Middle East Festival volunteers make meat and spinach pies for the annual Middle East Festival at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2101 N.E. 162nd Ave. Set for Saturday, Aug. 27, this year is the 40th anniversary of the festival.

Cappella Romana will perform free concerts of Orthodox choral music at 2 and 4 p.m. Youth from the congregation will dance the dabke and other Middle Eastern folk dances at 3 and 5 p.m. Roasted lamb, gyros and falafel sandwiches, chicken kebabs, meat and spinach pies, Arabic pastries and sweets and coffee will be available for purchase throughout the day.

Kids will enjoy a free bounce house, games and face painting. The bookstore will offer Orthodox books, icons and gifts until 6 p.m. Tours of the church will be offered throughout the day. Vespers will be served at 6 p.m.

Since the time of Christ there have been Christians in the Middle East. Your invited to experience the traditions and food that has been sprung from this culture.

The Argay Terrace Neighborhood Association is holding its annual neighborhood-wide garage sale Aug. 4, 5 and 6. If you want to be involved, call ATNA Events Chair Katie Beymer at 503-807-9284.

Official sale hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Last year, more than 45 families participated, and from the rate of initial registrations, it looks to be an even larger event this year.

All Argay Terrace residents are encouraged to contact Katie Beymer, events committee chair at argayevents@gmail.com to register for the sale and to have your sale placed on the event map.

Copies of the map will be available along the sale route and in advertising material.

For those without email, Katie can be reached at 503-807-9284. There is no charge to participate.

Please also see the notice at argay.org website. This is a free event for all Argay residents—there is no charge for your participation.

For all Argay Terrace residents not holding a sale and all other Memo readers, come to the sale—you might find something you need, and you’re sure to find something you can’t live without!

A witness was able to provide a description on one of the three suspects to a Forensic Sketch Artist, who developed a sketch of the person. Submit an anonymous tip: Text CRIMES (274637) – Type 823HELP, followed by the tip, or online here. 

When police arrived on the east side of Northeast 128th Avenue, at an entrance to the Menlo Park Elementary School recreation field, they found the victim, 38-year-old Larry Edwin Van Dolah Jr. of St. Helens, Oregon, suffering from gunshot wounds.

St. Helens resident Larry Edwin Van Dolah Jr. was murdered April 15 in east Portland at the entrance to the Menlo Park Elementary recreation field.

After medical personnel arrived, they confirmed Van Dolah was deceased.

Police’s preliminary information indicates there were three shooting suspects, black males, ages 16 to 20 years old, all wearing hooded sweatshirts.

Neighborhood surveillance video captured the three suspects walking in the area. Submit an anonymous tip: Text CRIMES (274637) – Type 823HELP, followed by the tip, or online here.

Two of the suspects were wearing blue jeans while the third was wearing dark-colored sweatpants. They were last seen crossing East Burnside Street towards Southeast 129th Avenue.

Neighborhood surveillance video captured the three suspects walking in the area. A witness was able to provide a description on one of the three suspects to a Forensic Sketch Artist, who developed a sketch of the person.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Information about any unsolved homicide is eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.

Information learned from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube should be shared as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect or suspects. Links can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Submit an anonymous tip: Text CRIMES (274637) – Type 823HELP, followed by the tip, or online here.

Call 503-823-HELP (4357)

Click here to download the TipSubmit app for the iPhone or Droid.

It’s true.

COURTESY MT. HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Mt. Hood Community College President Dr. Debra Derr tells the Memo why passing a capital improvement bond for the college is important to east Portland’s future.

Most recently in May 2016, which forced MHCC officials back to the drawing board after voters turned down a $125 million capital improvement bond by a little over 3,000 votes out of 58,000 cast.

This May, college officials bring back a pared-down $75 million bond measure to the ballot.

The estimated tax rate will be $23 per $100,000 of assessed value, which will cost the average $200,000 homeowner about $50 per year. In general, the bonds will be paid off in 21 years.

