Lower Burnside news...
Jan 5,2009
Choose Local and Save
by pearlgirl
In 2009, spending judiciously has become a priority for most of us. Fortunately, a friend of ours has devised a wonderful way to support local businesses and save money at the same time. It's called the Choose Local Card Progam . Very Portland. Although Mapclicks Owner David Bentley created the Choose Local Card Program back in summer 2007 , the program is getting loads of favorable attention these days from the likes of UrbanMamas , Around the Sun , OurPDX , KGW and other local media. Choosing local and saving money has always been a good idea, but in these tough times it has become a necessity. This year, neighborhood notes is partnering with Mapclicks to further familiarize you with the Choose Local Card Program. Every couple of weeks, we'll introduce you to a local business that participates in the Choose Local Card Program. You'll meet the owners, take a peek inside their shop, find out what type of goods and services they offer and, of course, learn about their cur
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posted at 11:19 AM
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Jan 2,2009
Portland Water Bureau unveils toilet rebate program
by jenniferd
Beginning January 1, 2009, Portland Water Bureau customers are invited to take advantage of a new toilet rebate program sponsored by the Portland Water Bureau for a limited time. Customers can apply for a $100 rebate for replacing a traditional toilet (1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) or more) with a newer, more water-efficient model that has been labeled WaterSense, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To earn the EPA's WaterSense label , toilets must use no more than 1.28 gpf and meet rigorous performance criteria. The bureau is conducting the program until funds are depleted or until June 30, 2009. To receive the rebate: Applicant must fill out a WaterSense Toilet Rebate Form and return to the Portland Water Bureau no later than June 30, 2009. Applicant must receive water from the Portland Water Bureau and have an active Portland Water Bureau account that is in good standing. Applicant must own the property where the new toilet is being installed or obtain the signatur
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posted at 09:50 AM
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Jan 2,2009
Cinema Junkies » The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
by roxanne
If you have been thinking about seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , run, don't walk to see this remarkable film on the big screen. The film was directed by David Fincher (Fight Club) and based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story of the same title. Fitzgerald wrote that the story was inspired by a comment made by Mark Twain that it was "a pity that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst part at the end." The film has the kind of voyeuristic feel of early Truman Capote or Carson McCullers, whose fiction always seemed to capture a microcosm of humanity that was both fascinating and exposing of the dark underbelly of the deep south. Benjamin Button is an emotionally complex epic, touching all of the deep places in the heart. It is a well-told tale that centers around the big themes in life; love, separation, fear of differences, and vulnerability related to aging and mortality, to name a few. In short, this is a moving story you can really sink
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posted at 08:10 AM
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Dec 19,2008
City of Portland employees exhibit generous spirit this holiday season
by jenniferd
Commissioner Randy Leonard challenged two of the bureaus he oversees to do something different this holiday season. He didn't challenge them to boost morale or work harder during these stressful economic times. Leonard challenged the Portland Water Bureau and the city's Bureau of Development Services to a friendly holiday competition; a competition to fill barrels for the needy. The Water Bureau allied with Portland Fire and Rescue's Toy N Joy Makers program to fill toy barrels. The Bureau of Development Services picked Sunshine Barrels, a food donation program headed up by the Portland Police Bureau. The competition began on December 3 and ended this afternoon. The prize? Not much, really - a hearty congratulation from the Commissioner and bragging rights, of course. Fancy prize or not, however, city employees embraced this competition with a stunning amount of voracity and enthusiasm, especially given the rough state of the economy. The Water Bureau sent 53 barrels off with firef
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posted at 02:33 PM
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Dec 16,2008
***IMPORTANT*** Winter Tips from the Portland Water Bureau
by jenniferd
