A note from the Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s newsletter by Rebecca Geisen about the dock-less canoe launch at Northeast 165th and Airport Way in the Wilkes neighborhood of outer east Portland.

165th and Airport Way dockless canoe launch

On August 9, the Portland Water Bureau removed the boat launch at 16650 NE Airport Way due to safety concerns. The dock has been deteriorating over the years and despite regular maintenance, it is beyond repair. Regrettably, this also means that the Water Bureau’s signature event, Aquifer Adventure, will not have pirate guided canoe rides this year. The canoe dock, gazebo and signage has also fallen victim to heavy vandalism in recent months. The Portland Water Bureau is currently reviewing different options for the launch.

The Portland Water Bureau also owns and maintains a boat launch at 11198 NE Simpson. This little-known launch has also been subject to vandalism and is undergoing some repairs. If you see anything suspicious at or near either of these boat launches, please do not hesitate to call Portland Water Bureau security at 503-823-6084.

Columbia Slough Watershed Council sent us an e-mail about the last chance to sign up for Cycle the Well Field, Saturday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This annual bicycling tour of Portland’s local groundwater well field will work your muscles and your brain at the same time, as experts from the Portland Water Bureau teach you about Portland’s back-up water supply system.

Five  slots only remain;  sign-up here , or call Melissa at 503-281-1132.

Meet at the aloft Portland Airport Hotel at Cascade Station, 9920 N.E. Cascades Pkwy.

The June 2009 edition of the Mid-county Memo has also, after being sedulously delivered by the United States Postal Service,  been posted online.

Gracing this issue’s front page are the gracious ladies of the Elkettes, a 50-member strong ladies auxiliary of  the Gateway Elks

The four-story, 180,000 square foot new medical pavilion at Adventist Medical Center in east Portland opened last month.  Read Lee Perlman’s first-hand account of the dedication ceremony.

David Douglas School District’s  Fir Ridge Campus is featured in a story  by Heather Hill about  its annual Leadership Conference

A summary of feature stories from the May 2009 edition of the Mid-county Memo:

The Gateway Green Project gets going with a grant for planning and an anonymous donation.

To meet Mayor Sam Adams’ first round of budget cuts, Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer  cuts the number of police precincts from five to three.  The Northeast Precinct will now stretch from Linnton to Gresham.

Western States Chiropractic College, the 105-year-old institution in Mid-county seeks to become a university.

Up next, Perlman’s Potpourri: news items from across the Gateway and Parkrose neighborhoods of mid-Multnomah County from veteran Beat Reporter Lee Perlman.

To celebrate the season and entertain shoppers at DeWhitt Appliance, a free, holiday production titled “A Storybook Christmas” is set for Saturday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m.

DeWhitt Appliance, located at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Airport Way, will host Kids Company Northwest, a performing troupe of students of the Northwest Childrens Theater and School for the event. The lighthearted, 45-minute live musical production is beautifully costumed and fun for the whole family.

The troupe has been taking original musical shows out into the community for 15 years, and is comprised of talented kids ages 9 to 14 who love to act, sing and dance; they come together from all over the greater Portland area and dedicate their December to performing.

Memo Executive Editor Rich Riegel, Publisher Tim Curran and Reporter Lee Perlman all enjoyed a festive lunch and tour at the new Airport Way Ikea store on July 18. The Ikea Portland store, at 10280 N.E. Cascades Parkway, is located in the midst of the new CascadeStation development at the intersection of Airport Way West and Interstate 205 here in Portland.