What you don’t know about correctly using “Child Safety Seats” could actually kill your child. See what dozens of East Portlanders learned from a traffic cop ‚Äìalso a father ‚Äì about these life-saving devices ‚Ķ

Heather Hunt learns how to properly use Parker’s child safety seat from Portland Police Officer, and father, Brett Barnum.

Story and photo by David F. Ashton
As a cop assigned to the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division, Bret R. Barnum sees the result of vehicle crashes nearly every day.

“We’re the officers assigned to investigate wrecks,” Barnum tells us, “so we see, first hand, the difference well-used car safety seats make.”

Walking away versus carried away
Barnum illustrates his point by telling stories of two very similar crashes.

“A car was hit in a grinding T-bone [side impact] collision by an SUV going at least 30 MPH. The truck struck right where the child was sitting. When I arrived on scene, I found the child properly secured in with a seatbelt in a ‘booster’ seat. The result: The child walked away, without a scratch, completely safe and unharmed ‚Äì not even a bruise.”

Barnum looks down, speaks in a lower voice and says the outcome was tragically different in a very similar crash, also involving a young child in a booster seat.

“In this accident, the child in the booster seat was only secured by the lap belt, not the shoulder strap. She had severe internal abdominal injuries; we thought she wouldn’t live. Fortunately OHSU’s Dornbecher hospital was able to save her.”

Putting the ‘safe’ into safety seats
We caught up with Barnum at a Child Safety Seat Clinic in Oak Grove on February 10. “Over half the folks we’ve seen here have been from Inner Southeast Portland,” he says.

The purpose of the event, held in partnership with Alliance for Community Traffic Safety, is helping parents learn how to correctly use their safety seats.

Barnum is helping Heather Hunt, a Sellwood resident. “Parker’s grown into a new car seat. We wanted to get it installed correctly.”

Officer Barnum goes over the child safety seat checklist, making sure Heather’s baby, Parker Hunt, will be safe in his new seat.

The officer makes sure the checklist is complete, as he completes his visit with Hunt: “The seat is new; the owner’s manual is with it; it conforms to safety standards; it passed the ‘pinch’ test; and the safety belt can easily be secured to the seat.”

“Things I learned today,” Hunt tells us, “are the importance making sure your child’s safety seat is secure, so it can’t slide from side to side. And, I now understand the importance of having the baby’s restraints positioned correctly around his shoulder blades.”

As she drove off, Hunt thanked Barnum, saying “This was very, very valuable for me ‚Äì and Parker.”

Barnum takes one last look to make sure this young passenger will be safe in his new seat.

83% improperly installed
We learned from Barnum that Child Safety Seat Clinic technicians report finding that 83% of all seats are not installed properly.

“Had these people not come in,” Barnum says, “they’d still be out on the road, unintentionally risking the lives of their kids. These parents have the best intentions for protecting their children. But, with car seat technology rapidly changing, properly using them can be confusing.”

Most common problem seen
The most common problem, Barnum explains, is that the harness system, in the car safety seat, tends to be too-loosely secured. “There shouldn’t be slack in the straps.”

When the straps are too loose, he shows us, the child can be ejected out of the car safety seat into the car itself, at high velocity. “The crash force dynamics take a real toll on the children who are ejected.”

A parent’s prospective
“It is up to the parents to protect their little kids who can’t protect themselves,” Barnum says.

“I have two boys myself. When I go to a crash and see a child walk away from a severe accident because they are protected ‚Äì it can bring a tear to my eye. You look at them and think, ‘Thank goodness someone cared enough to do it right’.”

Learn more
Discover vital information about using child safety seats, and future clinic locations and dates at www.ACTSOREGON.org, or call toll-free: 1-800-772-1315.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Look at this article and you’ll learn why hundreds came out to enjoy a great breakfast ‚Äì and support the “Meals on Wheels” folks ‚Ķ

Carolyn Williams, and her youthful charges, Evelina and Diego, enjoy a great breakfast benefiting the Cherry Blossom Loaves and Fishes Meals on Wheels center.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A steady stream of people, with a lean-and-hungry look in their eyes, poured into the East Portland Community Center all morning long on February 3.

It didn’t take long to turn these famished folks into sated patrons, as they consumed piles of pancakes and plates of biscuits and gravy ‚Äì along with a heaping serving of scrambled eggs and ham. They washed it all down with coffee and orange juice.

