North Portland Sunday Parkways is THIS Sunday!

North Portland Sunday Parkways Is Great For Families

Kids' Bike Rides, Jumping Rope, Hula Hooping, and Ice Cream

North Portland Sunday Parkways, sponsored by the City of Portland and Kaiser Permanente, offers families an opportunity to get out in their neighborhood streets for some safe and free summer activities. You are invited to walk, bike, skateboard, run, and roll on 7.5 miles of traffic-free streets in North Portland on June 21. There will be music, activities (such as hula hooping, yoga, kids' circus), and food.

The 7.5-mile North Sunday Parkways two-way route will have two loops. A 3.2-mile loop through Kenton and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods; and a 4.5-mile loop connecting Arbor Lodge and Piedmont neighborhoods via the Bryant Pedestrian Bridge and North Ainsworth. The scenic Willamette Bluff will once again be enjoyed. There is no start or finish line - join the fun where ever you want!

North Portland Sunday Parkways:

June 21 in North Portland - 9 AM to 4 PM

Featured parks/activity areas: Arbor Lodge, Peninsula and Kenton Parks, plus Willamette Bluff - Click here for a list of activities, food and entertainment. Below is just a small sampling:

* Hoopshine - Hula hooping for the kids and the kid in all of us.

* Safer Routes to School bicycle skills rodeos - Safer Routes to School, Providence Bridge Pedal and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, are hosting a short bike skills training course and ride for children. Kids without a bicycle can borrow one for the skills rodeo and ride.

* The Jumping Jackie O's - Jumping rope all day long.

* And, of course, The Ice Cream Pedaler - what summer event is complete without ice cream? Served along the route by bike.

RIDER READY WORKSHOPS AT SUNDAY PARKWAYS

Free bike skills training courses and rides for children are being offered at all Sunday Parkways events this year.

Safer Routes to School, in partnerships with Providence Bridge Pedal and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance are hosting these free workshops to help families with children get ready to ride safe all summer long. Professional bike safety educators will teach bike skills and lead group rides. Bike maintenance, helmet give-aways and helmet fittings will be available on site. Kids of all ages (as long as they can ride a bicycle already) are welcome.

Do you need a bike for the event? Bikes will be available for children who need to borrow one for the skills course and ride. For information on organizing groups contact Carolina Iraheta Gonzalez at Carolina.Iraheta@trans.ci.portland.or.us or 503-823-1189.

BE A SUNDAY PARKWAYS "SUPERHERO"

Volunteers are the life-blood of Portland Sunday Parkways. They do everything from mailings, distributing door hangers and lawn signs, stuffing packets, sweeping the routes, and much more. But we reserve our "Superheroes" title for those Sunday Parkways volunteers who help us monitor the over 110 intersections along the route.

Superheroes (in addition to having a cool title, don't you think?) get a supply of chalk to decorate their own spot along the course, are lavished with snacks and water donated by some of our sponsor businesses, and make sure that those residents who live along the route can safely navigate to and from the route if they need to get out of their driveways.

To leap tall bikes; to change the direction of traffic; to be a superhero! click on the link and register as a volunteer. The world (and our volunteer coordinators) will thank you.

WE NEED YOU!
You can help make this event a success by volunteering, leading a fun activity or donating. We have plenty of fun-filled volunteer opportunities. Be the first on your block to sign up and volunteer for this great event. We have several shifts so you can work for part of the time and still participate in the event.

Volunteer Info

Check out the volunteer job descriptions and register today!

Volunteers are needed to monitor intersections, assist in parks, and more. For specific questions contact Janis McDonald: Janis.Mcdonald@PDXtrans.org, 503-823-5358.

Levee vegetation clearing

Just a reminder:

On June 18th and 19th - that's this Thursday and Friday - a crew contracted by Pen2 will be cutting blackberries, grass and invasive weeds form the river side of the levee.

They will NOT be cutting trees!

They will though be using chainsaws so be prepared for the noise :D

Questions? Call:

Adam Zucker 503.281.5675 ext 308

or Bob Eaton 503.281.5675 ext 301

Levees and Trees - still in the news

COLUMBIA, La. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers is on a mission to chop down every tree in the country that grows within 15 feet of a levee — including oaks and sycamores in Louisiana, willows in Oklahoma and cottonwoods in California.

