See why Portland journalist Rich Riegel was honored by this prestigious organization‚

The banquet room at the Gateway Elks Lodge was packed with members dining at a club banquet before Riegel’s award ceremony.

Story and Photos by David F. Ashton
On March 16, Rich Riegel was presented its first “Citizen of the Year Award” by Gateway Elks Lodge No. 2411.

We learned that the Citizen of the Year Award – given for the first time this year by the Gateway Elks Lodge – is a national program in which the lodge selects an individual, not necessarily an Elk, who has contributed to improving the community.

Meet Mid-county Memo’s editor
At the gala event, Linda Repp, the Lodge’s outgoing Exalted Ruler (and Elks State Officer of the Year ’05-’06), detailed Riegel’s background:

Riegel has been the editor for the monthly Mid-county Memo neighborhood newspaper for the past 17 years. This newspaper, published since 1985, serves residents and business people in northeast Portland’s Gateway and Parkrose districts.

Gateway Elks Lodge’s Exalted Ruler 2005‚ 2006, Linda Repp, confers the “Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award” upon Rich Riegel.

The Oregon native is a U.S. Air Force veteran. Riegel worked at jobs ranging from being an armed forces news service reporter to a base television station producer, director, and on-air newsman.

After graduating from the University of Oregon, Riegel worked for newspapers throughout the Portland and Vancouver area, as a reporter, editor, and photographer.

Riegel’s volunteer work includes tutoring elementary school children in the art of writing.

“I’m very pleased to be honored in this way,” Riegel told us, “In my opinion, the Elks can do no wrong.”

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Outer East Portland’s own Jeff Merkley says he was surprised his party came into power last fall. Hear how the Oregon House has changed under Democratic Party rule‚ in his words‚

Oregon’s top Democrat in the House, Jeff Merkley, tells people at a joint meeting of Powellhurst-Gilbert and Centennial neighborhoods why the legislature is no longer “business as usual”.

Story and photo by David F. Ashton
Oregon State legislator Jeff Merkley hails from outer East Portland; he is a David Douglas High School graduate, and has served the people of his outer East Portland district since 1999 in Oregon’s House of Representatives.

After a brief introduction by Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association’s returning chair, Glenn Taylor, Merkley stepped up to speak to attendees of this meeting, held jointly with the Centennial Community Association on March 13.

Other than light editing for brevity and clarity, we present Speaker Merkley’s own words‚

Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association President introduces Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley.

Good evening, Mr. Speaker …
“My role [as Oregon House Speaker] was a big surprise,” Merkley began. “If we go back to the election in November, 2006, very rarely does an incumbent lose a seat; Republicans had more seats in the House than Democrats. But, the electorate was in the mood to change things. As a party, we developed a campaign ‘road map’ of issues we wanted to tackle.

“By the time election night was over, Democrats had 31 seats. The role of House Speaker goes to the party with the most seats. Thus, I am Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.

“I wanted to change things since I first ran in 1999. At the time, we had term limits‚ and I was happy to serve my term and move on. But, term limits were overturned, and here I am in my ninth year.

“There is an advantage in being in being in the legislature since 1999. That advantage is the perspective of time. Although I grew up here in the community, after college I worked in Washington DC at the Pentagon and the US Congress on strategic issues during the ‘cold war’.

“The [political] pendulum has swung far toward partisanship. That idea of working for Congress in a ‘non-partisan policy mode’ was appealing to me; but this notion has been diminishing over the last 20 years.

“Since becoming House Speaker, I have received the support of leadership on both sides to change this, empowered the minority, and I work in a non-partisan way.”

Merkley details changes
At the meeting Merkley covered many of the changes made since January quite rapidly, including:

• Introducing a Means Committee Reprehensive into the process.
• Restoring independence of the House Parliamentarian.
• Changing the conduct of legislators; treating all with respect: “When citizens take their time to testify, although committee members may disagree 100% with them‚ they deserve respect for coming to share ideas.”
• Changing how committee meetings are conducted: “Now, chairs and vice chairs [from the two parties] sit next to one another.”
• Create incentives for members from all parties to work together. “Oregon citizens need a team working for them. This creates more communication across the body.”

No more “gimmes”
It was very important, Merkley said, that they change the “gifting” structure at the state legislature level.

“For special interest groups to take legislators to Maui for a ‘meeting’ ‚Äì there’s something wrong there. You can’t give gifts to judges. You can’t give gifts to candidates. I’ve pushed for the structure of giving ‘minimal gifts’ to legislators.