And, this massive breakfast only set them back $3.75 a person.

What was the event? It was the Cherry Blossom Loves & Fishes Center’s annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser.

Loaves & Fishes Center director Tamara Bailey works with volunteers Larry Jacobs, Susan Black, and Janis Crandell as they dish up breakfast for hundreds.

“Each center is responsible for raising part of their own funding,” explained Cherry Blossom Loaves and Fishes Center director, Tamara Bailey. “This is one of our biggest events, ever. We’ve had 200 come in to join us for breakfast today.”

Because almost all of the food, supplies and labor is donated, Bailey said, all of the funds brought in from the event will go to help feed elderly people in their homes, and at the center.

You can help
“We always need volunteer drivers and kitchen help,” Bailey told us.

If you’d like to help, stop by the Cherry Blossom Loaves and Fishes Center at 740 SE 106th Avenue, or call (503) 256-2381

© David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Think nothing is happening, during the bleak “dead-of-winter” months, at our city’s only botanical garden? No! See what’s going on ‚Äì right now ‚Äì at this outer East Portland natural paradise ‚Ķ

Scotty Fairchild, Steward of Leach Botanical Garden, shows us a blooming Ribes Laurilfolium (evergreen currant) before he starts his monthly Saturday morning Gardener’s Tour.

Story and photo by David F. Ashton
This time of year, most Saturday mornings are cold, gray, and damp. So, we wonder why Leach Botanical Garden holds tours – even in the winter.

To find out, we visit the garden’s steward, Scotty Fairchild, before he begins his “Gardener’s Tour” at the outer Southeast Portland property.

“We have more things in bloom during the winter months than we do during the peak summer months,” Fairchild tells us. “This is because of our site, plant materials and ecology here at the Gardens. There are probably 30 things in bloom today.”

Fairchild greets the guests who are about to take his winter-morning Gardener’s Tour at Leach.

The gardens are open to the public every day.

But, a good reason to take the Gardner’s Tour, Fairchild says, is he can point out things of interest that are “very subtle, this time of year. If you look carefully, you’ll see a lot of things in bloom. We look at twigs, buds and the other living systems including our large bird population. We’re seeing the rodents and small mammals getting more active.”

“We let plants go through their cycle. There is very little human manipulation of the plant materials at Leach Botanical Gardens,” says Fairchild.

Next tour is March 3
Fairchild conducts the Gardener’s Tour on the first Saturday of each month.

“During this tour, I am able to share–in a little more depth–information about the horticulture and botany processes you’ll see here.”

The 90-minute walking tour begins at 10:00 a.m. “I enjoy sharing my passion for this community resource, right here, in mid-southeast Portland,” Fairchild tells us.

Admission is free, though donations are requested. Group tours are given by appointment. For further information contact Nancy at (503) 823-1671. The garden is at 6704 SE 122nd Ave, Portland (just south of SE Foster Road).

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Many of you took our advice, and attended the last City of Portland Fix-it Fair of the season ‚Äì it was packed! But, if you didn’t go, see what you missed–and why you should plan on going next fall ‚Ķ

Lisa Peters, of the Portland Water Bureau, shows Mayor Tom Potter some of the water-saving devices being given away at the Winter Fix-it Fair.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
We don’t take sole responsibility for the crowd that descended on Madison High School on NE 82nd Ave. of Roses for the last “Fix-it Fair” of the season on January 27.

But, we met many readers at the fair. They thanked us for alerting them to this unique, free event.

“At every table here,” commented Mayor Tom Potter, “they’ve told me this is the busiest of all Fix-It Fairs to date.”

Interest in the topics presented at the event, the Mayor said, is on the rise. “I think people are looking at what they can do around their house, and in their lives, to save money and help the environment. And, some of what they learn here can even save a life.”

East Portlanders pack the halls of Madison High, learning how to reuse, recycle, save energy – and money.

“I came here for the great classes, the information they provide,” said neighbor Robert Taylor. “I can’t think of any other city that sponsors a great event like this one!”

The “burger queens” from Burgerville USA make up hot-off-the-grill lunches, served free to the hundreds of participants attending the fair.

