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Delivery drivers needed
People looking for something fun and meaningful to do this summer can help deliver Meals-On-Wheels in the Lents neighborhood.
“Many of our regular drivers go on vacation during the summer, so we always appreciate extra volunteers who can help make sure the homebound seniors in our community receive a nutritious lunch and see a friendly face each day,” said Christina Ban, manager of the Lents Loaves & Fishes Center.
The center is located at 10325 S.E. Holgate Blvd., and Meals-On-Wheels deliveries take about an hour. For more information or to volunteer, call Christina Ban at 503-762-8997.
Summer rules for dogs off-leash
Two important changes for dog owners visiting Portland Parks this summer are evening hours and boundaries at shared off-leash areas. In Mid-County, the parks are Argay Park, Northeast 141st Avenue and Failing Street; Cherry Park, Southeast 110th Avenue and Stephens Street; and Glenfair Park, Northeast 154th Avenue and Davis Street.
From now until October 31, the off-leash areas and evening hours for dogs in these parks will revert back to summer season hours. The summer evening hours will be from 8 p.m. until park closing. Morning hours will not change.
The summer season off-leash boundary areas will also change in off-leash areas. Dog owners should check the off-leash area maps posted in each park to know where it is legal to exercise their dogs off leash. The boundary maps are also available online at www.PortlandParks.org.
Portland parks are busiest during summer season, when picnickers, sports groups, joggers, children, and others share the park. For this reason, summer hours and boundaries for off-leash dogs were established.
All dog owners are reminded to pick up after their pets. Uncollected dog waste is a leading complaint about dogs in Portland parks. Dog waste is not only extremely unpleasant and unwelcome; it is also a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and other forms of infection. The most damaging of these is caused by the roundworm Toxocara canis. The eggs of this parasite are present in much dog waste and although initially not infectious, once the eggs hatch they pose serious health risks to human beings, particularly children. Dog waste must be collected and disposed of every time. The fine for failure to scoop is $150, even for the first offense.
Dog owners should know that other park users might become frightened or uncomfortable when they encounter an off-leash dog. They may not tell you so, but not everyone likes meeting a strange dog. Even if your dog is docile and trained, it can still be frightening to people, particularly children.
Additionally, wildlife may not survive an encounter with an off-leash dog. Even a friendly and obedient dog may destroy the homes of ground-nesting birds or stress small mammals. Keeping dogs leashed also helps prevent erosion and destruction of plants.
Dogs must be leashed at all times when not in a designated off-leash area of the park. Fines are $150, even for the first offense.
The gift of mobility...make a community connection
Ride Connection invites you to bring your community closer for a senior or neighbor living with a disability. Volunteers provide door-to-door rides to medical appointments, shopping, senior activities and other essential destinations. Mobility is an important gift you can give as a volunteer driver.
Ride Connection asks you to consider becoming a volunteer driver with one of our local community agencies. Important skills for this volunteer position are reliability, a good driving record, courtesy and flexibility. A criminal background check is required for volunteer drivers. Training, support and recognition are available to volunteers.
Ride Connection’s mission is “linking accessible, responsive transportation with community need.” Volunteers provide an important link in our community. Seniors and people with disabilities want to be involved and active. Volunteers help provide accessible, responsive transportation in a very personal way.
You are invited to get involved. Call 503-528-1734 or email Susan Tingley, Ride Connection Volunteer Recruiter/Coordinator at stingley@rideconnection.org.
Ride Connection offers many more volunteer opportunities. Advocates are needed to continue the good work of alternative transportation in our community. If you are interested in mobility issues for seniors and people with disabilities, please contact Ride Connection.
