Metro's parks and venues offer a variety of recreation opportunities during a spring break staycation, from hiking, to seeing a concert, to even helping finally organize your garage.

For many of the Portland region's residents, next week means spring break. If you're not packing your bags for warmer weather, there's plenty to do with extra time off right here at home.

Long-term, maximum benefits to local residents envisioned for use of funds

The Metro Council late last week approved a resolution to spend the remaining $1.6 million in the North Portland enhancement fund by 2018 on a local trail and select neighborhood improvement projects proposed by the community. The council’s unanimous vote supported the recommendation of a committee comprised of North Portland residents that administers the fund.

Oregonians are throwing away less trash than ever before, according to a new state report.

Artists have used found objects in their work for a very long time; it’s nothing new. They’re accustomed to inspiration arriving in familiar, but unexpected packages: dog food labels, cigarette foil, curtains, socks, window screening, bicycle tire tubes, a scrapbook dating back to the early 1900s that documents the story of a young bride. Their skills lie in uncovering a facet of popular culture and drawing conclusions about it to help us understand it more thoroughly.

One topic in particular stood out among open-ended responses in the July Opt In survey.

At a signing ceremony Aug. 15, Miller Paint CEO Steve Dearborn and Metro deputy chief operating officer Scott Robinson inked a deal that guarantees Miller will buy at least 40,000 gallons of recycled paint from Metro each year through 2017.

It's the first of its kind for the RID Patrol, which picks up garbage around the region.

Since Oregon’s Paint Stewardship program began in 2009, Oregonians now have close to 100 sites around the state to recycle unwanted paint products

Back in the old days after a painting project, people poured leftover paint or paint thinner down the street drain. Hard to imagine. Now we know better about the damage this causes to waterways and wildlife. And, with 99 places in Oregon to recycle paint, it’s convenient to hand off unwanted products responsibly. But the huge variety of paint and coating products can confuse even avid recyclers. Here’s a quick primer on what can be recycled, where and when.

Remember my New Year’s resolution to clean out my garage? Well, I’ve started, organizing old containers of paint, sprays, art supplies and other items. Occasionally, to solve a household cleaning or maintenance need, I end up purchasing a product that has the words "warning" and "caution" or even "poison" on the label.

Letters of Intent deadline for neighborhood cleanup matching grants program approaches

Is your neighborhood planning a spring cleanup event? Let your local government know – and let Metro help cover the cost.