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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 March issue are due by Monday, Feb. 16. 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.
A night at a local school
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| Fir Ridge junior and outstanding volunteer Anthony Hill helps Mill Park first-grader Eric Ehrlich make his holiday paper chain at the Fir Ridge Holiday Craft Night. |
Dembrow takes oath of office
As Oregon’s 75th Legislative Assembly convened last month, House District 45 got a new state representative. Michael Dembrow, elected last November to the seat, was officially sworn in along with the other 59 members of the House of Representatives in a morning ceremony. The House Democrats hold a 36 seat majority.
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| Michael Dembrow, a longtime educator, is sworn in to represent Oregon House District 45 during a ceremony held last month. |
This will be Dembrow’s first term in the State Legislature, following more than two decades as an English instructor at Portland Community College. The representative will sit on four House committees: Education, Health Care, Human Services, and the Business & Labor Subcommittee on Work Force Development. Dembrow’s responsibilities will include serving as vice chair of the Education Committee.
“It is critical that we both protect vulnerable Oregonians and that we create pathways to sustainable, family-wage jobs,” Dembrow said. “That means getting the right programs in place. It’s not enough for us to weather the current economic storm. We need to pass legislation that will get us to a better place at the end of the crisis than we were at the beginning — better oversight, more stability and greater access to success.”
House District 45 encompasses a large section of Northeast Portland including the city of Maywood Park and the Parkrose, Alameda, Grant Park, Hollywood, Beaumont-Wilshire, Rose City Park, Argay, Cully, Roseway, Madison South and Sumner neighborhoods. Jackie Dingfelder, who is now serving as the state senator for District 23, previously represented House District 45.
Essay contest established for scholarships
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility has announced the Greenfield Peace Essay Scholarship Contest. Oregon PSR strives to encourage and challenge young adults to make our nation a more peaceful one by sponsoring this contest.
Contestants may enter by submitting an original essay of a minimum of 500 words (not to exceed 600) describing their thoughts on the following statement by Wendell Berry: “If we are serious about peace, then we must work for it as ardently and bravely as we now prepare for war.”
The purpose of this essay is to stimulate entrants to think about their role in the causes and outcomes of war and the necessary steps to build a more peaceful world. Deadline for essay submission is March 2. The first place winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship, second place is a $1,500 scholarship, and third place is a $1,000 scholarship. Seven other finalists will each receive $500. Scholarship money may be applied toward any education-related expenses.
Contestants must be high school juniors or seniors attending school in Oregon and in good academic standing. Essays should be sent to Rachel Larson at rachel@oregonpsr.org or Oregon PSR, 812 S.W. Washington St., Suite 1050, Portland, OR 97205.
Essays sent by e-mail should be included either as an attachment in Microsoft Word format or in the text of the e-mail. Essays sent by U.S. mail must be typewritten. Include a word count with the essay. All essays must be accompanied by the entry form that is available on the Peace and Security page of the Oregon PSR Web site, www.oregonpsr.org.
Mentoring opportunity in local schools
Are you interested in making a difference in a child’s life? David Douglas Mentoring Project is seeking dedicated, caring, positive adults to become mentors for elementary and middle school kids.
DDMP is a one-on-one mentoring program that matches a student from the David Douglas School District with an adult mentor from the community. Students selected for the program are those with highest needs who could greatly benefit from having a positive role model. Students are from Lincoln Park Elementary, Mill Park Elementary, and Ron Russell Middle School and are in grades four through eight.
Volunteers should be at least 18 years of age. You will be asked to submit to a criminal background check, a personal interview, reference checks and pre-match orientation. Mentors must agree to spend at least one hour a week for a minimum of 12 months with the student and have access to transportation to mentoring activities.
Please contact Juliya Gudev, mentoring coordinator, at 503-234-1541, ext. 223, or juliyag@mail.irco.org to become a mentor.
Use the new community exercise circuit
Fir Ridge Campus, 11215 S.E. Market St., has installed exercise stations around its track. The track and exercise circuit are located behind the school and are open to the public. Stations were installed with funding from the David Douglas School District and an Oregon Learn and Serve grant. Visit Fir Ridge and get in shape.
Update on enhancements to area parks
Plans are moving forward with the development of Gilbert Heights Park, Southeast 130th Avenue and Boise Street. Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion anticipated by fall.
The new design at Gilbert Heights Park includes improvements to the sports field, a water play feature, picnic tables and benches, new lighted pathways and other enhancements to make the park safer and more enjoyable for all visitors. A new community garden will be featured in the northeast corner of the 3.8-acre park.