Yup, a free lunch
We talked with Gary Walen, who with his crew from Burgerville USA, were making lunch for those at the event. “Did you know we recycle our frying fat into bio-fuel? And, we use 100% “green” wind-generated electric power for our stores.”

Potter said of the restaurant chain, “These are the kind of Portland area companies who have taken a leadership role here.”

Participant Mary Borthwick, here talking with PGE’s John Karasaki about how to insulate her pipes and lower her power bill.

Insulating to save energy
Participants could be seen carrying long, black foam tubes throughout the fair. When we met John Karasaki at the Portland General Electric booth, we found out what they were.

“These tubes are really pipe insulation,” Karasaki said. “It is the correct size to go on the pipe that runs from the water heater to the fixtures which use it. They are easy to install, and save quite a bit of energy and heat loss to the air. We at PGE care about the wise and efficient use of energy.”

Sharing with area residents about the benefits of working with their neighborhood association are Ruth Hander, Madison South Neighborhood Association chair, along with board members Dawn Tryon and Tyler Whitmire.

Neighborhood association represented
“This is a great opportunity to network with neighbors and interact with citizens,” said Dawn Tryon of the “Save Madison South” neighborhood committee.

Neighborhood associations, Tryon said, are what give a “sense of community” to residents throughout Portland. “Here, we’re working with neighbors, and businesses — especially those along 82nd Avenue — encouraging a partnership to increase the quality of life in East Portland.”

Showing a sense of humor, Andrea Lewis of the “Re-Direct Guide” gives us her best “Vanna White” impression. “This guide is important because helps individuals make immediate changes in their lives that will help the environment.”

On the way out, we speak with the show’s producer, Jill Kolek, Office of Sustainable Development, City of Portland. “We’ve had a lot of people come out, perhaps 600 in all. Started out crowded right when we opened, and people have been coming through all day.”

The Fix-it Fairs, held three times a year, are “great because the more people we can empower to save energy, help the environment, be safe and live more efficiently, the better off we all are,” Kolek told us.

Look for Fix-it Fairs next fall
While the Fix-it Fairs are over for this season, Kolek said she hopes the city will continue to sponsor the events, starting again late next fall.

We asked Mayor Potter to comment on the future of the fairs. He told us, “We expect these fairs to continue. The whole idea is to get people to get involved. We’ll eventually get to a tipping point at which more people are interested in environmental issues than those are not.”

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

If an influenza pandemic hits East Portland, 40% of its business will be forced to close for as long as six weeks. Everyday life, as we know it, will be suspended. Read this, and find out what business people learned from the “flu guru” of Multnomah County ‚Ķ

Pulling no punches, Jessica Guernsey Camargo, Program Supervisor with Multnomah County Health Department, describes the impact a flu pandemic will have on businesses and residents

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Last summer, we brought you the hard facts about what would happen if the “Bird Flu” turns into a worldwide pandemic. Portland is along the “Pacific Flyway” along which infected birds from Asia may travel.

The bottom line: People will die, life in the city will be disrupted ‚Äì and don’t expect the government to take care of you.

Enlisting business people’s help
In late January, the Multnomah County Health Department’s (MCHD) program supervisor in charge of pandemic planning, Jessica Guernsey Camargo, MPH, spoke to business people from the East Portland area.

Speaking in an assured, matter-of-fact voice, Camargo presented an “Avian and Pandemic influenza Update” containing some disturbing information.

“First, seasonal influenza is typically spread with a sneeze,” she began. “It affects up to 20% of population; the figure is higher among children.”

Getting flu shot helps, she said. “And, good hygiene is basic, for prevention. This means wash your hands; cover your cough, and stay home when you’re ill.”

Pandemic influenza defined
“A ‘Pandemic’ is a worldwide outbreak of flu that occurs nearly simultaneously around the world,” explained Camargo.

She said it’s well-known that a lot of people died during the pandemics of 1918 and 1957-58. But, in 1968-69, most people didn’t know there was another pandemic outbreak underway.

Current pandemic assumptions
Camargo warned, “We do not know what the next strain of pandemic will be, so we can’t produce a vaccine. When we do, it will take 6 months to make a vaccine.” Anti-viral drugs will have a limited effect, she added, and will take some time to produce. “There are concerns regarding viral resistance to current virus medications like ‘Tamaflu’.”

