Renewable energy specialists are installing a new solar panel array on the grassy, sloped southern edge of a former landfill along NE 82nd Avenue, now owned by Bird Alliance of Oregon. Once complete, the community solar array will reduce utility costs for 140 low-income Portlanders through a collaboration with APANO, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and other partners. The new energy source at 2800 NE 82nd Avenue uses the site’s topography to receive year-round sun exposure while staying low to the ground, making the installation less visible, particularly as the nonprofit continues habitat restoration on its 12.49-acre property purchased in 2024.
Top edge of solar array on Bird Alliance 82nd Ave property extending just above grass
Crews have placed over half of the solar panels on a metal gridwork that supports them. Most people passing the site will not see all of the units, which sit a few feet above the ground, with views blocked by the adjacent People’s Courts pickleball facility. However, they will contribute 800 kW of renewable energy to the grid. The array operators expect credits from the electricity generated at the site to reduce participant low-income households’ energy bills by up to 40%. Portland Pacific Power customers who directly pay their own utility bill and earn up to 80% of Oregon’s Median Income can apply to APANO’s community solar project as a low-income subscriber and potentially receive credits on their utility bill. The organization describes community solar as a way for people historically left out of traditional solar to benefit without buying their own solar panels. APANO also has a Residential Rooftop Solar program that uses Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) money to install solar panels for homeowners. That program launched to serve 14 homes, while this latest effort should support 140 power ratepayers.
Solar array on Bird Alliance 82nd Ave property seen from NE Russell St
This new activity follows habitat restoration and the demolition of long-abandoned structures. For decades, this overgrown field was known for the graffiti-covered remnants of a golf driving range built on top of a landfilled quarry. For most passersby, all they observed was an abandoned building at 2806 NE 82nd Avenue, situated next to a tall, grassy field. Hidden inside the overgrown brush was the collapsing structure of a half-moon driving range. Several fires in the former “Pro Shop” administrative building on NE 82nd Avenue complicated its demolition. However, in September 2025, crews completed removing this site’s golfing past.
PCEF supported construction of this community solar array across NE 82nd Avenue from McDaniel High School as its seventh community solar project. It is one of the first public benefits planned for the Bird Alliance of Oregon site, which will host nature trails and a wildlife hospital that should provide educational opportunities for area students. Work on the solar array is proceeding quickly and should be visibly complete within the coming weeks. More visible changes to the site will continue over the coming years.
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On October 1st, APANO Communities United Fund will host an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. to gather Jade District residents’ perspectives on access to green space. Participants attending the drop-in gathering within the community room at 8118 SE Division Street will join a focused conversation about a roughly 1.5-acre property owned by Metro on the southeast corner of SE 89th Avenue and 90th Place. All area residents, whether or not they attend, can complete an anonymous online survey to share their opinions.
Oregon Metro owns the large parcel at 2815 SE 90th Place after purchasing the property in July 2025 for planned Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Community advocates have long envisioned the large property as a neighborhood park and recently sought support for that project. Last March, APANO collected 149 community member signatures on a letter calling for meaningful engagement and substantial green space at the site. This support follows the 2014 Jade District community visioning plan and the 2018 EPA Greening the Jade project work. That previous community outreach recorded in those documents showed a desire and expressed need for green space across all groups in the neighborhood.
Since sharing that letter, organizers have focused on developing plans based on current capacity for new parks, indicating the need for a practical shared-use model for the site. A standalone park or community garden without housing would require another organization to purchase the property from Metro and take responsibility for long-term maintenance. A mixed housing and green space approach could include shared outdoor areas for residents or a combination of affordable housing and publicly accessible green space, community gardens, paths, or gathering areas. They expect the open house and survey results will help rank community priorities for affordable housing, outdoor recreation, and public access to green space. APANO will compile the results into a community engagement report for Metro to inform its plan for the site and shape Request for Proposal (RFP) language used to secure future development.
