Local businesses provide employment for area residents and products and services close to home. Mid-county Memo Business Memos celebrate news, advancements, promotions, retirements, expansions and other noteworthy events at these cornerstones of our community. To share news of your business with our readers, Business Memo submissions for the July issue are due by Wednesday, June 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904.

Moto Guzzi Portland expands into new Sandy store
Moto Guzzi Portland is open for business in its new location at 10534 N.E. Sandy Blvd. The new site, formerly home to the German Bakery, is about twice as large as the old store on Marx Street, owner Rick Chappelle told the Memo. Rick, along with sales and service help from Randy Ballard, mechanic TJ Hersh, and Kassie Robinson in the parts department, will be welcoming guests to the store’s grand opening Friday and Saturday, June 10–11, with a party on June 11. Bring a helmet, motorcycle-approved driver’s license and proof of insurance for a demo ride. There will be food and prizes, too.

Moto Guzzi Portland, the state’s exclusive dealer of Moto Guzzi (it rhymes with Tutsi) and Aprilia bikes and accessories, opened in 2012, when Chappelle took over the franchise. It stocks 23 models of scooter and motorcycle made by Moto Guzzi and the affiliated Aprilia brand, all lined up in perfectly straight rows with precisely even spacing. They start in size with the 50cc Aprilia SR 50 scooter. “It gets about 100 miles a gallon,” Chappelle noted. “It has a 1.25-gallon gas tank, and that’ll get you to and from work for two weeks or more.” In addition, there are Tuono sport models for racing, off-road bikes, “standard” cruisers with engines ranging from 750cc to 900cc and 1400cc California touring bikes, complete with saddle bags.

Chappelle has sold about 100 bikes so far, he said, and there are about 200 of them altogether in the state. A 75-member Moto Guzzi club arranges rides in the summer and meets for breakfast at the Parkrose Elmer’s in the winter.

Portland Moto Guzzi is located at the corner of Northeast Sandy Boulevard and 106th Avenue. It is open Tuesday through Saturday and can be reached at 503-777-0953.

Popular tortilleria expands
Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon’s, a family owned Mexican deli at 16223 N.E. Glisan St., is operated by immigrants who had a big dream. That dream was to someday own a tortilleria.

In 1999, the dream came true. This year, the deli has been remodeled and the menu and dining room have been expanded.

Guests dine beneath a mural that depicts the history of De Leon family while enjoying traditional family recipes passed down from generation to generation. Offerings include homemade tortillas, chips, tamales, carnitas and a selection of Salsas Locas. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are also now available.

The reputation of this little treasure has drawn famous chefs and features in national magazines and on the Cooking Channel.

To order your next meal or plan a catered event, visit salsaslocas.com, email tortilleriad@gmail.com or call 503-255-4356.

Learn to play the violin
Argay Terrace resident Laris K. Berggren offers violin lessons to students of all ages and experience levels. Berggren said she is also available to perform at special events. Call her at 916-917-6008 to learn more.

Co-op wins grant, reaches 500 members
Montavilla Food Co-op has been awarded a significant and highly competitive grant from Food Co-op Initiative, a national organization that supports start-up co-op initiatives across the United States. The grant includes a $5,000 cash award, mentoring, a site visit from a co-op development expert and other cooperative development resources. MFC will use the funds to develop financial projections, improve volunteer management and grow membership.

This is the second time that MFC has received the annual award from FCI. “This is a very select group,” said FCI Executive Director Stuart Reid. “We are only able to provide funding to a limited number of deserving co-ops, but MFC had such tremendous success with their award last year that we made the unusual decision of awarding a second grant.”

MFC is a volunteer-led grassroots effort to build a cooperatively owned grocery store in Montavilla. “In 2015, with FCI’s support and mentorship, MFC completed its market feasibility study, added a record number of new member-owners and strengthened internal capacity,” reports MFC President Amanda Lamb. “This year, we’re celebrating the significant milestone of welcoming our 500th member-owner, finalizing our financial projections and recruiting and training a larger team of volunteers to help with internal readiness and increase the pace of member-ownership growth.”

