7 April 11 2014 WEB
Transcription
7 April 11 2014 WEB
Portland’s Oldest Community Newspaper - Founded in 1904 Photo Tiffany Owens North Portland’s Community Newspaper - Founded in 1904 - reviewnewspaper@comcast.net 2014 RHS princess Kianna Serrano Kianna Serrano has been selected as the 2014 princess to represent Roosevelt High School this year. Kianna is16-years old and a Junior. Her parents are Chantal Serrano and Cheryl Gaffney and her siblings are Francisco and Derrick Serrano. Kianna said her future plans include attending a four-year University and majoring in communications and journalism. Her high school achievements include being Vice President of the Black Student Union, being Varsity Cheerleading Squad Captain, Step Up member and mentor, Varsity Dance Team member, and a UCA All-American Cheerleader. She said she enjoys poetry, spending time with family and friends, dancing and trying new places to eat. When asked what her proudest moments were she said, “I can honestly say that my proudest moment was in the beginning of my freshman year. I ran for our government’s Freshman Representative and won. It basically paved my way for high school proving to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to.” Selection for this year’s Queen of Rosaria will be June 7, 2014 at 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, just before the Grand Floral Parade. - www.stjohnsreview.com - 503-283-5086 Parade Committee selects 2014 Grand Marshal F ormer RHS graduate Janine Wolf has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the 2014 St. Johns Parade. Janine grew up in North Portland where her family owned and operated the neighborhood drug store, University Drug, for many years. She graduated from Roosevelt in 1971 and earned her BS degree from Portland State University. Currently she is a radio personality on K103FM radio. Co-Chair of the Parade Committee, Jeanine Sinnott said, “We selected Janine because her being in the radio business matches our theme Magic, Music & Marching. Also, because she’s an RHS grad and we like to recognize our alum whenever we can.” Janine’s radio career began on a fluke after a friend pulled her over to the microphone while she was at the station interviewing for a writing job. After working in Portland, she moved to Los Angeles to work at several stations over the next 20 years. She was a national personality on Westwood One Radio Networks and hosted several nationally syndicated shows, including Country Music’s Top Ten. Along with radio, Janine also worked in TV, hosting an environmental show on KCAL in LA, for which she was nominated for two Emmys. In 2001, Janine pursued her dream of becoming a landscape designer and won HGTV’s “Landscaper’s Challenge.” In 2005, she moved home to Portland to be near her family, including her mom and dad, Lynn and Rustie Wolf, sister Kathy Parker and her brother, the late Brian Wolf, not to mention her niece and nephews who all live in the Portland area. She went to work for Smooth Jazz 105.9, hosting the midday show and serving as Promotions Director. When the station changed formats to KOOL 105.9, Continued on Page 6 “Grand Marshal” When the Cheshire Cat lost his Grin: Spring 1965 RHS I St Johns Review PO Box 83068 Port. OR 97238 #7 April 11, 2014 n the spring of 1965 I was nearing graduation. My teaching nemesis for the previous two years had been a man named George Cheshire. Mr. Cheshire was a P.E. instructor, and a certified bully. He 515-840 would walk the halls of RHS and slap guys in the back of the head with an open palm, and then cynically pretend it was a sign of affection. The “slap” was especially nasty and vicious when it involved kids he didn’t like. Few students liked him, and most boys at the school somewhat feared him – he was a scary man. He was also the football coach. I had attracted his unwanted attention by refusing to turn out for the Roosevelt football team. The reason for my lack of participation was my involvement with the Knott Street Boxing Club, which I’d joined in 1962. The training schedules were in conflict; I couldn’t take part in both activities, for autumn was the time when both athletic events occurred, so I made a choice to toil as an amateur fighter. Knott Street (Now Matt Dishman) had one of the best and most revered boxing programs on the West Coast at the time. While I never became one of the noted fighters to come out of Knott Street, by 1965 I had gone to the Oregon Golden Gloves tournament twice. My efforts never resulted in my “placing” in the events, but my amateur record was still a good one. George Cheshire seemed to single me out for special derision. Whenever he had the opportunity to ridicule me in a classroom situation, he used that time to cast doubt on my gender and manhood. He routinely suggested that I was a “sissy,” or worse. The reason for the continued harassment was because I had not joined his varsity football team. Cheshire had a By Jim Speirs Historical Editor cruel streak, that seemed certain, and in an era that was light years removed from today’s PC world, Coach Cheshire could get away with nearly anything he wanted, especially in his gym class. In May of 1965, Cheshire’s gym class added a boxing contingent to the fitness schedule. Although we had no ring as such, the pugilistic activities were to be conducted in the basement wrestling room, and Cheshire made certain that the class understood that this boxing program was going to be similar to what gladiators experienced in the Roman Coliseum! Tough, no quarter given, and a near struggle to the death! The build up to the class was exemplified by Cheshire’s spiteful personality. This final chapter in our school gym year was to be memorable; it would not be for impostors, weaklings, or anything but the most robust of athletes. Testosterone filled the air. As he explained the coming contests, he made it obvious that I would be exposed for the charlatan that I was. The coach would nod his massive head my direction when he gave projected violent details of the coming bouts. Through subtle innuendo, he made the huge gym class aware of the fact that he was setting the stage for my public humiliation and destruction! Not surprisingly, his nickname was “gorilla,” and everything about the Continued on Page 4 & 5 “Cheshire Cat” Page 2 * St. Johns Review *#7 April 11, 2014 reviewnewspaper@comcast.net * 503-283-5086 * www.stjohnsreview.com Review Publishing box / Organization Meetings / Letters North Portland Meetings The following free listings are meetings for North Portland organizations. Updated information is the responsibility of each organizations. ====================================================================== Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Assn: Meet on the 3rd Thursday each month, 6:30-8pm, Kenton Firehouse, 2209 