Although creating a full site park is less likely, APANO staff expect an opportunity for public use of part of the 1.5-acre site, and survey and open house input could support that initiative. The open house will have language support in Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Mandarin. People needing childcare or American Sign Language support to participate should call or text (503) 922-3910 by September 24th. The venue is wheelchair accessible and off the 72 and FX 2 TriMet bus lines. No registration is needed to attend this family-friendly event.
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On September 10th, the public and private organizations responsible for creating the Legin Commons apartment building at 7755 SE Division Street celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Soon, new residents will begin moving into 124 new regulated affordable homes on Portland Community College’s (PCC) Southeast campus, prioritizing families with children and low-income households.
The new four-story building sits on the site of a former Kaiser Permanente one-story medical clinic built in 1964. PCC acquired the land several years before Kaiser’s closure and demolished the building in 2015, using the land as an auxiliary parking lot with a large grassy spot where the building once stood. PCC had always planned to repurpose the space for more effective uses than parking. In 2021, College leadership worked to develop a twenty-year facilities plan for the educational institution’s properties. During that evaluation, PCC determined that portions of the school grounds should support low-income affordable housing. Instead of student-only dormitories, they opted to focus on attainable housing open to the community. From internal student surveys, PCC staff learned that housing insecurity is a significant concern. They also observed that students often spread their education out over many years with inconsistent enrollment. As a result, PCC determined that tying housing programs to school affiliation would not alleviate housing insecurity among the student population, so planners opened this housing to all who qualify.
A previous PCC campus expansion razed the former site of the Legin Restaurant, a beloved Chinese eatery and community hub. Housing developers APANO, Our Just Future, and Edlen & Co. chose to honor the area restaurant by naming the building Legin Commons and incorporating central gathering amenities to match its namesake’s role as a community hub. Located in the Jade District and the Montavilla neighborhood, blocks from SE 82nd Avenue, it offers access to some of Portland’s most active transit lines and walkable destinations. The building also offers secured on-site parking for some residents with dedicated EV charging stalls.
Security gate leading to resident onsite parking with EV charging stalls to the left
The Portland Housing Bureau awarded this development $3.78 million from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) to install a solar array and high-efficiency heating and cooling split systems. Other public funding came through a $1.67 million allotment from the voter-approved Metro Affordable Housing Bond and a Metro-awarded $250,000 Transit-Oriented Development grant. Legin Commons residents also enjoy natural cooling from a mature tree canopy on its eastern edge and new greenery planted around the property to help replace the shade once provided by older trees removed during construction.
Rooftop mounted mini-split heat pump condenser units and solar array
PCEF Program Manager Sam Baraso explained during the Thursday event that green investments in this building benefit residents and the environment by reducing off-property energy consumption and lowering costs. “We invested in 294 in-unit mini-split heat pumps and 22 common-area mini-split heat pumps, three high-efficiency whole-building ventilation systems, 33 energy recovery ventilators, which means we can bring in fresh air into the building constantly, make sure folks are breathing clean, fresh air and do so in a way that actually uses the outgoing air to cool or warm [incoming air].” On the roof is a 180-kilowatt solar array that further reduces the energy demands of these residences on the grid. Claire Parisa with the nonprofit Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, which provided funding support for this project, highlighted the unique support for environmental construction in Portland. “There’s always a goal to make buildings green, but not necessarily the funding to go with it. And we’re so lucky to have PCEF in the city to make those dreams a reality.”
Outdoor play area and resident courtyard
Lower energy bills and cleaner indoor air are just a few of the key features of this complex. Designers used the natural amenities to create significant outdoor space for residents, including an outdoor play area off a large community room. On-site laundry and bike storage are available on multiple floors. Private meeting rooms throughout the building provide secluded workspace or an area for private conversations away from home. Elevators offer seating in an adjacent lobby on each floor so people with mobility considerations can navigate the property with less impact on their comfort. A ground-floor classroom can also host community meetings or events, as long as it remains open to all residents in the building. APANO will provide resident services, leveraging its headquarters’ proximity to the site to be an integrated partner in the building’s supportive services.
