Community

Free Low-Cost Gardening Course When: Thu Feb 28, 2019 6:30PM-8:30PM Where: St Aidan's Episcopol Church 17405 NE Glisan St Gresham, OR Get Map!

Healthy gardening on a budget
Seed to Supper is a free, 5-week course offered by the Oregon Food Bank and hosted by Friends of Nadaka Nature Park that teaches participants how-to garden on a budget. In this interactive class, participants gain new knowledge and skills to be able to start a garden and grow some of their own food. Participants receive free instructional booklets and seeds with the course to help them get started, as well as some hands-on practice in Nadaka's Community Garden. Topics include:

• Garden site and soil development
• Garden planning
• Planting a garden
• Caring for a growing garden
• Harvesting and using garden bounty

Learn low-cost ways to build healthy soil, plan you growing space, care for your growing garden and harvest your bounty!

** Registration is required for this event. Please sign up using this Seed to Supper Registration Form. Contact info@friendsofnadaka.org with any questions. Participants are expected to attend all five classes. Please sign up, and share with friends!

This course will be taught in English. If you are interested in attending a Russian- or Spanish-led course, please contact info@friendsofnadaka.org

2018 Holiday Activities

Looking for fun things to do with family or friends? Revel in the holiday spirit with these events and activities. Be sure to check-out our last link for an extensive list of Holiday happenings!

• 28th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert
  Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:30-3PM
• Alpenrose Storybook Lane
  Weekends, Nov 30-Dec 16, Fri 3-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM
• 2016 Christmas Ship Parade
  Nightly, Nov 30-Dec 20 (Various times)
• Lights on Peacock Lane
  Nightly, Dec 15-Dec 31 6PM-11PM
• Pittock Mansion Christmas
  Daily, Nov 19-Dec 31, 10AM-4PM
• Portland's Holiday Express Get Your Tickets Early!
  Weekends, Nov 23-24, Dec 1-2, Dec 8-9, Dec 15-16
• Oregon ZooLights
  Nightly, Nov 21-Jan 05, 5PM-9PM
• WinterWonderland at PIR
  Nightly, 5PM-11PM, Nov 23-Dec 26
• The Grotto: Festival of Lights
  Nightly, 5PM-9:30PM Nov 23-Dec 30th
• Aspen Meadows, Celebration of Lights
  Nightly, Dec 08-Dec 26 5PM-11PM

• More activities and events here!

28th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert   Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:30-3PM, Pioneer Courthouse Square. Downtown will pulse with the melodic sounds of big brass as nearly 300 tubas play in unison for the 28th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in the heart of downtown. FREE! [Top]

Alpenrose Storybook Lane   Weekends, Nov 30-Dec 16, Fri 3-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM, 6149 SW Shattuck. A family tradition for more than fifty years. Alpenrose's old western town is transformed into a winter wonderland in nostalgic Storybook Lane. Visit with Santa. Bring a donation for Oregon Food Bank. FREE! [Top]

2018 Christmas Ship Parade   Nightly, Nov 30-Dec 20 (See schedule for locations & times), Columbia River and Willamette River. The Christmas Ship Fleet averages 60+ boats between the two Columbia River and Willamette River fleets. Both fleets will be out most every night. Visit the website for schedule details. FREE! [Top]

Lights on Peacock Lane   Nightly, Dec 15-Dec 31 6PM-11PM, SE 40th & Stark. Since the 1920s, each house on Peacock Lane has been decorating for Christmas. Tudors style houses are adorned with sparkling lights, nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees plus Santa, Frosty and the gang. FREE! [Top]

Pittock Mansion Christmas   Daily, Nov 20-Dec 31, 10AM-4PM, Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Home to Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock, pioneer owners of the Oregonian newpaper, this beautiful mansion is decorated will all the splendor of the holiday season. Adults $11. 6-18 $8. Under 6 free. [Top]

Portland's Holiday Express   Get Your Tickets Early! Weekends 10AM-8PM, Nov 23-24, Dec 1-2, Dec 8-9, Dec 15-16. Holiday Express trains leave from the Oaks Station at Oaks Amusement Park. Join Santa on a steam powered railroad adventure along the scenic Willamette River. Tickets $18-$21.50 adult, $15-$11.50 children (under 12), $54-$68 Family 4 pack. 40 minutes. Visit ORHF website for tickets. [Top]

Oregon ZooLights   Nightly, Nov 21-Jan 05, 5PM-9PM, Oregon Zoo.It wouldn't be the holidays in Portland without a visit to ZooLights, returning this year train rides and over a 1.5 million LED light experience. Adults $17.95/$12.95. Children (3-11) $12.95/$7.95. [Top]

WinterWonderland at PIR   Nightly, 5PM-11PM, Nov 23-Dec 26, Portland Intl Raceway Recognized as the "Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi", the 26th annual Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. Over 250 lighted pieces. $20/car. [Top]

The Grotto: Festival of Lights   Nightly, 5PM-9:30PM Nov 23-Dec 30th, 8840 NE Skidmore 500,000 lights, 150 performances, petting zoo, carolers and more. The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. Adult $12. Children (3-12) $6 [Top]

Aspen Meadows, Celebration of Lights   Nightly, Dec 08-Dec 26 5PM-11PM, , 24232 S. Upper Highland Rd, 150,000 lights, carolers, interactive children’s area,miniature train village, warm refreshments and more. Oregon Food Bank donations accepted. FREE! [Top]

Meeting Notice When: Mon Nov 13, 2018 7PM-8:30PM Where: Albertina Kerr Gresham Campus, Training Building (small bldg, center north on campus) 722 NE 162nd Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Neighborhood Meeting, Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday, November 12th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2018 Fall Meeting & Board Elections. The meeting will be held at Albertina Kerr, 722 NE 162nd Av, Training Building (small bldg, center north on property), Gresham OR. Get map!

