In the OMSI lobby outside the “Jurassic World” exhibition, this realistic LEGO model stops people cold, as they pass by. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
OMSI opens ‘Jurassic World’ LEGO exhibition
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Imagine fifteen life-size dinosaurs, all constructed of LEGO bricks, roaring into the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). That’s what happened on March 15th, when the “Jurassic World by Brickman” exhibition opened its doors to the public.
Two days earlier, THE BEE and a group of some 100 OMSI supporters were given a preview of the displays in the science museum’s two-level “Featured Exhibit Hall”.
Entering the exhibit, visitors walk through a reproduction of the iconic 12-foot-tall Jurassic World theme park gates. Then they marvel at what they see before them – fifty large-scale dinosaurs, props, and scenes, all created with more than 6 million LEGO bricks.
In our preview tour, Kids shrieked with joy as they encountered one hands-on adventure area after another, with a total of 2.5 million bricks to play with – all based on the Jurassic Park story that started with the science fiction novel by Michael Crichton – and over time turned into several motion pictures, video games, and a TV show.
Meantime the adults marveled at features such as the two-ton Brachiosaurus – this one, of course, made of LEGO bricks.
At the preview, Brickman’s Head of Global Exhibitions, Simon Challenor, explained that his Melbourne, Australia, based company – headed by “LEGO Certified Professional” Ryan “Brickman” McNaught, and his team of model builders and craftspeople – construct these projects using standard, off-the-shelf LEGO bricks.
Asked for his favorite part of the exposition, Challenor wrinkled his eyebrows as the pondered the question. “It’s a bit like asking ‘what’s your favorite child?’, to be honest with you.
“But it’s really hard to get past the ‘Brachiosaurus’ – the big model that takes an entire shipping container! But the Velociraptors ‘Blue’ and ‘Delta’ and, of course, the enormous T. Rex, are also pretty impressive!”
This is perhaps one of the most interactive exhibitions ever hosted by OMSI. Activity areas are themed as:
Island building
Paleontology and discovery through “mystery mosaics”
Creating new dinosaurs
Learning to track a dinosaur by creating species footprints
Building escape mini-vehicles to get away from a Tyrannosaurus Rex
“This exhibition supports our mission because it’s a wonderful opportunity to explore the intersection of creativity, engineering, and science – it really brings these to life in a way that engages visitors of all ages,” explained Akiko Minaga, OMSI's Vice President of Learning Experiences. “What impresses me most is the size and the intricacy of the pieces; it’s just amazing to me!
“And also, kudos to our sponsors – Boeing and Chevron – for supporting this exhibit at OMSI,” added Minaga. The Jurassic World by Brickmanexhibition runs through September 1st. For hours and days, and ticket pricing, visit OMSI’s website – https://www.omsi.edu
And now, if you haven’t seen it yet, take a quick tour of this exhibition – in this brief and exclusive BEE VIDEO –
A Central Precinct officer examined the smashed and wedged-in van, while waiting for a second and larger tow truck to arrive to remove it from the sidewalk on Milwaukie Avenue near S.E. Nehalem Street in Sellwood. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Van misses curve in Sellwood, hits bollards, gets stuck on sidewalk
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
The driver of an older-model Chevrolet van, going south on Milwaukie Avenue, was apparently unprepared for the point where the street suddenly angles left to join S.E. 17th, on Tuesday, April 8th.
He rolled up onto an adjacent lawn, then veered into the concrete bollards installed to protect the “Moreland Ale House” from this very thing, and wound up on the sidewalk – so wedged in that the van proved hard to remove.
Responding Central Precinct officers at the scene observed that the vehicle had slid along the sidewalk after flipping onto its side, driver door down – coming to rest against a wooden utility pole, street signs, and several steel-and-concrete bollards.
The driver was taken from the scene by ambulance due to the violent nature of the wreck, and the driver’s apparent injuries.
A tow truck driver hooked up his winch cable to chains, and attached those to the rear frame of the van. But each time he started to winch in the cable, the van stayed put, and his tow truck began to drag towards it!
