East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave., hosts the 13th Annual Independence Day Parade Thursday, July 1.

Festivities are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parade is from 11:30 a.m. to noon-12

Pre-parade activities include face painting, temporary tattoos, free popcorn, a rock climbing wall, crafts and live music.

The parade has become a favorite community event over the years with decorated tricycles, bikes, wagons and scooters with participants of all ages.

Call Ali Rice, 503-823-3456 for more information.

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.

A reminder about the Mill Park Neighborhood Association meeting from East Portland Neighborhood Office’s ever efficient Teresa Hatfield follows (edited for clarity):

“Happy Holidays — General (membership) meeting and holiday cheer at Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m.
General Election of Officers and board; for information call 503-256-4591.”

Links and a recap of feature articles from the online editon of the November 2009  Mid-county Memo follow:

Latest photos and full story about the transformation of the former Children’s Receiving Center into the Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services in east Portland.

Latest photos and full story about how former elementary schools within Parkrose School District — Thompson School and Knott Elementary — are being used these days.

A story about developers, for all intents and purposes, killing a proposed amendment to control the way garages are built on smaller parcels

Below are FREE events the folks at east Portland’s Oregon College of Oriental Medicine want you to know about.

Oriental Therapeutic Massage – Shiatsu
Attendees will learn how shiatsu can help reduce stress, treat common ailments and ease aches and pains. Sample neck, shoulder and hands massages will be available.
Saturday, March 14th from 10 a.m. to noon

Eating for the Spring Season – Learn what Springtime foods are most beneficial to your health Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon
Both free events will be held at: Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, 10541 S.E. Cherry Blossom Drive.