This is your week for feedback, Overlook! Lots of people want to hear from you; share your thoughts on the Public Alerts test, the Urban Food Code and a current police use of force investigation.
There’s a few other interesting things going on, not the least of which is our monthly general meeting; please plan to attend and find out about some grant applications for Beach School, public safety updates and more!
OKNA General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, February 21st
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Kaiser Town Hall: 3701 N Interstate Avenue (at Overlook Blvd)
Remember to 'like' us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OKNAinPDX for news throughout the week and the opportunity for you to interact with OKNA & your neighbors directly.
1) ONeST Sustainability Film Series (2/20)
2) NEW date for Parent/Child Yoga & Overlook House news (2/25)
3) One Fix It Fair Remaining! (2/25)
4) Did You Get The Call? (send an email now)
5) Register for Spring Parks Programs (now)
6) Urban Farming Code Update (2/23)
7) Police Use of Force Investigation (2/28)
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1) ONeST Sustainability Film Series (2/20)
Monday, Feb. 20, Free! 6:00 pm
O•NeST Sustainability Film: The Farmer and the Horse: the story of three young people in New Jersey who’ve made the decision to farm with draft animals, and cut their dependence on petroleum.
Please Join us for our February Sustainability Film! Potluck at 6pm, film at 6:30. Come for one or both!
Daybreak CoHousing Community Room, 2525 N. Killingsworth.
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2) NEW date for Parent/Child Yoga & Overlook House news (2/25)
The new Parent/Child Yoga class has changed its meeting day of the week. It will now meet on Saturday mornings 9:00AM -9:45 AM beginning Feb 25 – April 14.
(Please note this is a change in date and time from what is printed in Overlook Views.) For information contact Heather Hallett at hallett.h@gmail.com
Also on Saturdays, join James Bloom for Children's Breath of Fire Qi Gong every Saturday morning 10:00 – 11:00 AM.
For more information contact James at dragonbreathoffire@comcast.net
Join Jerry Cowan for The Story Teller every Monday afternoon from 3:30-4:30 PM. Parents need to attend with their children. For more information contact Jerry at thestoryteller@whizto.us
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3) One Fix It Fair Remaining! (2/25)
Fix-It Fairs are free events where you can learn simple and effective ways to save money at home and stay healthy this winter and beyond. Featuring exhibits from numerous community partners, these events also include an extensive schedule of workshops held throughout the day. Experts will be available to talk with you about water and energy savings, home and personal health, food and nutrition, community resources, recycling and yard care, lead testing, bike tune-ups and more! Free professional childcare and lunch will be provided.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Jefferson High School
5210 N Kerby Avenue
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Entrance is on the Kerby side of the building.
To find out more information about scheduled workshops, visit www.portlandonline.com/bps/fif To receive information and reminders on upcoming fairs, e-mail fixitfair@portlandoregon.gov.
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4) Did You Get The Call? (send an email now)
Last week, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) engaged in an exercise to help ensure our city’s safety. PBEM did what very few emergency management agencies do: It put our community notification system through an ambitious, citywide “stress test.”
On a practical level, the test was designed to send a single message to as many Portlanders in the shortest amount of time possible. All landline phones were contacted, as well as all cell, text and email devices voluntarily registered atwww.PublicAlerts.org. On a symbolic level, we were challenging our privately contracted vendor, First Call. Though the company had demonstrated success reaching residents on small-scale emergencies during the past year-and-a-half, it had failed in reaching the entire city during a similar test two weeks prior. We wanted First Call to prove it could complete this ambitious task. And we wanted to know long it would take.
As we analyze the results of the test, we want to hear your feedback. Did you get the message? How, when and where did you receive it? Please contact PublicAlerts@portlandoregon.gov to let us know.
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5) Register for Spring Parks Programs (now)
Portland Parks offers thousands of classes for all ages and abilities. Register now for Spring programs; see what’s on offer now that you don’t receive a catalog in the mail. PortlandParks.org
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6) Urban Farming Code Update (2/23)
North Portland Roundtable Discussion: Urban Food Zoning Code Update
When: Thursday Feb. 23, 2012 from 7-7:30pm
Where: Historic Kenton Firehouse, 8105 N. Brandon
Why: The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is releasing a Discussion Draft of changes to the Portland zoning code that will affect the way that food can be grown and distributed in our neighborhoods!
The proposed changes support activities such as market gardens (growing food for profit), community gardens, farmers markets and food buying clubs. Learn more from project staff Julia Gisler and give your input on how the proposed changes could impact your community.
The Discussion Draft will be available on the project website at www.portlandonline.com/bps/foodcode after February 10th. Paper copies will be available at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability offices at 1900 SW 4th Avenue, 7th floor. You may also contact Julia atjulia.gisler@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823- 7624 to have a copy mailed.
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7) Police Use of Force Investigation (2/28)
U.S. Attorney's Office and Civil Rights Division Announce Town Hall Meeting Regarding Portland Police Bureau Investigation
PORTLAND, Ore. – The United States Department of Justice seeks community input concerning the investigation of the Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) use of force policies and practices. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, in conjunction with the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, will conduct a town hall meeting with members of the public on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. John’s Community Center located at 8427 N. Central Street in Portland.
On June 8, 2011, the Justice Department opened a civil investigation pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 United States Code, Section 14141, in order to determine whether PPB has engaged in a pattern or practice of use of force which amounts to a violation of civil rights. During the first week of August 2011, the Justice Department conducted numerous individual interviews with members of the public in three locations throughout Portland. The Justice Department is returning to Portland as part of the investigation and invites any individual who has specific and recent information they would like to share about their personal interaction with PPB officers to participate in this town hall meeting.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the Justice Department will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by officers of the PPB. The Justice Department will consider all relevant information, particularly the efforts that Portland has undertaken to ensure compliance with federal law. The Justice Department has taken similar steps involving a variety of state and local law enforcement agencies, both large and small, in jurisdictions such as New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, and California.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon are jointly investigating this matter. If you have any comments or concerns, but are unable to attend the town hall meeting, please feel free to contact us at community.portland@usdoj.gov or 1-877-218-5228. You may also feel free to contact the U.S. Attorney’s local Civil Rights Hotline at either 503-471-5577 or by email at usaor.civilrights@usdoj.gov.