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Criticism of OCCL process earns 3-year delay

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor

You haven’t heard the Office of Community & Civic Life (OCCL) has plans to change the ordinance that governs Portland’s neighborhood associations, neighborhood coalitions and business districts? Where have you been?.

“It is a complicated story we’re trying to share with you,” Suk Rhee told about 40 Concordians at the local neighborhood association’s annual meeting early last month.

She’s the OCCL director, hired two years ago, and is trying to assure all Portlanders the opportunity to participate in their city government. The original 1974 ordinance – which created neighborhood associations – carried several requirements. They must hold open meetings, take fiscal responsibility and provide the opportunity for anyone who lives or owns property within their boundaries to participate.

According to media reports during the past six months, the draft revisions omitted all mention of neighborhood associations and any geographic representation of Portlanders.

During the past year of conversations with residents of diverse Portland groups, Suk said she heard from residents who believe there is racial, disability and social injustice in participating in government.

“We need to meet community where they’re at,” explained OCCL staffer Sabrina Wilson. “We need to go beyond the current network to where they’re at: youths, native Americans, houseless communities, the aged.

She said ordinance authors considered, “How do we open the doors even wider? It’s not to take away and give to anybody else.”

Several Concordians took exception to the concept neighborhood associations can’t represent the diversity of Portlanders

“We’re a model for the country for citizen engagement,” pointed out Bob Boyer, one of Concordia Neighborhood Association’s (CNA’s) founders, former CNA chair and former state senator.

Another Concordian scoffed at the results of a survey that engaged just 1,000 people in a city of 650,000-plus.

Ike Harris, CNA board member, also cast doubt on the process, and he criticized the absence of input into the draft from neighborhood associations. “Why did [city commissioner Chloe] Eudaly not meet with neighborhood associations herself, as opposed to doing this in a clandestine way, sneaking it in?”

Kelvin Hall recommended the commissioner visit the neighborhood associations and work with them. He believes city leadership has gone afoul. “This process will be and continue to be in conflict until they clarify their vision.”

Following the local meeting, the city announced the brakes have been applied to changing the OCCL governing ordinance.

For detailed coverage on OCCL’s plans for the next three years, visit the Portland Mercury at: bit.ly/33U4nCB.

Nancy Varekamp is semiretired from her career in journalism, public relations and – her favorite work engagement – writing and editing targeted newsletters.

Part-time Concordian writes

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

Peter Chilson learned the power of words at a young age. He teaches college students how to use them powerfully, and he demonstrates the craft in the books he writes.

Peter Chilson wanted to be a writer ever since junior high school. He can’t recall wanting to be anything else.

When he was 14, he read a column in the local weekly newspaper in Aspen, Colorado, that painted an unflattering portrait of teenage youths in town. Peter, being one of those teenage youths, wrote a response in the form of a letter to the editor.

The experience brought him a small amount of attention. He learned something about the power of words and the power of story. He has been writing ever since.

The newspaper invited him to contribute a regular column on youth life in town. Peter helped found the monthly newspaper in his high school, and he went on to become sports editor.

“We appreciate the work you do at Concordia News. I owe my career to small newspapers,” Peter said.

His favorite writing class was with a teacher named Bob Wiley. Later in high school, Peter was in the history class of a teacher named George Burson. “He read everything we wrote closely.” The budding writer learned from the teacher to make every word count.

Now Peter works as a Washington State University English professor in Pullman while his partner, Concordian Part-time Concordian writes Laura Gephart, works in Portland at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. He commutes back and forth regularly between Concordia and Pullman.

“I’ve been doing this for 17 years, and I love traveling between the rural and urban West.”

A favorite subject, Peter has been writing about Africa since he was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Niger in the mid-1980s. “Africa is a wonderfully diverse and welcoming place, and the people there have taught me so much,” he said.

He has written three books about the continent, including travelogue “Riding the Demon,” short fiction collection “Disturbance-Loving Species” and an e-book about the civil war in Mali, “We Never Knew Exactly Where.”

