EVENTS and Activities

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 2, 2024

OCTOBER 1

Free yard trees from PP&R: Today, and throughout the month, you can register to receive two free yard trees – NOT trees for the parking strip! – from Portland Parks & Recreation’s department of Urban Forestry. Pick up the trees, mulch, and watering buckets, at one of the PP&R Saturday events. No room for trees, but still want to participate? Help is needed to make these events work, and no prior experience is necessary. Sign up for trees, get more information, or sign up to volunteer, all online – http://www.portland.gov/freeyardtrees

OCTOBER 2

“Ranked choice voting” tutorial tonight: Ranked-choice voting will be new to Portland in November. Whether you are in District 3 or District 4, if you want to know more about it, this evening there will be a presentation hosted by the Woodstock Neighborhood Association at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall of All Saints Episcopal Church, 4033 S.E. Woodstock Boulevard. No charge.

Portland Dahlia Society Show at Oaks Park: This annual show will offer “hundreds of show stopping blooms and floral arrangements featuring the dahlia” on display, all competing for Best in Show. Experienced dahlia growers will be on hand to answer questions to anyone seeking dahlia growing tips. The show is presented by Portland Dahlia Society and serves as a regional show within the Pacific Northwest. Blooms will be on display from as far away as California, the Puget Sound area of Washington, and Idaho. It’s in Oaks Park’s historic Dance Pavilion – today, noon until 5, and tomorrow 10 to 3. No admission charge – but be aware that Oaks Park now has a $3 per car parking fee. For more information, visit the Society’s webpage – http://www.portlanddahlia.com

Reed Neighborhood Association Fall Festival: This afternoon, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Reedwood Friends Church, it’s the Reed Neighborhood Fall Festival – a family friendly festival with a bounce house, pumpkin painting, and more, being planned. This is a great chance for all of the neighborhood parents to get to know one another and kids to play together. We look forward to seeing many families! And for adults, Portland’s original urban winery, Hip Chicks Do Wine, will be offering wine tastings. They have been making wine since 1999 and they have had their tasting room in the Reed Neighborhood since 2001. Come out to enjoy their latest creations. The Reedwood Church is on S.E. Steele Street, a block east of 28th, on the north side of Steele.

OCTOBER 6

City Council Dist. 4 Candidates Forum this afternoon: SMILE, the Sellwood-Westmoreland neighborhood association, presents an Election Forum for District 4 City Council candidates this afternoon, 1-4 p.m., at Sellwood Community House – on S.E. 11th Avenue at Spokane Street (one block north of Tacoma Street). Voters in Eastmoreland, the Reed neighborhood, and the City of Portland’s part of Milwaukie’s Ardenwald neighborhood, will all be voting in District 4 and may also want to be there. All declared District 4 candidates have been invited to briefly introduce themselves, provide election materials, and chat with their new District 4 voters located east of the Willamette River.

OCTOBER 8

Mindfulness Course for parents and children: Moreland Presbyterian presents this useful course for families every Tuesday in October, starting today, from 4 to 5 p.m. Interested? Come to the first one and learn more about it – or go online to: http://www.morelandpres.org/events. The church faces S.E. Bybee Boulevard between 18th and 19th Avenues in Westmoreland.

OCTOBER 11

Free tour of Woodstock Fire Station 25 this morning: If you have ever wanted to see what’s in a fire station, today is your chance. The Woodstock Neighborhood Association’s “Woodstock Walks” on-foot tour will meet at Woodstock Park at 9:30 a.m. this morning, and then walk to Fire Station 25 at S.E. Mall and 52nd Avenue (s block north of Holgate). There is no school on this day, Friday, and all ages are welcome.

OCTOBER 20

Monthly meeting of the SMILE History Committee: It’s 3-5 p.m., in the shiny new basement meeting room at SMILE Station, S.E. 13th and Tenino. Curious about neighborhood history? “Learn how to uncover its stories as we delve into the history of buildings and their residents. Bring your laptop computer if you wish as research sources, including photos from the SMILE collection, are shared and explained. Students are welcome. Enter on the north side of building (down the steps).

Annual spaghetti dinner tonight: The St. Agatha Annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser returns! Come anytime from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today to the St. Agatha Parish Hall, 7960 S.E. 15th Avenue in Sellwood, and come hungry. The price for this feast is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $10 for children age 7 and above. Kids six and under eat free!

OCTOBER 26

A new “Midway Mayhem Walking Tour”: Just in time for Hallowe’en! New material featuring stories of eccentrics, true crime, and bad behavior in the northern part of the Sellwood-Westmoreland neighborhood – in “Midway”. Departing at dusk (5:30 p.m.) from S.E. Insley and Milwaukie Avenue, the walk will last one hour, ending near the Iron Horse building at S.E. Martins Street. Organized by the SMILE History Committee, the event is free – but donations are gladly accepted. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. No reservations necessary.

OCTOBER 27

Annual “Moreland Monster March” this afternoon: The SMBA (Sellwood Moreland Business Alliance) announces that the annual “Moreland Monster March” all-comers costumed parade through Westmoreland will start, as usual, from Llwellyn Elementary School at 6301 S.E. 14th Avenue — with those who want to be in it starting to line up there by 2:45 p.m. The parade sets out eastbound on S.E. Tolman, led by the Sellwood Middle School Band — turning south on Milwaukie Avenue, then west on Bybee Boulevard, and finally north again on 14th to the Llwellyn playground, where it ends with the 5th grade Bake Sale! Put on a costume, bring everyone, and join the parade through Westmoreland!