Ownership Change for Bethany Lutheran Church
Representatives of the Oregon Synod, longtime owner of the Bethany Lutheran Church property at NE 37th Avenue and Skidmore, recently informed BWNA leadership that it is gifting the site and its buildings to the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). At BWNA’s June 8 board meeting, the non-profit agency’s Community Development Director Sky Waters was in attendance. He acknowledged it was too early in the process to reveal any plans for the site, but he’ll return with more information as a scheduled speaker at BWNA’s July 13 general meeting.
In an earlier email from Waters to BWNA’s board president, he wrote, “We understand there has been interest and curiosity from neighbors about the future of the site, and we wanted to proactively introduce ourselves and start building a relationship. While we are still early in planning and do not have finalized future plans to share, we wanted to connect, provide background on who NAYA is, and begin an open line of communication with the neighborhood.” For more information about NAYA, visit nayapdx.org.
Get Social! Neighbor Organizing Gen-X Club for Women
Would you like to join in casual, local activities and meet new friends? Karen Burnett, a longtime resident of Beaumont-Wilshire, is interested in organizing a Gen X-focused women’s group for activities and community building.
“It’s been said that at 40-plus we’re old enough to remember life before the internet and young enough to wonder how we became the adults in the room,” said Karen. “If you can relate, this group may be for you!”
The group’s purpose is to bring neighborhood women together through activities like dog walks, hikes, coffee/drinks, game nights, or dining. All suggestions are welcome!
Those interested should email Karen at portlandeastsidesocial@gmail.com. She asks that you include the following:
- Your primary goal for joining the group, such as making new friends, creating more community, exploring Eastside dining spots, and/or walking and outdoor activities.
- Activities that interest you, such as coffee and conversation, game nights, dining out, dog walks, and/or local hikes.
- Times you are most likely to attend events: weekday happy hour 5 - 8 p.m., weekday evenings after 7 p.m., Saturday mornings/afternoons, or Sunday mornings/afternoons.
Karen is hoping to get responses in time to start planning some summer activities, so jump in!
Play for Free at The Paladins League
In a late May email from The Paladins League in Beaumont Village, co-owner Jess Monsey announced they will no longer charge for access to Paladins’ extensive board game library.
“Since we opened in November of 2024,” she wrote, “we’ve been on a family quest to create a space in our neighborhood where our priority is bringing people together in real life and lifting people’s spirits. So, in the face of the world’s chaos, we want to double down on our sense of purpose,” added Monsey.
Her parting words in the email were poignant: “We hope this helps even more people to enjoy each other’s good company in our space more often. We all need each other.”
Find The Paladins League at 4765 NE Fremont St. Visit thepaladinsleague.com for more information.
Friends of Wilshire Park News
Website Reboot
Friends of Wilshire Park (FoWP), a BWNA committee, invites you to visit its updated website for information about the park and to learn how you can get involved. As FoWP continues to develop the website, volunteers will be adding information about quarterly meetings, events, and a neighbor spotlight section. Visit friendsofwilshirepark.org for details.
One-Legged Crow
Are you the good Samaritan who took our resident crow to the veterinarian to help with its injured leg? Rumor has it that someone helped the crow, often referred to as “Peg,” by taking it in for medical care. The leg was amputated, and now Peg seems to be doing great. We would love to do a story on you! Please send an email to friendsofwilshirepark@gmail.com. Follow FoWP on Instagram @friendsofwilshirepark.