The ‘public notice’ of this computer security breach was buried – literally – on the obituary page of the big Sunday paper. See what school officials have to say …

This former schoolhouse, serving now as the Maywood Park Campus for Mt. Hood Community College, is the location from which the ID information computer was stolen.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It is understandable that an institution of higher learning – Mt. Hood Community College – would prefer that it receive little publicity regarding an incident in which a computer, loaded with data used to produce student identification cards, was stolen sometime in the first week of September.

A month after the incident, the school’s administration informed the public of this potential security breach by placing a “Public Notice” advertisement in the daily newspaper, and local community papers, on the weekend of October 4.

We hadn’t heard of the theft that occurred at the college’s Maywood Park Campus, located at 10100 NE Prescott Street.

We couldn’t believe it when a sharp-eyed reader told us their ‘public notice” was buried – literally and actually – amid death and funeral notices last Sunday’s OREGONIAN, until we saw it for ourselves.

Here’s how Mt. Hood Community College’s “Public Notice” appeared in the paper.

The text of the Public Notice:

Important Notice for Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) ID Holders

On or around September 8, 2008, a computer used for issuing photo IDs was stolen from MHCC’s Maywood Park Campus. The computer contained the following information: names, birth dates and MHCC identification numbers from approximately 1995 through 2005. No other information was stored on the computer, and most importantly, no Social Security numbers or addresses were stored there. Initial findings from the investigation indicate that this is an isolated incident.

Because MHCC is committed to protecting the integrity of its constituents’ personal information, and the College is taking this situation very seriously, and is reviewing its data security processes and procedures throughout the institution to ensure that the situation never happens again, and is informing its constituents.

According to the Oregon Identity Theft Protection Act of 2007, the information stored on the stolen computer does not constitute personal information.  Individuals with questions about identity theft should contact the Oregon Department of Consumer Business and Services at 503-378-4100 or http://egov.oregon.gov/DCBS/.

For more information, please visit the MHC see Web site at http://www.mhcc.edu/, click on the Quicklinks drop-down menu and select “Data Security.”  Thank you.

School officials comment
Our first call regarding the situation was to the college’s president, Dr. John “Ski” Sygielski, who confirmed that the photo-ID computer was, indeed, stolen from their outer East Portland campus.

“I didn’t know that the Public Notice ad was run in the obituary section,” Sygielski told us. “Mike Wolfe and his team are handling this. He’s in a meeting in Salem; I’ll ask him to call you as soon as he can.”

While we’re accustomed to getting the “brush off” from officials – Dr. Sygielski apparently acted on his promise. Within the hour, we received a call from the school’s Chief Operating Officer and administrative VP, Michael D. Wolfe.

“In 2005, we were testing photo-ID software,” Wolfe explained. “We were doing a ‘beta test’ run with a test sample set of data to see how the system performed.”

Because they were testing software, the computer wasn’t hooked into the school’s database, and thus the hard drive of the stolen computer contained a limited data.

“We intended this ad to run in the ‘public announcements’ section of the newspaper,” Wolfe assured us. He declined to comment further, but added that this incident has prompted the school’s administration to carefully examine the policies, procedures and systems used, to ensure that personal data is kept secure.

Our suggestion: If you were a student of the college in the ten years listed, you may want check your credit report just to make sure an ID thief hasn’t found a way to utilize the pilfered information.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Find out why Central Northeast Neighbors held the event –
and why it was successful beyond all of their expectations …

Taking a brief break, sitting among some of the tons collected at their Electronics Recycling event, Ronda Johnson, CNN’s office manager and project coordinator, says she’s both amazed and pleased at the response.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The photocopier at Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) was on its last legs – and the coalition office didn’t have money to replace the old machine that clicked, whirred, chugged, spit out a copy or two – then shut itself down.

“Our copy machine is in really sad shape,” added CNN’s office manager and project coordinator, Ronda Johnson, as she took a break from during the Electronics, Plastics and Metal Recycling Fundraiser she spearheaded. “We came up with this event to raise the money to buy a new one.”

At the event, held at Glenhaven Park, just north of Madison High School, cars and trucks were lined up on September 20, filled with all kinds of “appliances that plug in the wall”, as well as plastic items and Styrofoam.

