By Nancy Zimmermann Chung

Did you know that the Portland Firefighter’s Association is organizing a fundraiser for neighbors affected by the August 8 five-alarm fire on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard? The fire reduced to rubble a 46-unit apartment building that was under construction, rendering uninhabitable some of the adjacent residential buildings in the process. Several of the tenants displaced by the fire do not have the financial means to rent a second apartment; some have found themselves with nowhere to sleep but the couches of friends.

The Portland Firefighter’s Association has generously offered to use its resources and volunteer power to raise funds for those affected by the fire. Their goal is to provide 6 months of transitional housing to each person who was displaced. The Association will accept donations and oversee their distribution directly to housing providers.

Oregon Senator Chip Shields has already made a generous personal donation to the fund, and you can, too. All donations go directly to helping your neighbors right here in Eliot, and they are fully tax deductible.

In additional to taking cash donations, on September 18th the Firefighter’s Association held a “Five Alarm Rib Fundraiser” to benefit those displaced by the fire.

For more information please check with the Portland Firefighter’s Association at http://iaff43.org.

By Jackie Sandquist

I froze as I looked at the building ablaze across the street. The crackling noise woke us up and the strange orange glow coming from the front of the house got us out of bed. Questions blazed through my head: Is that building really on fire? How can this be? What do we do? I felt its raging heat from a half block away as I frantically shut the windows that faced the five-story wall of flames. Right out there on NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, one of the biggest of the four new apartment complexes was burning to the ground at four fifteen on a Thursday morning.

The commanding steel girders were my first clue to the enormity of the new Monroe Street Apartments under construction. Watching the muscular frame reach higher and higher reminded me of how our neighborhood was changing. The EkoHaus Apartments were the first of the new buildings on our stretch of MLK between Morris and Fremont Streets. License plates from Maine, Florida and Utah appeared on our street. Predictably, the cars from these new style eco-apartments crowded the once open streets. The days of easy parking were over. And as much as I didn’t want to like these people taking all the street parking in our cozy community, I eventually came to enjoy getting to know the newcomers. I shared the story of how Bill Wainwright, the land owner of the empty lot on Morris Street, let us put in a community garden in exchange for maintaining the property. I listened to their stories of what drew them to our city. The newcomers and I talked about our tree lined streets, eco-roofs, and solar panels in this rainy and quirky city.

The Monroe Apartments blocked my view of the very features that drew people to our city. I loved to watch the eco-roof of the Friends of Tree’s office change over the seasons. I noticed it along the treeline when I first moved into the neighborhood eight years ago. Eco-roofs were still novel then and I loved watching sparrows and finches pick at the bugs on the grassy roof. The Friends of Trees motto is Growing Healthy Communities. Their roof felt so natural, so right, such a part of a healthy and growing community. This new apartment complex blocked my view of the eco-roof, my symbol of rightness in this neighborhood.

Ambivalent as I was about the five story, not-enough-parking-places-for-the-number-of-units- Monroe Apartment complex, waking up and seeing it engulfed in orange, angry flames stunned me. Fire, the universal symbol of destruction, anger and passion, threw me into action. By 4:20 a.m. a wall of fire had consumed the east section of the building and flames burst out of every window toward the roof. The building was burning to death. We sprung into crisis mode. We called 911, heard a policeman yell “Prepare to evacuate!”, and wrestled our two terrified cats into carrier cases. Were we ready? I grabbed the garden hose and spent the next two hours frantically spraying down the stairs, porch, deck, trees, roof, and gutters as the burning embers from the imploded building rained down on us, leaving scorched indentations on the wood. It smelled of firecrackers and wet earth. Within a few hours over the twisted, blackened rubble, I could once again see the Friends of Trees eco-roof.

The morning of August 8 was horrifying, but tragedy frequently unites us. Even though I didn’t love the building, I was sickened by its demise and the destruction of the two houses beside it. I have mixed emotions about the temporary loss of the Monroe Apartments. Our neighborhood is changing. Houses will be repaired and most likely the Monroe Apartments will be rebuilt with the same plan. This fire forces us to come to terms with change, as old views are blocked and then reopened in a brutal and unexpected way. It forces us to look at where we put our energy when we don’t like something. And maybe this fire is also asking us what we can do to Grow A Healthy Community.