Okay kiddies -- here's the scoop: the weather is cold, cold, freezing cold. You need to protect your plumbing or you could end up with a miserable, watery situation on your hands....please just trust me on this one! I've seen it too many times. No one wants frozen and/or exploding plumbing in the middle of a snowstorm. It's just not fun. Outside Plumbing Caulk around pipes where they enter the house. Close all foundation vents. Cut wood or Styrofoam blocks to fill vent openings, then slide them into the vents. (You'll want to open the vents again in the spring to prevent dry rot.) Protect outside pipes and faucets. If you have a separate shut off valve for an outside faucet, consider shutting it off and draining it for the winter. If you don't have a separate valve to turn off faucets, you can wrap outside faucets or hose bibs with insulation . Use newspaper or rags covered with plastic, fiberglass or molded foam-insulating covers (available at hardware stores) to
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posted at 02:34 PM
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Dec 15,2008
Notes of Interest » Dec 12 - 14
by shooter
Here are stories you may have missed over the weekend while you were trying to stay warm. (photo: Portland Mercury)
posted at 08:53 AM
1 comments
Dec 5,2008
Gratitude Guide » Southeast Portland
by Jules
We all know that it's better to give than to receive. But what if in the process of giving, you not only did yourself some good, but did others good as well. What if when you hit the stores this year to tackle your holiday shopping list, your purchases benefited a charitable organization or maybe even someone on the other side of the globe? Better yet, what if it benefited your neighbor? This year, in order to help you take the holiday spirit to the next level, we've decided to put together a list of gifts, all found in Portland, that give something back. Some of the gifts give back to the earth, having been made using eco-friendly practices, others give a portion of their proceeds to a good cause, others are committed to making sure artisans around the world are paid fair wages for their work and some goods are manufactured locally. Southeast Portland Gifts That Give Back
A Gift Guide With Gratitude The Gift: You can alw
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posted at 02:23 PM
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Dec 4,2008
Adding Sparkle to Holiday Parties » Nothing Says Thank You Like a Great Bottle of Wine
by pearlgirl
So, you're invited to a holiday party that starts in less than an hour, and you're frantic because you haven't the slightest idea what the host likes. If you were raised in a Japanese family like I was, you know it can be a little embarrassing to show up to someone's house empty-handed. Knowing that wine is a well-received guest in most homes, I think I might have the answer to quell your anxieties—bubbles. Whether you're taking wine to the party as a gift for the host, or to be enjoyed that evening, there are few wines that are as fail-safe as these festive tongue ticklers. Most often, sparklers are drunk before the meal, and they often go well with hors d'oeuvres, so you're safe there. If the host doesn't drink alcohol, or doesn't like the sparkler you bring, he can re-gift it the next time he goes to a party. Hmm. Thankfully, there are fine examples in every price range and are available from many different wine regions around the globe, although the label laws in various a
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posted at 10:42 AM
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Nov 29,2008
Protect Your Home Plumbing from Cold Snaps
by jenniferd
The Portland Water Bureau reminds all customers to protect your indoor and outdoor plumbing from the cold weather -- it's coming! Click here for tips on protecting your indoor plumbing Click here for tips on protecting your outdoor plumbing Freezing temperatures can challenge the city's water infrastructure and your household's water pipes. Be prepared this year. Jennie Day-Burget Public Information Officer
posted at 03:16 PM
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Nov 21,2008
Portland Water Bureau Turns Off Groundwater Supply
by jenniferd
The Portland Water Bureau turned off its groundwater supply system this morning. The system has supplied Water Bureau customers with drinking water since high levels of turbidity forced the bureau to turn off its primary Bull Run water supply last week. "This was an unusual run of groundwater." said Water Bureau Administrator David Shaff. "When intense rain in the Bull Run causes excessive turbidity, that rain is generally followed by more rain which flushes the turbidity out. In this case, there was no more rain, so the levels of turbidity in the watershed remained above acceptable serving levels. Flushing has taken a bit longer than normal." While both of the bureau's water sources, the Bull Run watershed and the Columbia South Shore Well Field (CSSWF) meet and exceed all federal drinking water standards, the bureau relies primarily on the Bull Run source to provider customers with drinking water. The CSSWF is maintained as an emergency back-up for event
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posted at 02:58 PM
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