Mt. Angel, OR. The 2017 Ride to Defeat ALS raised $157,306, which was $7,000 over what organizers had set as a goal. Riders started out in Mt. Angel, Oregon and had five different rides they could select: a Century Ride (100 miles), Metric Century Ride (62 Miles), 50 Mile Ride, 25 Mile Ride, and a Family Fun Ride (3 miles). Over 200 riders hit the road for the July 8th event to support local care services, international ALS research and national public policy efforts. (Photo credit, Majestic Event Photography)
Here’s a list of the top fund raising teams:
Ken’s Kismet – $22,016.01
Team VBC – $14,803.00
Betsey’s Bikers – $7,868.00
Bones’s Brigade – $6,805.00
Drafters – $5,988.00
A family affair – $5,920.00
Ride for a Cure! – $4,100.00
Ran’s Fans – $3,900.00
Sherry’s Angels – $3,845.00
Guys & Gals Riding for PALS – $3,580.00
Since its inception in 2002, The local chapter of The ALS Association has been the central source for services and education for people with ALS, their families, caregivers, and health care professionals in all of Oregon and the six counties of Southwest Washington. The progression of ALS varies significantly from one person to another. Responding to each person’s individual needs, the local chapter is available to provide vital services and reliable information.
Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
About ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease):
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that slowly robs a person of their ability to walk, speak, swallow and, eventually breathe. With no known cause or cure, a person can expect to live typically 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
ALS has no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries and in only 10% of cases there is a family history of ALS. Today, there are approximately 30,000 people in the US living with ALS and 5,600 people are diagnosed each and every year in the US. At any given time, there are an estimated 400-500 families living with ALS in Oregon and SW Washington.
To learn more, please visit our chapter website at www.alsa-or.org.
Our chapter receives no government or insurance funding. Our mission is funded solely by events such as the Ride to Defeat ALS.
North Plains, OR. This year’s fifth annual Dave and Dan Classic, presented by First Tech Federal Credit Union, raised more than $1.273 million to support Credit Unions for Kids, benefiting six Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. This year’s event also saw more than 30 celebrity guests who came out to play in the golf tournament, named after NFL Hall of Fame inductees, Dan Fouts and Dave Wilcox.
This year’s fundraising total includes more than $100,000 donated by First Tech employees and members. First Tech Federal Credit Union organized the event, bringing together credit unions and industry partners from across the country on July 10 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon.
“Without community and philanthropic support from organizations like Credit Unions for Kids, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital wouldn’t be able to provide the exceptional care that it does,” said Dana Braner, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.C.C.M., physician-in-chief and Credit Unions for Kids Chair of Pediatrics, OHSU Doernbecher, OHSU School of Medicine. “The funds raised at this year’s Dave and Dan Classic will support clinical care, innovation and pioneering research, and health care costs for families in need.”
Since 2000, the Dave & Dan Classic – formerly known as the “Hank and Moose Open” – has raised more than $6 million and has become one of the largest credit union sponsored events to support Credit Unions for Kids. The proceeds raised during the tournament benefit the following Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (Portland, Oregon), Sacred Heart Medical Center (Eugene, Oregon), Seattle Children’s Hospital (Seattle, Washington), USCF Benioff Children’s Hospital (Oakland, California), UC Davis Children’s Hospital (Sacramento, California), and Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora, Colorado).
“A key part of the credit union difference is our commitment to the community, and I’m proud of First Tech’s leadership in supporting Credit Unions for Kids and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Greg Mitchell, CEO and president of First Tech. “It’s humbling to see our employees, members and industry partners come together every year to generously give their time, talent and treasures to provide hope and make a difference in children’s lives.”
This year’s Dave and Dan sponsors include MasterCard, CO-OP Financial Services, PSCU, Fiserv, CU Direct, Crowe Horwath, CUNA Mutual Group, The Standard, FIS, and CSCU. Other partners included Alkami Technology, JLL, Performance Trust Capital Partners, Raymond James, AT&T, and HP. Credit Union Heritage Sponsors include OnPoint Community Credit Union, iQ Credit Union, Advantis Credit Union, Unitus Community Credit Union, Patelco Credit Union, and Stanford Federal Credit Union.
