Helensview Heights

Helensview in the News 8-26-10

2010-09-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

On August 26th, 2010, the Portland Mercury reported on the shutting down of Helensview Heights developer HOST Development, Inc. You can view the article here.

Helensview in the News 8-17-10

2010-09-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

On August 17th, 2010, the Daily Journal of Commerce - Oregon reported on the closure of Helensview Heights developer HOST Development, Inc. You can view the article here.

Helensview in the News 6-10-10

2010-07-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

On June 10, 2010, Helensview Heights was mentioned in an article on the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's website. You can view the article here.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 4-21-10

2010-05-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

On April 21st, 2010, Helensview Heights was featured in the latest issue of U.S. News & World Report. View the article here. While the development wasn't mentioned specifically by name, there was a huge photo of the entrance to our community:

Volunteers Needed: CAN Spring Clean-Up 4/17/10

2010-04-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

From the CAN e-newsletter:
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Reduce, Recycle and Reuse on April 17^th!

Volunteers needed for Cully Association of Neighbors Spring Clean Up!

Clean out your closets, garage and basements and bring it to the Cully Association of Neighbors Earth Day Clean Up on Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church and School located at 5520 NE Killingsworth.

Acceptable items: Limited yard debris, wood, bulky items, furniture, appliances without cooling units, cell phones, electronics, mattresses, tires, carpets, rubber and metal, and block styrofoam.

NON Acceptable items: Hazardous waste, gasoline, chemicals, oil, paint, tar, animal waste and liquids of any kind or under the sink garbage. Also these landscape and building materials: Concrete, asphalt, dirt, sod, cement, sand, gravel, roofing and asbestos materials.

Fees: Car-$7, Van or SUV-$15, Pickup Truck-$20 and up with additional fees for oversized loads or trailers. Tires are $3 on rim and $2 off rim. Computers, monitors and TVs under 36" will have an $8 donation request, other electrics and electronics $2. We will have an express lane for those bringing two or three items. This event is for residential vehicles only.

Recycle reusable items at the "You Price it" miscellaneous drop-off area and/or find items you like, then price it, pay and take it home, lessening the burden on the environment! Any remaining items will be donated to The Salvation Army. The NE Emergency Food Program will be on hand to accept cases and cans of food and packaged dry food.

Students can earn community service credit by participating in this event. For more information or to volunteer to help, call Dayle at 503-335-0151

Sponsored by: Cully Association of Neighbors, Metro and Portland Office of Sustainable Development with support from SOLV, Trinity Lutheran Church and School, AGG Enterprises, The Salvation Army, Witham & Dickey, Albertsons , Total Reclaim and local businesses.

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-Dustin

Volunteer Opportunity 4/24/10: Revitalize Cully Park

2010-04-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

From CAN:
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Revitalize Cully Park!

Saturday, April 24th from 8:30 am-noon

Thomas Cully Park: NE 75TH & Killingsworth

Bring the Cully neighborhood's dream for a soccer park one step closer to reality!

Help transform this recently-acquired industrial property into a family-friendly park.

Spend the morning outside and put your arms to work! Energetic volunteers are needed to help pull blackberry bushes near the fence along this soon-to-be park's border.

Volunteers are asked to please bring their own gloves and- if possible- loppers.

To sign up directly: http://bit.ly/CaresDay2010_PPRCully

Have questions about how to sign up?

Call Kim Livesay at Hands On Greater Portland: 503-200-3366 or email her at Kimberly@handsonportland.org

Join in and help transform this dream into a reality!

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The City of Portland is committed to funding the creation of this park, and will be putting a Parks & Rec bond measure on the ballot this upcoming November to make it a reality. Come volunteer in laying the foundation for what will eventually be a crown jewel in the City's park system. Also, make sure you register to vote so you can support the bond measure in the fall. -Dustin

Helensview in the News 3-11-10

2010-03-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

On March 11th, 2010 Helensview Heights was featured in the Portland Tribune. View the article here.
-Dustin

PDX Pop Now! Volunteer Opportunities

2010-03-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

One of Portland's most cherished institutions, PDX Pop Now!, which is responsible for an annual all-ages, all-local, all-free music festival, is on the look out for volunteers to assist with various events/fundraisers.

