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“I think the biggest “… We have to install a difference is that I have a different kind of leadership, solid record of where you have a governor who accomplishment.” pays attention to the details.” — Gov. John Kitzhaber — Dennis Richardson, state representative Kitz: four more; Richardson: no more By PETER WONG fective on education and the session intended for the 35 Oregon newspapers. cent last year when the na- Stark contrast The Tribune the economy. major-party candidates — Kitzhaber says 120,000 tional health-care overhaul Kitzhaber, Republican appeared Monday before jobs have been created dur- took effect — now have emerges as Democratic Gov. John Dennis Rich- the Portland Tri- ing Oregon’s economic re- health insurance coverage. governor, challenger Kitzhaber says his record ardson and bune/Pamplin Me- covery; the unemployment “I think the biggest dif- merits a fourth term, Pacific Green dia Group and EO rate was 10 percent when ference is that I have a solid clash at editorial while his Republican and Party nominee Media Group edito- he took office. He also says record of accomplishment,” Pacifi c Green rivals ac- Jason Levin — rial boards, which a record 95 percent of Ore- board meeting cuse him of not being ef- who crashed together represent gonians — up from 86 per- See DEBATE / Page 10 PortlandTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 • TWICE CHOSEN THE NATION’S BEST NONDAILYTribune PAPER • PORTLANDTRIBUNE.COM • PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND THURSDAY Schools Growing crowds fl ock see the to annual bird show, leaving neighborhood power in trouble in their wake parents Poll: Engaging families is priority SWIFT AGGRAVATION in K-12 education By PETER KORN America with their three to By JENNIFER ANDERSON The Tribune four-week stopover at Chap- The Tribune man. They’ve been doing this On a clear Thursday eve- since the late 1980s, and while Six years ago, it was the ning a crowd somewhere their numbers have leveled same handful of go-getter par- north of 1,000 has gathered off, the number of people com- ents who did everything at behind and around Chap- ing each night for this commu- Creston School. Now, one in man School in Northwest nity celebration continues to fi ve parents at the K-8 school Portland for what has be- grow. in Southeast Portland are come an annual almost-au- Some nights this year more members of the school’s Par- tumn ritual — watching than 3,000 birders, picnickers ent Teacher Association — so- thousands of tiny birds de- and impromptu dancers have cializing at monthly coffees, scend into the school chim- spent the hour or two before having regular meetings with ney for the night. sunset watching the avian the principal, working togeth- The birds, Vaux’s swifts, are show as the birds prepare to er to solve their school’s big- beginning their annual migra- gest needs — and it’s made all tion to Central and South See SWIFTS / Page 2 the difference. “It’s a really good feeling,” says Lisa Kensel, a mom of three who’s “If you starting her want fi fth year as Creston PTA’s people to president. feel “The commu- nity feels good. favorably Everybody’s about their talking to one local school There aren’t quite another; as many Vaux’s there’s involve- district … swifts making their ment from all you have to way into the areas.” know Chapman School Most of the chimney this growth came what’s on year—some nights just last year, only about 4,000— when they their but the crowds were able to minds.” boost member- coming to watch the — Adam Davis, annual phenomenon ship by 125 DHM Research percent, to 65 continue to grow to members. 3,000 or more. That Thanks to their new principal, leaves Chapman Conrad Hurdle, the PTA now has head custodian its own offi ce space at the school, David Gardner right next to the school’s new (right) with a huge community room — complete cleanup job every with a kids’ play area, computer morning. and space for parents to chat and TRIBUNE PHOTOS: host monthly coffees. JAIME VALDEZ “The setting isn’t so intimidat- ing; it’s a nice, relaxed atmo- sphere,” says Kensel, who also is president of the Portland Council PTA. These strategies and others used at Creston might serve as a useful template for any school Powell-Division plan See SCHOOL / Page 9 for transit zooms along Corridor Project, the proposed Gresham. The corridor being Metro panel takes up link between Portland and Tu- studied includes Southeast budget, route issues alatin that has been studied for Powell Boulevard and Division years and is facing voter oppo- Streets, two major thorough- at Monday meeting sition in Washington County. fares that carry 18,000 bus It’s