We wish you a Happy New Year.  A recap with links to stories in the January 2011 Mid-county Memo follows:

We caught up to busy busy Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray for an interview as she begins her third year at the helm of the Parkrose School District.

East Portland business and neighborhood leaders are canvassed and asked what are major issues facing our little corner of Portland.

Joann “JoJo” Glass calls it quits after 35 years tending bar at the Candle Light Restaurant and Lounge on 74th and Northeast Glisan St.

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.

A recap, with links, to the January 2010 issue of the Mid-county Memo follows.

A feature story about Multnomah County Sheriff’s office personnel adopting residents of a skilled nursing facility, a MCSO neighbor, is on this month’s front page.

Lee Perlman asks Mid-county business leaders, school and social service agency administrators to reflect on 2009 and what they see for 2010.

A story by Heather Hill about shop classes and vocational training for Parkrose High School students provided by a partnership with the Northwest College of Construction.

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

A recap of and links to feature articles and departments from the October 2009  Mid-county Memo follow:

Terry Robb, Parkrose High School grad and featured performer at the Parkrose Educational Foundation’s inaugural homecoming dance, is one of this month’s front page stories.
Terry Robb: page one, Terry Robb: page two, Terry Robb: page three, Terry Robb: page four and Terry Robb: page 5.

The MAX Green Line opening ceremonies share this month’s front page. The new line opened to fanfare, speeches, bands, free rides and vows to build more light rail farther south and north.

A recap of feature articles from the September issue of the Mid-county Memo follows.

The three stories on the front page are: TriMet opens light rail service in Southeast Portland to Clackamas Town Center with the opening of the Green Line Saturday, September 12.

Marking the completion of the Russellville community — begun over a decade ago by the Rembold family — Russellville Park II opens with fanfare and politicos speechifying.

Mid-County’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization uses federal stimulus dollars to keep hundreds of teenagers working and learning.

We recently received a note from  from Brenda Brady, Interim Director of College Advancement at Mt. Hood Community College in east Multnomah County.  It follows:

With Oregon’s unemployment rate the second highest in the country, Mt. Hood Community College has increased its efforts to assist the unemployed with a wide variety of retraining opportunities, job search strategies and skill development.

The MHCC Career Planning and Counseling Center offers workshops for unemployed individuals to learn about new “green” careers, search strategies, how to write a resume and techniques to cope with stress. The MHCC Small Business Development Center offers a new free seminar, “Navigating Your Business Through an Economic Downturn,” designed for small businesses suffering from the recession.

MHCC also partners with WorkSource Portland Metro East to provide integral services for the unemployed, including:
· Career center and computer learning labs
· General Educational Development, computer literacy and workplace communication classes
· iMatchSkills registration and labor market information
· Individual assistance with resume, interview and job search preparation
· Job clubs and job search workshops and assistance
· Occupational skills training, including Career Pathways training
· Referrals to job openings
· Skill assessment and upgrades
· Support for English as a Second Language learners
Click here:  MHCC Career and Counseling Center, for more information or call 503-491-7432.

Mt. Hood Community College will hold a dedication ceremony for the new biodiesel lab at 2 p.m. today on the Gresham Campus. The biodiesel lab originated as a Sustainability, Health and Safety program student project and is the only biodiesel lab on a college campus in Oregon.

“Oregon’s future lies in sustainable industry,” said Oregon State Representative Brent Barton of Clackamas.

The biodiesel lab is located at the Fisheries building. Click here for  directions.
For more information about the biodiesel lab or the Sustainability, Health and Safety program, contact Program Director Dr. Javid Mohtasham at 503-491-7440 or javid.mohtasham@mhcc.edu.

A note from our friends at Mt. Hood Community College.  Worth noting:  the last maintenance project out our way, yea!

As part of the 2009 Oregon Economic Stimulus Program, or Go Oregon!, Mt. Hood Community College recently received $3.85 million to use toward deferred maintenance projects.

In addition to improving the College’s facilities, the funds will help stimulate the local economy by providing employment.
maintenance projects funded by Co Oregon!:

·The stage rigging in the Performing Arts Center on the Gresham Campus will be replaced and the stage and electrical system rebuilt.

A note from our friends at Mt. Hood Community College’s Office of College Advancement:

A savory German-themed dinner will be the highlight of the Mt. Hood Community College Hospitality and Tourism program’s 18th annual Gala Dinner and Silent Wine Auction. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the Town and Gown Room on the Gresham Campus.

Robin Flower, corporate executive chef for the Gala Dinner, is a third-generation chef who trained at the University of Cornwall. Flower is currently the corporate chef of Horst Mager’s Rheinlander and Gustav’s restaurants.