Announcement

STREET CLOSURE NOTICE The City of Gresham has contracted with Kerr Contractors, Inc., to repair and repave NE 162nd Ave from Hoyt to Halsey (View Map). The project originally set to start October 10th will now begin Monday, October 17th. Neighbors are advised to find alternate routes. Completion is expected Friday, October 21st -- but could last take longer as parts of the project are weather-dependent.

NE 162nd Ave will be closed to all through traffic during construction.

City of Gresham Transportation says the contractor will remove the existing asphalt in the car and bike lanes, pulverize the existing road base and rebuild it to a depth of 12", treat the road base with cement, and cover it with hot asphalt. There will be no widening of the existing road bed or bike lanes.

Detours will be in place for residents with alternate access to their homes. Residences fronting 162nd Ave and those without alternate access will be accomodated; however, they may experience delays.

The contractor will notify affected residents one week prior to starting contruction. Electronic message boards will be placed at both ends of the project annoucing the closure dates a few days before construction begins. "NO PARKING" signs will be posted as needed. Illegally parked cars will be towed at the owners' expense.

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

• Crime Reports
  
• National Preparedness Month
• “Gresham is…” Deadline Extended to September 30
  
• Do Your Surroundings Promote Healthy Eating and Active Living?
• September Bike-to-Work Commute Activities
• Transportation Fair and Bike Rodeo
• Save Energy, Water, and Money
• Healthy Stream Program Fall Deadlines Approaching, Don’t Miss Free Services
• Gresham Hosts PGE Energy Seminars
• How Can Transportation and Getting Around be Improved in East County?
• Gresham-Fairview Trail Detour
• Chamber Expo
• Symphonic Safari

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

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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.

Oregon State Fair, through Monday

Art, Legos, Pirates and more Labor Day events in and around Portland this year has something for everyone. So, celebrate summers end. Gather the family and head out this weekend for some old fashion fun!

Art in The Pearl Festival
A well-named event takes care of the what and the where. There is also plenty of live music and food. Sat-Mon. Get Map FREE

LEGO Games Summer Tour
Located at Pioneer Square & Director Park (Get Map) - Play with life sized LEGO board games. "Features one-of-a-kind localized gameplay for Portland-area residents." -- Find out what that means! Fri-Sun at Pioneer Square; Monday at Director Park. 9AM-5PM. FREE

Ahoy and Avast!
The sixth annual Portland Pirate Festival invades Historic St. Helens, Oregon this Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4, 2011. Get Map. The fest features pirate-themed and non-pirate-themed music, dance and performance, historical reenactments (with cannons!), stuff for kids, and of course there grub and grog! The aaarrrs begin at 10AM both Saturday and Sunday, and continue until midnight pm Saturday and 10PM Sunday. Tickets $12 adults, $6 kids under 12, available at the gate.

Livestock, corn dogs and wild rides
The Oregon State Fair, under way this weekend, has it all. Through next Monday. Hours are 10AM-11PM Friday-Saturday, and 10AM-10PM Sunday-Monday. Where: Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem OR. Get Map. Tickets: $11 for ages 13-64, $6 for seniors and kids ages 6-12.

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2011
Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. They spend their days eating, then in the late afternoon the Swifts begin flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky about the Chapman School at 1445 NW 26th in northwest Portland. Get Map. Around sunset they swirl more tightly, like a ground pepper tornado, and begin disappearing, down the chimney. On the lawn below, hundreds of Portlanders gather on lawn chairs and blankets to stare at this spectacular event. FREE

Have a great weekend!

Sullivans Gultch, 1932. Click to enlarge

Explore the Rich History When: Thur, Sept 1, 2011 6PM-8PM Where: NE 11th & Holladay (Lloyd Center MAX station) Portland, OR Get Map! Cost: Free!

Join the fun
Walk across a gulch created by the catastrophic Missoula Floods. Hear the gulch’s stories—geologic and human--and explore the neighborhoods along its rim: Sullivan’s Gulch, where large old homes and trees offer beautiful walking, and Kerns, where light industry has thrived for over a hundred years.

