From the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability:The City of Portland is developing code amendments that would foster green technologies and practices on a neighborhood scale. The 2009 Regulatory Improvement Program - Sustainability Work in Progress contains a "green bundle" to promote the installation and use of solar panels, water cisterns, wind turbines, eco-roofs and district energy systems.The green bundle is part more...

Whether you're a newbie gardener or seasoned veteran, you'll love the Master Gardener Hotline. OSU Master Gardeners are available to offer answers to your gardening questions every Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sage advice, indeed. Taking their cue from First Lady Michelle Obama, many folks in Multnomah County are planting vegetable gardens for the first time. Many have questions about soil, landscape plants, more...

On Thursday, June 18, the City will present its non-binding stadium agreement with Peregrine, LLC (Merritt Paulson) to the Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (LTC URAC). Prior to the meeting, an Open House will be held 4–6 p.m. to acquaint residents with the tentative agreement. However, it is unclear if the URAC will actually vote on its recommendation for the stadium proposal. A member of the URAC has more...

Community Health Partnership is looking for Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian Volunteer interpreters to help out at the Lents International Farmers' Market on June 21, August 2, and October 4!!Sign-up for a 2.5 hour volunteer shift (9–11:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.) and receive a free lunch at the market!On these specific days, we will be conducting an evaluation for the Healthy Rewards program (food stamp matching more...

On Wednesday, TriMet completed the installation of three sculptures at the Lents Town Center/SE Foster Road MAX station. These are the final art pieces to be installed on the I-205 segment of the MAX Green Line, which begins service September 12. Portland artist Brian Borrello—yes, the same artist behind the Zoobomb Bike Library—designed and fabricated the sculptures, titled Lents Hybrids. A total of three sculptures more...

Cool news: Portland Parks and Recreation will open its seven outdoor pools on Monday, June 22. The outdoor pools will be open through August. In addition to its collection of outdoor pools, PP&R operates six indoor pools that are open year-round. For more information on pools in a neighborhood near you, please visit PP&R's website. Photo: Peninsula Pool, courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation North Portland more...

Fresh from the inbox...City Council approved a contract with Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. in the amount $6,636,265 for the Advance Utility Water Main Work for the Portland Streetcar Loop Project. The Loop Project alignment connects to the existing route in the Pearl District on Lovejoy and NW 10th, utilizes the Broadway Bridge, continues east on Weidler, south on NE 7th, west on Oregon, south on MLK to OMSI. Return alignment from OMSI is more...

Bike helmets, ranging from toddler to adult sizes, will be available for $5 each in the Portland metro area. The discounted helmets are provided by grants from Legacy Foundation, Legacy Portland Hospitals Medical Staff and Trauma Nurses Talk Tough. Helmet fittings and adjustments are also available.Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Healthy Kids Fair2211 NE 139th St, Vancouver, WASaturday June 13, 200910 a.m. to 2 p.m.Sunset Community more...

Portland Parks & Recreation has launched a great new online resource for Portland families called Summer Free for All. It's all about the free and fabulous fun available in Portland's 95 neighborhoods. What's not to love about that? This summer, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) continues its tradition of offering safe, healthy activities for children and families in parks, pools, and community centers across the city. more...

On Thursday, June 11, Music in the Schools will host its third annual benefit concert at Cleveland High School to raise money for all of the high school music programs in Portland Public Schools.What makes this event incredibly special is that it was created and organized by PPS students, because of their belief in the importance of arts education:In this time of budget cuts and economic uncertainty, raising money for the arts becomes more...