Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls 2009-2010 Schedule

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Girls Rock InstituteGirls ages 8-18 can sign up now to learn drums, guitar, keys, bass, vocals, turntables, beatmaking, and play in a band!

The Rock n Roll Camp for Girls, a non-profit that builds self-esteem through music and performance, announces it’s 2009-2010 schedule.

The Girls Rock Institute will begin it’s seventh season with sessions starting October 6. All girls are welcome; no experience is necessary. Girls Rock Institute (GRI) offers a safe place for girls to explore their creative side and develop their technical, musical and leadership skills. GRI provides weekly instruction and technical training, encouraging the development of life skills, creating leadership opportunities and providing girls with a supportive community of peers and mentors. “Both of my daughters have gained so much both musically and personally from their participation in the Girls Rock Institute,” says Leslie Yeargers, the mother of two GRI students, “Not only have they grown musically, but their leadership skills, ability to cooperate with others to achieve a common goal, and sense of self-esteem gained from accomplishing a difficult task and being recognized for it have greatly evolved from their experiences at the Girls Rock Institute. As their parent, I am so glad that GRI exists for them. It is a program that combines so many aspects of music making and self-expression not offered anywhere else.” Tuition for camp is $250, and all proceeds support the Rock n Roll Camp for Girls. Financial aid is available for any girl who needs it. All levels of musical skill and experience are welcome at the camp.

About Rock n Roll Camp for Girls:

The Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls, a 501(c)3 non-profit, builds girls self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls creates leadership opportunities, cultivates a supportive community of peers and mentors, and encourages social change and the development of life skills.
For more information, visit: http://www.girlsrockcamp.org/programs/girls-rock-institute

St. Andrews to Break Ground on Expansion

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StAn update on the progress of St Andrew Catholic Church’s future building project:

St. Andrews staff presented to the King Neighborhood board last year their intention to build a new community services center from which their safety net programs for the neighborhood are run as well as improvements to existing buildings including a new kitchen, bathrooms, youth education facilities, and improved landscaping including a new Eco roof. All areas will now be ADA accessible.

They are close enough to their financial goal to begin construction this month. A ground breaking ceremony will take place on September 20th at 11am in the parking lot between the church and the community center. The church is located on 8th and Alberta. All are welcome.

The King Neighborhood Association’s letter of support last year has been included in some of the grant applications and contributed to a substantial grant from Meyer Memorial Trust.

If you have any questions relating to this project, you can contact:

Lisa M. Hatten
St Andrew Catholic Church
Capital Campaign Coordinator
503-880-0116

New Development for Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Planned

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MLK-SkidmoreThe North-Northeast Economic Development Alliance (NNEDA) and the Portland Family of Funds (PFF) invite local community members and other inner NE Portland stakeholders to the OAME conference room to review the redevelopment concept plans for the former Lutheran services facility site located on NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and NE Skidmore.

PFF is an investment firm that has participated in a dozen projects in Portland, including four in NE Portland: Vanport Square, Kings Crossing, Oregon Medical Clinic, and the Community Transition School. PFF utilizes numerous financing programs, including the New Markets Tax Credit program, to facilitate the development of community-based projects in distressed communities.
MLK-Skidmore2
NNEDA and PFF would like to offer local residents and stakeholders an early opportunity to review and comment on the schematic design plans for developing an education- and family housing-based project on the former Lutheran site at the corner of NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and NE Skidmore. Come hear from the project team about their vision for the site, and provide your feedback on their design plans for implementing that vision.

This project is intended to create an attractive and exciting private development that focuses on building community capacity through the co-location and collaboration of education, family housing and community services within a single facility.

Please join us on the evening of September 23rd to hear more about the plans for this project and to share your thoughts and suggestions for the concept and plans.

OAME Large Conference Room
4134 N Vancouver Avenue
September 23, 2009
6:00 to 9:00 PM
Light refreshments will be provided

You can also view the schematic design plans for the project and comment on them at http://www.portlandfunds.com/projects/albina.php. Or bring your questions and comments to the meeting on September 23rd. If you would like additional information prior to the meeting, contact Carl Talton at 503-546-2650 or carl@portlandfunds.com. We hope you will join us.

