Street roots., September 28, 2012, Page 6, Image 6

Street roots
Sept. 28, 2012
Vendor's work,
w ait pays off
with set of keys
BY KARA DIMITRUK
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R
eorge Mayes, a long-time Street
Roots vendor, opened the door to his
new home on Sept. 12.
“I signed up about a year ago. Central
City Concern helped me get into housing.
They helped with all the paperwork. If I
wrote something down, I wouldn’t have
anywhere to store it; if I did write it down, it
would’ve gotten thrown away. Now I have
my own place and I can start keeping my
paperwork.”
G
Robert (Bob) Allen Hannick, Sr.
June 25,1941 — Sept. 10,2012
ob Hannick, a long-time SR vendor,
VENDOR PROFILE
passed away in Portland on Sept. 10
at the age of 71. He was born in
Aberdeen, Wash., and raised primarily in
Tillamook. He grew up to love outdoor
activities, wrestling, NASCAR, and word
search games. He worked as a fisherman,
George has waited a long time for a place
cook, woodworker, cab driver and at a saw
of his own.
mill. He was also a member of the
“I had my own place in 2001.1 was a
Catholic Church. He will be missed greatly
manager at an apartment complex:
by his family and friends.
refurbishing the rooms, cleaning it, keeping
Bob is survived by his daughter Lisa
it prepared. It was sold at the same time
Marie Hannick of Portland, and by his
that my gout hit me. that’s when I hit the
sons, David E. Hannick and Robert A.
street again. My gout got me homeless.”
Hannick, Jr. also of Portland. He is also
Since that time, George had been on and
survived by his companion Sharon A.
off the street and couch surfing. But he
Gronke, of Portland, and one grandchild
always had a smile as a Street Roots vendor.
and one great-grandchild.
“Family and friends were giving me a
Arrangements were made by Crown
helping hand. Street Roots gave me more
Memorial Center in Milwaukie
incentive.”
His entire life, George has been living out
He is remembered warmly by his
a lesson that was with him through the
customers at Street Roots.
highs and lows: “You’ve got to keep your
“I bought many papers from him,” one
recalled. “He always had a smile and a kind
spirits up.”
And with seven brothers and sisters, he
word.”
says he was raised to be independent.
B
George Mayes
P H O T O BY C O LE M E R K E L
“Whatever you go through, you fight to get
through it.”
Even without a house, George was never
without a home.
“I was born and raised in Portland. It’s
home and great things happen here.”
But now, with a space of his own, he is
able to plan to do great things of his own.
For now, George is working on his own
business building birdhouses and making
jewelry, which requires his own office space.
“I got to keep all my paperwork up. At least
if I have a place, I know it will be where I
put it.”
And rest, he says, will be a priority after
years of going with so little. “I’m still going
to do my things but I am going to get my
rest first. It’s very peaceful. There isn’t
anything like feeling like your home. I can
get into another thought and frame of mind.
What’s ahead and what’s not ahead. It’s a
slow process.”
You can still find him selling Street Roots.
“I’m going to do whatever I can do to push
Street Roots. This is marvelous. There is
nothing else like it. Freedom of speech. I’m
going to keep doing my Street Roots. It still
helps out.”
His positive attitude helped George beat
gout, but now, he says, he is fighting a battle
against heart failure. “I get out of breath and
say ‘All right, George, time to buckle down.
You’ve got to be careful. You can’t be doing
all that hard work you used to do. You’re
going to have to fire yourself.’ ”
Keeping his spirits up, he says, “If I can
beat this heart failure I’m going to start
turning flips and somersaults; I’ll be back to
my old self.”
VENDOR WORK ADS
Dependable, mature person interested
in assisting ethical and safe person(s)
with house sitting, pet care, plant care,
yard work, laundry, organizational
projects, etc. Please call 503-228-5657
and leave your contact information,
preferably a name and e-mail address.
References available upon request.
Answers to puzzles on page 15
Will do housework, mowing lawns,
laundry, babysitting or house sitting.
Contact Laura through Street Roots
503-228-5657
CORRECTIONS
Street Roots strives for accuracy, but
we're human. So we also strive to correct
errors in our paper whenever possible.
Please report any errors to our managing
editor, Joanne Zuhl, at 503-228-5657, or
write to joanne@streetroots.org
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