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Fritz comes through with two new east Portland parks for you

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Parkrose closer to outsourcing student transportation



Man who inspired homeowner bill dies

How do Mid-county restaurants rate?

Oregon Lottery in Mid-county

Parkrose February Athletic Schedule



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To serve the community fully, the Mid-county Memo offers this section to showcase 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 along with opportunities to participate in the community. When you send submissions, please include all details that apply: full names of any individuals mentioned, details of the milestone and everyone impacted by the event, and a contact name and phone number or email address. Send a photo if you have one. Please identify each individual from left to right (large group shots can simply be identified by the group name) and provide the name of the photographer so we can give proper credit. Memo Pad submissions for the March issue are due Friday, Feb. 14. 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 Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.

Homecoming celebration includes reception
Columbia Christian homecoming court (from left) Lydia Heiner, Megan Barbarick, Queen Sierra McKinney, Emily Barbarick and Amber Jones-all seniors-were aided by first graders Berlynn Carlson, the flower girl and Colby Getting, the crown bearer.
COURTESY ROSCO PIRTLE
Homecoming was celebrated at Columbia Christian School, 413 N.E. 91st Ave., in December. The boys varsity basketball team defeated the Open Door Huskies 71-26 to set a jubilant tone for the dessert reception that followed the game.

Senior Sierra McKinney was crowned homecoming queen at half time. Her court included seniors Lydia Heiner, Megan Barbarick, Emily Barbarick and Amber Jones. Berlynn Carlson served as flower girl. Colby Getting was the crown bearer.

Construction to impact Powell Boulevard
Hoffman Construction Company has begun a four-month excavation project to construct a large concrete vault under the westbound lane in the 9700 block of Southeast Powell Boulevard, directly in front of the Central Church of the Nazarene.

The 30-foot-wide by 60-foot-long vault will house complex piping that will connect to the city's new 25-million gallon underground reservoir atop Kelly Butte.

To prepare for the construction work, existing utilities, including a power pole and traffic signal at the entrance to the church on Southeast Powell Boulevard, have been relocated.

During construction, there will be no traffic lane closures. However, all east and west traffic lanes on Southeast Powell Boulevard, between 97th and 100th avenues, will be shifted around the work zone. Due to the compressed lane shifts, the bicycle lane on that section of Southeast Powell Boulevard will be closed for safety reasons during the construction. Northbound access to Interstate 205 freeway will not be affected.

Pedestrian sidewalk and street lighting will be sustained along the south side of Southeast Powell Boulevard. However, the sidewalk will be closed on the north side of the street. Detour signs will be in place for pedestrians to avoid the work zone safely.

Motorists and bicyclists are encouraged to use caution when traveling in the area, watch for construction workers and obey all traffic controls. To avoid traffic delays, motorists should use alternate routes, if possible.

There will be no impact to TriMet's bus stops on Southeast Powell Boulevard near the work zone.

Construction of the vault is anticipated to be completed in June 2014, under normal weather conditions.

The Kelly Butte Reservoir will serve Portland's east side and be a stopover to supply water to the Washington Park reservoir and Southwest Portland area water storage tanks.

For additional information on the Kelly Butte Reservoir project, visit http://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/kellybutte.

PC students earn all-state honors
Alyssa Bolton, Isaiah Zimmerman and Jonathon Ramos represented Portland Christian High School at the OMEA All State Concert in Eugene last month.
COURTESY JIMMY TUCKER
Last month, Portland Christian students Jonathon Ramos, Alyssa Bolton and Isaiah Zimmerman took part in the annual Oregon Music Education Association All State Concert in Eugene. Ramos, a senior, played violin in the orchestra; Bolton, a senior, played French horn in the symphonic band; and sophomore Zimmerman sang bass in the mixed choir.

Music lovers donate $4,784 for homeless
Epiphany Choir Fest, an annual fundraiser featuring local choral groups, raised $4,784 for the Human Solutions Homeless Families Program. Pacific Power was the event sponsor.

Participating choirs at the Jan. 12 event included Ascension Catholic Church, Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Mother Mary of the Angels Church, and Parkrose United Methodist Church. The Choir Fest is a holiday tradition, featuring traditional Christmas anthems and carols and culminating in a group rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's Messiah. Retired local pastor Charlie Ross coordinated the event, held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

Proceeds from the event help Human Solutions operate the emergency Daybreak Shelter and other programs for homeless families. A network of 32 churches and synagogues supports Daybreak by providing overnight shelter, meals, and hospitality to homeless families. The early onset of cold and rain has resulted in record demand for emergency shelter and other services provided by Human Solutions. The agency relies on the community to help sustain critical programs that help homeless families permanently overcome their homelessness and attain self-sufficiency. On any given night, Human Solutions shelters or houses more than 700 homeless people in more than 200 families.

This winter, Human Solutions has seen more homeless families requesting help than ever before, according to Executive Director Jean DeMaster. Once word got out about the overwhelming need for meals, blankets and other necessities, the community responded-as it has for the more than 25 years Human Solutions has been serving the east Portland and east Multnomah County areas. “Events such as the Choir Fest demonstrate that we have a very caring and generous community when it comes to helping homeless families,” DeMaster said.

Human Solutions builds pathways out of poverty by promoting self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income families and individuals in east Portland and east Multnomah County. The agency's four key program areas are homelessness prevention, affordable housing, employment and economic development and safety net services, such as emergency shelter and rent and utility assistance. For more information, visit www.humansolutions.org.

Sigala returns to MHCC
Former Mt. Hood Community College director of media and public relations, Al Sigala, returns to the school as executive director of the MHCC Foundation.
COURTESY MHCC
Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) has named Al Sigala executive director of the MHCC Foundation.

Sigala worked at MHCC as director of media and public relations from 1997 to 2009. Most recently, he was vice president of community relations and diversity programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest.

“I'm extremely excited to come back home to MHCC and reunite with my former colleagues and meet new ones,” says Sigala. “As a former community college student, I have always held close to my heart MHCC's mission to transform lives and build communities. It is with great enthusiasm that I return to serve the college, our students and our community in efforts to create a greater tomorrow for all.”

In addition to hiring Sigala, the foundation has undergone other changes to enhance the college's ability to invest in the future, says Debbie Derr, MHCC president. The foundation, which now also includes grant-writing, is relocating physically and in reporting structure from the Office of College Advancement, to the President's Office. Sigala will serve as the foundation's chief fundraiser and will work closely with Sunny Klever, foundation manager.



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