News

Youth volunteer helps seperate bulky waste for disposal while Event coordinator Brian Heerwagen breaks down larger items

2008 Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up a Huge Success! With the peak of summer came this year's Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up. For the past 3 years, Wilkes East residents have enjoyed the convenient disposal of unwanted trash and yard debris at the annual July fund-raiser sponsored by the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association.

Residents lined-up early for the three hour event held Saturday July 26th from 9AM to Noon in the east parking lot at HB Lee Middle School. Staffed by a dozen volunteers this year's clean-up served 48 families, and filled two industrial sized (40 cubic yard) dumpsters to capacity! One dumpster was dedicated to Yard Debris and Wood Waste, the other dumpster was dedicated to Bulky Waste (trash).

Volunteers directed traffic, helped clean-up participants with their drop-offs, and seperated the debris for disposal. Home pick-up was also available this year for bulky items and to those neighbors without transportation. Many neighbors expressed their appreciation, thanking the volunteers, and stating how much they look forward to the annual event. Disposed items included yard debris, furniture, beds, bbqs, carpet, garage trash, remodeling debris, lots of junk, windows and doors, even an old wooden boat!

Dump Your Junk! Saturday July 26th, 2008 Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up!

When: Sat July 26, 2008 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Where: HB Lee Middle School
1121 NE 172nd Ave
(between NE Glisan & NE Halsey. Click here for a map!)
Cost: $15.00 per household

"Spring Clean-Up" usually means you discover a lot of things you wish you could take to the dump! Well, now you don't have to take your junk very far! The dumpsters are coming to you!

What you CAN dispose of:
• Yard debris, garbage, wood scraps, and general "clean-up" items

What you CANNOT dispose of:
• Hazardous waste, chemicals, paint cans, appliances, tires

This event is open to all Wilkes East Neighborhood residents. Click here for a neighborhood map!

You can bring all your general debris to the dumpsters located in the parking lot at HB Lee Middle School, 1121 NE 172nd Ave (between NE Glisan & NE Halsey), Saturday July 26th from 9AM to Noon.

Come for ice cream and a chance to get to know your neighbors!

Residential Districts Review June 2008 Alternative Workshops Public Input Report Now Available

A Public Input Report that describes the information presented at two June community workshops and what we heard from participants during those workshops is now available. The workshops were joint meetings for the Residential Districts Review project and the Development Code Improvement Project.

The document, which is called Public Input Report - Alternatives, can be downloaded at: http://www.ci.gresham.or.us/departments/planningServices/cp/RDR/documents.asp or, if you would like a printed copy, please contact Jamie Zimmerman at the City of Gresham by calling 503-618-2235.

Background RDR documents on topics discussed are available using the following links (these are PDFs):

• Appropriate Locations for Housing
• Similar Lot Sizes
• Innovative Housing
• Residential Compatibility

If you attended the workshops, we encourage you to review the information (particularly the Public Input Summary) to ensure participants comments are correctly described. New comments also are welcome.

Owens Corning Installing Solar System at Gresham Foam Insulation Facility

TOLEDO, Ohio, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens Corning (NYSE: OC - News) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Sun Edison LLC to provide solar-generated energy through the installation and operation of a 206 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of its Gresham, Ore. facility. The facility's solar PV system is scheduled to be installed and operating by the fourth quarter of 2008.

Gresham Plant To Use Renewable Wind Energy Credits

TOLEDO, Ohio, May 15,2008 -- Owens Corning announced today that it has been named a partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use.

To qualify, Owens Corning purchased 25,000 MWh of renewable energy credits that are 100 percent wind generated to offset the electricity consumption of the company's foam insulation plant in Gresham, Ore. The wind energy will be Green-e certified by the Center for Resource Solutions.

Click to enlarge

Beautiful Golden Raindrop and Prairifire Crabapples Trees Added To The Park

Gresham Parks Department recently planted 15 new trees in Columbia View Park. The trees were donated to the Parks Department and they are flowering Golden Raindrop Crabapples and Prairifire Crabapples.

They are in full bloom now and are planted near the fence next to HB Lee Middle School on the north end of the park.

Join us for the Johnson Creek Watershed Council's 3rd Annual Meeting Luncheon with Bill Bradbury

When: Thursday, May 22, 11:30am luncheon,
1:30pm tour of Reed Canyon
Where: Reed College, Kaul Auditorium
Cost: Tickets are $25 per person
Host a table of 8 for $200

Johnson Creek Watershed Council's 3rd Annual Meeting luncheon will take place on the beautiful Reed College campus once again. Our special guest will be Bill Bradbury, Oregon's Secretary of State. The luncheon will include the release of our first State of the Watershed Report, presenting information from a wide array of sources on many aspects of watershed health

Residential Districts Review Public Input Report Now Available

A Public Input Report that describes the information presented at recent community workshops and what we heard from participants during those workshops is now available.

Downlaod the report

The Public Input Report can be downloaded by clicking here or, if you would like a printed copy, please contact Carrie Lopez at the City of Gresham by calling 503-618-2779.

If you attended the workshops, we encourage you to review the information (particularly the Public Input Summary) to ensure participants’ comments are correctly described. New comments are also welcome.

Next opportunity for public input

The next community workshop, during which alternative solutions will be reviewed, is scheduled for the evening of June 10 at City Hall.

Help Us Design A New Entrance for Nadaka Park

Submit your ideas!

Wilkes East Neighborhood Association is preparing a grant proposal to "dress up" the entrance to Nadaka Park and add some fresh walking trail flooring (gravel, tree chips, etc.).

We are looking for persons interested in designing an entrance piece to Nadaka Park located at NE 176th Ave and NE Pacific St.

Taking A Bite Out Of Crime, One Block At A Time

Start your own Neighborhood Watch

Benefits of Neighborhood Watch

The benefits are many… beyond preventing crime and reducing fear, Neighborhood Watch (NW) builds pride, forges bonds among block residents - by really getting to know and look out for neighbors, improves citizen-police relations, and can address other block issues and concerns like child safety, youth development, senior citizen welfare, and quality-of-life.

Neighborhood Watch depends on citizen involvement to prevent and discourage crime. You're not asked to take personal risks, only to serve as extra “eyes and ears” and to report information on crimes and suspicious activities promptly.

Neighborhood Watch groups in your area

To locate a Wilkes East Neighborhood Watch group in your area, or to start a new group, contact neighborhood association members Lee Dayfield at leedayfield@wilkeseastna.org, or Kris Freiermuth at krisfreiermuth@wilkeseastna.org.

What is Neighborhood Watch?

The Neighborhood Watch Program is a highly successful effort that has been in existence for more than thirty years in cities and counties across America. It provides a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement and citizens to protect our communities.

Around the country, neighbors for three decades have banded together to create Neighborhood Watch programs. They understand that the active participation of neighborhood residents is a critical element in community safety