Sheila Holden and Carl Talton

City to Hold Spirit of Portland Award Event at Center for the Performing Arts

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newmarkpic2The popular Spirit of Portland Award Ceremony will be held at the prestigious Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) this year. It will be held Thursday, Nov. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. City officials have chosen the new evening time so more people can attend.

The event, which usually draws a standing‐room‐only crowd of supporters and well wishers to the Council Chambers at City Hall, will be held in the Newmark Theatre, one of the PCPA’s three theatres. The new venue was selected to comfortably seat everyone who wishes to attend. A reception with cake and beverages in the spacious lobby will follow.
The PCPA is sponsoring this year’s celebration of Portland’s finest and has generously donated the use of their facility. The Newmark Theatre is located downtown, inside Antoinette Hatfield Hall, 1111 SW Broadway at the Main Street intersection.
Celebrated since 1985, the Spirit of Portland ceremony is an important way the city recognizes those who make a positive difference in our community. Please send in your nominations if you know the perfect candidate to receive this honored award. All nominations are due at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) office by 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.

Nomination forms are available at ONI, Room 110 at City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Ave or at any of the seven neighborhood district coalition offices. Forms can also be downloaded from the web at Spirit of Portland 2009.
Phone: 503-823-4519 • Fax: 503-823-3050 • www.portlandonline.com/oni
The Council passed a resolution last year creating the Commissioner’s Spirit of Portland Award. Now the Mayor and each commissioner can select one individual and one group for recognition.
The public can nominate in the following categories: Emergency Preparedness; Public Involvement (city staff or community member); Community Policing/Public Safety (city staff or community member); Humanitarian; Independent Spirit; Community Harmony; Large Business;
Small Business; New/Emerging Community Leader (person or group); Business Association; Non‐Profit Organization; Neighborhood; Outstanding Partnership; Employee Volunteer; and
Youth Volunteer.
New categories this year are Business Association of the Year and New/Emerging Community Leader.
Winners in the above awards are chosen by a Selection Committee made up of representatives from the Mayor’s and City Commissioner’s offices, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Neighborhood District Coalition offices, Business Associations, non‐profit community organizations and past award winners.
The PCPA is a premier arts and entertainment venue in the Pacific Northwest. Nationally recognized as one of the top 10 performing arts centers in the nation, the PCPA hosts more than 900 performances and events each year.
Its 880‐seat Newmark Theatre was designed to emulate the Edwardian‐style theaters of Europe. Home to a variety of productions, this theater is refined and elegant, providing an intimate theatrical experiences with no seat further than 65 feet from the stage. The theatre is fully ADA compliant with wheelchair seating and assisted listening devices.
The ArtBar, restaurant in the PCPA complex, will be open for those who would like to have dinner at the theatre before the awards ceremony.

I-5 Columbia River Crossing Wants Your Thoughts on Tolling and Traffic

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CRCThe CRC is a long-term, comprehensive transportation project that will replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge, extend light rail to Clark College in Vancouver, improve seven highway interchanges and include a better pathway for bikes and pedestrians. The project will be funded by federal and state governments, as well as from tolls.

Tolling will also help manage traffic congestion by improving travel speed and reliability for drivers. Tolls will be collected electronically to avoid the need for toll booths and to keep traffic moving.

The project’s Tolling Study Committee wants to hear from you. How should we use tolling to help fund the project in a way that is best for taxpayers, users of the bridge, and nearby communities? Your input will be provided to the Oregon and Washington legislatures in January 2010.

Learn more at http://tolling.columbiarivercrossing.org and share your feedback in the following ways:

Survey

Take a five-minute Web survey at http://survey.columbiarivercrossing.org.

Tolling Study Committee

The Tolling Study Committee includes the chairs of the Oregon and Washington transportation commissions and the directors of each state’s department of transportation. The public is invited to the committee’s October meeting to learn early results of the online survey and provide comments. Meeting details will be posted online once they are available: http://tolling.columbiarivercrossing.org.