Mid-county Memo Blog

We received an e-mail from Joanne Oleksiak, a team leader for the Parkrose High School Community Center mural project that was completed last summer. She wanted to inform us about an upcoming event that features Portland muralists.

A celebration of the diversity of styles and approaches of Portland’s muralists is the subject for the First Friday Opening Night May 2.

The show runs from 5 to 9 p.m. The festivities include food and music. At 7 p.m. artists will speak about their work.

Invited artists, including Baba Wague Diakite, Adriene Cruz, Martin Gonzalez, Trisha Kaufman, and Chris Haberman will talk about murals and their own artwork.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s Graffiti Abatement Program, in cooperation with the East Portland Action Plan committee, will direct resources for four targeted graffiti removal days in Mid-county neighborhoods east of I-205 during the month of June. To accomplish this task, they need help from the community.

It should come as no surprise to residents of neighborhoods east of I-205 that graffiti has increased in the past year. In fact, incidents and reports of graffiti have risen in Mid-county neighborhoods 68% from the same time period from 2007 to this year. The increase is due partly to better reporting from neighborhoods, and also due to an increase in incidents. The East Portland Action Plan committee has identified graffiti prevention and clean-up as a priority public safety strategy in Mid-county.

Will you or your loved ones be protected when the unexpected happens?
Receive detailed explanations on necessary documents everyone should have in place for their own security.

At the East Portland Community Center Saturday, April 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon find out about the difference between wills and living trusts and come to an understanding of which is right for you. Have all your questions answered here — free.

Portland Parks & Recreation’s community centers are now requesting online registration or contact them by phone at 503-823-3450. The East Portland Community Center is at 740 S.E. 106th Avenue.

We received an e-mail from Allison Newman-Woods, the energetic and effusive chair of the Parkorse Educational Foundation’s Auction committee.
It is about the upcoming auction and why we should attend if we care about Parkrose schools and its future.

The Mid-county Memo bought a table for the 2008 auction and please, take it from somone that has been to more than a few of the Parkrose Educational Foundation Auctions — it’s fun and there are some bargains to be had. We’ll see you there. Newman-Woods’ e-mail follows …

The Rev. Chuck Currie of Parkrose Community United Church of Christ in east Portland and Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross of First Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Portland will exchange pulpits for an Earth Day celebration Sunday, April 20th.

Both will be preaching on the state of the environment and God’s call that everyone be righteous stewards of creation.

Ministers in the United Church of Christ have been encouraged to set aside a Sunday before Earth Day 2008 on Tuesday, April 22 to expound on environmental stewardship issues.

East Portland neighborhoods would like like to remind those interested that their free workshop in their Cross-Cultural Communication Workshop Series is approaching.

EastPortland neighborhood associations are sponsoring this series to increase understanding of communication across cultures. The workshops are presented by Mid-county’s Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization’s International Language Bank.

This workshop, the third in a series, will focus on Hispanic Cultures. The workshops are free, but because of limited space, require pre-registration. If you would like to attend, call 503-823-4550, or e-mail info@epno.org.

The third workshop of the series will be held at the East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave. on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, April 26th from 5 to 8 p.m. Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is holding its annual spaghetti dinner and fundraiser.

The church invites the community to dine on pasta, enjoy entertainment, experience ambiance and help with its fundraising efforts.

For an all-you-can eat dinner, the prices are reasonable; adults $10, Children 12 and under, $5, ages two and under dine free.

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is located at 4715 N.E. Wygant St., one block South of Sandy Blvd. in east Portland, with Handicap Accessibility at the church’s 105th Avenue entrance.

The Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp 23rd Annual Dinner & Benefit Auction will be held Saturday, May 10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 7900 N.E. 82nd Ave. at Northeast Airport Way in east Portland.

This fundraising event is to benefit the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp for Children and Adults with Disabilities. Auction items include weekend getaways, spa packages, sports tickets, and more.  Last year the various Kiwanis members that come together in support of the camp raised over $185,000.

Proceeds provide the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the freedom and fun of summer camp they would otherwise not be able to experience.