Cut em down is still the Army Corps of Engineers mantra.

Experts outside the corps say a tree has never caused a U.S. levee failure.

"If trees are a problem, why aren't we having problems with them?" said George Sills, who formerly worked for the corps' Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Miss. "There's never been a documented problem with a tree."

And Halpin, the corps' dam and levee expert,

said the agency does not know whether a tree has ever directly caused a levee failure. But he noted that dam failures have been linked to trees, including a 1970s collapse in Georgia that claimed 39 lives.

And so because a dam failed maybe due to a tree - levees will lose trees. As we said when I was a kid: "clear as mud."

Full article: http://cli.gs/Vb5H0E

A day in our moorage

Memorial Day 2009 was fun....hope your day was as good

May Meeting Agenda: BNA

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

7 PM @ Columbia Pioneer School

716 N. Marine Dr., Portland, OR

AGENDA:

1. Start plans for a neighborhood party for the summer.

2. Watering the trees and discussing what to do with the mitigation funds for more trees.

3. A PDX representative will be here to discuss the impact of the expansion of the North Runway on our neighborhood.

4. Neighborhood input for the MAX extension committee.

5. Vote on a change of regular day for Bridgeton Neighborhood meetings to the Second Monday of the month.

6. Pen2 needs votes for budget and wants to meet with neighbors in July

SEED & PLANT SWAP

Lovett Deconstruction Salvage Yard
2030 N Willis Blvd
Portland, OR 97217

(In the Kenton neighborhood, right where Denver and Interstate meet, just off the left shoulder of the 30ft Paul Bunyan)

Saturday May 16, 2009

9am-5pm

Due to the popularity of last month’s community seed and plant swap, there will be another chance to trade your indoor and outdoor seeds, starters and plants with the neighbours. The Seed & Plant Swap will take place at Lovett Deconstruction’s Salvaged Building Material Yard on Saturday May 16th 2009 from 9am-5pm.

The Seed & Plant Swap offers people FREE and easy access to fruit, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, trees, annuals, perennials and houseplants whilst helping support local food growing culture and beautifying our neighborhood homes and yards. As Spring sets in, so too begins Spring Cleaning inside and outside. One person’s surplus is another person’s windfall. On Saturday May 16th 2009 the Lovett Deconstruction lot will be buzzing with the sound of people swapping Himalayan Impatiens for Walla Walla Sweets and more besides.

Last month’s Swap was lively and full of surprises as neighbors shared growing tips as well as plants, and the May 16th Swap promises the same. A longer day will mean more items to exchange. You can trade seed packets with plants (one-for-one) or make a donation to the North Portland Tool Library if you have no seeds or plants to swap, talk to neighbors, AND purchase materials to build a raised planter, garden bench or shed while you’re here.

Sponsored by Lovett Deconstruction, the Seed & Plant Swap is a call to gardeners, farmers, herb and flower enthusiasts, seed savers and the whole community to take action to grow your own food, beautify your surroundings and avoid wasting what you can’t use.

Cost: FREE – Bring One, Take One. Contributions to the North Portland Tool Library will be gratefully accepted if you want something, but don’t have anything to swap.

For more details contact the event organizer: Teri at (503) 505-4832

City Wide Green Team

You're invited to participate in the City Wide Green Team!

 

The purpose of the city-wide Green Team is to create a space where neighborhood leaders and citizens committed to sustainability can meet monthly to share ideas and implement best practices. 

 

While city resources will be available in this group, this group will be citizen lead and maintained.

 

Your input is valuable, and we encourage you to join us and share this invitation with family, friends, coworkers and neighbors interested in collaborating to build a greener city!

 

The first Green Team meeting will take place next month:

When: Tuesday, May 19^th / 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Where: Portland Building, Room C

             1120 SW 5^th Ave, Portland OR 97204

If you are interested in tis - call Leslie and let her know  503-314-2137

Belly Dance Tea Party Benefit

To Help Build Schools For Afghan and Pakistani Girls

The Dalai Mamas, a Portland-based spiritual tribal belly dance troupe, are presenting a Belly Dance Tea Party and Workshop.

Bridgeton's own Barbara Abernathy is part of this group which appeared at the fundraiser last year.