“Now, I am writing about immigration, focusing on this debate in my own country.”

Peter has a fourth book out with Joanne Mulcahy, a Lewis and Clark College assistant professor. It’s a writing guide for travelers, “Writing Abroad: A Guide for Writers.”

Peter loves the warmth of the people in Concordia, the walkability and the quirky nature of the neighborhood and Alberta Street.

“Concordia is like a small town, with Alberta Street as the downtown.

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a sof ter, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors — Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D — are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@EditKitten.com.

CNA VOICES – Help us help when it’s cold?

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Rev. Lynne Smouse López

After hearing the news of deaths on the street last winter, members of Ainsworth United Church of Christ voted to open our Extreme Cold Weather Shelter to serve people who are guests of the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon HIV Day Center here.

We got off to a slow start, but have spent most of 2019 preparing to open the shelter when the temperature is below 25 degrees or there is ice and snow. We can provide sleeping spaces for up to 15 people who are HIV+, keeping them inside for a hot dinner, snacks and much needed rest.

During the day, guests can attend the day center and, on Sundays, attend worship or go elsewhere. We are working with the day center and a representative from Cascade AIDS Project to receive referrals for those in need who qualify.

We have received generous donations from the Walmart Foundation that enabled us to purchase cots and all the equipment needed for comfortable sleeping arrangements. Donations from others will also provide for food and beverages.

Staffing will be done by volunteers who have gone through training. That includes: basic HIV information, de-escalation and shelter orientation.

The Extreme Cold Weather Shelter Committee is hoping to receive a grant that will enable us to hire a person in charge to coordinate volunteers.

Until then, the shelter will be staffed entirely with volunteers from the congregation and community. More are needed. We need two to three hosts at all times.

The first shift begins at 3 p.m. to greet guests, set up sleeping equipment, prepare and serve dinner. The second shift begins at 8 p.m. and will stay until 5:30 a.m. The third shift begins at 5:30 a.m. and will help the guests get up, serve s n ac k s a nd beverages, take down cots and clean up.

There are additional volunteer opportunities to serve:

  • Kitchen food preparation: Prepare a warm evening meal and clean up.
  • Janitor: Clean up all spaces used by shelter visitors when they leave.
  • Shelter clean up: Clean all the pads and wash all the covers after each use.

Volunteers will be contacted and asked to serve on shifts as soon as we receive news that the weather requires opening.

We will arrange training for anyone seeking to volunteer and ask each to complete a background check that we will pay for. If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact me at 503.284.8767.

The Rev. Lynne Smouse López has served since 1996 as the pastor of Ainsworth United Church of Christ, a multiracial, multicultural, open and affirming, immigrant welcoming, justice-seeking congregation.

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA

Thanks for asking – A sandwich is a sandwich, in many cultures

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Karen Wells | CNA Media Team

Does making a sandwich give a nod to cross-cultural sensitivity? What’s the link between bread, meat and cultural awareness?

At EQC Home Care Agency, meal preparation and cultural awareness can connect 14 languages. Sandwich making can be a gateway to supporting a client’s needs.

EQC “Essential Quality Care” Home Care opened its doors in 2016. Owners strive to provide in-home care services tailored to meet the cultural and care needs of clients. The 85 employees represent communities from Eastern nations, West Africa, Europe and North America.

Cultural diversity is a driving principle behind the home care service. The emphasis on culturally-relevant and appropriate home care sets EQC apart from other in-home care services.

If language is a barrier, offering a sandwich may open a connection. You may know what a sandwich is, but a sandwich might mean something different to people from different cultures.

The concept of “sandwich” – a vehicle to gather or scoop food, sauce, veggies, cheese or cooked meat to guide to your mouth – dates back several centuries. This method of eating was found throughout the ancient world, Asia, Africa and North America.

