Author Archives: Web Manager

Geno adds spice to Concordia

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

Geno Hill’s “not too hot” chili powders are all about adding taste to a variety of dishes. Photo by Marsha Sandman

Concordia resident Geno Hill has a palette for the tasty and the spicy.

His unique “not too hot” chili powder found its origin in his own back yard. Friends and family begged for the leftovers. After he took extra to share with his coworkers at United Parcel Service, they encouraged him to package and sell his chili powder.

Then, five months ago, Geno’s NW Underground Chili Powder was born and introduced on the sidewalks of Concordia and surrounding neighborhoods.

He believes in ”gorilla retail.” You won’t find his product in stores or online. He sets up his display anywhere and just offers tastes to passersby.

You’ll often see him on the Alberta Street sidewalks with a big smile and a case of his chili powders.

“Strange things happen on sidewalks,” Geno reported. His Facebook page bears witness to that statement, with many pictures of satisfied customers. You’ll often find him on Last Thursdays in front of the Alberta Street Gallery.

Geno’s NW Underground Chili Powder also offers free delivery in Portland and Vancouver, as well as free shipping within the US.

Geno says he’s a “tasty” rather than a “foodie.” He believes it’s all about taste, which should enhance flavor rather than cover it up. “My chili makes endorphins jump, is an aphrodisiac, clears the nasal passages and wakes you up,” he said.

He uses African chilies and offers 11 flavors, including raspberry, strawberry and mango. Each is packaged in an aluminum screw top tin that fits conveniently in pocket, purse, or on kitchen shelf – ready to sprinkle on a variety of foods.

He is especially proud of his chili powder in the perfect Bloody Mary.

If you don’t find him on the sidewalks of Alberta Street, reach Geno at 503.477.0533 or StaySpicy503@gmail.com.

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

Legacy of trees runs strong

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Trees

By Karen Wells | CNA Media Team

The Oregon White Oak that stands sentry on Luther Hall Green predates Concordia University. Photo by Karen Wells

The trees of Concordia University have stories. Those stories are about how Frank W.J. Sylwester – president of Concordia University from 1905 to 1946 – acquired an eclectic inventory of trees for the campus.

The grand Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana) is the sentry on Luther Hall Green. That oak was about eight years old when the college, then high school, opened its doors. It was one of the original trees in the Douglas fir woods of east Portland.

Frank was passionate about trees. When the right of way for 28th Avenue posed a threat to the oak, he advocated for the tree to be spared.

He satisfied his yearning for connection to his Germanic ancestry by planting trees germane to Germany. In 1908 he planted European Linden (Tilia × europaea) seedlings from Berlin. He purchased and planted a Spruce (Picea) from Germany. A Correl Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is a gift to the campus from Sylwester.

In 1920 Frank gathered Red Oak (Quercus rubra) acorns from Vernon Park, now known as Alberta Park, and planted them on campus. He recalled much later in life, “Every one of those acorns produced a tree.”

In 1960, he saved a small Sequoia (Sequoiadendron) at a campus building construction site. He replanted it in a stand of Incense Cedars (Liborcedrus decurrens). In 1964 he traveled to central Oregon and brought back a Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) seedling for the campus.

In the beginning, the president’s home was part of the campus, just north of Elizabeth Hall. He surrounded it with trees from his travels – Redleaf maples (Acer Palmatum) and Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) to name two. He had an inventory of 59 trees sorted by common and scientific name divided into five, creating the Campus Tree Project.

That project was published in 1974, “Arbor Vitae,” with anecdotal tales and tidbits of Concordia University history.

Karen is a retired early childhood community educator, health and safety trainer.

Local churches participate in Sanctuary Movement

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Karen Wells – CNA Media Team

Two local Protestant churches are demonstrating their support for immigrants and refugees.

Concordia’s Ainsworth United Church of Christ (AUCC) has a long history of involvement in social justice work. This includes being active in the Sanctuary Movement, a national initiative sparked by the current political climate of accelerated attempts to detain and/or deport undocumented immigrants/workers.

Pastor Lynne Smouse Lopez was at the helm of AUCC in 2007 during the north Portland Fresh Del Monte Produce packing plant immigration raids. She and her congregation took action then to assist affected immigrant families.

