Portland News and Events for June 11-20, 2015

PP & R Outdoor Pools Open June 15

Portland Parks & Recreation’s seven outdoor pools open for another fun summer of swimming on Monday. The City has seven outdoor and six indoor (open year-round) pools.

Parents who want to enroll their children in swimming lessons should act now. Lessons are available for all age groups and ability levels. Most sessions include 10 lessons for $52.50. PP&R will also offer a FREE Learn to Swim session from June 15-19. Free lesson registration is in-person only, from 8:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Saturday at your neighborhood pool.
Portland Parks & Recreation pools also offer open play swims, water exercise classes, junior lifeguard training, junior swim training, summer swim teams, and special events.

For more information on how to register for swimming lessons or participate in other summer activities, contact the pool in your area or the PP&R Aquatics Office at 503-823-5130.

Please note that Buckman Pool is closed all summer due to Portland Public Schools’ (PPS) construction work at the school, to install a new seismically strengthened roof. The project is part of the PPS School Building Improvement Bond. For more information visit the PPS Bond page at www.pps.net/bond

Third Annual Portland Police Bureau Summer Camp

If you like basketball, bowling, dance, fishing, photography, science, volleyball, plus so much more, then the Third Annual Portland Police Bureau Youth Summer Camp is for you!
June 15-19, 2015 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Portland Police will be working together with high school and college coaches to make these days filled with fun, excitement and new skill building.
The program is for boys and girls, ages 8 to 14, who live in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark Counties, and are ready to build new skills while having fun with their peers and local police officers and coaches.

The program is held at Centennial High School, 3505 SE 182nd Ave. in Gresham.Transportation will be determined after the majority of people are accepted into camp.

Applications may be downloaded at www.portlandoregon.gov/police/summercamp.

You may also contact Deborah Monk, in the Youth Service Division for additional information, at 503-823-4849 or at Deborah.Monk@portlandoregon.gov.

Oregon Lottery Partners with Gamtalk to Help Oregon's Gamblers

Beginning this month, the Oregon Lottery is teaming up with GamTalk - www.gamtalk.org - to provide a free online support service for Oregonians with gambling issues.

GamTalk is an online community that provides an opportunity for people to anonymously discuss their own gambling issues or their concerns about a friend or relative. It also provides an easy way to find out about local services for problem gamblers.

A non-profit organization developed by psychologist Richard Wood, GamTalk has been operating successfully in Canada since 2008. Partnering with the Oregon Lottery will be the first time a U.S. lottery has adopted this service.

The anonymous nature of GamTalk makes it easier and less intimidating for people to discuss their gambling. Typically visitors to GamTalk start by reading about other peoples' experiences and then talk about their own situation when they feel they are ready. It is an effective resource for people who can't access support locally. It is also a helpful resource to use together with locally-provided services where available.

For more information go to www.gamtalk.org.

Charles Drew Blood Drive celebrates a decade of support

American Red Cross announces the 10th annual Charles Drew Blood Drive will be held on June 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Portland Blood Donation Center, 3131 N. Vancouver Ave. This year’s Charles Drew Blood Drive will feature a sickle cell disease discussion panel and a special blood recipient story. All presenting donors will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a 50 percent off Adidas coupon, while supplies last. Coupons are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

In 1941, Dr. Charles Drew, an African American physician and scientist, helped to establish and served as medical director of the first Red Cross blood bank. This blood drive honors his legacy and helps educate the African American community about the need for a diverse blood supply.

Diversity among blood donors is important because red blood cells carry markers that determine blood type, and certain blood types are unique to specific racial and ethnic groups. Blood must be matched very closely for those patients with rare blood types or for those who need repeated transfusions – like patients with sickle cell disease. Patients are less likely to experience complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.

The Red Cross relies on volunteer donors for the 15,000 blood donations needed every day to support patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Blood donors with all types, particularly O negative, A negative and B negative, are urged to make an appointment to give this summer. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.

WaferTech Hiring Event at WorkSource Vancouver June 12

WaferTech, a semi-conductor manufacturer located in Camas, has positions open for Production Specialists and is hosting a hiring event at WorkSource Vancouver from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Friday.

Candidates should have a minimum of one year of stable work history in a fast-paced team environment and should bring copies of their resume and dress as they would for a job interview.

The event will be held at WorkSource Vancouver, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Suite 15 in Vancouver.

For more information, contact John LeMarte at WorkSource Vancouver at jlemarte@esd.wa.gov or (360) 735-5060.

Do you need help paying for critical home repairs?

The Portland Housing Bureau's Home Repair Assistance Program provides up to $15,000 to eligible homeowners in N/NE Portland. Join staff for a short presentation about the program, find out if you are eligible, and get assistance filling out your application. The presentation takes place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 at the Urban League Senior Center, 5235 NE MLK Blvd. Refreshments will be provided. Staff will be available to answer your questions and help you apply. Please make sure you bring the following documents: proof of pay (including SSI, disability or pension paperwork); current mortgage statement; bank statements (two most recent months); homeowners’ insurance. For more information, contact Bev Keagbine at (503) 823-3336.

Fourth Annual Elks Children's Eye Clinic ‘Summerfest’ Includes Free Vision Screenings, Free Rides and More

Children ages 3 to 7 and their families are invited to participate in the Elks Children's Eye Clinic "Summerfest” event, which includes free vision screenings for children ages three to seven, in addition to amusement park ride wristbands for kids who are screened, hotdogs for the first 250 participants, carnival games, balloons, clowns and face painting. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 20, at Oaks Park Pavilion, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way, and includes a short speaking program at 11 a.m. with City of Portland Commissioner Nick Fish and Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute Director David J. Wilson, M.D.

The Oregon Legislature passed a law in 2014 mandating that all children entering kindergarten show proof of vision screening. Trained vision screeners from the Oregon Elks and the Oregon Lions will perform the screenings. The event is a part of a statewide See to Read initiative, which provides vision screenings throughout Oregon and aims to detect vision problems that can only be treated successfully if caught before age 7. The event is hosted by the Elks Children's Eye Clinic at OHSU Casey Eye Institute, in collaboration with the Oregon State Elks Association, Oregon Library Association and the Oregon Lions.

Tower of Power Headlines Aug. 15 Groovin’ On The Grass Concert

Tower of Power – the iconic 10-piece ensemble that has wowed audiences for nearly 50 years with its soulful, horn-driven sound – will headline THPRD’s annual Groovin’ on the Grass concert event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 6-8:30 pm. The show will also feature Portland jazz trio Boy and Bean.

Groovin’ on the Grass will be staged outdoors on a soccer field at the Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex, 158th and Walker Rd., in Beaverton. Gates open at 5 pm.
Tickets will go on sale at 8 am on Friday, May 22, via www.tickettomato.com. General admission tickets are just $10. Early entry tickets, entitling guests to enter the venue at 4 pm (one hour before doors open), are $20. Children under age five will be admitted free. Online sales will continue through Aug. 14.
For more information, visit www.thprd.org or call 503-645-6433.

For more events in the Portland and Seattle areas check our community calendar.