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MEMO BLOG | |
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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 Saturday, Oct. 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.
Sacramento teacher creates fresh food pantry for local families
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| While picking up her grandson after school Kareny Phomauhanh, with granddaughter Lyla, picks up fresh vegetables from Sacramento Market for tonight's dinner. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim Curran |
Every Friday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. the market is set up in a breezeway outside his second grade classroom. Sacramento families are encouraged to bring an empty grocery bag to the school, 11400 N.E. Sacramento St., and fill it with free fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grain bread.
Sullivan said he decided to organize this market “because I believe our families should have access to nutritious food. Regardless of income, our kids will now get a week's worth of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grain bread each Friday. This is a necessary service as it is now cheaper to buy a double cheeseburger than a head of lettuce.”
The fresh produce is provided each week by Urban Gleaners, a non-profit dedicated to delivering nutritious food to schools at no cost. They collect from Whole Foods, Zupan's and local farmer's markets and farms. Dave's Killer Bread is adding 40 loaves of fresh bread each week. Both deliver to Sullivan's classroom each Friday.
Students will help set up the market each week and create posters and other advertising. Sullivan hopes all Sacramento families will feel welcome and come by with grocery bags to fill each and every week.
Parkrose School District Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray threw her support behind this project by adding, "I think that if there is any way we can help our families to make ends meet and get healthy food to our kids, we should do it. Chris Sullivan is a teacher with a heart of gold. He is always thinking of ways to help the students and families at Sacramento. Last year, he held a very successful food and clothing drive there. Chris is currently working with Schools Uniting Neighborhoods Coordinator Helen Vank at Shaver Elementary School, to bring about more ways to feed our families in need. Shaver has a highly successful food pantry each Wednesday for families to get healthy food. It's such a Parkrose thing to do!"
Sullivan is also one of the organizers of the inaugural Parkrose Community Thanksgiving dinner last year. He reports that plans are underway for another free feast with all the traditional components this Thanksgiving. Watch for updates in the next issue of the Memo.
Follow David Douglas on Facebook
More than 2,300 parents, community members, students and others are getting daily updates, news and fun events from throughout the David Douglas School District posted straight to their Facebook pages. Browse photo albums from district events, videos, even emergency updates just by signing in to your own Facebook page. This also allows you an easy way to send your feedback and comments to the district. Go to ddouglas.k12.or.us and click on Follow Us on Facebook.
New director selected for ACE Academy
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| Mike Bryant is the new executive director of east Portland's Academy of Architecture Construction and Engineering. COURTESY ACE ACADEMY |
Bryant has more than 10 years of teaching experience in career and technical education. He taught construction and business and computer applications at the high school level. At the college level, he spent several years working as a computer aided drafting instructor.
“Mike Bryant brings to the director position the perfect mix of dedication, unlimited enthusiasm and a love for teaching young people,” said Dale Campbell, ACE Academy board president. “His strong career and technical education background will allow him to hit the ground running.”
In addition to his work in education, Bryant has managed his own construction company and holds a general contractor license from the state of Oregon.
Bryant holds a bachelor's degree in vocational technology education from the University of Northern Arizona. He earned his master's in educational leadership from Lewis and Clark College. The Association of Technology Educators of Oregon named him “Teacher of the Year” in 2009.
ACE is a tuition-free charter high school sponsored by the Oregon Building Congress in partnership with Centennial, Gresham-Barlow, Parkrose and Reynolds School Districts. ACE opened in the fall of 2008. ACE is a shared-time program for 11th and 12th grade students. Its student body is composed of learners from the sponsoring school districts, neighboring high schools and home schools. ACE offers a math, science, English and technical skills curriculum in the design-build industry delivered in an integrated, hands-on setting.
Safety video contest opens to high school students
From realistic car wrecks to kitchen mishaps, students have used some creative moviemaking to promote young worker safety and health. High school students across Oregon are invited to enter the 2012 Save a Friend, Work Safe video contest. The top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500 and students will earn a matching amount for their school.