Ground-floor classroom
For over a decade, APANO has looked for opportunities to increase housing in the district, making good on a community-driven concept for the area. “Our vision for Jade is for it to be Portland’s most transit-rich, most affordable, and most climate-resilient part of town. We have Legion Commons opening today, we have Jade Apartments opening next month, and we’re in pre-development at Canton Grill,” explained Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang, who also works for APANO. “Part of the housing piece is our work around anti-displacement. We have some time right now to really build up these community assets to make sure we can stay in place.”
Quisha Light, interim director of the Portland Housing Bureau
Quisha Light, interim director of the Portland Housing Bureau, celebrated the addition of these new housing units but noted it is just an early step in a larger effort to meet the community’s needs. “According to the city’s housing needs analysis, Portland must add about 28,000 homes that are affordable to families in that 0 to 60% of AMI (Area Median Income) range by 2045. So we still have a lot of work to do. It’s a big lift, but I have lived here for 20 years now, and I’ve seen Portlanders step up and really accept the big challenges. So I know all of us standing here today can make that happen. Legin Commons makes stability real. With 124 new affordable homes, including 20 deeply affordable homes at 30% AMI, and more than half of all units sized for families, this development reflects the community it serves,” said Light.
Katy Ho Interim President PCC and Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane
Speakers at the ceremony noted the importance of creating high-quality affordable housing in an area that has historically supported generations of the city’s minority populations. “This stretch in the Jade District and the 82nd Avenue corridor in particular has long been home to one of our most diverse communities in the city. Immigrant families, refugees, students, working people who bring so much to Portland,” said Portland Councilor for District 3, Tiffany Koyama Lane. “This is a place where we can hear more than 140 languages spoken, where we can find our culturally specific food and markets that reflect our beautiful diversity. This neighborhood was built by people. The character comes from families who have been here for generations, and also from folks who crossed oceans and borders to get here.”
Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang, Lynn Fuchigami Parks, and Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane
Koyama Lane explained how preserving communities through anti-displacement and naming is a significant step for a city whose past leaders excluded many non-white voices. In 2024, Sameer Kanalwe and Koyama Lane became the first two Asian Americans ever elected to Portland City Council. Beyond naming the building after a community gathering space, residents will use the Minoru Yasui community room. “Legin Restaurant was more than just a great restaurant. It was a center of community life, and today, Legin Commons carries that spirit forward as a place where people can gather, connect, celebrate, and build community. This is especially meaningful that the community room bears the name of Minoru Yasui,” said Lynn Fuchigami Parks, Executive Director Emeritus of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon. “The night of March 28th in 1942, Minoru, who was only a 26-year-old attorney at the time, walked the streets of downtown Portland to deliberately violate the military curfew imposed on people of Japanese ancestry. He did so to challenge the constitutionality of that order. That’s the order that led to the unjust incarceration of over 120,000 men, women, and children, the majority of whom were American citizens.” The plaque that will be in the community room touches on Yasui’s story and adds to the sense of place created in the building.
PCEF Program Manager Sam Baraso
Residents will start moving into Legin Commons soon, with the 30% AMI units mostly committed to people. Many 60% AMI-priced units are still available for qualifying renters. Those homes are restricted to households whose annual income does not exceed $53,940 for one person, $61,620 for two, and upward based on the number of residents. Homes restricted to 60% of AMI earners are currently rented at near-market rates. Still, this new building offers far more amenities than other multifamily buildings in the area, and the protected rental rate can help provide housing stability when market rates rise faster than median income. Consequently, the building should fill to capacity slowly, allowing a gradual influx of new neighbors to the residential area around the new apartment building.
