for April 16, 2013

Beware of those who represent the ‘majority’

In your Friday, April 5, edition, there appeared an article, “Gun-law clash builds in advance of anniversary,” in which Penny Okamoto of Ceasefire Oregon was quoted as saying, “The majority is coming together to stand up to the very small, but loud, number of gun extremists, and we demand action now.”

This is offensive and uncalled for against individuals who support their Second Amendment rights.

I am always suspect when people claim they, or their organization, represent the majority of Oregonians.

What I don’t hear is a discussion of individual rights and how they play in this discussion. We don’t need more gun laws, but rather the enforcement of those laws already on the books.

Simply because one individual went to the Clackamas Town Center and shot up the place is no justification to blame society or take away individual rights.

People who suffer from mental illness or criminals who kill just to kill will not submit to background checks or registration.

These laws will only violate the rights of people who obey the laws and wish to own a gun and will have no impact on gun violence.

Louis H. Bowerman

Portland

What council meeting was she at?

After reading the April 9 letter to the editor (“Fairview wins with policy decisions”) from Tamie Arnold, I found myself surprised to see what City Councilor Arnold had written.

I am left wondering, what meeting was she at?

I attended the April 3 City Council meeting and I witnessed a very different story. The point of her self congratulatory letter was to point out that the City Council had apparently done a really good thing in privatizing public events.

That, by itself, is a good point because I think even though the economy is rebounding we still have to be fiscally responsible.

However, what Arnold’s letter to the editor fails to mention is that in that same meeting she tried to take the Fairview Chili on the Green Festival out of the hands of the public group that brought the proposal to the City Council and tried to place it back into the city’s hands and the City Events Committee.

In addition, Arnold took exception to the proposal, specifically the use of the Fairview Chili on the Green logo, signage, city owned tents and tasting kits.

This begs the question, how can Arnold claim this as a victory when on multiple occasions she tried to alter the proposal? Can she really call this a success of privately funding a public event when she tried to put it back into the city’s hands?

If she wishes to have events like this privately funded then she needs to allow them to be privately run.

The contradictions are too large to ignore. I have no issue with any City Council member having questions or wanting to change things, it is their right to do and we as residents of Fairview trust that their actions are for the city’s benefit.

However, when I personally witness a council member act against a proposal one day, then take public credit for it the next, it calls into question their integrity. Councilor Arnold, I simply ask you to pick a side.

Keith A Kudrna

Fairview

A bank robbery and bomb scare led to the evacuation of Gresham's Fred Meyer at about noon Tuesday, April 16.

The suspect, described as a man in his 70s, entered the Chase Bank in the Fred Meyer in the 2400 block of Southeast Burnside Road carrying a small computer bag that would fit a tablet, said Det. John Rasmussen, Gresham Police spokesman.

He gave the teller a note and said he had a gun and a bomb. He didn't, however, display or simulate having a gun. Before leaving, he also left his bag on the counter.

No customers were in the bank, but there were quite a few inside the store, Rasmussen said. Everyone in the building was evacuated, while Gresham and Portland police officers on the Metropolitan Explosives Disposal Unit responded, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

The bomb squad determined no bomb was inside the bag. Nobody was injured, and customers and employees went back inside at about 1:40 p.m.

The robber's timing – one day after two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three, including an 8-year-old boy, and injuring more than 170 – made it all the more traumatizing for those involved, Rasmussen said.

“It appears someone is trying to capitalize on the event,” Rasmussen said, referring to the Boston bombings.

Police describe the robber as a thin white male in his mid to late 70s wearing a dark baseball cap, blue jeans and a light-colored long-sleeved shirt. He has gray hair and is about 5-foot-8 inches tall.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Gresham Police Department's tip line at 503-618-2719.

New owners rescue troubled restaurant, make plans for the future

Sometimes, polishing a tarnished reputation is as simple as hanging a banner reading “new ownership.”

And for loyal junkies of Best Burger and BBQ, that announcement sizzles.

“A lot of people were telling me that they were upset they couldn’t go to their favorite burger place,” said Adam Reid, who along with Shannon Chisom, became owners of the burger joint April 1. “Now, they’re excited to be able to come back and we are excited to keep this small business successful.”

From its humble beginnings in a Rockwood food cart in 2011, Best Burger quickly exploded on the fast food scene, earning honors as the People’s Choice in an East County food cart competition, as well as a winner among Outlook readers. Locals braved the elements in herds to stand in line inhaling the scent of barbecue, waiting to order the holy grail in ground beef. The business developed such a following that founder John Cartisser opened a sit-down restaurant 10 blocks west on Southeast Stark Street in early December.

But shortly after opening the new restaurant late last year, Cartisser was jailed after he was found in violation of his probation for a 2010 attempted sex abuse conviction. Cartisser had failed to tell his probation officer he had changed his employment location, frequented a tavern and consumed alcohol. Additionally, Cartisser’s probation prohibited him from having contact with minors or to grace the entrance of a bar. His newly opened restaurant was not only family friendly, but shared space with an over-age-21 establishment.

The iconic burger business was in trouble.

Reid is the owner of Coffee’s On in Gresham Town Fair. He knew Cartisser through the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce, but became acquainted with the burger baron when he frequented the coffee shop to do his bookwork.

“Maria (Reid’s wife) and I mentored John with his food cart business,” Reid said. “We helped him hire his employees and solve his business difficulties because we wanted him to succeed. When John wanted to open the restaurant, Maria and I looked at several places with him. I was simply helping a friend start his business, but I was never a partner.”

Chisom also knew Cartisser through the chamber. While spearheading fundraising for the USS Ranger Foundation, Chisom enlisted Cartisser to offer a burger on his menu and donate a percentage of the burger’s sales to the foundation’s efforts to bring the decommissioned aircraft carrier to Fairview. The Ranger Burger, topped with cheese and pastrami or corned beef brisket, remains one of the restaurant’s mainstay offerings.

Reid and Chisom both said they were “blindsided” by the news of Cartisser’s legal problems and torn over the restaurant’s possible closure.

“We both care deeply about the community and small businesses,” Chisom said. “More than anything, we didn’t want to see another business in Gresham close. And there were 13 employees here who depended on their jobs. The most important thing was to keep the doors open and provide the staff with some continuity.”

