1) Polish Festival (Sept. 16-17)
2) Broadway Bridge closed (Sept. 16-17)
3) OKNA annual meeting and election (Sept. 19)
4) Grants available for neighborhood projects
1) Polish Festival (Sept. 16-17)
This weekend, the annual Polish Festival returns to Overlook for its 24th year. During the festival, there will be non-stop stage performances, including dance groups and music bands, polka contests on Saturday and Sunday, a street dance, delicious Polish food and imported Polish beer. Admission is free.
On Saturday, attendees can win two free plane tickets to Warsaw – generously sponsored by LOT Polish Airlines.
The event is held on 3900 N Failing Street between the two historic buildings of the Polish Library incorporated in 1911 and St. Stanislaus Church built in 1907, both located on N. Interstate Avenue.
Polish Festival
Saturday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 17, noon-6 p.m.
3900 N. Interstate Ave.
2) Broadway Bridge closed (Sept. 16-17)
The Broadway Bridge will close to all motor vehicles, including TriMet buses and the Portland Streetcar, from 6 a.m. on Saturday until as late as 10 p.m. on Sunday for a bi-annual structural inspection.
During the closure, streetcar staff will perform preparatory work for upcoming bridge construction. Streetcar equipment needs to be adjusted before a contractor replaces four century-old steel Rall wheels and tracks that help the bridge open for ships to pass.
The Rall wheel contractor will flag bridge traffic on a single lane from 11 p.m. on Monday until as late as 5 a.m. Tuesday in order to move concrete barriers on the bridge. This work will not impact streetcar or TriMet bus service.
Sidewalks will remain open for bicycles and pedestrians during the weekend and on Monday night.
The Fremont and Steel bridges are good alternate routes for motor vehicles when the Broadway Bridge is closed. TriMet’s Broadway #17 bus route will detour to the Steel Bridge during the closure. The Portland Streetcar will not operate across the Broadway Bridge during the closure.
3) OKNA annual meeting and election (Sept. 19)
The Overlook Neighborhood Association will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at the adidas campus in the red building (access from near the tennis courts). We will elect the 2017-18 board, hear about upcoming development projects and more. Adidas staff will be present to help guide people to the meeting space. As we are guests on the adidas campus, please do not bring pets to the meeting.
Eleven residents have declared their candidacy for the board, which may have up to 15 members. Anyone interested in running as a write-in candidate may declare at the meeting on Tuesday. The board hopes that people representing a broad cross-section of the neighborhood choose to run. We’re looking for people who are committed to keeping Overlook the best neighborhood in Portland, people who are willing to work on fun events like our annual parties and organizing informative monthly meetings. Board members are expected to attend both our monthly board meeting and general meeting.
The only formal requirement for candidacy is that one be an eligible member of OKNA. That means you must live in the neighborhood (provide a home address or identify a site where you live if no address), own a business in the neighborhood or be a designated representative of a non-profit registered in the neighborhood.
OKNA annual meeting (agenda)
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
adidas Headquarters – Red Building
4) Grants available for neighborhood projects
The 2018 North Portland Neighborhood Services (NPNS) small grant program application is now available.
Is your organization looking for funding for community activities that engage people in North Portland? Submit a project proposal. This year a total of $13,000 is available to neighborhood and community organizations. Grant proposals generally range from $500 to $3,000.
The goals of the small grant program include building strong and diverse community participation, leadership and community connections. Review the 2018 grant application and find out about the grant program, goals, and requirements. Visit the NPNS website for more details.
Grant writing assistance workshops are scheduled for Sept. 19 and Oct. 5, 7-8 p.m. both days, at the Historic Kenton Firehouse. Attendees will learn about grant writing, discuss the application and selection process, meet with committee members, hear about other projects seeking grant funding for possible collaboration and how to get individual help with your grant.
Project proposals are due Monday, Nov. 13 by 2 p.m. Questions? Contact Mary at 503-823-4099, or mary@npnscommunity.org.