A press release from Portland Parks & Recreation follows. PP&R and the Portland Bureau of Transportation are seeking members for the Sullivan’s Gulch Trail Project Advisory Committee connecting the mythical land of  “East Portland” (why do people— especially professional press release writers who are supposed to know these things —  insist on using the grammatically incorrect “East Portland”) with a separate pedestrian/bike route to downtown.

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) are assembling a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) to assist in the development of a concept plan for the future Sullivan’s Gulch Trail, a 5-mile long opportunity to connect East Portland with a bicycle and pedestrian route that is separated from auto traffic. This trail will provide safe, continuous, and direct transportation options for cyclists and pedestrians.

The July issue of the Memo was posted earlier this week.

This month’s feature stories include: a story by Heather Hill about the schism at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Parkrose; Lee Perlman reports on the progress of PAC, or the Gateway Regional Center Urban Renewal Area Program Advisory Committee; Perlman also reports on the wrapping up of the Portland International Airport’s Master Plan; finally, this month’s Perlman’s Potpourri, a beat reporter’s round-up of news and information in Mid-Multnomah County.

As always, the Memo Calendar, containing east Portland’s most comprehensive listing of community events.

Parkrose High School Community Center is the site for the final competition of Portland Parks & Recreation’s Portland Teen Idol Competition.
PP&R announced the twelve finalists for the fourth season of Portland Teen Idol, the teen talent program modeled after the national television show American Idol. The finals will be held tomorrow, Thursday, July 1, at Parkrose High School.

Admission is free and the twelve finalists are Jeyonna Barr, Michelle Brayson, Tabitha Card, Bliss Croton, Carly Dillon, Alex Hall, Gracie Heacock, Patience Murphy, Natalia Orozco,Jackie Salzinger, Blake Slover, and Kayla Wonderly.

A recap, with links, to the online version of the June issue of the Mid-county Memo follows:

June’s front page says Elmer’s Restaurants in affiliation with the Rose Festival Association, are bringing back the popular Rose Meal. Every day during the 2010 Rose Festival celebration — May 22 through June 13 — Elmer’s Restaurants will donate 20 percent of all proceeds from their special Rose Meal menu in support of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation.

Also on the front page is Lee Perlman’s report on last month’s Portland Plan workshop at David Douglas High School in outer east Portland.

A press release from Portland Parks & Recreation follows:

“At a special Parkrose High School event this morning, Portland Timbers owner and president Merritt Paulson presented a check for $50,000 on behalf of the Major League Soccer team to the Parkrose School District, a contribution towards the future Parkrose Regional Soccer Center.

“In addition to Paulson, others at the presentation included Portland City Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz, and Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, who accepted the donation on behalf of the school district.

We received an e-mail from Portland Parks & Recreation’s Public Information Officer Beth Sorensen regarding non- budget cuts to PP&R programs for teens. It follows.

“Portland Mayor Sam Adams released his Proposed Budget for FY 2010-2011 and, while Portland Parks & Recreation took across the board reductions required of all General Fund bureaus, the Mayor restored funding for two important programs for children and teens that were facing potential elimination this year.

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.

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.