 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
MEMO BLOG | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
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 October issue are due by Monday, Sept. 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.
Portland Christian coaches excel at national meet
Andrew Jannsen and Larry Holmes picked up three fourth-place finishes at the USA Masters Track & Field Championships held last month in Spokane, Wash.
Jannsen, the head track coach at Portland Christian High, finished fourth in high jump and 110 meter short hurdles in the 40-44 age division.
Holmes, who competed in the 65-69 age division, finished fourth in the pole vault. He is a volunteer vault coach for the Royals and a five-time national masters champion in the pole vault.
Participate in the greening of Parkrose
Friends of Trees has planned a tree-planting project for February in Argay and other Parkrose neighborhoods. Sign up now for the best tree selection. Trees will be planted on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Planting a tree in your yard or parking strip creates long-lasting benefits enjoyed by everyone. Did you know that trees remove pollutants from the air? A typical tree absorbs 10 pounds of pollutants, cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide and creates 260 pounds of oxygen each year. Trees also help intercept and retain 760 gallons of rainwater each year, which helps keep our rivers clean and saves on storm-water fees. Trees also cool our homes and neighborhoods in the summer.
Trees will cost $35 for a street tree or $70 for a yard tree. The cost includes a site inspection by Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry Department to ensure you choose the right tree for your home, hole-digging, help with planting your tree, stakes, mulch, ties, labels, follow-up monitoring and information on proper tree-care techniques. For more information or to purchase trees, please visit www.friendsoftrees.org.
The local coordinator for this event is Whitney Kabanuk. Contact her at 503-258-0784 or portlandkabanuks@comcast.net to learn more.
Volunteer as a SMART site coordinator
Become a part of the successful Start Making A Reader Today early literacy program. Volunteer positions are available beginning in September through the end of the school year. You may volunteer one to four days a week. Most programs require 3 to 6 hours a day. Positions are available in public elementary schools in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.
The site coordinator is responsible for implementing the SMART program at the assigned school, including scheduling, managing and retaining volunteer readers. This program works in cooperation with the school community.
A complete description is available at www.getsmartoregon.org. Send your cover letter and resume to Barbara Rozell, Metro SMART, 700 N.E. Multnomah St., Ste. 330, Portland, OR 97232, fax them to 503-230-2966 or e-mail to brozell@getsmartoregon.org.
Submit your choice for city-wide awards
Nominations are being solicited for the city of Portland Spirit of Portland Awards. Awards are given to individuals, groups, neighborhoods, businesses and volunteers and are one way the city recognizes the importance of community involvement in shaping the livability of Portland. The mayor and city commissioners will present the awards sometime in mid-December in the council chambers at City Hall.
The public nominates candidates. Nomination forms are available at East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave., or online at www.portlandonline.com/oni.
The selection committee, comprised of city officials, neighborhood leaders, community members and past winners will evaluate nominees based on a history of assisting with implementing outstanding projects; enriching and revitalizing our community and neighborhoods; providing a special service to the community; demonstrating responsiveness, creativity and civic values; and raising cross-cultural awareness.
Mid-county is home to a number of Spirit of Portland award winners. Submit your candidates now to continue to showcase the contributions made by members of our community.
Nominations must be submitted no later than 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Community college students to benefit from new scholarship program
Students at Oregon’s 17 community colleges will be receiving a big boost in financial aid thanks to a challenge grant from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. The Miller Foundation has announced it will provide $1.5 million to community college students and has challenged the colleges to match that amount.
“This will result in hundreds of additional scholarships for some of the most financially strapped students throughout Oregon,” said John J. “Ski” Sygielski, president of Mt. Hood Community College. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest investment by a private foundation in the history of Oregon’s community colleges.”
The Miller Foundation is an independent, private organization established to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians through support of the arts and education.
To receive the donation, each college’s foundation will have to raise a specified amount of money. The challenges range from $50,000 for the 10 smallest community colleges to $120,000 for MHCC. “We feel community colleges are a vital part of Oregon’s educational system and economy,” said Chuck Putney, president of the Miller Foundation board. “However, attendance at these colleges is a financial challenge for many students. Frequently, the opportunity to attend a community college is the pathway to a living wage and a secure family.”
According to Sygielski, the MHCC Foundation received 417 applications for scholarships in 2007-08 and awarded scholarships to 178 students. Due to lack of funds, 239 students did not receive a scholarship from the MHCC Foundation. If the college meets the Miller Foundation challenge, the additional funds could result in the distribution of up to 532 additional scholarships.
To be eligible for the Miller Foundation scholarship funds, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, apply for an Oregon Opportunity Grant and be seeking an associate degree, a certificate or a professional license. If awarded, the Miller Foundation scholarship funds would be additional to any federal and state moneys that the students receive. For more information about scholarships or the Miller Foundation challenge project, interested individuals may contact the MHCC Foundation at 503-491-7206.
Red-light cameras installed in Mall 205 area
New red-light cameras have been installed on Southeast Stark at 99th and 102nd avenues. Motorists who run a red light at either of these intersections will receive a $245 fine after the newly installed red-light cameras flash their photograph that Portland police officers use to generate a citation.
The new installations are the latest of six additional red-light camera locations approved by Portland City Council in June of last year. Red light violations continue to be one of the fastest growing causes of traffic fatalities in the urban environment, with a 19 percent increase from 1992 to 2000. The cameras, authorized by the Oregon Legislature in 1999, capture vehicles and their drivers running red lights and are meant to reduce crashes caused by this dangerous and illegal behavior.
“Portland uses red-light cameras because they are an important tool for improving traffic safety,” said Sgt. Todd Davis of the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division. Locations are selected for red-light camera enforcement because they have higher numbers of crashes caused by red light running compared to other intersections in the city.
The intersections of Southeast Stark at 99th and 102nd avenues had 19 and 44 red light crashes, respectively, in the last four years.
Traffic specialists say that when red light violations occur, they most often result in an angle or turning collision. These broadside collisions, also known as right angle or T-bone collisions, are especially dangerous because the sides are the most vulnerable areas of cars.
“The most serious crashes that occur at intersections are caused by someone running a red light,” said Davis. In Portland, turning and angle crashes are 2.5 times more likely to result in serious injuries and fatalities than rear-end crashes. “Adding these new cameras will further decrease this type of crash,” he said.
“No matter how pressed you are for time, please stop for a red light,” said City Commissioner Sam Adams. “Gambling on saving a minute or two by running a red light could kill or seriously injure you or someone else. Red light running has very serious consequences.”
Two city agencies administer the program: the Portland Police Bureau and the Portland Office of Transportation. The camera cannot take a picture unless a vehicle enters the intersection after the light is red. Each photograph is reviewed by a police officer to ensure there is evidence of a violation before a citation is issued.
 |
 |
 |
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home