Portland News...

This month’s Armchair Mayor is Tony Fuentes—also our first honoree to go by the title “Chief Executive Papa.” This is in reference to the Milagros Boutique that he runs with his wife Jennifer in the Concordia neighborhood, providing baby supplies for “little miracles and their mamas.” If your child is not feeling all that miraculous that day, there is also a play area and a rocking chair. Tony more...

Although our country is technically “out” of the recession, many Americans have found themselves jobless for long periods of time, requiring food stamps to help meet their dietary needs. Increased attention has fallen upon on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)—formerly known as food stamps—as a record 46 million Americans find themselves using the program. A number this high has political more...

With Portland’s ubiquitous farmers markets, a committed locavore “foodie” movement, and the great luck of being located in the Willamette Valley—home to some of the most fertile soil on the planet—how could the Rose City possibly face any food security issues? But the facts don’t lie. According to the Multnomah Food Action Plan, adopted by the County Board of Commissioners in January 2011, there are more...

What's your most important business asset? It's not your customers, your products or even your website—it's YOU. Taking care of business is taking care of yourself. Here are three ways to nurture yourself and help your small business thrive. Get Your Three Squares We meet with a lot of small business owners—usually over happy hour—and we regularly hear: "This [insert bar food] is the first thing more...

Hi there, neighbors. We deeply appreciate the feedback we received from our 2012 reader survey. Our thanks to everyone who braved the open-ended questions and supplied such thoughtful responses. You're our heroes! We were doing it wrong. Well, not everything. But a lot of things are going to change here at Neighborhood Notes. And we couldn't be more inspired.We're honored to make the changes that matter to you, dear more...

Today the Portland Water Bureau is turning off the Bull Run water supply system and activating the supply system from the Columbia South Shore Well Field. Recent heavy rains and increased stream flows have contributed to a rapid increase in turbidity, or suspended sediments, in the Bull Run system. The Bull Run water supply is not filtered. "We are blessed to have two high quality sources of water available to us," said more...

This year marks a renewed examination of the East Portland-West Portland divide so what better way to start than with Cora Lee Potter, a community leader from Lents. She has chaired the Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (LTCURAC) and continues to advocate for the neighborhood she loves while working as a planner in regional community transportation. However, it is her other titles on LinkedIn that prove she has the more...

The first graduates of the Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship program look to make an impact on the agricultural scene of the Portland metro area. more...