“This contest allowed me to help spread a message that directly applies to my peers,” said Piers Dennis, the 2011 first-place winner from Lake Oswego. “I had a lot of fun making the video and feel like I am making a difference by drawing attention to workplace dangers.”
The contest is designed to increase awareness about safety on the job for young people. Students must create a 45-second public service announcement with the overall theme of Save a Friend. Work Safe. Specific video guidelines are outlined in the contest rules. Participants are encouraged to use humor, creativity, and share the message to speak up while emphasizing ways to protect themselves at work. Submissions will be judged on the following:
o A teen worker health and safety message based on the concept of speaking up as the main focus of the video.
o Creativity and originality.
o Overall production value, specifically video and audio quality.
o Youth appeal.
The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1, 2012. Contest winners will be unveiled at a screening event to be announced in the spring, and winning entries will be posted on YouTube. For detailed contest information, including contest tips, rules and entry forms, go to orosha.org/psacontest/. To see the 2011 winning videos, including Piers Dennis' PSA depicting an accident involving a pizza delivery driver, go to youtube.com/user/OregonSafetyHealth.
The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition, Oregon OSHA, SAIF Corporation, American Society of Safety Engineers, Liberty Northwest, the Greater Portland Construction Partnership, and the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology are sponsoring the contest.
Grant award accents garden party
The announcement of a $10,000 grant from the Grainger Foundation highlighted the annual end-of-summer garden party at SnowCap Community Charities.
The grant, presented by Lori Gilinsky, of the Illinois-based W.W. Grainger company, will be used to help continue SnowCap's Food-2-You program that delivers food boxes to seniors and shut-ins.
Gilinsky has a long history of volunteer service at SnowCap, beginning as an 8-year-old Bluebird helping in the SnowCap pantry operation filling food boxes. “We want this grant to serve as a thank you to SnowCap for the important service the organization provides in helping feed and clothe and care for less fortunate folks in our community,” she said.
More than 150 east Multnomah County residents turned out for the SnowCap backyard barbecue event that included a salsa competition. The contest, which drew a record number of spicy entries, was won by Colleen Kelley with an avocado-tomato-bacon mixture. She also won a second honor for her most creative fiesta salsa.
Other winners were Mariah Redwood (zesty salsa) and Kathy Barry (organic salsa). All winners are from the Rockwood area.
The event also marked the success of SnowCap's sixth annual community garden project, which was expanded this year to include 29 raised beds for growing vegetables and fruits and monthly gardening workshops to help participants learn about soil preparation, planting, weeding, watering and pruning.
“Our gardeners are still harvesting,” said SnowCap garden coordinator Kari James, “and already we are getting asked about next spring.”
122nd Ave. Green Streets construction update
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| Slated to begin last month, construction of eight stormwater collection points on Northeast 122nd Avenue between Fremont and Shaver Streets was delayed. According to Bureau of Environmental Services officials, the work begins this month. However, construction on the Northeast Shaver Street stormwater collection point has begun. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim Curran |
While the contractor waits for notice to proceed on the 122nd Avenue work, crews have begun work at the Northeast Shaver construction site. Crews began with demolition and removal of existing asphalt and curb in preparation for repaving work. New driveway aprons for adjacent properties and repaving work on Shaver were the next steps on the schedule.
As soon as work is completed at the Shaver site, crews will begin construction on 16 green street stormwater management facilities planned for Northeast Fremont between 157th and 158th avenues. The construction calendar noted this work could begin as early the first week of October.
Residents and those who travel through these areas should know that typical work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The contractor may choose to work the same hours on Saturdays. Equipment and materials will be stored on the street after hours. Barricades will protect the work site. Work crews may remove and replace some asphalt next to the green street to ensure street drainage enters the facility.
Facility construction includes forming and pouring concrete curb extensions; excavating the facility; lining (if applicable); placing soil; installing check dams; and installing plants during the planting season. Crews work on several facilities at a time and there may be periods of inactivity between construction steps. A city construction inspector is on-site during work hours and should be able to assist you with construction concerns. Street parking is prohibited in work zones. Motorists, cyclist and pedestrians should exercise caution and good judgment when traveling through the construction zone.
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