Events, Fairs & Fun « East PDX News

Spooky kids’ events haunt Westmoreland and Woodstock

Take a look at all the fun kids (and their grown-ups) were having at these inner SE Portland Halloween parties …

After crawling through a graveyard at the Meyer Boy’s & Girl’s Club Haunted House, the kids end up here – at the at the Mummy’s crypt.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
While the door-to-door tradition of neighborhood trick-or-treating is still in favor, many families are opting for organized events. We visited two parties on October 31 in inner SE Portland.

Fred G. Meyer Memorial Boys & Girls Club
Our first stop was in Westmoreland to see the final performances of the Haunted House at the Fred G. Meyer Memorial Boy’s & Girl’s Club.

“This Haunted House supports the Oregon Food Bank,” said “Deviled Egg” and event spokesperson, Naomi Head.

During the three day run, Head said, the event attracted about 600 kids. “We’ve filled most of an office with donated food that the kids brought as their admission to the Haunted House.”

Naomi Head (a Deviled Egg) sits with a small sample of the donated food collected during the Fred G. Meyer Memorial Boys & Girls Club Haunted House.

The Haunted House was built into the large gym, and featured a haunted corn maze, a man-eating spider, a graveyard – including a pile of dead bodies to crawl through – and finally, the Mummy’s Crypt. Older kids volunteered to dress in costume and operate special effects.

Even the bravest kids were startled during their trip through the Haunted House. “Aaah, it wasn’t that scary,” commented “cowboy” Jimmie Lee after exiting the darkened room. His little sister, Alisha, fighting back tears, apparently disagreed – we hope she didn’t have bad dreams.

Woodstock Community Center Halloween Party

Outside the Woodstock Community Center, Maizie Logee and Ella Huntzinger find the spooky decorations fun, not scary.

The volunteers who produce the Woodstock Family Picnic decided to do “a little something” for Halloween at the community center. The event turned out to be a hit with neighbors.

“Welcome to our first-ever Halloween party at the Woodstock Community Center,” Ruthann Bedenkop greeted us. She was flanked by the famous fearsome pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow (aka Mike Rocheleau). “It’s sponsored by the Woodstock Neighborhood Association and Woodstock Community Business Association.”

Organizer Ruthann “First Mate” Bedenkop and Capt. Jack Sparrow (aka Mike Rocheleau) welcome guests to the Woodstock Halloween Party.

Because it was their first year, Bedenkop said they expected a low turnout. “We’d prepared 75 gift bags – they were gone before the time the event was scheduled to open.”

The volunteers planned to host about 150 guests throughout the evening, but they’d already surpassed that number by 20 guests when we visited early in the event.

Witches (they assure us they are good witches) Maile and Sylvie Baures share a Halloween moment with friends Genevieve and Susan Rosenkranz.

These kids say they’re loving the crafts at the Woodstock Halloween Party.

Thanks to the diligent work of volunteers who kept the snack counter stocked, nearly about 300 guests were treated to cheese and crackers, cookies and apple slices with “swamp sludge” (caramel) dipping sauce. In total, about 30 volunteers kept the event running smoothly.

During the late afternoon, the Woodstock Branch Library hosted “Story Time”. Upstairs, kids played simple games and won prizes; the basement craft room was packed with youngsters making masks, wands and other spooky-themed crafts.

In addition to financially supporting the event, businesses along Woodstock Boulevard participated by offering trick-or-treating at their shops.

After playing games at the party, the Murray family, from Woodstock, pause for a family portrait.

“We like showcasing our Community Center,” said Bedenkop. “We have a spring open house, and thought it would be nice to have something in the fall. Thanks to our volunteers, and our neighbors, this event has been incredibly successful.”

Spooky tour of outer East Portland

From Lents, to the East Portland Community Center and then the Parkrose Ghost Town – you’ll enjoy the many photos of kids (and adults) having pre-Halloween fun …

This is where we ended our tour – at the Parkrose Haunted Ghost Town at Rossi Farms.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Saturday, October 27 was the big day for big Harvest and Halloween festivals across outer East Portland. We love to see grown-ups and kids having fun together. Come along and join our Spooky Tour!

