Tonight, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Parkrose School District presents representatives from Dull Olson Weekes–IBI Architects — the firm designing the new Parkrose Middle School — to meet with the public and give them an update on the progress of the bond.

Parkrose bond update tonight at the high school.

Representatives from DOWA will answer questions about construction updates at the elementary schools and the work schedule on the new middle school.

The meeting is at Parkrose High School Community Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.

Light refreshments will be served.

Woohoo!

The Parkrose Farmer’s Market opened today, Saturday, May 5, and runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Parkrose Farmers’ Market opens May 5 for its fifth season.

You will find fresh, local produce; bedding plants; vegetable starts; hanging baskets; custom crafted jewelry; handmade yard and garden furniture; fresh pastries and caramel corn and lots more.

The market is open Saturdays through October from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Parkrose High School Community Center’s east parking lot, 12003 N.E. Shaver St. Be there.

Every spring the Parkrose Educational Foundation hosts a party to bring the entire community together in support of Parkrose schools.

Tonight, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, alumni and neighbors will gather at the Holiday Inn-Portland Airport, 8439 N.E. Columbia Blvd. to “Build Strong Foundations for Parkrose Kids,” this year’s theme.

Conga line begins behind PEF Auction Chair Allison Newman-Woods.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, champagne and a silent auction. Guests will then file into the ballroom for a dinner that includes complimentary wine and the oral auction.

Joe Rossi, Parkrose’s well-known promoter and leader of the Rossi family, stunned the board of the Parkrose Business Association recently with the delivery of a four page list of 23 grievances against the group.  He devoted five of his 23 points in particular to the method employed voting for the group’s annual top honor, the Karl F. Lind Award.

To read Rossi’s list of grievances it in its entirety, scroll to the bottom…

Joe Rossi, left, with sculptor James Gion at the Portland Immigrant Statue unveiling in October.

????? ??????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.

The Rev. Caroline Litzenberger was recently assigned to serve the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church parish as priest-missioner. A history professor at Portland State University, she will serve at St. Matthew’s on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Litzenberger and Deacon Marla McGarry-Lawrence extend a personal invitation to those not currently attending a church to worship on Sunday or stop by for a visit during the week to learn more about St. Matthew’s and the Episcopal Church

Rev. Caroline Litzenberger is the new priest-missioner at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Parkrose.

Rev. Litzenberger invites neighbors to join the St. Matthew’s community for worship, Sun., Nov. 13 at 9 a.m.

Hundreds of Lao, Hmong and Mien people gathered at the Buddhist temple, Wat Buddhatham-arm on Sandy Boulevard in Sunday for Boun Haw Khao Padap dinh,  one of two festivals held in the Lao calendar year that honors deceased loved ones and ancestors in solemn ceremonies, similar to Western Christianity’s All Souls Day. Like All Souls Day, on Boun Haw Khao Padap dinh, the living pay homage and respect to the deceased.

Hundreds of Lao, Hmong and Mien people gathered at the Wat Buddhatham-arm buddhist temple for Boun Haw Khao Padap dinh, a festival honoring departed loved ones and ancestors.

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.

A news release from the Portland Police Bureau about a robbery, kidnapping investigation occurring Sunday at the Courtesy Motel in Parkrose follows:

“On Sunday May 29, 2011 at 11:05 a.m. Portland Police officers received information of a possible hostage situation at an unknown motel along Sandy Boulevard. Officers were told there was a man in a motel room being held at gunpoint against his will.

“North Precinct officers responded to the area of Northeast 110th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard. The initial information in the call did not specify a particular motel. Through their investigation officers were able to determine the motel in question was the Courtesy Motel at 11324 Northeast Sandy Boulevard, Room # 24.

A news release from Portland Police Bureau about an industrious identity and property theft ring centered in a Parkrose house follows:

Portland Police Bureau North Precinct Detectives in conjunction with officers from East and Central Precincts, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Tigard Police Department executed six search warrants and recovered property from seven locations in the Portland Metropolitan area today, February 17, 2011.

This was the culmination of an eight month long investigation into one of the largest burglary, identity theft, and stolen property fencing operations in recent history.