Eric Norberg, Editor & General Manager Gail Park, Design and Composition Cheryl Duval, Advertising design Jerrin Sipe, Accounting News Reporting & Display Advertising: 503/232-2326 fax: 503/232-9787 "Community Classifieds" want ads: 503/620-7355 Circulation/subscriptions: 503/620-9797 Accounting/Billing: 503/546-0712 Composition: 503/546-9832 Community Newspapers, Inc. Editorial and Sales Address: 1837 SE Harold St, Portland, OR 97202 Remit bill payments to: PO Box 22109, Portland, OR 97269 e-mail: ReadTheBee@myexcel.com LOCALLY OWNED BY PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP February 2012 -- Vol. 106, No. 6 Memories of THE BEE's first 100 years! In 2006, THE BEE celebrated its centennial of serving Southeast Portland!  A special four-page retrospective of Inner Southeast Portland's century, written by Eileen Fitzsimons, and drawn from the pages of THE BEE over the previous 100 years, appeared in our September, 2006, issue. Click here to read this special retrospective! _________________________________________ BEE SUBMISSION AND AD DEADLINES... The next issue will be our March issue, and it has a deadline of February 23rd. (The April issue has an ad and copy deadline of March 22.) INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? CLICK HERE FOR RATES AND INFORMATION! Want to subscribe to receive the PRINT version of THE BEE? NOW -- subscribe securely, online -- by clicking HERE! But, if you would rather not do it online, you can E-mail circulation@CommNewspapers.com or telephone 503/968-6397. The 12-issue annual subscription rate is $14 per year for addresses located in Multnomah County, Oregon; and $24 for anywhere else in the U.S.(it's based on the differential postage rates for our class of postage). For international rates, enquire via that e-mail address just above!  _________________________________________________________________________ Daily news!  The all-new daily PORTLAND TRIBUNE website  is updated throughout the day, every day, when news breaks out.  Click the banner at left to keep up to date on the banner news throughout the Rose City! THE BEE has a second website -- it's searchable for past stories.  The content for the current month is similar to this one, presented in a different format.  To visit the other website, click the banner at right! The driver of this Honda was killed, on S.E. McLoughlin Boulevard. His passenger was injured. The Honda apparently plowed into the back of a Toyota, and then went headlong into the tree. (Photo by David F. Ashton) Two crashes – same place – one dead By DAVID F. ASHTON for THE BEE Even though they’re rooted well off the roadway, the stately trees along the border of Westmoreland Park, lining the west edge of S.E. McLoughlin Boulevard just south of Bybee Boulevard, are covered with scars and cuts left by vehicles that have slammed into them over the years. But it is unusual to have two such crashes within two days – at the same spot. It happened on January 10th and 12th. The second one, just after 11 pm, claimed the life a driver who police said had caused a two-car wreck. Officers arrived at that one to find a Honda into a tree, and a Toyota on the grass. “The driver of the Honda, 29-year-old Bret Leeson, was deceased,” reported Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson. “An adult male passenger in the Honda was transported to an area hospital suffering from non-life-threatening injuries,” he added. “An adult woman, the Toyota’s driver, was treated at the scene with minor injuries.” At deadline, the PPB Traffic Division Major Crash Team was still investigating, Simpson said, but the preliminary investigation indicates that the Honda reared-ended the Toyota, apparently at considerable speed, before hitting the tree. “PPB has not confirmed whether intoxicants were a factor in the incident. The crash remains under investigation.” In the first accident, two days earlier, a single car plowed into the tree, sending the driver to the hospital was reportedly serious injuries. It happened after midnight, no other car was apparently involved, and the accident is as yet unexplained. Neighbors living beside Westmoreland Park remarked that they were shocked by two such major accidents taking place two days apart at the very same place. Celebration kicks off new Sellwood Bridge’s construction By DAVID F. ASHTON for THE BEE On December 16th, officials from Multnomah County, the City of Portland, and the State of Oregon gathered – along with neighbors, and a number of schoolchildren – at the edge of the Willamette River at Sellwood Riverfront Park, to “break ground” for the long-awaited Sellwood Bridge rebuilding project. Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, former Multnomah County Chair, was there, smiling and greeting those present, before the hour-long ceremony began. “This project has been in the making for many, many years,” Wheeler observed. “The county has been ‘getting things done’, because it relies on a successful formula: Community input; consistent political leadership; and thirdly, competent technical advice that helps inform that leadership.” Wheeler jovially greeted Sellwood Bridge Project Manager Ian Cannon, commenting, “Well, Ian, it’s now all up to you!” Cannon smiled and nodded. “I'm tremendously excited today; this is a huge milestone for us. The federal ‘TIGER Grant” coming through gives us great momentum for moving forward with the project.” About to embark on what he described as “the biggest project of his career”, Cannon acknowledged that – up until then – rebuilding the bridge had been somewhat of an abstract concept. “We’ve been confident that we’d be able to pull things together. But today – it’s a project that is truly becoming a reality. We’re well-positioned to move forward, and we’re looking forward to a great project.” Oregon State Representative Carolyn Tomei (D), District 41, remarked to THE BEE, “This is just fantastic. It is a great day for Portland, for Multnomah County, and for Clackamas County – even though they are not helping pay for it, which was a heartbreak.” Tomei was once on the Milwaukie City Council. As dignitaries and attendees gathered for the speeches, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen spoke with THE BEE. “My thoughts? My thoughts are, ‘Yee-haaw!’” he said with a broad smile. “I’m so exciting that we’re finally getting started on the Sellwood Bridge replacement,” Cogen added. “This is a project that was overdue 20 years ago!  Today, we are finally making it happen. It’s important to show people that when governments work in partnership, and people come together, we can make important and good things happen in this community.” Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury said she’d known the bridge project would be in her portfolio. “But it didn’t really hit home, until I heard my children singing ‘Sellwood Bridge is Falling Down…’ to the tune of ‘London Bridge’. It was then I realized how important it is to all of us in the community that we are able to take a bridge that is deteriorating, and build a bridge that can be safely driven over – and one also that lets people walk and bike safely, and appreciate its beauty.” Commissioner Kafoury then started the program by introducing speakers and welcoming attendees. “It's a very exciting day, today; in fact, it’s been a really amazing week. Any week that starts out [with] getting a phone call from the federal government [with news of the TIGER Grant] is a very good week.” The next speaker, U.S. Department of Transportation Undersecretary Polly Trottenberg, elaborated on the “good news” – officially announcing the $17.7 million federal TIGER grant. “The competition for grant funding was fierce,” Trottenberg revealed to the crowd. “We received 848 applications, requesting over $14 billion in funding – but we only had $511 million available. We looked all over the country for the best projects.” Trottenberg added, “The Sellwood Bridge project application ‘knocked it out of the park’. It demonstrated so many of the elements of a good project – strong state, regional, and local support; financial support; enthusiastic public participation – and, the project fits well with the transportation priorities of this administration.” Those gathered just north of the old Sellwood Bridge cheered, as Kafoury received a large ceremonial check from Trottenberg. Next, in his remarks, Chair Cogen talked about how the new Sellwood Bridge will expand capacity for bicycles, pedestrians, and eventually possibly streetcars as well, “Reducing our carbon footprint.  This project is bringing something our community desperately needs now – jobs; good jobs. This’ll provide living-wage jobs for about 400 people. “These will be jobs created with equity,” added Cogen. “Multnomah County will work diligently to make sure that firms owned by minorities and women will also benefit from this construction project.” Portland Mayor Sam Adams followed, and congratulated Multnomah County officials and everyone involved with the project, adding, “Ted Wheeler, thank you for helping to get this started.” Two students from Llewellyn Elementary School gave their thoughts on the bridge, as did a Sellwood Middle School seventh-grader, Riley Wolfe. “I really think that it is neat that we will have a new bridge that is much safer, for pedestrians and bikers,” Wolfe stated. “And it even looks pretty cool. I’m glad this is happening while