Back on October 27th, we had our big annual meeting at the Peninsula Park Community Center. We heard about the June Key Delta House, a community center which is reservable (possibly for free if you are a community group!) and located just across Ainsworth from Peninsula Park, plus some upcoming news relevant to our neighborhood: PCC campus plans, bike infrastructure improvements, friends of trees, and recent crime statistics. Read all about it in the Meeting Minutes.

Let us know if you have any questions or comments!

Portland plastic bag ban takes effect Saturday

Get those reusable grocery bags out and ready to go. Portland’s city-wide plastic bag ban goes into effect this Saturday

You may have noticed some big changes on Rosa Parks lately.  The Portland Bureau of Transportation has been working for years on completing the bike lane striping along Rosa Parks, and this summer they finally worked out the final kinks (mostly with ODOT).

Jonathan Maus, editor of Bike Portland, and resident of our neighborhood, wrote up the process of changing, and describes the new layout in this article on BikePortland.

Learn to make your energy savings grow: Sign up for a free Be wattsmart Workshop.

This is one class where the subject matter will save you plenty of money. Pacific Power is pleased to present Be wattsmart Workshops in your area. Please join us for an enlightening evening of tips, advice and some tasty refreshments. This workshop sold out last year, please register now at www.pacificpower.net/bewattsmart!

The smarter you are about energy, the lower your electric bill will be.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

6:15 – 7:45 pm

McMenamins – Kennedy School

Gymnasium

5736 NE 33^rd Ave

Portland, OR 97211

The workshop will put you on the path to greater energy efficiency and lower electric bills by teaching you how to:

• Identify your household energy use and how it changes over time

• Take a whole-home approach to energy efficiency

• Recognize the most cost-efficient energy improvements for your home

• Save energy and improve your home’s comfort, health and safety

• Save money with Energy Trust incentives

During the workshop, we’ll also answer the following questions:

• What uses the most energy at home: appliances, heating and cooling systems, lighting?

• How can I use less energy at home?

• Do I need to buy new energy-efficient equipment or just change my habits?

• What cash incentives are available for new appliances, lighting or other energy efficient equipment?

Register now at www.pacificpower.net/bewattsmart!

New Curbside Composting, Recycling and Garbage Service begins October 31!

Still time to apply to Portland’s Neighborhood Small Grants Program! (11/1)

You still have time to apply for a City of Portland Neighborhood Small Grant for 2012. Grant applicants need to submit their applications by the end of October. The neighborhood coalitions will be giving out approximately $189,600 for community projects and events to be completed in 2012. The goal of the grant program is to provide neighborhood and community organizations the opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse members, and sustain those already involved. Neighborhood associations and community organizations are eligible to apply.

Contact the coalition’s grant program coordinator before you apply to be sure you understand that coalition’s requirements and process:
North Portland Neighborhood Services, Mary Jaron Kelley, 503-823-4099, mary@npnscommunity.org and Arolia McSwain, 503-823-0209, aroliamcswain@gmail.com

Applications Deadlines: Applicants must submit their completed grant applications to the appropriate neighborhood coalition office no later than 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Additional Information: Additional information about the Neighborhood Small Grant Program and links to neighborhood coalition grant websites, neighborhood district maps, and coalition grant applications are available on the ONI website at: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=43120