We’ve got a little bit of everything for you this week, Overlook. It’s time to plan our famous tree planting, by ordering your trees or volunteering, and we’ve got a couple of new items for you to consider too.
Speaking of new, if you’re a Facebook user, please ‘like’ our new FB page as an alternate way to get your Overlook news. If you’ve got an Overlook business, this is a great way for you to connect with neighbors and you are welcome to post your news and specials there. I mean, here!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Overlook-Neighborhood-PDX/215220578543609
1) Thank you, Generous Overlook!
2) Discounted Trees & Volunteer Call: Order & Sign Up Now (now)
3) This is Only A Test! (Wednesday 11/9)
4) Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group Meets (11/9)
5) Host an Exchange Student! (now, for the New Year)
6) WomenStrength/GirlStrength Needs Volunteer Instructors (deadline 12/2)
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1) Thank you, Generous Overlook!
Our neighbor Gilah writes in to tell us Thank You, Overlook!
"I’d like to say thanks to all the neighbors who contributed to the Trick or Treat for the Oregon Food Bank. In just a couple of blocks, over 70 pounds of nutritious and much-needed food was collected to be distributed to hungry Oregonians."
After reading that as many as 40% of parents throw out their kids’ candy, maybe this is a worthwhile activity more of us can do next year.
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2) Discounted Trees & Volunteer Call: Order & Sign Up Now (now)
Trees are available at steeply discounted rates again this year for Overlook residents! Friends of Trees offers trees for your yard and sidewalk planting strip for only $50. If that is too much, extra discounts are available if you inquire. Go to Friends of Trees’ website, www.FriendsOfTrees.org, and create an account. Once you are logged in, you can order yard trees or sign up to have a tree specialist inspect your planting strip. After the specialist checks out the place that you want to plant trees in the planting strip, you can get back on the website and order trees for that place.
Whether or not you order tress, come out on Saturday, January 28th for the neighborhood planting event. We will meet at Kaiser Permanente Town Hall at 8:30 for hot drinks and some breakfast items. Then we will go out in small groups and plant trees. Last year over a hundred neighbors came out, and we want you to join us this year! If you want to contribute but can’t do minor physical planting work, please consider contributing some breakfast item or a dish for the big lunch we will have after all the trees are planted. Every year we also need people to help organize the meeting places, and to drive volunteers and trees in your pickup truck. Last year was a huge success and we’re going to make it even better this year. So get in on the fun!
Call Garrett if you have any questions about how to order trees or about volunteering, 503 422 5070. Thanks!
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3) This is Only A Test! (Wednesday 11/9)
When the test occurs, please do not call 911.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, November 9th 11:00 a.m. P.S.T.
When the test occurs, please DO NOT call 911. The public will hear a three-and-a-half minute message clearly indicating, "This is a test." The message will be the same across radio, television, cable and satellite outlets. To further avoid confusion, TV outlets may prepare an on-screen "crawl" or other visual reminder indicating this is merely a test. Click here for more information: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm.
The national-level EAS is an alert and warning system that enables the President to address the American public during extreme emergencies. This test will resemble frequently conducted, local EAS tests. However, this is a national event. As such, this test will broadcast to television and radio outlets throughout the country.
This event serves as a reminder that everyone in the Portland area should sign up at www.PublicAlerts.org to receive emergency notifications via landline phone, cell phone, text and email. In cases of an actual emergency, the PublicAlerts system enables local response personnel to notify homes and businesses as needed with information to protect life and safety.
Hello!
Did you catch that last part? I have been meaning to remind you all about it; go to www.PublicAlerts.org and you can sign up your cell phone, email or other methods to receive emergency communications. Check it out.
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4) Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group Meets (11/9)
Meetings of the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group (PH CAG) are intended to keep the community abreast of developments on the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and to provide a forum for discussion. PH CAG meetings are open to everyone. We encourage you to step forward to share your concerns and advice.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: 6543 N Burlington Avenue (at the Portland BES Water Pollution Control Lab)
***** We are looking for an Overlook resident to be a regular member of the Portland Harbor CAG; if you are ready to be a river watchdog, please get in touch with OKNA.
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5) Host an Exchange Student! (now, for the New Year)
Have you ever been curious about hosting an exchange student? High school students arrive from Malayasia for a 1 semester study abroad program. This is a perfect opportunity to open your Overlook home and welcome a young person for 5 months. Below is a profile of one student arriving in January. Single parents, "empty nesters", retirees, as well as traditional 2 parent families are all welcome to apply.
Jern Ken, or Ken for short, is familiar with being in the minority and acclimating to different types of people. He is one of a handful of Chinese students in his predominantly Malaysian school, but that has not stopped him from leading various school projects, organizations, and becoming a role model for his peers. Ken strives for excellence in his studies, with hopes of entering the finance sector in his future and he is quite eager to "explore the interrelatedness between culture and economy" during his semester abroad. Ken is close with his family and together they enjoy trips to the bookstores, noting that "we can spend a whole day there." Ken also values his network of friends, and prides himself on their diversity. This multicultural young man, with a strong work ethic and easy-going demeanor are sure to make him "an awesome exchange student."
Contact your Overlook neighbor for more information: Kathy Oh-Keith, PAX Coordinator 503-410-3025 www.pax.org
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6) WomenStrength/GirlStrength Needs Volunteer Instructors (deadline 12/2)
Empower women and girls: Be a volunteer self-defense instructor. WomenStrength and GirlStrength are looking for confident, caring and dedicated women to volunteer their time to teach free holistic self-defense classes. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Women of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: December 2, 2011
Instructor Training Begins: February 25th, 2012
Graduation at Central Precinct is on April 25th, 2012
For more information, please contact Carolyne Haycraft, 503-823-0239 GirlStrength.pb@ portlandoregon.gov
Since 1979, WomenStrength instructors have provided free holistic self-defense classes to over 30,000 women & teenage girls throughout Portland. For more information: www.portlandonline.com/police/womenstrength
GirlStrength, founded in 2008, provides free holistic self-defense classes to girls ages 10-14. GirlStrength offers programs, workshops and camps to schools and community centers all over Portland. For more information: www.portlandonline.com/police/girlstrength