N. Schofield Boy Scout Troupe 52: Meets Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. at St. Johns Christian Church, 8044 N. Richmond. We welcome boys ages 11-17. For membership info, contact Anthony at 503-913-7085. Bridgeton Neighborhood Association: General Meeting: 3rd Mondays at 8pm, Port Yacht Club, 1241 NE Marine Dr. Cub Scout Pack 52: Meets Mondays at St. Johns Christian Church, 8044 N. Richmond. East Columbia Neighborhood Assn: Meets the second Tuesday of each month from 7-8:30pm at the Columbia River RV Park Community Room, 10649 NE 13th. Friends of Cathedral Park Neighborhood Assn: General Meeting: odd months at BES Water Lab; 7pm. Board Meetings on even months at St Johns McMenamins, 7:30. All meetings on 2nd Tuesdays of the month. Friends of Baltimore Woods: General meeting: 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30pm at the BES Water Lab, 6543 N. Burlington. Friends of Pier Park: Meeting: Third Tuesday, 6:30pm at St. Johns Community Ctr., 8427 N Central Hayden Island Neighborhood Network: Meetings: 2nd Thursday, 7pm, at former HIYC, 12050 N. Jantzen Dr. on Hayden Island. Interstate Corridor Business Association: General Meeting: 1st Wed. every 3 mos., 8-9am @ Nite Hawk Restaurant, Rosa Parks Way & Interstate Kenton Business Assn: 1st Thursday of the month, 9am at Kenton Firehouse 2nd fl. 2209 N. Schofield Kenton Neighborhood Assn: Board Meetings: 2nd Wed., 7pm, Kenton Firehouse, 8105 N. Brandon Linnton Neighborhood Association: Meetings: 1st Wed. of odd months; 7-9 at Linnton Comm. Ctr., 10614 NW St. Helens Rd. North Portland Land Use Group: Meets 4th Thursday of the month at Kenton Firehouse, 8105 N Brandon. 7pm Occupy St Johns: Meets Weds. 7:00pm at Anna Bannanas, 8716 N Lombard Overlook Neighborhood Assn.: General Meetings: 3rd Tues of each month except Aug & Dec at Kaiser Town Hall, 7-9pm. Board Meetings: 1st Tues. each month at Overlook Hse, 3839 N. Melrose Dr. Peninsula Optimist Club: Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays (except holidays) at noon at Christie’s Restaurant, 5507 N. Lombard. General public is welcome to attend meetings to learn about the club. There will be a guest speaker at most meetings. Questions—contact Sharon at 503-490-2889. Letters To The Editor Enjoys the Paper Dear Editor, Thank you for sending a reminder that my subscription is up next month. No way do I want to miss any issues. I love my Review. It keeps me updated on local news and events. Your contributing writers do a good job telling us about local issues and I enjoy the history articles too. I even do the crossword puzzles!! Keep up the good work. I wonder how many other communities in Portland have their own newspaper. H. Buckmane =======================+ Dear Editor, I see its time for me to renew my subscription. Time flies by and I appreciate the notice you sent to me. Please find my payment to renew for the next three years. I’ve enjoyed Barbara Quinn’s articles. She’s obviously well informed and her style of writing is technical yet still easy to understand. I’m impressed with how many people we have on the Peninsula that are involved with their neighborhoods. Good to see. Matt Pastolle LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter To the Editor are welcome and encouraged. They are not necessarily the views of the editors and editors are not responsible for their content. Letters may be edited for size/grammar. They must be legibly written and contain a signature/name. Letters that do not, will not be read or used. Send letters to the addresses at the top of this page. 50th Reunion Roosevelt Class of 1964 Saturday June 28, 2014 Casual Good Time at Jubitz / Portlander Inn (No longer a simple truck stop! Rooms $99 per night. Best Western, Fairfield Suites, Days Inn, Residence Inn nearby) 5pm Socialize @ the open bar 7pm Dinner Buffet 9pm Music & Dancing Cost: $25 per person (paid by May 15, 2014.) $35 at the door Make checks payable to Bonnie Matteson and Mail to: RHS c/o Bonnie Matteson: 2453 SE Lake Rd. Milw., OR 97222 Contacts: Betty Moore: 503-544-0023 bettymoore2011@gmail.com Viki Nufer Hohnstein: 503-516- 4459, WA 360-263-5027 Bonnie Berg Matteson: 503-5935026 bloray46@comcast.net Donna and Larry Clark: 503-4076743 LDDMCLARK@msn.com Tana Huntley Grosmick: 503-3516776, tanalg@aol.com Friends of Baltimore Woods native plant sale big success Thanks to the intrepid customers and volunteers who made the native plant sale, held March 29, a success in spite of the rain. The best result is that over a thousand native plants went out into the community to help support wildlife and bring nature into our neighborhoods. Luv u Piedmont Neighborhood Assn.: Unavailable Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group Education Forum: February 12, March 10, April 7, at 6:30 6543 N Burlington, under the St Johns Bridge at the BES Water Quality Control Lab—meeting rooms. Questions, Jackie 503-799-7855 or www.portlandharborcag.info Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group Offers a gathering of thoughts on the Superfund. Concerns about the contamination in the Portland Harbor Superfund? Join the community to meet with the agencies in charge. Meetings include Informational presentations; Opportunity to render your opinion. Meet agency leaders in charge of clean up. 2nd Wednesday-Monthly at BES: 6543 N Burlington, beneath the St Johns Bridge 6:00 PM. www.portlandharborcag. info Portsmouth Neighborhood Assn: Board Meeting: 3rd Tues of ea mo, 6pm, Bridge Meadows, Bridge Community Room, 8502 N. Wayland Public Safety Action Committee: $13/per year Meets 4th Wed. ea. mo., 7-9pm, Kenton Firehouse, 2209 N. Schofield. Contact: Mark Wells: markwells@ portlandoregon.gov St. Johns Boosters: General Meetings are 3rd Tues at Central Hotel, 7:30-8:30. Meal provided. Board meetings are 1st Tuesday at 7pm at Central Hotel. St. Johns Lions Club: Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays each month at Patti’s Deli, downtown St. Johns St. Johns Main Street: Meets at 8250 N. Lombard. Fore more info go to: stjohnsmainstreet.org St. Johns Neighborhood Association: General Meeting is 2nd Mon. at the St. Johns Community Ctr, 8427 N. Central. University Park Business Association: Meets in 2014: 2/25; 4/22; 6/24; 9/23; 11/18 at 7pm at Darcy’s at the corner of Fiske/Lombard from 6-7:30pm. University Park Neighborhood Association: Meets: Jan., Apr., July & Oct on 4th Monday 7pm at the Chiles Center at the UP, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd.. ============================================================================ Circulation Manager: Ginger Harris. Historical Manager: Jim Speirs. Contributing Writers: Barbara Quinn, Jim Moulton, Robin Wright www.stjohnsreview.com * 503-283-5086 * reviewnewspaper@comcast.net #7 April 11, 2014 * St. Johns Review * Page 3 Community