“What started as a prop on the popular TV show Grimm has become the center of some controversy in the small town of St. Helens. It's a replica Stonehenge, however, it is made of Styrofoam.” [1] The Styrofoam structures were obtained the Fall of 2017 after the television show, which was filmed in Portland, had been cancelled, and were being used by city alongside the riverfront throughout a number of months for various activities or reasons. “After extended use and several months of outdoor storage, pieces of foam
were breaking off and could be found littering the ground along the city's waterfront.” [2] This complete disregard for the environment within our community prompted nearby business owners and local residents to petition for its removal. So, “when the structures reappeared in late September for a second Festival of the Fairies, Forbes renewed her petition. “Thomas O'Hanlon, a St. Helens resident who also runs a political action group called the Progressive Alliance of Columbia County, also helped launch an online petition to remove them. O'Hanlon has also been active in recruiting support for the removal of the structures. He has been in contact with Portland news agencies, the Oregon State Marine Board, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters to discuss the issue. Recently, he also reached out to the Oregon Governor's Office of Film and Television and got in touch with a prop designer, Tim Oakley, for added perspective on the props. Oakley, who owns his own studio in St. Johns, also works with the Scappoose - based Michael Curry Design studio. He worked on the set of "Grimm" for the first three seasons of the show, but was not on set when the Styrofoam structures were designed. Based on photos he was shown and images shared in local media, Oakley said he was surprised the props had been used long-term due to their hollow-form foam composition. "This particular foam is usually made for boulders and cliff sidings and it's a one-time use only," Oakley explained.” [3] Which was why Patricia and I was able to garner nearly 300 signatures of support in a short period of time. However, like the year before, these signatures too got “ignored minus a brief discussion in a city council meeting.” [5] Dismissive to the community request and professional opinions, St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh has noted that “the city views the props as valuable assets which it hopes to maintain to be used long-term.” [4] Mayor Rick Scholl said, “that people also seem to forget that there are Halloweentown attendees who enjoy these features, often who are not part of the local community.”
Disgusted by this overall response to and handling of this situation I continued to campaign to put public pressure onto our elected officials. Which is why after watching the Mayor blow-up at a city council meeting and complain about our campaign, saying, “Let’s get over it, let’s move on,” I felt even more compelled to put an even larger spotlight on this town and our council’s behavior. Using political satire and my background in graphic arts & design I produced an image that put a spotlight on his, Mayor Rick Scholl’s, mindset to the problem of the Styrofoam Stonehenge.
After which, it apparently caught his attention because through third person I found out that the Mayor was so aggravated and upset that he was compelled to complain and make statements about me on his personal social media accounts. Honestly, it reminded me of what POTUS Donald Trump often would do when he he’s feeling vulnerable, run to
a safe space where you can get support from your base. Which in my opinion, was not only cowardly but his behavior was also shameful & embarrassing; seriously whoever would send goons to harass and bully constituents in an attempt to silence their voices should be driven out of office. Unfortunately, this is rural Oregon and like most smaller towns and communities out in the middle of nowhere, there often tends to be a lack of morality among its citizens. This just being another one of those instances. In the end, the "DEQ has determined this is a local government issue, and has deferred the complaint back to the City of St. Helens to resolve.” [5] Where like before, the city dismissed it for the sake of putting profit, however small, before the people and the environment.
Works Cited
[1] Chalmers, Keely. “Styrofoam Stonehenge draws complaints.” KGW8. 27 September 2018. https://www.kgw.com/article/news/styrofoam-stonehenge-draws-complaints/283-598971536. Accessed 03 December 2020.
[2] Thill-Pacheco, Nicole. “DEQ visits ‘Foamhenge’ in St. Helens following complaint.” Columbia County Spotlight. https://pamplinmedia.com/scs/83-news/409534-308751-deq-visits-foamhenge-in-st-helens-following-complaint. Accessed 03 December 2020.
[3] [5] Thill-Pacheco, Nicole. “DEQ defers complaint about ‘foam-henge’ to city.” Columbia County Spotlight. https://pamplinmedia.com/scs/83-news/411004-310888-deq-defers-complaint-about-foam-henge-to-city. Accessed 03 December 2020.
[4] Malakoff, Morris L. “St Helens not un-‘Henged yet.” St. Helens Chronicle. 16 October 2018. https://www.thechronicleonline.com/news_paid/st-helens-not-un--henged-yet/article_4b7e4e0c-c734-11e8-b45f-23ee9f73a7c2.html. Accessed 03 December 2020.