 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
MEMO BLOG | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 January issue are due Thursday, Dec. 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.
 |
| These students are representing Parkrose High School at the upcoming Oregon Music Education Association and the American Directors All Northwest conferences. From left, Debra Loh, Shannon Webb, Tom Wolken, Nadison Kannan, Mario Zivanovic, Emma Brent, Adam Moultrie and Judy Dan. COURTESY MIRANDA SCHWABAUER |
 |
 |
| Austin Rogers, Portland Christian High junior, will be the goalie in a prestigious youth tournament in Alabama. SCHOOL PHOTO |
Parkrose High students are among those selected for the Oregon Music Education Association honor choir, all state band and all state orchestra.
They are performing during the OMEA annual conference in Eugene on Jan. 12-15. Honor choir members are Judy Dan, soprano; Adam Moultrie, tenor; Nadison Kannan, base and Mario Zivanovich, base. In the honor orchestra are Shannon Webb, French horn and Debra Loh, bassoon. Tom Wolken, trombone, was selected for the honor band.
Moultrie, Kannan, Dan and Emma Brent will represent Parkrose at the American Choral Directors All Northwest Convention in March in Seattle. They were selected from among 2000 applicants from six states.
Goalie prepares to compete in national spotlight
Portland Christian sophomore Austin Rogers, the Royals soccer goalie, will participate in the US Youth Soccer Boys Olympic Development Program NCAA Interregional Tournament in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Final Four Tournament in Hoover, Ala. this month. He follows in the footsteps of older brother, Keegan, also a PC goalkeeper.
Their father, Glenn, was a keeper for the Portland Timbers.
Increased need this holiday
Pssst! Anybody got a spare turkey? If you do have an extra turkey, or a ham, or other healthy holiday trimmings, SnowCap Community Charities can use your donation to spread Christmas cheer among the many low-income families who live in the community.
“Sometimes companies will reward employees with a holiday turkey and many times those folks will donate the gift to SnowCap,” according to agency Executive Director Judy Alley. “We're seeking some old-fashioned help of that kind this year. SnowCap needs holiday food, especially turkeys, fruits, vegetables and baby food.”
SnowCap receives assistance from food collections at the Grotto Festival of Lights, from Parkrose Business Association collections and area small businesses. Even one can of food dropped in a local collection barrel will help.
The agency provides holiday food boxes to more than 3000 families, seniors and shut-ins at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hundreds more stop at the SnowCap pantry for food boxes, clothing and other assistance.
Snowcap Community Charities is in outer east Portland at 17805 S.E. Stark St. The phone number is 503-674-8785. The website is snowcap.org.
Street trees for purchase and planting
Friends of Trees is offering the chance to purchase trees for parking strips - then help plant them.
The trees cost $35 to $75 apiece depending on variety - a fraction of comparable nursery costs. They offer 30 varieties that will fit in the space you have, unlikely to cause paving or overhead wire damage. The purchase price includes permits and a planting by volunteers. In exchange, they ask the purchasers to pledge to care for and water the tree for at least two years.
 |
| Not only will Friends of Trees sell you a street tree at a low price, they will help you plant it. The Argay neighborhood - where this FOT planting was held in 2005 - is one of five Mid-county neighborhoods to get new street trees this year. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim Curran |
For Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert: Dec. 5 deadline for a Jan. 14 planting. For Centennial, Hazelwood and Mill Park: Dec. 19 deadline for a Jan. 28 planting. For Argay, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Russell and Wilkes: Feb. 6 deadline for a March 10 planting.
For those willing, FOT can always use extra volunteer planters. According to Teri Ruch, Friends of Trees communications director, FOT staff show planters how to properly plant a tree, and, they feed volunteers coffee and pastries in the morning, and pizza in the afternoon.
For more information, or to volunteer, call Volunteer & Outreach Specialist Jenny Bedell-Stiles at 503-467-2528, or visit friendsoftrees.org.
Students need instruments
The Parkrose School District Music Boosters is accepting donations of new or used musical instruments and related equipment to introduce and enhance the musical experience for students who cannot afford to purchase their own. Research indicating music experiences can reinforce other classroom subjects and in some cases be the connection that keeps a child focused and choosing to remain in school. The Music Boosters are committed to facilitating musical curriculum for students.
While new instruments or those in playable condition are preferred, the group will accept most repairable instruments, related musical equipment, and monetary donations.
If you can help, contact Louis Bybee at 503-936-1369 or l.bybee@gmail.com.
