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They’re bringing joy to children

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

Dean Johnston (left) and Roberta Robinson are no newcomers to bringing smiles to children’s faces. He’s been volunteering with Toy & Joy Makers for 49 years, and Roberta for 35. The Toy & Joy Makers request line is 503.231.8697. Photo by Lloyd Kimeldorf.

Dean Johnston, retired Portland firefighter, once played a helicopter-delivered Santa. It was during the 2012 holiday season. The event, held in Washington County, was put on by Tualatin Fire & Rescue with Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R).

“When you are dressed as Santa Claus, it’s amazing how many people wave at you,” Dean said.

Although less dramatic but more impactful than playing Santa is his work with PF&R’s Toy & Joy Makers. Dean has been with the group headquartered next door in Cully Neighborhood since 1969, and he became director in 1984.

Toy & Joy helps low-income families in the Portland area give their children toys for Christmas. It also works year round to soften children’s tragedies of losing their toys to fire, flood, earthquake and other disasters. Work is in partnership with the Portland Police Bureau and agencies that work with domestic violence.

During the holiday season, volunteers contact and work with state and local agencies that assist low-income families with children in need of a little holiday cheer.

The Toy & Joy Makers program is the largest of its kind in Oregon and has a long respected history working with state and local agencies.

Toy & Joy started giving toys to needy children in 1914. That’s when PF&R’s role in the community began to involve working with schools and teachers to find and assist families in need, and working with schools to teach children about giving and helping their communities.

Cash donations are used to purchase toys at wholesale prices. Each child served by the nonprofit receives several age-appropriate toys. Many firms and groups donate money or toys to the effort, in lieu of sponsoring a holiday party for employees.

Toy & Joy board members also meet with businesses that can help with donations of money, supplies, inventory and public relations. They also work with businesses to show how they can get involved helping with toy collection or donation programs.

By December, there are 20 to 25 Toy & Joy volunteers helping each day. There are no paid staff members.

And, as for Santa Dean, he enjoys his role. “It’s the warmth of giving and being with the family that makes this a favorite time of year.”

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.

Nonprofits, neighbors need a hand

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

By Rachel Richards | CNA Media Team

Are you looking for a way to give back to the community this holiday season – or are you considering a New Year’s resolution to help your neighbors more? Worthy causes abound in and near Concordia, and they could use your tax-deductible dollars and/or your spare time.

At least two organizations in Concordia focus on the hungry.

Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) meets urgent food and clothing needs. Clients include anyone in need, including those who are experiencing houselessness and those who are undocumented. NEFP is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 4800 N.E. 72nd Ave.

Volunteers are needed for: liaison, inventory, assisting clients shop, greeting, intake, operating the mobile pantry, serving as couriers, and in the clothing center, garden and landscape operation, cleaning and maintenance. Donations of funds, food and clothing are welcome. Contact NEFP at 503. 284.5470 and/or NEFP@emoregon.org.

The Faubion Food Pantry is always in need of shelf-stable food, especially fruit and applesauce cups, alternative milks (soy, almond, hemp, coconut), and protein-rich items such as canned soup and veggies, with an emphasis on organic and healthy food.

There’s also a need for clean, gently used children’s coats during the clothing drive that ends Dec. 5. For details and/or to schedule a drop off or pick up, contact Jaclyn Sisto, 3 to PhD services coordinator, at 971.804.9125 or jsisto@cu-portland.edu.

All of the local schools need more volunteers and dollars to support their academic programs. Internet searches can offer you contact info for Faubion, Vernon, Rigler and Ivy School Prescott Campus elementary schools; Beaumont Middle School and/or Jefferson, Madison and Alliance high schools.

One of the human services organizations in Concordia is The HIV Day Center, 2941 N.E. Ainsworth. It provides services for low-income people living with HIV/ AIDS. Hot breakfasts and lunches are available four days a week, as are counseling, information and referral, and help with problem solving. Clients have access to phones, a mail drop, computers with internet access, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, clothing, showers and hygiene supplies.

The organization will benefit from the Dec. 5 World AIDS Day Fundraiser Luncheon.

Rachel Richards 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.

Give!Guide promotes Concordia nonprofits

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

It’s Willamette Week Give!Guide time again. The newspaper selected 150 nonprofit organizations this year to benefit from its goal to raise $4.4 million from 10,000 donors. Additionally, $347,000 is available in matching donations.