The college will set up a citizens’ oversight committee that will have regular meetings and review the expenditures. There will also be annual fiscal and performance audits conducted by an independent audit firm.

Debra Derr, MHCC president, said in an interview that she and college officials did extensive outreach to find out why last year’s attempt failed. “Any addition to a tax bill is a tough addition for families,” Derr said. “We know that, but we believe that they will get a good return on their investment through a workforce that will be able to ‘skill up’ and get people in jobs that are available now that pay a family living wage.”

Constituents told them they think that the college is doing a good job, that the college is being a good steward of taxpayer money, and to keep up the good work. However, Derr also heard, “You’re doing a good job, so why do you need our help?”

In addition, Derr said she heard misunderstandings that the bond request is for operations and not improvements. “I pay taxes for Mt. Hood Community College every year, so why should I pay more?” Derr said she often heard.
What people see on their property tax bills is for college operations.

Annual property tax money the college receives from individuals can be used only for operations.

Eighty percent of MHCC’s annual budget is human resources—salaries for teachers and staff (600 faculty and 900 staff). The remainder pays for everything else it takes to run a college that serves more than 32,000 full- and part-time students.

By law, the college can’t utilize those resources for capital improvements.
Construction of a new Workforce and Applied Technology building on the main Gresham campus is the crown jewel of this bond, according to Derr. “It’s all about workforce development,” Derr said. “Our automotive, manufacturing, welding and new electronics programs would be in there. We’re pretty excited about upgrading and providing new equipment and using new equipment to bring us into the 21st century in those areas.”

Moreover, Derr said she’s having conversations with local high school districts to broaden offerings for current technical education for high school students utilizing the new facility.

“[This is] the heart of what we’re doing, especially when you look at the fact that in east Multnomah County we are serving the poorest House district in the state of Oregon,” Derr said. “Tied to our mission is working with people to have them trained and working and paying taxes and supporting their families and affording houses. That’s what we do. Our mission is transforming lives—building communities. We must be able to reflect what’s happening in business and industry. It’s past time to do that.”

The bond’s passage would also pay for seismic safety and security system upgrades, and it would free up additional operating funds by refinancing capital obligations.

Furthermore, the bond’s passage secures $8 million in state matching funds that would otherwise be lost, which would be used for additional support for the Workforce and Applied Technology Center.

Derr has been MHCC president since July 2013. Previously, she worked at Mt. Hood from 1987 to 2002 in three positions: as coordinator of services for students with disabilities, as an administrator, and as vice-president of student affairs. She moved to the Midwest to become president of North Iowa Community College until returning to lead Mt. Hood.

Maywood Park Campus
Unfortunately for Parkrose, expanding Mt. Hood’s Maywood Park Campus, which was part of the 2016 ask, isn’t in this request. “The thing that we had to take off, which was a very difficult decision, was the Maywood Park Campus,” said Derr. “We’re very committed to the west side of our district. Whether we are at Maywood Park or another site, we will continue to provide service in that area. But, as we had to make decisions—that $8 million that we will receive from the state should we pass the bond for the Applied Technology Center—was the driver for us to say, ‘If we have to take one of those big building projects off the table right now, then it needs to be Maywood instead of the Applied Technology Center,’ because we did not have any resources that we would be leveraging from the state.”

Multi-generational education center in Gateway?
For a while, there has been talk between government and school officials and private property owners about the possibility of a multi-generational education center in Gateway on the old Elks property and adjoining parcels next to the Fred Meyer store. However, so far, it is just talk. “There is still talk about a multi-generational general education center there,” Derr said. “There is still hope, honestly, that there will be a multi-generational education presence on the west side of our district; Mt. Hood would be as interested as we were before.”

