Don’t miss
this year’s
Multnomah Days
festival and parade
– Page 5
Celebrating 21 years of continuous Southwest news coverage!
Volume No. 22, Issue No. 10
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
KC Cowan takes us
along for a
painting class at the
Buffalo Gap
on PaintNite
– Page 8
Complimentary
August 2014
Summer reading program provides skill-building experience for children
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
In an era where digital screens are ev-
erywhere, one would think that reading
is a pastime only enjoyed by those who
grew up with bookmobiles, book clubs,
and four television channels.
But in Multnomah County, reading
is alive and well, especially during the
long school break.
The summer reading program, spon-
sored by the Multnomah County li-
braries, entices children to read while
encouraging them to become lifelong
library users.
Research shows that the reading skills
a student gains during the school year
are lost if he or she does not read during
the summer.
The program reaches children from
birth through age 18. Parents and chil-
dren track reading progress using a
game that challenges any level reader.
The program works like this:
Children can visit any public library
to sign up and will then receive a game
board.
Participant then set goals and choose
books. Milestones are reached with the
help of their parents, library staff, or
volunteers.
The program relies on the work of
more than 700 volunteers each year – a
majority of whom are teenagers. At the
Hillsdale branch alone, there are ap-
proximately 35 teen volunteers.
Participation is free. To play, children
spend time reading, listening to books,
or completing suggested learning
activities, then mark spaces on their
game boards.
Nearly 110,000 children and teens
registered for the Summer Reading
program in 2013. This makes it one of
the largest programs in the nation.
Seventy-three percent of all youth in
Multnomah County participated in the
program in 2013.
According to Jimmy Kim of Harvard
University, “Reading over the summer
is essential to maintaining literacy gains
made during the school year. Indepen-
dent, self-directed reading is vital to the
development of a child’s literacy skills.”
Self-directed reading is defined as
reading done outside of school assign-
ments solely because the child wants to.
“Summer reading provides just that
kind of skill-building experience,” said
Barbara Head, youth librarian at the
Recent Wilson High School graduate, Kenny Noble, 18, has been volunteering for eight
years at the summer reading program. “I help kids sign up, award their prizes, and help
them choose books,” Noble explained. An honors student, Noble will be attending
Oregon State University in the fall to study engineering. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Hillsdale branch library.
“Children and teens who read during
the summer,” Head stated, “maintain
their reading skills and are more likely
to be successful when they return to
school.”
The summer reading program has
(Continued on Page 3)
Multnomah Boulevard bike, pedestrian improvements continue through October
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Jim Peterson has been building relationships with the contractors at the Multnomah
Boulevard construction project. He lives and works in the heart of the construction zone.
"The crews have been fantastic," Peterson said. "It's the city you need to watch out for!"
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Don’t forget to renew your subscription. Form on Page 2.
The Southwest Portland Post
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509
Portland, OR 97206
For residents, business owners, and
commuters who traverse Southwest
Multnomah Boulevard, construction
just seems to be a way of life.
Ever since the sewer work was com-
pleted years ago, along the same line
where the Oregon Electric railroad once
ran, the Multnomah community has
continued to see its share of delays and
disruption.
The bike and pedestrian project is in
its final stages. What will be a wider,
safer, and more inclusive boulevard, at
the moment is much narrower with no
shoulder for eastbound vehicles.
Currently, a multi-use path for cyclists
and pedestrians is being constructed
along the south side between 25th and
31 st avenues. A long linear green-street
planter will provide a buffer between
the path and roadway.
What looks like a second sidewalk,
along the opposite side of the street, is
in fact an enhanced bicycle track. The
standard sidewalk with a planting strip
and green-street planters are already
in place.
At the July 8 meeting of the Multnomah
Neighborhood Association, vice-chair
Beth Omansky proclaimed, “We no
longer live in a food desert! We have a
safe, easy route to the new Safeway.”
Jim Peterson, owner of Custom
Woodworking (Southwest 25th and
Multnomah Boulevard) works and lives
in the heart of the road construction. He
continues to be one of the determined
community activists keeping his finger
on the pulse of the various projects in
the area.
Peterson was recently elected land
use chair for the neighborhood. As a
trained engineer, Peterson follows the
paperwork trail, attends city meetings,
and speaks up about issues or work that
just doesn’t seem right.
“The bike-pedestrian pathway on the
south side of the project seems to be go-
ing well,” Peterson said recently while
watching a worker put up orange safety
net. “There will be a crossing light at
25th. The bicycles are getting some kind
of activation switch at 31st and maybe
25th. Road paving is supposed to hap-
pen the first week of August, according
to the project coordinator.”
The Post also spoke with Cheryl
Kuck, community outreach staff from
Portland Bureau of Environmental
Services.
Will trees be planted to replace the
older firs that were removed? “Yes,
they will be replaced with fir trees
and will be planted at the end of the
project,” Kuck replied.
When asked about the bioswales
not draining properly, Kuck said, “The
plants need a chance to get established
and do their job. A good, full growing
season generally resolves any initial
slow drainage issues.”
Kuck said the project is on track for
completion in October, 2014. “Since
July, work has been completed on the
north side of the street; fencing has
been erected between the Century
Link knoll and sidewalk; and plants
are doing well in the sidewalk medi-
ans and bioswales will be planted in
the fall.”
For more information about the
Multnomah Boulevard improvements,
please contact Cheryl Kuck at 503-823-7898
or email Cheryl.Kuck@portlandoregon.gov.