President’s Message
Spring is upon us, and planning for this year’s neighborhood activities is well underway by neighbors and BWNA board members. Thinking ahead to summer, BWNA submitted an application to once again sponsor a Movie in the Park event through Portland Parks & Recreation in partnership with the Alameda Neighborhood Association. Given the demand for these events during the short summer season, we feel fortunate that our application was accepted and look forward to stretching out in Wilshire Park again this summer while enjoying some live music and a movie—hopefully with cooperative weather. Stay tuned for the final timing along with musical and cinematic offerings for this event.
Regarding Wilshire Park, BWNA board members and neighbors have been interested in how to advocate for and take action to make improvements to the park that will add to its beauty and improve its amenities for all to enjoy. Despite growing funding challenges faced by Parks & Recreation (see article, page 1), B-W resident Peter Mogielnicki is spearheading an effort to enhance the landscaping at Wilshire Park for the purpose of improving habitat and water quality as well as adding opportunities for ecological education. With organizational backing from BWNA, Peter and other neighbors from Beaumont-Wilshire and Alameda neighborhoods are seeking grant funding to turn the concept into reality.
BWNA also is busy planning for our annual Taste of Beaumont event, which will be held on April 9 at Beaumont Middle School, beginning at 6:30 p.m. We once again will enjoy music from Beaumont students led by band director Cynthia Plank while enjoying great menu items from some of our wonderful local neighborhood restaurants, cafes, and pubs. This is also a great opportunity to get involved in your neighborhood, as we will be holding elections for BWNA positions and recruiting volunteers to serve on committees and the newsletter team.
Also mark your calendars for May 19, when BWNA board member Jack Bookwalter will lead a two-hour walking tour covering many of our neighborhood’s significant buildings on the city’s historic resource inventory. Also, board member Barb Strunk will point out some of the outstanding gardens along the way. Registration for this event will be necessary, so please be on the lookout for information about this and other neighborhood events on the BWNA website (www.bwna.us) and in our newsletter.
Hope to see you at an upcoming BWNA event!