About First Tech Federal Credit Union:
First Tech Federal Credit Union is a $10.6+ billion institution headquartered in Mountain View, California. It is the nation’s premier credit union serving the world’s leading technology-oriented companies and their employees, including HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft, Agilent, Intel, Cisco, Amazon, Nike, CH2M, Intuit, Google, and more. First Tech is recognized as the industry catalyst for delivering effortless banking experiences to over 488,000 members through its 41 branch locations, more than 5,400 CO-OP Shared Branch locations, 30,000 CO-OP Network ATMs, online platforms, and 286,000 ATMs nationwide. First Tech offers a full range of financial services, including traditional banking, online banking, mortgages, financial planning, various consumer loans, and insurance services. For more information, visit www.firsttechfed.com.
About First Tech Federal Credit Union Community Program:
First Tech Federal Credit Union is committed to supporting the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators. In 2016, First Tech provided $2.8 million and nearly 25,000 employee volunteer hours to the community, by directing dollars and time to community partners which provide support for programs and services for children and families, ensuring that children have the tools they need to learn, be healthy and succeed. Philanthropic focus areas include support in the areas of education (STEM, literacy and financial education), research (Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and supportive health services for children) and innovation (food, shelter and safety). Learn more about First Tech’s commitment to the community at www.firsttechfed.com/community.
About Credit Unions for Kids and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®:
Credit Unions for Kids is a nonprofit collaboration of credit unions, chapters, leagues/associations and business partners from across the country, engaged in fundraising activities to benefit 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Adopted as our movement’s charity of choice, credit unions are the 3rd largest sponsor of CMN Hospitals. Since 2006, CU4Kids has raised $150 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
Portland, OR. Thousands of water lovers of all ages took a dip in the Willamette River for the 7th annual Big Float, hosted by the Human Access Project. Participants launched from “Poet’s Beach” which is on the west bank under Marquam Bridge and take out was at the Tom McCall Bowl south of the Hawthorne Bridge. After the float people gathered for a summer beach party, including a music barge with live bands.
It’s a competition with bragging rights to come up with the most colorful floats and costumes.
This is the first year floaters were able to enjoy the new and improved Poet’s Beach. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler opened the beach on July 12th in an effort to reconnecting people to the Willamette River in downtown Portland. The Mayor dedicated $158,040 to implement a temporary swimming beach pilot program for summer 2017 at Poet’s Beach. Here are some details:
Poet’s Beach at a Glance
Program duration: July 12 through September 4, 2017.
Poet’s Beach is a sandy shore with river access, and an in-water swimming area delineated with a swim line and floats.
Water depth is shallow in the area of Poet’s Beach.
On-land amenities include: picnic tables; trash cans; bicycle racks; signage; life jacket borrowing station; and portable toilets.
Specialized river rescue lifeguards will staff the site 7 days/week.
Lifeguard hours are from 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
PP&R Beach hosts will be at the site 7 days/week, welcoming guests, orienting them to the site, and collecting usage data. Hours and shifts are to be determined.
Getting to Poet’s Beach
Poet’s Beach is in South Waterfront Park, on the west side of the Willamette River and just north of the I-5 Marquam Bridge.
Walk, roll, or bicycle along the South Waterfront Park Trail. Bicycle racks are available at Poet’s Beach for short-term use.
If taking public transportation, the nearest Portland Streetcar stop is SW River Parkway and Moody Avenue. The nearest TriMet bus stops are 35 and 36
The Human Access Project vision is simple: a city in love with its river. This grassroots not-for-profit group has three concentric goals: 1) Create a human habitat and more access points along the Willamette River in downtown Portland.2) Inspire people to get into the Willamette River. 3) Facilitate stewardship of the Willamette River and Watershed.
