Montavilla Events Weekend of April 24th-25th
- The 4th Annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade will take place this Saturday, April 24th at 9:00am. The route for this family event begins at 4000 SE 82nd Avenue at Eastport Plaza, travels north on 82nd to Yamhill, SE 78th and ends in the Montavilla business district. All organizations, businesses, families, bands, car clubs and more are invited to take part. This is the first official Rose Festival event in Portland, see you there!
- Glisan Street hosts it’s first annual Business Block Party. April 24th from 10am – 8pm, over 20 participating businesses between 60th through 82nd along Glisan Street. Organized and hosted by Exquisite Designs businesses will be giving away prizes, providing refreshments, hosting entertainment, and discounts off of goods and services.
April/May Montavilla News Update
From MNA President Brian Wong:
Spring time is here, so Montavillans are taking to the streets. At April’s Montavilla Neighborhood Association meeting, there was no shortage of opportunities for residents to appreciate the neighborhood at the street level.
To remove pavement for the sake of agriculture, Thatcher’s and Montavilla Neighborhood Association contributed to the community garden project at Vestal Elementary. Vestal celebrated the gardens official grand opening last month. And to make walking the streets a more visually pleasing experience, Kelly Moore and Habitat for Humanity contributed supplies to the Graffiti Abatement Project. Volunteers painted select areas last month despite the weather. Many thanks to the businesses and individuals whose contributions make the neighborhood a better place for all.
In addition to street activities like parades and block parties, the MNA was treated to a presentation on a subject near and dear to many neighborhood hearts: unimproved streets. Two Portland State University graduate students, in collaboration with SouthEast Uplift, shared findings from their study of the issue in the nearby Woodstock neighborhood. Residents either love them or hate them. Those that love them state that unimproved streets calm traffic and add rural character. Those that hate them state they cause access, aesthetic and drainage problems. Both sides agree that it is inequitable that some street maintenance costs are covered by the City, while others have to pay both taxes toward street maintenance and pay for their own street. It is estimated that the cost to improve a street to “City Standards” would be $20 to $100 thousand per affected homeowner. MNA argues that maintenance, despite standards, should be a shared cost. More information at www.roadwaynotimproved.com.
If you’re interested in this issue – and many are – it will be on the agenda for the MNA’s June 14 meeting, 7:30pm, 232 SE 80th Avenue, Montavilla United Methodist Church. Your ideas and your insights are, of course, cordially invited.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in a calmer, less contentious way to experience the streets, the Mt. Tabor Art Walk takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. The walk features 40 artists displaying at 24 sites, and it’s free. For more information, please visitwww.mttaborartwalk.com.
Finally, to take a break from the streets and enjoy the park instead, plans are underway for Montavilla Kids Festival on August 28th. Carnival and game booths open at 5pm. At dusk, a movie will play. All this will take place at Montavilla Park at 82nd and Glisan. Contact Brian, wong.brian[at] yahoo.com, 971-221-4718.
MNA would like to thank the many volunteers and supporters that help make our association accomplish the many varied needs and activities we undertake. Here are three things you can do to help:
1. Make a donation.
2. Volunteer for an MNA sponsored event.
3. Serve on a committee or board.
Outreach Committee, which oversees the website, newsletter, social media accounts, creates outreach literature, is recruiting three committee persons to help provide enhanced content and methods to outreach to our diverse community. Volunteers are asked for a three month commitment, 6 to 10 hours a month. We are looking for creative, flexible people to help support our grass root efforts and raise awareness. Brian, wong.brian57 [at]yahoo.com, 971-221-4718.
Land Use and Transportation Committee, monitors zone changes, land and design reviews, city code amendments, is recruiting two committee persons. Montavilla Neighborhood Association is ready to take a real hard and earnest look at its unimproved streets. This issue is complicated, expensive, and is layered in inequity. Committee members are asked for a three month commitment, 8 hours a month. We are looking for energetic, fluid persons that can help navigate the multiple government bureaus for answers and help organize workshops. Lew, lewscholl[at]msn.com.
Liz Sullivan, Sustainability Chair, is looking for volunteers to help collaborate on creating sustainable projects for the benefit of the neighborhood. Looking forward to the nice weather and creating something sustainable for all to share in. Contact Montavilla.Sustainability [at]gmail.com.
All above committee’s meet on the 4th Monday of every month, 232 SE 80th Avenue, Montavilla United Methodist Church, 7pm-8pm.
Bicycles for Humanity Event
PORTLAND TO SHOWER SOUTH AFRICA WITH OUR BEST OFFERINGS:
DONATED BIKES AND A LOT OF HEART.
When Jenny Leonard was studying abroad in South Africa in 2008, she met Mercy, a 16 year old high school girl who walked for three hours one way to get to school each morning. Jenny pledged that she would send hundreds of bicycles to South Africa, no matter how much work it took, to alleviate the transportation burden for impoverished school children.
After a year of fund raising, Jenny is now having a city-wide bike collection day in Portland on April 24 at the old Washington-Monroe High School on SE 14th and SE Alder from 10am-4pm. Jenny will be collecting used (but in good condition) mountain bikes, cruisers, parts, tools, bike accessories, and monetary donations. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Various prizes and treats await good-hearted donors along with the profound feeling of donating sustainable transportation to school children. For more information please email jennymleonard@gmail.com or visit www.bicycles-for-humanity.org/Portland.
