СВЕТИ ГЕОРГИThe Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative wrapped up its three organizational meetings last month with creation of a seven-person steering committee for the next step: a formal commitment to the Portland Development Commission and city, then formation of an “urban renewal light” district bringing physical, permanent improvements along Sandy Boulevard, from Northeast 99th to 120th avenues.

Colleen Gifford, from left, David Ableidinger and Luke Shepard at a Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative organizational meeting held last month. Gifford, hired by the Parkrose Business Association through a grant from the City to recruit steering committee members for the Parkrose NPI, one of six areas in Portland designated by the City and Portland Development Commission.

The Portland Police Bureau’s Missing Persons Unit asks for help from the public in locating 16-year-old Kalpana Wagley, a recent Bhutanese refugee, missing since last Friday.

Kalpana Wagley, left, a 16-year-old David Douglas High School student seen here at a 2010 soccer clinic, was reported missing Friday. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim Curran

Wagley is described as a female Nepalese, five feet eight inches tall, and 104 pounds, with mid-back length black hair. Kalpana was last seen wearing knee-length, cut-off blue jeans, dark brown ski-type boots, and a black vest under a white jacket.

Two of three Mid-county school districts — Reynolds and Parkrose — are seeking state mediation help in reaching agreement on their teachers contracts; classified employees in Parkrose also.

The third district, David Douglas, has been negotiating since June, but is not headed to mediation — yet.

In a show of solidarity, area union members and volunteers joined Parkrose teachers and employees picketing the school district. From left, North Clackamas School District teacher Deborah Barnes, eight-year-old Tori Garrett, and Sena Norton, Boring Middle School teacher and Garrett’s stepmother.

Speaking from the stage in the auditorium of the East Portland Community Center last month, Commissioner Amanda Fritz told those gathered for the 2011 Spirit of Portland Awards, “It’s a coincidence that so many of our award winners are from this part of town, and yet it isn’t.” Locals were represented among the winners, including the winners of the Neighborhood of the Year and Business District of the Year awards.

Lents Association chair Nick Christensen wrote the nomination and mentioned the activities of his board members. At the ceremony, he thanked Richard Bixby, East Portland Neighborhood Office executive director, for being “always ready with a quick and easy solution,” and acknowledged the good work of “all Lentils.” (sic)

The Portland Development Commission is in the process of forming six new miniature urban renewal districts, and four of them will be in Mid-county.

In October Sokhom Tauch, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization Executive Director, spoke at the meeting at IRCO announcing east Portland areas selected for the Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative, part of the development plan for the Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy, which is a part of City Council's 2009 Economic Development Strategy. Behind him are Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen and Rey Espana, Director of Community Development at the Native American Youth & Family Center.

It is Bazaar weekend in east Portland with three area churches holding bazaars. Beginning today, tomorrow and Sunday, three local churches are holding holiday bazaars; a rummage sale too.

Crossroads Church
Christmas Bazaar at Crossroads Church, 2505 N.E. 102nd Ave., on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Handmade gifts, decorations, food, rugs, wood products, knitted items, weaving looms, tank chimes, dolls, greeting cards, crafts and more.

Lents-Gilbert Church of God
The bazaar and rummage sale at Lents-Gilbert Church of God, 12230 S.E. Harold St., is Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church Bazaar at Gateway Church
The St. Matthew Anglican Episcopal Church Bazaar has moved to Gateway Church, 13300 N.E. San Rafael St. Shop for holiday décor, gourmet foods, dishtowels, baby gifts, pies and arts and crafts on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Editor’s note: Welcome to Perlman’s Potpourri, news items from across the Gateway and Parkrose neighborhoods of mid-Multnomah County from veteran Beat Reporter Lee Perlman.

Portland Immigrant Statue dedication
As Joe Rossi and friends dedicated the long-anticipated Portland Immigrant Statue at the traffic island at the intersection of Northeast 99th Avenue, Sandy Boulevard and Killingsworth Street Oct. 1, the message was that it symbolized not the Rossi clan (some have speculated it is a statue of Rossi’s great-grandfather, which Rossi has consistently denied), but our common heritage.

At the recent Wilkes Community Group open house held to answer questions about the city’s newly acquired future hybrid park — Wilkes Creek Headwaters Natural Area — angry neighbors vented frustrations to a panel of city representatives about stabilization work the city did on it in August.

At last month’s Wilkes Community Group open house, Steve Lynch, right, expresses his frustrations to a panel of Portland Parks & Recreation and Environmental Services bureau representatives about stabilization work at the 20-acre Roughton farmstead property the city acquired in February to someday build a hybrid park.

Tomorrow morning, in the Southeast corner of Ed Benedict Park, help prepare the Portland Memory Garden for another season of meaningful outdoor experience for individuals and caregivers coping with memory loss disorders, and make your own memories, too.

The Portland Memory Garden is in the Southeast corner of Ed Benedict Park in outer southeast Portland.

This is a great family friendly project. Garden tasks include weeding, grooming, sweeping and general cleanup. Most tools provided. Optional: bring your own pruners or other sharps. Rain or shine, please dress for the weather.

SnowCap Community Charities celebrated the annual end-of-summer garden party last month at its facility with an extra boost this year with the help of a $10,000 grant from the Grainger Foundation presented by a volunteer whose connection with the organization goes back to her years as a Bluebird volunteer.

The grant, presented by Lori Gilinsky, of the Illinois-based W.W. Grainger Co., will be used to continue SnowCap’s Food 2 You program, which delivers food boxes to seniors and shut-ins