Reid began “volunteering” as manager at the restaurant in December. Despite the significant loss in business, Reid and Chisom did a lot of soul searching and joint discussion over whether to purchase the restaurant or let it close.

“We talked to John and we all agreed on a way for him to exit gracefully,” Reid said. “As of April 1st, he has nothing to do with the business. It’s been a roller coaster and we certainly didn’t see it coming that a business would fall into our laps.”

New ownership brought a subtle name change — Best Burger and BBQ — and is meant to be a nod to a “phenomenal product and brand,” Reid said. Nothing has changed, Reid and Chisom added, saying all Best Burger’s employees retained their jobs during the downturn and transition and hiring has begun for an anticipated summer rush.

Breakfast service has been curtailed to two days a week, while the menu is undergoing some “tweaking,” but the trademark ribs, brisket and pastrami are still cooked daily on-site. Beef continues to be ground for burgers each morning and the fries remain fresh cut.

“We learned all the recipes and kept all the procedures,” Reid said. “Everything on the menu is the same, but our success depends on providing something people are talking about.”

So how does a burger and brew on beach sand sound?

“We had sand trucked in from the Oregon Coast so we now have four beach volleyball courts,” Chisom said. “We’re putting in new lighting on the patio and we’re going to put a stage outside on the sand for live music this summer. It’s a challenge to find a place in Gresham to sit outside when the sun’s out and have something to eat. Outside seating is starting to happen in downtown Gresham, but they don’t have sand!”

Along with the beach volleyball courts and renovated patio, Best Burger and BBQ’s back yard features a newly installed fire pit and play area for sand castle building.

“Our vision for this summer is an ongoing beach party,” Reid said. “We’ll have wait staff outside, a fire pit going so people can make S’Mores, kids playing in the sand and beach volleyball going all day. We’re gearing up for a grand opening and great summer.”

Best Burger and BBQ

Where: 17527 S.E. Stark St., Gresham

What: hand-ground burgers and fresh cut fries; barbecue ribs, brisket and pastrami are all cooked daily in-house; an on-site smoker is currently in the permit process; outside dining is adjacent to four sand volleyball courts and firepit.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Online: Visit and like Best Burger and BBQ on Facebook for special promotions.

More info: Call 503-709-9843.

Chamber Calendar

Connect with Success AM Meeting, 7-9 a.m. Friday, April 19, hosted by the American Cancer Society at Oregonians Credit Union, 247 E. Powell Blvd., Gresham

Connect with Success AM Meeting, 7-9 a.m. Friday, April 26, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, café in main hospital building, 24800 S.E. Stark St., Gresham.

Ribbon cutting, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, My Kids Dentist, 387 N.E. 223rd Ave., Gresham.

Ambassadors, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday, April 18, Elmer’s Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner, 1590 N.E. Burnside Road, Gresham.

Try Local First, noon to 1 p.m., Monday, April 22, MetroEast Community Media, 829 N.E. Eighth St., Gresham.

Government Affairs Committee, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, Persimmon Country Club, 500 S.E. Butler Road, Gresham. Learn the pros and cons of a May ballot measure for a levy to maintain funding for publicly-owned natural areas.

Discussion will include the measure’s impact on taxation, economic growth and area livability.

Speakers include Metro Council President Tom Hughes, Metro Counselor Shirley Craddick and former Oregon State Rep. Matt Wand. Cost is $20 for chamber members and $35 (non-refundable) for future chamber members. Register by Friday, April 19, by calling the chamber at 503-665-1131.

Board of Directors, 7-9 a.m. Thursday, April 25, Mt. Hood Community College Board Room, 26000 S.E. Stark St., Gresham.

Floor covering business adds new specialists

Classique Floors in East County has added two consultants to its growing staff.

They will focus on the design of interior floor projects for new and existing homes, offices and businesses.

Jane Gramms, formerly with Interior Focus, is a specialist in home redecorating and remodeling. She will work with contractor clients and home remodeling assignments.

Mark Herron previously was employed at Interstate Flooring. He will work with home building and commercial contractors.

Classique Floors operates a showroom at 14127 S.E. Stark St., and recently underwent a major expansion. The business was founded in 1977.

For more information, call 503-255-6775.

Since November of last year, administrators, faculty, staff and students from community colleges and universities throughout Oregon have been busy meeting with legislators regarding the state’s investment in higher education.

Gov. John Kitzhaber has put forth a budget that earmarks $428 million for Oregon’s 17 community colleges for the 2013-2015 biennium. Those of us associated with the state’s community colleges have appreciated the positive direction of this budget — up from $395 million in the 2011-2013 biennium.

That said, our full-time enrollment over the past few years has skyrocketed: At Portland Community College alone, we’ve witnessed a 44 percent spike. The reality is that $428 million is insufficient to meet the needs of community college students across the state. As such, we were disappointed with the recent announcement from the co-chairs of the Ways and Means Committee that they had not recommended an increase to the governor’s budget for community colleges.

To prevent cuts to services and classes for our students, community colleges are continuing to lobby for a $510 million investment level from the state. At PCC, this funding level will enable the college to ensure student access and success, as well as improve our student outcomes and completions. Funding below this level will necessitate tuition increases, significant reductions in staffing and services, and cuts to programs that respond to business needs for a trained workforce.

Research indicates that communities that invest in higher education are more likely to have a prosperous economy, in part because those with higher education are more able to support themselves financially. The majority of family-wage jobs require education beyond high school.

Community colleges provide that pathway for many students, with career technical training for such jobs as nursing, machine manufacturing and welding. Additionally, community colleges offer transfer programs that serve as the gateway to universities and four-year institutions for thousands of our students.

For the past several years Oregon’s investment in higher education has declined significantly, in terms of the ratio of the budget to the number of students served. In fact, only four states — Colorado, New Hampshire, Vermont and Ohio — provide less taxpayer support per college student than Oregon, according to a recent report from the Association of State Higher Education Executive Officers.

As a means to make ends meet, several of Oregon’s community colleges have reluctantly approved tuition increases. This includes PCC. But we can’t continue to do this; we’ll be pricing students out of higher education if we continue down this path — and without community colleges, many of our students wouldn’t be able to attain education beyond high school or the careers that result from this education and training.

