GRZESIK’S SOUND GARDEN PortlandTribune— SEE LIFE, B1 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 • TWICE CCHOSENHHOOSSE THE NATION’S BEST NONDAILY PAPER • WWWW.PORTLANDTRIBUNE.COMWWWW.PPOORRTTLLAANNDDT • PUBLISHED THURSDAY ■ Annual intergalactic battle helps Red Cross save lives Hales tiptoes toward big ideas One year in offi ce, mayor puts priority on revenue, parks By STEVE LAW The Tribune Portland Mayor Charlie Hales pledged Friday to pur- sue a new tax measure to pave city streets in 2014, as well as funding to build out the city’s parks system. Hales also told the Port- land Tribune “I don’t feel editorial board that a need to he’s exploring look at a a major reno- map of the vation of Vet- erans Memo- city and Darth Vader and his Imperial Stormtroopers stop holiday shoppers in their tracks outside Macy’s (above). rial Coliseum, come up Jedidiah Maxwell of Canby has his picture taken with Queen Apailana (right). hoping to pig- with new gyback on the World Indoor visions at lood will Wars’ and ‘Star Track & Field the fl ow when Trek’ both have a Champion- BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY fans of lot of fans who turn ships coming moment.” B“Star out, and we always to the Oregon — Mayor Wars” and “Star have a lot of fun.” Convention Charlie Hales Trek” rally their The competi- Center in 2016. supporters later this month. tion, similar to the Oregon vs. Oregon (See related At least that’s the hope for the up- State Civil War blood drive, has been story, Page A8.) coming American Red Cross blood held three times in the past. It has been Hales gave himself a “B” THE FORCE IS drive that pits supporters of the two won twice by “Star Wars” fans, which grade for his fi rst year in offi ce, popular entertainment franchises is not surprising, considering the popu- but said he succeeded in setting against each other to see who can turn lar franchise has two active fan clubs in a tone of “collegiality and plain- out the most donors. The Galaxy Blood the Portland area, both of which have a spokenness” at City Hall. Drive is from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sat- lot of practice supporting charitable One example: he’s making no urday, Dec. 28, at the donor center at events in authentic-looking, home- bones about the need for a new 3131 N. Vancouver Ave. made costumes. revenue source to pave dozens OUT FOR BLOOD “This is a great event for us,” says Most recently, more than a dozen of of miles of the city’s gravel and Red Cross spokeswoman Daphne them showed up to support the Salva- mud streets. Mathew. “Donations normally drop be- tion Army bell ringers outside of the “There’s no point in kidding tween Thanksgiving and New Year’s you, or kidding ourselves,” he Story by Jim Redden • Photos by Jaime Valdez because people are so busy. But ‘Star See BLOOD / Page 2 See HALES / Page 9 Pat downs likely Tech fi rms to increase as cops seek a place take to the street in economy’s Police say conversation a priority; others spotlight say random stops are recipe for trouble Intel is well-known, but other companies fl y under the radar By PETER KORN Murphy shines his fl ashlight inside and The Tribune sees three young black men. They aren’t By JIM REDDEN wearing gang colors or smoking dope. The Tribune On a crisp, clear Thursday evening They’re just sitting, engine off. Dale and with the temperature outside hover- Murphy want to talk to them. There are more high-tech companies in the ing around freezing, Portland Gang With Portland police rolling out the Portland area than Intel — and many of them Enforcement Team offi - city’s new hot-spot policing are desperately trying to get that message cers Brian Dale and Pat- program, the unfolding out. rick Murphy pull their TribSeries scene involving Dale and “There’s a ton of world-class companies in the squad car to the curb on Murphy and the young Portland region, but the word hasn’t gotten out Southeast 119th Avenue. SECOND OF TWO STORIES men they are about to con- on that,” says Sam Blackman, co-founder and A black two-door Honda front is a microcosm of CEO of Elemental Technologies, a Portland-based Civic is a good four or fi ve feet from what criminologists say might be the company working on ultra-high defi nition signal the curb — the result of either a hor- program’s defi ning moment. TRIBUNE PHOTO: JAMIE VALDEZ transmission technology. rible parking job or someone inten- The evidence is clear that done right, Gang Enforcement Team offi cer Patrick Murphy — after asking According to Blackman, the lack of awareness tionally