It’s known by a variety of names, i.e., torta, korech, shawarma or panini. Eastern and African communities refer to it as simply bread and meat. For example, “khabaz lahm” in Arabic, “paanoo mogyanam” in the Ghana language of Akan or “banh mi thit” in Vietnamese.

Sandwich was the “fast food” of 18th century European taverns. By the 19th century it had spread across the Atlantic, landing in the Eastern Seaboard. Iconic sandwiches such as the lobster roll, beef pastrami and the hoagie all originated there.

Fast forward to the 20th century’s Great Depression era with New Orleans’ “po’boy,” school lunch staple “sloppy joe” and the Nebraska “Reuben” all hit the American gastronomical palate.

EQC Home care professionals are paired one-on-one with clients to foster a meaningful and holistic approach to caregiving. More than 40% of the client/caregiver pairings are long-term contracts, lasting more than 24 months and counting.

This kind of track record confirms the success of the diversity-driven business model. The tenets of relationship, trust and cultural awareness are sandwiched between professionalism and crosscultural sensitivity creating a rewarding experience for the clients and caregiving professionals.

EQC Home Care Agency has mastered the art of the “sandwich” on many levels. Find it at 5128 N.E. 42nd Ave. or call 503.7538551.

Sandwich, anyone? Thanks for asking.

Editor’s note: Karen consulted several sources for this piece and shares them with you on Facebook.com/groups/ConcordiaPDX. Do you have a crosscultural question for her? Send it to CNewsEditor@ConcordiaPDX.org.

Karen Wells is a semi-retired adult and early childhood educator. She serves on the planning committee of Womxn’s March and Rally for Action in Portland, WomxnsMarchPDX.com

Concordian has a life well lived

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

Multi-talented, multi-skilled Zac Reisner is a cowboy, poet, climber, writer, painter, builder, guide and illustrator. Currently he concentrates on building and writing poetry in Concordia. Photo by Marsha Sandman

Everyone has a story, and Concordian Zac Reisner is living proof.

Strong childhood influencers instilled in Zac a yearning for a life of adventure, creativity and a passion for the great outdoors.

He was born in San Francisco but grew up in Texas and Oregon. He learned to read fluently by age 5, and Boy Scouting propelled his interest in the natural world. By the age of 14 he got a job as a ranch hand in Texas.

A couple of years studying natural history at the University of Washington convinced him that was not to be his life course.

Zac’s talent was in the arts, so he studied literature, philosophy and painting. He discovered he had a talent for writing when he worked for an underground newspaper. With a sharp wit and some horse sense, he began to write poetry.

The call of nature took him to the mountains with the Tacoma Mountaineers. That’s where Zac became an avid climber and mountain guide, and he has since climbed all the glaciated peeks in the Northwest. He became a cowboy, poet, climber, writer and painter.

Studying at Reed College he met and was heavily influenced by Gary Snyder. That Pulitzer Prize winner is best known as a beat generation poet and environmental activist.

Zac jumped at the opportunity to help him build a house in northern California and stayed on for about 2½ years. So then Zac became a cowboy, poet, climber, writer, painter and builder.

He put his cowboy talent to work after reading Joe Back’s “Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails,” which is often referred to as the packer’s bible. He was soon working as a packing, riding, fishing and hunting guide.

Zac also worked on an Indian reservation in Alberta, Canada and has fond memories of long hitching and hiking journeys from Canada to the United States.

Unfortunately an injury curtailed his guiding days. And so he opened another door. He returned to college at Utah State University, where he honed his skills as a talented painter and illustrator. So now he’s a cowboy, poet, climber, writer, painter, builder, guide and illustrator. He can be reached at ZacR@coho.net

After living east, south, north and west, Marsha Sandman is home at last. And she wants to hear your story. Contact her at MarshaJSandman@gmail.com.

Logan Grocery building to be demolished

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, History

By Doug Decker | Historian

Here’s the former grocery store, as it appeared just last month. Photo by Gordon Riggs

The old green building at 33rd Avenue and Alberta Street says “Notice of 120-day delay for demolition.” That means the building is about to be torn down and replaced by condominiums.