About the Photos Sullivan’s Gulch was created by the catastrophic Missoula Floods. The gultch has been a route for trains, and now the I-84 freeway and MAX light rail follow its path. In 1932 part of Lloyd Golf Course lay in the gultch. Most of the course was atop the south bank of Sullivan’s Gulch (up the slope on the right) but a couple of the holes, including this green under construction, were down in the gulch itself. (Top) View east, about NE 15th, (Right) View east, NE 21st. NE 28th Ave overpass in the back of both.

Sullivan's Gultch, 2010. Click to enlarge

Keep the Street Clear for Sweeping.

Street Sweeping Program Transportation provides year-around, nine-times-a-year sweeping of all City streets. If weather conditions prevent sweeping a street on its scheduled day, the City will sweep it at the end of the cycle, time permitting. If not, the City will sweep it during the next cycle.

Schedule
Street Sweeping Map

View boundaries and sweep days when the street sweeper will be in your neighborhood.

Street Sweeping Brochure and 2011 Schedule

Joint Open Houses When: Wed, Sep 7, 2011 6PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Room (First Floor) 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

You're Invited
Please mark your calendars for a September 7th outreach event that provides a chance to comment on two City planning projects.

Starting at 6PM, an open house will offer information on:

• Institutional Master Plans
  Come review the draft Development Code changes that would allow institutional uses to seek approval of long-term, phased master plans.
• Urban Forestry Management Plan
  Take a look at the draft goals, policies and action measures for urban forestry in Gresham. These goals and policies will be incorporated into the City's Community Development Plan to guide future Code development and City actions regarding its urban forest. We would like your questions and ideas.

The urban forestry open house will continue until 8PM.

At 6:45PM, those at the joint open house will be invited to join a presentation and discussion regarding the Institutional Master Plan draft Code.

Saturday Family Walks, Greater Gresham

When: Sat, Sep 10, 2011 9AM-10:30AM Where: Greater Gresham area Meet at Gresham City Hall (Next to MAX station) 1333 Eastman Pkwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

Lace Your Shoes, Let's Go Walking!
The Gresham Regional Center Transportation Management Association hosts free monthly Saturday Family Walks in Gresham.

Bring the Family
Family Walks start at 9AM sharp on the Gresham City Hall Plaza next to the MAX station, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water. These family walks will cover a couple of miles at a pace suitable for families.

The walks will take about 1.5 hours and return to the same starting location.

Family Bike Rides, Gresham metro area

When: Sat Sep 10, 2011 10AM-1PM Where: Greater Gresham area Meet at Main City Park 219 S. Main Ave Gresham, OR Get map!

Join the Fun
If you are new to cycling, are a family with kids, or are just trying to get back on a bike this ride series may be just what you're looking for. These are slower paced group rides of about 8 to 10 miles around Gresham that pass by parks, schools, and other public facilities. The route is mostly on bike paths, bike lanes, and low traffic residential streets.

Rain Garden, Functional beauty

Lots of Creative Ideas When: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9AM-1PM Where: (Multiple locations) Meet at Main City Park, Springwater Trail parking Gresham, OR Get Map!

Rain garden: Landscaping that absorbs water from your roof or driveway

Free Tour
Join the Johnson Creek Watershed Council and the City of Gresham's Watershed Division on a tour of Hollybrook Neighborhood rain gardens. Learn about native plants, natural gardening and building your own rain garden at home to help improve water quality and wildlife habitat.

Registration required. Meet at the Main City Park Springwater Trail parking lot in Gresham at 9AM. Tour will go until noon. Bring supplies for a picnic in Main City Park from noon until 1PM. Please wear a helmet and bring a water bottle and sunscreen.

Adult Bike Ride, Gresham / Troutdale

When: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10AM-1PM Where: Greater Gresham area Meet at Main City Park 219 S. Main Ave Gresham, OR Get map!

Adult Fun!
This series of free, moderately-paced adult group bicycle rides will explore the area between Gresham, Troutdale and the Sandy River as well as East Portland. Bike rides range from 15 to 25 miles. The group will travel along at around 13/15 mph and stop for coffee, bakery sweets, or ice cream somewhere along the route.

Riders are encouraged to arrive 10 minutes early, the group leaves at 10AM sharp from Gresham’s Main City Park at the corner of Powell Boulevard and Main Avenue in historic downtown.