Guest post by Irvington neighbor Sharon Eldridge. If you have been to downtown’s Central Library recently, you may have noticed something: fewer library staff and no DVDs on hold in the lobby checkout area. And what was the checkout isn’t even the checkout anymore. Now, we're supposed to use self-checkout stations in the center of the lobby to check out our materials. All hold materials are now kept in the more...

The City of Portland’s SmartTrips program is revving up for another successful year as the SmartTrips Green Line program gets underway at the end of March. SmartTrips is an individualized marketing program sponsored by the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The program, which was implemented by the city in 2004, is designed to reduce drive-alone trips by increasing biking, walking, carpooling and public transportation more...

Has anyone ever told you that you seem to have a lot of opinions? Do you have strong ideas and a feeling that you could "get stuff done" in your community? If you fit this description and are between the ages of 13 and 21, the Multnomah Youth Commission (MYC) is the place for you. The MYC started in 1996 with the goal of providing youth voice in the decisions that are made by our elected officials and to change any more...

I’ve learned two key things in the four months I’ve been writing this column: 1) businesses, especially restaurants, will always take longer to open than the initial announcement predicted; and 2) the stream of new Portland businesses making their debut doesn’t show any sign of drying up. You should see the list of rumors I’ve kept to follow up on—every time a place finally graduates to reality, there more...

The best of this week’s upcoming sports events Saturday, March 6 Rumble at the Roseland 50 If you’ve ever seen a Rumble at the Roseland event, you understand the pure adrenaline rush of watching two amateur fighters square off in the octagon for pride, bragging rights and maybe, just maybe, a shot at becoming the next MMA star to come out of Portland. After all, it was this event that launched the careers of UFC more...

An August groundbreaking is tentatively set for the construction of a new Central City Concern medical facility at 707 West Burnside. The building will help expand the capacity of the organization’s primary care operation, while also providing a permanent home for the integrated behavioral health services it offers. Central City Concern is a not for profit agency founded in 1979 that serves single adults and families in more...

Seeking fun-loving volunteers Help formerly homeless families get adjusted to their new homes and community. This may include helping them: buy groceries on a budget, learn how to cook, move furniture, sign-up for programs, find resources, figure out transportation, learn housekeeping tips, learn how to budget, learn computer skills, read/write, or find a job. Prior to serving, a volunteer must meet with the Volunteer more...

Over 70 East Portland residents recently packed into the cafeteria at Ron Russell Middle School, located just south of Powell Boulevard on Southeast 112th Avenue, to provide input on the efforts of the Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability to explore viable and sustainable ways to improve the Southeast 122nd Avenue corridor. The corridor consists of the land within a quarter mile east and west of Southeast 122nd Avenue more...

The 2010-2011 fiscal year budgeting process is underway for the City of Portland. March marks the beginning of serious budget discussions by and between citizens and city staff. Citizens get their first chance to sound off on the city budget during three community budget forums that are taking place this week. The first will be held tonight, March 1, at Montgomery Park (2701 NW Vaughn Street) from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The second more...

The best of this week’s upcoming sports events Sunday, February 28 Portland State Vikings vs. Weber State Wildcats It’s PSU’s final home game of the season, and it's gonna be a doozy. Not only are the Viks hosting powerhouse Weber State—a team that has won 9 out of their last 10 games and sits atop the Big Sky Conference—but the way things are stacking up, they could also be playing for the more...