In our May-June issue, we met the Heijenga family, who delivered the BWNA newsletter for an incredible 28 years. They’ve since passed the baton to a wonderful family who lives just across the street.
Beth Fitzgerald grew up in Juneau, Alaska, and Darin Richardson in Northern California. Both landed in Portland about 20 years ago, and Darin remembers choosing Beaumont-Wilshire for its accessibility, diversity, and community feel. He and Beth met soon after through mutual friends and were married in 2017.
The couple now has 8-year-old twins, Tamsin and Beckett. As their family grew, they needed more space, including room for an ADU for Beth’s mom, Susan. Rather than leave the neighborhood they loved, they searched locally and found the perfect home with a large yard just a few blocks away. They moved in 2024 and are finishing the ADU now.
They quickly struck up a friendship with their new neighbor, Chris Heijenga, and when she offered them the paper route, they happily said yes. Chris took Tamsin and Beckett out in March to show them the ropes, and by May the Fitzgerald Richardson family had officially taken over.
The route covers 50 homes, and Beth is confident the twins will soon be delivering solo. “It’s a great way to teach our kids responsibility and to meet our neighbors on the adjacent blocks.”
Tamsin and Beckett are natural fits for the job. They’re outdoorsy kids who spend much of their time on two wheels, leading the Vernon Bike Bus and biking to school year-round. The whole family loves hiking and backpacking when they’re not exploring the neighborhood together.
Jamie Gardner is a Portland native and Windermere agent putting her UO journalism degree to use here — finally! She’s lived in Beaumont-Wilshire since 2020 with her husband and two dogs. When she’s not with clients or touring homes, Jamie loves to travel, tackle house projects, and enjoy the local food scene.