Here’s the story: The 109-year-old grocery store building, built before both streets were paved, is slated for demolition and will be replaced by a three-story, mixed-use condominium and office building.

Developer Bob Bochsler of Box Real Estate Holdings in Portland expects demolition to take place in 2020 with construction to follow soon thereafter. Although drawings for the new structure are not yet complete, he envisions a building with a pitched roof and an inner courtyard facing Alberta. “I want to be in keeping with the Pacific Northwest style,” he said.

When the developer first approached the project, he said he wanted to consider ways to utilize the existing building. Adaptive reuse, however, was not cost effective, due to costs associated with reinforcing the foundation.

The property is ranked in the City of Portland Historic Resource Inventory, which recognizes its significance for potential historic register designation. However, because past owners never listed the property in the National Register of Historic Places, it may be torn down after a brief delay.

Operated from the 19-teens until the 1940s as Logan’s Grocery, the building cycled through multiple owners from the 1950s through the 1970s, known as Zwhalen’s Grocery and then as Romoli’s. From the late 1970s until recently, the building contained the studio and residence of noted Portland artist Jay Backstrand.

Concordian Bob Wilson, grandson of former storekeepers Anna and Earl Logan, has fond memories of the store from its heyday. In recent correspondence, Wilson shared these memories:

This photo from the 1920s shows Logan Grocery, a view looking southwest from the corner of 33rd Avenue and Alberta Street. The former, then known as the “county road,” was not yet paved. Photo courtesy of Bob Wilson

“When I was a small child, my grandparents lived in the house just south of the store. My grandmother would fix lunch every day for my grandfather Earl and bring it over to him.

“Earl was the storekeeper. Anna was the butcher for the store. As a small boy it was so much fun to be with my grandparents, and then to go over to their store and see all of the people who dropped by.”

I’m collecting memories and photos of the life of this old building and welcome hearing from any CNews readers who have a story or photo to share.

Doug Decker initiated his blog Alamedahistory.org in 2007 to collect and share knowledge about the life of old houses, buildings and neighborhoods in northeast Portland. His basic notion is that insight to the past adds new meaning to the present.

Ask the historian is a CNews standing feature that encourages readers to ask questions about the history of the neighborhood and its buildings. Is there something you’ve wondered about? Drop a line to CNewsEditor@ ConcordiaPDX.org and ask Doug Decker to do some digging.

There’s no absence of titles in this new shop

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

Mitchell Melville has stocked his Alberta Street bookstore with about 4,000 books, all used. And he’s continually finding more to add to the collection. Photo by Bernardino Quintanar

Travel down a whimsical dirt path surrounded by lush greenery and you will arrive at Melville books, a charming new addition to Alberta Street.

Mitchell Melville is the owner, and he has never owned a bookstore before; however, “I have been scouting books for about 10 years and selling online as well,” he said.

After making the decision to open a bookstore, Mitchell began attending as many library, estate and garage sales as possible to build a collection. He still goes out and buys at least four days a week before opening the shop. Open hours are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

The store boasts about 4,000 titles in stock, all used. There are roughly 3,500 books inside and another 400-500 outside on carts.

Mitchell received the keys June 1 and the doors opened for a few hours July 21. Melville Books’ first official full day was July 24.

Although he can’t possibly choose what his absolute favorite books are, “‘White Teeth’ by Zadie Smith is one of my all time favorite novels. I try to read a little bit of everything but fiction and science fiction are my favorites.

“I loved the ‘Remembrance of Earth’s Past’ trilogy by Cixin Liu and the ‘Broken Earth’ trilogy by N.K. Jemisin,” Mitchell reported, noting both series are science fiction.

“I love reading science and math nonfiction, but also do some history and biography on occasion.”

