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The MEMO Calendar is your vehicle to publicize community events. Let your Mid-Multnomah County neighbors know about events of interest, meetings, fundraisers and the like. Calendar submissions for the February issue are due Friday, Jan. 14. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail your editorial submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR, 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. Mid-county MEMO fax number is 503-249-7672.
EVENTS
Community reading project underway
Everybody Reads, the Portland area’s third annual community project, kicks off the middle of this month and continues through the month of February. This year’s book is “The House on Mango Street,” Sandra Cisneros’ poignant coming-of-age novel set in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago. The story unfolds through a series of vignettes narrated by young Esperanza Cordero, who writes about herself, her family and the people who live in her neighborhood.
More than 6,000 copies of the book will be available at Multnomah County libraries. Books will be available in English and Spanish.
“Books have the power to unite people,” says Director of Libraries Molly Raphael. Getting involved is easy.
Pick up an Everybody Reads brochure and discussion guide. It is available at all Multnomah County libraries, participating bookstores, area Fred Meyer stores and Starbucks locations.
Read the book. Get a copy at your local library or bookstore. Join a discussion group. Dozens of discussion groups will be hosted by libraries and participating retailers. You can also start your own book group and, if you need one, request a discussion leader from the library.
Attend an Everybody Reads event. During January and February approximately 83 programs related to the project will take place, including discussions, lectures and performances celebrating Latino heritage and culture.
Visit the Everybody Reads Web site for the latest information, events and resources at www.multcolib.org/reads/.
Learn to cope, develop better relationships
The Grotto Counseling Center will begin two new support groups this month. Center interns will facilitate both groups. To reserve a spot, or if you have questions, call 503-261-2425. The Counseling Center is located at 8840 N.E. Skidmore St.
A 12-session group focused on improving relationships, whether with a partner, a family member, a friend or a co-worker, will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 beginning Jan. 5. Participants will learn skills to communicate effectively and manage conflict, along with tools to manage their mood better and increase intimacy in their life. All ages, genders and diversities are welcome. There will be a $30 fee for all sessions.
Titled “Creative Support,” a support group for people living with depression will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7 beginning Jan. 11. The purpose of the group is to provide an opportunity to explore the use of creative expression, such as drawing, painting, sculpting or scrapbooking, as a coping mechanism in living with depression. No artistic instruction will be given; everyone will be encouraged to create whatever he or she would like to create. The fee for this group will be based on a sliding scale to help cover expenses.
A healthier you
If you have listed “get healthy” on your New Year’s resolution list, Slim and Tone, 11404 N.E. Halsey St., can help.
They offer a free health and wellness class on Saturday, Jan. 8 at noon. The focus will be health issues for women including inflammation, monitoring Ph balance, reducing intake of toxins and understanding essential nutrients.
Call 503-255-1843 to register. Tell them you are interested in the “Running on Empty” class. And be sure to ask about other upcoming classes.
Wonders of the winter sky for all to see
Learn how to identify prominent constellations, star clusters and planets in the Winter Sky. Mt. Hood Community College Planetarium Director Doug McCarty will use the Planetarium Sky Theater star projector to recreate a realistic sky and answer questions about upcoming celestial events. “Wonders of the Winter Sky” will be presented on Monday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Also, beginning in January, the planetarium will begin a series of 45-minute, live public shows on the second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Admission to all public shows is $1. Seating is on a first come-first served basis. Children are always welcome. The Sky Theater is handicapped accessible.
The Planetarium Sky Theater offers live, customized and interactive one-hour programs to the public, school groups and private parties Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Jan. 3 through Aug. 26 (during daytime hours only). A $75 facility use fee is charged for each program. Maximum capacity in the Sky Theater is 70.
All shows are presented under a realistic representation of the night sky, featuring the latest images from the Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical instruments on the ground and in orbit. Call 503-491-7297 to make a reservation. You may visit the planetarium at www.starstuff.com for more information. The planetarium is located on the main campus of MHCC at 26000 S.E. Stark St. in Gresham.
People requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact the MHCC Disability Services Office at 503-491-6923 or 503-491-7670 (TDD).
Series of workshops addresses stress in daily life
The Northeast Catholic Counseling Center has scheduled their Healthy Connections Workshop series for this winter.
“It is our desire to be a positive impact in our community,” explained Sister Barbara Kennedy, director of the center. “Our hope is that we can give the opportunity for participants to develop new healthy skills and techniques to help address the stressors of daily living.”
A couple’s communication skills series will run Tuesdays, Jan. 11 through Feb. 1. This is a four-week educational series that teaches couples how to listen to one another, clarify communication and most importantly, resolve conflict. Couples committed to each other yet whom experience blockage in communication will benefit from this class.
Explore the nature of angry feelings and what triggers them at the “Good and Angry” workshop on Saturday, Feb. 5. Appropriate methods for expressing anger will be taught as well as techniques to channel anger into positive actions that will work for you and not against you.
To find out more about the workshops, including times, contact the center at 503-253-0964.
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