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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 January issue are due by Monday, Dec. 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.
Thespians Trick or Treat for canned goods
The Parkrose High Thespian Troupe 1783 collected over a thousand pounds of canned food and dry goods during the International Thespian Society’s Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat event on Halloween.
This is a new national community service program for ITS member schools. The collected food was donated to Crossroads Cupboard at the Crossroads Church, 2505 N.E. 102nd Ave.
Women’s Opportunity Awards
Since 1972, Soroptimist has been helping women the world over reclaim their dreams through the Women’s Opportunity Awards program. This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through skills training and supplemental education. You are eligible to apply if you are a woman with primary financial responsibility for yourself and your dependants, are attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program.
Soroptimist International of Portland East will award up to six $500 to $1,500 awards. For information about applying to the Women’s Opportunity Awards program, please contact Jackie Cashion at jackie.cashiondc@earthlink.net or 503-257-3377. Applications must be received no later than Dec. 15.
PHS singers honored
Parkrose High School students Alex Hall, Kayla Stewart, Taylor Mura, Tamara Dan, Mia Heaslet, Ciara Dines, Josh Latter and Jackson Singleton have been selected to the 2009 All-State Honor Choir. The All-State Honor Choir will perform in January at the Oregon Music Educators Association state conference in Eugene.
Future nurse tapped as Teen of the Month
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| Christina Patan is front and center as the November Gateway Elks Lodge Teen of the Month. Proud parents (from left) John and Tina Patan share the moment with their daughter and Elks Exalted Ruler Russ Muma. |
| Submitted Photo |
Besides academic excellence, Patan distinguishes herself in service to her school, her church and her community. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is the senior class representative to the student council. She also takes advanced placement classes in preparation for college and is involved with the Students Today Aren’t Ready for Sex program at Douglas.
Patan helps her family manage an adult foster care home and has worked as a volunteer at Portland Adventist Hospital. After high school, she plans to enroll in the nursing program at the University of Portland or Concordia University. Her eventual goal is to become a nurse anesthetist or nurse practitioner.
Patan is involved at her church, sings alto in the choir and is a vacation Bible school leader. She plays the piano and is currently studying gospel music.
This busy teen cherishes time spent with family and friends, particularly her 2-year-old niece.
Right now, she is looking forward to participating in the Children’s Healing Art Project, which brings the healing power of art to children in crisis and their families.
Frank Etxaniz, a painter and a former design consultant for New York’s Museum of Modern Art, launched CHAP in 2005 to provide art programs for children who have had to be treated at local hospitals, whether for a terminal illness or simply a broken arm.
To learn more about the Gateway Elks Teen of the Month program or to download a nomination form, go to www.gatewayelks.com.
The sky’s the limit
That’s the theme for the annual Parkrose Educational Foundation dinner and auction set for Saturday, April 25. Auction Chair Allison Newman-Woods is looking for volunteers to help plan the event as well as donations of auction items.
If you are a Parkrose grad or you live, work or play in Parkrose, mark the date now and plan to attend this fun event at the Airport Holiday Inn, 8439 N.E. Columbia Blvd., to help current Parkrose students soar. Contact Newman-Woods to help out or to arrange for your donation at 503-408-2108 or allison944@gmail.com.
New Web site puts citizens in direct contact with PP&R maintenance supervisors
Park users in our area have a new way to help the city keep an eye on neighborhood parks.
ParkScan Portland is an interactive Web site that lets community members communicate their park observations – maintenance needs, illegal activities, or compliments on a job well done – directly to a Portland Parks & Recreation supervisor.
PP&R is testing the Web site in 36 east Portland parks throughout the fall and winter, including Argay, Floyd Light, Glenfair, Knott, John Luby, Merrifield, Midland, Montavilla, Senn’s Dairy, Ventura and Wilkes parks in Mid-county.
PP&R plans to expand ParkScan to developed parks citywide in the spring.
Here’s how ParkScan works: A community member makes an observation, whether noticing graffiti or that the grass looks great, by filling out a form on the ParkScan Web site. That observation goes to the maintenance supervisor for the park, who in turn logs on to the site to respond to the observation. The community can view all observations and responses, which makes it easy to track what’s happening.
Portland is among some of the first cities to use this technology. The Neighborhood Parks Council pioneered ParkScan in San Francisco parks in 2003. PP&R and NPC partnered and won a $135,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to help make Portland the second city to use ParkScan.
The east Portland park community can get started now by visiting www.parkscanpdx.org. PP&R staff is also happy to meet with community organizations to do ParkScan training demonstrations. For more information, contact Ali Ryan at ali.ryan@ci.portland.or.us or 503-823-2967.
Hunger an issue among elderly
The number of seniors dining each weekday at Loaves & Fishes Centers throughout the metro area has increased by an average of 15 percent since November of 2007. This represents twice the growth that the nonprofit agency has seen in previous years. The number of meals served at the 13 locations in Multnomah County shows the highest percentage of increase at 19 percent. Clark County, which has seven meal sites, increased by 15 percent, and the 11 locations in Washington County increased by 10.5 percent.
“The dramatic increase in the number of senior meals served in our dining rooms is an indicator of the economic climate,” said Loaves & Fishes Centers Executive Director Joan Smith. “Seniors who are on (a) fixed income or who are struggling to make ends meet are more likely to come to a neighborhood center to meet their dietary needs and to help stretch their food budget. We plan for growth of about 6 percent annually, but the numbers over the past few months have been staggering.”
Loaves & Fishes Centers receives about two-thirds of its annual operating budget from donations. Eighty-seven percent of the agency’s annual budget is spent on food and services.
“Our vision is that no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation,” Smith said. “We have never had a waiting list for meals because we’ve been fortunate that the community always responds to the need. We trust they will continue to do so.”
Census figures indicate that the number of senior citizens in the greater Portland area will more than double in the next 20 years. Loaves & Fishes Centers has an aggressive strategic plan in place to meet the anticipated growth, but the increased numbers have accelerated with the downturn in the economy.
“Our number-one priority is feeding seniors and making sure (that) any senior who needs a meal will receive one,” said Smith. “It’s evident that the need is increasing at a faster pace than any of us had predicted.”
Loaves & Fishes Centers welcomes both monetary donations and volunteers. Visit www.loavesandfishesonline.org or call 503-736-6325 to find out how you can help.
Local Little League gears up for new season
For over 50 years, Parkrose Little League has provided a place in our community for children to learn the fundamentals of baseball, good sportsmanship and the value of hard work. Starting in the fall, the board meets to plan for new equipment, uniforms, insurance, field maintenance and more, all of which comes at a high price tag. Each participating family is asked to pay a registration fee and participate in fundraisers, but no player has been turned away for lack of funds.
PLL is grateful for community support that allows more than 300 boys and girls to participate in its softball and baseball programs. Team sponsorships and other donations are being sought for the 2009 season. To help, contact Annette Stevko-Frary, Parkrose Little League sponsor coordinator, at 503-281-2400 or toannette@comcast.net, or visit www.parkroselittleleague.com.
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