Furthermore, this will impede our ability to meet the governor’s “40-40-20” objective: That by 2025, 40 percent of the state’s adults have four-year college degrees, 40 percent have two-year degrees, and the remaining 20 percent have high school diplomas.

It is an ambitious target that will demand rethinking how we help students succeed at all levels along Oregon’s educational continuum.

To meet the 40-40-20 goal, community colleges must increase the number of its students who earn associate’s degrees and also the number that transfer to universities and four-year institutions. That requires keeping tuition rates affordable and maintaining investments and initiatives that improve student outcomes and ensure a quality education.

Now is the time to remind our legislators of the important role community colleges play in the state’s future and the negative impact a community college budget of $428 million will have on our students and our region. Portland Community College and representatives from Oregon’s 16 other community colleges will continue to advocate for a $510 million investment level — and we need your support.

To get involved, I encourage you to visit PCC’s newly launched microsite — opportunity.pcc.edu — for more information about the legislative session under way in Salem and to share your view about increased state investment in higher education.

Additionally, you can contact your legislative representative directly. If you’re unsure who your representative is, visit leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr, input your street address, and you’ll be able to find out.

We understand the importance of a trained, well-educated workforce to the prosperity and growth of our region’s businesses. Community colleges are uniquely poised to educate students, equipping them with skills to meet industry need and connecting-the-dots between secondary and post-secondary levels of education.

By sharing your voice and participating in the discussion, you’re enabling community colleges to continue creating an educated and trained workforce — one that will build a brighter future for Oregon.

Preston Pulliams is president of Portland Community College.

Troutdale dentist crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon 90 minutes before bombings

Under a clear blue sky Monday morning in Boston, Mark Dorrough joined more than 26,000 other athletes to participate in what he refers to as “the Super Bowl” of marathons races.

It was the second time the Troutdale dentist had trained and traveled to Boston, seeking a personal best and the satisfaction of completing the grueling 26.2 mile course.

Dorrough crossed the finish line at 1:15 p.m., walked to the finisher’s area to rehydrate himself and phoned his wife, Jill.

They reunited within sight of the finish line, to wait for Dorrough’s brother, who completed the course around 2:40 p.m.

Suddenly, time didn’t matter.

“When the first blast happened, we didn’t know what it was,” Dorrough said in a phone interview Tuesday. “When the second one happened, almost right away, I told my wife, ‘That sounds like a bomb.’ ”

Shortly before 3 p.m. Monday, two explosions 12 seconds apart, ripped through the historic Copley Square area along the marathon’s final leg, killing three people and injuring more than 170 others. Sidewalks up and down Boylston Street were lined with spectators, who had been gathering since 6 a.m. for prime viewing spots to watch the world’s premier marathon.

Dorrough’s wife and two teenage children were among the crowd. They had secured good seating along the route, but thankfully, a force of nature plucked them from harm’s way at the last moment.

“They were right between the blast areas,” Dorrough said. “If one of the kids hadn’t had to use the bathroom, they would have been right in the middle of it. It was a miracle from God, really.”

But divine intervention wasn’t done with Dorrough’s family yet.

“My brother crossed the finish line about five or 10 minutes before the first blast,” Dorrough said. “If he’d been (running) a tiny bit slower, he would have been right in front of it. The end of the (course) is usually pretty quiet because runners finish in waves at different times. But after the explosions, it was really quiet. All of a sudden, there were all these sirens and that’s when the panic started. It was absolutely insane. The area went from the scene of a race to a war zone.”

Dorrough, his brother and their families returned to their hotel by mid-afternoon only to find it was under lock down. The front desk was desserted. Lobby restaurants were closed, along with room service and a nearby Starbucks. Dorrough received a text message from a law enforcement friend, after he heard about the bombings, who advised him to “hunker down” in the safety of his hotel room. From their windows on the 22nd floor, Dorrough said they could see the medical tent, an unending line of ambulances and scores of law enforcement and military personnel.

“There was a huge police presence and the bomb squad,” he said. “We ventured out to get something to eat around 9 p.m. and you could see the shock on people’s faces. They just looked stunned. This was such a moment of celebration and it turned into such a tragedy. It’s just surreal.”

Currently in New York City on a previously planned family vacation until Sunday, Dorrough said the day’s events are still registering mentally and emotionally. He checked out of the Copely Hotel early Tuesday morning in the presence of a police officer holding an assault rifle and is trying to address the worries of his 13-year old son.

“He’s been asking, ‘How does this happen? Why would somebody do this?’” Dorrough said. “Who is that evil to go after innocent people? I’m still trying to grasp the reality of it.”

Timothy Carl Harman

Oct. 28, 1962-April 10, 2013

Lifelong Gresham resident Timothy Carl Harman died Wednesday, April 10. He was 50.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at Happy Valley Baptist Church, 14095 S.E. King Road.

Tim was born Oct. 28, 1962, in Portland, to Gene and Ruth (Anderegg) Harman. He was raised in Gresham, were he attended elementary school and Sam Barlow High School.

Tim worked as a welder and mechanic for Ed’s Mufflers in Gresham for 25 years. He also worked for several school districts, as well as Multnomah Education Service District, and in the residential moving industry with his uncle.

Tim was a lifelong member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Gresham. He was an avid fisherman and duck hunter, with a soft heart for animals.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Ruth and Vern Baxter of Happy Valley; and sister, Ruthann Claire Harman of Cheshire.

Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Katherine “Katie” Marion Reimers

Aug. 16, 1960-April 11, 2013

Damascus resident Katherine “Katie” Reimers died Thursday, April 11, in Clackamas. She was 52.

A service has not been scheduled.

Katie was born Aug. 16, 1960, in Redwood City, Calif., to Tom and Patricia (Lewis) Montgomery. She was raised and educated in the San Mateo, Calif., area and spent a lot of time with family near Fort Bragg.

After graduating from high school, Katie worked at a horse boarding facility before moving to Oregon. She worked for Keno’s Grocery, Zeiss Optical, JB Dental and Marjack, before studying business and computer science at Clackamas Community College. Katie was a receptionist for the Daily Journal of Commerce.

She married Wes Reimers on Aug. 16, 1996, in Oregon City.

Katie was preceded in death by her mother. Survivors include her husband; father, of Central Point; sister, Karina Meister of Port Washington, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the BTA Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 618 N.W. Glisan St., Suite 401, Portland, 97209.

