As the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission continued their review of the draft document last month, Mid-Multnomah County had a prominent place in the draft Portland Plan.

Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission members, from left, Chris Smith, vice-chair Howard Shapiro and Mike Houck listen to testimony at the Portland Plan hearing held at Parkrose High School Community Center in November.

At their January 24 meeting, after praising Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and other bureaus’ staff work, they approved the Plan unanimously and forwarded it to City Council. Accoring to BPS staff, Council is expected to act on the Plan in April.

According to head organizer Linda Robinson, the third annual Ventura Park free summer concert series, funded by grants from the City, attracted an average of 300 to 400 people. The musical groups were Chata Addy & Susuma, David Correa and Cascada, and The Midnight Serenaders.

At the Ventura Park summer concerts, organizer Linda Robinson, left, solicits donations to help fund her City sponsored concerts.

“Passing the hat” at shows’ intermissions brought in more than $1,000 in contributions toward next year’s concerts.

A drug deal gone bad with gang overtones is the reason police investigators gave for shots fired in a usually quiet neighborhood of east Portland this afternoon.

When officers arrived, they learned occupants of two vehicles were involved in a confrontation leading to the shootings. One car and one house was hit by gunfire; no injuries were reported.

Northeast 107th Avenue and Oregon Street

Investigators cleared the scene on Oregon Street near 107th Avenue in the Lorene Park neighborhood after processing evidence and talking to witnesses. The investigation is continuing.

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.

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 three suspects apprehended after robbing Rounders Cafe, 11416 N.E. Halsey St. — 34-year-old Anthony Davonne Williams (also known as Antonio Denon Carter), 35-year-old Mckeever Watkins Thompson Jr., and 42-year-old Marc Edward Morrison — are not regarded as suspects by the police in the hold-up July 19 of a bar two doors down, Don’s Dugout, 11642 N.E. Halsey St. according to Detective Derek Posey.

“From what I know, it looks like the two are unrelated,” Posey said. “The Detective working that case (Don’s Dugout) hopes to make an arrest soon, but the two aren’t related.”

After a 12-hour search that began around 1 a.m. this morning, four men suspected of robbing Rounders Cafe, 11416 N.E. Halsey St. in Gateway were apprehended by police; one, 34-year-old Antonio Denon Carter of Northeast Portland (also known as Anthony Williams), was found hiding on the roof of a nearby house.

When officers from East Precinct arrived, suspects were fleeing from the scene on foot southward into the neighborhood. Police set up a perimeter from Northeast Halsey to Glisan Streets, from 112th to 118th Avenues. Patrol officers from East Precinct stopped a vehicle leaving the area and arrested the driver, 35-year-old Mckeever Watkins Thompson Jr. of Northeast Portland, as one of the robbery suspects.

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

This month’s edition has stories about: the Senior Prom held at Care Center East; the Parkrose High School bond vote in May; a round up of east Portland high school winter activities; Bradford’s Sports Lounge — formerly the Candy Store; the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission meeting where activists demanded action on the many plans to make life better in east Portland; the Portland Plan Fair held last month at Mid-county’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization and the Portland Airport Master Plan’s final approval from the city .

The Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the public that road work on Northeast Glisan Street — between 131st and 148th Avenues — requires lane closures and begins Monday, Jan. 10 through Monday, Jan. 24, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. week days.

The lane closures are necessary for grinding work in preparation for re-paving in the spring.

At least one lane in each direction will remain open through the duration of the work. There will be access to residences and businesses.

The public is advised to expect delays and travel cautiously while flaggers direct traffic through the work zone.