CNN’s executive director, Alison Stoll, checks in and collects donations from one of the many neighbors ready to unload their expired electronics and used plastic things.

Raises money; reduces landfill dumping
In addition to helping buy a new copier,” Johnson told us, “this event shows our community how to recycle, and helps them recycle this stuff the right way. Without having an event like ours, a lot of electronic equipment would just go into the landfill.”

The recyclers break down all of this equipment into component parts, Johnson explained. Pointing to an abandoned home computer, “All of the parts will be recycled, reused, or broken down, to the point that only a handful of the remaining pieces will to into a landfill.”

The volunteer pitching old plastic into a recycling bin, is Rose City Park neighbor Fred Stovel.

“We kept the fee is very low; we’re charging just a little more than our recyclers are charging us,” Johnson added.

“We have quite a bit of traffic,” said CNN’s executive director, Alison Stoll, as she checked in folks waiting to drop off their recyclables. “In fact, the response is more than we expected. We,ve had people from Milwaukie, Oregon City and Clackamas. It looks like the word got out!”

Master Recycler Lisa Sundvy organizes recycled plastics at the event. “All of this plastic goes to a company that actually grinds it down and reuses it; none of it will be going into a landfill,” she said.

17 tons of waste
A total of 33,970 pounds of “e-waste” was collected during the one-day event, Johnson later reported. Here’s the breakdown:

• 16,383 lbs of monitors and televisions (151 monitors/210 TVs)
• 3,638 lbs of computers (154 computers)
• 7,679 lbs of general e-waste, including stereos, power tools, misc. electronics
• 2,748 lbs of scrap steel and printers
• 650 lbs of lead acid car batteries
• 605.5 lbs of insulated wire
• 353.5 lbs of household batteries
• 151 lbs of mixed ABS plastic
• 141 lbs of fluorescent light bulbs

“We were all very excited about the results of this fundraiser,” Johnson said. “We thank all of our wonderful volunteers, and all of the media that helped us publicize our event.”

Learn more about Central Northeast Neighbors, Inc., by visiting their web site: CLICK HERE.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Take a look! There’s nothing old-fashioned or boring about these new action-packed games, now at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry …

OMSI president and CEO, Nancy Stueber, welcomes guests to the opening of the new exhibit “Mindbender Mansion”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As more physically-interactive software titles come on the market for Wii and other gaming consoles, it might seem doubtful that a museum could come up with a room full of games that could truly engage young (and adult) visitors. We thought so too, until we visited Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s (OMSI) newest exhibit, “Mindbender Mansion”.

At the exhibit’s premiere, on September 26, we watched as hundreds of youngsters and grown-ups took the challenge of solving the newly-created human-sized puzzles throughout the “mansion”. Some challenges looked to be cerebral; others required full-body participation.

Eager visitors hurry into the “Mansion” for the first time.

Robert, Zandra, and Emmy Olko say they traveled from Tigard to be the among the first Mindbender Mansion gamers.

Play builds better brains
“Mindbender Mansion is an exhibit about problem-solving, and exercising your problem-solving skills,” commented OMSI’s president and CEO, Nancy Stueber, as visitors streamed into cavernous room on the museum’s lower level.

“We all need to exercise our problem-solving skills,” Stueber continued. “The same skills that are used to solve these puzzles may help our young visitors someday unravel important social, environmental or even engineering problems in the future.”

Jonathan, and his dad, Seldon Saks try their hands – and bodies – at playing the wacky furniture-moving game, “Mix and Match”.

Joining the “Space Race” are Jennifer and Douglas Davis as they pull strings to rack up points.

The ‘Mansion’ OMSI built
Over the years, Stueber related, the museum’s staff and management have noted that puzzles are a popular attraction. “We found that – in addition to solving puzzles themselves – visitors enjoyed pulling other people in to help them solve problems. We decided to turn this concept into a whole exhibit.”

The project took about a year, from inception to completion, Stueber noted. “All told, from the people who developed and research the ideas, to designers, into the evaluation team, to the exhibit fabricators, about 45 staff members and contributors worked on this exhibit.”