I’m so young, so I and other students in the Sellwood area can learn about the science behind building it.” “What I've heard that impresses me most about this project is extreme collaboration,” commented the next speaker, Oregon Department of Transportation Region 1 Manager Jason Tell, reminding those present that the Oregon Department of Transportation provided substantial funding early in the in project. While the onlookers and attending news crews scanned the site for a glimpse of golden shovels of the sort typically used a groundbreaking ceremonies, Commissioner Kafoury pointed to the Portland Fire & Rescue fireboat “Campbell”, stationed just north of the bridge. “The streams of water from this fireboat signal the beginning of this project.” As streams from the Campbell’s water cannons arced as high as the Sellwood Bridge’s deck, Sellwood-Westmoreland Community Advisory Committee member Heather Koch remarked, “I've been involved with the CAC for about two years; and have attended lots of meetings. “I’ve been involved, because I think it’s really felt important to make sure that neighborhood and other interested people were engaged in the dialogue, to help make the new Sellwood Bridge safer, and make sure it is more usable for the local community.” Streams of water shot high in the air from Portland Fire & Rescue fireboat “Campbell” to signal the official start of the Sellwood Bridge rebuilding project. (Photo by David F. Ashton) Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury accepted a ceremonial check from U.S. Department of Transportation Undersecretary Polly Trottenberg (less the desirable angle). (Photo by David F. Ashton) Llewellyn Elementary School Principal Steve Powell stands at the front of one of the classrooms. (Photo by David F. Ashton) Almost-shuttered Llewellyn Elementary now bursts at the seams with students By DAVID F. ASHTON for THE BEE It’s ironic to some parents, and perplexing to others, that Portland Public Schools (PPS) only six years ago made a case for boarding up Llewellyn Elementary School because of low enrollment – about 309 students at the time. “Parents, and THE BEE, objected at the time that there were already rising numbers of very young kids in the area,” commented editor Eric Norberg. “And it appeared there would soon be an enrollment boom. But, the district leaders said that a Portland State University (PSU) demographic population study showed otherwise.” And indeed, that tide of young kids is now overflowing the Westmoreland school. Officials from PPS were apparently surprised that as many as 150 parents attended the January 10 PTA meeting at Llewellyn, to which PPS Director of Enrollment and Transfer Judy Brennan was invited to explain why it appears as if the District has as yet taken no significant action to address the swelling enrollment, even though the school now has some 550 students. “The purpose of attending that meeting was to introduce myself,” Brennan later said. “It was to share that we have an understanding that Llewellyn has more students now than in the past – not to present a plan. We wanted to share this information with a broader group, and to affirm what parents say they’ve seen in the school.” The situation isn’t unique to Llewellyn, Brennan added. “In our system there are 69 elementary, middle, and K-8 schools. Currently 16 of those schools have higher enrollment than ‘capacity’, meaning they have less-than-good teaching spaces.” No quick-fix is in the offing, Brennan said. “We can’t make changes on a school-by-school basis; we’re conducting a systemic, system-wide review to solve these problems.” Peter Diamond, a Llewellyn parent and Llewellyn Foundation board member, talked about that meeting in an interview with THE BEE, and explained why he thought there’s a currently a high level of frustration – expressed or not – with the school district. “There is, perhaps, a better ‘institutional memory’ among parents and those locally-involved with Llewellyn than those at the school district, when it comes to issues of student population at the school,” Diamond commented. “The enrollment trend is obvious; they put in portable classrooms a couple of years ago.” “Some of the people involved with school district’s process in 2006 have clear memories about it – and are now dealing with PPS people who were not in their positions at that time.” Some of those unpleasant lingering memories, Diamond said, now make parents wonder if they face another “protracted government process. At the same time, we still want input regarding the school’s future.” “We had empty classroom space at 325 students,” said Steve Powell, Llewellyn’s Principal of about a dozen years, in an exclusive interview with THE BEE. “Now, we’re running 547 students; we are over-capacity.” Back in 2006, Powell said he thought the PSU study was “flawed – I didn't think it was accurate. Working here over those summer months, I’d walk to have lunch or get a cup of coffee, and I saw all of these families with kids in strollers and toddling along. I said to myself, ‘those kids are coming to us, and coming to us soon.’