Affordable Funeral Alternatives is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald R. Welch

May 31, 1930-April 12, 2013

Fairview resident Gerald R. Welch died Friday, April 12. He was 82.

Public viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at Gresham Memorial Chapel, 257 S.E. Roberts Ave. A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Wood Village Baptist Church, 23601 N.E. Arata Road.

A full obituary will run at a future date in The Outlook.

Gresham Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

Gresham seeks help determining future housing needs

Residents are invited to provide input on a new project that will provide the foundation for a long-term strategy to meet the community’s housing needs.

The Housing Policy Project is part of the 2013 Council Work Plan and calls for studying a variety of aspects of the local area’s needed housing supply. The first chance for the community to provide input on the plan is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Gresham City Hall, conference room 3A, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway.

The project will study how Gresham has changed and how the area will be expected to change in terms of its housing needs, said Laura Shepard, Gresham spokeswoman.

It also will study how needed housing can help with economic development, what the city can do with housing to increase vitality throughout the city — specifically in Rockwood, Civic Neighborhood and downtown — and how Gresham can continue to promoting good quality housing and design.

How the city will be involved in housing issues in the future also will be addressed.

For more information on the meeting or the project, call Principal Planner Ann Pytynia at 503-618-2859 or visit the project page at GreshamOregon.gov/HousingPolicy.

Gresham Farmers’ Market opens May 11

The Gresham Farmers’ Market will open for its 2013 season Saturday, May 11. Located at Northeast Third Street and North Main Avenue in downtown Gresham, the market has more than 110 vendors offering plants, produce, food and crafts. It is open 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday from May 11 to October. Contact the market manager at gfmmanager@yahoo.com or 503-341-4153 with any questions, comments or concerns.

How do generations view the workplace?

The Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center will hold an April Learn at Lunch session focused on generational differences in the work place.

The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at in the Rock Room of Building A, at Gresham Baptist Church, 3848 N.E. Division St., Gresham.

The discussion will look at how generations view things differently.

Topics include what you look for in a company, how long you stay in a position before switching to a new role, and what a perfect manager looks like.

Speakers will include Amber Cochran and Danielle Gonzalez of Little Genius Montessori; Dawn Loomis and Paul Wild of Mt. Hood Community College; and Richard Nowacki of Ricoh Business Solutions.

Registration is required for the brown bag lunch event. There is no charge for members and a $15 for non-members. 

Visit greshamchamber.org to register. For more information, email gacc@greshamchamber.org or call 503-665-1131.

Master Gardener program scheduled

A Clackamas County Master Gardener program will be held from 7-8 p.m. Monday, May 13, at Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie.

The program, “Sowing Seeds with Sarah Patterson,” is free and open to the public.

Patterson is an attorney, an Oregon Master Gardener and director of the nonprofit Lettuce Grow Garden Foundation.  

She will speak about the foundation, established to develop and transform vegetable gardens inside Oregon correctional facilities. 

Using the OSU Extension Master Gardening program and the Oregon Food Bank’s Seed to Supper classes, more than 50 inmates graduated in 2012.

In 2011 the prison gardens produced more than 150,000 pounds of food for their own kitchen and an additional 60,000 pounds went to local food banks.

For more information, call 503-653-8100.

Two candidates are in the race for Zone 2 of the Mt. Hood Community College Board of Directors.

James Zordich, a former Los Angeles museum curator, and Ron Weisdorfer, a retired educator, will vie for the four-year term on the board of directors.

The election for Mt. Hood Community College School Board positions will be held Tuesday, May 21. Ballots will be mailed to voters on May 3.

New directors for zones 1, 2, 4 and 7 will take their positions July 1, with terms running through June 30, 2017. The candidates for other zones will be featured in future issues of The Outlook.

Ron Weisdorfer

When Ron Weisdorfer’s neighbor, Jerry Lyons, faculty adviser of the Ford ASSET program at MHCC, encouraged him to run for the college’s school board, Weisdorfer realized what a logical step that would be.

Weisdorfer says his background in education, business and the Army, along with his experience with the teacher’s unions, give him a comprehensive understanding of education.

“I think the role of a community college in the 21st century has changed,” Weisdorfer said. “If you listen to the president, he’ll say there are 5 million jobs sitting out there, waiting to be filled. They can’t fill them because they don’t have people trained to do the jobs. We need to get businesses and high schools more involved in solving that job deficit.”

He said the announcement of Debra Derr as the MHCC president tells him something about MHCC — “That it can attract a high quality candidate who has already made it to the top.”

Weisdorfer came to Gresham as a high school junior and lived on his family’s mink ranch. After receiving his master’s degree in education, Weisdorfer was drafted into the U.S. Army. He continued with the Army Reserve during his 36 years as a teacher with Gardener Middle School in Oregon City.

Having been on both sides of teacher labor negotiations, Weisdorfer is confident he can help facilitate negotiations without reaching a strike. Weisdorfer would like to see administrators keep the classroom pulse by continuing to teach.

Weisdorfer has three children from his first marriage; one stepdaughter through his wife; and seven grandchildren. He belongs to the Rose City Corvettes and is part of the Drivers Ed Impact Panel through Clackamas Community College, educating young drivers about the dangers of impaired drivers.

James Zordich

For 18 years, James Zordich’s wife has worked as an administrator for the humanities department at MHCC. This spurred him to volunteer for the MHCC Foundation.

“I have had the opportunity to be involved with a large group of people from the college who all have differing views about the college,” Zordich said. “The college is on the verge of major change, and the appointment of a new president who has a dynamic view, I think, will improve the position of the college considerably. I want to be seriously involved in the future of Mt. Hood Community College.”

Zordich said his experience working in a public museum has given him a solid grasp of governmental intricacies, from the administration down to the college budget.

One of his goals as a board member is to be visible on campus, and not just for ceremonial purposes.

“I believe strongly in visibility,” Zordich said. “I want to be available to people who want to express feelings and concerns. Mt. Hood can be seen as the forgotten little college. It needs to do a better job promoting itself and making potential students understand what’s available to them. It takes more than a college catalog to sell a college.”

He said the board has an unenviable position to finalize its budget before May with three bargaining units and that there is some disagreement about where community colleges such as MHCC should be going.

As a student who attended community college, Zordich says community college can be a major psychological stepping stone for students.