Article and Photos by
Jacob Loeb
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On August 30th, My Voice Music (MVM) and Ascending Flow will host a Block Party with live youth music, DJs, and skateboarding to introduce the BUS-A-Flow mobile studio. The MVM youth-focused nonprofit organization opened its Montavilla facility at 8911 SE Stark Street in September 2023. Recently, muralists completed work on the outside of the building, highlighting this music-based after-school program provider’s activities within. People are invited to visit between 1 and 6 p.m. to participate in this free gathering.
Event organizers will close SE 89th Avenue north of SE Stark Street beside the MVM building preceding the Sunday, August 30th, activities. The block party will showcase performances representing the range of music being created by My Voice Music and Ascending Flow participants. Ascending Flow will use its converted transit vehicle dubbed BUS-A-Flow to bring a mobile recording studio, performance stage, and creative hub to communities across Oregon. This mural-painted, customized vehicle will further the nonprofit’s work, including free programs for young people navigating foster care, experiencing housing instability, and seeking to build positive life skills.
Ascending Flow works out in the community but lists the SE Stark Street address as its main location, joining MVM in its rehabilitated former bakery building. Since 2008, MVM has served young people by facilitating their artistic expression through writing, recording, and performing original music. Several setbacks delayed the opening of the Montavilla SE Portland headquarters, including the 2021 death of MVM’s founding Executive Director, Ian Mouser. For the last three years, the youth music center has helped expand the organization’s programs and supported efforts by similarly aligned organizations.
This co-hosted event serves as the annual Ascending Flow Show and showcases the new MVM mural created through a partnership between the two non-profits working from the location, with support from an Oregon Metro Community placemaking grant. Members of the MVM community shared the program’s significance to their lives, and young artists translated those stories and experiences into the mural’s imagery and design with guidance from Damon Smyth and OC Note.
The block party includes many activities with skate ramps, basketball, and face painting. Attendees can enjoy free food, Live DJs, and youth performances. The Portland Bureau of Transportation will have bike helmets and supplies for bike-decorating activities. The community is invited to experience the new mural, see the BUS-A-Flow mobile studio up close, and learn about the supportive programs at this East Portland resource destination.
By
Jacob Loeb
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On September 7th, 2024, the Belmont Library closed for renovations that tripled its original size with a two-story addition to the 1924-era brick building. Demolition crews removed portions of the building added in 2000 and part of the parking lot to make way for the now-completed addition. Despite its modest 5,420-square-foot capacity, this branch was one of the busiest locations in the entire Multnomah County Library system before closing. During the closure, patrons visited a temporary branch at 3557 SE Hawthorne Boulevard. Library staff provided extra effort to keep the temporary location open even as they worked to ready the new facility for this opening weekend. However, the community has been without a local pickup location since August 3rd, and the hold shelves at the new location are already populated with an impressive number of reserved books, according to staff.
This work is part of a voter-approved library expansion initiative and represents the last major update to complete the work. Bora Architecture and Interiors designed this cross-laminated timber expansion featuring wood products from Oregon and Washington. Crews created dedicated areas for different age groups of readers. The entire century-old part of the building serves the youngest patrons and their caregivers with interactive and tactile displays, size-appropriate furniture, and shelves of children’s books. This area also features remembrances of Jeanie Diaz, a youth librarian killed by a driver who crashed into a bus stop near the library where she was waiting in 2023. People can see a note from one of Diaz’s two children inside an interactive display. Library representatives say a plaque honoring Jeanie Diaz is also planned for the space.
A note from Jeanie Diaz’s child included in the Belmont Library’s kids reading room interactive display.