Portland, OR. The 19th annual JAW (short for Just Add Water): A Playwrights Festival, offers a chance to preview new scripts while they’re still in development. The JAW Big Weekend is July 28-30 in various locations at the Portland Center Stage facility: The Armory. JAW is free and open to the public. More information is available at www.pcs.org/jaw.
This year’s JAW staged readings include Kate Attwell’s Testmatch,examining women’s sports, mangos, and the ever-present legacy of colonialism;Small Stepsby Briandaniel Oglesby, a comedy traversing 50 million miles and a million years; Mfoniso Udofia’s In Old Age, part of a nine-play cycle about Nigerian American immigrants that explores the true nature of love and forgiveness; and Tiny Houses, Stefanie Zadravec’s comic riff on Pandora’s Box that follows the ripple effect on several women who suddenly realize they can disrupt the status quo. Surrounding the staged readings, attendees can also enjoy Press Play events such as a site-specific dance performance and an indie gaming event. Community Artist Labs offer opportunities to build skills in adapting works of fiction, theatricalizing found text, and creating devised theater (attendance for labs is by lottery).
Polaris Dance Theatre celebrates the joy of movement a previous JAW: A Playwrights Festival.
A stage manager makes edits on the fly to the script for Jason Wells’ “The North Plan,” part of the Big Weekend of readings at Portland Center Stage’s JAW: a Playwright’s Festival. (Photo credit, Patrick Weishampel)
The cast of The Huntsmen rehearses their staged reading for JAW: A Playwrights Festival. (Photo credit, Patrick Weishampel.)
Here’s the complete 2017 JAW FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017
All Day Press Play Event: ZoomUganda Display Studio Lobby
8:00 p.m. JAW KICKOFF: Readings of Short Plays by JAW Promising Playwrights Ellyn Bye Studio
SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017
All Day Press Play Event: ZoomUganda Display Studio Lobby
12:30 p.m. Community Artist Lab: New Worlds for Old Stories Admission by Lottery
3:00 p.m. Press Play Event: Street Dance Battle with Michael Galen Main Lobby
4:00 p.m. STAGED READING: TINY HOUSES BY STEFANIE ZADRAVEC U.S. Bank Main Stage
6:00 p.m. Press Play Event: PIGSquad Pop-up Gaming Main Lobby and Mezzanine
8:00 p.m. STAGED READING: TESTMATCH BY KATE ATTWELL U.S. Bank Main Stag
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2017
All Day Press Play Event: ZoomUganda Display Studio Lobby
12:00 p.m. Community Artist Lab: Theatricalizing Found Text Admission by Lottery
12:00 p.m. Community Artist Lab: Creating Devised Performance Admission by Lottery
3:20 p.m. Press Play Event: Rachel Slater and Sara Parker’s Site-Specific Dance Main Lobby
4:00 p.m. STAGED READING: IN OLD AGE BY MFONISO UDOFIA U.S. Bank Main Stage
7:00 p.m. Press Play Event: A Little Bit Off’s Clown Performance Main Lobby and Mezzanine
8:00 p.m. STAGED READING: SMALL STEPS BY BRIANDANIEL OGLESBY U.S. Bank Main Stage
2017 JAW STAGED READINGS
Staged readings are free and open to the public. No reservations required. Seating is general admission. Post-show conversations with the playwrights are held after most readings. Please Note: Staged readings are part of the play development process and do NOT represent completed scripts.
TINY HOUSES
BY STEFANIE ZADRAVEC
SATURDAY, JULY 29, 4:00 P.M.
On July 17, 2014, Malaysian Flight MH-17 rained down upon a tiny, war-torn Eastern Ukraine village after being targeted by a surface-to-air missile launched by pro-Russian Separatists. Bodies and objects alike become fodder for those trying to escape the circumstances in which they were born. Tiny Houses is a comic riff on Pandora’s Box that explores the ripple effect on several women who suddenly realize they can disrupt the status quo.
TESTMATCH
BY KATE ATTWELL
SATURDAY, JULY 29, 8:00 P.M.