“MHCC is not as humongous or diversified as Portland Community College — it’s a more intimate enterprise,” Zordich said. “I want it to be there for my grandson.”

Zordich and his wife have one daughter and two grandchildren. He’s a member of the Portland Horseless Carriage Club.

April 11 marked the 45th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act

In the children’s book, “A Pig Is Moving In!”, Henrietta Hen, Nick Hare and Doctor Fox are distraught to learn an ill-reputed mammal is taking up residence into their building.

Pigs are dirty and messy, and why would this pig be any exception?

As the trio learns, though, there is much more to characters than meets the eye, and a pig can be a wonderful neighbor.

The Fair Housing Council of Oregon and Cleveland High School drama students partnered for a story time presentation at the Troutdale Library about fair housing rights Thursday, April 11.

During the story time, Cleveland High juniors Brookelin McKay and Eleanor Herreid-O’Neill read to 12 children and their families, offering equal housing coloring books and playdough afterward.

April is Fair Housing Month and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the federal Fair Housing Act that protects civil rights in housing.

In honor of the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, signed into law April 11, 1968, a variety of library readings are being held throughout the area.

“I’d never heard of Fair Housing Month, but I think it’s so good there’s a place focused on fair housing rights,” Joy Lunneborg, a parent, said. “It’s good people have a place they can go when they’ve been discriminated against.”

Rayven Settler, intake specialist with the Fair Housing Council of Oregon was available to speak with families after the event and offered resources from the council.

While Mandy Fantroy said her family had never experienced housing discrimination, she appreciated the premise of the event.

“I love that they’re raising awareness in the community,” she said.

Jane Ferguson, drama teacher at Cleveland High School, said the partnership between the school and council not only allowed her students to bring awareness to housing rights, but to learn the history of housing rights in Oregon and prepare for the housing market when they head off to college.

As part of their studies on fair housing, Cleveland students will watch the response play to Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” Bruce Norris’ “Clybourne Park.”

For more information, visit fhco.org or email dhess@fhco.org.

In the wake of the tragic Boston Marathon bombings, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is warning consumers to be on the lookout for phony charities soliciting funds for the victims.

Scam artists are becoming increasingly adept at exploiting disasters for personal gain, said Jeff Manning, Department of Justice spokesman. According to news accounts, a fake Twitter account called @_BostonMarathon appeared almost immediately after the bombings in Boston offering to donate $1 for every retweet. The Twitter account was quickly suspended after users warned the account was fake.

“Scammers came out in force after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, after Hurricane Katrina and after Superstorm Sandy,” said Ellen Klem, Director of Consumer Outreach and Education. “They’ll try once again after Monday’s senseless bombing. Don’t let them prosper off the tragedy. Be generous, but skeptical.”

Consumers should remember the following tips: 

• Do not give out personal information such as credit card or bank account numbers over the phone.

• Checks should always be made payable to the organization, not the person collecting the donation.

· Beware of callers who want your money fast. When solicited by phone, always ask the caller to send you written materials about the charity. No legitimate organization will insist that you donate immediately.

· Do not donate cash. Legitimate charities will be pleased to receive a contribution by check. Don’t send contributions with a “runner,” by wire or overnight parcel pick-up service.

· Be sure you are contributing to a legitimate organization registered with the Oregon Department of Justice by searching its online database at www.oregonconsumer.gov or by calling 971-673-1880. You can also visit www.guidestar.org, a national clearinghouse of information about charities and their performance.

The Oregon Department of Justice, a national leader in policing charities, licenses and regulates more than 18,000 non-profits. In 2012, the department took legal action against more than 20 non-profits for misleading solicitations.

Anyone who may have been contacted by a scammer should call the DOJ’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or go to the Oregon Department of Justice web site at www.oregonconsumer.gov.

Mt. Hood Pops

The Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra will present its Pops Spring Concert at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Mt. Hood Community College, 26000 S.E. Stark St.

The concert will feature performances by the winners of the orchestra’s student concerto competitions, in addition to the Pops’ own repertoire.

Tickets are available in advance through the Mt. Hood Pops Office at 503-669-1937. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, $45 for families. For more information, visit mthoodpops.org.

Troutdale Open-Air Market

Shop for organic produce, fine arts and crafts and food at the Troutdale’s farmers’ market, located in downtown Troutdale. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the Depot Park Rail Museum, 473 E. Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale. Visit windancemarkets.com.

Live Music

Edgefield Live Music Series — McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale. All shows are free, for ages 21 and older and are held in the Winery unless noted otherwise. For more information, visit mcmenamins.com/edgefield.

• NAIA, 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.

• Jon Davidson, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17.

• Hunter Paye, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, Blackberry Hall.

• Loves It, 7 p.m. Friday, April 19.

• Naomi Hooley’s Keyboard Confessions, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

• Billy D, 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

• Skip vonKuske’s Groovy Wallpaper, Monday, April 22

• Caleb Klauder & Sammy Lind, Tuesday, April 23

Live Music at Celebrities — Celebrities Parkway Grill, 20725 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Fairview. No cover charge. Call 503-666-2027 for information.

• Jimmy Thompson Jam Session, 4 p.m. to midnight Sundays.

Open Mic Jam — Gresham Inn, 117 N. Main Ave. 8 p.m. Sundays. Hosted by Back Alley Jammers. For more information, call 503-661-1403.

Open Mic Jam — M&M Lounge, 137 N. Main Ave., Gresham. 6 p.m. to midnight Sundays. Classic rock, blues, boogie blues, country, alternative, originals, acoustic, electric with live band. Sound system, drums, amplifiers provided. For more information, call 503-665-2626.

Karaoke — 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Midnight Roundup, 345 N.W. Burnside St. For more information, call 503-489-5860.

n Flexor T, 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 19-20.

Park Place Coffee — Live Music Saturdays. Free. All ages. April 27: Tom Arnold & Sig Paulson.

For more information, call 503-808-1244 or visit parkplacecoffee.com.

Arts & Culture

Art Exhibit — Caswell Gallery in Historic Downtown Troutdale, 253 & 255 E. Columbia River Highway, Troutdale, is displaying works by Mike Rangner, Cynthia Feustel and Philip Smith through April 30. Rangner lives in the Willamette Valley, which has allowed him to pursue his love of plein air and studio painting. Feustel’s figurative work is realistic and true to life. The studio is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Info: 503-492-2473, caswellsculptures.com.