Community News News Main Street Coalition plans The Cut Above Auction By Robin Wright The St. Johns Bridge Peregrine Falcons Peregrine falcon were first seen on the St. Johns Bridge in 1996. Like other Portland bridges, it has proven to be good peregrine nest site. Bridges mimic the falcon’s preferred nest habitat, high cliffs over open areas where they can easily spot prey—birds of all sizes. Of the nesting pair that call the west end of the bridge home, the same female has been there since 2000 and the male has been replaced only once. Interestingly, both males originated from the Fremont Bridge nest, the most successful peregrine falcon nest site in Oregon. Between 2000 and 2006 the St. Johns pair fledged a total of 32 young, a remarkable number. They and their fledglings have shown a high degree of tolerance of noise, human activity, and even movie filming nearby. An earlier pair of peregrines unsuccessfully tried to nest on the St. Johns Bridge in 1997. An egg collected from that nest contained very high levels of DDT, dieldrin and PCBs which may be related to the superfund site beneath the bridge. Though the St. Johns falcons face challenging contamination issues, the site also offers good hunting as part of the Pacific flyway for migrating birds. Though completely gone in Oregon and most of the United States by the year 1970, peregrine falcon have been making an unusual comeback since 1972 when the pesticide DDT was banned. The chemical caused their eggshells to thin and crack during nesting. Today, there are 11 peregrine nesting sites within the City of Portland. The birds are not completely out of danger because DDT has an extremely long half-life and pesticides that were sprayed decades ago continue to linger in our environment to this day (audubonportland.org/issues/ species/portland-peregrines/peregrines). Probably due to age, the St. Johns peregrine falcons have not laid eggs since 2010 though they go through the motions of nesting. In fact, the female is now estimated to be at least 17 years old. A 2001 report noted the pair mostly hunt over St. Johns and north of the bridge (Sallinger 2001). So next time you are in the vicinity of the St. Johns Bridge, look up and you might see these sleek birds circling or hunting. If you are lucky you may see one fold its wings and dive at high speed. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PEREGRINE FALCONS: • They are the fastest animals on earth, diving at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. • Hunting method: Peregrines fold back their tail and wings, tuck their feet and dive. They shape their long toes into a fist and punch their prey. Because of their high speeds, the prey has very little chance when it is struck, making the peregrine a very efficient hunter. • Prey: Birds, both small and large. • Appearance: Sleek and compact body with long, pointed wings that span 37 to 51 inches. Their backs are slate gray and under parts are cream colored with narrow dark bands. The head is black. The females tend to be larger. • Nesting: The Peregrine’s nest usually consists of a shallow scrape in the soil of a rocky cliff. They will also nest in human-made structures such as ledges of tall buildings and bridges. They produce 2-6 eggs that are incubated for one month before hatching. • Current status: They were delisted from the Federal endangered species list in 1999 and the Oregon endangered species list in 2007. To learn more see audubonportland.org. St. Johns Main Street Coalition is proud to announce the debut of The Cut Above Auction on April 19, 2014 at The Colony in St. Johns. This fundraiser is a benefit for the St. Johns Main Street Coalition, and will bring together residents, business owners, and St. Johns appreciators from all over Portland to celebrate the vibrant community of St. Johns with a silent auction, food, and live music. Events like The Cut Above Auction are an important way for us to bring increased exposure and activity to the St. Johns business district and provide our organization with the ongoing resources to support local entrepreneurs, preserve and create jobs, and build community investment in the district. “The Cut” is the train track that bisects the North Portland Peninsula, and it forms the geographic boundary of the St. Johns neighborhood. Any St. Johnser knows what and where “the cut” is. More than just a physical marker, it has become a cultural symbol of the unique separateness of St. Johns from the rest of the city. The Cut Above Auction on April 19th is an opportunity to celebrate and show off all we have to offer in St. Johns. The fun starts at 6pm on April 19th and will go until 10 pm. Tickets are $20, and they include one free beverage (wine or beer) and food from local restaurants. Attendees will be treated to live music and a fabulous silent auction highlighting the gifts and services that make St. Johns special and featuring art, spa packages, a weekend getaway, and more. Experience what we have above the cut that makes us a cut above the rest! Tickets can be purchased at the St. Johns Main Street office, located at 8250 N Lombard St. between the hours of 9-5pm Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available for purchase at Etcetera, Crow, and Coffee Kids in downtown St. Johns. Attendees can purchase tickets at the door on the day of the event. You can also purchase tickets online through Paypal by going to www.stjohnsmainstreet.org/auction and clicking on the donate button. When you purchase through Paypal, we will add your name to a list at the door, but you will not receive a paper ticket. We are currently seeking sponsors and auction item donations. This is a great opportunity to bring exposure to your business, show off your products and services, and contribute to the community. We are happy to work with you to create a customized sponsorship package. St. Johns Main Street Coalition seeks to create a thriving and diverse town center that supports and attracts small businesses and customers. We connect the people and resources of St. Johns to preserve our unique business district, promote livability, and foster responsible development for the future. We would like to thank our presenting sponsor Oregonians Credit Union for helping make this event possible. You can find more information attending or donating to the event at www.stjohnsmainstreet. org/auction or by contacting us at 503-841-5522 or auction@stjohnsmainstreet.org. We look forward to seeing you all on April 19th at The Cut Above Auction! Page 4 * St. Johns Review * #7 April 11, 2014 www.stjohnsreview.com * 503-283-5086 * reviewnewspaper@comcast.net Cheshire Cat: Continued from Page 1 - By Jim Speirs man seemed to confirm that characterization. What George Cheshire must not have understood, was the collective effects of three years of boxing at one