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A Mid-County school where starting over and second chances are the norm
Crime prevention program change irks neighborhoods
Gateway Program Advisory Committee votes for lower building heights on 102nd Avenue
Portland Neighborhood Crime Prevention Program: a turbulent history
Kickin’ around Parkrose
Rossi Family shares with neighbors at Harvest Festival

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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.

To insure publication in the Memo Pad, please send submissions for each month by the 15th of the previous month. Memo Pad submissions for the November issue are due by Wednesday, October 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.

Adults - register for fall classes
David Douglas SUN/Community School, located at Alice Ott Middle School will be offering adult evening classes this fall. Portland Parks and Recreation and the David Douglas School District sponsor these classes. These classes are open to everyone. Try something new this fall. Select from the following offerings. (No classes, Nov 11, Veterans Day)

• Yoga for beginning and continuing students- Tuesdays, 6:00-7:15 p.m., October 14-December 9, $38 fee.

• Meditation-Guided Techniques- learn breathing styles, 7:30-8:30p.m. October 21-November 18, $20 fee.

• Spanish - Conversational for beginning adults- Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm, October 14- December 9, $40 fee.

• Stamping-making cards and more- Thursdays, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. October 13-November 4, no class October 21, $12 fee.

• Swing and Latin Dance- Learn swing and Latin dances- salsa, mambo, cha-cha... Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m., October 14-December 9, $32 fee.

• Guitar lessons- private 30 minute lessons. 4 weeks, call for times, Tuesdays, $52 fee.

• Piano lessons- private 30 minute lessons. 4 weeks, call for times, Tuesdays, $56 fee.

Alice Ott Middle School is located at 12500 S.E. Ramona St. For more information or to register for classes, please call David Douglas SUN/Community School at 503- 823-2279.

Teen of the month
The Gateway Elks Lodge has named Carolyn Ham October teenager for the month.

Intelligent, compassionate and energetic are adjectives to describe this teenager, a senior at David Douglas High School.

Carolyn’s special interest is the theater, and she is actively involved in the theater production and vocal music departments of the high school. She also takes the most challenging academic courses of study. Working within that schedule, she has maintained an overall GPA of 3.97.

As evidence that the theater and drama are of importance to Carolyn, she is involved in lead and supporting roes at the David Douglas Theater, the Mt. Hood Repertory Theater, the Gresham Little Theater and the Lakewood Theater. She also worked with the northwest Children’s Theater.

Carolyn has shared her interest with others and served as assistant teacher for the Portland Parks & Recreation Drama Program. She was drama director for the Sidewalk Sunday School Program.

Interest in drama and the arts has been complemented by Carolyn’s membership in the following school organizations: Poetry Club, the Dance Club, the Spanish Club, the Concert Choir and the French Club.

Academically, Carolyn has demonstrated excellence, and she is a member of the Junior Honor Society, and the National Honor Society. She was a candidate for the Academic All Stars.

One of the counselors from David Douglas High School has written, “Carolyn has learned to be very self disciplined, organized and responsible. Her achievements have earned the respect of her peers and the faculty.”

Carolyn’s hobbies reflect her interests and include singing, piano and viewing plays.

College plans are still developing for Carolyn, and she is considering majors in drama and teaching, Carolyn’s parents are Terrie and Vern Ham.

The Elks salute and honor this thespian scholar.

Fall nature activities
James Davis and Deb Scrivens. Reprinted from Metro GreenScene.

The true arrival of autumn is in October when the leaves of deciduous trees change color and many start dropping. The fall colors we see were there all along but were masked by the overwhelming amount of chlorophyll in the leaves. As winter approaches, much of the chlorophyll migrates into the trunk and roots of the tree (to be stored for winter) and the rest dies, revealing the other pigments in the leaves.

Migrating salmon can be viewed in the autumn in several local streams and rivers when the water is low and clear. Steelhead, Coho and fall Chinook all migrate back to their spawning grounds in the fall. Watching these huge active fish choose mates and defend their nesting area is one of the most exciting nature shows offered in the Northwest at this time of year.

Spawning grounds offer the best viewing opportunities, as the fish stay in one area, often in shallow water, for days at a time. Look for areas in the river, known as riffles, where the water is rapid with small, choppy waves. Look closer and watch for movement. Fall Chinook often develop patches of white fungus on injured areas, so a flash of white moving in the water may be your first clue that the fish are present. Salmon can see movement above water and sense vibrations, so be sure to move slowly and quietly if you want to get a good look.

The Northwest also is famous for the explosion of mushrooms that occurs in the fall. Ore region is blessed with some of the best edible mushrooms in the world and many Oregonians have taken the time and care to learn where to find and how to identify choice edibles. There are no general rules for knowing if a particular fungus is edible; you have to identify exactly what species it is to be safe. Metro and other organizations offer mushroom classes in the fall and the Oregon Mycological Society has programs, field trips and an annual mushroom show.

To learn more about fall nature opportunities check out the Metro website at www.metro-region.org. You can request a copy of Metro GreenScene from that site or by calling 503-797-1850.

