Uroboros Linked to Unsafe Levels of Cadmium

Cadmium Concentrations
Cadmium Concentrations February 2016

Portland’s air pollution problem was brought to our attention in January 2016, when the Portland Mercury broke a story, exposing elevated cadmium and arsenic in several areas of our city. Days later, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the regulatory body responsible for air safety, announced their data indicated a monthly average of 49 times the state’s established air-safety benchmark level for cadmium and 159 times the benchmark for the arsenic. Cadmium and arsenic are both known carcinogens, connected with serious health effects, like cancer, respiratory problems, and organ damage.

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More Trash Talk

Litter Pickup
Litter Pickup May 2016

The Eliot neighborhood was treated to another round of committed, volunteer trash collectors in May. On May 22nd, 29 of your neighbors and fellow residents of Portland walked along sidewalks and side yards and maneuvered around sewer grates, curbsides, and vehicles plucking up the latest batch of accumulated fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, and uncharitably tossed debris.

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PICA Has a New Home

PICA New Home
15 NE Hancock

The Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) has a permanent home in northeast Portland thanks to a generous donation from philanthropist Allie Furlotti. Since 1995, PICA has been an integral part of the arts landscape in Portland and the purchase of this building helps solidify its future in a rapidly changing city.

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Eliot Spring Clean-Up 2016

Clean Up 2015It’s time for the annual Eliot Spring Clean-Up!

On Sunday, May 22nd from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm clean out your closets, unclutter your garage, organize your book shelves and recycle your outdated and broken electronics. Also bring us your used furniture, clothes, household items and old bicycles. This is the one Eliot Neighborhood Association fundraiser of the year so give generously.

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Trash Talk

Trash
Trash along a fence

What if I were to tell you that for less than one minute a week you could help your community, feathered friends, and the environment all while adding to your good karma. Too good to be true you say, but I assure you, it is more than possible to do. The only caveat (I know, there always is one, right?) is that we need our entire community on board.

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Bringing the World to Your Home

Kaplan International Students
Kaplan International Students

Traveling the world and experiencing new cultures can be a rewarding experience, but for many of us the constraints of time or money (or both!) can get in the way.  Portland’s Kaplan International School (KI) offers the next best thing with their homestay program; a chance for Portland residents to meet new people and learn about cultures from all over the world.  Kelly, a host mother since 2011, had this to say:

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Are You and Your Neighbors Prepared?

NET volunteer teaching neighbors about emergency preparedness
NET volunteer teaching neighbors about emergency preparedness

In the event of a citywide or regional emergency such as a severe winter storm, flood or major earthquake, households need to be prepared to be on their own for at least a week. Neighborhoods need to be prepared for self-sufficiency, too. Volunteer neighborhood rescuers will likely be first on-the-scene when firefighters and police are slowed by impassable streets or overwhelmed by calls for help.

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Neighborhood Safety Block by Block

NeighborhoodWatchDo you have a Neighborhood Watch on your block?

More than 50 new Neighborhood Watch groups started in 2015. Mark Wells, Community Organizing Specialist with the Crime Prevention Program City of Portland, is  excited about next year and continuing to grow and strengthen our Watch groups throughout the city. With Wells’ help, Eliot neighborhood has three blocks which have organized themselves into a Neighborhood Watch and at least one other working on the process. Is your block one of these four? If not, consider  starting one today.

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Eliot Repaints the Street this Spring

Freshly Painted Community Crossing
Freshly Painted Community Crossing

This spring, Eliot neighbors will once again gather to refresh the landmark intersection painting.  “Eliot Community Crossing” is at the corner of NE Rodney Avenue and NE Tillamook Street  It will be an experience you will not want miss, filled with painting, eating, music, and fun for the whole family.   Join us and invite your friends and family to share in this memorable and unique Portland experience. This will be the last repainting for two years due to sewage repairs in 2017.

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Youth Cafe

Youth Cafe at St Phillips
Youth Cafe at St Phillips

In a small corner of NE Portland sits an old established parish, now home to the Eliot Neighborhood Association, and the Land Use and Transportation Committee meetings. Unknown to neighbors is the re-emergence of The Youth Café at this location. The program is geared for school aged youth up to the age of 18 to help work on academic tutoring, teaching life skills, nutrition and health, and incorporating fitness components into their daily lives.  This is a public non-profit program that is founded in the church but is welcoming all community members.

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Photo Contest Winner

Harvest from Garlington Wellness Garden
Harvest from Garlington Wellness Garden

Congratulations to Ashley Berry, the winner of the fall photo contest! These were all taken at the Garlington Wellness Garden, which is adjacent to NE Morris St. and MLK Jr. Blvd, in the Garlington Center. They are very proud of the harvests this year and are happy to be a part of the neighborhood!

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