Several of the selected organizations hail from in or very near Concordia. Visit GiveGuide.org to donate to these organizations and/ or others:

Black United Fund of Oregon assists in the social and economic development of Oregon’s low-income communities and contributes to a broader understanding of ethnic- and culturally-diverse groups.

Columbia Slough Watershed Council protects and enhances the Columbia Slough and its watershed through community engagement, education and restoration.

Community Cycling Center broadens access to bicycling and its benefits by helping build a vibrant community in which people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected.

Habitat for Humanity believes everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to live. People in the Portland area partner with Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home and pay an affordable mortgage.

Northeast Emergency Food Program, as described in the story above, provides food and clothing assistance to culturally- and racially-diverse neighbors while working to develop community solutions to food insecurity.

Schoolhouse Supplies, housed at Madison High School, provides free school supplies to students in need. Program organizers believe every child deserves school supplies and has the right to a quality education, regardless of economic circumstance.

Trillium Family Services, a partner in the Faubion 3 to PhD program, strives to help create safe communities where children are healthy and every family has the opportunity for success.

CNA Voices – Shop local, shop Concordia

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Gina Levine CNA | Business Manager

The holiday season has begun. That means holiday shopping is gearing up. As you look through these pages of CNews, it’s a sure thing you’ll find a service, event venue or a retailer that offers the perfect gift for even the most particular person on your gift list.

CNews relies on advertisers to pay the printing and postage costs that help us fulfill our mission to help build community among Concordians. I work with those advertisers, and I can assure you they’re a collection of nice and hardworking individuals and groups who are proud to serve you.

So please consider them in your holiday shopping. (And, when you visit them, please thank them for helping CNews pay its bills!)

Moreover, I encourage you to shop throughout the neighborhood this holiday season. It’s become easy to shop online and watch the packages arrive on the doorstep.

It’s more fun to shop Alberta, Dekum and Killingsworth streets and 42nd and 33rd avenues. We have countless artists, artisans and other makers here. Their one-of-a-kind items will surely please the people on your gift list. And you’ll have stories to tell your gift recipients about meeting those makers.

There are specialty shops that are mostly locally owned, along with chain stores and franchises managed by your neighbors. We are lucky enough to have many treasured stores to be found within walking distance: bike stores, print shops, pet supplies/boarding, specialty books, grocery stores, and even some of the non-browsing type businesses (e.g., high-end auto restoration, metal salvaging, business consulting, commercial bakeries, and health and wellness services).

Don’t forget the purveyors of food and beverages. They’ll restore you during your shopping. Most sell gift cards too – possibly the easiest means to check off a few entries on your gift list.

Then there’s the economy. The American Independent Business Alliance offers these among the benefits of spending locally:

  • Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns three times more money to your local economy than one spent at a chain, and nearly 50 times more than at online mega-retailers.
  • Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local nonprofits, events and teams compared to big businesses.
  • Local management of business means residents with roots in the community are involved in key development decisions that shape our lives and local environment. Shop Concordia!

Gina Levine is an Idaho native who moved to Portland 12 years ago and lives in Concordia with her hubs and three kiddos. She spends her free time volunteering at local schools and the CNA Social Committee. If you’d like to advertise in CNews, give her a ring at 503.891.7178. You’ll be happy you did.

Biking evolves from passion to vocation

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

Dave Stoops began his bicycle bags business on his kitchen table in Concordia, using a sewing machine adopted from a curb. First, he had to teach himself how to sew. Photo courtesy of Ashley Anderson

When bike enthusiast Dave Stoops moved to Portland from Connecticut in 2002, he was 18 and ready to get out on his own. Dave’s two sisters had already moved here and, when visiting them, Dave had the opportunity to experience the Pacific Northwest.

He’d fallen in love with the wilderness outside the city — the Wallowas’ meteor showers, the high desert, the beautiful coast line and the forests.

Discovering cycling as a young adult showed Dave he could live a healthier life by changing his mode of transportation. He began making a living as a bike courier.

That mode would open his eyes to a lot more of what the world had to offer. Bike camping – or bike packing – is one of those offerings. It’s touring the countryside by bike. Survival items are loaded into bicycle bags called panniers. After a few stops and scenic surroundings, you reach your destination, set up camp and enjoy reflecting on your day with some fireside food and beverage.

“I personally like this type of tourism because it lets you experience the world a lot slower than driving by in a car, but allows you to cover a lot more ground than back packing,” Dave said.

