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Ask the Historian: 114-year-old church serves as theater

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, History

By Doug Decker | Historian

For 101 years, the building at 602 N.E. Prescott St. served faith communities. Now, for 10 years, Portland Playhouse has produced stage plays in it.

The question:
What’s the history of 602 N.E. Prescott St., and when did Portland Playhouse take it over and begin producing plays there? — Karen Wells

The historian reports:
We love it when readers write with a question about a specific building that’s had a long and interesting journey like this old church. We know it today as the Portland Playhouse – and it’s recently undergone a major overhaul inside – but it started out life as the Highland Congregational Church Jan. 3, 1904.

A news story in The Oregonian from the next day reported on its construction:

“The Rev. D.B. Gray reported the cost of the building was $4,709.15 and the 100 x 100 lot had cost $800. The community raised $600 and the Oregon Missionary Society provided the rest.

“The Sunday school associated with the church had 150 children. Plans for the church were furnished by L.B. Volk of Los Angeles, California, and Peter Wiser was the builder. The building is modeled after the Mizpah Church at East Thirteenth and Powell streets.”

The story went on to say why the new church was so symbolic for the surrounding community:

“The dedication signalizes strikingly the wonderful growth of the city to the northeast as fully 500 homes have been built in the Highland District in the last two years, besides a schoolhouse now occupied by 500 students.”

From the mid-1920s until the early 1950s, the building was referred to as Grace and Truth Hall. Its most recent faith community was the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, from the mid-1960s to 2005.

The building was vacant for several years and, like many older area churches, was sinking under abandonment and deferred maintenance. It was bought by a private owner who lived in the old church for several years prior to its current incarnation as Portland Playhouse, a theater company.

The first play in the church was in 2008 and, since then, Portland Playhouse has built a solid reputation for high quality and well-produced shows, and a loyal following.

Michael Weaver, playhouse managing director, explained the church has recently undergone a $2.4 million interior upgrade to better function as a theater. It also expands the theater company’s offices into the former fellowship hall in the basement and the former Shining Star Daycare, which was attached at the back of the church. While much has changed inside, the upgrade kept the bell tower, stained glass windows and much of the original flooring.

“We wanted to honor the history of the building,” Weaver said.

The play “Fences” shows there through June 10 with rave reviews.

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. If you have a question for him to answer in CNews, send it to CNewseditor@ConcordiaPDX.com.

Intentional community nears completion

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

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

Organic. Non-GMO. Humane pet food. And now intentional communities are the wave of a green future. One is in next door neighborhood Cully.

An intentional community is a cluster of private homes, with shared interior and exterior spaces, designed to benefit groups of people of all ages. This makes it easy to form clubs, organize child and elder care, and to carpool.

Cohousing facilitates interaction among neighbors and thereby provides social, practical, economic, and environmental benefits.

Members share common amenities such as garden plots, open outdoor areas, tools, a common house for large gatherings, guest rooms and more. They work together to enhance and beautify the landscape. That also creates a sense of being part of something larger than themselves – while they also enjoy private homes to retreat to with family and friends.

Cully Grove is the most recent, full-scale intentional community built by Eli Spevak, the owner of development company Orange Splot LLC, a company named after a favorite children’s book.

Eli partnered with Mark Lakeman. Mark, the owner of Communitecture, has worked with Eli for more than a decade. He started with volunteer work at Dignity Village.

Cully Grove homes were presold to people looking for community living. Some of the residents, including Eli’s family, had previously lived at other cohousing communities.

The development sits on nearly two acres right in the heart of Cully near 42nd Avenue. It is comprised of single-family residences with a large shared garden, bike parking, tool library, interconnecting pathways, and a central grove of trees perfect for planned or spontaneous gatherings.

Eli assembled the Mason Street property in 2014 and 2015. After going through several design iterations with Communitecture, they submitted for permits in late summer 2016 and broke ground in spring 2017.

It offers opportunities for those looking to move either up, or down. “Orange Splot focuses on walkable neighborhoods, where it’s possible to get to transit, groceries, restaurants, schools and parks without always having to jump in a car,” pointed out Amber Turner, principal real estate broker.

