Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Association (SHNA)

April Newsletter

Mar 25, 2002

Next general membership meeting:
May 14, 2002, 7:00 p.m.
First Church of Nazarene, Room 308, Raab Road

Update on use of Sylvan School
At our March 12 General Membership Meeting an announcement was conveyed to the membership from Portland Public Schools. For the school year 2002-2003, PPS hopes that the German American School and the OHSU Children?’s Day Treatment Center will remain as occupants in the building. In the fall of 2003, the District plans to open a 6th grade center at the Sylvan School. The preliminary plans are that approximately 250 6th graders would attend the school, arriving and departing by bus. Approximately 12-15 school staff will be on site. To accommodate the needs of the students, the facility would be cleaned and painted, a new roof will be installed, computer connections will be provided and fire and security systems will be upgraded. The playing fields will be open for neighborhood use during non-school hours.

Crime Update
Ms. P.K. Wall, Crime Chair for SHNA, has been awarded the Portland Police Bureau?’s Chief?’s Forum Award for Community Policing and Problem Solving. She received her award at a ceremony hosted by Chief Kroeker on April 1. Congratulations, P.K., and thanks again for your efforts on behalf of the neighborhood.

Although no new burglaries have been reported since residents on SW Fairview Circus began Foot Patrols in March, Detective Wagner warns that burglary patterns may shift later as we move into Daylight Savings Time. No one has been apprehended in the string of burglaries affecting Arlington Heights, Hillside and Sylvan Highlands. The pattern is still the same: crude entries usually involving broken windows, weekend entries from 4-8 p.m. when homes are empty, and items of low value stolen. Residential District 861 has been flagged for emergency response in the event anyone calls in about a burglary in progress.

The WomenStrength program has been cancelled due to City budget cuts.

Preston Wong, Crime Prevention Specialist for our coalition office, Neighbors West/Northwest, has just been notified that his job has been given to a higher ranking city employee in the City?’s budget cutting shuffle. We will be very sorry to lose Preston, but we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Community Watershed Stewardship Grants
May 10, 2002 is the deadline for applications to the Watershed Stewardship Program. This partnership between Portland?’s Environmental Services, Portland State University, and the Northwest Service Academy?’s AmeriCorps program provides opportunities for Portland community groups and citizens to be involved in watershed issues. If you are interested in proposing a project for SHNA and would like to take a look at the application, contact Amber Marra, 503-823-5740 or amberm@bes.ci.portland.or.us.

Reminder about annual SOLV Clean Up
Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., neighborhood volunteers under the direction of Tom Barnes, our neighbor from SW 57th , will be conducting the annual neighborhood cleanup. Thank you, Tom, for coordinating the event again this year.

If you can volunteer a couple of hours to spruce up the neighborhood, please contact Tom at (503) 222-4209.

Next Meetings
April 16, Board of Directors?’ meeting, 7:00 pm, First Church of the Nazarene, 6100 SW Raab Road, Room #300.

May 14, General Membership Meeting, 7:00 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 6100 SW Raab Road, Room #308.

Remember:
To vote at SHNA meetings, you must be a registered member of the neighborhood association. For information about how to become a member, please contact Dave Malcolm, 221-7903, or djmalcolm@worldnet.att.net.