The Hawthorne Bridge will be closed to road and sidewalk traffic from approximately 9:30 pm until after a fireworks display is completed to ensure the public’s safety. Fireworks will be launched from two barges near the bridge.

Residents of Multnomah County and the entire Portland metropolitan area are invited to join a conversation about how our region will take shape at open houses scheduled in July.

Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Washington County and Metro are leading a regional effort to designate urban and rural reserves to accommodate future growth and protect valuable farmland, forest land and natural areas that define the character of this region.

Urban and rural reserves will provide greater predictability for landowners, farmers and communities about where the urban growth boundary may expand over the next 40 to 50 years, while protecting important farmland and natural areas from urbanization for that same period of time.

A Regional Reserves Steering Committee has been established, made up of city officials, representatives from agricultural, business, environmental and conservation communities, and social and economic equity organizations, and a commissioner from each county and a Metro councilor. On June 9 the committee approved an initial broad study area—approximately five miles outside the Metro urban growth boundary—as a starting place for considering areas to be designated as reserves.

Here is Yoda's story: Yoda is a black male Exotic Shorthair Mix. He is approximately 3 years old and weighs about 10.6 lbs. He has been neutered. Found SE Salquist and Williams. Yoda is such a great cat, a staff favorite here. He has lived with other cats and dogs, and is quite the curious and friendly boy! If you want to adopt this space age kitty, visit here.

I've been completely fascinated lately by the change sweeping our city as gas prices have shot into ridiculously un-affordable territory. I for one, no longer drive to work. It sure seems like traffic in general is lighter, even when seasonally adjusted. I've also noticed our perception of "personal space" is shrinking, as anyone who has crammed onto a crowded bus or max in the last few months can attest.

But because things have morphed so quickly, new problems are popping up. Take this story about the no vacancy sign out for bikes on the Max. Sure, it's never been a sure thing that your bike would fit on the Max, especially during rush hour - but kicking bikes (and their riders) off? It's kind of weird. Everything seems a little bit off. Not in a bad way necessarily, just off. Like we're living in Bizarro Portland in a galaxy far, far away.

What do all of you see happening out there? Are you, your friends and family making personal adjustments to cope? Send us your observations and thoughts about the changes you're seeing in Portland on this fine Friday afternoon.

During the closure, TriMet bus lines 12-Sandy, 19-Glisan, 20-Burnside, 33-Fremont and 35-Greeley will be rerouted across the Morrison Bridge. The Steel Bridge is currently closed to all vehicles except MAX trains.

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

Summer time is kitten season. Every summer, Multnomah County Animal Services in Troutdale is overwhelmed with stray, lost, abandoned, and orphaned cats and kittens. June through September are the peak months when the public delivers over 600 cats each month. Last year, Multnomah County Animal Services received over 5,500 cats. The dramatic increase in the number of cats is due to unwanted, unplanned litters of kittens. While kittens are always popular with adopters, there are many wonderful adult cats at the shelter hoping for a new home.

Special Summer Adoption Campaign adoption fees: First kitten -$100, second kitten -$50. All adult cats -$50.

What will this cost County taxpayers?
Nothing. Multnomah County will buy the power output at prices just below our current PGE rates. The investment in the project itself is being made by our private-sector partner SunEdison, which will install, own, operate and maintain the system. Generous state and federal tax credits (BETC and Solar Investment Tax Credit) are key to this deal. The outstanding in-kind support we have received from Energy Trust of Oregon was also critical to our being able to complete this project

Under the agreement, solar energy services provider SunEdison LLC of Maryland will build, own and operate the solar photovoltaic system, selling the power output to Multnomah County under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The county will pay SunEdison for all the power generated by the system at a rate just below what is currently paid to Portland General Electric (PGE). This rate will climb at a fixed annual escalator in line with historical utility price inflation of 2.83 percent.

Jeff has worked for months to get this project done and we are pretty excited that it's happening. Please visit our sustainability page to read about the work that's been done up until now. Also, check out Willamette Week and the Business Journal for stories about this great work.

Click on the neighborhood blog here.

Attend a FREE First Thursday screening of two locally-produced documentaries about air pollution and health.... Filmmakers will be there to answer questions.

On July 3rd see a showing of Savannah Teller Brown's new documentary, "Living Diesel" and Sharon Genasci's documentary, "What's In Our Air?" at the Screening Room on NW 19th Street (925 NW 19th) with snacks and a no-host bar. This is an opportunity to learn about and discuss the problems we have with air pollution in our neighborhoods.

Living Diesel is a new 18-minute documentary about pollution in the air we breathe from the common diesel engine. Diesel is used in most commercial trucks, and in a variety of vehicles, including school busses and stationary diesel engines on heavy equipment. The EPA identified these engines as a source of serious chemical and particulate pollution. Living Diesel explores the effects of this pollution on human health and the resolutions being explored and implemented, with the help of new government policies and the good will of some private companies.

What's in our Air? is a half-hour program filmed in the Seattle, Portland and San Francisco areas. It looks at the health impacts of air pollution in residential neighborhoods and documents neighbors' activism to counter the effects of air pollution. It won a gold medal at the Houston International Film Festival.

A wine and beer bar will provide no-host refreshments and snacks. The program is presented by the Health & Environment Committee, a subcommittee of the Northwest District Association. For more information, contact Neighbors West Northwest at (503) 823-4288.