“Some said they thought this change would ‘disturb the culture’ too much. But, a system being able to give unlimited gifts isn’t right. We are there working for citizens, not special interests who can wine and dine legislators.”

Under the current standard, Merkley explained, items like T-shirts and coffee mugs are OK ‚Äì the standard is that the item must be worth less than $10‚ including meals, and gifts of entertainment. Still allowed are “receptions”, as long as all legislators are invited to attend.

“We want to convert these standards, these rules, into a law; but that takes bicameral [both Oregon House and Senate] approval to do,” explained Merkley.

Speaker Merkley tells why there is a “different feeling” in the halls of the Oregon House of Representatives these days.

A different feeling in Salem
“In the House, there is now a completely different feeling in the building.

“On our opening day, I asked former Senator Hatfield to swear me in. Hatfield, a Republican, took some tough and principled stands. In Washington DC, I worked with Hatfield. I saw how he treated people coming in to see him with respect. No, Hatfield didn’t turn me into being a Republican; but I didn’t change him either.

“In short, we’re trying to create a problem-solving atmosphere in Salem.”

Covers four major issues
Top topics Merkley shared with the group were fiscal responsibility, education, health care, and payday loans.

1. Fiscal Responsibility
“As a state we need to level out revenue flow. This means we don’t spend as much when times are good, so we don’t have to cut programs when there is a downturn. It was a huge challenge to get the ‘Rainy Day Fund’ passed in the House. It shouldn’t have been that hard to create a savings account.”

Merkley explained that this fund would be built up by the State retaining the “Corporate Kicker”‚ the overpayment of company taxes to the State. The fund would also dedicate 1% of General Fund; and any unused funds from the state budget would go into the fund.

2. Education
“We are trying to strengthen Oregon’s educational system‚ from ‘Head Start’ through the university level. We need each student to get a full school year, and experience smaller class sizes.

“Long ago, communications were costly and difficult. Now, with electronic communication, and the advent of deep draft shipping, we need to‚ and can‚ compete in the world market. But, we need good education for our citizens to thrive in the global economy.

“The legislature is looking for efficiencies within the system,” Merkley stated. “One of those efficiencies could be a statewide pooling of health care insurance. Those who sell insurance say pooling policies will cost a lot of money; others say it this concept will save money.”

Merkley was asked why, when Parkrose and David Douglas school systems object to pooling their health care insurance plans, he sounded like he was in favor of the plan.

Merkley responded, “By consolidating the plans, you greatly cut the overhead. With competition, you improve that part of the market. The Oregon School Board Association attests that it will save money. Many people who are vested in the current system think it should stay the way it is. The logic is in the administration you will have savings. Essentially, pooling insurance programs eliminates the middleman. But, many of those who sell insurance argue otherwise.”

Taking on the issue of healthcare, Merkley says this issue is the #1 topic of concern he hears from citizens.

3. Healthcare
“We are the only industrialized country that doesn’t have a stable health care system. Health care is currently built around an individual having long-term employment. Times are changing. When I’ve gone door-to-door talking with people, concerns about healthcare ranks above those about our schools.”

Merkley called the situation an “insurance death spiral”. Today, fewer people have healthcare insurance; thus more uninsured are getting routine healthcare in hospital Emergency Rooms‚ where they can’t be turned away. This drain on the system, in turn, drives up the cost of insurance‚ and then even fewer people can afford coverage.

“People tell me they’re concerned that healthcare insurance plans are less generous with benefits. And, they’re concerned about the continual increase in the cost of pharmaceuticals.

“We’re working on this issue in two stages; one is regarding long term healthcare, and the other is healthcare for children.

“When I started in the legislature, talk about healthcare was an idealist conversation. Now it is an active conversation. Employers are worried about being able to provide healthcare for their employees.”

“Specifically,” the Speaker said, “Oregon firms must compete against overseas competitors whose employee healthcare costs are much lower.”

Turning to health care for children, Merkley said, “As adults, we need to provide accessible healthcare to every child in the state. It isn’t a cheap or easy thing to do.

“The way we’re approaching this is [raising funding] through an increased tobacco tax ‚Äì about $0.84 per pack. The ‘public cost’ of smoking, with long-term health problems, is about $11 per pack. This fee is a reasonable way for smokers to contribute.

“We need to strengthen more than insurance. We need a statewide nursing ‘help line’. In rural areas, we should also strengthen front-line [healthcare] clinics. It wasn’t approved by the ‘other’ side of the aisle; I don’t know if we’ll reach an agreement.”

