On the Hawthorne Bridge, sidewalks will close at 8:00 pm and the outside traffic lanes will close at 9:00 pm. All lanes and sidewalks will reopen after the fireworks show ends at approximately 10:30 pm. Depending on the wind direction, the entire bridge may be closed for public safety prior to the fireworks display at 10:00 pm.

NE Marine Drive will be closed from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm between NE 185th Ave. in the City of Portland and NE 223rd Ave. in the City of Fairview for a fireworks display at Blue Lake Park. Travelers should use alternate routes such as Sandy Blvd. or Interstate 84. NE 223rd Ave. is closed between NE Halsey St. and NE Sandy Blvd. due to construction. Access to NE Marine Drive will be maintained at all times for local residents and emergency vehicles. (NE Marine Drive is maintained by the City of Portland west of NE Interlachen Lane and by Multnomah County east of Interlachen.)

On Sauvie Island several roads will be impacted by the Foot Traffic Marathon Run and Half Marathon Run & Walk from 6:15 am until noon. Event participants will follow a loop course in a clockwise direction and motor vehicles will travel the loop in the opposite direction. The course includes NW Gillihan Road, NW Sauvie Island Road, and NW Reeder Road. It begins and ends at the Pumpkin Patch on NW Gillihan Road.

Multnomah County maintains 300 miles of roads and bridges.

Keep air circulating with fans; take cool sponge baths.
Go to an air-conditioned building if possible. Older adults can visit their local senior center, library, or mall.
Wear loose-fitting, light-weight clothing. If going out, wear a hat.
Drink lots of water and don’t wait to get “thirsty”.
Avoid alcohol.
Limit physical activity and direct exposure to the sun.
Check with your health care provider about how the warm weather may affect your prescription drugs.
Contact your health care provider if you experience prolonged heat-related symptoms, or if those symptoms significantly affect the ability to care for yourself.

Since air conditioning has been found to be the single most important factor in reducing heat related risks, seniors and people with disabilities are encouraged to visit air-conditioned buildings in their community if their homes do not have air conditioning. Senior centers, Loaves and Fishes meal sites, community centers, libraries, shopping malls and movie theatres are good options. Even a few hours a day out of the heat can make a big difference.

This is also an opportunity for neighbors to check on their elderly or disabled friends and relatives during the hot weather. Since many people experiencing heat-related symptoms may be unaware that they are having a problem, it is critical to check on elderly and disabled folks living alone or who are socially isolated.

For more information about services for the elderly and disabled, including a list of air conditioned locations, transportation services, and 24-hour crisis intervention, call Multnomah County’s Aging and Disability Services Helpline at 503-988-3646 or TTY at 503-988-3683.

Directly Impacting North/Northeast Portland:
$3.2 million restored to Oregon Project Independence funding to help seniors, including those served by the Urban League. (HB 5054-A)

$150,000 to The Skanner Foundation for continuation funding for the neighborhood multi-media training center in North Portland. (HB 5054-A)

Over $1 million for funding civil rights enforcement in the Oregon Department of Justice and Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Restored all cuts to funding for Multnomah County gang services ($772,937) and added another $800,000 for gang services in East Multnomah County. (HB 5054-A)

Funding for Project Clean Slate in the Oregon Department of Justice budget.

$1.5 million commitment from the Governor's office for Justice Assistance Grants to fund offender re-entry one-stop centers in Portland, Eugene and Klamath Falls.

Over $100 million to expand Head Start at places like Albina Head Start.

Continued funding of the PCC Skill Center on the PCC Cascade Campus.
$8.9 million to help abused kids through programs like Cares Northwest.

$300,00 restored for cognitive-behavioral therapy provided by Volunteers of America for offender re-entry . (HB 5054-A) .

$700,000 from the Governor's office to restore drug court funding in the Criminal Justice Commission budget through Justice Assistance Grants.

$250,000 restored to domestic violence services in the Department of Justice budget ensuring that there will be no cuts to these important services.

11 positions were restored in the forensics division of the Oregon State Police for crime investigations.

$530,000 for assistance to returning veterans, including funds for those poisoned by the negligence of KBR at a water treatment plant in Basra, Iraq. (HB 5054-A and HB 3480)

$625,000 for the Oregon Historical Society, $500,000 for the Portland Art Museum, $125,000 for OPB and $1 million for Legal Aid. (HB 5054-A)

Restored almost $84 million in the drug treatment and community-mental health budgets in the Department of Human Services. (SB 5529-A)

Rep. Shields co-chaired the Public Safety Subcommittee of Ways and Means for the second consecutive session, but he gave the credit for funding these projects to Senator Margaret Carter, the senate's chief budget writer.

"Sen. Carter worked in a very low-key manner to make this tough budget cycle work for North and Northeast Portlanders. None of these projects would have happened without her drive, skill and leadership," said Rep. Shields.

For more information on state budget funding, call Rep. Shields' office at 503-986-1443 or on the web at www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc

We wanted to take a moment today to thank some of the folks who have made this project possible. In addition to our financial sponsors, McMenamin's Hotels & Pubs and Portland General Electric, these are the amazing people and organizations who have donated materials, advice and time:

Patrick has been an invaluable resource to CROPS, on the plan development side and even more so now that we're "in the ground". He's answered questions, given great advice and is just an all around sweet and helpful person.

