Portland Parents

Tri-Met is trying to figure out how to make fareless square work better. On one hand, some people would like to abolish the whole thing. On the other, Tri-Met seems to feel that Fareless Square encourages drug merchants to hang out downtown; all they have to do to relocate is hop a bus.

Fareless Square was a lifesaver for me, when I was a teen. I remember walking home from Washington Park in the middle of the night ( never you mind what I was doing, as a teen, in Washington Park in the night ). When it was raining out, I could get a few blocks’ respite by hopping a bus. It was a lit place I could sit down and not worry about the other predators I was sure were out to get me downtown.

“Before you do away with something that has given our city a great reputation . . . and, in fact, is uniquely Portland-esque, start with the problem — not an arbitrary, idealized, absurd notion that somehow if you just make everyone pay, the system will change,” Uris said.

source

I’m anti-closing the Fareless Square. And the Portland Mercury seems to agree with me. In my humble opinion, fareless square, even during the nighttime hours which don’t necessarily support shopping and touristing, still have benefits that Tri-Met isn’t considering.

Oregon Public Broadcasting is looking into neighborhood schools and transfer policies in Oregon’s schools – and we want to hear from parents and teachers and students.

What is the state of your neighborhood school?

If you’re a parent or a student, is your neighborhood school meeting your needs? Have you transferred or considered transferring?

If you’re a teacher or administrator, have you seen changes in your school or classroom as a result of transfers?

Tell us about your experience by checking out our online question form.

We treat everyone who responds as a confidential news sources. No personal information or responses will end up on the air or on the Web without your direct permission. And we never share your information outside of the newsroom, which means no marketing or requests for donations as a result of signing up.

Your answers will help guide our coverage of several upcoming education issues. As well, people who fill out our survey form become a part of the Public Insight Network. The Public Insight Network is a group of people throughout the state who share their knowledge and experience to help make OPB’s news coverage stronger.

Get in touch with the Portland Neighborhood Speed Reader Board Program. The City of Portland has just purchased a half dozen new “Your Speed…” signs and lends them out to concerned neighborhood associations. Check out this PDF

PORTLAND, Oregon – A new safety program launched by the city of Portland to help neighborhoods slow speeding traffic, uses the latest radar speed management technology from Information Display Company (IDC). The City of Portland Office of Transportation recently purchased six “smart” speed reader boards (also known as “Your Speed” signs) from Portland-based IDC, which are being used by the city for temporary use in neighborhoods experiencing problems with speeding traffic.
In the last couple of years, budget shortfalls have significantly reduced city-funded traffic calming projects in Portland. The new Neighborhood Speed Reader Board Program was created as a flexible, cost-efficient and highly effective alternative for Portland neighborhoods looking to slow speeding traffic, particularly around schools, playgrounds and residential streets.
The speed reader boards being used by the city of Portland are supplied by Portland-based Information Display Company, one of the largest designers and manufacturers of traffic calming technology. The signs are designed for temporary mounting on existing utility poles, portable stands or other devices where they detect approaching vehicles and display to passing drivers their actual speed.
“Studies have shown that in the overwhelming majority of cases, speeding drivers do not mean to break the law but rather drive over the limit because they are simply not paying attention to either the posted limit or their actual speed,” said Gary O’Dell, president of Information Display Company. “By displaying the car’s actual speed, speed reader boards remind drivers to check their speedometer and to slow down if necessary.”
Individuals interested in obtaining a speed reader board from the city begin by making a request to Portland’s Traffic Safety and Neighborhood Livability Hot Line at (503) 823-SAFE. Deployment of the signs is determined primarily by speed and crash history of the problem area and by citizen referral. The city currently owns six radar signs, which are being deployed for approximately 2 weeks in each location.
To augment the city’s speed reader board program, Information Display Company launched a complimentary program of its own. Through its FastTrack program, IDC loans radar speed signs to qualified groups or organizations on a 30-day trial basis. Once it’s determined that the sign provides effective results, the signs may be purchased at a special “fast track” discount rate.
“In the past couple of years, traffic calming with radar speed signs has moved solidly into broad stream acceptance throughout the traffic safety industry,” said O’Dell. “Not only has the technology been proven effective, but it is also proving to be a great alternative to speed bumps and
other old-tech solutions that can impede emergency vehicles, increase traffic noise or add a host of other concerns.”
More information on IDC’s FastTrack program as well as information on other traffic calming options including grant funding and federal government programs can be found on the IDC-sponsored neighborhood traffic control information web site.

Open Arms is a parent driven play group, of the Northwest Down Syndrome Association, for children ages birth through five, with Down syndrome and their family. The play group is organized to give parents opportunities to connect with each other on a personal level by asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning from others experience. Open Arms is a fun place where children can play, snack, learn and grow together. The play group instills their belief that parents are the experts and number one advocate of their children.

It’s the third Friday of each month, 10AM – 11:30AM, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1244 NW 39th Ave, Portland OR 97232.( map)

A Message from Open Arms Chair
As a proud parent of a child with a beautiful smile, caring personality, vast array of abilities, bright future, and Down syndrome diagnosis, I would like to welcome you to Open Arms Play Group. My life would not be the same without having a child with Down syndrome or without meeting all of the families that have been involved in Open Arms. If you have recently discovered you are expecting a baby or recently delivered a baby, with a Down syndrome diagnosis, please call or join us at play group. For more information on our organization and ways in which you can become unvolved or donate, please visit the Northwest Down Syndrome website or call (503) 238-0522.

Date/time: Saturday April 28, 2007; 3-7 p.m.
Location: PCC Cascade Gymnasium, 705 N. Killingsworth, Portland OR 97217
Cost: Kids $15; Adults and kids under 2 are free
Details: Fiesta Viva! is a community celebration that features music and dance for kids of all ages. Highlights include fantastic music by David Hall and Cana Son, salsa dance lessons, face painting, book readings, food, shopping and more. Proceeds will go to support teacher development and scholarships at at Escuela Viva, a dual language preschool and kindergarten in NE Portland.

Contact kathleen to find out more.