Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Toastmasters Plan an Open House

Posted on by Posted in Archive

The Fortunate 500 Toastmasters Club will host an open-house meeting Tuesday evening, January 25, 2011 at the Kaiser Permanente Central Interstate Building, 3600 N. Interstate, Conference Room 2 D. The special meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m., according to Club President Cathy Young. Reservations are limited, she said, but interested persons may contact Kyle Dukelow at (503) 720-3413 for information.

A complete Toastmasters club meeting will be conducted with prepared and impromptu speeches and speech evaluations. “We believe that the community will enjoy seeing how the club’s communication and leadership development program helps prepare members for higher pay and greater personal recognition,” Club President Cathy Young said. “Members are always interested in showing the residents of North and Northeast Portland how the Toastmasters program can help them become more successful.”

Having trouble paying your mortgage? Know someone who is?

Posted on by Posted in Archive

Mortgage assistance is available to struggling Oregon homeowners, but the program is not being fully utilized because the word is not getting out.

Thousands of Oregon homeowners will have their mortgages paid for up to one year or $20,000. The state of Oregon received federal dollars to help struggling homeowners in our community, but time is running short. Homeowners must apply by January 14, 2011.

If you are a homeowner facing financial difficulties or know someone who is, this program can help. Start by visiting www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org or calling 2-1-1 (or just dial 1-800-SAFENET) to find out if you qualify. The deadline to apply is January 14. The process includes an application and an appointment, so start yours now. There are no costs or fees.

The Multnomah County application center is at the Doubletree Hotel (just off the Lloyd Center MAX stop). Feel free to stop by to learn more. Open Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm and Saturdays 9am – 5pm. Closed Christmas Eve/Day, New Year’s Eve/Day. Not in Multnomah County? Call 1-800-SAFENET to find out where to apply.

Have questions about foreclosure or debt? Need legal advice?

Free workshops led by experts are offered at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland (just off the Lloyd Center MAX stop) January 7 – January 15. Topics include foreclosure prevention, bankruptcy & debt collection, tips & training for job seekers, and many others. Visit www.economicfairnessoregon.org for an up-to-date schedule. All workshops are free and open to the public.

January 2011 General Meeting features John McKinney of Columbia Biogas

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

Tuesday, January 4 @ 7:00pm
Concordia University
Luther Hall room 121

Download a map of the Concordia University Campus.

The general meeting this January 4 will be held in Luther Hall room 121 at Concordia University. The topic will be Columbia Biogas (CBG). There will be a presentation by John McKinney, president of the company.

Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series Continues

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

Dr. Julian Agyeman will address equity and sustainability

Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 7-9 PM
Hollywood Theater 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard
Childcare will be provided by reservation. Call 503-823-2041

Dr. Julian Agyeman, who is a Professor and Chair of the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Department at Tufts University, will discuss environmental justice issues in a talk titled “Just Sustainabilities: Re-imagining (e)quality and living within environmental limits.” The evening will begin with an introduction from Mayor Adams, followed by the keynote address, a discussion with local panelists and questions from the audience.

The program will take place at the Hollywood Theatre located at 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. Admission is free, and childcare will be provided (call 503-823-2041 for reservations). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. The event will be broadcast on Channel 30 and streamed live on the Portland Plan website.

After Dr. Agyeman’s address there will be a roundtable discussion with a local panel including: Marcus Mundy, president and CEO of the Urban League of Portland; Jonathan Ostar, co-director of Environmental Justice Oregon; and Ronault “Polo” Catalani with the Portland Office of Human Relations.

Dr. Agyeman’s appearance in Portland is part of The Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series. The series offers Portlanders a chance to learn how other cities are tackling the issues of economic development, community health, education and equity as well as how to create complete communities and make the most of our natural resources.

The Portland Plan will be a 25-year strategic plan for the City, and the direction it sets will touch every neighborhood, district and resident of Portland as it grows. The plan will help to define priorities, guide investment of public dollars and set the course for Portland for the next quarter of a century. For more information please go to: www.pdxplan.com

The Portland Plan team will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Please notify us no fewer than five (5) business days prior to the event by phone at 503-823-7700, by the TTY line at 503-823-6868, or by the Oregon Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

Metro Council to hold public hearing on Columbia Biogas

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

The Metro Council will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at Metro Regional Center (600 NE Grand Ave., Portland) to consider a solid waste facility franchise (permit) application submitted by Columbia Biogas. If approved by Metro and issued permits by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the company will construct and operate a food waste anaerobic digestion and energy recovery facility in Cully neighborhood at 6849 NE Columbia Boulevard.

For more details and to read the proposed Metro legislation, staff report and Chief Operating Officer’s recommendation, visit Metro’s website (www.oregonmetro.gov/biogas). If you have a question about Metro’s staff report, call Bill Metzler at 503-797-1666. Sign up to get email news updates about the Columbia Biogas franchise and other important issues at www.oregonmetro.gov/connect.

In addition to requiring actions to prevent off-site nuisances such as litter, dust, odors and noise, Metro is calling for collection of a community enhancement fee on waste brought into the facility. Additionally, Columbia Biogas will be required to develop and maintain a Good Neighbor Plan to minimize the impact of the facility on local residents. As part of the plan, the company will work towards a written agreement describing how the company will hear and respond to neighborhood concerns.

The type of facility proposed by Columbia Biogas meets several goals established by the Metro Council. It could help our region develop a food waste collection and processing infrastructure, a key strategy that will lead us toward a more sustainable future. The facility will help the region dispose of less food waste in landfills and sewers by converting organic matter to energy and agricultural supplements.

But before taking any action, the Metro Council wants to hear from you. Do you agree with the provisions and conditions in Metro’s proposed franchise with Columbia Biogas? Do they address your interests and concerns? If not, what is missing? You can provide public testimony to the Council in person, by mail or by e-mail. The hearing will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at Metro Regional Center (600 NE Grand Ave., Portland).

– To testify in person at the Council meeting, fill out a testimony card, submit it to the Council Clerk and be present when your name is called to testify. If you require any special accommodation in order to testify before the council, please make your request to the council clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting (503-797-1542).

– Written testimony is welcome too. To testify in writing, insert the agenda item and topic at the beginning of your letter or email message (Ordinance No. 10-1248, Columbia Biogas franchise). Fax your testimony to 503-797-1793. Mail your testimony to the Metro Council, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232. Send email to metrocouncil@oregonmetro.gov.

The Metro Council and I want to hear from you about this important decision. Your input and insights will be helpful in making policy decisions for the region. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Rex Burkholder
Metro Councilor, District 5

Help Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Posted on by Posted in Archive, CNA, Events

At this Year’s Holiday Party, the CNA will be collecting donations for the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s (EMO) HIV Day Center.

The HIV Day Center is a non-denominational project of the EMO and is housed at the Ainsworth United Church of Christ located at NE 30th Avenue and Ainsworth Street. This center provides over 700 meals each month to low income people dealing with HIV in addition to providing counseling, clothing, showers, recreational therapy, access to computers & phones, and mutual support.

The CNA encourages neighbors to bring one or more of the following items to the Holiday Party to donate to the clientele at the HIV Day Center:

  • Warm Sleeping Bags in good condition
  • Shampoo and other miscellaneous toiletries, particularly for men