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Pedalpalooza To Host NE Portland History Tour on July 19th

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events
Bikers can participate in a variety of themed Pedalpalooza events all summer. Photo by
John Tudisco

By John Tudisco | Contributing Writer

Hello Concordia! I’m writing to you from your next door neighborhood of Woodlawn. Last year, the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association and I decided to host a communal bike ride to showcase the rich history of our part of Portland, and introduce some new people to the restaurants, shops, and everything else we have to offer. The ride was offered through a program called Pedalpalooza, and I’d like to invite you to this year’s event.

For those of you that don’t know, Pedalpalooza (also known as Bike Summer) is an annual, summer-long bike festival organized by community members that encourages Portlanders to get out and cycle in whatever ways they find enjoyable. There are many bike rides to take part in all over the greater Portland area. Over the years, I’ve had an awesome time at bike rides from a range of themes including cribbage, cider, and garden tours. The wide reach of the Pedalpalooza calendar led to an excellent turnout at last year’s history ride, so we’ve decided to bring it back for a second year.

At the event last year, we started in the Boise Neighborhood to highlight a few historic locations along N Mississippi Avenue, then, we headed north to listen to a history talk from the Friends of Peninsula Park Rose Garden. We concluded the ride in Woodlawn, where Anjala Ehebele (author of Images of America: Portland’s Woodlawn Neighborhood) engaged us all with her dramatic storytelling. By hosting our ride through Pedalpalooza, we reached a wide range of people from different parts of Portland.

This year we’ll take a slightly different route and learn about history provided by the Piedmont, Woodlawn, and Concordia Neighborhood Associations. This stretch of North and Northeast Portland boasts a particularly interesting collection of historic locations. The ride begins at Peninsula Park and ends at the Woodlawn Farmers Market, where Ehebele will join us once again. We will stop at historic sites you likely know, some you likely don’t know, and some that you’ve seen but didn’t realize had a rich history.

The ride will take place on Saturday, July 19th from 10 am to noon. We’ll meet under the gazebo at Peninsula Park. All ages and biking abilities are welcome, so please join me in what will be an exciting and informative event. To find up-to-date information on this bike ride and many others, visit the calendar at shift2bikes.org.

John Tudisco is a Civil Engineer and resident of the Woodlawn neighborhood. Originally from New York, John has lived in Portland for the last 6 years.

‘Neighbors’ Jazz Trio in Arts District Recording and Rehearsing for Tour

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

By Joshua Lickteig | Contributing Writer

The Neighbors, a Concordia-based jazz / rock band, rehearse in the studio. Photo by Joshua Lickteig.

Once a month on Alberta in an upper f loor recording studio, a freshly formed jazz ensemble lays down the equivalent of an album’s length of new tracks. In May on a Thursday I joined a session midday and spoke with the band, called Neighbors, about their music.

Each of Neighbors’ bandmates live nearby. Machado Mijiga (drummer and producer) greeted me brightly at the building’s south-side entrance near NE 19th Street. The multi-unit commercial property has served various community and cultural purposes over the years, including a ballroom, and today is home to Alberta Street Gallery (an artist collective of 30 local professional artists), Psychic Sister, Altared Energy Reiki & Remedies, Dynamic Acupuncture, and AI Robot Spa. The recording studio is called The Center for Sound, Light and Color.

“We’re gearing up for a busy summer, both as a band, and separately with all of our other acts,” explains Mijiga, who used to play saxophone and keys with Portugal. The Man. Beyond the top of the stairs and a couple small turns down the hallway we enter a cozy main loft space full of gear, with high ceilings, long mossgreen curtains and a mezzanine balcony.

