 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
MEMO BLOG | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
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 every day events that should be shared with friends and neighbors.
Memo Pad submissions for June issue are due Sunday, 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.
Gala event marks anniversary
 |
| Northwest Catholic Counseling Center Executive Director Erin Peters (second from left) celebrates the Compassionate Heart Award presentation with NCC founders (from left) Sisters Lisa Sheridan, Sarah Deeby and Barbara Kennedy at the center's 25th anniversary celebration. COURTESY ADAM BACHER |
Along with toasts, laughter and celebration, the evening raised nearly $50,000 to pay for the mental health care of low-income and uninsured members of our community. During the event, board members, past clients, friends and families all spoke of the extraordinary work done by NCC, which began in 1986 in borrowed space. Over 25 years, the center has grown into a state-certified counseling agency, employing a staff of 16. Forty percent of NCC clients have no health insurance and 97 percent receive some subsidization of fees. The center sees more than 1,000 clients a year, and offers not only counseling to clients ages six to 95, but psychiatric medication management, graduate training to four interns, pre-marriage counseling and workshops. NCC receives no government support and operates on a combination of fees, donations and grants.
Find more information on NCC and how to support mental health care at www.nwcounseling.org or call 503-253-0964.
PHS grad takes helm at Oregon Daily Emerald
 |
| Tyree Harris, a 2008 PHS grad, has been selected as student editor in chief of the University of Oregon's Oregon Daily Emerald. Harris, a journalism student at the U of O, served on the Bronco Blaze staff at Parkrose. COURTESY OREGON DAILY EMERALD |
Harris, a 2008 graduate of Parkrose High School, will lead a student staff of 40 at the University of Oregon's independent nonprofit news organization. He will start June 6 when he takes over for this year's editor in chief Nora Simon.
Harris, a junior majoring in journalism, is an award-winning columnist and currently serves as the Emerald's opinion editor. At Parkrose High, he served as opinion writer and commentary editor for the Bronco Blaze.
“We had strong candidates and Tyree emerged as the one we feel is best suited to lead innovation in the newsroom. That is the board's top priority,” said Melody Ward Leslie, chair of the board of directors.
The Oregon Daily Emerald is an independent nonprofit news organization that has served the University of Oregon community since 1900. It publishes five days a week during spring, fall and winter term and weekly during the summer.
PCS interim superintendent accepts permanent position
 |
| Annette Johnson is the new superintendent of Portland Christian Schools. She has served as director of development and as the interim superintendent. COURTESY PORTLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS |
In a letter to the Portland Christian School Society, Terri Flikkema, board chair, stated “the Board of Trustees has worked closely and scrupulously with Johnson, and we have concluded that she has been more than a place holder or a fill-in for this important position. We have been impressed and pleased with the energy and zeal with which she has approached the tasks at hand. She has laid the ground-work for several valuable new initiatives that the board views as necessary, regardless of who the next administrative leader turned out to be. Most importantly, Johnson has demonstrated a complete understanding of our school's mission and policies, as well as the skills and abilities necessary to fulfill them.”
ACE teacher will enhance programs with award
Jon Bardeschewski, construction teacher for the Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering, was recently selected as a recipient of the 2011 Miller Teaching Awards. He will enrich and expand his teaching skills this spring and summer through a series of profession development activities beginning with the statewide conference of Career and Technical Educators in Eugene this spring. This summer, he will follow-up by spending a week with curriculum and instructional experts. During that time, he will develop curriculum and instructional materials for use during the next school year. The materials he develops will be project-based lessons which integrate math, science and English into the career and technical fields of architecture, construction and engineering. Because ACE Academy grants credit based on demonstrated student performance scoring rubrics will be developed for all assignments and projects.
The Miller Teacher Award is sponsored by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, which offers professional development awards annually to Oregon high school teachers with less than five years of experience in the profession.
The ultimate goal is helping teachers pursue activities that will stimulate and nurture student achievement. The awards range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending upon the nature of the individual projects. Along with the individual teacher award, ACE Academy will receive an additional $1,000 to be directed to staff wide related training.
For more information on ACE Academy, including a photo gallery, please visit acecharterschool.org.
Honor Society claims international honors
It was almost like Oscar night for several Mt. Hood Community College students, complete with bright camera flashes, thank you speeches, tense moments, happy tears and more trophies than any one person could carry. The awards were the highlight of the Phi Theta Kappa international convention last month in Seattle.
Rho Theta, the college's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, was selected first runner up in the most distinguished chapter category. Other awards included distinguished chapter officer team, distinguished chapter adviser, distinguished college project, distinguished honors in action project and distinguished honors in action issue.
In addition, Angela Nguyen, a second year student in MHCC's nursing program, was named a recipient of a $1,000 Lanza scholarship.
Onjalai Flake, a Phi Theta Kappa international officer, will graduate from MHCC this June and study communications at George Fox University. She attributes the many accolades MHCC received for Rho Theta to “the endless efforts of our officers and the most driven, passionate and loyal members this organization has ever had.” She also lauded Beth Sammons for her dedication and motivation and said the awards “would not have been possible without her leadership as the chapter's faculty adviser.”
