LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE: Jim Francesconi. IMAGE: martinthiel.com

• The city of Portland’s heliport at Northwest Davis Street and Naito Parkway has a new operator—the city itself. After nearly two decades, the Northwest Rotorcraft Association—a nonprofit run by John Helm, the husband of state Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose)—has given up its contract to operate the facility. Two weeks ago, WW reported that a senior city bureaucrat had raised questions about whether Johnson had improperly used her office to influence the terms of the contract (see “Copter Cash,” WW, June 18, 2008). Johnson’s attorney says his client has done nothing wrong. For more on the story, see wweek.com.

• Table-turning alert: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, one of Oregon’s most well-connected law firms, is being sued. In a lawsuit filed June 27 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, national hardwood-manufacturing giant Columbia Forest Products accuses Schwabe of botching three Arkansas real-estate deals. The lawsuit says Schwabe has provided Columbia Forest Products legal services for more than 20 years, but now the company wants the firm to pay $3 million plus attorney fees for alleged screwups, including failing to notify Columbia about key expiration dates. Mark Long, managing partner at Schawbe, declined comment.

• Job got you down? How about spending your mornings at a wastewater treatment plant, showing city employees a proper hamstring stretch? Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services wants someone to lead 2,075 daily stretching and exercise classes, for up to 15 people at a time, through 2013. The successful bidder will also “promote the value of stretching/exercise sessions in interactions with Bureau employees.” (Does that mean the trainer should promote what a great job she’s doing?) Jolly Butler, the BES staffer in charge of the program, refused comment. The estimated cost to taxpayers for looser hammies? Make an offer by July 8.

• In the May 20 City Council primary, Charles Lewis only beat Amanda Fritz in one of 94 precincts (around Lewis’ HQ on North Killingsworth Street), and there by a measly 26 votes. To have a shot in the November runoff against the front-running Fritz, Lewis needs help in the other 93, or maybe a hero. Could it be former City Commissioner Jim Francesconi, Metro president David Bragdon or Portland Development Commissioner Sal Kadri? All recently endorsed Lewis (who has softened his attack-dog tone on the PDC). Meanwhile, Fritz, who has been stalking Council chambers, has flipped two primary rivals into supporters: ex-state Rep. Mike Fahey and Portland Public Schools fundraiser John Branam.

• Last week, the Oregon Senate rubber-stamped nearly all of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s appointments to state boards and commissions. One notable exception: ex-City Commish (and now Charles Lewis-endorser) Jim Francesconi’s reappointment to the higher-ed board, which was OK’d over one senator’s objection. “I rode my motorcycle all the way to Salem just to vote no on Francesconi,” says Sen. Vicki Walker (D-Eugene). “He’s just another Goldschmidt person with no creativity and nothing to add. He’s just one of those people who keeps getting appointed.” Says Francesconi. “I haven’t spoken to Sen. Walker, and it’s past time that I did.”