In addition to the kids’ room, holds pick-up area, and Lucky Day items shelves, the first floor also features a large reservable community space for gatherings and events. Other amenities and the primary book shelves are on the second floor, accessed by two elevators and a public staircase at the front of the building. Visitors can find flexible meeting spaces with updated technology, laptops for on-site work, and fixed computer stations. Library staff understand the changing role of the public resource they provide. Consequently, high-speed internet throughout the facility is a key feature of these upgrades, along with access to printers and other digital tools people require to connect with job opportunities and services. This top-floor space also offers a teen area with facilities for homework and creative expression, alongside young-adult book titles on the adjacent shelves.
Fabric artwork mimicking large scale pages torn a spiral notebook created by Britt Howard
Above the teen space is the fabric artwork by Britt Howard that looks like a paper airplane made from a lined spiral notebook page. A paper fortune teller and a crumpled ball flank the classic folded flyer. Its exaggerated scale and playful, soft-sculpted schoolroom shapes provide a sense of place where young people fight boredom and embrace their own interests. The upper walls of the second floor feature a mural with over 200 handmade objects integrated into the artwork. It is the creation of Pacific Northwest artist Emily Counts.
LED lights with device charging ports at a reading table in the library shelves
The new library offers four on-site parking spaces. Two are reserved for people with a Disabled Person Parking Permit to use without a time limit, and the other two are available for quick visits that are less than 15 minutes. Crews reconstructed the sidewalk around Belmont Library, making more space for pedestrians and adding locations with enlarged bicycle parking that can support cargo bikes. Landscapers have planted new street trees to replace some cut down during construction and have also installed other public amenities around the property.
Automated material handling equipment sorts returned books into bins
Technology improvements in the facility also assist staff with automated material handling, which sorts returned books into bins for transfer or reshelving. Kiosks throughout the building allow people to find titles and resources or check out items without needing to find a person for assistance. However, public feedback made clear that people visiting this branch also enjoy the human interaction. So the library features strategically located desks in public places so that an employee is often accessible to visitors and staff can see if people need help. They also use an in-building communication system that lets everyone stay in contact wherever they are for support and collaboration that isn’t tied to a desk.
People interested in joining the weekend celebration starting at 9:30 a.m. on August 15th can park in the Walgreens lot to the north of the library or take public transit to the location. After the office opening, the library will resume its normal schedule and welcome back an eager public to this well-used community resource.
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On Saturday, August 15th, the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby returns for its 27th year of gravity-induced fun. Starting at 10 a.m., people will gather for this free event along SE Reservoir Loop Drive and at locations around the Mt. Tabor Park course to watch contestants roll down the extinct urban volcano at increasing speed. Over 150 volunteers will assist racers and attendees on the derby day until the event concludes at 4 p.m. Montavilla residents can cheer on the local business entrant and sponsor, Covert Cafe.
PDX Adult Soapbox Derby 2025 (Jacob Loeb)
In the summer of 1997, Paul Zenk and Eric Foren loosely organized a small group of friends to race down Mt. Tabor’s winding roads in an event that would create the inaugural PDX Adult Soapbox Derby. The annual community gathering has grown yearly to include 42 racing teams and between 7,000 and 10,000 spectators. This free-to-attend day of races features highly engineered carts and some haphazardly crafted contraptions that all rely on gravity for propulsion. People wishing to attend should anticipate walking some distance to the event and bringing water or other refreshments. Some concession items and merchandise are available for purchase at the event.
PDX Adult Soapbox Derby 2025 (Jacob Loeb)
In 2016, Justin James and his ‘Team Rusty Rocket’ secured the track’s fastest run at 71.10 seconds. Each year, participants put in significant effort to create fast, thematically creative entries. Some carts travel up to 50 MPH down the paved park roads as they try to secure the quickest time or the biggest cheers. The Soapbox Derby is a family-friendly event, but volunteers must clear the track before each run for safety, and responsible adults need to remain close enough to ensure their children are out of the way when a race starts. Parking in the park and neighborhood is limited, and people should plan to bike, walk, or take transit.