Lents Community Harvest Festival

These two gals love showing off their spiders at the Community Harvest Festival in Lents.

Our first stop is in the recreation room of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Lents.

“Welcome to our Community Harvest Festival,” says organizer Amie Diffenauer with ROSE Community Development.

At the Lents Harvest Festival are organizers Alys Allwardt; and, Amie Diffenauer with ROSE Community Development.

Around the room, we see families enjoying a grilled hamburger lunch and snacks, playing games and making crafts.

“This year our theme is around building community,” Diffenauer tells us. “We’re trying to get the community out to learn more about the services available here in Lents. And, we’re getting people to meet one another.”

Crafts engross these kids at the Harvest Festival.

East Portland Community Harvest Festival

Coming all the way to the East Portland Community Center from Clackamas is Antoinette and Kephron Alexander. They are standing in front of mom, Nicole and the family’s makeup artist (and dad), Cliff Alexander.

Next, we head to the East Portland Community Center to check in on their event. When we arrive, the place is hopping with creatures of all descriptions.

We’re welcomed by the center’s manager, Abbe MacFarlane. “This is our tenth annual Harvest Festival. It’s put on in cooperation with the Montavilla Community Center.”

Tossing her cookies, this little gal tries to win a prize.

Hunter Osborn is having is face painted by Heather Rubicam as his sister, Olivia Osborn, checks out makeup job.

In one room, we find Multnomah County Library folks on hand for scary story-time readings.

The craft room is packed with kids. Other kids are getting temporary tattoos and having their faces painted. A game room is set up for kids 4 and under; the gym has the games for the older children.

Christian and Angelina Deo are having fun in the Craft Room, backed up by Vickie Deo and Janet Huntley.

“We’re expecting about 1,000,” says MacFarlane “This is a great alternative to kids going out at night. Many parents aren’t really interested in taking their kids out trick-or-treating after dark. This gives them the chance to have fun and wear their costumes in a safe and clean place.”

Parkrose Haunted Ghost Town

The “All-Fright Dancers” warm of for their performances before hundreds of folks who visit the Haunted Ghost Town at Rossi Farms.

We’re a bit saddened to discover that a great Halloween tradition ending when we see the “Final Year” signs posted by the Parkrose Haunted Ghost Town entrance on the Rossi Farms property.

Long time supporter Craig Flynn, with his daughter Kelly, get ready for their next-to-the-last evening at the Haunted Ghost Town.

“It must be around nine years ago when we started it,” reminisces Craig Flynn, one of the original and sustaining volunteers behind the event. “I’ve been helping ever since. I’m moving away, and I don’t know of Joe [Rossi] will ever find anyone else who will put in the effort.”

What Flynn says he enjoys the most is that they’ve added to the attraction “a little here and there every year. We didn’t completely change the design this year. But, we did add some tunnels in the back of the barn.”

Teri Mannen is doing the face make up for big Roger Sweisberger – turning him into the Parkrose Werewolf Cowboy.

As we walk around, just before opening time, we see characters putting on makeup and putting on their costumes. In addition to students from Parkrose High School, 15 to 20 adults volunteer at the event.

Event supports Parkrose High Senior All-night Party
In the corn maze, we meet up with the chair of the Haunted Ghost Town committee, Barbara Snoozy – before she gets into her costume.

Volunteers Vivian Lanegan, Deanne Volk and Barbara Snoozy get ready to haunt the Ghost Town for another evening.

“I’ve been a volunteer on this project for five years,” Snoozy says. This event is the major fundraiser for the Parkrose High School Senior All-night Party.”

Their first weekend was a little damp, reports Snoozy. “Actually, it was very wet. The second weekend looks great. We have clear weather, and a full moon. We’re ready to go. We should have between 500 and 800 visitors per night.”

Their motto is “Touch nothing, and nothing will harm you.” Those who don’t heed this advice might need the services of this fellow: Mr. Undertaken.

Is she a good witch or a bad witch? We didn’t stick around to find out.

In the past, Snoozy explains, Rossi Farm employees did a lot of the work. “This year, parents pitched in and we did it all ourselves with the help of Craig Flynn. It was tough. We didn’t realize that we weren’t good at building a corn maze – but we learned the hard way.”

