Sallyportal: Madly Blogging Reed

Neighbors Visit Reed, Live to Tell the Tale

By Aaron Smith ’13 on September 24, 2014 04:05 PM

Portland neighbors, Reed students, and local nonprofits converge on Quad for Community Day
Photo by Leah Nash

A performer sticking his head in balloons he’d inflated with a leaf blower. Children riding a tiny truck down a plastic slide. Cider. Bees. Bluegrass. A peek inside a nuclear reactor. These were just some of the attractions that drew multitudes of Portland neighbors to Reed on Saturday to celebrate the bond between town and gown.

The festivities kicked off with the Reed College 5K Run, which drew 276 participants and raised more than $9,000 for local Portland schools, including Duniway, Grout, Llewellyn, Lewis, and Woodstock Elementary schools. The overall winner was Christopher Clancy, who finished in 16:36, followed by physics major Jack Flowers ’15 who came in second in 17:15. Prof. Kyle Ormsby [math 2014-] came in fourth and Prof. Alison Crocker [physics 2014-] came in first among women runners and sixth overall. Trevor Soucy ’18, Ben Black ’18, Ki Choi ’17, Bookstore Manager Ueli Stadler, Hayden Kinney ’17, and Ross Petersen ’15 all finished in the top 25, several minutes ahead of President John Kroger and Reed magazine editor Chris Lydgate ’90, who ran while brandishing a ukulele. Afterwards, runners and their families tucked into a pancake feast in commons.

And they're off! Reed 5K draws 276 participants

Photo by Leah Nash

The schedule included a nonprofit fair for local organizations to boost their profile in the neighborhood. More than two dozen nonprofits took part, including Friends of Tryon Creek, Raphael House, Schoolhouse Supplies, Janus Youth Programs, and the Feral Cat Coalition.

To many Reedies, the fair added vital substance to the day’s excitement. “You’ve got your serious and your silly. What’s not to like?” commented Matthew Yee ’13. Since one day out of the year wasn’t likely to foster meaningful and deep relationships between Reed and the wider community, Yee reasoned, the fair might act as the impetus to strengthen nascent connections, especially among alumni who were on campus as part of Reed’s Leadership Summit.

The fun culminated with—what else?—a dog show held in conjunction with the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association. Dogs and their companions paraded around the Quad vying for Best Costume, Best Owner/Dog Lookalike, and Best Doggie Duo, as ENA president Robert McCullough ’72 emceed the event in an elegant top hat. The coveted Best in Show medal was awarded to a seven-pound Teacup Poodle/Maltese mix named "Oreo."

Tags: Portland, running, sports, dogs,