.” Powell commented that the Sellwood-Westmoreland area was named the “Most Kid-Friendly Neighborhood” by Portland Magazine two years in a row. Llewellyn has a good reputation, and Cleveland High School being only one of two International Baccalaureate High Schools in the City – and not taking transfer students – are all good reasons young families are moving into the neighborhood, Powell pointed out. “Families want all the things our area offers.” Powell was specifically not asked to comment on PPS enrollment management policies – it is clearly out of his preview. “We have been working with the school district, looking at all of our options,” Powell said. “We need some of short-term solution for next year, for sure.” Specifically, Llewellyn needs at least two more classrooms. “Next year, without more classrooms, it’s not going to work.” Complicating the problem, Powell said, is that fire codes do not permit kindergarten, first grade, or second grade classrooms on the second floor of the building. “Without a dedicated access for those kids, and those kids alone, they can only be up on the second floor for a short period of time, not for all day.” Ideas reviewed by the Llewellyn Site Council in September to help the school better deal with higher enrollment include: Move the kindergarten to Sellwood Middle School Change the Llewellyn attendance boundaries – again Place another modular building (two classrooms) on the campus Move the fifth graders to Sellwood Middle School “I'm not at all in favor of moving our fifth-graders to Sellwood Middle School,” commented Powell. “I don’t think putting fifth-graders with older middle school students is a good model for education.” But, Powell said, he and the Site Council have come up with additional solutions. “One is to have some kind of mobile computer lab, so that classrooms could be utilized,” he said. “Another is taking two classrooms, knocking out the wall between them, and putting in new walls to create three classrooms where two classrooms once stood.” He explained that the corner classrooms are about 1,000 square feet in size; other classrooms are about 660 square feet. If a wall is taken out, the space could be divided into three 570 square foot classrooms. “We don’t know if it’s feasible, but we are presenting this option to the school district.” Most likely, it will take more than a month before the school district will be ready to present possible solutions, said PPS’ Judy Brennan. “We continue to look for good ideas,” assured Principal Powell – adding that the best way to contact him with such ideas is by e-mail, at: spowell@pps.net. Judy Brennan said she, too, welcomes contact – by calling 503/916-3205, or by e-mailing her at: jbrennan@pps.net. The future looks dim for the last surviving wall of Sellwood’s century-old streetcar barn, at S.E. 13th Avenue and Linn Street. (Photo by Eileen G. Fitzsimons) Final wall of Historic Sellwood Carbarns may come down By EILEEN G. FITZSIMONS for THE BEE Unless a donor with deep pockets comes forward to help, the final piece of the historic Sellwood Carbarns, at S.E. 13th Avenue between Linn and Ochoco Streets, may soon be demolished. On January 11, a handful of the 69 members of the Trolley Barn Commons Homeowners Association (TBCHA) gathered to hear a report presented by Brian Hays, an engineer with Forensic Building Consultants of Portland. Concerns about the safety of the remaining wall section of the historic trolley car barns prompted the TBCHA to request an inspection; Mr. Hays’ conclusions were not optimistic. The three-bay, 100-foot-long brick wall is the only surviving part of five 400-foot-long structures that were built between 1909-1911 by the Portland Railway, Light, & Power Company (PRL&P),  to shelter streetcars for maintenance, cleaning, and repair. The several-block complex, which included the 1910 Carmens’ Clubhouse (still located at S.E. 11th & Linn, and now listed on the National Register) and the 1905 (electric) conversion Substation (on the east side of 13th, across from the Carbarns’ wall) was a public transportation hub, known as Golf Junction. It was at this junction that the interurban train, passing through Oaks Bottom, branched – to travel to Oregon City, or via what is now the Springwater Corridor to the towns of Gresham and Estacada. The Carbarns also marked