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FEATURE ARTICLES
Merkley kicks off Senate campaign
Crime-free zone renewal abolished
Library volunteers help keep kids reading
Wilkes natural area dedicated
Crime expert consulted by Argay NA
Six-story tower to loom over homes
Russell institutions introduce themselves
Transportation office gets Mid-county moving

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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 November issue are due by Monday, Oct. 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.

High school junior selected Teenager of the Month
Kirsten Anne Maier, Gateway Elks Teenager of the Month, is shown with Youth Activities Chairman Mike Finch (left) and Exalted Ruler Jim Schuermyer.
Submitted Photo
The Gateway Elks Lodge Youth Activities Committee has selected Kirsten Anne Maier as September’s teenager of the month. The daughter of Donn and Karin Maier, Kirsten is a junior at Portland Lutheran School with a 4.0 grade point average. Teenager of the Month honors most often go to seniors, but Maier has a very impressive record.

In addition to academic excellence, Maier is heavily involved in school sports, student leadership and church activities. As a sophomore, she earned multiple varsity letters for cross-country, track and field, and basketball. She was the sophomore representative to the Creator Lutheran Church Leadership Team and a Portland Lutheran School Ambassador, assisting with open houses and student recruiting. She is currently the treasurer of the Oregon Lutheran Youth Organization.

With her limited free time, Maier enjoys reading, running, beading, knitting and other crafts. Maier and her parents were guests of Gateway Lodge for dinner and an award presentation on Sept. 13. She received a plaque, a certificate from the Grand Lodge and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.

Taylor lands honor
The Oregon Building Congress recognized Mike Taylor, the recently retired superintendent of Parkrose School District, and Terry Kneisler, superintendent of the Reynolds School District, as Educators of the Year. Taylor and Kneisler were instrumental in the establishment of the Academy of Architecture, Construction & Engineering, a new charter high school that will combine academic and professional technical education.

OBC Executive Director Dick O’Connor stated, “These recipients have been active participants in our outreach programs, and as a result of their commitment, energy and expertise, have pushed these programs to new levels. These people have transformed kids’ attitudes towards school and teachers’ perceptions of careers in construction.”

OBC partners with teachers, businesses, public agencies and skills training centers to deliver hands-on, innovative outreach programs, including the ACE Academy, construction academies and teacher workshops.

Community small grants available
The city of Portland, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and seven neighborhood district coalitions announce the second year of the Neighborhood Small Grants Program with $206,600 available to neighborhood and community-based organizations. The grants program’s goal is to provide neighborhood and community-based organizations with an opportunity to expand their community-building capacity, to attract new and diverse membership and to sustain those already involved. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Proposals are due no later than 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 1. More information can be found at www.portlandonline.com/oni.

Anniversary project calls on supporters
Forty years of assisting low-income and disadvantaged families and individuals has taught the folks at SnowCap Community Charities a thing or two about hunger in east Multnomah County.

SnowCap is celebrating 40 years of service and examining methods to improve services to needy clients.

“The 40-4-40 project was conceived to convince SnowCap supporters to donate 40 of something — 40 dollars, 40 hours of volunteering, 40 cans of food, 40 of anything that can be passed along to folks in need,” Executive Director Judy Alley said.

Included in the project is a series of focus groups that SnowCap will use to examine unmet needs in the community. These groups included pastors, donors, elected leaders, business owners, volunteers, clients and other social service providers. Highlights of these sessions will be presented at SnowCap’s 40th anniversary celebration Sunday, Oct. 7 at the Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1740 S.E. 139th Ave. from 3 to 5 p.m.

“After 40 years of service, we wanted to take a look at where we came from, what we’ve done and where we go from here,” Alley said. “In the beginning we used to give away more cheese and peanut butter,” she continued. “Now we strive to provide more fresh and frozen foods.”

Where once food boxes were distributed largely to migrant workers, “We are now serving working families and seniors living on minimum wages and social security benefits that don’t stretch far,” Alley said.

SnowCap has served more than 1.4 million people since it passed out its first food box in October 1967.

SnowCap’s good works can also be seen in the acceptance of the community. “We used to have 100 volunteers, mostly retired persons or homemakers looking to assist,” Alley said. “Today we have more than 600 volunteers, almost one-third of them employed at normal [full-time] jobs,” she said.

With increased demand, SnowCap can still find useful work for additional pantry volunteers and lobby hosts.

“Lobby hosts welcome newcomer clients, help them with necessary paperwork and provide simple refreshments,” Alley said. “Pantry volunteers pack perishables into food boxes and hand them out.”

Contact SnowCap at 503-674-8785 to learn how you can help.

Search for new president begins
The Mt. Hood Community College Board of Education has taken the first steps toward replacing former President Robert Silverman.