This article will update with photos of the 2026 Adult Soapbox Derby
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On Sunday, July 26th, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will host the 13th annual Street Fair on SE Stark Street. Early that morning, crews will close the road from SE 82nd to 76th Avenues, along with segments of side streets, to allow the 150 booth operators to set up ahead of the 10 a.m. opening. Vendors will sell a variety of items, including food and drinks, unique artwork, handcrafted goods, and clothing. Mixed in with people selling items, organizations will provide information, and performers will entertain the crowds until 6 p.m. Vehicle traffic will resume on the street later that evening after organizers clear the area. Still, people can stay in the neighborhood to visit the bars and restaurants along SE Stark and NE Glisan Streets. Last year, a record-breaking number of people from around the region visited Montavilla’s historic downtown to participate in the annual community party. Event organizers expect that it will increase again this year.
Montavilla Street Fair 2026 banner
A week before the event, sign installers placed the banner over SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue, announcing the Street Fair date to everyone passing by. Although many people in the area have already marked the date on their calendars, raising the banner represents Montavilla’s invitation to the city of Portland. Thousands of visitors attend this annual neighborhood event, driving record sales for local businesses and introducing people to the historic downtown Montavilla.
This year’s event is music-forward with four stages. HONK! PDX will offer a special all-acoustic stage experience. People can also enjoy performances at the SE 79th Avenue Plaza Stage next to the Threshold Brewing beer garden. The Main and Brewery stages will feature a diverse mix of larger acts throughout the day. Montavilla Brew Works, Threshold Brewing, and The Observatory will again feature beer gardens. Many past fair booth operators are returning, alongside a new crop of makers, food vendors, and organizations. As a bonus, the Montavilla Farmers Market will be open during its regular hours on the 26th, providing attendees with access to more booths and food options at SE 76th Avenue and Stark.
Parking in the neighborhood is always in short supply during the street fair. People are encouraged to take public transit to the event or explore other modes of travel. Portland transportation leaders organized a Community Ride/Bike Bus to the Montavilla Street Fair this year to reduce parking challenges in the area while providing a family-friendly ride along neighborhood greenways and new protected bike lanes near downtown Montavilla. Interested participants can gather starting at 10:30 a.m. near the Irving Park covered area for a relaxed 5.6-mile ride to the fair leaving at 11:00 a.m.
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On Saturday, July 11th, Montavilla Brew Works will host an eleven-year all-ages celebration event featuring special beer releases, food from Oi! The Sausage, and music provided by DJ MD. Melissa and Michael Kora opened Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street on July 15th, 2015, and started using the annual celebration of that event to host a summertime gathering. Michael Kora saw this year’s event as a way to support Friends of Seasonal & Service Workers (FSSW) by donating a portion of the proceeds from the beer, with longtime neighbor Mr. Plywood matching the brewery’s contribution.
Montavilla Brew Works grew from a home-brewer’s passion and a desire to create a neighborhood-scale enterprise. Before starting his brewery, Michael Kora secured work with Bridgeport Brewing Company after briefly working for the owner’s winery business. His time working as a seasonal employee influenced this year’s support of FSSW, which assists independent organizing efforts by farm, seasonal, and service workers with efforts including food drives and medical access. When Kora’s seasonal wine work ended, Dick Ponzi learned of Kora’s desire to work in the brewing industry and found a place for him in his other business where he could learn about operations. “I didn’t get to brew because I didn’t go to brew school. I was driving a truck, working in the warehouse, shipping, distributing, moving beer around, and learning brewing at home. I then nano brewed for a while at the Green Dragon,” recalled Kora. After growing his skills and experiencing the brewing business from the inside, it seemed time to branch out on his own. Sitting at McMenamins Edgefield, Michael and Melissa Kora sketched out a five-year business plan and agreed to start looking for a space to rent.
