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Nov 20,2008
Thank You Cupcake Jones - November
by nancy
Lisa from Cupcake Jones gave us one more reason to be thankful this month with her arrival at Isobel's Clubhouse yesterday. She handed out chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, frosting to go with, and fondant cutouts of leaves and turkeys. Not just a simple turkey cut out, mind you, but lovingly constructed with eyes and a gobble in contrasting colors. Some of the children went for tall icing, some spread carefully (but not thinly) and others just nibbled on the turkeys with delight. You can see it all on our flickr page . While the children frosted, the adults made sure she'd be open the day after Thanksgiving (YES) and that the amazing pumpkin cupcake would still be on the menu next week (Another YES). Thank you Lisa and Cupcake Jones for providing this fun activity for kids, and for donating time and materials. We had a great time. And for those of you who missed it, mark your calendars. Lisa has volunteered to make this a monthly event
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posted at 11:59 AM
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Nov 19,2008
Thank you Nuvrei + photos
by nancy
Nuvrei gave a spectacular class on marzipan molding and decorating yesterday at Isobel's Clubhouse . Thank you to Nuvrei owners for organizing this and donating time and materials, to Lynnette and Ken for making the introduction and much appreciation for Brian F., Emi, Levi and Brian R. who gave hands on instruction and coaching to the kids. The parents had a great time as well. They enjoyed connecting with the staff, asking questions about their favorite pastries, and learning more about the special desserts Nuvrei has developed for Thanksgiving. Brian R. volunteered to take photos, and really captured the joy and focus on the kids faces. Check them out on our flickr page .
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posted at 11:52 AM
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Nov 18,2008
Tutors, Mentors Needed
by Trace
The Youth Employment Institute is a nonprofit organization in Northeast Portland that provides education, employment and personal development programs for youth. One of our main services is our GED Preparation program which focuses on GED attainment in an alternative school setting. We also provide specialized services for young parents, which include case management services, parenting education and an onsite child care center. Additionally, we offer paid and unpaid work experiences, job readiness training and gang prevention services to the youth in our programs. There are a number of ways community members can get involved in our programs: Academic tutors work with the youth in our GED program. Tutors come in once or twice a week during the school day to tutor youth one-on-one in either writing or math. Mentors work with youth in our young parents program. Members of the business community provide job tours and / or job shadowing experiences in
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posted at 04:28 PM
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Nov 18,2008
2008 Spirit of Portland Award winners announced
by pearlgirl
A group of 21 Portland individuals/organizations who have helped make our city shine have been named recipients of the Spirit of Portland Awards this year. In addition, nine others were chosen by Mayor Tom Potter to win the Mayor's Awards. All 30 winners will be recognized during an award ceremony Dec.11 at City Hall.
THE MAYOR'S AWARDS ARE:
Russ Ryan - a volunteer par excellence in the Mayor's office, also in former Mayor Vera Katz's
Sgt. Frank Gorgone - GREAT program
Stephen Manning - immigration attorney
Larry Collins - People of Purpose and Associates
Rebecca J. Black - Executive Director of Oregon Outreach, Inc
Africa AIDS Response
Last Thursday Planning Committee
• Lt. William Walker - PPB
• Stephanie Reynolds - ONI
• Jeri Jenkins - PDOT p:ear - creatively mentors homeless youth through education, art and recr
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posted at 01:26 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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Nov 7,2008
November Fun with Isobel’s Clubhouse
by nancy
Many thanks to all our talented and generous neighborhood volunteers who have organized so many fun events for central Portland families in November. Our children have already had great interactions with arts and music. The Museum of Contemporary Craft Family Tour led by Sassafras Art Tours was a huge success. Families experienced the Manufractured exhibit in a whole new way, and had a lot of fun learning. And 23 elementary-school-aged performers from My Smilin Violin wowed a First Thursday audience last night with Suzuki compositions and ear-to-ear smiles. There must be a baking theme in the air… Tonight a parent is teaching kids how to make koulourakia , a traditional Greek cookie. Nuvrei will teach families how to make traditional marzipan confections on November 18 th , and Cupcake Jones will teach kids how to frost and decorate cupcakes on November 19 th .
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posted at 01:15 PM
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Nov 5,2008
Weigh in On Eastside MAX Station Improvements
by Erich
For all the green cred and planning plaudits Tri-Met's MAX brings Portland, actually using it for daily commuting is an experience described at best as tolerable. This is especially true for passengers using several of the Eastside MAX stations. Spartan, wind-swept, and isolated from neighborhoods by traffic, trains, and commercial buildings, they are uninviting by day and often dangerous at night. Recognizing this, the city's Bureau of Planning in June launched a project aimed at making several of the Eastside stations safer and more attractive to riders and residents. The Eastside MAX Station Communities Project is examining current land use, building and station design, and transit structures within a half-mile of six Eastside stations (60th Avenue, 82nd Avenue, Parkrose/Sumner, 122nd Avenue, 148th Avenue, and 162nd Avenue; see this map ). Project staff hope to identify and get public input on ways these factors and facilities can be improved to make the stations more welcomi
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posted at 07:13 AM
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Oct 29,2008
News From Montavilla Neighborhood Association
by pearlgirl
This just in from the Montavilla Neighborhood Association... At their General Meeting in October, the Montavilla Neighborhood Association held it's general election and appointed its new Board. The new Board held its first meeting, and is planning on having a Board retreat in November to focus on making the upcoming year a very productive one for the entire neighborhood. The Board is focused on preserving and enhancing the QUALITY of life in Montavilla and to serve the broadest interests of our community. This includes working with the City and holding the City accountable to provide equitable services to the residents in Montavilla.As Montavilla approaches it's 120th year anniversary in 2009 , the Board encourages more neighbors & local business owners to please join the association, info at: www.Montavilla.info. The General Meeting is every 2nd Monday of each month at the Montavilla Community Center (NE 82nd & NE Glisan) at 7pm. You can also join our Yahoo
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posted at 03:58 PM
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Oct 28,2008
Isobel's Clubhouse In the News
by nancy
Thank you LivePDX for writing about Isobel's Clubhouse . Here's the beginning of the article, entitled Isobel's Clubhouse: Suburban Community Spirit in the Urban Pearl. When you think of the Pearl District, your first thought probably isn't children, what with all the hard-edged condos and swanky martini bars. Despite the perception that "no kids live in the Pearl," the area houses a surprising number of families with young children, according to resident mom Nancy Davis. And for too long, Davis says, families in "Central Portland" have needed activities for their children. Davis and her friend Kirsten Lee, another mother of a preschool-aged boy, grew tired of hearing about failed efforts to build a community center in the area. "We didn't want to wait," she explains. "So we decided to do it ourselves." In November of '07, the two moms organized a focus group of about 13 downtown families. Participants shared some c
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posted at 11:47 PM
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Oct 28,2008
2nd Annual Family Conversations
by nancy
Please join Central Portland Families for our second annual Family Conversations. We believe that families are good for central Portland, and that central Portland is good for families. Come help us make it even better. Thursday, November 13th from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Monday, November 17th from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Bring your important issues, your ideas for the future of central Portland, and your enthusiasm for helping families from all walks of live thrive in central Portland. We'll serve refreshments, engage in conversations, enjoy our neighbors and talk about ways that we can work together. Lately we've been feeling reflective. Perhaps it's the seasons changing. Or the nearness to Thanksgiving... we have a lot to be thankful for. It could also be that Central Portland Families' one-year anniversary is fast approaching. Hard to believe that we came together for the first time in November 2007 with a couple Family Conversations, attended by thirteen families. Those grandpare
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posted at 09:22 PM
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