What’s really at stake here is land use. Until now, the building owners have followed code and maintained that this is a single family dwelling. Neighbors have long suspected that this is a care facility for the elderly, which is a much different use of the building. According to one neighbor, medical beds are visible in all rooms of the building. One of the adjustment applicants is currently providing senior care. From what I understand, no legal action can be taken until they are up and running as a business, then it can be disputed that they constructed this building under the auspices of a single family dwelling when really they’re running a business.

Woodlawn neighbors have until August 26th to submit written comment regarding the adjustment to the fence height code. There is no General Meeting scheduled for this month. How the written comment will be composed and sent is still being discussed. Hopefully a direct neighbor will want to be the lead person on this. If you’d like to be the person to spearhead this, please contact News//at//GoWoodlawn.com.

A copy of the proposal notice can be downloaded as a PDF here.

It is well known that many children, especially those from families with limited financial and transportation resources, lose about 2 months of schooling during each summer vacation. That loss compounds year after year ultimately leaving the children many months or years behind their more affluent peers.

That need not happen, and it is not necessary to attend often expensive focus camps or excellent programs such as those available through OMSI and other organizations.

Let’s start with reading since literacy is directly correlated with future social, personal and occupational functioning. The science is clear that children benefit when they are read to every single day beginning in the first months of life. In the school years and during summer vacation, we can provide informal reading experiences such as that of reading a recipe while helping in the kitchen or reading labels while grocery shopping

Finally, if we expect children to maintain reading skills during the summer, we adults should not be so uptight about what the children read as long as it is child appropriate. Let the kids select the books. Exercise books and the classics which teachers and middle class parents think are so great just don’t cut it with kids. A biography of a pop or sports figure that is read is a lot better than an unopened biography of Thomas Jefferson. A spring book fair at the school or park might be an idea for our neighborhood to consider.

With math, opportunities abound in the kitchen (think, doubling a recipe, calculating the number of ounces in ¼ cup, etc), workshop (measuring, calculating how many screws are needed), and garden (planning how many plants to place in a row given the spacing requirement and row length). Younger children can acquire a number sense while setting the table for meals.

These are just a few thoughts for us to consider.      Next month: Head Lice

David B. Bell, M.D., Ph.D.

Rose and Dr. David B.Bell are the owners of Second Time Around Boutique Shop.

What an amazing sight it will be to see so many people coming through our neighborhood!

Based on feedback from the City of Portland’s outreach, this project will move forward for the approval of the City Traffic Engineer and the Transportation Director.

The City of Portland has indicated that the future maintenance and design of the pocket park improvement at NE 13th Avenue will require further discussions with the neighborhood.

Project information for the NE Holman Street Project:

Updated: NE Holman Street – Existing Conditions and Route – Click here.

Updated: NE Holman Street – Project Proposal and Possible Intersection Improvements – Click here.

Updated: NE Holman Street – Possible Intersection Options for 13th, 15th, 33rd and 42nd – Click here.

Updated: NE Holman Street – Crossing at Martin Luther King Jr. Option – Click here.

Updated: NE Holman – Boulevard Evaluation Goals – Click here.

Read the rest of the article on the Sentinel website.

This open house was a follow-up to an initial PBOT presentation about the project last month. Like they did at that first meeting, nearby residents expressed full support for the project. Cheers erupted from the standing-room only crowd when PBOT announced plans for two specific pieces of the project; the crossing of busy Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd. and plans for a “pocket park” at Holman and NE 13th.

Read the whole story on BikePortland.org

The support of the entire community is needed to make Sunday Parkways possible. Over 300 volunteers assist with project such as park set up and roving bike mechanics at each event. The greatest need is for Intersection Superheros: the essential volunteers who staff every intersection along the course for safety reasons.

There are two cool ways to get involved. If you’re thinking of just yourself or you plus friends, you may volunteer by yourself or with friends and family to throw an intersection party, decorate it, make it your own, have fun.

The other option is to bring your group (organization, cause, riding club, etc) together to host an intersection and promote your organization. You get to “own” the intersection, decorate it, promote your cause, and have fun. With 25,000 people coming right past your station, this is a great opportunity to get the word out.

Check out the schedule and plan for a summer full of fun, traffic-free Sunday Parkways events!

PortlandSundayParkways.org

Of particular note for Woodlawn is the proposal (originated by a group of neighbors who passionately wish to improve the “pocket park” at NE Holman and 13th) to use the Greenway project to slow and/or divert traffic, put in a bioswale, extend and improve the park and create a space for community and recreation.  This idea has been advocated for quite some time by the informal “Woodlawn Corner” group, and is an example of how a small group of committed citizens can bring an idea to the attention of city planners and have it incorporated into a project.  Most attendees at the meeting showed enthusiastic support for the proposal (a raise of hands was called for by the city presenters to make sure this was supported by the neighborhood) but it will still be on the table for discussion at the next meeting, so it is critical that neighbors show up and participate in the process.  Join the Woodlawn Corner google group or email Alan at strongworkarch//@//gmail.com to join, and/or come to the next potluck Wednesday April 28th at 6pm in the park.

SHOW UP!  For the next Greenways meeting on Tues May 4, 6-8pm Concordia Library Room 314.

New business alert: you’ve probably seen the progress that has been made at the soon-to-open Breakside Brewery.  Word is they will open their doors May 1.  Read more about the beer and the food.

Classic Foods recently had a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the opening of their new facility in Woodlawn.  Look forward to the smells of pasta being made in our neighborhood, and keep an eye out for them at local farmer’s markets!

Auntie Kelly’s Hawaiian Plate Lunch food cart will debut at the Woodlawn Sunday Parkways (coming up May 16!) and has invited Woodlawn neighbors to a tasting party, May 2 from 2-4 at 1724 NE Dekum Street. Enjoy teriyaki chicken, world famous “Maui style” kal bi ribs, mac salad, peanut ginger noodles, sticky rice, and organic greens.

There’s not a grocery store in Woodlawn (yet!) but if you are looking for a way to get your weekly fresh vegetables from a local farm, the Dancing Roots Farm CSA (community supported agriculture) is still taking members for this year.  They will have a pick-up site in Piedmont on Thursday evenings, very close to Woodlawn.  Contact Shari at 503.695.3445 or shari//@//dancingrootsfarm.com for more information.

Want more play by play of local businesses and Woodlawn happening?  If you are on facebook, many of our local businesses have a “fan page” and Sarah Bott at the Dekum Street Guest House is running a lively page called “It’s happening on Dekum Street” with up-to-the-minute news and happenings in the Woodlawn area.