Overlook Neighborhood Update (Oct. 30)

1) Watch out for trick-or-treaters (Oct. 31)
2) Little children’s Halloween party at Overlook House (Oct. 31)
3) City completes street tree survey and map
4) OKNA Board Meeting (Nov. 1)
5) Be sure to vote


1) Watch out for trick-or-treaters (Oct. 31)

Children all across Portland will take to the streets to trick-or-treat for Halloween on Monday evening. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year. Because excited trick-or-treaters often forget about safety, people driving and parents must be even more alert. Everyone should focus on being visible and watching out for other travelers. Add lights and reflectors to your child’s costume – it’s a fun and easy way to help keep children safe as they trick or treat.

Drivers can do their part by driving at or below the posted speed, continuously scanning the environment looking for people walking and bicycling and being ready to stop as needed. People walking and bicycling are encouraged to be more visible by wearing retro-reflective wear, using a flashlight or blinking strobe, and investing in bright and contrasting outerwear.


2) Little children’s Halloween party at Overlook House (Oct. 31)

Gather your youngest robots, witches and princesses; call in the tiniest superheroes, ghosts and pumpkins! Overlook families with children ages 1-5 are invited to enjoy fun activities and snacks at the annual Overlook House Halloween Party on Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m. Come in costume and check out spooktacular games, prizes, healthy snacks, fun crafts and dancing under the disco ball.

Overlook House Halloween Party
Monday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.
Overlook House (3839 N Melrose Dr.)


3) City completes street tree survey and map

treeinventoryPortland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry staff and more than 1,300 volunteers surveyed and mapped nearly every planted street tree (planted in public rights-of-way, rather than on private property) in Portland – almost 220,000 in all, covering all 96 of the city’s neighborhoods. The effort is key to help inform how Parks & Rec manages Portland’s urban forest going forward. Trees were measured and identified, and each one’s health was rated as part of the City’s first comprehensive inventory of street trees.

Check out what trees are on your block.

Parks & Rec also has prepared am Overlook-specific Inventory Report and Tree Plan.


4) OKNA Board Meeting (Nov. 1)

The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board will meet on Tuesday. The agenda includes hearing from Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association about a potential partnership, upcoming meetings and general updates.

OKNA Board Meeting (agenda)
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Overlook House (3839 N Melrose Dr.)


5) Be sure to vote

voteBallots are out. OKNA takes not position on the ballot measures and candidates that fill this year’s ballot, but we urge all Overlook residents to be sure to vote. Democracy works best when all voices are heard. Moreover, when Overlook votes, lawmakers take notice that we care about what our government does.

Completed ballots are due by Election Day, Nov. 8. Voters have a couple of days to mail them in. Otherwise, drop your ballot off at a convenient location.  The county maintains a map of all official drop boxes. The closest to Overlook is the North Portland Library on N Killingsworth Street.