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This year, love each other and the Earth by giving Friends of Trees Gift Trees for Valentine’s Day. For a donation of just $35, Friends of Trees will plant a young native tree in honor of a loved one and send a gift acknowledgement card in their name. It’s a great cause and a fun, green alternative to the standard Valentine’s Day fare. One single tree costs $35, and a grove of six young native trees costs $100. Gift Trees are planted in the Collins Sanctuary in Forest Park during one of two annual Gift Trees plantings. All who give or receive Gift Trees for Valentine’s Day this year will be invited to plant their trees at the planting on March 28. Because nothing says I love you quite like getting your hands dirty with your sweetheart! Read more at Friends of Trees' blog. 
The Portland Water Bureau and Portland Parks & Recreation will hold a public open house on Monday, January 25, 2010, at Parklane Christian Reformed Church, 16001 SE Main Street in Southeast Portland, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The public will have an opportunity to view and comment on a proposed new trail plan for Powell Butte Nature Park and several trail options that serve hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. The trail changes are based on suggestions from the community and a citizens' Project Advisory Committee (PAC). The public will also have another chance to review designs for a new interpretive center and public restroom, a caretaker's house, and new maintenance building. The PAC is comprised of representatives from the Audubon Society, Northwest Trails Alliance, Friends of Powell Butte Nature Park, Columbia River Orienteering Club, nearby homeowners, and the Powellhurst-Gilbert, Centennial and Pleasant Valley neighborhood associations. For more information, contact Tim Hall, Portland Water Bureau Public Outreach;... If you're straining against the drizzly weather, it's time to get out and enjoy Portland's amazing nightlife. Tonight, you can get buzzed on some blissful bluegrass, all for a good cause. The Sugarcane String Band is playing tonight from 6-10pm at the St. Francis Cafe at 1182 SE Pine St. The proceeds will benefit St. Francis outreach programs. Here's the details, via CNRG.
After seeing the inside of Coffee Lovers Cafe and Bar, just off of Foster on 60th, I have to say that it's quite a cozy spot that specializes in two of my favorite beverages. But that's not all. On Tuesday nights, Coffee Lovers hosts trivia night, and on Thursday evenings it is a meeting place for craftsters. Here's the 411 from the flyer:
Has anyone been to this event? Any reviews? I haven't made it yet, but I'll post to this story when I do... and maybe I'll see you there! Date: January 26, 2010
This Sunday! NW Visitors Productions, KBOO, and Mt. Tabor Theater present... "Helping Haiti: A Community Concert for a Critical Cause," on Sunday, January 24 from 5:00-10:00pm at Mt. Tabor Theater and Lounge, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd. This is a 21+event. Sliding scale donations will be accepted, with a requested donation of at least $5. 100% of concert and vending proceeds donated to aid earthquake-affected Haiti. Attendees choose one of five prescreened organizations to donate their entrance fee: -Mercy Corps -Mangrove Fund -CARE -Doctors Without Borders -American Refugee Committee Learn more at www.taborpdx.com Auction items, local bands, live painting, Haitian food, decorations by local high school students…! This event is a grassroots effort put together by a network of friends, family, employers, employees, vendors, idols, strangers, and everything in-between. This is Portland's heart shining at its brightest. This is our extended family spreading hope and care through the world with music, art,...
