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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 along with opportunities to participate in the community. Memo Pad submissions for the August issue are due Sunday, July 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.
Crawford resigns from school board
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| Guy Crawford, left, a Parkrose School District Board of Education member who resigned recently, is pictured at the Parkrose Homecoming Party in 2009 with wife Maureen (also a former Parkrose BOE member), and James Woods, a current member. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim Curran |
An ardent Parkrose football fan, he said he will see most of the season, but, regrettably, will miss the playoffs.
With more than twenty years in the human resources industry, currently as Vice-President of Operations at the Northwest College of Construction, Crawford said he is taking early retirement and when he returns, he plans to buy a small home and seek employment repairing bicycles.
In an email to the Memo Crawford said, “Serving on the Parkrose School Board was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Over the course of the five years on the board, I've watched Parkrose evolve from one of the least effective school districts in the state to a district that is poised on the edge of becoming one of the best school districts in the state. The Parkrose School District has improved significantly in virtually every measurable way. In addition, over the next two years, we'll get to see the development of a regional soccer center, a new middle school and significant improvements to all of our elementary schools. All of this was accomplished during a time in which the district budget has been significantly cut.” He added, “None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the sacrifice and dedication of the district staff, teachers and administrators under the leadership of Superintendent Gray. The district's greatest assets are its employees. I'd especially like to thank my fellow board members Alesia Reese, Jamie Woods and Ed Grassel. Over the course of the five years I served on the board these guys set an example for what a tough, knowledgeable and committed school board is supposed to look like. Parkrose is well served by these three individuals and I'm proud to call each of them a friend.”
For the second time this year, Parkrose loses a school board member through early resignation. In March, Adair Fernee resigned from the school board in a dispute with the administration over the change in the quality of the food served at Prescott Elementary; David Horton, a Russell Academy Site Council member, replaced her.
The district received four applications to fill Crawford's vacancy: Kathleen McDade, a David Douglas School District instructional aide; Thuy Tran, an optometric physician; David Carter, a produce journeyman at WinCo and Mary Lu Baetkey, a retired Parkrose educator.
After interviewing the applicants at its June meeting, the board appointed Tran to fill the vacancy. With the term expiring June 30, 2013, she will have to run for the full, four-year term of office next spring.
OSU Extension agent shares knowledge with pantry clients
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| Shara Anslow, an OSU Extension Service instructor, teaches SnowCap Community Charities pantry clients how to turn pantry staples into healthy, nutritious family meals. COURTESY ANNIECE FOSTER |
Twice a week- on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.-she logs time demonstrating skills needed to prepare and serve healthier meals made from food found in the SnowCap food pantry. Hundreds of low-income families come through the pantry each month.
Anslow has taught SnowCap clients to make healthy, nutritious soups from pantry ingredients and guides them on making healthy purchases with food stamps. These efforts lead to healthier family diets and educate children to establish healthy eating patterns.
SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley credits Anslow's know-how with creating new preparation methods for extending food box staples.
“Anslow is helping clients learn to better use the foods that are donated to our pantry. She adapted a lentil recipe to use available pinto beans instead. This proved tasty and a new way to use pinto beans for many of the folks waiting for their food boxes. She provides creative ideas,” Alley said. Easy to follow recipes are provided in both English and Spanish.
Children and families at affordable housing complex learn about gardening
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| Human Solutions and Dennis' 7 Dees Landscaping and Garden Centers teamed up on June 20, the first day of summer, to teach children living at Human Solutions' Arbor Glen Apartments in southeast Portland how to plant herbs and vegetables and inspire a new generation of gardeners. About 35 families turned out to plant edibles in kid-friendly pots along with flowers to adorn their patios. Human Solutions Executive Director Jean DeMaster, standing, and Human Solutions Resident Services Specialist Laura Lirette, left, lend a hand to Gregorio Cruz Jr., 8, and Mia Cruz, 5. COURTESY HUMAN SOLUTIONS |
Dennis' 7 Dees employees taught children and their families how to plant flowers, herbs and vegetables to celebrate the first day of summer and kick off a campaign to foster a love of gardening and healthy eating. Children will transplant seedlings into larger containers tended by their families. The skills learned in this garden will help families gain some independence from social service agencies and provide them with healthy foods of their own choosing.
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