Looking back to move ahead

Last month, Portland was lucky to host film producer Dave DeSario as he screened his film A Day's Work. This 2015 tearjerker documentary shares the horrific story of 21-year old Day Davis who lost his life on his first day of work as a temporary worker at a Bacardi bottling plant. During the discussion that preceded … Continue reading Looking back to move ahead

It’s because of the mayor

  Now I didn't want to make a big deal about this during campaign season, but I imagine with the elections over, I am free to speak my mind. For after all, how often do we political spouses really get to share the gritty stuff? And you - my handful of readers - will be … Continue reading It’s because of the mayor

Government and secession: now and then

Moving through this emotionally charged 2016 Election Week, I am reminded of the book Ecotopia.When I read it as a Portland high school student in 1975, I was encouraged by what seemed progressive community thinking. This classic 1975 "cult" novel by Ernest Callenbach seemed to address my fears about environmental degradation of the land I … Continue reading Government and secession: now and then

On the eve of Wordstock….still talking about J.K. Gill

As you can tell, I'm often consumed with Oregon history. But I haven't stopped being surprised when I read discussions about the J.K. Gill Bookstore in Facebook groups like Dead Memories Portland or Forgotten Oregon. With the downtown store closing in 1991, you'd have to be 25 now to be alive when Gill's still had … Continue reading On the eve of Wordstock….still talking about J.K. Gill