Present day: A rained-out women’s cricket match between India and England leaves tensions bare and, as the rainy day drones relentlessly on, no one can play nice anymore. Then: The British East India Company rules in 18th century West Bengal, as two members of the Royal Cricket Team, ardent players of the game, debate the rules of engagement, the problem of the women, the trouble with mosquitoes, all against the backdrop of a country that they are destroying through famine. And before that? … Testmatch is a new play about women’s sports, mangos, cricket, and the ever-present legacy of colonialism, written for an all-female cast.
IN OLD AGE
BY MFONISO UDOFIA
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 4:00 P.M.
Isolated within the walls of her derelict New England home and suffering the residual pain of years of abuse, an ancient woman, Abasiama Ufot, makes an unlikely spiritual connection with an elder stranger, Azell Abernarthy. Just as life takes a new turn, Abasiama and Azell learn the true nature of love and forgiveness.
SMALL STEPS
BY BRIANDANIEL OGLESBY
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 8:00 P.M. Finally fed up with the bot-and-disappointment-filled world of online gay dating, Skip Powers volunteers to go to Mars. And NASA says … “you’ll do.” This is a comedy that traverses 50 million miles and a million years.
JAW PRESS PLAY EVENTS
Press Play events engage JAW audiences before and after staged readings.
ZOOMUGANDA DISPLAY
JULY 28-30, ALL DAY, STUDIO LOBBY
ZoomUganda shares the journey of 12 girls given 12 cameras and 24 hours in which to tell their own stories through their own lenses. Directed by Portland-based Julie Resnick, ZoomUganda empowered its participants to stand in the centers of their world and share their perspectives. Sponsored by local nonprofit the Harambee Centre, which connects people in the US with the peoples and cultures of the African continent.
IN THE GROOVE: STREET DANCE BATTLE
WITH MICHAEL GALEN AND AN ALL STAR CREW
SATURDAY, JULY 29, 3:00 P.M., MAIN LOBBY
A crowd-judged, 5v5, all-star street dance battle showcasing different styles of street and club dance.Michael ‘MANTIS’ Galen is a versatile freestyle dancer, teacher and choreographer who has trained, battled, performed and taught all over the West Coast and Brazil. Galen’s specialties include B-boyin’, House, Locking, Stepping, and Hip Hop party dancing.
PIGSQUAD POP-UP
SATURDAY, JULY 29, 6:00 P.M., MAIN LOBBY AND MEZZANINE
Try out board games and computer games created by local designers. The Portland Indie Game Squad is dedicated to supporting the health and continued expansion of game developers and enthusiast communities in the Pacific Northwest and online.
RACHEL SLATER AND SARA PARKER
SITE-SPECIFIC DANCE PERFORMANCE
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 3:20 P.M., MAIN LOBBY
Portland-based dancers Rachel Slater and Sara Parker have created a site-specific dance performance for The Armory’s Main Lobby.Rachel Slater’s credits include work with Tere Mathern, Franco Nieto, Tracey Durbin, Jim McGinn and Éowyn Emerald & Dancers. Sara Parker has recently performed with artists such as Tere Mathern, Netta Yerushalmy, Pamela Geber-Handman and Sharee Lane.
A LITTLE BIT OFF’S CLOWN PERFORMANCE
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 7:00 P.M., MAIN LOBBY AND MEZZANINE
A Little Bit Off will bring their acrobatic clowning and physical comedy talents to JAW with a part-devised, part-improvised clown performance. Co-founded by Amica Hunter and David Cantor, A Little Bit Off began as a theatrical collaboration between two acrobatic clowns dedicated to bringing wonder and laughter to the audiences of the world.
COMMUNITY ARTIST LABS
Admission is free but attendance is limited and determined by random lottery. To enter the lottery email clarah@pcs.org by July 25 with a list of the lab(s) that are of interest.
