A PSA from Portland Parks & Recreation follows:

“Portland Parks & Recreation encourages public without air conditioning to go to cooling rooms and lobbies at five designated community centers throughout the city
Wading pool late hours are also extended through at Thursday, July 30

“In response to the extreme heat wave this week, Portland Parks & Recreation is encouraging the public who are without air conditioning to go to one of five community centers that are open for people to come and cool off in designated rooms or lobbies. Locations, hours, and bus line information is below.

City Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade has announced the opening of recruitment for five volunteers to serve on the Citizen Campaign Commission. One position is for a two-year term, and four positions are for four-year terms. All positions commence in October.
“Service on this important volunteer commission requires objectivity, fairness, neutrality and lack of real or perceived conflicts of interest. And given that this system will be referred to the voters, we need individuals that can make impartial decisions and recommendations without a bias — either for or against public campaign financing,” said Griffin-Valade.
The principal duties of the seven-member Citizen Campaign Commission include the following: attending monthly or semi-monthly evening meetings; advising on policies, procedures, guidelines and training information related to Portland’s public campaign financing system; coordinating the work of a hearings officer to rule on appeals by candidates; and working with auditor’s office staff to review operations and prepare both a biennial report and interim reports to the council on recommendations to improve the system.
Applications are available at the auditor’s office in City Hall as well as on the city elections Web site here.
Applications will be evaluated and scored by a selection committee, and the most qualified candidates will be asked to appear for an interview. Appointment selections will be made by City Council.
Signed applications must be submitted to the city auditor no later than 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 2. Mailing address: Office of the City Auditor, City Hall Room 140, 1221 S.W. 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204. Fax number: 503-823-4571. Please address questions to Andrew Carlstrom, city elections officer, at 503-823-3546 or andrew.carlstrom@ci.portland.or.us.

After a long struggle with illness, Aldo Rossi passed away this morning at 3:30 a.m.

Son Joe said that because Aldo wasn’t in the best health these last two years, the passing wasn’t unexpected. Aldo Rossi was 89 years old. His obituary will publish in the next issue of the Mid-county Memo with the particulars.

Rossi said his family will gather together for a memorial service next week. Aldo Rossi was an icon in Parkrose; we’ll miss you Aldo Rossi.

And, on a personal note … I met, worked with, and played softball against Pete, and “the boys” in my salad days (early 80s) when I was booking, managing and promoting bands around Portland. It was sad to hear about Pete.  This e-mail below is from Jon DuFresne (Jon@compphys.com). Besides helping Pete out, this will be a good show tonight at Duff’s Garage.

We receive press releases from a wide variety of sources, from the White House in Washington, D.C., to our neighbor’s house down the street, and everything in-between. Of course, not all of it pertains to our readers. Occasionally, something that has nothing to do with the Memo’s mission in Mid-County comes along that now, through our blog site and Twitter,  we can share with you. Here it is, the press release from the Oregon State Police with a  link to the video:

“An Oregon State Police in-car video of an incident that happened June 18th is being released after a motorcycle operator pled guilty to Careless Driving when he lost control and separated from his motorcycle.

Portland Parks & Recreation’s Community Gardens program is offering its annual free guided tour of six gardens throughout the city on Saturday, July 18. From 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, participants can join PP&R Community Gardens staff and learn about various gardening techniques, examine water catchment systems, and view edible greenspaces.

The guided tour will take participants by van and carpool to see community gardens at Gabriel Park (Southwest 41st and Canby), Col. Summers Park (Sotheast 20th and Taylor), Sewallcrest Park (Sotheast 31st and Market), Brentwood Park (Southeast 57th and Cooper), Woodlawn Park (7200 N.E. 11th), and Hazelwood Hydro Park (Northeast 117th and Holladay), in east Portland. The tour leaves from PP&R’s Mt. Tabor Central Maintenance Yard at 6437 SE Division Street at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18.

We received an e-mail request from Hadley Price, Solar Oregon’s Marketing and Business Development Director, asking us to disseminate information about the volunteer opportunity at Solar Oregon.  For more information about Solar Oregon and itrs volunteer opportunities, call her at 503-231-5662; her missive follows:

“We have immediate tour volunteer opportunities and other specialized volunteer positions which include solar education, outreach, promotion and development. All are much needed volunteer positions which are important to the expansion of the use of solar power throughout Oregon. Plus, you gain free admission to tours and expo events.

The Public Broadcastring System’s KIDS Series “Between the Lions” Kicks Off its Third Annual Roadshow with Live, Interactive Performances in Portland, Wednesday July 15 at the Oregon Zoo and Midland Library.

Cleo and Lionel, mother and son duo of the Between the Lions pride visit Portland to kick off the third annual Between the Lions Roadshow.

Marking their first-ever West Coast stop, the literacy loving lions will educate and entertain fans — small and tall — with live, interactive shows.

A news release from the Oregon State Police with their post-fourth of July holiday weekend statistics follows. Except for the one tragic fatality, good news on the highways and byways of Oregon the past weekend.

“Preliminary statistics reported this morning by ODOT’s Fatality Analysis Reporting Unit (FARS) following the 54-hour Fourth of July holiday reporting period reflects the second fewest number of traffic fatalities in Oregon during this holiday period since 1970.  FARS statistics reflects the Fourth of July holiday period as the deadliest major holiday weekend of the year in Oregon.

Bill Lynch and Jim Miller hope their new Subway Restaurant — in east Portland’s San Rafael Shopping Center — will be open by mid-July.

Construction is underway to convert the old Skipper’s Restaurant building in the shopping center, 1740 N.E. 122nd Ave., into a Subway Restaurant.

The partners are excited their restaurant will offer customers a drive-thru option, the first 24-hour drive-thru Subway location in the area.