Information

7:00 pm
May 1, 2009
Portland Center for Spiritual Living
6211 N.E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

Women 12 and over are invited to enjoy the show, sip tea, learn a few easy dance moves and then shimmy along with the Dalai Mamas for a grand community belly dance finale.

Women are encouraged to bring teens. All ages can experience the fun of belly dance together.

Prices are $15 in advance/$20 at door for adults and $10 in advance/ $15 at door for students 12-21 with ID.
Advance tickets can be purchased online at http://www.bellydanceteaparty.com or by calling Brown Paper Tickets live 24/7 hotline: 1-800-838-3006.


Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller, Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission To Promote Peace…One School At A Time, the Dalai Mamas dedicate themselves to supporting the Central Asia Institute, the non-profit founded by Greg Mortenson, former mountaineer turned humanitarian. He found a way to educate girls in the most remote mountainous areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Portland writer David Oliver Relin co-authored the book that follows Mortenson’s harrowing adventures working with local tribes to get secular schools built in the Taliban’s back yard.

Lew Gress Funeral and Wake Information

If you did not know this - Lew died last week after a short illness.

Viewing is today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Zeller Chapel of the Roses, 2107 N.E. Broadw ay, Portland OR 97232.

The funeral Mass is tomorrow at noon in All Saints Catholic Church, 3847 N.E. Glisan St.

Interment will be in Willamette National Cemetery and a wake will follow at the Portland Yacht Club:
1241 N.E. Marine Drive.

Hayden Island

Have you been over there to the mall lately? I had not until I ran to Target yesterday.

My first "huh?" was a sandwich board wearing person letting me know that Boater's World was liquidating. I liked that store - low prices and very helpful staff.

Then I noticed that there were so few cars that I could park very near Target. Usually on a weekend I get in some good exercise walking from car to store. It was so empty I had that momentary thought of "did I get here before the store opened?" But I knew it was nearer to noon.

Inside the mall stores were shuttered, there were no kiosks and very few people walking around. The last time I had been inside that mall it still had bustling kiosks - but I can't recall when I was last there - maybe January or February?

I got what I needed at Target and left. It was a very depressing sight....It reminded me of some PG County [MD] malls back in the late 80's that had lost their anchors and then many of the smaller stores and kiosks closed. What began taking their place were stores that catered to qwik cash and junk foods...and some rather unsavory persons hanging around. I stopped going to those even if the mall still contained a store I had regularly shopped at.

Hayden Island does not feel unsafe but I don't think I'd go to the mall at night - if it's that depressing on a weekend afternoon - it's gotta be worse at night....

Minutes From March 19th Neighborhood Meeting

Bridgeton Neighborhood Association

Business Meeting Minutes from 19 Mar 09

Leslie opened the meeting and the first order of business was the Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 25th. Volunteers are needed and volunteers are covered by an insurance policy from the City of Portland Neighborhood Rob Salt cleaned up around Marine Drive at Gantenbein but it needs more work.

Signs will go up to remind folks to prepare to rid their places of junk. Drop boxes arrive at 8:00 Am and need to be out by 4:00 PM. Tires are OK. Appliances are set aside for the re-cycle truck. No hazardous materials will be accepted. Two shredder bins will be at Channels Edge to help prevent identity theft.

Tree watering will get started once the rains stop. Trees require 5 gallons of water each week, more during a hot spell. Ideas for watering include volunteers to Adopt-a-Tree; install drip irrigation that does not interfere with mowers; install tree bags; use a pickup truck loaded with 5-gal buckets of water to drive to each tree; and hire it done by an outside party, which will cut into the tree planting money.

There are many rocks around the trees that will interfere with mowing. A rock picking party needs to be arranged. Rich will work with PPS to install a sub-meter for the irrigation water used from a school hose bib. Matt, Becky, Chuck and Elizabeth are among those who would adopt-a-tree.

Police Officer Christina Hansen, badge #47651, introduced herself to BNA. Contact Christina by calling North Precinct at 503-823-2120 and they will forward the call. A previous officer used email from the police car and that suggestion was passed along to Christina.

Christina will work to secure a trespassing agreement with owners that once posted will provide an avenue for people who sleep in their cars. She suggested that it is city police jurisdiction if you are hooked up to city water and sewer. Christina spoke to the issue of thefts from boats. She reminds us that the Multnomah County Sheriff covers boats on the water. Also, regardless of past practice, you are not allowed to shoot someone for stealing your boat motor.

