June
July
2003
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Artist Jean-Pierre Veillet specializes in art built for our fast-paced
21st-century life; his best works, he says, can be absorbed at 60 mph.
Neighborhood residents can expect to see the space where “Faster” turn into a showcase for Veillet’s creativity. At first Veillet planned to replace “Faster” with a cylindrical metal work called “Ego” within the next month, but it was stolen from the back of the building at the end of April. While the theft puts off, for now, the plan for rotating sculptures at the spot, Veillet says, “On the positive side, it gives me a chance to make another piece.” Veillet, 31, works out of a studio in Southeast but has an office space
in the creative services co-op that occupies the top floor of the building
that also houses Fife. Visitors are welcome to stop in upstairs and see
the four wall reliefs he created for a show at Contemporary Crafts Gallery
in 2000, including one of a farm implement with an improbably bent handle.
Inside Fife sits “Nomad,” Veillet’s house-on-wheels invention
that suits a life on the go. Elsewhere in Portland, Veillet has work at a sculpture garden at Southwest 19th Avenue and Vermont Street. In three years, he will unveil a major commission for Pacific University that will incorporate sequoia, white oak, and walnut trees cut down on the campus. A student at Pacific Northwest College of Art since age 5, Veillet grew up in the Portland area and teaches metalwork, welding, and sculpture at Pacific NW College of Art (PNCA). Favoring found objects because they “have a lot of narrative,” Veillet lets pieces take shape in the process, rather than fitting them to a foredrawn concept: “I don’t draw things out,” he says. “I like to discover things along the way.” A more spontaneous creative process and, where possible, the addition of moving parts or electrical components gives Veillet’s work more of a presence than the typical static sculpture. As Veillet says, “In art, engaging people is half the battle.”
This story begins almost 100 years ago in the early 1900’s with two young couples who enjoyed double dating. Both couples eventually married and settled in the Beaumont Wilshire neighborhood. They continued to socialize and getting together for homemade ice cream was one of their favorite traditions. Dee Yoder and Lorraine Smith were children in these two respective families. They grew up at a time when there were many vacant lots to play in the BW neighborhood and some streets were unpaved. They both attended Beaumont and Grant schools. Dee and Lorraine’s relationship began when they became acquainted at one of their parents’ mutual ice cream socials and the result was their marriage in May 1946. Dee had joined the US Army Air Corps in January 1943 after just one year
at the University of Portland and one year with the telephone company.
He served three years during World War II piloting C-47s primarily as
troop carriers. After the war he returned to work for the telephone company
where he was employed 44 years working his way up to second-line manager. During this time in addition to being a homemaker, Lorraine was active
in the local garden club, their church, the election board, campfire girls,
and was a room mother at Beaumont School. Family traditions have kept
the Yoder family close over the generations. Dee enjoys pheasant hunting
as did his father and grandfather. Every winter Dee and Lorraine ski at
Mount Bachelor with their daughters and grandchildren. And every Fourth
of July the entire Yoder family returns to Beaumont Wilshire, where it
all started, for their favorite tradition—homemade ice cream.
At our April general meeting, the neighborhood elected several new officers and many new board members. I want to welcome them all and say how excited I am personally about all the new people I’ll be working with. We have teachers, urban planners, tree experts, business leaders, and others with a wide variety of skills that will truly be an asset to the neighborhood. Serving on the Beaumont Wilshire Neighborhood Association Board takes time and effort, and I appreciate their dedication. Congratulations to Ted Perkins who will continue as Vice President, Jim
Karlock who will serve as Secretary, and David de la Rocha who will serve
as Treasurer. New and returning board members include Heidi Blischke,
Glen Bolen, Marj Cannon, Margaret Davis, Julia Haykin, Bill Markwart,
Craig Oldenburg, Mary Oldenburg, Greg Schramm, Patrick Sweeney, Barbara
Warren-Sams, and David Whitaker. I and the other current board members
are thrilled to have such a great new team! Inept land use planning is like pornography: it may be difficult to define, but you know it when you see it. In the interest of broadening our understanding of land use issues and providing a basis for the critical decisions we will need to make as our neighborhood continues to grow, the BWNA Board has scheduled two speakers for the June 9 general meeting. Brian Scott, a planner with the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association, will make a twenty minute presentation coordinated through the efforts of the Oregon Community Protection Coalition, The Oregon’s land-use system, which celebrates its 30 year anniversary, is recognized as a national model. However, research by the Oregon Community Protection Coalition shows that many Oregonians are confused about the system and how it operates. The Oregon Community Protection Coalition was formed by 1000 Friends of Oregon, the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and others to educate Oregonians about Oregon’s land-use planning and resource conservation system. Their research indicates that roughly 50 percent of the people who live in Oregon today either weren’t born or hadn’t moved here yet when Senate Bill 100 was passed in the early 70’s and that many of the people voting on land use laws and initiatives today are operating without an understanding of planning. To address this, they have formed a speaker’s bureau in alliance with the American Planning Association aimed at answering questions about land-use planning in Oregon. Jim Karlock, the BWNA Secretary and a passionate property rights advocate,
will also be providing a speaker who will offer a perspective that differs
somewhat from the views of the Oregon Community Protection Coalition,
focusing on the compensation of land owners whose property is devalued
through land use regulation.
