The April 2012 Mid-county Memo is posted online. A recap of its contents follows:

Bre’Shay Barnes was named Rose Festival Princess from Parkrose; the new Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative areas struggle to meet financial goals; Parkrose School District declares impasse with teachers; PSD Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray is one of four finalists for Reynolds job; the first meeting between Metro and Glendoveer golf course lovers since a contentious open house in August; the Argay Neighborhood Association hires a lawyer to help fight infill development across the street from Argay Park and an east Portland high school winter sports roundup.

According to participants, nights at Outdoor School are magical: the glow of the campfire, songs and skits with friends old and new, the quiet walk back to the cabin, wrapped up in an individual goodnight from the student leaders.

Captain Conservation lectures Outdoor School students how to reduce waste.

The cost for a 6th grader to spend the night at Outdoor School is around $60. Donate $60 to provide one night for one student; get friends and family together to sponsor a night for a cabin of kids for $600; $1800 will pay for one night at Outdoor School for one class of 6th graders.

Two of three Mid-county school districts — Reynolds and Parkrose — are seeking state mediation help in reaching agreement on their teachers contracts; classified employees in Parkrose also.

The third district, David Douglas, has been negotiating since June, but is not headed to mediation — yet.

In a show of solidarity, area union members and volunteers joined Parkrose teachers and employees picketing the school district. From left, North Clackamas School District teacher Deborah Barnes, eight-year-old Tori Garrett, and Sena Norton, Boring Middle School teacher and Garrett’s stepmother.

The David Douglas School Board is considering whether to place a bond measure on the ballot in May 2012.

The board members are holding a workshop Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Earl Boyles Elementary School Library, 10822 S.E. Bush St., to talk about potential bond projects; and to review community surveys on the efficacy of proposing a measure that would be on the ballot for the May 2012 election.

Parents, students, and community members are encouraged to join the David Douglas Wellness Committee.

The committee helps to make recommendations, share resources and provide oversight of the district’s wellness programs related to student health, ensuring that all students have access to healthy food choices and resources for physical activity.

David Douglas School District Wellness Coordinator Stephanie Manfre, right, asks for volunteers for the David Douglas Wellness Committee, dedicated to bringing healthy food to David Douglas students. Nell Tessman, left, is a Health Educator for the Multnomah County Health Department’s Healthy Active Schools Program and Jodi Taylor, center, is Nutritional Services Manager for the district.

Start Making A Reader Today is an early literacy nonprofit that envisions an Oregon in which every child can read and is empowered to succeed. SMART engages community volunteers to help pre-kindergarten to 3rd grade children become confident readers by providing one-on-one literacy support, valuable adult mentorship, and books to take home and keep

David Douglas schools need reading volunteers for the Start Making A Reader Today Program

Volunteers are needed at Gilbert Heights, Menlo Park and Mill Park Elementary Schools. Volunteer to read for one hour per week from mid-October through mid-May. Applications are accepted year-round. To make a difference at these schools and in your community, call 971-634-1616 or visit getsmartoregon.org and help start making a reader today.

You want to hold public office and represent, among others, the people of east Portland. Well, Democrat Jefferson Smith thinks there are some things you should know.

That is why, last month, District 47’s State Representative Smith — who has not ruled out a run for Portland’s Mayor himself — organized a pair of guided tours of the area, and invited candidates — whose jurisdictions if elected would include the area — to learn about it and the issues people who live there face every day. The response was considerably less than universal, but the following people showed up for the two tours: Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz and a challenger for her seat, State Representative Mary Nolan; Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, and Alissa Keny-Guyer, who is running to earn the appointment for the remaining term of House District 46, recently vacated by Ben Cannon; State Representative Lew Frederick; Multnomah County District Attorney candidate Kellie Johnson; and Metro Council candidate Bob Stacey.

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

Proposed changes at Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail is this month’s main front page feature story. Glendoveer lovers and government haters showed up en masse for the heated open house last month.

Lee Perlman pens a piece about east Portland tours conducted by Oregon State Rep. Jefferson Smith (D) for candidates for City office is the subject of the second story on this month’s front page. Smith took candidates on a tour of east Portland low-lights, highlighting the decades of City neglect for Mid-county.

Jodi Taylor is nutritional services manager for the David Douglas School District. She is responsible for planning nutritional, healthy and tasty meals for over 10,000 students— three quarters whom receive free or reduced lunch — on tight budgets in 10 elementary schools, three middle and two high schools buildings never designed to hold such numbers. How does she do it?

The lunch lady gets a bad rap. Kids criticize cafeteria food for everything from its looks to ‘that’s not how mom makes it at home…’ Parents scrutinize the nutritional content of corn dogs. Administrators weigh headaches of implementation. In addition, they all take it out on the lunch lady.

As kids head back to the classroom this month, parents and community members are invited to take an active role in neighborhood public schools. Nearly all of them will host an open house or back to school night soon. A schedule of those events for some area schools follows.

If you do not see your neighborhood school on this list, call the office to find out when its open house will be and get involved.

Wednesday, Aug. 31
Russell Academy, 2700 NE 127th Ave., 6 to 7 p.m. Ice cream will be served.
Shaver Elementary, 3701 NE 131st Place, 6 to 8 p.m.