On-site meal service satisfies more needs that hunger
Loaves & Fishes provides nutritious meals to seniors 60 years and older 365 days a year. Each meal supplies one third to one half of a senior adult’s daily nutrition requirements. Seniors of all income levels are invited to enjoy these tasty meals, which include a salad, entrée, starch, vegetable, bread, dessert and milk. Accommodation is made for special diet needs including diabetic, soft, low cholesterol and low sodium.

Hot noon meals are delivered by volunteers each weekday to homebound seniors who are 60 years old or older or spouse of a person 60 years old or older, homebound, at risk of malnutrition, unable to attend a Loaves & Fishes center, will need meals for at least one full week, willing and able to eat the meal, lives in our service area.

There is no waiting list. Loaves & Fishes can start delivering meals within 24 hours. No one who meets the above requirements will be refused service.

In addition to this Meals-on-Wheels program, Loaves & Fishes also serves a noon lunch to more active seniors at the Cherry Blossom Senior Services Office in the East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave. each weekday. The center also provides opportunities to enjoy entertainment and educational programming and to participate in activities such as exercising, ESL tutoring, painting classes, Bingo, and all-day excursions. Door-to-door transportation is available to and from the meal sites for seniors needing special assistance.

Participants are encouraged to contribute what they are able and willing to donate. The suggested donation is $2.25 per meal.

Recently, the Loaves & Fishes Cherry Blossom Center released the results of their annual nutrition survey. Of the seniors who responded to the survey, 88% rate the program as excellent or very good. Ninety percent describe the meals as attractive and tasty. The same percentage report they feel welcome when they visit the center. When asked what they most enjoy about the center, 61% said visiting with friends, 57% said the meals, 27% the wellness opportunities and 18% especially appreciate the recreational activities. At the Cherry Blossom Center 20% of respondents report there are days when the Loaves & Fishes meal is the only food they have to eat.

Bus arrivals available in palm of hand
Transit Tracker is now available for web-enabled cell phones and handheld devices. With either device, you can access Transit Tracker and get actual bus arrival times for any of TriMet’s 8,100 stops, anytime and anyplace.

A few simple steps brings you information on when your bus will arrive:

• Open your handheld device’s web browser and go to trimet.org/wap

• Punch in the number of the bus line you want

• Select the stop you are at and the direction you are heading, and

• Find out to the minute when the next bus is due at the stop.

“Transit Tracker is one of the ways TriMet is making it easier to ride transit,” said Fred Hansen, TriMet general manager. “When people know when the bus will actually arrive, it frees them up to run a quick errand or grab a cup of coffee.”

To learn how to set up your handheld device to access the wireless Transit Tracker, go to trimet.org.

Transit Tracker information is also available for all stops via desktop computer at trimet.org. Additionally, Transit Trackers are located at 17 busy bus stops and 12 MAX stations.

TriMet also made it easier to view schedules on handheld devices running PalmOS. Go to trimet.org and download and install the free Schedule Viewer to quickly find schedule times for buses, MAX and Portland Streetcar.

Harvest time in the garden
While we are enjoying the bounty of our backyard gardens, it can be difficult to think about getting ready for winter, but the Extension Service at Oregon State University has these recommendations for the month of October.

Clean and paint greenhouses and cold frames for plant storage and winter growth. Harvest sunflower heads; use seed for birdseed or roast for personal use. Dig and store potatoes; keep in darkness, moderate humidity, temperature about 40°F. Discard unused potatoes if they sprout. Do not use as seed potatoes for next year. Recycle disease-free plant material and kitchen vegetable scraps into compost. Harvest squash and pumpkins; keep in dry area at 55° to 60°F. Harvest and immediately dry filberts and walnuts; dry at 95° to 100°F. Ripen green tomatoes indoors. Check often and discard rotting fruit.

Harvest and store apples; keep at about 40°F, moderate humidity.

Place mulch over roots of roses, azaleas, and rhododendrons for winter protection. Place hanging pots of fuchsias where they won’t freeze. Don’t cut back until spring.

Check/treat houseplants for disease and insects before bringing indoors. Pot and store tulips and daffodils to force into early bloom in December and January. Begin manipulating light to force Christmas cactus to bloom in late December. Store garden supplies and fertilizers in a safe, dry place out of reach of children.

If weather permits, spade organic material and lime into garden soil. Cover asparagus and rhubarb beds with a mulch of manure or compost.

Propagate chrysanthemums, fuchsias, and geraniums by stem-cuttings. Remove windfall apples that might be harboring apple maggot or codling moth larvae. Monitor landscape plants for problems. Do not treat unless a problem is identified. Rake and destroy diseased leaves (apple, cherry, rose, etc.). Clean up annual flowerbeds; mulch with manure or compost. Dig and divide rhubarb. (Should be done about every 4 years.)

Treat for moss on roofs during dry periods. Dig and store geraniums, tuberous begonias, dahlias, and gladiolas. Control lawn weeds while they are small. Take care of soil drainage needs of lawns before rain begins. Place mulch around berries for winter protection. Save seeds from the vegetable and flower garden, dry and store. Plant ground covers and shrubs.

Clean and oil tools and equipment before storing for winter.

For more information, visit the Extension Service web site at eesc.oregonstate.edu.
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