NEW WORLDS FOR OLD STORIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADAPTATION
WITH LITERARY MANAGER BENJAMIN FAINSTEIN
SATURDAY, JULY 29, 12:30 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M., ATTENDANCE BY LOTTERY
This playful lab will steer participants through a crash course of adapting works of fiction for the stage. Through a series of creative activities, attendees will learn what questions to ask themselves when building fictional worlds and explore the delicate art of changing the shape of someone else’s work with both enthusiasm and ethics. This lab welcomes imaginative writers of all experience levels.
THEATRICALIZING FOUND TEXT: OR, ADAPTING A STORY THROUGH MOVEMENT
WITH JAW DIRECTOR MARGOT BORDELON
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 12:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M., ATTENDANCE BY LOTTERY
In this lab, participants will read a short story and investigate how the piece might live theatrically. A series of small group physical exercises will explore — both literally and abstractly — the characters, relationships and environments in the story. Attendees will experiment with how much language is necessary to communicate the ideas of the piece and how much can be communicated through movement. Participants should come ready to move.
CREATING DEVISED PERFORMANCE
WITH JAW PLAYWRIGHT KATIE ATTWELL
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 12:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M., ATTENDANCE BY LOTTERY
This lab explores the collaborative theater making process: making work on your feet, together. Participants will look at ways to create theater that is built collaboratively, from practical work in the room and not necessarily from the page first. Participants will explore “sources” — Where can a piece of theater come from? Anywhere? Yes! — and how to turn those sources into something for the stage. Space, movement, objects, text, identity, speech, silence, and found materials will be considered as equal fodder for creating work. Come dressed comfortably and ready to move — at least a little.
JAW: A PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
Since launching in 1999, JAW: A Playwrights Festival has created a space for playwrights to have complete creative control and the resources to work on whatever they want to develop in their scripts. Each year, playwrights are chosen from nearly 200 submissions nationwide to collaborate with directors, dramaturgs, actors and other theater professionals from across the United States. Of the 76 plays that have received workshops at the festival, 68% have gone on to receive world premiere productions at regional theaters, including New York Theater Workshop, Steppenwolf Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Portland’s own Third Rail Repertory Theater. Thirteen JAW plays have received fully staged productions at Portland Center Stage at The Armory, giving Portland a strong national reputation for not only incubating new work, but helping to see that work to successful fruition.
JAW COMPANY
Portland Center Stage at The Armory’s Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan is the JAW Festival Director. Joining her are JAW Festival Co-Producers Kelsey Tyler and Brandon Woolley; JAW Literary Manager Benjamin Fainstein; JAW Festival Company Manager Will Cotter; Education and Community Programs Associate Clara-Liis Hillier; Education and Community Programs Coordinator Eric Werner; and the hardworking staff and volunteers of Portland Center Stage at The Armory who bring their talents and energies to JAW each year.
LOCATION: All JAW events happen at The Armory, 128 NW Eleventh Ave., Portland, Ore., 97209
ACCESSIBILITY: Portland Center Stage at The Armory is committed to making its performances and facilities accessible to all patrons. Learn more at http://www.pcs.org/access/.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Most JAW events are recommended for high school age and up.
PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AT THE ARMORY
Portland Center Stage at The Armory is the largest theater company in Portland and among the top 20 regional theaters in the country. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the company became independent in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since 2000. Around 150,000 visitors attend The Armory annually to enjoy a mix of classical, contemporary and world premiere productions, along with a variety of high quality education and community programs. 11 productions are offered each season, in addition to roughly 400 community events created — in partnership with 170+ local organizations and individuals — to serve the diverse populations in the city. As part of its dedication to new play development, the company has produced 23 world premieres and presents an annual new works festival, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. Home to two theaters, The Armory was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.
JAW: A Playwrights Festival is supported in part by The Kinsman Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, Don and Mary Blair, and Ronnie S. Lacroute. Additional support is provided by Regional Arts & Culture Council and Oregon Arts Commission. Portland Center Stage at The Armory’s 2017-2018 season is funded in part by Season Superstars Tim and Mary Boyle, and Lead Corporate Champion Umpqua Bank. Further support comes from Season Sponsors: Regional Arts and Culture Council, The Wallace Foundation and Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the state of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts. Mark Spencer Hotel is the official hotel partner. Portland Center Stage at The Armory was selected as a participant of the Wallace Foundation’s Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative, a four-year effort with a nationwide cohort of 26 performing arts organizations.
