Beaumont opened 75 years ago as an elementary school and in 1979 became Beaumont Middle School. Please join us in our celebration to honor our school community and bring alumni back together. Reunite with Beaumont classmates and staff for a trip down Memory Lane.

Current students will present a fashion show along with music of the times. No matter when you walked the halls of Beaumont, your memories will be brought to life. You’ll find photos, memorabilia, music and artwork in classrooms dedicated to each decade that Beaumont has been open. Our theatre classes will delight you with scenes from “The Wiz” and “The Wizard of Oz.”

Tell your friends and family to mark their calendars, stop by on the evening of May 3 for some cake and punch and a chance to relive those school days.

Volunteers are still needed to set up rooms, collect and display photos and help with the cleanup on Saturday morning. If you can help in any way, please contact Janie Lindholm or Jill Randall at Beaumont (503-916-5610).

You may also leave a voice mail message at 503-916-3609, option#3, or send an e-mail to beaumont75@pps.k12.or.us.

A Greener Neighborhood Thanks to Beaumont Volunteers By Janet Baker

On a very cold Saturday in mid-March, hardy Beaumont homeowners and other volunteers joined forces with Friends of Trees to plant new trees in our neighborhood. The event started out with hot drinks, juices, donuts and bagels at Wilshire United Methodist Church and ended with pizza and soft drinks. In between there was a lot of hard work and a lot of mud. In the end 127 trees of 40 different varieties were planted, which will grace our neighborhood streets for many years to come.

Events like this don’t just happen. It takes many months of volunteer effort—contacting homeowners, helping them pick out their trees, coordinating with Friends of Trees, coordinating with the utility companies, soliciting food donations, getting truck drivers lined up, picking up mulch, distributing mulch to every hole, driving to the nurseries to pick up the trees…. the list goes on and on.

This year we have three very dedicated Beaumont Wilshire board members—Melissa Ritter, Heidi Blischke and Dale Griggs—to thank for taking on this endless list of tasks. They deserve a big hand from all of us.

We would also like to thank Friends of Trees and the many businesses that donated food for our tree planting—Alameda Baking Company, Bagel Land, Beaumont Market, Starbucks, and Trader Joes. A special thanks to the Wilshire United Methodist Church for the use of their facility.

President's Message Be the Best of Whatever You Are by Willie Nolan BWNA President

As it is election time again for several positions on the board (including the office of president!) I would like to encourage everyone to consider participating. The past two years have been a great learning experience for me and I value the education. This is a very worthwhile organization that will become even more important as we grapple with various land use and social issues within our neighborhood.

Often throughout my tenure here I have heard from neighbors who would like to contribute, but do not have the time. I can understand the importance of spending the invaluable resource of time as wisely as possible. I suppose it is a matter of priorities. My personal opinion is that my time spent on neighborhood activities has been time very well spent and I intend to remain active as a board member.

A poem recently caught my attention and it seems appropriate to this situation. I hope you agree and also hope to see you at the April meeting.

Be the Best You Can Be

by Douglas Malloch

If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley–but be
The best little scrub by the side of the hill;
Be a bush, if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush, be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie, then just be a bass–
But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
There’s something for all of us here.
There’s big work to do and there’s lesser to do
And the task we must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun, be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail–
Be the best of whatever you are!

April 2002 BWNA General Meeting

General Meeting & Election
All Beaumont Wilshire residents welcome
Monday, April 8th at 7:30 PM
Bethany Lutheran, NE 37 & Skidmore

The first item of business at the upcoming neighborhood meeting will be the election of members to various officer positions including president and treasurer, and two board member at large positions.

There are also openings on the various committees that can be filled by board members or volunteers including the Land Use, Picnic, and Traffic committees.

Here is a chance for your more direct involvement. Whether you are new to the neighborhood or an old timer, your participation is welcome and needed.

During the second part of the meeting we will get an update from David Lane of ONI (Office of Neighborhood Involvement) on recent developments in ONI budget, staffing and other issues. See you on April 8th.

