Friends of Trees still has trees available for the planting scheduled for February 4th. Contact them asap to find out if your planting strip has space for trees, and for best selection! Trees cost 70% less than retail, and include delivery and hole digging.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the planting.

Get started here.

Your input is requested about having a farmers’ market near the Woodlawn triangle. Your answers will help create a market that best serves our community. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey.

Thanks!

Here are some sensible suggestions for your holiday entertaining from the Oregon Liquor Control Coalition:

• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks to help guests pace themselves.
• Get the keys from your guests when they arrive.
• Have a designated driver.
• Collect money from your guests for a taxi cab fare fund.
• Have a phone number for a taxi company handy.
• Plan to be a sober host or hostess so you can determine if your guests are able to drive home.
• Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party ends.
• Wait until a guest finishes a drink before you serve him/her another one.
• Know the signs of intoxication.

More party tips are available here.

We will not have a WNA general meeting this month. Enjoy your holidays, and, see you next time!

Here are links to approved minutes of meetings you may have missed:

Board meeting 11/2/11

General meeting 10/29/11

The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon is soliciting applications, due December 14, from school and not-for-profit groups  for their 2012 grant program. The HPSO is dedicated to helping “special gardens of botanical, horticultural, or historic interest,” including community gardens, and awards funds to qualified groups. To learn more, call the HPSO office at 503-224-5718 or visit their website.

Here is a simple one-time opportunity to volunteer this Saturday to help your neighbors who may be facing foreclosure on their homes.

NeighborWorks America is hosting a family foreclosure-prevention event: they need 40 people in the morning (8AM-12:30PM) and another 40 in the afternoon (12Noon-4:30PM). Choose to work more than one shift if your schedule permits. No experience needed, just willingness to help people. Duties include registration, greeter, directional-runner, and exit survey.

Contact Bonnie Wolferd ASAP by email or call 713-819-3156 for more information.

The neighborhood favorite Classic Foods will open for retail again this Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. That means we can stop by to get those fabulous raviolis, pastas and pestos, as well as olive oil and cheese.

Shoppers can drop by every first Friday of the month. The pastas would make a delicious and simple meal for those holiday get togethers.

For more information, check out the Classic Foods Facebook page.

Hi neighbors. Rob Ingram, who ran the city’s Office of  Youth Violence Prevention, died unexpectedly over the weekend of a heart attack.

Rob worked tirelessly to steer our youth away from gangs and his loss will be felt across the community.

Here’s the story from The Oregonian.

If you weren’t able to attend the meeting but keep informed about what transpired, you can read the minutes here.