Happy Spring, Overlook! It's a busy weekend, with some re-reminders for you from last week as well as a local earthquake preparedness meeting that snuck up on us. If you attend one of these meetings and learn something new, please consider reporting back to the rest of Overlook with an email to Eric or Michelle at info@ OverlookNeighborhood.org
The goings-on (details are below):
1. Public meeting on home earthquake preparedness this Monday (4/25)
2. Easter Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza at Overlook House Saturday (4/23)
3. Mid-session Town Hall with Lew Frederick, Chip Shields, and Tina Kotek (4/23)
4. EPA to present Harriet Tubman School Air Toxics Monitoring results April 27
5. May OKNA meeting features mosquito control information
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1. Public meeting on home earthquake preparedness this Monday 4/25/11
The Portland Office of Emergency Management along with the Portland Bureau of Development Services, Multnomah County Emergency Management, Clackamas County Emergency Management and American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter will hold a public meeting on Monday, April 25th to discuss how residents can better prepare their homes for an earthquake.
The recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan is a reminder the Pacific Northwest is also in a seismically active region. Our last catastrophic quake was geologically similar to the one in Japan and struck off the West Coast on January 26, 1700. Scientists expect it is only a matter of time before pressure builds along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, causing a region-wide quake with significant structural damage to buildings, injuries to thousands and potential loss of life.
Although a major earthquake occurring in the future is a near certainty, there are many steps residents can take to better prepare their homes and businesses and reduce the likelihood of damage. The three speakers at the event will share some of these actions: Jim Nicks of the Portland Bureau of Development Service will discuss the City’s Residential Seismic Strengthening Program; Jay Wilson of Clackamas County will share his personal home retrofitting experience; and Francisco Ianni of American Red Cross will provide general emergency preparedness tips.
Volunteers from Portland’s Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) will be available to answer questions about the NET program as an opportunity for Portlanders to get directly involved with community preparedness.
WHAT: Home Earthquake Preparedness Meeting
WHEN: Monday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Johns Community Center (8427 N. Central St., Portland OR 97203)
COST: Free
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2. Easter Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza at Overlook House Saturday (4/23)
Dear Overlook Family,
You may have seen other notices, but we want to be sure you didn't miss hearing about the Easter Egg Hunt to be held at Overlook House this Saturday morning, April 23 at 10:30.
Hundreds of colorful eggs filled with toys and treats will be strewn on the lawn at Overlook House for children to find.
Bring your basket and be prepared: the hunt will happen rain or shine at 10:30 a.m sharp fo
r the youngest children with another “release” at 10:45 for older kids.
This event is free, but a small donation is requested to help cover costs.
Friends of the Overlook House sponsors the Egg-stravaganza and other community and children's events during the year.
Hope to see you there!
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3. Mid-session Town Hall with Lew Frederick, Chip Shields, and Tina Kotek (4/23)
Meet your State legislators at tomorrow’s Town Hall
Representatives Lew Frederick and Tina Kotek and Senator Chip Shields will be at PCC Cascade (N Killingsworth) on Saturday, April 23, to have a conversation with constituents about the work they are doing in Salem. Come to get an update and share your ideas and opinions.
Legislative Town Hall
Who: Representatives Lew Frederick and Tina Kotek, Senator Chip Shields, and you!
What: Mid-Session Town Hall
When: Saturday, April 23, 10 AM- noon
Where: Moriarty Hall Auditorium, PCC Cascade
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4. EPA to present Harriet Tubman School Air Toxics Monitoring results April 27
In response to the 2008 USA Today Report: The Smokestack Effect which identified many schools in the Portland area including North Portland as having some of the worst air quality in the country, the EPA subsequently selected 62 schools (two in Oregon) for further monitoring. Come hear the results of the air quality monitored at Harriet Tubman as presented by the EPA and DEQ.
EPA staff will present information and answer questions about the results of this air toxics monitoring at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, at the Harriet Tubman School Library, 2231 N. Flint Portland, OR 97227.
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5. May OKNA meeting features mosquito control information
The May OKNA General meeting will be a combined-neighborhood event, hosted by OKNA at our regular meeting place, the Kaiser Town Hall building. We will meet upstairs in the auditorium to hear a presentation from Multnomah County’s Environmental Health group. Last year their office, Multnomah County Vector and Nuisance Control (MCVNC), received community feedback that the mosquito activity in Portland neighborhoods was near unbearable. With an extended rainy season this year, Portland is experiencing a longer mosquito breeding season. Hence, we are entering a critical time period when community members are especially vulnerable to increased mosquito activity.
This 45- minute information session allows you to learn more about transmission and symptoms of West Nile virus, how to prevent the spread of this disease, what kinds of control MCVNC is implementing, and what citizens can do to prevent mosquito activity and protect their families.
More information regarding mosquitoes and West Nile virus is available at: http://web.multco.us/health/pest-prevention-and-control. In addition to the website we are now offering a quarterly e-newsletter.
We will also hear from the organizers of the North American Organic Beer Festival about their upcoming event in Overlook Park (June 23 to 25).
Please plan on attending on May 17 at 7pm. See you then, or during this busy weekend!