4. Payday Loans
“One of the things hurting people in Oregon is short-term loans that carry triple-digit interest rates. Families end up in bankruptcy and divorce. When people go bankruptcy, the State usually ends up ‘picking up the pieces’.

“Our current Governor says that in the past, the State of Oregon eliminated usury laws. Legislators thought the market would never allow the rates to increase over ten per cent. We’re proposing a 36% cap on consumer lending — pawns, payday, or layaways.

“The lending companies,” Merkley added, “are strongly objecting to this legislation, saying capping interest rates will drive them out of business, thus limiting the number of places where someone with poor credit could get a loan.”

Questions mental healthcare
Ron Clemenson, vice chair of Centennial, voiced his concern about mental healthcare issues. “We’ve lost our mental health clinics and hospitals. And, when the State got rid of Dammisch Hospital, it didn’t replace it with anything.”

Merkley responded that the State has provided mental healthcare funds to counties.

“We’ve now decided,” Merkley added, “that we need to replace the Salem Sate Hospital,and other facilities. A lot of patients get NO treatment, instead of better treatment. Two years we passed ‘Mental Health Parity’. We now know people aren’t possessed by spirits ‚Äì this is a disease process! Mental health problems should be treated and covered under health insurance programs.”

A fulltime Oregon Legislature?
Merkley concluded by saying “We’re flirting with the idea of breaking our one, long, every-other-year session into two shorter yearly sessions. We wouldn’t be lengthening the time we’re in session. This would allow for more flexibility to deal with changing situations.”

You can learn a lot by attending your neighborhood association’s meeting. Outer East Portland’s meetings are listed in our Community Calendar ‚Ķ

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

But even the new “pedestrian refuge” near the Multnomah County Health Clinic on SE Division Street hardly slows drivers. Read about PDOT’s “Three Es”, and decide if they’re on the right path‚

Will Stevens, Project Manager with the Portland Office of Transportation.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Midway businesspeople and neighbors got to learn about highway safety efforts, learn about their sign project, and learn about a special grant‚ all during this one March meeting.

Midway Business Association (MBA) president Donna Dionne said the organization was the recipient of an East Portland Neighborhood Office grant of $2,500. “This grant will allow us create promotions and communications to Russian and Spanish speakers, helping them to better connect with businesses and social services here in our community.”

Also, several members of the group offered to volunteer with the “Spring Graffiti Clean-Up” projects to be held on April 14, May 19, and June 16.

Accepting prom gowns for disadvantaged gals
And, they heard from a charter MBA member Carol Stout, of Van Kirks Florist, about Abby’s Closet. “This group collects new and slightly used formal gowns, appropriate for high school proms. We’re collecting them at our shop on SE Division Street [at SE 125th Avenue].”

Stout said Abby’s Closet gives these collected gowns to young women who can’t afford expensive clothing. “We want to help these students be able to join with their peers for one of the most memorable of high school events.” The gowns will be given away on April 14 and 15, at the Oregon Convention Center. For more information, see www.abbyscloset.org, or call (503) 722-1534.

Promotes safety on the streets
The featured speaker at this MBA meeting was Will Stevens, Project Manager with the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT).

“I manage the Traffic-calming Program,” began Stevens. “Mark Lear manages the Community and School Traffic Safety Project.”

Stevens said that PDOT’s “big three Es” are engineering, enforcement, and education. “I work to improve safety for all modes of travel — bikes, pedestrians, and vehicles.”

Stevens tells why the city builds pedestrian “islands” in the middle of busy streets.

Focus on “pedestrian refuges”
“Without these midstreet ‘islands’, on multi-lane, high speed streets,” Stevens explained, “pedestrians are forced to make a crossing movement [crossing the street] in one pass. Pedestrians have to ‘sight the traffic’ in both direction, and estimate how much time they have to make a crossing.”

A problem is, Stevens said, is if they estimate incorrectly, those on foot are left stranded in the center lane without protection. “These refuge islands bifurcate the street, so pedestrians can make the crossing in two movements.”

One island was installed, then removed
Asked why the island at SE 122nd Ave. at Woodward Place was constructed‚ only to be taken out, Stevens replied, “[That island] was located there to serve the clients of the building. But, advance notification wasn’t given. In this case, the construction got ahead of the process. That island caused conflicts with the David Douglas Schools bus yard. They couldn’t line up buses in the left hand turn lane; the island was in the way.”

