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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.
To ensure publication in the MEMO Pad, please send submissions for each month by the 15th of the previous month. MEMO Pad submissions for the August issue are due by Thursday, July 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail editorial 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.
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| Alison Lajoie, of Parkrose, is a busy University of Portland student. |
Alison Lajoie is a winner in the Subaru of America Foundation Scholarship Program for the second time. The program was established to reward the academic excellence of children of Subaru of America, Inc. employees and to encourage them to continue their education. She is the daughter of Tom and Linda Lajoie of Parkrose.
Lajoie has completed her freshman year of studies in the Nursing Program at the University of Portland, or U of P. She chooses to live on campus in the all girl dormitory because “it helps me to meet people and stay involved,” she says. Among the friends she has made are a student from Nepal and one from India. She says she has enjoyed learning about their cultures and religions and would like to visit them in their homes one day.
As a member of the National Student Nursing Association she helped organize a Sweethearts Ball and Auction for Valentines Day which raised monies that were then donated to local charities.
With a GPA of 3.85, Lajoie was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society and made the School of Nursing Dean’s List both semesters.
When school begins in the fall, her schedule will include three science classes. To mitigate that workload, Lajoie is spending six weeks this summer participating in the U of P Study Abroad Program earning some early credits toward her second year.
In addition to the Subaru scholarship, Lajoie was awarded a University of Portland Presidential Scholarship following her high school graduation. This scholarship will provide $10,000 per year for four years as long as she maintains her grades.
Away from school, Lajoie works full time as a nanny to a Vancouver family and is active in the National Youth and Young Adult Committee of the United Church of Christ.
Summer reading program has begun
Kids and teens throughout Multnomah County can visit any Multnomah County Library to sign up and participate in the Summer Reading program.
This year’s game, “Discover New Trails . . . Read!” encourages players to read and earn incentives for each block of time they read. Youth of all ages, including very young children who are being read to by a parent or caregiver, as well as older kids who are reading on their own, can participate in Summer Reading. All kids who complete the required reading receive their choice of a Summer Reading T-shirt or a coupon for a free book.
All participants who complete their required reading and turn in their game board by August 31 will also be entered in the grand prize drawing for a family vacation for four to the Disneyland® Resort in California.
Teens can participate in a separate program this year that was designed just for them. For each block of reading or reading-related activities that they complete, they may enter a weekly drawing at their neighborhood library for a chance to win prize packs. Prize packs include tickets to local sporting events and theater venues; youth passes on TriMet, art products and gift certificates for CDs and videos.
Participants have the option of earning Discovery Dollars instead of receiving prizes. Discovery Dollars can be used toward buying books for childcare centers and children in homeless shelters.
Last year, more than 42,000 kids and teens took part in Multnomah County Library’s Summer Reading program. Libraries throughout the country regularly conduct summer reading programs to encourage reading for pleasure, especially when school is not in session. “Research has shown that reading is the single summer activity most strongly and consistently related to summer learning,” says Katie O’Dell, reading promotions coordinator for Multnomah County Library. “Children who read books over the summer gain more in reading achievement than children who do not and the number of books read during the summer is consistently related to academic gains,” she adds.
Dive-in
Parkrose Swim Club will be holding tryouts for new swimmers Wednesdays, at 6 p.m. at the Parkrose Community Center pool, located in the Parkrose High School, 12003 N.E. Shaver, July 1 through August 13.
Parkrose Swim Club is a competitive USA Swimming club. It is a year-round program, with a certified and experienced coaching staff. Scheduled practices are held nightly between the hours of 4:30-6:30, Monday through Friday.
Parkrose Swim Club accepts swimmers ages five to eight that are water safe in shallow and deep water and swimmers ages nine and up with knowledge of the freestyle, or crawl stroke, and backstroke.
For more information, please contact Allison Newman-Woods at 503-408-0487.
Volunteers needed for Meal-A-Gram committee
People who want to support the Meals-On-Wheels program in their community are invited to help Loaves & Fishes Centers with its annual Meal-A-Gram fundraiser.
The event takes place each October and all proceeds support the Meals-On-Wheels program in Multnomah and eastern Washington counties.
For more information or to volunteer for the Meal-A-Gram committee, call Colette Ashby, special events manager, at 503-736-6325, Ext. 25914.
Off-leash monitors sought
Several months ago the City of Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation launched a program to test off-leash areas at at a number neighborhood parks. One part of the program designates areas within a park that are not fenced, but which permit dogs off leash during specific hours.
