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Local artist fuses glass into jewelry, more

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor

(Left to right) David Hathaway and Teri Knesal are Susan Hathaway’s marketing team and support system for Concordia Glass. She’s been making jewelry and other items from her Concordia home for decades. Photo by Nancy Varekamp

Twelve bars of soap turned Susan Hathaway into an artist at age 6, although now her medium is glass

“My grandparents worked with their hands,” she recalled. “They influenced me to want to work with mine.”

Her grandmother had planned to put the bars of soap to traditional use. However, when the grandmother returned home one day, Susan and the grandfather had put a carving knife to use. The result? Twelve animals.

In high school, her medium became paper and ink. Calligraphy launched Susan’s early career in an Old Town shop, where she penned wedding and shower invitations, framed pieces, and more.

A young man on a bicycle delivered sandwiches to the shop one day and now he – David – and Susan have been married 45 years.

When Susan was 26, she found her permanent artistic calling during a stained glass class, a gift from her mother. Cutting and applying lead and solder to colored glass wasn’t sufficient.

“From then on it was all about fusing glass,” Susan said. With the gift of a kiln from her uncle, she became a self-taught glass maker.

During the 10 years she managed a daycare center in the Concordia home the Hathaways bought in 1978, glassmaking time was limited. When Susan was able to hire part-time help – fellow Vernon School parent Teri Knesal – she was afforded time to work with glass.

“Teri and David became my marketers,” she explained. And they continue to help out at street fairs and craft shows in northeast and southeast Portland, and previously for 20 years at Saturday Market.

You can also look for Concordia Glass earrings, necklaces, hair clips, garden stakes, angel ornaments and five-character nativity sets on sale nearby at:

  • Sharon’s Hair and Nails, 4216 N.E. Mason St.
  • Hollywood Senior Center‘s Golden Treasures shop
  • McMenamins Edgefield’s Gorge Glashaus

Although Susan stopped selling to Made in Oregon after a few years and left Saturday Market two years ago, she can still be found at local craft fairs with David and Teri.

“I’m her chauffeur and sometimes her ‘show-er,’” David rhymed. He retired three years ago years ago from Cloudburst Recycling.

Selling wholesale to stores helps pay the bills, but the shows offer them contact with the customers, Susan pointed out.

“It’s nice just to have people appreciate what you’re doing, and I enjoy talking to the other vendors.”

David agreed and added, “The entry fees you pay to be in many of them – like the Hollywood Senior Center and All Saints School – go to a good cause.”

Editor’s note: Find Susan – and most likely David and Teri – Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Hollywood Senior Center Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1820 N.E, 40th Ave. In addition to shopping at the Concordia Glass table, you’ll find other local crafters with their wares, plus soup and pie for lunch. 

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

Surely we can make our streets far safer

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Garlynn Woodsong | CNA Board Member, SW1 CNA LUTC Chair

There are several ways to make streets safer. One is lowering speed limits, like Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) did recently on several Concordia roadways.

Killingsworth Street is one that Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) has asked PBOT to reduce the speed limit. After all, Oregon Department of Transportation speed zone standards state business districts should be posted at 20 mph.

However, PBOT refuses to lower the speed from 30 to 20 for the sections of the street at 30th and 15th avenues – clearly micro-business districts – with constant pedestrian traffic crossing the street, as well as significant cross traffic and turning movements that include TriMet buses.

In response to CNA’s request, PBOT engineering associate Mike Corrie replied, “After reviewing available data, we have determined the current speed zones on Killingsworth to be appropriate given the layout, and similar to other comparable-sized roads in the area. Therefore, no changes were recommended.”

This response is hard to reconcile with PBOT’s focus on Vision Zero, and the “20 is Plenty” campaign that apparently does not apply to our section of Killingsworth.

It’s possible, with the high volume of traffic on Killingsworth, lowering the posted speed limit alone might be sufficient to slow down traffic. This should certainly be the first step tried.

While lowering speed limits is something that CNA will continue to advocate in locations where it makes sense, such as the micro-business district of Killingsworth, we also are interested in solutions to lower speed by calming traffic with physical methods.