MHCC tax base
The Mt. Hood Community College district encompasses an area of about 950 square miles, with a population of more than 300,000. The district boundaries extend as far east as Mt. Hood and to the Wasco County line, south into Clackamas County, including the communities of Boring and Damascus, and west into Portland’s city limits. The northern boundary is the Columbia River from Northeast 33rd Avenue to Cascade Locks. The school districts of Parkrose, David Douglas, Reynolds, Centennial, Gresham-Barlow, Corbett, Port of Cascade Locks and Oregon Trail are all within this area.

The Mt. Hood Community College tax base encompasses 950 sq. miles and parts of three counties. It is huge!

We asked Mid-county Memo Facebook followers if they are for or against the bond measure and why.

Here’s a sample of the comments we received:

Kathy Reese: “I know that MHCC (especially the campus at Maywood Park) needs to be upgraded.
That being said, I am sick and tired of being taxed to death for everything. Just because I own property, does not mean that I have an income that supports all of the taxes that everyone seems to want to add. This also affects renters, as landlords have to raise rents when their property taxes go up.”

Marcia Schneider: “I’m in support; the community college gives so many students their first opportunity for college AND prepares our skilled workforce. Totally worth it!”

Julie Goodrich: “Has the college tried for another funding source such as state lotto or a phased approach? How do other CC fund their growth?”

Rob Portland: “In general I’m against ANY new property tax additions; we pay ENOUGH!”

Gloria Preston: “Most of my property taxes go toward education but the schools never seem to have any money. I don’t get it AND I don’t have kids.”

Mary Lu Baetkey: “This would also help Parkrose students, worth a vote YES”

Andrew Cook: “Education is the one thing I am fine with properly taxes going up for.”

Chuck Matthews: “We need to support education. These things aren’t free.”

Mike Morsman: “Like Gloria said, the money doesn’t go to education.”

Monica Cory: “It is overdue.”

Michael Centoni: “And Portland Public had $800 million when is it going to end?”

The city is holding a hearing about the city budget tonight at Mt. Scott Community Center and a budget hearing in May at City Hall.

The purpose of these meetings is for the Mayor and City Council to receive testimony from Portland residents regarding the citywide budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Whether you’re planning to attend and testify in person, or submit written testimony, here are some tips.

Community Budget Forum
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Mt. Scott Community Center, Auditorium
5530 S.E. 72nd Ave.

Budget Committee Public Hearing
Thursday, May 11, 2017
6 to 8:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
1221 S.W. 4th Ave.

Testimony tickets are available an hour and a half prior to start time.

They are drawn at random throughout the course of the event.

Each speaker will have two minutes to address the council.

Please see these links for details about the budget process and for other ways to make your voice heard:
FY 2017-18 Budget Documents
Get Involved in the City’s Budget Process

COURTESY PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION

Festival-goers prepare for a bucket truck ride at last year’s Arbor Day festival.

Arbor Day 2017 is a free, multicultural festival for all ages. Enjoy food from local vendors and participate in activities for the whole family underneath towering Douglas fir trees. Commissioner Amanda Fritz and PP&R Director Mike Abbaté will welcome guests with brief remarks. Enjoy musical performances all afternoon. Activities include:

•    Bucket truck rides (a free, bird’s-eye view of Portland from above the treetops)
•    Tamales from Tierra del Sol
•    Asian cuisine from Sisters Fusion
•    The Latin sounds of Trio Matices
•    Eclectic melodies from international recording artist Darka Dusty and her partner, Miri Stebivka
•    Vocal stylings of acapella group B-Side Book Club
•    Learn about the history of Portland’s urban forest
•    An ecological scavenger hunt
•    Botanical printmaking
•    Face painting
•    A tree-climbing demonstration
•    Tree seedling giveaways
•    The Bill Naito Community Trees Awards, presented to one individual and one group exemplifying “tree-mendous” achievements

“Trees are an essential component of Portland’s livability,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “They help enhance the environment, provide shade and wildlife habitat, filter stormwater runoff and improve air quality. Arbor Day 2017 is a chance to come together and celebrate the special contributions that trees make to our quality of life.”

