Hello Gardeners and Plant Lovers!

It's that time of year again for the Community Transition Center Greenhouse Hanging Basket, Tomato, and Summer Plant Sale! The sale runs from May 4th-8th from 8:30am-3:00pm at 6801 SE 60th, just south of Duke St. in Greenhouse #1. We've got LOADS of gorgeous, organically-cared for plants for sale including:

-Hanging flower baskets $15

-Tomatoes, 1 gallon, 17 assorted varieties (!) $2

-Ornamental grasses, spider plant, tradescantia, 4” pot $1.50

-Zucchini, cucumbers (3 varieties), squashes, 4” pot $.50

-Mesclun salad mix, broccoli, cress, collards, 6-pack tray $2

-Cantaloupe, watermelon, 4” pot $.50

-Italian flat leaf parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, 4” pot $1.50

CONTACT: Melissa P. Krzeminski, Development and Communications Coordinator 503.238.5203 x118 [email protected]

A Benefit Concert for Quest Center for Integrative Health: Performances by Nancy King, Stephanie Schneiderman and Alfredo Muro

WonderQuest, Quest Center’s 20th Anniversary Gala, takes place Friday, May 15th. This unique music benefit will be held at McMenamin’s Bagdad Theater and will be a celebration of our two decades of service to all, including those who are low income and without insurance. Guests can expect an evening of fabulous music, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails. Funds raised from WonderQuest 2009 will go to the Lusijah Marx Mental Wellness Fund which will provide healthcare services for Quest Center’s low income clients.

DINE OUT FOR CONCORDIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CONCERTS IN FERNHILL PARK

WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2009 2904 NE ALBERTA 4:00 – 10:00 pm 503-282-9864

OWNER KELLIE COURTNEY IS DONATING 15% OF THE ENTIRE EVENING’S SALES TO THE CONCERT SERIES FOR THIS OCCASION NO RESERVATIONS WILL BE TAKEN

Bring your friends, neighbors, family out to enjoy Sweet Potato Pie Fried Green Tomatoes Cinnamon Brandied Pork Chops Red Beans & Rice …..and more

SEE YOU AT BERNIE’S AND IN FERNHILL PARK THIS SUMMER

FOR MORE WAYS TO DONATE OR BE INVOLVED CONTACT [email protected] [email protected]

Bouquet of Hope Benefit Comes Into Full Bloom May 9th Festive Fête De La Fleur Floral Design Competition + Aaron Meyer and Oregon Ballet Theater

The Bouquet of Hope benefit for the Rose Haven Women’s Center is blooming with opportunities to celebrate women on Mother’s Day Weekend. In addition to performances by Internationally-acclaimed violinist Aaron Meyer and the exceptional School of Oregon Ballet Theater, the May 9th event will also feature the dazzling talents of Portland’s finest floral designers in the Fête De La Fleur Competition.

Meet the Columbia Slough Watershed Council and Metro Naturalist James Davis for brunch and a birding tour of Whitaker Ponds on Friday, May 8th. This free lunchtime trip, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, includes a guided walk around the pond and a tasty lunch.  You’ll meet Slough neighbors and learn about watershed activities & events sponsored by the Council. Bring your binoculars! Advanced registration is required at www.columbiaslough.org – only 3 spaces left!

Whitaker Ponds Nature Park

7040 NE 47th Ave

Portland, OR 97218

Interested in learning more about the birds in your neighborhood?  Join expert birder Dave Helzer for an early-morning hike around Whitaker Ponds Nature Park in NE Portland.  Work on your birdsong ID skills, and see local favorites such as rufus hummingbirds, great horned owls, osprey, and wood ducks.  Meet this Friday at 7 am, and plan on birding for one to two hours.  Advanced registration for this free trip is required at www.columbiaslough.org – only 6 spots still available!

Whitaker Ponds Nature Park

7040 NE 47th Ave

Portland, OR 97018

Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation Presents a healthcare symposium, Leading Oregon to a Brighter Healthcare Future: Transforming the Lives of Oregonians.

You are invited to participate in a discussion on the changes taking place at the state and national level in healthcare provision and policy and how these changes affect you, your family and your business. Please join us for a delicious breakfast and bring your questions for the following speakers:

Moderator: Jack Friedman, CEO, Providence Health Plans

Panelists:

David Ford, CEO, CareOregon

State Representative Mitch Greenlick

Jeanene Smith, MD, MPH, Administrator, Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research

Please join the Portland Area Global AIDS Coalition for a free social gathering in honor of World AIDS Orphans Day on May 6 from 6 to 8 pm at Buffalo Gap (6835 SW Macadam Ave, Portland 97219).

All are welcome including children; bring your friends, family and appetite! This is the PAGAC's first networking and social gathering. This gathering is being organized in response to requests from people active in organizations addressing HIV/AIDS and other international development issues for opportunities to meet and exchange ideas. There will be no formal program, just meeting and sharing. We hope you will join us!