Portland, OR. This July, the Pittock Mansion is offering a new reason for people of all ages to visit. It is an exhibit called Untold Stories of Pittock Mansion Treasures. The 100 year old mansion has artifacts whose stories are rarely told, like a toy swing Governor Tom McCall played with as a child and a still life painting by Oregon free spirit and activist C.E.S. Wood. In this exhibit, visitors explore lesser known, but equally compelling objects, at the mansion. For more information here’s a link: http://pittockmansion.org/
One of the Pittock Mansion artifacts whose stories are rarely told is a punch bowl purchased as a souvenir from an 1898 trip to a Czech spa town.
Summer camp programs were also very popular.
Here’s a video from OPB with 40 facts about the Pittock Mansion.
Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock built the French Renaissance-style mansion in 1914.
Here’s a photo of Pittock grandchildren on the beach circa 1917.
A vigorous outdoorsman, Henry rode bicycles with the Oregon Riding Club, hiked with the Mazamas, and climbed Mt. Hood four times. Georgiana cherished gardening, and kept a terraced flower garden at the mansion covered with every kind of flower imaginable. She is recognized for originating the tradition of Portland’s annual Rose Festival.
Corvallis, OR. The Special Olympics Flame of Hope traveled 800 miles across Oregon this year, carried by athletes alongside law enforcement officers who helped light the cauldron at the Summer Games.
The Summer State Games are the largest annual event for Special Olympics Oregon. In addition to 2,000 athletes, the event features 600 coaches and 1,300 volunteers working hard over the course of week. This year many of the events are on the Corvallis campus of Oregon State University. Organizers hope the location will create a unique village-like experience for athletes, from the 30 local programs around the state, who are participating.
The first-ever Reser-Austin Golf Classic benefiting Special Olympics Oregon at Trysting Tree Golf Club on July 7th was a new addition to the activities surrounding the games.
The Special Olympics Summer Games run from July 7th – 9th. Here are some snapshots from the first few days in Corvallis:
To get a feel for what the Summer Games are like, here’s a video:
About Special Olympics:
The mission of Special Olympics Oregon is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Portland, Or. Thanks to visionary leaders who stood their ground 50 years ago, all 363 miles of Oregon’s coastline is open to the public. On July 6th, 1967, Oregonians won a decisive battle with the passage of legislation commonly known as the Beach Bill, which established public access to Oregon’s beaches from the first dune to the sea. The Bill attracted national attention and brought political heavyweights like U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy and his wife, Ethel. The couple walked a section of beach with State Treasurer Bob Straub near Astoria on May 24th, 1968. (Photo courtesy of Western Oregon University Archives, Robert W. Straub Collection) Kennedy was campaigning for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Thirteen days after the visit, Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles.
The Oregon State Beach Bill declared all wet sand lying within 16 vertical feet of the low tide line to be the property of the state. Moreover, it recognized public easements of all beach areas up to the line of vegetation. The law required that property owners seek state permits for building and other uses of the ocean shore and it declared that the public would have free and uninterrupted use of the beaches.
Here’s a video about the Beach Bill:
Governor Tom McCall looks at Cannon Beach’s Surfsand Motel in 1967. The owner, Bill Hay, wanted this beach area for the use of motel guests only. The action exposed a loophole in existing state law and sparked a legislative conflict about public access to beaches. The Beach Bill was the product of the debate that pitted proponents of property rights against those favoring more public access protections. (Photo courtesy of Oregon Historical Society)
At the bill signing, Tom McCall honored former Governor Oswald West, author of the 1913 bill declaring all state beaches to be a public highway, thus maintaining public access. He quoted West on protecting the state’s beaches: “No local selfish interest should be permitted, through politics or otherwise, to destroy or even impair this great birthright of our people.”