For more information, click here.

Set for Saturday, June 24, the Taste of Parkrose moves from Sandy Boulevard to Rossi Farms. In its fourth year, the community event is produced by the Portland Development Commission’s Historic Parkrose group.

A free community event, the Taste of Parkrose was created by Portland Development Commissions’s (HP) group in the summer of 2014 to bring people to the business district.

Mapps doesn’t take moving the event away from the district core lightly. He said the event just outgrew the space. “It is a big deal to move it off Sandy; part of that is logistically necessary.”

Despite Rossi Farms not being in HP’s defined area, Mapps sees his mission as extending beyond its set boundaries. “We’re an ecosystem that includes the business district and school district, and Rossi Farms is kind of the jewel of the district,” Mapps said. “I don’t think it’s meaningful to pretend Parkrose stops at Wygant [Street].”

Joe Rossi, who is no stranger to planning and holding large events, held a Western themed Barn Bash for years at the family farm at 3839 N.E. 122nd Ave. “I’m excited to have the Taste of Parkrose event at Rossi Farms this year,” Rossi said in an email. “I hope to be part of growing the event for our community plus, it takes the pressure off people asking about another Barn Bash. LOL.”

Created to showcase Parkrose restaurants and businesses, for its first two years the Taste was held in the heart of the business district on Northeast 106th Avenue between Sandy Boulevard and Wygant Street.

Since this meant closing off a city street for a day, all neighbors had to agree.

Mapps, who recently marked his second year as HP manager, said most neighbors welcomed it but some were opposed, which was exhausting to navigate. “A handful of people were really, really, really not okay with it,” he said.

So, when managers of the hardware store across the street, who had begun EGGfest (see sidebar below) in their parking lot in 2015, offered Mapps the parking lots of the yet-to-be-opened Dollar Tree and Grocery Outlet stores, he moved the event there.

However, shortly after the event last summer, the two stores opened, making that site untenable.

Mapps said hardware store managers wanted the event moved to Rossi Farms. “For them, Rossi Farms is the perfect spot for it [EGGFest],” he said.

“Because they’re part of a huge corporation, they need to double the size of the event every year, and they want a neighborhood tie-in,” Mapps said. “Last year they sold 30 Big Green Eggs (see sidebar); this year they want to sell 60.”

Set for Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the (mostly) free event includes a 5K and 10K fun run and walk that begins and ends at Parkrose High School; the Taste Tent, featuring samples from local restaurants and EGGfest chefs; and a Community Pavilion to connect neighbors with community organizations.

New this year: a beer garden and an under-$10 charge to enter the Taste Tent.

All other areas of the fair will be free and open to the public, who are welcome to enjoy vendors, live music and kids’ game areas.

“We’ll give this a try and if it doesn’t work, we’ll try something else,” Mapps said. “[The move] seems like a fairly safe gamble. I’m hoping it’ll be like last year, only better and bigger.”

To sign-up for the run or to secure a booth, either call HP’s Kate Coenen at 503-964-7807 or e-mail her at kate@historicparkrose.com.

What’s a Big Green Egg?
A Big Green Egg is an outdoor ceramic kamado-style charcoal grill that gets its name from its appearance. It’s big and green and shaped like an egg. Big Green Eggs come in seven sizes—Mini to XXL—and a wide range of prices (anywhere from $400 to $4,000). Due to the focused heat of the ceramic shell, Big Green Eggs not only achieve high temperatures but also hold low temperatures for use as a smoker.

According to Wikipedia, a kamado is a traditional Japanese wood- or charcoal-fueled cook stove. The name kamado is the Japanese word for “stove” or “cooking range.” It means “place for the cauldron.”

