Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Monthly Archives: June 2008

Youth Safety Courses, Vernon School, July 8-10

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Two youth safety courses open to the public will be held at Vernon School.

Course 1: Babysitting (an American Red Cross course)

Participants ages 11 to 15 learn the basics of babysitting including professionalism, interviewing, child development, positive guidance, appropriate toys/activities and how to recognize and respond safely to common emergencies of infants and children.

When:Tuesday, July 8th and Wednesday, July 9th, from 12:30-4:30pm , this is a two-day course.(Registration required)

Where: Vernon SUN School, 2044 NE Killingsworth

Cost: $35.00 per child (cash or check made to “Community Upgrade”), includes participant book, first aid kit and snack

Course 2: When I’m In Charge (Registration required)

Details: Children learn valuable safety skills especially useful while unsupervised.

When:Thursday, July 10th from 12:30-3:30pm

Where: Vernon SUN School, 2044 NE Killingsworth

Cost: $20.00 per child (cash or check made to “Community Upgrade”), includes participant book, first aid kit and snack

Need more information?
Please call Shantel Waddell, Vernon SUN Manager at 503-916-6559.

June Chair’s Corner

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by Katie Ugolini, CNA Chair

As many of you know, the Concordia Neighborhood Association held two special elections in 2008 to replace vacant Board seats. In January 2008, Jennifer Neth Warberg was elected to serve on the Board for the next two years as one of our two SW Quadrant representatives. Additionally, Don Francis was just recently elected to fill a vacant At-Large position and will serve from May 2008 through December 2008, but may run for a full two-year term in November. As Chair of the Concordia Neighborhood Association, I am very pleased to have Jennifer and Don join our Board and feel they are excellent assets to the CNA. Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Jennifer Neth Warberg and Don Francis to Concordia neighbors.

Jennifer Warberg and her husband Brent have lived in the Alberta Arts district for over a year and couldn’t be happier about their move from SE Portland to Concordia. In March, they welcomed a new addition to their family, a four-year-old black lab named Dink. Jennifer notes, “Our long walks with the dog and trips to the dog park have reinforced what we already knew about this neighborhood – it is a beautiful place, full of kind and engaging people.”

Jennifer is an associate attorney with Meyer & Wyse LLP in downtown Portland where she primarily practices general litigation and employment law. Her firm’s representation of many wonderful non-profit organizations inspired Jennifer to get involved in her community. “Working at the neighborhood level to improve the quality of life here is a wonderful way to make a difference.”

Before being elected to the CNA Board, Jennifer became involved in the CNA Land Use and Livability Committee. Currently, Jennifer is working primarily on neighbor-developer relations.

Don Francis grew up in Northwest Portland where, he states, he was displaced by gentrification. A longtime environmental advocate, Don worked for several nonprofit organizations before starting Willamette Riverkeeper in 1996. Willamette Riverkeeper works to keep the watershed healthy for fish and wildlife, and safe for fishing and swimming.Currently, he owns an environmental consulting and contracting company named EcoTech located in North Portland. Don resided on NE 10th Avenue near Ainsworth for several years before moving to the Concordia Neighborhood in 2001. Don and his wife, Katy Brooks, have twin four-year-olds, Abby and Thiel, whom are lifelong Concordia residents!

Don is very interested in both land use and environmental issues and, thus, is interested in becoming involved in the Land Use/Livability/Transportation Committee (LULT) and the Green Team.

I hope you will all join me in welcoming Jennifer and Don to the CNA Board! Like Jennifer and Don, if you value community activism, I urge you to consider becoming involved in the Concordia Neighborhood Association, if not as a Board member, then as a volunteer on a CNA committee or for a CNA-sponsored activity. If you are passionate about nurturing and giving back to the Concordia community, then the CNA needs you!

*The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the author(s) in the Chair’s Corner do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Concordia Neighborhood Association.

Local Group Seeks Health Insurance For Kids

Posted on by Posted in Events, Family, Health and Wellness, Schools

“Why Not Portland?”

This simple question is both the name of and driving force behind a grassroots campaign to bring low-cost health insurance to the children of Portland public schools.

“It’s terrible that anybody is uninsured, and having uninsured children in our community is unacceptable,” says Dr. Gregg Coodley, the WhyNotPortland campaign’s chief petitioner and co-founder of the Fanno Creek Medical Clinic. “Every kid deserves access to a good doctor.”

The goal of the WhyNotPortland campaign is to provide city-funded health care for the approximately 9000 uninsured kids attending Portland public schools. To reach this goal, Coodley has been raising funds and gathering the 28,000 signatures required from City of Portland voters to officially place the initiative on the November ballot.

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Enjoy Some Urban Hikes

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Although Mt. Hood, the Gorge, and the Coast are always calling, we are lucky here in Portland because we can enjoy the great outdoors and stay close to home. Here are two “in-city” family-friendly hikes that let you stretch your legs in the great outdoors without having to fill your gas tank.

Macleay Park to the Audubon Center
Park at Macleay Park and hike the Lower Macleay Trail to the Wildwood Trail (the junction is at the Stone House, continue straight at that point – don’t go up the hill). The trail stays level as it follows Balch Creek and briefly heads uphill before reaching a parking lot. Head west 1/10 mile from the parking lot to the Audubon Center. Audubon offers a nature center and rescued birds on display. This scenic hike is approximately 1 1/2 miles each way.

The Interlakes Trail at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area
From the parking area walk a little west to access the Interlakes Trail. Be sure to explore the fun stone sculptures in the parking area as well as the unique “trees” with bird and bat houses.
The trail provides access to viewing blinds for both Smith and Bybee Lakes. The trail is paved and level, perfect for a family stroll. Wildlife in the area includes turtles, fish, beavers, herons, ducks, snakes, rabbits, countless dragonflies, and much more.

Happy trails!