NECN and Concordia University are co-hosting two forums featuring Mayoral and City Council Candidates. The first will be Tuesday, February 28th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Concordia University’s Hagen Campus Center (2nd floor), 2800 NE Holman Street, Portland (map).

The first event will focus on community livability issues such as jobs, transportation, safety and other requirements for thriving, healthy communities for all.

For every dollar you save in an Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) you get two extra dollars, to be used for home purchase or repair, college education, and more.  Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives is holding an open house on Tuesday, February 21st, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at their main office at 6329 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland.

Interested residents should bring with them current and complete proof of income for the last two months as well as information about assets (car, house, savings) and liabilities (loans, mortgage, debt or bills). For more information about what to bring, or if you have questions, call (503) 288-2923.

To get an idea if you may be eligible, take the quiz here.

Due to a budget shortfall, bus lines 6 & 8 are being considered for a change in North Portland to one segment that could reduce redundancy by allowing the Line 8/NE 15^th to terminate at approximately NE Dekum Ave. at 9^th Ave., and the Line 6/MLK to continue north on MLK Blvd past Lombard to the Jubitz truck stop, then on to Jantzen Beach via NE Marine Drive. All of the areas currently served by Line 8 under consideration would be served by the Line 6.  C-Tran buses connect PIR/Vanport MAX Station with Jantzen Beach and Vancouver.

TriMet welcomes your feedback on this and other budget options at trimet.org/choices.

Explore the critical role rain gardens can play in urban stream restoration, and learn how to construct your own! You’ll learn how to:

• assess your site to decide best location and size
• calculate impervious surfaces
• determine soil suitability
• choose appropriate plants for and how to maintain your new rain garden

Participants will receive a comprehensive manual to help them get started. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Register online at www.emswcd.org. Information: 503.935.5368.

Saturday, February 25 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive, Room D202, Portland.

Board meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month from 7:00- 8:30 p.m. The agenda for these meetings typically focuses on planning, budgeting, and community projects.  They are open to all neighborhood residents and people who work or own businesses in Woodlawn. Location: Woodlawn Community Resource Center in the Woodlawn Methodist Church, 1425 NE Dekum St. Enter the west door and head up the stairs and down the hallway.

Learn how current state, regional and city policies shape neighborhood-level community economic development. Panelists will address how high-level policies translate into community benefits. Speakers will include representatives from state, regional, city and community perspectives. A question and answer session will follow panel presentations. Details here.

Wednesday, February 1st, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, St. Andrews Church, 806 NE Alberta, Portland. Arrive at 6:30pm for networking and refreshments.

“Local Motion” will pose questions to Portland mayoral candidates Eileen Brady, Charlie Hales, and Jefferson Smith on active transportation in the Portland metro area. They will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on a range of transportation issues including public transit, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, equity considerations, funding concerns, public health and safety, and projects that impact the Portland region.

Monday, February 6th, 7:00 to 8:30pm followed by a reception, at Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland State University, 1620 SW Park Avenue, Portland. Free and open to the public on a first-come basis. If you would like language interpretation or child care, contact Heidi Guenin by email or call 503-284-6390 by January 30th.

“Waggle & Swap” family dance party includes music, art corner, and costume supply. Free to Woodlawn Swap & Play members, $5.00 per family for non-members. For more information, call Mary at (503) 706-0233.

Village Ballroom, 700 NE Dekum St.

Learn the basics of how the City of Portland’s land use and development review processes work in this free workshop. Get hands-on experience with a land use review case study, including review of a development proposal and site plan, identification of relevant issues, and effective ways to respond to the approval criteria.

Saturday, January 28, 9am to 1pm, SE Uplift Neighborhood Coalition, Fireside Room, 3534 SE Main Street.

Pre-registration is required (if you don’t have  a PortlandOnline account you can set one up for free). Details here.

Northeast Portland Tool Library is like a traditional library, but with tools instead of books.  It’s great for people who don’t want to buy or rent tools they are only going to use once in a while.

They lend out home-repair and gardening tools to Northeast Portland residents and community groups.  It’s located in the basement of Redeemer Lutheran Church at NE 20th Avenue and Killingsworth (entrance is on Killingsworth).

NEPTL membership is free.  Open for borrowing on Saturdays 9am–2pm and Wednesdays 5:30pm-7:30pm. Click here to for more information.