The Weekly OKNA Email 3/2/12

1. O•NeST Sustainability News &Activities
2. Beach School/Escuela Beach News &Activities
3. Overlook House Offers Children’s Qi Gong
4. Public Safety News & Activities
5. Job Fair/Town Hall for North Portland with your Electeds
6. Air Quality Day of Action & Work Group
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1. O•NeST Sustainability News &Activities

O•NeST Reading Circle

There is still time to join our reading circle for The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience, by Rob Hopkins, founder of the worldwide Transition Towns movement.   Let us know if you’d like to borrow a book –we have a few circulating. Contact Josh at josh.cabot@gmail

O•Nest Meeting Monday, March 5

Please join us for our meeting next Monday, March 5that Daybreak CoHousing's Community Room.  We'll be planning for our free Rain Gardens 101 Workshop on 4/29 (see below) at Overlook House (with Metro),our May event, an Earthquake Home Retrofit Workshop (with North Portland Tool Library), and our June event, a Home Ecotour.

Potluck at 6pm, Meeting at 6:30. Come for one or both!

Rain Gardens 101 Workshop in Overlook! (FREE)

Contain that rain! Rain gardens add beauty to your yard and can help restore overloaded urban streams at the same time. Join us and learn how to construct a rain garden in your own yard!

Event date: Apr 29, 2012 1:00 PM → Apr 29, 2012 5:00 PM
Event location: Overlook House, 3839 N Melrose Dr.
Learn more and register now while space is still available: www.emswcd.org Information: 503.935.5368
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2. Beach School/Escuela Beach News &Activities

Beach PTA is now taking orders for spring plants! Order forms are available in the Main Office, or online (links below). Lots of selections to choose from! Organic veggies, annuals, perennials and herbs are available.
Order and Payment deadline is Friday, March 23. Bring completed form with payment to the Main Office. Make checks out to “Beach PTA.”
Plants will be available for pick up on Thursday, April 26,at Family Fit Night, 6 p.m. 
You can check out the nursery at www.newleafgreenhouse.com
Order form: http://www.bigtent.com/usr/files/66912853_2_00_OrderformEnglish.pdf

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3. Overlook House Offers Children’s Qi Gong

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

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4. Public Safety News & Activities

The next Overlook Livability Team cleanup is this Sunday! We'll meet in front of Di PrimaDolci at 9am for resupplies. Questions or want to join in? Contact David at 503-320-1234
Shredding Event Info: Here is a link to an upcoming document shredding event if you need to shred any sensitive papers or documents:http://www.oregon.bbb.org/secure-your-id

March PSAC (North Portland Public Safety Action Committee) is Wednesday March 28th, just for an early reminder.
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5. Job Fair/TownHall for North Portland with your Electeds

Join Representative Tina Kotek, Senator Chip Shields and Representative Lew Frederick for a jobs-focused town hall.  Businesses from Swan Island, N/NE Portland and the close-in Metro area will be in attendance to discuss hiring opportunities and job qualifications with attendees.  Light refreshments will be provided and there will be opportunity for Q & A with elected officials and company representatives.

SoloPower, Widmer Brothers and American Red Cross will join a growing list of businesses participating including Oregon Iron Works, New Seasons Market and Gunderson.

What: Living Wage Jobs Town Hall
When: Friday, March 9, 2012 at12:00 p.m.
Where:  Vigor Industrial, 5555 N. Channel Ave.,Portland, OR 97217 (map)

For more information, call or email Michelle Rogelstad, at rep.tinakotek@state.or.usor (503) 286-0558 (district) OR MaryAlecia K. Briggs at503-986-1722, sen.chipshields@state.or.us. On the day of the event, call 503-504-6500.

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6. Air Quality Day of Action & Work Group

Frustrated by the ongoing onslaught of fumes emanating from Swan Island businesses situated below the North Portland bluff, residents have begun to meet regularly and discuss effective actions to improve the air quality in their neighborhood. Most neighbors report experiencing paint fumes from Western Star, and unburned fuel odors, from an unidentified source. If you live in North Portland and are interested in getting involved in the neighborhood effort, you are encouraged to join the North Portland Air Quality Google Group.

The group has a day of action planned for Saturday, March 3, 1pm-4pm. You may RSVP and get more information, by contacting the google group: North Portland Air Quality Google Group.

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