Kids Night Out at Franklin High School
Drop the kids off for a fun-filled night at Franklin High School on December 3, while you go holiday shopping or partying (or recovering from shopping or partying). Ages 4 to 11 (no diapers, please). Prices are $12 for one child, $20 for two, or $25 for three (all in the same family), and the funds will support Franklin. Movies, snacks, crafts and other activities will keep your kids happy.

Glencoe Elementary School news
The students are back, and Glencoe Elementary School on Belmont has over 420 students this year. The Harvest Festival, held at the school on October 29, was a big success again this year. Besides dinner and the annual pumpkin and book sales, there was a country store and an awesome haunted house, as well as games and activities for children of all ages. Proceeds from the event went to support the Glencoe PTA, which is very active in helping to deliver a quality education to every child who attends Glencoe.

Block captain training set for March
Results from the recent Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association survey indicated that many respondents are interested in establishing neighborhood watch in their areas. This activity usually involves making a map of the homes in the block in which you live with an indication of the number of people residing in each house. Name and telephone number can be useful also, particularly in the event of an emergency (earthquakes do happen here!) and to help discourage break-ins and vandalism.

Galina Boyechko, crime prevention program coordinator for SEUL, will provide training for interested neighborhood residents in early March. Tentative dates are Tuesday, March 1, or Wednesday, March 9; watch for more information in the February MTNA newsletter. Please call or email Mary Ann Seth Wish if you’re interested or if you have questions about being a block captain: maryann.wish@mttaborpdx.org, 503/261-0435. You may also let her know which date works best for you.

Future of the deli site across from Atkinson
The federal government soon will dispose of the property it seized at 57th and Division. Community members hope to gain community ownership of the site, and we need your help! Members of the MTNA, Atkinson PTA, South Tabor N.A., and Division Vision Coalition are working with the Portland Community Land Trust and the U.S. Attorney’s office on the deal. We need to raise over $40,000. For more information, call or email Paul Leistner, 503/232-3888, paul.leistner@mttaborpdx.org.

Young parents support committee starting
Are you the parent of a pre-schooler who would like to link up with others in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood? Three parents are convening a committee to organize possible play groups, parent outings, or baby-sitting referral services. We hope you will join us in creating this group and also offer ideas on what Mt. Tabor families need. Please email us at mttaborfamily@comcast.net or call 503/381-7503.

Do you know about the soapbox derby track?
The Friends of Mt. Tabor Park would like to find out more about the old soapbox derby track on the west side of the park above reservoir 5. It has not been used for many years, and information about it seems to have disappeared with time. We would like to know when the track was developed and when it was used, whether any of the past derby participants still live in our neighborhood, and if any of them went on to the national races in Akron, Ohio. If we can collect enough bits and pieces of information, we might be able to create an interesting story about a great local piece of history. If you who have any information whatsoever, please call Dave Hillman at 503/254-5931.

New committee will focus on the environment
MTNA has created a new environment committee in response to the concerns of the neighborhood. Environmental issues were high priorities in the recent neighborhood association survey. Among them were pesticide use in the park and schools, and improvement of wildlife habitat in the park. Committee projects might include tree planting in coordination with Friends of Trees or combating elm disease, and we welcome any other ideas you would care to bring to the group. The emphasis will be on activities, not meetings. All interested people are invited to a get-together to share ideas and launch projects on Tuesday, December 7, at 7 p.m. Please call or email co-coordinators Don Jacobson or Sharlane Blaise at 503/235-6234, don.jacobson@mttaborpdx.org.