Neighborhood News

Hello Sharon,

	Enjoy a Summer Garden Party

	The beautiful weather we're enjoying is a wonderful harbinger of great things to come - including the Summer Garden Party hosted by Portland Impact. Saturday, June 7th is when friends, neighbors and supporters will gather at Portland Nursery on SE Division for this signature fundraising event. The beautiful outdoor setting will host a delicious gourmet meal and locally produced wines by Z'IVO as well as live and silent auctions. All proceeds from the evening benefit Portland Impact and the programs they conduct in our community. Tickets are $75 per person or two for $125. For more information visit www.portlandimpact.org or call Anne Gately at 503-988-4996 ext.265. The organization, based on the eastside of Portland, helps people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty. Portland Impact was founded in 1966 as Portland Action Communities Together, Inc. (PACT). Four neighborhoods came together and created the agency to combat poverty and deteriorating conditions in Southeast Portland. Early projects included a welfare rights project, employment programs, family counseling, food buying clubs and a tool lending library. The agency later was a key player in the development of the community's first Senior Center, Youth Service Center and the first free health clinic for the poor. Changing its name to Portland Impact in the 1980s, the agency established services for the homeless and for ethnic minorities. Recent milestones include the addition of Richmond Place, a residential housing program for homeless families and the Mentoring to Achieve Potential (MAP) program, a partnership between Portland Impact and Portland schools that provides an effective way to support young people experiencing the effects of poverty. In early 2004, the agency was proud to announce the expansion of family and youth services to Northeast Portland and the expansion of services for seniors, adults with disabilities, and Russian and Eastern European families throughout all of Multnomah County. Portland Impact programs offer numerous opportunities for volunteers to pitch in and make a difference.

Welcome to the Neighborhood News - our e-newsletter filled with timely and important news. If you do not wish to receive future issues, use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the page. It's easy to use the Send-A-Friend box below. You can contact me at lindsey@myneighborhoodnews.us.

Perhaps the beautiful weather is really here for good, Portland Rose Festival days not withstanding. Read on for many fun and worthwhile things to do with your time and energy -- all right here in the neighborhood. Come on, surrender to the reality that everything you need is right here. Get out and savor it. There are important meetings to attend, decisions to be a part of, fundraisers to support, clean-ups to unload at, local beer to drink and music to enjoy.

Plus - thanks to new Community Partners Zenana Spa and Wellness Center located at 2024 SE Clinton and Portland Impact serving the community across Portland's eastside. Learn more about Portland Impact in this issue. Visit Zenana to understand the expert and relaxing services offered by this unique spa that focuses on overall wellness and provides services especially for pregnant and parenting families. You can also stop in and shop at their boutique filled with great products for mom and baby.

IMPORTANT MEETING OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOC.
Now is a critical time to join your community to learn more and participate in the Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Development Association (HAND). HAND is the neighborhood that stretches from SE Hawthorne and Powell Boulevards and from SE 29th Avenue to the Willamette River. Tuesday, May 15th is the annual general meeting that includes board elections. Change is rampant in the HAND neighborhood - development, transportation, zoning and many other issues are all up for discussion.

6:30 pm - Land Use Transportation
7-9 pm General Meeting & Board Elections
St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th and Division

Many of these critical issues that directly effect livability are first discussed at HAND meetings. Tonight's meeting will cover lots of ground including electing new board members and learning more about the proposed Southeast Streetcar expansion. All HAND meetings are open to the public. If you'd like more information visit www.handpdx.org or call 503-235-7917.

HAND's web site has been updated and includes great information in an easy to use format. The site includes meeting agendas, maps, a link to sign up for the HAND list serve and useful posts about current events. Check it out at www.handpdx.org.

UPDATE - WILD OATS BUILDING
As of this afternoon, the team proposing to redevelop what was the Wild Oats grocery store on SE Division, has decided to update their approach to the use of the building. They are now considering reducing the size of the health and wellness center to 22,000 sq. ft. from 34,000 sq. ft. and locating the health club activities primarily on the second floor of the building. This would allow redevelopment of the building to include 4-6 new street level bays available for small retailers. Next steps for the project are contingent upon whether the decision of the Adjustment Committee is appealed or not.