They are back in action for the latest affront to the security of immigrant families and their children, according to the pastor.

AUCC was the first church in Oregon to engage with the Sanctuary Movement, which counts at least 800 congregations and 18 coalitions nationally. To date, 16 congregations, in nine major cities have provided or offered sanctuary to affected immigrants and their families.

Augustana Lutheran in nearby Irvington neighborhood sponsored a February news conference about sanctuary and deportation. Fifteen local immigrant rights/advocacy groups shared stories of how the latest wave of actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have affected families and children.

The 100-plus community members, congregants and local media heard stories of children who are afraid to go to school for fear of returning home to an empty house if their parents are detained unexpectedly by ICE. Participants also heard that, because of the fear of ICE, many in need of food or medicine are going without.

Sanctuary Movement details

These resources can help you learn more about the Sanctuary Movement and/or step up to help:

The old is made new by local upcycling pro

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Carrie Wenninger – CNA Media Team

Upcycler Mari Bartoo Jacobson

You’re likely to run into Mari Bartoo Jacobson Saturday – Sunday, June 23 -25 during the Concordia Neighborhood Association Annual Yard Sale. Her business embodies the adage, “One person’s garbage is another’s treasure.” The upcycler uses others’ castoffs to create works of art.

Local crafter and ingenious upcycler Mari Bartoo Jacobson of The Make House’s Rutabaga Redesign is preparing to shop the June 23 – 25 Concordia Neighborhood Association Annual Yard Sale. She’ll be looking for inspiring objects, doodads and diamonds in the rough.

What’s upcycling? It’s the process of bringing new, useful and often beautiful life to old, discarded materials. It’s the embodiment of the idea that “One person’s garbage is another’s treasure.”

Q: Why do you do what you do?
A: I‘ve always been keenly aware of our often ugly impact on the environment around us while, at the same time being deeply enamored of the beauty we can bring to light. I endeavor to turn what would otherwise become part of a landfill into something new and interesting. I also love the challenge of uncovering the loveliness of old, grungy metals and woods. Sometimes you really have to look. It’s a lot like finding buried treasure.

Q: How did you become interested in upcycling?
A: My dad was a carpenter when I was young, and I remember always feeling empowered to build things: tree houses, a rubber band gun, a marimba – those are a few of the things I built with my dad. In my family there was a lot of emphasis placed on “walking lightly on the earth.” So what I do now feels like a beautiful outgrowth of those opportunities and values I was given growing up.

Q: Where do you do your work?
A: I have a workshop space in The Make House at 1732 N.E. Alberta St. Six other artists and I have workspace in the building, and I also curate a retail space on the main floor called Rutabaga Redesign. My shop features local, handcrafted work from over 50 different artists and craftspeople, myself included.

Q: Explain the name.
A: Rutabaga Redesign is the name simply because I really like how it rolls off the tongue. Say it out loud. Isn’t that fun?

Carrie is a Concordia resident and lives on 29th Avenue. As a freelance writer with a penchant for poetic prose, she tries to look for the humor in everyday life. She also is a mom and world traveler who, with her partner, owns a company that restores and repurposes vintage homes. Contact her at WurdGurl@gmail.com.

Concordia hosts first two Portland crossbikes

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Jonathan Maus, Bike Portland

Of Portland’s initial seven crossbikes, the first one to appear was on 33rd Avenue at Going Street. Photo by Marcus Murray

Of Portland’s initial seven crossbikes, the first one to appear was on 33rd Avenue at Going Street. Photo by Marcus Murray

In early August, crossbikes were painted at seven intersections around the city – the first two in Concordia neighborhood.

If you see one, don’t fret. Treat them exactly like they sound: like crosswalks, but for bikes, almost.

In Concordia, they are on 33rd at Going and on Killingsworth at 37th. Elsewhere, they are at N.W. Johnson at 21st, N. Williams at Rosa Parks, N.E. Tillamook at 15th, N. Michigan at Killingsworth, S.E. Lincoln at 60th and N.E. Rodney at Fremont. Another 15 are planned.

