Going Solar with Solarize Northeast

Attend these free workshops in your neighborhood to learn about the benefits of going solar. These workshops will explain how solar-electric systems work, why volume purchasing brings costs down, review pricing, tax credits and cash incentives, and answer your questions. Come to a free workshop to learn how to get started.

The Basics of Going Solar
All Going Solar workshops cover the same material.

Wednesday, February 17 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Living Room Realtors
1422 NE Alberta Street

Tuesday, February 23 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Redeemer Lutheran Church (Narthex)
5431 NE 20th Avenue

Tuesday, March 2 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Central Northeast Neighbors
4415 Northeast 87th Avenue

Solar Technical Workshops

All technical workshops will be held:
Kennedy School Community Room
5736 N.E. 33rd Avenue

Tax Credits, Incentives, and Financing
Thursday, March 4 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

The Nuts and Bolts of Going Solar
Thursday, March 11 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Net Metering
Wednesday, March 17 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

http://solarize.necoalition.org

Sixty-five new trees will get planted in King neighborhood this coming Saturday. Together with volunteers win Boise, Eliot and Humboldt neighborhoods, over 175 trees will make our part of town even greener. You can get involved–we are looking for pickup truck drivers (with their own trucks) as well as help with the planting. A pot of soup or two would also be a great help to feed the volunteers after the planting. If you wish to volunteer please come to the Friends of Trees office at 3117 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd on Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 9 am.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact King Neighborhood Coordinator Irek Wielgosz at (503) 793-2114 or panirek@yahoo.com

A community-based public forum series is being held to educate and engage community members regarding pending decisions about significant Urban Renewal Area (URA) investments that will change the built environment of inner North and Northeast neighborhoods. Inspired by neighbors for neighbors, these forums are an opportunity for local residents to learn about and share their views on the history of local Urban Renewal Areas, become aware of current options being considered for the future of the URAs, and speak to the types of investment they would like to see in their community. The first event of the series begins February 10th with a “Community Truth-Telling” Town Hall. Community feedback from the series will be presented to the Portland Development Commission’s North/Northeast Economic Development Initiative Community Advisory Committee on March 24th. This series of four events is sponsored by the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, The Urban League of Portland, and the Portland State University Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning. This project was made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities (OH), a statewide nonprofit organization and an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which funds OH’s grant program.

Series Details:

Urban Renewal Area Town Hall 1: Community Truth-Telling
Wednesday, February 10, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Place: Billy Webb Elks Lodge, 6 N Tillamook St. Snacks and drinks provided

Panelists will share perspectives on how inner North/Northeast Urban Renewal Areas have historically impacted neighborhoods. Attendees will also be invited to share their own views on the history of Urban Renewal Areas.

Urban Renewal Area Community Forum and Planning Sessions (Two). Both sessions will be the same.

Session One: Saturday, February 20th, 10am – 2pm
Session Two: Tuesday, February 23rd, 6pm – 9pm
Billy Webb Elks Lodge, 6 N Tillamook St. Lunch or dinner provided

Learn the nuts and bolts of Urban Renewal Areas and the choices for the future of the Interstate Corridor and Oregon Convention Center URAs. Participate in work sessions to provide input into the future of the URAs and economic development in inner North and Northeast Portland.

Urban Renewal Area Town Hall 2: Community Recommendations
Thursday, March 11th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Billy Webb Elks Lodge, 6 N Tillamook St. Snacks and drinks provided

Come hear the URA recommendations generated at the community work sessions. Provide your thoughts and additional recommendations.

RSVPs are encouraged. Contact Shoshana Cohen at the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods forums@necoalition.org or 503-823-4575

Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette’s new facility will celebrate it’s opening on February 14th. The organization has requested a street closure for the event on Garfield Avenue behind the building. As a result of the controversy over the availabilty of abortion services at Planned Parenthood, Bill Diss on behalf of Precious Children of Portland and Knights of Columbus is requesting to close Beech Street from Garfield to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. next to the building. Notification of the requests, as usual were sent to the neighborhood association for comment. If you would like KNA to give input to Portland Department of Transportation, we will accept comments at our Wednesday meeting or via info@kingneighborhood.org.

