By ANDREW WILKINS

There’s still much to learn about how the upgrades will be done, but on the same day as a rally reinforcing the call for these exact improvements on 82nd Avenue, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced over $3 million in pedestrian upgrades. It’s great to see this kind of laser-focused advocacy bear fruit for such an important issue.

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This week, as the Oregonian reports, the director of the Office of Community & Civic Life Suk Rhee stepped down. The office that oversees and funds Portland’s 95 neighborhood associations was the subject of multiple complaints from employees as well as a controversy surrounding an effort to re-organize the City’s relationship with neighborhood associations, the city’s only geography-based representation.

FRIDAY, MAY 14

Feminist open mic

“PCC Sylvania Women’s Resource Center and Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance Club invite you to a feminist open mic night where women and people with lived experience of misogyny are welcome to perform a song, read a short story or essay, recite a poem or monologue, or share a bit of comedy. Everyone is welcome to participate in this event as an audience member.” 

Click here for the Zoom link.

online * 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 15

Plant swap

Just a reminder— the Lents Tool Library is open on Saturdays. It’s open Wednesdays too, so if you need to borrow a tool, check out their website. You can also see the East Portand neighborhoods included in their coverage area (Montavilla and Powellhurst-Gilbert as well as a few others. Learn more about their pandemic precautions at their link too.

There’s also a plant swap on Saturday, as part of Green Lents seed catalogue:

“… bring your plants and starts to swap, get free compost, seeds, and ideas. Held in the courtyard, you can bring your plants and seeds and gardening resources to swap and share, and stock up on compost and seeds from the Seed Library.”

They’re looking for volunteers as well.

Lents Tool Library, 9215 SE Ramona St * 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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Urban weeds

“Learn how to identify the most common garden and landscape weeds along with some of the other more notorious plant invaders of the region. We will walk you through how these aggressive plants can take over in your yard and provide some simple yet effective tips that will help you get the upper hand without turning to synthetic herbicides.”

Pre-registration (here) is required.

online * 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

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Tech help

The Multnomah County Library offers a free 50-minute technology lesson in multiple languages. Learn more about the program— and learn about more of the library’s great onlline programming here.

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Five libraries open on June 1st— including East Portland’s Midland. Read more in this Southeast Examiner article.

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Live music

Looks like live music is back at the Eastside Tavern. Learn more and see all their upcoming shows on their Facebook page.

2530 NE 82nd Ave. * 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. * $5

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SUNDAY, MAY 16

Farmers market

Learn more about the market’s vendors here. They need volunteers if you have time and want to help out this great event.

Also: both the Woodstock Farmers Market and the Lents International Farmers Market opens on June 6th!

7700 block of SE Stark St. * 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Have a great weekend!