President’s Message
Summer is in full swing after a rough winter that caused many a Portlander to question their love of the Pacific Northwest. But having emerged from our long hibernation, the neighborhood is abuzz with activity—gardening, kids playing, and neighbors taking advantage of the lengthy days and fantastic weather to enjoy the great outdoors—both in town and further afield.
As I mentioned in my previous message, one of the missions of your neighborhood association is to help build community. While we all take pride in the attributes of our neighborhood—the shops, gardens, well-maintained homes—what really makes any place special is the people and our connections to each other. Whether it is simply hanging out on the porch with friends, inviting neighbors over for a barbeque, or organizing a block party, there are many ways to build community. And it is important to make use of the opportunities afforded us in the summer months to invest in our neighborhood connections so that we can better watch out for one another, have more fun together as a community, and know the neighbors we can rely upon in case of emergency.
To help foster these community connections, one of the events the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association sponsors is the annual Neighborhood Night Out Picnic in Wilshire Park. On Tuesday, August 1, BWNA will provide burgers (meat and veggie) and hot dogs beginning at 6:30 p.m. I hope you can join us and bring a side dish to share with your neighbors. Coordinating this year’s event is BWNA Vice-President Kathy Campbell, with fellow Board members and an array of other neighborhood volunteers stepping up to assist with setup and cleanup, barbecue grilling, procurement of raffle prizes from local businesses, and family-fun activities.
Another family-friendly Wilshire Park event even closer on the calendar is Movie in the Park scheduled for Friday, July 7. Organized by Portland Parks and Recreation and co-sponsored by BWNA and the Alameda Neighborhood Association (ANA), the musical entertainment and free popcorn begin at 6:30 p.m. Though rare for bad weather to spoil this outdoor celebration, that’s exactly what happened last year when rain forced cancellation. Hopefully clear skies return this year so we can enjoy the movie “Sing”—a delightfully entertaining hit musical with appeal for all ages.
I encourage you to come over to the park to enjoy these events, meet a few new neighbors and friends, and make those important neighborhood connections.