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| J Carter Wilson, PHS social studies teacher will immerse himself in African American history over the summer break. |
J Carter Wilson, social studies teacher at Parkrose High School, or PHS, will spend this July at Tufts University in Massachusetts immersed in African American history. In May Wilson was selected to participate in a National Endowment for the Humanities, or NEH, summer institute, “African Americans and the Making of America, 1650-2000.” The four-week experience will introduce Wilson and thirty other high school teachers to the best available scholarship and perspectives from leading historians. The NEH award includes a stipend to cover travel costs, books, research expenses, and living expenses. “I expect this experience will influence the way I teach my U.S. History classes,” Wilson said. “I love to learn and I love to travel so this opportunity is a perfect fit for me.”
Wilson teaches U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History at Parkrose High School. Employed at Parkrose since 1998, Wilson has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California-Davis and earned his master’s degree in education from Lewis & Clark College.
Aquatic Center wins two National Awards
The National Recreation and Parks Association, or NRPA, awarded the Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center its Excellence in Aquatics Award for 2003 and for the college’s Aquatic School. The awards were presented at a recent NPRA National Conference in South Carolina.
“We’re understandably proud of the accomplishment and proud of our program,” said Ashley DeBoer, Aquatics Center assistant. “We were recognized because of our commitment to getting the community involved through activities like April Pool’s Day, summer camps and swimming classes.”
The Mt. Hood Aquatic Center opened in 1976 and currently houses four pools and an indoor rock-climbing wall. The center serves the community as an international competition venue as well as a community education and fitness center.
For more information about Aquatic Center classes or services, call 503-491-7243.
Build It Green! Home Tour seeks homeowners
The Portland Office of Sustainable Development, or OSD, is seeking green and/or solar homes to participate in the third annual Build It Green! tour of homes. This is a showcase of innovative building and remodeling techniques that respect the environment.
The Build it Green! tour will take place on Saturday, September 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is an opportunity for homeowners to share their green building experiences with the community and for tour-goers to learn the latest green building and solar design and construction technologies.
Qualifying homes will be located throughout the Portland metropolitan area and must demonstrate sustainable features, such as naturescaping, rainwater harvesting, solar electricity or heating; salvage and reuse of building materials, or healthier air quality. The tour selection committee will consider all types of residences; including new homes, remodels, single family, duplexes, townhouses, and lofts or condominiums.
“The tour provides an opportunity for people who are planning on building or remodeling to talk with owners and builders and to see their innovations” says Mike O’Brien, Green Building Specialist for OSD. “That’s the best way to learn what new ideas and technologies make sense for your home,” he added.
The tour will include 20 homes this year, and ticket sales will be limited to avoid overcrowding.
Those interested in participating in the tour can access more information on the application process, examples of sustainable features and a tour entry form at www.green-rated.org. Applications are due no later than Monday, June 14, to be considered for this year’s tour.
Bikes in the city
Are you interested in knowing first-hand about issues affecting bicycling in Portland? Willing to invest some time working to make Portland a better city for bicycling? Want to be in a position to officially advise City Council and city staff on matters relating to bicycling? If so, then consider applying to be a member of Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee has been a standing city committee since the early 1970s. Its purpose is to advise the Mayor, City Council and all city departments on all matters relating to bicycling for transportation and recreation.
Committee members meet monthly to review and make recommendations on:
• Planning documents affecting bicycling
• Funding priorities for bicycle-related projects
• Activities of other jurisdictions that affect bicycling in Portland.
The committee is made of up 13 members with full standing, and up to five alternate members. To qualify, applicants must:
• Be an adult resident of the Portland Metropolitan area
• Have an interest in promoting the use of the bicycle for transportation and recreation
• Make a commitment to attend monthly meetings and participate in the work of the committee.
Members are appointed to a 3-year term.
If interested, you will find the Bicycle Advisory Committee Job Description, bylaws, and application form on-line at http://www.portlandtransportation.org/bicycles/default.htm. You can also request an application and supporting materials from Roger Geller at the below address, or call him at 503-823-7671 or email him at roger.geller@pdxtrans.org.
Applications must be received no later than Friday, July 2.
Mail completed applications to: Roger Geller, Portland Office of Transportation, 1120 S.W. 5th Ave., Room 800, Portland, OR 97204 or fax to him at 503-823-7609.
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