Mid-county Memo Blog

The Wilkes Community Group holds its general membership meeting Tuesday, March 2 in the Margaret Scott Elementary School Library, 14700 N.E. Sacramento St. at 7 p.m.

Agenda items include: presentations from Portland Parks & Recreation representatives about a potential bond measure addressing neighborhood park needs and from Ride Connection, the non-profit transportation service organization. Planning for the showing of movies in Wilkes Park on Saturday, July 24 and Friday, August 20 will also be discussed.

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.

Interested in the City parks east of the river?

The East Portland Parks Coalition meets Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave.
Contact Alesia Reese, 503-253-4414 or e-mail her at: alesiajmr@yahoo.com with questions.

Links and a recap of feature articles from the December 2009  edition of the Mid-county Memo online version follow:

Latest photos and full story about the world’s largest choral festival, The Grotto’s twenty second annual Festival of Lights in east Portland.

Full story about east Portland neighborhood association leaders examining the different ways other neighborhood offices are run.

Latest photos and full recap of fall high school spots in Mid-County.

Latest photos and full story about Hall of Fame wrestling coach Marc Sprague joining the David Douglas Mat Club.

Mid-county Memo Neighbor of the Year (1994) William “Bill” Winge’s obituary.

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.

Portland Parks & Recreation’s Community Gardens program is offering its annual free guided tour of six gardens throughout the city on Saturday, July 18. From 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, participants can join PP&R Community Gardens staff and learn about various gardening techniques, examine water catchment systems, and view edible greenspaces.

The guided tour will take participants by van and carpool to see community gardens at Gabriel Park (Southwest 41st and Canby), Col. Summers Park (Sotheast 20th and Taylor), Sewallcrest Park (Sotheast 31st and Market), Brentwood Park (Southeast 57th and Cooper), Woodlawn Park (7200 N.E. 11th), and Hazelwood Hydro Park (Northeast 117th and Holladay), in east Portland. The tour leaves from PP&R’s Mt. Tabor Central Maintenance Yard at 6437 SE Division Street at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18.

Portland Parks & Recreation opens outdoor pools for the summer this Monday, June 22. Free swim lessons and free open swims are also offered as part of PP&R’s “Summer Free for All”
The outdoor pools — open through August — are located at these parks or schools: Creston, Grant, Montavilla (on Northeast 82nd Avenue at Glisan Street in east Portland), Peninsula, Pier, Sellwood, and Wilson.

In addition, PP&R operates six indoor, year-round pools: Buckman, Columbia, East Portland Community Center, Matt Dishman Community Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, and Southwest Community Center.

The June 2009 edition of the Mid-county Memo has also, after being sedulously delivered by the United States Postal Service,  been posted online.

Gracing this issue’s front page are the gracious ladies of the Elkettes, a 50-member strong ladies auxiliary of  the Gateway Elks

The four-story, 180,000 square foot new medical pavilion at Adventist Medical Center in east Portland opened last month.  Read Lee Perlman’s first-hand account of the dedication ceremony.

David Douglas School District’s  Fir Ridge Campus is featured in a story  by Heather Hill about  its annual Leadership Conference

A special celebration marks the official opening of Portland’s  first skate plaza at Ed Benedict Park Saturday, May 30. Following the celebration the inaugural ALL-City Skate Series Invitational begins.

Enjoy skateboarding tricks, a Disc Jockey, music, food, drinks, prizes and giveaways — all in honor of Portland Parks & Recreation skateboarding youth!

This competition is open to all youth enrolled in any PP&R skateboarding program or class. The competition has two separate age brackets: 12-and-under (K-8) and 18-and-under (grades 9-12). The opening celebration, featuring City Commissioners Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman, starts at 1 p.m.; the Adidas/Tribute Demo starts at 1:30 p.m. The PP&R Skate Jam kicks off at 2:30 p.m., participants need to check-in by 2 p.m.