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Building Community: Cascade’s National Night Out returns on Aug. 6
Photos and story by Abe Proctor
A neighborhood tradition returns with a new twist when Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus and the Humboldt Neighborhood Association host their annual National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 6. This year – in addition to local food carts, live music, family games, dancing, and all-around good times – attendees will be able to sign their names to a steel beam that will be a permanent part of the campus’ new Student Center building, currently under construction.
“This year’s National Night Out will be something special,” said Cascade Campus President Algie Gatewood, “because together with the Humboldt Neighborhood Association, we are coming together to celebrate not only the new buildings under construction at Cascade Campus, but the community we are building together. It will be a snapshot of a wonderful moment in the life of this neighborhood.”
The annual neighborhood festival will take place from 4-8 p.m. in the campus’ Borthwick Mall, 705 N. Killingsworth St., and in the new Cascade Campus Construction Project Learning Center at 815 N. Killingsworth St. The event marks the official debut of the construction learning center, formerly the Paragon Club. People from surrounding businesses, the neighborhood and Cascade Campus are invited to drop by the center to learn more about the voter-approved improvements to the Cascade Campus. The center is also available for scheduled community meetings.
Also new to this year’s National Night Out is the PCC-sponsored “Passport Program,” offering discounts at participating businesses on North Killingsworth Street, including Cascade Cycling, Coffeehouse-Five, E’Njoni Café, Hawaiian Style Grill, McMenamins Chapel Pub, Red E Café and Roastery, Saraveza Bottle Shop and Pasty Tavern, and the South Paw Deli. Shoppers and diners who fill their passport cards with stamps from each business can turn their cards in at the Cascade Campus Construction Project Learning Center for the chance to win a Kindle Fire.
“Some of us have been interested in initiating a business promotion program for some time, said Sarah Pederson, Saraveza proprietor. “The college’s partnering with us is the catalyst to make it happen. Hopefully, even more businesses will want to participate next year.”
The featured musical performers for this year’s event stage will be Melao de Cuba and Conroy-DeBrie, as well as a performance by the Suspects, a jazz band headed by Cascade Professional Music department chair Allen Jones. There will also be an interactive Zumba dance session, and an appearance from the dragon dancers of the Wisdom Arts Academy, a local Chinese cultural association, who wowed onlookers with a performance at President Barack Obama’s inaugural parade in 2012.
“Cascade really is a campus of the community,” said Gina Whitehill-Baziuk, stakeholder engagement manager for the PCC Bond Program, one of the event’s sponsors. “The college is partnering with local businesses to encourage greater patronage of area merchants. A vibrant commercial corridor encourages a safe and stable environment which is good for the entire community.”
The celebration has something to offer for people of all ages. Local food vendors C’est Si Bon, Tierra de Sol, Fifty Licks ice cream, EnJoni Café and PCC Food Services will have yummy stuff to eat and drink. Every person who shows up with a Cascade Campus National Night Out flier or postcard mailer in hand will receive $2 in ticket vouchers to spend with local vendors for food or drinks at the event..
For the kids, there will be an inflatable “bouncy” soccer field, water games, face painting, balloon twisting and hands-on art activities. Drawings for a range of prizes will take place throughout the afternoon. Representatives from several PCC programs will be on hand with activities and demonstrations, and information will be available for those visitors who are interested in attending classes at the campus.
In keeping with National Night Out’s theme, “a going-away party for crime and drugs,” a host of community organizations will provide demonstrations and information on how to be safe at home and in the neighborhood. The Portland Police Bureau and Fire Bureau will be on hand to echo this message.
“When people come together in a spirit of unity, it’s always a good thing for a community,” said Gatewood. “We are grateful to have this opportunity to partner with the Humboldt Neighborhood on a mutually beneficial goal to celebrate , safety, livability and prosperity in our community.”
The 2013 Cascade Campus National Night out celebration is sponsored by Portland Community College, Hoffman Construction, THA Architecture, South Paw Deli, Salon Radiance, Firehouse Restaurant, Las Primas Peruvian Restaurant, and more.