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon has decided to transform our traditional auction to a more cost effective online version! All proceeds of the online auction benefit the Oregon Foundation for Reproductive Health! prochoiceoregon.cmarket.com

The Oregon Foundation for Reproductive Health (OFRH) is focused on increasing access to comprehensive, affordable reproductive care services for women, including contraception and pre-natal care.

OFRH has focused on women due to their unique health care challenges as well as their central role within the family when it comes to health care. Women not only face geographic challenges but also financial barriers to access and are disproportionately affected by lack of health care insurance.

Home Ownership Preservation Event

Saturday, May 2, 2009; 10am-7pm

Memorial Coliseum--300 Wining Way Portland OR  map

Walk-ins welcome!

To learn more about the event and what documents to bring visit www.dfcs.oregon.gov/HOPE.html

Get answers from government agencies, non-profit counselors, and lenders about:

- Refinancing your loan

- Modifying your loan

- New government housing programs

- Avoiding foreclosure scams

- Check out the event schedule: Workshops

Not able to attend the Home Ownership Preservation Event on May 2nd?

To locate other Foreclosure Prevention Resources in Oregon, call

1-800-SAFENET for referrals to HUD Certified Counselors across Oregon.

Announcing PolitiCorps Summer 2009

Nominate a Fellow online now at www.politicorps.org.

Qualifying nominees will be asked to apply.

PolitiCorps Summer is a 10-week boot camp consisting of hands-on campaign skills training, innovative public policy intensives, and real-world applications of leadership skills and campaign savvy. PolitiCorps strives to create the next generation of progressive leaders. The summer bootcamp is based in Portland, Oregon.

Requests for Proposals (RFP) NORTHWEST OREGON VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION

2009 NOVAA Conference November 4, 2009

Conference Theme: In Our Own Backyard  

Proposal Due Date: June 29, 2009.  

The Northwest Oregon Administrators Association, requests your participation in this Conference. The conference is designed for volunteer managers who mobilize volunteers to support causes- health care, public parks and libraries, youth activities, the environment, the aging and many more. The conference will be held in Portland.    

Learn to build your own backyard earthen oven!

From foundation to finish, this two day workshop at TLC Farm led by Joshua Klyber and Bonsai Matt will give participants a hands-on education in all they need to know to build their own old-world baking ovens.

Using earthen materials - sand, clay and straw - workshop participants will build a cob oven that is fantastic for baking and pizza! The workshop runs from 10-4 on Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3. $75 for both days. Please pre-register by calling 503-245-3847 or email brenna@tryonfarmorg.

Social Justice & Culturally Specific Models of Service Delivery (6 CEs)   Friday, May 15th, 2009  9:00 AM  - 4:30 PM Registration & Continental Breakfast at 8:30AM

WHERE

St. Vincent Medical Center

9155 SW Barnes Rd.

Cancer Center, Rooms 20-23

Portland,  OR Directions:http://www.providence.org/Oregon/facilities/hospitals/providence_st_vincent   

The Directors of Volunteer Programs Association (DVPA) would like to invite you to our upcoming workshop, Managing and Marketing Your Volunteer Program in a New Economy, on Thursday, June 4th from 12:30pm to 5:00pm.

Concordia's Neighborhood Newspaper needs a Managing Editor.

The Concordia News is a monthly newspaper owned and operated by the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) and has a circulation of 6,000.

Community Outreach of Our United Villages provides resources and opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another. Working from the roots, we bring people together to share their ideas to inspire practices that strengthen community.

The videographer will work in coordination with Our United Villages’ Communications Assistant and the Community Outreach Staff to film and edit a short documentary about a Community Outreach Hands-on Workshop.

Growing Gardens will provide thousands of plant starts free of charge to low-income gardeners enrolled in our programs this May. This is made possible by donations of seeds, potting soil, growers and event volunteers.

What we still need: 4" pots/containers for starts

If you have tons of 4" square plastic containers lying around your home or workplace, we could use them! Please let me know if you are willing to drop them by our office in NE.

Call Emily at 503-284-8420 or email [email protected] for directions.

Thanks so much, -Emily Gowen Growing Gardens Home Garden Coordinator

P.S. We do not need any pots of other sizes, ceramic pots, etc. Thank you!

Safer Routes to School is looking for volunteers to host a pedestrian safety booth at this year's Safe Kids at the Zoo. At this event, kids will receive a "safety passport" which is stamped by visiting the different safety booths. If a child fills out their entire passport then they may claim a prize. At our safety booth, we will have a four way intersection set up. Students will walk up to the intersection, where a volunteer will stop them and ask "why do you look right and left, and all around, every times you stop at the edge of the street", once a student provides the correct answer their passport will be stamped. This is a chance to engage children about crossing streets safely.