News

Get ready for another summer of increased air traffic as PDX airport runway construction resumes, again

Work is planned to reconstruct Taxiway C and repair the south runway this spring through fall 2013 at Portland International Airport (PDX).

Planned is the full reconstruction of the eastern portion of Taxiway C, which provides aircraft access to and from the south runway. The south runway repair will replace concrete that was damaged after a military jet’s tire failed, causing its landing gear to scrape the runway. Temporary repairs are already in place.

Taxiway C reconstruction work will run from April 1 through mid-October. Repairs are planned for the south runway from approximately April 15 to May 31, and again from August 16 to September 29. The runway will be open between June 1 and August 15 to help accommodate peak summer traffic.

While no major flight schedule delays are expected, airport neighbors should expect increased flights over some airport neighborhoods during the south runway closure.

Inside this Issue

• Help Guide Gresham's Future Housing Needs
• Volunteer Watching Birds for Survey
• Backyard Burning Season Starts
• Recycle (Don't Toss) at Earth Day Event
• Free Compost, Bring Your Buckets
• Attend City's Graffiti Removal Summit
• Connect With Your City Councilors
• Bike Fun in May
• Rain Garden Workshop, $200 Incentive
• City Jobs, Meetings and Community Events

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Inside this Issue

• Connect at Community Information Fair
• Building Safety Month Help for Residents
• Follow Gresham Police on Twitter
• Emergency Practice Drill in the Neighborhood
• Tour Gresham's Natural Areas
• Get Ready to 'Rock the Block' at Event
• Event Honors Gussie, Dedicates New Plaza, Trail
• Voice Your Support for Transportation Projects
• Volunteer Mentors Needed for School Children
• City Jobs, Meetings and Community Events

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Gresham's Hogan Cedar Click for details

Celebrating Gresham’s 5th Anniversary as Tree City USA When: Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:30PM Where: Hogan Cedars Elementary 1770 SE Fleming Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Join the Urban Forestry Subcommittee in celebrating Gresham’s five-year anniversary as a designated Tree City USA. The event will include reading of the annual Arbor Day Proclamation by Gresham Mayor Shane T. Bemis and planting Hogan Cedar trees, Gresham’s official City tree. A Hogan cedar interpretive plaque will be unveiled and given to Hogan Cedars Elementary School at this event.

Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR

Early Neighborhood Meeting When: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 7PM Where: St Aidan’s Episcopal Church 17405 NE Glisan St Gresham OR Get Map!

You're Invited
This meeting is being held to discuss a proposed project; Nadaka Neighborhood Park, located adjacent to St. Aidan’s church. The property can be legally identified as (Site ID numbers 1N3E1AC9700, 10000,10100, and tax lot numbers R943310160, R943310520 and R943311370).

This project is in the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. You can see pre-application notes for this proposal at https://egov.greshamoregon.gov/Click2GovPZ/. It is Pre-Application Conference Number PAM13-26000040.

Purpose of meeting is to provide an opportunity for applicant and surrounding property owners to meet and discuss this proposal. Proposed park improvements expand existing trail and pathway system, children’s nature play area, community garden, berry patches, picnic shelter, seating and restrooms.

Annual Earth Day Event When: Sat Apr 20, 2013 9AM-2PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

Bring your recyclables to Gresham City Hall, Sat April 20th 9AM to 2PM

Earth Day Recycling. Rain or Shine!

Every year the City holds a free recycling event in April around Earth Day. The recycling event is free to Gresham and Wood Village residents (businesses may only participate in recycling fluorescents).

Begin saving your recyclable items and bring them to Gresham City Hall on Saturday, April 20.

Collection Items

• Rigid plastics/clean plastic bags (not accepted in curbside recycling)
• Styrofoam™
• Paper shredding (two boxes per household)
• Fluorescent tubes and lights
• Cell phones
• Batteries (3lb. limit per household)

Electronics
The City does not accept electronics at the Earth Day recycling event.

Options for Recycling Electronics:
• TVs, computers and monitors can be recycled for free year-round at several recycling sites (Goodwill, Salvation Army) in Gresham.
• Metro has two household hazardous waste facilities open for drop-off. See Metro's website for more information.
• Metro also holds household hazardous collection events.

Or, take your items to a recycler year-round. Contact Metro Recycling at 503-234-3000 for location and material information.

Public Welcome When: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11AM-12PM Where: Rockwood Public Safety Facility site 675 NE 181st Av Greaham OR Get Map!

You're Invited!
Join Mayor Bemis and Police Chief Craig Junginger on Thursday, March 7, from 11AM to noon at 675 NE 181st Ave to celebrate the beginning of construction of the Rockwood Public Safety Facility.

Read more about the Rockwood Public Safety Facility here.

Click to enlarge

Have You Seen This Trailer? Did this "fairly new" but quite used charcoal utility trailer appear at your neighbor's home over the weekend? If so, call the police immediately!

BE ON THE LOOK OUT
The trailer with a 5' x 8' bed and a partial load of wood debris from a demolished deck was stolen from the driveway in the Wilkes East neighborhood at NE 162nd and Multnomah St sometime between Friday evening March 8th and Sunday morning March 11th. Most likely the theft occured overnight Friday.

Because the hitch was locked, the trailer was probably towed away using only the safety chain.

Contact the Police
A police report has been filed. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this trailer is urged to contact the Gresham Police 503-823-3333.

Radon. An Invisible Danger. Radon gas occurs naturally. It is present in nearly all soil and rock. You can't see, smell or taste it - but it's there. Radon forms when uranium breaks down to radium, which in turn breaks down to form radon. As radon decays, it releases radioactive byproducts that are inhaled.

Health Impact
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking -- and the number one reason why non-smokers die of lung cancer. It's estimated to be responsible for over 21,000 deaths annually in the United States.

Is Their Radon In Your Home
Radon enters a home through cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings. Once inside, radon can become trapped and build up to unsafe levels, especially in areas below ground-level. Nationwide it's estimated that 1 in every 15 homes has elevated radon levels. In the Portland / Vancouver area (map) that number can skyrocket to 1 in 4 homes.

PAL Center, NE 172nd Av, Gresham OR

The Boys & Girls Club of Portland Metropolitan Area has agreed to take over management of the Gresham youth center run by the struggling Police Activities League of Greater Portland, the groups announced Friday.

Source: oregonlive.com (Feb 22, 2013)

After-school activities and services to continue in West Gresham
The change will take effect on March 1, according to a press release. The groups hope to keep the center open for regular hours during the transition, but warned there may be a temporary closure.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after the Portland PAL board warned it might have to shut the doors of the youth center in Gresham. Last-minute donations helped keep the doors open, but PAL’s board concluded this week that it could not continue on its own. The board opted to find someone else who could continue providing the after-school activities and services that it has offered to youths, said PAL board chairman Mark McGinnis.

"The Boys & Girls Clubs' commitment to serving the community is consistent with our mission, and we look forward to their carrying on PAL's work of providing opportunities for law enforcement and youth to have positive, meaningful interaction through the Clubs," McGinnis said in a statement. Read story here.