News

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.

Gresham PAL Center, NE 172nd Av Photo:Everton Bailey Jr./The Oregonian

Generous donations keep doors open through end of month for more than a hundred at-risk children. Fundraiser next Friday

Source: kgw.com (Feb 15, 2013)

The Gresham Police Activities League Center will stay open at least through the end of the month.

The PAL center is an after school program for more than a hundred “at risk” children. More than 3000 children a year benefit from the program.

“We’re thrilled!” said PAL Board President Mark McGinnis. Earlier in the week he said the doors would close if the organization could not make payroll by Friday. He said that would take $20-thousand-dollars.

PAL Center, 424 NE 172nd Av, Gresham

PAL Center on 172nd to close Feb 15th Local youth center to cease after school activities

Source: Pamplin Media Group, Feb 12, 2013

Without additional funding, the Greater Portland Police Activities League Program said Tuesday that it will be forced to close its centers in Portland and Gresham on Friday, Feb. 15.

Beaverton’s PAL center is expected to stay open for now.

A Tuesday press release said “the ongoing reduction of governmental funding and the economic times have placed the organization in the position to need to make this difficult decision.”

“It is with great sadness that this wonderful program may have to close,” said PAL board member Cliff Madison. “It has made a great impact in the lives of many kids in our community and has taken down many of the walls between Cops, Kids and Community. It will be missed.”

The closure will include both the Bud Monnes PAL Center (NE 172nd Av) in Gresham and the PAL Office at the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct.

Share Your Ideas Jeff Merkley Town Hall Where: Gresham City Hall When: 1333 NW Eastman Pky Gresham, OR Get Map!

Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley is holding his annual Multnomah County town hall in Gresham this year.

Share your opinion and ideas. Plan to attend.

Rockwood Public Safety Facility, Gresham

All Trades Welcome! When: Thu Jan 10, 2013 3PM-7PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham OR Get Map!

The Gresham Redevelopment Commission invites local contractors to attend an open house on Thursday January 10 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Gresham City Hall to learn about opportunities to participate in construction of the new Rockwood Public Safety Facility. Representatives from the project’s Construction Manager/General Contractor, P&C Construction, will be there to describe the project schedule and the process for bidding on work. A formal presentation at 4:30 p.m. will go over details of bidding and contracting on the project.

All trades are welcome at the meetings but attendance is not required for bidding. Interested firms and individuals are strongly encouraged to sign up for more information about working on the project at http://local.ecologisticsllc.com/rockwood_psf/.

Save Energy, $ave money! When: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:30AM-12:30PM Where: Rockwood Public Library 17917 SE Stark St Gresham, OR Get Map!

As winter draws near, many residents, both homeowners and renters, will be facing a chilly indoors, coupled with higher energy bills. As utility customers and taxpayers, they are financially supporting a variety of energy efficiency programs that could assist them, and yet they may be unaware of these opportunities. The City of Gresham is offering free energy efficiency information fairs, to raise awareness in the community about the benefits of energy conservation and the opportunities to increase energy efficiency in one's home. Regardless of whether one owns or rents, lives in a single family home, mobile home, apartment or condominium, there are no cost, low cost and advanced energy efficiency opportunities and incentives available.

Safety Awareness and Pre-attack Indicators When: Mon Dec 3, 2012 6-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trial Room 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Get Map!

The Gresham Police Department has teamed up with the City’s Risk Management Department to offer a free, two-hour training session to the public on personal safety and how to avoid becoming the victim of a crime. Gresham police officers will discuss basic safety measures everyone can take to avoid becoming the victim of a crime, including how to spot pre-attack indicators.

The training is open to the public, but all attendees must be 16 years of age or older. 16- and 17-year-olds must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Children ages 15 and younger are not allowed.

Registration is required, and space is limited to the first 130 registrants. You must register by Nov 30 at 4:30PM.

City of Gresham appoints Palmero to vacancy Mario Palmero, a 36-year-old welfare caseworker at the Oregon Department of Human Services's Gresham office, is Gresham's newest city councilor.

Gresham Outlook, Dec 18, 2012

After interviewing Palmero and two other candidates during the Tuesday, Dec. 18, council meeting, councilors in a 4-1 vote appointed him to fill Position 4 for the last two years of the seat's four-year term. Council President Karylinn Echols was absent.

Share your ideas When: Thu Nov 15, 2012 6-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Room 3A 1333 Eastman Pky Get Map!

Please attend this meeting to give us your input on trail design and amenities for a bicycle and pedestrian trail between Rockwood and Gresham's Downtown through the city's civic center. The trail will provide connections between residential and commercial neighborhoods, existing trails, City Hall and Gresham High School. Construction will begin in fall 2013 with completion anticipated in winter 2014. This project is fully funded by a grant.