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

Last month, the top three mayoral candidates debated at David Douglas High School’s Howard Horner Performing Arts Center; the new Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative areas are approved; Parkrose School District averts a teacher’s strike; David Douglas special education teacher Annie Harrell is named Outstanding Teacher of the Year; Lee Perlman interviews City Commissioner Amanda Fritz and opponent, state Rep. Mary Nolan; the Planning and Sustainability Commission endorsed the Outer Powell Conceptual Design Plan; since 2006, east Portland neighborhood associations have been operating illegally; the Portland Housing Bureau is changing tax abatement area boundaries in east Portland … again; and, longtime Gateway hairstylist June Bauer’s obituary.

Are east Portland neighborhood associations all illegal? Technically yes, says East Portland Neighborhood Office Executive Director Richard Bixby, but it is not their fault. It is his.
A handful of the City’s 95 recognized neighborhood associations are 501(c)3 non-profit corporations, able to offer tax deductions for donations. Most of the rest fall into a different non-profit status.

Because they handle relatively small amounts of money, they do not have to make yearly reports to the IRS — or did not until the year 2006, when the law was changed.

Crime prevention consolidation proposed

The Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement is considering having all of its Neighborhood Crime Prevention Specialists; including Rosanne Lee, Teri Poppino and Mary Tompkins, work out of a central location.

The specialists, part of ONI’s Neighborhood Crime Prevention Program, help form block watch and business watch networks, help negotiate Good Neighbor Agreements between community groups and liquor license holders, and otherwise assist grass roots public safety programs.

The Hazelwood Neighborhood Association meets Monday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. inside the  East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave.

For the meeting agenda, or for more information, contact HNA President Arlene Kimura, 503-252-9429 or e-mail her at: Arlene.kimura@kraft.com.

An east Portland multi-neighborhood bulky waste Spring clean-up is being held tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — earlier if dumpsters fill up — in TriMet’s Park & Ride at Southeast 122nd Ave. and E. Burnside St. in outer east Portland. Enter on Southeast Ash St.

They will welcome appliances, furniture, metal and tires.
Because of Metro’s new rules this year, they can’t accept yard debris, electronics (televisions and monitors), food, animal, Commercial or hazardous waste.

Suggested Donations are $10 per passenger car load; $20 per truck load. Tires: $2 off rim, $5 on rim — limit five.

The East Portland Land Use & Transportation Advisory Committee meets this Wednesday, May 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave.

For additional information contact Linda Bauer at 503-761-2941 or lbauerpvna@aol.com.

Received a general meeting reminder from the folks at the East Portland Neighborhood Office about tonight’s Hazelwood Neighborhood Association meeting at EPNO, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave. The meeting begins at 6:30 pm.

The agenda includes a Portland Adventist Academy land Use review scheduled at 7:10 p.m.
For more information call HNA Chair Arlene Kimura at 503-252-9429 or e-mail her at: arlene.kimura@kraft.com.

Argay Neighborhood Association General Meeting is Tuesday, March 16, at Portland Fire & Rescue Station No. 2, 4800 N.E. 122nd Ave., begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Valerie Curry at: argayinfo@yahoo.com

AGENDA
• Open House/Open Forum to learn what Argay residents want their Argay Neighborhood Association Board to focus on.
• North Precinct’s Officer Eric Zajac reports on recent incidents in Argay.
• Refreshments will be served.

The Wilkes Community Group holds its general membership meeting Tuesday, March 2 in the Margaret Scott Elementary School Library, 14700 N.E. Sacramento St. at 7 p.m.

Agenda items include: presentations from Portland Parks & Recreation representatives about a potential bond measure addressing neighborhood park needs and from Ride Connection, the non-profit transportation service organization. Planning for the showing of movies in Wilkes Park on Saturday, July 24 and Friday, August 20 will also be discussed.

What is the East Portland Action Plan and how will it affect east Portland?

Find out  at the Mill Park Neighborhood Association meeting tonight as the agenda includes reports   on the East Portland Action Plan and the Bull Run watershed from Lore Wintergreen, Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s East Portland Action Plan Advocate at the East Portland Neighborhood Office.

The Midland Library is at 805 S.E. 122nd Ave. from 6:30-8 p.m.

For more information about Mill Park Neighborhood Association call chair Rosemarie Opp at 503-256-4591.