“Inside Out” Art Exhibit — Mt. Hood Community College, 26000 S.E. Stark St., through April 29. The Fireplace Gallery in the Student Union hosts a free art exhibit, featuring works by Gabriel Fernandez. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fernandez’s art is an interpretation of everyday objects in our world, but slowed down to portray a particular scene. People requiring accommodations due to a disability should call the Disability Services office 503-491-6923 or 503-491-7670 (TDD).

2013 Gresham Art Committee Juried Show — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through June 6. Gresham City Hall, Visual Arts Gallery, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Reception: 5:30-7 p.m. April 23. Info: greshamartcommittee.com.

A bank robbery and bomb scare led to the evacuation of Gresham's Fred Meyer at about noon Tuesday, April 16.

The suspect, described as a man in his 70s, entered the Chase Bank in the Fred Meyer in the 2400 block of Southeast Burnside Road carrying a small computer bag that would fit a tablet, said Det. John Rasmussen, Gresham Police spokesman.

He gave the teller a note and said he had a gun and a bomb. He didn't, however, display or simulate having a gun. Before leaving, he also left his bag on the counter.

No customers were in the bank, but there were quite a few inside the store, Rasmussen said. Everyone in the building was evacuated, while Gresham and Portland police officers on the Metropolitan Explosives Disposal Unit responded, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

The bomb squad determined no bomb was inside the bag. Nobody was injured, and customers and employees went back inside at about 1:40 p.m.

The robber's timing – one day after two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three, including an 8-year-old boy, and injuring more than 170 – made it all the more traumatizing for those involved, Rasmussen said.

“It appears someone is trying to capitalize on the event,” Rasmussen said, referring to the Boston bombings.

Police describe the robber as a thin white male in his mid to late 70s wearing a dark baseball cap, blue jeans and a light-colored long-sleeved shirt. He has gray hair and is about 5-foot-8 inches tall.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Gresham Police Department's tip line at 503-618-2719.

Gordon Russell Middle School students learn first hand about the Civil War

History came to life Monday, April 15, for eighth-graders at Gordon Russell Middle School, as Union and Confederate army re-enactors descended on the school’s campus.

“This is a lot better than reading in a textbook,” Sarah Meyer, an eighth-grade student, said.

Each year, costumed re-enactors with the Northwest Civil War Council visit Gordon Russell to put on demonstrations of life during the Civil War. Throughout the day, Monday and Tuesday, clusters of eighth-graders made their way through ten Civil War stations.

“It is a ‘living history’ opportunity for students to get a hands on experience with a very important part of American history,” Eric Neiwert, an eighth-grade social studies teacher, said.

From firing a cannon onto the football field to learning about life on the home front, students got up close and personal with the Civil War era.

“If you add every single war we’ve ever fought in America, including up to today in Afghanistan, they don’t add up to the casualties in the Civil War,” John Leckie, a re-enactor portraying a southern artillery 1st Sergeant, said.

Corbett Childrens Theater stages Thornton Wilders Our Town

It’s easy to take the little things for granted. But when you take a step back, it’s the little things that are most significant.

This is the premise of Thornton Wilder’s beloved play, “Our Town,” opening Friday, April 19, at Corbett Children’s Theater.

“One of the reasons I’ve always loved it is the important message of really paying attention,” said Angel Williams, production assistant. “We notice the dramatic and exciting things, but the things we really miss are the small moments of life.”

Set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, N.H., during the early 1900s, “Our Town” paints a portrait of everyday life. From 1901 to 1913, the narrator, referred to as the stage manager, details moments of life and death in the small town.

Ben Johnson, 16, a home-schooled junior, plays the stage manager. For the first time in his experience of 20 shows, his character breaks the fourth wall, with him talking to the audience throughout the play.

“It’s been really weird learning to interact with the audience,” Johnson said. “I’m doing everything I’ve been told not to do.”

Johnson described the cast as a “happy, fun-loving, close-knit family” and said the cast members further bonded through the play’s themes.

“Pay attention to everything,” Johnson said. “Don’t get caught up doing little things that don’t matter. Have lunch with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Take your kids out to play.”

Emma Stewart, 13, a seventh-grader at Gordon Russell Middle School, who plays Emily, described the play as really realistic and deep.

“It’s not over-the-top,” she said. “Anyone who comes to see it can relate to at least some of the characters. The message is living is great. Most of the time we don’t realize that. I hope when they’re done watching it they’ll think of it as more of a special thing we get to do.”

For Corbett High seniors Trey Smith, 18, and Logan McGown, 18, the play — their last in high school — has been particularly poignant.

After battling a stomach issue in March that forced him to stay home from school and be in and out of the hospital, Smith wasn’t sure he’d be able to appear in the play as Charles Webb, editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel. His good friend McGown stepped up to be an understudy.

“I hope the audience’s eyes are opened,” Smith said. “That they can see once it’s gone, nobody knows what’s next or what happens beyond mortal life. You have to savor it while you’re here. The play is elegant in its simplicity and portrayal of everyday life.

“It’s really worth it to be immersed in this family of friends,” he said. “Even if it hurts, so what. I am here with my friends. I am happy and it’s beyond worth it to be back.”

McGown noted that Corbett shares many qualities with the fictional Grover’s Corners.

“Our town is really radiant,” he said. “It’s a small little town where everybody knows everybody and there’s definitely that community feeling.”

Williams said the play spurred the actors to look deep inside themselves for character development. She said the students had a lack of applause for themselves and wanted it for each other.

“They understood they didn’t get to fall back on costumes, music or comedy — just on themselves and each other.”

“Our Town” was first staged at McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1938. It went on to Broadway, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The Corbett production runs through Saturday, April 27.

The Wildwood Consort, a classical chamber ensemble, wants to bring audiences “Bach” to where he once belonged.

That’s right, the famed German composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, spent four months in Lübeck, in what is now Germany, where he studied with Dieterich Buxtehude (pronounced “Bucks-ta-huda”).

Bach’s teacher was as famous in his time as Bach later became in his, says Michael Wilhite, the Consort’s viola da gamba (bowed string instrument) player.