half-blocking the street. permission — pats down a young black man who had been sitting in a As the offi cers walk toward the car, See POLICING / Page 11 parked car on Southeast 119th Avenue. Offi cer Brian Dale looks on. See TECH / Page 10 “Pamplin Media Group’s pledge is to Portland Tribune WHAT’S LOCAL FOOD? deliver balanced news that refl ects the SELECTING STALLS FOR THE JAMES BEARD PUBLIC MARKET. stories of our communities. Thank you Inside for reading our newspapers.” — SEE SUSTAINABLE LIFE SECTION — DR. ROBERT B. PAMPLIN JR. OWNER & NEIGHBOR ONLY BEST HOLIDAY PIES IN AMERICA! ALL WHITE TURKEY BREAST OR HONEY-GLAZED HAM $59.95 Bring home Shari’s Holiday Feast! Your Holiday Pie Enjoy Shari’s Holiday Dinner in the comfort of your own home. Just pick up your holiday favorites from us this year! All you have to Headquarters do is heat, serve and enjoy! Serves 4-6. Order your Holiday pies at Available for pick up through Dec. 26th www.MySharis.com Order online at www.MySharis.com 457582.121913 A2 NEWS The Portland Tribune Thursday, December 19, 2013 Blood: Stormtroopers, Klingons will compete ■ From page 1 Yoda approves downtown Macy’s on Saturday, ■ Dec. 14. Startled shoppers The Galaxy Blood Drive is from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on stared in awe as Princess Leia, Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Chewbacca, Darth Vader, a American Red Cross donor small army of Imperial Storm- center, 3131 N. Vancouver troopers and other characters Ave. from “Star Wars” encouraged holiday donations. Many children posed with most 50 countries around the them for pictures, including Fi- world. negen Kling, 8, and his brother Kaian, 6. Their mother, Shawn, Custom costumes described them as “huge ‘Star One local member is Steve Wars’ fans.” Squire, a 44-year-old software “It’s pretty cool. They look re- engineer who belongs to the ally real,” said Finegan, who 501st Legion, nicknamed “Vad- said his favorite character was er’s Fist.” the Snow Trooper. “I became a Stormtrooper be- cause I like the way they look Cloud City Club Garrison and don’t resemble Mark Gatherings of local “Star Hamill or Harrison Ford,” Trek” fans, commonly called Squire says of the male leads of Trekkies, are more informal, the original trilogy. says Jim Colvill, who enjoys Squire says he fi rst became dressing up as a Klingon for fascinated with “Star Wars” informal viewing parties of the when he saw the original 1977 franchise’s TV series and movie as a child. movies. “I just thought, this is the “Our most important rule is, greatest thing I’ve ever seen. I have fun,” says saw all the movies Colvill, a retired when they came chef who once “I saw all the out, but as I got helped organize older, I kind of TRIBUNE PHOTO: JAIME VALDEZ Klingon Karaoke movies when thought I should Monica and Titus Dumitru (middle) joined the heroes of the “Star Wars” saga outside Macy’s. Their next stop is the Galaxy Blood Drive at the nights at local they came out, outgrow them. But American Red Cross on Dec. 28. bars. Dressed up when I got old in a long black but as I got enough I said, I re- wig and prosthet- older, I kind of ally like “Star ic forehead, he Wars,” so why not would belt out thought I should get more involved.” classic rock songs outgrow them. Squire started in Klingon, the But when I got going to “Star language of the Wars” conven- extraterrestrial old enough tions, where he warriors who I said, ‘I really met other fans and have appeared in learned about the most of the “Star like “Star national clubs and Trek” series and Wars,” so why local chapters. He movies. even met his fu- The more for- not get more ture wife, Michele, mal “Star Wars” involved.’ ” at an event in In- appearances are dianapolis. She is a — Steve Squire mostly organized Biker Scout in the through their lo- 501st Legion. “Star Wars” cal fan clubs. One is the Cloud Squire says the members and “Star Trek” City Club Garrison 501st Le- come from all backgrounds and club members gion, based on the dark side of walks of life. They share an en- turned out to the universe created by film- during love for the “Star Wars” boost donations maker George Lucas. Members story, which has been popular- at the 2010 dress like just about every bad ized in movies, TV shows, video Galaxy Blood guy in the series, including Sith games, toys and collectibles. Drive, which was Lords like Darth Vader and “It’s a new context for my- won by the Darth Maul, bounty hunters thology about good versus evil “Star Wars” like Boba Fett and Greedo, Tus- and a hero’s journey.