Anne Berblinger @ Gales Meadow Farm

Anne donated over 100 Heirloom paste tomatoes (Italian Heart) from her own saved seeds.

Patty @ Al’s Nursery

Al's Nursery not only gave CROPS it's first plant donation back in May, but this month they donated 15 flats of tomatoes and peppers. Thank you!

Metro Councilor Rod Park and Cedar Grove Composting, Inc.

Councilor park worked with Cedar Grove composting to donate 35 yards of beautiful compost to CROPS. Thanks to Jennifer Ericson and Denise Bartlett for coordinating and delivering the load!

Liz Smith @ Westwind Gardens, Forest Grove

Westwind donated 1,658 beautiful Oregon Tilth Certified Organic Veggie & Herb starts.

John Weber

John heard about our project on the news and called immediately to volunteer his time time to plow and till our farm. He is our hero!

Naomi Montacre @ Concentrates

Naomi not only helped us interpret the results of our soil test, but she volunteered on our behalf to get (literally) tons of donated soil amendments (lime & fertilizer) from her suppliers.

Ray Fujii @ Fujii Farms

Ray and his family farmed strawberries on the CROPS property for many years and he kindly gave us critical advice on how best to irrigate our fields.

Lisa Sedlar @ New Seasons Markets

Lisa, President of New Seasons, heard about CROPS and worked quickly to donate over $2000 of truly gorgeous organic tomato, squash, eggplant and pepper starts.

Peggy Acott @ Portland Nursery
Westwind Gardens, Forest Grove

Peggy helped CROPS connect with the wonderful people at Westwind Gardens. They delivered over 1600 Oregon Tilth Certified Veggie and herb starts to the farm this week.

David Neidemeyer @ Brentwood Park Organics

David has volunteered to grow starts for CROPS from seed. This is HUGE.

Carol and Anthony @ Ayers Creek Farm

Carol and Anthony have volunteered to advise us on growing grains and dried beans and connected us with the wonderful:

Alice & JD @ Log House Plants

Log House Donated 700 hand-chosen veggie starts to the farm yesterday!

Dan Bravin @ MRP Plubming (Father of our CROPS Manager, also Dan Bravin)

Dan not only has given us great advice on how to safely and inexpensively get water to our site, but volunteered his own time to ensure the installation was done right. MRP also donated the fire house that connects our water source to the field. Most importantly, if it weren't for Dan Bravin @ MRP, there would be no Dan Bravin @ County CROPS.

Andy Nelson & Co. @ Hands On Greater Portland

Hands on Portland has stepped up to coordinate our community volunteer days on the farm. Our first volunteer day June 13th was a great success and we look forward to more days with Hands On all summer long.

Multnomah County Employees

We would never be able to pull this project together without the incredible contributions of our Multnomah County Employees. From small requests to advice on how to move a shed, we've encountered nothing but responsive, enthusiastic support for our work and we are truly indebted to the following individuals for their excellence:

Gerard Welch, Dori Larson, Dan Eddy and David Main at DCJ's Community Service Program

Mike Sublett and Cyrus Yamin at County Facilities

Kim Peoples, Brian Vincent and the crew at County Roads

Tony Lester & Mitch Hamel at the Bridge Shop

Claudia Arvidson at County Purchasing

Kat West and Tim Lynch in the Sustainability Program

During the closure, TriMet bus lines 12-Sandy, 19-Glisan, and 20-Burnside will be rerouted across the Morrison Bridge.

Also this weekend, the traffic pattern on the Hawthorne Bridge will change due to the removal of a construction crane in downtown Portland at SW First Ave. and SW Main St. From 7:00 pm on Friday, June 26 until as late as 5:00 am on Monday, June 29 only one traffic lane will be open in each direction on the bridge. Westbound traffic will be diverted from the bridge onto SW Madison St. which will have two-way traffic between SW 1st Ave. and SW 2nd Ave. The westbound offramp from the bridge to SW Main St. will be closed due to the crane removal. Flaggers will direct traffic at the west end of the bridge during the weekend.

Multnomah County maintains the Burnside and Hawthorne bridges and more than 300 miles of roads and bridges.

“This troubling pattern will most likely continue as baby boomers age and swell the numbers of older adults in Oregon. It is likely that the numbers of suicide deaths in this age group will also rise,” said Multnomah County Health Department Director Lillian Shirley.

Hospitalizations for suicide attempts increased in Multnomah County and in Oregon between 2000 and 2006. In particular, the increase in hospitalizations in Multnomah County was most significant among women, rising about 64% between 2000 and 2006. The hospitalization rate for suicide attempts in 2006 was about 73% higher in women compared with men in Multnomah County, and roughly 84% higher in women compared with men across the state.

Data also indicate that firearms were most commonly involved in suicide deaths and poisoning was most commonly involved in hospitalizations for suicide attempts. Statewide, in 2006 there was a gender difference in the mechanism used in suicide deaths with men most likely to use firearms and women most likely to use poison.

