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GABA’s John Hoefling Resigns

Lee Perlman

The Mid-county MEMO

John Hoefling, longtime staff to the Gateway Area Business Associaiton, or GABA, tendered his resignation last month. Scheduling conflicts with other commitments triggered the move, he told the Memo.

Hoefling has lived in the Hazelwood neighborhood for 45 years, he says. He became involved with the business association, then the Gateway Boosters, shortly after taking over a Print-Rite franchise in 1982. 

He served on (click here to continue...)

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Children's Receiving Center planning  plods along Full Story

Fourth annual Rossi Barn Dance 

Brings record turnout and proceeds

Neighborhood event raises thousands for youth sports and activities

Lee Perlman

The Mid-county MEMO

Faced with an overwhelming onslaught, the Rossi family and their good sheriff chickened out last month. But they still came off as heroes.

Aided by additional publicity, last month’s Rossi Farms annual Barn Dance, a benefit for Parkrose youth sports, attracted nearly 1400 people, up from 800 the year before. As a result, latecomers to the “all you can eat” affair had to “settle” for homemade green and potato salad, rolls, and free beer and soft beverages when the barbecued chicken supply was exhausted.

“We expected more people this year, but not this many more,” a bemused chief organizer Joe Rossi says.

It was all for a good cause. Still being tallied as the Memo went to press, tickets and contributions to the event grossed $13,000, three times the previous high, Rossi says.

An extra added attraction this year was a free movie - and not just any one. The movie was the world premier of Tom Mannen and Turkey Creek Productions’ “The Legend of Parker Rose.” Based very loosely on the origins of Parkrose and Portland, it tells the story of how the community’s first sheriff, Parker Rose, defeated a corrupt rival, cleaned up the community, and made it safe as a point of commerce and stage coach route to New York.

Rossi played the idealistic, long-suffering but ultimately triumphant Rose. Members of the Parkrose Business Association had small roles as their own historic predecessors as community leaders. Association president Nancy Murphy not only plays the leader of the group, but takes part in the final shootout. “People told me, ‘Maybe they ought to call this Murphyville. You saved the town,’” Murphy recalls with a laugh.

She called the movie making “so fun it was fabulous. It was funny and fun, and Joe is such a great guy. What was so great about it for me was that it was for such a great cause.” She grew up in the neighborhood, was a high school cheerleader, and could appreciate the value of youth athletics, she says.

The barn dance was also “fabulous,” Murphy says. “Being with all the people I grew up with, all the people I do business with, all the people I know, I was turning my head from one side to the other all night.”

Tire store owner Bob Brown (who plays a wheel-maker in the film), says, “I think the Barn Dance went very well this year.

It gets better every year.” He called his part in the film “the only acting experience I’ll ever have - but it was a lot of fun.  A lot of people have mentioned seeing it to me.”

Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods” to play at Knott Park in August 19 concert

Arts, cultural activities planned for afternoon

By Don Weston

The Mid-County MEMO

Picture this scenario: You gather the kids, a blanket, some treats and go out to the front yard to enjoy the music of the Oregon Symphony “live”.  That is what some lucky residents around Knott Park will be able to do when the “Oregon Symphony in the neighborhoods” free concert series appears at the park on Sunday, August 19.

Okay, the rest of us will have to drive a few blocks, but it’s still a lot closer than, say, Waterfront Park, or Washington Park, or some other popular downtown venue. Knott Park is located at N.E. 112th and Sacramento Street, a stones throw from many homes in mid-county.

“This is a real cultural event that’s going to come right to us,” said Carol Williams, chair of the Parkrose Heights Association of Neighborhoods (PHAN).  “This is a mid-county event. Everyone is going to be welcome to attend a free concert.”

Since late May, officials from the Oregon Symphony have been working with (click here to continue...)