The Avian Influenza, she continued, called “HP-H5N1”, is primarily a disease among birds–mainly in Asia. The “HP” stands for “Highly Pathogenic”. “It is passed from birds to humans ‚Äì not humans to humans, at this time. While few people get infected, over half of those who catch it die from it. We’re testing birds here in Oregon, but we haven’t seen it, yet.”

A role of MCHD, Camargo explained, is disease surveillance–identifying and containing a disease outbreak.

Another role of the county agency is planning for emergency response, should a human-to-human pandemic flu virus arrive in the Pacific Northwest. In November, MCHD coordinated a statewide preparedness exercise called “PANDORA”.

Information gained from this exercise, Camargo related, includes revising the MCHD emergency response plan to include:

• Increasing public information community education and engagement;
• Increasing hospital capacity; and,
• Increasing ability to deliver medications and vaccinations.

The county health department’s Jessica Camargo describes the responses to a pandemic their bureau is permitted, by law, to take.

Community-level intervention
Asked if a quarantine would stop the pandemic, Camargo replied, “We do have the ability to do that. If it is early-on in the pandemic, and we have an isolated situation, quarantine may be effective. But it is not practical to quarantine a neighborhood.”

While the MHDC has the legal authority to impose a quarantine, Camargo told the group, “we don’t want to completely disrupt the community. When the situation is past, we want something left to come back to.”

She urged businesspeople to think about the effect that different steps to limit the impact of a pandemic could have on their businesses.

Increasing from moderate to severe responses, as needed, the MHDC proposes:

1. Routine patient isolation;
2. Focused contact notification/management;
3. Quarantine of small groups;
4. Closure of specific facilities and events;
5. Community-wide activity slow downs (stay home days) including
6. Cancellation of school and public events;
7. Broad closures of businesses, schools and events; and,
8. Strict communitywide quarantine.

Camargo listens to the concern that a pandemic might shutter many small businesses, voiced by 82nd Ave. of Roses Business Association president Ken Turner.

Effect of measures on businesses
“People still have to buy groceries when they’re sick, don’t they?” asks participant Jean Baker, president of the Division/Clinton Business Association.

If a pandemic worsens to the level of requiring community-level intervention, Camargo said the officials will begin to “enforce ‘social distancing'”. “In a pandemic scenario, it is possible that more than half of a company’s workforce may be too ill to work. This is why both citizens and businesspeople need to be prepared and make a plan.”

Ken Turner added, “This could destroy many small and micro-businesses here in East Portland.”

“So, ‘the government’ can’t help?” we asked.

“There is no magic wand,” Camargo responds. “There is no ‘cavalry’ coming. We’ll all be dealing with this at the same time. It will require every single person to make this a livable situation.”

Be aware and prepare
How will businesses – and citizens – be able to survive the Avian Flu?

“Multnomah County is doing all we can to prepare for it from the governmental side,” answered Camargo. But people put too much reliance on vaccines and medication. The fact is, the only real way of managing a pandemic is through citizens taking personal responsibility.”

For more information, see www.mchealth.org, or call (503) 988-4454 for a recorded message.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

See a posse of volunteers, including Mayor Tom Potter, get ready for a massive tree-planting event in Southeast Portland …

Even though Friends of Trees volunteer Evelyn Spear lives in North Portland, she’s helping plant trees in Woodstock. “I like planting trees. It is ‘my thing’ I guess.”

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The many Woodstock neighbors about to receive a new tree – and 150 volunteers with Friends of Trees – gathered early on February 3, a misty Saturday morning, with work gloves on their hands, and tree planting on their minds.

Because ice and snow froze out their previously-planned January 20 event, These Southeast Portlanders appeared more than eager and ready to start the planting.

Karin Hansen, Mayor Tom Potter, Kelli Clark (Woodstock coordinator), and Friends of Trees executive director Scott Fogarty pause for a photo, before heading out to seat saplings.

We caught up with Scott Fogarty, executive director of Friends of Trees at the Holy Family Parish Celebration Hall, S.E. 39th Avenue at Henderson Street.

“Events like these are important, because they help build community by bringing citizens together to do something important — restoring our planet and environment. It’s great to see neighbors united in a common goal: Beautifying Woodstock.”