King School’s free Pre-Kindergarten classes were reduced to half-day this year but funding is in place now to bring back the full day program. School staff are now trying to estimate the number of students for the coming year. If enough are found, another Pre-K teacher will be needed. If you have a child who will be 4 in September, contact the school or come to one of the Kindergarten round-up events scheduled. King School’s round-up will be at 1:30 and 5:30 on February 25th or call and schedule a visit.

A hearing before City Council to adopt the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 has been set for Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., time certain. The public is welcome to attend, and to testify if you wish. The Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 provides a blueprint for making Portland a world-class bicycling city, reducing the causes of climate change, improving public health, promoting prosperity, and building close-knit communities.

VOICE YOUR SUPPORT:
Below are two ways you may express your support for the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030:

1. The quick and easy way:
Express your support for the six key principles of the plan listed on our web page by just clicking “yes!” on the Portland Bicycle Plan support form!

OR

2. Write a letter to City Council.
Address your letter to “Dear Mayor Adams and members of City Council:”
You can e-mail your letter to bicyclemasterplan@pdxtrans.org
or mail your paper letter to:
Portland City Council
c/o Ellen Vanderslice, Project Manager
Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030
1120 SW 5th Ave, Suite 800
Portland, OR 97204
Either way, we’ll make sure your letter is distributed to the Mayor and Commissioners before the February 4 hearing.
The project team is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the final draft plan. We’ll send you another message when the draft is posted on our website along with our report on the changes made since the public comment draft. For more information, visit the plan website: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/BicycleMasterPlan

City of Portland’s Urban Growth Bounty 2010 offers sustainable food courses

Last year more than 700 local residents learned how to transform their yards into “urban farms,” preserve their harvest and keep chickens and bees. The overwhelming response has led to a tripling of course offerings for the 2010. The expanded roster includes classes such as cheesemaking, cooking, advanced chicken and beekeeping, innovative gardening and healthful food on a budget classes. On-line registration is available at http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/ugb.

“Portland residents know that growing and preserving their own food is great for our personal, environmental and community health,” says Portland Mayor Sam Adams. “The Urban Growth Bounty classes are a great value. There’s always more to learn about how to grow, preserve and eat sustainably on a budget.”

Presented by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, new partners and well-known experts are on board for the 2010 series, including Oregon Tilth, Naomi Montacre, Monique Dupre, Ivy Manning and the creative hands at Salt Fire and Time and Abby’s Kitchen. Classes for all skill levels are offered from February through November and held at locations all over the city.

For detailed Urban Growth Bounty 2010 information and registration details, visit http://www.portlandonline.com/osd/ugb or e-mail: food@ci.portland.or.us.

The Oregon Convention Center Urban Renewal Advisory Committee will meet at the King Facility next week for their quarterly meeting. The OCC URAC, how’s that for an acronym, is resposible for advising PDC on their efforts to rejuvenate the Convention Center area, most of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and part of Alberta Street. Visit PDC’s website for more info: http://www.pdc.us/ura/occ.asp

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 4 – 6 PM
Contact: Joleen Jensen-Classen, 503-823-3352
Location: King Facility 4815 NE 15th Avenue

I don’t need to tell you why–just do it. Now.

Here’s one link but there are many others:

http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/

Mayor Adams and Commissioner Amanda Fritz will take public testimony from stakeholders of Last Thursday on Alberta, including residents, business people, neighborhood activists, vendors, performers, and attendees. The Mayor & Commissioner are considering options for Last Thursday, including:

• Continue the event as is
• Continue the event with significant changes
• End Last Thursday on Alberta

They would like to hear your opinion on these or other options. Please attend and bring your neighbors and co-workers with you. Your opinion is important and needs to be heard!

Monday, February 8th, 2010, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Acadian Ballroom, 1829 NE Alberta

For more information, contact: Stephanie Reynolds, Crime Prevention Program Manager
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
503-823-2030
sreynolds@ci.portland.or.us
www.portlandonline.com/oni/cp