How islands are located
Stevens explained the process for choosing street-crossing refuges. “These features must facilitate transit stops. The criteria for that is that the street must be high-speed and multi-lane.”

PDOT also looks at land uses, he said‚ specifically, for buildings that are “pedestrian generators”. The primary consideration is for public buildings, such as county clinics and libraries. “Then, we’ll look at high-density developments.”

Even if one uses the new a “pedestrian refuge” island, crossing SE Division Street east of SE 122nd Ave. in front of the Multnomah County Health Clinic can still be hazardous to your health — as vehicles go whizzing past.

Another recently-completed pedestrian refuge is near SE 127th Avenue at Division Street, adjacent to the Multnomah County Health Clinic. “We’re building another one further east on Division Street at 142nd Avenue.”

Safety issues hotline
If you have traffic safety concerns, “Call (503) 823-SAFE [823-7233],” said Stevens. “This is our one-stop source for every traffic safety issue, whether it be signals, crossings, or street safety in the neighborhood.”

Both the hotline and the pedestrian refuge programs are funded thorough the Community and School Safety Partnership program. “The League of Cities worked to enact legislation to increase fees from traffic violations,” explained Stevens. “A portion of the funds from traffic law violation tickets written in Portland flows into to a ‘traffic safety account’ ‚Äì it is not ‘general fund’ money.”

TriMet chips in for some of the improvements, said Stevens. “At the 127th site, they paid for the bus pad and curb improvements.”

Put in your two cents
The PDOT representative said their agency is developing a public involvement process to help them locate new traffic safety features.

“Yes, we are traffic safety professionals, but we’re not aware of all the potential improvements. Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams [who oversees PDOT] has made it a point that he’s very interested in traffic safety for everyone, including vehicles and trucks. We want to roads in Portland to be a nationwide model of safety.”

Come meet the MBA
You don’t need to be a scholar to meet with this MBA. Come learn all about this new business group dedicated to helping neighbors and businesses improve the southern end of outer East Portland.

Their next meeting is on Tuesday, April 10 from 11:45 am until 1:00 pm at Pizza Baron, 2604 S.E. 122nd Avenue. Neighbors and interested businesspeople are always welcome.

And put May 8 on your calendar ‚ it’s the date of the Midway “Annual Association Get-Together”. It’s a mix-and-mingle, drop-in event, featuring a free pizza buffet. You’ll get to meet businesspeople; officials, such as Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams; and neighborhood leaders.

For more information, go to www.midwayba.com.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Get ready for lane closures where SE Stark and Washington streets intersect with the freeway starting April 2. It’ll be torn up through May. No, this isn’t an “April fools” joke‚

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
No one said constructing the light rail line along I-205 from Gateway to Clackamas Town Center would be without disruption.

Starting April 2, look for one (or two) traffic lanes to be sliced off on SE Stark and Washington streets for about four months.

TriMet’s Peggy La Point tells us, “On April 2, crews will begin pile driving and excavation to create a crossing underneath Stark and Washington for the light rail tracks. Crews will need to remove and replace three roadways in each direction and reinforce them so light rail can run underneath Stark and Washington. Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.”

Want to keep up with project? Check online at www.trimet.org/i205/project.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

See Madam Chaos in action! This off-kilter instructor grabs kids’ attention, from the first moment of her lecture.

Madam Chaos mixes a color-changing potion to the delight of her young students at Midland Library.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The tall woman in a white lab coat prepares her apparatus as we approach her. Because she’s in character, she states, “My name is Madam Chaos. You may call me  either.”

Ms. Chaos explains why she’s at Midland Library, saying, “It gets kids very excited about science. After our session, kids run to find and check out all the science books they can find.”

Asked about today’s class, Chaos, who confides she has been with Mad Science¬Æ for three years, tells us, “We are focusing primarily on chemical reactions today. Oh yes, and fun!”

Madam Chaos helps a budding scientist learn about centripetal force, during her interactive course.

Mad Science¬ (yes, we’re told it is a registered trademark) is the world’s leading science enrichment provider. They deliver unique, hands-on science experiences for children that are as entertaining as they are educational. Mad Science encourages scientific literacy in children, in an age when science has become as important as reading, writing and arithmetic.

For more information regarding Mad Science, see www.madscience.com.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Discover what volunteers are doing to improve this hidden natural spot‚ located on the land apex between our two outer East Portland watersheds‚

Neighbor Mike Harrison and Cole Miller, a student volunteer from Parkrose Middle School, and his dad, Bob Miller, all spend the morning cleaning out invasive plants, and planting native greenery.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Although the weather was what one would expect from a typical winter morning on March 10, 14 volunteers converged on the naturally-wooded area west of the Glendoveer Golf Course in Hazelwood.