Potter the planter
Portland’s mayor, Tom Potter, came by to lend a hand. “I am a Woodstockite, you know! We started with Friends of Trees by planting seven trees in our own yard. We’ve got five Hawthorns and two Maples in our yard now.”

Potter commended Friends of Trees for their effort to replenish the canopy over Portland. “When one flies into Portland, a unique feature one sees below is all our trees. These volunteers replace trees that have died, or have been removed during development. Not only do the trees beautify Portland, they absorb carbon dioxide, they take a lot of pollution out of the air and give us fresh oxygen back.”

Kylie Nero, Neighborhood Trees manager with Friends of Trees coordinates the volunteer effort in Woodstock.

Ready to plant
A coordinator with Friends of Trees — Kylie Nero — was outside the hall, organizing a gaggle of volunteers, piles of soil amenities, trucks, and of course, the sapling trees.

“These people have this locked down,” Nero told us. “They are very organized, and we get a lot of support here in Woodstock. It’s very exciting to be here, working with these energized people.”

As she strode over to help lift a tree onto a hand truck, she turned and reminded, “We do this every weekend through March. Come join us!”

Claudine Rose helps Donna Acord, one of 150 volunteers, sign in at the Friends of Trees Woodstock planting day.

Planting a tree in his yard
Bert Berney said he was volunteering because he was having a tree planted in his front yard. “A tree there died there, so I’m getting a new one.”

Adding that this was his first such event, Berney explained, “I saw a flyer in the neighborhood, so I decided it would be a great opportunity. This is a good way to help my neighborhood, and make it look more beautiful.”

Want to get involved? See www.friendsoftrees.org for more information.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

See the fun we had at the last Fix-it Fair in Powellhurst-Gilbert a few weeks ago. If you missed it, mark January 27th on your calendar now. Read this, and you’ll learn how to save big bucks, and enjoy a free Burgerville USA lunch while you’re there ‚Ķ

Welcoming outer East Portland neighbors to the 20th Annual Fix-it Fair are hostesses Joellen Carothers, Genevieve Joplin, and Jill Kolek.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Is it too good to be true? A free event put on the City of Portland, that helps residents be safer and save money? And, that it’s primarily funded by businesses, instead of tax dollars?

Nope. Not it’s not a scam, when we’re talking about the 20th Annual Fix-it Fairs.

The last place this roving fair took place was a few weeks ago at the Alice Ott Middle School in Powellhurst-Gilbert. It attracted hundreds of folks who attended free classes, got free merchandise – and a free lunch.

Information free, for all
Jill Kolek, City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development, welcomed us to the fair, explaining, “This is a place where folks can meet with forty vendors to learn all kinds of money-saving ideas.”

The vendors don’t sell stuff, Kilek said — but instead, give information. Residents get community resource information like water conservation, gardening, posting, electric safety, and insulation, for example.

“The beautiful thing about this is that our partners contribute to putting on these fairs. Not only are Fix-It Fairs free to the public, they use city resources. And, they do people a world of good.”

Keith Berkery, with a little help from hard-hatted Felisha Mills, encouraged Rita Cook to attend their class. “The most important thing I leaned,” Cook recalled, “was that everyone should have a three-day emergency kit ready.”

Safety first
At one of the exhibits, we met up with our friend Kerry Dugan, the information officer with the Portland Office of Emergency Management.

“We give a class to help people learn the basic things they should do to prepare for emergencies,” Dugan explained. “One is to build a 72-hour emergency kit for each person in your household. Another thing is to make an emergency plan for both your home and business.”

The emergency class teacher, Keith Berkery, added, “The important thing is that neighbors should know how to first take care of themselves, then their family, and be willing to then reach out and care for their neighbors.”

Always promoting safety, Dugan reminded as we left, “Be sure to tell folks to come see us at Madison High School on January 27th if they missed this event.”

Multnomah County Weatherization Program’s Jessica Bowen and Tom Brodbeck team up with Rex Hollingsworth of Rex Heating, to help people learn how to stay warm while slashing their heating bills.

Keeping homes cozy
Has the cold snap left you shivering, while your energy bills shot up through the roof? Then you really need to meet Rex Hollingsworth, East Portland’s furnace expert, with 30 years experience in heating and cooling. “I’ve worked on a lot of homes across our area, as many as 500 a year.”