He’s currently reading four books: “Little, Big” by John Crowley, “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond, “The Word for World is Forest” by Ursula K. LeGuin and “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco.

He and partner Isabel live in northwest Portland, and they are hoping to move to the eastside within five or six months. Their goal is to be somewhere close to the shop.

Isabel is originally from New York City and doesn’t have a driver’s license. “She never needed one,” Mitchell pointed out. “So we are looking for an area within walking distance of a good grocery store and with good public transit accessibility.”

Currently, Mitchell rides his bike to the store, which takes about 30 minutes. “In September, I started making an effort to ride here at least once a week, and I hope to be commuting via bike nearly every day before too long.

But the ride isn’t without challenges. “It’s hard when I have to schlep a bunch of books around on the bike.”

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a sof ter, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors — Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D — are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@EditKitten.com.

She found her passion in consignment store

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Carrie Wenninger | CNA Media Team

Chelsea Llewellyn-Swanda created a successful consignment store strategy in Kenton, and now she’s bringing it to a second store on 42nd Avenue. Take It or Leave It opens in November. Photo by Lloyd Kimeldorf

Chelsea Llewellyn-Swanda is unzipping her parka-style jacket on a chilly October morning, about to sit down for a cup of coffee in the Kennedy School cafe, when a woman oohs adoringly over the bluetinged faux fur lining the hood.

Chelsea’s face brightens. “Thank you!” It’s a fitting exchange. Chelsea owns Give & Take Resale in Kenton and will open sister store Take It or Leave It, at 5012 N.E. 42nd Ave., in November.

She began her consignment career at Sweet Pea’s in Sellwood, then learned the ropes from the “Godmother of Consignment” herself, Marcee Meijer, at Village Merchants.

Realizing she’d found her passion, the next obvious step was to open a place of her own.

Having opened in 2012, Give & Take is a much-loved and eclectic mix of trinkets, clothing, home goods, kitchenwares, toys, games and kitsch. Take It or Leave It will riff on the same successful formula.

While it was not necessarily her plan to open a second shop, Concordia resident Chelsea was looking to keep her shop manager and stylist topped up with work. Expanding made sense, as they had experienced a profitable year.

“The timing looked right, so we moved on it,” she said.

Through coverage in Concordia News, she became aware of Michael DeMarco and Our 42nd Avenue, and she reached out.

“They’ve been so kind and have really helped us build connections. It’s been very much a hand-holding experience, and we’ve been so supported. I’m grateful.

“We also received funds from an anonymous donor through Our 42nd Avenue, which helped with the transition from rough space to finished store.”

Having a husband in the construction business has helped tremendously, too, and David Swanda of Greylock Construction has spent evenings and weekends readying the space.

With a penchant for baskets, crockery and quirky stuff, Chelsea said she also enjoys bringing a sense of humor to her offerings. “I do kind of live for the oddities,” she laughed.

She recalled a few of those – a taxidermy squirrel, an anatomical teeth model for dental students and a record by Billy Joel’s heavy metal band, Attila, circa 1970.

“Consignment is a community business. It’s a place to find new treasures and a way to keep useful things out of the landfill. It’s also good, affordable fun,” Chelsea pointed out.

“And, at the end of the day, I am proud to be able to make a living from recycling.”

Find her at the new storefront or online at TakeItOrLeaveItPDX.com.

Carrie Wenninger lives on 29th Avenue in Concordia. She is a freelance writer, a mom, a world traveler and a small business marketing consultant. Contact her at WurdGurl@gmail.com.

CNA Voices – Thoughts for Veterans Day

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Opinion

By Steve Elder | CNA Media Team

Veterans Day 2019 will be observed Monday, Nov. 11, and is a federal holiday. This year’s Veterans Day marks the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War I. The holiday was originally known as Armistice Day until World War II, and Korea crowded the calendar.

Veterans Day usually is wrapped around by a three-day weekend – usually glorifying commerce and often doing only lip service to those who were killed, wounded or psychologically impaired in the armed forces during their service. (Disclosure: I spent two years in the Army in the 1960s. I saw no combat and have no PTSD.)