“Buxtehude is largely overshadowed by Bach,” Wilhite says. “Over the centuries, (Buxtehude’s) organ music continued to be played, but a lot of his other music that we’ll be presenting was lost until the 20th century.”

The Wildwood Consort likes to “unearth unusual composers and play music that is not played in concerts,” Wilhite says, and Buxtehude fits that bill.

The ensemble will perform nine vocal and instrumental pieces by Buxtehude during a 3 p.m. concert Sunday, April 28, at St. Aidan Episcopal Church, 17405 N.E. Glisan St.

Along with Wilhite, the Wildwood Consort will feature soprano Melanie Downie Robinson; Everett Redburn on lute and theorbo (plucked stringed instrument); Leslie Hirsch, from St. Aidan, on violin; and Mark Jones (organist and choirmaster at St. Aidan) at the harpsichord and positive organ.

Portland premiere

Wilhite is not sure, but he believes this might be the first time a concert devoted completely to Buxtehude’s work will be presented in the Portland area.

“I think some people will be surprised how modern this music sounds,” he says.

Buxtehude, who lived from around 1637 to 1707, employed a technique called basso ostinato, a repeating bass line, that is also characteristic of rock ‘n’ roll, Wilhite says.

“You have a driving bass line and above it you have stringed instruments,” he says. “It sounds very improvisatory.”

Composers like Buxtehude were indulging in some “interesting trends at that time,” he adds, exemplified by “stylus phantasticus” or “fantastic style.”

“It consisted of a lot of unexpected sounds with sudden changes in the texture of the music,” Wilhite says. “Mainly you hear a lot of this in the organ music. It’s a whole cluster of different things — melodic, unexpected harmonies and an unusual use of rhythm.”

Bach was so taken with Buxtehude that in 1705 he walked more than 250 miles from Arnstadt, where Bach was a church organist, to Lübeck to learn from Buxtehude. The elder composer offered an assistant position to the younger composer upon the condition he marry Buxtehude’s eldest daughter. Bach left Lübeck a bachelor, but nonetheless married his style to that of the man who wished to be his father-in-law.

“Bach’s choral preludes would be the type of music he studied with Buxtehude,” Wilhite says, adding Bach’s composition became more complex after learning with the elder organist.

Sonata bad idea

Buxtehude’s sonatas for chamber ensemble stand nearly alone in the history of chamber music, Wilhite says.

“Other North German composers such as Erlebach and Becker employed the same scoring of violin, viola da gamba and cembalo (harpsichord) — a combination almost unheard of in Italy, birthplace of the sonata,” he says. “But Buxtehude’s sonatas are quite different than the suites of Erlebach and Becker, which offer a predictable sequence of dance movements introduced by a prelude. Buxtehude’s sonatas are anything but predictable, varying in length from three to 14 contrasting sections and featuring a compendium of musical styles and techniques.”

And, as a viola da gamba player, that’s just fine for Wilhite.

“I am intrigued by the fact Buxtehude himself was a da gamba player,” Wilhite says. “When I play the music I think of that. As a composer he wants what he wants, and he doesn’t make it easy for you. He certainly draws everything out of the instrument, from high to low.”

A young man faces allegations of attempted aggravated murder for a shooting Tuesday night at a local MAX station.

Johnte Jovan Jones, 19, of Southeast Portland, is being held on $260,000 bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center on allegations of unlawful use of a weapon and attempted aggravated murder.

He reportedly fired a gun at two young men on the MAX platform at Northeast 162nd Avenue and East Burnside Street at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16. The two victims told police they were walking on the platform when an unknown man walked up behind them and fired several shots their way.

The uninjured victims ran away, and the suspect was last seen running eastbound on Burnside.

Portland's Gang Enforcement Team investigated and identified Jones as a person of interest. Following a short police pursuit that started near his apartment in the 16200 block of Southeast Main Street, officers arrested Jones at 11:40 p.m., said. Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland Police spokesman.

Police also recovered a handgun that was thrown from the vehicle during the chase.

- Experts offer tips to help prevent child abuse

Gresham grandfather Jim Kaufer is a man on a mission.

His YouTube video — “Want to stop your baby from crying?” — posted three months ago has more than 11,500 views and puts a powerful personal perspective on shaken baby syndrome, a brain injury resulting from violently shaking or slamming a baby’s head against something.

Five years ago, his daughter’s husband shook their baby, Rockell DiNucci. As a result, she can’t sit or stand on her own, and for all intents and purposes she can’t move. She’s also blind.

Her grandfather knows too much about child abuse, brain damage and how it can derail lives to not do the utmost to prevent it.

He understands that parents and caregivers get frustrated and overwhelmed.

And he has a simple remedy.

Earplugs.

“This right here will take the edge off,” he says, holding up a $1 pair of earplugs.

Experts have many suggestions for calming parents and babies. Here are a few.

How to calm a frazzled parent

• Take a deep breath and count to 10.

• Leave the baby in a safe place, like a crib, and walk away. Leave the room and take a break.

• Call a trusted friend or relative to take over for a while. Then get away, get some rest; in short, take care of your needs, too.

• Contact a local parenting support group, mom’s club or dad’s club.

How to calm a crying baby

• Make sure basic needs are met. Feed, burp, change the diaper. Is the baby wearing comfortable clothes? Is she or he too warm or too cold?

• Take baby for a walk outside in a stroller or for a car ride.

• Hold baby against your chest and gently massage. Also, breathe slowly and calmly. Some babies respond to a parent’s calmness and quiet down.

• Rock, walk or dance with baby.

• Offer a pacifier, rattle or toy.

• Lower any surrounding noise or lights. Or turn on some white noise, like a vacuum, hair dryer or a similar recording. Singing or talking in soothing tones also might help.

• If all else fails, make sure the baby is in a safe place, like a crib, and walk away. Take a break.

Sources: The Shaken Baby Alliance, aboutshakenbaby.com

Gresham's Jim Kaufer speaks out to prevent fate met by his granddaughter Rockell DiNucci

It’s been five years — six as of this coming Sept. 9 — since a young father’s reckless act forever changed the course of his infant daughter’s life.

In the seconds it took for Brandon DiNucci to shake his 6-week-old daughter, he injured her brain so severely she can’t sit or stand on her own.

That act of frustration, anger and abuse not only altered Rockell DiNucci’s life, it altered those of everyone around her.

