Opps, too late!

I went to the square today around 7:00 pm to photograph the Columbia Adventist Academy Hand Bell Ringathon. I was too late! The concert was suppose to last until 8:00 pm. Due to really crumby conditions, they were packing up their gear when I arrived. If they return for a concert in the future, I promise to get to the event early.

Bunny Hugs

Easter Seals of Oregon’s BloomFest is going on at Pioneer Courthouse Square through Friday at 6:00 pm. Your tulip purchase helps to provide much needed life-changing services for more than 5000 children and adults living with autism and other special needs in Oregon and SW Washington. If you're lucky, you might get a Bunny Hug after you make your purchase.

For the Tea Party . . .

Emotions were running high when The Oregon Tea Party held a scheduled rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday evening. It was scheduled to correspond with tax day, on April 15. The rally featured speakers, information booths and entertainment. Those supporting the Tea Party were vocal and adamant in stating their views. Shortly after the rally began, a group opposed to the Tea Party movement appeared on the square. That’s when things started to get a little dicey . . . .

. . . Against the Tea Party

. . . fortunately the Portland Police Department was prepared as they moved into position to keep the opposing party’s from letting their emotions get out of hand. People on both sides of the issue were forceful in expressing their opinions. Once again the Square was available to people, so they could express their beliefs in the heart of the city. Hats off to the Portland Police Department for being on top of the situation.

Walk MS

People from all over the area came down to the Square today to participate in Walk MS, to help the Oregon Chapter of the National MS Society raise critical funds that support cutting-edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education and provide programs and services that are vital to the over 7,200 individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Oregon and SW Washington.

Field trips

School field trips are a frequent occurrence on the Square. I usually see several each week. Health and Science School of Beaverton held a field trip in downtown Portland recently. The school prepares students for college success through a relevant health and science based educational experience in a small school environment. When they arrived at the Square, they gathered for a briefing session on the bricks, and then formed a line behind their teacher and headed out to explore the city. For further information about the school, phone 503-533-1853

Shark fin soup

Recently a group of high school students from the Portland area were on the Square to protest the practice of Shark Finning. They wanted to point out that every year millions of sharks are killed to meet the demand for shark fin soup. The fins are often sliced off while the sharks are still alive; their bodies are the thrown back into the water as the sharks endure a painful death from suffocation, blood loss, or predation by other species. You can help stop this practice in the State of Oregon by contacting your state representatives, and asking them to support Bill 2838, which will stop the sales of shark fins in Oregon. To learn more about this subject visit:http://www.hsi.org/sharkfin

Restraining Umbrella Man

Sometimes Umbrella Man gets very excited while speaking and needs to be held back by a passing tourist.

Warm-weather lunch bunch

When KGW’'s Rod Hill did his noon weather forecast from the square today, he told us we could be getting our second day in a row over 60 degrees. People, who were having lunch at that time on the Square, didn’t need the information. They had already taken their coats off and were enjoying the sunshine. The sun is now high enough to clear the buildings across the street, and cover the square in sunshine at noon. I can’t tell you how great it is to see warmer temperatures. This means I don’t have to hide out in the information center, pretending to read bus schedules.