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M ay 15, 1996 • T he P ortland O bserver
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Volunteers Repair Local Homes
On April 27 and 28 more than 400
volunteers made homes safer, warm­
er and more comfortable for some
area elderly, low income and dis­
abled citizens.
Christmas in April got its name
because, for these residents, it’s like
a Christmas present to have volun­
teers patch the roofs, replace worn
carpeting and linoleum, put in wheel­
chair ramps and do other repair work
on their homes. These are repairs
homeowners cant afford or are un­
able to do themselves. Last year,
Christmas in April contributed more
than $90,000 in materials and in-
kind labor.
This is the 4th year for Christmas
in April in Washington county, and
the 6th in North Portland. Homes are
selected on a basis o f need, working
closely with the various community
agencies that serve the low income
elderly and disabled.
Local volunteers come from cor­
porations such as Intel and US Bank
as well as church groups and trade
unions (painters, plumbers, brick­
layers, and carpenters).
Materials and other contributions
come from such companies as Parr
Lumber, Lumber-mans, Franz Bak­
ery, and Fred Meyer.
This year was probably the most
successful year ever, according to
Ace Guffey President o f the Oregon
State District Council and skills trades
coordinator for Christmas in April.
Commissioner Gretchen Miller
Kafoury announced the third annu­
al award o f grants for non-profit
organizations developing afford­
able housing. Fifteen organizations
will receive funding totalling near­
ly $580,000 under the program.
Groups selected include Cascade
AIDS Project, Central City Con­
cern, Franciscan Enterprise o f Ore­
gon, Portland Habitat for Humani-
“Christmas in April is a great way
for the Oregon Building Trade to
give back to the community. It gives
a great deal o f satisfaction.” said
Guffey. “But we couldn’t do it with
out the hundreds o f volunteers who
gave up a weekend to help.”
More than 26 homes in Washing­
ton County and North Portland were
chosen this year for work ranging
from painting, installing deadbolt
locks and smoke detectors to glazing
windows to reduce energy bills. In
addition six non-profit community
centers also received work.
Christmas in April is the leading
local volunteer organization that re­
habilitated the houses o f low-income
homeowners particularly the elderly
and those with disabilities. There are
115 Christmas in April Chapters in
39 states.
The motto ofChristm as in April is
“Not just fixing up homes in a day,
but fixing up people’s hearts for a
lifetime.”
“ When we select recipients for
our special grants, we look for pro­
grams that reach the peop le who need
it most,” said Carl Talton, Pacific
Power’s Portland general business
manager. “The Home Gardening
Project provides needed vegetables
for those who are in need of inexpen­
sive, healthy balanced meals -- while
teaching environment stewardship --
wise use o f our land.”
Over the past 12 years, the project
has built gardens for clients for Ore­
gon Access, the Multiple Sclerosis
Society, AIDS Hospice and others.
“ We measure our success as a
company by the success o f the com­
munities and people we serve,” Talton
said. “What better way than to assure
that people eat balanced meals and
learn to put the land to Productive
use. A winning combination.”
Tomato Growing Tips From OSU Expert
Growing tomatoes has always been
a challenge to many Oregon home
gardeners.
Cool summers often mean slow
ripening fruits,and when it first frosts
of fall come, many home gardeners
find themselves with an overabun­
dance o f green tomatoes.
To avoid this, make sure to get
tomato starts in the ground between
May 2 and mid-June, recommended
Bill Mansour, Oregon State Univer­
sity vegetable crops specialist.
ty, Housing our families, Human
Solutions, Inner Westside Commu­
nity Development Corporation, Low
Income Housing for Native Ameri­
cans o f Portland Oregon, Network
Behavioral Healthcare, Northwest
Alternative Housing, Portland Com­
munity Reinvestm ent Initiatives,
Portsmouth Community Redevelop­
ment, REACH Community Devel­
opment, Rose Community Develop-
Some o f Mansour’s home garden
tips on growing tomatoes:
-Plan only high quality semi-hard-
ened transplants without blossoms.
Pinch blossoms off transplants to
avoid delayed flowering
-Prevent transplant shock by set­
ting plants out in a protected area for
a week before planting in final place.
-Thoroughly water plants 12 to 14
hours before transplanting to the gar­
den.
-Be careful about fertilizing young
plants.
Irrigate tomatoes to maintain a
steady moisture content in the soil.
-Use black plastic or other heat
transmitting ground mulches and/or
row covers or tunnels if possible.
-Lengthen the tomato harvest sea­
son by gathering mature green toma­
toes before the first frost. Store them
at 50 degrees and ripen at 70 degrees.
-Plant tomato transplants about I-
2 feet apart in rows 3-5 feet apart.
For more information call OSU.
Pacific Power is providing a grant
to the Home Gardening Project of
Portland to help feed elderly, dis­
abled and single parents.
since 1984, volunteers have con­
structed 1270 vegetable gardens.