A few of the opportunities:
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We have two PDX Pop Now! events coming up for you to get involved with.

Thursday, April 15th from 10:30-3pm we have a School Show happening at Parkrose Middle School (11800 NE Shaver St). We need volunteers to come help with set up/take down, passing out earplugs to the kids, etc. The bands playing are Grey Anne, Hives Inquiry Squad, and Blue Cranes, and there are a few other activities going on for the kids. Very fun day!

Saturday, May 8th from 1-5pm we have some Portland bands representing PDX Pop Now! at the Willamette Valley Music Festival in Eugene. Out of town trip, whoop whoop! We need volunteers to come table with us while the bands play. Bands TBA.

If you're interested in helping with either event, please e-mail me.
These are great opportunities to get involved with us before the festival!
Thanks,
Hannah Rosenau
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@pdxpopnow.com

===========

And as far as I know, they are always needing extra hands to help out with the festival itself., which takes place this year from July 30-August 1. Again...all day, all night, all local, all ages, all free. Seriously.

-Dustin

Clean River Rewards Program

2010-02-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

In addition to the below-mentioned Treebate program, the Bureau of Environmental Services is also encouraging Portland residents to make storm-water management improvements on their property through their Clean River Rewards program. Depending on a home's roof footprint, storm-water collection systems, and various other criteria, homeowner's may qualify for up to a 100% reduction of the on-site storm-water management charges on their water/sewer utility bill.

For more information on the program, please visit the homepage here.

-Dustin

Environmental Services Treebate Program

2010-02-22T14:57:00.000-08:00

As part of the city of Portland's ongoing efforts to manage residential stormwater runoff, the Bureau of Environmental Services has started a "Treebate" program, which allows homeowners to purchase and plant a tree on their property, and then receive a credit on their water/sewer utility bill of up to $50. What a wonderful way to reduce your footprint and increase the natural beauty of the city.

For more information, visit here, and here.

Plant a tree!
-Dustin

HOST Offering $10k to Purchase Homes

2010-02-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

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What an enticing reason to purchase your first home...
-Dustin

Helensview Heights Zipcar

2010-01-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Recently, Zipcar located a new vehicle at the entrance to the Helensview Heights community at the corner of NE Killingsworth St. and 64th.

This addition to the neighborhood meshes very well with the the stated goal of sustainability for the development, encouraging residents to potentially eliminate the use of one of their vehicles (if not all of them!) by offering a fairly low-cost, alternative method of transportation. The hourly fee includes insurance, gas, and a hefty mileage allowance, so when weighed against the costs associated with owning and operating your personal vehicle, Zipcar almost always will come out on top.

Additionally, as an incentive to encourage Helensview residents to sign up for a membership, Zipcar is offering a subsidized membership package that waives the application fee, reduces the annual membership fee by $40, and starts new members off right with a $50 credit to use during the first month.

View the details of the discounted plan here.
View the details for the car here.

-Dustin

NEPTL Volunteer Opportunity

2010-01-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

From the Northeast Portland Tool Library e-newsletter:
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Volunteer!
NEPTL runs solely on the efforts of volunteers. The workload is heavy and we are always excited to have extra hands to keep the library alive, many hands make light work. There are many ways to put energy into the tool library and tool knowledge is not necessary; help us plan a fund raising event, sharpen tools, staff a shift during the library’s open hours on a Saturday, lead a workshop or contribute to the monthly newsletter.
Saturday shifts are typically about three hours long and are a great way to give back to the library community. The computer system is easy to learn and again, no knowledge of tools is necessary. What a great way to meet your neighbors too!!
Every once in a while we have a large event that needs to be planned. Whether it is our yearly fundraiser or a moving party, there is a lot to be taken care of prior to and after the event. Gathering food donations, setting-up and cleaning the space for the event, writing thank you notes, and advertising are roles that need to be filled.
Got tool knowledge? Many of our tools need general maintenance as well as occasional repairs. This can be done during our open hours or anytime that is convenient for you during the week.
Email Katie Steinhauer if you would like more information or would be interested in becoming a volunteer for our tool library.
Other ways you can contribute
Do you posses a skill or knowledge that would make a good workshop? You can volunteer by leading a workshop? Workshops are a fantastic way that the tool library provides the community with an opportunity to learn while providing the library with some income.
Every month we send out a newsletter to our general membership. Do you have a success story or a picture about using the tool library that you would like to share? Built a chicken coop? Remodeled a bathroom? Made the shift from growing a lawn to growing food? Email any photos or stories you would like to share to info@neptl.org
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NEPTL is located at 5431 NE 20th Avenue (behind Redeemer Lutheran Church at 20th and NE Killingsworth).
-Dustin

