news in Concordia, Northeast (NE) Portland...

PORTLAND OR – The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division Drinking Water Program (OHA) today denied the Portland Water Bureau’s request for an adjustment to its regulatory schedule to replace the uncovered drinking water reservoirs at Mt. Tabor and Washington parks. The decision by OHA means that Portland’s existing regulatory schedule to end the use of the uncovered reservoirs by December more...

This is the second in a series of articles that will cover the basics of land use in Portland. For tips, resources and a general overview, please see our first story. Three years ago, Neighborhood Notes ran a story announcing plans to build what is now The Albert apartment complex on North Williams Avenue in the Boise neighborhood. That story generated lots of comments—more than 50—for two reasons. more...

Northwest Fair Trade Coalition, Portland’s local economic justice and fair trade coalition, plans to create Portland’s first ever Fair Trade Directory. Local businesses and community organizations who sell fair trade products will be listed in the directory so that people will have a local resource to know where to find and purchase authentic fair trade products. Fair trade products are made under safe more...

Twitter or Facebook? LinkedIn, Instagram, Foursquare, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google+, or even MySpace? The options can be overwhelming (don't click here unless you want your head to spin), especially if you don't even recognize a few of the above names, let alone understand what function they serve. So, which one should you choose? "Fish where the fish are," Ben Lloyd, the president of Amplify more...

Job growth in Portland comes from local, small businesses. As demonstrated in the last installment of Thinking Local, a discussion of “Job Creation Not Relocation,” resident companies are growing considerably while nonresidents are losing jobs—that’s negative job creation. In a 10 year period from 1999 to 2009, existing Portland companies grew by 63.6 percent while nonresidents more...

In his recent book Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, author and columnist Gustavo Arellano argues that until the 1950s and 60s, most (Norte) Americanos didn't even know what a taco was. But, almost everyone knew about the tamale because it was introduced to the world on the stage that was the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Soon after, Arellano writes, "tamale men" in large cities were more...

April may be the cruelest month for grouchy poets, but it shone an awful lot of sunlight on Portland upstarts last month. These scrappy entrepreneurs opened spots in five of the city's "quadrants," including, but not limited to, several retail outlets specializing in gifts, home design, new and used fashions, and one-of-a-kind rediscovered treasures, as well as a nursery, a pizzeria, three cafes, two more...

Neighbors for Clean Air asks that you consider signing its petition, which asks: When sources of toxic pollution apply for a new or renewal air pollution permit, the state should require them to provide a robust, independent and objective audit of emissions and emission control strategies. Based on that audit, the source should be required to propose and implement specific toxics reduction strategies. Please more...

Portland, OR – A contractor for the Portland Water Bureau must take one to twomore days—Tuesday, May 1 and Wednesday, May 2—to work in the intersection of SW Naito Parkway at SW Clay Street. The crews are making a difficult connection to an existing water supply pipeline. Work hours will be from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM to accommodate rush hour traffic. Several traffic lanes will be closed and the more...

Portlanders are a generous people, constantly seeking opportunities to volunteer, help others, and improve their community. Consider the role that Friends of Trees has in keeping Portland green, or the fact that Hands on Greater Portland provides daily volunteer opportunities with 300-plus partner organizations throughout the Portland metro area. According to a recent story in the Portland Tribune, Portland ranks more...