OKNA Overlook Neighborhood Email 9/13/13

1) Party in Patton Square Park on Saturday! (9/14)
2) Back to School and Street Safety
3) 20th Annual Polish Festival Coming Next Week! (9/21-22)
4) Overlook Park Apartment Building Update
5) Dance Program Open To All
6) Learn Conflict Resolution Skills While Serving Your Community!
7) News Slices: Daimler HQ, Missing Kitty, Overlook in the News

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1) Party in Patton Square Park on Saturday! (9/14)

Come party with us at Patton Square Park tomorrow, Saturday, from 11am to 3pm.  Listen to great music: River City Pipe Band (11:30), Stop & Listen-1920’s string-band blues and hokum (12:15); and Ethos Rock Band (1:15).

Then watch the talented Molly Malone Irish Dancers put Riverdance to shame.  After all that strenuous fun, Edge Fitness staff will soothe your tired muscles with a free neck massage and reflexology session (and much more).

Make sure your kids get their faces painted, climb the rock wall, play some chess and have fun in the sun. We’ll have free snacks for them to munch on.

And, bring a non-perishable food donation for the Sunshine Division. Like they did at our E.T. event at Overlook Park, the Sunshine Division folks will raffle off a bike to one very lucky winner (your odds will be VERY good).  Bottom line – Come out and spend a great day in the park with your neighbors!

AND, bring your metal recycling! Schnitzer Steel will be bringing in a dumpster to Trillium School on Saturday for us to put all that scrap metal you have been saving up. All proceeds go straight to Together For Trillium. 9am-3pm only.

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2) Back to School and Street Safety

Even if the temperatures make it feel like summer is still here, September always reminds us that the kids have gone back to school and schedules have changed for everyone. Since our neighborhood school, Beach School/Escuela Beach is part of the Safe Routes to School program, many neighborhood kids walk and bike more in our area.

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should be extra cautious on neighborhood streets as the light changes, leaves fall and distractions abound. Let’s all be safe in the neighborhood!

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3) 20th Annual Polish Festival Coming Next Week! (9/21-22)
Two festive days of the best Polish food, dance and music. The best in the Northwest Polish Festival!
The Polish Festival is an event for families and singles, adults and children, for food connoisseurs, music lovers, concert goers, dance enthusiasts, … It is for everyone.
During the festival, we provide non-stop stage performances, including a few dance groups and music bands, polka contest on Saturday and Sunday, a street dance, delicious Polish food and imported Polish beer.

Saturday: Sept 21, 2013 11am – 10pm
Sunday, Sept 22, 2013 noon – 6pm
3900 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, Oregon
ADMISSION FREE
www.PortlandPolonia.org/Welcome-PF
Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the festival. It is prepared and run by over 300 volunteers organized by the Polish Community.

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4) Overlook Park Apartment Building Update

This past Wednesday, architects from TVA Architects presented new plans for an apartment building on N Overlook Blvd at Interstate Ave. Thanks to the hard work of a coalition of neighbors, who created a wish list document for future development of the site, the new building meets many of the neighborhood’s goals toward maintaining livability, responsible density and diversity of residents. While nothing is final until it’s final, the plan calls for using an existing historic easement across the bottom of the lot to access underground parking.

Read more and see a sneak peek of the renderings in The Oregonian.

Developer Vic Remmers reaches peaceful resolution with Overlook neighborhood
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/09/developer_vic_remmers_reaches.html

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5) Dance Program Open To All

The Aspire Project offers ballet and tap classes for children and adults at IFCC/Ethos Firehouse, and cost need not be a barrier. Registration hgas opened for fall programs: See www.theaspireproject.orgfor more information or email contact.us@theaspireproject.org or call 503-505-0382.

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6) Learn Conflict Resolution Skills While Serving Your Community!

Resolutions Northwest (RNW) is a community-based nonprofit organization that provides high quality, cost-effective conflict resolution services and education to neighbors, communities, and organizations.  From now until November 24th, RNW’S Neighborhood Mediation Program is recruiting applicants that reflect Portland ’s diversity for a limited number of spots in our annual volunteer mediation training.

The comprehensive, 34 hour training and year-long mentor program is FREE in exchange for your year-long, hands-on commitment to serve the diverse communities of Portland .  This opportunity is designed for people who are dedicated to helping neighbors and communities have challenging discussions and find mutually acceptable solutions together.  If you are called to serve your community and/or neighborhood by offering your time, talent, and heart-centered presence during times of conflict, then we hope you will consider working with RNW’s Neighborhood Mediation Program.  Training dates are in early January 2014.

Application deadline: November 21, 2014.  Application forms, training dates, and additional information can be found at http://www.resolutionsnorthwest.org or by calling (503) 595-4890.  RNW is committed to the goals of equal opportunity and affirmative action in education and volunteerism. We encourage all interested to apply.

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7) News Slices: Daimler HQ, Missing Kitty, Overlook in the News

Also in the news this week, Swan Island neighbors Daimler Trucks North America announce plans to expand their HQ and plan to stay put.
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/daimler_confirms_plan_to_build.html

Missing Kitty South of Going

Seamus, the kitty who likes to go on walks with his humans around Shaver/Concord/Colonial way has decided to go for a walk on his own. Dinice would really prefer him to come home, so if you have seen him, please message us and send that scamp home.

More Overlook in the News

The owner of a "nuisance" N. Interstate Avenue house spoke to KOIN 6 News about his plans for the home neighbors say should be torn down. http://www.koin.com/2013/09/11/owner-graffiti-house-going-apts-coming/

And finally, on blighted properties, the long-vacant property that caught fire a couple of weeks ago in the 4600 block of N Maryland is still under sale contract with plans to close any moment now. Leslie Bevenon of the YWCA tells me that the buyer planned to demolish the house, so they are just waiting on paperwork to catch up now.