Emergency meals delivered in advance
To ensure that all homebound seniors have sufficient meals during upcoming inclement weather, Loaves & Fishes Centers delivered a two-day supply of shelf-stable meals earlier this month to nearly 3,000 homebound seniors throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties. Seniors received instructions to save these meals until they receive a call from their local Loaves & Fishes Center advising them to use these emergency supplies.
On days when weather is so severe that the majority of volunteer drivers cannot deliver meals, Loaves & Fishes Centers staff will phone all Meals-On-Wheels recipients to conduct a wellness check and to instruct seniors to consume one of their emergency meals. A cadre of pre-approved emergency weather drivers will be available to bring food to those seniors who are completely without food.
Library earns five stars in national ratings
Multnomah County Library has received the highest rating possible - five stars - in Library Journal's 2011 Index of Public Library Service, which identifies the top U.S. libraries each year.
In 2011, 262 libraries across the nation earned three, four or five stars based on four per-capita measures: circulation, visits, program attendance and public Internet use on library computers. Multnomah County has earned five stars in three out of the four years Library Journal has published its ratings. The 2011 ratings are based on 2009 data released earlier this year by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“Multnomah County Library is consistently rated as one of the best and busiest libraries in the nation,” said Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke. “Members of our community use their libraries more than people do in most other communities around the country. We offer resources that are relevant and responsive to our patrons' needs, and the high demand for library services locally reflects that. We are honored to receive this recognition from Library Journal and are grateful to this community for making it possible.”
Multnomah County Library is second in circulation only to New York Public Library, according to the most recent statistical report of the Public Library Data Service, and has the hardest-working collection of library materials among large libraries in the U.S.
 |
| Bill Hoyt, or 'Cowboy Bill' as he is known to students donates fresh, grass-fed beef to the Portland Christian Elementary cafeteria bi-monthly. |
Bill Hoyt, or “Cowboy Bill” as Portland Christian Elementary first graders call him, has generously donated beef to the school for the 2011-2012 school year. Twice a month, Hoyt makes a delivery of grass-fed, locally raised beef from Hawley Ranch Natural Meats.
Hoyt became involved with PCS last spring when he volunteered to speak at the elementary campus Agriculture Day.
Hoyt is owner and operator of the Hawley Land & Cattle Co., which is situated on land in Douglas and Lane Counties. He is the fifth generation to run the ranch started by his great, great, grandfather.
With other members of the Oregon Cattleman's Association, Hoyt is working to provide meat for school cafeterias throughout the state.
Curbside composting this holiday season
The holiday season often brings more food, festivities and all of the waste that can go along with them. This year, area residents have a new place to scrape holiday plates and leftovers. Remember to add food scraps - including meat, bones and dairy - along with yard debris to your green roll cart for weekly pickup.
“Our family was surprised to learn how much of our holiday waste is actually compostable,” said Meg Matsushima, resident of the Roseway neighborhood and participant in the pilot program. “Leftover cookies, fruitcake and even the gingerbread house can go right into the green roll cart along with napkins and paper towels used while cooking.”
To help make curbside composting easy now and through this busy holiday season, store your kitchen pail next to your work area so it is handy during food preparation. Keep your pail tidy by lining it with newspaper, a paper bag or an approved compostable liner. You can even try wrapping up food scraps in a piece of newspaper before placing them in your kitchen pail. Do not forget to empty your pail frequently, even when it is not full. You can toss it in the dishwasher or wash it by hand, and even sprinkle a little baking soda inside to prevent odors.
On your pickup day, set your green roll cart on the curb every week, even if it is not full. Before you empty your kitchen pail into your green roll cart, try placing a few sheets of newspaper, a paper bag or a pizza box on the bottom of the roll cart to absorb moisture. Even better, you can layer your food with some leaves or yard debris to absorb moisture and odors.
 |
| As you plan your holiday meals and family gatherings, consider a few easy ways to reduce waste and make composting food scraps easy for your guests. Mayor Sam Adams, right, uses the kitchen pail for easy transfer to the green roll cart. COURTESY MAYOR'S OFFICE |
After the holidays, you can even compost your tree by putting it out on the curb on your collection day for a fee, or cutting the trunk and branches into pieces less than 36 inches long and four inches in diameter and adding them to your green cart for free.
If you still find that you have more garbage than usual this holiday season, you have the option to set out an extra bag or can of garbage on your pickup day for a one-time fee of $5.
Finally, there will be no changes to your collection schedule due to holidays this season. If you have questions about your schedule, you can find it online anytime at portlandonline.com/bps/eschedule.
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home