Eric Norberg, Editor & Gen. Manager Brian Monihan, Publisher Sandy Hubbard, Independent BEE      Advertising Representative Molly Filler, Page Design Jaime McCaslin, Accounting Eric Norberg:          Sandy Hubbard: Call: 503 / 232-2326           Text: 971 / 407-7942  fax: 503/232-9787 "Community Classifieds" want ads: 503/620-7355 Circulation/subscriptions: 503/620-9797 Accounting/Billing: 971/204-7712 Community Newspapers, Inc. Editorial and Sales Address: 1837 S.E. Harold St, Portland, OR 97202-4932 Remit bill payments to: Accounts Receivable Department P.O. Box 22109, Portland, OR 97269-2109 e-mail: ReadTheBee@myexcel.com THE BEE IS LOCALLY OWNED BY THE PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP March, 2023 - Vol. 117, No. 7 Scroll down to read this issue! 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 the special centenary retrospective! _________________________________________ BEE SUBMISSION AND AD DEADLINES Next BEE is our April issue, with a deadline of March 16. (The May issue has an ad and copy deadline of April 20.) INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? CLICK HERE FOR RATES AND INFORMATION!      ____________________________________ Want to subscribe to receive the PRINT version of THE BEE in the mail? Email circulation@pamplinmedia.com -- or telephone 503/620-9797, during weekday business hours. The 12-issue annual subscription rate is $25 per year for addresses anywhere in the United States.. International rates available; inquire via the e-mail address or the telephone number just above!  _________________________________________________________________________ Daily news!  The Portland Tribune is updated a number of times every day, to bring you the latest news of the Portland area and Oregon.  Click on the banner at left to read the Tribune online! THE BEE has a second website -- searchable for past stories.  The content for the current month includes what is on this one, presented in a different format.  To visit our newer website, click the banner at right! GDPR NOTICE: The owner of this website, www.ReadTheBee.com, collects no information on this site from any reader, and never has. Here is the latest version of the proposed route changes in the section of Southeast Portland directly served by THE BEE. The bright red line is the Orange MAX light rail line; the wide magenta lines apparently show where current bus service would no longer be provided. (Courtesy of TriMet) TriMet Communications Director Roberta Altstadt showed THE BEE a proposed change to the Line 19 bus, and how it would affect the Woodstock, Eastmoreland, and Westmoreland neighborhoods. (Photo by David F. Ashton) After input, TriMet tries different route changes, fares By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE A modest rate increase is planned by the TriMet Board of Directors, and some bus routes in Inner Southeast will change. That much was revealed in a headline story in last November’s BEE. And the Board invited those affected for their input about these proposals, after which they said they expected to adjust their plans. One of those opportunities for local input was an Open House held at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, just north of the Brooklyn neighborhood on S.E. Division Street, on Wednesday evening, January 18th. And adjustments were already on display for discussion. “At these open houses, we’re asking our riders, neighbors, and employees to give us their feedback on [our proposed] changes to some bus routes – and, on the fare increase proposal that will go before our Board of Directors, who will vote on it in May,” TriMet Communications Director Roberta Altstadt told THE BEE at Open House. Bus 70 changes “Changing routes is part of what we’re talking about our service improvements through the ‘Forward Together’ process,” Altstadt said. “From this process, we’ve learned that we need to increase ridership and better serve the community. What we heard was that we should focus on service for areas where people who have lower incomes reside – and also to areas that already have high ridership, and need more service.” This is the most comprehensive restructuring of TriMet bus services since the Bureau started in 1969, Altstadt told THE BEE. “Members of our outreach team are gathering feedback on a proposal to adjust ‘Line 70 – 12th/NE 33rd Avenue’. “One big change to Line 70 – to put into effect in May – would be redoing the route so that kids in the Sellwood and Westmoreland area would be dropped off closer to Cleveland High School.” Instead of the school’s stop being along what she termed the “far side” of the school, along S. E.  