Melissa and Michael Kora touring the Daugherty Auto Service garage 2013 that became MBW. Photo courtesy Michael Kora
The couple moved into Montavilla several years before starting their business. After agreeing to start a brewery, they looked for commercial spaces in neighboring areas but could not find a suitable location that fit their vision for the taproom. However, with some luck and good timing, Michael Kora discovered the neglected former Daugherty Auto Service garage at the corner of SE 78th and Stark Street. “I was riding home from the gym and came by Stark Street just to kind of look at what was going on and there was a for sale or lease sign. This building was so dilapidated it was nothing to look at, but Melissa and I were from the Detroit area of Michigan. I’d seen worse, so [I thought] this building is pretty cool and would make a cool brewery,” said Michael Kora. William “Dave” Beets, the operator of the now-demolished Beets Auto Body, owned the property and was excited to see it go to new owners for such an unexpected use. “He was a character, but he was surprisingly stoked. He said, ‘I think this is awesome. You guys are gonna be the first. There’s no breweries around here like this. It’s gonna be good for the community and the neighborhood.’ He was a neighborhood guy even though he didn’t live here,” recalled Kora.
The Kora’s became tenants of the Stark Street building in 2013, but it would take over two years to open the doors to the public. The original owners of the 1922-era auto garage never designed it to house any other type of business, and it took substantial efforts to rehabilitate the building. Permits took four months to approve, and construction lasted another nine months. Kora discovered that the building roof slopes significantly to the northwest corner of the property for rainwater drainage, forcing him to place his tall brewing equipment at the south-facing front of the building, blocking windows and putting beer production centerstage. During construction, he added onto the north side of the building to create a walk-in cooler and storage room needed to keep finished beer and ingredients out of the limited customer-facing space.
Construction delays, the added brewery inspections, and unanticipated expenses drained their cash reserves. Michael Kora started beer production offsite to begin bringing in funds and building the brand. Flying Pie Pizzeria was an early supporter, buying the pre-opening batches and installing a permanent Montavilla Brew Works tap handle at the restaurant, replacing Bud Light. Initially, they relied on help from friends, but the couple mainly worked alone at Montavilla Brew Works for the first few years. “Melissa designed everything on the interior. So she made this place feel like it does. And I was the beer guy and eventually the business guy. It was her and I for the first four and a half years,” recalled Kora. After the early lean years, they brought in help to brew their beers and cover bar shifts. With the added staff, it was beginning to feel sustainable until the pandemic upended the business model. Montavilla Brew Works focused on serving draft beer onsite with little attention paid to the at-home market. They distributed a limited number of kegs to local businesses but had not embraced canning. COVID-19 bar closures forced a change in the whole microbrewery industry. “We completely 180’d, and we’re in this world where we were doing 100% draft, and then we switched to 100% cans. Melissa and I were out there every week delivering to people’s homes,” said Michael Kora. They had to let their employees go to keep the business going. The brewery survived that scary time and invested early in outdoor seating to bring people back as soon as possible.
Post-COVID, Melissa and Michael Kora spend less time in the brewery during service hours. Both are more focused on improving operations and branding, with a goal to make each subsequent batch better than the last. For the celebration, they will release an Anniversary Pilsner which is a special dry-hopped version of Plywood Pilsner, a Montavilla Brew Works’ mainstay beer. Attendees of the 3 to 9 p.m. anniversary celebration can also purchase two additional special releases, Lesh Is More, an India Pale Ale honoring Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, and the Peregrin porter aged with Palo Santo wood.
Portland City Council permanently banned the sale and use of all consumer fireworks within city limits in March 2022. This restriction includes Independence Day celebrations, often occurring during hot and dry weather. The ban also prohibits the purchase of personal fireworks outside the City and returning to Portland to use them, so Portland Fire & Rescue (PP&R) encourages people to attend the professional July 4th fireworks displays presented throughout the region. Montavilla residents can usually view the 10 p.m. Waterfront Blues Festival display from Mt. Tabor Park uphill from Reservoir Number 5.