“I’m here teaching a furnace basic class,” Hollingsworth explained. “I volunteer to teach this class because when people learn how to maintain their furnace, it saves them so much money.”

Asked for his most important tip, he stated, “Change your furnace filters! If air can’t easily pass through them, your home can’t be efficiently heated. Remember, changing filters costs so little, but help you save so much money during the winter.”

Lunch, hot off the grill

Not only do you get free money-saving advice and hand outs, the Fix-it Fair also features lunch. Here, hot-off-the-grill burgers are being served by Kenneth Moody.

The smell of Burgerville USA lunches wafted through the building.

Before sampling the noontime repast, we asked Jerry Otto, manager of the store at SE 122nd and Stark Street, why they participate by giving away free lunches.

“We believe in fresh, local and sustainable products and services,” Otto told us, our mouth already beginning to salivate. “This includes renewable energy. That is our commitment as a company. We started partnering with the Fix-it Fairs last year by providing fresh, hot lunches to help bring people in.”

Last fair is January 27

Dozens of companies and agencies are on hand to give you money-saving tips, health, and safety information, or provide governmental resource information at the Annual Fix-it Fair, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Madison High School at 2735 NE 82nd Ave. of Roses on January 27.

This year’s last Fix-it Fair in East Portland is coming right up on January 27.

Exhibitors and hourly workshops offer practical, expert information on such topics as gardening, home health and safety and energy conservation.

If that isn’t enough, you’ll also find:

• Prize drawings for compact fluorescent light bulbs, gift certificates to local stores, carbon monoxide detectors, etc.;
• Assorted giveaways, including recycled plastic tote bags; and,
• All-day on-site professional childcare.

The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Madison High School at 2735 NE 82nd Ave. of Roses on January 27.

For more information, call 503-823-4309, e-mail fixitfair@ci.portland.or.us or visit www.sustainableportland.org/events.

¬© 2007 ~ David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

This year, our Police Cadets did more than load food boxes into volunteer drivers’ cars on Sunshine Delivery day ‚Ķ

Taking a moment to pose for a “team photo”, Portland Police East Precinct Cadets get ready to load Sunshine Division food packages into volunteer drivers’ vehicles.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The date – December 16th. And all across Portland, police precinct stations are abuzz with activity early on a cold Saturday morning. This is the day volunteers take food boxes, prepared by the Sunshine Division, to families in need.

East Precinct Police Cadets stand ready to load the volunteers’ vehicles as the garage doors open.

We take a look outside, expecting to see volunteer drivers lined up for blocks. But, only a handful of vehicles are in the cue. “This isn’t good,” says NRT Officer Michael Gallagher, the Cadet program leader. “Maybe the prediction for possible freezing rain is keeping the drivers at home,” he suggests.

Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs helps load up volunteer driver Howard Johns’ truck. “It’s my sixth year,” Johns says. “It’s just a good thing to do this time of year.”

As the stream of volunteer drivers turns into a trickle, Commander Crebs wheels his car into the loading bay, takes delivery sheets, and the Cadets pack every nook and cranny of his vehicle with deliveries.

Cadets form a box brigade line to load every vehicle, including their equipment trailer, with food boxes they’ll deliver.

Determined to make their East Portland deliveries, Cadets round up and load all available cars, trucks and vans. Their spirit of teamwork shows as they pack their vehicles high with food boxes.

Police Cadets Kenny Bossen and Daniel Abbott finish loading a van with food packages they’ll delver to East Portland’s needy.

As quickly as possible, the Cadets deliver these food boxes. They return, reload, and head out again. “We’ll keep going until we’ve made all the deliveries,” Gallagher said.

Because of the volunteer efforts of the Cadets, many people in East Portland had a brighter holiday, indeed.

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News

Why do folks flock to outer East Portland’s only botanical park on the first Saturday in December, every year? Look at this and find out ‚Ķ

Diana Schmett and Kimberly Schmett, here shopping at the Leach Garden Christmas sale for table decorations.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
When people think of Leach Garden, at the “end” of SE 122nd Ave., just south of Foster Rd, it’s images of spring, and summer walks through nature, that come to mind.

But savvy holiday do-it-yourself craftspeople also know the Garden as the place to pick up the things they need to make great decorations!

