Recent News 
July 26, 2010
Downspouts, A Final Tally
The downspout disconnect team from SEPTL managed in their two days of effort to disconnect a total of 35 downspouts at 24 properties (19 spouts on the first day, 15 on the second day). This is is calculated to remove annually from the combined sewer system an amazing 484,421 gallons of water, AND earned for your library an awesome $910.00 to add to the tool fund! (If you would like to donate some of your hard-earned cash to that fund, just let us know!)
July 16, 2010
Rain Barrel Workshop
Our first Workshop will be about Rain Barrels !
Saturday August 7, 2010
10am - 12pm
In the Fireside Room at
St. David of Wales Church, 2800 SE Harrison St.
The two hour class will cover all aspects of creating, deploying, and using Rain Barrels here in Portland.
Class size will be limited to the first 30 people to sign up. The workshop is free, but donations will be (graciously) accepted.
Sign up by calling 503-232-0699 and leaving your name, phone number and email address, so we can get back to you.
July 16, 2010
Division Clinton Street Fair
Hey, we''d love to meet you at the Division/Clinton Street Fair on Saturday, July 24, 2010!
Come meet us at our table 10:00am to 3:00pm where we'll be handing out brochures, signing up volunteers and answering any questions that you might have about your neighborhood Tool Library.
For more about the other fun to be had at the Fair, a really great Event, visit http://www.divisionclinton.com/
July 8, 2010
Julie. A story.
As our computer wizard, Julie has been studiously and tirelessly entering donated tools into the Library's Inventory database. We thank her for her efforts, despite the recent discovery that she's been perhaps just a bit too tireless: at closing on a Saturday a librarian went to sweep the floor but discovered our broom was nowhere to be found. Mystery. Days later at our monthly organizational meeting the mystery was solved -"Oh my goodness, I put a Tool Number on that broom! If something is sitting there, a number goes on it." Our broom had been loaned out. So from now on you'll see that the Tool librarians always keep moving to avoid being inventoried for lending!
July 1, 2010
Do you need a Tool or Knife Sharpened?
Jesse Bennett and Harmonie Medlin, of Sharpening4U will be available at the SEPTL on Tues, July 6 from 5:30 to 7:00pm (our new weekday hours!) to sharpen SEPTL members' personal Tools and Knives (at their standard rates). They'll be there to sharpen SEPTL tools gratis, a valuable and much appreciated service they perform on and ongoing basis for us - part of our effort to keep our tools in tiptop condition. We hope this time the push lawn mower will be available for them to take away to sharpen in their shop!
June 30, 2010
Disconnecting Downspouts
Last week six SEPTL members
Catha Loomis
Colombe Jodar
Truman Daniels
Oliver Daniels
Steve Couche
Sue Brown
Michael Brandt
volunteered their morning, working along with some fabulous Portland Downspout Disconnect Program employees, disconnecting residential downspouts from the sewer system. This allows roof water to drain to lawns and gardens rather than allowing it to overwhelm the city's sewer system and pollute the rivers.
We'll be able to participate in this cash-generating program one more time on July 13. Contact downspouts@septl.org if you'd like to be added to the alternates-list in case one of the volunteers already signed up needs to bow out. It was fun, informative, and a great way to help our community and our Tool Library.
June 24, 2010
Tuesday evening hours!
Wonderful news! Thanks to our fabulous volunteers, your neighbors, we are thrilled to announce that the SEPTL will be open Tuesday nights June 29th to October 2nd from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Members will be able to check in and out tools, and people will be able to donate tools. See you then!
June 22, 2010
July Tabling Events
Visit SEPTL any Saturday from 9am to 2pm to see what the Tool Library is all about, or feel free to come chat with us at a couple of upcoming tabling events:
Mt Tabor Concert - July 15th, 6:30 - 8:00pm
Clinton/Division Street Fair July 24, 10am - 3pm
See you then!
June 3, 2010
Please get tools back on time!
Most users are getting their borrowed tools back to the Library before the 10am deadline the following Saturday. Thank you!
But alas not everyone. Return a tool late and you will pay a Late Fee, but that does not undo the distress you have caused your neighbor waiting for that tool. Consider how would you feel if the tool you were looking to check out from the Library was not checked back when it was supposed to be.
Please remember your neighbors!
June 2, 2010
Thank you Dennis!
Dennis Fantz first got stimulated to look into the SE Portland Tool Library by an article on Tool Libraries in The Oregonian written by Scott Learn. He has since become the single largest source of great tools donated to the SEPTL.
Among the tools are a two belt sanders along with sand paper, two jig saws, two chop saws, a virtually new Milwaukie SawzAll, two drills, a Milwaukie HoleHawg with bits, and two circular saws with several blades.
Even more amazing, Dennis says he's not done yet. He's asked Steve Couche, SEPTL Founder, what other tools the Library most needs so he can go out and find them to donate as well.
What more can we say, but "Thank you Dennis!"
Events
July 16, 2010
Division Clinton Street Fair
Hey, we''d love to meet you at the Division/Clinton Street Fair on Saturday, July 24, 2010!
Come meet us at our table 10:00am to 3:00pm where we'll be handing out brochures, signing up volunteers and answering any questions that you might have about your neighborhood Tool Library.