Silverman left the college in June of this year to take on the presidency at Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif. The board appointed Gary Murph, former MHCC chief operating officer, to serve as interim president following Silverman’s departure.

The board has now chosen the Association of Community Colleges Trustees as the search consulting firm that will assist in finding a new college president.

ACCT has specialized in providing executive search assistance to governing boards of community colleges across the country for over 23 years. Its long and distinguished history includes providing executive search assistance to more than 250 community colleges.

The board has also approved the formation of a presidential search committee, which will be composed of 16 members that will include MHCC staff, faculty, community members and board members.

Livability team members sought
The East Portland Action Plan, an effort cosponsored by the city of Portland and Multnomah County designed to look strategically at near term opportunities to improve livability, as well as long-term strategies to address issues in East Portland, is initiating this fall. The East Portland Action Plan Committee is currently seeking community members interested in serving.

Mayor Tom Potter, State Representative Jeff Merkley, and Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler are convening the East Portland Action Plan Committee to provide guidance for the effort. The committee will include a mix of elected officials, agency representatives and community members working together on problem-solving and improvement strategies in East Portland.

The committee is expected to meet monthly now through about May 2008, with subcommittees that may meet more frequently. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please complete and return a brief committee application by Oct. 12. Applications are available on the city of Portland Bureau of Planning Web site, www.portlandonline.com/planning, and from the East Portland Neighborhood Office located at 1017 N.E. 117th Ave. Several community positions will be available on the committee. Residents, business people and representatives of community organizations are all encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions about this effort or the committee or process, please contact Barry Manning of the Portland Planning Bureau at 503-823-7965.

Neighborhood receives donation to fight big box proposal
The Save Madison South Coalition, a nonprofit organization created to fight the proposed development of a big box store across from Madison High School on Northeast 82nd Avenue, announced that the Roseway Neighborhood Association has donated $4,000 to its operating expenses. Save Madison South leaders hailed this as a statement by neighbors across a large part of Northeast Portland that a big box would damage neighborhood safety, livability and businesses and that they are committed to opposing this effort.

The check, presented by the Roseway Neighborhood Association, represents the largest single donation to date, and board members of Save Madison South expect it to enhance the fight against SmartCentres, a Canadian developer attempting to construct a big box retailer on a 26-acre parcel of land directly across from one of the high schools and a newly opened skate park at Glenhaven Park.

“These grassroots efforts take a lot of volunteer hours and a lot of money,” said Tyler Whitmire, Roseway president. “It is difficult to fight bottomless pockets, but with a unified grassroots effort, the people of Portland can help direct responsible neighborhood development.”

The Roseway Neighborhood Association’s Save Roseway campaign raised the sizable donation by collecting small donations and selling yard signs, T-shirts and buttons. The association saw joining forces with Save Madison South officially as a strong indication of the partnership between both neighborhoods to fight the proposed development.

Both community organizations believe that residents and business owners within five miles of the proposed development, including the neighborhoods of Roseway and Madison South, will be directly affected in a negative way. They believe a big box concept at this location would increase accidents, traffic and economic pressure on small businesses in the area.

For more information about the proposed development or to support Save Madison South, call 503-539-3954 or visit www.SaveMadisonSouth.org.

Educational foundations integral to district success
Members of our local school districts — from administrators to teachers to parents — are on the lookout for ways to fund activities, programs and events not covered by district budgets. This is where nonprofit educational foundations come in.

The foundations in the David Douglas and Parkrose districts can use your help. In addition to being supportive of fundraising efforts, these groups need your time. They’re looking for folks willing to serve on the boards of these foundations and volunteers who can devote time to committees.

To show your support of the Parkrose Educational Foundation, call 503-408-2108 or e-mail board President John DiPasquale at johnd@parkroseedfdn.org. PEF is currently in need of auction committee members and alumni committee members.

The David Douglas Educational Foundation holds monthly meetings at the district office, 1500 S.E. 130th Ave. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Beverly Fischer at 503-255-1149.

Band returns to pair of elementary schools
Shaver and Sacramento elementaries in the Parkrose School District will be adding band as an extracurricular activity for fifth graders this school year. It is anticipated that about 15 students from each school will participate.

Shaver is the recipient of a $5,000 grant from DP Partners, an industrial development company out of Reno, Nev., with a warehouse distribution center under construction at Northeast Portal Way and 185th Avenue.

According to Shaver Principal Cindy Bartman, the funds will be used to acquire band instruments for her students.

Sacramento Elementary is seeking donations to assist with the purchase or rental of instruments. If you would like to help Sacramento provide instruments for this program, contact Principal Stevie Blakely at 503-408-2800.

Kristin Symer, the music teacher at Shaver, will teach this beginning instrumental music program at both schools. Practices will be either before or after school. If all goes well, there will be concerts in the spring.
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