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Help a local child
The OASIS Tutoring Program, sponsored by the Mid County Caring Community, is seeking volunteer tutors in the David Douglas and Parkrose school districts to help elementary school children learn to read and write.
OASIS volunteers work one-on-one with a child, during the school day, as a tutor, mentor and friend. OASIS provides volunteers with training, supplies, books, and ongoing support from local OASIS coordinators. No previous teaching experience is necessary. The only skills a tutor must bring are patience, flexibility, creativity, and an enjoyment of reading and children.
Helping a child learn to read is fun and rewarding. If you have one free hour a week during the school day to help a child, please consider becoming an OASIS volunteer. Be a mentor and friend to someone who needs your help. OASIS tutor training sessions are held throughout the school year. To sign up for a training session or for more information about OASIS in the David Douglas and Parkrose school districts please contact Beth Ragel at 503-261-8275.
Couldn’t sew a stitch to save your life?
Always wanted to learn to sew, or just improve your skills? Cascade Sew and Vac, at 11416 N.E. Halsey St., offers sewing classes for all skill levels. Adults and teens are both welcome. Most classes are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but Saturday classes are also available. Day and evening classes are offered on many topics. Specialty sewing classes are also held on such topics as decorative edges, children’s clothing, and satin stitch. If you are interested in a specialty class, please call the number below to inquire. Classes will be scheduled on specific techniques if you are interested. Classes are available free with purchase of a sewing machine, or for a nominal fee without. For more information about available classes or to enroll, please call Francie Schimpf at 503-254-6543. You can also visit Francie’s website at www.franciesplace.com.
Family fun
Mt. Scott Community Center will be holding a variety of low-cost classes in January. Join your family for a night of fun or join the KBA - Kid’s Basketball Association. All sessions are held at Mt. Scott Community Center, 5530 S.E. 72nd Ave. For more information please call Mt. Scott Commmunity Center at 503-823-3183. Some January offerings are listed below:
• Family Fun Night: Families play together the third Friday of every month. Skating, swimming with games on deck, indoor park and crafts are included in the drop-in fee. Snacks offered by the Mt. Scott/Arleta Neighborhood Associations. This “fun” night is for families only - join the next one on Friday, Jan. 17 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Drop-in fee is $1.50 per person.
• Indoor Park: Children from newborns to children 5 years old can play in a safe, warm and dry environment - rare in a Portland winter! Parents supervise their own children and set up and take down riding toys and equipment. The rinkside room provides a space for snacks. Enjoy the morning and give your child an opportunity for fun and exercise indoors. The Indoor Park program will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. beginning on Monday, Jan. 6. Cost is 50 cents per child.
• School Holiday Specials: Extra swim, skating and gym times are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 2, Friday, Jan. 3, , Monday, Jan 20 and Friday Jan. 24. Call for times and fees.
• KBA - Kid’s Basketball Association: A non-competitive learning league for children ages 8-11. Teams are formed in January. Teams practice twice a week and games are on Fridays. Call for more information.
Volleyball champs
The Mt. Hood Community College Volleyball team has gone down in history as the third team of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) to win three consecutive volleyball championships.
First-year coach Lena Chan and her team defeated the team from Shoreline Community College to win the championship in Spokane.
Additionally, first-year coach Lena Chan was named NWAACC Coach of the Year. Ali Salsgiver was given the award for the Most Valuable Player for the tournament and her sister Lauren Salsgiver, and Ashley Bour were named as Second Team All-Tournament selections. Kristin Purscelley and Alyssa Perry were named as First Team All-Tournament selections.
This marks the sixth championship for MHCC in the 25-year history of NWAACC Volleyball.
Elders in Action helps seniors deal with identity theft
Incidents of identity theft of those over the age of 60 increased 218% last year. Elders in Action, a leading advocate for Portland area seniors, offers programs and assistance to seniors to prevent them from becoming victims of this crime. Identity theft involves stealing another person’s personal information such as social security number, name, date of birth or mother’s maiden name, and then using this information fraudulently to establish credit, run up debt, or take over existing financial accounts. In most cases, the victim’s wallet, purse, checkbook, or mail has been stolen.
Unfortunately, the elderly are often prime targets for this growing crime. “Seniors make appealing targets because they typically have higher credit lines and greater home equity to tap into,” said Becky Wehrli, executive director of Elders in Action. When this occurs, seniors are left with a ruined credit history and the time consuming and complicated task of regaining financial health - a task they often need help with.
Elders in Action is committed to helping seniors deal with this crime. Elders in Action Ombudsman Services provides trained, skilled and dedicated volunteers to help seniors deal with and work through a variety of issues and problems in the areas of elder crime and abuse, housing and health care.
This service is an enormous help to seniors who may be embarrassed, confused or don’t know where else to turn to get help in working through financial and legal systems in order to solve identity theft problems and get retribution.
In addition to providing a helping hand to seniors who are victims of identity theft, Elders in Action also is proactive in its fight against this crime The organization conducts seminars and programs on fraud prevention to help educate seniors on ways they can guard against identity theft, which can have huge financial implications.
Elders in Action Ombudsmen Services can be reached at 503-823-5293. Elders in Action, located at 501 S.W. Washington Street, is a nonprofit organization working to improve the quality of life for older adults in the Mid-county area through a variety of services and volunteer-run programs.
Experience local area history
The David Douglas Historical Society has a museum highlighting the history of the David Douglas School District and of the area. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to share. Immerse yourself in the history of your neighborhood. Come see old pictures and memorabilia in the Children’s Services building, 1400 S.E. 135th Ave. The museum is currently open by appointment only. For more information or to make an appointment, please call Jo Curry at 503-254-5923.
MHCC offers computer help
The Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Self-Paced Leaning Center offers a variety of computer classes to those who don’t have the time for regular classes. Available classes include those in Windows, Microsoft Access, Excell, Word and Publisher, Quicken and the World Wide Web. The Self-Paced Learning Center hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. The Self-Paced Learning Center is located on the Maywood Park Campus, 10100 N.E. Prescott St. For more information or to register, please call the Maywood Park Campus at 503-491-6122.
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