Self-fundraiser for OWN at 18th picnic
 Chad White, a long-time member of the Organization of Westside Neighbors board manned the barbecue for the picnic. Westside Pioneer photo
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Among those on hand were Mayor John Suthers, City Councilmembers Don Knight and Tom Strand, and County Assessor Steve Schleiker.
Holding a plate with a hotdog and sides, Suthers remarked that he appreciated the chance to come to Bancroft Park for the first time since the city spent about $200,000 to fix and upgrade the bandshell following the January 2017 fire. “It's the first time I've seen it since it was renovated,” he said.
OWN President James Thompson thanked the more than 15 businesses that supported the picnic, either by providing culinary side dishes or items for the raffle.
Also helping out was the city's Council of Neighbors and Organizations (CONO), which took on liability insurance for the park and lent tables and chairs. Entertainment included area guitarist John Spengler on the bandshell stage and face-painter Stephanie Adams.
OWN has represented the Westside since 1978, but without city funding assistance since 2014. Past efforts have included helping publish the Historic Westside Design Guidelines and reviewing projects and developments.
To help defray its ongoing costs, the volunteer advocacy group charged a fee for the barbecue (hamburgers as well as hotdogs) and side dishes for the second year. (Technically, it was the first year, but the fee in 2017 was advertised as a donation.) About $670 was raised, according to OWN Vice President Sara Vaas.
Westside Pioneer article