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| Memo Calender (continued) ... Make a difference in a newborn’s life Too often the joy that should accompany the birth of a new baby is marred by poverty, violence or abuse. The Oregon Department of Human Services, along with many community partners, works daily with individuals who are facing an impending birth with no resources for their new little ones. Sometimes a woman has fled domestic violence, which usually accelerates during pregnancy or after the birth of a newborn. Sometimes a baby is born drug-effected and comes into immediate foster care. Other times poverty has made it impossible to prepare for a baby. For these little ones, there will be no baby shower, no welcoming gifts and no celebration. To deal with these community issues, the Soroptimist Clubs all over Oregon will be hosting Community Baby Showers on Saturday, March 4 to provide DHS with the needed supplies for new babies and also to reach out to new mothers with kindness and warmth. “We invite people to participate in welcoming these newest little ones to our community,” said Marsha Schauer, Portland East Soroptimist club member. “We are trying to mitigate the impact of poverty, abuse and neglect on these babies and their mothers. The first step is to meet their basic needs. The community can help so much with the effort to give our innocent babies a great start.” On Saturday, March 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at Babies “R” Us, 9650 S.E. 82nd Ave., in Clackamas, the Portland East Soroptimist Club will host a Community Baby Shower for DHS to meet the needs of newborns in Clackamas County. Gift ideas include newborn-size disposable diapers, baby powder, baby oil, baby shampoo, pacifiers, baby wipes, receiving blankets or quilts, knitted booties or hats, bottles, t-shirts and onesies for newborns, socks for newborns, cotton swabs, pajamas and toys. If you cannot make a donation to Babies “R” Us, you may drop off new, unwrapped items at Wescotts Auto, 19702 Hwy 212 in Boring on Friday, March 3. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, checks made out to SI Portland East, a 501c3 nonprofit service organization, may be sent to Attn: Marsha Schauer, Soroptimist International Portland East Club, P.O. Box 30657, Portland, OR 97294. A receipt will be returned for your records. For more information on how you can get involved with Soroptimist activities, please contact Marsha Schauer at 503-813-6157. Texas Hold’em tournament fundraiser set Calling all poker players, the 205 EarlyRiser Kiwanis are hosting a Texas Hold’em Tournament Fundraiser on Saturday, March 4. The tournament will be held at East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave. from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Check-in begins at 6 p.m. This event will benefit the community center’s Playground Fund and the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp. Trophies and gift certificates will be presented to the top three finishers. The $20 registration fee will include $25 in chips. An additional $5 in chips can be purchased with a donation of 5 cans of tuna. The tuna fish will be donated to Loaves & Fishes. Soda pop and snacks will be provided. To register, please call Nancy Walsh at 503 233-4140 by March 2. THE ARTS Experience Australian theater Mt. Hood Repertory Theatre Company’s Readers Theatre season, “From Distant Shores,” continues on Feb. 20 with Kate Hawkes directing Michael Gow’s “Away,” a modern classic of the Australian theater that traces the lives of three ordinary families on a holiday trip that will change them all. Three families spend their annual holiday vacations at the beach and are thrown together during a storm. Over the course of their time together, divisions are healed, love, life and death are explored, and Shakespeare is there to help guide it all. Funny and poignant, “Away” has become one of the most produced plays in Australia and has become a fundamental part of the national character. Since “Away” premiered in 1986, it has been awarded NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Best Play, the Sydney Theatre Critics Circle Award, an AWGIE for Best Play and a Green Room Award. “Away” will be performed at the Reynolds Middle School Theater, 1200 N.E. 201st Ave. at Halsey St., in Fairview on Monday, Feb. 20. Admission is $7 for all ages. For more information on Mt. Hood Rep, call 503-491-5950 or visit the website at www.mthoodrep.org. Enjoy drama, comedy at Horner The David Douglas High School Theatre Department is getting set to present a pair of winter shows. The winter drama is “The Best of Intentions, the Story of Two Interventions,” which follows the stories of two teenagers and their families dealing with addiction. “The Best of Intentions” runs Feb. 23, 24, 25, March 2, 9 and 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m. downstairs in the Horner Performing Arts Center’s Small Box Theatre and is directed by Jesse Merz. The Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy “You Can’t Take it with You” runs March 3, 4, 10 and 11 upstairs in the Horner Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm and is directed by Judy LeCoq. Both shows are technically directed and designed by Mark Taylor. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. There is a discount for buying advance tickets. For information on tickets, please call 503-261-8270. EVENTS Learn how to fight heating costs Hourly workshops and community exhibits on lowering utility bills, home safety and health, affordable green home repairs, gardening and stretching small household budgets will be featured at the Fix It Fair presented by the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development. There will be giveaways, including light bulbs, tote bags and green home remodeling guides. Burgerville will provide a free lunch, and professional childcare will be available all day. The Fix It Fair is Saturday, Feb. 25 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at David Douglas High School, 1001 S.E. 135th Ave. Meet City Commissioner Dan Saltzman from 10 to 11 a.m. This is a free event. For more information call 503-823-7581 or e-mail fixitfair@ci.portland.or.us. LIBRARIES Library receives Ready to Read grant Multnomah County Library has received a $90,328 grant to improve library services to young children. The Ready to Read grant program was established by the 1983 Oregon Legislature and is administered by the Oregon State Library. Multnomah County Library will use the grant to fund Early Childhood Resources, a program that serves children pre-birth to kindergarten and their families and caregivers. Through outreach programs, ECR works closely with the early childhood community to foster the literacy skills of Multnomah County’s youngest citizens. Since its inception, the Ready to Read grant has been used across Oregon to purchase children’s library materials, hire staff to provide library programs, bring library services and materials to at-risk children, and provide children’s computer equipment in libraries. The Ready to Read grant was established to assist local libraries in helping achieve the Oregon Benchmarks for early childhood learning and development. State Librarian Jim Scheppke noted that since the Ready to Read grant program began in 1993, library services to children have nearly doubled. “The program is really helping children develop early literacy skills, begin school ready to learn and develop a lifelong love of reading.” Gregory Heights Library, 7921 N.E. Sandy Blvd., 503-988-5386, www.multcolib.org/agcy/grh.html Space at programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Toddler Storytime: Storytime for children 24 to 36 months with adult. Mondays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. (except Feb. 20) Pajama Time: Bedtime stories for the whole family. Wednesdays from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Tiny Tots: Storytime for children 12 to 24 months with adult. Thursdays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Preschool Storytime: Storytime for children 3 to 6 years with adult. Fridays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Bilingual Storytime: Presented in Spanish and English for children of all ages. Wednesdays, Feb. 8 and 22 from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Flying Fish Kite-Making Workshop: Create your own flying fish kite! Artist Shanon Schollian shows you how to use paper, fabric and other materials to make your kite soar in the wind. Recommended for children 5 years and older. In conjunction with Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library’s fourth annual community reading project. Saturday, Feb. 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. Artist Trading Cards: Create your own trading cards using colored pencils, rubber stamps, collage and more. You may keep your cards or trade with other artists. Saturday, Feb. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. Turtle and Rabbit: Rodney the Rabbit thinks he is the fastest animal around and never takes time to eat, sleep or make friends until the day Myrtal the Turtle challenges Rodney to a race. Root for and sing along with your favorite character as the race unfolds. Sunday, Feb. 26 from 3 to 3:45 p.m. Teen Lounge and Homework Center: Use library computers to access the Internet and do word processing, get homework help from trained staff and online tutors, or just do your homework and listen to music while hanging out in beanbag chairs. For teens in grades 6 through 12. Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Language Exchange: Engage in conversation with native English speakers who want to practice their Spanish and with native Spanish speakers who want to practice their English. There will be time for conversation in both languages. Saturdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Pageturners: Engage in stimulating conversation about books, exchange perspectives about characters and plot and get to know your neighbors. Friends of the Library sponsors this book club. Read “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. This is an Everybody Reads event, Multnomah County Library’s annual community-wide book discussion. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. Computer Lab: Lab assistants are available to help beginners practice their computer skills. You may also ask for basic assistance writing reports, creating résumés, establishing an e-mail account, preparing research projects, filling out online application forms, and locating library and Internet resources. Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Web Basics: Learn about the World Wide Web, explore the library’s home page and practice entering Web addresses. Participants need to be comfortable using a keyboard and a mouse. Registration required; register online, in the library or by calling 503-988-5234. Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon. Searching the Web: Prerequisite: Web Basics or Internet experience. This new, two-hour class combines Web Searching I and Web Searching II so you can learn several Web searching tools at once. Improve your understanding of subject indexes and search engines and learn how to evaluate the quality of the information you find on the Web. Registration required; register online, in the library or by calling 503-988-5234. Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon. Word Processing I: Learn how to use the basic features of Microsoft Word 2000. Select and modify text, cut and paste, open and save a document, and create your own party invitations. Participants need to be comfortable using a keyboard and mouse. Registration required; register online, in the library or by calling 503-988-5234. Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. New Catalog for the Computer Savvy: Come learn how to get around in the new library catalog. Learn about the new features and all the great things you can do with this new system. Registration required; register online, in the library or by calling 503-988-5234. Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. >>continued |
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