To add another layer of interest, the OMSI development team created a theme for the exhibit, so each of the room-full of puzzles contributes part of a solution to an over-arching puzzle. “When visitors complete the puzzles, they’ll have collected the clues and secret passwords that permit them to become a member of our ‘Mindbender Society’,” Stueber told us. “Society members are presented with a personalized certificate, and their photo is added to the ‘Wall of Fame’.”

David, and his dad, Tom Vollum, find that the Amazing Maze is like a pinball game in which players must tilt the machine!

Players young and old tackle mind-bending table games at the OMSI exhibit.

Push-ups for the brain
Lee Dawson, the museum’s public relations director, was enthusiastic about the new exhibit. “It’s like push-ups for the brain! While this exhibit is fun and a little bit wacky, guests learn essential problem-solving skills: Identifying patterns, thinking ahead, logical reasoning, and looking at problems from different perspectives.”

The games include:

• Feeding Frenzy – It’s a race in the kitchen as guests try to beat the clock by filling ‘TV Dinner’ trays with five kinds of food on a fast moving conveyer belt. (Does this remind you, at all, of a famous scene in the “I Love Lucy” series…?)
• Space Race – Maneuver a mechanical spaceship around a large game board by cooperating with other players.
• Spelling Fever – Its Hopscotch meets Scrabble®, as players race to correctly spell words by jumping on light-up letter squares.
• Move and Match – Visitors slide their dining room chairs on wheels into a correct pattern, before the clock runs out.
• Amazing Maze – By working together to tilt a giant “floating” table, players work to guide a steel ball into several holes as quickly as possible.

Ready to wait on customers at the newly-redesigned OMSI Science Store is April Powers.

Mansion goes mobile
After the New Year, Stueber said “Mindbender Mansion” start a tour as a “traveling exhibit” at other, similar science museums.

“Come and see one of our best exhibits ever,” she encouraged. “Membership to OMSI is a great way to enjoy it – you can come back again and again to work on the puzzles.”

To learn more, check out their newly-designed web site by CLICKING HERE.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Why this illegal-alien drug-runner thought hiding pounds of pills in a baby diaper was a good idea is beyond us!  But take a look at the stash sharp-eyed Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies found right here in outer East Portland …

MCSO Special Investigations Unit deputies say the baby diaper didn’t keep them from finding the two pounds of ecstasy pills. MCSO photo

Story by David F. Ashton
About 2:00 p.m., a blue Chevy Tahoe with California plates was headed northbound on I-205 on October 8. What happened soon thereafter will bring tears of sadness to rave-goers throughout the region.

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO) spokesman Dep. Paul McRedmond said the driver wasn’t on a sight-seeing trip as he passed through town – he was on a delivery mission. “MCSO Special Investigations Unit, following a drug trafficking investigation, made a traffic stop,” stated McRedmond.

The Tahoe’s driver gave deputies permission to search his truck. “They found a specially-altered center console compartment,” related McRedmond. “Inside was about 4,000 pills of the illegal drug called ‘ecstasy’ wrapped in a diaper.”

Officials say that not only was 21-year-old Alonso Ramirez-Sanchez, in the country illegally, he was carried more than two pounds of ecstasy. MCSO photo

Ramirez-Sanchez was booked into the county jail on three felony drug charges related to his alleged possession and distribution of ecstasy (MDMA). He is also on an “immigration hold” for INS action

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

While all students from three Parkrose schools were eligible for the Masons’ Summer Reading Program, find out how many how many did – and what they won …

Dale Imbleau, Worshipful Master of Eastgate Lodge #155, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Christos Efthimiadis, Worshipful Master of Parkrose Masonic Lodge, begins the Summer Reading Awards program.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Eastgate and Parkrose Masonic Lodges celebrated youngsters who had participated in their Summer Reading program on September 25.

“This year, we expanded the program to include three Parkrose elementary schools: Prescott, Shaver, and Sacramento,” explained Dale Imbleau, Worshipful Master, Eastgate Lodge #155 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Students who qualified for the drawing from Prescott Elementary School await their certificates – and to learn if one of their names was drawn to win one of the new bicycles.

Over the summer, Imbleau, said, young students were required to read 15 books – at their grade level – to qualify for a drawing for a free bicycle. “About 50 students took us up on our offer, and qualified for the drawing,” he told us, “and we have a dozen bicycles to give away tonight.”

