Volume 76: Number 6, June 2010
Volume 76: Number 6, June 2010

Hollywood plays several starring roles in festival

Boosters John Perkins, Jan Tolman and Linda Seals are Royal Rosarians who are facing a busy June. Among the events them is the Fred Meyer Junior Parade Wednesday, June 9, right here in Hollywood.
Boosters John Perkins, Jan Tolman and Linda Seals are Royal Rosarians who are facing a busy June. Among the events them is the Fred Meyer Junior Parade Wednesday, June 9, right here in Hollywood.
Hollywood is host to five of the June events associated with the 2010 Rose Festival. Only one is past, so you’re in time to mark your calendars for the rest.

April 25 — Blessing of Rose Festival, sponsored by Royal Rosarians, Portland Mosaic Church.
Wednesday, June 9 — Fred Meyer Junior Parade, 1 p.m. Brett Kucera, aka Tony Starlight, represents Boosters. 28 middle school bands are expected. Call Jan Tolman, 503-281-5497, to volunteer as a parade route monitor or donate toward rental of portable toilets.
Sunday-Saturday, June 6-12 — Youth Silent Film Festival, 8 p.m., Hollywood Theatre.
Friday & Sunday, June 11 & 13 — “Let’s Go to the Movies,” Conchords Chorale, show tunes, 7 p.m., Hollywood Theatre.
Saturday, June 12 — “From One Rose,” 2007 festival centennial documentary, 7 p.m., Hollywood Theatre.

Blooms beautify Hollywood

Hollywood in Bloom. That’s the new program sponsored by the Boosters to beautify the district with flowers and foliage in the summer. It incorporates new hanging flower displays, plus the existing monthly Hollywood Clean Ups and sidewalk planters.
 
“We are looking for individuals, groups and businesses to ‘adopt’ some of the planters,” said Amber Kern-Johnson, Booster board member and Hollywood Senior Center director. “We will prepare your planter for its new flowers and install a plaque with your name to your planter.” The “adopters” are asked to plant and tend the concrete tubs throughout the growing season.
 
“If needed, we will move a planter to a location more convenient to you,” Amber added. A limited number of plants are available free through the Hollywood Farmers Market.”
 
At the height of the blooming season, prizes will be awarded for exceptional planters in a variety of categories.
 
Contact her at amber.kern-johnson@hollywoodseniorcenter.org or 503-288-8303 for details.
 
The monthly Hollywood Clean Up continues — but the day has changed to first Sundays with volunteers attacking weeds and litter on Hollywood’s sidewalks.
 
The new item this year is 10 hanging flower baskets on Northeast Sandy Boulevard. They are funded through a grant from the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations.

My turn

Greg Mistell
Greg Mistell
Visions of Hollywood danced through my head . . .
 
Our planning committee meets frequently to plan Hollywood’s future. We want to start a process that will get people thinking about what will make Hollywood a better place to work, open a business or live. Our first step was asking a small group of Hollywood ‘stakeholders’ how to go about creating a vision to make Hollywood more dynamic.
 
The planning committee is still working on this. The committee had the idea to welcome all the Providence employees who will soon move into the new building on Halsey. The plan was to create a welcome “book,” where we could advertise all the cool stuff our business district has to offer — restaurants, fitness clubs, fresh flowers, cafes, dry cleaners, fish stores, all the kinds of services new people might find helpful. Unfortunately, our contact at Providence said a policy prevents them from participating. So we stopped planning this.
 
I was daydreaming about Hollywood the other day. It seemed like the Pearl district on First Thursday with a wee bit of San Francisco’s North Beach mixed in. Shops were filled with customers. Colorful street cars came and went on Sandy Boulevard, filled with happy people coming, going and spending.
 
Book stores were open late. There was “music in the cafes at night and revolution” in the air. I could smell incense and fish. I could feel the energy that accompanies greatness . . .
 
I was brought back to the real world by a voice asking for money. I was in my car. I gave him a dollar. I wondered how many homeless people call Hollywood ‘home.’ Where do the homeless sleep after Providence bulldozed their camp? What was that smell? Not fish or incense. Maybe it was the revolution in the air.
 
And the planning committee keeps on planning the future.
 