of the premiere fight clubs of the day. As mentioned, I was not the world’s greatest amateur fighter. Knott Street produced some of the best boxers ofthe era; though I was never one of them! One of the finest fighters was Roosevelt’s own Richard “Sweet” Sue, class of 1963, and the number one ranked lightweight fighter in the world by 1965. However, three years in the ring had taught me a great deal about the “sweet science.” Although I never placed at the Oregon Golden Gloves bouts, I had an impressive record; I had to eliminate nearly a dozen opponents each year, just to get to the “gloves.” I was eighteen years old, weighed about 165 pounds, was quick, in good shape, and in most cases, I liked to fight! The ring had given me a certain knowledge that a person who has never spent any time boxing cannot grasp. It was with this background that Cheshire’s springtime boxing class was initiated. After considerable orchestration, Coach Cheshire presented his idea of a certain outcome and enjoyment. All of the entertainment was to be at my expense. It must have been Cheshire’s scheme for a “perfect” present at my graduation! I would be the sacrificial lamb – dead meat to be taught a lesson and thrown to the floor of the coliseum, where lions and tigers would devour my hapless carcass! Like most seniors on the precipice of graduation, I paid little attention to the unfolding drama that Cheshire expected would be his crowning achievement. Mostly, I goofed off with my friends, and tried to entice my new date to the drive-in. It was only when different students within the school began to promote and embellish the coming contest, that I became aware of Cheshire’s sinister plot. Even then, I gave it little thought. I was confident in my own abilities but by no means did I ever dream I would end up in the ring with Cheshire. That thought never entered my mind! Soon the expected day arrived. Our huge gym class was pouring into the basement confines of the wrestling/apparatus rooms to observe the much-anticipated event. Coach Cheshire swaggered around doing his best Gen. George Patton imitation. I can’t recall his exact words, but he made it perfectly clear that ALL of the class was going to witness a contest between effeminate frauds, (that would be me,) and real men, (which were football players,) that had tutored under Cheshire for the last two years. After a well-rehearsed introduction, the crude and ill-mannered coach selected one of his favorite players from out of the crowd. He then announced the guy, (I’ll call him Bob to protect his identity and ego – if he’s still alive,) who he’d hand picked to give me, (the non-football player) the ass-whippin of his life! Apparently, Bob was unaware of his new status, as he appeared totally surprised at being singled out of the gym class. Regardless, Cheshire spent several minutes describing how it would be obvious what a “real” athlete was capable of, (one trained by Cheshire,) when compared to a phony sissy like me! Gloves were laced to our hands, and Cheshire sneered an ugly grin my direction as he ushered us to the center of the class circle. Bob looked like a fish out of water, and in fairness to him, I doubt that he’d ever been told of his participation in the happening, but the fear of his coach prevented him from protesting. Without further ado, Cheshire signaled that we were to commence fighting, but he couldn’t resist giving me a harsh blindsided shove to the middle of the ad-hoc arena. Kids yelled and screamed; this was to be a real David-vs-Goliath moment, as Cheshire retreated from the area of combat. Certain guys in the class knew of my boxing experience, and I assume that Cheshire did also, but his ego and disdain for me outweighed any notion of practicality, so Bob and I entered center stage. Hurried side-bets were made. (Three gym classes were temporarily combined for the glorious occasion.) Brad Pitt and Chuck Palahniuk had nothing on us, we were far ahead of our time. This was “Fight Club!” With deference to Bob, he never had a chance. First, he obviously didn’t know that he’d been selected by Cheshire to “teach me a lesson,” and secondarily, he was no boxer. He might have been a good football player – I can’t remember. Regardless, he was thrown into a situation that was totally foreign to him, and he couldn’t have predicted how quickly he’d hit the canvas. As mentioned, I was not the greatest fighter of the era. But three years of experience with some of the best boxers in the Northwest gave me a considerable edge. Think of it. If someone gave you a pole vault made of bamboo or fiberglass and said, “race down the runway and jump over the bar,” chances are you’d never get off the ground! If I was on the pitchers mound and had never thrown a fastball, chances are I’d never toss a strike! Common sense! And for Bob, it was a disaster. Anyway, Cheshire’s hand picked destroyer was knocked silly within seconds. I hit the poor guy so often I quickly stopped using both hands! I literally had “one hand behind my back”(voluntarily) and nearly felt sorry for the chump. Still, I knew he was Cheshire’s cherry-picked assassin so I took special pleasure in knocking him down until he could no longer rise from the floor. The crowd went nuts! It was sweet revenge for so many kids who had suffered under Cheshire’s malicious whip. The idea of his public disgrace was too much to control. Guys jumped up and down, laughing and screaming as Cheshire glared at his gym classes, (all three of them,) with a look of pure evil. Cursing and yelling, the coach quieted the class after several minutes. Moments later, he revealed more of his true character, as it now became Bob’s turn to be called a “pussy.” Rather than assist his fallen warrior to his feet and recognize how foolish it was to put Bob into that situation, coach Cheshire turned his ridicule on the fallen combatant. He maligned the bruised warrior, and saved his worst epitaphs for the battered fighter, then proceeded to announce how a “real” fighter would handle the situation. His chosen example of Mars, the God of War (for that moment it was Bob,) had failed him, and the insufferable jerk that Cheshire was gave no quarter. Within seconds, the witnesses to the event began to “boo” Cheshire. Kids released their inhibitions, and started to verbally harass him. The man had few options. The enormous number of students he’d purposely assembled had watched the total reversal of his planned butchery. The wheels were coming off. He was quickly losing control of the situation. It was the exact opposite of what Cheshire had in mind. I was supposed to be prostrate on the gym floor, while his personal hired gun stood over my limp body, confirming the superiority of Cheshire’s wisdom and exposing my effeminate characteristics. As the crescendo of derision escalated from the