While some other kids spent their spring vacation getting in trouble, see why these kids chose to work – really hard – to help improve their neighborhood …
Aimee Collier and Shannon Pyles help a disabled neighbor by carrying junk out of their yard.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It seems as if all some young kids can think about doing during spring vacation is getting drunk or stoned or partying during their break from school.
“I guess this is a little different,” Tray Michael, youth pastor at Eastside Foursquare Church in Parkrose. “We’re out serving the community.”
Giant potholes in this unimproved road slowed their response slightly, but they didn’t let that stop them from arriving quickly …
By the time we arrived at this Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood home, Portland Fire & Rescue crews had put the fire out.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Fire trucks racing to the scene of a house fire on SE 117th Ave., just south of SE Reedway St. slowed to a crawl when the turned south from SE Harold Street.
“Can you believe these potholes?” remarked Battalion Chief Terry Munro, in charge of fighting the blaze.
Learn more about the all-new festival slated for August – and, why a faith group turned a drug-infested, crime-ridden flophouse into luxury accommodations – in this article …
Gail Bash holds the prototype of a new “street banner” that will adorn utility poles along NE Sandy Blvd. proclaiming the expanded Parkrose Festival & Cruise-in scheduled for August 2.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Taking a “field trip” away from their usual meeting place, Steamers Restaurant, members of the Parkrose Business Association (PBA) held their March meeting a few blocks east, at the Quality Inn & Suites. Here are some of the highlights:
Discover why you should pull up a chair for this fun, free event that celebrates one of Portland’s most well-known highways …
Again this year, Dragon and Lion Dancers will entertain and enchant people along the parade route.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The first annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade was a success, by every measure. Since then, the volunteers who put on this event have been working diligently to prepare for this year’s street pageant – next week, on April 19.
Come out and see what they’ve done – even better, decorate a rock to make your mark on this unique Parkrose attraction, located at the high school …
Sharon DeWitt, groundskeeper at Parkrose High School, watches as students help prepare the path and lay pavers.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
To some, a labyrinth is a large-scale puzzle game. But to Sharon DeWitt, Parkrose High School’s groundskeeper, the “Parkrose Community Peace Labyrinth” which she inspired is much more.
Business and unions weren’t satisfied with the office; see who’s donated what to make this “cop shop” an attractive addition to the neighborhood …
Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs tells Sergeant John Anderson, “This is looking really good.”
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
The first step to getting a Portland Police Bureau East Precinct substation in the Parkrose district was finding the location. The Rossi family helped out by giving the cops a favorable lease ($1 per year) on an office on NE Sandy Blvd.
Visual stimuli abounded at this year’s SE Area ARTwalk! Come along; we’ll introduce you to some of the colorful artists we met …
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
There’s been a virtual explosion of talented artists – working in widely divergent media – in inner SE Portland within the last decade.
In 2002, artist Rin Carroll Jackson created the Southeast Area ARTWalk – now an annual event – to help artists connect with one another. The idea caught on, and now this first-of-March exhibition showcases the work of many area artists for patrons and regular folks who enjoy the creative stimuli of meeting the creative artisans.
Police are baffled regarding the disappearance of a 32-year-old outer East Portland woman. Give them a solid lead, and you could get $1,000 from Crime Stoppers …
32-year-old Heather Dawn Mallory, seen here in her “chef whites” was taking classes at Oregon Culinary Institute downtown before she vanished without a trace on March 8.
Story by David F. Ashton
CRIME STOPPERS case #08-13 reads like a fictional detective story we’d see on TV – but it is not. This case is very real.
Just in time for Easter, see (in LOTS of photos) how two SE Portland neighborhood groups bring their communities together with traditional Easter Egg Hunts …
Kaitlin and Jack Nelson get a real “two carrot” treat from the Easter Bunny at Westmoreland’s Easter Egg Hunt.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
There’s no better sign that springtime has arrived than seeing hundreds of kids in two neighborhoods running – baskets in hand – at the start of annual Easter Egg hunts on March 22.
Take a look and see how this inner SE Portland dance school is training young people who will be competing in the upcoming International Irish Step Dancing competition …
Four An Daire Academy students show off their Irish Step Dancing skill – which may take them to the international competition.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Behind the An Daire Academy of Irish Dance, hidden away in an industrial area of inner SE Portland, is a story of passion, romance, dedication – and Irish Step Dancing.
Meet these schools’ ambassadors to the 2008 Portland Rose Festival. Will one of these ladies become the Portland Rose Festival Queen? Take a look …
Standing with her court, Brenda Estela Olmos has just learned she will represent David Douglas High School at the 2008 Portland Rose Festival.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
David Douglas High Princess
It is always an invigorating experience to visit “full-school assembly” at David Douglas High School. The student body is well behaved; but when it’s time to cheer, the nearly 3,000 students nearly lift the roof of the gymnasium.
For the second time in four days, late-night gunfire erupted on SE Division Street just east of SE 122nd Avenue. See what officials – and locals – say about this latest round of violence …
On early Sunday morning, gunfire caused patrons to scatter from what authorities say was an illegal, after-hours party at LaCueva Night Club on SE Division Street, just east of SE 122nd Avenue.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Both neighbors and business people are wondering about two late-night shooting sprees in the Midway area of outer East Portland, near the intersection of SE Division Street and 122nd Avenue.