— Greg Mistell, Hollywood Boosters president, Fleur de Lis

Hollywood Senior center earns partner award

The Hollywood Senior Center was recognized April 14 as Partner of the Year by Metropolitan Family Service at MFS’ annual Volunteer Recognition Event. Amber Kern-Johnson, senior center director, and Arlene Halvorsen, Booster and senior center board member, accepted the award.
 
“Their incredibly dedicated staff provides exemplary services to the community, and they’re always looking for new ways to combine services in a lively, engaging and active environment,” said Jana Richardson, MFS development director.
 
The partnership between the agencies goes back nearly 30 years. The center is one of MFS’ RSVP sites for 68 volunteers.
 
Several years ago, when both the senior center and Project Linkage — which provides transportation and other services to help seniors maintain independent living — were in need of a lift-equipped bus, they teamed up on a joint grant.
 
“We’ve found there to be a great spirit of collaboration and care in every aspect of our involvement with them,” Jana said.
 
“Sometimes it’s trying to place volunteers and other times it’s trying to find services for older adults in our community who aren’t always able to fit into a specific category.
 
“They’re a great lead in the delivery of senior services, and their directors have all been respected visionaries.”

Program celebrates 40 years of providing nutrition

More than 120 seniors celebrated National Older Americans Month and Asian Heritage Month during Fook-Lok Loaves & Fishes 40th anniversary.
More than 120 seniors celebrated National Older Americans Month and Asian Heritage Month during Fook-Lok Loaves & Fishes 40th anniversary.
In April 1970 a handful of senior citizens gathered in a church basement in southeast Portland for the tricounty’s first Loaves & Fishes meal. Another14 homebound seniors received the first Meals on Wheels.
 
Now 30-plus sites serve about 5,000 lunches each weekday. Thirty to 70 of those dine-in lunches — and another 120 to 130 Meals on Wheels deliveries — are cooked at Rose City Park Presbyterian Church.
 
It was one of the first five Loaves & Fishes centers to open 40 years ago, according to Mary Langman, center manager.
 
Seniors have two selections, traditional American food and fresh from-scratch Asian entrees. It’s the only tri-county center that offers two menus, a concept Mary instituted in 2004.
 
That was good news for clients of a southeast Portland center that lost its lease three years ago. It merged with the Hollywood center and brought along many Asian-American clients and its name “Fook-Lok,” which means “happy” and “healthy.”
 
According to Mary, half of her clientele is of Asian descent, but the majority of her diverse group prefers the Asian meals.
 
Some come early for social and fitness activities, like Wii, cake raffles and piano concerts. Others come for the nutrition of their only hot meal of the day.
 
The Oregon Food Bank contributes some of the fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products and a third of the budget is provided by the federal government.
 
The remainder comes from local fundraising efforts, including the proceeds from serving lunch annually to Boosters at their May meeting.
 
“We couldn’t do it without local support, contributions and our volunteers,” Mary said.

You can help

Fook-Lok Loaves & Fishes has a knack for keeping costs down while continuing to serve hot, nutritious meals to seniors. The organization suggests dine-in clients donate $2.75 if they are 60 years or older and $5.50 if they are younger.
 
“But not everyone can, said Mary Langman, Fook-Lok Loaves & Fishes Center manager. “They’re living on tight, tight budgets these days.”
 
If you can donate to the nonprofit organization — or provide volunteer hours — contact her at  mlangman@lfcpdx.org or 503-281-8109. She also has a “wish list” of items the center could put to good use.

Stay tuned for August Harvest Festival details

The event formerly known as Third Thursday has a name and a month. It’s August Harvest Festival and plans are coming together for a one day-long event.
 
Musicians, karaoke contests, food, trivia, other games and more will all be among the mix. If you’d like to help put the finishing touches on the August event, call Linda Seals, board member and Posh Designs owner, at 503-288-7674.

Wanted: your e-mail

If you are reading the printed version of BoosterNews and didn’t receive an electronic copy via e-mail last week ... you’re in danger of not receiving future issues.
 
Visit www.hollywoodboosters.com, locate “Newsletter signup” near the top right corner of the home page, type your e-mail address in the associated box and click on “Submit.”
 
There won’t be many more newsletters printed and mailed via snail mail. So don’t delay. We are trying to move to our newsletter to email delivery to save postage cost and trees.  




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