For more about the other fun to be had at the Fair, a really great Event, visit http://www.divisionclinton.com/
June 22, 2010
July Tabling Events
Visit SEPTL any Saturday from 9am to 2pm to see what the Tool Library is all about, or feel free to come chat with us at a couple of upcoming tabling events:
Mt Tabor Concert - July 15th, 6:30 - 8:00pm
Clinton/Division Street Fair July 24, 10am - 3pm
See you then!
March 18, 2010
Spring Cleaning & Tool Donation Event
Our big Spring Cleaning & Tool Donation event is almost here!
This Saturday, stop by between 10 and 3 to check out the new tool library space at St David's Episcopal Church located at 28th and SE Harrison. You can get a sneak peak of the new space, become a member, savor delicious coffee and pastries, and purchase many raffle tickets that will be awarded during our Grand Opening Celebration on May 15th.
What to bring? Any working hand or electric tools you'd like for us to take off your hands. If you have gas-powered tools, we'll take those and resell them, the funds going back into the tool library. Bring your ideas as well. What kind of tools would you like to see at the library? Any workshops sound interesting? Would you like to volunteer? We'd love to see you.
If you can't make it, visit our website for updates or contact us to purchase raffle tickets. We're selling them for $1 each, or in bulk at a bargain price: 7 for $5.
It should be a beautiful weekend, so hope we see you there.
March 17, 2010
SEPTL Open May 1st, Grand Opening Event May 15th!
It's official. We will be open for tool-borrowing on May 1st! Come one, come all, fellow Southeast neighbors. Borrow some tools, donate some tools, maybe sign up to volunteer or share some of your ideas with us, like what kind of tools you'd like to see in the library or any workshops we can host that might come in handy. We're located at the St David's Episcopal Church at SE 28th and Harrison.
How does it work? Simple. You just have to be over 18 and a resident of SE Portland within SE Uplift's boundaries. Click here to read more.
If opening the doors itself isn't exciting enough, check out the Grand Opening celebration on May 15th. There will be food, refreshments, prizes and of course, tools. We'll be holding the raffle drawing that day, so make sure you're there if you've purchased a raffle ticket. (If you haven't, get on it! They're only $1 each, or buy in bulk with a special price of 7 for $5. Contact us if you'd like to get in on this deal.)
So far, we have graciously received the following donated prizes:
- $450 Home Energy Audit from Green Hammer
- $50 gift certificate from the ReStore Habitat for Humanity Store - a $50 gift certificate
- $25 gift card from the Urban Farm Store
- $25 gift certificate from 7 Dees Nursery on SE Powell
- $20 gift certificate from Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood, along with a free copy of the "NW Maritime Planting Guide"
Hope to see you soon. We'll be open before you know it!
March 3, 2010
News: 7 Dees Edible Landscapes March 6th
7 Dees Edible Landscapes Event? We wouldn't miss it, and neither should you. While you're expanding your gardening knowledge this Saturday the 6th from 10-5, stop by and visit with us. Check out our upcoming tool events, tool needs, volunteer opportunities and overall, get to know your fellow Southeast neighbors.
While you're at it, spring for a few raffle tickets for a chance to win a range of wonderful prizes at our Grand Opening in April or May. (Final details on the Grand Opening to come.) We'll be offering prizes like a $450 home energy audit donated by Green Hammer, a $25 gift certificate from 7 Dees Nursery, a gift certificate from Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood and much, much more.
All raffle ticket sales will go to purchase more tools to share with the community. See you soon!
March 3, 2010
Raffle Tickets to be Sold at SEPTL Events
As we approach our Grand Opening in April or May, we'll be selling raffle tickets at each Community Event where we host a table, the first being the "7 Dees Edible Landscapes" event on March 6th from 10:00 - 5:00 and the next being our own Spring Cleaning/Tool Donation Event at the library on March 20th.
Visit us at our 7 Dees table on the 6th or at our library location on the 20th to buy tickets and be entered to win a range of wonderful prizes such as a $450 home energy audit donated by Green Hammer, a $25 gift certificate from 7 Dees Nursery, a gift certificate from Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood, and so much more.
All raffle ticket sales will help us purchase more tools to lend to the community. Now that's a win-win.
February 15, 2010
Big Party and Tool Donation March 20th
Our first big Event - March 20th between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm! Come check out the fledgling Southeast Portland Tool Library. Enjoy coffee, tea and delicious pastries as you make your way through the library, meeting members and volunteers along the way.
You'll learn how the process works so you'll be ready to spring to action come time for your next tool need.
You'll also learn what tools and services are still needed prior to opening in May.
This would be a great time for you to clean out your garage! This year, think about donating some of those gently used tools to the Southeast Portland Tool Library to share with your neighbors.
The Tool Library is at the St David's Episcopal Church at 2800 SE Harrison.
Hope to see you there!
Workshops
July 16, 2010
Rain Barrel Workshop
Our first Workshop will be about Rain Barrels !
Saturday August 7, 2010
10am - 12pm
In the Fireside Room at
St. David of Wales Church, 2800 SE Harrison St.
The two hour class will cover all aspects of creating, deploying, and using Rain Barrels here in Portland.
Class size will be limited to the first 30 people to sign up. The workshop is free, but donations will be (graciously) accepted.
Sign up by calling 503-232-0699 and leaving your name, phone number and email address, so we can get back to you.