The development is within easy walking distance of an Albertson’s grocery store, coffee shops Bison and Beeswing, the five-corner restaurants and food carts, and less than 100 feet from a bus stop. It’s also within easy walking distance of Wellington Park and Rigler and Scott elementary schools.

Tamara Anne Fowler is a copy/content editor, fiction editor and accountability coach. Visit her at EditKitten.com, email her at Tamara@editkitten.com or call 310.359.6038. She would love to hear from you.

CNA Voices: It’s time to join the CNA LUTC

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

By Garlynn Woodsong | CNA LUTC Committee Chair

It’s an exciting time to be involved with the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) Land Use and Transportation Committee (LUTC). That is fortuitous, because it also just so happens the committee has four current vacancies.

In May, the CNA Board approved sending another comment letter to the city of Portland concerning the Residential Infill Project (RIP). Once again, the board acted upon a recommendation from the LUTC to ask the city to make fourplexes legal within the zones covered by the project, among ot he r re commended changes to staff’s proposed plan.

The board has gone on record with letters recommended by the LUTC such as this multiple times during the past four years. The board’s position on this issue comes from a deep-seated desire for more equitable outcomes from the local housing market.

Recently, the LUTC has worked with the board to apply for a pilot program for residential parking permits to help manage parking demand adjacent to the Alberta Street commercial district.

For many years, the LUTC and board have worked to try to improve bicycling in the neighborhood –and indeed around the city and region – recognizing that bicyclists often leave neighborhood boundaries

Efforts include:

  • Working with the city on the 20s Bikeway Project
  • Advocating for better bicycle access from downtown through Sullivan’s Gulch to the Columbia River Gorge
  • Advocating for more physical diversion to prevent automobile cut-through traffic from damaging the city’s investment in bicycle greenways to provide safe bicycle infrastructure for Portlanders of all ages.

The LUTC is now recruiting new members to bring new energy and to help share the load of working on these exciting topics and more.

If you, or somebody you know who lives, works, or owns property in Concordia – and who is interested in these or similar issues related to land use and transportation – please come to a meeting.

We meet the third Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Room in the southeast corner of McMenamins Kennedy School. Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 20.

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.

Bernie’s celebrates 20 years

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Vanessa Miali | CNA Media Team

Southern style fare has earned the loyalty of customers and employees across the past 20 years. Kellie Courtney (second from the right) focuses on providing a place that connects to the neighborhood. Longtime employees are (left to right) Virgilio Panjoj-Velasquez, Ryan Gaskell and Angela Cavaleri. Photo by Chris Baker

Bernie’s Southern Bistro owner and operator Kellie Courtney moved to the Pacific Northwest from Chicago in 1989. She tried Beaverton briefly and then landed in Sellwood. But neither location felt right.

“I found the northeast in 1992 and bought a house. It made me think of home because it was a diverse neighborhood, and everyone was so friendly and talkative,” she said.

“I started Bernie’s Southern Bistro because the neighborhood was screaming for a place to walk to, eat at and hang out.”

To this day, Kellie feels very connected to the Concordia neighborhood, and attributes Bernie’s success to it.

“I love this community and I’ve tried very hard to build a diverse clientele of regulars who all feel welcome and comfortable.”

Kellie also feels connected to her staff. Turnover is typical in the restaurant industry, but she has held onto her employees. Three of them have been at Bernie’s upwards of 15 years.

“We’re like a family and Kellie is a big part of it,” said Angela Cavaleri, a longtime employee. “It’s not unusual to know everyone sitting at the bar.”

Colleague Ryan Gaskell agreed. “Sometimes we know everyone in the restaurant. I feel this is the best neighborhood to work in. The clientele is perfect.”

The name Bernie’s came from Kellie’s grandfather, who was her guardian angel and a caregiver when she was growing up. Throughout her childhood, her grandmother’s southern style cooking influenced her. Bernie’s fried chicken and collard greens are perfect examples.

“Most of our family trips were culinary adventures in the South. My dad was a chef who shared his passion and recipes for Creole and Cajun cooking with me.”

