Kna Connect Feb09 Final

KENTON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (KNA)

kenton

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1-5pm

NATURESCAPING: SITE PLANNING WORKSHOP Historic Kenton Firehouse 8105 N. Brandon St. Learn the steps involved in planning a landscape project. Pre-requisite: Naturescaping Basics. Register at http://www.emswcd.org

APRIL SATURDAY, APRIL 18

BACKYARD HABITAT CERTIFICATION Restore native wildlife habitats in your backyard! Each participant will receive an on-site, one-on-one consultation with a knowledgeable backyard certification staff person. See story on back. Thank you Audubon Society of Portland and Three Rivers Land Conservancy.

•

KNA BOARD MEETING

Wed., April 8, 7pm, 8105 N. Brandon

MAY SATURDAY, MAY 2, 10am-2pm

—KENTON’S— SPRING CLEAN-UP EVENT Dump your unwanted household junk and yard debris—for free! But, donations are appreciated. We’ll announce the location via flyers posted in neighborhood and at www.historickenton.com. Volunteers needed! See story on back.

•

KNA BOARD MEETING

Wed., May 13, 7pm, 8105 N. Brandon

JUNE SUNDAY, JUNE 21

SUNDAY PARKWAYS Save the date for this family-friendly event! Walk, run or bike along the circular route that includes streets in Kenton. Enjoy activities and food in Kenton Park and along the car-free route. See story at right.

|

SPRING ‘09

VOLUME ONE

|

ISSUE No. 3

connect KNA CO-chairS—Brenda Ray Scott and Angela Moos

With these challenging economic times, public safety seems more important than ever. Whether in your home, business, school, or a park, each of us wants to feel safe. Community policing, in partnership with the Portland Police, is one of the ways we enhance Kenton’s safety and livability. With the proposed cuts to the Portland Police budget, law enforcement resources will be stretched more than ever. That’s why it’s important to come together as a community, watch out for your neighbors and keep Kenton’s homes, streets and parks well-maintained and safe. With that in mind, you’ll find several crime prevention and safety tips in this newsletter along with many opportunities for you to connect with neighbors to improve Kenton’s livability. We’ll be cleaning up the Kenton Rose Garden in March, certifying yards as “backyard habitats” this April, and in May we’re hosting a Spring Clean-up Day to help residents rid their homes and yards of unwanted materials. In addition, we’re pleased to announce Kenton’s participation in the Sunday Parkways event this June—learn how you can help make this event a success! Sign up to receive our email updates on these and other events at [email protected]! See you around the neighborhood!

Portland Police Chief proposes cuts:

ANNOUNCING

North Portland Residents Voice Concern

SUNDAY PARKWAYS

by Doretta Schrock, KNA Public Safety Committee

JUNE 21 ST

The proposal set forth reduces the number of precincts from five to three—North precinct, located in St. John’s, is one of the proposed closures. The three remaining precincts will be Northeast (to include North), East, and Central. Fortunately, Neighborhood police contact offices such as the one in Kenton at 8134 Denver Avenue, will remain. Each closed precinct building will serve as neighborhood contact offices among other uses. The bureau has pledged to listen to community advisory groups and recently held two public meetings—the North Portland meeting was attended by nearly 50 residents who voiced their concerns. The bureau cites budget cuts as a reason for this restructuring, and the budget issues facing the city in our deteriorating economy are certainly real. However, as long-time residents know, closing North Precinct has been considered by the Bureau for years, even when budget concerns were not an issue. The Bureau’s concerns include: • North Precinct is located at the far end of the peninsula, which is not ideal logistically. • North Precinct receives fewer calls than other precincts and therefore has fewer patrol officers. This means its command staff has fewer people to supervise and is seen as under utilized. • Probably, the most important underlying issue is the Bureau’s historic inability to attract and hire enough officers citywide, which means every officer must be utilized to capacity. There are many questions important to North Portlanders: • Will the change negatively affect police response times? • Will supervision be adequate to prevent problems?

volunteer awards

• Will North Portland’s issues take a back seat to those in NE Portland? • Will police presence be less visible in the community? • How will this affect the relationship between the bureau and the crime prevention staff who work extensively with the community? • Will the reduction in Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) officers mean they have less time to work with the community? • Will the existing north portland Public Safety Action Committee remain? If you’d like answers to these or other questions, or want to voice your concerns, contact the Portland Police Bureau at 503-823-0264, or attend the next North Portland Public Safety Action Committee meeting on March 25 at 7:00 p.m. Location: Historic Kenton firehouse, 8105 N. Brandon St.