Message from HOST Development

2009-12-30T20:15:00.000-08:00

HOST Development Changes Lives.

And we do it with a little help from our friends...

Dear _______,

It is hard to believe 2009 is coming to a close. And for many of us, the end of 2009 and the prospect of a new year is a good thing. Needless to say, the recession and its fallout has been very hard for many of the families we serve, and for HOST as an organization as well. Indeed, 2009 was a year of "refinement and focus," and we now look forward to a positive and productive 2010.

With all of the financial challenges of the past year, and the general distress in the housing market, HOST staff and Board looked hard at our mission and our "Raison D'être," and we concluded that indeed our mission is valid and that within a relatively short period of time there will be significant demand for the services and products we have to offer. That said, the following comments from a HOST family at New Columbia emphatically illustrate the importance of our work...

Words aren't sufficient to express our gratitude for your assistance in helping us purchase our first home. Our homebuying adventure started by enrolling with the Portland Housing Center. At the time, we had no understanding of what was involved in purchasing a new home or how to go about it in a wise manner. The whole process took us nearly two full years from start to finish. Yet even with all our hard work, home ownership still seemed like a far-fetched idea. We kept plugging away, and eventually it was time to find a home. PHC directed us to HOST Homes, and we found one of your houses that was in the process of being built. One thing quickly led to another, so we put down our earnest money, and next thing you know, we were picking out flooring, countertops, and fixtures. Wow!

We received the HOST discounted purchase price and your down payment assistance, and we utilized our IDA savings, an ADDI funds grant, and several smaller grants that Umpqua Bank helped us obtain. We are still amazed that it all worked out.

Without your help, we could have found ourselves in over our heads in mortgage debt. We love working on our home, making improvements and personal modifications, and enjoying the neighborhood where we live. And it feels great to know that each month's payment is an investment in property and land that we own. Thanks to you, we own our first home, and we continue to tell others about how wonderful your homes and services are to new homebuyers. It truly was a miracle that we were able to purchase this home, and we thank you for playing such a huge part in making it all happen! You are a blessing to generations!

- The Johnson Family

It is testimonials like this that really drive home the importance of our work. I am very pleased to report that HOST had 20 home sales in 2009. Given that the market was the worst we have seen in decades, I am proud of this feat. We are now gearing up for a productive 2010 as we launch Phase 2 of our Helensview project, 23 new energy efficient homes priced between $189,000 and $209,000. Helensview is shaping up to be a great neighborhood and I look forward to continued success at this project.

Now, perhaps more than ever before, HOST is looking to our friends and partners for assistance. Please take a moment to pledge your financial support to HOST as we continue to strengthen families and neighborhoods through homeownership. Our work is critical to families and to our community.

Thank you, and have a safe and prosperous 2010.

John Miller

Executive Director

Click here to donate

Or contact John at 503-887-0501 for other ways to help!

HOST Development is a 501(c)(3)non-profit developer (CCB #71658) creating affordable home ownership opportunities for low to moderate income families and individuals. Donations can be mailed to:

HOST Development
3835 NE Hancock St #101
Portland, OR 97212

Phone: (503) 331-1752
FAX: (503) 961-9924
Website: http://www.hostdevelopment.com

CAN Board Vacancies - Volunteer Opportunity

2009-12-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

From the CAN winter newsletter:
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CAN Board Vacancies in April
Winter is upon us and soon Spring will be here. The change of seasons also brings about a change in the Cully Association of Neighbors (CAN) board. There will be several board vacancies that will need to be filled at our April 13th elections. The Executive Board of Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary and Treasurer are one-year terms. Member at Large seats are two-year terms. The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will be open seats along with the Member at Large outreach board member seat.
We also need volunteers for website manager, newsletter ad manager and layout editor. Exiting members will be available to assist in the transition to make it as smooth as possible.
Many of these individuals have served the Cully community for several years and have made a positive difference in our neighborhood and association with their service. It is time for other neighborhood folks to step up and keep the CAN board and association strong and a vital part of our community. You do make a difference when you participate and it feels great!
The Cully Association of Neighbors needs you. Please contact me at 503-252-0749 or e-mail zumi001@yahoo.com to answer your questions about any of these positions.

