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The MEMO Calendar is your vehicle to publicize community events. Let your Mid-Multnomah County neighbors know about events of interest, meetings, fundraisers and the like. To ensure publication, please send submissions for each month by the 15th of the previous month. Calendar submissions for the July issue are due Tuesday, June 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail your editorial submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR, 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. Mid-county MEMO fax number is 503-249-7672.
EVENTS
Start the summer with a party
The Parkrose Community Fair is a day of fun, food and free entertainment. Recognized Portland Taiko will again perform along with Jazz Express, Stites Dance, the Parkrose Dance Team, the Parkrose Community of Churches Choir, the Debonaires and more.
Free admission, free parking and free entertainment will make this party a true summer festival. Food choices will include Texas Barbeque, Hawaiian and Vietnamese dishes as well as elephant ears, ice cream sundaes, snow cones, pizza and hot dogs.
A Dunk Tank, Karaoke, the Climbing Wall from the Oregon National Guard and clowns provide fun activities for the whole family. Come share the day with friends and family near to home, in Parkrose on Saturday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Parkrose High School, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.
For more information, contact Alesia Reese at 503-253-4414 or alesiajmr@yahoo.com
Build a better home, grow a greener garden
The City of Portland is offering spring Fix-It Fairs in response to an increasing demand from Portland residents for more workshops. The spring fairs will offer new classes on affordable green remodeling and emphasize workshops relating to the yard and garden.
Helensview High School, 8678 N.E. Sumner St., will be the site of a Fix-It Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. This is a free neighborhood resource fair designed to help save money at home and in the garden. The fair offers workshops and exhibits on affordable green home repairs, lowering utility bills, home safety and health, cooking, gardening and living on a tight budget. Whether you are a renter or a homeowner, local experts will demonstrate how to save money, conserve resources and strengthen your neighborhood. Childcare will be provided throughout the day at this family-friendly event.
For more information, contact the City of Portland; Office of Sustainable Development at 503-823-7222.
Early summer activities to discover nature
Nature is at its best in June. It’s also time to shake off the “cabin fever” and enjoy the outdoors. Metro is offering the following ways to a nature adventure:
Bird watching at Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area
Saturday, June 5 and 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. Spring brings more than 25 different colorful songbirds to join the resident birds nesting at Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. Meet Metro naturalist and expert birder James Davis in the wildlife area parking lot on North Marine Drive. Learn to identify birds by sight and songs. Bring drinking water and binoculars if you have them. Free. Advance registration is required; call 503-797-1850 option 4.
Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area is located on Marine Drive between the Expo Center and Kelley Point Park. Take I-5 to exit 307. Go west on North Marine Drive for 2.2 miles. Turn left at the large brown and white wildlife area sign.
Painted turtle walk
Saturday, June 5 and 19, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Oregon’s turtles are rare, shy and hard to find, but Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area is home to one of the largest populations of Western painted turtles in the Northwest. See these beautiful reptiles with the help of Metro naturalist James Davis, who will have small telescopes for a close look. Learn about the natural history of painted turtles and why they are so rare. Suitable for adults and children ages five and older. Meet in the parking area on North Marine Drive. Free. Advance registration required; call 503-797-1850 option 4.
Twilight Tuesdays at Smith and Bybee Lakes
Tuesday, June 8 and 15 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. This relaxing evening walk at Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area takes advantage of those long summer days and gives you a chance to unwind after work. Dusk is one of the best times to see wildlife, especially during the summer. It’s about the only time you can see most mammals such as beaver, otter, muskrat, raccoon, nutria, deer and mink. Birds are also more active.
The basics of wildlife watching and identification will be topics of discussion. Bring drinking water and binoculars, if you have them. All ages are welcome, but children must be able to be quiet, sneaky and patient. Free. Advance registration required. To register, call 503-797-1850 option 4.
Osprey Day at Oxbow Regional Park
Saturday, June 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visit Oxbow Regional Park along the Sandy River and enter the world of the osprey. Park naturalists will lead walks to see an osprey nest in the old-growth forest and with luck to see the “fish-hawks” themselves.
Visitors can participate in other nature activities including a water bug safari and an osprey obstacle course for children. Hikes and activities begin every half-hour at Group Picnic Area “A” (Alder). Osprey Day is free with your park entry of $4 per car. No registration necessary.
Oxbow Park is located in the Sandy River Gorge. To get there from I-84, take the Troutdale exit 17. Go past the truck stop to the light. Turn right on 257th, go 3 miles to Division Street. Turn left onto Division. Follow the signs 6.5 miles and turn left. Follow the road to the park.
Volunteer orientations upcoming
Have you ever seen an angel? The first Sunday of every month you’ll find a warehouse full of teen-aged angels at SnowCap Community Charities. These students sort and pre-pack the emergency food boxes provided to neighbors in need. “Thank you to the outstanding youth group of Parkrose United Church of Christ for helping neighbors in need. SnowCap needs your assistance with packing emergency food boxes. We can’t keep up without your help,” says Judy Alley, SnowCap executive director.
“If your service club or group is interested in helping,” says Alley, “We invite you to our Volunteer Orientations which are held at 2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. The next three orientations are on June 8, July 13 and August 10.” To find out more about volunteer activities at SnowCap Community Charities, call 503-674-8785, extension 19 to receive a description of the volunteer skills needed, available time slots and information about on the job orientation.
Food2You drivers are still needed. Food2You provides a nutritious box of groceries to low-income seniors and disabled. On the last Tuesday of each month volunteers pick up food boxes at the SnowCap Warehouse and deliver them to seniors and disabled neighbors. “This is a quick and easy volunteer activity,” says Alley, “Our Food2You drivers pick up their box of groceries any time between noon and 8 p.m. and then deliver them to neighbors in need. It would be easy to drop in to pick up the grocery box at noon and then deliver on your way home!” Alley says the impact is great. Dates that the volunteer drivers are needed include June 29, July 27, and August 31.
Gifts to SnowCap Community Charities are fully tax deductible, the organization is a 501(c) (3) charitable non-profit corporation. For more information contact Judy Alley at 503-674-8785 or judy@snowcap.org or write to PO Box 160 Fairview, Oregon 97204.
Exploring the slough
The Columbia Slough is a 60-mile long remnant of lakes, wetlands and slow-moving channels in the southern floodplain of the Columbia River. The Slough is one of the largest urban waterways contained wholly within the metropolitan urban growth boundary. Impacts from 150 years of development have left a legacy of environmental problems in the Slough: contaminated fish and sediment, diminished wildlife habitat, and water pollution from both point and non-point sources. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council was formed to address the issues. This vast ribbon of habitat and openspace can be explored by foot, bicycle or canoe and kayak. Following are upcoming events to be hosted by the Columbia Slough Watershed Council.
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