Asked why the Masons host a reading program, Imbleau told us, “One of the tenets of Free Masonry is that we have is free thought. By encouraging children to read, we encourage them to become better-educated, and more active in their communities. In short, we equip them to be better citizens.”

Prescott Elementary School student Jack Ramirez draws names out the hat held by Christos Efthimiadis – Worshipful Master of Parkrose Masonic Lodge.

Short program features drawing
Christos Efthimiadis, Worshipful Master of Parkrose Masonic Lodge ,welcomed teachers, parents, and a room full of expectant students to their meeting. “This is our second year at Sacramento School, and we are glad that we can include Prescott and Shaver this year as well,” Efthimiadis announced.

“It is very exciting for us to reward the children. It is our honor to be able to reach out and encourage young readers, and bring them here for the special evening. It’s good that you’ve read books. It’s very important that you continue to do that.”

In addition to the brand-new bicycle, the winners also were given a bicycle safely helmet. Efthimiadis advised them, “Be sure to wear it and stay safe.”

Each child who qualified for the drawing received a Certificate of Participation. With that, the drawing began.

Parkrose Lodge’s Past Master James Akers presents lucky summer reader Mckenna Galyon with her brand-new bicycle.

Summer Reading Program Honor Roll

Prescott Elementary School

• Sonja Keller Young
• Caleb Martindale
• Lamberto Lavadores Villacis
• Steve Mendoza Ruiz
• Luis Soto
• Jason Gutierrez
• Christian Ponce Zuniga
• Daniel Senina
• Ivan Senina
• Bill Truong
• Jamari Gilbert
• Henry Mendoza
• Alan Lavadores Villacis
• Marlene Hernandez
• Karina Patel
• Tabitha Klein
• Nicolay Senina
• Kinsey Martindale
• Maria Than
• Michaela Bersine
• Alina Ursatiy
• Chelsea Lopez Cabrera
• Cherry Mendoza Ruiz
• Kaitlyn Cha
• Elizabeth Escobar
• Tamika Perret
• Shelbie Dunn
• Kelly Cha
• Candy Mendoza Ruiz

Sacramento Elementary School

• Jonathan Almasan
• Kayley Le
• Gabe Sieber
• Margot Amdal
• Yudie Lewis
• Benjamin Almasan
• Dmitriy Rogozhnikov
• Leia Braich
• Moses Ramirez-Torres
• Rikka Gustey
• Cassidy Calyon
• Alexus Torres
• Tyler Minden
• Buno Vongsay

Shaver Elementary School

• Rene Cervantes
• Maryangela Cervantes
• Erick Olvera Duran
• Belen Liliana
• Zemar Smith
• Minh Le
• Nguyen Le
• Ediberto Marvin

“Next year, we hope to encourage even more students to read over the summer months,” Imbleau said. “And, give away more bicycles.”

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

You’ve read here how the aquifer located under outer East Portland near the Columbia Slough provides our back-up source of drinking water. See how this event promotes keeping it clean …

Pirates? Actually, they’re Portland Water Bureau education specialists Jody Burlin, Rebecca Geisen and Briggy Thomas – seen here during their “Aquifer Adventure” event near the Columbia Slough.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
One way the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) helps educate outer East Portland neighbors about the importance of caring for the aquifer – the underground water table near the Columbia Slough that provides our back-up source of drinking water – is by offering lunchtime informational programs. (CLICK HERE to read our article about such an event held during the summer.)

But a couple of weeks ago, the PWB, in conjunction with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, held their annual family event to express the importance of keeping this natural water resource clean and viable.

Showing off an event commemorative T-shirt is shirt Melanie Hering, a volunteer from Grant High School.

Nora Polk holds her little pirate Makeda. “Our kids love pirates; and we love nature,” says Polk. “So, we’re interested in learning more about groundwater – and enjoying a canoe ride.”

Pirates of the Slough
“We’re engaging young people in activities that teach them about groundwater,” said First Mate Rebecca Geisen – actually, she’s PWB’s Water Resources Program Manager. “We’re helping them learn what aquifers are, and showing them what they can do at home to protect their drinking water.”

