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Need a speaker?
Would you like for your group or organization to learn about local issues from an interesting, informed speaker? The Portland Metro has speakers on several topics available. Topics include: “Balancing act on fish and wildlife”, “Knowing our boundaries”, “Happy trails to you: connecting neighborhoods to nature”, “Improving our transportation system”, “The Oregon Convention Center is getting bigger and better”, and “Household hazardous waste - we can help”. To schedule a speaker for your group or organization, call 503-797-1942.
Books & Bikes Neighborhood Rides
Explore your neighborhood on bicycle! Bike routes beginning and ending at Multnomah County Libraries will highlight literary sites, history, architecture, parks and commerce of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Free information, giveaways and goodies will be available for all participants, and kids signed up for Summer Reading can bring their gameboards for a special surprise! Helmets for all participants are required. Join the fun on Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Books & Bikes Neighborhood Rides is a joint project of Providence Rose Pedal, Multnomah County Library and the City of Portland Office of Transportation. Books & Bikes Neighborhood Rides is presented by Pacific Power. For more information, please call you local library. To find out about a local route, please call Gregory Heights Library at 503-988-5386 or Midland Library at 503-988-5392.
Elders in Action offers help for seniors
Elders in Action has specially trained volunteer Ombudsman available to assist seniors and people with disabilities who may be experiencing problems in the areas of healthcare, housing and elder crime and abuse.
These Ombudsman can provide problem solving assistance, advocate for client’s rights, safety, dignity and well being. They provide information and link clients with community services, provide emotional and peer support, and provide physical support in making phone calls, filling out paperwork, or accompanying clients to appointments.
Elders in Action volunteers are also available to speak to senior and community groups about Medicare fraud and abuse and to alert them to swindles and fraudulent practices aimed at seniors.
For more information on Ombudsman Services, or to arrange for a speaking engagement call the Elders in Action Ombudsman Services Line at 503-823-5293.
You can also get involved over the internet. Sign up today to participate in public surveys about issues that affect seniors. Your voice will help Elders in Action to decide what issues to focus on, and you will also be more informed about current legislation that might affect you. Sign up today in an e-mail addressed to volunteer@eldersaction.org.
Program for low-income women gets boost
A Mt. Hood Community College program serving women who are re-entering the workforce and face barriers has been awarded $15,000 to use toward a new facet of the program.
The Key Foundation (an affiliate of KeyBank), Wells Fargo and the Portland Women’s Union have each contributed $5,000 for the Women in Education Bound for Success (WEBS) program, which serves as a new continuation of the Transitions and Transiciones (Spanish-speaking) programs. WEBS was established to provide long-term support to women who complete these two college programs and then need financial assistance as they advance into credit, degree-focused classes and work toward non-traditional careers.
“So many students who complete the Transitions and Transiciones programs feel the financial need to work, and we hope that with assistance, they will continue on in school,” said Transitions Coordinator Cynthia Dettman.
The new funding will be used for the development of WEBS, including hiring a part-time staff member to identify participants and to work with both these students and college faculty to smooth the transition into degree programs. WEBS participants will also be encouraged to explore a range of career options, including non-traditional degrees such as engineering and science.
“We hope to interest women in these careers and to then provide targeted support for them to achieve these goals,” Dettman said. This program is available at the Maywood Park Campus, 10100 N.E. Prescott St.
For more information contact Dettman at 503-491-7687.
Support The Grotto
The Grotto will be holding a major fundraising event on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Jantzen Beach Double Tree Hotel and Convention Center. Lee Porcelli is George Reinmiller and his 16 piece big band orchestra, that includes musicians currently performing with the Oregon Symphony. Porcelli has also secured a trip for two to Italy to be given away as a door prize. Jeff Gianola has agreed to be MC and auctioneer for the dinner/dance/auction.
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction of Nativity sets from the Grotto gift shop, followed by dinner and an oral auction of items donated to the Grotto. The night will wrap up with dancing at 8:30 p.m.
