Hundreds of people were drawn to Skidmore Street adjacent to Wilshire Park for an early evening event on Sept. 11. The third annual BWNA Skidmore Block Party offered the music of local band Stone Pepper, food carts, an a cappella performance by the Grant High School Royal Blues, a Kids’ Zone, and a photo booth. While it’s difficult to say what activity was the star of the show this year, safe money would be on the photo booth that came with dress-up options.
Scores of excited kiddos adorned in colorful feather boas, floppy hats, and wild sunglasses posed to have their picture professionally taken by Beaumont-Wilshire resident John Thompson, owner of Light & Lens Images. For kicks, giggles, and smiles, look through all the delightful photos at tinyurl.com/yc6v87s2. You can download a digital copy of your favorites for only $2 each and order prints starting at $3; all proceeds will be donated to BWNA. Thank you, John and wife, Kelly, for your generosity and for providing loads of fun for kids and families.
In another show of generosity, pFriem beer was not allowed to give away full cans of beer this year due to new liquor permit restrictions, so they sold them to thirsty eventgoers for $3 per can. The twist? pFriem then donated its take at the event back to the neighborhood association — a very generous contribution considering well over 400 cans of beer were sold. Thank you, pFriem!
Neighbors Sven Hansen and Melanie Quinn, BWNA’s new block party organizers this year, had been unable to attend the event the last two years. Regardless, they stepped forward to organize it with the support of BWNA’s Events Committee. Their months-long volunteer effort involved securing a variety of permits with the City of Portland, contracting with the musicians, and arranging for the overhead lighting, street barricades, and food trucks. Many thanks to Sven and Melanie!
More Businesses & People to Thank!
Event Sponsors
The generosity of our event sponsors listed on page 15 resulted in BWNA’s ability to cover the $3,200 in event expenses. Donations received in excess of expenses will go to BWNA coffers for funding future neighborhood events, activities, and projects.
Raffle Donors
Many thanks to these Beaumont Village businesses who donated gift certificates for a raffle:
- The Arrangement
- Puddletown Games & Puzzles
- Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge
- Proud Thai & Asian Fusion
- Landmass Wines
The certificates, arranged in a basket with a couple of other small items, brought the value to over $300. Sales of raffle tickets brought BWNA nearly $500. Raffle donors — your support of our neighborhood is evident by your generosity — thank you!
Event Volunteers and Assisting Organizations
The event was made possible by a bevy of volunteers from the BWNA’s Events Committee, board, and others in the community. Sven Hansen and Melanie Quinn organized the block party; Kay Hansen managed the Kids’ Zone; and John Sandie, Steve Sandie, Angela Frome, Al Ellis, Karla Lenox, Rob Lee, Patti Koehler, Kate Krider, Tim Gillespie, Susan Trabucco, Ayumi Angel, and Tim Root all stepped in wherever they were needed to help make the party a success.
Once again this year, Boy Scout Troop 107 delivered and picked up tables and chairs loaned to the event by Great Spirit United Methodist Church.
Thank You to Our Block Party Sponsors!
- Pacific Audiology Clinic
- pFriem
- Hal Jones Automotive
- Jamie Gardner at Windermere Realty Trust
- Garden Fever
- Tacovore
- Ayumi Angel at Simply Living PDX
- Green Dog Pet Supply
- Gustavo Soares at State Farm
- McFadin Design/Build
by Susan Trabucco, BWNA Board Member & Newsletter Editor