One of the volunteers was project coordinator Linda Robinson. “We’ve been clearing ivy for a couple of years. Now, we have enough open spaces to plant in among the shrubs and cedar trees. These are all native plants: Roses, thimbleberry and snowberry, and red-twig dogwood.”

Maintaining this area is important, Robinson said, because “this is one of the few wooded natural areas that remain in this part of the city. There is a lot of potential for natural habitat among these two acres of established fir trees. We’re trying to add some plant diversity. In doing so, we’re providing more shelter and food sources for the birds, and native rabbits and squirrels.”

Cynthia Palormo says she’s visiting from Los Angeles, and decided to help out. “I traveled all the way to Glendoveer to do some gardening work!” She’s giving a hand to new Hazelwood resident, Jim Caudell, who happens to be a Metro Park Ranger.

Top ‘o’ outer East Portland
We learned from Robinson that the woods in which we were standing is the “summit” of outer East Portland.

“We’re at the top of the watershed,” Robinson pointed out. “These trees soak up the rain so it doesn’t all run into the Columbia Slough to the north, or Johnson Creek to the south. By keeping the trees healthy and the ground covered, we’re keeping and using rainwater right here.”

Just then, the threatening skies opened and‚ it started to rain. “Look,” Robinson pointed out, “there are trilliums blooming.”

You can help
Come join in the “No Ivy Day” at Glendoveer Woods on May 5 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Go to 1260 NE 132 Ave., and park in the parking lot of St Therese Church. You’ll find them in the southeast corner of the parking lot between the buildings.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

You don’t need to fight for a parking place, as you might in the Pearl, when you take in the SE Area Artwalk. Take a look and see who we met on our stroll‚

Annie Meyer, of Studio 2507 on SE Clinton St., shows us her unique, artistic tiles.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Southeast Portland artists flung open their studio doors the first weekend in March as they participated in their fourth annual ArtWalk. From SE 9th Ave. to 41st Ave., 75 artists amazed visitors with their works of art.

Because we couldn’t visit all 45 locations, we took in the talent of five artisans showing their works in the Inner SE Portland portion of the show.

Our first stop was at Studio 2507 on SE Clinton St. where we met Annie Meyer.

“I’m a painter working in three mediums,” Meyer explained. “I do paintings, ceramic tile and monotype prints. My subject matter is the human figure, and landscapes of France.”

Admiring her miniature works of art, ceramic tiles, Meyer told us she’d been creating tiles since 1984.

“I love the SE ArtWalk,” said Meyer. “It’s a free, friendly event, exposing people to local artists and their work.”

Charley Wheelock of KaPow Designs sits on one of his benches, with his kids, Madeleine and Leo.

Wooden works of wonder
In a woodworking shop, we meet Charley Wheelock of KaPow Designs. He showed us custom cabinets he was making. But, he looked lovingly at newly-finished benches he had on display

“These benches are made out of pallet stickers,” enlighten Wheelock. “They were in a pile, being sold as firewood. I started milling them, and found a crazy variety of hardwoods. So, I designed a line of furniture that would minimize the amount of milling. I’ve succeeded, there is very little waste‚ and these benches showcase a huge variety of wood.”

Scott Stewart, furniture artist, sits at a unique table of his design and construction.

Wheelock suggested I meet the owner of the wood shop located on SE Division St. at 25th Avenue, Scott Stewart.

There, we asked the name, or nature, of his business, and Stewart answered simply, “I’m a furniture artist. I mostly create custom, commissioned furniture and wood artwork. But, I also do my own line of designs, unique to my style.”

Sitting on one of his designs — a hand-made chair — Stewart glances over at the “Iris Table” next to him. “The way they open up, it reminds me of the flower.”

House of art
Our final stop was on SE Brooklyn St, just east of SE 23rd Ave. to see Kristin Yount’s “house of art”.

Customer Marge Weigert visits Kristin Yount at her neighborhood home-turned-art-studio.

“I make terracotta pottery,” Yount told us. “I like the color of terracotta.”

In addition to her unique designs and decoration, Yount told us she makes her own lead-free colors, which she uses to paint the pottery. “My pottery is all ‘food-grade safe’. You could put it in the dishwasher, but you shouldn’t. After all, it is a work of art.”