Other MHCC students attending the convention included Toyoka Akiyama-Becker, Brian Arrell, Vanessa Bishop, Rae Nichelle-Peres, Katie O'Donnell, Max Seiler and Jackie Vitron.
Flake said Rho Theta members have produced several meaningful projects this year, including a campaign to raise awareness about where clothing comes from and a look at “the social implications of our purchases so that consumers can make informed choices.”
Rho Theta members also focused on ways to increase the number of completions - or the number of students who achieve a degree or certificate - at MHCC.
Membership in Rho Theta is by invitation only for students who meet several requirements including a 3.5 or higher grade point average. Rho Theta added 280 members in 2010.
Loaves & Fishes centers adopts fresh produce policy
Loaves & Fishes centers have replaced prepackaged and frozen fruits and vegetables in its 34 dining rooms with all fresh produce. The change was prompted by requests from the diners as well as a change in how Meals-On-Wheels meals are prepared.
Traditionally, the hot portion of home-delivered meals was sent in bulk to neighborhood meal sites where it was portioned into Styrofoam trays. The organization has recently switched to a pre-plated meal system using a compostable tray made from corn. Meals are now prepared and packaged at the organization's central kitchen and delivered to meal sites ready for heating. The pre-plate system has freed up the kitchen coordinators at the meal sites to focus on preparing fresh rather than frozen product for diners coming in for lunch.
Fresh vegetables will be grilled, steamed or stir fried, depending on the menu of the day. Seasonal fruit will replace canned fruits in salads and desserts. In addition, entrée salads will be added as an option in all dining rooms. It is anticipated that 300 to 400 pounds of fresh produce will be used weekly.
The cost for fresh produce, rather than frozen or prepackaged, is about the same. “Our seniors have requested this change,” said Food Service Director Tom Maier. “Baby boomers, who are just now entering their 60s, are more accustomed to eating fresh produce rather than frozen or canned. We've been able to negotiate some great prices because our volume is so high. Our goal is to incorporate the fresh produce into the Meals-On-Wheels program as well by the end of the year.”
Ending hunger among older adults
Elders in Action has received a grant from The Safeway Foundation in support of its Encore Action Team projects to help end food insecurity among older adults in the Portland Metro area.
Elders in Action formed Encore Action Teams in response to the boomer generation's interest in wanting to do good works in the community. The objective was to create projects that have high impact and short-term commitments for busy volunteers. Helping to end hunger among older adults became the first priority for the Encore Action Teams. In Oregon, 22.1 percent of older adults living in low-income circumstances have income 130 percent below the poverty line. These residents are frequently faced with having to choose between having dinner or filling half of a medical prescription, or between groceries and paying for heat or utilities. Simply said, they are starving.
Elders in Action will partner with Hollywood Senior Center and Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services, to work on hunger relief projects such as tilling donated land, growing fresh food, stocking local senior food pantry sites, serving food at a Loaves & Fishes meal site, gleaning at local farmer markets, helping to increase awareness of the Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Program and others.
To learn more about Elders in Action and Encore Action Team projects, contact Mark Noonan at 503-235-5474 or mark@eldersinaction.org, or visit the Elders in Action Web site at eldersinaction.org.
SnowCap receives Fred Meyer grant
SnowCap Community Charities has received a $3616.95 grant from the Fred Meyer Fund. The funds were collected over a three-month period in coin boxes at checkout counters at the Gresham and Wood Village Fred Meyer stores.
SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley said the funds will be used to continue vital programs, including operation of a food pantry, food box delivery to seniors and shut-ins, the children's clothes closet, showers for homeless, energy assistance, advocacy and other basic human services.
SnowCap Community Charities is a philanthropic organization founded more than 40 years ago to provide assistance to low-income families and individuals in much of east Multnomah County, including Parkrose, Gresham, Wood Village, Troutdale and Fairview.
ACE Academy gets grant
The Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering recently received a $2,500 grant from Mentor Graphics Foundation. ACE Academy serves students in seven east Multnomah county high schools giving them skills and training for opportunities in the design build industry when they graduate from the program. This grant will help maintain industry trained teachers on staff. Specifically, this grant will be used to support a graduate civil engineer who will bring the real and practical realities of the work of engineering to the students of ACE Academy.
One of Mentor Graphic Foundation's areas of support is kindergarten through college education. Particular attention is paid to K-12 schools that have a need for additional funding for science, math and engineering programs. The foundation also supports programs that enable students in the community to participate in scientific projects and engage in intellectual dialogue regarding current scientific theories. ACE's use of Project Lead the Way and its commitment to having a graduate engineer as a teaching staff member are among the ways it makes science, math and engineering compelling for students in our public schools.
For more information on ACE Academy, including a photo gallery, please visit acecharterschool.org.
 |
 |
 |
 |
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home