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To fully serve the community, the Mid-county Memo offers this section to showcase upcoming special events, celebrations of milestones in our readers’ lives, those seemingly small accomplishments that often do not receive the recognition they deserve and everyday events that should be shared with friends and neighbors.
Memo Pad submissions for the May issue are due by Tuesday, April 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. The fax number is 503-249-7672.
Volunteers work to green Mid-county
In partnership with Friends of Trees, the Argay, Hazelwood, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Russell and Wilkes neighborhoods planted 70 street and yard trees on Saturday, March 1. Menlo Park Elementary also received 12 trees to beautify the school’s playground and front yard. It was a beautiful day for planting trees, and over 50 volunteers showed up to help get the 10- to 12-foot-tall trees into the ground.
During last year’s planting season, Friends of Trees planted more than 1,600 big trees in 48 Portland neighborhoods and 21,400 native trees and shrubs in nine Portland-metro area cities. The group has a few plantings left this spring and is already gearing up for the2008-09 planting season. Neighborhood volunteers are needed to get individuals excited about future plantings in east Portland.
Planting a tree in your yard or parking strip creates long-lasting benefits enjoyed by the whole community. Did you know that trees remove pollutants from the air? A full-grown tree absorbs 10 pounds of pollutants, cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide and creates 260 pounds of oxygen each year. Trees also help intercept and retain 760 gallons of rainwater each year, which help keep our rivers clean and save money on stormwater fees. Trees provide shade to help cool our homes in the summer and provide protection and warmth during the winter. Trees contribute to neighborhood livability by reducing city noise and glare. By planting trees now, we can increase our urban tree canopy and keep our city green into the future.
Friends of Trees charge a nominal fee for trees. The cost of each tree includes a site inspection by the city of Portland Urban Forestry Department to ensure you choose the right tree for your home, hole digging, help with planting your tree, stakes, mulch, ties, labels, follow-up monitoring and information on proper tree care techniques.
For more information or to sign up, please visit www.friendsoftrees.org.
Contact Whitney Dorer, neighborhood canopy restoration coordinator, at 503-282-8846, ext. 21, or whitneyd@friendsoftrees.org to get involved with greening our neighborhoods.
MHCC chooses new leader
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| John J. “Ski” Sygielski to serve as MHCC’s new president. |
| Submitted Photo |
“Ski” is currently president of Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, Va., and will begin his new job at MHCC on July 1. His appointment comes following a comprehensive search process that began last October.
“This is an exciting time for the college,” said Duke Shepard, Board of Education chair. “Sygielski is an energetic leader who has the experience to guide the college toward a greater future. We are extremely happy in being able to find someone of his quality.”
Sygielski, a native of Ohio, has served as president of LFCC since August 2003. During his tenure, he oversaw more than $22 million in capital construction projects; started the college’s first sports program; expanded LFCC with the opening of a third location; increased community partnerships in support of economic, social and cultural activities; and improved outreach efforts to high school students resulting in a 25 percent increase in the number of dual-enrolled students.
“Education is about transforming lives,” Sygielski said. “I now look forward to working with MHCC students who strive to succeed; full and adjunct faculty who raise the bar of learning for first-generation students; transfer students; dual-enrolled students; persons of color; individuals interested in starting a small business or those interested in entering (for the first time) or reentering the workforce after being absent for years for a variety of reasons.”
Sygielski continued, “Employees who are committed to helping others succeed; donors who want to make a difference; alumni who support the institution that gave them a start; government, education and business leaders who are in need of an educated and qualified workforce; and elected officials who understand the impact that MHCC makes in its service region.”
Sygielski holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, master’s degrees in business management and administration, and a doctorate in education. His work experience includes corporate training; elementary, secondary and post-secondary education; and public- and private-sector consulting.
Sygielski becomes MHCC’s sixth president and succeeds Robert Silverman, who left the college last June for a similar position in Victorville, Calif. Gary Murph will continue to serve as interim president until Sygielski begins his new position.