Powell Boulevard, it would now stop one street north [on S.E. Franklin Street], Altstadt pointed out on an exhibit board Bus 19 Rex Loop to end “About the Line 19 Rex Loop – we’ve had really low ridership on that, and we’re looking at redistributing those buses elsewhere – and not having the buses go through the neighborhood,” Altstadt said. Busses would still travel S.E. Bybee Boulevard, Tolman Street, and Woodstock Boulevard, however – but as disclosed late last year, those buses might change and become Line 4, following a modified route. “Making that switch, we could also add more buses onto the line,” promised Altstadt. Proposed rate increases Those at the Open House learned that the current proposal would increase the Adult 2-½ hour ticket and raise the Paratransit single-ride ticket by thirty cents. The adult day pass would increase by sixty cents. The Honored Citizen and Youth affairs would increase for 2 ½ hour ticket would increase by fifteen cents. And Honored Citizen day passes would increase by thirty cents. Asked why TriMet needs to raise fares, Altstadt replied, “The TriMet Board has a fiscal responsibility, and they have determined that now is the time to consider a fare increase. We have not had an increase to our Adult fare in more than a decade. The cost of operations have all gone up; our operating costs have gone up 37% since 2012 – with no increase in our base fare. So, like everyone else, we have to deal with inflation.” TriMet’s public engagement continued in various forms through February 25th. “This gave us time to gather all of the feedback, and all the comments that we are hearing, into a report that will be presented to the TriMet Board in March.” Some of the latest proposed changes are shown in the illustration accompanying this article. To see more, go online – http://www.trimet.org/forward You can still share feedback on any topic involving TriMet, during the public comment section of every TriMet Board of Directors meeting, by phone and text, at: 503/238-7433. Here’s the stolen Chevrolet Silverado, its door open and its hood up, stopped inside a front yard near Tolman and 72nd, after his nearby head-on crash ended his crime spree. He tried to hide nearby, but was quickly sniffed out by a police K-9, and was arrested. (Courtesy of PPB) Truckdriver rams cops on Holgate; crashes head-on on 72nd By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE After attempting a traffic stop on the driver of a stolen truck in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, on Thursday morning, February 16 – a Central Precinct officer was nearly run over by the thief, who rammed aside a PPB undercover vehicle, and took off – eventually causing a serious head-on crash in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, before he was caught hiding in a nearby yard. It all started at 10:19 a.m. Two uniformed PPB Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team officers (NRT) were investigating a suspected-stolen black 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck near S.E. 35th Place and Cora Drive, a block north of Holgate Boulevard. Instead of getting out of the truck as he had been directed, the suspect in the driver’s seat started up the truck, and backed into the NRT officers’ unmarked police vehicle behind him. Then, the man drove forward, trying to hit one of the officers with the truck. When the officer jumped out of the way, the suspect drove straight toward the officer – who leapt in front of his parked vehicle for protection. The suspect rammed the back of the officer’s PPB vehicle, pushing it forward. The officer was unhurt, but the other NRT officer radioed for assistance as the suspect departed toward S.E. Holgate Boulevard. Soon, 24 PPB units swarmed the area, looking for that pickup truck. Another officer, while checking the area, spotted the suspect driving on S.E. Woodstock Boulevard at 44th Avenue. The driver of the stolen truck eluded that officer who instigated a traffic stop. The suspect again sped off, driving recklessly, and officers again lost sight of it. A couple of minutes, and 2.3 miles, further on in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, officers came across a head-on crash, involving that same truck and red pickup truck at S.E. 72nd Avenue at Tolman Street. After the impact, the stolen Chevy pickup had careened over the curb, across the sidewalk, and into a nearby yard. The suspect jumped out, ran off, and disappeared. But, his hiding place in a nearby a backyard was quickly sniffed out by a police K-9, and he was arrested within three minutes. Some two dozen officers were by then involved in the wide-ranging case that had stretched across a large section of Inner Southeast. Although the victim in the head-on crash appeared to be injured, that person was treated by paramedics at the scene, and then decided not to be taken to a hospital. “Officers gave her a ride home, and she will seek medical care later,” a PPB spokesperson said. As a result of being involved in a crash, the suspect underwent precautionary medical evaluation at a local hospital, before being taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center downtown for booking. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Joshua Lee Smith of Portland, was booked on charges of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle (felony), Attempt to Elude Police on Foot (misdemeanor), Reckless Driving, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver with Injury (felony), Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver with Property Damage (misdemeanor), Assault in the Third Degree (2 counts), Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (2 counts), Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and an existing arrest warrant. Somewhat surprisingly, the bail set by a presiding judge for Smith’s eight (8) felony and five (5) misdemeanor charges is $0.00. However, he is still being held in the MCDC in lieu of $40,000 bail on a “County