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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 March issue are due by Thursday, Feb. 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail editorial 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.
Judges announced for essay contest
A blue-ribbon panel of judges has been selected for the inaugural Guthrie Family Essay Contest for students at Parkrose middle and high schools. The judges are Judy Alley, executive director, SnowCap Community Charities; Carolyn Schell, manager, Midland Library; Clare and Sharon Mershon, Parkrose activists; Douglas J. Porter, Portland public relations consultant; Bob Edwards, retired educator, David Douglas School District; and Lou Sohn, SnowCap board member.
The competition, which includes cash prizes for winning entries, is co-sponsored by SnowCap Community Charities and the Parkrose School District.
The essay question is, “Why is volunteering in my community important?”
Prize money totaling $950 is provided by longtime Parkrose resident Jerry Guthrie, owner of Guthrie Machinery Co. and honors his late wife, Betty.
High school entrants are asked to submit an essay of at least 1,000 words and middle school students at least 500 words. Deadline for submission is April 15. Winners will be awarded prizes at a school assembly in May.
Contest rules will be available at both school offices and will be distributed to students via teachers. The winning essays will be published in the Memo.
Thompson recognized by Gateway Elks
The Gateway Elks Lodge has selected Rebekah Thompson, a senior at Parkrose High School, as its February teenager of the month.
Thompson has had her sights set on becoming an astronaut since grade school. Her course of studies and activities reads like that of an upper-level college student. She is earning a 4.00 GPA in honors classes focusing on science and math. She has been in personal contact with astronaut Susan Helms, also a Parkrose graduate, and has participated in space camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. during the summer of 2003 (“She dreams of outerspace,” September 2003).
As a sophomore, Thompson was honored at the Mid-county Memo Community Awards as a student-of-the-year certificate winner.
Thompson plays the alto saxophone and the piano and has participated in the concert, jazz and symphonic bands at Parkrose. To keep fit, she plays water polo.
The daughter of Foster and Myra Thompson, Rebekah has been accepted at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore.
Join the swim club, become part of a team
If you are at least 5 years old, love the water, enjoy making new friends and being part of a team, the Parkrose Swim Club is for you.
Parkrose Swim Club is a competitive USA Swimming Club. It is a year-round program, with a certified and experienced coaching staff, and has been part of the community for more than 50 years. The club accepts swimmers ages 5 to 8 who are water-safe in shallow water and deep water, and swimmers ages 9 and older with knowledge of the freestyle stroke and backstroke.
Scheduled practices are held nightly between 5 and 7 p.m., Monday-Friday at the Parkrose Community Center Pool, Parkrose High School, 12003 N.E. Shaver St. Tryouts for new swimmers are held every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
If you have questions or need more information, visit the pool or call Coach John Billings at 503-869-9141 or 503-252-7547.
Plan now for trip to Costa Rica in ‘08
A teacher and a counselor from Parkrose schools have teamed with EF Tours to offer a Costa Rican adventure during spring break 2008. Join Michele Gibson, an English language teacher at the high school, and Lisa Van Nice, a middle school counselor, on an educational and adventurous nine-day trip in Costa Rica.
The trip is open to everyone in the community and is described as a deal of a lifetime. Plan to attend the first informational meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, from 5 to 6 p.m. in L4 at Parkrose High School, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.
Learn the details, ask questions, and hear about fundraising ideas. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Michele Gibson at 503-408-2680 or michele_gibson@parkrose.k12.or.us.
New program helps kids reduce library fines
Multnomah County Library is helping young people “read off” their library fines with the Clean Up Your Library Card campaign.
During the rest of this month, youths up to age 17 may sign up to participate in the campaign at any Multnomah County Library. Participants track their reading, subtracting $1 from their library card charges for each 15 minutes of reading initialed by a parent or teacher.
Participants also receive tips on how to successfully manage their library cards.
“Thirteen percent of youth cardholders have $20 or more in charges on their library cards and have had their borrowing privileges suspended,” said Katie O’Dell, campaign coordinator. “The Clean Up Your Library Card campaign will help ensure that young readers have access to library materials.”
To find out how much you owe in library charges, visit www.multcolib.org and click on “My account” or ask at your neighborhood library.
The Clean Up Your Library Card campaign is made possible by generous contributions to The Library Foundation.
Dingfelder back at work in Salem
The Oregon legislature went back to work last month and Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, who represents House District 45, has published new contact information. The telephone number to reach her office in Salem is 503-986-1445, and the mailing address is 900 Court St. NE, H-377, Salem, OR 97301.
She has also laid out a list of her legislative priorities. They include creating a statewide system to recycle electronic products, promoting the development and expansion of the biofuels industry in Oregon, raising the beer tax to fund addiction treatment and prevention, protecting the progress made with the Payday Loan Reform Act, making biking and walking safer activities throughout the state, creating a sunset provision for many tax breaks that are no longer serving their intended purpose, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to address global warming, and preserving Oregon’s limited water supplies by requiring all water users to measure water withdrawn and stored and eliminating many of the exemptions from permit requirements for ground water.
PP&R seeks public comment
Portland Parks & Recreation is a bureau of the city of Portland whose services are primarily funded from the city’s general fund. In recent years, demands upon such funds have increased, a trend that is expected to continue.
To maintain and enhance the city’s parks and recreation system, PP&R is actively seeking to establish alternate revenue streams that will increase its ability to deliver services to the community and/or provide enhanced levels of service beyond the core levels funded from the city’s general fund. Sponsorship is one of the alternate funding sources being pursued.
PP&R has developed a draft Sponsorship Policy. The draft is posted for review at www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=43957. Community comment is invited.
The policy will be presented and discussed publicly at the February meeting of the Citywide Parks Team on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Portland City Hall, Rose Room, 1220 S.W. 4th Ave. A form for comment is posted on the Web site.
Public comment will be taken through Feb. 23. After review of public comments, the policy will be finalized and then referred to City Council for adoption.
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