Valentine’s Fest 2013:

Feed your Sweeties!

Benefit for the Northeast Backpack Lunch Program

Thursday, February 7^th 4-7pm. $10 per guest, children under 12 eat free!

Whether they’re kids or adults, we know you have a valentine in your life! Join us for this fun tasting event. We invite you to wind your way through the store with your Valentine’s Punch Card and enjoy your meal. There will be sweets, there will be savories, and we hope there will be a smile on your face when you’re through! 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Northeast Backpack Lunch Program, which provides lunches to school children at four area schools (Woodlawn, Tina Clegg, Harvey Scott, and King) who are on free or reduced-price lunch programs. With this program, they are assured of at least two meals over the weekend. Please RSVP with the number in your party to erin.rosvold@wholefoods.com so we can ensure enough food for everyone.  Happening at Whole Foods Market on Fremont 3535 NE 15th Ave, PDX .

The King NA this week mailed the following letter to Multnomah County Sheriff Daniel Station:

Dear Sheriff Staton:

The King Neighborhood Association is writing to express our support for ending the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds in the jail. We are particularly concerned that you have not responded to repeated requests from community members to work together in passing a county policy that limits participation in ICE’s S-COM Mass deportation program.   We can’t afford to wait while families are torn apart and our public safety is undermined. We invite you to respond immediately about how you plan to work with the community to keep families together and keep our communities safe.

Thousands of hard working Oregonians have been deported because local law enforcement agencies have chosen to comply with ICE requests to hold people. Many of these deportations are happening to Oregonians who have not committed any criminal offense or major violation of the law, separating families and destroying the trust between local law enforcement and our communities.  In fact, this system has proved to be so flawed, that ICE holds have erroneously been placed on citizens and lawful residents.

ICE holds create an environment in which community members do not trust law enforcement and are reluctant to report crimes out of fear. Limiting the use of ICE holds will go a long way to restore trust in law enforcement and support community policing efforts.  Additionally, local taxpayers bear the cost burden of these holds.

We invite, you, Sheriff Staton to not comply with voluntary requests from ICE to hold and turn over people for deportation, and to communicate to the public your opposition to ICE holds.

Michelle Alexander is coming back to the area! Here’s the info:

Please join us for an evening with Dr. Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
Host: Portland Community College 971-722-5379

When: Wednesday, January 16 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Emmanuel Temple – 1033 North Sumner Street Portland, OR 97217

5:00-5:45 Community Organization Tabling

5:45-6:45 Community Speaker Panel, facilitated by JoAnn Hardesty.

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Topic: A Community Response, The New Jim Crow and its impact on NE Portland.

7:00-8:30 Michelle Alexander Talk and book signing (books will be available for purchase.)

The church seats 1200 people; we will have open seating and no tickets required. Arrive early to ensure a seat.

Parking is limited. Please carpool, take bus #4 or the max if possible.

Questions? Please email kesary@pcc.edu or call 971.722.5379.

RSVPing is not necessary.

This season, King residents will be offered street trees starting at $35.00. The cost will include: a site inspection by the Urban Forestry Department to ensure you choose the right tree for your home, hole digging, help with planting your tree, stakes, mulch, ties, labels, follow-up monitoring, and information on proper tree care techniques. That’s quite a deal!

For more information, please visit www.friendsoftrees.org. or contact Irek Wielgosz at king@plantitportland.org.