the Powell-Division Transit passengers every workday By JIM REDDEN and Development Project, between the two cities. The Tribune which has not been studied Both projects are being over- nearly as long, but is already seen by Metro, the elected re- Basic decisions about much closer to becoming gional government. Although the design of the region’s reality. the steering committee over- next high-capacity transit The Powell-Division project seeing the Southwest Corridor TRIBUNE PHOTO: JONATHAN HOUSE corridor could be made on is intended to improve transit Project is not scheduled to A cyclist passes by the new transit center under construction on the Monday. and encourage new develop- east side of the Tilikum Crossing in Southeast Portland where the No, it’s not the Southwest ment between Portland and See POWELL / Page 4 Division-Powell line could connect. “Pamplin Media Group’s pledge is to Portland Tribune LOWE PART OF deliver balanced news that refl ects the stories of our communities. Thank you DUCK HIGHS for reading our newspapers.” Inside — SEE SPORTS, PAGE B12 — DR. ROBERT B. PAMPLIN JR. OWNER & NEIGHBOR A2 NEWS The Portland Tribune Thursday, September 25, 2014 Swifts: Birdwatchers mostly behave Audubon ■ From page 1 sees fewer tornado into the chimney and avoid the Cooper’s hawk who nightly makes a late-night snack swifts swoop out of one or two of the swifts. Swift numbers are dramatically down this year. A few years ago into chimney more than 16,000 of the birds were counted one night at Chapman. Experts say unusually warm This year about 4,000 have made it most nights. In fact, according to weather may be to blame Brittney Mercy, an Audubon Soci- ety volunteer manning the educa- By PETER KORN tion table on this balmy evening, The Tribune the highest swift count this year came on Sept. 5, when about 6,400 More than 16,000 Vaux’s swifts ap- birds showed up. It also happened peared for the Chapman School show to be the night the largest crowd of one night in 2012. Ten years ago, more people, about 3,000, appeared. than 35,000 occasionally showed up. Which left at least one hillside This year, the highest one-night count birdwatcher asking, did the extra by Audubon Society volunteers has swifts show up because so many been 6,390. So what’s happened to all people were out to see them, or did the birds? the people appear because they They might be coming later because sensed so many birds would warm summer weather has been TRIBUNE PHOTOS: JAIME VALDEZ appear. stretching its stay, or they might be dis- A dead Swift was passed along by the Portland Audubon Society for people to get a view of what one looks like. The growing crowds have persing to different nesting chimneys brought their own set of problems around the city, says Joe Liebezeit, avian for the neighborhood around Chap- ager who has helped coordinate at- conservation program manager for the man School. Two years ago those tempts to deal with crowds at an Kelsey Schopp and Audubon Society. The Kenton neighbor- problems — from parked cars event that no one has organized. Sarah Moody are hood in North Portland has been experi- blocking driveways to revelers uri- Davis gives a lot of the credit to among the encing its own mini swift invasion in the nating in yards — sent aggravated the nonprofit Audubon Society, thousands of last few years. Still, the chimney at neighbors in search of solutions. which took on a leadership role birdwatchers on Chapman is considered by Audubon to Like Last Thursday in the Alberta when neighborhood complaints es- weekend evenings be the largest single roosting place for District, the swift watch is an or- calated two years ago. at Chapman migrating swifts in the world. ganic Portland institution. Nobody Parks & Rec has about as much School. With kids Liebezeit is putting his money on the organized it, nobody’s in charge of authority over the event as Audu- sliding down the warm weather explanation. Normally, he it, there are no city agencies that bon, since the swift watchers are hill on cardboard says, the swifts wait until it gets cool at permit the event. Which means, on school, not parks, property. But and spontaneous night before seeking out large chimneys nobody is responsible for the in 2012, with budget cuts hitting dance parties such as Chapman School’s as a warm problems. the parks department, schools, the breaking out, the place to roost overnight. But in contrast to Last Thursday, transportation bureau and police, events are turning As long as the evenings stay warm, this Portland institution seems to Audubon called an evening meet- into nightly the birds might be happy roosting in have reached an equilibrium with- ing at Chapman School and repre- festivals.