First Creek Neighborhood Clean-up

It's Spring Clean-up time around First Creek. Join the fun and make our neighborhood better and cleaner on Saturday, April 24th, from 10-1. The City of Tacoma and the Puyallup Tribe are being dumpsters to us and you can drop-off stuff you want to get rid of. There are some rules like what you can and cannot bring, and you have to show ID that indicates you are from the First Creek area (lower Portland Avenue and Roosevelt Hieghts).

Also, if you want to join us at Fairbanks and First Creek we'll have numberous work parties picking up litter and removing invasive plants (Ivy) along the creek.

Come on out Saturday morning rain or shine, we'll be making improvements to the neighborhood. If you need to talk with someone or get lost, call Dan at (253) 304-2808
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Neighborhood Improvement andEnvironmental Clean-up Day

Mark your calendars for April 24th. Our neighborhood and others on the Eastside of Tacoma are planning a major effort to clean-up our streets and open space areas to make our communities better.

Help us clean up your neighborhood!
What’s this clean up all about?
The City of Tacoma, The Puyallup Tribe and several neighborhood groups in your area are joining forces to clean up our community because clean neighborhoods are safer neighborhoods.

April 24, 2010 – 1 day only! 10 AM to 2 PM
Where you can bring your junk:
• Parking lot behind the Tribal Administration Building (behind 3009 Portland Avenue)

Who Can Participate?
Those who live in a single family home or duplex between I-5 and 38th Street between Thompson Avenue and the east City limits (bring a driver’s license or utility bill to show for proof of residence) and members of the Native American community of the Puyallup Reservation (please bring your Tribal ID).

Volunteers may be available to help you unload your items, but please be aware that you offload at your own risk. A flyer with additional information will most likely be delivered to your doorstep or you can read more about it in forthcoming issues of the Puyallup Tribal News and or Tacoma Weekly.

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Anyone interested in helping to make the lower portion of First Creek better, please join us on April 24th. We'll be meeting at First Creek and Fairbanks at 10:00 am and working until 1:00. The focus will be on removing non-native and invasive plants (mostly Ivy) in several key areas of the creek near Fairbanks. We'll also be doing some light clean-up. A variety of tasks will be available from easy to moderate so everyone can participate. Work boots required, dress for the weather, and if you have tools for removing Ivy please bring them. Some tools and gloves will be available if needed. Please join us in making First Creek, the environment and the community better, contact Dan Fear at 253 304-2808 or email him at danfear@hotmail.com if you can participate.

This event might be changed to another day. If it is and you want to remove Ivy, please attend the Clean-up event at McKinley Park, overlooking the Tacoma Dome. More on this later. Be sure to contact Dan Fear at 253 304-2808 if you are interested.

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The Environmental Science Club at First Creek Middle School and UWT, along with the Pierce County Stream Team will be planting 275 Native Plants behind the new middle school on the same day (April 24th). From 9-10 am there will educational information on display in the lunch room of First Creek Middle School, so you can learn more about the creek and your environment. If you want to help plant plants, you should plan on joining them. They will also be removing some Ivy from trees around the school.

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Please plan on joining one of the efforts to make our neighborhood and the environment around First Creek better. More information and additional contact numbers will be added soon.
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First Creek Neighbors - November Meeting Notice

Find out how you can be part of the great things happening in our community!

Attend the monthly meeting of
First Creek Neighbors

Wednesday November 4, 2009
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Portland Avenue Community Center
3513 Portland Avenue


Good News: Our September Clean-up was a great success. Our 92 participants got rid of 46 tons of junk and 333 tires. We had over 30 volunteers that helped with the event. Thank you to all participants and our sponsors, the City and the Puyallup Tribe.

Link to article in The Tacoma Weekly about the Clean-up:
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/3560/

We look forward to seeing you at our November meeting.
For more information call Edwina at 474-7083

More good news.

Priorities for First Creek Neighbors in 2009:
* Reduce gang activity
* Clean-up the community and Creek
* Stop illegal dumping
* Suppress fireworks
* Make opportunities for community social gatherings
* Fill pot holes

Things All of Us Can Do to Have a Cleaner and Safer Community.
* Speak to your neighbors. Learn their names and their children’s names.
* Pick up trash from in front of your house even if you did not put it there. Also pick up trash in your neighborhood.
* Use your 2 free yearly call-2-hauls to get rid of household junk. To arrange for a pick-up call-573-2468 (Only available for residents of single family or duplex houses)
* Leave your porch light on all night

Neighborhood Accomplishments So Far:
* Cleaned up a Meth Lab
* Closed 16 Drug Houses
* Closed Marijuana Growing Operation
* Hauled 201 Tons of Junk
* Lights Restored in Portland Avenue Park
* Illegal Encampments Closed
* Organized an Active Neighborhood Patrol
* Cleaned up Numerous Problem Houses
* Our Own Blog – http://firstcreek.blogspot.com/

Resolution passed by Tacoma City Council in support of City/Puyallup Tribe/community collaboration to create a stewardship plan for First Creek. The creek and open space area around it is becoming a community asset and the fall is a good time to visit and see the lovely colors.

Over 50 people attended our candidates forum in October.
Don't forget to Vote before November 3rd

Scheduled Events
Citizen’s Patrol-Ongoing
Winter Ivy Removal from trees in the First Creek Open Space. Email Dan Fear at firstcreekwatershed@gmail.com if you're interested in volunteering.
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First Creek Neighborhood Clean-UpSaturday, February 14th, 9-Noon

FIRST CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UP

Please join us on Saturday February 14th, 9 to Noon as we help clean up First Creek.

We will be focusing our efforts on cleaning up the lower creek wetlands and hillside just below East 34th Street. It will be fun, some hard work and it will help make the neighborhood cleaner and safer. We’ll primarily be picking up small paper and trash that the city clean-up crews did not get. Recently, the city removed 53 tons of trash from the hillsides above First Creek. And, they will be removing more this week, so let’s support their efforts and show them we care about of neighborhood.

Bring heavy gloves (leather recommended)
Wear sturdy work boots.

When: Saturday morning February 14th, 9 to Noon
Where: Church Parking lot at 34th and East “R” Street.

Please call Dan Fear, 425 260-4991, if you need additional info.

Neighborhood Improvements - Working Together

On Sunday morning November 31st, a small group of First Creek Neighbors got together to help another neighbor. Two months later, the results are in and the property is much better. Neighbors helping neighbors to make our community better. Here're a few before and after pictures of the cleanup on East Wright. This is just one example of how changes are happening and our neighborhood is cleaner and safer.





To get more involved with First Creek Neighbors (lower Portland Avenue and Roosevelt Heights) join us at our monthly meeting. It's held the first Wednesday of the month, starts at 6:30, location the Portland Avenue Community Center.

We're planning several cleanup days over the next three months.
For more information call (253) 405-9007