Amy Stoner shows her acrylic paintings

At the same location, we also met Amy Stoner. “This is my third year exhibiting in the ArtWalk,” relates Stoner. “I like the sense of community this event brings about. I also like meeting other artists in the area. That is how I met Kristin, who is hosting me here.”

The best part, Stoner said, is seeing people who are interested in your work. “Having them stop by to talk for a while is much better than, for example, meeting them at a store or gallery,” she added.

Want to learn more? Check the website  www.seportlandartwalk.com, or call (503) 232-0745 for more information.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

This is your invitation to experience real culture‚ in outer East Portland! Read this, and you’ll be calling to get tickets for Metro Dancers’ new show, presented March 17 and 24‚

Preparing for their roles in the ballet “La Fille Mal Gardee” are Metro Dancers Moriah Newman, Amy Johnson, Krista Bennett, Lorianne Barclay, Bridgette Emard, Meng Paulson, and Helen Rappe.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
You don’t have to drive and park downtown to treat yourself (and friends) to a great program of ballet.

Presenting both matinee and evening shows, the Portland Metro Performing Arts Center proudly presents the Metro Dancers’ production of La Fille Mal Gardee.

Metro Dancers prepare, as rehearsal gets under way their Spring production.

From what we saw during the rehearsal, the entire family will enjoy this colorful dance program.

You don’t need to speak French to enjoy “La Fille Mal Gardee” ‚Äì the story is acted out in dance. It’s a comic tale that unfolds as its characters romp through the timeless entanglements of love and marriage.

You’ll hear wonderful music, see the dancers dressed in professional costumes, marvel at the sets, and fully enjoy seeing the dancers’ skill as they make this story come alive.

Metro Dancers Nigel Swehla, Calvin Fackrell, and David Larison make a breathtaking catch after full-time PMPA volunteer Len Mills leaps into the air.

Shows on March 17 and 24
Metro Dancers present La Fille Mal Gardee is presented on both days at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Tickets, at the door are: Adult $18, Children $12; Pre-Sale Price: HS/Adult $15, Children $10. Reserve your seats now by calling (503) 408-0604, emailing us at info@PDXMetroArts.org or in person at the PMPA box office.

Portland Metro Performing Arts Center is located at 9933 SE Pine St. (just north of E. Burnside St.) in Gateway.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Learn what citizens had to say about the new, round-robin format designed to encourage more input regarding the Portland City budget …

The organizer of the event, Laurel Butman, of the Portland Office of Management and Finance, talks with Mayor Tom Potter, at the SE Portland meeting.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In an effort to strip away the mystery of the City of Portland’s budget process, the City’s Office of Management and Finance has created a new “citizens’ forum” format.

Instead of having a parade of City officials talk amongst themselves ‚Äì with little citizen input ‚Äì a new “round-robin” format was instituted at the meeting a couple of weeks ago at Cleveland High School, on S.E. Powell Boulevard.

Hundreds of people, from the far corners of outer East Portland ‚Äì to the close-in neighbors from inner SE Portland packed the school’s cafeteria.

Potter pleased with project
“I’m a graduate of this fine institution,” Mayor Tom Potter told us at the forum.

“This forum is a way for citizens to provide us input about what they think is important. It gives them a chance to look at what we are recommending. If there are things we need to add, they let us know.”

Looking out over a sea of tables, charts, and people, the mayor told us how this event differs from ones held in the past. “We have a table for each of the major bureaus of the city. There are some initiatives hosting tables, also —  including public safety and Children’s Bill of Rights.”

Surrounding the room were tables for neighborhood and community services. Sylvia Bogert, the executive director for SW Neighborhoods, Inc., and Cece Hughley Noe, the executive director of the Southeast Uplift Coalition agency. The latter explained, “We’re working together to show our support for the Office of Neighborhood Involvement budget.”

Citizens spent about ten minutes at each table, looking over the proposed budget for that particular department, and gave their input and listened to the opinions of others. Then, they rang a bell, and people changed tables.

Mayor Tom Potter, Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, and Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten told what they learned at this forum.

Commissioners comments
Wrapping up the evening, top city officials talked with the attendees.

“I’ve sat in at several of the tables,” commented Potter. “People are asking really good questions. It saves citizens time; we get more input of a higher quality. I think the result is much more effective.”

Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman said “I like it. I was able to wander around and hear many thoughtful comments at the tables. We’ll take the ideas. I appreciate the enthusiasm for sustainable development and parks, Children’s Bill of Rights, and other initiatives the City Council supports.”

