It was spring of 1980 when Mount St. Helens awakened from its long slumber, the destructive eruption blanketing Portland in ash, the endgame anyone’s guess (weeks? months? years?). But fate was on our side with this one — the worst of it over in days, totally behind us by fall. Emblematic of the region’s collective sigh of relief was the refrain from a popular ballad of the day, beautifully crooned by the harmonizing Australian ensemble Little River Band: “Time for a cool change.”
Whether in times of peril or in everyday life, connectedness with friends and neighbors makes a difference. A stanza from “Cool Change” expresses it this way:
There’s lots of those friendly people
They’re showing me ways to go
But I never want to lose their inspiration
That sentiment is repeatedly expressed in feedback from Beaumont-Wilshire newcomers and longtime residents: namely, appreciation for welcoming, supportive neighbors. Appropriately, then, “community connectedness” is at the heart of BWNA’s largest annual event — our all-neighborhood block party along Skidmore Street, adjacent to Wilshire Park. Happening this year on September 11, the party will feature live music, dancing, food vendors, and games for kids. See page 6 for details.
The theme of connectedness is also central to B-W’s summer trial run of the Beaumont Crossing public plaza, located in the center of the Beaumont Village business district on 44th just off of Fremont. Co-sponsored by BWNA, Beaumont Business Association (BBA), and Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), this outdoor venue is designed to serve as a nexus for community “happenings” such as interactive activities and musical performances. Come autumn, Beaumont Crossing will be dismantled and subsequently evaluated by BWNA, BBA, and PBOT in terms of net benefit to the neighborhood… with next year’s reprise hanging in the balance.
Another source of community connectedness is the revitalized B-W/Alameda Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) led by neighbor Bec Lawson. This volunteer group will be an important support system in helping us keep our cool should we experience a natural disaster, such as the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake — aka “The Big One” — or a volcanic eruption, ice storm, or whatever. Bec will be presenting at BWNA’s Sept. 14 board meeting at 7 p.m. at Sylvan Learning, 4300 NE Fremont St., Suite 150. I hope you will join us!
by Al Ellis, BWNA Board President