Big blues music bash benefits ailing business owner

Join us at Beal St. NW on June 29 for a fund raising event featuring a full BBQ buffet, great blues music and fun ‚Ä¶

Bob Hodges and Margaret Erikson watching an all-star band last fall at the blues music benefit at their Parkrose barbeque restaurant,Beal St. NW. This event helped NW Medical Teams raise $144,000 in donations and in-kind support for hurricane Katrina victims. Now, their friends are doing their best to help this giving couple cover major medical bills.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Folks around here love good barbecue, and enjoy great blues music know about the great tastes and sounds at Beale Street NW, 10721 NE Sandy Blvd. (just east of Parkrose Hardware).

Through hard work, Bob Hodges and Margaret Erikson took this ex-bank, ex-teen club, and turned it into a first-class BBQ joint that swings out.

But more than that, they’ve been responsible for organizing one of the most-successful-ever hurricane Katrina relief efforts, benefiting NW Medical teams.

Then, Bob became ill, and was in the hospital for weeks, undergoing major surgery. Now, it’s their friends turn to come to their aid.

Richard Kiely, Home Run Graphics, is sponsoring the East Portland Blues Benefit on behalf of Bob and Margaret. He’s showing off a Fender Stratocaster guitar they’re raffling off. Richard says, “For just $20 bucks, you, too, might be able to play like a star!”

“They don’t want to talk about it,” said benefit organizer Richard Kiley, owner of Home Run Graphics, a local, full-service printing company. “But Bob and Margaret have done so much for the community; I thought it would be good if their friends and business acquaintances did a good turn for them.”

While the benefit has been organized under the auspices of the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, other Chambers, blues music groups and members of the Parkrose Business Association are lending their support to the June 29 event.

Come and hear some great blues music, enjoy a complete barbecue buffet dinner and have a great time. We’ll be there. Will you?

East Portland Chamber of Commerce Presents
EAST PORTLAND BLUES BBQ BENEFIT
Thursday, June 29th, 2006
Beale Street NW, 10721 NE Sandy Blvd.
(just east of Parkrose Hardware)

6:00 pm to Close
(no kids after 9:00 pm please)

Raffle Prize
FENDER STRATOCASTER ELECTRIC GUITAR
Raffle tickets are $20.00 each – Limited to 100 tickets

Silent Auction prizes include
+ Gourmet Dinner for 4 + Vacation Getaways + Gift Baskets + Golf Gear
And much, much more!

Sponsors Include
Home Run Graphics, Kevin Minkoff, CPA; Labor Ready, Stewart & Tuno Insurance and Business Builders International.

Advance Tickets
$15.00 per person
($25.00 per couple. $35.00 per family)

At the door
$20.00 per person
($35.00 per couple. $45.00 per family)
KIDS UNDER 10 are FREE

Contact the chamber office
at (503) 788-8589 to purchase advance tickets.

Comments are closed.