NEIGHBORHOODS NEWS

Portland and Oregon community news and blogs

KGW had the story - which hopefully will turn out to be a non-story - "University proposes name change to Old Town landmark sign."

This sign is not a new issue, but was sort of ignored when the University of Oregon was 'lured' into rehabilitating the underlying structures and moving their downtown Portland Center to the block containing the White Stag.

After the Ankeny Burnside Development Framework project failed - having UO to come into the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood to fill a great need - was not about to short circuited by a sign.

UO did a great job with the building and contrary to the implication in the KGW article - much of this has been done: "The university is opening offices, classrooms and a Ducks shop inside the building."

According to KGW - the Made in Oregon headquarters [part of the Naito family] was the prior tenant - that tenancy was long ago.

The sign change seems rather small: "Made in Oregon" Old Town sign to say "University of Oregon." And it certainly reflects reality.

[See this URL for additional info about the sign and a good photo too].

But - as soon as the word 'landmark' appears - beware. That is a fighting word for those who defend Old Town to remain undeveloped.

Let us hope that Rudolph will continue to point to Old Town.

But, wouldn't it be nice that Rudolph was a pointer to an area other than a 'dumping ground' or the "lowliest place in the state of Oregon."

© 2008 Larry Norton

Searching the Google news waves for notes about our neighborhood let me to a travel piece from the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf about "slow food and ecological hotels." Our little dining gem Fife made the cut of this piece. You can read the whole thing translated, but below is the part about Fife:

- A special mention for Fife restaurant in the Beaumont-Wilshire district. There is only prepared food from small farmers within a radius of 100 miles. That means fresh daily landings, following which the menu is determined. Or: the menu changes every day! Chef Marco Shaw is one of the most passionate cooks of its kind.

Every couple of months the Beaumont Wilshire Neighborhood Association hosts a community meeting to keep us informed on items of interest in the surrounding neighborhood. The next meeting is December 8 at Beaumont Middle School in Room 204. The school is located at the corner of NE 42nd and Fremont and begins around 7:30pm.

The most recent BWNA newsletter reports this meeting's agenda includes a school update by Beaumont principal Sherie Knutsen, a Basic Rights Oregon presentation on laws banning sexual orientation/gender identity discrimination and the seeking of future BWNA activities/projects ideas. Holiday refreshments will be available prior to and during the meeting.

Dear Portland Public Schools board:

On October 2, 2008 the Portland City Council broke a covenant with the PPS board. On that day the Portland City Council voted against the legal reason the PPS board offered its surplus property, the John Ball School site, to the city of Portland rather than place the property up for sale in the public marketplace to the highest bidder.

the omnipresent drug dealers.

One would assumed that by now I would have grown accustomed to their presence, maybe even feel some sympathy for them walking the streets in the cold and when it rains - yeah right!

Today at 11:30 a.m. - within three blocks of my doorway - 4 drug dealers on 5th.

Old Town.

It wasn't me that said it. It came from the quote: "Mary gave birth in the lowliest of places," she says. "Where else would she want to come but to the lowliest place in the state of Oregon."

Therefore the billboard at W Burnside and NW 3rd.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

7 p.m. @ Columbia School [Marine Drive and Bridgeton]

AGENDA:

Wilsonville citizens asked to help identify unsung heroes

Nominations being sought for the 2008 Wilsonville First Citizen Award. The Rotary Club of Wilsonville is asking for the community's help in finding the person who will become the next First Citizen of Wilsonville. Nominations for the award are now being accepted.

Dear Mayor Potter and Mayor Elect-Sam Adams:

The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association is first and foremost a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt, Taxpayer Funded, Non-Profit Public Benefit With Members Corporation.

Consider Street Roots.

Saturday, December 13th

Join us at Big Four Corners Natural Area along the main stem of the Columbia Slough (see directions below). This is Portland's 4th biggest Natural Area and provides 165 acres of wetland, woodland, waterway and rare white oak habitat. We'll be engaging in some good ol' invasive species removal around some of the public hiking trails.

A term that I was unfamiliar with but is so appropriate. Don't we need a regulatory system to be set up immediately to determine among other things what is 'green?'

It can't come as surprise that 'global warming' is spawning many industries. Nor can it come as any surprise that many are taking advantage of the 'green' element to sell its products or services without any connection to the reduction of greenhouse gases.