Have you ever had one of those tools you needed and didn’t have? Perhaps one of those $200 tools you don’t want to buy for just one use a year?  That’s the motivation behind a tool lending library and some of our neighbors are working to establish one for our neighborhood. The North Portland Tool Library has been running smoothly for years and the folks working on the project for our neighborhood plan to glean tips and best practices from North Portland’s organizers.  The goal is to have a pool of tools for gardening, home repair and bike repair accessible to all neighbors.

Their first meeting is at the home of Gregg Lavender 6356 NE Durham on Saturday 5/17 at 10:30AM
For more information, please contact Eric Fair-Layman, 503.754.0534, EricFairLayman //at// Yahoo.com or Gregg Lavender, WoodlawnTrees //at// Gmail.com.

Hey neighbors, get your garbage, yard debris, furniture and other junk ready for disposal! It’s time for the annual Woodlawn Neighborhood Clean Up on Saturday, May 17th. 9am-2pm - 6360 NE MLK Blvd (at Holman). [click here for a pdf document of the full details]

BRING:
Yard & house debris / bagged garbage / glass / wood / metal / all furniture / small appliances / tires (extra charge) / and items to be donated — bring everything that still works and still has some life left but you don’t need or want and we will donate to a local children’s non-profit thrift store (Better Bargains). We also support the Community Bicycling Center with all bikes and trikes turned in (no matter the condition). Please bag separately any refundable cans, glass or plastic bottles.

DON’T BRING:
(organizers WILL reject): Hazardous materials of any kind (paint, oil, etc.) / concrete / dirt / sod / bad construction materials / large appliances / food waste

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Wannabe a FREEloader without guilt? Rewards include drinks, food, and first chance at thrift store items. Help is needed before May 17th to help with signage creation. Early morning volunteers are needed to help with set up and all throughout the day to help with vehicle unloading and other helpful tasks. If you can’t lif, don’t worry - there will still be something for you to do.

To volunteer, please contact the organizer, Jan Clutter. 503-327-5146 or WoodlawnNA //at // Yahoo.com

The Concordia and Woodlawn Neighborhood Associations, along with McMenamins Kennedy School, presented a City Commissioner Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 1st. A number of questions were posed to the candidates by the neighborhood associations and the audience.

Following the forum, we provided all the candidates with the opportunity to provide written responses to some of our questions about land use, transportation, public safety, and the role of neighborhood associations. You may download and read the responses we received here Their responses are listed by their name and in both Microsoft Word and pdf files.

The primary election on May 20 will be the first opportunity for you to cast a vote in these political races.

CANDIDATES:
Position 1:
Jeff Bissonnette
John Branam
Amanda Fritz
Charles Lewis
Chris Smith
Mike Fahey - response has not been received

Position 2:
Jim Middaugh
Ed Garren
Fred Stewart
Harold Williams, Two
Nick Fish - response has not been received

When I first moved into my house, I was excited to watch little things pop up out of the ground - treasures planted by the two residents who tended this plot before me. Along with the flowers and buds emerged every-growing-taller grass. To my mounting list of tools/equipment to purchase, did I really have to add a lawn mower? I was dreading it. Not only did not I not want to mow, buy a mower (or borrow one), I really didn’t want grass. I wanted edibles and snipables: things I could eat and share with others. So I got rid of my grass.

I got tips from my neighbor who long ago took out her grass. Three years later, I’m the happy tender of a wood-chipped yard. And I’m watching three neighbors now remove their sod. And a neighbor who put in fresh sod. Grass removal is not for everyone, but if you’re sick of your grass or wish you had more room for gardening, you have options. Here is my method, in the most basic description: Read the rest of this entry »

Our Neighbor Gregg Lavender is riding to the Portland Earth Day celebration and wants you to join him! Here’s a message from Gregg:

I will be riding to the Earth Day Celebration this Saturday April 19th from Woodlawn Neighborhood to Overlook Park, making a couple of stops along the way.

If you would like to join me, we can meet up at Good Neighbor Pizza at the corner of NE Deakum and 8th just before 10:30am. We will ride to Humboldt elementary to pick up more families on their bikes. We will wait at Humboldt from approximately 10:50am- 11:05 am. At that point, we will ride to Overlook park to go to the Earth Day Celebration (Music, Food, Free Stuff, Neighbors, Entertainment, and lots more!) Bring your bike and helmet and a lock.