Gladys McCoy Award nominations sought
The Multnomah County Citizen Involvement Committee is seeking nominations for the 14th annual Gladys McCoy Citizen Involvement Award. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding lifetime volunteer service by an individual to improve the countywide community in a manner exemplifying the life of Gladys McCoy, former chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
Nominees should be citizen activists or volunteers who have made a substantial positive change or contribution, with emphasis in civil rights, human rights, affirmative action, community, neighborhood, a local political party, local government, environmental issues or education. One citizen is honored each year.
A nomination form may be obtained by calling 503-988-3450 or e-mailing citizen.involvement@co.multnomah.or.us. The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 14.
“We want to honor the county’s outstanding citizen volunteer,” said Jessica Hamilton, chair of the CIC. “Volunteers contribute thousands of dollars worth of services and enrich the community through their involvement and commitment to serving others.”
“This is the volunteer Hall of Fame,” Hamilton said. The winner’s name plaque will be on permanent display in the Board of Commissioners office. The Gladys McCoy Award is made in conjunction with National Volunteer Week and highlights Multnomah County’s Annual Volunteer Award Ceremony, to be held on Tuesday, April 29.
Portland parks board seeks new members
Portland Parks & Recreation’s parks board is currently recruiting four new members to fill vacancies that will become open when the terms of current board members expire this fall.
Formed by city ordinance in 2001, the parks board is a 14-member, nonadministrative board whose role is advisory to the PP&R director, the commissioner of parks and Portland City Council. The volunteer board serves as an advocate for parks and recreation in city infrastructure, provides a forum for public involvement and decision making about major park policy issues and brings a citywide and long-term perspective to neighborhood-based issues. The next term will begin in September.
Members of the public who are interested in applying for the vacant positions are encouraged to find out more about the role, duties and expectations of parks board members at www.portlandparks.org.
To apply for a position, simply complete the application form, also online at www.portlandparks.org. The application form is required for all applicants for city of Portland boards and commissions. Applications for the Portland parks board positions will be accepted until Wednesday, April 23. Interviews with applicants and the candidate selection will occur in May and June.
PP&R provides care to over 10,000 acres and offers thousands of programs for all ages at its community centers, swimming pool and other recreation facilities. It is a premier city of Portland bureau that depends on a workforce of 400 permanent employees, 1,000 part-time employees and over 6,000 volunteers. Many of these volunteers provide guidance to programs or services within Portland parks, and the Portland parks board provides this support, advocacy and guidance for the overall parks system.
Please direct questions to Karen Loper, assistant to parks director and park board liaison, at kloper@ci.portland.or.us or 503-823-5123.
MHCC receives prestigious award
The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations has honored Mt. Hood Community College with a Gold Paragon Award for its “Viewbook” publication.
The college received the award at the annual NCMPR national conference in Savannah, Ga., last month. MHCC competed against colleges and universities from across the country and Canada. Gold is the highest award that can be bestowed upon on a college by NCMPR.
“This is further evidence that MHCC is among the best in the nation,” stated Gary Murph, interim MHCC president. “Our staff continues to produce great publications, and I’m glad the rest of the country has recognized their hard work.”
NCMPR’s prestigious Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community, junior and technical colleges as well as universities. It is the only national competition of its kind that exclusively honors excellence among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges.
The “Viewbook” is a marketing publication that is used to introduce prospective students to the college.
Gateway Elks Lodge selects award winner
The Gateway Elks Lodge No. 2411 honored longtime Portland farmer and businessman Joe Rossi as its citizen of the year. Rossi had been the operator of Rossi Farms in the Parkrose neighborhood for 20 years.
Active in the community, he founded a youth football league and in 1997 organized the popular Rossi Farms Barn Bash to serve as a fundraiser for Parkrose youth programs.
Dedication to quality, opening the farm to the public and serving the needs of the community through charitable work earned Rossi a Spirit of Portland Award just a few years ago. He is active at his church, St. Rita Catholic Church, and in the Parkrose Neighborhood and Business associations.
Late last year Rossi enrolled at Portland State University to work on the degree he had abandoned earlier when he took over farm operations. Devoted to his family, Rossi enjoys time spent with his three children, Gabrielle, Genevieve and Graham.
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