Biking also became his sport in 2003 when he joined the bike polo group at Alberta Park. “Other than the banged-up shins and hands over the years, I would say bike polo has primarily taught me how to crash out on a bicycle and walk or roll out of a collision. This skill saved my life when I was struck by a car while commuting to work one morning.”

Then the bike became his livelihood in 2007 when he started his own company, Black Star Bags to design and manufacture panniers.

A housemate of Dave’s – and another cross country tourer – found a beat up sewing machine in a “free” box near their home at 14th Place and Killingsworth Street. It inspired Dave to start designing his own panniers.

After a year of teaching himself how to sew, he began test riding a variety of prototypes. Soon, he opened a small shop on Alberta Street at 10th Avenue, which he outgrew and moved to southeast Hawthorne Street. in 2011.

But his heart and home are still in Concordia. “After paying rent for 10 years, in 2012, I was finally ready to purchase a home and start a family,” Dave recounted. It’s across 33rd Avenue from McMenamins Kennedy School. “Concordia was my first choice.”

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

They know your face, if not your name

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Rachel Richards | CNA Media Team

Victoria Buchler and Jesse Petersen enjoy working at NEPO 42 as much as the customers enjoy being served by them. The establishment celebrated its 10th anniversary this autumn. Photo by Chris Baker

Visiting NEPO 42 on a Tuesday during daily happy hour, you’ll see couples, families, singles and dogs. And you’ll sense neighborhood camaraderie.

Bartender and manager Fred Stephenson greets many who enter by name. “If I don’t know someone’s name, I do know their face,” he said. He’s worked there since NEPO 42 opened 10 years ago with only three employees, and he’s watched the staff grow to 23. “The area has grown, and the place has grown with it,” Fred explained. “Other spots have come and gone, but we’re consistent, and we’re still here.”

Thirteen indoor tables – and 11 outdoors on the dog-friendly patio – are among the draws, even for the staff. “I just want to hang out with dogs all day. My dream came true,” said one employee.

Another draw is the menu, elevated from standard pub fare, according to regular customer Judah Macauley. “There’s an excellent 20-tap beer list and solid, well done – but not overly fussy – food. It’s a good family establishment where I can bring my kid for weekend brunch or grab a quick beer with my wife.”

“The house salad with fried capers is the bomb,” noted another customer.

The name and spelling of NEPO 42 came about after friends and mentors shot down owner Matthew Firosz’s initial list of 50 potential names. “I was fixated on something with the numbers so, when you heard it, you knew where it was,” he recalled. “A graphic artist buddy who knew Portland loved the NOPO thing for north Portland, and we realized there wasn’t a NEPO. So we put the two things together as NEPO 42.

“This place has gone above and beyond my wildest dreams,” he reported. “I truly feel blessed every day, and I love that this is a place where I still want to hang out.” What does he credit for that success? “The neighborhood was willing to grow with us, and I have an amazing staff that ‘gets’ the neighborhood and wants to be friends with our guests.”

From behind the bar, Fred added, “We’re not any one thing. This place’s identity became its own because of the people. The people are the color on the wall.” That’s all part of what attracts return customers. Many on their way home say, “See you tomorrow, Fred.”

Rachel Richards 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.

Cully Park turns former trash into treasure

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Vanessa Miali | CNA Media Team

(Top left to right) Margot Bender and Enzo Miali, and (bottom left to right) Wyatt Pyle and Marcella Miali find Cully Park to be like no other they’ve visited. Photo by Vanessa Miali

Cully Park is not your ordinary park or location. It’s a $14 million dollar, 25-acre outdoor destination for people of all ages.

The neighborhood, at 72nd Avenue and Killingsworth Street, is one of Oregon’s most ethnically and racially diverse, according to Portland Parks & Recreation.

It is also one of the most park deprived in the state. Its history goes back almost two decades. The city purchased the lot in 2000, in hopes of turning it into a park. But lack of funds put the project on hold until 2008, when nonprofit Verde, a Cully-based outreach and advocacy group, created the Let Us Build Cully Park coalition.

Funding for the park came from public and private partnerships. Verde raised more than $7 million in donations from a combination of 50 donors, partners and grants. Portland Parks & Recreation devoted $6 million in system development charge revenues for the park’s construction.

More than just fundraising involvement, Verde took a community-based approach to the park’s research and development process. That allowed it to meet ambitious contracting and workforce diversity goals. This generated income for low-income people and people of color, as well as the businesses they work for or own.

“We’ve devoted a lot of energy to working with the community on this project and are most excited about how in-depth it has been,” said Tony DeFalco, Verde executive director.

