As promised, here are more photos of this great annual celebration than you’ll find anywhere else ‚Äì including a pix of Portland Police Bureau Chief Rosie Sizer’s ONLY visit to outer East Portland ‚Ķ
This chalk art welcomed neighbors to a Russell Neighborhood celebration on National Night Out.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
By all measures, the National Night Out for Safety was the best-attended outer East Portland event of its kind since its inception.
Participating groups held street parties, barbecues, parties-in-the-parks, and back yard gatherings.
Group leaders who held “official” events were supplied with packets containing crime prevention tips, safety gadgets and discount coupons from participating restaurants and stores. Local stores also provided prizes, food and supplies for several of the larger events.
Parkrose Heights Association of Neighbors
Oregon Baptist Retirement Homes
Lou Fontana admires some of the 100 vehicles attending their Cruise In. “We chose Saturday, because we wanted more people to attend. We’re expecting about 1,500 guests this year.”
At the grill are the not-so-famous Williams Brothers: Steve and Larry. Steve: “It is fun to see the guests come in and enjoy the hospitality.” Larry: “For a couple of bucks, we’re serving fresh, hot burger meals, right off the grill!”
Band members of “Drawback” rock out at this National Night Out Saturday celebration.
Lents
Reedway Place
Jim Barrett, President of Rose Community Development, and Nick Sauvie, ROSE director, welcome neighbors to their July 29 event. “ROSE Community Development is holding this block party at our Lents project. We look at this is a good way to build community and reduce crime,” Savuie says.
Organizers say 200 people came to immerse themselves in community – and partake of great food.
Mill Park
14000 Block of S.E. Taylor St.
July 29 event organizer Larry Markham and Duane Sanger are cooking up a feast for their street-party pot-luck dinner. “It’s important to get the neighbors together,” Sanger says. “When you get to know each other, you tend to look out for each other. It is a good thing.”
The folks on this Mill Park street enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of good food and conversation.
Parkrose Heights Association of Neighbors
Knott Park
Hoisting up the banner, and welcoming neighbors as they kick off their association-sponsored Night Out in Knott Park, are Mike Brown, James Woods and Allison Newman-Woods.
Some of the fun to be had in Knott Park included the fun and sillyness of our favorite East Portland clown, Steevie Weevie. Here, Jacob Brown gets a balloon hat from Steevie.
Mill Park
SE 114th Ave at Yamhill St.
In the foreground, you can see Carl Moody grilling up chicken for 200! Standing behind him, organizer Todd Baker says they’re enjoying sidewalk chalk, a raffle, and other fun. Yes, htere was all this, plus, lots and lots of good food! By the way, the chicken was smothered in “Moody’s Madness” ‚Äì a locally made product. We are sorry we have to move on to other National Night Out parties — we’re told this was a great one!
Centennial
Parklane Park
Friends and neighbors gather in Centennial as their National Night Out gets started.
Patty Hicks, Multnomah County Commissioner Lonnie Roberts and the Clemensons enjoy the beautiful evening in Parklane Park.
Wilkes/Russell
Wilkes Park
Wilkes and Russell neighborhoods band together to put on this premier Night Out celebration.
Wilkes Community Group Chair Ross Monn tell us, “Thanks to the help of our volunteers we’ve planned for a picnic for 300 people. And they all came! We’re giving away both children’s and adult’s door prizes.”
Cooking up sizzling burgers in Wilkes Park are volunteers Paul Capell, Rod Martin, and Bob Larsen.
Glenfair
GlenFair Park
Neighborhood chair Stephen Jenkevice welcomes 200 neighbors for an evening of fun, games – and yes, lots of great pizza.
Lotty Dotty was busy squeaking up balloons, including the sword for Timothy Holten.
Community Center
East Portland Community Center
Growing their celebration, this is their second annual event. Here, staff member Jennie Birt gives a beauty makeover to Ryan Hodge. Hat and button making, fun with the library folks, and games added to the merriment.
Woodland Park
NE 101st Ave at Bell St.
Officer Jeff Dorn introduces Ranger, a 2¬? year old German Shepherd — the newest member to Portland Police Bureau’s K9 team.
Grillmaster Glen Heiner cooks up great grub for everyone who came by their celebration in Woodland Park. Organizer Laura Heiner tells us, “As a mom of four children, I want to do all I can to increase safety in our street.”
Parkrose
NE 113th Ave. near Freemont St.
Officer Searle on rides Jack, and Officer Pashley rides Norman, as they visit the celebration organized by Nancy Boxell. She says, “In the last year, we helped other drug people move out; stopped car prowls, burglary, and mail theft thanks to our phone tree. We have ‘night out for safety’ all year long!”
Crews from Portland Fire & Rescue came by to meet and greet people at nearly all of the Night Out celebrations — just as they do here in Parkrose.
Argay
Argay Park
Police Chief Rosie Sizer came to visit Argay’s celebration. She tells us, “This is my fifth party tonight. This event provides a platform for the community and the cops to talk to one another. It allows us to connect on a human level. Community-oriented policing is a cornerstone of my administration. I’m glad to be here!”
It didn’t take long for the TV cameras to appear and for reporters to interview Chief Sizer.
Organizer Valerie Curry works the ice cream stand. Her event attracted 250 neighbors.
Little Kyan Avery is shucking some great Rossi Sweet Corn that Rossi Farms donated, cooked, and served to hundreds of party-goers.
Rocking riffs provided by The Kooltones kept the celebration rocking.
Mill Park
SE 117th and Washington St
Organizer Nicole Barlow gives Julie Frangipani a Night Out for Safety packet. Barlow tells us, “This was my first time in charge. I’m pleased we had 20 people join in our potluck dinner. I do believe this event helps get crime off the street, so we can take our neighborhood back.”
Hazelwood
Along NE 134th Ave.
Pat Webster organized this neighborhood picnic. “We had a potluck dinner and dessert. We’re glad we can get together. NRT Officer Michael Gallagher snapped this photo for us.
Russell
12500 block of NE Knott Street
Charlotte Weeks, Marjorie Lusby and Kelli Davison smile at the success of the first Night Out in a long time for this Russell neighborhood. Lusby says, “”We’re delighted that fifteen families came by to join us. Next year, I’ll bet we have even more.
Lents
Lents Park
“We’ve stuck to what works for us,” says organizer Judy Welch. “Our ice cream social attracted more folks than ever!” Judging by the empty tubs of ice cream, it looks like dozens of neighbors had a great time.
Will we see you next year at a National Night Out for Safety?
© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News
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