Argay Park is one of these Seasonal Hours at Reserved Sites, or SHARED sites. During the summer months, off-leash hours are 5 to 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. until the park closes. Signs are posted that clearly indicate the off-leash area.
Cheryl Fairfax, the Park and Recreation Off-Leash Coordinator was on hand at a recent Argay Neighborhood Association meeting to request community assistance in monitoring pet activity in the park. Monitors are needed at all hours and for all days. They will be asked to periodically patrol the park, noting whether dogs are kept on leash if they are in areas of the park not designated as off-leash. If they are kept on leash when they are in the park during hours not specified as off-leash hours. And if owners are diligent about cleaning up after their pets.
If you are interested in being part a site stewardship program, please call Tim or Darlene at 503-282-9846.
Creative new way to give
SnowCap Community Charities has launched a new in kind donation drive called “Gift of the Month” according to executive director Judy Alley. “In kind gifts free up the cash we do receive to pay for things where only money will do - electric bill, servicing the fork lift, gas for the truck, insurance for the whole program, garbage bills or dump fee.” Each service club, church, business or family will receive a certificate. “Pick the gift that fits your budget and mail it to us at SnowCap.” Snowcap provides emergency food and utility assistance, clothing and school supplies for children 8th grade and younger, ESL language classes, Community Garden and other emergency services to Mid County and East Multnomah County residents.
Gift of the Month items include:
• A week’s supply of new underwear for a young boy - seven pairs of undershirts sizes 1-14 and 7 pairs of socks
• 100 brown paper bags (grocery Size)
• Five Boxes of Tissue
• Five reams of 20lb white copier paper
• Package of highlighters and box of color pencils
• One package of dry erasable markers
• A week’s supply of new underwear for a young girl - 7 panties sizes 1-14 and 7 pairs of socks
• Two 24-count bags of diapers sizes 4, 5 and 6 needed
• 25lbs of dried beans - kidney, black, pinto, split peas
• Six cans of fruit
• Can of baby formula
Why does Snowcap need grocery bags? “More than 50% of our clients walk to SnowCap,” says Kari James, “We always need bags. Paper bags are not a small donation, they fill a need and help SnowCap volunteers deliver our services efficiently and thoughtfully.” Families, businesses, church groups and service clubs interested in making regular in-kind donations of any of the regularly needed items on the SnowCap Gift of the Month list should contact Judy Alley at SnowCap 503-674-8785.
In addition, community members should know that a variety of volunteers are needed at SnowCap. The organization seeks Food2 You Drivers on the last Tuesday of each month; Packer, sorting and distribution volunteer for the last Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Greeters at the front desk are needed each Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cart helpers are needed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Children’s Clothing Closet volunteer is needed for Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please call Danni at SnowCap 503-674-8785 extension 19 for complete volunteer job descriptions and orientation dates.
SnowCap Community Charities is a 501 c (3) organization supported completely by donations of private individuals.
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| The little gray house that Oregon Telco fixed. |
Rebuilding Together is an organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing houses and communities, assuring that low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly and disabled and families with children, live in warmth, safety, and independence. Born from the American spirit of neighbors helping neighbors, people came together to help their low-income neighbors fix their houses. Rebuilding Together began in Texas back in 1988, moved on to Washington, D.C., California and today Oregon.
This spring, 23 dedicated employee volunteers from Oregon Telco Community Credit Union helped an 87-year old woman by painting her home and completing yard work. The home is located less than one mile from Oregon Telco’s Mall 205 branch. This neighbor was very appreciative of their efforts and commented, “As I drive down the street, I stop to admire my gray house.”
To learn more about Rebuilding Together visit http://www.rebuildingtogether.com.
Head Start receives donation
Local Safeway employees donated nearly $14,000 to the Head Start programs at Mt. Hood Community College, or MHCC, and Portland Public Schools at a recent presentation at the MHCC Head Start Center, Maywood Park campus, 10100 N.E. Prescott. The donation comes from Safeway employees’ annual charity fundraising effort.
MHCC’s Head Start program will use the donation to buy books, CDs and other materials to support literacy activities. The program also plans to use the books for its summer Little Red Wagon Project, where employees will give them away to children in underprivileged neighborhoods.
“We are so thankful for the support of our program,” said Susan Brady, MHCC’s Head Start coordinator. “Our kids will be the ones to benefit from the kindness and foresight of Safeway employees.”
The Head Start program at MHCC helps about 675 children between the ages of 3 and 5 prepare to enter the public school system. Most of the children live below standard poverty guidelines.
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