So, my plan is to attend the city council candidates forum at Coffee Lovers on SE 60th from 5-7, and then head on over to Pizzicato. Maybe I'll see you at one of those locales. :) 
Join Northwest VEG for our monthly potluck event. The potluck will be at the Friends Meeting Hall, 4312 SE Stark St., Portland. Please bring a plant-based (no animal products, including honey) main dish, salad, or dessert; a card listing its ingredients; and plates and utensils for your use. Need plant-based ideas? Click here. If you come alone, figure the amount to serve 4–6 generously; increase the amount 4 servings for each additional person in your party/family. Northwest VEG potlucks are alcohol-free events, and we start eating at about 5:15. For more information, call 503-224-7380 or email info@nwveg.org. If you can volunteer to help at the potluck, please contact volunteer@nwveg.org or (503) 224-7380. A donation of $2–5 per person is suggested to help cover the cost of the room rental. Immediately following the potluck, around 6:30, Master Vegetarian Lisa Morgan (pictured on left) will give a demonstration, with food samples, of her experience teaching "Food is Elementary," a curriculum for young students... Hello. At about 10:30pm Tuesday January 12th I picked up a dog dogding traffic in between the Burger King and bus stop island in the Intersection where Foster Road, Powell Blvd. and 50th St. meet in southeast Portland. He was obviously distressed, having been in the street with many cars swerving to avoid him. Some kind bus-riders coaxed him to the bus stop island where I pulled over and loaded him into my car. He is an older, (maybe 8, 9, 10 years old), large (90-100 pounds) German Shepherd. He looks to be purebred. He is the typical Black /Tan color markings. No collar, but looks healthy and cared-for. He is extremely sweet, calm, and affectionate. He is nuetered and gets along very well with my 3 other dogs. He has VERY distinct ears. I have posted on Craigslist as well as filed a found report at the Humane Society. I cannot / do not want to keep him, as I already have 3. I would not feel right taking him to the pound, so we are holding onto him for the time being.... Two City Council positions are up for election this May, and Foster-Powell has invited all the candidates to come to our neighborhood to meet and talk to voters.
Although May seems like a long way off many of the candidates are currently trying to solicit support now in order to qualify for the City's "Voter-Owned Elections" program of public funding. (See http://www.lwvpdx.org/issues-and-advocacy/campaign-finance-reform.) Candidates are currently scrambling to qualify, which requires 1000 $5 contributions from voters by January 29th. As a result, folks here on Foster Road have an opportunity to meet the candidates early and get our concerns onto their radar before the campaign really heats up. Candidates have the chance to perhaps get our and our neighbors support in their effort to qualify for VOE... a "win-win" for us and them. So if you'd like a chance to hear from City Council candidates in an informal setting, grab a beer or a coffee at one of Foster'... What excites you about living in Foster-Powell? That was the question we all had to ask each other at this week's FOPONA meeting on Monday, along with another important question: what do you hope to get out of the neigborhood meetings? Far from the typical, "state your name and whether you're a resident or business owner" introductions, this was a little more thought provoking, and resulted in a variety of responses. Most people expressed excitement over a growing sense of community, while some talked about the potential of the neighborhood (businesses opening along Foster, community gardens, etc). Diversity was also discussed, especially as a point of pride, as well as a source of identity which helps us stand out from many other Portland neighborhoods. This point was driven home when the director of Holgate library spoke about the increased circulation of Vietnamese, Russian, and Chinese books and media, while the Spanish circulation remained high, as well. In fact,... 
I'm blogging live from the neighborhood association meeting, learning about how we can get funding for the Foster Streetscape: from the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee. This is a critical time for funding; projects are being evaluated and budgets are being debated. What a perfect time to learn more about the proposed Foster Streetscape! The Foster Streetscape is a plan to beautify Foster, and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. You can learn more by attending an open house. Here's the 411: Date: January 26, 2010 Time: 6-9pm; open house from 6-7, Lents info from 7-8, open house from 8-9 Location: 8835 SE Woodstock (Seventh Day Adventist Church) To add a bit more back story, about a year and a half ago, Foster was added to the Lents Urban Renewal Area. This is a big deal because the City provides special funding through the URAs. Many favorite places in Portland--the eastbank esplanade, Pioneer Courthouse Square, the South Waterfront district--were revitalized with URA funding. URAs are funded... Agenda for Foster Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting Monday, January 11, 2009 6:30-8:00pm, Sweetness Bakery 6:35-6:45 Welcome and introductions 6:45-6:45 Minutes approval 6:45-7:00 Representative Reports: --Land Use --Transportation --SEUL update --Library update --Lents Urban Renewal Area / Foster Streetscape update 6:45-7:00 A further discussion of member recruitment 7:00-7:20 What would you like to see happen at this year's meetings? Have any suggestions for presenters? 7:20-8:00 General questions/discussion time 
The Portland Safe Routes to School program advocates for and implements programs that make walking and biking around our neighborhoods and schools fun, easy, safe and healthy for students and families. Please join us for January's Safe Routes to School events! January 13 (Wed), 10:00-11:30am PANEL DISCUSSION "Promoting Active Transportation at School" Location: East Portland Community Police Center (737 SE 106th Ave, 97216) Engage in lively conversation and hear from three experienced school champions about successes and lessons learned in promoting walking and biking at their schools. January 25 (Mon), 3:00-4:30pm TRAINING "Overcoming Inertia - Motivating your school community to get engaged in active transportation" Location: St. Johns library branch (7510 N Charleston Ave) Receive resources to help you engage your school in active transportation and engage in discussion with a James John School teacher about the innovative programs she has initiated. Included in these events: coffee, snacks, a raffle for a Family... 
