This fine Sunday, I got up early as if going to City Hall, to arrive before the start of the Hillsdale Business Association's annual Blueberry Pancake breakfast.  It was a perfect morning to help serve coffee at this wonderful community event.  I serve the coffee because the organizers (including Paloma Clothing's Mike Roach and Dr. Elaine Gillaspie of Portland Wellness Center) astutely realized that people carrying a loaded plate and juice don't have two hands free to pour coffee.  The many urns we dispensed were generously donated by the Starbucks stores in Hillsdale, Multnomah, and Capitol/Barbur. And yes, I have a Multnomah County Food Handler permit for the important task of serving coffee.  My colleagues Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman stopped by for breakfast, but one after the other so there wasn't a quorum at any time. 

After that, I went to the Columbia Slough Watershed Council's annual Regatta, where anyone may borrow a kayak or canoe free of charge and get out onto the smooth waters of the Columbia Slough. Clean waters, I am happy to report, thanks to much work by many since Alice Blatt, Linda Robinson, Susan Barthell, Chuck Harrison and others co-founded the Council.  I appreciate the expertise of CSWC Education Director Sheilagh Diez steering our double canoe and sharing her enthusiasm for the Watershed Council's work.  I saw a father with his two young children paddling around, who had also been at the East Columbia Neighborhood Association picnic yesterday. Portland has many fun, free activities for families to enjoy.

Then on to the Ramona Street fair off SE 92nd/Foster (after a quick change in the 122nd Avenue Burgerville restroom from canoe-wear to fair-wear.... also a good excuse to lunch on a fresh NW raspberry shake).  Nick Christensen, the Lents Neighborhood Association Chair, greeted me and we celebrated the success of this event that is just three years old.  It combines local craft sales and musical performances with the Lents Farmers Market that operates Sundays at 92nd and Foster throughout the summer.  I bought four pounds of cherries for $8, and these beautiful flowers for $9.

My final event of the day on Sunday was a fundraiser BBQ in North Portland for Jobs With Justice, an organization I've participated in since the unions and other members helped the OHSU nurses win our 56-day strike in 2001-2.  Such a wonderful evening for a potluck outside, especially with folks who work passionately for social justice and equity in our city.