The Aquifer Adventure has a pirate’s treasure hunt theme, she told us.  “We find that kids love treasure hunts – and everyone likes pirate-themed events.  We consider our groundwater to be a ‘hidden treasure’. Thus, we came up with our annual Aquifer Adventure program.”

Pirate Kelly Ray (Mulholland), PWB Maintenance & Construction Director fights gallantly – but gracefully acknowledges that he is out-fenced by young swashbuckler, Eli Holstein.

Mixing fun with learning
Some of the demonstrations – like having kids race around a track, carrying gallon jugs of water to help them get an idea of how much water they use taking a 10-minute shower – taught water conservation lessons.

“We’ve added an event for the grownups this year,” Geisen told us. “We’re showing them how they can easily make non-toxic household cleaners. This both saves them money, and helps save our environment.”

About 30 volunteers helped out at six educational stations, including giving canoe rides on the Columbia Slough.

How much water does one use during a 5 minute shower? To illustrate the answer, Ayriahna Bauer learns by carrying these gallon jugs around the track, ten times.

Preserving a Portland water source
The event took place just east of the Columbia South Shore Well Field off NE Airport Way near the bureau’s canoe launch. This well field is metropolitan Portland’s secondary source of sanitary drinking water. (See our story about this system by CLICKING HERE.)  Groundwater in the area supplies these wells, Geisen explained, and the well field can serve up to 800,000 people if service from the Bull Run Reservoir is disrupted.

While the major risk of polluted groundwater comes from area companies that use hazardous materials, Geisen said neighbors also need to be aware of the below-ground water resource.

“Potential pollutants poured on the ground can reach and negatively affect the aquifer,” expounded Geisen. “There are parts of our aquifer that aren’t as deep or don’t have confining layers over them. We’re encouraging people to act responsibly and protect the groundwater.”

Kari Salis, Drinking Water Engineer with Oregon Drinking Program making an “Editable Aquifer” in a glass with breakfast cereal, ice cream and soda.

Do your part
We asked what steps neighbors can take to help protect our groundwater.

“Properly disposing of household hazardous waste through the Metro Hazardous Waste Roundup is one method,” replied Geisen. “Don’t pour chemicals or fertilizers down the drain or the storm drain; don’t let motor oil to seep into the ground. When you clean painting equipment, properly dispose of the latex-paint tainted water or paint thinner – instead of dumping it on the ground.”

Finally, she added that it is helpful for neighbors to reduce their use of lawn chemicals, such as fertilizers. “Most people over-fertilize. If you want plants and boshes, consider planting native greener.”

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

What have East Portland Chamber of Commerce members been up to these days? Take a look, right here …

New East Portland Chamber of Commerce member Jerry Chinn, Chinn & Associates, and Steve Messinetti with Portland Habitat for Humanity enjoy a relaxing evening a “Chamber after Hours” event hosted by Judith Huck at Classique Floors.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In addition to the Wednesday morning “Good Morning East Portland” networking events held at various locations, members and guests of the East Portland Chamber of Commerce (EPCC) also gather to celebrate both established businesses and new services in the area.

For example, in late September, EPCC members attended a “Chamber after Hours” hosted by Judith Huck of Classique Floors located on outer SE Stark St.

Chamber co-founder speaks
Years ago, Huck was one of a handful of outer East Portland business people who founded EPCC.

“The reason I helped found EPCC is that East Portland is underrepresented in the greater Portland business community,” Huck told us. “Businesses here really need to band together to have a strong voice with the city and county – to stick up for the citizens and businesses in East Portland. The Chamber helps us be heard at City Hall.”

Delightful refreshments, served in the tastefully-decorated showroom of Classique Floors, makes for a great evening networking event.

‘Best little floor store in town’
“This is a fun event event for us because it brings folks in to see all of our wonderful products and gives them the opportunity to meet our great staff,” Huck said.

Classique floors is a local, woman-owned business serving in entire Portland area for 31 years, stated Huck. “We call it ‘The best little floor store in town’.”

In addition to stocking quality floor and counter covering products, the business also provides interior designers who help customers make appropriate selections, she said. “We have professional estimators who go on location, take measurements, and provide free estimates. But what really sets us apart from other stores is our fantastic staff of professional installers. All of our installations are guaranteed for life.”