"Come hear about residential traffic calming concepts that could take Portland to the next level, making our streets safer for children, seniors, and people with disabilities - and more attractive for walking and cycling. From 'bicycle boulevards' to 'Safe Routes to School' to 'home zones,' there are a lot of ideas that could make our great neighborhoods even better. The SE Uplift Land Use and Sustainability Committee is hosting this presentation that will be given by Greg Raisman. Greg lives in southeast and is a Traffic Safety Specialist with the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Residential Traffic Calming Presentation SE Uplift Land Use Committee Monday, January 11th 7pm to 8pm 3534 SE Main St Fireside Room Our regular land use committee meeting will follow the presentation. We look forward to seeing you for this interesting and engaging conversation about how to make our neighborhoods safer.
Leah Hyman, Paul Loney and the SE Uplift Land Use and Sustainability Committee" For more...
City Repair is organizing its annual Village Building Convergence, an event which brings together a community in an attempt to better a neighborhood, both visually, functionally, and communally. Past projects have included community gardens, sidewalk art installations, intersection murals, and sidewalk seating. 
Although the holidays have passed, and we're now in a new year, I still feel it appropriate to share a few photos depicting the Christmas spirit in our neighborhood. Although a far cry from being dubbed, "Peacock Lane of deep Southeast," we can still hang with the best of them...sort of. I'm hoping this begins an increasing trend in holiday home-lighting and decorating in Foster-Powell, making our portion of the city feel that much more charming. These photos were all taken around Kern Park....excuse the poor quality.
Has the nasty weather got you twiddling your thumbs, wondering how to stave off cabin fever? Well, here's an idea: create an art piece a day in January! And then show off your masterpieces at an art show of like-minded creators. Since 2005, artists in San Francisco and Phillidephia have contributed all sorts of art to Fun-A-Day shows. Some write songs. Others paint 4-inch-square canvases. Whether you like to make puppets, poems, and pies, this sounds like a great way to kick off 2010! And now Fun-A-Day is coming to PDX. Here's the 411, via CNRG:
Today's snow was totally unexpected, and a reminder of the grab bag weather 'round these parts. (Grab bag b/c you never know what you're going to get.) I have to admit that am a fair-weather bike commuter. As a Reno girl, I grew up hopping in the car to go anywhere--the nearest bus stop was at least an hour away. Over the past few weeks, I've been transitioning to year-round commuting. I've been saving my moola for a rain jacket, my bike is tuned, and I have plenty of lights. Now I just need to stop being a wuss and actually do it! I was inspired by the lead article in the latest Portland Tribune, which ends with a rousing call for bike commuting from a VERY nearby neighbor-- in fact, we share the corner! Here's the quote:
Happy Xmas eve, Fo-Po!! As I get back to making this site rock, I am gathering stories that are of interest to Fo-Po residents, even if those stories are already in media res. Today's issue: Franklin High School. According to The Southeast Examiner, PPS will close either Franklin High School or Marshall High School by Sept. 2011. The bigger picture is that Portland Public Schools is consolidating resources; according to the Willie Week, two of the ten high schools in Portland will be shut down, and the schools that remain will become "smaller 'focus schools.'" PPS recently held a meeting at Franklin on this issue. As the wonderful pictures at WW's News and Culture blog shows, the school has plenty of community support-- nearly 2,000 people packed into the meeting to tell PPS to save Franklin. As for the next step in the consolidation process, here's what PPS says:
In case you're wondering just who writes most of these stories and manages this site, it's me, Colleen. I am a yoga teacher and writer who has lived in Fo-Po for about 2 years now. Anyway, I just wanted to put up a post to let y'all know that I'm back. You'll see more stories, more interaction, and generally more updates here at FosterPowellPDX.com. (Perhaps you've noticed the new header?) The last few months were some of the busiest in my life, so I hope you'll forgive the gap. Anyhoo, to wrap up this year, I thought I'd feature some user-submitted photos from one of the biggest Foster-Powell news stories from 2009: the Marysville elementary fire. Daniel J. emailed a batch of photos from this event. You can see all of his pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/9ine6ix/sets/72157622654152237/. By the way, you can upload your own stories, photos, and videos to this site. If you'd like your story to show on the front page, let me know by sending me an...