Volunteers pointed out to us Barbara Hamilton as being the one in charge. “I’ve had every volunteer position with Friends of Leach Gardens over 23 years,” she explained.

She went on to tell us that this event–their annual Christmas Holiday Bazaar–has been held on the first weekend of December for more than two decades. “It is a major source of funding for us. The Gardens has a small paid staff, and a lot of volunteers.”

Hamilton said it all started by simply providing pre-cut, fresh greenery. “People come and pick out anything they want to decorate. We sell it by the bag. It’s very reasonably priced.”

For the past few seasons, she added, they’ve added ready-made swags, wreaths, and table designs to their offerings.

Lee and Gregg Everhart, filling their bags with holiday greenery to make decorations, at Leach Garden.

Plus, the Leach Garden Gift Shop was doing brisk business, too. Shoppers checked out gift items ranging from gardening accessories to lavender soap products.

In addition to the raising of funds, Hamilton told us, “The event helps people see the variety of greenery we grow in the garden. It attracts folks to see Leach Gardens who have never been here before.

“Even in the winter, there is always something colorful and blooming here. We like people to come into the garden to see what we’re doing.”

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News

Learn why families with young children who discover Brooklyn Bay’s “Play after Play” sessions return again and again ‚Ķ

Kri Schlafer, Marc Otto, and Melanya Helene perform the short play, “The Most Wonderful Gift” at the Brooklyn Bay Performance Space.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The theater’s name, “Brooklyn Bay Performance Space”, conjures up images of a playhouse on the waterfront. It isn’t. The “bay” refers to an industrial work space, not a body of water.

And, some say the location – due south of the SE 17th Avenue flyover Powell Boulevard, at the end of a dead-end street in the Inner Southeast Brooklyn neighborhood – is nearly impossible to find.

But, week after week, parents of young children make their way through the industrial area to participate in a delightful, one-of-a-kind form of family entertainment.

Founder and artistic director Melanya Helene and her crew have transformed an industrial storage unit into a warm, intimate theater space.

When we visited Brooklyn Bay Performance Space on December 2, families were coming in to experience a session of “Play after Play”, featuring the story, “The Most Wonderful Gift”.

First, the play
“We start with a 20-minute performance,” Helene told us, “usually based on a folk tale. Our story, throughout December, came to us from the Middle East. Our method is kelmanworks, a performance style based on mindfulness and engagement with the audience.”

The lights dimmed, and the costumed players took the stage. The actors immediately engaged their audience members, particularly the children. The story of “The Most Wonderful Gift” was expressively told, enhanced with music and movement.

“We keep the play simple so the children can use their imagination to enter into the story with us,” Helene later said.

Engaging in “Original Play” the Brooklyn Bay actors interact directly with their young audience members.

Then, playtime
After the performance, the actors changed out of their costumes and set up large, clean gym mats. The kids and parents were instructed to sit around the perimeter of the mats.

“We play with the kids in a form called ‘Original Play’. It is based on non-violence and non-competition.” Helene developed this form of play, based on what she said she learned from Fred Donaldson.

Original Play looks like lively, energetic fun. But it isn’t a free-for-all. Children are invited onto the mats by the actors. The “playing” is free-form, physical (to the abilities of the child), and active ‚Äì yet, at the same time, done with an unspoken sense of discipline. “Actually, it is partially based on some forms of martial arts. But it is play, not competition,” Helene explained. “In a global sense, everything we do is about–in a word–peace.”

“The ‘play’ after our performance is a practice for us,” related Helene. “It allows us to be directly involved with them. We’re not behind a TV screen. We’re right there, and they interact with us.”

Worth the effort to find
“Play after Play” at Brooklyn Bay starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. We won’t attempt to give you directions! Call to make a reservation, and they’ll show you the way. Contact them at (503) 772-4005 or see www.brooklynbay.org.

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News

When Bull Run runs dry, we drink water out of the ground. See what East Portland folks learned from this unique training and trip …

Randy Albright, hydro-geologist and groundwater specialist for the Portland Water Bureau, shows participants exactly where some of their water comes from.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For some time, the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council have teamed up to present “Groundwater 101″. This class helps unravel some of the mysteries of the “other” source for Portland’s drinking water.

But on November 4, the team gave an expanded training, called “Groundwater 201″ located at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center.