About their product line, Huck said they offer floor coverings of all kinds: carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile, hardwood laminate floors, cork and rubber floors. They also provide and install countertop tile, stone and laminate countertops.

Proud to serve her community
“As a growing, thriving business,” Huck added, “we take pleasure in serving our community. We’re very involved with Habitat for Humanity and Snow-Cap Charities. We feel that it’s important to be part of our community.”

You can learn more by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

Chamber members welcome new services and facilities

EPCC members Richard Kiely of Home Run Graphics, Rich Sorem of Stewart & Tunno Insurance (and Chamber president) and Ed Bejarana of Zenith Exhibits helps Willie Hall with Ride Connection (about to cut the ribbon) inaugurate their expanded service to residents in outer East Portland on September 25.

Liz Eslinger with SE Works, Margo Marver of Marver Shiatsu and Reflexology, Chamber VP Pam Olson, Farmer’s Insurance Agent and board member Norm Rice, Realtor with First Class Properties are on hand as a new building at Warner Pacific College is dedicated on September 27.

In addition to lobbying City Hall to make sure East Portland business owners are fairly represented, chamber members also help their community by facilitating ribbon cotton ceremonies and other events that welcome new businesses and services to the area.

To find out more about the organization, check their new website by CLICKING HERE!

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Find out how – and why – these neighbors created a new
event that ties together Parkrose’s past and present …

Enlivening the new “Celebrating the Gifts of Parkrose Together” event are the 71st Ave. Ramblers, playing a toe-tapping mix of old-time string band and traditional music.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In an effort to strengthen inner-community relationships, a group of neighbors put on a unique event on September 20 called, “Celebrating the Gifts of Parkrose Together”.

“The goal of this event is to bring generations together, as well as bring the community together,” explained Mike Vander Veen, East Portland Neighborhood Organization (EPNO) community resource worker and co-organizer of the event. “The idea is to focus on creating an event where people have an opportunity to give what they have to offer.”

Vander Veen said that Bonny McKnight, Co-Chair of the Russell neighborhood Association, started the ball rolling by approaching Rev. Brian Heron of the Eastminster Church about partnering on a couple of events.

In the social hall, co-sponsor Rev. Brian Heron (in the red shirt), from Eastminster Church, welcomes visitors.

Many activities illustrate historical connections
The social hall and courtyard of the church, located on NE Halsey Street just east of NE 122nd Avnue., contained displays and exhibits under a canopy – and music.

One neighbor was demonstrating the finer points of jam-making. At another table, Jerome Harden and his friends were cranking out fresh ice cream the old-fashioned way. “It’s important that people know about the craft of homemade ice cream because, well, it’s the best stuff!” Harden told us.

Inside the Eastminster social hall, neighbors set up historical exhibits that depicted the history of the greater Parkrose area; others showed off their collections of mugs, dolls, and hand-done carving.

Bonny McKnight, Co-Chair of the Russell Neighborhood Association, greets guests at the event’s welcome table.

Event co-organizer Mike Vander Veen is amazed to see that all of the playing cards held in master magician (and local resident) Tim Alexander’s hand have suddenly – gone blank!

Restoring a sense of oneness
We are one community – but one with many ages, cultures, and people,” is how Bonny McKnight put it. “We’ve put on this event to help us connect our community’s youth, seniors, families, and children.”

The event is important to the community, McKnight said. “We think we will all be better off if we know each other, and interact – regardless of age. Our aim is restore a sense of oneness – and wholeness – in our community.”

It came about as McKnight worked with leadership of the Eastminster church looking for ways to help their older members connect with the community. The committee grew into a larger group as members of the Russell Neighborhood Association got involved. “The church did a good deal of the work. Most of the costs for this covered up by a Small Neighborhood Grant through EPNO, funded by Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement,” she explained.

Jerome Harden demonstrates making ice cream the old-fashioned way – and it was delicious!

Promotes community safety
“As people meet, and make new friends,” McKnight continued, “it helps everyone involved make a connection back in the community. Getting to know people we wouldn’t otherwise meet in their daily course of living helps us all feel safer and less isolated.”

In the Russell Neighborhood, many of the residents are widows who still live in their single-family homes.  “We’re finding that more and more of these women feel isolated in their homes, because they don’t know the neighbors who are moving in. They no longer feel safe. We’re trying to bridge the gap from the community they once knew to the community of today.”