Due to the changes of at the farm – and the cost of buying the corn – this will likely be the final year of the event Snoozy says. “The corn is a huge expense. It was grown specifically for this event.”

Is all the work they put in worth the effort? “It is really fun,” admits Snoozy. “I’ll miss doing it – but I will have October back.”

“Who’s cheatn’ at cards, you ask? We all of are, of course!”

Fair offers healthy information in Parkrose

See why organizers produced this health-promoting event …

Event exhibitor Katrina Kellmer, with Gluten Intolerant Group, spends a moment with Carolyn Fairfield, Community Health Fair organizer.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Medical professionals, health and fitness educators, and representatives of health-related businesses and organizations came to share ideas about developing a healthy mind, body, and spirit on October 20.

“We’re holding this event,” said organizer Carolyn Fairfield, “to make people aware of their health, so they take care of their body. There is wisdom on one of my favorite sayings: ‘Take care of your health; if you don’t, where will you live?'”

Steevie Weevie the Clown turns twisted, inflated latex to smiles on kids faces – as only he can!

Outside the location, Parkrose United Methodist Church, the Oregon Lions Club Mobile Health Screening Unit was on hand to provide free visual acuity, glaucoma, blood pressure, hearing, and diabetes screenings.

The event also featured free healthy snacks, activities for children, and face painting and balloon twisting by Stevie Weevie the Clown.

Delicious soups – and funding – cooked up at SE Works event

Discover how a soup- (not wine) tasting is paired up with a dinner and auctions in support of this organization that helps folks get off welfare by preparing them for good jobs …

Richard Kiely, past SE Works board member and owner of Home Run Graphics, tastes the Apple Cheddar Cheese Soup (winner of a Celebrity’s Choice Award) made by Patty Park of Portland Specialty Banking Co., at the organization’s 10th Annual Celebration and 7th annual Soup Cook-off event.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For a decade, an organization called SE Works has been strengthening the economic health and well being of the diverse southeast Portland community by connecting between job seekers with employers.

Their efforts have been successful: In the last ten years, the organization has helped more than 10,000 people get living-wage jobs by providing them with targeted training programs.

Sarah Keeney of Benson Shed Garden Café offers a taste of her Candied Yam Bisque – as does Heather Ficht, Worksystems Inc., with her Hungarian Mushroom Soup (later named the Golden Ladle Winner) – to Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams.

The celebrities on hand to decide the Celebrities’ Choice Award Soup Cook-off Award are Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, Kerry DeBuse of Genoa, Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, and David Machado of Vindalho.

Again celebrating with soup
On October 19th, 285 guests attended “Recipes for Success: SE Works’ Ten Year Celebration, Soup Cook-Off, and Auction”.

The gala featured their seventh-annual soup-tasting competition. Guests voted for their favorite soups with dollar bills. The “Hungarian Mushroom Soup” cooked up by Heather Ficht, of Worksystems, Inc., earned the most donations, and was given the 2007 Golden Ladle Award.

John Jeska, buying balloons from Rekita Barron. Each balloon contains a gift certificate to an area restaurant.

SE Works Board Chair Denise Walton and Executive Director Heidi Soderberg get the evening’s formal program underway.

Celebrity judges, including Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, Kerry DeBuse of Genoa, and David Machado of Vindalho, voted for their favorites. The judging ended in a three-way tie: Laura Bock, Job Developers Network; Pam Butterworth, SE Works; and Patty Park of Portland Specialty Baking each earned the Celebrities’ Choice Award.

Between tastes, guests bid on a wide array of silent auction items featured on three tables. Master of Ceremonies David F. Ashton, of East PDX News, whipped up excitement as the silent auctions closed and guided guests through the evening’s activities.

The soup chefs line up as the “cream of the crop” winning entries are about to be awarded for the “Recipes for Success Soup Cook-off”.

The Celebrities’ Choice Award ended in a three-way tie! The co-winners are soup chefs Pam Butterworth of SE Works, Patty Park of Portland Specialty Baking, and Laura Bock of the Job Developers Network.

