After an eight month run, and nearly a 30 year absence from Portland, Yaw’s Top Notch Restaurant, at 11340 N.E. Halsey St. in Gateway, closed its doors last week, perhaps forever.

When the first restaurant named Yaw’s opened in September 2012, it carried great expectations, high hopes and a built-in fan base.

BRENT WOJAHN/THE OREGONIAN
In July 2012, when Yaw’s Top Notch was under construction, owner Stephen P. Yaw, Sr., poses with Barby Radmacher.

With a publicized labor dispute and other problems at the Gateway restaurant, owner Stephen P. Yaw, Sr. was evicted for non-payment of rent, according to property owner Dan Banes.

The May 2013 edition of the Mid-county Memo posted online.

Feature stories and news about east Portland, all right here.

LaShawn McCarthey, Prescott Elementary SUN site manager, poses with some of his students, from left, fifth grader Anthony Green, first grader Rickiya Overton and fifth grader Forrest Clark. Students participate in up to 45 minutes of daily homework help.

This month’s feature stories are: Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) shines at Prescott Elementary in the Parkrose School District; a Top Notch labor dispute at Yaw’s restaurant in Gateway; East Portland Sunday Parkways kicks off in outer southeast this Sunday; the East Portland Neighborhood Office and the East Portland Action Plan face budget cuts; Parkrose school board candidates answer a question and, how do Mid-county restaurants rate?

The April edition of the Mid-county Memo posted online.

Feature stories and news about east Portland, all right here.

DOUG BEGTHEL/THE OREGONIAN
The David Douglas High School wrestling team celebrates first place in the 6A team title of the OSAA 2013 Wrestling State Championships at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

There are approximately 3000 restaurants in Multnomah County, about 350 in east Portland.

Multnomah County Health Department Environmental Health Specialists conduct unannounced inspections of food service establishments.

These inspectors ensure food safety by evaluating food worker habits and practices, where food comes from and how it is stored in the restaurant, how food is prepared and cooked, cooling, holding and reheating temperatures.

Inspectors report observed violations that are not in compliance with Oregon Revised Statute 624 and Oregon Administrative Rule. This law and these rules are designed to identify violations that can contribute to food borne illness.

Five years ago, when Brad Fouts bought the old Candy Store in Gateway, part of his long-term plan was to remake and remodel the restaurant’s kitchen. Recently, he put the final changes on a $75,000 kitchen and bar remodeling project.

Fouts said that to make Bradford’s Sports Lounge an east Portland destination for diners from all over the metro area, like the Ringside East is and the Refectory was, the odd-shaped, inefficient food preparation space needed a complete makeover and updating.

On Thursday, March 14, the Portland International Airport Citizen Noise Advisory Committee meets from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Anchor Conference Room on the first floor of the Port of Portland headquarters at 7200 NE Airport Way.

Port of Portland officials encourage the community to attend, and public comment is welcome.

COURTESY PORT OF PORTLAND

The meeting features an overview and current status report on Port of Portland aviation activities by Daren Griffin, Port general manager airport operations.

You can see the full agenda by clicking here.

Most people would probably look at the size of Wells Fargo — $1.4 trillion in assets, fourth largest bank in the U.S. — and think it is a large, national bank.

However, according to Tom Unger, regional communications manager for Wells Fargo, its values, mission and most importantly, its actions in Multnomah County and elsewhere are those of a community bank.

COURTESY KRIS ANDREJESKI
Colm Boer, branch manager at Wells Fargo in Gateway, sees himself as a community banker.

How much is 100?

One hundred of anything very likely seems like a lot to small children.

COURTESY ANNE WAND
St. Therese School kindergartners Scarlett Wilson, Julianna Wand and Emma Larsen celebrate the 100th day of school.

The kindergarten and first grade students at St. Therese School, 1260 N.E. 132nd Ave., begin counting school days on the first day of school.

When they reach 100, they celebrate with carnival games, face painting and arts and crafts.

If you are curious about icons or have ever wondered how they were created and what the symbolism is all about, master iconographer Sherry Lynch is offering a 12 week icon painting class at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 N.E. Prescott St. beginning, Saturday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m.

Lynch trained in Turkey and was acknowledged as an iconographer by His All Holiness Patriarch Athenagoras, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972.

COURTESY MARLA McGARRY LAWRENCE
Master Iconographer Sherry Lynch will share her skills and knowledge in a 12-week course.

Today, at Shaver Elementary School in Parkrose, the Oregon Food Bank makes the announcement of a gift to expand the school-based pantries in Portland.

To help children and families better access food, Oregon Food Bank — in partnership with Multnomah County’s Schools Uniting Neighborhoods  service system — piloted and established food pantries at six SUN Community Schools in low-income elementary schools in Multnomah County.

One of the pantries is at Shaver. The five other food pantries are at East Gresham Grade School, Kelly in outer southeast Portland, and at Earl Boyles, Alder and Lynch View elementary schools in east county.