gathered students, Cheshire made another stupid mistake. Bob was in no condition to do anything but sit in the corner like a potted plant, and few other kids were in any mood to satisfy the coach’s twisted idea of combat, so the Coach took matters into his own hands. Storming from the sidelines, Cheshire unceremoniously yanked the 10-ounce gloves from Bob’s hands and screamed unintelligible rants at me! Cursing, pacing, and with saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth, the frantic P.E. instructor swore like a drunken sailor as he strapped on the leather boxing gloves. The room went silent. Cheshire raised one hand and pointed toward me. He held the position like an executioner might do before attaching the noose to the neck of a gallows victim. He then sneered an intimidating grin, and bellowed so all those present could hear. “Speirs,” he yelled, “you son-of-abitch, you’re going to get the beatin’ of your life.” I was eighteen. I respected teachers and adults. And like most kids at Roosevelt, I was somewhat intimidated by Cheshire. Still, I wasn’t about to be beaten without a fight, and three years of boxing skill made me less fearful. Cheshire was bigger than me. He was probably at least forty years old. His appearance was gruff. His demeanor was frightening, and his build was similar to that of a Neanderthal or a Cro-Magnon throwback. I’m not sure if my trepidation was more motivated by fear or the thought of what might happen to me if I hit Cheshire. After all, there was no second chance for a student who struck a teacher, so the thought went through my mind was: If I hit him, I’m damned, expulsion for sure. If I don’t fight, I just sit back and take the punishment. An indecipherable scream from Cheshire’s mouth interrupted my thinking and the man charged across the student made enclosure. A fraction of a second seemed like a lifetime, but then suddenly, looking similar to a charging bull, the Coach ran at me, his fists flailing like a windmill. My mind no longer calculated the student-vs-faculty relationship – It was now - it was me and Cheshire; There was nothing else in the world. My reaction was predictable and trained. I sidestepped the clumsy man and delivered an easy, yet hard blow to his face. He turned and shook his head, as he positioned himself for another charge. I quickly recognized that this was not going to be much of a contest. I also knew that Cheshire had just learned a valuable lesson, but given the setting, he was not about to surrender. He again ran at me, fists thrashing in all directions. This time I planted two hard punches that hit the passing target with loud, reverberating smacks. His knees buckled, but he didn’t go down. Toro, Toro, I thought to myself. The class went crazy! The nasty, vile, intimidating bully, George Cheshire, was being humiliated. Applause was met with screams, as the collection of kids could smell blood in the air, and realized that they were about to be eyewitnesses to a signature Roosevelt event. Next, Cheshire walked slowly to the center of the fight area. He was more calculating, but it didn’t matter, I had his number. Before he could raise his hands in a fighter’s stance, I hit him at least five or six times! He didn’t know what to do, and before he could react, I timed a steaming left hook to his gut, and down he went. The room went silent; the Coach rolled to one side, and struggled to his feet. Blood flowed from his nose, and red blotches appeared on his face. This was too much fun! By now, I danced and hit the hapless goof as he tried to regain his composure and dignity. Cheshire may never have set foot in a ring, I don’t know. But what was certain was that a forty year old, overweight fraud should never put himself in such a compromising and precarious situation. Maybe Cheshire’s pride didn’t allow for that consideration. Maybe he really believed that he could step into a ring with someone less than half his age, and a trained fighter and win the contest? Who knows? Within two minutes the fight was over. Still, the Coach, being the jerk that he was, couldn’t resist one more smart-ass remark from his bloody, split lip. All he could think of was one last “f*$% you,” as he tried a sucker punch that I saw coming for a full two seconds. For an answer, I hit him straight on with a hard right cross directly on his chin, and he fell to the floor like a rag doll. Cheshire sat upright after a few minutes, blood spewing from numerous openings. The class was delirious; they jumped and whooped like crazed Indians, as the school nemesis tried to regain his equilibrium and exit the area. His first attempt at standing resulted in his losing his balance and again falling to the floor. Bob came to his side, but the Coach pushed him away in a callous and dismissive manner. The boys booed louder as Cheshire demonstrated the most unsportsman like behavior in defeat. Certainly, gym class was over, and the huge collection of kids split from the area, all of them pouring forth to every corner of the school, telling others what they had just witnessed. I took off the gloves and tossed them www.stjohnsreview.com * 503-283-5086 * reviewnewspaper@comcast.net Cheshire’s direction as I exited the room. It wasn’t until later in the day that I began to ruminate about the trouble I might have caused myself. Word of the event spread like wildfire through the halls of RHS. My apprehension grew by the minute. To be a folk hero among students was one thing, to be expelled from school in the last month of my senior year was something else. As if like clockwork, in late afternoon I was summoned to Mr. Hysmith’s office. (The dreaded and feared boys Vice Principle.) I thought of my parents. I feared for my future. This was a fight I couldn’t win. Hysmith had suspended me several times over my four years at Roosevelt. I was certainly not one of his favorite students. I expected the worst, and felt that my exit from Roosevelt would be imminent. No question, I was done. George Hysmith closed the doors to his office and asked me to sit down. “You know why you’re here?” he said. “Yes,” I replied, “I think I know why.” “What do you think I should do?” I said nothing. He stood, and came around his corner desk, “I know the whole story,” he spoke in a slow manner, “very disturbing.” Again, I didn’t speak word. What was the point? My goose was cooked! The short, bald V.P. stood next to my chair. An eternity passed, as I felt his cold stare. “Stand up,” he said. I stood erect, doing my best replication of a Marine Corps recruit, eyes straight ahead, hands at my side. “Again, Mr. Speirs, do you realize that I’m aware of exactly what happened?” “I guess so,” I stammered. “I’ve known Mr. Cheshire for almost three years, and he’s a good coach.” I said nothing. “He’s also a complete asshole,” Hysmith said. I nearly