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.

Today’s Oregonian Business section has an announcement that Yaw’s Top Notch Restaurant Inc. leased the space currently occupied by Gossip Restaurant & Lounge at 11340 N.E. Halsey St.

Gossip Restaurant & Lounge owner Tony Truong, center.

Before closing in the early 80s, Yaw’s was a popular restaurant in the Hollywood neighborhood for decades.

After Carrows, followed by its sister company, Coco’s Bakery Restaurant, closed in the late 80s, the 6,700 sq.ft. space on Halsey Street has had a checkered history of nightclub occupants.

Glisan Commons, a collaborative development by three non-profits planned for Northeast Glisan Street at 99th Avenue, had a Design Advisory — an informal discussion prior to a formal application — with the Portland Design Commission last month. The Commission called for some changes, but generally gave both the project and its design high marks.

The Glisan Commons is a new building slated to occupy the corner of Northeast Glisan at 99th Avenue.

The project is a joint venture by Human Solutions, which provides affordable housing and social services primarily in east Portland; Ride Connection, a transit services provider for the elderly and disabled throughout the city; and REACH Community Development, the city’s largest non-profit, low-income housing provider.

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.

Here’s a recap of the May 2010 online edition of the Mid-county Memo at www.midcountymemo.com:

This month’s front page story: snapshots of a day in east Portland’s life, Saturday, April 24.

Lee Perlman reports on East Portland Action Plan advocates’ testimony at a City Council meeting on the EPAP one-year-anniversary.

A story by Heather Hill about the 50th anniversary celebration of the David Douglas School District held at the Annual David Douglas Educational Foundation Auction/Dinner last month at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham.

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.