Winner of the 2007 Golden Ladle Award – chosen by a vote of attendees – goes to Heather Ficht from Worksystems, Inc. The award is presented by SE Works Executive Director Heidi Soderberg as well as staff member (and this year’s Soup Chef Host) Gwen Nothwang.

Then, while guests enjoyed a full-course Pacific salmon dinner, SE Works clients shared their success stories.

Master auctioneer Mitch Lambley stepped up and got the guests to open their checkbooks and bid on outstanding live auction packages. In all, $41,000 was raised to support SE Works’ programs.

David F. Ashton, Master of Ceremonies for the event pauses between closing the silent auctions. (Sue Eastman photo) Auctioneer Mitch Lambley gets a good price for another outstanding prize package during the live auction.

A sell-out crowd of nearly 300 showed up for the 10th Anniversary Celebration and Recipes for Success Soup Cook-off held in Southeast Portland on October 19.

Sponsors for the event included: ON Semiconductor; PCC Structurals; Portland Development Commission; Bank of the West; CMTS, Inc.; Gunderson, Inc.; IITR Truck School; Kraft Foods/Nabisco; Lumber Products; Pacific Natural Foods; Pam Olson Farmers Insurance Agency; Portland Community College; Vancouver Iron & Steel, Inc.; Alotto Gelato; Cascade Medical School; and Kern & Thompson, LLC.

Fun is in the air as jugglers converge at Reed College

With balls, beanbags and clubs in hand, discover why hundreds of jugglers – some of them trekking half way around the globe – say they gather just to throw things around …

Juggling like a pro is 9-year-old Duncan Silversides.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
“You think you’ve had problems in an airport?” asks Ben, owner of the world-famous juggling store, Serious Juggling, as he sets up his booth in the gym at Reed College.

“Try getting past security, packing a set of these,” Ben says with a mock-serious wicked grin, as he holds a set of deadly-looking, but finely-balanced, juggling scimitars.

A non-competitive gathering
We’re welcomed to the event on September 29 by Albyn Jones, one of the organizers of the Portland Juggling Festival.

“Although we took last year off, otherwise we’ve been holding it annually for the last fifteen years,” he tells us.

This is a non-competitive festival, Jones says. “Some professional jugglers worry someone stealing their tricks and routines. But, perhaps only 30 of our 300 folks are professionals.”

Demonstrating his skill with the clubs is Woodinville, Washington’s Brien McCrea.

World-class event
Portland Juggling Festival, we learn, is the largest such regional festival in the world.

“Jugglers from across the United States, and performers from Europe, Japan, and Canada come to hang out and, well – juggle,” says Jones. “We get together for the camaraderie. And, we offer a lot of workshops, showing how to do new tricks.”

As Jones explains it, the “tricks” are unique patterns and sequences which jugglers perfect, to catch and re-launch multiple items.

Jugglers of all ages
Not all jugglers are men; Chao-Ching Wu and Carol Harvey say they came down to the three-day festival from Bothell, WA.

“I admired others who juggled, and wanted to admire myself – so here I am!” Wu says.

These girls just want to have fun: Chao-Ching Wu and Carol Harvey say they “love their juggling toys”.

“It’s about everyone having fun with their toys. People, of every age, come together with because of their toys,” explains Harvey, as she and Wu continue “passing clubs” between them. “I’ve been doing it for five years.”

We watch in amazement as 9-year-old Duncan Silversides, from Victoria, BC, juggles three – then four – balls, like a pro.

Says juggling is a social activity
Most jugglers with whom we speak say they enjoy the “social aspects” of their juggling avocation.

Leader of a large Bothell, WA juggling club, Tom Gaines, is “passing clubs” with his juggling buddy, Don Reinhardt.

“For me, the attraction is social,” confirms Jones. “I do like juggling as an activity for myself; I’ll stand alone in my living room and juggle. But it is really fun to juggle with other people.”

Tom Gaines, leader of the Bothell, WA, “Juggle for Fun” club says their 25 member group (many of them at the festival) is sponsored by their city’s parks and recreation department. “We get together every week to enjoy juggling, and teach the art to folks in our community.”

Eight-year old Maya Leshikar practices riding the unicycle.

We ask Gaines to reveal the secret of juggling. “Being willing to pick up the balls after you drop them, and try again,” he advises with a knowing smile.