All are on neighborhood greenway streets. Roger Geller, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) bicycle coordinator, said it’s just the latest effort the bureau has undertaken to make crossings safer on what are designed to be low-stress, family-friendly streets where priority goes to people on bikes and on foot.

The crossbike locations must meet specific criteria that have been vetted by Geller and PBOT traffic engineers. They are used only on what are known as “minor collector streets” – a designation that applies only if the street has (at the most) one lane of traffic in each direction, no more than 10,000 cars per day (with 1,000 in the peak hour) and a maximum speed limit of 30 miles per hour.

Each marking costs about $4,000, including signs and crosswalk striping if necessary.

Geller said crossbikes are an idea he’s be working on for several years, and it came from how he observed people using curb extensions – where curbs are bulbed out to narrow the crossing distance.

“When a cyclist was taking advantage of the curb extension and stopped at the end of it, it was clear from our observations that motorists would be paying attention more because they would stop,” Geller said. “So we thought, if we put more indicators in the intersection that more clearly signal that this is a crossing, it would lead to even greater awareness.”

Legally-speaking, crossbikes aren’t crosswalks. In a crosswalk, drivers are required by law to stop for anyone on bike or foot who shows intent to cross. Not so in a crossbike. But if you’ve walked or biked at all in Portland, you’ll know that people tend to happily stop at neighborhood greenway crossings already, so these markings should only increase awareness.

PBOT plans to work with a Portland State University researcher to evaluate the new markings to see whether they improve conditions.

Jonathan is publisher/editor of Bike Portland. This story is condensed from BikePortland.org coverage of the crossbikes. Contact him at Jonathan@BikePortland.org or 503.706.8804.

Cottage Pantry marks a year in business

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses
Cottage Pantry

Colorful balloons welcome partygoers to The Cottage Pantry café for a first anniversary celebration Aug. 8. Photo by Tom Faulkner

By Susan Trabucco, CNews Managing Editor

The Cottage Pantry at 30th Avenue and Ainsworth Street celebrated its one-year anniversary with food and fun Aug. 8. The Concordia neighborhood coffee and baked goods café is the brainchild of proprietor and native Portlander Judy Louie, a self-taught baking aficionado who had always wanted her own restaurant. Now, with a year of experience under her belt, she’s feeling positive about her entrepreneurial adventure.

“I love the location and the people,” she said. “It’s awesome, and I can bike to work from where I live near Alberta.”

Judy also enjoys the café’s location near an English language school, which attracts students from all over the globe who are intent on learning English, which is required for local college enrollment eligibility.

Cottage Pantry

“When I dreamed of opening my own place, I imagined I would do it in another country,” she explained. “With proximity to this school and the many types of wonderful people that brings to my café, I feel like I’m in a foreign land.”

Cottage Pantry is open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Boutique fitness studio opens in Concordia

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Susan Trabucco, CNews Managing Editor

Chris Pike - Sensible Fitness

Chris Pike, a fitness instructor with extensive experience, opened Sensible Fitness recently in the Fernhill Park area. Photo by Susan Trabucco

Seeking an injury-free fitness regime sans crowded classes? Look no further than Sensible Fitness, a new, boutique fitness enterprise tucked into a charmingly-repurposed garage in Concordia.

In the studio, watermelon-washed walls and abundant skylights provide a cheerful, light-filled ambiance. Brightly-colored floor mats and hand weights of various poundage are scattered about – inviting their use. Toby, the owner’s dog, watches from a corner, his tail wagging gently.

Proprietor Chris Pike is no stranger to the business of exercise. Using a science-based approach, he ran his fitness program under a different name for six years in Davis, California. A medical condition exacerbated by too much sunshine led him to relocate to Portland this year. Because he’s committed to sustainability, he chose the Concordia neighborhood.

“I don’t own a car, and I bike or walk everywhere, so this neighborhood works out perfectly for me,” Chris said.

His Sensible Fitness program uses a blend of strength training, stretching and movement to provide class participants – there are six maximum per class – a full range of exercise. Chris’ program incorporates elements from yoga and Pilates as well as ballet and African dance.

Former Davis client, Ellen Dean, is a die-hard Chris fan. She now leads a group in Davis that continues to meet to exercise according to the program he taught them, using a CD with Chris’ voice and his music.