The mission of the Montavilla Food Cooperative is to connect the east Portland community to healthy food, support local farmers and producers, build community wealth and advance sustainability initiatives all within a centrally located, cooperative grocery. Learn more at montavilla.coop.

Assistant superintendent role added to Lopes’ duties
Parkrose School District Superintendent Karen Gray has announced the appointment of Michael Lopes as her assistant superintendent. Lopes will maintain his role as director of school improvement.

Gray explained that while she has not had an assistant superintendent during her administration, the post is not new to the district. She believes the time is right to add someone who can help with new, complex rules and provide a consistent point of contact and representation at meetings and events when she is unavailable. Gray said her administrative staff is about “leadership development and increasing leadership capacity” and sees Lopes as someone to help facilitate this growth while expanding his own experience and contributions to the district.

As director of school improvement, Lopes will remain in charge of all regular K–12 educational assessment and instruction alignment in the district, AVID and most educational grants awarded to the district.

In his first year as assistant superintendent, Lopes says he will strive to “provide more effective support for new teachers” and “improve principal performance in supporting classroom instruction.”

School board member Mary Lu Baetkey told the Memo she has “known Michael since he first came to Parkrose as the new Prescott principal. He took over from a well-loved and well-known individual and did not miss a beat. He worked to grow consensus among the staff, parents, and students. Having watched him grow and mature in that position and in his last position, I celebrate this promotion and that Michael Lopes is part of the long and great Parkrose history.”

Lopes describes his greatest accomplishment in the district thus far as “the relationships with students, staff and families. I have a true belief that Parkrose is a great place in our world, and I am proud to be part of working to make it the best it can be. Those who have worked with me know my heart is [invested] in the students of Parkrose.”

Learn about reverse mortgages
Are you curious about reverse mortgages? Not enough people understand the benefits, and most lenders are out-of-state, minimizing the opportunity for others to learn the ins and outs or ask questions suited to their individual situation. For those of you 62 years old and older with some equity in your home, you could qualify for converting your home equity into a tax-free income stream to supplement your social security, repair your home, pay off debt or pay for unexpected healthcare costs.

If you have questions about how reverse mortgages can help, Lowell Morse with Finance of America is a local reverse mortgage spet who offers a lunch-and-learn session at the Clackamas branch, 12550 S.E. 93rd Ave.-Suite 350, to discuss the facts and answer questions at absolutely no cost or obligation.

Lowell has 29 years’ experience in the mortgage business and has spent the last eight years working with senior citizens. Lowell and his wife live in Argay Terrace, attend City Bible Church and are founders of a local support group that helps assist widows by providing financial support and spiritual encouragement.

To reserve your spot, call or e-mail Morse at 503-496-4932 or lmorse@financeofamerica.com.

Elmer’s offers Rose Meals through June 19
Last month, 15 teenage Rose Festival Princesses marched into the Parkrose neighborhood in a deliberate attempt to secure the not-very-elusive Rose Meal for Elmer’s restaurant customers. Helping Elmer’s staff serve unsuspecting customers for a few hours, the royal entourage visited the Parkrose Elmer’s, 10001 N.E. Sandy Blvd., to promote the Rose Meal, a collaboration between Festival sponsor Elmer’s and the Rose Festival to raise money for the Festival foundation.

Through June 19, participating Elmer’s restaurants offer three Rose Meals to choose from: a fresh fruit waffle, two fresh strawberry blintzes or a strawberry-apple poppyseed salad. For every Meal purchased, Elmer’s donates one dollar to the Rose Festival Foundation. In its seventh year, the program, has raised more than $70,00. That’s a lot of lettuce!

Elmer’s, a local company serving families since 1960, celebrates everything culinary that is wonderful about the Pacific Northwest (including strawberries this time of year!). Elmer’s sources local, farm-fresh ingredients, bringing the seasons to your table.

For more information about Elmer’s, visit www.elmers-restaurants.com.

Kicking off the largest spectator event day in Oregon, the 2016 Portland Rose Festival Queen is crowned Saturday, June 11, at 9:15 a.m., followed by the Grand Floral Parade at 10 a.m. For tickets to the Queen’s Coronation at Memorial Coliseum, visit rosefestival.org or call 1-800-745-3000.