By the time we leave, airspace in the Reed College gym is cluttered with balls, beanbags, rings, clubs, and knives – almost any item one can catch, then throw.

Although early in the morning, the Reed College gym is a juggling jungle.

Most of practitioners demonstrate professional proficiency and perform with great dexterity. But we see – even the best of them – occasionally stoop over, pick ’em up, and try again.

Two ideas for East Portland Halloween fun this weekend

You don’t have to travel down to the convention center or Jantzen Beach for great spooky attractions … check out these fun, family events …

Parkrose Haunted Ghost Town

The The Haunted Ghost Town is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, October 26, 27 and 28.

This production features scary, realistic sets and scores of costumed and made-up actors. The Haunted Ghost Town will again feature ghosts of the Wild West, dancing ghouls, the cornstalk maze, haunted mine and lots of other surprises.

Their motto is, “Don’t touch anything, and usually, nothing will touch you!” While there are hair-raising scares around every corner, the cast and crew run a toned-down version of the event during the first half-hour, starting at 6:00 p.m.

To help families make an evening of it, refreshments are plentiful, and inexpensively priced. Just $9 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. Proceeds go to the Parkrose High School Senior All-night Party.

It runs from 6:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at Rossi Farms, 3839 NE 122nd Ave., just south of NE Shaver St. “David Recommended”

The Scary Magic Show

The Scary Magic Show presents two performances on Sunday, October 28 at 1 and 5 p.m.

Really scary? No, not at all!

Actually, this is a fun, family magic show with a Halloween theme.

Before the stage shows, be amazed as magicians surprise and delight you with magic close up, under your nose!

Then, sit back, and see award-winning magicians from the Society of American Magicians Assembly #59 – live on stage – present spooky, fun and crazy magic!

In addition to yours truly you’ll see Tom Cramer, Eartha the Ecological Clown, Tom Waldrop, 2007 Desmond Competition award winner Bob Eaton, and illusions by international entertainer, Mark Bentheimer and Company.

Refreshment will be available for purchase. It’s all to benefit the Rose City Park Neighborhood Association and SAM #59.

Tickets will be available at the door; they are just $20 for the WHOLE FAMILY; $7 for adults and $5 for kids. It is at the Friendship Masonic Lodge, NE 57th & Sandy Blvd. For pre-event tickets, or more information, call (503) 493-8319. “David Recommended”

Outer SE Cruise-In signals the end of summer

hen the parking lot at SE 122nd Avenue and Division Street fills up with classic, show, and specialty vehicles, on a crisp Sunday afternoon – people come from miles around to check out this great, low-key car show …

Bill Dayton takes a look at Ken Krolikoski’s classic 1932 Packard.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Lots of folks come to the “End of Summer Cruise-in” in the parking lot of Bill Dayton’s Pizza Baron on SE 122nd Avenue at SE Division Street to gawk at the cool classics, hot rods, and other specialty vehicles. We like hearing the owners talk about their rides!

10th annual event
“It’s put on every year by the Chrysler RT Club,” says organizer Dr. David Lee. “The best part is looking to see what everybody has done with their cars. These people put a lot of the time, talent, and money into their cars.”

Lee tells us that this event, now in its tenth year, draws auto enthusiasts from as far away as Hillsboro and Longview, WA. “It’s all about nice cars and good pizza.”

Classic cars; classy owners
We find Pizza Baron owner Bill Dayton talking with Ken Krolikoski about his slick-looking 1932 Packard.

“There are probably about ten of these left,” comments Krolikoski. “I wanted to find a classic, open car. But, I found all the ‘good’ ones are taken. I finally paid the price. It wasn’t perfect. Because they’re scarce, you can expect to put in some work to bring it back [into showroom condition]. It’s got 44,000 miles on it.”

“How does it drive?” we ask.

“Like a 1932 car!” Krolikoski says.

The Aragons show off their 1935 Dodge.

The car’s paint job attracts us to a beautifully modified ’35 Dodge belonging to Anthony and Leona Aragon.

“It’s been chopped, and has late model suspension.” Anthony reports. “It’s got a 350 Chevy engine. The project has taken a couple of years.”

