Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2015)
North Portland’s Community Newspaper - Bi-Weekly - PO Box 83068, Port. OR 97283 Congratulations: RHS Junior Baseball team takes 1st in State R oosevelt Junior Rough Riders JBO (Junior Base- ball Organization) is a feeder team into Roosevelt High School. This year’s season con- sisted of 18 wins and 0 losses played during the normal season. The team then played for league champion and took fi rst unde- feated. The team went onto “Dis- tricts,” which were held July 10, 11 & 12 in Welches, Oregon, and took fi rst giving up just one loss. On July 16, 17, 18 & 19 they then played for the State Championship tournament in Corvallis, Oregon. The team went undefeated during the tournament and brought home a fi rst place win. This is the second year in a row that the Junior Rough Riders have taken a state champi- onship. The team is coached by Don Wilkinson, Kevin Arrington and Daryl Cox. Team players for this year were: John Alvarez #41 Tyler Arrington #28 Sebastian Campsey #35 Hunter Cox #43 Ethan Crawford #9 Monyell Hedgmon #7 Brady Johnson #33 Luke Meyerink #36 Jackson Monfort #34 Michael Noil #42 Markus Nordin #47 Story & Photo AJ Olson #3 Submitted by: Lisa Arrington Page 2: Crossword Puzzle Page 3: Radke Car Show; Letters; Spirit of Portland Awards; CPJF wrap-up article Page 4 & 5: Fire Bureau article; More Protester pictures Page 6: Letters (Continued from Page 3) Pages 7 & 8: Police & Fire Calls SEND YOUR BRIDGE PICTURES #16 AUG 7, 2015 St Johns Review PO Box 83068 Port. OR 97238 reviewnewspaper@gmail.com WEB: www.stjohnsreview.com Dangling Protesters surprise everyone By Gayla Patton The Review I t was a photographer’s dream come true to awak- en Wednesday, July 29 to see 13 people with large red and yellow banners suspended from the bottom of the St. Johns Bridge. The sight was starling, but beautiful. Under blue sunny skies, the dangling protesters made for wonderful pictures. Authorities expected Green Peace kayaktivist (demonstra- tors) to be in the Willamette River, but they did not expect to see people hanging from the bridge. State, City, and Federal Bureaus immediately put their heads together to devise a plan to peacefully remove them. Green Peace was protesting the Royal Dutch Shell Icebreak- er Fennica, which was in Swan Island for repairs, after which it was to join Shell’s exploration fl eet in the Chukchi Sea for an Arctic drilling operation. The protesters were hoping to detour and/or stop the vessel, which they had successfully done a day earlier. After leaving them alone Wednesday, it was Thursday morning the various agencies, in full gear, in 100-degree tem- peratures, commenced with their plans. After closing the WINNER: PHOTO OF THE WEEK Photo submitted by Paula & Norman Sylvester bridge to foot and vehicular traf- fi c, and closing the Willamette River from Kelly Point Park to Swan Island to all boat traffi c, Portland Fire Bureau brought their big rigs onto the bridge with mem- bers from their high-angle rescue team. Carefully they began lower- ing themselves from the bridge to cut the connecting ropes between several of the protesters and set up rigs that would lower three of the hanging protesters if they did not cooperate. At approximately 4:30pm Res- cue workers asked protesters if they would leave voluntarily be- fore action was taken. They denied the request before eventually low- ering themselves voluntarily one at a time into waiting boats below. “Our number one priority was safety,” said Sgt. Pete Simpson of the Portland Police Bureau. It was unknown at the time, but law enforcement’s plan was to just remove three protesters allowing enough room for the Fennica, (which had already left Swan Is- land,) to pass between the rest of the danglers. After a lone protesters was re- moved from the Railroad Bridge, it was raised and the Fennica Story & Pictures Continued on Pages 4 & 5 St. Johns Central Hotel begins Inside This Issue: Send your unique (and personally taken) photos of the St. Johns Bridge to the Review. You could win $100. See page two for full details ===================== This week’s winner (above) was sent in by Paula & Norman Sylvestor. 515-840 503-283-5086 fi ve-week campaign toward restoration By Barbara Quinn St. Johns Review ue to increasing developer pres- sure in St. Johns, Risa and Brent Davis, local proprietors of Central Hotel, have been turned down for contract renewal for purchasing the hotel building. “We went to renew our contract with the owner and she said there is another offer in,” said Risa. The couple, who have envisioned res- toration of the building to its original 1800s storefront style, including add- ing several stories that burned, said they discovered good structural bones beneath the stucco 1960’s exterior. Since signing the original contract for purchase of the hotel, they have worked many hours at its restaurant and also at outside jobs to support their vision. They fear an outside developer would likely tear down the building rather than take the time to restore the underlying structure. Risa Davis has been a board member of the Architec- tural Heritage Foundation and has tak- en classes through the National Trust D for Historic Properties on repurposing old buildings. She values the original Central Hotel and would like to restore the building to its original character. The Davises have taken an active role in the adjacent St. Johns Plaza by ask- ing Portland Parks to post signs pro- hibiting alcohol use beyond the restau- rant’s outdoor seating area. They’ve also recently completed several thou- sand dollars worth of improvements to the hotel including painting the exte- rior and adding new signage with the help of St. Johns Main Street. The Davises have put in another offer on the building of $980,000 and must come up with a 30% cash down payment, $300,000, for the bank loan by September 5, fi ve weeks away. They will use $50,000 of their own savings and have kicked off a cam- paign to raise the remaining $250,000 on Indiegogo at indiegogo.com/ projects/the-central-hotel-st-johns#/ where you can see a video about the project. The campaign offers several levels of participation that start at $1 and go to $5,000+. Donors at the $5000 level and above will gain coop ownership in the building. “People can own a little piece of St. Johns,” said the couple. The coop would then be the purchaser of the building, which would be sold to the Hotel Project to start work on res- toration. A similar plan has worked in the Cully neighborhood where locals combined resources to cooperatively buy the Sugar Shack in order to repur- pose the building. The hotel purchase would help preserve the character and history of St. Johns town center, once a bustling, independent city in its own right say the Davises. The headquarters for the campaign will be the hotel restaurant at 8608 N. Lombard where a graphic will show the climb of funding toward the fi nal goal. Participants can bring contribu- tions directly to the restaurant at any time. Risa is also available 1-3pm ev- ery Friday to answer questions, accept funds or offer help with Indiegogo. Call 503-477-5489 or email them at centralhotelstjohns@gmail.com with support, questions or suggestions.
