• The King NA congratulates the Portland Playhouse on winning its land use appeal to begin staging plays at 602 NE Prescott again, and will work with the Playhouse to ensure that patron parking is not disruptive to nearby neighbors of the Playhouse building.

• KNA’s board voted unanimously to oppose construction of a 7-11 store at the empty lot at MLK & NE Sumner.  Residents near that lot agreed to help KNA take on opposing the building of the store, and a variety of approaches and possible allies were discussed. In particular, King NA will bring the issue to the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhood’s Land Use & Transportation Committee to draw on the expertise of its members and to seek alliance with other neighborhoods.
• The KNA voted to postpone board elections scheduled for May until September, while changes to the association’s by-laws are pondered.

• KNA voted to endorse a neighborhood egg hunt on April 8th at Two Plum Park, and to approve up to seventy-five dollars in expenditures.

• Van Bogner reported that plans for the planting of trees and plants at the King School grounds continues, with a planned planting day on Earth Day, April 22nd. A grant of $1500 for plants is in hand, and organizers will seek donations from Friends of Trees as well.

• Brian Weaver reported that the King Neighborhood clean-up is on track for May 19th, at the North Precinct parking lot. KNA approved $745 up-front expenditures, with expectations that most of this will be reimbursed by the city, and that the event will be profitable. No discussion of possible uses for profits from the event occured.

• KNA decided to forgo organizing a coördinated neighborhood garage sale this year.

• KNA will be holding a Soil to Soul food security planning/organizing meeting on March 31st, at 4:30 pm at the Tin Shed. This will be the kick-off of our plans to help facilitate food security efforts for our King neighbors.

• The NA has communications funds from the city, and will hold a session next week among board members to plan some communications and outreach efforts in the coming spring months.

Thanks to everyone who came with energy and ideas last night, as well as to mieke at Tula Bakery for nourishing us with goodies from the bakery. We appreciate everything that so many folks are doing for our neighborhood!

March 17^th:

• Chicken Wing Tool Drive: Urban Farm Collective accepting donations of tools at its new Youth Education Garden, 9^th & Alberta.
• Grant Writing Workshop for Women of Color, at June Key Delta Comm. Center.
• Occupy NE: “The Black Working Group” meets at Reflections, 2:30-4 pm.

March 20^th: North Williams Transportation Safety Operations Project meeting.

March 21^st: Portland/Multnomah Food Council’s Food Security listening session, N. Portland library.

March 22^nd: Community Rights Movement workshop at Reflections, 7 – 9:30 pm.

March 24^th: A Seniors Night Out: Kansas City style music. Urban League Multi-Cultural Senior Center, 5325 MLK, 6:30 – 9:30, free.

March 28^th: Community Conversation: Race & Ethnic Relations in Portland, at East Portland Community Center.

March 29^th: The Brother/Sister Plays: Part I begins at the Portland Playhouse.

March 31^st:

• Garden Layout workshop at Emerson Street Garden
• Study group on “The New Jim Crow” at Reflections – 1^st meeting, 11-noon.
• Model car building workshop and family fun day, Blazers Boys and girls Club, 1-4 pm.
• King NA’s Soil to Soul food security planning meeting, at the Tin Shed, 4:30 pm.
• PCRI benefit gala, Doubletree Hotel at Lloyd Center.

April 8^th: KNA Easter egg hunt at Two Plum Park, 10:30 am, for youngsters five years old and younger!

April 11^th: King Neighborhood Association meeting, 6:30 pm, 4815 NE 7^th Avenue.

April 12^th: next King PTA meeting.

April 14^th: Second Saturday chat with Rep. Lew Frederick, 9-10 am at Reflections Coffeehouse.

April 21^st: Alberta Main Street Clean-up, MLK to 33^rd Avenue.

April 22^nd: King school grounds planting day.

April 28^th: Seeds & Starts workshop at Emerson Street Garden.

May 4^th: King School PTA Auction, North Star Ballroom.

May 19^th: King Neighborhood Clean-up: bring your refuse to us at the N. Precinct parking lot.

–Contact us for more information on any of these events – we’ll provide whatever info we can find!

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Neighbors envisioning a local Black History Museum – meetings weekly, Saturday from 6-8 pm, Irvington Village, 420 NE Mason in the King room. More info, 503-288-2863 or 503-284-6017.

New liquor license applications: Africa Food Market, 4069 NE MLK; Carpacchio Trattoria, 3500 NE MLK; Brandini Pizza and Pasta, 3513 NE MLK; Cedo’s Café, 3901 NE MLK.

Find us on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/kingneighborhood

The Killingsworth Community Food Forest serves as a demonstration site for home-scale organic food cultivation, with an emphasis on fruit trees and other perennials. The KCFF also produces fresh, healthy food for neighbors in need, with most of the produce going to a local food bank. As a Community Food Forester, you can put your gardening skills to good use while learning new things, meeting new people, and providing healthy food for your community! Two years of gardening experience (or equivalent) is recommended, but not necessary, as folks who are able to commit to a weekly gardening shift will be given priority. This volunteer position begins in April and ends in October, 2012, averaging 2-3 hours per week.

Killingsworth Community Food Forester Responsibilities:

–          Attend orientation meeting: Thursday, April 5th, 7:00-8:30pm
(If you have a scheduling conflict, we can try to arrange an alternate time.)

–          Work with other Community Food Foresters and PFTP staff to maintain the garden throughout the 2012 growing season, from sowing the seeds to harvesting produce

–          Participate in monthly Community Food Forest team meetings

–          Commit to a weekly gardening shift (1-2 hrs) for on-going tasks such as planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, feeding chickens, etc.

–          Opportunity to design and implement projects that interest you within the garden!

If interested in applying, please email treecare@portlandfruit.org to request an application, or call our office at 503-284-6106 to arrange a pickup or mailing.

Applications are due Thursday, March 22nd.