Milwaukie City Council is assembling a citizen task force for the second phase of the Milwaukie Baseball Stadium project. The stadium is proposed to be constructed on a site next to Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood’s western neighborhood boundary.

Anyone interested in volunteering to serve on the task force can submit an application by 5:00 p.m. on January 27, 2012.

More details and the application form are available online at City of Milwaukie website. Additional resources are also available on Ardenwald.org’s Baseball Stadium page.

Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association members approve donating funds for the upcoming Milwaukie Police Officer’s Dinner.

Ardenwald’s Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) representative Macy Bishop announced the officers’ recognition dinner during the regular neighborhood meeting committee reports on January 10, 2012.

Bishop said three other Milwaukie neighborhood associations already agreed donating money for funding the dinner. The donation helps pay for the officers’ and their guest’s dinner that will be held at the American Legions Post 180 on March 7, 2012.

After a brief discussion, Bishop moves to make a motion to donate $150 to the Milwaukie Police Officer’s Dinner. Ardenwald’s Southeast Uplift representative Marianne Colgrove seconds the motion.

Neighborhood members in attendance vote unanimously to donate $150 to the dinner.

The Milwaukie Police Officers’ Dinner is an annual award dinner to honor Milwaukie police officers, reserve officers, and cadets. The Milwaukie Public Safety Foundation and the Milwaukie Public Safety Advisory Committee host the dinner.

Milwaukie City Council is holding a special session meeting Monday, January 9, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in Milwaukie City Hall to decide on proceeding with the baseball stadium project.

The Council will hear staff reports and public comments at the meeting before making a decision to whether or not to proceed on to Phase 2 of the project. Phase 2 focuses on the stadium design and costs, and economic impact analysis studies.

An Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance facility site in northern Milwaukie is likely the new home for the stadium. The planned site is also close to several residential homes along the Ardenwald-Johnson Creek neighborhood western boundary, only with the railroad tracks separating the residents and the stadium.

The Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association organization does not have an official position to support or oppose the baseball stadium. There have been past discussions on the baseball topic at past neighborhood meetings.

City Council Meeting Agenda: http://www.ci.milwaukie.or.us/sites/default/files/meetingagendas/ccss010912a.pdf

City Council Meeting Packet (10 MB PDF): http://www.ci.milwaukie.or.us/sites/default/files/archives/council/councilpackets/2010/ccss010912p.pdf

Ardenwald-Johnson Creek NDA Baseball Stadium Page: http://www.ardenwald.org/projects/baseball

Meeting Location: Ardenwald Elementary School, Room 101, 6:30 PM

1. Introductions – 6:30
2. Police Reports – 6:35
3. Ardenwald-Johnson Creek NDA Neighborhood Welcome Brochure – 6:45
4. Committee Reports – 7:00
1. Vice-chair
2. Secretary
3. Webmaster
4. Treasurer
5. Land Use
6. Southeast Uplift
7. Transportation
8. Public Safety Advisory Committee
9. Membership
10. Art
11. Balfour Street Park
12. Tacoma Park & Ride

5. Approve Meeting Minutes – 7:40
1. November 8, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes
2. December 13, 2011 Special Meeting Minutes
6. Adjournment – 7:45

Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood District Association (NDA) meetings are open to the public. Pizza and soft beverages are served at each regular NDA meetings. For more information about the neighborhood meetings and for past meeting agendas and minutes, visit the Meetings web page at  www.ardenwald.org/meetings.

Download Jan. 10, 2012 Regular Meeting Agenda (PDF)

The Friends of Tideman Johnson Park are taking the month of January off, therefore there is no work party for the month of January.

The next work party is on Saturday, February 4, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Tideman Johnson Park’s S.E. 37th Ave. connector trail. All ages are welcome to volunteer help.

For more information about the park and the work party, please visit the Friends of Tideman Johnson Park webpage.

Several neighbors and community leaders gathered Tuesday night to feast and have a great time at the Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood District Association’s holiday potluck.

Hot ham, potatoes, vegetables, treats and beverages were aplenty for the 25 guests and representatives in attendance, dining in the Ardenwald Elementary School cafeteria by the “warm fire” displaying on a small television screen with Christmas tunes. ArtHouse Coffee in Ardenwald provided delicious hot “cowboy blend” and decaf coffee.

Both Portland commissioner Amanda Fritz and Milwaukie councilor Dave Hedges attended to represent each city within the Ardenwald boundary.

Fritz is the commissioner for Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) that oversees the seven neighborhood coalitions and the 95 neighborhood associations, including Ardenwald-Johnson Creek NDA.

The potluck took place in lieu of the regular neighborhood association meeting and that no official business would take place.

About an hour into the event, co-chair Matt Rinker interrupted the meeting and asked for opinion to conduct one business pertaining to allocating funds for Walk Safely Milwaukie Program.

The Neighborhood Association must make a decision before the next regular meeting on January 10, 2012, but with holidays coming up, Tuesday night was the best time to make the motion and vote.

Without any objection, a brief discussion took place regarding allocating funds for Walk Safely Milwaukie Program educational purpose, declining partial allocation and heading towards the full allocation.

The Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to allocate the full $500 towards the WSMP educational purpose funding (view minutes).

The potluck wrapped up by 8:30 p.m.

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Donation acceptance for the 2011 Ardenwald Christmas Families is now closed. The gifts will be wrapped and delivered to the two anonymous families soon. The Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood District Association thanks to all who donated and supported the program, and the volunteers for the gift wrapping and delivery, and to Lisa Gunion-Rinker for leading the program.

The monthly Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association Holiday Potluck is  Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 6:30 p.m. at the Ardenwald Elementary School (8950 S.E. 36th Ave., Milwaukie) in the cafeteria.

Every year the Neighborhood Association holds the Holiday Potluck party. It’s a great time for residents and neighbors to get together and socialize with Neighborhood leaders and residents in a causal setting.

The holiday potluck is held in lieu of our regular neighborhood meeting. No formal neighborhood business is conducted at the potluck. The next regular neighborhood meeting is Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Everyone is invited to attend the Holiday Potluck. If you like to bring food or non-alcoholic beverages, please contact Lisa Gunion-Rinker at (503) 659-7807.

Download Flyer (PDF)

Friends of Tideman Johnson Park volunteer work party is Saturday, December 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Work includes planting along the lower path from Springwater Trail to the creek, and mulching. Tools and refreshments are provided and all ages are welcome to attend. Volunteers will meet at the base of the S.E. 37th Ave. entrance.

There is no work party in January. The next work party after December 3rd  is on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Friends of Tideman Johnson Park web page: http://www.ardenwald.org/projects/fotjp

It’s that time of year again to help out brightening the holiday spirit for those families in need this season.

The Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood District Association has selected two anonymous families in need to receive donated Christmas gifts for 2011 Ardenwald Christmas Families program.

Donations are being accepted until Sunday, December 18, 2011, and the donations will be delivered later in the week to the families before Christmas Day.

How do you donate?

Go to the Ardenwald Christmas Families web page at www.ardenwald.org/christmasfam and browse at the “wish list.” The “wish list” page updates frequently and any items on the list means that item is still needed. Items no longer on the list means the item has been arranged by another donator to be donated.

To drop off the donation(s), contact Lisa Gunion-Rinker at 503-659-7807 to make arrangements. You can also drop off the item at the Ardenwald Holiday Potluck at the Ardenwald Elementary School in Milwaukie on Tuesday, December 13, 6:30 p.m.

Please contact Lisa Gunion-Rinker at 503-659-7807 with any questions you have about the Ardenwald Christmas Families program or with the donations.