One is Ainsworth Street. Recent data shows, for two days in February, counts were measured on 4,330 trips average per day eastbound, and 4,154 westbound. The posted speed on this roadway is now 20 mph, having been lowered from 30 within the past couple of years.

During the survey, 91.8% of drivers were observed traveling above the posted speed limit eastbound, and 94% westbound. Of those, 13.8% of eastbound traffic was traveling at least 10 mph above the posted speed limit, as was 21.1% of westbound traffic.

Multiple times a day in each direction, some drivers were measured traveling at speeds above 45 mph. This on a street with elderly citizens in mobility devices and people pushing strollers.

So 20 mph signs didn’t help. A traffic-calming solution could include traffic-circle-type installations at intersections that would require traffic to slow down to navigate each circle. That would eliminate the ability to drive fast in a straight line down the long stretches between the very few stop signs at 33rd and 15th avenues and MLK Jr. Boulevard.

On Alberta Street, the situation is a bit different, although we don’t have traffic count data yet to quantify this precisely. The speed limit was lowered to 20 mph but anecdotal evidence suggests that at times when traffic is light – such as during morning rush hour – some drivers choose to use Alberta as their own personal freeway on-ramp, despite the presence of children walking to school.

A physical safety solution on Alberta could include raised crosswalks, such as those found on 42nd Avenue between Fremont and Knott streets.

Only through a combination of speed limit reductions and physical changes to the built environment can we achieve our desired outcomes: a safe neighborhood and city where nobody is seriously injured or killed in traffic accidents.

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.

There’s no slowing this tortoise

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

BUMP leads the frequent walks through his neighborhood, with Rita and Ross Davis following behind. They tow a wagon that – with the tortoise at 60 pounds – is getting difficult for even Ross to lift him into. So far, BUMP has resisted using the ramp built into his customized wagon. Photo by Nancy Varekamp

When Rita and Ross Davis first met Bump, Bump was sick, blowing bubbles out of his nose and lying all by himself in a cold and wet backyard. He was an African spurred tortoise in need of rescue.

Bump only weighed 3.5 pounds and was still a baby.

Rita had to spoon feed Bump medicine mixed with small tortoise food (small kibbles) for two weeks.

That was nine years ago and he has been healthy ever since, weighing in now at 60 pounds.

Bump lives in the Davis house and has his own bedroom, although he loves to sleep under Ross’ lazy boy chair and next to Rita’s night stand.

Because Bump does not drink water, once a week he is treated to a spa day and is soaked in the bath tub. This helps him absorb water. He will splash water onto his back by flipping his front legs toward his back.

Bump’s favorite foods are lettuce, green beans, raspberries, apples and watermelon, as well as his tortoise kibble.

Rita started walking him when he was very young. Then, if he ever got out of the backyard, the neighbors would know where he belonged.

Their walks take about two hours, but Bump can often walk about a mile in that time if it is warm enough.

On walks they have to watch their time because, after two hours, Bump will get as stubborn as a toddler. They will try to go one way – toward home – but he wants to go the other way. The Davises always have a wagon – custom built by Ross and adorned with Bump’s name – with them. If Bump gets tired or stubborn, he can take a Tortoise Time Out in the wagon and they head home.

Bump loves the attention he gets from everyone. Although he will not stop and pose for pictures, he is really good when people want to touch him.

Dogs seem to like him as well, although they are not certain what he is. The dogs and kids will circle around him, but he keeps moving. One dog even brought him a stick to play with, but Bump just kept moving.

A few years ago, the Naked Bike Ride started at Fernhill Park and Bump was in attendance.

When the parade started to move out of the park, Bump was determined to go with the bicyclists. He made it as far as he corner of 42nd & Killingsworth and just crashed.

He crawled to a bush and passed out. Luckily, the Davises had the wagon.

Editor’s note: Tamara has more to share about Bump than space allows. For the rest of the story, visit ConcordiaPDX.org/2019-Bump.

