President’s Message
The BWNA-organized National Night Out Picnic in Wilshire Park on August 7 was a great opportunity to sample a variety of foods, visit with neighbors, and have some fun. We also learned a bit about next steps for park-related improvements from the Friends of Wilshire Park and their need for volunteers to make those ideas a reality. Attendees enjoyed the musical entertainment provided by Scott White, reprising his role from a few years ago. Kids were able to enjoy some games, the always-popular K-9 police unit dropped by, and Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith (currently a candidate for city commissioner) remarked that she was impressed with the large turnout and cordial welcoming spirit.
Hats off to the BWNA board members, neighborhood families, and residents at large who supplied the evening’s food and beverages and volunteered their time to make this year’s NNO the success it was. Board member and veteran NNO grill-crew volunteer Roger Price summed it up eloquently the next morning in an e-mail to his BWNA colleagues: “I thank every one of our board members and many of our neighbors who helped last night. It inspires me to work with such a group of people dedicated to making our neighborhood great.”
Special appreciation goes out to the following local businesses for donated provisions and raffle prizes:
- Alameda Brewhouse
- Amenity Shoes
- Beaumont Florist
- Beaumont Market
- Fire on the Mountain
- Foot Traffic
- Gazelle
- Math Place on Fremont
- Pip’s Donuts
- Pizza Jerk
- Yo Choice Frozen Yogurt
Additionally, we are grateful for the invaluable support received each year from Wilshire United Methodist Native American Fellowship of Portland for providing the many tables and chairs needed to accommodate people and food.
The National Night Out Picnic came on the heels of Fremont Fest, sponsored by the Beaumont Business Association (BBA), which is always a great day for checking out our local businesses and the many interesting artists, vendors, and organizations (including BWNA) that make up the annual street fair. I was struck by how many people attended from outside the neighborhood and heard a few of those visitors remark that the festival remains pleasant and not too crowded to enjoy. Big thanks to BBA for staging one of Portland’s premier summer events in B-W’s backyard!