42nd Ave. Business Focus Doggy Boutique Opens Inside Pups & Cups by Diane Charlton A Beaumont Wilshire business on 42nd Avenue now gives neighborhood dog owners and their pups a local place to shop. Pups and Cups owner, Lita Monaghan, decided that Delphina’s Bakery next door would serve neighbors their morning espressos and lattes. The dog wash shop redesigned its previous coffee bar into retail space to sell clever dog accessories and delicious doggy treats. This change is much to the delight of local dogs who are always welcome inside to bathe and shop.

Einstein, a regular at Pups & Cups, gets bathed by his owner Walter.

Pups and Cups is located at 4516 NE 42nd at Prescott and is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10 am – 7 pm; Saturdays 9 am – 5 pm; Sundays 10 am – 5 pm. A flat fee of $15 covers all the shampooing supplies, hot water, towels and hair dryers needed to wash your dog and their friendly staff cleans the tub afterwards. I personally take my dog, Sundance, there and she loves the place and the free dog biscuit after her bath. After 7 washes, your 8th wash is FREE.

42nd Avenue Target Area Update

Helping businesses on 42nd Avenue thrive and attracting new business owners (family restaurants, retail, neighborhood services and commercial) benefits and strengthens our neighborhood. Recently a market profile of NE 42nd Avenue Target Area Project was completed by E.D. Hovee & Company. Neighbors heard the area’s demographic and economic information at a community workshop on March 9th. At that workshop, the community gave input and brainstormed about our revitalization priorities for the street’s commercial applications. The final report is due in May.

April 18 Jazz Concert Benefits Music Program

by Rick Williams

Come hear the future of Jazz and support the Beaumont music program at the same time! The Beaumont Middle School Jazz Band will be performing with the Grant High School Jazz Band in the new gym at Beaumont, Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. Special guests, the Jazz Express Big Band, will join the Beaumont and Grant bands for an evening of fun and unforgettable music. All three bands will perform and student musicians from the Beaumont jazz, concert, intermediate and wind ensembles will perform solos, duets and other special musical pieces.

Tickets for this special event are $7.50 for adults, $5.00 for students 15 and under, or $20 for a family of four or more. Tickets are available from Beaumont band students, at the door the evening of the event or by phone at (503) 546 – 4551.

This is truly an event that shouldn’t be missed. Beaumont’s and Grant’s musical traditions are unparalleled in Portland and well known throughout the Pacific Northwest. These kids can play! So, reserve the evening of April 18th and bring the entire family.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Beaumont Middle School Band program. April 18, new gym, Beaumont Middle School at 7:30 PM.

Business Focus Neighborhood Dentist is All Smiles By Margaret Davis While Dr. Michael Gerhards watches the building next door to his take shape on the old Rose’s Ice Cream site, he can draw similarities between the pace of neighborhood development and his own practice. After 28 years practicing dentistry, Gerhards has built up a roster of 600 patients. Most are from Northeast Portland; others come from as far away as Saudi Arabia and LakeOswego.

Michael Gearhards

Specializing in restorative dentistry, including fixing broken, fractured, and cracked teeth, as well as preventive maintenance and cosmetic dentistry, Gerhards is impressed with the neighborhood and his clientele. “A lot of people have mentioned that they are dedicated to supporting neighborhood businesses,” he says. “Everyone seems really committed toBeaumont.”

Gerhards, too, has demonstrated a concern for the neighborhood. After buying Dr. Dan Haselnus’s practice in 1994, Gerhards went a step further and bought the building four years later.

Though Gerhards’ building might seem small from the outside, it includes four operatories, business offices, and massive X-ray equipment, which allows for panoramic exposures and developing on-site. Gerhards rents a separate part of the space to chiropractic physician Dr. Ann E. Wilson.

Gerhards’ patients range in age from 1 to 98, and he has three staff people to help him meet their needs, including an assistant, a receptionist-business manager, and a hygienist. A student from Benson High School interns a few hours a week as well.

