Radon update: Sumner neighborhood at ‘moderate’ risk

22. February 2013 · Comments Off · Categories: health

New figures released in January 2013 from Portland State University geology department show Sumner neighborhood’s zip code (97220) at lower overall radon risk than bordering zip codes, but still at elevated levels.

Radon is an odorless & naturally occuring gas that has been linked to lung cancer. Residents who spend extended periods of time in their basement are most at risk. The most common mitigation method is a ‘pipe-and-fan’ setup that blows air from the basement.

NE Portland — especially north of the Alameda Ridge — has long been known as a radon hotspot. The PSU report also highlighted areas of risk around the state.

Radon map by zip code (from Oregonian website)

Caption: The Portland radon risk map by zip code, republished from the Oregonian website.

The following table shows the data, including how many tests were performed, what the highest radon reading was among the data set per zip code, average radon levels, and which percentage of tests were above the level considered safe.

Radon map by zip code (from Oregonian website)

Four picocuries per liter (pCi/L) is considered the safe threshhold. About 30% of tests performed in zip code 97220 reported levels above 4 pCi/L.

Sumner Association of Neighbors (SAN) had a rep from the Oregon Lung Association scheduled to discuss radon risk last fall, but unfortunately they had to cancel. We hope to reschedule them for our April 2013 meeting.

For more information, see: 

From roads and traffic to politics to art: Upcoming items of (possible) neighborhood interest

28. January 2013 · Comments Off · Categories: cnn, health, planning, safety, san, transportation

Sumner Association of Neighbors (SAN) in Northeast Portland gets a variety of email from civic organizations (plus countless others offering medical remedies or seeking wire transfer assistance). Here is a selection of upcoming — and free — topics that neighbors in Sumner might be interested in.

Item #1: Open house > I-205/Airport Way interchange


Civic group: ODOT
Dates: Tuessday afternoon, Jan 29, 4:30 TO 6:30 PM
Location: Residence Inn Portland Airport, 9301 NE Cascades Parkway
More info: Aiport Way interchange project

Construction will begin this spring on the Interstate 205/Airport Way interchange project. A major feature of the project will be a new free-flowing right-turn ramp from westbound Airport Way to northbound I-205. Eastbound drivers turning left onto northbound I-205 will have two turn lanes and will no longer have to share the traffic signal with westbound drivers heading for northbound I-205.

Item #2: Town Hall with our new State Rep and State Senator


Who: House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senator Chip Shields
Date: Saturday morning, Feb 2, at 10 AM
Location: Classic Foods, 817 NE Madrona St. (map)
About: Redistricting in 2011 moved most of Sumner neighborhood into House District 44, represented by Kotek, and Senate District 22, represented by Shields.

Item #3: Columbia River Crossing project: Its impact on I-205 & Sandy Blvd


Civic group: Columbia River Crossing presenting at the Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) land use & transportation meeting
Dates: Monday evening, February 4, 7 PM
Location: CNN office, 4415 NE 87th Ave
More info:

Presentation by Anne Pressentin of CRC on the upcoming tolls on the I-5 bridge and expected traffic diversion to
I-205 via Sandy Boulevard. Also, a preview by Sharon White of PBOT of the Sandy Blvd Crash Corridor open house on ednesday, March 6.

Item #4: How to Be an Agent of Change in Your Circle of Influence


Civic group: Center for Earth Leadership
Dates: Six Wednesday evenings, starting Feb 20
Contact: 503-227-2315 or emily@earthleaders.org

Our upcoming no-cost “Agent of Change” training is ideal for those interested in building community in their neighborhood. Many past participants envision changes within their immediate neighborhoods to increase neighbor connections and livability qualities to create a more place-based community. This training provides a tested framework, tools, and assistance with creating a plan, all with support and in consultation with other active Portlanders.

Item #5: Eastside Forum Project: Interactive Theatre and Community Building Training for 82nd Ave Neighbors


Dates: March 9-10, 2013
Civic group: Living Stages
Contact: tamara@livingstages.org

Community participants will receive training in community-building, leadership, and interactive theatre while developing a series of short interactive plays based on their own experiences of the challenges and possibilities of living, working, accessing services along 82nd Avenue. No theatre experience is necessary! The training will be offered free to members of the community along 82nd Avenue.

