Eliot's Best Kept Secret Neighborhood Watch—Coming to a Street
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ELIOT NEWS A Publication of Eliot Neighborhood Association Volume 24 · Number 4 Fall 2015 Eliot’s Best Kept Neighborhood Watch—coming to Secret a street near you? By Sue Stringer By Jere Fitterman t a very busy intersection ur block had its first where cars, bicycles and Neighborhood Watch A busses pass every day is a meeting in August; building that a lot of Portland resi- partly to get to know dents have probably never en- O our neighbors and work together tered. However, each weekend to make ours a better place to live during the month of November, and partly in response to several everyone who is simply curious or recent incidents. The following an avid collector is welcome to are what neighbors reported at join in the fun in exploring the that meeting. largest model railroad exhibit west 1947 and was located in the base- of the Mississippi. ment of a building which is now a Early one morning, after what vacant lot but within sight of the sounded like a broken bottle The Columbia River Model Rail- crashing, a man was observed run- road Club occupies the 4,200 present location. After losing its lease, the club’s next location was ning down the street– usually not square foot building at the corner a big problem. However, a few of N Vancouver Avenue and N constructed by its members on a vacant lot on N Montana Avenue minutes later after leaving the Russell Street. With miniature bathroom near the back of his portrayals of life in the 1950’s in 1948. It remained the clubs reported having lawn mowers and permanent home for 34 years. In house, a neighbor heard his win- along the Columbia and dow breaking. Apparently this equipment stolen even while they Willamette Rivers as well as 1982 they sold that building and were gardening. Car break-ins, built the current location moving man had gone through a patio gate towns that extend north, south, and thrown loppers through the stolen bikes and yard theft happen east and west of the rivers, a per- in on January 1, 1983. The layout every day. now is substantially finished but window. This time observed by son can step into a wonderland of the next door neighbor, the man However, Mark shared some ef- historic replicas and imagination. the club is continually adding more details and better representa- ran. By quickly calling the police, fective ways to deter criminals Visitors can see this amazing 60 tions. he was apprehended and charged. from coming to our block. He by 70 foot layout with a working In another incident on the block called it the Obnoxiously Friendly replica of the Steel bridge, the Un- The close to 100 members of the method which is encountering club come from a wide range of some neighbors found a backpack ion Station and Albina Yards, with a lot of cellphones and a lap- every new face you see in the Mount Hood in its glory at sun- trades and professions. Some cre- neighborhood in an open, inquir- ate scenery, others work on the top along with several water bot- rise, and even some fun additions tles and a bike. The police were ing, friendly way. “Hello, how are like a partially cloaked Klingon tracks and electronics and still you, nice day, what’s up, looks others help with the computer pro- again called. None of this seemed Battle Cruiser and a triceratops alarming, just very annoying. like your enjoying the weather, tagging along with the zoo animal gramming. New members are al- good to see you, visiting someone parade. According to Steve Wat- ways welcome and membership At the initial meeting there were or just walking through?” He says offers fellowship, operating fun, kins, one of the club’s members eight out of 18 households in at- this will tell “visitors” that we no- and our tour guide, the Broadway modeling opportunities and a tendance. The meeting was run by tice and are aware of who belongs Bridge that is displayed is actually chance to learn all phases of the Mark Wells, Crime Prevention here and who’s passing through. etched brass that was sent over to model railroad hobby. Coordinator, a community organ- Criminals thrive on anonymity England with a photograph of the izing specialist with the City of and blending in. If they know they bridge railing and then replicated Portland’s Office of Neighbor- will be noticed, they are likely to and returned to Portland. “The hood involvement. Mark had a lot take their activities elsewhere. of information to share and a sim- bridge took 3,000 hours to com- Mark also says to locking our plete copying all the stairs and ple process for organizing our Neighborhood Watch. Anyone on doors makes breaking in harder. cross supports. Union Station Posting Neighborhood Watch film took 500 hours to complete and is the block or anyone in the proxim- ity chosen to be included was wel- stickers in the window and on the 70% of its actual size,” says Wat- intersections alerts criminals that kins. Scenic license is used to do come. Mark gathered our contact information and all attendees we notice what’s going on and what they can to make the display won’t hesitate to call the non- accurate while adding some imag- completed a simple survey of per- sonal needs and special skills or emergency number for suspicious inative scenes and creative details. Words cannot describe the amaz- activity and even 911 when neces- ing world that has been created equipment that might come in The architectural modelers who sary. Reporting more crimes inside. However, everyone is wel- handy in an emergency on the designed the layout had a big in- block. doesn’t mean there are more, just fluence on the details included. come from10am-5pm Saturday more the Police know about and For example, one modeler remem- and Sunday for only $7 or $15 for That’s all it takes to be part of the where they are happening. bered going to school in Oregon special behind the scene tours Neighborhood Watch. We’ll need each weekend in November. to meet at least once a year and Do you know the City’s non- while living in Washington and emergency number? This number having to take the Lyle Ferry to Don’t miss your opportunity to create a Neighborhood Watch view this west coast wonder and map and phone tree which will be is answered by the same folks school every morning and then who answer 911 calls. They just come back again at night. Re- maybe even give the scavenger distributed to each member. Mark hunt a try with 15 fun items for will help us recruit more folks in use a different procedure and alert calling all the details, she built a a different set of responders. replica of that ferry crossing. kids (or adults) to search for with- the next few months. in the exhibit. The NON-EMERGENCY num- The Columbia Gorge Model Rail- Violent crime is way down in For more information call 503-28- ber is 503-823-3333. road Club is one the oldest clubs Portland, but drug related property TRAIN (503-288-7246) ● (continued on page 6) in the country. It was founded in crime is very common. Neighbors Eliot Neighborhood Association Letter from the Editor The Eliot Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose members are the residents and business owners of the Eliot Neighborhood. Its purpose is to inform By Sue Stringer Eliot residents about issues affecting the neighborhood through meetings, newsletters and other activities. Members of the neighborhood association must be over 14 years old and live, own property, have a business, or represent a nonprofit within the here’s a lot going on in Eliot. print but I don’t plan on having neighborhood. The Eliot Neighborhood Association was founded in 1969. It is recognized by the City of Portland, is a member of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., T From events this past summer the majority of articles authored and its members represent Eliot on other committees. sponsored by Legacy Emanuel by me for future issues. Your Medical Center and Portland name can be on the by line and Eliot Board Parks and Recs to National Night there are a lot more neighbors that Chair - Angela Kremer – [email protected] 503-284-9136 Out, summer was definitely not have been in the neighborhood Vice Chair - vacant boring. Fall gives us a chance to longer than I have that know the Secretary - Kristin Yates – [email protected] 503-802-0299 regroup as we start a new school history and interesting stories that Treasurer - Annie Rudwick – [email protected] 503-460-3078 year and we hope to bring to your have not been shared with all the attention some awareness about residents of Eliot, many of them News Editor - Sue Stringer – [email protected] 971-255-0697 new businesses in Eliot, future new to the neighborhood. Take a Webmaster - Clint Lundmark – [email protected] 503-552-8678 changes to our neighborhoods and chance… email me with a story NECN Rep - Joan Ivan – [email protected] 503-265-5868 business districts, and unfortunate- idea and let’s make the Eliot News Jeri Stein “Bee” - [email protected] 503-522-9136 ly point out how to avoid the bra- a real community newsletter that Jim Hlava – [email protected] 503-998-3406 zen bike thieves that seem to be so comes from the whole communi- Pamela Weatherspoon Reed – [email protected] 503-413-4630 very busy lately.