Governor Tom McCall peers through survey equipment on the beach at Rockaway in 1967 as part of his effort to highlight the public access risks if the version of the Beach Bill he favored did not pass. State Representative Sidney Bazett (left) was a key ally in passing the bill. Oregon State University engineer, Robert Schultz (center) helped with the formula to determine the public right of way. (Oregon Historical Society)
After the passage of the Beach Bill in 1967, doubts lingered about whether it would withstand legal challenges related to property rights and other issues. Looking for more solid protections, State Treasurer Bob Straub and the Beaches Forever citizens’ group teamed up to put a measure on the ballot in 1968. The measure authorized a temporary gas tax to buy privately-owned beach land. Advocates mounted a strong grassroots campaign and gathered enough signatures to get Measure 6 on the November ballot.
“Mini-Marchers” on the beach at a Cannon Beach to show support for Measure 6 in 1968. The event drew more than 200 supporters. (Oregon Historical Society)
While the law’s legality was still in question because of lawsuits filed by Hay and others, Straub attempted to settle all claims in 1968 by sponsoring Ballot Measure 6, which would have established a penny-a-gallon gas tax to reimburse a public bond fund meant to pay off landowners and purchase new parkland in areas without beach access. An oil-industry-funded campaign warning voters to “beware of tricks in Number 6” turned positive polls upside down, and even Governor McCall’s belated endorsement could not prevent the defeat of the “Beaches Are for Kids” measure.
Nevertheless, as McCall had predicted, the claims of landowners who challenged the law were rejected, and the state’s argument of adverse possession was unanimously upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court in Thorntonv. Hay in 1969. Subsequent federal challenges have not eroded Oregonians’ unfettered access to their beaches.
Portland, OR. For the first time, Gov. Kate Brown has declared July 10th as Chronic Disease Awareness Day in the state of Oregon.
“Chronic disease affects thousands of individuals throughout Oregon and millions throughout the United States,” the proclamation states. Widespread awareness, increased community engagement and ongoing advocacy are “critical to improve patients’ quality of life and access to care.” Fundraising efforts, like gathering pledges for a climbing expedition to support people with severe lung disease, are one way friends and family members take action.
The Chronic Disease Coalition, an Oregon-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting the rights of patients nationwide, supported the proclamation.
“Although few chronic diseases are preventable, we must still increase disease awareness, promote early detection methods, improve access to appropriate medical treatment and encourage healthy lifestyles,” Chronic Disease Coalition Executive Director Scott Bruun said. “We also must protect patients’ rights and recognize that discrimination against chronic disease patients, often by health insurers, is on the rise.”
An estimated 133 million Americans have at least one chronic disease or long-term health condition such as diabetes, kidney disease, hemophilia or arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately one in four adults has two or more chronic health conditions.
About the Chronic Disease Coalition: Founded in 2015, the Chronic Disease Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of chronic disease patients against discriminatory policies and practices. The Coalition fights discrimination wherever we find it: in schools, at workplaces and with insurance companies. We are patients, family members, health care providers, advocacy groups, medical professionals and others who care deeply about the needs of the millions of Americans with chronic diseases. To learn more, please visit http://chronicdiseasecoalition.com.
Portland, OR. The Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus was rockin’ as Team Tektronix took home the golden trophy for the 3rd time. Kaiser Dental won the Spirit Award at the annual Playworks Pacific NW Corporate Kickball Tournament. The event on June 23rd raised funds that support daily healthy, inclusive, and developmental play for nearly 14,200 children in 31 Portland metro area schools. (Photo credit, Nicholas DiGiallonardo)
Over 130 kids came out for Kickball Jamboree earlier in the month.
