MEMO BLOG Memo Calendar Memo Pad Business Memos Loaves & Fishes Letters Home
FEATURE ARTICLES
Parkrose parties for foundation
SnowCap expands community gardens
Farmers Market opens with prizes, music
Verse to voice: Fir Ridge’s Slam Jam IV
Candidates address east Portland issues at forum
Streetcars bound to be in Mid-county
May primary month for many
60 years growing green

About the MEMO
MEMO Archives
MEMO Advertising
MEMO Country (Map)
MEMO Web Neighbors
MEMO Staff
MEMO BLOG

© 2008 Mid-county MEMO
Terms & Conditions
Memo Pad

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 June issue are due by Thursday, May 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.

PHS student named Viking Scholar
Allan Drake, a Parkrose High School junior, was named a Viking Scholar by Portland State University last month. This annual program recognizes high-achieving juniors in Oregon high schools. The minimum cumulative GPA requirement for consideration is 3.5.
Drake, along with his parents, Rodney and Susan, were guests at a reception at PSU on April 8. Drake is planning on majoring in biochemistry in college. He carries a 3.52 cumulative GPA.

Parkrose girl scores big for team
At Parkrose Little League’s opening day ceremonies held last month, 11-year-old Hailey Lakoduk was recognized for earning her league $5,000 and a new lawn mower by being one of 20 regional winners in the Briggs & Stratton Diamonds in the Rough essay contest. Lined up for introductions at Parkrose Little League opening day ceremonies are, from left, Parkrose Pirates team members manager Jon Helgerson, Jasmine Lowe, Selena Johnson, Hailey Lakoduk, Sierra Stallings and Taylor Lakoduk.
MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN
Hailey Lakoduk’s Parkrose roots are deep. The 11-year-old Parkrose Middle School sixth-grader is a fourth-generation Parkrose resident. Her great-grandparents Bonnie and Tom McCarney met at Parkrose High.

Hailey’s mom, Lexy Lakoduk, is current president of Parkrose Little League and is guiding the league toward making improvements in its facilities. She and other league leaders are seeking grants and donations to meet this goal.

Perhaps this example is what inspired Hailey to enter the Briggs & Stratton Diamonds in the Rough essay contest.

Open to youth baseball and softball players around the country, the contest urges kids to discuss how their sport has helped them overcome a specific challenge in their life. Twenty regional winners were awarded $5,000 to upgrade their home fields, a baseball prize package and a Snapper SE Series Walk-Behind lawn mover valued at $350. Hailey was one of those winners.

In her essay, Hailey acknowledged being outspoken. She said that softball has allowed her to become a better teammate and a better friend. Hailey, a shortstop and catcher, has been playing softball since age 5 and enjoys playing soccer as well.

“Hailey is working very hard in softball,” according to her mom. She “loves sports ... and works very hard to keep her grades up. It is a challenge today to keep a balance between school studies and extra-curricular activities, but Hailey makes it easy.”

Hailey’s grandmother Sandra McCarney Carlson — a 1969 PHS grad, added, “My granddaughters (Hailey and sister, Taylor, a pitcher) have been involved in league sports since they were in kindergarten. Every Saturday morning or afternoon (during) spring, summer and fall, their mother, aunts and myself are at either a soccer or softball field supporting them. We help out in the commissary, keep score and do as much as we can as a family to show how much we support what they are doing.”

With this network behind her, it is no wonder Hailey sought a way to give back to Parkrose Little League. She was recognized at opening day ceremonies on Saturday, April 5.

Retiring old yellow recycling bins say hello to new blue cart bin
The familiar yellow recycling bins that have dotted Portland curbsides since 1992 will soon be a thing of the past. Beginning in May, Portland residents will receive new 60-gallon roll carts for all of their recycling. Newspapers, cans, plastic bottles, junk mail and magazines — everything — can be mixed together in the cart.

“We’re excited to put the new recycling program into action,” said Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman. “We worked with residents, haulers and the recycling companies to develop a new system that makes recycling easier and more convenient.”

Saltzman said the key feature of the new system is the large-capacity, two-wheel cart that will hold all of the recyclables. “The roll carts will allow people to sort less and to recycle more,” Saltzman said.

The carts will be mechanically tipped into the recycling collection trucks, improving safety and working conditions for the haulers. No sorting is required at home because all of the recyclable material is sorted at a local recycling facility.

The new recycling system is one component of the Portland Recycles! Plan approved by the Portland City Council last August. The plan challenges Portland residents and businesses to increase the city’s recycling rate from 63 percent to 75 percent by 2015.

Before implementing the new recycling roll carts citywide, Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development conducted a pilot program with 2,000 residents to assess how people would respond to the recycling carts. Reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Pilot testers reported that the roll carts made recycling easy and convenient since the material didn’t have to be sorted. Because the carts hold more material than the yellow bins, some people didn’t have to put out their recycling every week. They also said they appreciated that the lid kept recyclables dry and paper from blowing into the street.

Garbage and recycling companies will deliver the blue recycling roll carts to customers May through early July. At the same time, they’ll deliver green roll carts for yard debris, as well as information prepared by the city to help people recycle correctly.

Yellow bins can be kept and one of them used for glass bottles and jars. As always, glass needs to be kept separate, outside of the recycling roll cart.

More information is available at www.portlandonline.com/osd/carts.
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | About the MEMO
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home