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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2024)
Volume LII • Number 12 ‘City of Roses’ www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • June 19, 2024 Committed to Cultural Diversity More Funds Needed to Restore Billy Webb Elks Lodge By Beverly Corbell It’s been almost three years since the Billy Webb Elks Lodge was extensively damaged by fire. Much work has been done since then to restore the 98-year- old building, but more funding is need- ed for the work to continue. The fire on Sept. 11, 2021 started by trespassers, began on the building’s rear deck, then spread to adjacent walls and roof of the lodge’s ballroom, leaving gaping holes in the roof along with wa- ter and smoke damage. The building has been inhabitable ever since. Deborah Roache, Daughter Rule of the lodge, said that thanks to Restore Oregon and the help of students at Clat- sop Community College in Astoria, the first phase of reconstruction should be complete by September. But the second phase can’t begin until more funding is in place. Contributions are greatly needed and can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/help-restore-the- historic-billy-webb-elks-lodge. Roache said the first phase was some- what delayed because the wrong size trusses, beams that hold up the roof, weren’t the right size, so they had to be reordered, delaying work by about three weeks, and much more needs to be done. Deborah A. Roache’ and Carla Stanlick stand before the Elk’s Lodge (Mark Washington/The Portland Observer) The building has been “complete- by firefighters to let smoke escape, she Prochaska, program director for the ly torn apart,” Roach said. “The ball- said, but thanks to the help of Ryan Pro- school’s historic preservation program, room is completely stripped and the chaska and his students at Clatsop Com- said it’s one of only four community building has been wrapped in plastic” munity College, the windows were not colleges in the country that offers the to protect it from the elements. only replaced, but were made to repli- Several windows were knocked out cate the original 1920-era windows. Continued on Page 8 Explore Local Entrepreneurship at the MESO Makers Market New Business Opportunities for Local Makers (From Left to Right): MESO Makers Dijenaire Crijuan, owner of DC RingZ, Dorie Horne, owner of Midnite Oils and Tralice Lewis, owner of Callie's Custom Hat Wigs. Local makers are gaining more visi- bility and growing their customer bas- es thanks to a new partnership between Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) and OnPoint Community Cred- it Union. The micro business incubator, recently renamed MESO Makers Mar- ket Empowered by OnPoint, showcases handmade local products from a diverse group of makers from the Portland met- ro area. With OnPoint’s support, these small businesses can show their prod- ucts for longer hours to make shopping more convenient. “This partnership with OnPoint rep- resents more than just a new name for the market,” MESO CEO and Executive Director Cobi Lewis said. “It represents a shared commitment to supporting lo- cal talent, providing new opportunities, elevating the maker experience, and cel- ebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship.” Small and micro businesses are vi- tal to Portland’s economy. According to a Portland Metro Chamber report, small businesses in Multnomah Coun- ty reached over 25,500 total establish- ments and micro businesses increased by 10%between 2017-2022. Located at 376 N.E. Sumner St., MESO start- ed the market in 2022 as a place for clients with small businesses to sell handmade items. In the past, the MESO Makers Market operated monthly with rotating themes and limited hours. This year, the MESO Makers Market Empowered by OnPoint is open Tuesday through Saturday, Continued on Page 4
