Now in its third season, the Parkrose Heights Community Garden, in addition to growing flowers, fruits and vegetables, has seeded the growth of community in its soil. The once empty 5,400 square foot plot houses 22 raised beds farmed by neighbors both within the church’s many faith communities and beyond. Gardeners have grown squash, peppers, spinach, sunflowers, okra, fennel, corn, and an abundance of tomatoes. This year, the garden donated 600 pounds of tomatoes to the SnowCap charities thanks to efforts from tomato-grower extraordinaire Clay Osburn.

The September issue of the Mid-county Memo posted online. A re-cap of its content follows …

Proposed changes at Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail is this month’s main front page feature story. Glendoveer lovers and government haters showed up en masse for the heated open house last month.

Lee Perlman pens a piece about east Portland tours conducted by Oregon State Rep. Jefferson Smith (D) for candidates for City office is the subject of the second story on this month’s front page. Smith took candidates on a tour of east Portland low-lights, highlighting the decades of City neglect for Mid-county.

The August issue of the Mid-county Memo is posted online. A re-cap of its content follows …

This month’s issue has a front page feature story about the Native American Youth and Family Center housed in an old elementary school on Columbia Blvd. in east Portland.

Lee Perlman pens a piece about the results of the recently revived Barn Bash, a western style party that was annually held at Rossi Farms in Parkrose for ten years before it ended in 2007, is the subject of the second story on this month’s front page.

Your April issue of the Mid-county Memo is posted online. The re-cap of its online content follows …

This month’s edition has stories about: the Senior Prom held at Care Center East; the Parkrose High School bond vote in May; a round up of east Portland high school winter activities; Bradford’s Sports Lounge — formerly the Candy Store; the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission meeting where activists demanded action on the many plans to make life better in east Portland; the Portland Plan Fair held last month at Mid-county’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization and the Portland Airport Master Plan’s final approval from the city .

March 2011 Mid-county Memo online edition re-cap

The March issue of the Mid-county Memo was posted online last week. This month’s issue has stories about Portland City Council’s Citywide Tree Project hearing; an interview with Don Grotting, new David Douglas School District Superintendent; Fir Ridge Campus’ African American Family Night; CherryWood Village’s ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Oregon’s largest senior retirement community solar array; Mid-county Memo founder Tom Pry’s obituary and photos of last month’s one-day snow event Thursday, Feb. 24.

And, as always, the informative departments: Memo Calendar, Memo Pad, Business Memos, Memorable Menus, Letters to the Editor and Loaves & Fishes’ monthly menu.

Oh, and for your (additional) information, the online Memo Calendar has listings unpublished in the regular newspaper edition.

The February issue of the Mid-county Memo was posted online last week.  This month’s issue contains stories about east Portland’s Lost Arts Kitchen, the University of Western States and the Portland Housing Bureau’s proposal last month to “adjust” the territory of one of its programs: the Single Family New Construction Limited Home Tax Exemption or LTE.

In this month’s issue you’ll also find a story about the fund raising event held at the Refectory restaurant last month for the Parkrose Senior All-Night Party, a story about how the American Legion’s Portland Post #1 fixed the flag at Glendoveer Golf Course and an obituary for a Parkrose artist, Mark Phillips and an update on the planning for Gateway Park.

And, as always, the Memo Departments: Calendar, Memo Pad, Business Memos, Memorable Menus, Letters to the Editor and the Loaves & Fishes monthly menu.

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.

We received a note from SnowCap Community Charities in outer east Portland with a special plea for volunteers on the upcoming holiday. SnowCap Community Charities is a philanthropic organization created to provide food, clothing, advocacy and other services to the poor in a large part of east and outer Portland, including Gresham, Wood Village, Troutdale and Fairview.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an ideal occasion to volunteer for community service and SnowCap Community Charities is setting aside Monday, Jan. 18 for special helpers.

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.