Lots of other companies also participated in Playworks Pacific NW Corporate Kickball Tournament including:
Playworks’ vision is that one day every child in America will get to play – every day. We create a place for every kid on the playground, a place where every kid belongs, has fun and is part of the game. We offer an essential opportunity for children to explore their imaginations, to connect with other kids and to stretch and grow physically, emotionally and socially. Our experience is that diminishing opportunities for unsupervised play in our society have left kids with a very thin understanding of how to manage their own play and that it is important to have grown-ups introduce some basic rules to make play work. On our playgrounds, kids feel safe and included, a part of the action. Games are safe and organized. Any kid is welcome and able to play in any game. We believe that kids have innate leadership, and give them easy ways to take ever-increasing responsibility for the quality of play and for each other. Ultimately our unique brand of play fosters greater independence and leadership among children. In partnership with teachers, principals and parents, we build a culture of play that enables kids to feel a real sense of belonging and have the opportunity to contribute on the playground, in the classroom and into their communities. We are huge fans of rock-paper-scissors. Building a play culture that acknowledges the arbitrariness of most conflicts and provides a simple, playful tool for addressing them, ultimately makes it easier for kids to recognize and address more serious conflicts.
We believe there is value in having adults play alongside of children. A grown-up standing on the sidelines barking instructions only serves to perpetuate the less-than-playful status quo. But when adults get in the game and actually play themselves, it introduces an important element of whim and shared humanity, making the play more accessible, and helping children feel safer and more connected.
We incorporate competitive activities into our programming, but we strive to do it in a developmentally appropriate way. One amazing thing about play is this: kids’ desire to keep the activity going will motivate them to take actions that are actually in the best interest of the larger group. Most often this manifests as self-handicapping: switching players, adapting the rules, etc. to keep some balance and ensure that everyone is having enough fun to continue playing.
Our belief is that creating options for children to engage in healthy, inclusive play represents an important opportunity for learning to deal with both winning and losing with grace.
– See more at: http://www.pacificnw.playworks.org/about/why-playworks#sthash.eDI4erP2.dpuf
Portland, OR. Music lovers at the Waterfront Blues Festival have donated more than 10 million dollars over the past 30 years. Since 1987, Oregon Food Bank has brought in headliners like Chris Isaak to raise funds and awareness to fight hunger in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. This year the Waterfront Blues Festival runs for five days, on four stages, and features more than 150 eclectic performances.
This is the Oregon Food Bank’s largest annual fundraising event, it is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi, and the second-largest blues festival in the nation.
Susannah Morgan, Oregon Food Bank CEO, thanks the crowd for feeding the human spirit for 30 years.
Fantastic Negrito
Ty Curtis
LoveBomb Go-Go
Elvin Bishop
Festival Director Clay Fuller and Artistic Director Peter Dammann have been feeding the Human Spirit for 30 years.
Headliners include: Big Head Todd Blues Club, Chris Isaak, Joss Stone, Galactic, Elvin Bishop, Fantastic Negrito, Canned Heat, JD McPherson, Bokante, Pine Leaf Boys, MarchFourth, Pimps of Joytime, Booker T Stax Revue, Cedric Burnside Project, and Sonny Landreth
Additional acts include: Chubby Carrier, Southern Avenue, Greyhounds, The Revelers, Blynd, Jontavious Willis, Brother Yusef, Dirty Bourbon River Show, Donna Angelle, Dustbowl Revival, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Eric Gales, The Suffers, Chris Cain, Monkey Junk, Sons of the Soul Revivers
Our mission: To eliminate hunger and its root causes … because no one should be hungry. Since 1982, Oregon Food Bank has been leading the fight against hunger in Oregon and southwest Washington by collecting and distributing food through a network of four OFB branches and 16 independent regional food banks. The OFB Network helps nearly one in five households fend off hunger. OFB also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, garden education and helping communities strengthen local food systems.
Did you know …
For the first time ever, the Oregon Food Bank Network distributed more than 1 million food boxes to families in need – a 12% increase over last year.
Growing levels of long-term unemployment are forcing more and more people to fall into poverty and to seek emergency food.
33% of those receiving emergency food are children.
Children who are hungry get sick more often and have more trouble learning in school.
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