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council recently awarded their 2008 Achievement Award to the Harbor Oil Superfund Community Advisory Group. The dedicated Kenton residents who sit on this Advisory Group include: Marjan Rotting, Larry Fellows, Peter Teneau, and Mark Stephan. Thank you all for being our neighborhood environmental watchdogs! Harbor Oil is on the U.S. EPA’s National Priorities List.

p 

ortland’s Sunday Parkways is coming to Kenton June 21st but we need your help planning now. If you have ideas on fun activities, entertainment, musicians and food vendors to feature along our route, email us at [email protected]. We also need hundreds of volunteers to help staff the route. This is our chance to let our great neighborhood shine. What is Sunday Parkways? This free, one-day event is for everyone in the city but is located right here in North Portland. The circular route on city streets is closed to cars and open to walk, bike, run, jump & skip. The streets become a “temporary park” connecting North Portland neighborhoods and residents. Participants enjoy activities in the parks, along the route as well as nearby shops and businesses. Intersections are staffed by volunteers allowing residents to get to and from their driveways, with larger streets supervised by Portland Police staff. To learn more: www.portlandonline.com/ transportation/index.cfm?c=46103

DOWNTOWN KENTON

MARCH

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

TOUGH TIMES RALLY OUR COMMUNITY

SPRING

events

|

Kenton Library: The construction has started! Denver Ave. Streetscaping: Construction is scheduled to begin Spring/Fall 2009. Posies Café: The coffee shop opens this spring on Denver Ave.

Public safety corner by MARK WELLS CRIME PREVENTION COORDINATOR

Greetings! Recently, I joined Portland’s Crime Prevention team in North Portland. I have over ten years of law enforcement and investigative experience most recently with the Hillsboro Police department where I served as a Patrol Officer. I am excited to change gears towards crime prevention—especially with the high level of community involvement here in North. My wife and I live in the Overlook neighborhood so I am now excited to also work in the community I love. My job as a Crime Prevention Coordinator is to help organize, motivate, and sustain community members in their efforts to reduce crime, including: • Train Neighborhood Watch teams • Teach people how to document and report problems • Organize community meetings to address specific criminal activities • Develop Good Neighbor and Partnership Agreements between parties • Evaluate physical sites for possible security improvements Crime Survey: To help me learn about your concerns, please fill out the crime survey posted to the KNA web site home page (www.historickenton. com). And, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 503-823-4098, or [email protected]. You can also visit the Community Policing Office at 8134 N. Denver Ave.

RADON

Officers Co-Chair/Pres.: Brenda Ray Scott Co-Chair/VP: Angela Moos Secretary: Kim Smith Treasurer: Ian Denny Board Members Jessie Burke Patricia Collins Larry Fellows Steve Kayfes Vicky Kirk Karen McClelland Leslie Mills Zach Mills Penny Schumacher Jared Tormohlen Willa Watkins Richard Watson Marina Wynton Committee Chairs (not on board) Constance W.-Crass Rose Garden Kathy Armstrong Park Concerts Steve Rupurt Land Use Mike MaMotte Web Developer

Newsletter Comments and article suggestions welcomed: [email protected]

KNA e-NEWS Subscribe at [email protected] to receive updates on news and events. www .historickenton. com

[email protected]

We want your JUNK!

High levels in North Portland pose serious health risks

Bring your unwanted household junk and yard debris to dump and we’ll haul it away—for free! Donations however, are appreciated to offset costs.

by BRETT SHERRY, Kenton resident and Radon Coordinator, Oregon Department of Human Services

• We need many volunteers to help—contact Willa at [email protected] or 503.283.7834.

Many people don’t know about radon because you can’t see, taste, or smell it. This dangerous gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon kills more than 20,000 people per year in the United States.

Saturday, MAY 2 nd 10 am-2 pm

Why test for Radon in Kenton? North Portland is known to have high levels of radon gas. This naturally occurring radioactive gas can accumulate in your home and cause cancer. It usually comes from the surrounding soil and can enter through small cracks and openings on the lower levels of your home. Testing for radon is the only way to ensure your home is safe.

