This content was published: August 14, 2013. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
North Portland neighbors join Cascade Campus for National Night Out
Photos and story by Gina Whitehill-Baziuk
August 14, 2013
Written by Gina Whitehill-Baziuk
That one was Portland Community College and the Humboldt Neighborhood Association’s National Night Out event – the sixth consecutive year that they have hosted it on the Cascade Campus in North Portland. More than 500 people enjoyed musical performers Melao de Cuba, Conroy-DeBrie and The Suspects, which is a jazz band led by Professional Music Program chair Allen Jones. In addition, there were Zumba dance sessions, dragon dancers, fire protection demonstrations, soccer games, food carts, construction learning center tours and, yes, an opportunity to sign that steel beam.
People had the opportunity to memorialize their participation at the National Night Out event by signing a construction beam to be erected in the new academic building at Cascade Campus.
There were 177 National Night Outs around the Portland area on or around Tuesday, Aug. 6. But how many had a giant steel beam that the community could sign and forever immortalize their signature?
The answer is: one.
Thanks to the college’s Bond Program, representatives from Hoffman Construction and THA Architecture enticed attendees to sign their names to the beam, which will be one of the last things erected on the new student center building being constructed on the Cascade Campus. Hoffman’s project manager Derek Beneville said it’s an old ironworker tradition that the very last piece of steel be signed and placed on a building being completed.
PCC’s 2008 voter-approved $374 million bond program is increasing opportunities for residents to access quality, affordable higher education close to where they live and work. Additional classrooms, updated equipment and technology, and advanced workforce training programs are helping to pave the way for future employment options. For more information, visit www.pcc.edu/about/bond/about.