The Portland Water Bureau is planning the planting of about 47 new trees in the existing Hazelwood HydroPark, according to spokesperson Darcy Cronin.

The planting will include 25 large species, eight feet tall at the time of planting that include Douglas firs, ponderosa pines, big leaf maples and Oregon oaks, plus a dozen fruit trees, Cronin said. They will all be planted on Feb. 28 on the north side of the park.

At a community fair at the park in east Portland last summer, several people noted a lack of shade in this part of the park. Hazelwood HydroPark is at 1017 NE 117th. Ave.

Banfield Pet Hospitals, in cooperation with Meals on Wheels, is seeking donations of pet foods for MOW clients in east Portland as part of its annual Season of Sharing.

Shut-ins are very attached to their pets, and if necessary will skimp on their own food intake to feed them. Unopened containers of pet food can be dropped off at all Banfield outlets through January.

Families in the outer east Portland community are invited to a afternoon of free food, fun and entertainment, along with an opportunity to learn about resources available to them in Mid-county.

The David Douglas School District and Fir Ridge Campus host their 5th Annual East County Resource Fair from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 at David Douglas High School’s Fir Ridge Campus, 11215 S.E. Market St. Featuring performers, artists and representatives from several local nonprofit agencies.

Two free orientations on affordable home ownership will be hosted by Portland Community Land Trust. An orientation will be held in English from 4-5 p.m., and repeated in Spanish from 5-6 p.m.

The Portland Parks & Recreation board will meet Wednesday, November 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Hwy.

The public is invited and encouraged to join the Portland Parks Board and Portland Parks & Recreation staff in the discussion of several important agenda items, including the management of Ross Island, Lents Park and the baseball stadium proposal, the Rose Festival’s request for a festival extension, and the upcoming 2009/2010 budget process.
The Portland Parks Board has designated two to three meetings each year to be held in the evenings and at different locations around Portland to encourage more participation by the public.
For more information contact Karen Loper, Assistant to the Director, at 503-823-5123 or Beth Sorensen, Public Information Officer at 503-823-5300.

As part of its annual street tree planting campaign, Friends of Trees is offering street trees for planting strips at $75 a tree, about half the normal cost. The non-profit will offer you a selection of trees appropriate for the site (calculated not to interfere with power lines or crack your sidewalk) and furnish volunteer crews to plant it.

In return it wants a pledge that the property owner will water and care for the tree for at least two years. This year there will be a planting in the Argay and Parkrose neighborhoods in east Portland.