Along with Director Zari Santner, Nick celebrated the opening of Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Playground program and the first Free Federal Lunch program of the summer last Friday at Montavilla Park. The Summer Playground Program brings young Portlanders fun, healthy, and free drop-in activities at Portland’s many parks throughout the summer. Kids can participate in sports, games, arts and crafts projects, enjoy free lunches, and cool off in wading pools at a wide variety of locations, all supervised by playground leaders.

The Summer Playground program recently benefited from a huge donation of goods from local and national businesses organized by Al Roker’s “Lend A Hand” program, which recognized the Portland Parks Foundation as one of five stops on the program’s 8^th national tour and which filmed a segment for NBC’s Today Show here in Portland last week.

These youth programs are part of the Parks Bureau’s larger Summer Free For All program, which offers events ranging from the popular movies in the park and park concerts to free swims and free gym times at Community Centers across the City. Check out the Parks website at www.portlandonline.com/parks to find a fun event for your family!

Thanks to Flickr user p medved for the great photo!

In early March, Portland City Council approved, by a 3-2 vote, a proposal to bring Major League Soccer to Portland and to relocate the Portland Beavers. I voted against the original stadium deal. I concluded that it required too much public subsidy and did not provide enough public benefit.

Since the first vote, the City explored Memorial Coliseum and Lents Park as potential sites for a new baseball stadium.

I objected to locating a minor league stadium and parking in Lents Park, and to funding a new stadium with urban renewal dollars dedicated to affordable housing.

On June 24, the Council voted in favor of a resolution to decouple soccer and baseball.

I voted in favor of the proposal, which doesn’t create any financial obligation for the City but will allow the City’s negotiating team to explore options to bring Major League Soccer to the Rose City in a financially responsible way.

Lisa Loving has profiled our outstanding Multnomah Youth Commissioner, Shantel Monk, in the Skanner's Careers issue, available now. Writes Loving, "we at The Skanner sought out the most inspirational person we could find to offer advice on preparing for the future." That person, as we on the Fish Team knew, is Shantel Monk.

"With economy problems that we have now," Shantel offered, "don't let the negativity that's going on now stop you from living your dream. I don't intend to and you shouldn't either."

Shantel, a recent graduate, is on her way to Spelman College this fall. As our Youth Commissioner, she has been a tremendous addition to our team, and we wish her the very best in Atlanta.

Kristy Wood, Executive Director of Community Warehouse, reports that the Warehouse collected enough ReUse Week donations to help 34 area families. (She also notes that City employees out-donated County folks, although only by the barest of margins.) Kristy tells us that for the first time in two months, the Warehouse is full.

Thanks to all - citizens of Portland along with City and County employees - for your generosity in this extraordinary effort to give items new life within our community!

"I believe we will continue to see donations throughout the summer as a result of this effort," Kristy writes. "We also received some donations for the other organizations and made quite a few referrals to Free Geek and Rebuilding Center. Thanks again for your friendship and excellent efforts."

In his first commencement address as a Portland City Commissioner, Nick congratulated graduates of the REACH CDC Youth$ave program. For 10 years, the Youth$ave program has taught young people essential financial skills, including budgeting, goal-setting, media-literacy, and how to use credit.

Students set personal goals at the beginning of the program - goals which must be artistic, educational, athletic, or entrepreneurial in nature - and their savings are matched two to one by the program. Youth$ave also offers match money for time spent in community service projects. The programs has helped students save for summer camp, sports fees, college, musical instruments, art supplies, and much more.

Thanks to Justine Reimnitz for the photos! See more in our 'Photo Gallery'    

Nick reminded the graduates of Nelson Mandela's words: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." He encouraged the students to carry their newly-acquired skills with them throughout their lives.

Congratulations, Youth$avers!  

Multnomah County has been identified as the fourth hardest to count county in Oregon; to combat the historical difficulty in accurately reporting on our area, Commissioner Fish and Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury are joining to chair the Complete Count Committee for Census 2010.

Thanks to Flickr user Donna62 for the photo!

Last Saturday, June 13, a group of volunteers gathered for a paddle up the Willamette to the 45-acre parcel of Ross Island donated in 2007 by Robert Pamplin Jr., owner of Ross Island Sand and Gravel. Part of an internationally recognized bird habitat, Ross Island also hosts a number of invasive species, the most pernicious of which is garlic mustard. The group removed numerous bags of the plant, which spreads rapidly and can inhibit the growth of other plants, during the inaugural work party in the area. It will take years to fully restore the native habitat of this, one of Portland's newest natural areas.

Friends of Ross Island will host three more Saturday outings to remove invasive species and litter: July 11, August 8, and September 12. Boats depart from the Portland Boathouse at 9:00 and return around noon.

For more information, or to registed, contact Marissa Dorais in the City's Bureau of Environmental Services at marissa.dorais@bes.ci.portland.or.us or by phone at 503-823-7016.

Nick with Oregon State Senator Suzanne Bonamici, with whom he penned a recent guest opinion piece in the Oregonian and who is leading the charge on important legislation to help renters and homeowners facing foreclosure.

Nick with Oregon State Representative Tina Kotek, whose good work facilitated the passage of two broad health reform bills this past Monday. The bills aim to contain costs, create a new health agency and add thousands of uninsured adults and children to the state health plan.

"Legislators and health care advocates said the bills represent Oregon's biggest leap forward in health reform since it enacted the Oregon Health Plan 15 years ago," wrote Bill Graves in the Oregonian this past Monday.

Nick with Philip Tang and former Portland Mayor Bud Clark

Thanks to Philip Tang for the photos!    

Portland's Classical Chinese Garden is an authentically built living museum of Chinese trees and flora. Constructed in the Ming Dynasty style, the non-profit Garden is nationally known for its unique beauty and is a draw for visitors from around the world.

Nick was honored to participate in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Portland's Classical Chinese Garden on Sunday, June 7. Also in attendance were Mayor Sam Adams and former Mayors Bud Clark and Vera Katz.

Thanks to Charles King for the photo!  

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of Portland's sister-city relationship with the city of Sapporo, Japan. Several activities marked the occasion: an official recognition ceremony in Council chambers at City Hall on Friday afternoon was followed by a reception in the City Hall Atrium; a Friday evening Dinner & Reception was hosted by the interim Consul General of Japan, Mr. Murabayashi; and members of the official delegation from Sapporo marched in the 2009 Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, June 6.

Nick was honored to be participate in these special events and to be a part of the unique bond between Sapporo and Portland.