FLAG KICKS-OFF THE SEASON

Saturday, June 2nd is the day to turn out with friends, neighbors and rose-lovers to launch the pruning season for the four beautiful rose gardens that adorn the Ladd's Addition neighborhood. Located at points north, south, east and west these four city parks boast historic rose that aren't grown anywhere else in the world. Join the Friends of Ladd's Addition Gardens (FLAG) as they gather together to care for these beautiful gardens. On Saturday, June 2nd, meet in the East garden, located at the intersection of Cypress, Harrision and Locust streets at 9 am to pitch in, learn about the neighborhood and to even consider Adopting-A-Bed of your own, where you care for that bed of roses on your own time. No experience is necessary. Learn all about FLAG at www.laddsadditiongardens.org. This handy site includes the pruning schedule for the year, upcoming neighborhood events including the annual summer picnic and easy ways for everyone to get involved.

RICHMOND NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UP
The neighborhood clean-up put on by the Richmond Neighborhood Association is scheduled for Saturday, June 2nd, 9 am - 1 pm held at the Central Christian Church, 1844 SE 39th. The crew works hard to separate out what can be recycled rather than dumped. Taking a load to the "transfer station" is costly in many ways so here's a chance to gather up those items filling your garage or basement and get them out of your way. If you have questions or would like to volunteer for this event contact Sarah Moore at 503-232-8942.

A NEW FILM FESTIVAL
A new film festival is arriving in the Clinton neighborhood running from June 1-3 at the Clinton Street Theater. Called QDoc the Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival screenings of nine films cover three days and a wide range of issues. Learn more about the films and the festival at www.queerdocfest.org.

BAGELS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!
One item that you couldn't really find in Portland was a great bagel. East coast and ethnic cities like New York, Boston and even Chicago have great deli cultures -- but not Portland. Perhaps that is all changing as locals get hip to what they are missing. Now we have our own bagel outlet to frequent called Kettleman Bagels and Bakery. This cute joint opened recently at 2235 SE 11th Avenue featuring "N.Y. style boiled bagels". Stop in and check them out. Decide for yourself if they're what we're missing in our neighborhood that is already filled with the most impressive group of restaurants and hand-crafted products any where in the Northwest. Kettleman's also offers coffee, lunchtime options and free Wi-Fi.

PRESS ON
Others are catching on to what we already know - the friendly confines of Southeast Portland are where it's at! The media is showering us with accolades for our awesome neighborhoods, restaurants and cool folks. The May issue of Sunset magazine features the hipster funkiness of the Clinton neighborhood with very special shout-outs to Vindalho and Savoy Tavern + Bistro. A Canadian travel show just wrapped up filming fun stuff to do in Southeast and Portland Monthly magazine calls our neighborhoods "Charmed Corridors" and "Smart Streets".

So, tell me something I don't know...Ok - so here's something that may be news to you: the recent winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for a biography is part-year Ladd's Addition neighbor Debby Applegate. This Oregon native splits her time between coasts and won the most prestigious of awards for her book The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher. He was one of America's best-known preachers who many consider "America's first liberal". How fitting that this work comes out of 97214. Learn more about the author and the book at The Most Famous Man in America. Congratulations to Debby for this very impressive work!

THE CALENDAR
Come out for a Friends and Family Night at McMenamins Barley Mill Pub to benefit REACH Community Development. Tuesday, May 15 from 5 to midnight,, 50% of all food and beverage sales will go to benefit REACH - providing homes people can afford and opportunities to build better lives.

Our big neighborhood street party, the Division-Clinton Street Fair, is scheduled for Saturday, July 28th. Many folks work hard to put on a fun day including a parade, great eats at nearby restaurants and an overall celebration of all things Division-Clinton. Stay tuned for more details.