Police Officer Steve Jacquot introduced himself. Steve works Tue – Fri from 7 AM to 5 PM. He reminds residents to always report break-ins. This helps to ensure that resources are available for BNA.

Leslie spoke about the landscaping plan. Matt explained the plan for the east end of Bridgeton at Marine Dr. Dan voiced concerns about the former site of the old cottonwood tree as it relates to the parking needs of his moorage.

Motion was made and Passed to try to transfer ownership of strips along Marine Dr at east and west side of Gantenbein Ave to Metro. This is intended to minimize the potential for development.

Discussion ensued to change the BNA Meeting night due to conflict for a number of BNA Board Members who participate in Dragon Boat Racing.

The BNA Minutes were taken by Ann and typed up by Rich.

March Neighborhood Meeting

The March meeting is on the 18th at the Columbia School [Marine and Bridgeton] at 7 PM

Agenda

Spring Clean Up - April 25th - volunteers needed for planning and working

Trees - committee needed to work with Pen2 on planting, watering and maintenance of trees

Crime - PPD Office Steven Jacquot will lead a discussion on issues of crime in our neighborhood

Minutes from February BNA Board Meeting

16 Feb 2009

Bridgeton Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes

Called to order at 7:05 PM. Attendees: Leslie S, Matt, Elizabeth, Chuck, Kim S, Brian, Debbie R, and Rich B. Excused absentees: Karen J, Ann N.

New BNA Board Member Greg Griffin was nominated by Leslie, seconded by Matt, and elected by those present. Chris Papus is unable to balance personal demands and BNA commitments and has decided to leave the Board.

Treasurer Chuck reports a balance of $819. Leslie reported a $300 grant to be spent getting the neighborhood together.

Spring Cleanup 2009 will be on Saturday April 25th – there will be the usual three drop-boxes spread out on Bridgeton Rd. Notices will begin going out and everyone is encouraged to clean out the garage, lighten the floating home, or empty the lazarette. This is a fantastic, highly collaborative event that you do not want to miss.

Grab a rake and shovel on the 25th as we get the area looking pristine for Spring.

The Gantenbein circle and near-by transient camp will be among the sites that get an once-over. The property owners and Realtors at Gantenbein at Marine Dr will be notified so they can pitch in as they did last Fall. Many N Portland cleanup efforts will take place the same day.

As part of the Spring and Fall cleanup, document-shredding bins are made available at Channel’s Edge. Last Fall, the document shredding service cost BNA $76 but $57 of that was offset by donations.

Crime Prevention is a big deal to us. In the past year Bridgeton Rd has reported a hit & run, mail box theft, prowled cars, and strangers drinking and making noise in their cars. Not reported were a stolen catalytic converter, a motorcycle being sold on Bridgeton …but not by the owner, and more mail theft and car prowls.

An effort to get cars to register and carry BNA membership stickers will soon get underway. Look for posters and flyers to increase awareness while we walk and drive on and around Bridgeton.

Report crimes. Call 911 when you suspect a crime in progress or suspicious activity. According to police liaison Mark Wells, knowing your neighbors is the single most important action you can take to decrease crime.

Getting stronger mailboxes, adding web-based cameras, and improved lighting are all options that BNA will investigate and recommend to moorage owners and others.

Be aware of how and where you park your car. Parking on Bridgeton is always an issue. Walkers need to feel comfortable and safe while they walk on the majority of the street that has no sidewalks.

Summer Block Party, organized by Mark Wells and others will be held during August in Roth Estates. We will try to get official National Night Out status. Look for plenty of involvement with this fantastic event.

Adopt-a-tree? Last Fall, Friends of Trees planted 100 beautiful trees. This Summer those 100 fragile, young trees will need to be watered and nurtured in order to survive the dry season. If 25 volunteers each adopt four trees; and if each tree gets a 5-gallon bucket of water each week; the 100 trees will live to see another year. If not, precious labor and funds from BNA and DD#2 will be used to replace them.

Who will water them? Where will the water come from? The Portland Water Bureau will work with the Portland School District to add a sub-meter for the water for the trees. BNA will work to get access to the playground through the locked gate at the NW corner of the school.