Hold” for that outstanding arrest warrant. If you have information to contribute about this case, please e-mail it to: crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov; mark it to the attention of Central NRT, and refer to Case No. 23-43430. When next visiting Oaks Amusement Park, look for the parking meter kiosks – like these, which are near the front gates. Remember, these meters cannot take cash! Use a credit or debit card. (Photo by David F. Ashton) Century of free parking ends; Oaks Park imposes daily fee By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE Like everything else in this inflationary era, a hundred-year tradition of offering free parking at Oaks Amusement Park came to an end at the start of 2023. Brandon Roben, the Chief Executive Officer of the Oaks Park Association, the nonprofit that now owns and operates the park, provided frank answers to BEE questions. BEE:  Why did the Oaks Park Association Board of Directors decide to charge for parking here? Roben:  Being the only major attraction in the area to not charge for parking, the topic has come up many times over the years. More recently, the Board and senior staff worked with amusement park design consultants as part of our master planning process. After paid parking was incorporated into the master plan recommendations, we commissioned a feasibility study to see if it was a good fit. BEE:  In what ways will the revenue from parking help The Oaks meet its mission? Roben:  It’s long been our mission to preserve The Oaks for generations to come.  Unfortunately, the older the park gets, the more challenging and the more costly it is to repair, renovate, and restore. Unlike many nonprofits, The Oaks Park Association doesn’t rely on fundraising or government funding (with the exception of the SBA Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic); we support ourselves almost entirely on our operating revenue. Every extra dollar we generate directly helps us maintain and improve The Oaks. BEE:  Will the parking fee only apply during your “regular season” – or year ’round, 24-7, for all parking spaces? Roben:  Parking fees will be in place the year around, 24/7, for all of our over 850 marked parking stalls – as well as additional unmarked overflow locations. BEE:  Will those who are attending activities put on by groups or organizations renting facilities at The Oaks also be required to pay for parking? Roben:  Yes, unless they are arriving by bus. Complimentary bus parking is available, when arranged in advance. BEE:  What is the amount of the parking fee? Roben: Daily Base Rate: $3 Daily Peak* Rate: $5 Monthly Unlimited Permit: $13 Quarterly Unlimited Permit: $33 *Peak Rates are in effect before 4:45 p.m. on all Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from March 25, 2023, through October 31, 2023, and on Special Event days (4th of July, Oktoberfest, etc.). When you come, first you park, then you pay. Use one of the several self-service parking kiosk meters, or use a mobile device online at https://t2p.mobi/oaks1905. Only credit/debit cards are accepted for payment of parking fees. Getting a receipt is optional; payment is tracked via vehicle license plate. Failure to pay the parking fee will result in penalties. Regular visitors may purchase monthly or quarterly permits allowing unlimited parking, subject to parking space availability at the time of arrival. BEE:  Will those who purchase Oaks Amusement Park tickets in advance, online, also be able to pay for parking in advance? Roben:  While patrons will have the ability to pay in advance, we discourage paying for parking before your vehicle is in a designated parking stall.  All of our parking is first-come, first-served, and we do occasionally reach capacity!  Important: Paying for parking in advance does NOT reserve you a spot. Even with the new parking fee, Oaks Amusement Park is still a unique value destination for fun, safe, family entertainment this spring and summer – and it’s right in our back yard. Learn more by visiting their website – http://www.oakspark.com East Precinct officers arrived at the Brentwood-Darlington store looking for a shoplifter, who had gotten away with the loot when another woman defended her by waving a gun. (Photo by David F. Ashton) Brandishing gun, woman aids shoplifter in Brentwood-Darlington convenience store By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE Reports of a woman with a gun at Inner Southeast Portland businesses on Sunday evening, January 22, dispatched East Precinct officers to the intersection of 82nd Avenue of Roses and Flavel Street, at 9:53 p.m. Most of the lights were out at the “Bi-Lo Mini Market” – and PPB East Precinct officers were staged in front of the business next door. “An employee of the store was confronting a female shoplifter, when a different woman, with a gun, intervened,” Lt. Nathan Sheppard later told THE BEE. “During the second woman’s intervention, the first one was able to escape the store,” Lt. Sheppard continued. “The second woman, allegedly with the handgun, then went back to the next door business, where she was detained by police. “It’s unclear if the woman used the gun she had, or if the employee just saw it,” Lt. Sheppard said. “The second woman claimed to have been intervening because she thought the first female was ‘being assaulted’ by the mini market’s employee.” Meantime, the first woman got away with her stolen merchandise. “The matter has been referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office,” concluded Sheppard. Amateur axe throwers Andi Christman and Micaela Kennedy line up their shots at Hopworks Urban Brewery, which offers the activity – monitored by Axe Marshalls – Thursdays through Sundays at its location on S.E. Powell Boulevard. (Photo by Paige Wallace) Christina Moffat came out to try axe throwing with her father. “It was really fun, and what a cool place to have this! Great food, great drinks,” she said. (Photo by Paige Wallace) Drinking beer, throwing axes – what could go wrong? By PAIGE WALLACE For THE BEE A visit to your local pub can now connect you with your inner lumberjack. The sport of axe throwing has arrived – at Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB), on S.E. Powell Boulevard. It’s advertised as a safe “AXEperience” for birthdays, bachelorette parties, date nights, and corporate team-building events. “Hucking” an axe (yes, that is an actual verb) at a stump-shaped target while sipping a seasonal microbrew seems to fit Inner Southeast Portland’s outdoorsy, vintage, and playfully competitive vibe. “It was a lot of fun,” said Kent Moffat, a first-timer who signed up for an hour of axe throwing with his daughter, Christina. “I didn’t have to spend a long time getting it, but it was challenging enough. And you can still do it with a couple of beers!” Axes began flying late last year when HUB, at 2944 S.E. Powell Boulevard, remodeled a back room into three axe-throwing lanes with adjacent tables. Local company Celtic Axe runs the space, in partnership with the brewery, from Thursdays through Sundays. Participants sign up in advance online, or on-site if any lanes are available. Prices start at $20 per person, and the minimum age is 21. Each session kicks off with a waiver – that’s no surprise! – and then a lesson on technique and safety, from an experienced coach called an Axe Marshal. Cameron Grimsted, who has lived in Woodstock most of his life, often marshals at HUB. He loves the job. “Working with a variety of people is awesome. All I have to do is get them to stick an axe, and it’s going to be fun!” Throwers don’t need to be young and strong, according to the founder of Celtic Axe, Mark Maher. “It seemed like it was going to be a bunch of just burly dudes. But it wasn’t! The majority of our staff is women. The majority of people that we see come throw axes are women, and they’re anywhere from 20 to 60.” Micaela Kennedy reveled at her ability to hit the bullseye. She’s a longtime Inner Southeast Portland resident, and a HUB patron since it opened, but this was her first axe throwing outing. Dialing in her stance and timing improved her throw, she remarked, which made the experience more challenging and “fabulously fun!” Safety is, of course, a high priority. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes. The target and backdrop are configured to absorb the force of the blade – so, instead of ricocheting, it either sticks firmly, or falls to the ground. Wooden-handled axes break rather than bounce back at throwers. Strong wire cages surround each lane.  However, the venue raises questions for some. Groups of enthusiastic amateurs are flinging sharp blades through the air inside an establishment that serves beer. What could go wrong? “A lot of people joke about the drinking. And yeah, we get it,” Maher admitted. “But all our Axe Marshals are trained [thoroughly], and go through server education. So they're basically like bartenders – they’re qualified in the art of making sure people haven't had too much.” Axe throwers generally behave safely and respectfully, Maher said; and since he started the company in 2017, his team has only encountered “one or two people" too drunk to continue. The marshals stop play at that point. The key to beginner success at axe throwing is not strength, so much as it is paying attention to the finer points of form, according to Maher. People who pay attention to the nuances can advance at this sport much faster than they expected. “First of all, they’ll just be shocked if they hit the bullseye! They're surprised how quickly they get it. Then it morphs into games, which really baffles the mind that they're now aiming with an axe.” Andi Christman, who came to HUB for an hour of axe throwing with friends, had just such an experience. “It was easier than I thought,” she said. Another member of the group, Robert Currie, was also surprised. “I was expecting the axes to be heavier.” Both said they’d return for another round. “It was a blast!” Currie added. Kent and Christina Moffat are already planning a birthday party with Celtic Axe. HUB will host its first competitive axe throwing league starting in March. The winning team from this location will compete against champions from the five other Portland-area brewpubs where Celtic Axe operates. Maher said league participants vie for “cash prizes, swag prizes, and…” He pauses for emphasis, then adds, “And respect!” League signup and recreational scheduling for the general public can be found online – http://www.celticaxethrowers.com 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! 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