Lents celebrates with softball game, parade, and party in the park

1,500 hot dogs later, another great Lents Founder’s Day celebration comes to a close. See our exclusive story, told in photographs ‚Ķ

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
One of the great things about Portland is all the different ways neighborhoods celebrate. The big party in Lents takes place in mid-August every year.

See for yourself what goes into making a great Lents Founder’s Day celebration:

Lents Softball Challenge

When the dust settled, at the August 19 Lents Softball Challenge, the final score was 16 points for the City Stickers vs. 20 points for the Lents Rebels (pictured here), after six innings of regulation play.

The City Stickers, a team made up of players associated with the City of Portland, played hard, and took the lead early in the game, but lost to the intrepid Lents Rebels.

Ken Turner, manager of Eastport Plaza and long-time Lents area booster, pitches a winning game for the Lents Rebels.

Sliding into home base, scoring another run for the Lents Rebels, is Tisha Henderson.

Lents Founders Day Parade

Everyone loves a parade, including the Lents Founder’s Day Parade on August 20. It starts out at the Wattles Boys and Girls Club and encircles Lents Park.

Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams is warmly greeted by neighbors as he, once again, marches in this parade. Sam looks like he’s doing a good job “holding up his end” for the 82nd Avenue of Roses Business Association.

Lents Founder’s Day Celebration

Ray Hites, putting up his extensive Lents Historical Exhibit. Look for your opportunity to see this exhibit if you seek a great pictorial history of Lents.

After the parade, East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs talks with Robert Ross, a veteran of WWII, and his daughter Judy Welch, former chair of the Lents Neighborhood Association.

Over the years, this family ‚Äì Kathryn Lansing, John Lansing, Angela Lansing, Mary Lansing, Mark Urell, and Cindy Lansing ‚Äì have quenched the thirst of hundreds of Founder’s Day Celebration goers, giving away gallons of delicious, ice-cold Lents Lansing Linoleum Lemonade.

Among the volunteers serving up some of the 1,500 hot dogs that the New Copper Penny restaurant donated – cooked, hot, and ready-to-enjoy – are Gerardo Ambries, Aida Velazquez, Maria Ambries, and Adrian Ambries. This soon-to-be-satisfied guest is Gene Woodberry.

Knights of Pythias member, and volunteer, John Murchison fits Daniel Oliver with a new bike helmet.

Filling Lents Park with swinging big-band music is the Providence Stage Band, under the baton of Larry Morrell, conductor.

Backed up by the Providence Stage Band, Maria Blum belts out a happy tune on a hot day. Or, was it a hot tune on a happy day?

Congratulations, Lents, on producing another fine celebration!

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News

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