Location to be announced! Watch for flyers posted before the event and check the KNA web site at www.HistoricKenton.com •

Items WE’LL TAKE: Yard Debris • General Household Junk • Wood Light Construction Material • Non-recycle plastics

How did the radon get in our soil? Radon gas in this area is emitted from soil deposits left behind from a series of floods known as the Missoula Floods, the most recent of which occurred at the end of the last ice age. The soils deposited from these floods cover much of North and Northeast Portland, and tend to result in high radon levels in homes. This radioactive gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Radon forms naturally from the radioactive decay of Uranium in rock, soil, and water. How do I test my home? Test kits are available at home improvement centers but most require an additional analysis fee when you mail it to the lab. You can save money by downloading the Oregon Department of Health Services (DHS) Radon Test Kit Coupon—the $15 kit includes the lab fee—go to www.healthoregon.org/radon. You can also have a professional test your home—contact us for a list of radon measurement companies at 971-673-0490. If your home has an elevated level of radon, a qualified radon mitigation contractor can help solve the problem. The test kit at left was purchased from a local hardware store for $10 plus a $30 lab fee (prices vary).

KNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS The KNA board meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm, at the Firehouse, 8105 N Brandon. All residents are welcome.

SPRING CLEAN-UP

Save money by ordering your test kit using the Radon Test Kit Coupon at: www.healthoregon.org/radon What radon levels are safe? The EPA estimated the average indoor radon level in the US is at 1.3 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). The average outdoor radon concentration (US) is estimated at 0.4 pCi/L. Congress set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not always achievable, most homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below. There is no “safe level” of radon. Contact: [email protected], or call (971) 673-0442.

Reduce Crime:

Start a Neighborhood Watch It’s easy! The rewards certainly make up for the effort and include lowering crime in your area, getting to know your neighbors and enhancing your sense of community. First, find someone to serve as the Organizer then recruit neighbors to join the effort. Follow these five easy steps: 1. Contact Mark Wells, Crime Prevention Coordinator, to assist at 503.823.4098, or [email protected]. 2. Get a neighbor or two to help decide what area to target and what crime issues you will address. 3. Set a time, date, and location for the first meeting (make sure your Crime Prevention Coordinator can attend). 4. Deliver invitations announcing your meeting to all neighbors in your target area—meeting lasts about 2 hrs. 5. Meet once or twice a year to discuss any issues, update contact information, and keep the Watch thriving. That’s all there is to it! The Organizer will create a simple block map with each neighbors’ contact information and a phone tree—this info can be gathered at the initial meeting.

Please read below for a list of items we cannot take.. •

items WE CANNOT TAKE: Garbage • Dirt • Rocks • Stumps • Bricks • Concrete Food • Contractor Loads • Hazardous Waste Items normally recycled at curb except yard debris.

Turn your yard into a Certified Backyard Habitat! Coming to Kenton APRIL 18th

I

f you’d like an incentive to turn your yard into a healthy environment for wildlife you may be interested in a new program coming to Kenton! The Backyard Habitat Certification Program will provide technical assistance to small lot, private property owners to restore native wildlife habitats in their backyard (and front yards too!). The program is a collaboration between the Audubon Society of Portland and Three Rivers Land Conservancy. Kenton will be the first North Portland neighborhood to participate. We’d love to see how many yards we can certify—join us April 18th! What’s involved? The program focuses on the removal of aggressive weeds, naturescaping with native plants, stormwater management and wildlife stewardship. What’s in it for me? Each participant will receive an onsite, one-on-one consultation with a knowledgeable backyard certification staff person who will provide technical assistance and written recommendations. You will also receive discounts and incentives for native plants and other items to help you on your way. All this for a $25 fee, due prior to the site visit. Once you’ve completed the recommendations, your yard will be ready to certify and you can proudly display a Certified Backyard Habitat sign! To visit a Backyard Habitat in Kenton: Stop by Marina and Mike’s yard at 3121 N. Arlington Place. They’d be happy to have you take a peak at their new garden. To learn more, contact: Gaylen Beatty at gbeatty@trlc. org, or Karen Munday at [email protected]. To register: Fill out the on-line, or mail-in interest form at www.audubonportland.org/backyardwildlife/backyardhabitat, or www.trlc.org/BYHCP/. They’ll contact you to schedule a site visit.

Did you know?

The University Park Community Center is just a few blocks outside Kenton at 9009 N. Foss Ave. This newly remodeled facility has a killer weight room, gym, and studio for yoga and NIA classes that rock!