Personally, I'm ready for spring. I miss feeling dirt between my fingers. If the wintry weather (and the end of this rather tumultuous year) has you in a slump, check out the City of Portland's Urban Growth Bounty classes. You'll be excited to get going in 2010, since there are over 70 classes this year, three times as many as last year. Now, in addition to organic gardening classes, you can sign up to learn about cheesemaking, cooking, keeping chickens, raising bees, and more. As the year winds on (can you believe The Oughts are already over?) I'll feature nearby Urban Growth Bounty classes. All of them are presented by the City's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. (Organic, sustainable, and punny? Gawd I <3 PDX.) The first class I'm showcasing is on turning your lawn into a mini farm with no till methods. This class will be held on Feb. 9th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Lane Middle School (7200 SE 60th). This is the first in a series of nine classes taught by Your Background Farmer-... This month's neighborhood association meeting was held last night at Sweetness Bakery. Here's what they talked about: 6:40-6:45 Welcome and introductions 6:45-6:45 Minutes approval 6:45-7:00 Representative Reports: 6:45-7:00 --Lents Urban Renewal Area / Foster Streetscape update --Library update --SEUL update --Transportation --Land Use Discussion/brainstorming session: board member and volunteer recruitment 7:00-7:20 Website brainstorming session: what do you want the future FosterPowell website to do for you? 7:20-7:40 2010 Foster-Powell Neighborhood goal setting and event planning 7:40-8:00 General questions/discussion time Were you there? If so, what did you think about the issues that were raised in the meeting?
It has been a habit of mine and my friends, Bogs and Mike, to walk along the long street towards our house after office. We are quite heavier when we were younger because we do the wrong exercise. Oftentimes we would enrol on gyms and then forego the training program when we do not like the service anymore. We tried going out of town to do mountain climbing, surfing, biking-but all of these were quite financially draining to think that we have our own families to support and weekends are supposed to be bonding times with our wives and children. As a columnist, I have read a lot of research papers about the benefits of long walks. My personal take on this is that when you slowly see what is outside of you, and you take the time to just be with your feet, you are on hold and in control. You feel the breeze and you breathe more often compared when you are just seated until arriving at your destination. You are not bugged by unwanted noises of other passengers and not harrased by the slow traffic jam. I am speaking... If your Thanksgiving memories are like mine, they're warm, loving, and frosted with stress. The holidays are inevitably stressful, so I'm highlighting peaceful, destressing activities to follow your T-day. First up: a free concert from the new Portland Peace Choir... see the 411 below. And have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone! November 22 Sunday, 4pm Come to be inspired, soothed and renewed by the Portland Peace Choir - a new community choir open to all singers. This is their Autumn concert with a bake sale following. A debut performance at St David's Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison* Portland. Visit the web www.portlandpeacechoir.org for more info or to join the Wednesday rehearsals. * As some of you have figured out, I don't only post events within Fo-Po... I generally try to stick to the east side, to areas that I find easily accessible. As for "accessible food," those are also my standards. And yes, Woodstock counts as part of that accessible area. :) |
You can find more information about City Repair, and the Village Building Convergence here: 
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