Tonight, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Parkrose School District presents representatives from Dull Olson Weekes–IBI Architects — the firm designing the new Parkrose Middle School — to meet with the public and give them an update on the progress of the bond.

Parkrose bond update tonight at the high school.

Representatives from DOWA will answer questions about construction updates at the elementary schools and the work schedule on the new middle school.

The meeting is at Parkrose High School Community Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.

Light refreshments will be served.

You’re on an east Portland centric version of Jeopardy. An answer in the St. Rita Catholic Church category is Spaghetti Dinner. You ring in and say, “Rose Garre.” You are correct. If you answered Bert Garre or the Garre family, the judges would give it to you.

Rose Garre, second from right, marked her 76th year of volunteering at the St. Rita Catholic Church Spaghetti Dinner in April.

Since  its beginning in 1936, a Garre — Rose, her husband Bert (until his passing in 2001) their children, grandchildren and cousins — have been part of every spaghetti dinner.

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.

Woohoo!

The Parkrose Farmer’s Market opened today, Saturday, May 5, and runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Parkrose Farmers’ Market opens May 5 for its fifth season.

You will find fresh, local produce; bedding plants; vegetable starts; hanging baskets; custom crafted jewelry; handmade yard and garden furniture; fresh pastries and caramel corn and lots more.

The market is open Saturdays through October from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Parkrose High School Community Center’s east parking lot, 12003 N.E. Shaver St. Be there.

Every spring the Parkrose Educational Foundation hosts a party to bring the entire community together in support of Parkrose schools.

Tonight, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, alumni and neighbors will gather at the Holiday Inn-Portland Airport, 8439 N.E. Columbia Blvd. to “Build Strong Foundations for Parkrose Kids,” this year’s theme.

Conga line begins behind PEF Auction Chair Allison Newman-Woods.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, champagne and a silent auction. Guests will then file into the ballroom for a dinner that includes complimentary wine and the oral auction.

In March, Mid-county homeowners and other Friends of Trees volunteers planted 245 trees in the Argay, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Russell, Sumner and Wilkes neighborhoods of east Portland.

Following the planting, Friends of Trees‘ nonprofit partner, Verde, planted an additional 310 trees from Friends of Trees in the same neighborhoods.

Cal Calloway behind one of six new Golden Raindrops Crabapple® trees recently planted for him by Friends of Trees.

The 555 tree orders were the result of an overwhelming response to a special offer of free trees to residents in some of Portland’s neighborhoods most in need of trees.

Noted Portland pianist Michael Allen Harrison will perform a benefit concert for Human Solutions at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26 St. Matthew’s Episcopal at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 N.E. Prescott St.

Michael Allen Harrison

Donations collected at the concert will benefit Human Solutions’ Daybreak Shelter for Homeless Families, a 15-bed shelter that operates year-round and accommodates between four and eight homeless families at one time.

The Daybreak Shelter is supported by a network of 28 churches and synagogues located throughout Multnomah County.

Admission to the concert is free and open to the public. Donations to support the Daybreak Shelter will be accepted during the event.

Parkrose High senior Felicia Seery has lost her battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Felicia Seery

The vivacious drama student and Parkrose Middle School Sparrow will be remembered with a handful of events in the next several days.

On Saturday, April 21 the Parkrose School District classified staff have put together a benefit for the Seery family at the Russellville Grange Hall, 12105 N.E. Prescott St. The event begins at 6 p.m. Admission to this adults only event is $5. Food will be provided by the Parkrose Boosters

In a voice choking with emotion, Jerry Landreth, Parkrose Faculty Association vice-president, announced teachers voted to authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike.

Jerry Landreth announces the result of the srrike vote.

“After a process of sharing information and discussion, an overwhelming majority of members of the Parkrose Faculty Association have voted to authorize the bargaining team to call for a strike in the bargaining process with the district,” Landreth said.

By law, the teachers have to wait at least ten days before walking out. Landreth said they hope to continue bargaining with the district in the interim. Landreth said of the 189 certified employees, 95 percent attended the strike authorization meeting.

Parkrose School District Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray, one of four finalists for the Reynolds superintendent’s job, was not selected.

Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray.

In an e-mail today, Fischer Gray said she was not selected, but was one of two finalists.

Andrea Watson, Reynolds media communications coordinator, said that at tonight’s regular school board business meeting, they will make their hiring recommendation, then take action on it.

Watson said if it all goes as planned, the name of the new superintendent will be released at the end of tonight’s meeting.