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a softer, 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

Bring the plan home to your own block

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Amy Gard | Team Leader Concordia/Vernon/Woodlawn NET

The Portland Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) program, like other community emergency response team (CERT) programs around the country, was created from the observation – when major disaster strikes and people need help – they are most likely to receive that help, not from trained first responders, but from their neighbors.

Time and again, everyday people jump into action when facing the aftermath of destruction and come to the rescue of others who are injured or trapped.

It was these observations that started the idea behind the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s CERT program – to provide training and structure to civilian community members before disaster strikes Then recovery can be accelerated and volunteers can help others more safely and effectively.

Not everyone can set aside time to take the 30-hour NET training. So our volunteers try to magnify their impact by sharing their knowledge and training with the larger community in a variety of ways.

One way is by helping individual neighborhood blocks prepare together.

If you have a group of at least 10 households on your block whose residents can commit to attending, we can provide presentations to your group on the what, why and how of preparedness.

Typically, we help you host an event at a home on your street or at a public venue. We provide an abridged version of Mercy Corps’ Cascadia earthquake discussion, which highlights the science behind the risks we face here in the Pacific Northwest and the likely ramifications of a major regional disaster.

Once we cover the what and the why, we can help your group prepare individually and as a block to build the resiliency of your street. It’s like a private training for you and all your most likely rescuers!

Contact us at ConcordiaNETs@gmail.com if you have a group that would like to take advantage of this free service.

Amy Gard i s a mother, retired teacher/administrator,  former Concordia business owner, saxophone player and active volunteer for the NET and Oregon Food Bank.

They save history from the wrecking balls

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Dan Werle | CNA Media Team

Brian (left) and Mike McMenamin grew up in neighboring Alameda with a respect for history. That’s what led to restoring buildings like Kennedy School and filling them with vintage decor like this Dutch puppet theater. Photo by Dan Werle

Mike and Brian McMenamin grew up in neighboring Alameda, attended The Madeleine School in Irvington and Jesuit High School in Beaverton before graduating from Oregon State University with degrees in political science.

Since then, they have helped establish or re-invigorate more than 55 pubs, restaurants, hotels and concert venues throughout Oregon and Washington – including the iconic Kennedy School in Concordia.

During their Alameda days, their mom, Pat, stayed home taking care of them and sisters Maureen and Nancy. Their dad, Robert, was an attorney, and he wrote a column for The Oregonian. As kids, their parents and grandparents exposed them to a variety of music, art and history.

Mike, the elder of the two, won a football scholarship but, in his second year, left the football program and began working at Togo’s sandwich shop. There he enjoyed the work better than football.

In 1974, Mike purchased Produce Row Café on southeast Oak Street and their dad purchased the building. Brian later worked at Produce Row before 1978 when they sold it to the employees. In 1983, The Barley Mill on Southeast Hawthorne Street opened its doors and became the brothers’ first joint venture.

Since then, the business has expanded to include such popular venues as the Crystal Ballroom downtown, Edgefield in Troutdale and, of course, Kennedy School.

Students had begun attending classes there in a one-room building in 1913. Two years later the full school opened and, in 1975, the building was shuttered due to decreasing student enrollment and a crumbling infrastructure.

Thanks to former students, local community members and the Portland Development Commission (now Prosper Portland), the building was spared the wrecking ball.

In 1980 Portland Public Schools abandoned the building, and it remained vacant until 1995 when Mike and Brian proposed renovation. The original bell of the school principal rang Oct. 22, 1997, at 7 a.m. to mark McMenamins Kennedy School’s first day “in session.”

Four of the brothers’ children are involved in McMenamins Inc., and Mike’s 12-year-old granddaughter is already providing advice for potential future pursuits.

Brian admits he and Mike began buying and restoring old taverns because, “They were cheap to start out with.” Both confess a penchant for older, high-quality structures, and they enjoy sharing information with the communities in which their businesses operate.

“We like to leave the property in better shape than we found it,” Mike explained.

Brian agreed, “We like to try to do the right thing and hopefully become a positive force in the community.”