He tells us that the best part about this car is that it is very drivable. “It is fun to drive. We like it when people smile, wave, and give you a thumbs-up. We can cruise down the road in it. But no, we don’t go shopping with it – it’s never left unattended in a parking lot.”

Rows of cars, modern to classics, attract car buffs, and people who enjoy looking at cool cars.

Lantern-making crafts celebrate Chinese autumn festival in Woodstock

Not all SE Portland celebrations are German! Learn why the Chinese celebrate their harvest season by making colorful lanterns …

The Lynch family – dad Chris, as well as Melissa, a Lewis 3rd grader and Elizabeth, a Lewis Elementary 1st grader – show their paper lanterns.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
While many folks were enjoying a touch of Bavarian culture at Oaks Park’s Oktoberfest, others were learning the Chinese way of celebrating the harvest season, by making paper lanterns at the Woodstock Branch Library late in September.

“We make lanterns as part of our mid-autumn festival,” explained instructor Jean Choy. “Because the brightly colored lantern reminds us of the moon, we use them as part of our celebration.”

“On the date of our festival, the moon is the biggest and shines the brightest,” Choy told us. “Actually, the celebration is for three days. We say ‘hello, moon’ on the first day, and say ‘goodbye, moon’ on the third day.”

Instructor Jean Choy tells families at the Woodstock Library about the Chinese tradition behind lantern making, while she gives construction tips.

We asked Choy why there was a rabbit on each of the lanterns the kids and parents were making.

“We put a bunny face on the lantern because legend says a bunny rabbit lives in the moon. His role is to make the medicine of longevity; for a long, healthy life.”

Oaks’ Oktoberfest brings German celebration to SE Portland

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy one of the best Oktoberfest events! Take a look at the fun everyone had at the Oaks Park event, right here …

These fun musical cut-ups, providing a rollicking good time, are the High Five Band from The Dalles.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
While some people prefer to travel for an hour or more to attend a traditional German Oktoberfest harvest celebration, thousands of Portlanders take in the same sort of festivities each year at Oaks Park.

From small musical groups to a full polka band, sounds of lively music drifted through the century-old amusement park from as many as three venues at the same time.

“My lederhosen are original, and da genuine article,” confides Al Planatscher – an immigrant from Tiraol, Austria. “I make all these pants myself, since 25 years.”

Daughter and dad Kristy and Byron White drove together to dance and dine at the Oaks’ Oktoberfest – all the way from Bellingham, Washington.

Food was savory and plentiful. Guests dined on sausages, schnitzels, and all the trimmings. The made-while-you-watch soft pretzel we purchased was the best we’ve eaten.

As we strolled around the temporarily-Germanic-decorated park, we stopped to talk with Oaks Park’s Senior Manager, Mary Beth Coffey. “I agree with people who say that our Oktoberfest is ‘the pretty one’. Set in our wooded area, overlooking the Willamette River, overseas guests say it reminds them of their homeland.”

This Portland choir sings traditional German songs. The group’s name, Liederkreis, means “Circle of Songs”.

When the crowd chants, “Ziggy, zoggy, ziggy, zoggy, hoy, hoy, hoy, hoy”, everyone lifts their beverage of choice, in a toast.

Because they’re celebrating German culture, Coffey says they strive for authenticity. “We have really worked at having German food, bands, and beer. The German Society is here, and the German School does the kids’ events. It is a way for people to celebrate a different culture for a day, isn’t it?”

The Portland-based Tyrolean Dancers provide an energetic, swirling, fancy-stepping demonstration.

Flap, Flap, Beak Beak, everyone! The traditional Oktoberfest Chicken Dance is led by The Oregon Chicken!

Then, we hit Coffey with the big question: “Do you dance the Chicken Dance?”

“Yes,” she replied with a big smile, “I indeed do the Chicken Dance. The Oregon Fryer Commission is our main sponsor, so I’ve had the pleasure of dancing with ‘The Oregon Chicken’ as he leads it, front and center.”

