University of Portland to host Reading Fair on Sunday, April 15

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University of Portland to host 18th annual Reading Fair on Sunday, April 15

University of Portland’s 18th annual Reading Fair is set for Sunday, April 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Chiles Center. The event is free and open to the public, and hosted by Kappa Delta Pi, the education honor society. Every child attending will receive a free, new book of their choice.

The fair’s theme, “A Reader Can Weather Any Season,” is designed to be an integrated approach to literacy that will engage students from pre-kindergarten to middle school. Kid-friendly events throughout the day include arts, crafts and games that focus on reading, as well as an obstacle course.

New to the Reading Fair this year is the Wordstock reading area, where author Carmen “T” Bernier Grand will read from some of her popular and recently published children’s books such as Diego: Bigger than Life and Juan Bobo: Four Folktales from Puerto Rico. Wordstock will also be doing a drawing for two $25 Powell’s Books gift cards and tickets for free adult admission to the Wordstock festival.

Sponsors and community partners for the event include Wordstock, Saturday Academy, Learning Palace, Starbucks, Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), Bon Appétit, Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP), the University of Portland Bookstore, Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), and the University’s School of Education.

For more information, contact the School of Education at 503-943-7135 or Kathleen Staten at staten@up.edu.

King NA meets with Garner Moody, developer of proposed apartment complex at Garfield/Failing, on April 4th.

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King NA has set up a meeting with Mr. Garner Moody, the developer of the Failing/Garfield apartments, for Wed. April 4 at 4:30 pm. We will meet at Mr. Moody’s office – 3939 NE MLK unit 205.  If you or someone you know is planning to come please let me know as space may become an issue (we coud always meet on site – weather permitting).

If there are any other issues concerning land use or transportation in our neighborhood please share them with us, at info@kingneighborhood.org.

The proposed complex is at NE Failing and Garfield streets, abutting an Urban Farm Collective garden plot. This empty lot last held a Wayne’s World Bike-in Movie Night.

Involvement with the NA can help you take a hand in how our neighborhood develops. We invite all who are interested in the topics we’re exploring, or who have their own ideas and visions for the neighborhood. This meeting with Mr Moody kicks off our Working Group on Land Use and Transportation, a working group designed to be flexible and responsive as issues come up.

You need not be interested in everything that the Working Group is engaged in; you can join with the folks involved in it to work on a particular issue for a time, as it suits your interests and energy. Thank you for all you to make King shine as a jewel among neighborhoods, and a place where we all feel safe and valued.

Brother/Sister Plays, part 1, opening this weekend at the Portland Playhouse.

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Part 1: In the Red and Brown Water

A trilogy of modern–day stories of kinship, love, heartache and coming of age from the winner of the inaugural New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award. The Brother/Sister Plays delve into the world of a Louisiana Bayou housing project, a landscape of hardship and dreams. Influenced by Yoruban mythology, modern dance, and autobiography, and populated with stories of sacrifice, heartache, and laughter, this award-winning trilogy has been hailed as “the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30” (Chicago Tribune)

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/39110474]

www.portlandplayhouse.org

NECN forum on healthy communities: April 3rd!

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Components of a Healthy Community: Education, health care, food, transportation, capital, jobs and housing

Connect with North and Northeast Portland’s leading community practitioners for dynamic presentations and discussions on these
topics. Join two focus areas to both learn and share your knowledge as we begin a community asset mapping project. Create your own new
connections as we discuss the components of a healthy community!

When: Tuesday, April 3rd, 7pm to 9pm
Doors open at 6pm for networking and snacks – program begins promptly
at 7. Show up early!

Where: OAME, 4134 North Vancouver Ave.
Who: The Community Economic Development Council of the Northeast
Coalition of Neighborhoods

Featured speakers and discussion facilitators will include:
• Nita Shah, Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon
• Owen Ronchelli, Lloyd Transportation Management Association
• Scott Sheldon, Alberta Co-op Grocery
• Alejandro Queral, NW Health Foundation

Is King’s Air Dirtier?

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In this week’s Oregonian story on air pollution in NW Portland, this map of relative air quality was included. It is notable for the dark area in the center of King showing a higher concentration of pollutants. The number one contributor is listed as wood burning followed by the catch-all “area” category which includes: business and home fuel use, commercial cooking,
fuel storage and asphalt application. Is there more we could be doing?