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To fully serve the community, the Mid-county Memo offers this section to showcase upcoming special events, celebrations of milestones in our readers' lives, those seemingly small accomplishments that often do not receive the recognition they deserve, and everyday events that should be shared with friends and neighbors.
Memo Pad submissions for the December issue are due by Monday, Nov. 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. The fax number is 503-249-7672.
Thompson family announces nuptials
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| Josh Thompson, a 2006 Parkrose High grad, will wed Naomi Jeffries of Thompson, Conn. next month in Santa Clarita, Calif. COURTESY JOSH THOMPSON |
Thompson was a three-sport athlete at PHS. He was on the tennis, water polo, and swim teams. He was a member of A-Choir and the Debonairs and also performed with the Men's Honor Choir. A percussionist, he played in the concert band, pep band, marching band, honor sight reading band and was section leader his senior year. He remembers Mrs. Bossert and Mr. Tolon with affection. He was a member of student council his senior year as well.
Jeffries will continue her studies in music and biblical counseling at the Master's College and plans to graduate in the spring.
Thompson describes Jeffries as his best friend. They met through music classes and have both been active in the Master's College Chorale, Collegiate Choir, and a travelling group called Majesty. Participation in these groups has allowed them to tour nationally and internationally.
While Jeffries completes her course studies she also teaches voice and piano, works at a Starbucks and is pursuing a future in voice acting and studio work in the Los Angeles area.
Thompson is on staff at the Master's College heading up the production side of its online course department. He will pursue a career in film editing.
Bronco football on the rise
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| Parkrose High School Head Football Coach Tim Price on the sidelines during this year's homecoming game victory against St. Helens. MEMO PHOTO TIM CURRAN |
Friday, Oct. 2, was homecoming. The St. Helens Lions ran into a Parkrose team ready to show their fans that Bronco football is on the rise. Not only did they thrill the sold out stadium with a 43-22 victory, this was the first conference win by any Parkrose football team in over a decade. (PHS has played a non-conference schedule for the past two years as they worked on rebuilding the program.)
Athletic Director Sanjay Bedi credits coaching along with the talents and leadership of the players, notably, Zach Abney, Daniel Pavlenko, Hung Vy, TJ Stamp, Marquis Hammick, and Jerry Hunter.
The following week Parkrose took the field against the number one team in the state. They did lose 54-21 to Sherwood, but considering the Bowman had scored 263 total points on their previous five opponents and had only 78 points scored against them, the Broncos did themselves proud and in fact were tied at 21 at one point.
Parkrose bounced back the following week with a 32-20 victory over Milwaukie. The regular season ended with a 34-18 loss to Sandy, but Parkrose - because of the hybrid league they're in - earned a play-in game to the state playoffs against Hood River Valley. The Bronco's football program is definitely on the way back and their fans know it.
David Douglas third grader makes mark at word fest, teacher praised
Rand Raynor is a third grade teacher at Ventura Park Elementary. He and Teresa, one of his students were invited to the Wordstock Festival at the Oregon Convention Center last month. Teresa read an original poem to a crowd of more than 300 playwrights, authors, filmmakers, editors, publishers and other literary heavy hitters. Among those who witnessed the reading was filmmaker Ron Shelton who was moved to respond to Raynor's outstretched hand with, “No, it is I who should shake your hand in honor and gratitude for the work you do with young people like Teresa.”
Here is Teresa's poem:
I am from
I am from flowers in vases, pictures lying on walls.
From Juana the mom that loves flowers,
Maria, the grandmother that passed away in Mexico who I never got to meet.
I am from the birthday of the Vierge de Guadalupe.
I am from snowy mountains that are white,
Wonderland, the funnest place for kids.
I am from tamales that my mom makes in the kitchen.
They smell like excitement.
From the time me and my mom and my sister were swinging on the swing, we all fell down and laughed.
I am from my bed, the calmest place where I like to read.
Parkrose theater arts teacher recognized
Ms. Zena, arts educator at Parkrose High School, has received the Rex Rabold Memorial Award from the Educational Theatre Association. Rabold, an actor and teacher in Oregon who passed away in 1990, is remembered with this award that is presented to a home grown and educated professional in theatre arts.
Ms. Zena, received her undergraduate and teacher training at Lewis and Clark College. A native of Alaska she taught in Fairbanks for 11 years before coming to Parkrose High.
Ms. Zena directs Parkrose High's International Thespian Society troupe 1783, EdTA's student honorary division, and is active in the state ITS chapter. She is involved with EdTA's national activities as well, attending the annual conference for the past 20 years. She has been a conference speaker and has been instrumental in determining the course of educational theatre in America.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” Ms. Zena said. “I feel extremely fortunate to work with the students in my district who have embraced the art of theatre so much so that our program continues to grow and reach out to our community.”
German club Oktoberfest celebration
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| Participants at last month's Oktoberfest celebration hosted by the Parkrose High German Club belt out a tune. This traditional Oktoberfest song requires audience participation. These Parkrose students are happy to oblige. COURTESY JOHN SCHUMACHER |
On Oct. 15, the PHS German Club held its 27th annual Oktoberfest. Authentic German breads, sausages, sauerkraut, fondue, and many other mouth watering treats from the old country were served. Songs, dances, and games rounded out the fun filled activities.
Over 155 students from the German Club and friends of the club attended this year's Fest in the mat room. The enticing aroma of German cooking filled the room, gymnasium and the adjoining halls of the high school. Club Presidents, Matt Dickie and Kevin Le worked hard to create a memorable and successful event while sharing a bit of German culture.