Dreamers Marketplace started out with a big dream of having an open outdoor market in the Summer, an indoor market in the Winter and a pod of Food Carts.  Within a year or so most of the vision had vanished. 3 years later it fully came to an end when the final food cart – Pepper Box – packed up.

Sadly, last week, the Pepper Box food cart was hitched up and towed away.  Their fabulous southwest flavor on the corner of Graham and MLK was a neighborhood favorite. Here is a note posted on Facebook from the owner:

Dear Friends of Pepper Box –
It is with a heavy heart we have to tell you that Pepper Box will be closing at its current location. We have been given notice to vacate our spot by the end of the month to make way for a new development. Our last day of business will be Saturday October 26th. We will be looking for a new location for the business. If you have ideas for food cart spaces or small café/restaurants please let us know. It may be a little while before we reopen but hope you visit us when we do. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping make the last 3 years a success.

Thank you,
Jim and Margaret Wilson
Pepper Box

It’s not clear what development is coming. Mike Warwick, Eliot Land Use and Transportation Committee chair didn’t seem to know either.

The 4th Dimension Sober Club is having a fundraiser selling Christmas trees near their club in Lower Albina.  Previously, we have written a post about them here.

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center is offering FREE flu shots to people age six months and older while supplies last.

The flu season is here and the number of patients testing positive for influenza is on the rise. Many of the cases have been quite serious and even life threatening. Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in partnership with Immunize Oregon and the Multnomah County Immunization Program want to remind the public that flu season lasts for months, not weeks. There is still time to get vaccinated in order to help protect yourself and your loved ones.

People age 12 and older may also receive a free tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccination. Pertussis commonly referred to as whooping cough, is very contagious. County health departments declared pertussis outbreaks in Oregon and Washington in 2012. Eighty three percent of people who die from pertussis in the U.S. are less than three months old and often catch it from adult family members.

WHAT
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Free Flu Shot Clinic. 

WHEN:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 20
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center – Lorenzen Conference Center
2801 N. Gantenbein
Portland, OR 97227

By Lindsey Berman

Many of us have ignored the sound of a trickling stream coming from our toilet, or maybe we’ve chosen to overlook those small, slow drips from a bathroom faucet or kitchen sink. After all, how much water do they really waste?

According to the EPA, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak every year in homes across the U.S. That’s enough water to sustain the population of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami combined – each year. It’s also estimated that leaks in almost 10 percent of American homes drip away nearly 90 gallons of water a day. In the greater Portland metro area, that can mean about $100 in water charges literally going down the drain each year.

Many of these leaks occur in old fixtures, such as leaky toilets, faucets and showerheads. Fix these drips and you’ll be amazed at how much water and money you can save.

Plus, in many cases household leaks can be easily fixed by a do-it-yourself plumber and replacement parts don’t require a major investment. For example, faucet leaks are often caused by faulty washers that don’t allow your faucet to shut off properly. Replacing a faulty washer takes less than five minutes, costs less than $1 and is an easy way to recoup water and money savings.

Toilet leaks, on the other hand, are often caused by old, faulty toilet flappers that have decayed or have developed mineral build-up over time. Replacing a toilet flapper is relatively easy and costs less than $5. In either case, just remember to bring your old one with you to the hardware store so that you can get a replacement part with the proper fit.

For more tips to help you discover and repair leaks, visit the Consortium at www.conserveh2o.org.

By Maegan Vidal – 

The American Heart Association reports that one in every 30,000 to 50,000 high school aged athletes die annually in the U.S. from sudden cardiac arrest.

The Children’s Heart Program at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in partnership with The David Heller Foundation, with generous support from adidas and Health Net of Oregon, present the eighth annual Teen Athlete Cardiac Screening Saturday, October 4, 2014. This year, the Teen Athlete Cardiac Screening is expanding its reach and how it gives back to the community.