“This has been really been fun”, enthused Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten. “I’ve had more in-depth conversations that I usually get. We were just talking about affordable housing. I do think it is important that we get good feedback from all of the tables. Having more in-depth discussions is more helpful than two-minute ‘hits’ from a few people. I heard a lot about how the City can better integrating projects and programs. You’ve set the bar very high.”

The tables were filled with citizens — learning more about the city’s budget, and asking probing questions about expenditures.

Many people at the event with whom we spoke were upbeat about the new format.

Business and housing concerns
Nancy Chapin, from the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, said she liked hearing that more storefront-improvement funds will go to businesses outside the Urban Renewal Districts. “As important as housing is, I’m still concerned there is still way too much housing in southeast Portland with not nearly enough community development. The city is still spending too much money downtown.”

“Did you feel you’d been heard?” we asked.

“Well, they wrote it down,” Chapin replied.

View from Mt. Tabor
Neighborhood activist Paul Leistner, Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association and chair of SE Uplift, commented, “There is some good projects here, but we have more good projects than we have money to fund. I hope the community will stay engaged and continue to have a voice in this process.”

We asked Leistner if he thought city officials were really listening. “I saw comments being written down. I know it doesn’t stop here. We have to continue to be heard to make sure the programs we feel are important get funded.”

Transportation topics
Marianne Colgrove, vice chair of SE Uplift, and Secretary of the Ardenwald/Johnson Creek neighborhood told us she liked being able to ask questions of city officials. “It was important to hear other people’s concerns. But I felt that the time at the tables wasn’t long enough.”

Colgrove said the major issues in her neighborhood are transportation and transportation safety. “Including a lot of the things people mentioned — pedestrian and bike safety, ‘Safe Routes to School’, traffic calming within the city to make it safer when not in a car.”

NE Portland resident Dave Lister said he liked being able to look over the City’s complete line-item budget, on display at the forum.

And finally, a quip from Lister ‚Ķ
A former City Counsel candidate, Dave Lister said this format was “much improved”, and quipped, “When [former mayor] Vera Katz ran these [forum meetings], they presented the budget in such a sophomoric fashion, they should have handed out coloring crayons!”

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

It might look like a vicious sport, played without rules, but read this, and learn why rugby is a lot more civilized than you may think …

Performing what looks like a cross between a ballet leap and an acrobatic cheerleader stunt, rugby players hoist a team member high into the air to catch the ball during a “line out”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Their game over, soccer players quickly cleared the field at Westmoreland Park when they saw the blue-uniformed Oregon Sports Union “Jesters” and the red-jersey clad “Portland Pigs” (a/k/a Portland Rugby Football Club) on February 17.

“We don’t want to be in the way of these guys,” said a soccer player, making a hasty exit to the sidelines.

About to take place was the semi-annual competition between Portland’s senior men’s rugby leagues.

Century old sport shows no age
While the game of rugby came into being in 1872, the first Portland club was organized only in 1961, we’re told by Shawn Waterman, assistant coach of the Portland Rugby Football Club, known as the Portland Pigs.

“Portland Pigs?” we ask.

“According to oral tradition,” Waterman said with a smile, “at a tournament in San Francisco, a pig wandered on the field. The club adopted it, brought it back to Portland, and later roasted it. It was said to have been delicious.”

Not for the faint of heart
Waterman enthused, “It’s a fantastic game. It gets in your blood. It is a very physical game. It isn’t for the weak at heart, nor unsound of body.”

As in American football, rugby players grab the ball and do their best to carry into the scoring end-zone.

Rugby differs from American Football, we learned, in that players don’t wear helmets or hard pads. They are permitted to use soft, foam shoulder pads.

Asked about the basics, Waterman does his best to simplify the game play.

“The playing field is 100 meters in length, goal posts on each end. There are 15 players on a team. The object is to tally more points than your opponent by scoring a “try”, a “penalty kick” or a “drop goal”. A “conversion” after a “try” scores points as well.”

In simple terms, each team alternately attacks the opposition goal or defends their own.

Unlike American football, a when the player running ball is tackled – and wow, are they tackled – they untangle themselves and the play continues.

An adult-level rugby match lasts 80 minutes, played in two halves of 40 minutes each. It is controlled by a single referee and two touch judges.

“One thing that makes the game so vigorous,” Waterman stated, “is that, unlike American football, play continues immediately after a tackle.”