“We had existing relationships in the Cully neighborhood, and we developed a bilingual survey to expand our reach to over 1,000 people. Their feedback was incorporated into the design process, construction and workforce,” he added.

Verde also worked with 191 neighborhood students to design the play area. That involved teaching them basic design concepts, map reading and calculating scale using an architect ruler.

In addition to a youth soccer field and huge play area that includes a wheelchair-accessible sensory wall, Cully Park has a community garden, an off-leash dog area, parking lot, trails, fitness course, overlooks, habitat restoration and picnic areas.

Another unique element is the Native Gathering garden, which is the highest point in Cully Park and provides visitors views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. Verde also turned undeveloped 72nd Avenue into a modern green street with flush curbs and an extra wide sidewalk.

“This alternative street design delivers environmental benefits such as storm water handling and tree canopy cover,” Tony pointed out. “The community has been asking for this park for 20 years, and we are thrilled to have made their vision a reality.”

“My friends and I went to Cully Park and had a great time. The first thing we did was race to the top of the hill and then climb down the rope wall. My brother Enzo (age 13) said it was cool because you can climb up and not worry about falling down. We all agreed that the giant hill was the most fun. We could see the airplanes in the sky and the trains go by on the tracks. I really liked the big giant swing because it holds a bunch of kids and goes in all directions. I thought the seesaw was cool because it had round balls that helped balance the kids on each side.” – Marcella Miali, age 10
“You should go to Cully Park because there are a lot of opportunities like playing musical instruments, hills, free space to roam and places to run and have fun. I’d like to design a park one day because most don’t have what kids really want to play on. This park is different because of the instruments, hills and lack of regular play structures. I didn’t even notice that it was raining because we were all having so much fun.” – Wyatt Pyle, age 10
“I liked the hill, the stuff on the hill and the bridge best of all because I like being up high. I also climbed on the drum things and pounded, and it was amazing. I heard the park was built over a pile of garbage.” – Bea Houston-Anderson, age 5

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.

Childhood stresses affect entire lifetimes

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Health and Wellness

By Karen Wells | CNA Media Team

What is an “adverse childhood experience (ACE)?” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines it as “any act which harms or threatens a child.”

Events that hurt children include any form of violence – social, emotional, psychological, rape, abuse – food insecurity/hunger, family separation/ deportation, or witnessing parents being bullied. These encounters inform them that they or their families are not safe. Not feeling safe creates stress.

A child’s body reacts to stress by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and releasing stress hormones. These physiological changes are reduced if the child is surrounded by supportive caregivers. The presence of those buffering caregivers helps children develop healthy stress responses.

That’s how children can usually manage occasional stress-producing threats. When stressful episodes occur regularly, however, the result is toxic stress. That’s the most severe stress children can encounter. Frequent, prolonged episodes of toxic stress are damaging to a child’s physical/mental health because they negatively impact brain development and learning.

Although children often survive ACEs and toxic stress, a lifetime of struggles lay ahead. As youths and later as adults, they often struggle with establishing trust and healthy lifestyle choices, and they experience mental health issues and/or chronic illnesses.

The financial cost to the community of ACEs and toxic stress is large. It is estimated that the annual cost related to them in Oregon is about $5.74 billion, according to the Task Force to Develop Prevention in Oregon.

How can you know if your child is experiencing an ACE? “Every child has a unique style of handling stress,” said Ira Karon, child and family therapy intern with Trillium Family Services at Faubion’s 3 to PhD Wellness Center.

Signs of stress can appear slowly. Parents know their children best. If you have concerns, simply ask them if everything’s OK or if something happened that they’d like to talk about.

Talking with them is your first opportunity to spot a concern. When asking, be compassionate, wait for them to share, and be respectful while listening.

The mental health team of the wellness center can help mitigate some of the effects of ACEs. It creates a safe, engaging, child-centered environment that validates children’s experiences. Families and children are not asked their immigration/citizenship status when seeking care or support services there.

If you have concerns, call the wellness center at 503.916.5908 for more information and help. Editor’s note: Karen invested considerable effort researching adverse childhood experiences and how they can affect the lifetimes of those who experience them. If you would like to delve into the subject, find her resource list at ConcordiaPDX.org/aces-resources.

Karen Wells is a retired early childhood communit y educator, health and safety trainer.

Paper artist is curious, crafty and creative

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

Passion and practicality are the hallmarks of Calley Dodero’s creations. She’s in high gear preparing for holiday craft fairs. Photo by Marsha Sandman.