Thank you, Kathy Fuerstenau, CAN chairwoman.

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Just a reminder for those running low on volunteer hours: Time spent at the monthly CAN meetings, whether as a neighbor or as a board member, counts towards our 50-hour volunteer requirement.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 6-2-09

2009-12-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

On June 2nd, 2009, Helensview Heights was featured in EcoHome Magazine. View the article here.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 4-1-09

2009-12-14T12:53:00.000-08:00

In April, 2009, Helensview Heights was featured in Portland Monthly Magazine. View the article here.
-Dustin

HOST in the News 1-1-09

2009-12-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

In January, 2009, HOST was featured on the Portland Development Commission's Facebook page. View the video here.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 11-9-08

2009-12-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

On November 9th, 2008, Helensview Heights was featured on OregonLive.com. View the article here.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 5-15-08

2009-12-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

On May 15th, 2008 (updated October 30, 2009), Helensview Heights was featured on the Portland Tribune's website. View the article here.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 1-2-08

2009-12-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

On January 2nd, 2008, Helensview Heights was featured on KATU.com. View the article here.
-Dustin

Helensview in the News 10-9-07

2009-12-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

On October 9th, 2007 (updated October 30, 2009), Helensview Heights was featured on the Portland Tribune's website. View the article here.
-Dustin

Volunteer Opportunity 12/24/09

2009-12-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

From the CAN e-newsletter:
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Grace Presbyterian Church will be serving a Free Christmas Eve dinner on Christmas Eve from 1:00 PM 'til 3:00 PM. The main meat will be baked ham so it will be necessary to begin preparations at 11:00 AM.

Volunteers needed

         11:00 AM to begin preparation.
         1:00 PM begin serving.
         3:00 PM end serving and begin clean up

Contact Grace Church to Sign up to volunteer.
============
The address and phone number:
6025 Northeast Prescott Street Portland, OR 97218 (503) 282-6586-Dustin

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity at Rigler

2009-12-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

From the CAN e-newsletter:
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Assistant needed for kids' gardening and cooking class at Rigler School.

The class has 16 students, grades K-5. No experience is required.
Kid skills are more important than garden skills. Rigler is located at 5401 NE Prescott. Many of the kids are from low-income families and considered "at-risk". All current students speak English, but many parents do not, and most of these parents are Spanish-speaking.(some speak Vietnamese, Somali or Russian, so it would be exciting to have a volunteer proficient in any of these languages) Volunteers who only speak English are welcome, of course.

Schedule: Winter term's class meets 3-5 pm on Tuesdays January 12 through March 2. There is a second class (same program, different kids and instructor) on Thursdays. A helper for each of these hours is what is most immediately needed. Setup and cleanup help would be great too. A male helper is especially needed for the Tuesday class.
Spring term runs April 5 through May 27.

Other schedule options:
1. If you would like to come to some but not all classes, or only once as a "guest lecturer" that would be fine too. Any nature- or food- related skill or experience that you would like to share would be great, so long as it is interactive - the kids are mostly ages 6-8 and want to be Doing, not just watching. Primitive skills are great!

2. There will be summer classes as well, schedule to be determined.

3. We always need help with maintenance and improvements, which can be accommodated to your schedule.

We will be outside in the weather much of the time. We get dirty and occasionally wet. There is a shelter in the garden, and if it gets really rough we do have an indoor space as well.

This is a volunteer position; it is possible that as the program gets more established there will be pay involved.