This workshop started with an in-depth class on our local groundwater sources, using charts, maps and models. The instructors showed the group the importance of keeping the water table clean and usable.

After a light lunch, the participants climbed into a bus for the second half of the event: A tour of the Groundwater Protections Area in outer East Portland.

Portland City Well 14 is the first stop in the groundwater field trip.

Standing on drinking water
Their first stop was at the site of Well 14, out near NE Marine Drive. As participants piled out of the bus, Randy Albright, hydro-geologist and groundwater specialist for the Portland Water Bureau, showed them the lay of the land.

There, Albright told us, “On this field trip, we can show people how things actually look, instead of showing photos, or pointing things out of a map.”

The city has groundwater as its secondary source of drinking water, he added. “It is an important resource for the city. There have been some misconceptions about it in the past. We explain how it functions, and how we’re protecting it for them.

The “how” of protecting groundwater is complicated, as the instructors explain in detail during the class. “The ‘why’ is simple,” Albright said, “We need a good, secondary source of drinking water.”

Not a uniform filter
We learned that the earth and soil, between the top of the ground and the aquifer, varies in thickness.

In Gresham and Troutdale, the layers that can filter groundwater are relatively thick. Yet, in the Parkrose area, this layer is thin, giving little protection to the aquifers below the ground from runoff and contaminated wastewater.

This plant was once a source of groundwater contamination. Now, Boeing is preventing the contaminated groundwater from spreading by pumping it out, and treating it – thus drawing clean water into the area.

Contamination solutions
Looking west, we could see the Boeing Aerospace plant in East County. In the early 1990s, the company was charged with contaminating groundwater.

Albright told the group that Boeing now controls the ‘plume’ of ground contamination around its facility by installing a ring of wells outside the contaminated area. “By pumping out and treating the contaminated water before discharging it into slough, Boeing has created a slightly negative groundwater area so it doesn’t spread into the aquifer tapped by the city’s nearby Well #14.”

Full containment was achieved in 1997, and continues today, he added.

Groundwater protectors
The group then traveled on to Cascade Station, the new development area by Portland International Airport.

Rebecca Geisen, manager of the Groundwater Protection Program, Portland Water Bureau said they’re evaluating whether or not the Cascade Station area development is impacting well fields.

The Cascade Station stop ended with the class touring a stormwater treatment facility. Finally, the class was bussed to the new industrial development area near NE 152nd Ave. and Airport Way.

“The Wellhead Protection Program is important,” Geisen told us, “because it prevents spills of hazardous materials that could contaminate our groundwater. By working with businesses, we’re able to institute best management practices.”

Learn more about your water
Columbia Slough Watershed Council provides a number of programs to help people become more knowledgeable about groundwater, pollution and storm runoff. Visit their website at www.columbiaslough.org to learn more.

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News

See why this timely event helped several folks in outer East Portland stay a bit more comfortable – while they saved money …

Anastasia Howard and Mike Masat, REACH Community Development, helped homeowners in the Lents area learn how to make their homes safer and more efficient at the workshop.

Story and photo by David F. Ashton
When the November 1 “Home Maintenance and Weatherization Workshop” took place, no one who attended would have ever guessed that pelting rain and gale-force winds would soon be on blowing through the Lents neighborhood.

To start the meeting, Anastasia Howard and Mike Masat from REACH Community Development helped homeowners in the Lents area learn how to improve home safety. They also showed how simple home improvements make a home more efficient.

Then, Thomas A Brodbeck, Multnomah County’s energy-saving guru, showed the attendees exactly how to weatherize their homes.

Folks who attended the 90-minute, seminar at Kelly Elementary School got more than just information and how-to tips. They also received basic hand tools and a fire/smoke detector with at 10-year battery.

Agencies work together providing information
Christine Rhoney, SUN Site Manager at Kelly Elementary, told us many organizations worked together to put on the workshop.

“We, in connection with ROSE Community Development, Kelly SUN Community School, Multnomah County Weatherization Program, and REACH Community Development, put together these classes to help our families have more information about home security, maintenance, and security.”

Weatherization is especially important, Rhoney told us, because many of their students’ families come from lower-income families. “The money they save in heating bills can put more food on their tables throughout the winter,” she added.

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News