“Sorry officer, I’ve got to call in a larger tow rig; this [van] is really stuck,” the tow truck operator acknowledged.
With the only potential injury in the accident being suffered by the driver who caused the crash, the officer said that it was unlikely that the unidentified driver would be cited.
Eventually an oversized “big-rig” tow truck managed to remove the van and clear the street.
Although staff at this Woodstock massage parlor say it’s “now under new ownership”, Oregon business records currently show that the firm is still registered to sex abuse suspect Feng Sheng Chen. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Portland Police accuse this man, Feng Sheng Chen, of sexual abuse at a Woodstock massage business – and they say there may additional victims they’ve not yet identified, which is why they released this Multnomah County booking photo of Mr. Chen. (Courtesy of PPB)
Woodstock masseuse charged with sex abuse
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
It took months of investigation, but on April 3rd, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) revealed that a massage therapist – with a massage studio in the Woodstock business district – is facing several sex abuse charges; and detectives fear there could be additional victims.
On January 9th, PPB officers spoke with an adult female about an incident at Flydream Massage, 5621 S.E. Woodstock Boulevard. She reported that during a massage in October of 2024, a therapist, who had introduced himself as Lucas, touched her inappropriately.
Then, on January 19th, officers spoke with a second adult female who also reported being touched in a sexual manner, also by a therapist named Lucas, during a massage at the same business, also in October of 2024.
Officers have additionally identified a third victim who was inappropriately touched by the same man, but that incident happened during a massage done miles west in Washington County.
Through the investigation, officers determined that “Lucas” was actually 59-year-old Feng Sheng Chen, of Portland.
On March 30, it was McMinnville Police officers who located and arrested Chen; and, on April 1, he was lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC), booked on three counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree.
After his arraignment, Chen made bail and was released from custody on April 7th. PPB is releasing Chen’s booking photo, because detectives fear there could be additional victims.
Anyone who might be a victim, or may have information about this case, is asked to contact Acting Detective Michael Stevens, at this email address – Michael.Stevens@police.portlandoregon.gov – and refer to Case No. 25-7363.
This was the scene on March 22nd at this year’s “Spring Green and More” Fair, at the Brentwood-Darlington Community Center – 7211 S.E. 62nd Avenue. About 400 people came by during the course of the day. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Brentwood-Darlington’s ‘Green Fair’: Recycling, plus resources
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Exactly a month before Earth Day was to be celebrated, the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association (BDNA) held its “Spring Green and More” Fair on March 22nd at the Brentwood-Darlington Community Center.
Some 400 people came through the free two-hour fair, which offered recycling of electronics, plastics, and tire recycling – and it also brought in experts with information about emergency preparedness, bicycle repair, fruit trees, and native plants.
BDNA Secretary Kylie Hyde, who helped plan this year’s fair, recalled that, “The past two years, Tina Biornstad-Szafranksi planned and operated this fair all by herself. Tina gave our committee an amazing ‘roadmap’ – a plan – to follow, as the BDNA took over the challenge of producing the 2025 fair.
“We reached out to Green Century Recycling, and to Metro, and applied for grants to help fund the fair, so we could collect hard-to-recycle items like tires and Styrofoam, e-waste, ‘sharps’, and medicine.”
In addition to the recycling and information available, there was also a buffet of snacks and beverages, all of them provided by sponsors, to feed the fifteen volunteers who worked on this year’s project.
“This is about more than recycling! We’re also promoting our Community Center, so our residents know that this is a place where people can come, have an event, and connect with their neighbors,” said Hyde.
Green Century Recycling estimated that they’d taken away about 4,000 pounds of e-waste material, and twelve 180-gallon bags of Styrofoam. Les Schwab hauled away 60 tires – far more than they’d expected to collect. And, Metro took 365 pounds of household waste.
“And, this year, ‘Bikes 4 Humanity’ had a great turnout as well; and they worked continuously up until the very end of the fair, fixing and tuning up bikes,” observed Hyde.