Midland Library youth ‘Read for the Record’

It’s no bull!
See why these kids were so happy to hear the “Story of Ferdinand” at this special library Story Time …

These kids and parents joined in the “Read for the Record” campaign at Midland Library and got to take home a new copy of the book, “The Story of Ferdinand”, after reading it with youth librarian Sue Ciesielski (back row, left side).

Story and photo by David F. Ashton
Just two weeks ago, Midland Library’s Story Time was a very special occasion – even if some of the participants were too young to know why.

“Today, all over the country, groups of kids are reading ‘The Story of Ferdinand’ (the Bull) by Monroe Leaf,” explained Midland’s youth librarian Sue Ciesielski. “It’s part of a program called ‘Read for the Record’ put on by an organization called JumpStart.”

By reading “The Story of Ferdinand” together on Sept 20, Ciesielski went on, the Midland Library group joined the effort to break the record for the largest “shared reading experience” ever — 150,000 people — set on August 24, 2006, as part of a movie promotion in which several of our local schools participated.

“The story was a little longer story than our preschool Story Time kids are used to. But, they were very attentive,” said Ciesielski.

At the end of Story Time, each of the children registered their participation in the event. And, they all got a free copy of the book to take home for their very own. The smiles on their faces indicated how much they liked both the story — and their new book.

That afternoon, the library held a bilingual “Read for the Record” in both English and Spanish.

According to JumpStart, a national nonprofit organization that engages preschool children from low-income communities in an intensive early education program, the day was a success. Nationwide, the event had the documented participation of 258,000 readers.

Rollicking pirate band show rewards summer readers

See our favorite pirate rock band – Captain Bogg & Salty – welcomed back by a throng of admirers, at this unusual library show – and see where the 2nd Annual PIRATE FESTIVAL will be THIS weekend …

While First Mate McGraw sings a solo, Captain Bogg gives us the “secret pirate sign” – the hook!

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Judging by the giggling, laughing, singing and dancing of hundreds of kids at Sellwood Park a few weeks ago, Sellwood Branch Library’s choice of Captain Bogg & Salty’s Pirate Band for this event was a good one.

“Capt. Bogg and Salty have had wonderful, long partnership with the library,” said Sellwood Branch children’s librarian Marci Davis. “They’re the perfect ones to help us celebrate the conclusion of our summer reading program, ‘Get a Clue’.”

Davis said that kids who have participated in the summer reading program can win prizes. “This program keeps them coming in and asking about new books to read.”

So popular is this local band, Captain Bogg lets members of the audience sing verses of the songs they’ve come to know well.

Pirates as music stars
“It’s an honor to be asked back to the celebration again this year,” lead guitarist and singer First Mate McGraw (AKA Kevin Hender) told us. “With the reception we get, it’s become one of my favorite shows. To this audience, we’re stars!”

First Mate McGraw asked us to mention that the 2nd Portland Pirate Festival returns to Cathedral Park in St. Johns – under the bridge – this weekend, September 22 and 23.

No one croons a pirate tune like The Captain!

Lents fest celebrates 107 years of community

See how a softball game, parade, festival and a music concert all provide good family fun for folks in the outer East Portland neighborhood …

Celebrating their 12 year of providing lemonade at Lents Founder’s Day in Lents Park – and six decades of serving the community with quality flooring – is the Lansing Linoleum family and crew.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Platted as the Town of Lent in 1899, it was annexed into the city in 1912 – making it one of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods.

Every August, area businesses and neighbors gather to celebrate Lents Founder’s Day. Here’s our photo album of the 2007 activities:

Annual softball game

The City of Portland City Stickers (left side) lead on the scoreboard from the first inning playing against the Lents Neighborhood Rebels. The City Stickers won the game, 24, to 9.

Parade and Festival

During the Founder’s Day Parade, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams greets people along the SE 92nd Avenue leg of the parade route.

In the Lents Lutheran Community tent, Jose Gomez and Erica Ferguson are slicing up lots of watermelon at Lents Founder’s Day.

Learning about old-time camp cooking skills are Kristine Keller and Kayden.

John and Judy Welch serve up some of the 300 free hot dogs, provided to the event by the New Copper Penny restaurant.

Rubi Gastelum climbs the Portland Parks & Recreation “rock wall” like a champ.

Larry Morrell leads the Providence Stage Band.