Concerned about safety on Sandy Blvd? Let PBOT know at open house on Wed, March 6

10. January 2013 · Comments Off · Categories: health, safety, san, transportation

The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is holding a PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE about the Sandy Blvd High Crash Corridor Safety Project on Wednesday evening, March 6. Everyone is invited to learn more and offer feedback.

The city has a number of High Crash Corridors earmarked for improvement. 2013 is the year PBOT will focus on safety improvements on Sandy Blvd from SE 11th Ave. to NE Killingsworth St. This is a great opportunity for Sumner neighborhood residents and businesses to voice concerns and make specific requests and suggestions.

Drop by on Wednesday, March 6, anytime between 6:30 and 8:30 PM at the Hollywood Senior Center, 1820 NE 40th Avenue (map), to learn more and provide your feedback. An optional Overview Presentation will begin at 7:00 PM. Share your feedback about:

  • Existing conditions
  • Pedestrian, bicycle & transit deficiencies
  • Problem areas

Here in Sumner neighborhood of NE Portland, some improvements have recently been made. At our request, PBOT installed sidewalks on the south side of Sandy from NE 85th to I-205 during 2012. The north side is scheduled to be completed this year.

Likewise, PBOT installed a signalled crosswalk on Sandy Blvd at NE 87th in the fall of 2012. We have requested a signalled crosswalk on Sandy Blvd at NE 91st, which has been included — but not funded — in the East Portland in Motion (EPIM) plan completed in 2012.

Language interpretation will be provided at the Open House if requested by February 22nd. Contact Sharon White at (503) 823-7100 or sharon.white@portlandoregon.gov to submit a request for language interpretation.

For more information, see the High Crash Corridor Safety Program on the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation website.

Sharon (of PBOT) and Shelli Romero of ODOT will attend our neighborhood meeting on March 19 to discuss the Sandy Blvd crash corridor in more detail.

Raised beds built, cover crop sown at second Helensview community garden work party

05. November 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: food, fun, gardening, health, helensview, san

We had another great turnout Saturday for our second Helensview community garden work party. Portland Community Gardens and Hands on Portland lured some of their resourceful garden ninjas. Even Portland city Commissioner Amanda Fritz joined us!

The raised beds will be avaliable for low-mobility gardeners to rent. The ‘cover crop’ is good for two reasons: One, it keeps the compost from running off during the winter rain. Two, the cover crop (beans, Kathy said, I thinkwinter pea and rye, per Holly) are rich in nitrogen and so they’ll enrich the soil when they get plowed under before the garden’s grand opening on March 9.

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: The ‘before’ group photo. That might look like nasty muck, but it is sweet compost for the garden plots.

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: Kathy, with Portland Community Gardens, demonstrating how to sow the seeds for cover crop

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: Sheree, Heather, Carrie, and John raking soil over the sown seeds

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: Nieghborhood garden ninjas John and Chris putting together one raised bed

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: Tanner, Brennan, Carrie, and Alec putting together the other raised bed

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: Getting a raised bed in place. (Do not try this at home: That thing was heavy.)

2nd Helensview garden work party 3 Nov 2012
Caption: The ‘after’ group photo

Thanks to Laura and Kathy at Portland Community Gardens (PCG) for scheduling and running this event. Thanks to Holly and John at Hands on Portland for helping to coordinate the event & bringing in Brennan, Carrie and Alec. And thanks to all our awesome neighbors who volunteered under the threat of rain — John and Katherine, Erica, Tanner, Chris, Cort, Heather, Laura and Sheree!

Reminder: You can sign up today for a garden plot at Helensview community garden. Sign up now, but individual plots won’t be chosen until our grand opening and garden party on Saturday, March 9, 2013. PCG offers scholarship for gardeners who cannot afford the rental fee, so sign up and mark your calendar!

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