State Senator Chip Sheilds is hosting a town hall. Come meet employers from New Seasons, Vigor Industrial, Oregon Iron Works, and Gunderson. These companies are looking to hire North and Northeast Portlanders for living wage jobs. The town hall to be held at Vigor Industrial, 5555 N. Channel Ave. from noon-1:30pm. If you have questions, send an email to Sen. Chip Shields.

The Woodlawn Neighborhood Association board of directors meets the first Wednesday of every month from 7:00 to 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. Click here for the meeting location.

Community Outreach of Our United Villages invites you to participate in this free community conversation on Wednesday, March 28th, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Avenue, Portland. Connect with people from a variety of backgrounds, discover what we have in common and share ideas for cultivating an equitable community. A light meal will be provided. Please RSVP by March 22nd by email, or by calling 503-546-7499. Go to their web site for more information.

Grow Portland’s Seed Club makes organic seeds available to gardeners and non-profits in the Portland area for an affordable price. There is a seed packing session set for March 28th at Lucky Lab Tap Room (1700 N Killingsworth), 7:00-8:30 p.m. Come help pack bulk quantities of organic veggie seeds into regular sized packets, and take home up to 15 packets for yourself for $28.

Here’s a list of available seeds. Please register online. Contact Lauren by
email or call (503) 858-0216 if you have any questions.

Learn about seismic activity in our region, implications for older buildings, seismic work accomplished with the PPS 1995 bond measure and additional work that needs to be done.
7 p.m. at Blanchard Education Service Center, Portland Public Schools Administrative offices, 501 N. Dixon, Portland, Oregon. For more information check the PPS website or call 503-916-2000, ext. 74212.

Reception: Friday, February 24th, 6-8 p.m. (Exhibition runs through March 9th.) Details here.

Concordia University, George R White Library & Learning Center, 2800 NE Liberty, Portland.

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.