Our neighborhood enjoyed three great activities in August, all with the intention of bringing people together to foster a sense of Beaumont-Wilshire community. Based on the smiles and diversity of faces from the photos of these events…it worked!
From the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association, thanks go to the Beaumont Business Association for putting on Fremont Fest, the annual street fair held in Beaumont Village. Comments from event-goers included those from kids: “We like the candy people throw at us,” to those of parents: “It’s family-friendly, and we like that!”
THANKS also go out to the many volunteers and businesses that helped make National Night Out, a BWNA-sponsored event held at Wilshire Park, one of the best-attended NNO picnics ever. Local businesses that donated raffle items included:
Beaumont Market Fire On The Mountain Grand Central Bakery Green Dog Pet Supply Little Griddle Noho’s Hawaiian Cafe Pips Original Doughnuts & Chai Pizza Nostra Tacovore
Special thanks go out to the boys and supervisory adults of Scout Troop 107 for transporting chairs and tables (generously donated for NNO picnic use by Wilshire United Methodist Church) to and from the event and for schlepping the bulky, unwieldy rented barbecue and heavy propane canisters to a nearby home post-event for pickup the next morning—all under the expert direction of Scoutmaster and former BWNA Board member Tom Melville. (Their Herculean efforts saved many backs!)
Teamwork was the name of the game, with BWNA Board members, former Board members, and residents at large pitching in, including VP Kathy Campbell as chief organizer of the event; Secretary Barbara Strunk, Treasurer Karla Lenox, and board member Tim Gillespie, who either shopped, sliced veggies, or hauled heavy equipment for the barbecue. Board member and newsletter editor Al Ellis served as emcee.
Special recognition is in order for the intrepid volunteer chefs—former BWNA board members Dave Whitaker and Jack Bookwalter, current board member Cliff Goldman, and Kathy Sandie, who labored long and hard over the sizzling barbecue to cook the hundreds of charbroiled burgers and hotdogs that complemented the potluck fare supplied by attendees. Marissa Gowen led children’s activities at NNO.
Enhancing the annual celebration of neighborhood and crime prevention was the incomparable local oldies-but-goodies band Broken ‘N Hip Band, featuring lead singer Jean Czuba. They ROCKED (and rolled)! Additionally, Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) provided a face-painting table, Portland Police Officer Gore and dog from the K-9 unit impressed and entertained, Portland Park Ranger Damir Dukic and Portland Bureau of Transportation Parking Enforcement Supervisor Donald Hunter (both with personal ties to the neighborhood) were on hand to field questions, and to the delight of children and adults alike, the Portland Fire Department arrived with a big, shiny, kid-climbable fire truck that was parked on nearby Skidmore Street.
The last August event in the neighborhood was the popular Movie in the Park in Wilshire Park, organized by Portland Parks & Recreation and co-sponsored by the Beaumont-Wilshire and Alameda neighborhood associations. The event, held at the west end of the park, featured the 2019 film “How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World” and included music from the band 5 Grand, snacks from vendor Bobablastic, and free popcorn all night.