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Daily struggles reality for Portland's Native Americans

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Long-time Parkrose mail carrier retires

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City teens visit country, learn farm business

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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 September issue are due Monday, Aug. 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at mailto: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.

Parkrose girls capture district title; falter at state
Players and coaches of the Parkrose Little League champion softball team celebrate their Oregon District 1 title. Players pictured in the front row, are, from left, Hailey Dowden, Katie Dong, Shaianne Stanley, Vanice Coulter and Amy Shimojima. In the middle row, from left, are Sara Schommer, Hannah McKee, Kiara Johnson, Tabitha Gilliam, Olivia Emmons and Cheyenne Lincoln. In the back row, from left, are coach Greg Dowden, Manager Ed McKee and coach Gary Dong.
COURTESY CHELSEA LINCOLN LANE
Despite the great run-saving catch by Olivia Emmons, the Parkrose Little League Major Girls lost to Hermiston by one run in the elimination game of the state tournament held last month at Centennial.
Mid-county Memo Photo/Tim Curran
Parkrose Little League Major Girls softball team overwhelmed opponents at the Oregon Little League District 1 tournament in Scappoose last month. They began with a 21-5 trouncing of Peninsula/Interstate Kenton Little League, beat Scappoose/Willamette 17-7 and earned the district title with a 22-3 shellacking of Hollywood/Lakeside/Rose City.

By virtue of their district title, the girls advanced to the state tournament at Centennial. There, they came upon some tougher competition. They lost in an opening round game 11-1 to South Salem/Sprague and were eliminated 5-4 by Hermiston.

Cookin' up a plan for college
A secret family recipe for genuine Mexican tamales and a not-so-secret desire for higher education have combined to launch a new fast-serve enterprise that offers fresh tamales for east Portland residents.

The made-to-order service, Tamales for Tuition, is the brainchild of 18-year-old Diana, a recent Reynolds High graduate. This young entrepreneur is getting a helping hand from a new micro-business pilot program initiated by SnowCap Community Charities.

Diana's hand-made tamales are served with a salsa that is also made from a family recipe and must be pre-ordered at 971-235-4504 or tamalesfortuition@gmail.com. They are available for drive-thru pickup at Rockwood United Methodist Church, 17805 S.E. Stark St., on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. through the end of August.

The tamales are $2.25 each, or two for $4. Buying for a crowd? Pick up a dozen for only $20. By ordering ahead Diana can have tamales ready for folks to pick up on their way home from work.

Diana hopes her summer entry into the specialized food business will be successful enough to help her pay for college in the fall. She hopes to enroll at a local community college and then advance to a four-year university.

“Operating a small business can be a worthwhile way for low-income people to find a path to long term self-sufficiency by creating their own job opportunities,” according to Judy Alley, SnowCap executive director. “Our tough economy means jobs are scarce for anyone facing employment challenges, and this is especially true for young people who are just staring out and lack significant work experience.”

“Going into debt to pay for college was something Diana didn't want to do,” Alley continued. So, with a little assist from SnowCap, Diana opened her own business.

SnowCap hopes to play a leading role in other small business start-ups, according to Kirsten Wageman, special projects manager for SnowCap. “We strive to help supply some 'nuts and bolts' by assisting clients to obtain necessary permits and insurance and facilitating partnerships with other agencies in the community,” she said.

Tamales for Tuition is another step on Diana's journey toward self-sufficiency and a higher education. Along with her parents, she has helped at SnowCap events since she was in grade school. Her mom and dad have helped in the SnowCap warehouse and food service facility.

To learn more about Tamales for Tuition or the SnowCap micro business program, contact Wageman at 971-235-4504 or tamalesfortuition@gmail.com.

SnowCap Community Charities is a philanthropic agency founded in 1967 to provide food, clothing, advocacy and other needed social services to those in need in much of east Portland, including Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale.

Parkrose drama program receives national honor at annual Thespian Festival in Nebraska
Parkrose theatre teacher, Ms. Zena, center, holds a plaque recognizing her program one of four nationally to be recognized as a 2011 Educational Theatre Association Outstanding School. She is flanked by, from left, EdTA Executive Director Michael J. Peitz, PHS students Kasey Simmons and Jessica Davison, and Debby Gibbs, EdTA board president.
Thespian Troupe 1783 at Parkrose High School was one of four schools nationally to receive a 2011 Educational Theatre Association Outstanding School Award. This award is given annually to schools whose work exemplifies and promotes high standards of quality in educational theatre. Ms. Zena, the PHS theatre director, and a handful of students traveled to the annual Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska to accept their award.

“Theatre provides essential skills that are valuable to everyone,” said EdTA Executive Director Michael J. Peitz. “It takes into account all fields of study, from using math and science to build theatre sets, to literary analysis of scripts. Great theatre programs, like those found at these four schools, build their foundations on this philosophy and make theatre a vital and necessary part of educating the whole child.”

The Educational Theatre Association is a professional organization for theatre educators. In addition to providing professional development, advocacy, and networking support to its members, EdTA operates the International Thespian Society, an honorary organization for high school and middle school theatre students.

$100 donated for statue raising
Joe Rossi, from left, and Portland Immigrant Statue Public Relations Director Rich Riegel accept a $100 check from Frank Zaccone, Portland Elks Lodge #142 exalted ruler, on behalf of the Parkrose Community Foundation.
COURTESY RALPH HARTMANN
Portland Elks Lodge #142 presented a $100 donation to the Parkrose Community Foundation at the Barn Bash held at Rossi Farms last month. The event was a fundraiser for the Portland Immigrant Statue that will be dedicated in Parkrose in October as part of a 100th anniversary celebration.

Speaking for the Parkrose Community Foundation, Joe Rossi noted that the check was $100 for 100 years of Parkrose history.

To learn more about Portland Elks, visit portlandelks.com or call 503-282-8707.

Spirit deadline extended
The Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement has extended the deadline for Spirit of Portland Award nominations to August 22. These awards are given annually to groups and individuals who increase Portland's livability. A citizen jury under the direction of ONI selects winners, from among nominations submitted by the public. Nomination forms are available from ONI or the East Portland Neighborhood Office. For more information call 503-823-3881 or e-mail patrick.philpott@portlandoregon.gov.

Northeast Rotary installs new president
At the Northeast Portland Rotary chapter installation ceremony held last month Lou Fontana, right, took over as president of Northeast Rotary from Kris McVicar, who leaves after serving two years in the position.
COURTESY OLLIE LUND
The venerable members of Northeast Rotary said goodbye to outgoing president Kris McVicar, a home mortgage consultant with Polygon Northwest, and hello to a new one last month. After a two-year stint as leader of the 54-year-old group, McVicar leaves the post to make way for Lou Fontana, director of development and public relations at Parkview Christian Retirement Community. McVicar is credited with overseeing a 10 percent rise in membership during her tenure.

With more than a million members worldwide in over 30,000 clubs, Rotary's raison d'être is service in the community and workplace. To that end, the Northeast Rotary held a cruise-in and community fair at Parkrose High School last month to raise money for worldwide polio eradication.

The group meets every Tuesday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Parkview Christian Retirement Community's conference room, 1825 NE 108th Ave. The Web-site is http://www.nepdxrotary.org.



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