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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 December’s issue are due Friday, November 14. 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
Fresh local produce
Oregon Food Bank recovers fresh fruit and vegetables from farmers and wholesale produce companies. They then make the produce available to low-income people through a farmers market style distribution. Mid-County residents in need can pick up free produce every Tuesday at SnowCap, 17788 S.E. Pine St. from noon to 2 p.m.
Produce is also available the first Tuesday of each month at the East Portland Community Center (EPCC), 740 S.E. 106th Ave. beginning at 10:30 a.m. This distribution is first come, first served, but the folks at EPCC ask that you not arrive before 9:30 a.m. If you have questions, please call 503-988-6073. Remember to bring bags to carry home these fresh, local fruits and vegetables.
Fall wildlife adventures
The weather may be getting dreary this time of year, but it’s a great time to get outdoors to enjoy an abundance of colorful waterfowl, birds of prey and other wildlife. Metro is offering the following ways to have a fall wildlife adventure. The Metro Regional Center is located at 600 N.E. Grand Ave. The general information number is 503-797-1700. Their website is www.metro-region.org.
Waterfowl Class; 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 6
In autumn, half a million ducks, geese and swans fly over the region’s wetlands and thousands stay for the winter. Waterfowl are among the region’s most abundant and diverse groups of wintering birds. Join Metro naturalist and expert birder James Davis to find out who’s who in this large group of beautiful birds. Recommended field guide is Field Guide to Western Birds, 3rd. Ed. by Roger Tory Peterson. Meet in room 370 at Metro Regional Center. Registration and payment of $8 are required in advance; call (503) 797-1850 option 4.
Raptor and Waterfowl Field Trip; 10 a.m. to noon; Saturdays, November 8 and 22
As the leaves fall from the trees, the birds of prey arriving for the winter become easier to see. Increasing numbers of raptors start hanging out at Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. At the same time, the number of geese and ducks increases and it becomes possible to see more than a dozen different species of waterfowl on a good fall or winter day. Recommended field guide is Field Guide to Western Birds, 3rd. Ed. by Roger Tory Peterson. Meet Metro naturalist James Davis in the wildlife area parking lot on North Marine Drive. Bring water, snacks and binoculars if you have them. Metro will provide binoculars and spotting scopes, free. Advance registration is required; call 503-797-1850 option 4.
Winter Birds in Your Yard; 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 20
Winter brings different birds to our residential yards and parks, especially if you put out bird feeders. Find out who these winter visitors are, as well as your common year round residents with Metro naturalist James Davis. We will talk about the basics of bird-feeding that make it easy for you to attract a variety of birds to your yard. Appropriate for adults and older teens. Meet in room 370 at Metro Regional Center. Registration and payment of $8 are required in advance. Call 503-797-1850 option 4 to register.
Thanksgiving Walk at Oxbow; 10 a.m. to noon; Saturday, November 22
Take time out to appreciate and celebrate the simple gifts of nature at Oxbow Regional Park, 3010 S.E. Oxbow Parkway in Gresham, 503-663-4708, with Terry Kem, Deer Dance School instructor, and Elisabeth Neely, Metro naturalist. On an easy walk along the river, we’ll focus on opening our senses and noticing how wildlife responds to the changing season. Then gather around the campfire circle and enjoy the “Thanksgiving Address” passed down and shared by the Iroquois Nation. This is a simple and moving way of expressing appreciation for our connections to nature. Hot drinks will be provided. Meet at the boat ramp. Free with park entry fee of $4 per vehicle. Advance registration required; call 503-797-1850 option 4.
Visit Metro’s web site at www.metro-region.org/parks for addresses and directions.
African American Home Buying Fair focusing on closing gap
With the homeownership rate for African Americans in Portland lagging below the national average a local volunteer group is striving to make this year’s African American Homebuyer Fair an even bigger success.
Organizers with the African American Alliance for Homeownership (AAAH) hope those who take the first step by attending the fair will continue to make progress towards buying a home long after the fair. To aid in this effort AAAH this year created the Homebuyer Coaching Project that pairs volunteer homeowners with African American homebuyer hopefuls to provide peer mentoring and support. There are currently 24 prospective buyers and coaches participating in the project.
This year’s fair is scheduled for Saturday, November 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Legacy Emanuel Hospital Atrium, 501 N. Graham. Parking is free.
This is the fair’s fourth year. To date, more than 2,200 people have attended the fair to meet an array of home buying professionals; collect valuable information; network with other prospective buyers; and attend classes throughout the day on several homeownership-related topics.
“Now that I have my own home I’m so glad there are events for the community like the homebuyer fair,” said Brina Burris, who bought a home in Northeast Portland after making connections at the fair. “It was nice to have everything in one spot. It erased my doubt of being able to actually be a homeowner.”
As a new feature for the fair volunteer “concierges” will be stationed around the area to help participants navigate through the fair if necessary. A list of 20 Frequently Asked Questions and an orientation will be provided as well to the nearly 50 vendors expected at the event to help them be better prepared.
There will also be door prizes and incentive gifts for those who attend one of the workshops and children’s activities.
People can pre-register for the fair by visiting the AAAH website at www.aaah.org or calling 503-285-5555 ext. 558.
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