A fourth job and resource fair sponsored by the Eliot Neighborhood Association, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, Cascadia Health, and the Office of Community and Civic life will be held in Dawson Park on Tuesday, November 1 from 11am to 1pm.
Attendees will be able to meet employers and apply for jobs. Additionally, there will be a food giveaway and free vaccines available.
Volunteers are also welcomed for trash pick-up, setup, tear-down, and facilitation.
A third job and resource fair sponsored by the Eliot Neighborhood Association, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, Cascadia Health, and the Office of Community and Civic life will be held in Dawson Park on Tuesday, October 4.
Attendees will be able to meet employers and apply for jobs. Additionally, there will be a food giveaway and free vaccines available.
Our last career fair was featured in a short KGW segment, and we look forward to bringing this community resource back next week.
By Jody Guth
While the corona virus has kept the majority of us homebound – other than for essential services – I’ve found that the streets have reflected this slowdown of activity. Less activity does equate to less trash but several adopt-a-blockers I’ve spoken to have been equally less motivated, myself included. Less people on the streets to collect garbage equates to certain areas not receiving “the love” a thorough trash pick-up will provide.
Almost as an answer to that reality, I noticed a lone soul picking up trash along MLK Jr. Blvd the other day on my way to the store. Pulling over to the curb and rolling down my window I asked the good Samaritan if he lived in Eliot, did he wish to join the Eliot Adopt-a-block program, and what was his name! Fortunately he answered “yes” to the first two questions, and I happily added Michael Schwern as the newest member of our team.
Michael lives on the corner of Rodney and Tillamook. He’s been living there for three years and lived for another number of years not far from his current home. He told me he was motivated to help pick up based on his affiliation with Burning Man and their ethos of “leave no trace”. He felt compelled to do so along MLK as a way to give back as he supports the peaceful protests and vigils that make their way through Eliot. I thought it a wonderful way of supporting our neighborhood and the surrounding streets. Michael would like to adopt Sacramento Ave between Rodney and MLK plus other areas of need during his daily walks. Thanks, Michael, and welcome.
In addition to Michael, I met another Eliot neighbor, Julie Cushing, who was picking up garbage along Rodney Ave. Julie also felt compelled to give back and make a difference. She said she hated seeing trash in the streets and wanted to do her part. When I asked Julie if she wanted to join the adopt-a-blockers as well, she was happy to join and becomes the latest member of our little group. Julie lives on the corner of Rodney and Thompson, and has been in the neighborhood for 20 years. She would like to help out on Tillamook from Rodney to MLK, parts of Russell, and Williams. Wow…thanks, Julie!
Both she and Michael will be entered into the drawing coming up in a few days for those in the Adopt-a-Block family. They and/or you could be the lucky recipient of the $100.00 gift certificate to your local New Season grocery store, who we randomly pick each quarter. My trusty pal, Adrian, will draw the name from a current list of 28 trash-eliminators, and I’ll notify the winner. The odds are pretty sweet.
I encourage anyone with a desire to lend a hand to email me at jodyguth@gmail.com to join. (If you prefer phone its 503-331-1511 which is a LAND line, so no texts). I’ll get you stocked up with gloves, garbage-picker-uppers, and bags for trash. The trash can be left for pickup by the city on the corner or address of your choice. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll get you set up with numbers, and everything you need to help keep Eliot lookin’ good.
By Karla Gostnell
The Eliot Livability Committee is proud of some updates we want to share with you.
Neighborhood Litter Pick-up: Thank you, neighborhood volunteers, for a successful Earth Day clean-up on April 20. We removed over 800 pounds of trash from our streets and sidewalks this time, with 35 volunteers showing up to help. Special thanks to Breadwinner Cycles & Cafe for lending their parking lot and keeping us caffeinated!
Trees, trees, trees!! This spring saw over 40 new street trees planted in Eliot as part of a small business grant from the Neighborhood Association, partnering with Friends of Trees and the Eliot Livability Team, as well as support from Toyota to tree-up their own property line on N.E. San Rafael. Trees are truly an investment in the beautification and livability of our neighborhood and we are so glad for the businesses that received new trees on their properties. If you notice young trees suffering from lack of water in the summer heat, please reach out to the Livability Team by email at livability at eliotneighborhood dot org.
I’m writing to thank all those adopt-a-blockers who kept up the good fight and did their best to keep Eliot’s streets clean this past spring. Not easy dealing with the cold and wet, plus all the maneuvering between construction equipment that many of you are still enduring via our on-going sewer work. But you did your neighborhood proud!
Alas, there are still streets awaiting their loving adoption families… (so many still needed!) and we’d love to have you on board. If you’re willing to spend a few minutes a day, or a bit longer once or twice a week to improve the area you call home, please contact Jody at jodyguth at gmail dot com. I’ll get you set up with trash bags, gloves, pickers, and lots of encouragement. The added bonus is the drawing we hold every 3 months to determine who wins a $100.00 New Seasons gift certificate. Who doesn’t like to shop at New Seasons?!
I had the pleasure of recently drawing our current winner with my trusty pal, Adrian. The latest number was lucky 16, and the recipient none other than Sue Stringer, a gal who does so much for our community… congratulations, Sue!! Besides being the editor of our Eliot News newspaper, Sue finds time to be a member of the Friends of NE 7th Avenue Greenway committee, is on the Eliot neighborhood board and is one of the fabulous organizers the 7th Avenue block party fame (between Russell and Brazee). Sue is eager to join whatever she can to help make Eliot thrive. While also working a full-time job, I’m never sure how she finds the time to get it all done. We’re just so glad she lives here!
By Jody Guth
By Lauren Mullen
Hello Eliot Neighbors, sadly, this will be my last Adopt-A-Block update for the Eliot News as I am moving. The good news is that Jody Guth will be taking on this program. Jody has been a member of the Eliot Community for 30 years! She is a much-loved dog walker whom you have undoubtedly seen around Eliot or Irvington. I met Jody when I was taking my dog, Jazper, on a walk, and the funny thing about that encounter was she was diligently picking up cigarette butts. It was raining, but that was not a deterrent. I thanked her for doing the clean-up and that was when I started picking up trash in earnest on my block.
Please join the Eliot Livability Team on Earth Day 2019.
Help us beautify our neighborhood and protect our waters and wildlife from hazardous trash. Volunteers from near and far are invited to attend this litter pick-up event, sponsored by SOLVE. Eliot residents, come out to meet your neighbors and show some neighborhood pride! Refreshments and all supplies will be provided.
Eliot Neighborhood 