Across the years, Bernie’s has hosted recurring events like Bluegrass music on Wednesdays, Soulful Sundays for brunch and many Last Thursday celebrations. In 1999, Bernie’s opened an outdoor patio and expanded the restaurant. It also has added a happy hour featuring small plates of house favorites.

Bernie’s sponsors local events like the Fernhill Concert Series, a dining out initiative that helped build the playground at Fernhill Park and fundraisers for local elementary schools.

Bernie’s is celebrating its 20-year anniversary with specials throughout June and a new spring menu. Check Facebook for details.

Vanessa Miali has lived in Concordia for 18 years. She is a former public relations professional with two kids who cooks every day and gardens occasionally.

Speak up in person or online to help TriMet set priorities

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

TriMet is asking your help – in person and via an online survey – to shape priorities for new funding for public transit under the Keep Oregon Moving law passed by the Oregon legislature last year.

It provides ongoing payroll-tax funding to improve and expand public transportation statewide. Locally, it could mean an additional $55 million each year.

At a recent meeting in Concordia, TriMet officials reported that TriMet may invest in more electric buses and deploy new service in the next five years from the Parkrose Sumner Transit Center to downtown Portland via Prescott and Alberta streets, and MLK Boulevard. A new bus yard is also in the works at 42nd Avenue and Columbia Boulevard in the next two years.

A series of workshops is planned to offer you information and ask for your input. The next one is Wednesday, June 6, 6-8:30 p.m. at Ride Connection, 9955 N.E. Glisan St. Your RSVP is requested, and a light dinner will be provided, along with child care and interpretive services.

RSVP or take an online survey to register your opinions and/or learn more information.

Faubion families share culture, food

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Rachel Richards | CNA Media Team

Community cooking classes are now monthly fare at Faubion School, thanks the 3 to PhD program and a grant from Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods. Photo courtesy of 3 to PhD.

Faubion School now offers monthly community cooking classes through the 3 to PhD program. That program is a collaboration of five different agencies: Portland Public Schools, Concordia University, Kaiser Permanente, Trillium Family Services and Basics (formerly Pacific Foods) with the shared mission to create safer, healthier and more educated communities.

The goal of 3 to PhD is to close the opportunity gap for the most vulnerable children and families, and to restore school as the heartbeat of the community.

Jacklyn Sisto, 3 to PhD services coordinator, created the community cooking classes and taught the first one in December about making tamales. She feared no one would show up, but 50 people came together and shared feedback that they really enjoyed the event.

Jacklyn obtained funding for the cooking classes to be ongoing throughout the school year through the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods Community Grant program.

“With so many partners and agencies involved, our community cooking classes bring them together with Faubion families to build community and share cultural knowledge through sharing culturally specific food,” Jacklyn said.

The program is accepting donations of food (3 to PhD also provides a food pantry for Faubion families in need) or financial support. Donations can be made by contacting Jacklyn at JSisto@cu-portland.edu or 971.804.9125.

In February, three Faubion parents taught a class on Ethiopian food. In March, Faubion parent Ana Rosa Gonzalez taught a class on how to make albondigas, which are Mexican turkey meatballs.

April featured Southern cooking with Andre, who is the school’s night custodian. Another April class taught community members how to make Argentinian empanadas.

“The community cooking classes give people the opportunity to do something they are good at and share it with others,” Jacklyn pointed out. “It is a great way for community members to share culture in a way that is accessible – food. Who doesn’t love food?”

May’s cooking class is pizza on Wednesday, May 16, at 3:30 p.m. in the 3 to PhD demonstration kitchen.

Rachel is a 16-year Concordia resident who loves her community. She has a background in counseling/education and uses her passion for helping others in her work as a real estate broker. Contact Rachel or learn more about her at RachelRichardsRealtor.com.

Initiative aims to tax rich for environment

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

By Steve Elder | CNA Media Team

Portlandd voters will soon have the opportunity to fight climate change while promoting social and economic equity.

The Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) would generate an estimated $30 million annually to do things like weatherize and solarize Portland homes and businesses. It would also provide energy efficiency upgrades for low-income housing, job training, minority contractor support, green infrastructure assistance, and local food production.

The ballot initiative is what some call pure democracy: people can vote directly to make a law that affects them, not going through the legislature or other governing body.

The PCEF ballot initiative would impose a 1 percent business license surcharge on retail corporations, such as Apple, Starbucks and Wells Fargo, that do a $1 billion worth of business nationwide and $500,000 of business in Portland annually.

To get on the November 2018 ballot 45,000 signatures of Portland registered voters are required. A citizen’s commission, appointed by the city council, will distribute the money. The commission will oversee competitive proposals for use of funds.

Each commission member must have strong interest and experience in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, acting on climate change, and advancing racial and economic justice.

Detractors say the measure sounds like a sales tax. Technically it is not, although corporations will pay based on meeting a certain sales volume threshold. Corporations already pay license fees. PCEF is a surcharge. Most of the affected corporations already collect charges in other states that they pass on to Portlanders in the form of standard prices all over the country.

PCEF is a little like Measure 97, the tax initiative which lost statewide after a campaign that broke Oregon’s spending record for ballot initiatives. The measure won handily in two counties, Multnomah and Benton.

According to the Department of Energy, every dollar invested in weatherization generates $1.72 in energy benefits and $2.78 in nonenergy benefits such as fewer medical bills and less labor time lost. Landlords who upgrade properties will be required to limit any rent increases.

The PCEF steering committee has among its members the Sierra Club, 350PDX, the Audubon Society, NAYA Family Center, the NAACP, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, and more than 100 neighborhood associations, including Concordia.

Signatures will be collected from Portlanders who will be old enough to vote in the November 2018 election. Signature collectors should be able to explain the initiative and provide copies for review.

Volunteers are needed to help collect signatures. If you’d like to help, google contact information for any of the sponsors.

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

It’s fundraising season for community-building events

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

CNA VOICES
By Katie Ugolini| CNA Social Committee Chair

It’s spring, and fundraising is in full bloom in Concordia.

As you know, your Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) raises funds to sponsor events and activities that fit our mission to build community.

Last month, we sponsored the Spring Egg Hunt and coming up soon are our booth at the July Fernhill Concert Series, the summertime neighborhood yard sale, the Aug. 3 National Night Out celebration, the Sept. 23 Northeast Sunday Parkways and the CNA Holiday Party in December.

Only one event each year makes money. That’s the Neighborhood Clean Up, scheduled for Saturday, May 19, at the PCC Workforce Center.

Our budget also receives a modest annual donation from the city’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the rental income from the McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room. (Need a venue for a meeting or party? Visit ConcordiaPDX.org/community-room-rental for details.)

By far our largest expense each year is the concert series. It costs about $16,000 to pay for the bands and equipment. Yes. That’s no small amount. And one of the sources of income for it won’t be available this year.

That’s income from passing the hat during intermission at each concert. In the past, the hat provided $5,000 to $6,000 to help defray concert costs. This year, however, all funds from the “hat” will go to the Portland Parks & Recreation general fund for programs.

Although supporting all of our Portland parks activities is important, this means that one of our most dependable sources of revenue for the Fernhill Concert Series – the audience – will disappear in 2018.

So fundraising is especially important this spring and the three people who traditionally raise money – two CNA Board members and yours truly — need some recruits. Please help us keep this family-friendly Concordia summer tradition alive.

Please consider becoming a sponsor and/or making a donation. And contact me at KTUgolini@gmail.com if you can lend us some time to approach local businesses and organizations to request donations and sponsorships.

Daruma doll inspires Daruma sushi fare

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

Daruma (duh-roo-muh): a hollow, round traditional Japanese doll.

Daruma dolls are seen as symbols of perseverance and good luck. When acquired, the figure’s eyes are both blank/ white. An owner will then select a goal or wish and paint in one of the figure’s two eyes to “keep an eye on it.” Once the desired goal is achieved the second eye is filled in.

