWCD had requirements for the master planning of the Nelson property one of which was to do a vegetation management plan.

At the WENA annual meeting in August 2010, Ric Catron, City of Gresham Parks Planner provided information about this Plan for Nadaka Nature Park. Its purpose is a balance of protection of natural areas and future park development, restoration of the site and creating diversity for native wildlife and providing passive recreation.

Western Screech Owl Click to enlarge

News from Nadaka Nature Park Western Screech Owls reintroduced, Dogipot® added, SOLV volunteers pitch-in, and much more!

Back to the Wild

On September 8, 2010 the Audubon Society of Portland released two juvenile Western Screech Owls at the meadow in Nadaka Nature Park. About a dozen people from the neighborhood watched as the two owls took flight. Both owls came into the Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center as fledglings. Unfortunately they had signs of head injury, probably from being hit by cars while learning to fly. After recovering from the initial injuries, the owls were in a flight cage building up strength and learning to hunt. The Audubon Society decided they were ready to be wild once more and agreed to do the release in Nadaka.

Recycle Your Plastic Bags Here

A Dogipot® has been installed near the north entrance to Nadaka Nature Park which contains litter bags to be used for dog waste. This was provided with grant funds from the Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. If you are looking for a place to recycle your plastic garbage bags you could take a few and put them in the Dogipot® for others on your next walk thru the park. This will save considerable money purchasing the litter bags.

Capri Terrace neighbors Click to enlarge

Gresham Code Enforcement speaks to neighbors about recognizing & reporting violations Food, friends and celebrations cap a sunny Fall afternoon

Capri Terrace Fall Meeting

The 25th of September was a beautiful day for the gathering of the Capri Terrace Neighborhood Watch group. Good turn out considering the distractions of family activities of football, soccer, birthday parties and other family get-togethers. 20 plus members were in attendance, which represented 13 households, plus 1 guest speaker, Rita Humphrey’s from the Gresham City Code Enforcement Division.

Ms Humphrey’s brought along some handouts to help the group in recognizing violations and how to report them. Naturally strange cars in the neighborhood and messy yards come to mind, but she also emphasized keeping traffic signs clear of tree limbs and other hazards. Residents are responsible for keeping vision fields up to 30 feet clear. Be especially aware of what transpires in and around vacant properties such as graffiti, broken windows and transients loitering around the premises.

Stark Street Project nearing completion Overnight paving 8PM to 6AM Drivers advised to seek alternate routes

Expect delays overnight

Starting today, crews will grind and place new pavement overlay on Stark Street in Rockwood between 190th and 199th avenues, including the approaches to Stark on Burnside Road. This work is part of Rockwood in Motion and the second phase of safety and boulevard improvements to Stark Street. The work is being conducted at night to minimize delays to the public.

Night work is anticipated from 8PM to 6AM Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 29-30, and will include flagging of the Stark/Burnside intersection, which may delay traffic in the area. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

Paving will continue the first week in October to the east of Burnside on Stark Street down to 199th Avenue; Monday or Tuesday night, weather permitting. This work is anticipated to be finished in one night between 8PM. and 6AM. This pavement work will take one lane at a time and may require minor, periodic detours from side streets as the crews work around cooling asphalt.

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

• Multnomah County RSVP, a Program of Metropolitan Family Service (MFS)
• Community Investment Strategy: Recommendations from Metro's COO
• Gresham Takes a Look at Residential Districts
• Your Ideas Sought on Downtown Parking Changes – September 23
• Prescription Drug Turn In Event – September 25
• Transportation Safety Fair and Bike Rodeo – September 25
• Experience is the Best Teacher, and You Have a Lifetime’s Worth
• Construction Update: Gresham Butte Hiking Trails
• Learn Conflict Styles and Communication – October 20
• Volunteer to Watch Wildlife – Training in October
• Division Street Striping and New Bike Lanes This Fall
• Finishing up Summer Paint Projects? Dispose and Recycle Leftovers in Gresham
• SmartTrips Neighborhood Marketing Campaign Begins
• Do You Like Gresham’s Biking System? Take Our Online Survey
• Reservoir Watch – Help Us Protect Your Water Supply
• Agent of Change Workshop Series
• Hands-On Rain Garden Building Offered
• Upcoming Workshop on Negotiation Skills – November 10

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

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Subscribe to City media releases - Read more

Gresham Neighborhoods listing

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

Cha-Ching! Wood Village Redemption Center includes EZ Drop for greater convenience

Another first for Oregon

Oregon’s first beverage container redemption center since the inception of the Oregon Bottle Bill is scheduled to open Monday, September 27th.