Parent calls it a “clean” sport
On the sidelines, watching what looked like violent roughhousing, we met Richard Sorem, the parent of Taylor, a Portland Pigs player. We asked if he had concerns for his son’s safety.

“True, it is a very ‘physical’ game,” Sorem replied. “But, he’s been playing for three years. Even though they play hard, it’s a ‘clean’ sport in which sportsmanship is highly valued. Rugby doesn’t have rules ‚Äì instead, they call them ‘laws’ ‚Äì and they are meant to be obeyed.”

Overall, Sorem said, he didn’t think the chance for injury is any greater than in other contact sports. “There are risks in playing any sport.”

It looks like a coordinated shoving match, but this grapple with the ball is called a “scrum”.

The greatest game
During a break, we ask Waterman why he chose this sport. “Simply, we play it because it is the greatest game.”

Portland rugby is played in a split season, in the fall and spring. “Wet, sloppy fields don’t make for a good game, but we play it in the season,” Waterman commented.

You can see the Portland Pigs practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Montavilla Park, SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and Glisan Street, at 7:00 p.m. Games are played on Saturdays.

You can learn more about this fascinating, traditional sport by going to www.portlandrugby.org.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Take one look, and you’ll see the fun these kids had making dimensional paper artwork in this class ‚Ķ

Instructor Jean Choy helps kids get started on their Sunday afternoon art project.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Not all events at the library involve books.

Not long ago, we stopped by Midland Library to see a paper crafts class that brightened up an otherwise dreary Sunday afternoon for kids and their parents

“This is paper art for children,” explained the instructor, Jean Choy, “and also for adults who like to make art!”

Choy said she’s taught Chinese-style brush painting for 25 years, and enjoys creating art in charcoal and pen and ink. “I’m also a Chinese language teacher.”

-Alisha Archer with a little help from mom Julia, doing arts and crafts at Midland Library by making birds.

The craft at this session was making fanciful birds from paper cutouts.

Check our Community Calendar and you may find a class or special interest program that tickles your fancy. The best part? They’re all free.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Wonder why they’re digging up the hillsides along Interstate 205 between Gateway and Clackamas? Read this, and find out how the construction will affect you ‚Ķ

I-205 MAX community affairs reprehensive Leslie Hildula discusses construction issues with Lents resident Larry Sullivan, at the Lents MAX open house.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Larry Sullivan lives in the Lents neighborhood on SE 92nd Avenue. He, and other neighbors, say they’re concerned about the MAX light rail train construction now underway.

“I’m anxiously waiting to see what will be happening,” Sullivan tells us at the TriMet’s open house they are holding in Lents in late January. “They’re closing up SE 94th Avenue, and moving out the houses. All the houses are boarded up. I was hoping there was a meeting instead of an open house.”

But, at the open house, Sullivan meets, and is able to ask questions of Leslie Hildula, community affairs representative for the MAX I-205 project.

“We started to move utilities, fiber optic and water unities in preparation for the project,” Hildula tells us. “I expect to see heavy construction starting in March. We’ll be working our way from the north, near Gateway, south to Clackamas.”

No parking in Lents
Looking at the map, we ask Hildula about parking at the Lents station.

“The Lents/Foster Road Station will primarily be for people walking or take busses to it. The park-and-ride stations are at Powell Blvd. and Holgate Ave.,” she tells us.

At the Mall 205 open house, residents check over a large, photographic map depicting the location and stations of the new I-205 MAX light rail line.

Asked about area disruptions, Hildula says, “One major change will be disruptions in the I-205 Multi-Use path. The construction of the light rail line will go between the freeway and the path. We created an alternative route, so they wouldn’t have to worry about what part is open or closed; they could use SE 92nd Avenue all the way down to Clackamas County.”

Meghan Oldfield, the TriMet’s lead I-205 MAX project engineer talks with George Till at their Mall 205 open house.

Mall 205 gets MAXed out
A few days later, TriMet held another open house, this time at Mall 205.

Neighbors lined up, all looking points of interest or reference, such as their homes, businesses or schools. “We’re showing how we’re bringing MAX to people in outer East Portland and Clackamas County,” says the project manager, Meghan Oldfield.

Former Lents Neighborhood Association chair Judy Welch examines the map, looking at how her area will be served.

Neighbor George Till doesn’t appear to be all that thrilled with the project. “I’m trying to figure out what it all is. It this really approved?”

Yes, George, like it or not, expect construction along the freeway for a year while Portland’s newest light rail line is constructed.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service