Piedmont Neighborhood Association

meeting minutes!

underscorefool — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:04:29 +0000

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!

North Portland Arsons under investigation

Noah Brimhall — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:00:23 +0000

Portland Fire & Rescue is actively investigating several recent arson fires in North Portland. These early morning fires were discovered to the exterior of homes in the Overlook Neighborhood. Portland Fire & Rescue Fire Investigations is being assisted by partnering agencies of the Metro Fire Investigation Team including Portland Police, ATF, and Oregon State Police. Due to the ongoing investigation, Investigators are unable to release further information at this time.

Portland Fire & Rescue urges all households, particularly those in North Portland, to take the following precautions:

1. Secure items that could easily burn in a safe location.
2. Ensure your home is equipped with properly functioning smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every floor.
3. Report suspicious persons and activities to police immediately.

Anyone with information on these arson fires is encouraged to contact Portland Fire & Rescue’s Joe Luiz at (503) 823-3408 or joseph.luiz@portlandoregon.gov.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony, and you can remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at 503-823-HELP (4357), leave a tip online at www.crimestoppersoforegon.com, or text CRIMES (274637) and in the subject line put 823HELP, followed by your tip.

Will That Be Paper….or Paper?

sidecar3 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:16:14 +0000

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

new bike lanes on Rosa Parks

underscorefool — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:03:35 +0000

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.

How Efficient Is Your Home?

sidecar3 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:45:24 +0000

Home energy efficiency workshop next week.

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?

Now It IS Easy Being Green

sidecar3 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:42:57 +0000

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

Starting October 31st, most Portland residents will be able to add food scraps, along with yard debris, to their green Portland Composts! roll carts. As part of this new service, collection of the green Portland Composts! roll cart will increase to weekly, and garbage collection will change to every other week. The blue Portland Recycles! roll cart and yellow glass recycling bin will continue with weekly collection. These changes apply to all single-family households and buildings with four or fewer units.

With the new service, instead of throwing away things like meat, dairy, bones and grains, residents will be able to send food scraps to local composting facilities where they will be turned into a nutrient-rich compost for fertilizing yards and gardens.

Customer service representatives will be available to answer questions and provide assistance on the curbside hotline at 503-823-7202 and more information will be available online at www.portlandcomposts.com.

Have a great grant idea?

sidecar3 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:41:16 +0000

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

This is your chance to make it better!

shaunsullens — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:37:10 +0000

Your neighborhood invites you to the Piedmont Neighborhood Association annual gathering on Thursday, October 27th, 7 p.m. at the Peninsula Park Community Center.

At this gathering we will hear about PCC’s new plans for expansions: the new parking lot and other new buildings. We will also hear about all the new projects Piedmont Neighborhood Volunteers have accomplished; cross walks, Bryant Street Bridge improvements, and street paintings. A June Key Delta House project coordinator will be available to discuss the first and only green living, completely sustainable community center in Oregon.

And most important this is your chance to make it better. You can volunteer and make the place you live a better place to raise your children, live, play, and thrive. The volunteer group needs new blood, new ideas and new energy. Consider coming to this gathering and volunteering your time to make it better!

Block Party tomorrow night, 6-9 pm

Noah Brimhall — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:00:20 +0000

Remember, tomorrow evening – Thursday, August 25th – from 6 – 9 pm is the 3rd annual Piedmont Neighborhood Association Block Party!!! It’ll be fun for the whole family with games, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, snacks and more! We’ll also be sharing the latest news from around the neighborhood and it is a great chance to meet your neighbors and say “Hi!” to all your friends from around the area. See you tomorrow night!

Meeting for Greenway Project Tomorrow Night

Noah Brimhall — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:02:18 +0000

Bryant-Holman Connector Neighborhood Greenway Safety Project Meeting
Thursday, Aug. 11th 6-8 pm
Rosemont Court Community Room
597 N Dekum Street

Tomorrow night, Thursday, Aug. 11th the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will host the first of two open house meetings to discuss the Bryant-Holman Connector Neighborhood Greenway Safety project. According to the PBOT the purpose of the first meeting is to provide an overview of neighborhood greenways, review existing traffic conditions on the routes, and hear your feedback. City staff will return for a second meeting on Thursday, September 8th to present recommendations on specific improvements.

This project will create family friendly connection between all of these new routes to create a consistent, low-stress network between North and Northeast Portland that connects schools, parks, and businesses with low-stress, family-friendly streets.

The overall goal of this project, highlighted on a map provided by the city, is to:

Reduce speeds on residential streets
Minimize cut-through traffic on local streets
Ensure safe crossings of busy streets for pedestrians and bicycle riders
Provide safe and convenient access to schools, parks, and local businesses

For questions about the public meetings, please contact Kyle Chisek at 503-823-7041 or kyle.chisek@portlandoregon.gov.