The key volunteers on the project, helping her this year, Hyde told THE BEE, included BDNA Board Member Cynthia Cook; Treasurer Katie Borofka; Co-President Mara Burmeister; and neighborhood volunteers Katie Borofka and Lisa Jamieson. The recycling fair this year was sponsored by Southeast Uplift, Metro, and the City of Portland’s Office of Community & Civic Life.
Missed it this year? There should be another in March of 2026, and you’re welcome to be there, regardless of which Inner Southeast neighborhood you live in!
When a prowler broke into an apartment in the Reed neighborhood and assaulted an occupant, Central Precinct officers swarmed the area and swiftly located and arrested the suspect – who is still behind bars, facing various felony charges. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Police catch assailant in Reed who broke into apartment
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Residents of the Reed neighborhood’s Garden Park Apartments are resting easier after Central Precinct officers caught a violent prowler who broke into a unit, awoke a sleeping woman, and sexually assaulted her, early Wednesday, April 9th.
The evening before, at about 11:30 p.m., officers were originally dispatched to the apartment complex, on S.E. 30th Avenue near Schiller Street.
The officers were responding to reports of a man skulking in the shadows, climbing fences and onto balconies at the apartment complex. The suspect managed to slip away before the police arrived. But several hours later, officers returned after reports of a burglary at the same complex. Arriving, they learned that a man had broken into an apartment and assaulted a sleeping woman, before another occupant in that apartment chased the man out.
Officers swarmed the block. With the help of a drone and a police dog team, officers quickly located the man, and took him into custody.
Arrested was 39-year-old Michael Lynn Moore, Jr., who was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on three Felony charges – Burglary in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, plus one Misdemeanor charge of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree.
At his arraignment, Moore, Jr. learned that he would be held without bail on the assault-related charges – and found he was also facing a Trespass in the First Degree charge, a Misdemeanor, for which bail was set at $25,000.
The adult female victim was evaluated and released from the hospital, and has been assigned an advocate from the Portland Police Bureau's Victim Services Unit.
This case is still under investigation. Detectives in PPB’s Sex Crimes Unit do not believe there are any other victims at this time, but if you can provide any information about this case, please contact Detective Wendi Hamm – wendi.hamm@police.portlandoregon.gov; or Detective Torrey Streed at – torrey.streed@police.portlandoregon.gov. And, in contacting either one, please refer to Case No. 25-90575.
At Oaks Amusement Park, while scouting locations for their exhibition at the upcoming Multnomah County Fair, “Big Tsuky” – founder of “Portland Lucha Libre” – gave an impromptu “wrestling lesson” to Friends of the Multnomah County Fair President Larry Smith. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Volunteers prepare 119th ‘Multnomah County Fair’ at Oaks Park
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Folks looking forward to the 119th Multnomah County Fair – at historic, nonprofit Oaks Amusement Park on the three-day Memorial Day weekend, May 23 through 25 – will still find plenty of fun family activities, community-based vendors, and colorful cultural presentations. Animals, too.
And all of that in addition to the amusement rides and “fair food”, for a full and festive County Fair experience. Since the county itself provides no support for its own fair, it’s presented each year by the volunteers from the nonprofit Friends of the Multnomah County Fair.
“Creative Living” exhibits suspended “The major change this year is that, with Oaks Park’s facilities undergoing an extensive remodel – including to the historic Dance Pavilion – the Friends of the Multnomah County Fair will not be able to present our traditional ‘Creative Living’ department exhibits this year. That includes Art, Crafts, Fiber Arts/Needlecraft, Foods, Floral/Garden, and Photography,” the nonprofit’s President Larry Smith announced.
“But, we are still planning to display Youth Creative Living arts and crafts exhibits in ‘The Oaks Gift Store’ space,” Smith told THE BEE.
Oaks Park Association Marketing & Events Director Emily McKay pointed out, “At the Gift Store, this temporary exhibit space will actually be more integrated into the Oaks Park experience – because it’s located on our Midway, near some of premium amusement rides.