fainted. “I also know what he been doing to you and several other boys for most of your senior year.” He hesitated. “Not much fun, huh?” Before I could answer, Hysmith continued. “Don’t let this go farther than that door,” he nodded toward the exit to the hallway. “ This is between you and me, but I’m glad you knocked the sh*** out of that man. He’s had it coming for months.” I wanted to smile and shake his hand, but the boys V.P. of discipline cut the conversation short, and made it clear that I still was not his favorite student! “Now, get out of my office,” he said in a stern voice, “and if you tell one person what I’ve just told you, you’ll never graduate, is that clear?” “Yep,” I said, unable to contain my grin. I turned, and walked to the door. As my hand touched the knob, a voice rang out, and I turned. “Speirs, good job! And not a word of this discussion. I mean it!” The few remaining weeks I had at Roosevelt were far more pleasant than the embarrassing time that poor George Cheshire had to endure. There was no place for him to hide. Kids from freshmen to seniors would pass him in the hallway, and fake boxer stances. Even the girls feigned punches as they giggled at the Coach. He tried to cover his cuts and bruises, but it was impossible. It was difficult to keep my promise to V.P. Hysmith, but I knew that my immediate future was in his hands, so I said very little. Not that any words from me were necessary, the whole school was aware of the weird event. Historical Editors Note: About ten years after I graduated, I was skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows, and waiting in line to catch the next lift. The skiers were bundled against the cold, layers of clothing and masks being typical attire. The couple in front of me had dropped a ski mitt, and turned to pick it up. I reached down to grab the glove, just to help the people in the snowy line. And then and there I was face to face with George Cheshire again! Our eyes met, as I handed the woman with him the mitt. My first reaction was to give him another left hook, and began again where I’d left off a decade earlier. A weird silence came between us, and the polite woman, who obviously knew nothing of the chance encounter, said “thank you” as I handed her the glove. Cheshire glared and said nothing. The Coach said something to the woman, and they got out of line and skied off to another part of the resort. Occasionally, I still have someone stop me on the street. #7 April 11, 2014 * St. Johns Review * Page 5 They smile and say, “Hey, I was in that gym class – remember when you… ?” Yes, I remember. (Repeated story from 2010) About the Author: Jim Speirs is a lifelong resident of North Portland, fourth generation. He is a published author and enjoys writing about North Portland’s history. He was a teacher of Political Science at Portland Community College and Chemeketa Community College and taught the politics of WWII, Viet Nam, and Korea at both colleges. He still lives and works in North Portland. Jim has seven published books: Death In Spades; Flood of Change, and Tales of North Portland: Volumes I, II, III, IV, and V. All are from his many articles in the St. Johns Review newspaper throughout his years as Historical Editor. The Tales series are available for purchase in several locations in North Portland. Contact Jim @jtspeirs@yahoo.com to find out where. Speirs’ articles are the property of the St Johns Review and may not be reprinted without the express permission of the paper. Support the REVIEW advertisers. They help bring it to you! Color Business & Service Directory For Ad Info see bottom of page or Call 503-283-5086 North Portland’s Real Estate & Property Management specialists since 1980! 4772 N. Lombard St. Portland 97203 503-283-1900 Office 3 Months (6 issues) = $228 ($38 each); 6 Months (12 issues) = $420 ($35 each); 9 Months (19 issues) = $627 ($33 each); 12 Months (26 issues) = $832 ($32 each) Page 6 * St. Johns Review *#7 April 11, 2014 reviewnewspaper@comcast.net * 503-283-5086 * www.stjohnsreview.com Community News Arbor Lodge N.A. plans annual auction Notice Burlington Water District is scheduled to hold its monthly Board meeting on April 16th 2014 at 6:45pm. The 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 13/14-01; Revised Water Rates and Other Fees will be read. Location of the meeting: The Holbrook Bible Church, 19200 NW Morgan Rd., Portland Oregon 97231. The public is invited to attend. It’s auction time and the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Associations said to grab your favorite dame or fella and join them at their annual auction at The Turf Club at Portland Meadows, 5 pm on April 26, 2014! Eating, drinking, dancing, and bidding is on the menu to raise funds to benefit the Chief Joseph Ockley Green Foundation, a registered 501c3 non-profit that funds staffing needs in the buildings. There will also be opportunities to support the PTA sponsored backpack program/community zone and a PTA paddle raise for the arts and sciences. Auction items include a private tasting at New Deal Distillery, lunch with Senator Chip Shields, a roller derby lesson with Avalanche from the Rose City Rollers, plus get-aways to Downtown Portland,Bend, Long Beach, Seattle, Newport, and the Columbia Gorge, and much more. They’re even offering a special raffle this year: $200 gets you a 1 in 13 chance at the live auction lot of your choice. Portland Meadows is located in Delta Park/Hayden Meadows. ======================== Columbia Cemetery plans annual Spring Clean-Up Everyone is welcome to help with the clean-up or just stop by for a visit at the Columbia Cemetery, 1151 N. Columbia Blvd. on April 26 and May 17, 10-12pm. A grounds keeper will also be at Business & Service Directory the cemetery every other Saturday starting April 5 from 10-2pm. The Columbia Cemetery is a historic location where many local pioneers are buried, including James John. It is maintained by all volunteers - a challenging effort for them and all assistant to their efforts is welcome. ======================== N Portland Spring Clean-Up coming Spring is here and that means spring cleaning may be taking place in your home, basement, garage or yard. There are seven neighborhood cleanups scheduled throughout North Portland in April and May. Volunteers from the neighborhood associations coordinate these events. Most of the cleanups in North Portland will incorporate on-site reuse options, allowing neighbors to take, swap or obtain items immediately. This allows one person’s trash to become another person’s treasure. Following are the upcoming 2014 N. Portland cleanups in April: Saturday, April 26 Overlook: 10am-2pm. Location Bethel Lutheran Church, 5658 N. Denver. Materials accepted: Secure document shredding. Kenton & Arbor Lodge: Location: Farragut at N Delaware. Suggested donation per vehicle: $10. 