Throughout American history aggressive military force has helped establish our moral position in the world. Our worldly reputation is based on how much we are at war and how much we are at peace.

To maintain our war credibility the administration is currently ginning us up for several new wars, particularly in Venezuela and Iran.

At a recent town hall in Clatsop County, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley was asked what he has done to ensure we engage in diplomacy instead of the use of troops in Venezuela. He spoke of a proposal he had introduced in the Senate which, if enacted, would prevent the president from using armed force in Venezuela.

Not only is the United States ready to attack Venezuela, he said. It is readying us to support more military action in the Middle East. Not seemingly having learned any lessons in Iraq, the administration talks about the threat Iran poses to the United States.

Just in the past few weeks the United States deployed a carrier strike group along with bombers to the Middle East, supposedly to counter possible Iranian threats. A couple of weeks ago, in spite of Congress having voted that the U.S. should not assist in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, another “emergency” was declared by the administration and spending of $8 billion for more guns to Saudi Arabia was authorized.

Miniaturization of the American budget and foreign policy is a bipartisan endeavor. Republicans and Democrats like to claim they are on opposite sides of many issues but, when it comes to militarism, they are on the same side.

Old men and women are sparing no expense, sending young men and women to be killed or wounded. The administration budget request is almost 10% more than the Congress said was needed for military spending.

We have many many things to spend on besides military spending.

Note: CNA respects the views and beliefs of all cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

Steve Elder, East2@ConcordiaPDX.org, is an inactive lawyer, a developer, activist and old grouch.

RGB is more than just its name

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Garlynn Woodsong | Video Game Enthusiast

Caught in the glow of a video game monitor, Jason and Shira Yovu enjoy their Retro Game Bar as much as their customers. Photo by Chris Baker

It’s no coincidence the acronym for Retro Game Bar is RGB. It describes the red, green and blue connection cables between the collection of vintage gaming consoles and their monitors.

Owners Jason and Shira Yovu opened the bar in May at 6720 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Since then gamers have flocked there to enjoy the collection of 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s cartridges and discs that play on 19 consoles.

“We had to buy more consoles, monitors and equipment to open RGB, and also more games for systems like the Dream Cast that didn’t feature prominently in my personal collection,” Jason explained.

Although the form of entertainment at RGB is relatively rare, he’s no newcomer to food service. This is the fourth establishment in which he’s been involved with startup. One was in Maine, where Jason and Shira met almost 10 years ago.

RGB features the games Jason has collected for more than 15 years. “I wanted the games in my collection to be played, not sitting around collecting dust, to have these games be accessible to everyone,” he said.

During the summer, RGB sponsored special weekend hours for minors. “As of mid-October, our all-ages program is on hiatus,” Shira said. “But we hope to redesign it with more options and bring it back by early 2020.”

One of the pleasures for RGB visitors is the opportunity to play on classic systems like the Turbo Graphics 16 from the late 1980s – far less common than its contemporary, the original SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo systems – as well as a few machines such as a Neo-Geo that were previously coinoperated.

RGB features all original hardware and games, no emulators or replicators. It gives the authentic feel, like a record shop, of using the actual original media. RGB signals are the preferred output from the consoles to the monitors, of course, along with analogue outputs.

“We had to modify some consoles slightly,” Jason pointed out. “That allows them to send the RGB signals for their original full resolution to be displayed on monitors that are much higher resolution than the TVs most people originally played the consoles on.”

RGB serves fare as nostalgic as its games, including themed cocktails and a variety of hot dogs.

Garlynn Woodsong lives on 29th Avenue, serves on the CNA board and is an avid bicyclist. He also is a dad who is passionate about the city his son will inherit. He is the planning + development partner with Cascadia Partners LLC, a local urban planning firm. Contact him at LandUse@ConcordiaPDX.org.