Find out who the Parkrose Business Association awarded, and how much money they raised for their foundation’s scholarship program …
Braving ice and snow, Parkrose Business Association members and guests make their way to outer East Portland, for the organization’s annual Holiday celebration.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
With the date coinciding with the tail end of the season’s first snow and ice storm, the 2016 Parkrose Business Association’s annual Holiday Banquet, held again at the Holiday Inn Airport on the evening of December 9, was a bit subdued.
More than forty hearty individuals succeeded in making their way through the wintery weather to enjoy the social evening.
At the silent auction tables, guests bid on items ranging from handmade chocolate macadamia nut candy, to vacation destinations, to food baskets, and sporting goods.
A casualty of the winter storm was a performance by the Parkrose High School Debonairs choral group; that evening, organizers learned that the school bus was iced in at the district’s parking lot, preventing the choir from singing at the soirée, as it has for many years.
However, the evening offered many other activities including a silent auction – offering a wide variety of goods and services on which members and guests bid. Also available was the famous “Wall of Wines”, in which participants could take home a sealed bag for $10. Some of the bottles were worth up to $200.
Karen Taylor serves as Master of Ceremonies, and again held her “Guess the Number of Jellybeans” contest, to raise additional funds for the Parkrose Business Foundation’s scholarship fund.
Guests select a bounty of delicious Holiday foods from the buffet.
The Holiday Inn’s catering staff again proffered a lavish Holiday-themed buffet dinner, including a cheese plate, three salads, dressing, with potatoes, a three-steamed vegetable dish, pork loin, turkey, and prime rib.
Gleefully selecting her table’s after-dinner treat, as part of the Dessert Dash, is PBA VP Cathy Morris of Northwest Pest Control.
The hotel did not cater the desserts, however. This is because the PBA continued its tradition of holding a ‘Dessert Dash’, in which tables bid on the opportunity to be the first to select one of the many delectable desserts on display.
PBA member Mark Eves again “rings the bell” for Salvation Army.
PBA member attorney Mark Eves, again donned a Santa cap, picked up his bucket, and asked for donations to the Salvation Army, with his promise to match any money donated. In the end, the charity received $3,008, thanks to Eves’ efforts and the generosity of the group.
As the evening drew to a close, winners of the PBA’s Artie Johnson Award and Karl F. Lind Award were announced.
2016 Artie Johnson Award
Portland Police Bureau Officer Jason Jones was the winner of the 2016 Artie Johnson Award. East Portland News file photo
Wayne Stoll told how the Artie Johnson Award came to be, and how previous winners helped select the year’s candidate.
“Due to the nature of this person’s employment, he could not be here this evening,” Stoll said.
“The unanimous choice was Portland Police Bureau Officer Jason Jones, who has recently been promoted – and because of the change in his schedule and duties, could not attend this evening.
“Officer Jones has worked for years in the Parkrose area, providing protection to our persons and properties,” Stoll said. “He quietly goes about his job … and has volunteered for community events on his personal time, giving back to our community where he so ably serves.”
Stoll concluded with a reference to the award’s namesake: “As Artie, herself, would have said about this selection, ‘I like it!’”
Karl F. Lind Award
PBA’s 2016 Karl F. Lind Award goes to Kristin T. Trevino. East Portland News file photo
Next, Alison Stoll stepped up to honor the recipient of the PBA’s 2016 Karl F. Lind Award.
“This award is given to a member of the PBA who is lived or worked in the community, and has given countless hours of volunteer time, is known for the highest integrity and honesty, and is a person who is part of the community personally as well as professionally,” Stoll said.
This year’s awardee, Kristin T. Trevino, of Signs Now Northwest was not present at the event.
“Kristin is one of the happiest people in Parkrose, and always has a wonderful smile for everyone that she meets,” Stoll said.
She told how Trevino stepped up to be the PBA’s social media “point person”, and began filling the organization’s Facebook page with pictures and information about upcoming events.
“When we needed chairperson to lead the Trunk or Treat committee, Trevino again stepped right up,” Stoll commended, as she recounted the success of the event.
Because she helps the community, both through her business and her personal volunteer efforts, and her “enthusiastic and warm personality, it shows that she is the kind of person who makes the PBA a terrific business organization,” Stoll said.
President’s Awards
Presenting three President’s Awards to Alison Stoll, Marsha Lee Grabinger, and Cathy Morris, is PBA President Angie Jenkins.
PBA President Angie Jenkins of Hookset Automotive & Tires then took a moment to honor, and to present a Certificate of Appreciation to, three PBA volunteers.
Alison Stoll was awarded, based on her successful efforts to obtain grants for the PBA from Venture Portland; Marsha Lee Grabinger was honored for editing, composing, and producing the monthly PBA newsletter; and, PBA VP Cathy Morris was recognized for her help throughout the year.
Nearly every couple present won a door prize, including PBA Secretary William Keller, CPA, who takes home a bar of Ashton’s Macadamia Madness chocolate candy.
After the funds were tallied – the silent auction, the Dessert Dash, the Jelly Bean Guess, and the Wall of Wine generated a combined total of $2,480 for the Parkrose Business Foundation, and directed to its scholarship program.
Full of good cheer, guests bundled up against the chill of the wind sweeping over the area, and headed into the night.
© 2016 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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