What? You haven’t seen the OTHER parade in outer East Portland? It isn’t too late! Plan now to enjoy the Lents Founder’s Day events on August 19-20 ‚Ķ
At a Sunday in Lents Park concert, Owen Lingley, is taking an invitation to Lents Founder’s Day from former Lents Neighborhood chair, Judy Welch, at Sunday Concert in Lents Park.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
August is the month for family fun in the Lents neighborhood! The Sunday “Concerts in Lents Park” lead up to the annual Founder’s Day celebration.
See why even Portland’s Mayor Tom Potter took time to be part of “A block party to end all block parties” ‚Ķ
The unofficial “Mayor of Montavilla”, Errol Carlson, is credited for being the spark plug who has turned up the excitement for this neighborhood event.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
This year marks the 100th year Montavilla has been incorporated as a part of Portland. As many as a thousand folks turned out for one of the largest ‚Äì and most lively ‚Äì block parties we’ve ever seen.
See how a church teamed up with community organizations to put on a fun fair for their neighbors …
The Flood family – Paul, Julie, Kelly, Katie and Timothy – say they came to the Pilgrim Community Festival in Lents because they only live a block away. They were busy making crafts.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
People looked like they were enjoying one of our nice June Saturdays at the Pilgrim Lutheran Church Third-annual Summer Festival.
“This year, we’re calling a Community Festival,” explains the church’s pastor, Jeanamarie Fiumefreddo. “We’ve added two sponsors: Rose Community Development and Active Living by Design, to help put on this festival.
See how groups are working together to turn renters into homeowners – and why …
Mary Taylor, Bank of America, teaches prospective homeowners how to arrange their finances so they’ll qualify for a loan.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
One way to improve a neighborhood is to turn renters into homeowners, says Amie Diffenauer, of the Lents Homeownership Initiative in the Lents neighborhood.
To this end, the organization has developed a coalition of governmental and commercial interests to increase home ownership. Banks, mortgage companies, utilities, and a church are showing families how they can start putting their lodging budget into owning a home, instead of just paying rent.
See volunteers work, so others may have good, family housing they can afford …
Helping with the planting project are Mike Schmidt, Stanley Tools; Dave Winterling, Stanley Tools; Kris Cowan, Joe Kelley, volunteer on the site; and Todd Cleek, volunteer and member of the board of directors of the Kivel & Howard Law Firm.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
East on SE Stark, near the Gresham city border, another Habitat for Humanity development is about ready for happy families who got the opportunity to buy new, reduced-priced housing in outer East Portland.
See what folks in northeast Portland thought about their 10 minutes with Tom Potter …
Margaret Erickson, Marcy Emerson-Peters and Valerie Curry talk with Tom Potter at Beal St. NW.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
While many citizens of Portland question some of Mayor Tom Potter’s plans and programs, his “10 minutes with the Mayor” program continues to be a success.
After speaking with Mayor Potter on May 6, Valery Curry of Argay told us, “The fact we were able to get the Mayor’s ear on issues important to our residents is good. We talked about the deterioration of the neighborhood and the crime that’s moved in.
What kind of trash? You name it! Read and learn why the Spring 2006 Neighborhood Cleanup helped make neighborhoods more livable …
Neighborhood volunteer Pat Castle “pitches in” by helping to unload some of the rubbish collected on May 6.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The park-and-ride lot on SE 122nd Ave. at Burnside St. looked like a yard sale gone wild on May 6, as communities making up the East Portland Neighborhood Office (EPNO) collected junked appliances and worn-out furniture, scrap metal, blown-out tires, and dumpsters full of yard debris.
Nearly every bureau from the city and county set up an exhibit. Was this event a waste of time and money? See for yourself …
Dustin, Misty and Meg Steppers look at an aerial map of Lents to find their home, while visiting the Lents Resource Fair.
At his exhibit, Tim Liszt with PDC shows Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams crime mapping software, available online.
Sampling the food is Mary Davis (“Mmmmmm”), cooked by chef Kjeld Peterson
The “dirty little secret” politicians hope you won’t learn ‚Äì and how you can become a better informed voter at these two Candidate Forums
By David F. Ashton
Do you know why some neighborhoods and business districts seem to get all the “goodies” while others suffer with so little?
One reason is that some areas vote; others don’t. It’s just that simple.
The city is divided up into “precincts”. Elected officials and bureau staff members can easily check to see in which precincts citizens register ‚Äì and actually vote. Word is, they don’t much care whom voters elect nor for what they vote in or out.
Neighbors who attend their association’s meetings learn what’s going on; how to solve problems on their block.
Jack Vahey, acting chair, Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association looks at the map with other neighbors as TriMet’s David Unsworth, Project Development Manager gives residents an update on the I-205 MAX line. He talked about the stations located in outer SE Portland and public art on display. David F. Ashton photo
By David F. Ashton
Noted restaurateur tells of her awareness mission at Parkrose Business Association
By David F. Ashton – April 2, 2006
She couldn’t help but noticing the young boys outside the porn shop on NE Sandy Blvd., said Eileen Stocker. “They were trying to see what was inside, behind the painted out windows.”
Seeing these kids, Stocker told us, fostered a question that kept running through her mind: “Should our kids be growing up in this kind of environment – believing that adult oriented stores and sex shops on every corner – is normal?”
ublished March 24, 2006 ~ By David F. Ashton
Neighbors packed in Parklane Church to hear Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard speak to outer East Portlanders. David F. Ashton Photo
It isn’t often when a Portland city official comes to meet with residents in outer East Portland. 50 people attended the joint Centennial and Powellhurst-Gilbert association meeting at Parklane Church on SE Main St. on Feb 18 to hear, and question, Portland City Council member Randy Leonard.
Commissioner Leonard starting by saying he didn’t support Mayor Tom Potter’s tax idea, because it would provide outer East Portland schools with lower benefits than those given the Portland School District.