The Grotto needs more auction items to help support operating costs. Artwork is especially desired, but other big-ticket items may also be appropriate. For more information how you can help support the Grotto, please call Shirley Klug at 503-234-8154.
Avoid the worst road hazard - other drivers
The American Association of Retired People regularly offers a “55 Alive” defensive driving course. This course helps teach older citizens strategies of safe driving. One feature that makes this class especially valuable to seniors is that some of the strategies that are presented are designed to help overcome the problems that can come with age, such as dimmed vision or slow reflexes.
Not only will you avoid costly tickets, fines, and accidents, but the “55 Alive” driving course can also help save you money on your car insurance - check with your insurance provider. The class is a refresher course in driving skills and general information, available to anyone aged 55 or over. All this for a fee of just $10. For more information or upcoming class dates, please call Instructor Artie Johnson at 503-282-8044.
Just for you
The Multnomah County Library now has a new feature for those looking for something to do. Now you can find out about the activities and classes that interest you. “Event Finder” is the library’s new searchable database of events and classes. Customers can use this tool to search for library programs by date, location, program type, age group and keyword.
The library offers hundreds of educational programs for kids, families, and adults. You can meet authors, hear live music, make crafts, play with puppets, discuss books, learn computer skills or listen to stories. The library offers everything from storytimes for newborns to computer classes for seniors.
To use this great new tool, visit the library’s Events and Classes website at www.multcolib.org/events/.
MHCC faces possible budget cuts
Mt. Hood Community College is preparing to cut back classes and services to the community as the college could face millions more in additional cuts this academic year. The cuts would come following a proposed veto of Senate Bill 1022. Such a move would result in a 25 percent reduction in state support funding for community colleges across Oregon.
“The situation is very grave and will undermine MHCC’s ability to serve our students and the community. Further cuts to an already reduced budget are a tremendous threat to our ability to provide higher education to this area,” said Dr. Robert Silverman, college president.
The college has already reduced its current budget by $2.6 million in efforts to deal with anticipated cuts. Now the college is bracing for what could translate into more than $5 million in additional cuts to the 2002-03 fiscal year budget.
“What this means is that we will have to turn away many Oregonians. If we have to reduce class offerings, we are talking about reducing accessibility to this college,” Dr. Silverman said. The college also anticipates that efforts to deal with further cuts will require a continuation of a hiring freeze and further increases in tuition.
“This is a critical time for MHCC and this community. Further cuts of this magnitude undermine our efforts to train a workforce, at a time when we need to put people back to work,” stated Bob Morris, MHCC Board of Education Chairman.
State legislators passed Senate Bill 1022 during the latest special session. The bill would move the final payment from the general fund to community colleges into the next biennium, allowing those dollars to be used to balance the current budget.
Opportunity Gateway looks at zoning
Activity in the Gateway urban renewal district is at a low ebb at the moment, but the Opportunity Gateway Advisory Committee’s Design Committee is considering rezoning part of the area. One proposal is to rezone part of the Prunedale area, roughly bounded by the I-205 Freeway, E. Burnside St., and S.E. 102nd Ave. and Stark St. The change would convert the area from EG (light industrial use) to EXD (mixed use).
The proposed zone allows a wider range of uses, including housing, at increased density (the maximum height is 65 feet), and includes a built-in design review process. The committee is also looking at imposing design standards on other commercial properties in the district, including some zoned CM for mixed commercial and housing.
Meanwhile, it appears that the Ukrainian Baptist Church, after patiently waiting for the city to make an offer on the former Bingo Parlor site, at N.E. 104th Ave. and Wasco St. is about to design a new church for themselves on the property.
The Opportunity Gateway plan had long identified the property as a potential park site, but with cutbacks in urban renewal revenues the city has no money to purchase the church property. For more information about the Design Committee, please call Sara King at 503-823-3468.
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