All of them from Boy Scout Troop 474, Israel Kamerman and Joseph Bishop spot Ira Kamerman as he demonstrates walking along the temporary, 40-foot long rope bridge they constructed at the event.

From a practical standpoint, related McKnight, “Our committee will use what we’ve learned from putting on this event to see how we can better do a holiday event we have planed.”

Judging from the turnout, it looks as if this celebration was accepted well by the community. Keep watching our Community Calendar – we’ll let you know the date and time of that upcoming holiday event!

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Details of this wreck at SE 82nd Ave. and Woodstock Blvd. are sketchy, but take a look at one intersection-shutting accident, representative of the rain-caused motor mayhem many experienced as the winter rains returned …

The intersection of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and SE Woodstock Boulevard was closed for hours on the rainy afternoon of October 3rd, as workers tried to untangle utility wires from a dump truck with trailer, a car, and a downed traffic control signal.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As the first dark, winter-like days descend over East Portland, the number of traffic collisions spikes up, every year. All over East Portland, a variety of motor vehicle accidents – large and small – were reported over the police radio on the wet day of Friday, October 3.

Fortunately, none of the smash-ups were serious – but at least one of them provided an interesting photo opportunity.

About 1:00 p.m. on October 3, we heard a police call about a crash involving a double gravel truck, a car, and a utility pole, at the intersection of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and SE Woodstock Boulevard.

From what we learned, no one was injured in this odd-looking accident. From this view, it looks like the car has been destroyed. This was NOT the case!

-3 Looking at the car from this angle, you’ll note that the Buick seemed to have escaped the tangle with a double dump truck with only minor scratchs from the power cables.

Downed wires close intersection
When we arrived on-scene, we saw a Knife River dump truck and trailer combo stopped diagonally across SE Woodstock Boulevard, on the west side of the intersection.

A utility pole, on the northwest corner of the intersection, had been snapped into three sections. The upper portion of the pole – the pedestrian traffic signals were about a foot above its jagged end – smashed into the window at the Liberty Buy-Sell store; the security bars inside the store kept the pole from protruding further into the store.

Also west of the intersection was a silver Buick, stopped on another diagonal.

Hovering about a foot above the Buick was the top of that utility pole. The street lamp stanchion affixed to the pole, gracefully arched, followed the curve of the windshield and the hood; the lamp fixture dangled in front of the car’s bumper. Amazingly, we didn’t see any broken glass on the car. The only damage appeared to be a few scratches from the power lines being coiled on and around it.

This usually-busy intersection was closed; traffic signals were hanging chest-high above 82nd Avenue.

Details remain sketchy
Neither the police officer at the scene, nor police bureau officials, were able to provide any further information about this odd wreck, which closed this major intersection for hours, as utility workers worked to untangle the wires and restore service.

When we asked the men who were said to be, respectively, the drivers of the truck and car, what had happened – both refused to comment on the cause of the crash.

That unusual development suggests that perhaps BOTH drivers were at fault! Officials have yet to comment on the incident. No one appeared to have been injured in the wreck.

The utility pole was broken cleanly in three pieces.

We were told (unverified) that the man in the red shirt and hat was the driver of the dump truck rig – here he stands next to the store window shattered by the utility pole.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

What’s all the fuss about a little teddy bear named Corduroy? Discover the message behind this “Read for the Record” effort ….

Enjoying the story of “Corduroy“, as read by youth librarian Sue Ciesielski at Midland Library, are Tristan Hansen, Emma Zallee, Pearl Hilton, and Leah Zallee.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Few of the children gathered at Midland Library on October 2 realized they were part of a nationwide effort to break a world record: The most number of people reading the same book on the same day, an event called “Read for the Record”.

These 34 pre-school tots were instead focused on the pages of Don Freeman’s 1968 picture book entitled “Corduroy” during their morning “Story Time” hosted by youth librarian Sue Ciesielski.

As she turned the pages, the youngsters’ eyes widened as they wondered if the shopworn department store teddy bear, Corduroy, would be able to replace the missing button on his jumper; and thus, consider himself “good enough” to go home with the little girl who earnestly desires him.

