????? ??????Zach Abney, Parkrose High quarterback, was the center of attention at an event in the school cafeteria yesterday held to showcase him signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Harding University on an athletic scholarship. While the day was about Zach, his accomplishments and this honor, the theme was most definitely about community.

Zach Abney, center with tie, wears a Harding University cap for the first time at a ceremony to recognize him as a scholar athlete who has been offered a scholarship to play football at the Searcy, Ark. school. Supporting him are teammates (from left) Tonga Tokelau, Matteo Rigoni, Thomas Lott, Andre Johnson, Deontre Curry, Jonathan Boland, Cody Rowley, Marquis Hammick and Jerry Hunter.

We first met seven-year-old Lorenzo Caldera when we did a 2002 feature story about his father Joel, a Parkrose restaurant owner at the time, who taught little men the sweet science of boxing; too young to box.

Five years later, not only old enough to box, he was undefeated when we saw him fight — and win — on a youth boxing card his father held in the parking lot of his Sandy Blvd. restaurant in Parkrose.

Today, Lorenzo Caldera is a 16-year old junior at Parkrose High School who trains at Curt’s Ultimate Fitness & Fighting Arts gym in Gateway.

What City Commissioner in attendance at the Parkrose Educational Foundation Auction last night undercut the special appeals bid (for Parkrose High School athletics this year) by having it announced, during the live solicitation for athletics and equipment that an extra $100,000 was being made available by the City for soccer field construction?

Nice, but completely unrelated to what the live auction appeal  was for.

“When people heard that, it killed it,” auctioneer Pat Brothers said afterward. “People figured … ‘Yeah, they got all that money from the City, they don’t need my help.’ ”

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.

Parkrose High School Community Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St., hosts Mayor Sam Adams’ Education Summit this Saturday, April 10 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Held to discuss critical issues facing schools in Portland, hear about actions underway to increase graduations rates and access to post-secondary education.

What would help the educational opportunities in Portland? Air your concerns, offer solutions at Saturday’s summit.

The monthly Parkrose High School Bronco Boosters can collection, is this Saturday, Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Parkrose Middle School, 11800 N.E. Shaver St. in east Portland.

Donations of refundable cans and bottles support the PHS Scholarship Program. Call Dave Luce at 503-255-3745.

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.

At its annual clean held  Saturday, east Portland’s Argay Neighborhood Association chair Valerie Curry said more than 120 vehicles deposited over 18 tons of household discards, yard debris, scrap metal and tires for disposal or recycling.

ANA chair  Curry said the volunteer help they received from members of the Parkrose High School soccer team,  led by PHS junior varsity soccer coach Arlo DeLeon,  was invaluable.

Also on site helping were members of the  Portland Police Bureau Cadets.

The ANA partnered with Metro and Portland’s Bureau of Planning & Sustainability to produce the annual event.

Another note from über volunteer Allison Newman-Woods. volunteers are needed this Friday at the Parkrose High School at the school in east Portland. It follows:

“Hi, I am looking for some volunteers to do coat check at this Friday’s dance at PHS.  We need people to work from 6:30-10:30 on Friday, May 29. If you are willing and able to help, please let me know.

Thanks,
Allison”
Allison Newman-Woods:  503-784-8076 (cell)

We’ve been receiving notes from Eddie Kunz’ parents, Raymond and Sue,  about where he’s playing ball and how he’s doing since being drafted by Major League Baseball’s New York Mets two years ago.
Kunz, a standout athlete at east Portland’s  Parkrose High School—majoring in baseball—pitched for the Oregon State Beavers during both NCAA championship runs, and was subsequently drafted by the Mets in the first round.

Currently assigned to the Buffalo Bisons, the Mets’ Triple A farm team, Kunz’s skills are utilized there as a middle reliever.

The e-mail note, from Eddie’s Dad Raymond, follows:

“Eddie pitched tonight in the first game of a double header, got his third win.  This happening after he took a hit to his knee (beautiful color), but bounced back in four days. they lost the second game.”