Monday, March 30, 2009

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....

Sunday, March 29, 2009

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.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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




Friday, March 13, 2009

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

Monday, March 09, 2009

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

Monday, March 02, 2009

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 68th 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