“Chris is a very talented teacher with a lot of knowledge about body mechanics. He could be famous for his routine, but he isn’t someone who brags or puts himself out there in a competitive way,” she said.

Kylie Mendonca, also a former class participant from Davis, learned Chris had moved here and looked him up so she could go to his Portland studio for workouts while she was on an extended summer visit. Now she is gearing up for a move here.

“Chris is so sweet. He makes an effort to learn people’s names, and he pays attention so he can help those who might need help with the poses. And you really see results from his classes – not only do you feel strong – you look fit,” she added.

Chris does what he loves. Although he earned a Ph.D. in physics, he has invested an enormous amount of time learning the art and science of fitness.

“They say you can do anything well if you put in 10,000 hours,” he said. “Well, I’ve put in that much time reading, learning from dance and fitness instructors, and trying new ideas to help people be fit without injury.”

Sensible Fitness classes, appropriate for participants of all genders and fitness levels, are offered at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily by reservation.

Prices vary depending on class size, and $15 for a single session. Private or customized small group classes are also available.

For a class schedule and to sign-up visit SensibleFitnessPDX.com, or contact Sensible Fitness by at info@sensiblefitnessPDX.com or 503.757.6656.

Newspaper and the entire community keep improving; let’s keep up all our efforts

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News

Welcome back neighbor! Glad to see you are checking in.

As you read through this month’s issue, you’ll quickly find that Concordia News reporters have been busy collecting the stories and information you really care about…or have they? Ultimately, this community newspaper belongs to you, and the best way to be sure that it’s meeting your needs is to let us know what captures your interest and serves you best. Please visit concordiapdx.org/survey to take our reader survey.

But timely news and good reporting are just half of the story. As a free publication, CNews relies on its wonderful advertisers to keep us afloat. These are the folks who want to get their products and services noticed by people like you and they trust CNews to get the word out.

Our community is not just those of us who live in Concordia, but includes all of the business people who have made significant investments and, more often than not, bet their entire savings on enterprises that serve you, many within walking distance. When we patronize those businesses, we’re letting them know that their CNews advertising dollars are well spent. In turn, their support keeps the news and information flowing to you. Let those businesses know that you saw them here. Empowering this community starts with cooperation, but real money keeps the wheels going ’round.

And around we go indeed! Are we moving in the right direction? Is Concordia the model community of your dreams? I think we’re well on our way. I feel at ease and inspired when I look around and see a diversity of people, and when I hear my native Spanish being spoken…or Japanese or German or Farsi. I’m sure I’ve missed a few. Speak up!

If you were fortunate to attend any of our free summer concerts at Fernhill Park, you may have thought you were inside one of those old Coca Cola commercials with people from all over the globe singing, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” It felt like a real step toward a model community we can all be proud of.

What do you think we need to be the place you would call perfect? Commissioner Amada Fritz is coming to our general meeting Nov. 1. So think about what you would like her and other commissioners to know about where we want to be in 2030. For those of you with young children, this is an opportunity to secure a better world for them and beyond.

Thanks again and Semper Fi.
Isaac

What do you want? Media team seeks reader input

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News

This is the age of information, in which we’re bombarded (or enlightened, depending on your perspective) with streaming news videos, blogs, texts, podcasts and various social media post notifications. So getting a plain old black and white newspaper in one’s mailbox can feel kind of comforting. At least it is for those of us (way) older than 35.

We know, however, the Concordia neighborhood has a median age of 35 years. So, to provide neighborhood news and info to a broader audience (okay, I mean younger), the CNA Media Team is working to beef up more than just the quality of this publication.

We are also working to improve the website and grow our Facebook presence. Why? To appeal to those people who didn’t grow up luxuriating in a morning routine that includes hot coffee, a comfortable couch, and the daily (printed) newspaper.

This all takes a great deal of vigilance and effort. Six months ago the ConcordiaPDX.org website was three years out of date, and we had no Facebook page. We’ve made great strides since then but, because CNA website postings and Facebooking is performed entirely by volunteers with jobs and families, we ask for your patience while we work to improve our digital presence.