Daruma is also the name of a local sushi restaurant. It moved recently from 42nd Avenue and Fremont Street to 1640 N.E. Killingsworth St. Owner Andy Diaz, originally a broadcast engineer at NYU Law School, had no food background when he opened it.

He had moved to Seattle in 1991, but returned to New York City in 1999. He didn’t stay long. He missed the West Coast and sought a more affordable city here. “I also wanted clean air and access to good food,” Andy beamed. “It’s wonderful here.”

One night, he fell asleep watching “Jiro Dreams of Sushi.” The next morning, his real estate agent called to tell him Ristretto Roasters was moving. Andy thought, “That would be a great space for a sushi restaurant.”

Although he did not have much experience in sushi, he jumped right in. Andy has always cheered the underdog.

Daruma Sushi has been open for four years. With the move, Daruma went from a 20-seat restaurant to one that is more obliging and contains 40 seats. At the 42nd Avenue location, he would have to turn away parties of more than four or shut the restaurant to accommodate larger groups.

His staff is good at taking initiative and at being creative. He has given each member of his staff a Daruma doll. “To help them stay focused on their objective,” Andy explained.

His current chef, Devin Jacobson, came into his old location wanting to apply as a waitress. He looked at her resume and was impressed by her experience. Devin is in her late 20s and had been preparing sushi for 10 years.

Andy asked his original chef if Devin could be his assistant. Eventually, after the chef moved to Seattle, Devin was running the sushi board.

Andy soon learned that rice is the most important thing in the restaurant. If the rice is not right he cannot open that day. Undercooked or overcooked rice can ruin good fish.

It’s all trial by fire. He recently added cooked food. Andy would like the kitchen staff to continue to evolve, like his menu and the wishes on the Daruma doll.

Gallery offers functional, not precious

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Judith A. Ross | CNA Media Team

Wil Labelle and Manya Wubbold opened Side Door Ceramics Gallery recently. Located at 5001 N.E. 30th Ave., it’s just around the corner from Alberta Street. Photo by Chris Baker

A well-designed, carefully crafted piece of pottery is a joy to hold – and behold. The perfect mug, for example, will not only comfortably contain your morning brew, it will serve as a small piece of art on your shelf.

Wil Labelle and Manya Wubbold of Side Door Ceramics Gallery aim to create household items that do just that.

The two opened the gallery, located at the corner of 30th Avenue and Alberta Street, in January. The 235-square-foot space is lined with shelves of useful objects made from stoneware or porcelain in colors ranging from blues and greens to creams etched in brown.

A pottery wheel, where Wil and Manya often work during business hours, sits behind the front counter.

Their offerings include – but are not limited to – cups, bowls, serving platters, teapots, candleholders, Chemex-shaped coffee makers, olive oil pourers and salt shakers.

All are designed and priced for everyday use. “Our prices range from $15 for cups, to $50 for bowls, and $70 to $90 for teapots and more complex projects,” Wil pointed out.

Hanging on one wall is his signature item, tall, narrow to-go mugs – each with a generously-sized handle and a cork plug on top.

“I started doing those because I wanted to change people’s perspective about how they embrace a piece of handmade pottery during the day,” he added. “This piece is meant to leave your safe zone, your castle, and go with you in your coach.”

Although Wil has spent the bulk of his career in the pottery business both as a teacher and maker, Manya came to the craft while teaching Spanish at the university level. Last month she was in North Carolina attending the John C. Campbell Folk School, where she took an intensive course in making large works in porcelain.

They met when Manya was Wil’s student at Georgies Ceramic and Clay Co. on Lombard Street. After a few years as Wil’s student, Manya invited him to share a studio on her property. Two years later, upon learning that the gallery space on Alberta was available, the two decided to go in together. They continue to make the bulk of their products at the private studio and view the gallery as a showroom for their work.

“We both saw this as an opportunity to take our work to the next level,” Wil explained. “It was a way for us to showcase functional pottery that is affordable. “There’s no greater accolade than someone saying, ‘I started using your salt shaker, and I love it.’”

Judith is a freelance writer, who relocated from Massachusetts to Portland in 2016.