Portland News Briefs for May-June, 2014

Allen Temple C.M.E. Church family will be honoring Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes,Jr., center, above, for seventeen extraordinary years of leadership, Sunday, June 1, starting at  4 p.m., 4236 N.E. 8th Ave., Portland. Haynes is the Presiding Elder of the Oregon Washington District and Alaska District, Past President of North Portland Bible College and current President of the Board of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Distinguished guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. Lynn R. Mims, Pastor of Barak Christian Church from St. Louis, Mo.  Find out more at www.ninthdistrictcme.org/allentemple. 

Portland’s Kindergarten Registration Deadline is Friday

The last day for families to register their kindergartener “on time” for the coming school year is this Friday, May 30. Children who are five years old on or before Sept. 1 are eligible to sign up for kindergarten. School offices close for the summer so don't wait.

Registering for kindergarten before June 1 is one of several important steps to put children on a path for success when they start school. A team of local practitioners (representing school districts, early childhood providers, the health and social service community, parents and others) working on kindergarten transition county-wide has partnered with Multnomah County’s “Register for School by June” campaign to increase on-time kindergarten registrations.

When families enroll their children before schools close for the summer, it gives parents time to get to know their school and teacher, connect with summer transition activities and even get free resources.

To find your school or get help with other childhood issues, call 2-1-1 or email children@211info.org. Free interpretation is available.

WSU Vancouver Offers Free Advice on Paying for College

Learn how to pay for college at Washington State University Vancouver's A - Z of Financial Aid and Scholarships Workshop offered multiple times through the spring and summer. Free and open to the public, this workshop is a jumping-off point for all college-bound students no matter your age, current financial situation or school you plan to attend.
Workshops are offered off campus, May 31, 1-2 p.m. at the Vancouver Community Library (Main), 901 C Street.
On campus workshops are  June 10, 5-6 p.m. at the Student Services Center, Room 101;  June 25, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. , Student Services Center, Room 101; July 10, 6 - 7 p.m. , Student Services Center, Room 101; July 23, 5 - 6 p.m., Student Services Center, Room 101; and Aug. 6, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Student Services Center, Room 101.
Led by trained financial aid experts, the A - Z of Financial Aid and Scholarships Workshop increases financial aid awareness and makes clear the options for paying for college. The workshop will answer commonly asked questions such as: What is financial aid? What happens after I file my FAFSA? Are there any scholarships available? When and how do I get my money?
For more information visit finaid@vancouver.wsu.edu.

Free Health Tests, Services with AARP and Walgreens

The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP will provide free health tests at four Portland locations June 4-7, consisting of three free health tests, valued at over $100, measure 10 key indicators that include total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight.

The tests are administered to adults age 18 years and older by certified wellness staff and can be completed in approximately 20 minutes. Visitors also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in both English and Spanish. Additionally, all participants will receive a free one-year AARP membership.

Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP is dedicated to providing free prevention and early detection health services to the nation’s underserved communities. The initiative is another charitable component of the Walgreens Way to Well Commitment, a four-year, $100 million initiative to improve the everyday health of Americans nationwide.

For a complete tour schedule, visit www.walgreens.com/waytowell.

Starlight Parade Honors Thirty Years of ‘Whoop Whoop’

The PGE/SOLVE Starlight Parade kicks off at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, following the Legacy Health Starlight Run at 7:45 p.m. Fans who can't attend in person can also see the Parade live on FOX 12 beginning at 9 p.m.

Thirty years ago the simple cry 'Whoop, whoop' engaged citizens of Portland, and launched the career of iconic mayor Bud Clark. In honor of the anniversary of the man who 'exposed Portland to the arts,' the Portland Rose Festival has chosen Bud Clark as Grand Marshal of the 2014 Portland General Electric/SOLVE Starlight Parade. 

A 1949 graduate of Lincoln High School, Bud Clark attend college at Vanport College (now Portland State University) as well as Oregon State and Reed College. In 1967, he opened the Goose Hollow Inn Tavern and is credited with helping revitalize that neighborhood. In 1984, Clark first ran for mayor, and was reelected in 1988 (defeating 11 candidates in the process). While in office Mayor Clark supported the growth of mass transit, and led the campaign to build the Oregon Convention Center.

Portland Housing Forum June 5

A Portland Public Forum: Linking Health and Housing is Thursday, June 5, 12-1:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church's Buchan Room, 1226 SW Salmon St.

Howard Klink of Klink Consulting Group will moderate a panel discussion featuring:  

Amanda Saul of Enterprise Community Partners, who will give an overview of Enterprise's new Oregon Health and Housing Learning Collaborative 

Sarah Stevenson of Innovative Housing, Inc. and Ed Blackburn of Central City Concern will talk about their new project linking the Old Town Clinic and Musolf Manor apartments 

The forum is free and open to the public. Coffee, tea, water and cookies are provided (bring your own lunch). Oregon ON's Portland Public Forum series is supported by a grant from Portland Housing Bureau. 

For more information go to www.oregonon.org/get_involved

For more Seattle events check out The Skanner News community calendar

For more Portland events check out The Skanner News community calendar