the beginning and the end of the Sellwood streetcar line. In 1912, there were four other similar “hubs” across the city: Ankeny, Piedmont, Hawthorne, and Savier. But by 2002 – when the Sellwood Carbarns property owner, Reed College, advertised the two-acre site for sale – it was the only intact such structure left in the city. Despite efforts by the neighborhood to save the building, including a full-asking-price offer by an experienced local redeveloper, the college chose to demolish the Carbarns, and subsequently the property was purchased by the D.H. Horton Company of Fort Worth, Texas – self-described as “America’s Largest Homebuilder”. Today’s “Trolley Barn Commons” townhouses, clustered in thirteen buildings, were constructed over a two-year period. Their location, at the south end of the Sellwood neighborhood, a block from the Waverley Golf Course and adjacent to Garthwick, is in a relatively peaceful area, and the homes were soon fully occupied. The final remnant of the Carbarns was left to characterize the theme of the development and to recognize the site’s history: A thirty-foot-high freestanding brick wall, which was left in its original position at the southeast corner of the site, although it is unclear if that decision was made by the college or the developer. While this gesture to the neighborhood may have been well-intentioned, the technique used to shore up the now-freestanding wall, was, according to Forensic Building Consultants, inadequate. The brick Carbarns were constructed of unreinforced load-bearing masonry. The walls were not stabilized, as they would be today, with poured concrete or hollow cement block – strengthened with metal reinforcing mesh or rebar. However, until the other three walls and roof were demolished, the walls all worked together to support the building. In addition, an (interior) bow truss of heavy wooden beams (the final piece of which survives on the inside of the wall), and a series of long metal tie rods, added to the strength of the structure. Unfortunately, during the demolition of the rest of the building, the tie rods were sheared, and the three walls and the roof were removed – leaving an unsupported brick wall standing on its own. An as-yet unidentified person drove a series of long, steel plate girders (I-beams) upright into the ground behind the wall, and attached fasteners through the metal beams and wooden truss members into the bricks. But these fasteners were attached inconsistently, and there is no horizontal or lateral membrane behind the bricks to support them. Finally, the west side of the wall was coated with latex paint, which has held moisture within the bricks and mortar, hastening their disintegration. The wall is now susceptible to further weakening from the vibrations of heavy vehicles on S.E. 13th Avenue, as well as from the occasional train traveling on the former interurban tracks nearby. According to Mr. Hays, sections of the top of the wall are leaning more than two inches toward 13th Avenue. He voiced concerns that violent, sustained winds, or – worst-case scenario – an earthquake, could topple individual bricks or even large portions of the wall onto S.E. 13th Street, or onto the townhouses – which are approximately six feet from the wall. Forensic Building Consultants recommend that the wall be taken down. The wall is on the property of the TBCHA, and its condition is the responsibility of the Association. Members pay into a common maintenance fund, which in ordinary circumstances covers routine work such as new roofs, gutters, siding, painting, etc. But the fund was recently depleted when the TBCHA took legal action against the Horton Company, for problems caused by faulty construction. Although a settlement was reached, and extensive repairs are almost complete, members of the Homeowners Association are facing additional contributions to replenish their maintenance fund. Ironically, the fund may be used to demolish the final Carbarns wall. Initial bids for the work are in the range of $100,000, according to Association President Jeff Von Allmen. Because the townhouses are so close to the wall, the back of the wall may have to be stabilized with plywood, and then the brick be pulled into the street. Estimates are that only 50% of the bricks would survive, and the cost of salvaging them increases the clean-up costs. Any reduction of the demolition expense would come from sale of the supporting I-beams as scrap metal. A final decision about the wall has yet to be made by members of TBCHA, but considering the condition of the wall, it will probably be made very soon. Aside from the cost of the potential demolition, several of the homeowners within the Commons are emotionally