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Sacramento School dedicates new garden
Crossroads Cupboard nourishes body and mind
Spring unfolds at Leach Botanical Garden
Riegel tapped as Elks Citizen of the Year
Perlman's News
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Council continues Drug-, Prostitution-Free Zones
Recycling begins in elementary school
Convenient services cornerstone of counseling center
Community support makes prom accessible

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Memo Pad...

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 June issue are due by Tuesday, May 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.

PHS senior selected Teen of the Year
The Youth Activities Committee of Gateway Elks Lodge has selected Lynnea Nicole Gardner, a senior at Parkrose High School, as the recipient of its Teenager of the Year award.

Gardner, Gateway Elks Teenager of the Month for September, was selected on the basis of academic achievement and her involvement in school and service activities.

A National Honor Society member, Gardner has served on the student council, is a member of the band as well as the water polo and swimming teams and has been involved behind the scenes as a prop manager for student theater productions. She was also a member of the Parkrose Rose Festival Court.

Gardner has worked with students at the middle school and has taught arts and crafts and environmental lessons to grade school students. She has been a part of the Girl Scouts Oxbow Day Camp and participates in search and rescue activities as a volunteer with Multnomah County Search and Rescue.

She will begin work toward a career in nursing at the University of Portland this fall. Her parents are Mark and Janet Gardner.

OASIS reading tutors honored
The OASIS Intergenerational Tutor program honors two volunteers who have served five years as mentors and tutors, helping children learn to read.

Patty Brost has been a tutor at Gilbert Heights Elementary and Edith Summerfield has been a tutor at Ventura Park Elementary School. In addition to helping with reading skills, they have also worked to foster positive self-esteem in their students while being role models in the children’s lives.

The OASIS program seeks additional tutors for the 2007-08 school year. Anyone who is interested should call Colleen Shannon at 503-833-3636.

Botanical garden to sell plants all season
Leach Botanical Garden, Portland’s only public botanical garden, has announced open nursery sales this summer at the garden. Visitors are invited to explore the nursery and purchase new and unusual treasures. Special plants from the garden, including recent horticultural introductions, old favorites and miscellaneous one-of-a-kind plants will be offered. Garden staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your horticultural questions.
Open nursery days will be the first and third Saturdays of the month from May to September from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The garden is located at 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave.

For more information contact Nancy Williams at 503-823-1671.

Libraries serve as ballot drop off sites
For the May 2007 special election, all Multnomah County libraries will serve as ballot drop-off sites during regular library hours from Friday, April 27 through 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 15.

Ballot boxes will be stationed at or near the circulation desks of Gregory Heights Library, 7921 N.E. Sandy Blvd., and Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave. Voters may also deposit their ballots 24 hours a day, until 8 p.m. on Election Day, into the outdoor ballot drop box located at Midland Library.

Gregory Heights Library is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Midland Library hours are Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Reading, Wal-Mart net Russell Academy new research center
The library at Russell Academy, in the Parkrose School District, will soon have a new research center. Students were challenged to read 1,000 minutes during a one-month time frame. Students then solicited sponsorship support from parents and friends. The result was a sum of $1,357. Wal-Mart chipped in another $1,000. Sue Lampe, Russell Academy Parent-Teacher Volunteer co-chair, said the total would easily cover the cost of the research center.

Gateway Elks launch new Web site
Gateway Elks Lodge, 711 N.E. 100th Ave., has announced the launch of its new Web site: www.gatewayelks.com.

The hope is that you will take the time to explore the site and to gain an understanding of what it is to be a modern member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Find out who the Elks are, what they are, what they do and how you might become a member.

The Order of Elks is distinctly American. It is a national, charitable organization founded on the principals of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. Here in Oregon the two primary Elks charities are the Meadowood Springs Summer Camp for Hearing and Speech Impaired Children and the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic, part of the Oregon Health and Science University. Through the Elks National Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the order, five national scholarship programs are offered. Youth programs, such as the Elks Drug Awareness Program and the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest, and veterans services, such as the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, are among other programs offered.

The Gateway Lodge is just one of many across the country, all committed to the same goals. As a member of the order, you will be welcome in any of the more than 2,100 such lodges from Alaska to Florida. This can be a true benefit for those traveling for business or pleasure, as Elks tend to treat each other like extended family.

If you go to the new site, you will gain a better understanding of today’s Elks, and you may even be interested in joining to help with the above mentioned worthy causes. And lest you think the Elks are all work and no play, take a look at the photo gallery, lodge calendar and entertainment section.

You may drop in and ask for a tour of the lodge. Visitors are always welcome. If you would like to call ahead, the number is 503-255-6535.

