West Gresham

Jim Clark / Gresham Outlook Disc golfer Jerry Miller, right, helped spearhead a drive to raise funds for Park Place Coffee when owner Dina DiNucci, left, was ready to close up shop.

Unexpected help keeps cafe owner from closing her heart and doors Park Place Coffee will continue serving the community

Source: The Gresham Outlook, Jan 7, 2011, Updated Jan 11, 2011
By Mara Stine

Dina DiNucci opened her coffee and crepe shop Park Place Coffee in Rockwood four years ago, not only to operate a small business, but to give the community a gathering place.

But as the economy tanked it became harder and harder for DiNucci to stay afloat. She squeaked by every month. Yet as 2011 neared, she wondered if it made sense to invest another $1,000 in her annual business licenses, permit and other yearly expenses

GRDC Advisory Committee agenda: Election of Officers, Rockwood Code Compliance Staff Report, 2011 Revenue Projections, Rockwood in Motion Update, Annual Report to GRDC, Plaza del Sol Programming Work Group Update

When: Wednesday Jan 12, 2011 7PM-9PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
Oregon Trail Conference Center
1333 NW Eastman Pky
Gresham OR
Get Map!

On the agenda

Click here for Wednesday night's Gresham Redevelopment Commission (GRDC) Advisory Committee meeting agenda. This link takes you to the City of Gresham webpage that has the attachments and further meeting information.

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.

Western Screech Owl Click to enlarge

Please come and join us, all are welcome! Nadaka becomes home for two rehabilitated Western Screech Owls

When: Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010 7PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
175th & NE Pacific St
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Releases are weather dependent!

Back to the wild

Both of these Western Screech Owls came into 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 have been in a flight cage building up strength and learning to hunt. They are ready to be wild once more!

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.

Burnside construction, Rockwood (Click to enlarge)

Rockwood in Motion: 188th MAX Station nighttime construction continues Expect excavation, drilling and other construction noise overnight

When: Sun Aug 22 thru Fri Aug 27, 10PM-7AM
Where: E Burnside (Between 185th - SE Stark)
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Plug your ears (It's not over yet)!

Nighttime construction work will continue up to five additional nights next week at the Rockwood 188th MAX station from 10PM to 7AM starting Sunday, August 22 through the morning of Friday, August 27. This is an extension of the original notice (Aug 15-19) as TriMet has encountered challenging subsurface condition during construction.

This work must be completed at night while the MAX trains are not in service in order to avoid machinery contacting the high voltage overhead wires. This work will involve excavation, drilling and other construction equipment. TriMet will make every effort to reduce the impact of this unavoidable noise on the surrounding neighborhood. Noise levels will vary depending on how close one is to the construction area, but are expected to peak between 66 and 76 decibels at 150 feet from the work site, or about as loud as a truck passing on Burnside. Free ear plugs are available during business hours at the Rockwood Community Office, located at 18709 SE Stark Street (directly adjacent to the construction site).