Please contact me if you are interested in helping out in any way.-

--
Rachel Freifelder
Handmade Gardens
Edible and Native Organic Land Care
503-849-9466
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Not sure how you're all doing with your 50 hours of community service, but this might be a good way to knock out a large bulk of it.
-Dustin

Neighborhood Grant Program

2009-10-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

From The Hollywood Star News:
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For the third consecutive year, the Neighborhood Grant Program is back. Funded by the city through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and administered by the city's seven district neighborhood offices and coalitions, the program provides grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 for projects that "increase the capacity" of volunteer groups, encourage participation by "under-represented communities," and encourage partnerships. The deadline for submission is November 2. For more information call your local neighborhood office.
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From Central Northeast Neighbors:
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Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement are pleased to announce the fourth year of the city's Neighborhood Small Grants Program, with $178,831 in grant funds available to neighborhood and community groups across the city. CNN will be awarding $16, 836 in grant funds for projects that build community, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and may range from $500-$5000. Deadline to submit a proposal is Monday, November 2nd by 2 PM.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend CNN's Grant Information Session to learn more about the application process and discuss ideas for grant projects on Wednesday, Sept 23 6:30-8:00 PM, CNN 4415 NE 87th by Sandy Blvd. Please RSVP to sandral@cnncoalition.org 503-823-2780.

Click here for more information about CNN's grant program, a list of projects funded, preferred use of funds, and how to apply.
==========================

This might be a good way to get funding for a community garden located in our "park". Something to think about for next year, unless someone is feeling particularly ambitious and wants to pursue a grant before the Nov. 2nd deadline.
-Dustin

Friends of Trees Planting Season

2009-10-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

From The Hollywood Star News:

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It is fall again, and Friends of Trees is gearing up for its 2009-2010 street tree planting season. If you own a home in a participating neighborhood, you can purchase a street tree for your parking strip for a price between $35 and $75 depending on the tree you select and the neighborhood you live in; even the maximum price will be a fraction of the commercial rate for such trees. (The North Tabor Neighborhood Association has pledged to contribute $5 each toward the first 100 trees purchased in their neighborhood.) Friends of Trees volunteers will plant the tree for you. In return, they ask you to pledge to water and otherwise care for the tree for the next two years. At a time when green is in, planting a new tree is one of the greenest things you can do; they counter the effect of CO2 buildup, they cool the ground they shade, and they make the street and community they live in more pleasant. The schedule is as follows: For Cully, the deadline is January [5] for a March 20 planting. For more information or to order a tree call (503) 282-8846.
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This is a great organization, and I believe for Cully residents the tree price is only $35, which truly is a steal. Our neighborhood representative is a woman named Star. It's a fairly lengthy process, with a few phone calls, picking out your tree online, and waiting for a city inspector to approve the tree placement, so don't wait until the last minute if you're interested.
-Dustin

Garage Sale 10/10/09

2009-10-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Location:
6454 NE Killingsworth Ct., Portland
From NE Killingsworth Street, turn South onto NE 64th Street into the Helensview Heights HOST development, then take a left on NE Killingsworth Ct. You're there!

Time:
Saturday, October 10th, from approximately 9am - 3pm, weather depending.

What:
Several neighbors will be banding together to sell their junk (aka your treasure) for a few hours, barring rain. Come on down, check out the 'hood, and support the local economy.

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-Dustin

Helensview Heights Community

2009-09-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Helensview Heights Community!

This site was created to primarily serve the residents of the Helensview Heights neighborhood, though we welcome all interested individuals, businesses, and agencies to also follow along here or come visit the development located at the corner of NE Killingsworth Street & 64th.

Our growing community of first-time homeowners is comprised of a diverse cross-section of environmentally-conscious Portland residents who care deeply about the place we live and the people around us.

This space is intended to function as a sounding board for any news, events, and information related to our neighborhood, which is currently under continuing construction by HOST Development, Inc.

All Helensview Heights-related events, articles, and news that you would like to see listed here should be sent to:
helensviewheights@gmail.com

Please take the time to check out the "Our Community" sidebar, which has links to our Events Calendar and Cully Happenings. Residents of Helensview Heights are encouraged to stop by the Community Discussion Board to participate in our ongoing dialogue about improving the place we live. Feel free to peruse the "Resources" sidebar for links to helpful area agencies and programs.

Thanks for stopping by!
-Dustin