Oregon Literary Review co-hosts First Wednesdays, a series of readings, performances and wine-tasting at the Blackbird Wine Shop, 4323 NE Fremont, 7-9pm. This show is 21 and over. Contact Julie Mae Madsen at maemadsen@gmail.com for more information. The readers for April 7 are Jackie Shannon-Hollis, Peter Sears, Brian Christopher and Elizabeth Enslin Peter Sears is the author of The Brink (winner of the 2000 Western States Poetry Prize and 1999 Peregrine Smith Poetry Competition), Tour: New & Selected Poems (1987), and Luge (2008). He received his M.F.A.

 
Time flies when you're having fun and we are happy to say Atomic Pizza has been open for one year. To celebrate, we are giving 10% of our sales to two very dedicated local non-profit organizations. Saturday, March 6th 10% of sales will be donated to Family of Friends Mentoring Program. www.family-of-friends.org And Sunday, March 7th 10% of sales will be donated to Project Pooch pet rescue program. www.pooch.org. Please come celebrate with us and help support these great programs.

The plan seeks to address how to restore endangered species...not just hold the line or lessen the negative impacts, but actually increase the rapidly declining populations of the most acutely affected species: Salmon and Steelhead in our section of the river. The decline is mainly through loss of habitat, so restoration will have to be through recovery of habitat. It has been estimated by scientists that Salmon need shallow rest & feeding areas near the riverbank about every quarter mile. The plan has been compromised to offer less than that, but it is a step in the right direction since currently the North Reach offers close to no riverbank habitat.

The plan also addresses upland connectivity because we are now seeing alarmingly sharp declines in mammals, once common birds, reptiles & amphibians as well as plants native to our community.

Salem – Human trafficking is 21st century slavery, and is closer to home than we might like to imagine.  

Priority legislation aimed at combating the issue of human trafficking in Oregon was positively received in the State Senate this morning. Senator Diane Rosenbaum carried HB 3623 on the floor where it received unanimous support. Rosenbaum is one of three chief sponsors, joined by Representatives Jefferson Smith and Barton.  Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel - a champion of the issue - brought this bill to the attention of the legislators.

 Come hear how Urban Renewal has impacted inner North/Northeast neighborhoods and share your own story! 

Wednesday, February 10th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Billy Webb Elks Lodge 6 N Tillamook St., Portland 

Come hear panelists’ perspectives on how inner North/Northeast Urban Renewal Areas have impacted and are impacting neighborhoods.  Share your own perspective as well!  This is the first in a series of community-based public forums designed to educate and engage community members regarding pending decisions about significant Urban Renewal Area investments which will change the built environment of inner North/Northeast neighborhoods.  All feedback will be incorporated into a final report given to the Portland Development Commission.  

RSVPs are encouraged. For more information, please visit www.necoalition.org or contact Shoshana Cohen, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods at 503-823-4575 ext. 5. 

Hey, let’s get our bikes, we can go over to the Sandy River. There is a lifeguard there today and it's supposed to be a hot one. We can even take the MAX back with our bikes!” 

REGISTRATION BEGINS IN MARCH

The Overlook Livability Team is a group of residents that meet once a month to clean up their neighborhood. Their main targets are graffiti and garbage, documenting and reporting the graffiti to the city then either removing or painting over it. Feb 7th the group will be meeting up at Di Prima Dolci at 9am and hitting the streets. If you see them, please tell them thank you for their hard work.

Below is their flier and more information about the group.

CAMP BIKE FUN at North Portland Bike Works  is running a bicycle/ adventure/ community building summer program summer of 2010 for 10-15 year olds.

Students will learn individual and group bicycle riding skills, and take fun and adventurous field trips every day to different places. Some trips may include biking, hiking, walking, swimming, going to museums, playgrounds, festivals, gardening, gleening fruit, visiting other organizations, making zines, art projects, and lots more.

Cost is $190 per week, and includes bikes and helmets.  Scholarships are available.

Registration starts in March. Contact the North Portland Bike Works for more information:

503-287-1098. www.northportlandbikeworks.org.

We will offer programs in 4 sessions:

Session 1: June 21^st- July 2^nd (2 weeks)

Session 2: July 5^th to July 16^th (2 weeks)

Session 3: July 19^th to August 6^th (3 weeks)

Session 4: August 9^th to August 27^th (3 weeks)

Testimony Before Portland City Council 1/13/10

My name is Richard Ellmyer. I am a candidate for the North Portland House seat in the Democratic primary next May. On December 19 I asked each of you to answer the following questions so that I may discuss this issue with voters in North Portland over the coming months:

1. Why wasn't the Washington Monroe High School property offered to the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation?

2. Why weren't advisory committees, similar to those involved in the Buckman neighborhood, created in the Portsmouth neighborhood to discuss and recommend potential future uses for the John Ball School site despite requests from the Portsmouth Neighborhood Association and the ad hoc 195 member Portsmouth Residents Action Committee and the North Portland Business Association to establish such advisory committees?

3. Why were the citizen requests of the Buckman neighborhood acceded to by the Portland city council and those citizen requests of the Portsmouth/North Portland neighborhood summarily dismissed when the issue of the use of surplus PPS property was exactly the same?

What do you think of when you think of ports and riverfront industry?  Maybe ships and smokestacks? Cranes and trains? Grease and grime? What about turtle and bird habitat? Wetlands and water conservation? Hybrids and solar panels?  You might be surprised to hear how Portland’s waterfront businesses are environmental leaders in their industries, shrinking their environmental footprint while connecting Portland people and products with the rest of the world.