The OKNA Facebook page has been hopping this week; you’re missing out if you don’t subscribe! Log on and ‘like’ OKNA at www.facebook.com/OKNAinPDX to get extra news like this…
-New stop signs are suddenly up at N Longview & Skidmore and N Colonial & Skidmore. They’re part of the Bike Boulevard program “Going to the River”. Come to the OKNA meeting on February 19th to learn more.
– News about the upcoming Comprehensive Plan workshops and presentations. Some people in this city are deciding its fate for the coming 20 years.. are you one of them? Speak up now or let others do it for you! We’ll be hearing more about the Comp Plan and how to participate at the February 19thOKNA meeting.
– And if you like North Portland history, don’t miss Dan Haneckow’s presentation on Saturday, February 9th (tomorrow!); his talk is titled From Streetcars to St Johns and it sounds fascinating! http://www.visitahc.org/content/streetcar-st-johns
AND, how could I forget, your Spring 2013 Overlook Views is back from the printer and being distributed over the next week or so.
We could use some stand in delivery folk to join our all-volunteer hero team.. routes only take about an hour to walk and I think we need one more helper ASAP. If you are interested, please email Michelle at Views@OverlookNeighborhood.org.
Thanks for the great issue, Overlook! There’s tons going on and never enough room to tell it all to you.
1) Support North Portland Schools! Rally on Saturday (2/9)
2) “Dog Bowl” Takeover – Let’s Get Together!
3) Superfund in Plan Language (2/11)
4) Pre-Kindergarteners: Come to Beach School! (2/15)
5) What’s NOT in the Budget?
6) Harper's Playground Work Party! (3/9)
7) Kitten Season Is Coming
8) To Send a Message to the OKNA Email List..
————————————————
1) Support North Portland Schools! Rally on Saturday (2/9)
Call to Action!
Show up tomorrow to show support for the Jefferson Cluster and stick up for our schools.
Public Hearing at Jefferson High School 5210 N. Kerby
(in the Cafeteria)
Feb 9, 10am – 12pm
Public Testimony Taken at Board Meeting
Feb 11, 6 pm
Call 503.916.3906 to sign up for public comment.
————————————————
2) “Dog Bowl” Takeover – Let’s Get Together!
Neighbor Jay B writes in with a request for anyone interested in organizing a “Dog Bowl” use planning group.
The Dog Bowl is that open piece of property (aka pit) off Willamette Blvd between Killingsworth and Ainsworth Streets that had been a city fill site where street repair materials (cement, asphalt, etc.) were dumped, and is now primarily used for dog exercise, sunset viewing, and general open space enjoyment.
It is an incredible (but largely forgotten) piece of property, with good access, great views of the West hills, natural south and west facing slopes, and trails. It is in essence a neighborhood gold mine!
Jay would like to organize a group of interested neighbors to make this property more accessible and valuable to the neighborhood. One suggestion is to write a grant to improve this property so that more native plants and trees can grow there and is better managed for multiple uses.
Anyone interested in working on a proposal to reclaim this lost treasure? If so, please contact OKNA and we’ll put you together and support your efforts: info@overlookneighborhood.org (subject line Dog Bowl).
————————————————
3) Superfund in Plan Language (2/11)
Want to know about the Willamette River Superfund process in North Portland in plain language?
Meet with your neighbors & your Superfund representatives and discuss what is happening with the process.
Join us at the BES Water Lab, 6543 N Burlington, beneath the St John’s Bridge
Monday, February 11, 2013 from 6:30-8:30pm
prior to the monthly Superfund Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group meeting on Wednesday, February 13, 6:00-8:00pm at the BES Water Lab, 6543 N. Burlington
Find out what’s at stake for you! Sponsored by the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group. For more information email:chair@portlandharborcang.info
————————————————
4) Pre-Kindergarteners: Come to Beach School! (2/15)
Beach School will be having a session to introduce incoming parents to their ‘Connect to Kindergarten’ program.
The next session on Friday, February 15th at 9AM.
The meetings will cover both the neighborhood and focus option (Spanish Immersion) programs. Beach School is at 1710 N. Humboldt Street, (503) 916-6236. Please pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested.
————————————————
5) What’s NOT in the Budget?
The requested city budgets have been posted; see what’s on the chopping block: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/61439
Citizens members are sought for the Citywide Budget Advisory Committee.
The committee provides public feedback on decisions and issues raised during City Council budget work sessions and the mayor’s proposed process. The committee is not a voting body, but members are able to ask questions of bureau presenters and to request budget information from the city’s fiscal staff.
Committee members are expected to attend most of the budget work sessions, which typically are held during normal working hours, and total about 30 hours.
Read more here: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/mayor/article/433747
————————————————
6) Harper's Playground Work Party! (3/9)
SAVE THE DATE March 9th, 9:00-12:00.
1st work party of the year at Arbor Lodge Park & Harper's Playground
9:00 Show up, grab a donut, some coffee, pick an activity
10:30 Continue your activity, change to a new one, or join an informative discussion about forming a Friends of Arbor Lodge Park/Harper's Playground group.
11:00 Return to work activities
12:00 Put tools away, wrap it up, admire the Park/Playground!
THANKS
————————————————
7) Kitten Season Is Coming
If you are feeding feral or stray cats, call the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) today at 503-797-2606 to schedule a spay/neuter appointment. All surgeries are performed by licensed veterinarians at FCCO’s North Portland clinic. Services are donation-based and include a spay/neuter; vaccinations; flea and ear mite treatment; and an ear-tip for identification. Space is limited.
Learn more about FCCO at www.feralcats.com.
————————————————
8) To Send a Message to the OKNA Email List:
4 Easy Steps to Your Neighborhood Email List
1. Please send your submission to info@ OverlookNeighborhood.org
2. Put in the Subject line: “Post to List (date)” where (date) is the Friday you'd like your message to appear.
3. Paste a plain text version of your message in the body of the email; pdf, jpg and other attachments can not be included and must be transcribed. Be sure to include the date, time and place (with address) of any gathering.
4. Please have your submission to us by the Thursday before you want your message to appear.