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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 June issue are due by Saturday, May 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.
SnowCap loses longtime volunteer
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| Virginia Younger, who helped found SnowCap Community Charities, died recently at age 95. COURTESY SNOWCAP COMMUNITY CHARITIES |
Born and raised in Wisconsin, she moved to Oregon after graduating from high school. After her marriage to Don Younger she became active in the east Portland community. She volunteered for parent teacher organizations, election boards, educational groups, many other civic agencies as well as her church.
One of her favorite volunteer activities was SnowCap Community Charities, which she helped found in the 1960s. She ran the day-to-day operation of the fledgling nonprofit, assisting with food and clothing distribution and other services to individuals and families.
Over the span of her association with SnowCap, she was named Volunteer-of-the-Year on three occasions.
SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley called Younger's contribution unstinting. “She devoted earnest efforts to interviewing clients, packing food boxes, receiving donations and distributing clothing,” Alley said. “She was outgoing, organized and cared deeply about the working poor. Her commitment to making the world a better place was single-minded, serious and sincere. In a world that often ignores the needs of the poor, Virginia was always paying attention,” Alley added.
Younger is survived by a son, Don A. Younger; daughters Gail Younger and Sue Winterich, son-in-law Joe Winterich, and grandchildren Jamie and Scott.
Services have been held. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to SnowCap, Adventist Hospice or House Call Providers.
Sacramento on the right track
The Oregon Department of Education and the Nutrition Education Services of the Oregon Dairy Council has recognized Parkrose Sacramento Elementary School with an Oregon School Wellness Award. A $2500 cash price, a certificate of recognition and a banner were presented at an assembly at the school on Wednesday, April 28.
This award is presented to schools that demonstrate they are working to prepare students to make life-long healthy food and physical activity choices.
Bronco choir advances to state
The Parkrose High School A-Choir qualified for state at the Northwest Oregon Conference competition held at Wilsonville High School on Thursday, April 15. The choir will compete on Friday, May 7 at George Fox University. The 70 member choir sang four pieces including the Beethoven Hallelujah from the “Mount of Olives.”
Free home repairs for senior and disabled homeowners
Do you need help with home repairs? If you are a senior or disabled homeowner, don't miss this opportunity to receive free home repairs from REACH Community Development, a nonprofit organization. They can help with clogged gutters, roof patches, leaking faucets, rotting steps, minor electrical repairs, improving accessibility in and around your home and more. To qualify, applicants should be over the age of 55 or have a permanent disability, own and occupy their home in Portland and earn less than 50% of Portland's median income.
Apply today to receive free home repairs. Contact Barrett Ebright Karnes, community builders program coordinator, at 503-208-8152 or visit reachcdc.org.
All-around student-athlete named Gateway Elks Teenager of Month
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| The Clement family celebrates son Nathan's selection as Gateway Elks April Teenager of the Month. From left: Dad, Todd; Nathan; mom, Terri; brother, Jeremy. COURTESY RALPH HARTMANN |
Clement carries a 4.26 GPA while leading the schools' Mock Trial team, Science Bowl team and state championship water polo team. He is a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Scholarship finalist and, along with his swim team teammats, holds the school record in the 200-meter medley relay. He also plays in the PHS jazz band and is active in his church. He fills his free time with reading, movies and playing Frisbee.
Nathan is the son of Todd and Terri Clement. He has been accepted to Stanford University, but is also hoping to hear from Brown and Harvard. He plans to study political science or international relations with on eye on law school after he completes his undergraduate studies.
A Gateway Elks Lodge Teenager of the Month is selected each month during the school year and is open to qualified junior or senior students from Parkrose, David Douglas, Madison, Portland Christian and Marshall high schools or Portland Adventist Academy. For more information about this program or the Elks in general, please contact the Gateway Elks Lodge at 503-255-6535 or visit gatewayelks.com.
Free program for children with asthma
A new Multnomah County program will offer physicians a glimpse of their patients' home environments so they can better tailor medical plans to meet the unique needs of their pediatric asthma patients. The program's goal is to reduce sick days and risk of death, and improve the quality of life for children living with asthma.
The Multnomah County Asthma Inspection Referral Program is a Web-based referral system allowing doctors, nurses or other health care professionals to refer their pediatric patients with asthma for a free home inspection, conducted by an environmental health specialist. All children living in Multnomah County under the age of 18 with an asthma diagnosis are eligible for this free program. Families will be eligible for this program regardless of income level. Families of children with asthma are encouraged to seek a referral through their health care provider.
The Multnomah County environmental home inspector is trained to identify environmental asthma triggers in the home including mold and chronic dampness, leaks, pest infestations, drafty doors and windows, no heat, poor ventilation and damaged carpeting. After the inspection is complete, referring providers and families will receive an inspection report and recommendations to improve indoor air quality. This can be used to individualize the child's asthma treatment plan. AIR inspectors also work with the families and with permission of the family, with landlords to eliminate poor housing conditions by linking them to community resources.
The AIR program is the newest of four Multnomah County prevention/intervention programs addressing substandard housing conditions and the links to health problems including asthma. These programs include the Healthy Homes Program, the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, and the Rental Housing Inspection and Complaints Program.
For more information call Multnomah County's Healthy Homes Hotline at 503-988-4AIR, and choose the housing inspections option, e-mail air@co.multnomah.or.us or visit multco.us/AIR.
Gift trees for moms
Honor your mother and the Earth by giving Friends of Trees Gift Trees for Mother's Day. For a donation of $35, Friends of Trees will plant a young native tree in honor of your mother and send a gift acknowledgment card in her name.