Lately, Gerhards has seen a marked rise in patients asking for more perfect smiles. “Typically, they’ve taken care of their families,” he says, “now it’s time to take care of themselves.” Gerhards keeps a before-and-after photo album to document the results. Some of the smiles beam so bright you might reach for your sunglasses.    Dr. Gerhards’ practice is at 4414 NE Fremont, 503-288-7481.

Concert Series Begins at Bethany Lutheran Church by Bill Markwart

Matthew Lotz

The first concert, on Sunday, April 21st at 3pm, features the Matthew Lotz ensemble. This group performs original pop and gospel praise music, accompanied by piano, bass, drums, and the spirited lead vocals of Jenn Klotz. The group is touring in support of their new cd, “Musical Prayers.” Proceeds from sales of this cd and the donations taken at the concert go directly to Northwest Medical Teams.

The second concert in the series, on Sunday, May 5th at 3pm, will feature Matthew Ebel, a pianist, singer, and songwriter from Spokane, WA. He is an honor graduate from Whitworth College, one of the Pacific Northwest’s best music schools, with a degree in Music Composition. After years of private piano and voice lessons he has released two albums independently and toured across the country with his music. Matthew Ebel is currently the only performer to participate in all nine years of Spokane’s Lilac Festival Variety Show. Other performances include the Inland Northwest Songwriter’s Showcase and the Spokane American Music Festival. For more information, or to hear a sample of his work, visit www.matthewebel.com.

The last two concerts will be held on June 22 (Matthew Weiers) and July 20 (Bethany Lutheran Praise Team.) Check the next issue of this newsletter for details.

It’s Here: Graffiti Spring Cleanup by Diane Charlton I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice pockets of litter and graffiti in our great neighborhood. My husband does a lot of his business (Snap Clean) in the neighborhood. When he’s visiting BWNA houses cleaning their carpets, he keeps an eye out for graffiti. He buys and uses specially treated cleaning cloths to remove graffiti from smooth surfaces such as the telephone booth at Wilshire Park, traffic signs, bus stop benches and mailboxes.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I will once again be out painting over graffiti on telephone poles. As in the past, Beaumont Hardware has agreed to supply the dark brown exterior paint. Thank you Beaumont Hardware!

Keeping our neighborhood clean and livable is an important job. Please help us. How?

1. Pick up litter and remove graffiti from public property in your own block as soon as it appears.
2. Notify the affected property owner/neighbor if the vandalism is on private property.
3. Get your kids involved. Make neighborhood clean up a family or group project.
4. Call the graffiti hot line to report vandalism on either private or public property at (503) 823-4824.

Thank you for getting involved in spring cleaning, all year long.

Hollywood Farmers’ Market Opens May 25

by Carolyn Buan

As the Hollywood Farmers’ Market opens its 2002 season, the focus is on plants for the garden. The Market takes place each Saturday until the end of October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on NE Hancock St. between 44th and 45th Avenues.

In addition to finding plant starts, Market goers that first day will be treated to short talks by growers about unusual ways to use plants in the garden. Among the topics to be covered on “Plant Start Day” are Heirloom Tomatoes, Edible Landscaping and How to Grow, Dry, and Use Gourds. The day will begin with music to inspire gardeners and starting at 9:30 a.m., the market will ring to the live music by Sweet Harmony.

The Hollywood Farmers’ Market offers a unique opportunity to buy fresh produce and flowers directly from growers, stock up the pantry with fresh and smoked fish, lamb, honeys and jams, mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, and berries, and chat with your neighbors over a cup of coffee and a fresh pastry, tart, or sausage. Throughout much of the season, fresh flowers abound.

Neighborhood Announcements

Parsonage Needs Volunteers

The Wilshire United Methodist Church needs volunteers to clean up and repair the vacant parsonage. Help is needed for cleaning walls and windows, painting cabinets, plumbing, electrical work, some outdoor cleanup, etc. Please contact Dean Wagner at 503-656-8628.

How to Succeed in Business…

Grant’s Performing Arts Department presents the deliciously cynical satire of corporate America of the early 60’s, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Performances will be at Grant High School auditorium, 2245 NE 36th Ave. Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11 and again Thursday, May 16 through Saturday, May 18. Curtain time: 7:30 p.m.

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