The season is here for arts and craft shows. Concordia neighborhood is full of artists, designers and makers.

Calley Dodero is one of them, and she converts everyday objects into joyful bursts of magic. In her skillful hands, paper is converted into items of wonder. Her fruitful imagination brings forth ornaments, decorations, masks, jewelry, glittery houses, three-dimensional scenes and so much more.

Although some artists are burdened with carrying heavy loads and cumbersome displays into crafts shows, Calley delights in the ease of moving her products to market. She says she usually sells out and always has a great time.

Early inspiration came from her parents. “My background is rooted in craft and has been propelled by my parents,” she said.

Her father is a ceramic artist and her mother works in textiles. As a child, Calley helped them at craft shows and at the family art gallery in southern Oregon.

There she was instilled with a love of craft and design which lead her to work as a floral designer, event decorator, window dresser, paper crafter and jewelry designer.

As a compulsive crafter, she worked for seven years crocheting baby accessories and fingerless gloves which sold in stores throughout the Concordia area.

“This most current incarnation of my creative self has been inspired by a love of paper crafting and the exploration of the medium,” she explained. “As much as I love to create art pieces, I have always had a desire to connect art to the everyday.”

After designing a new piece, she will assess how to produce it economically and efficiently with a balance of passion and practicality. She says she appreciates the benefits of being self-employed and working at home with her two kids and her self-employed husband.

Calley displays a spark of joy and creativity in her home, personality and life. “I love all things vintage and am compelled to create all sorts of objects inspired by my collections.” She offers her wares online at CalleyDodero.squarespace.com and on Etsy. As for craft shows, she’s in four this year:

  • Plucky Maidens Holiday Fest, Oaks Park, Nov. 16-17.
  • Monticello Antique Vintage Christmas Show, 8600 S.E. Stark St., Nov. 16-Jan. 6.
  • daVinci Arts Middle School Arts Fair, 2508 N.E. Everett St., Dec. 1.
  • Crafty Wonderland, Oregon Convention Center, Dec 7-9. Calley’s items are on sale at:
  • Frock, 1439 N.E. Alberta St.
  • Blithe & Bonny, 4140 N. Williams Ave.
  • Theas Vintage Living, 1204 N.E. Glisan St.

Contact her at CalleyDodero@yahoo.com.

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.

Abandoned building site causes alarm

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Steve Elder CNA Media Team

Neighbors are tired of living near this unfinished “zombie” multi-family home. They report a work stoppage three years ago, in addition to an absentee contractor and owner, plus a city that believes it cannot resolve the situation. Photo by Tricia Elder

At a time when people are camping on sidewalks – and the mayor has declared Portland is in a housing crisis – there are potentially livable houses here that are near collapse from inattention.

There is at least one residential structure in Concordia that’s not even finished, but may become a teardown. Searching records, talking to city sources, neighbors and a title company turns up seemingly hundreds of clues and many loose threads.

The unfinished house is at the intersection of Emerson Street and 38th Avenue. It is ultramodern, looming high above the bungalows adjoining. Work started about four years ago, dragged on slower and slower, then stopped about three years ago. It’s just sitting there.

The structure is two conjoined units, each with an accessory dwelling unit. There are four empty electric meter boxes and two offstreet parking spots. The neighbors aren’t wild about the place.

Artist Curtis Phillips lives across the street, and he has cultivated a thick hedge to block his view of the structure. If it weren’t for him performing occasional maintenance, the situation might be worse.

Curtis is no stranger to the city Bureau of Developmental Services. “I’ve called many times. They seem to feel their hands are tied, and they can’t demand that the owner cleans and makes the place livable or tear it down.

“They seem to figure there’s nothing they can do for just trash complaints,” he added. “It would take doing something criminal for the city to get serious.”

Where’s the owner? A search of public records provides little clarification.

The listed owner is Julie Selby, whom none of the neighbors have met. A title company notary met Julie when, in May 2015, she made an $865,000 mortgage.

The neighbors have met a fellow who identifies himself as the building contractor, Robel Alemseghed. Robel told a neighbor he lives in a house he built for himself on 26th Avenue. Although the address he offered them appears lived in, nobody came to the door despite several visits. In the meantime, the neighbors wait. And wait.

“The neighborhood has changed,” Curtis said. “We bought this house 10 years ago, moved back East and returned in 2013 or 2014. We’ve been surprised by changes in the neighborhood. “There’s more traffic and there’s more so called development going on.

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