concordia news...
Dec 19,2008
City of Portland employees exhibit generous spirit this holiday season
by jenniferd
Commissioner Randy Leonard challenged two of the bureaus he oversees to do something different this holiday season. He didn't challenge them to boost morale or work harder during these stressful economic times. Leonard challenged the Portland Water Bureau and the city's Bureau of Development Services to a friendly holiday competition; a competition to fill barrels for the needy. The Water Bureau allied with Portland Fire and Rescue's Toy N Joy Makers program to fill toy barrels. The Bureau of Development Services picked Sunshine Barrels, a food donation program headed up by the Portland Police Bureau. The competition began on December 3 and ended this afternoon. The prize? Not much, really - a hearty congratulation from the Commissioner and bragging rights, of course. Fancy prize or not, however, city employees embraced this competition with a stunning amount of voracity and enthusiasm, especially given the rough state of the economy. The Water Bureau sent 53 barrels off with firef
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posted at 02:33 PM
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Nov 17,2008
Portland PTA Clothing Center needs your donations!
by Trace
The Portland Council PTA Clothing Center located at Marshall High School has already served over 600 students this year, with over 1000 volunteer hours.We served nearly 2000 students last year. The Clothing Center always needs gently used (no rips, tears or visible stains) clothing size 4T through 4X. We also take shoes, binders, back packs, PJ's, and toiletries. We are experiencing a greater need this year and are out of donations to hang on the racks. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please check your closet and drawers for clothing that your family has outgrown. We especially need warm winter coats and boy's and girl's jeans all sizes. Please consider collecting new gloves, mittens, socks and underwear at your holiday party, office, club or group meeting. Monetary donations purchase new jeans, socks and underwear for the kids in need. Monetary donations may be sent to PTA Clothing Center, c/o Jackee Duvall,2246 SE 90th Avenue, Portland 97216. A tax receipt will be mailed
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posted at 11:32 AM
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Oct 2,2008
Portland Schools Celebrate International Walk + Bike to School Day
by pearlgirl
Portland Parents and kids are encouraged to join millions around the world who are improving their health, their community and having a ton of fun by Walking or Rolling to School on October 8. More information about Oregon Walk + Bike to School Day, and other ways you can encourage children to walk and bike to school throughout the year, can be found at www.walknbike.org . Oregon Walk + Bike to School Day is being celebrated by at least 44 schools in Portland. School Name ABERNETHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARCHBISHOP HOWARD SCHOOL
ASTAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ATKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BEVERLY CLEARY SCHOOL
BOISE ELIOT K - 8
BUCKMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CAPITOL HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHAPMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHIEF JOSEPH PK - 5 SCHOOL
CHILDPEACE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
CLARENDON AT PORTSMOUTH K - 8
FAUBION K - 7 SCHOOL
FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
GILBERT HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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posted at 12:05 PM
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Sep 4,2008
Yard Sign 101
by pearlgirl
Have you ever wondered how to get one of the yard signs that asks for motor vehicles to slow down for kids, pedestrians, or bikes? After a little digging, the Stephens Street Neighborhood Watch Group was able to find the answer to this question. Thanks to Steve Huckins and the entire Stephens Street crew for sharing this information with all of us. Together, we can do more—better! Yard Sign Lender Program The City of Portland Office of Transportation has yard signs available for residents to "borrow" for as long of a period of time as they are interested. Each sign features a black steel "A" frame along with a 18"h x 24"w PVC sign. The signs, attached by independent clips, hang freely from the steel "A" frame and move in the breeze. The Office of Transportation yard signs are portable and suitable for quick and easy display by residents in their yards. Signs should be brought indoors each evening, if possible, to minimize vandal
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posted at 08:45 AM
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Aug 27,2008
Grant from Kaiser Permanente Community Fund Puts Local Food on the Menu in Portland Public School and Gervais School Districts
by pearlgirl
The first school assembly of the new academic year will take place today at 10 a.m., at Atkinson Elementary in South East Portland, where school food and education leaders will gather alongside farmers, food producers, grocery retailers and government officials to cheer a grant from the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund at the Northwest Health Foundation that will subsidize approximately 2,640,000 meals with the funds needed to serve more Oregon grown and processed foods in Portland Public Schools and Gervais School Districts. The grant, secured by Ecotrust’s Food and Farms program , will bolster existing efforts to bring more regionally produced food into two distinct school districts in the immediate school year, and kick-off a six-month study to measure the impact of nourishing the minds and bodies of young school children with fresh seasonal produce and locally processed foods, while directing dollars spent to feed Oregon students back into the local economy. A
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posted at 07:32 AM
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Aug 1,2008
Thousands of books headed to K-8 libraries
by pearlgirl
FROM THE DESK OF: Superintendent Carole Smith The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Portland Public Schools $500,000 for library materials and library staff training in K-8 schools.Almost 40 percent of the funding will be used to purchase materials for sixth-through eighth-graders at 22 schools that PPS has reconfigured from K-5 to K-8.