Gravel pathway is needed from Bridgeton Rd through the new gate and down to the schoolyard. Without that gravel path the school district will not unlock the gate. Without access through the gate park users find other avenues ….not all of which make adjoining property owners happy.

Address comments and corrections to Leslie Sawyer.

Richard Brown

BNA Secretary

Floating Home Insurance

In case you do not yet know of this, there is now another company that insures floating homes in our area.

The coverage is NOT the same as with your current company but it's something you should check out - many of us, including me, have switched insurers.

The company is United Heritage out of Utah and the local broker is Thom Hokanson [503.283.4733]

Thom is a nice person who will come to your home and explain the policy differences.

One major reason for switching - the rates are about those of land based homes - my premium was reduced by about 40% !

Give Thom a call - there is no obligation

Town Hall with Rep. Tina Kotek

March 14, 2009 10:00am - 12:00pm

Reps. Tina Kotek and Chip Shields will be hosting a Town Hall.

Please join them for this important conversation.

They look forward to seeing old friends and connecting with new community members.

Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, Terrill Hall
Room 112, 705 N. Killingsworth St. Portland, OR

Registration Opens for Ready. Safe. Go.

Portland's annual safety and preparedness event

Do you want to increase your safety skills? Are you prepared if a disaster strikes? Do you want information on urban youth violence and gangs?

Come to the fourth annual Ready. Safe. Go. conference and volunteer recognition event on April 25, 2009. This year's event is in southeast Portland at Warner Pacific College, 2219 SE 68^th Ave., and runs from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration is now open.

This training is for you if:

• You're a member of a NET, Neighborhood/Business Watch, or Foot Patrol.
• You're a community member interested in learning more about preventing crime, increasing safety, and being prepared in an emergency.
• You're a business owner or manager interested in emergency preparedness and theft prevention.
  

Choose from 21 classes during three, hour-long training sessions. Training topics include: urban youth violence and gangs; bicycle safety; child predator awareness; animal abuse and cruelty; personal safety skills; emergency preparedness for businesses; shoplift, theft, and robbery prevention for businesses; Know Your Neighborhood; disaster burn and wound treatment; psychological first aid; introduction to incident command (ICS-100); disasters in our region; what to do after 72 hours; HAM radio; table top exercises; and more. The website listed below has the most current class information.

In the afternoon, there will be an awards ceremony honoring Portland volunteers who contribute to community safety and livability. The Citizen Corps programs giving awards include Crime Prevention, Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs), and Heath Reserve Corps.

The event is free and lunch is provided, but pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is April 9, 2009.

Find out more information and register online at http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=41151 then click on the Ready. Safe. Go. link.

Ready. Safe. Go. is a partnership between the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's Crime Prevention Program and the Portland Office of Emergency Management with support from the Portland Citizen Corps Council and Warner Pacific College.

For questions or to register by phone contact:
Dennis LoGiudice at 503-823-4064 or dennis.logiudice@ci.portland.or.us

Mail Box Alert!

Someone[s] have been attempting to break into mailboxes on Bridgeton Road.

If you see anyone fiddling around mail boxes - please call 911. The activity tends to be at night and attempts have been made up and down the road - so it's not localized. We are all potential victims.

Watch POTUS Speech with Friends

If you enjoyed Inauguration morning - join together again for watching Obama's Speech tomorrow

The President's speech to the joint session of Congress starts tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:00 PM
(Doesn't it feel good to say "The President" these days?)

Join with other Democrats 5 PM to 9 PM to watch the speech at Krakow Cafe, 3990 N. Interstate Ave, 503-954-2200 www.myspace.krakowkoffee.com

Party-goers can fortify themselves from the televised Republican response, by playing State of the Union "Bingo." After Obama's speech, revelers will get bingo cards to mark any time the GOP speaker refers to "health care," "education," "environment," "HIV-AIDS," or Haliburton."

First ones to scream "Bingo" win prizes.

Portland's Budget - You Can Get Involved

I just received this and note there is a meeting tonight - highlighted below

Subject: 2009 CITY BUDGET OF PORTLAND PROCESS:
FORUMS Around the Corner, NEW Learning Tools, NEW Partnership Program!

It's Budget Time again at the City of Portland! Read on to find out how you

can be involved and make a difference.