The Oaks Dance Pavilion began undergoing major renovations this spring – for the first time in decades – to improve the functionality, structural stability, and accessibility of the building.
However, visitors to the Fair will recognize the familiar Multnomah County Fair outdoor layout at Oaks Park, with vendors, food booths, and entertainment in the outdoor pavilion, all in their usual locations.
“Fair visitors will find a wide spectrum of entertainment offerings, showcasing the cultural diversity of our area,” Smith remarked. “Returning this year is ‘La Familia Day’ on Sunday, May 25, featuring Latin-flavor performing groups, the Wiener Dog Races, and a hip-hop dance-off!”
As always, Oaks Park gate admission to the Multnomah County Fair is free.
And, consider buying discounted fundraiser Oaks Amusement Park Ride Bracelets to use while you’re there! A portion of the purchase goes to the Friends of Multnomah County Fair if you buy them online, at – https://tinyurl.com/MCFairBracelet
Roller skating, mini golf, games, and parking are all sold separately.
Check this website for the Fair’s daily schedule of entertainment and activities – http://multcofair.com
THE BEE will join you there, at the 119th annual Multnomah County Fair, May 23 through Memorial Day, May 25, at Oaks Amusement Park – just north up Oaks Park Way, from the foot of S.E. Spokane Street at the railroad tracks in Sellwood, alongside the Willamette River.
This is the quiet neighborhood on S.E. Harney Street where two cars with armed people inside fired at each other on Sunday, April 13th. A few parked cars nearby suffered gunshot damage. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Car-to-car Sunday shootout damages vehicles on Harney Street
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Late Sunday afternoon, April 13, Brentwood-Darlington neighbors heard a barrage of gunshots near the intersection of S.E. 65th Avenue and Harney Street.
Several told THE BEE that they’d heard the gunshots, and had heard car tires squealing, but didn’t see the commotion, or whatever led up to it. One neighbor said she’d learned that it was a “shootout” between people in cars.
East Precinct officers, who were dispatched incident at 3:52 p.m., did find evidence in the area. “Officers responded to this call, and determined there had, indeed, been a shooting,” confirmed PPB spokesperson Officer Terri Wallo Strauss the following day.
“Fortunately, nobody was hit by gunfire, but three vehicles were struck,” Wallo Strauss said. “Officers recovered numerous spent casings from two calibers at the scene.”
The suspect or suspects have not been located, but the investigation is active. If you have information about this, and have not already spoken with investigators, email it to – crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov – and add that it’s regarding Case No. 25-94938.
Here with a bag of sealed – but empty – milk cartons for use in building boats to race in June at the Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Races, we found Royal Rosarian Bob Strader! This free carton distribution to contestants began in late March at the Sellwood Community House, and at three Les Schwab Tire Stores, including the one in Sellwood. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Dairy delivers thousands of ‘empties’ for Milk Carton Boat Races
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Neighbors out for a stroll with their dogs were startled to see thousands of milk cartons – all of themempty – being delivered to the Sellwood Community House, on Tuesday morning, March 25.
But before there can be boats made of milk cartons in the summer races on the Casting Pond in Westmoreland Park, there must be milk cartons – and although contestants can drink milk and use their own cartons, they don’t have to, courtesy of the generosity of the sponsoring dairy.
“The Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Races’ presenting sponsor, Alpenrose Dairy, has provided 7,000 empty, but sealed, milk cartons for watercraft builders to use to construct their boats,” explained the popular event’s organizer, herself a member of the Royal Rosarians, Connie Shipley. The Royal Rosarians took over the management of the event in 2016.
For those unaware, the Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Races, Inner Southeast’s only Rose Festival event and the official “grand finale” of the 2025 Portland Rose Festival, will this year be taking place on Sunday, June 22nd, starting at 11:45 a.m. in Westmoreland Park.
“Boats, handmade from recycled milk cartons and jugs, will be raced by both children and adults in a number of events, which makes for an exciting day,” Shipley explained.
“While they last, each boat is eligible to get up to two bags – about 100 – of these empty cartons to build their boat,” said Shipley. “We are looking for fifty boats to be on the water this year!”