Take one old house that has been empty, gut it, wave a magic wand over it, and stir in a Vietnamese cook from a family of cooks, a savvy manager, and a knowledgeable wine distributor. What you end up with is: Savory Bistro and Wine Bar, a new restaurant with warm red curry walls, a saffron yellow outside, a heated deck and a caring staff. Savory is the dream child of owners Brian Raab, the host, Fawn Raab, the chef, and Dave Templeman, the wine expert. The three have been friends since the previous millennium and wanted to do something new and fun together. They created this comfortable and relaxing dining space, where the fare for lunch and dinner is not too expensive, and it is within the B-W neighborhood walking zone that has become the restaurant row of NE Fremont. The interior is cozy and relaxing, and the heated deck may tempt you during the cooler days. Brian is usually found behind the bar ready with liquid libations. He also will let you check your emails on his laptop, if you need to. His wife Fawn is the mistress of the new spotless kitchen preparing curry or lemongrass chicken, or rubbing down some of her famous ‘Radon Ridge Ribs’. Fawn was born in Viet Nam but grew-up in Southern California, so she brings a wonderful California touch to some old family recipes. Dave Templeman merged his vast knowledge of wine and an understanding of economy hammered pocketbooks to provide a great selection of wines priced from $12-25. He also offers some reserve wines in the $70-80 range, which he says are still bargain prices. The atmosphere is cozy, the wines reasonably priced, the food yummy with
most items under $20 on the dinner menu and the service is outstanding.
Don’t be surprised if you find me a regular here, especially with
deck season coming on. But according to Brian, “it’s always
sunny on the Savory deck, especially when run by Savory’s sassy server,
Courtney.” Trees beautify our neighborhood by Richard Weber The Beaumont Wilshire and Concordia neighborhoods teamed up with Friends of Trees this year to plant 127 trees on March 15. Bright and early, dozens of area homeowners and volunteers with Friends of Trees met at Bethany Lutheran Church to plant a wide diversity of trees in parking strips and yards. The weather mostly cooperated and the mood was positive. Many volunteers were moved and inspired by the event, especially at a time when there is so much destruction in the world. “What an incredible way to build community support, encourage new friendships and give back to the environment,” remarked Eileen Stark, this year’s neighborhood tree planting coordinator. “Planting trees is really one of the best things we can do for the planet and for our neighborhood.” Alameda Baking Company, Beaumont Market, New Seasons Markets, Noah’s
Bagels and Starbucks generously donated refreshments for hungry volunteers.
A special thanks goes to Bethany Lutheran Church for use of their parking
lot and kitchen facility. For more information about Friends of Trees,
visit their website at www.friendsoftrees.org.
About one hundred people showed up April 14 to one of the livelier Beaumont Wilshire general meetings to be entertained by the Beaumont School Jazz Band and sample treats from ten new and old restaurants along NE Fremont St. The meeting began with band director Cynthia Pitts leading the band in a number of familiar jazz tunes. Next, restaurant owners of some of the best eateries in the neighborhood introduced themselves and spoke of the specialties that they offer in their restaurants. Finally we all got to taste the goods! Thanks to the Jazz Band, and to the following restaurants for making
this first Taste of Beaumont Wilshire a great success: Alameda Café,
Beaumont Grill, Alameda Baking Company, Cool Runnings, Savory, Alameda
Brewhouse, Suzanne’s, Fife and Stanich’s.
Last Christmas neighbors on 40th Ave. between Skidmore and Prescott gathered for a holiday party at the home of Wanda and David McKinney. One of the topics of neighborly conversation was the idea for an all block yard sale. And here it is! Whatever you’re looking for, this is the yard sale for you! --40th Avenue between Prescott and Skidmore
Some residents on this block have lived in their homes 30 – 50 years
so just imagine the wonderful vintage treasures that will be available.
“This is a friendly block and children and grandchildren now live
in the homes their parents and grandparents bought”, says one long
time resident, Eleanor Hunting. Unfortunately, one senior resident who
lived here into her 90s recently passed away and her home is currently
for sale. That’s probably the only house that won’t be participating
in the sale on Saturday, July 12th.
The BWNA board is seeking a neighborhood high school student with an interest in civics or community service to serve as our alternate or possibly primary representative to the board of Central Northeast Neighbors. The candidate would need to be available two nights a month in order to attend both the BWNA board meetings and the board meetings of Central Northeast Neighbors. Central Northeast Neighbors is a community-based non-profit organization, serving the neighborhoods of Beaumont-Wilshire, Cully, Hollywood, Madison South, Rose City Park, Roseway, Sumner and Sunderland. They provide a communication and services network to solve problems and promote citizen input in the affairs of neighborhood associations. They recently relocated to the new fire station at NE Sandy and 87th. If you are interested in this position, or you know a student who might
be interested, please contact Melissa Ritter 503- 493-1922 or Ted Perkins
at bwnavp@yahoo.com.
Thanks to the neighborhood association, which put up the funds, Beamont-Wilshire will soon get at least 20 new bike racks. It’s hoped the bike racks will encourage cleaner, more healthful transportation. In anticipation of more varied modes of traffic, here are some basic traffic rules: Beware of car doors. According to state law, motorists must ensure “it is reasonably safe to do so” when they open their car doors. It is not only illegal to open the door when it interferes with through traffic but also to leave doors open longer than necessary. Ride right. Bicyclists must ride as “far to the right as
practicable,” except when avoiding hazardous conditions, such as
parked cars. Yield to through traffic. People at stop signs, say, along Fremont, must yield to all through traffic, whether it’s motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, or clowns on pogo sticks. Generally, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Everyone is advised to use signals, move predictably, and watch for potential hazards. And remember, even if you know you’re in the right, it’s certainly not worth laying down your life for it—or even your car’s paint job. Consider all the money, time, and months of court hassle you’ll save by avoiding an accident in the first place. The winter monsoon is over, so go ahead and reach for the bike instead of the car keys. Because now in Beaumont-Wilshire, bicyclists have plenty of new places to park it. Voluntary Simplicity
Pancake Breakfast
Free Blood Pressure Check
Karaoke Night
Charity Benefit
Property Engraver and Graffiti cleanup supplies
Crime Prevention Survey
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