Agenda

• WENA 2018-2019 Annual Election of Officers
• Gresham Police NET, area activity update
• Danna Diez, Superintendent Reynolds Schools
• TriMet, Update on new lines in Wilkes East
• North Gresham, Volunteers for Kirk Park

Who should attend?
Participation is open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within our boundaries

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Watch for these red & white Meeting Signs the week before our meeting. The signs were purchased with assistance of the City of Gresham Neighborhood Grant Program, and with volunteer hours to set them out and retrieve them. Signs Now NW also made a generous contribution to this project.

Mark your calendar. See you there!

Serving warm food, warm smiles

Happy Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on everything you’ve been given, and be grateful for all that you have.

Take the time to give thanks for all that’s good in your life -- and give to others who may not share the same good fortune this Thanksgiving.

Give from the heart

Help brighten the holiday for someone in need.

• Donate time or money to a local charity or food pantry
• Donate a Thanksgiving basket to a neighbor in need
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter
• Deliver Thanksgiving meals to housebound seniors

Volunteer this holiday, and share the season!

Have a safe Thanksgiving weekend.

		Simple Solution. Big Reward. After big holiday meals, no one likes to be stuck doing the clean-up. But if you aren't careful with leftover gravy, pan drip-pings and sauces a grease-clogged drain could ruin your holiday and cost you a bundle.

When fats, oils and grease are poured down the drain, they stick to the inside of pipes causing messy sewer backups and expensive cleanup and repair.

The solution:
Pour the grease into a can, freeze it, and toss the can in the trash!

Portland 34th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Pioneer Courthouse Square: Fri Nov 23, 2018 5:30PM-6:30PM

Come and Join the Fun! When: Fri, Nov 23, 2018 5PM-6:30PM Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square 701 SW 6th Ave Portland, OR Get Map!

The day after Thanksgiving, thousands of Portlanders will gather at the Square to celebrate the lighting of the spectacular 75' Douglas-fir tree provided by Stimson Lumber Company.

Join us for a community sing-a-long curated by Portland’s own Thomas Lauderdale, with members of Pink Martini and friends. Limited edition holiday songbooks will be available at the event or for download on our website. Pre-show entertainment begins at 5pm.

With a big tree, over 14,000 colorful lights and Portland’s largest community sing-a-long, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Strobe lights will be used during this event.

When: Sat, Nov 24, 2018 6AM-10PM Where: Throughout Gresham Get Map!

Black Friday? No, Shop Small Saturday! Support your local businesses of Gresham on November 24. Stay tuned for a list of participating businesses in the Gresham area. Visit the Gresham Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Why do we shop small?

1. Small and local businesses give back more to your community. According to Civic Economics, "On average, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to the less than 14% of purchases at chain stores."
2. Small businesses make a major economic impact in our City. According to the SBA, since 1990, small businesses have added 9 million jobs. The more you shop local, the more local job opportunities will increase.
3. Small businesses create a sense of community. Check out the City's Spirit of Christmas event. Events like this are made possible because of participating local Gresham businesses.

For more information about this event, contact Shelley Write at 503-665-1131 or shelleyw@greshamchamber.org.

Come and Join the Fun! When: Sat, Nov 24, 2018 5PM-6:30PM Where: Arts Plaza 401 NE Second St. Get Map!

The 27th Annual Spirit of Christmas tree lighting one of the communitys most popular events rings in Greshams holiday season with a family-friendly program that includes music, photos with Santa, refreshments and the lighting of the 60-foot Ponderosa pine on the Arts Plaza.

Watch for fun activities beforehand in Historic Downtown in the afternoon leading up to the tree lighting festivities on the Arts Plaza.

For more information, contact Event Coordinator Shannon Chisom at Shannon.Chisom@gmail.com or 503-750-3785.

Read more about the Spirit of Christmas event.

Peaceful Solutions When: Tue, Nov 27, 2018 6PM-7:30PM Where: Wood Village City Hall 2055 NE 238th Dr. Wood Village OR Get Map!

The holidays can be a joyous and wonderful time for families and friends to gather and celebrate. However, tough topics like politics and religion can make those gatherings difficult.

This 1.5-hour training is an introduction on how to utilize conflict management skills to enhance learning experiences around tough topics like religion and politics. Participants will be actively engaged throughout the training with the help of experts that will provide coaching through hands on practice.

This training is free to those who live or work in Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village or unincorporated east Multnomah County. $10 fee for those who are outside of east county.

Contact East Metro Mediation at 503-618-3247 or Mediate@GreshamOregon.gov to register.