The consumer fireworks prohibition passed the 2022 Portland City Council unanimously, in part due to a fatal fireworks fire the previous year and in reaction to the Eagle Creek Fire in the gorge, which started with the use of personal fireworks. Fire departments regularly experience a spike in injuries, fires, and fatalities during the fireworks season, which begins on June 23rd and runs through July 6th. People with pets also report significant stress inflicted on their animals during this time, with some dogs and cats becoming separated from their owners when they run away from the explosive sounds.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustration
On June 15th, Portland’s Fire Marshal issued a burn ban for the City due to forecasted high summer temperatures and ongoing dry conditions. Effective immediately, people must refrain from using recreational campfires, fire pits, or burring yard debris. Outdoor grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances are allowed if they use clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels. Residents should exercise extreme caution when using the allowed outdoor cooking devices and place them at least ten feet away from anything combustible, such as siding, fences, or shrubbery. The burn ban will remain in effect throughout the summer weather season.
People can contact PF&R 503-823-3700 for additional information about the burn ban. Although the City prohibits the use of personal fireworks, emergency services request that people refrain from calling in reports of firework violations to 911 so that the dispatch system can remain open for reports of serious crimes, fires, and injuries. For non-emergencies reports of illegal fireworks displays, residents who witnessed the unauthorized use of fireworks can report the incident online (portland.gov/311/report-fireworks).
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On Monday, June 22nd, Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Free Lunch + Play program returns to Montavilla Park on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for youth 18 years or younger. For many children, school offers activities and services that extend beyond education. Some students rely on school as their only structured playtime with peers and depend on the free lunch program for a midday meal. Thanks to funds provided by the 2020 voter-approved Parks Local Option Levy, the Free Lunch + Play program offers children weekday activities without registration or cost. From June 22nd to August 21st, kids can visit 23 parks citywide for recreational activities and a nutritious lunch.
Portland Public Schools closed for the summer on June 5th. With over half the city’s school-age children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, PP&R’s Free Lunch + Play program is a critical tool in keeping young people fed during the summer break. However, the free lunches are available to anyone meeting the age requirements, regardless of enrollment in a school district’s free lunch program. Adults bringing 10 or more youth to a location for a free lunch should contact 503-729-0332 at least 5 business days in advance, so park staff can accommodate the group. USDA Federal guidelines require recipients to eat their meals on-site in the designated area, and youth are limited to one serving per day. Locations will have a No Thank You Table offering unwanted lunch items that youth can take to supplement their meals during the designated lunch hours.
Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street, Gateway Discovery Park at 10520 NE Halsey Street, and Lents Park at SE 92 Avenue and SE Steele Street will host Free Lunch + Play activities for Montavilla area residents. Meal times vary by location, but Parks employees will organize games and other group activities throughout the four-hour sessions. The program staff will observe the July 4th national holiday on the 3rd and will take the day off.
All meal packs comply with USDA Federal Lunch Program regulations. Youth must attend in person to receive meals and eat all the food on-site. Foodservice occurs only during stated mealtimes. For Montavilla Park, that is from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. At Lents Park, food is available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gateway Discovery Park has a shorter mealtime window, 11 to 11:45 a.m. Staff will require everyone to wash their hands before receiving food.
Free Lunch + Play is part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Summer Free For All program, offering more than 50 free outdoor events for all ages, including multicultural festivals, free outdoor movies, and concerts across the city. It also includes activities at PP&R outdoor pools, opening on June 18th. Six outdoor pools will host a weekly free swim session in addition to their fee-based swim lessons, open-play swims, and water fitness classes. Montavilla’s pool offers free swim sessions on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. People will find a complete list of Summer Free For All’s inclusive and family-friendly activities on the PP&R website.
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Catalyst Construction & Kitchen Remodeling, a top-rated general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, basement, and garage remodeling, as well as ADU construction and home additions. We thank them for their support.
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