Randall Children’s Hospital and The David Heller Foundation will be donating tool kits to schools, community organizations, and doctors throughout rural Oregon so they may host their own teen athlete cardiac screenings close to home. The David Heller Foundation is also donating defibrillators to high school sports teams in hopes of saving lives during cardiac events. Scholarships for the cardiac screening at Adidas Village are also available by calling 503-335-3500.

The Teen Athlete Cardiac Screening will provide 500 students athletes ages 13-19 a full cardiac screening at $10 per student on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at the Adidas Village from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Preregistration is required at legacyhealth.org/TACS.

The Teen Athlete Cardiac Screening provides heart health and risk assessments that help identify whether a teen has a potential heart problem. 10 percent of teen athletes screened at the 2013 event were not cleared for physical activity. The primary care providers of these athletes were notified for further examination and diagnosis. The average age of athletes at last year’s event was 14 years old; 66 percent of athletes were male and 34 percent were female.

Cardiac health exams will be performed by a team of physicians and healthcare providers, nurses, and technicians. The exams include height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure measurements; an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is reviewed during the event by a pediatric cardiologist; a detailed health history; and a cardiac exam. Students will receive their assessment results at the screening which are reviewed with them by a pediatric physician. In the case of abnormal results, a student’s existing primary care provider will be notified by Randall Children’s Hospital.

The value of the cardiac screening provided by Randall Children’s Hospital is nearly $300 per screening. The screening does not take the place of the medical examination required for all student athletes participating in a school sport.

Over the next few days you may notice some changes to eliotneighborhood.org as we kick the tires on a new “Look and Feel” of the site. Don’t worry, the great content you have come to love will still be here, and for the most part will be in the same place.  Can’t find something? Have a thought on the design?  Feel free to comment!

A wind storm raged through Portland on Thursday causing damage throughout the city and in our neighborhood.  Here are a few pictures of the damage taken Friday morning.

Do you have some pictures of the damage caused by the storm? If so send them to info@eliotneighborhood.org and we’ll add them to the gallery!

Your Images:

Sadly, Eliot lost a little bit of history March 14th when two adjacent Victorian houses on Tillamook St. suffered devastating fire damage. The two single-story homes at 16 and 20 NE Tillamook near Williams Ave., were both built in 1890 according to Portland Maps.

Fortunately, there were no reports of anyone hurt during the fire.

16 NE Tillamook was originally built and owned by Robert E Menefee, a prominent early builder in Eliot.  He resided there with his father in the early 1890’s.  20 NE Tillamook was first owned by Charles F Jones who was a captain for the O & C Ferry.  He only owned the house for about a year.

Historical information from the book The History of Albina by Roy E Roos.

After what seemed like an endless, hot summer, we’re all breathing a sigh of relief as temperatures are finally dropping—winter is just around the corner! But before the cold sets in for good, fall is the perfect time to take some easy steps to make your home cozier, healthier and safe for this winter and beyond.

Watch your windows. Did you know your windows can help keep your home warm in the winter? Take advantage of the winter sun’s heat by opening south-facing curtains, drapes and blinds during the day, and then closing window coverings at night to keep the heat in. If you don’t have blinds or shades, consider installing them to reduce heat loss (they’ll also help keep your house cool next summer).

Lower the dial and get cozy. Keep your home 10 to 15 degrees cooler when you are not at home, and lower the temperature slightly at night to save energy. Nothing’s cozier than bundling up with blankets on a winter night!

Breathe easy. Many homes trap allergens and pollutants, which affect indoor air quality and can seriously impact the whole family. Checking for radon and installing a carbon monoxide detector are two simple steps that will help everyone breathe more easily.

Get prepared. Back to school is a great time to take stock of emergency preparedness plans and supplies. It’s also a good time to ensure your home is prepared for what may come. Seismic “hardening” of your home helps keep your home secured during severe storms, high winds and earthquakes. It’s also a necessary first step if you’re looking to get earthquake insurance.