4 ways to get involved

OPTION #1: BEGINNING NEXT WEEK Attend a Citywide Community Budget Forum!

Join City Council, Bureau Directors and your neighbors at one of Portland's

Community Budget Forums and voice your priorities for next year's City

budget. Finances are tight and your input on what programs and services are

most important to keep is needed! Three forums will be held:

TONIGHT

Thursday, Feb 19th - St. Johns Community Center

JOIN US for a COMMUNITY FAIR & Refreshments at 6:00 pm!

FORUM: 6:30-8:30 pm 8427 N Central St

Saturday, Feb 21st - Floyd Light Middle School

JOIN US for a COMMUNITY FAIR & Refreshments at 9:30 am!

FORUM: 10:00 am-12 noon 10800 SE Washington St

Tuesday, Feb 24 - Multnomah Art Center

JOIN US for a COMMUNITY FAIR & Refreshments at 6:00 pm!

FORUM: 6:30-8:30 pm 7688 SW Capitol Highway

All locations are ADA accessible; for accommodations call 503-823-2559, TDD:

503-823-6868.

OPTION #2: VISIT US ONLINE & send in your opinions

Go to: www.portlandonline.com/communitybudget

OPTION #3: SHARE OUR NEW LEARNING TOOLS with your organization!

Go to: www.portlandonline.com/communitybudget

JUST POSTED!

We've developed a simple presentation to share with your group and a flyer

to post. Please help get the word out and your neighbors and friends

informed!

OPTION #4: Check out our NEW PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM!

Again, go to: www.portlandonline.com/communitybudget

to apply for partnership

funds to co-sponsor a budget meeting in your community!

Board Meeting

There is a Bridgeton Neighborhood Association Board meeting this Monday evening at 7 P.M. - at Leslie Sawyer's home.

Call Leslie for more information or if you wish to attend: 503-314-2137

Meeting about the possible loss of North Precinct this Wednesday

I just got this notice this morning - probably good for some to go if they have interest in this issue.

PUBLIC SAFETY ACTION COMMITTEE (PSAC)
January 28th, 2009
7:00 PM
Location: Historic Kenton Firehouse

Agenda:

Introductions:

Updates:
ONI
Neighborhood DA
North Precinct Command
Neighborhood Response Team
Bureau of Development Services
Other Bureaus / Agencies


Community Updates:
Neighborhood Associations
Business Associations
Any other community based group or individual

Other Business:

Adjourn

Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Bridge Info

Re the Columbia Crossing Project - and yes this project impacts us a lot!!

I pulled this paragraph from the minutes [below] as it is upcoming:

A meeting for Marine Drive stakeholders will be held on January 28 at the Kenton firehouse from 9-11 AM. Your concerns and opinions about the impacts to Marine Drive can be expressed at this meeting.

Neighborhood Assoc. Minutes of January 21

January 21, 2009 Meeting minutes

11 members present

Mark Wells (Mark.Wells@ci.portland.or.us), our liaison from North Portland Crime Prevention Office, introduced himself and described the services that are available from his office. He is the liaison for 7 neighborhoods and emphasized that the best way to contact him with any questions is through email as he is out in the field often but checks his email several times a day. He handed out guides to Home and Vehicle Security and gave recommendations to decrease the chances of becoming a victim of car prowlers. Don't leave valuables in the car, hide registration and insurance papers (he recommended hiding them underneath the spare tire in the trunk) and hang a "Stop Thief, there are no valuables in this car" notices from the rearview mirror. You can also empty out glove compartments and consoles and leave them open to clearly display that there is nothing in the car. Of course, he made no guarantee that doing all of these things would ensure that your car would not be broken into. In the event that you have a crime occur, he emphasized the need to report the crime using the non-emergency phone number if the vandals are already gone and the emergency phone number if a crime is in progress. However, after being informed that several residents had recently called the non-emergency number to report multiple break-ins and damage to vehicles and being told that they would not create a report, Mark advised calling the Police Information Line (503-823-4636) and said that they "have to" take a report and give you a case number that you can use for insurance purposes.

Mark also talked about creating good neighbor agreements within local neighborhoods if you have issues and gave examples such as having to deal with a neighbor who regularly leaves garbage outside their premises, etc.