Dan Werle lives in Concordia with his wife, Anna, and their dogs.

Ask the historian – University shares name, history, future locally

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, History

Provided by Concordia University

The high school that became Concordia University moved to this campus in 104 years ago, and it has grown immensely since this mid1940s photo. Founded originally as a high school, the site now boasts a diverse student body with undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on campus and online. Photo courtesy of Concordia University

Responding to a need for teachers and ministers in the Pacific Northwest, Concordia University-Portland (CU) was founded in 1905 as a high school. It opened with $800 and 16 students in the basement of Trinity Lutheran Congregation.

By 1907 the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod purchased land and constructed a school building at the current site, 2811 N.E. Holman St.

Under the direction of its first president, F.W.J. Sylwester, the school overcame obstacles to survival. At the time, unpaved roads proved a challenge and the Great Depression significantly reduced student enrollment and employee compensation.

In 1946 the second president, Thomas Coates, added critical faculty members, began a building campaign and, in the 1950s, instituted two years of junior college. The name became Concordia College.

In 1954 it opened its doors to women to prepare teachers for parochial schools and partnered with Emanuel Hospital to prepare nurses. In 1958 president E.P. Weber spun off the high school program as Concordia High School under the direction of Art Wahlers, Ph.D., who also helped found the Concordia Neighborhood Association.

In 1977 CU became a four-year college. The president oversaw residence hall construction to support more students, including international students. The high school moved off campus.

When Charles “Chuck” Schlimpert, Ph.D., was named the fourth president in 1983, Concordia College was firmly rooted in what had become known as the Concordia neighborhood.

He served as president for 35 years during unprecedented growth for CU. Four colleges were distinguished, and the university grew from 800 students to more than 6,000 nationwide.

In 1995, the Concordia University System was formed and linked 10 Concordias across the U.S. At the same time, CU reaffirmed and updated its mission and vision to prepare leaders for the transformation of society.

In 2010 Washington Monthly ranked CU No. 1 nationally for student participation in community service among U.S. universities with masters programs.

In collaboration with neighbors, the city, and the broader community, campus expansion continued.

In 2009, CU opened the George R. White Library and Learning Center, which serves the Concordia neighborhood as a local community library, hosts arts and culture events, and includes the Jody Thurston Northwest Center for Children’s Literature.

In 2011 the Hilken Community Stadium opened. It’s an athletic complex on northeast Dekum Street, also dedicated 50 percent to community groups.

In 2017, Faubion School + CU, a 3 to PhD community, opened with collaborators including Portland Public Schools, Kaiser Permanente, Trillium Family Services and basics market.

CU continues as a nonprofit, private Lutheran university preparing leaders for the transformation of society, serving the community, and providing a diverse student body with undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on campus and online.

Learn more at CU-Portland.edu.

Parkways wheels through Concordia Sept. 22

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events

By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor

Again this year, riders of all sizes are expected to wheel their way on all types of non-motorized wheels in NE Sunday Parkways. Photo by Nancy Varekamp

Every September thousands of Portlanders arrive on wheels to ride the 7.6-mile loop of city streets that connect four Concordia-area parks in NE Sunday Parkways.

They return Sunday, Sept. 22. Neighbors move their cars to where they can access them on other streets, or they simply plan to be part of the annual event between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Rebecca and Nick O’Neil on Ainsworth Street, and Nell Westerlund and Bryce Tolene on 37th Avenue didn’t realize they’d be on the route when they bought their homes five and four years ago, respectively.

“We’d lived in Portland 20 years and participated in some of the Sunday Parkways around town,” Rebecca said. “But being on the route came as a surprise, a welcome one.”

“We were excited when we realized it,” Nell recalled. “We have always participated in Sunday Parkways in some form, changing every year as the kids’ abilities grow.”

Last year her children drew bike art in the driveway. This year they plan to sell vegetables from their garden after they finish their own circuit of the loop.

Rebecca’s and Nick’s daughter was born shortly after they moved here, and each year pictures record her maturing – from a bike trailer, to training wheels and last year to just two wheels.