For more information about how to improve the comfort, health and safety of your home, visit Enhabit.org/neighborhood and take a quick online quiz, or if you’re ready, schedule a free in-home visit with an Enhabit-certified contractor. Our qualified contractors and easy financing are available for a variety of home upgrades including energy efficiency improvements, radon mitigation, seismic retrofits and solar energy installations.

Enhabit (formerly Clean Energy Works) is the next step for homeowners who want to make their homes work and feel better. From the initial review of your home, to choosing a trusted contractor or financing to choosing the right efficiency and health and safety upgrades, Enhabit is committed to high-performance home renewal that makes sense.

By Stephanie Swanson, Enhabit

Don’t know who to call to complain about graffiti or abandoned cars or other urban nuisances?  Well, there is a “app” for that.  The app is provided through PBOT so the reports are limited to abandoned autos, debris in the road, graffiti, illegal parking, park maintenance needs, plugged street drains, potholes, sidewalk complaints and failed or failing streetlights.

You are asked but not required to provide your name and contact information with each report in a “contact” screen, although it isn’t obvious to me where that screen is so I use the “comment” section.  If people don’t provide valid contact information the value of the app will be significantly reduced since it will allow unstable people to harass their neighbors, so I strongly recommend you provide contact info.  As an example, there is an individual who has filed over 1,000 sidewalk complaints in Irvington and I understand someone similar in Northwest.  The Irvington person is known, but BPOT says they have to take the complaints seriously, so they have an inspector following up on each one.  That is really a waste of time since many of the complaints, even if they are legitimate, are for minor cracks and bumps – mostly caused by tree roots, which if disturbed to fix the sidewalk often harm the tree.

I also have to say, my experience filing complaints the “old” way rarely led to any action, so I don’t know that this will be an improvement, but it saves me hunting for that phone number or writing a letter, plus the instant gratification for filing a complaint feels great!

There’s a lot going on in Eliot.  From events this past summer sponsored by Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and Portland Parks and Recs to National Night Out, summer was definitely not boring.  Fall gives us a chance to regroup as we start a new school year and we hope to bring to your attention some awareness about new businesses in Eliot, future changes to our neighborhoods and business districts, and unfortunately point out how to avoid the brazen bike thieves that seem to be so very busy lately.

The fall issue of Eliot News would not have been possible without the advertisers and authors who submitted artwork and content.  We definitely appreciate all the hard work involved in putting together an article and graphic design.  That being said, we are always looking for more authors.  Do you have an issue you would like to see presented to the neighborhood?  An interesting fact or historical home you’d like us to pay attention to or perhaps a person who has inspired you? Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in writing an article or short piece to be included in an upcoming issue. It’s not that hard.  I don’t consider myself a writer and I’ve written more than my fair share of articles lately.  It is nice to see your name in print but I don’t plan on having the majority of articles authored by me for future issues.  Your name can be on the by line and there are a lot more neighbors that have been in the neighborhood longer than I have that know the history and interesting stories that have not been shared with all the  residents of Eliot, many of them new to the neighborhood.  Take a chance… email me with a story idea and let’s make the Eliot News a real community newsletter that comes from the whole community.

Additionally, I would like to see some letters to the editor.  If there is something that has gotten you upset or maybe even something or someone that you are really proud of, just send a letter to our email address.

We are always looking at ways to improve communication with the residents of Eliot so this is your chance to let us know how you think we are doing and what you’d like to see in the future issues, on our website,  and Facebook page.  And if you have an event you want listed on our calendar page be sure to let us know that too.

Email stories, letters, and photos to news@eliotneighborhood.org.

According to the Greater Portland Pulse, there were over 190,000 people aged 65 and older living in the Portland metro area as of the 2010 census. By 2030, that number is expected to grow to almost 395,000.

That’s a lot of people. So many in fact that even if they all wanted to move into retirement facilities, there is no way they could do so. There simply aren’t enough facilities in existence or being built to accommodate that many people. Not to mention that a huge percentage of this population—current estimates suggest up to 75%—don’t have enough retirement savings to be able to afford the $3000+ per month it would cost. Fortunately, it’s not where most of us want to end up.