And, to improve safety, he recommended paying attention to the lighting in the neighborhood and making sure that lighting that stops working gets fixed right away.

For additional information, go to the Website at www.portlandonline.com/oni/cp.

The next item on the agenda was the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project. The guest speaker, Peter Ovington, attended to get neighborhood input and to answer questions about the current status of the project. All current material related to the project can be found on the Website at http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/.



Two milestones have been achieved and will not be revisited. Yes, a new bridge will be built and yes, lightrail will be extended into Vancouver.

The next decision to be made is how many lanes the new bridge will have and whether two structures or three structures will be built.

Peter gave an overview of the effects of add/drop lanes and spoke about the negative effects of the current substandard on-off ramps at Hayden Island. Previous work on the project has already determined that there will not be more than 3 through lanes going North and 3 through lanes going South. He gave us a handout that describes the traffic effects of 8, 10 and 12 lanes and handed out diagrams of the Add/Drop Lanes in 8, 10 and 12 Lane designs. The criteria used to measure the traffic effects on the handout make the 12 Lanes option the most appealing option due to the decreased locations of unsafe and poor service, the decreased number of local streets impacted by the 12 Lane design, the decreased number of hours of congestion, the decreased number of collisions, the increased flow of traffic and decreased traffic diversion to I-205 and the potential for an HOV lane.

Concerns were expressed by a meeting participant about the increase in cancer rates related to pollution. Another participant responded that pollution was likely to be higher if traffic was at a standstill due to congestion rather than passing by rapidly in traffic that is flowing freely.

Another concern was expressed over the congestion being forced to the Rose Quarter. Walter presented statistics from research that discovered that 70% of traffic is getting on OR off I-5 before Rose Quarter and 40% of traffic is getting on AND off before Rose Quarter. So, traffic moving efficiently at the bridge does not necessarily increase congestion drastically at the Rose Quarter. And, the Rose Quarter is already a congestion problem that requires it's own project for resolving.

The function of electronic tolling was explained when a concern was raised about the slowing of traffic for toll collection. Local vehicles will carry transponders that will automatically be read and drivers will automatically be billed. Snapshots of license plates for vehicles without transponders will determine how vehicles from outside the area will be billed. Cars from other states that cross the bridge infrequently, for example, twice a year, may not be billed. The toll will automatically change to charge different rates during peak and off-peak hours.

Rick Page made some very good points about considering the long term value of building a 12 Lane bridge. He pointed out that we should be thinking about how the bridge will service traffic for 100 years and not just how the bridge serves the area in the immediate future. He pointed out how costly it would be in future dollars to re-visit the bridge project to add lanes in the future. He pointed out that cars in the future will not have the same carbon imprint as the cars that we drive today and it is not accurate to assume increased carbon monoxide output using today's vehicles as a basis. Carbon emissions will be less in future cars. He also pointed out the expanded capacity and flexibility provided in the 12 Lane design.

Walter verified that the cost increase for 6 lanes rather than 5 lanes in each direction was modest now. He also explained that the guardians of stopping freeway growth are our own representatives, for example, Amanda Fritz and Sam Adams. Freeway growth is seen as selling out to Urban sprawl. If the neighborhood disagrees with the concerns about Urban Sprawl resulting from increased traffic flow, it has to voice that disagreement because that is not being heard as strongly at this time.

A Portland City Council public hearing is scheduled on January 29th at Portland City Hall at 2:00 PM and a Project Sponsor Council meeting is scheduled on February 6 from 10-12 at ODOT - Region 1. The decision about the number of Lanes and the number of structures will be made at this meeting. Please attend to voice your opinions.

Walter also presented diagrams showing the neighborhood impacts for the 3 different bridge designs under consideration at this time. The newest design is a very desirable design for the Bridgeton neighborhood because Marine drive no longer directs traffic to the highway, it provides for a direct path to walk to Safeway on Hayden Island and it increases green space. It is very friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

A meeting for Marine Drive stakeholders will be held on January 28 at the Kenton firehouse from 9-11 AM. Your concerns and opinions about the impacts to Marine Drive can be expressed at this meeting.

There was additional discussion concerning a preference for closed Max platforms (accessed only through turnstiles with tickets rather than openly accessible with or without tickets). Closed access would enforce the purchase of tickets and would increase safety.