Her father, now 26, was released from prison last summer on June. 29. He pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted assault and received a five-year sentence. With time off for good behavior, he served about four years and can’t have any contact with his daughter for three years.

Rockell’s mother, Ashley Ashford, with help from Ashley’s parents Jim and Lisa Kaufer, care for the girl around the clock.

For years, Jim tried to process the growing anger inside him. Three months ago, he finally did something about it.

Jim filmed a video, showing in shocking detail, what happens to the brain of a baby who is violently shaken. It’s stomach-churning, heart-stopping, tear-jerking stuff — and it’s gotten 11,737 hits on YouTube. (To see it, search the site for Jim Kaufer or for “Want to stop your baby from crying?”)

Since then, he’s received emails from all over the globe.

“Full House,” a magazine in the United Kingdom is featuring an article about Rockell in its May 9 issue.

Next Monday, April 22, he and Rockell will join others in Portland at the Multnomah County Courthouse as part of the first Million March Against Child Abuse, a national effort to bring attention to child abuse prevention and to fight for tougher penalties for child abusers.

When they’re done there, they’ll go to a hospital, where Rockell’s mom is scheduled to give birth to a baby boy, Cruz.

Because, despite how drastically all of their lives changed on Sept. 9, 2007, life does go on.

Life changes in an instant

While Rockell, then just an infant, was being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, she stopped breathing a block from the family’s Gresham home.

Doctors told Ashley her baby was not viable. She’d never be able to breathe, eat, talk or walk without assistance.

Extreme swelling of her brain and bleeding had turned most of the baby’s brain to spinal fluid, leaving just the brain stem in the back of her brain intact.

Rockell stunned doctors by breathing and eating on her own. She’s had five brain surgeries. Her right eye is a prosthetic. She can detect light in her left eye, but is legally blind.

Her limited physical abilities also are deteriorating. A few years ago, Rockell could roll from her belly onto her back, but otherwise couldn’t move on her own. Now she can’t even do that.

She used to be able to stand for a few hours in a device called a stander, which helps prevent hip displacement. Now, she can stand for about 20 minutes - partly because her right hip is displaced, which makes it painful to place weight on her leg.

Her deterioration is due to a number of factors. She’s getting older, growing bigger and her brain can’t keep up with the changes, Jim said.

Not being able to afford all the physical therapy she needs is another issue. Rockell needs two to three sessions a week, with each session lasting two to three hours, in order to keep her muscles from atrophying and to stay limber.

Instead, she gets one hour once a week.

The state pays for 24 sessions a year, so the family is paying out-of-pocket for the other 28 sessions she gets each year.

In July when Rockell turns 6, the state will cut the number of covered sessions in half to 12.

With the girl’s father negligent on his child-support payments — as of April 2, he owed $3,256 — the family has no way to pay for the uncovered physical therapy sessions.

Brandon DiNucci did not return a phone call asking for comment on this article.

There is no fix

DiNucci was still in prison when Ashley divorced him. She got remarried last November. Her new husband, Chris Ashford, graduated from Sam Barlow High School’s class of 2005 along with Ashley and her ex-husband.

Chris and Ashley have a daughter, Rahya, who turns 2 in May.

The family lives in a house right across the street from her parent’s home in Southeast Gresham.

This allows Rockell’s grandparents to take care of her as much as they possibly can. In fact, while Ashley is pregnant with baby No. 3, and chasing after a toddler, Rockell is living with her grandparents.

“It’s the best thing for Rockell for now, and we love having her here,” Jim said.

Jim is active with several online support groups for those dealing with the affects of shaken baby syndrome, lending advice and perspective. He also fields invitations to speak at events and has become deeply involved in shaken baby awareness efforts.

With his YouTube video being so well received, he plans to make a series of them showing everything from Rockell’s physical therapy to what it takes to prepare her food and feed her. She must be spoon fed pureed food, much like you’d feed a baby. She also will wear diapers for the rest of her life.

“Her injuries are permanent,” he said. “When you shake a baby, and you ruin their brain, they’re done. It is truly like Humpty Dumpty. You can’t put it together again.”

So Rockell will never walk.

Or stand unassisted.

Or do so many of the things most people take for granted.

As Jim speaks, Rockell’s mother nods her head in agreement.

“There’s no hope,” Ashley said.

But that doesn’t diminish their love for Rockell.

“We have to make the best of her life and give her love,” Lisa said.

And that’s just what they’re doing.

“She smiles, she knows when people are around,” Lisa said. “If they’re laughing and playing with her she smiles. She knows happiness.”

“Rockell has this super cute little personality percolating just under the surface,” Jim said. “And she’ll smile sometimes as if to say, ‘I hear what you guys are saying. I can’t respond, but I hear you.’ ”

If you go

What: Million March Against Child Abuse

When: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, April 22

Where: Multnomah County Courthouse, 1021 S.W. Fourth Ave.

Details: A nonpartisan, grass roots, nationwide effort to unite all child advocates in solidarity on April 22, 2013, for peaceful demonstrations against child abuse. The event is timed to take place in April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, to raise awareness and ask for tougher sentencing for violent crimes against children in the U.S.

Protests are taking place in Washington, D.C., and in cities across the nation.

Experts have many suggestions for calming parents and babies. Here are a few.

How to calm a frazzled parent

• Take a deep breath and count to 10.

• Leave the baby in a safe place, like a crib, and walk away. Leave the room and take a break.

• Call a trusted friend or relative to take over for a while. Then get away, get some rest; in short, take care of your needs, too.

• Contact a local parenting support group, mom’s club or dad’s club.

How to calm a crying baby

• Make sure basic needs are met. Feed, burp, change the diaper. Is the baby wearing comfortable clothes? Is she or he too warm or too cold?

• Take baby for a walk outside in a stroller or for a car ride.

• Hold baby against your chest and gently massage. Also, breathe slowly and calmly. Some babies respond to a parent’s calmness and quiet down.

• Rock, walk or dance with baby.

• Offer a pacifier, rattle or toy.

• Lower any surrounding noise or lights. Or turn on some white noise, like a vacuum, hair dryer or a similar recording. Singing or talking in soothing tones also might help.

• If all else fails, make sure the baby is in a safe place, like a crib, and walk away. Take a break.

Sources: The Shaken Baby Alliance, aboutshakenbaby.com