attached to the wall, due to its historic significance. At least one tenant chose her home because of the diagonal view through the wall that she has from her unit. And, once the wall along S.E. 13th Avenue is gone, it is not known if the TBCHA will be willing or financially able to build a new one. For now, the future of the wall is up in the air. It is also premature to inquire about any potential salvage of the bricks, which might be re-used within the neighborhood. Updates of this story, between monthly printed issues of THE BEE, can be followed online at the newspaper’s two websites: www.ReadTheBee.com – and: www.TheBeeNews.com . On New Year’s Morning: Sculling on the Willamette River. (Photo by David F. Ashton) Intrepid paddlers row into New Year, near Oaks Park By DAVID F. ASHTON for THE BEE On the chilly and clear New Year’s Day morning, when many revelers were recovering from their late-night party, a group of valiant rowing enthusiasts were carrying their long, thin boats down to the edge of the Willamette River. At their Oaks Park boathouse, Oregon Rowing Unlimited’s director, Frank Zagunis, explained, “We’re ready to take off for a ‘New Year’s Row’.” Far from being a competitive event, the outing was simply an opportunity for members to enjoy their sport of choice, Zagunis explained. “We’re expecting a crew of all ages – teens, to older people – to come row with us today.” The club frequently has outings with “composite crews”, utilizing the motive power of people new to the sport, in addition to those who are highly experienced rowers. “Our volunteer organization’s mission is to promote rowing. We teach youth – as young as 12 years old – how to row. And, some of our new rowers started in their 70s,” Zagunis said, about the fifty-member club, started in 1988. One of these older members, Arthur Wilson, told THE BEE that it seemed like a good morning for rowing. He started with the club last August. “I’ve been involved in rowing before, in other cities where I’ve lived. But I’m learning a lot more by being with this group. It’s amazing how you get out of shape – but this is a very good non-impact sport, and frees your mind. For me, it’s a ‘lifetime sport’.” The youngest participant that morning was Bryan Schreiner, a junior at Oregon Episcopal School. “I’ve been rowing since the summer of fifth grade. My dad did rowing in college. At first I was afraid, but once I got on the water, I loved it!” Schreiner added that he’s recommended the sport to others his age. “I’ve met kids from Wilson, Lincoln, and other schools – including homeschoolers. And, it’s fun to help younger kids learn, in the club’s ‘Juniors’ program.” The larger and longer boats that the club takes out – thin, narrow, sleek craft – are called “rowing shells”, explained Zagunis. “This morning, the crews will be ‘sculling’. Each rower will have two oars is in the water; whereas with ‘sweeping’, each rower would paddle only one oar.” Observing the swift flow of the Willamette on January first, Zagunis acknowledged that river rowing is a little tougher than lake rowing. “The hull speed is the same, but the apparent land speed is different. Even a skilled rower would have trouble keeping up with today’s current – even if they knew what they were doing. We don’t send out novices on days like today!” Equipment checked, the crewmembers inverted their shells, and marched down to the floating dock – and, on a coordinated count, slowly lowered each one into the water on the downstream side. When everyone was situated, they let go of the dock, drifted downstream, and started rowing out into the river, for an invigorating outing under brilliant blue skies. To learn more about Oregon Rowing Unlimited, visit their website: www.oregonrowing.org . Comments? News tips? Click here to submit! Trying to remember or locate a BEE advertiser? Click here to e-mail us, and we'll help! Fair warning:  We have so many great photos on page 2 this month, it may take a while to load on slower connections!  So click the link below, then go get refreshment, come back, relax, and prepare to enjoy what we have for you on page 2! READY TO TURN TO PAGE 2 -- FOR "MORE NEWS"? Click here! Note to readers: At some point, this, our original Internet website, will be replaced at this web address by our new website, as part of the Community Newspapers group. At that time, you will still be able to access this older, but still operative, website, if you bookmark this address:  www.southeastPDXnews.com. Right now, it leads you to our new website. Eventually, it will lead you back to this old one! You'll still have your choice of which one to visit! Entire contents © 2011, THE BEE; all rights reserved. Get a free hit counter here.