TIME TO MOVE ON!

After all the stress and turmoil of the last month, I'm happy to have the time and energy to start considering some smaller ways of trying to move Lent a little faster towards what will be a bright and vibrant future!

One thing that I'm hoping is that nice little street scenes like this one near the Mt Scott Community Center will soon become much more common in Lents *really* soon. If this is to happen, we all have a lot of work to do. One easy thing that everyone can do is to support the Lents Businesses that we currently enjoy- stop by QT in the LTC every Friday at 6:30 or so. Even if you don't stop by and say "hi," eat dinner at el Pato Feliz, or... grab a beer at Riley's?!! Another thing that you could do is get a sandwich and a salad at the Ararat Grocery and go down to the Park!! If we use the businesses that we have- we will eventually have more.

There are other things that you could do as well! Get involved with the co-op effort by emailing me- jeff@ilovelents.com. Help with the idea of starting a neighborhood native garden! Are you interested in seeing improvements to the MUP- which could include working towards renaming it "the Woody Guthrie Trail!" Do you have your own ideas for things that you'd like to see happen in the neighborhood? Let us know!

One problem with taking on projects around the neighborhood is funding. Especially right now, there isn't a lot of money to support neighborhood initiatives. It's simply hard to ask businesses- many of which are struggling- to support such events as Founder's Day and Music in the Park. If any of you are particularly knowledgeable about grant writing, I would like to talk to you. Also, Portland Community Realty can help as well. If you know of anyone who is interested in buying a house or commercial property- send them to us! Kris and I are contributing 10% of proceeds from our real estate transactions to neighborhood projects.

Most of all- have a nice day!