Each school will receive more than 300 books, including fiction and nonfiction books, as well as books for English language learners, media players, projectors, bookshelves and even 30 Amazon Kindle wireless readers that one classroom will use in a pilot program.
Library staffs at all K-8 schools, including those that previously were middle schools, will receive professional development focusing on three areas: informational literacy (research), K-3 literacy and collaboration between the library and the classroom. Schools receiving new library materials are Arleta , Astor , Boise-Eliot , Bridger
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posted at 09:21 AM
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Jul 19,2008
Kidical Mass - Second Ride
by nancy
Last night was the second Kidical Mass ride in Portland. Decorated bikes, a primer on rules of the road, and lots of kids excited to ride safely in the street. KPTV was there, and here's a link to a video and article on their website. This was my son's first time riding his own bike on the road while I biked next to him. I couldn't have asked for a safer way for him to get some time on the road. The ride leaders are excellent, the group stays together, and all the parents and kids are watching out for each other. This is a fabulous way to role model good riding skills, and have kids and adults learning together. Kidical Mass is now a regular event, taking place on the third Friday of every month. Hope to see you on August 15th. If you'd like to get updates from the ride organizer, Angela, you can email her at angela@bta4bikes.org and ask to be added to her distribution list.
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posted at 10:11 PM
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Jul 10,2008
Summer Reading–not just for kids anymore
by Librarian Kate
It's almost the middle of July—are you signed up for summer reading? I'm not asking about your 8-year-old, I want to know if you are participating. Why should kids have all the fun? Go to any Multnomah County Library to pick up a Read 4 Life card. Then read or listen (yes, you can listen too!) to 4-6 books, complete your card, and return it to the library to enter a drawing. You could be the winner of a McMenamin's gift certificate or the grand prize of a stay at Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport. In addition to the opportunity to win a prize for yourself, your reading also is a model for the child in your life. The more a child sees the adults in his/her life reading, the more likely that child will become a reader. Need a suggestion for a good read? Ask a librarian or take a look at our booklists . Now that you're ready to read, has the child in your life signed up for Summer Reading? Multnomah County Library's Summer Reading program promotes reading as a fu
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posted at 04:12 PM
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Jul 7,2008
10 Free Family Bike Rides
by pearlgirl
Portland Wheelmen Touring Club offers some fun rides especially for families and novice riders. An adult must accompany children and all riders must wear helmets. Arrive early. Group departs at time listed. Sunday, July 6 Vancouver Lake/Columbia River 10:00 am 15 miles Start at Vancouver Lake Park. I-5 to Mill Plain (Vancouver) Take Exit 1D/Fourth Plain Blvd. Go west (left) about 5 miles and follow signs to the Lake (on your right). The parking will cost about $2. We'll ride on low traffic roads country from Vancouver Lake Park, past French Bar Park and Caterpillar Island to the end of Old River Road and back. This will be a very scenic, family friendly ride. Ride Leader: Bill Hamilton 503-961-4184 or bill@simple.be Saturday, July 20 Smith and Bybee Lakes 10:00 am 8 miles
Start at the Princeton Trailhead at North Princeton and Carrey Streets off Willamette Blvd. to ride along the Peninsula Crossing Trail to the Smith and Bybee Wetland Area. Brin
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posted at 08:44 AM
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Jun 26,2008
Make a Strawberry Chocolate Tart
by nancy
Oregon strawberries are everywhere, especially at the farmers markets. Sold in flats (12 pints) and oh so hard to resist. Which provokes the seasonal question of 'just how much shortcake can I really eat?'. Now some of you might raise your eyebrows at that question, while you spoon up the last of your st