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FEATURE ARTICLES
Eastside Church of Christ hosts volleyball tournament
Softball All-Stars win district crown
School districts cut budgets
Perlman's Potpourri:
Goodwill builds new store at vacant Albertson's, builds new retail space
City weighs new airport-related e-zones
Dream becomes reality for business owner
Oregon Secretary of State visits NE Rotary
County adopts East Portland Plan
Gateway Fun-O-Rama cruises to Parkrose
East Portland more than just “East Portland”
Gary Kjenslee succumbs to cancer
Outspoken Hazelwood activist passes

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Memo Pad...

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 September issue are due by Monday, Aug. 16. 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.

Improvements planned along Sandy Boulevard coming soon
The Oregon Department of Transportation is planning improvements to Northeast Sandy Boulevard from 122nd to 141st Avenue. Planning and design is underway. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall.

Depending on funding, key project elements being considered include:
o Adding a left-turn median lane to provide safer vehicle turning movements.
o Striping two 12-foot travel lanes, two six-foot bike shoulders and one six-foot sidewalk on the south side only.
o Installing a four-foot planter strip on the south side only.
o Upgrading the traffic signals at the intersections of Sandy Boulevard and Northeast 122nd and 138th Avenue.
o Installing new durable pavement striping.

This stretch of Sandy Boulevard has a high incidence of crashes. As area residents are aware, there currently is one lane in each direction, with vehicles headed west stopping traffic to make left turns to businesses on the south side of the highway. Congestion caused by vehicles trying to make left turns also leads to rear-end collisions. Sidewalks are missing in most of the project area. By adding a median turn lane through the project area, vehicles will be able to make left turns more safely. Sidewalks will make it safer and easier for pedestrians to get to their destination. The shoulder and bike lane will give cyclists a buffer from motorized traffic.

Lane closures will be required to complete portions of the highway reconstruction. There likely will be temporary delays on Sandy Boulevard due to construction activities. ODOT will stage construction so that access to businesses will be maintained during construction. Nighttime work is expected during some stages of the project.

ODOT wants your input. Contact Mike Mason, ODOT community affairs coordinator at 503-731-8246 or michael.w.mason@odot.state.or.us; or Bret Richards, ODOT project leader at 503-731-8482 or bret.n.richards@odot.state.or.us.

Donations made easier
SnowCap Community Charities has dedicated its most recent innovation-a donor drive-up facility-to better manage receipt of donated food items at its warehouse and distribution center, 17788 S.E. Pine St.

In the past drivers had to be especially alert when backing up on the narrow street and watch for youngsters playing in the street. Judy Alley, SnowCap executive director, said the new facility will enable people to deliver food and other donations by driving into a covered area. “This new drive-up area will meet several needs. It will keep donors dry and offer increased safety for children in the area,” she said. The improvements were made possible through donation of a land lease by the Rockwood United Methodist Church and a cash gift by the Tracy family in memory of Les Tracy.

The new drive-up facility is one of several being planned to make SnowCap's food pantry process more efficient. A change to a shopping-style pantry is also in the works. “This style of pantry reduces waste because families take only the foods they will use. The traditional pantry model gives out pre-packed food boxes that might include food that will not be used” due to personal preference or as a result of religious or health restrictions, she said.

SnowCap Community Charities is a philanthropic organization created more than 40 years ago to provide food, clothing, advocacy and other services to the poor in much of east Portland and Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village.

Pet license fee increase to benefit animal services programs
New pet license fees in Multnomah County went into effect Aug. 1. Pet owners will pay a new yearly fee of $25 for spayed or neutered dogs and $12 for spayed or neutered cats, a 30 percent increase over current prices.

Commissioners approved the rate increase at their July 1 board meeting. Discounts will still be available for senior citizens and those who choose multiple-year licenses. All revenues from licensing will directly benefit Multnomah County Animal Services, restoring some previously eliminated services.

Pet license fees fund MCAS animal welfare services such as 24-hour emergency animal rescue, veterinary hospital, shelter and care for lost and abandoned animals, and animal neglect and mistreatment investigations.

Licensed pets benefit from being part of the MCAS database of over 80,000 licensed animals, which makes finding lost or missing pets easier and more likely. A pet wearing a license has a better chance of being reunited with its owner.

Pets must have a current rabies vaccination to be licensed. Licenses can be purchased at the MCAS shelter in Troutdale, online at multcopets.org or at one of many vendor locations throughout the county.

For more information, visit www.multcopets.org, follow them on Twitter, @MultCoPets or find them on Facebook.

Innovation, creativity rewarded with grant
Share Our Strength, a national organization that weaves together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children facing hunger and supply them with nutritious food where they live, learn and play, has announced that Portland Parks Foundation is a winner in its No Kid Hungry Innovation Award competition, and the only organization to win west of the Mississippi.

“Portland Parks Foundation is committed to helping Portland Parks & Recreation keep kids active and well-fed during the summer,” said PPF Board Chair Rich Brown. “When private citizens and donors work hand-in-hand with the public sector, amazing things can take place. The mobile climbing walls are an example of a private donor wanting to make a difference, and the Foundation making it happen.”

The Foundation will receive $12,500 to help support Portland Parks and Recreation summer playground sites featuring mobile climbing walls and the summer lunch program funded by the USDA. Community members voted online at www.strength.org/votetoday, and information has been updated on the web page about the selected winners.

Nearly 17 millionchildren in America-almost one in four-face hunger. These children will endure lifelong consequences as a result of having limited access to nutritious foods and are more likely to suffer poorer health, fatigue, behavioral difficulties and impaired performance at school. There are nutrition programs for children, but too many kids are still not accessing them. Share Our Strength created the No Kid Hungry Innovation Awards to honor innovative organizations that are overcoming barriers and connecting hungry kids with food. “Reaching out to children in neighborhoods where resources are scarce with healthy activity, healthy food and hope is what the summer playground program is all about. Being selected by Share Our Strength to receive this grant provides the tools for us to reach children who wouldn't normally find their way to a lunch site,” said Maura K. White, PPF Executive Director.

Generosity and service of local Elk recognized
From left, Gene Spina, OSEA Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Lois Freeman, Gateway ENF Committee; Eleanor Powell and KC McCuen, OSEA ENF Chairman.
COURTESY GATEWAY ELKS
The distinguished Elks National Foundation Bronze Plaque and Pin were posthumously awarded to Gateway charter member Ron Powell for his contributions of over $5,000. Oregon State Elks Association Chairman of the Board of Trustees Gene Spina and Oregon State Elks Association ENF Chairman KC McCuen presented the plaque and pin to Ron's wife Eleanor in a simple ceremony during the lodge meeting on June 17.

The mission of the Elks National Foundation is to help Elks build stronger communities. Fulfillment of this pledge is met by investing in communities where Elks live and work. Providing tomorrow's leaders, our youth, with a healthy beginning; honoring the Elks pledge to never forget our veterans; helping the state Elks associations accomplish their charitable objectives and funding projects that improve the quality of life in local Elks communities are all part of that investment.

Like all Elks, the Foundation values the belief that charity is the greatest of all virtues and that by sharing and giving we have the power to replace sorrow and despair with hope and confidence. Donations to the Foundation help fund programs that match its cornerstone values of knowledge, integrity and community.

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