10am-2pm. Materials accepted are bulk waste, tires, metal, block styrofoam & peanuts. Onsite swap area (free) for building materials & household items. East Columbia & Piedmont: Location: Minit Mart at NE 6th & Faloma St. 9am-1:30pm. Suggested Donation: $5 per car, $10 per truck, $15 Trailers/Oversize. $3 per tires, $5 per computer monitor. Materials Accepted: Bulk waste, metal, paint, electronics, styrofoam, tires, plus onsite reuse swap area for building materials, household items and clothes. St. Johns & Cathedral Park: Location at Red Sea Church, 7535 N. Chicago. 9am-3pm. Free swap, sliding scale donation suggested. Materials accepted: Trash to Treasure onsite reuse swap area for building materials and household items, plus bulk waste, yard debris, tires, metal, block styrofoam & peanuts, rigid plastic, #1-7 plastic containers, wood, tires, electronics (not micros), shoes, household batteries, non-coolant appliances. Other events will be May 3, 9 & 10 and will be listed in the April 25 issue of the Review. Grand Marshal: Cont. From Page 1 she co-hosted the morning show and did news and traffic. Janine is now at K103 co-hosting the top-rated Bruce, John & Janine morning show with Bruce Murdock and John Erickson. She loves living back in her hometown, and spends a lot of time with her family and friends. Outside of work she stays busy being Vice President of the church she grew up at, Portsmouth Trinity Lutheran Church in North Portland and serving on the Board of Directors for the Ruth J. Spears Breast Center at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, as well as for The Struble Foundation. She is also an active team captain and fundraiser for the Komen Portland Race for the Cure. Janine said, “I’m truly honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of this year’s St. Johns Parade. St John’s is a community that I will always hold near and dear to my heart; it’s where I grew up, and it will always be ‘home’!” The Parade will be Saturday, May 10, 2014 starting at noon. NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING Hours: Tues-Sun 11am - 7pm (Closed Mon.) 1 Year (26 issues) $22 each = $572; 9 Months (19 issues) $23 each = $437 6 Months (12 issues) $25 each = $300; 3 Months (6 issues) $28 each = $168 A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Burlington Water District, Multnomah County, Oregon; to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, will be held at The Holbrook Bible Church, 19200 NW Morgan Rd., Portland, Oregon. The meeting will take place on the 16st of April 2014 at 6:45 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 14th 2014 at 16939 NW Wapato Ave., Portland, Oregon, between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Anyone may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee. Burlington Water District Board of Commissioners www.stjohnsreview.com * 503-283-5086 * reviewnewspaper@comcast.net #7 April 11, 2014 * St. Johns Review * Page 7 North Portland Police & Fire Reports POLICE BUREAU IMPLEMENTS A NEW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY News Release from Portland Police Bureau Posted on FlashAlert: March 25th, 2014 9:00 AM As part of the Portland Police Bureau’s continuing focus on community engagement, it has implemented a new strategy to increase positive police and community interactions at selected locations in the City of Portland. These areas, called Neighborhood Involvement Locations (NILoc), will have officers dispatched to them several times a day for short periods of time, usually 10 to 15 minutes. This will provide officers the opportunity to build relationships and interact with the community while providing a visible police presence. “The goal of this new initiative is to carve out dedicated time for officers to positively engage with community members in areas that are experiencing high volumes of crime and/or livability concerns,” said Chief Michael Reese. “Programs similar to this have been successful in other cities, and we are looking at this program to allow for additional contact between police and the community, as well as being a deterrent to crime.” The Police Bureau intends to create non-emergency calls in areas which may benefit from additional positive police presence and emphasize improving the community/police relationship by providing officers dedicated time to work in those areas. By initially focusing on areas with larger volumes of crime, the Police Bureau hopes to leverage research findings which indicated that increased police presence in these areas reduced crime and calls for service. Just as importantly, the results of previous community surveys indicate that increased positive contact between the police and community may increase trust in the police. Studies show it may be possible to reduce crime through police presence and create more positive community/police interactions. The initial effort created one location in each of the City’s three precincts (Central, North and East) as a pilot test to familiarize police and the dispatch systems with the new program. The program has now expanded to 20 other locations that have experienced high levels of crime and/or calls for service by community members over the last three years. This portion of the program will run for approximately five months. At the end of this period, the Bureau, in cooperation with Portland State University researchers and other nationally recognized experts in evidence-based policing, will examine the results of the program and use that analysis to create an ongoing program aimed at reducing crime and continuing to give officers time to interact with the community while not answering calls for service. The expanded program now includes 20 locations in 25 different Portland neighborhoods: Neighborhood - Location: St. Johns - 6800 block of North Fessenden Street Kenton - North Denver Avenue & Kilpatrick Street Humboldt/Boise - North Michigan Avenue and Prescott Street Woodlawn/King - Northeast MLK Jr. Boulevard & Ainsworth Street Cully - Northeast 72nd Avenue & Killingsworth Street Cully - Northeast Cully Boulevard & Killingsworth Street Lloyd District/Eliot - Northeast Broadway & Victoria Avenue in the area of North Trenton Street and Newark Avenue. Officers arrived in the area and located evidence of gunfire. No victims were located at the scene and witnesses described hearing gunshots then seeing two cars leaving the area. It is not known if the two cars, described as an SUV and a sedan, were related to the call. The Portland Police Bureau Gang Enforcement Team and Gun Task Force are continuing to actively investigate gang and gun crimes in the City of Portland. Anyone with information about gang and/or illegal gun crimes in the City of Portland is encouraged to provide information to the Portland