Friends participating in the event – and even ones who don’t – gather in the O’Neils’ front yard to watch and to interact with passersby.

Before and after their own ride around the loop, the O’Neils’ daughter sells lemonade, or gives away flowers and fruit from their garden.

The story’s much the same for the Westerlund/Tolene family.

“We embrace the event by having a party in our front yard,” Nell explained.

“It’s become like a holiday tradition. We let our friends know we’ll be out front if they want to stop for a drink or a snack and, as a bonus, we always get to see people we didn’t know would be out biking. We flag them down, and they join the party.”

This section of Concordia also gets plenty of traffic in the spring and summer since Fernhill Park – with its egg hunt and concert series – is only a stone’s throw.

“We see those as more opportunities to take the event and expand on it since we live so close,” Nell reported.

Rebecca agreed. She and Nick invite friends from outside Concordia to the park events.

“It’s a statement of how the neighborhood is so desirable, since our friends like to come and experience it with us.”

Editor’s note: Click here for details about NE Sunday Parkways and the route.

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

KISS proffers simple pleasures

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Carrie Wenninger | CNA Media Team

Sarah and Trae Pearson keep it sweet and simple at their new enterprise on 30th Avenue, KISS Coffee. In less than two months, they’ve earned a local following. Photo by Carrie Wenninger

Couple Trae and Sarah Pearson have a playful, long-standing habit of bantering around small business ideas. They came up with the concept for KISS Coffee three years ago.

However, when Trae’s mother brought to their attention the businessfor-sale listing she had seen online, the conversation shifted quickly from dream to possibility. On June 9, the cafe door at 3016 N.E. Ainsworth St. opened and KISS Coffee became a reality.

This tiny yet inviting retail space was formerly the Cottage Pantry, and had previous incarnations as a massage studio, a flower shop and another coffee shop.

Executive chef and sous chef respectively, Trae and Sarah worked together previously at Westwind, a nonprofit camp for kids on the Oregon coast.

There they enjoyed the challenge of crafting the ingredients on hand into innovative and delicious fare while using seasonal variety and avoiding waste.

They bring the same philosophy and creativity to their coffee business.

For those deeply involved in a relationship with caffeine, the name conjures up warm, desirous feelings for that dark and brewing elixir.

Turns out it’s less about romance and more about straight-up good stuff without the fuss.

“KISS, the way we’ve envisioned it, stands for ‘keep it sweet and simple,’” Trae said. “You start with a solid base, which means using good beans. We source ours from Seven Virtues, another small, local business.

“Then offer simple but interesting food options.”

Their flavoring syrups are made from scratch, and there are plans for a small kitchen. “We’d like to have grab-n-go salads, standard and reliable options, and a few seasonal and rotating items to keep things engaging,” Sarah added.

Both have years of coffee industry experience, and Sarah also works as office manager at Icicle Tricycles.

Their home brewing method of choice? “French press,” they said in perfect unison.

Opening at 7:30 a.m. weekdays has brought in early rising Concordia University students. And neighbors have been welcoming, enjoying outdoor cafe tables when weather allows since there’s no indoor seating option. Hours are 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekends.

“The connections that coffee makes are a big part of the enjoyment for us,” Sarah shared. “We are very excited to become part of the community and to be good neighbors.”

KISS Coffee hosts a Concordia Neighborhood Association mixer Sept. 21, but you’re welcome to stop by sooner to sample the sweet and simple selections.

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 – Dog treats create community

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By John McSherry CNA Board, AL3 | CNA Media Team

Each day, neighbors walking their dogs down 29th Avenue between Ainsworth and Holman streets stop in the middle of the block, open a little glass door, take dog treats from a jar and make happy dogs.

We stock this Little Free Library box in the front of our house. Instead of books, it’s full of dog treats, poop bags and a little guest book.

Since my wife Theresa and I love dogs and the dog culture in Concordia, we thought giving cookies to our furry friends would be a fun way to interact with our neighbors and add to our community.

