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Local businesses are the lifeblood of our community. The Mid-county Memo offers this section to our business neighbors for news, advancements, promotions, expansions and other noteworthy events to be shared with the community at large. Business Memo submissions for the May issue are due by Wednesday, April 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.
Parkrose Farmers’ Market opens May 2
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| The Parkrose Farmers’ Market first opened last year; this year’s anniversary will be celebrated on opening day, Saturday, May 2 in the west parking lot of the Parkrose High School Community Center. |
| Submitted Photo |
The market will be located again in the west parking lot of the Parkrose High School Community Center, on the northwest corner of Northeast 122nd Avenue and Shaver Street. The Parkrose Saturday market is an area gathering spot for artisans, community groups, prepared food vendors, music and local produce. It opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m. every Saturday through October.
Parkrose School District Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray is planning an official opening day ribbon-cutting at 9:55 a.m. Acting as opening day masters of ceremony will be the roller derby team Rose City Rollers. If it’s not raining, look for them skating throughout the market and visiting with shoppers.
“The Parkrose Farmers’ Market is a not-for-profit organization that was formed to build a stronger, greener community while offering a place for the community to buy fresh, local, seasonal fruits and veggies,” spokeswoman MaryLu Baetkey said.
This year there will be more local artisans and farmers offering a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as art. In addition, the market’s baking contest is scheduled for Aug. 1.
But that’s not all. “This year the market is planning to have the Oregon Lions Mobile Health Screening Program one Saturday (each) in June, July and August,” Baetkey said.
This year they will also feature new vendors serving seafood and pies; fresh salmon will be offered starting in August.
And thanks to a grant, for the first time the market will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Oregon Trail cards, or SNAP. In Oregon, food stamps are distributed through the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer system, allowing recipients to obtain their benefits by using an Oregon Trail Card at grocery stores, this is a great upgrade for the market. During the last Saturday each month the market is open, the Portland Police Bureau’s Sunshine Division will be on-site doing a canned food and nonperishable food drive.
Musical entertainment is also scheduled at the market. On opening day, the musical group Sound Semantics will perform from 10 to 11 a.m.; Gentle Rain will perform from 11 a.m. to noon; Daily will take the stage from noon to 1 p.m.; and Broken Glory will perform from 1 to 2 p.m.
For more information on becoming a vendor, go to www.parkrosefarmersmarket.org or call Parkrose Farmers’ Market President Steve Voorhees at 503-890-7152.
Good World offers good food
There’s a new place for lunch and dinner in the Parkrose area.
Good World Chinese Restaurant & Lounge, 10721 N.E. Sandy Blvd. opened earlier this year. Husband and wife owners Kevin and Wan Su have created a restaurant that is friendly and inviting. The Chinese food they offer is low in fat and high in fiber, which they say is excellent for the diet. While the Memo is not in the habit of reviewing restaurants, our readers should know that we did sample the Good World menu recently. We called in an order and were told it would be ready in about 10 minutes. We did wait about five minutes upon our arrival, but our order was hot and securely packaged and the staff was friendly. Vegetables were cooked to tender, crisp perfection and the Chow Mein had a nice smoky flavor. Our order of Kung Pao shrimp lacked the red peppers we expected, as the dish is marked spicy on the menu. We will make sure to request that the dish have some heat the next time we order.
Good World serves both Cantonese- and Szechwan-style Chinese food, along with what is more traditionally called Chinese-American food. The chef expertly prepares each dish; there are literally dozens of different choices.
In fact, Kevin and Wan Su offer a number of new creative dishes that you can’t find in other restaurants. Included are Barbecue Pork Puffs; Lobster Puffs; Beef Egg Soup, which looks and tastes like Shark Fin Soup, which it isn’t; Curry Rice Noodles Singapore Style, featuring barbecue pork, shrimp and vegetables with thin rice noodles and a secret Singapore taste; Szechwan Fish; and Sizzling Beef Short Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce.
The restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. The fare is offered either for dining in or for taking out. Lunch specials are offered Monday through Friday. For more information, call 503-252-3283.
OCOM adds publications coordinator, announces new director of financial aid
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine has hired Randall Payton as publications coordinator.
Payton will manage the college’s print production schedule, develop content for its various communication tools and create visually compelling marketing materials for both the college and on-campus clinic.
The newly created position will also support OCOM’s commitment to streamlining its paper publications and developing more efficient and sustainable methods of communication.
Payton brings an engaging strategic communications approach to his work as a copywriter, editor, graphic designer and project manager. His recent tenure at Metropolitan Group was preceded by agency work with Fox Creative Group and KVO Advertising, as well as art direction duties with Portland Living magazine and Willamette Week.
“I am truly excited,” Payton said, “to apply my skills to OCOM’s mission and to the larger transformation of our health care system.”
In addition, OCOM has appointed Judy Gjesdal as director of financial aid. The current director, Linda Powell, is retiring after 13 years with the organization.
Gjesdal began her career in financial aid in 1992, holding several different positions at educational institutions, each with increasing responsibilities. Her most recent position at Western States Chiropractic College provided her the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience and work with students in the natural medicine field.
“Providing excellent service to students has always been my primary focus,” Gjesdal said. “I enjoy supporting students as they pursue their goal of working in this progressive field.”
She has been a member of the Oregon Association of Financial Aid Administrators since 1996, and has been active in the group’s service trainings and member activities.
Gjesdal lives in Gresham with her husband and two daughters.
Guidelines revised to stimulate small business expansion
The Portland Development Commission voted last month to support a comprehensive update to its business loan and grant programs to benefit local businesses. The changes are designed to help create jobs and stimulate investment by putting more funds into the hands of businesses so they can invest in themselves and their properties.
“These updates to our assistance guidelines are the first step in PDC’s overall recession response, which works to get more money out our doors and into our city,” said Erin Flynn, PDC urban development director.
The revised program guidelines will improve PDC’s ability to assist and support local businesses that have become cash-constrained due to the economic downturn. Changes include increases in maximum loan amounts, reduction of interest rates and waived fees for some programs. Requirements have been eased for such issues as an applicant’s percentage of property occupancy and percentage of business-to-business transactions.
The most important change to the popular Storefront Improvement Program makes money available citywide on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, storefront grants in targeted geographic areas will now match 75 percent of the cost of eligible work up to $20,000, up from the previous 50 percent match.
“Our underwriting guidelines have not changed,” PDC Chairman Charles Wilhoite said. “We continue to be prudent with public resources as we explore every opportunity to be of greater service to Portland citizens.”
To learn more contact Amy Fleck-Rosete, Storefront Improvement Program, at 503-823-9036 or Neal Fitzgerald, Business Finance, at 503-823-3321.
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