Academic All-Stars announced
What happens when you take your average teenager and mix in one part maturity, drive and intellect and then add a healthy dose of determination, independence and work ethic? You get the 2007 Multnomah County Academic All-Stars — students who are passionate about education, continually strive to be excellent and have a strong commitment to their schools and communities.

Nineteen students from Centennial, David Douglas, and Reynolds school districts are among the 74 honorees recognized at the 24th Annual Academic All-Stars reception on April 23 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel. The Multnomah Education Service District and the MESD Foundation continue their sponsorship of the program and, for the first time, the program is proud to be an official community partner of the Portland Rose Festival.

This year’s Academic All-Stars are multi-dimensional students engaged not only in school leadership, but also deeply involved in their communities through volunteer work. The group includes young scientists, mathematicians, technology experts and historians; artists, performers and writers; speakers of French, German, Japanese and Chinese; students who are first generation Americans; and some who are the first in their families to graduate high school.

Over 160 students applied to the program by submitting an initial application. A select group was then invited to prepare a portfolio of their schoolwork, activities and community service. Categories of competition are computer science, foreign language, language arts, mathematics, science, social science, visual arts and all-around. Volunteer judges reviewed the portfolios and conducted interviews. The MESD Foundation raises money for scholarship awards that will be given to each finalist.

Honorees from Centennial include: Derek McIntyre, a senior, computer technology; Ken Yoshikawa, a junior, language arts; and Tabitha Purice, a senior, science.

David Douglas winners are Sabrina Skau, a senior, honored in the all-around category; Arthur Ungureanu, a junior, computer technology; Lindsay Short, a senior, language arts; Rachel Cummings, a junior, mathematics; Stephen Lam and Nicole Skau, both juniors, performing arts; Stella Chiu, Edwin Lam, and Ngoc Pham, all seniors, science; Jue Song, a senior, social science; Caiyan Su, a junior and Hannah Swan, a senior, visual arts. Brenda Olmos, a junior, received a special judges’ commendation, an all-around honor.

Representing Reynolds were Sarah Long, a senior, in the all-around category; Arianna Alibabaie, a senior, language arts; and Austin Danielson, a junior, mathematics.

Community Peace Labyrinth unveiled
There is a new park on the Parkrose High School campus at the corner of Northeast Shaver Street and 115th Avenue.

Open to community use, the main feature of this quiet corner is a labyrinth. Unlike a maze where it is possible to get lost, a labyrinth offers a flat, easy-to-follow walking path. Over the summer a sculpture will be added. For more information, contact Sharon Dewitt at sharon_dewitt@parkrose.k12.or.us or the Community Connections Program at 503-408-2645.

Cell phone collection continues
The Russellville Kiwanis Club will continue to collect old cell phones for a three-fold purpose. Phones no longer in use are recycled, keeping them out of landfills. These discarded phones are reprogrammed and given free to people in abusive situations so that they can call 911. And finally, the club receives a few dollars for each one and uses that money for service projects, including SnowCap Community Charities, the DayBreak Family Shelter, the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp for Disabled Individuals and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Please drop old cell phones at SnowCap, Southeast 178th Avenue and Pine Street; Russellville Park, Southeast 103rd Avenue and Burnside Street or call Charlie Ross at 503-252-1570 for pick-up.

Also, if you are interested in joining a group of men and women who volunteer time and raise funds for helping agencies in this area, drop in on the Kiwanis at Russellville Park any Wednesday at noon. They will buy your lunch on your first visit so you can get to know them.

PHS childcare program declared success
Tracie Brothers-Norris, director of a Safe Place for Children and Families, is pleased with the support from the Parkrose neighborhood for the new on-campus childcare program. The program opened almost four months ago.

“High school students who are parenting truly understand the importance of a high school diploma in planning for their families’ futures,” Brothers-Norris said. “Now that our early childhood development program is right here, it’s been so much easier for the students to attend classes at Parkrose.” The new program is a collaboration between PHS Community Connections and the International Fellowship Family Church.

Forensics team wins national awards
The Mt. Hood Community College Forensics team brought home more awards to add to its already successful wins this season. The team recently returned from Houston, Texas, where it attended the Phi Rho Pi National Community College Championships.

This event, the largest national forensics tournament in the country, went for seven days with 600 competitors representing 72 community colleges.

Students Ally Fields, Dave Coykendall, Jay Sabin, Jedidiah Parfitt, Andrew Hazell and Kristin Palmblad represented MHCC. The team of Palmblad and Hazell earned a silver medal in parliamentary debate. Extemporaneous and impromptu speaking were the second and third largest events at the tournament with over 100 competitors each. Hazell earned silver in extemporaneous debate and bronze in impromptu speaking.

MHCC has also been chosen to cohost the 2009 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament when it returns to Portland. This will be the second time in eight years MHCC will be cohosting the national tournament.
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