New platforms in Clackamas are being built as open platforms and some riders do not feel very safe. Recent headlines concerning crime on Max platforms support the concerns.

Peter pointed out that closed platforms create a different type of "sealed-in" safety issue and that Metro has a stronger preference for Open designs.

Stan asked about news on connecting the sidewalk and stairs at the school. Walter said there was no news, we have petitioned for funds, received a verbal OK, but there is no additional movement. We need to refocus on mitigation. The funds are available. We should talk to Leslie and create a smaller group to work on these issues. We will be getting more trees than we have space for. We should focus on planting on Gantenbein.

A question was raised concerning when the Alexan project was going to happen. Walter answered that current economic funding issues have slowed things down.

Another question was raised concerning the condo project between the Hotel and Pizza Mia. Walter described the project as 4 units of 36 condos in each unit. The hotel owner said that the units will initially be rented out until the economy picks up again at which point they will be converted to condos.

There were no additional questions, so the meeting was adjourned.

Latest Inaugural Watching/Partying Update

More places to watch and celebrate:

TV Coverage starts at 7 AM; Oath of office at 9 AM. At 9:01 AM PST we will have a new President!
Le Sorelle Cafe
8931 SE Foster Rd.
lesorelle-cafe.com
Opens at 7am
Coffee, breakfast and the Inauguration at KC's favorite close-to-home Coffee Stop!

Bipartisan Café, 7901 SE Stark
Not making it to Washington D.C. for the Inauguration of Barack Obama? Celebrate in style with us on Tuesday, January 20, starting at 7 a.m. with television coverage of the inauguration and the Bipartisan Inaugural Ball kicking off at 6 p.m. Giveaways and prizes will be featured throughout the day.

Reflections Talking Drum Bookstore
Opens at 7 AM for live viewing of the Inauguration.
Inauguration Celebration and Community Organizer 6 – 9 PM
Participate via Satellite in Inauguration Events,
Establish and Discuss Community Initiatives,
Network with your neighbors.
446 NE Killingworth
Phone: 503.288.4106
gloria@talkingdrumbookstore.com

"We've come this far by Faith and Action"
Inauguration Prayer Service
Food, Fellowship and Fun
Reception/Viewing Party at 6 PM; Prayer Service at 7:15 PM
Honoring Matrons of Motivation and Patrons of Progress (M.O.M.s & P.O.P.s) who set the tempo of Portland's civil rights movement.
Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
3138 N Vancouver Ave., Portland

The DPO's official Inauguration Victory Ball! Celebrate with decadent desserts, a limited edition souvenir for each guest, Obama auction packages, special guest appearances, a champagne toast to Barack Obama, and more! Dance the night away to some of Oregon's finest talent *Note: Oregon Victory Ball tickets also include entry after 11pm to our 21 & over Holocene event (below) as space allows.
Online registration is closed. There may be a few tickets left; contact beth@dpo.org if you want one.
Tiffany Center Emerald Ballroom (map)?1410 SW Morrison St. Portland, OR 97205
7:30 - midnight
Attire: Formal / Cocktail or your Patriotic Finest

Change is Here Dance Party
A Community Celebration of Democracy
Featuring Glasgow's own "JD Twitch" (OPTIMO) plus NIGHTCLUBBING with DJ's Linger & Quiet.
Get your groove on, drink Obama beer, score limited edition Inauguration event posters/gear and much much more. A sure fire way to make your co-workers jealous on Wednesday.
Holocene: 1001 SE Morrison St
8 PM – Close
$10 cover at the door

Portland Inauguration Watch

The Multnomah County Dems are trying to find more breakfast places so everyone who wants can watch the Inauguration with friends.

Their list will be posted and emailed tomorrow evening...we are overloading the few places mentioned :D but I'll post places here as as I find them :

AM Inaugural Events

COOPERS COFFEE [6049 SE Stark ]

All day 8.a.m. to 10 p.m.

Showing all the inaugural events on their big screen while you can have some free chips and salsa. $1 buys your first glass of champagne,
$3 micro brews, and as always, wines are under $5/glass

Message from Coopers: Now lets watch the history we created together!
Hope to see ya here!! the Coopers Crew

You can keep checking MoveOn and other organizations at link here. If you can't find one near you host/post your own.