“The most important strategy to prevent suicide is improving our ability to identify those who may be at risk. Training teachers and counselors in schools is effective in improved detection of depression among students. Health care providers also need training in detecting and treating depression as older adults are in more frequent contact with their health care providers than any other age group,” said Shirley.

The report is available at http://www.mchealth.org/hra/haq/spring2009_suicide.pdf For help with a mental health or addiction problem, contact Multnomah County’s Mental Health Call Center at 503-988-4888.

Where do I get these tamales deliciosos, you ask? Well, we are here to tell you:

OHSU Farmers Market
MAY 19 - OCT 6
Tuesdays 11:30-3:30
Next to OHSU Auditorium
We sell Organic tamales!

Parkrose Farmers Market
MAY 2- OCT 24
Sundays 8am- 2pm
12003 NE Shaver Street

Multnomah County installed WiFi after numerous requests from members of the press and community groups who felt that having access to the internet during meetings would enable them to perform their jobs more effectively.

The board clerk worked closely with county Information Technology and Multnomah County Library staff, who generously shared their acceptable use policy and lessons learned from offering public WiFi at branches, saving the county time and money. County technical staff were also able to use many of the same configurations and settings they developed when setting up the library’s WiFi service.

Having WiFi available in the Boardroom will enable the press and public to use online resources in real time to make meetings more accessible and encourage the public to be more involved in the political process.

Come on over to the White Eagle to support the good community work of the North Portland Tool Library. McMenamins White Eagle has again agreed to donate 50% of the nights proceeds to the good work of NPTL.

You Eat, You Drink, North Portland Tool Library wins!
McMenamins White Eagle 836 North Russell Street, Portland
Wednesday, June 24
Starts at 5pm, music at 6:30pm
minors welcome until 8:00pm

Read more about this event at the Tool Library's website.

Several Central Catholic High School students are determined to bring Carrotmob to Portland to encourage businesses to do their part in the battle against global warming.

On June 21 (Father‟s Day), Carrotmob Portland will hold a "reverse boycott" at HOTLIPS Pizza on 22nd and SE Hawthorne from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Every dollar spent will go directly towards making HOTLIPS more energy efficient. In addition to helping the environment, the event promises to be a lot of fun: Carrotmob has lined up musicians to play in HOTLIPS' closed-off parking lot all day, and there will be a fair of other environmentally-focused organizations.

Carrotmob is a method of activism that enables consumers to use their collective buying power to reward businesses that will make socially and environmentally responsible improvements. Instead of avoiding a business with bad practices, Carrotmob attracts customers to a company with good ones. After Carrotmob, the company has more customers, they buy things they would normally buy, and the environment is saved. "In a boycott, everyone loses," explains the organization‟s website. "In a Carrotmob, everyone wins."

Last March, Brent Schulkin started Carrotmob by mobbing the liquor store in Brooklyn, New York, who pledged the most of their revenue to make their store more energy efficient. After that store received three times more business than in an ordinaryday others around the world were inspired to imitate Schulkin's model.
New York City, Kansas City, London, Helsinki and Vancouver B.C. are among the cities who have held successful events. Still in its early stages, all of Carrotmob's campaigns so far have worked with small businesses. However, Carrotmob sets its sights high: Its members would like to work with large corporations and make even more significant impact on the environment.
"There is no end to how great of an impact this could have," says Portland Carrotmobber and Central Catholic junior, Chloe Tims. “With a global following, any corporation can be Carrotmobbed.”

Earlier this year, several seniors at Central Catholic High School became interested in bringing Carrotmob to Portland. “Despite the popularity of „An Inconvenient Truth‟ and the election of a president who puts fighting climate change near the top of his agenda, many Portlanders are disappointed with the government's efforts to curb greenhouse gases and minimize environmental damage,” says Tim Bauman, co-founder of Carrotmob Portland and Central Catholic senior.
“After the college admissions process was over, we suddenly found ourselves with a lot of free time on our hands, and we wanted to do something worthwhile. With Portland‟s outstanding reputation for environmental awareness, Portlanders are ready for a Carrotmob."
Several stores expressed interest in Carrotmob, but once HOTLIPS Pizza pledged 100% of their revenue, they were granted the honor of holding the very first Portland Carrotmob, and the seniors kicked into full gear.

ABOUT HOTLIPS PIZZA
Founded in 1984, HOTLIPS is a Portland family-owned business with five pizza restaurants, a commissary kitchen, a soda brewing operation, and presence at 9 area farmers‟ markets. Though HOTLIPS has a long history of progressive environmental reforms, there is always more work to be done. “Depending on the event success, the projects will range from replacing a garage door and increasing heat reclamation to installing solar panels if we hit a home run,” says HOTLIPS co-owner David Yudkin. HOTLIPS will sell cases of its real fruit soda at a special discounted price and there will be plenty of pizza on hand to handle the crowds Carrotmob hopes will turn out on Father‟s Day for some environmental activism.

Thanks to all our partners: SunEdison, Energy Trust of Oregon, County Facilities, County Sustainability and Rich Swift.