MHCC adds library to Maywood Park Campus
Mt. Hood Community College has opened a new library to serve the needs of students and residents in northeast Portland.
The 500 square foot facility is located at MHCC's Maywood Park Campus, 10100 N.E. Prescott St.
The library gives MHCC students and others an important resource close to home, or where they attend classes.
“The facility is stocked with books and other materials in English, as well as Spanish. The collection may soon be expanded to include materials in Vietnamese and Russian, to serve the diverse population of the area,” according to Sergio Lopez, library coordinator for Maywood Park. “We also have a number of small laptop computers available for two-hour check-out.”
Lopez anticipates the library will be popular with students and local residents. Library patrons do not need to be registered for classes to use the facility. The hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The library is closed holidays.
MHCC's Maywood Park Campus offers classes in writing, math, psychology, English as a Second Language, English as a Non-native Language, General Educational Diploma, Adult Basic Skills, Workforce Development and non-credit community education. The campus offers college placement testing, GED testing and student advising services. A Community Skills Center offers self-paced computer and office skills classes designed to upgrade students' job skills.
For more information, please call Maywood Park at 503-491-6100.
Got a dog?
Portland Parks & Recreation wants to know if you would like to see an off leash area for dogs at John Luby Park, Northeast 128th Avenue and Brazee Street, or not. Contact Ali Ryan at 503-823-2967 or ali.ryan@portlandoregon.gov to express your opinion.
Musical instruments needed
The Parkrose School District Music Boosters are requesting donations of unused or under-used musical instruments and related equipment to introduce and enhance the musical experience for students who cannot afford to purchase their own.
With research indicating music experiences can reinforce other classroom subjects and in some cases be the connect that keeps a child focused and choosing to remain in school, the Music Boosters are committed to facilitating musical curriculum for students.
While new instruments or those in playable condition are preferred, the group will accept most repairable instruments, related musical equipment, and monetary donations.
If you can help, contact Louis Bybee at 503-936-1369 or l.bybee@gmail.com.
Choir grabs TV spotlight
The Parkrose High choir garnered second place and a $1000 prize in the Landmark Ford World's Most Fun Fundraiser. The choir created a video commercial for the new Ford Fiesta. Videos were displayed on the dealership Web site and supporters cast online votes throughout the month of September. The commercial spot will be appearing soon.
Energy-saving freebies for fall
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| Request this free energy saver kit from Energy Trust of Oregon. COURTESY ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON |
Energy Trust of Oregon is offering four free ways utility customers across the state can trim their energy costs during a time when bills can rise due to cooler weather and shorter days.
From free Energy Saver Kits to a one-hour Home Energy Review, the products and services are all easy things for both homeowners and renters to try. “There are many no-cost and low-cost energy improvements that can help make a difference right away,” said Marshall Johnson, residential sector manager, Energy Trust. “These are things everyone can check off their list to help reduce energy costs before winter weather sets in.”
Customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas can take advantage of this fall's free energy savers. Visit www.energytrust.org/free to review the choices, and request an item or service. In addition to the offerings below, customers can also review low-cost and no-cost tips for ways to further lower their energy bills.
1. Energy Saver Kit: Trim energy use around the home with an Energy Saver Kit. It comes filled with easy to install energy-saving items such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, an energy-saving showerhead and faucet aerator.
2. Energy-Efficient Showerhead: Get a free WaterSense® showerhead that can help cut water heating bills, typically the second largest energy expense at home.
3. Fridge Recycling: Recycle an energy hog refrigerator or freezer (one from the 1990s or earlier can cost up to $200 a year to operate, compared to only $40 a year for today's more efficient models). Energy Trust will pick it up, recycle it for free and give you $50 cash back.
4. Home Energy Review: Request a Home Energy Review to have a trained energy advisor visit your house or apartment. In the course of an hour, they will show you where your home wastes energy and which energy-saving improvements can increase comfort and reduce energy costs.
Resources for teachers with a student who stutters
The Stuttering Foundation has many resources for teachers so they can help a student who stutters. Teachers who take the time to learn how to react to stuttering can be an asset to that student's having a good learning experience in the classroom and being a participant in the class. Many tools can be found free online at www.stutteringhelp.org.
The DVD, “Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teachers” is offered free to all public libraries and comes with a 42-page handbook of information and resources. “Therapy in Action: The School-age Child Who Stutters” is another DVD free to public libraries. Check to see if your public library has them. Contact the foundation for more information by calling 800-992-9392 or e-mail info@stutteringhelp.org.
A classroom presentation packet with posters and brochures for children to use when making presentations to their class about stuttering is also available.
Red Cross art gallery will showcase your work
The American Red Cross Life's Crossing Community Art Gallery, located inside the Red Cross Portland Center at 3131 N. Vancouver Ave., seeks to bring varied artistic media to its building for the enjoyment of the employees, volunteers, visitors and donors who reflect the diverse programs and services the American Red Cross provides. It is a space where all in the community are welcome to come together to appreciate beauty in art and also learn about the life-saving mission of the American Red Cross.
Work by local artist Bernard Kliks is on display through Nov. 29. Much of Kliks' artistic inspiration comes from his large garden and its water features, bamboo, and wide variety of plants. Using these forms from nature, Bernard creates abstract images that are transferred onto a monotype.
The works displayed in the gallery are available for sale. If you are interested in showcasing your art, would like to recommend an artist, or would simply like to know more about Life's Crossing Community Gallery, please contact Nate Warren at warrenn@usa.redcross.org.
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