I made the box from a small cabinet drawer I found on the side of the road. I added a slanted roof, some siding from my house and a glass door on the front. I painted the whole thing to match our house and set it on a post in our sidewalk garden.

It’s named after our own dog, Scotty.

Inside there is a shelf separating the cookie jar and guest book on top from the poop bags below. The cookies are Costco chicken and rice premium dog biscuits, broken into smaller pieces. The jar holds about 130 cookies and lasts about a week, which results in about 18 happy dogs a day.

Sometimes the dogs will do tricks for cookies. Some people leave dog-related trinkets, prepaid coffee cards, and several times boxes of cookies have been left on our porch.

The poop bag supply is a collective effort, with neighbors adding bags as they can.

People write in the guest book, leaving their names, names of their pups and anecdotes about the garden. When I’m outside, people stop to thank me for the cookies, and I put faces and tails to the names in the guest book.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the guest book:

  • “Thank you for bringing a smile and a tail wag to our day!”
  • “Burt now thinks every Little Lending Library has treats!”
  • “Kodi knows this house from down the street.”
  • “Edan and Otis are delighted by the unexpected treat! Woof!”
  • “I ate so many of your treats (they are delicious!) I refilled your treat box. Love Huey”

Occasionally, haikus are attached to the front of the box or added to the guest book and signed by Haiku Scotty. More photos and stories are on his Instagram account, @HaikuScotty

What fun it is! We’re so grateful to meet so many of our wonderful neighbors, human and canine alike.

John McSherry lives on 29th Avenue and serves on the CNA board and Media Team. When not spending time with his family, John loves playing music, recreating on the water and volunteering. He can be reached at AL3@Concordiapdx.org

Editor’s 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.

Primrose recommends flower essence energy

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Carrie Wenninger | CNA Media Team

Felicia Howe is a self-described botanical counselor who deals in the subtle art of flower essence energy medicine from her suite on Alberta Street. Photo by Carrie Wenninger

Petite and dark haired with a quick, warm smile, Felicia Howe perched like a wood sprite in a chair in her studio, Primrose Organics Apothecary.

She sipped raspberry leaf and nettle tea from a vintage floral teacup with one hand while the other danced emphatically in the air and gestured toward a busy looking workbench and wall shelving full of mysterious, amber colored, liquid-filled bottles.

Her cozy healing suite in the Alberta Studios building at 1627 N.E. Alberta St., No. 4, opened in June.

“The opportunity presented itself and I just threw myself into the space. It’s slowly revealing to me how I’m going to work here. It’s an evolving process!” she laughed.

A self-described botanical counselor, Felicia deals in the subtle art of flower essence energy medicine. It’s a vocation that, although somewhat hard to explain, seems perfectly at home here in Portland, the City of Roses.

Flower essences, as she described them, can encapsulate the experience of being in nature in much the same way a day at the beach or hiking in the woods can leave you feeling deeply nourished, grounded and peaceful.

Taking the tinctures by mouth – neat or diluted in water – can offer assistance to those undergoing life transitions and can also address feelings of stress and anxiety in a supportive way.

“It’s not herbalism, and it’s not aromatherapy. Flower essences don’t have a scent,” she explained. “They’re liquid extracts that work in a way that’s similar to acupuncture, along the lines of the body’s meridians, on an energetic and vibrational level, to support emotional well-being and mind-body balance.

“I also love that it’s an environmentally-friendly, non-invasive modality. A single flower can infuse a large quantity of water; whereas, a drop of essential oil takes a considerable amount of plant matter to produce.”

An artist, empath and intuitive alchemist, Felicia’s background also includes experience as a stylist, life coach, Reiki practitioner, herbalist and aromatherapist.

“You don’t have to completely understand it to experience it, but you do have to be open and curious,” she pointed out. “There’s an intentional aspect that’s essential to working with flower essences, and it’s a wonderfully effective and gentle way to engage in self-care.”

Primrose Organics Apothecary is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, by appointment only. Call 971.258.8022 to schedule a consultation, or visit FeliciaHowe.com for more information.

Primrose Organics Apothecary

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.