What’s an EGGfest?
An EGGfest is a live Big Green Egg demonstration event, after which the used Eggs are sold at reduced prices.
Nationwide, from San Francisco to Connecticut, there are 12 annual EGGfests listed on the bigreenegg.com website.

According to porkopoliseggfest.com, the website for Cincinnati’s annual EGGfest, there are two groups who attend EGGfests: cooks and tasters.

The cooks bring their own food and prepare varied offerings on the provided Big Green Eggs. Tasters show up and taste the food the cooks prepare on the Eggs. There is no charge to the cooks, but the adult tasters are charged a fee.

Parkrose Hardware’s website says that if you’ve never been to an EGGfest, “It’s a glorious day of sampling tasty foods cooked on Big Green Eggs and enjoying the company of others. Egg enthusiasts showcase their talents cooking on the versatile barbecue, and the curious get to eat their creations and mingle with other Eggheads.”

A nude Miguel Gomez, 21, was arrested for burglary, attempted rape and kidnapping after pushing into a woman’s apartment in the Wilkes neighborhood Saturday night.

The female victim, 28, reported that she was able to escape with her two children, ages two and eight.

When police arrived at the outer east Portland apartment, the woman told them the man forced his way into her apartment via the fourth floor balcony, grabbing her while also pulling her towards the bathroom.

The victim was able to escape his grasp and tried to call 911, but the man interfered with the call so she and her children ran to a neighboring apartment to call police.

The victim did not suffer any serious physical injuries, and told police she recognized the man as a former resident of the apartment complex.

After police established containment on the apartment, and assisted by a Canine Unit, they began searching the apartment.

The suspect was discovered hiding behind a couch where he was arrested without incident.

The suspect is identified as Miguel Gomez, 21, who was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of burglary, kidnapping and attempted rape in the first Degree, and interfering with making a police report.

Gomez is set for arraignment Tuesday.

When they arrived, employees told police that a man entered the bar armed with a handgun and demanded money.

Police said that after obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect left the bar and was last seen running east on Glisan Street.

Several officers, including a canine unit, searched the neighborhood but did not locate anyone matching the robber’s description.

He’s described as white, in his 40s, 6’2″ tall, chubby build, wearing a dark-colored mask, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, white shoes, and carrying a handgun.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact robbery detectives at 503-823-0405.

Marcus Anthony Davis, 32, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Manufacturing Cocaine, Delivery of Cocaine, and Possession of Cocaine.

Police said that when they arrived in the parking lot, several people ran into the bar.

Following them, police walked through the bar while recognizing several known gang members and associates.

During the walk-through, police said they located and seized two loaded handguns and three separate baggies of cocaine, totaling approximately 2.5 ounces.

One subject was arrested and GET officers are continuing the investigation.

32-year-old Marcus Anthony Davis, 32, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Manufacturing Cocaine, Delivery of Cocaine, and Possession of Cocaine.

In addition, Davis is being held on a parole violation.

Anyone with information about gun crimes in Portland is encouraged to provide information to the Portland Police Bureau’s Tactical Operations Division at 503-823-4106 or email information to gangs@portlandoregon.gov.

Information learned from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube should be shared with investigators as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect or suspects.

If you see a gun crime in progress, call 9-1-1.

The Portland Police Bureau works closely with Enough is Enough PDX, a community-led campaign aimed at encouraging people to take a stand against gang violence in the area.

For more information about Enough is Enough PDX and how you can get involved, please click here.

Additional information about Enough is Enough PDX and other City efforts addressing youth violence can be found at the Office of Youth Violence Prevention.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon is offering a minimum $250 cash reward to anyone who reports a convicted felon or a juvenile in possession of a firearm and tipsters can remain anonymous. Rewards of up to $1,000 are available for other unsolved felony crimes—$2,500 for unsolved homicides.

To submit an anonymous tip, call 503-823-4357, text 274637 and type 823HELP, followed by the tip, or online here.

To download the TipSubmit app for the iPhone or Droid, click here.