Category Archives: sustainability

Come out for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

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There will be a second round on the invasive species removal at the King Facility Parking Lot, next January 16th from 10:00-4:00, for MLK day. AmeriCorps seem very interested in helping us in the project. Hopefully they will send some hands the 16th. At the same time the King School PTA will be coordinating a cleanup, weeding, graffiti removal project on the school grounds, playground, and local area.

The Portland Farmers Market is also planning to bring a small crew, a tent and some snacks. Whole Foods has also pledged pastries, snacks and drinks.
So far, it is unlikely that we will have an excavator on this day.

We estimate that now we are around 20 volunteers, but some will come on the 14th and others the 16th. We would love to have 20 more folks helping us. Please join us!

We have a truck to do the trips to Metro on Saturday, but still need more for Monday the 16th.

The land we’re clearing of invasive species, and prepping for later installation of native plant species, borders the King Facility parking lot,

at 4815 NE Wygant at 7th. We are also looking for someone to watch kids so we can provide day care for the volunteers. Let Diego know if you can help.

Diego Gioseffi
808-779-3435

Trace Salmon
King PTA
info@kingpta.org

KNA Meeting, Wednesday Oct 12th

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What a great meeting we have planned! We’re so sorry that this agenda is being released so late… Columbus Day preparations had us running around all of last week, and we’re just catching our breath.

This week’s King NA meeting will feature our last visit with Officer Ryan Bren, who has served our neighborhood as District Officer for the last couple of years and has been a pleasure to work and communicate with.

We’ll be hearing from Emily Wilson, who has worked tirelessly to put together a project to improve Two Plum Park, in particular by raising money to install a bench. Two Plum Park is one of four neighborhood parks in King, and we’re happy to help out folks who are looking to take a hand in the care and improvement of them!

Speaking of, neighbor Diego Gioseffi and his neighbors have developed a project to remove invasive species from part of the King School lot, and replace them with native plants in the ground. We have struggled to get permission from the City to go ahead with the project, but progress is being made; also, the folks who run the King Farmers Market have offered to help. Once we have a date set, all are invited to come pull weeds and help us clean up part of the King School grounds! Please join us to get an update on the planning of this project.

We’ll be getting an update on the Portland Playhouse, & its efforts towards getting a Conditional User Permit from the City, in order to resume using their building at 602 NE Prescott. In addition, King NA has had discussions with the Playhouse and nearby neighbors about parking issues ~ we’ll have a short update on this.

The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is looking for feedback about Last Thursday. In addition to a survey of residents living near Alberta Street, NECN is reaching out to the nearby neighborhood associations to get feedback, ideas, compliments, and criticisms about how Last Thursday operates. Please join us and share your experience with us.

There will be other short presentations on topics of community interest, as well as a bit of time to bat around ideas, projects, questions, and thoughts. Please join us for Wednesday evening’s meeting – all are welcome at our Neighborhood Association!

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Learn How to Achieve Net Zero Energy Use

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From Solar Oregon:

There is still time to register for this evening’s
Goal Net Zero Interest Group meeting!

Join us for a presentation by Joe Johnson, architect and LEED AP, on the feasibility of reaching net zero goals in existing residences through energy conservation measures. This discussion will raise issues important to building professionals and home owners alike.

We look forward to seeing you this evening!

>> Click here to register

Each meeting costs $5.00 for dues-paying Solar Oregon members and $10.00 for non-members. Payment is due at the door, and can by made by cash or check.

EV Charging Station Opens on NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

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From PDC:

On Wednesday, June 8, at noon, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) will unveil a new electric vehicle charging station and solar canopy on a PDC-owned parking lot at 3620 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The grid-tied solar canopy, one of only two of its kind in Portland, was constructed by EV4 Oregon, which markets it as an Energy Transfer Merchant (ETM™); it is owned by Lease It Inc. The canopy was built locally, using photovoltaic panels manufactured by Hillsboro-based SolarWorld, and is available from North Coast Electric in Portland.

The canopy has two Ecotality Blink Level-2 publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations available for community use, with the capacity to fully charge six electric vehicles per day. The Blink commercial locations form a critical component of the charging public infrastructure to be developed by Ecotality as project manager of the EV Project.

“This project exemplifies innovative work that creates local green jobs and at the same time, enhances the community and reinforces our support for neighborhood economic development (pdf),” said Mayor Sam Adams. “It joins nearby businesses Yeebo and Conexiones, recent PDC clients, in demonstrating our ongoing commitment to neighborhood investment.”

William P. Emberlin, president of Lease-It Inc., expressed his enthusiasm to be a part of the progressive move toward renewable energy in the Pacific Northwest. “This solar canopy/charging station makes an important contribution to reduced oil consumption without adding additional stress to the electrical grid,” he said. “As a local business person I consider ownership of an ETM™ a good investment, and I hope to add more locations throughout Oregon and Washington.”

The installation represents the continued deployment of the charging station infrastructure necessary to support the continued roll out of electric vehicles. The charging station will be able to service cars such as the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan LEAF and a variety of electric vehicles under development by Drive Oregon companies.

For further information on Portland’s progressive EV strategy, please visit the city’s electric vehicle website, Chargeportland.com, powered by PDC.

International Plastic Quilt Project-Opening Reception

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From Create Plenty: Student-Led Solutions to Single-Use Plastic!

Please view & Share the Postcard

Sat, June 11, 4-9 PM
Zoomtopia, 810 SE Belmont St
On display thru June 2011 by appointment

Help us celebrate the 9th exhibit of single-use plastic as art! In order to grow awareness and create innovative local solutions to waste, its International Plastic Quilt Project (once called Leave No Plastic Behind) is a traveling exhibit of artwork made by people reducing their “plastic footprint”. For this exhibit, over 200 student participants set aside the plastic they obtained over a period of time to help them think about alternative possibilities to the steady stream of plastic waste coming out of their schools and homes. Out of this came their creative 12×12″ contributions to the Quilt Project.

Sponsored by Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods—dedicated to the livability of inner North and Northeast Portland, the NECN is an independent 501 c 3. necoaltion.org