Garrett Baxter (bass guitar, upright bass, prominent student of composer Chuck Israels) and Mike Gamble (guitarist, recording engineer, instructor at Reed College and OSU with close ties to the music scene in NYC, New Orleans, and San Francisco) wrap up discussing a take’s playback and the band warmly welcomes me into their circle. In a flash, Gamble appears with an iconic hand-shaped chair, borrowed from an adjoining room partitioned by glass, where Ryan Oxford (studio owner, songwriter, Y La Bamba tour musician, and for whom the space serves as home base) is working with another local musician.

It’s a space bustling with creative energy, known also as Color Therapy Records, reputable for its indie music production in Portland. “This place is like our garage,” the Neighbors seem to chime in at once. They resume work on a contemplative surf tune that soon morphs into a bright mysterium.

“It would be cool to have some kind of riff and harmony that outlines the solo sections,” says Mijiga from behind the piano, preceding a swift move to the drum-kit. The sound is creative jazz / experimental rock that also likes to space out and embrace mistakes, a keen balance of exactness, wonder, and ephemerality.

“Okay, that’s a new form now,” Gamble says, referring to a quick improvisational take, as Garrett jots notes on emerging structures in the soundscape.

“We all write really fast,” says Baxter. “Individual relations overlap often, though it’s not an abstraction. There’s a serious passion and space where ideas are constantly taking shape.”

“We have the spirit of a bigger band with lots of individualistic contributions,” Gamble adds.

Mijiga says, “Portland has an impressively diverse and talented pool of musicians for a city so small– I learned from MusicPortland last year that our city has the most venues per capita of any major US city, scaled to population and size, but it seems to spread disproportionately to the jazz community, because I constantly hear complaints from fellow musicians about how scarce the gig economy is for a jazz musician. A town that once boasted dozens of jazz clubs realistically now has one or two dedicated venues. I think the Neighbors’ sum-of-all-parts formlessness allows us to fill the quantum space between Portland musicians’ various social strata.”

In April, Neighbors was ranked one of Portland’s “Best New Bands” by Willamette Week. Bandcamp is the direct way to support Neighbors as a whole, where you may find about a dozen EPs from the band’s jam sessions for free, while they finish compiling their first official album, for their one-year anniversary in fall. This summer they will tour a few dates in the PNW and perhaps California.

Joshua Lickteig is an artist and engineer. He was born near the other Milwaukee and has been in Portland since 2018. His latest book of poems is called Half Moon Day Sun.

Tree Care Questions Answered

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Trees

By Jim Gersbach and Jordana Leeb | Contributing Writers

Do you have questions about trees? The Concordia Tree Team wishes to share some basic tree care facts and information with the neighborhood.

What are the basics of tree care?

Planting

There is very detailed information with pictures about how to plant trees properly on the Friends of Trees website. Friends of Trees is a local non-profit that offers free tree planting services and support for growing healthy trees.

Watering

Watering is an important part of tree care. Watering best practices vary for new versus more established trees. It is suggested to water regularly (once a week) during a tree’s first three to five summers and after that during prolonged dry spells. Drought tolerance varies by species. Some native trees, such as the Oregon White Oak, are better able to cope without summer watering but many non-native trees will benefit from at least a deep soak once a month in the dry months of July and August.

One technique is to use 10-15 gallons of water and water slowly to allow saturation of the soil. Another is to use a 5-gallon bucket of water with small holes drilled in the bottom to allow the water to slowly seep out. More established trees (after about 3 to 5 years) can be watered once a month in summer or dry spells. Mulching (in the next section) is an important tool in helping to hold the water for a new tree. A video with additional tips on watering can also be found on the Friend of Trees website.

Mulching

Mulching reduces evaporation (especially in excessive heat), delivers organic nutrients and helps prevent weeds from growing. Friends of Trees recommends the 3-3-3 rule, “3 inches away from the trunk of the tree, 3 inches deep, in about a 2-3-foot radius.” Organic matter such as composted leaves or wood chips are suggested mulch. There are many different options for purchasing or getting mulch free around town, such as with ChipDrop: getchipdrop.com.