Project partners at Gilbert Heights include Portland Parks & Recreation, David Douglas School District, Gilbert Heights Elementary School, the East Portland Neighborhood Office, the East Portland Parks Committee and the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association.
Funds for this project come from System Development Charges for parks, trails and natural areas. These one-time fees are collected from developers to help pay for the impacts on parks created by the residents of new development.
PP&R is also set to improve East Holladay Park at Northeast 130th Avenue and Holladay Street in the Hazelwood neighborhood. Basic features from the park’s master plan, such as a paved pathway, will help activate the space until full funding becomes available to complete the park.
While development of East Holladay Park is still years away, these enhancements will improve public access and recreational use of the property. Construction will take place in spring 2009. For updates, go to www.portlandonline.com/parks/enhancement.
Lodge delivers dictionaries to area third-graders
Members of the Gateway Elks Lodge #2411, in an effort to further the educational goals of local students, donated and delivered 600 new Merriam-Webster’s English dictionaries to area third-graders again this year. Third grade students at Alder Elementary, Bridger School, Rieke Elementary, Wilkes Elementary, Glenfair Elementary, Woodland Elementary and Sweetbriar Elementary were surprised and grateful when members of Gateway Lodge paid them a visit during class to hand out the books.
Gateway Elk member Denice Schuermyer, the driving force behind the dictionary project, said the lodge has made “valuable contacts with the local schools through this project. (This) may allow us to provide assistance in other areas, such as the Elks Drug Awareness Education program and vision screening through the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic at OHSU.” Plans are already in place within the lodge to raise more money to expand the dictionary project next year.
For more information about the Gateway Elks Lodge Dictionary program or other Elks programs and activities, visit www.gatewayelks.com or call the lodge office at 503-255-6535.
MHCC automotive program receives national certification
The Ford ASSET program at Mt. Hood Community College has received certification by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE.
The MHCC Ford ASSET program has been certified in the following areas: automatic transmission/transaxle, brakes, electrical/electronic systems, engine performance, engine repair, heating and air conditioning, manual drive train and axles, and suspension and steering.
The evaluation team concluded that a significant reason the MHCC Ford ASSET program is so successful is that the program combines classes at MHCC with training at a local Ford dealership. The MHCC Ford ASSET program is one of four programs in the state to offer this unique cooperative structure; it is the only cooperative program in the state to focus solely on products under the Ford Motor Company umbrella.
“This is great news for automotive-minded people and their parents,” said Donald Seyfer, NATEF chair. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that MHCC graduates will be employable entry-level technicians.”
Jerry Lyons, Ford ASSET instructor, added, “During the past few months, we have worked closely with NATEF to make certain our program would meet strict industry standards, and now we’re delighted to join the ranks of the ASE certified training programs. Students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured the students they sponsor will be certified with cutting edge skills.”
For more information about the MHCC Ford ASSET program, contact the Industrial Technology department at 503-491-7470 or Bob McDonald, Ford ASSET instructor, at 503-491-7130.
Rotary seeks scholars for international study
Applications for international scholarship programs are available from Rotary International. These include a six-month cultural-language emersion program, a one-year ambassadorial scholarship and a two-year world peace fellowship.
The scholastic awards are sponsored locally by Rotary District 5100, which covers northern Oregon and southwest Washington.
There are no age, gender or economic-need requirements for the ambassadorial or cultural scholarships. Applicants must show successful completion of at least two years of college work or vocational experience. These scholarships are provided for the 2010-11 academic year.
The six-month cultural course is primarily for a student who wants to learn a second language in order to enhance the candidate’s professional career. The ambassadorial scholarship, valued up to $23,000, is a 12-month academic scholarship to study abroad at a university. The world peace fellowship is intended for individuals who have chosen a career in international relations or peace and conflict resolution and worked at least three years in these areas. Candidates include individuals who have been active in journalism, civil service, nongovernmental agencies, diplomacy, mediation work or military service. There are two types of programs: One is a two-year master’s degree program and the other is a three-month certification program for mid-career professionals to study in Thailand.
Richela Avedon-Grantz, chair of the Rotary District 5100 ambassadorial scholarship committee, said all applicants must be endorsed by a local Rotary club and submit applications by April 30. Interviews are scheduled in May and June. Applications and information are available online at www.rotary.org or can be accessed through the district Web site at www.district5100.org.
The Rotary International Foundation began the ambassadorial scholar program in 1947. It has become the world’s largest international privately funded scholarship program. Each year, more than 1,000 scholars are sent to another country for study or training.
During their studies, Rotary scholars act as ambassadors of goodwill, appearing at Rotary clubs, schools, civic organizations and other forums to further international understanding.
The scholarships include transportation, tuition and fees, room and board, educational supplies and language training.
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