A goodly supply of these empty milk cartons were staged at the Sellwood Community House; others were distributed to three Les Schwab Tire Centers, including the one in Sellwood, at S.E. McLoughlin Boulevard just north of the Tacoma Street Overpass.
The event is free to watch, and free to enter; but to participate, you must register in advance. To find the 2025 Application, Waiver, Flyer, and the Rules and Regulations, as well as some useful “Build a Boat” instructions, go online to – http://royalrosarians.com/page/2025-milk-carton-boat-race.
They, and we, will see you at the Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Races at the Westmoreland Park Casting Pond in June!
Officers responded to the shots fired into a home on S.E. Tenino Street, in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, in early April. There were no reported injuries. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
House shot up in Brentwood-Darlington; no injuries
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Gunshots fired along a quiet street in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood shattered an otherwise peaceful Saturday afternoon, on April 5.
PPB East Precincts officers were dispatched at 4:26 p.m. to a home along S.E. Tenino Street, between 57th and 60th Avenues. There, officers found “evidence of shooting” in the location, and called in the PPB’s Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) to help investigate.
“Shots were fired at a residence,” confirmed Portland Police spokesperson Officer Terri Wallo Strauss. “The house was struck, but no one was injured.”
Who might have fired the shots, and why, have not yet been revealed or publicly speculated upon at this point. The case is still under investigation by the ECST.
If you have information about this incident, and have not already spoken with investigators, email – crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov – and mention that it’s regarding Case No. 25-87139.
The collision wound up with the two cars together on the sidewalk, and one of the drivers pinned in her car. In the end, though, there were apparently no injuries in this crash, despite the damage to both cars. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Colliding cars bring firefighters to Brentwood-Darlington
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Two cars were damaged, and one of the drivers was pinned in her vehicle for a time, after a smashup on Tuesday, April 8, just before 6 p.m. at the intersection of S.E. Flavel Street and 60th Avenue.
A white Honda Civic EX and a Toyota Avalon XSE sedan met violently, deploying airbags in both vehicles.
A neighbor said it looked as if one driver didn’t notice that the intersection was a four-way stop and just drove into the other car. The result was that both vehicles ended up on the sidewalk, near the entrance of the Sawyer’s Market convenience store.
At first, the driver of the Toyota was pinned in her vehicle by the Honda. Bystanders rolled the Honda back, exposing the driver’s side of the Toyota, but the driver stayed in the car awaiting firefighters’ extrication.
Woodstock Fire Station 25’s Engine Company shortly arrived and helped the driver out of the Toyota, after which firefighter/paramedics provided an on-site medical evaluation. Apparently there were no injuries, so the ambulance that had been dispatched to the crash was waved off by firefighters.
Without any injuries resulting from the mishap, a Portland Police officer on the scene for traffic control indicated that no one would be cited in the crash, and any determination of fault would be left to the insurance companies.
The intersection at S.E. Duke Street and 72nd Avenue was briefly closed while East Precinct officers apprehended a man who was apparently menacing somebody with a gun. He also reportedly had illegal drugs in his possession at the time. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Man, with drugs, arrested for flashing gun in Brentwood-Darlington
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
A commotion at 5:46 p.m. Saturday, April 5th, in Brentwood-Darlington, ended with several East Precinct officers arriving at the intersection of S.E. Duke Street and 72nd Avenue. As the officers pulled up, a hefty, middle-aged man tried to flee the area on foot, but was quickly apprehended.
“A suspect, who reportedly was threatening someone with a gun, was arrested after running from – and fighting with – the police officers,” Public Information Officer Terri Wallo Strauss told THE BEE afterwards.
Arrested was 45-year-old Nigel Aquinas Ramarni, who was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 8:44 p.m. on charges of Menacing, as well as illegal possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. At his arraignment, Ramarni would see those drug charges set aside by the judge.
However, at last report, Ramarni was still behind bars at Inverness Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail, held on the Menacing charge.
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