Gift Trees are planted in the Collins Sanctuary adjacent to Forest Park during one of two annual Gift Tree plantings. All who give or receive Gift Trees for Mother's Day this year will be invited to the next Gift Tree planting in the fall. A Gift Tree costs $35, and a Gift Grove of six young native trees costs $100.
In addition to slowing climate change and reducing air and water pollution, Gift Trees restore the Collins Sanctuary, a legacy from the Collins Family Foundation to Portland area residents. First given to the Oregon Parks Foundation, the land was purchased by Metro in 2008. Now, through Friends of Trees' partnership with Metro and the Audubon Society of Portland, the sanctuary is being restored.
Friends of Trees' Gift Trees program is part of its Green Space Initiative, a program that guides volunteers in restoring green spaces throughout the Portland-Vancouver metro area. Friends of Trees' Neighborhood Trees program offers high-quality street and yard trees at bargain prices and helps neighbors plant their trees together at weekend community events.
Since 1989, Friends of Trees' thousands of volunteers have planted more than 390,000 trees and native plants. To learn more or to order Gift Trees, visit FriendsofTrees.org/GiftTrees or call Melissa at 503-282-8846 ext. 23.
Gale collection added to state library
The Oregon Poetry Collection at the Oregon State Library has recently been enhanced by the acquisition of 159 titles from the estate of the late Vi Gale, well-known Parkrose poet and publisher, and from the inventory of Great Northwest Books, a Portland independent bookstore that closed last year. This substantial acquisition was made possible by a grant from The Kinsman Foundation.
Among the newly acquired books are first editions of poetry collections by C. E. S. Wood, H. L. Davis, Mary Barnard, and other famous Oregon poets. Many of the books from Vi Gale's estate are signed and inscribed with personal messages.
The Parkrose Educational Foundation has also been a beneficiary of the generosity of the Gale estate. (See “Gales blow away foundation with donation,” Mid-county Memo, November 2008.)
ACE Academy receives $10,000 grant
The PGE Foundation, in demonstration of its continual commitment to the community and education, has provided the Oregon Building Congress Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering - or ACE Academy - with a $10,000 grant in support of the high school's innovative educational model.
Upon receipt of the grant application, Portland General Electric and PGE Foundation leaders investigated the grant request in person. A team from PGE visited ACE Academy to witness firsthand how funds would impact students. They walked away with a deep appreciation for the powerful learning that takes place at ACE.
ACE's unique model integrates students' learning through a technically sophisticated, project- and proficiency based environment. To be effective, this model requires additional funding to provide an engaging, industry relevant educational experience. The ACE/PGE Foundation partnership affords students the resources they need to succeed in the workplace and in higher education.
ACE Academy serves as a gateway for students to launch their career explorations in the design build industry. Graduates have an accurate and meaningful understanding of all three career paths: architecture, construction and engineering. ACE graduates are better prepared, both academically and technically, for post secondary training opportunities in a broad range of construction related fields than any other group of students in the region. ACE graduates have the skills they need to be highly successful in jobs that offer family wage salaries, impressive benefits and exciting opportunities. In this way, ACE is a contributor in the state's efforts for positive economic change.
Gateway Elks quilting for the community
The Gateway Elks have been producing and donating quilts and lap blankets for several years. During the fiscal year 2009-2010 they made and donated 38 lap blankets to the Portland Veterans Administration Hospital, 60 quilts to Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp, 146 blankets to the Elks Children's Eye Clinic, 55 to the Portland Shriners' Hospital, 56 to the Care Center East, 35 to the Gateway Care Center and 35 to the Oregon Special Troops Battalion 41st Infantry Combat Team.
This single year total was made possible by Quilt Committee Chair Diane Mills, Gateway Past Exalted Rulers Association and donations from the Gateway Elkettes, Gateway Widows and Lodge members.
The committee's goal is to distribute 2,411 quilts by the end of this year. Contributions of materials appropriate for quilt making will be gratefully accepted at Gateway Elks Lodge #2411, 711 N.E 100th Ave.
Oregon's first BottleDrop will open in July
For the first time since passage of Oregon's famous Bottle Bill law in 1971, consumers will soon have the opportunity to return bottles and cans to a recycling center instead of a grocery store. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has unanimously approved the first redemption center for redeemable bottles and cans. It will be located in Wood Village and is set to open in July. The center will be operated by Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative which is owned by local and national distributors.
“We're thrilled to get this first BottleDrop approved and ready to open,” said John Andersen, OBRC president. “Our goal is to make it easier for consumers to return cans and bottles while also strengthening Oregon's Bottle Bill.”
The new BottleDrop is designed to simplify the bottle deposit system for Oregonians. For starters, the new facility will feature the EZ Drop system, which allows consumers to drop off their redeemable bottles and cans in a labeled bag. The redeemables will be counted and consumers will receive the credit amount on a plastic card, similar to a gift card. The card can be exchanged for cash at nearby participating grocery stores or the BottleDrop center.
The centers will also have employees ready to hand count small amounts of bottles and cans and immediately return deposit money to consumers.
In addition, the centers will have new reverse vending machines for consumers to use. The machines will be faster and more user-friendly than the machines in use today.
OBRC will be partnering with Fred Meyer, Safeway and Walmart to inform their customers about the new facility and conveniences it will offer. Once the redemption center is officially open, the participating stores in the Wood Village area will no longer take redeemable containers.
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