The Wood Village BottleDrop Redemption Center, located at 3345 NE Halsey St., will be open to the public from 9AM to 6PM seven days a week. Operated by Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative the facility will have reverse vending-machines and employees available to count up to 200 containers per person per day and issue immediate container-deposit refunds.

Changes Ahead

Starting Sunday, October 3rd, the first two participating retailers Wood Village Fred Meyer and Cherry Park Safeway will no longer accept beverage container returns.

Consumers should take their refundable containers to the Wood Village Redemption Center or to smaller retailers in the area for collection.

MHCC Project YESS students Click to enlarge

Project YESS volunteers use Nadaka Nature Park as classroom for real-life experience

YESS they can

For the 2nd year in a row the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association has been fortunate to have a group of students from Mt. Hood Community College’s Project YESS working in Nadaka Nature Park. During the week of August 9th the students worked a total of four days removing invasives like ivy, blackberries and laurel from the park. In addition they removed litter from areas in the woods that had obviously become possible gathering places.

Project YESS helps students gain real life work experience and can place them on a paid temporary part-time job to learn work skills. One such experience is a Habitat Restoration Specialist working outdoors, helping with and learning about the environment. Nadaka has provided a classroom for the Project YESS students and we are very grateful for their hard work in our neighborhood.

About Project YESS Established in 1981, Project YESS is a youth education and employment program designed to help students prepare for the GED examination, establish career goals, find a job, and transition to college classes.

Project YESS students take a well-deserved afternoon break Click to enlarge

Located at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham OR, Project YESS provides a comfortable, stimulating learning environment where students needs are taken seriously.

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

• Multnomah County RSVP, a Program of Metropolitan Family Service (MFS)
• 92% Satisfaction at East Metro Mediation
• Parks Picnic on the Plaza - August 21
• Music Mondays Summer Concert Series
• Teddy Bear Parade with the Transportation Safety Fair to Follow
• Join Us Saturday for Parks Picnic on the Plaza
• Experience is the Best Teacher, and You Have a Lifetime’s Worth
• Powell Valley Neighborhood Event – August 27
• We’re Giving Away Four Rain Gardens
• Healthy Streams Fall Happenings
• Like Gresham’s New Bike Signs? Take Our Survey
• Rockwood in Motion Construction Update
• Learn How to Travel Smart
• Volunteers Needed: Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts – September 14-19
• Legacy Healthy Kids’ Fair – September 18
• Transportation Safety Fair and Bike Rodeo – September 25
• Workshop ‘Energy and Water – Double Your Savings’ – September 30

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Facebook - Read more
Twitter - Read more
Subscribe to City media releases - Read more

Gresham Neighborhoods listing

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

Human Solutions Rockwood Bldg Click to enlarge

Join Human Solutions as we break gound on the new Rockwood Building and celebrate the hard work and dedication of all our project partners

You're Invited!

When: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 1:00PM
Where: Human Solutions
Rockwood Mutli Service Center
124 NE 181st & Couch
Get map!

From vision to reality

After more than six years of fundraising and project design, The Rockwood Building will be the realization of a concept envisioned by Human Solutions that will bring much-needed housing and a suite of human services -together in a single building- to serve low-income families in the Rockwood area. The Rockwood Building will be constructed on a lot that has been empty for thirty years in the heart of one of the poorest areas in Multnomah County. It will bring infrastructure development and much needed social services to families in East Multnomah County, many of whom have been displaced by gentrification that has taken place in many Portland neighborhoods.

Guest Speakers

The program presentation will include a Welcome from Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis, with comments by Victor Merced, Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, Oregon State Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson, Jan Laskey of Bank of America, Margaret Van Vliet, Director of Portland Housing Bureau, and Jean DeMaster, Executive Director of Human Solutions, as well as Carla Piluso, Human Solutions’ Board President and former Chief of Police for Gresham.