There’s a New Priest in Town

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood
Reverend Maria McDowell
Reverend Maria McDowell the new priest at St Phillip the Deacon.

St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church is an historic African-American and diverse community church located in the Eliot Neighborhood. The Reverend Dr. Maria McDowell has recently become the newest priest-in-charge, and yes, she is a woman! Rev’d Dr. Maria is from Portland and has studied theology at schools in Los Angeles and Boston. She always knew that she wanted to serve so that she can do what she loves – to teach and think deeply with others about things that matter. She loves being with people where God and life meet, where the rubber hits the road.

Continue reading There’s a New Priest in Town

Frigg’s Mercantile

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood

Ever wonder how to make your own soap, cheese, or kombucha? What about homemade candles or cosmetics? Frigg’s Mercantile is an urban homesteading shop and studio that recently opened on NE MLK with a simple mission: to equip people with the supplies and knowledge needed to carry out traditional homesteading adventures that can be mastered in a typical Portland kitchen.

Continue reading Frigg’s Mercantile

Letter from the Land Use Chair Summer 2018

Posted on by Allan Rudwick
7th Avenue Traffic Calming Island

I think it is probably time for me to step down.  It has been 10+ years of involvement with the ENA Land Use committee and quite a few as chair.  During that time we have gone from a bust-to-boom economy and that means a bunch of new buildings in the works.  While many under-constructions projects are about to start renting out units, another cluster of buildings on the North Williams corridor is in the works with 4 new proposals adjacent to Williams and Cook alone. Portland’s new zoning map will be going into effect any day now and that might mean another flurry of proposals under the new rules, or a gentle slowdown in the incoming permits.

Continue reading Letter from the Land Use Chair Summer 2018

Hill Block: Visioning to Heal the Past

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood

The healing: In August of 2017, Legacy Health joined the City of Portland and Prosper Portland (formerly Portland Development Commission) in announcing a collaborative effort to develop a vacant 1.7-acre block on the Legacy Emanuel Medical Center property. This land once housed the Hill Block building and was considered the heart of the Albina business community where many African Americans resided in nearby homes until urban renewal came in the 1960s. Though vacant for nearly 50 years, this plot of land still evokes painful memories for many African Americans who still talk about the unfair destruction and loss of their community.

Continue reading Hill Block: Visioning to Heal the Past

Neighborhood Watch- It’s a Good Time to Get Involved!

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood

Regardless if crime is up or down on your individual street or in your neighborhood, starting and participating in an active Neighborhood Watch is always a good idea.  The City of Portland’s Crime Prevention program is hoping to start new Watch groups and rekindle older ones in the Eliot Neighborhood area.  Starting a Watch group is really very easy.  All it takes is one or two neighbors on a street to volunteer to be the “Organizer” and reach out to me and we pick a training date and time for the initial meeting.  These are usually done in the organizer’s home in the evening to ensure the greatest amount of participation.

Continue reading Neighborhood Watch- It’s a Good Time to Get Involved!

Portland Streetcar Adding Two New Streetcars

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood

The City Council gave Portland Streetcar the green light on March 21 to purchase two new streetcars, allowing for more frequent service on the system’s A and B Loops connecting Downtown and the Central Eastside. As Portland continues to add new residents at a rapid pace, the additional vehicles will improve Portland Streetcar’s ability to connect people to housing, jobs, and services in the Central City when the new cars enter the fleet in 2020.

Continue reading Portland Streetcar Adding Two New Streetcars

Natasha Butler: Principal at Harriet Tubman

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood
Principal Natasha Butler in front of the new Harriet Tubman Middle School
Principal Natasha Butler in front of the new Harriet Tubman Middle School. Photo: Danny Peterson

Principal Natasha Butler has big plans for Harriet Tubman Middle School and Eliot neighborhood. As the school reopens to students for the 2018 school year, Principal Butler looks to enlist the entire neighborhood in support of diverse populations and thriving communities for students. Principal Butler’s own roots in Eliot run deep, and she is committed to continuing to welcome people of color in our neighborhood. Growing up, Ms. Butler’s father ran a business near the intersection of Graham Street and Williams Avenue and lived on Graham. Although the neighborhood demographics have changed over the years, Principal Butler wants Harriet Tubman Middle School to be a powerhouse for students of color and students from underrepresented communities.

Continue reading Natasha Butler: Principal at Harriet Tubman

Concerts in the Park 2018

Posted on by Eliot Neighborhood
Dawson Park Concert 2016 - Soul Vaccination
Dawson Park Concert 2016 – Soul Vaccination

A musical tradition over 110 years in the making, Concerts in the Park offers something for everyone. The Rose City’s best and brightest – from classical to country, rock & roll to rhythm & blues – have been entrancing audiences in parks since 1901. Today’s crowds flock to Portland parks citywide for the revelry, with over forty thousand people attending 61 concerts offered in 2016.

Continue reading Concerts in the Park 2018