Mid-county Memo Blog

Overheard this exchange at Argay Park recently between a dog-walker and a Parks & Recreation maintenance worker. The Parks & Recreation workers were installling two new nets on the four tennis courts at Argay Park.

Dog-walker: “When are you going to install new nets on the other two courts?”
Parks worker: “We’re not.”
Dog-walker: “Why not?”
Parks worker: “Well, everytime we install new nets on those courts,” she jabs her thumb in the air towards the two adjioning courts, “the skateboarders cut ‘em down.”
Dog-walker: Increduosly, “Whaaaat.”
Parks worker: “Oh yeah, and they’re expensive, so we decided to ‘give’ them those two courts to skateboard on.”
Dog walker: “Sheesh.”
Parks worker; “Yeah, it’s a shame, but at least these two nets aren’t getting cut down anymore.”

You’re invited to join the Columbia Slough Watershed Council and the Portland Water Bureau for Subs on the Slough – a special picnic lunch along the Columbia Slough at the canoe launch, Northeast Airport Way at 166th Avenue, Friday, August 15 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

It’s a great way to meet Slough neighbors and local business people over a great lunch, and learn about our nearby groundwater resource and the Groundwater Protection Program that is underway in the Columbia Slough Watershed.

After a tour of the canoe launch and a walk along a short section of east Portland’s 40-mile loop trail, you’ll enjoy a free lunch in a shaded picnic area.

The Community Connections Program at Parkrose High School Community Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.,  invites you and your family are to this year’s Parkrose Movie Nights finale, Thursday, July 17th from 6—8:30 p.m.

The feature film “Promises”, is a lighthearted movie about Israeli and Palestinian children who become friends despite cultural differences.

The Grand Finale of the free Movie Nights series is co-hosted by Mercy Corps, which sponsored a cultural exchange club at PHS  this summer. The Youth Exchange introduced Parkrose students to young people in Gaza. Each group of students made videos about each other’s homes in order learn more about their world. At Parkrose Movie Night, they’ll be sharing their videos with the audience.

The Memo story about the upcoming Parkrose Festival & Cruise-In gives more details on the August 2nd event the Parkrose Farmers Market is participating in.

The Parkrose Farmers Market is booming with activities and great local produce and crafts.

On Saturday, Aug. 2nd the Market is joining forces with the Parkrose Business Association and moving the market for that one day to Sandy Blvd. between Northeast 105th and 112th Avenues for the Parkrose Festival and Cruise In, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. With old fashioned and new fashioned cars, great music, cooking demos, crafts, and most of all that fresh Local Produce it is sure to be an event to remember.

We received an e-mail from Parkrose super volunteer Allison Newman-Woods. She’s looking for volunteers from the Parkrose business community to join the “new” Parkrose middle and high school athletic booster groups.

If you know anyone that would be interested in helping the Bronco Boosters, please forward them this link.

(The dates she refers to are on Mondays; July 14, 28 and August 11 and 25. All meetings in the Parkrose High School Community Center Library, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.)

Here is Ms. Newman-Woods’ missive:

The East Portland Neighborhood Chairs are sponsoring a Multi-Cultural Festival from noon to 6 p.m. July 12 at the Hazelwood Hydro-Park, Northeast 117th Avenue and Holladay Street in east Portland.

There will be ethnic entertainment, music, food and information. For more information call the East Portland Neighborhood Office at 503-823-4550.

Darn, those journalists at the Oregonian, they scooped us … again.

There’s a post on Oregon Live about Parkrose High School journalism students participating in the Minority Journalism Camp being held this week at Oregon State University.

Seems that five Parkrose journalism students are participating, today through June 29, at the Minority Journalism Camp being held at Oregon State University.

One of the camp participants, Dominique Blanchard graduated in June. The other four, Kerina Blanchard (Dominique’s sister), Tyree Harris, Evan Huynh, Semear Said and Caesar Santizo will return next fall to the Bronco Blaze staff.

In response to the work of the East Portland Action Plan committee, the
Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s Graffiti Abatement Program will direct resources for four targeted graffiti removal days in neighborhoods
east of the I-205 freeway during the month of June.

Four dates were chosen and four areas have been identified that will receive free cleanup services.

Crews will meet at designated starting points at 8:30 a.m. each date …

June 4th - Powell Blvd corridor from I-205 east to city limits.
June 5th - Division St corridor from I-205 east to city limits .
June 18th - Stark St from I-205 east and north to Sandy Blvd.
June 27th -  Centennial area (SE 174th, SE 162nd, SE 148th and
others).

Began in May, volunteers for Loaves & Fishes Centers have delivered emergency food and water rations to homebound seniors in east Portland as part of the plan to deliver the same for all metro area homebound seniors to use in the event of a natural disaster.

Seniors who regularly receive Meals-On-Wheels were provided with two gallon-size water jugs, an emergency meal bar (a 2,400-calorie bar), an emergency planning pamphlet and a personal information card to record important contact and medication information. Volunteers delivered the supplies and helped seniors understand the importance of personal preparation.

From 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 14th staff from the Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Water Bureau host a grand opening celebration for the new community garden at Hazelwood HydroPark, Northeast 117th Avenue, between Multnomah and Holladay Streets in east Portland.

Community members and the Food Policy Council are invited to join this celebration of urban agriculture and community. Of the 25 garden plots to be had, ten are currently still available.

For more information about Hazelwood Hydro-Park garden plots call the Community Garden Program, 503-823-1612.