Info

Experts Warn Cascadia Is Overdue For A 9.0 Earthquake

Be informed. Build a kit. Make a plan. Everyday you hear the warnings. Have you made a kit? Do you have a plan?

If you're like most of us - you're not ready.

If that's you, we've got some great tips and valuable resources below to help you be prepared for whenever a disaster strikes.

TICK. TOCK.
Think of Oregon geology as a clock, measuring time in earthquakes. Tick: a magnitude 8 quake. (Bigger than 1989 Bay Area quake that killed 63 people.) Tock: a magnitude 9 quake. (Same as the 2011 Japan quake that killed almost 16,000 people.) On average, a major quake happens in our area every 243 years, the last one was January 26, 1700 — 316 years ago. Yes. We are overdue.

When the next Big One does happen, a 700-mile long section of the tectonic plate known as the Juan de Fuca, stretching from British Columbia to Northern California, will slide beneath the North American plate, causing the entire Northwest coast-line to sink up to 6.6 feet. This won’t be a California-style short burst of energy quake in the earth’s upper crust. The Big One will be bigger, deeper, and last longer: 3–4 minutes, with dozens of after-shocks, some very powerful, for days, months, or later.

Cascadia Subduction Zone. Pacific Northwest. Click to Enlarge.

Hillsides will slide. Buildings will collapse. Roads will buckle. High-rises will sway. Bridges will crack. Some will fall. Pipes will snap. Within 20 minutes, the first of several 40-foot tsunami waves will wash away the Oregon Coast’s low-lying towns.

If our next “subduction zone” quake unleashes its full potential, it will be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

Let's Kick Ball! When: Sun, Sep 29, 2019 5PM-7PM Where: Friends of the Children gym 424 NE 172nd Ave. Get Map!

Indoor Sunday Futsal youth recreation is open to all students in grades 6-12 on Sunday from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Friends of the Children gym.

• Free. Open to boys and girls.
• Learn new skills, make new friends, play futsal.
• Participants must bring a signed waiver to play.
• Adult supervision and mentorship provided by Active Children Portland volunteers.
• Sponsored by the City of Gresham.

For more information, email Ricki Ruiz at Ricardo.Ruiz@GreshamOregon.gov or call 503-583-0771.

Read more about Sunday Futsal.

Flyer and waiver

The “dog days of summer” occur during the hottest and muggiest part of summer

Dog Days of Summer?  Click to enlarge

The dictionary defines “dog days” as: 1:  the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere 2:  a period of stagnation or inactivity

But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?” Here's the answer!

In ancient times, when the night sky was free from artificial lights people in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. These star pictures are called constellations, and the constellations as we know them came from our European ancestors.

Ancient star gazer's saw images in the stars of bears (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), twins (Gemini), a bull (Taurus), and others objects, including dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor). Click 'Read more' for the answer!

Click to enlarge

Love, Heartbreak, and Renewal Local history says un the summer of 1845 Payton & Anna Wilkes and their seven children left Independence Missouri in a two-yolk oxen-drawn covered wagon and headed west on the Oregon Trail for Oregon.

They arrived by late fall after crossing the Cascade Mountains during a particularly strong snow storm and settled into their new life style in Oregon City. More than 3,000 wagons arrived in Oregon that year.

In 1850 their son William Wilkes took a Donation Land Claim on Sandy Road east of Portland.

The Donation Land Claim Act (DLC) became law on September 27, 1850 as a means to promote homestead settlements in the Oregon Territory (comprising the resent-day states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and part of Wyoming).

The Act granted 320 acres of designated areas free-of-charge to every unmarried male citizen eighteen or older, and 640 acres to every married couple arriving in the Oregon Territory before December 1, 1850. A total of 7,437 land claims were issued under the Act which expired in late 1855.

Soon after receiving his land, William gave up his claim after his wife died and headed to California to mine gold.

Rich with cash, William Wilkes returned to east Portland and purchased the Milton Frazer DLC (see photo above), which was located immediately to the east of his original claim. And that's why there are two Wilkes neighborhoods.

Wilkes, the original land claim. And, Wilkes East, the purchased land to the east of William Wilkes original claim.

William C Wilkes Click to enlarge

William C Wilkes grave Click to enlarge

Sarah A Wilkes Click to enlarge

To learn more about local history, read "Gresham, Stories of our Past". Available from the Gresham Historical Society, area book stores, and Amazon.com

.

Public Welcome. Get Involved! When: Tue, Jan 08, 2019 7PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Rm 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

For more information about the Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations, contact Carol Rulla, Coalition President, at 503-663-1466 or crullaor@gmail.com.

Click to enlarge		Save the Date! When: Tue Oct 23, 2018 6:30PM-9:00PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Center 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Get Map!

Meeting the Council Candidates
Come hear from the candidates running for Gresham City Council! The Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations is hosting a candidate forum.

The schedule will be:

This is a non-partisan event, organized by volunteers from the Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations.

In each section, the candidates will first give brief intros, then answer a few questions that the Coalition is providing in advance of the forum, followed by audience questions which will be submitted on notecards at the forum.

Please join us to meet your neighbors & become a more informed voter!

East County Parks: A Need & Opportunity for Renewal

Join us to view this new film 10:30 am to Noon Saturday June 2 at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Rockwood!

Click to view trailer!

Support Our Public Parks When: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:30AM-12:00PM Where: St Aidan's Episcopal Church 17405 NE Glisan St Portland, OR 97230 (next to Nadaka Nature Park) Get Map!

Following the 15 minute film we'll have a short discussion. Light refreshments will be served.

Can't Make June 2?
You can catch screenings at the following other times and locations:

• June 20 screening for High School Students. Email for details.
• August 18 the Nadaka Community Festival.
• August 25 Rock the Block
• Additional screenings will be posted here when scheduled.

Learn More
Springwater Parks & Community is a project of the East Metro Arts, Community & Culture

Saturday's thru October When: Sat, May 06, 2017 9AM-3PM Where: Mt. Hood Community College Parking Lot "W" 26000 SE Stark Street Get Map!

The Gresham Saturday Market is a Farmer's Market that includes many crafts, artisans, fresh flowers, plants, services, and unique offerings, plus great food and live entertainment from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Ample on-site parking is available next to the market.

For more information call 503-912-4122 or visit the Gresham Saturday Market website.

When: Wed, May 10, 2017 6:30PM-9PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Center 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

If the budget is not approved at the first meeting on May 9, 2017, the City of Gresham Budget Committee will hold a public meeting to review and approve the proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18. Public participation is encouraged.

For more information, contact Sharron Monohon, Budget and Financial Planning Director, at Sharron.Monohon@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2890.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Wed, May 10, 2017 6PM-6:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Center 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Gresham Redevelopment Commission Budget Committee (GRDCBC) is responsible for recommending a budget to the Gresham Redevelopment Commission for the upcoming fiscal year 2017-18. Public participation is encouraged.

For more information, contact Sharron Monohon, Budget and Financial Planning Director, at Sharron.Monohon@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2890.