1) Overlook yard sale and free share (July 22-23)
2) Beware of door-to-door scammers
3) Summer Spay Spectacular (August 1-31)
4) Grants available for special projects
5) Walking tours of North Portland (July 27 and Aug. 15)
1) Overlook yard sale and free share (July 22-23)
This weekend is the Overlook yard sale and free share. On Saturday, more than two dozen neighbors will host yard sales. Swing by to catch up with your neighbors and see what treasures they have available.
On Sunday, neighbors who still want to part with things that didn’t sell or weren’t even for sale are encouraged to leave them near the curb with for anyone to take for free. After a day or two, we ask that you bring these items back inside or donate them to Goodwill, Community Warehouse, Salvation Army, or similar organization, to help keep the streets looking clean.
See the map below for all of the participating homes. Through reuse we are helping to minimize our neighborhood’s waste stream as well as reminding each other of the inherent value and embodied energy that all of these material “things” possess.
Every year lots of great deals abound as we turn unwanted items into newfound treasures.
2) Beware of door-to-door scammers
With the warm weather, scammers are out in force going door-to-door. Some even pose as city employees. The Portland Water Bureau offers these additional tips to avoid being scammed:
- Do not open the door to someone you don’t know.
- Ask for proper official identification.
- Look for a city utility vehicle.
- Call the police if you feel suspicious about someone at your door.
- Share information about suspicious people with your neighbors.
- Ask for the person’s purpose for being there.
- Do not allow anyone unknown to enter your home without a bona fide prior appointment.
- Water Bureau employees always drive vehicles with a “Publicly Owned” license plate and will carry identification badges.
3) Summer Spay Spectacular (August 1-31)
Have you seen a stray cat wandering the neighborhood? Just gotten a new kitten? In August, the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon will offer FREE spay/neuter services for stray and feral cats as part of their Summer Spay Spectacular special. Kittens weighing 2 pounds or greater also qualify for the special. If you are feeding outdoor stray or feral cats, or know someone who is, this special is for you. In addition to being spayed/neutered, the cats receive vaccines, and treatment for fleas, earmites and tapeworms.
Call 503-797-2606 to reserve your spot.
4) Grants available for special projects
The Portland City Council approved $1 million for one-time special appropriations. Residents and groups with projects in mind can apply for grants.
$350,000 has been allocated to The Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) for the Portland United Against Hate (PUAH) competitive grants process. Funding may be awarded under the following opportunities:
- Capacity Building
- Data Collections and Analysis
The remaining $650,000 will be awarded to projects for:
- Expanding Opportunities for Youth
- Community-Based Arts and Culture
- Expanding Economic Opportunities for Portlanders
- Community Health
More info on PUAH project. Interested parties also should consider attending an information session on Tuesday, July 25, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Lovejoy Room on the second floor of City Hall.
5) Walking tours of North Portland (July 27 and Aug. 15)
The Architectural Heritage Center will lead two upcoming walking tours in North Portland:
Historic Albina
Thursday, July 27 at 6 p.m.
Once a separate city from Portland, Albina has a lengthy and diverse history – along with some fascinating architecture. This tour explores old Albina from stories of early proprietors and its development as a railroad town, to its transformation into the heart of Portland’s African-American community and the impacts of urban renewal.
Kenton Neighborhood
Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m.
In the early 20th century, Kenton was the heart of Portland’s meat packing industry and home to the largest livestock exchange on the West Coast. Swift & Company, through various subsidiaries, platted, developed, and heavily influenced the industrial, commercial and residential growth of Kenton. This tour shows how a dominant employer influenced the housing stock of management and labor in a neighborhood that possessed many elements of a company town.