The Double Reed Divas are the featured artists at the next offering of the Tabor Heights United Methodist Church concert series on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. Victoria Racz, Dagny Rask Regan and Ann van Bever will play classics by Debussy, Haydn and Krommer and newer works by Australian composer Graham Powning and jazz composer Arthur Woodbury.

The church is located at 6161 S.E. Stark St. The concerts are free. Free will offerings will be accepted.

TriMet is increasing fares by 5 cents effective Sept. 1. The MAX Blue Line and twenty-five bus lines will see improved service with added trips to relieve crowding and scheduling improvements.

Implemented in response to customer requests, and due to the success of the pilot program, TriMet is introducing a 30-day rolling pass. Currently, the new pass is only available only at the Pioneer Courthouse Square ticket office. The current monthly pass is valid from the first day of the month through the last day of the month and can be purchased after the 20th of the previous month up until the start of the new month. The new pass can be purchased any time and roll 30 days forward. The new 30-day rolling pass joins existing 7-day and 14-day rolling passes. All passes are available at the TriMet Ticket Office at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

A Better You, a holistic health spa dedicated to weight loss and improved health through lifestyle changes and passive exercise has opened in Gateway at 11118 N.E. Halsey St.
The spa features electro-slim weight loss passive exercise, massage therapy, ionic foot detox, infrared sauna, hair mineral analysis and magnetic therapy. Programs are developed on an individual basis.

A Better You will celebrate its grand opening with a party on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be games and giveaways and the opportunity to chat with one of the service professionals about the approach that will best work for you.
A Better You:  look good from the inside out. To learn more, visit betteryouspa.com or call 503-954-3218.

As kids head back to the classroom this month, parents and community members are invited to take an active role in neighborhood public schools. Nearly all of them will host an open house or back to school night soon. A schedule of those events for some area schools follows.

If you do not see your neighborhood school on this list, call the office to find out when its open house will be and get involved.

Wednesday, Aug. 31
Russell Academy, 2700 NE 127th Ave., 6 to 7 p.m. Ice cream will be served.
Shaver Elementary, 3701 NE 131st Place, 6 to 8 p.m.

иконографияиконописThe City of Portland Bureau of Transportation wants the public to know that lane closures on Northeast Marine Drive will be necessary between Northeast 33rd Drive and I-205 beginning Monday, August 29, through Friday, September 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. week days for street maintenance.

Traffic will be flagged through the work zone. Expect delays, travel cautiously, observe directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.

Please note construction crews will be working in the area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. week days. There will be access to local residents and businesses. The work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change.

Православни икониOn Saturday, Aug. 27  from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the annual Parkrose Community Clean Up event at every Parkrose School District school takes place.

District staff will be stationed at each of the six schools so volunteers can have access to bathrooms and water.

Volunteers from Concordia University will be on hand other community groups have offered their help too.

If you’d like to volunteer, contact the district office at 503-408-2100 or show up at any of the six—Prescott, Shaver, Sacramento and Russell Academy elementary schools, Parkrose Middle and High Schools—and get to work.

Portland Police Homicide Detectives identified last night’s shooting victim as 19-year-old Vinesh Ram Prasad of North Portland.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy this morning and determined that Prasad died of a gunshot would to the chest.

Detectives need to hear from anyone with information about the shooting or about Prasad’s activities in the 48 hours prior to his death.

Detectives believe Prasad’s death may be gang-related and are working with the Gang Enforcement Team to follow-up any leads.

This is Portland’s 16th homicide in 2011 and 6th suspected gang-related homicide.

Near midnight last night, North Precinct police officers responded to a call of an injured 19-year-old male on Northeast Sandy Boulevard at 119th Avenue.

When police arrived, they found a man in the street believed to have been shot.  Medical personnel were called to the scene to treat the man, but shortly after their arrival, the man was pronounced dead.

On scene officers called for Homicide Detectives. The Forensic Evidence Division was also called to process the crime scene.  The Gang Enforcement Team was also on scene and assisting with the investigation.

No additional details are available at this time.

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.

The three suspects apprehended after robbing Rounders Cafe, 11416 N.E. Halsey St. — 34-year-old Anthony Davonne Williams (also known as Antonio Denon Carter), 35-year-old Mckeever Watkins Thompson Jr., and 42-year-old Marc Edward Morrison — are not regarded as suspects by the police in the hold-up July 19 of a bar two doors down, Don’s Dugout, 11642 N.E. Halsey St. according to Detective Derek Posey.

“From what I know, it looks like the two are unrelated,” Posey said. “The Detective working that case (Don’s Dugout) hopes to make an arrest soon, but the two aren’t related.”