Now, here are three ways you can ensure we’re barking up the right media tree to provide what is relevant to you, our valued readers, as resources allow:

  1. Complete the survey online.
  2. Email CNewsEditor@PDX.org with story or regular feature ideas, breaking news items and events, or to submit a letter to the editor.
  3. Email CNewsME@ConcordiaPDX.org if you have suggestions for improvements or ideas forCNEWS, the website or our Facebook page, – or you’d like to volunteer to help in any of these areas, or as a reporter.

Recent CNA Media Team accomplishments:

  • Added automatic CNA Facebook posts to the home page of the CNA website.
  • Held a Beverage ‘N Brainstormingafter-hours session that we expect to continue. From that session came ideas that debuted last month:
    • Trending on Nextdoor.com is a light-hearted compendium of what Concordians are talking about.
    • What’s Selling in Concordia offers a quick look at neighborhood real estate data.
    • Ask the Historian by northeast Portlander Doug Decker answers readers’questions about Concordia history and connects it to the present day. (Doug offered up this concept, and readers have jumped in with queries.)

We have a few more ideas, but your feedback on what we’ve been providing on the pages of CNEWS, on our website and on Facebook would be very helpful to ensure we’re on the path to happy Concordia neighborhood readers. We look forward to your input! And please – LIKE us on Facebook.

What is your foresight, vision for Concordia Neighborhood’s future?

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News

Hello, Neighbor,

The winds they are a changing… will it be a hurricane or a summer breeze. No, not talking about the weather but governance, locally and globally. Like it or not, the world is in for a paradigm shift. The question is, will the shift happen to us or will we to it?

I look around and see whole political systems being overhauled and social fabrics being torn apart by festering injustices and poverty. In contrast, the Concordia Neighborhood appears as though we are doing quite well… or are we?

Events are driving changes
I think most of us would agree on that assessment and consider ourselves fortunate not to experience the unrest we have seen in the news almost daily. The severity and impact of these events are driving changes which were usually initiated by leadership within political parties. Now, matters have become so pressing citizens have, in some cases, scrapped their representatives or taken the discussion to the street.

Change is inevitable and typically understood with a 20/20 hindsight perspective. The Concordia Neighborhood is no stranger to change thanks to the many who dedicated themselves to creating the Renaissance. Concordia has become one of Portland’s most desirable neighborhoods.

So no wonder we can look at the rest of the world and tell ourselves all is good. Being fortunate enough to recently move here three years ago, I and others like me are the beneficiaries of these people’s efforts, but can we sit back and go for the proverbial “free ride”? This inheritance of prosperity and wellbeing is only a gift and requires us to be proactive in its preservation if we hope to expect the same future for our children.

Looking into the crystal ball, Concordia looks like it is going in the right direction, but then again, Republican and Democratic party structures had been moving along as though the road ahead were wide open. Assumptions should also be accompanied with reality checks from time-to-time if we are going to be an inclusive society and avoid reversal of fortune.

Foresight needed, not just hindsight
When looking in the rear-view mirror, each and every one of us knows what could have and should have been done to prevent the disturbing events of late. If we are going to heal the world, what we really need is to refocus our 20/20 hindsight to foresight. Let’s take those criticisms and observations about past events and ask ourselves not what we should have done but what will we do to promote wellbeing.

Each one of us is capable of bringing positive changes without having to lead the charge. Change happens in incremental stages and, dependent on small events, eventually connecting to bring about change. We can be the force for a better future just by taking small opportunities to step out of our comfort zone, reaching out to others or when we join an organization of like-minded folks.

Each of these activities lets others know who we are and what is important to us. And like the great philosopher Raffi has said, the more we come together the happier we’ll be. Let’s not make any assumptions going forward, let’s have more conversations no matter if it is about skinny houses or garden club news. Let’s have an understanding and appreciation for the other… not a bad formula for peace.

Lastly, Portland city commissioner Amanda Fritz has been rescheduled to appear at the November general meeting of the association. Please send me your vision for our neighborhood — one year, five years and 15 years from now — to see if Amanda is on the same page as we are, or if she needs to adjust her vision for our future.

Thanks again,
Isaac Quintero Chair
Concordia Neighborhood Association