This year, they will add 150 new
spaces — many in the inner northeast
areas.
They also supply seeds, starts and
fertilize to previous participants.
“ When we select recipients for
our special grants, we look for pro­
grams that reach the people who need
it most,” said Carl Talton, Pacific
Power’s Portland general business
manager. “The Home Gardening
Project provides needed vegetables
for those who are in need of inexpen­
sive, healthy balanced meals -- while
teaching environment stewardship —
wise use o f our land.”
Dad's
and electricity.”
B P A owns and operated more than
15,000 miles o f high voltage power
lines in the northwest. Many o f those
lines pass through rural neighbor­
hoods, including private property.
Local public utilities own and oper­
ate lower voltage distribution lines
that run along streets and deliver
power directly to homes and busi­
nesses.
When people improve their prop­
erty with trees, fences or other struc­
tures BPA advises them to keep in
mind power lines nearby.
Trees need not touch power lines
to be dangerous. During hot weather,
or when carrying heavy amounts of
electrical power lines can sag dan­
gerously close to trees. Electricity
can “arc" or jum p from power lines
to nearby trees. Safely growing and
pruning trees and shrubs can make
the difference between creating beau-
tiful landscapes or safety hazards.
Portland Farmers’ Market an­
nounced that its fifth season will
begin Saturday, May 11. The mar­
ket will be open every Saturday
from 8 a.m. to p.m. through Octo­
ber 26
The market is found along the
Willamette River at I200N W Front
Ave., just north o f the Broadway
Bridge.
Housing
Fair
The Portland HousingCenter in part­
nership with the Fannie Mae Foun­
dation will host the annunal Home
Buying Fair May 18 at St. Andrew’s
Catholic Church, 4940 NE 8th Ave.
from 11 a m. to 3 p.m. It presents an
opportunity for low-income renters
interested in buying a home to talk
to lenders, non-profit housing de­
velopers, and realters.
There will be mini workshops on
credit, the home loan process, work­
ing with realters and how to get
started. A childrens activity comer
will help with childcare, and there
will be door prizes.
At the Market, customers can buy
fresh produce directly from the farm­
er who grew it. In May, along with
early season vegetables, vendors will
be selling a wide selection o f starts
and bedding plants. There will also
be plenty o f cut flowers and bou­
quets.
Specialty products sold at the
market include wi Id mushrooms, goat
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PEST CONTROL
Only trained experts should remove
trees that are close to transmission
lines.
Anyone planning to remove de­
bris or plant or build anything that
could interfere with power lines or
facilities should contact BPA first.
Their danger tree specialists can pre­
vent problems before they start.
Construction & Painting Company
John McVeety 282-9233
milk cheese, jam s and jellies, honey
breads, pies and other baked goods.
Five garden talks are scheduled
at 10 a m. for the beginning o f the
season. The Chefs in the Market
program will begin June 22 with 16
local chefs giving cooking demon­
strations using fresh market pro­
duce.
For more information 705-2460.
ARPENTER ANT
Northwest Color
YOU
Over the past 12 years, the project
has built gardens for clients for Ore­
gon Access, the Multiple Sclerosis
Society, AIDS Hospice and others.
“ We measure our success as a
company by the success o f the com ­
munities and people we serve,’’Talton
said. “ What better way than to assure
that people eat balanced meals and
learn to put the land to Productive
use. A winning combination.”
Portland’s Farmers’ Market Opens
Warnings About Spring Cleaning Around Power Lines
Spring is here, marked by the roar
o f chain saws as people clear away
winterdebris. While the bigclean-up
begins the Bonneville Power Ad­
ministration is asking northwest res­
idents to help keep trees and other
potential hazards away from power
lines
“As northwest cities grow, more
housing and recreational activities
are spreading into what were once
rural areas where high-voltage pow­
er lines are located,” said Kirk
T ousley o f BP A . “This situation along
with tumultuous weather conditions,
can create a dangerous mix of people
ment, and Sabin Community De­
velopment. Recipients under the Op­
erating Support Program were se­
lected through a competitive appli­
cation process by a Review Panel o f
seven citizens
Kafoury said, “We are very pleased
with our strong partnerships with the
non-profit developers. These grants
help build their delivery and in turn
help stabilize neighborhoods.
Home Gardening Project
Recieves Grants
Home Gardening Project Recieves Grants
Pacific Power is providing a grant
to the Home Gardening Project of
Portland to help feed elderly, dis­
abled and single parents.
since 1984, volunteers have con­
structed 1270 vegetable gardens.
This year, they will add 150 new
spaces -- many in the inner northeast
areas.
They also supply seeds, starts and
fertilize to previous participants.
Housing Grants Awarded
Bonded & Insured
I
PURHAM
»U STI
C O N S T R U C T IO N
DEVELOPM ENT
EDWARD T. DURHAM, JR.
(503) 319-0821
FAX 283-2977
317 B. N.E. KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND, OREGON 9721 I