Find out who was given the prestigious Pennington Award – and learn about a group of kids promoting a safer Portland – right here …

Take a look, and see why you should be at the 1st Annual “Black and Blue Bowl” game coming up in a couple of weeks …

Find out why the entire student body of Portland Adventist Academy “played hooky” for a day – and in the process, worked hard helping others …

Find out why officials came out, made speeches, and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open Portland’s new “cool” place to jump, grind – and oh, yes – skate, in outer East Portland’s Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood …

See why the American Legion Post #1 – “out SE 122nd way” – again stepped up to throw a barbeque party for United States Armed Forces personnel, after the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade …

Crewmembers from the USS Shoup (also known as the Destroyer DDG 86) step off a shuttle van at American Legion Post #1 for an afternoon of burgers, and camaraderie with veterans.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For many years, there was an official “Hospitality Center” for visiting United States Armed Forces personnel – especially sailors whose ships were docked at the Willamette River seawall – which welcomed them to the Rose City.

Here’s where to go – either in outer East Portland, or inner SE Portland – to find the freshest produce, fruit and meats, and very nice people …

With samples in hand, market master Steve Voorhees welcomes outer East Portland shoppers to the Parkrose Farmers’ Market.

Story and Photos by David F. Ashton
Two great farmer’s markets – located on opposite ends of our coverage area – are up and running this season.

Parkrose Farmer’s Market
This market is on every Saturday, and market master Steve Voorhees told us, on their opening day, that they were looking forward to good markets this year. “We do run a long season, it’s a total of 27 weeks.”

Wondering what’s happening at Multnomah County these days? Outer East Portland’s relatively new Commissioner, Judy Shiprack, will bring you up to date, if you read this informative article …

Take a look at what you missed, if you didn’t get to their Annual Garden Sale or Children’s Nature Faire this year …

Hundreds of people shopped among thousands of plants at the annual Leach Garden Plant Sale at Floyd Light Middle School.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For as long as most outer East Portland gardeners can remember, a highlight of their year is the Annual Plant Sale hosted by Leach Botanical Garden at Floyd Light Middle School.

Why were patrons pleased to see a python in their presence? Look at what was behind this zoological field trip …

Fiona McGovern, an animal trainer with the “Wildlife Live” program at the Oregon Zoo, unpacks exhibits for the Woodstock Library show.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It’s not often that people go into a library – and, instead of books and computers, find a snake, a wild bird, and giant insects in the stacks.

But instead of fleeing in terror, or just coming to check out a book, families were crowding in to the SE Portland branch library in late March to see the critters.

Look at this story and you’ll see why audiences are saying that this play, written by William Shakespeare, is “A hilarious tale of magic, romance and over-caffeinated treachery” …

Prospera (Yian Saechao), the former Duchess of Milan, exiled to the island, where she controls all with her magical powers. By the way, none of these photos were posed – they were all taken during a performance!

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The Parkrose High School Thespian Troupe 1783 has just debuted their springtime presentation, William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

After the 82nd Avenue of Roses Grand Parade, see what you missed if you didn’t stop by this wonderful community event at Eastport Plaza …

Martial artist Robert Andrejco, with West Coast Taekwon Do Portland, breaks a practice board with his foot, as their members of the dojo show their skills.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
New to the 82nd Avenue of Roses Grand Parade this year was the Eastport Plaza Community Carnival and Izzy’s Cruise-in that followed on April 25.

Find out how this ROSE Community Development Corp. program is reaching out, to turn more renters into homeowners …

Greeting folks as they come to the LHI East Portland Homeownership Fair are ROSE Community Development’s Amie Diffenauer, and Christine Rhoney – SUN Site Manager at Kelly Elementary School.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
When we arrived at the East Portland Homeownership Fair at Kelly Middle School on April 18, we asked co-organizer Christine Rhoney, the school’s SUN Site Manager, why they changed the name of the event from the Lents Homeownership Fair.