Police Bureau’s Tactical Operations Division at (503) 823-4106. If you see an illegal gun crime in progress, call 9-1-1. POLICE INVESTIGATE SHOOTING IN PORTSMOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD News Release from Portland Police Bureau Posted on FlashAlert: March 31st, 2014 9:00 AM On Sunday March 30, 2014, at 10:31 p.m., North Precinct officers responded to the report of gunshots heard News Release from Portland Police Bureau Posted on FlashAlert: April 3rd, 2014 12:43 PM On Thursday April 3, 2014, at 4:45 a.m., the Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) served a search warrant at a residence in the 9500 block of North Buchanan Avenue in connection with an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Metro Gang Task Force. Investigators seized two firearms, counterfeit US currency, and quantities of Oxycontin, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy, and “Police Reports” Continued on Page 8 Horizontal Business & Service Directory THIS SPACE AVAILABLE FOR YOU AD CALL 503-283-5086 TO RESERVE IT 503-504-7109 http://www.kenleachroofing.com Hosford-Abernethy/Creston-Kenilworth - Southeast 28th Place & Powell Boulevard Pearl/Old Town/Chinatown - 800 block of Northwest 6th Avenue Downtown - Southwest 1st Avenue & Salmon Street Goose Hollow/Northwest District - West Burnside Street & 22nd Avenue Downtown - Southwest 5th Avenue & Hall Street Montavilla - Southeast 82nd Avenue & Washington Street Hazelwood/Glenfair - East Burnside Street & 148th Avenue Russell/Parkrose Heights - Northeast 122nd Avenue & San Rafael Street Hazelwood - 13700 block of Southeast Stark Street Powellhurst-Gilbert/Mill Park - Southeast 112th Avenue & Division Street Lents/Foster-Powell - Southeast 82nd Avenue & Raymond Court Brentwood-Darlington/Lents - Southeast 82nd Avenue & Malden Street Lents - Southeast 92nd Avenue & Flavel Street =========================================== METRO GANG TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO THREE ARRESTS - SEIZURE OF GUNS AND NARCOTICS Pricing: 1 Year (26 issues) $22 each = $572; 9 Months (19 issues) $23 each = $437 6 Months (12 issues) $25 each = $300; 3 Months (6 issues) $28 each = $168 Call 503-283-5086 or email: reviewnewspaper@comcast.net PRICING AT THE BOTTOM Page 8 * St. Johns Review * #7 April 11, 2014 reviewnewspaper@comcast.net * 503-283-5086 * www.stjohnsreview.com North Portland Community News Police Reports Continued From Page 7 marijuana. Three people were arrested on a variety of drug-related charges: 25-year-old Sonny Phosakham, 22-year-old Teng Cha and 29-year-old Christopher Phomsopha. All three were booked into the Multnomah County Jail and will be arraigned on Friday. As this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information can be released at this time. The Metro Gang Task Force is a multi-agency anti-gang effort that includes representatives from the Portland Police Bureau; the Beaverton Police Department; the Tigard Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon; and, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. MAJOR CRASH TEAM INVESTIGATES SINGLE VEHICLE TRAFFIC FATALITY ON INTERSTATE News Release from Portland Police Bureau Posted on FlashAlert: March 31st, 2014 9:31 AM A man was killed in March 30, 2014 on North Interstate Ave. He was 30-year-old Lamar Jaray Hart. Investigators determined that Hart was driving a 2007 Ford Five Hundred sedan at a high rate of speed northbound on Interstate Avenue when he lost control and crashed into a power pole. The Oregon State Medical Examiner is awaiting toxicology reports to determine if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the crash. ======================== Police & Fire reports are sent from the Portland Police Bureau and Portland Fire & Rescue via email to media outlets. Their content has not been altered. Celebrate North Portland 2014 was great success By Mike Verbout The 4th Annual Celebrate North Portland event has been, for the last four years, a sold out event! People who have attended all four years stated that each year was enjoyable, however, this year’s was the best ever. The theme was “Magic Happens In North Portland.” Celebrate North Portland is an appreciation and recognition for the many people who have dedicated their time and energies to making our community such a great corner of the world. The dinner, entertainment, and awards are designed to recognize those people. The evening began with a welcome from Master of Ceremonies Dr. Dan Halko and was followed by the audience singing, “The Star Spangled Banner” accompanied by Duo Con Brio and his marvelous instrumental ensemble making its second appearance at Celebrate North Portland. Everyone then watched the large media screen as students from Roosevelt High School led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Each phrase of the pledge was offered by the students in the various languages that make-up the school population. Dinner and mingling was next and an opportunity for attendees to view various community information booths. During dinner Duo Con Brio played selected magical music! The Following awards occurred and plaques were presented in recognition for their extraordinary service to North Portland. In the Business category: Kadel’s Auto Body and Hustad Funeral Home. In the Groups category: Neighborhood House and University Park Business District were honored. Beautifully framed certificates of appreciation were then presented to community members for their work in the community: In individual category: John Palmeri and Pastor Stewart Minnieweather. In Business: Zach Fernandez of The Tire Factory and Patti of Pattie’s Home Plate Deli. In Groups: Gil Luzader and the St. Johns Foot Patrol and Nick and Mandy Mucci. Individuals: Kathleen Greene, Merlin Radke, Dean McCarter, Linda Jo Devlaeminck, Andy Goebel and Herman & Nike Greene. Entertainment for this year’s event was provided by the awesome Illusionist William Scott Anderson and sponsored by Edward Jones. Anderson is a renowned magician and was finalist on the hit show America’s Got Talent in 2010. He presented a show that was spellbinding! Anderson performs regularly at the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California and with his own show in Las Vegas. He was incredible! Joanna Lawler, was organizer extraordinaire from every detail of the evening. She either performed the jobs herself or recruited individuals to help her. She did a fan- tastic job, as did committee organizer Dr. Dan Halko. I want to personally thank the hundreds of individuals who support and make Celebrate North Portland possible that are not listed here. See all of you at the 5th Annual Celebrate North Portland in March of 2015. Classified Ads REAL ESTATE: NORTH HOMES REALTY, Inc. 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