Write to me if you have any questions: Woodlawntrees //at// Gmail.com

Check out these sites:

Bike to Earthday:
http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2008/04/14/bike-to-earth-day/

Map:
http://www.cityrepair.org/wiki.php/projects/earthday/bikeearthday

There will be other events coming up in June:
http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference/
http://www.carfreeportland.org/
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46103

 The Spring 2008 edition of the Woodlawn Voice will arrive in mailboxes later this week, but you can check it out here first!
april.pdf

Hi, Neighbors,

Our April Woodlawn Neighbor meeting is this Wednesday, 4/16, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Community Room of the Woodlawn Methodist Church (1425 NE Dekum).

Please join us for

* Refreshments from Moonstar

* Information from Dalina Young, Urban League of Portland, about their Adult and Senior Service program

* Update from Alicia Polacok, a representative of the City of Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development, about recycling roll carts

* Neighborhood Committee Updates (including newsletter, land use, and more!)

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

All the Best,
Joellen
WNA Co-Chair

Nikki Kress is a neighbor and an artist in our neighborhood. With the help of her husband Gregg, she converted her garage into a painting studio. So what is it like to be a professional artist with a home studio? Here’s Nikki’s reflection.

While I work, I open the entire wall in addition to windows for ventilation and light. When I need to look away from the painting that I have been working on for hours, my view is the first signs of spring on my neighbor’s new trees. I am able to see their home improvements progress and their children grow. I have the experience of seeing hard work materialize from an outside, yet personal perspective. Our relationship, to me, is inspiring as well as educational. From my studio, while I’m trying to focus and think creatively the pedestrians and cyclists that pass by encourage me. I’m a woman originally from Texas working in a garage for many hours a day in the Pacific Northwest; 50 degrees now feels warm to me.

I’ve been painting as a career artist for 20 years. There have been moments when I didn’t have the time or space to paint. Now the studio is adjacent to my home. A new understanding of what community support can look like, how much I need it, where it comes from and how accessible it is has become clearer to me. Read the rest of this entry »

Woodlawn resident Beth Hamon has worked in the bicycle industry as a mechanic, safety instructor and product purchaser for nearly 15 years. Currently Beth is a co-­owner of Citybikes Workers’ Cooperative in Southeast Portland. As the nice weather is upon us, we thought it would be a good idea to ask Beth some tips for bike riding. After all, she’s the expert!

1. Move your bicycle into an easily ­accessible location.
If your bike is stuffed up in an attic or at the back of your apartment’s storage shed, under piles of other stuff, you’re less likely to take it out and ride it! Make room for your bicycle in a place that’s near a doorway in your home.

My partner and I store our bicycles in the entryway of our rather small house. They’re hung vertically on hooks bolted through the wall into the studs. The hooks are available at any bike shop and most hardware stores. Hint: in rainy weather it’s a good idea to place a tray on the floor under the hanging bike so the rain dripping off won’t hurt the carpet. Read the rest of this entry »

Portland City Commissioner Candidate Forum – April 1, 2008
6:30pm to 9:00pm McMenamins Kennedy School Gym

Election time is right around the corner and your Concordia and Woodlawn Neighborhood Associations, along with McMenamins Kennedy School are proud to present a City Commissioner Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 1st. The forum will start promptly at 6:30pm and end at 9:00pm. This will be hosted in the McMenamins Kennedy School Gym, and McMenamins will have pizza and beverages available for purchase during the event.

In order to educate ourselves about the candidates, their positions on the issues, and to make them aware of the issues and concerns we have regarding northeast Portland and the city as a whole, this forum present a great opportunity to access the people that shape our community.

The candidates for City Commissioner scheduled to appear are:

Position 1:
Jeff Bissonnette
John Branam
Amanda Fritz
Charles Lewis
Chris Smith
Mike Fahey

Position 2:
Nick Fish
Jim Middaugh

There will be prepared questions for the candidates for the first part of the forum and then we will open the forum to take questions from the audience. You can submit a question for the candidates by emailing Woodlawn Neighborhood Association Co-Chair Joellen Pail at joellen.pail //at //gmail.com

Mark you calendars and please plan on attending, so you can become better informed and find out what the candidates are able to do for the Northeast Portland community.

Let’s pack the house and give them a great neighborhood showing!!!