According to a recent survey by AARP, 89% of older adults want to age in their own homes and neighborhoods. This is particularly true of the Boomers who visited their grandparents in “old age homes.”  It’s not the vision of aging they have for themselves.

There is an alternative to retirement facilities.  Over the past three years,  Villages NW has worked tirelessly to organize neighborhood residents into planning groups and now has SIX grassroots Villages in development across the Portland metro-area—three in Multnomah County, two in Washington County and one in Clackamas County—and they’re not done yet!

The first Portland-metro Village launch: Eastside PDX Village is now accepting members, seeking volunteers, and vetting vendors. A “village” is a group of like-minded people in a geographic area who come together to figure out and develop the resources they will need to age comfortably in their own homes. Like Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), villages embrace the strategy of bringing services to people rather than moving people to services. The value of Village, for their members and for society are many. Villages are a solution that can work for the middle class and lower middle class, as well as for people with significant means. By making it possible for seniors to get the help they need to age-in-place for as little as $10-15 per week, villages help conserve their limited financial resources and help prevent–or at least slow—them from sliding downward into poverty.

Unlike most approaches to aging, Villages are not age-segregated.  Village members continue to live in their own neighborhoods surrounded by and interacting with people of all ages. Additionally, the Village draws its volunteers not just from its members, but from the broader community, which further nurtures intergenerational interaction and relationship.

It will take multiple grassroots Villages to serve the growing senior population of the Portland metro-area alone, and the average development time for a Village is 3-5 years. Every single day nationwide another 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the age of 65. There’s literally no time to waste.

Currently, North Star Village which will serve North Portland, Sauvie Island,  and bordering neighborhoods in the NW and inner NE is in development.  The North Star Village planning group meets at the Charles Jordan Center and is in early development. To learn more or get involved, please contact Patt at NorthStarVillage@comcast.net. Follow them on Facebook at North Star Village.

If you or a loved one are a resident of any of these neighborhoods, and would like to learn more come to a Villages at Home Talk Saturday  Jan. 23. Sign up on their website. North Star Village offers many volunteer opportunities for making a difference.  The amount of time you give is up to you. To find your right place in North Star Village, and for the best fit with your skills and interests or for information about volunteer openings, contact Villages at: http://www.northstarvillagepdx.org/volunteer

To learn more, please call 503-515-1948, visit http://villagesnw.org, or email info@villagenw.org.

Portland’s dark dreary nights will soon glow brightly with a dynamic new festival. The Willamette Light Brigade, stewards of the Morrison Bridge’s nightly  color lighting displays,  is presenting Portland’s First Annual  “Portland Winter Light Festival” on February 3rd-6th sponsored by Portland General Electric and powered by PGE renewable energy.

The event’s purpose is to bring all the neighborhoods of Portland together during a time of year  when the city is quiet and activities are typically reserved for the indoors. The festival celebrates the spirit of winter and the warmth of the Portland community. Bundle up and come celebrate!

Inspired by the light events around the world in other major cities, this inaugural festival is designed to create remarkable opportunities for Portland’s world class artists, makers,  performers and technology innovators. “The Portland Winter Light Festival” will showcase unique light-based art and engage Portland’s diverse communities.

Centered around host, OMSI, on the east bank of the Willamette River, the festival will foster collaborations, partnerships and participation throughout the community.

Similar events planned by world class lighting artists are:  lighted bike rides, Pedestrian lantern walks, light puppet shows, dance and music performances, building facades aglow with animated projections, and light displays in local galleries and store fronts.

Visit “Portland Winter Light Festival” for additional information and details on the event. If you have interest in getting involved as a sponsor, volunteer or to donate, visit  the Contacts page.

Join strangers and neighbors alike to watch the lights dance through the winter air from the beautiful architecture of Portland’s bridges and the water of the Willamette River, as performances fill the night with excitement and whimsy.

It will be a festival unlike any Portland has seen before, and it is free!