As Sue Ciesielski presents the story, few of the children realize they’re part of a nationwide program called “Read for the Record”.

Event focuses attention on pre-readers
“Events such as ‘Read for the Record’ are important,” commented Ciesielski, “because it focuses attention on early literacy – having children become familiar with books, and the concept of reading.”

The term “early literacy”, Ciesielski explained, is helping youngsters learn what they need to know before they actually learn to read.

An organization called “Jumpstart” created the event, and encouraged adults to read Corduroy to youngsters in libraries, schools, and child-care centers around the country to bring attention to the importance of preparing children to read at an early age. The program was made possible here by grants from The Library Foundation and a local firm, Hanna Andersson.

Midland Library – and most of the Multnomah County library branches – hold several “Story Time” events every week to promote early literacy.

Early literacy promoted weekly; year-around
Helping young children develop pre-reading skills isn’t an annual event at Multnomah County libraries.

“Midland Library hosts 11 ‘Story Times’ every week,” explained Ciesielski. “Eight of them are primarily in the English language, but we also have one each in the Vietnamese, Spanish, and Chinese languages.”

By the way, although Corduroy got lost in the big department store while he searched for a btton — he was returned to the toy department in time to be found by the little girl who came back for him the following day, purchased him, and took him home. They were happy together, everafter. We love happy endings!

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Learn the steps the police took to find a man who they say is armed, dangerous – and still on the loose, after this disturbance shut down a large section of the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood …

Traffic is diverted off SE Powell Blvd. during rush hour as police search for an alleged gunman who took a pot-shot at his girlfriend as she drove off.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The usually-slow afternoon drive home along outer SE Powell Boulevard slammed to a complete halt, as police diverted traffic from the street between SE 112th Avenue and SE 122nd, starting about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 2.

According to Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Officer Catherine Kent, it all began with a “disturbance” call to 9-1-1 late in the afternoon, about an event witnessed in the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood.

Because police officers didn’t find the handgun said to be used in the shooting at the scene, the officers who formed a perimeter around the area stood ready to defend themselves, should the armed gunman show up at their position.

The call, from a third-party, informed police that “a male and female were verbally arguing over a set of [car] keys. The female took off in a silver Mercedes, and the male subject took out a gun and fired a round (bullet),” Kent explained.

Officers were dispatched to the area of SE Powell Boulevard and SE 120th Avnue.

When officials suspect that a gunman is on the loose, they call in the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) to help search the neighborhood.

Above, Portland Police Bureau’s Air Two circles the area, looking for the suspect, using their high-power camera system.

Concern grows; SERT called out
From what we heard while monitoring the police radio, a young man, about 5′ 8″ tall with a medium built, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and grey pants, took off on foot. A brief inspection of the vehicle involved in the incident revealed no bullet holes, however.

We watched as police officers searched vehicles leaving the streets between SE Powell and SE Division, mostly from SE 115th Avenue east to SE 120th. From what we heard, police searched for the nickel-plated handgun allegedly used, but didn’t find it.

Because of their concern that an armed gunman was on the loose in the neighborhood, police supervisors activated SERT officers to comb the area. Overhead, the cops’ “eye-in-the-sky”, Air Two, circled with its high-power cameras and infrared sensors, searching for the alleged gunman.

Police officers search vehicles leaving the quarantined area, to make sure the suspect doesn’t slip away in a vehicle.

Neighbors kept from returning home
For hours, folks living within the area were told they could not enter the quarantined zone. “We’re just trying to keep everyone safe,” an officer explained to an exasperated-looking woman with four kids in her car.

“I wish I could get home,” Stella Longham told us, as she waited in the Rock & Roll Pizza parking lot on her way home from work. “There’s a lot of trouble here in this part of town. But, the police seem to react quickly. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

It wasn’t until later in the evening that police allowed residents to return to their homes.

Officials say this man, 20-year-old Eddy John Anthony Lewis, is their person of interest in the case, and should be considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, immediately call 9-1-1.

Police name suspect
The man police say who caused the ruckus is 20-year-old Eddy John Anthony Lewis. Officials say Lewis may be charged with “domestic violence with a firearm” and “attempted assault”. Citizens are urged to call 9-1-1 if they spot Lewis.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News