Nine years ago, Lloyd Martindale had a difficult decision: accept the full-time job offer from Clackamas Community College to continue as head wrestling coach or, quit the college position and devote his effort into being a full time construction and remodeling contractor. “I’ve been very blessed and had a little success since then,” Martindale said. Continuing his passion for the sport, Martindale, a Parkrose resident, is a volunteer wrestling coach at the high school.

Lloyd Martindale, owner of C & K Construction in Parkrose, tightens the faucet on a new bathtub at one of his recent remodel jobs.

The Portland Development Commission is in the process of forming six new miniature urban renewal districts, and four of them will be in Mid-county.

In October Sokhom Tauch, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization Executive Director, spoke at the meeting at IRCO announcing east Portland areas selected for the Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative, part of the development plan for the Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy, which is a part of City Council's 2009 Economic Development Strategy. Behind him are Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen and Rey Espana, Director of Community Development at the Native American Youth & Family Center.

It is Bazaar weekend in east Portland with three area churches holding bazaars. Beginning today, tomorrow and Sunday, three local churches are holding holiday bazaars; a rummage sale too.

Crossroads Church
Christmas Bazaar at Crossroads Church, 2505 N.E. 102nd Ave., on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Handmade gifts, decorations, food, rugs, wood products, knitted items, weaving looms, tank chimes, dolls, greeting cards, crafts and more.

Lents-Gilbert Church of God
The bazaar and rummage sale at Lents-Gilbert Church of God, 12230 S.E. Harold St., is Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you travel Northeast Halsey Street in the vicinity of 119th Avenue, there is no doubt you have seen the colorful new storefront of U Can Do It Dog Wash.

Proprietor Sue Wade was convinced Mid-county was in need of a dog grooming facility that offers pet owners the option of shampooing their dogs themselves or turning the task over to her and her staff. Her intuition has paid off in the form of neighbors and potential customers dropping in to check the place out.

As you can see, U Can Do It Dog Wash professional groomer Taylor Case enjoys making dogs look adorable. COURTESY SUSAN WADE

A Better You, a holistic health spa dedicated to weight loss and improved health through lifestyle changes and passive exercise has opened in Gateway at 11118 N.E. Halsey St.
The spa features electro-slim weight loss passive exercise, massage therapy, ionic foot detox, infrared sauna, hair mineral analysis and magnetic therapy. Programs are developed on an individual basis.

A Better You will celebrate its grand opening with a party on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be games and giveaways and the opportunity to chat with one of the service professionals about the approach that will best work for you.
A Better You:  look good from the inside out. To learn more, visit betteryouspa.com or call 503-954-3218.

The August issue of the Mid-county Memo is posted online. A re-cap of its content follows …

This month’s issue has a front page feature story about the Native American Youth and Family Center housed in an old elementary school on Columbia Blvd. in east Portland.

Lee Perlman pens a piece about the results of the recently revived Barn Bash, a western style party that was annually held at Rossi Farms in Parkrose for ten years before it ended in 2007, is the subject of the second story on this month’s front page.

March 2011 Mid-county Memo online edition re-cap

The March issue of the Mid-county Memo was posted online last week. This month’s issue has stories about Portland City Council’s Citywide Tree Project hearing; an interview with Don Grotting, new David Douglas School District Superintendent; Fir Ridge Campus’ African American Family Night; CherryWood Village’s ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Oregon’s largest senior retirement community solar array; Mid-county Memo founder Tom Pry’s obituary and photos of last month’s one-day snow event Thursday, Feb. 24.

And, as always, the informative departments: Memo Calendar, Memo Pad, Business Memos, Memorable Menus, Letters to the Editor and Loaves & Fishes’ monthly menu.

We wish you a Happy New Year.  A recap with links to stories in the January 2011 Mid-county Memo follows:

We caught up to busy busy Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray for an interview as she begins her third year at the helm of the Parkrose School District.

East Portland business and neighborhood leaders are canvassed and asked what are major issues facing our little corner of Portland.

Joann “JoJo” Glass calls it quits after 35 years tending bar at the Candle Light Restaurant and Lounge on 74th and Northeast Glisan St.

The July issue of the Memo was posted earlier this week.

This month’s feature stories include: a story by Heather Hill about the schism at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Parkrose; Lee Perlman reports on the progress of PAC, or the Gateway Regional Center Urban Renewal Area Program Advisory Committee; Perlman also reports on the wrapping up of the Portland International Airport’s Master Plan; finally, this month’s Perlman’s Potpourri, a beat reporter’s round-up of news and information in Mid-Multnomah County.

As always, the Memo Calendar, containing east Portland’s most comprehensive listing of community events.

A recap, with links, to the online version of the June issue of the Mid-county Memo follows:

June’s front page says Elmer’s Restaurants in affiliation with the Rose Festival Association, are bringing back the popular Rose Meal. Every day during the 2010 Rose Festival celebration — May 22 through June 13 — Elmer’s Restaurants will donate 20 percent of all proceeds from their special Rose Meal menu in support of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation.

Also on the front page is Lee Perlman’s report on last month’s Portland Plan workshop at David Douglas High School in outer east Portland.