The Portland Winter Light Festival (PWLF) is a an event of the Willamette Light Brigade, a non-profit organization.

By Errol Beard

Are you concerned about the recent reports of air toxins in and around Eliot Neighborhood? If so there is an open house and community meeting today, February 18th, hosted by The Multnomah County Health Department and Portland Public Schools.  The event starts at 5 pm and will be held at Hariett Tubman Middle School.

Visit safety stations, get information, and view maps at the open house from  5 pm – 6:30.  From 6:30 pm – 9 there will be a community meeting and question/answer session.

Here are a few recent news articles about the issue:

• What we know about Portland Toxic Air Emissions
• Second Portland Glass-Maker Suspends Use Of Cadmium
• DEQ releases map of cadmium detected in Portland’s air

Do you have questions about arsenic, cadmium and chromium in and around the neighborhood? The Multnomah County Health Department, Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have produced a Q & A to help answer your questions.

Air Toxics Questions and Answers
Air Toxics Questions and Answers (PDF)

The Albina Neighborhood Tree Team, started in 2014, has just received the 2016 Bill Naito Community Trees Award from the Portland Urban Forestry Commission.  The commission “recognizes groups and individuals for their stewardship, advocacy and commitment to trees in Portland.” ANTT has received this award for their “exemplary actions and achievements as a group” working in this endeavor.

The fledgling group’s activities have included:

1. inventorying all the street trees in Eliot and Boise
2. holding neighborhood street pruning events (proper pruning leads to healthier trees and a better canopy for all)
3. tree plantings in public spaces (e.g. the Oregon Department of Transportation property along the west side of Mississippi Ave. south of Fremont St.)
4. a street tree remove and replace ReLeaf Event, in association with Urban Forestry and Friends of Trees for our low income neighbors who have dying or dead street trees.

The group is presently pursuing funding to continue and expand this program in an effort to improve the chronically poor tree canopy in Albina which includes Eliot, Boise and Humboldt Neighborhoods.

New members are always welcome and the team can be reached at jerefit@gmail.com.

By Matt Morrissey

Are you fond of cleaner streets and sidewalks? Are you irked by rampant litter? Come help us to beautify our neighborhood!

On the same day as the Eliot Neighborhood Annual Clean-Up, we will hold our second Eliot Litter Pick Up volunteer event. In March, more than 60 volunteers of all ages, from our neighborhood and around Portland showed up on a rainy, windy day to collect 410 pounds of litter and transport them to the city dump.

Please join us 11 AM – 2 PM on Saturday, May 22nd! We will provide bags and supplies as well as refreshments to keep ourselves motivated.

To become a member of the Beautification Committee contact Angela Kremer at 503-284-9136 or angelahkremer@gmail.com

By Kara Gostnell

From its early beginnings as a community mental health clinic in the 1980s, neighbors have relied on Garlington Center as a place to get help for loved ones experiencing mental health and addictions challenges.

“The heart of the Garlington Center is respecting diversity,” said Kalindi Kapadia, Clinical Director of Garlington Center.

Kapadia, who joined the clinic last fall, witnessed early in her start how staff work together, providing hope and healing to hundreds of men, women & children.

“The experiences of the staff are very nuanced and the skill level that you get with that kind of diversity is quite unparalleled,” said Kapadia.

Addictions counselor David Eubanks grew up in the neighborhood. He’s practiced as an addictions and mental health counselor in Portland for almost 25 years. “The people here, that’s what keeps me,” said Eubanks.

Eubanks brings a sensitivity to the stigma attached to mental illness and addictions, especially within communities of color. He says building trust is a key component to his approach.

“When mental health is in the way and drug and alcohol is in the way, sometimes the only thing to hold on to is the relationship before you can then address those other issues,” said Eubanks.

Cascadia’s Garlington Center is located at 3034 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. For more information about services the center provides, neighbors are invited to call Kalindi at: 503-889-2522. Read more about Garlington Center’s connections in the neighborhood and plans for renovation of the clinic, by visiting cascadiabhc.org.

By Amy Lewin