You’re climbing a mountain, going up a steep slope. You’re exhausted, but the summit is within sight, within reach. Somehow, you summon up reserves of strength, haul yourself up, and throw yourself triumphantly upon the sum…No, that was just a shoulder. The real summit looms ahead, and there’s a lot of it.

Amelai Salvador, from left, Joe Rossi and Luke Shepard at a Parkrose NPI meeting.

This might sound familiar to the steering committees of the six new Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative districts, of which four are in mid-county. There are rewards to be had, to be sure, including more than a million dollars in public funding for business development and local projects, but the hurdles these good people must overcome are steep and getting steeper.

Editor’s note: The 2012 elections are a watershed moment in city politics. For the first time in decades, with the mayor declining to run for re-election, Randy Leonard retiring from his council seat and incumbent commissioner Amanda Fritz facing a serious challenge, there will be at least two, if not three new faces at City council. Veteran beat reporter Lee Perlman interviewed the major mayoral and city council candidates. The Smith interview concludes the mayoral portion of the series. Council candidate interviews follow in upcoming editions.

State Representative Jefferson Smith.

СВЕТИ ГЕОРГИThe Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative wrapped up its three organizational meetings last month with creation of a seven-person steering committee for the next step: a formal commitment to the Portland Development Commission and city, then formation of an “urban renewal light” district bringing physical, permanent improvements along Sandy Boulevard, from Northeast 99th to 120th avenues.

Colleen Gifford, from left, David Ableidinger and Luke Shepard at a Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative organizational meeting held last month. Gifford, hired by the Parkrose Business Association through a grant from the City to recruit steering committee members for the Parkrose NPI, one of six areas in Portland designated by the City and Portland Development Commission.

The second of the three meetings for the Portland Development Commission’s Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative is tonight, at 7 p.m. in the Religious Education Building behind St. Rita Catholic Church, 10029 N.E. Prescott St.

An article in the Mid-county Memo on the formation of the six new mini urban renewal areas was published in December 2011 edition.

The print and online versions of the October 2010  issue of the Mid-county Memo have been published.  A recap follows:

East Portland’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization — with help from a Nike grant — treated current and former teenage refugee clients from Bhutan, Myanmar, Iraq, Vietnam and Somalia to an all-day soccer clinic at Knott Park last month.

The Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services, at the former site of the Children’s Receiving Center on Northeast 102nd Ave. at East Burnside St., officially opened last month.

Portland Plan meeting at David Douglas today

A media advisory (new name for  press release) from Bureau of Planning & Sustainability Eden Dabbs about the Portland Plan’s Phase Two workshop at David Douglas High School follows:

“WHAT: Portland residents are invited to participate in the Portland Plan Phase Two Community Workshops all over town!

“Featuring door prizes, refreshments and live music, the East Portland Plan workshop will be Saturday, May 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at David Douglas High School. Childcare will be provided.

Right now, today — from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parkrose High School Community Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St. — there’s a Fix-It Fair being held. Fix-It Fairs are free events designed to save Portlanders money and connect them to resources. Join your Mid-county neighbors and talk to experts about how to spend less and stay healthy. Fix-It Fairs are crammed full with resources for helping you to create a healthy home, including:  How-to classes on various home and garden topics, money-saving, cost effective tips and free giveaways. Bring your bicycle, free, minor tune-ups and flat tire repairs are available for students and families.
Fix-It Fairs are held 3 Saturday mornings during the winter at various locations around the City of Portland from November to February.
The 2009-10, 23rd Annual Fix-It Fair season Is presented by The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability with support from these sponsors: Energy Trust of Oregon, Pacific Power,  Portland Development Commission, Portland Lead Hazard Control Program, and Portland General Electric.