Pruning

For non-fruit trees, during the first few years after planting a new tree, no pruning (except for dead or damaged branches) is advised. After the tree is established (3-5 years) pruning is recommended as needed. Trained Concordia Tree Team volunteers each year do free pruning of young street trees under a permit agreement with the City of Portland Urban Forestry program. Look for canvassers in the spring and fall going door to door in parts of the neighborhood.

What is never recommended is “topping” a tree – removal of a tree’s upper branches to stubs – this results in stress, decay and sunburn for the tree. For more information about pruning, check out the guidelines here.

What should I do in case of an extreme weather event this summer?
 Climate change and extreme heat conditions take a toll on trees. It is recommended to double your normal watering routine (see above) during excessive heat events, which is anything above about 90 degrees.

The best time to water is early in the morning or when the sun sets to minimize evaporation of water. It is important that water gets deep into the roots.

Friends of Trees says, “If you poke a pencil 4-5 inches down, does it come out dry & dusty? If so, water!”

Where can I get free trees?
 You can get a free tree from Friends of trees in three easy steps here. You can also learn more about free yard trees on the City of Portland Urban Forestry website.

What is the tree code and what should I know about it?
Portland’s laws protect street trees and in some cases larger trees on private property. Street trees provide public benefits, such as shading our streets and sidewalks to lower temperatures, so they enjoy a higher level of protection. A city-issued permit is required before removing a street tree or pruning one, although suckers may be removed from around a street tree at any time without a permit.

The permit ensures a tree is selected from an approved list so that it will be the right size for the width of the space, or the right mature height to not conflict with any overhead powerlines. Find out more about tree permits here.

Who should I contact if I need help caring for my trees?
 You can reach out to an International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist to get tree advice or pruning support. More information can be found here.

How can I get more information about the Concordia Tree Team and sign up to volunteer?
We’d love your help! Sign up for a variety of fun tree-related activities at ainsworthlineararboretum.org/getinvolved.

A native Oregonian, Jim Gersbach has lived in the Concordia neighborhood since 2002. He founded the Ainsworth Linear Arboretum back in 2005 and was involved in helping create the Cully Concordia International Grove and the Concordia Learning Landscape Arboretum.

Jordana Leeb is a longtime Concordia resident who i s passionate about the neighborhood, its residents and trees. She lives with her partner and dog on a street she calls home. You can see a film about her street and Concordia at TinyURL.com/Diaryofastreet.

Special Spaces – Just Bob Cafe Remembers Drugstore History

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, History, Local Businesses

By Leo Newman | Contributing Writer

Just Bob, the eclectic unicorn laden cafe is the latest business to operate out of the historic Alberta Pharmacy building on NE Alberta and 24th Ave, easily recognized by its seafoam exterior and iconic neon ‘Alberta Rexall Drugs’ sign. When Bob and Fayren Chang took over the cafe in 2014, they inherited a community of artists, performers and regulars with it.

A Convenient Doctor’s Office and Pharmacy

The Colonial Revival building was constructed at the eastern end of the Alberta Streetcar line in 1909. The first floor was designed for commercial use and the second story contained three apartments and some offices. Portland permit records show that E. R. Durst, one of the Alberta Pharmacy’s oldest traceable owners, began renovating the property in April, 1912. His wife led the Alberta Women’s Club, which met at 1030 East Twenty-Fourth Street North, now 4904 NE 24th Ave. In October, 1914, an elevator operator was found guilty of stealing the pharmacist’s bicycle and sentenced to “100 days on the rockpile.”

Just across Alberta was the office of Dr. Brown, who ran a family medical practice with a Dr. Chick. Though the doctor’s office would change hands a number of times, they maintained a close relationship with each other. For over half a century, getting your prescription filled was “as easy as crossing Alberta”, according to local residents. After the Second World War, Dr. Duncan Dickenson took over for the retiring Dr. Brown.

Paul Schimpf, 89, has lived across the street since the late thirties and has regularly eaten breakfast at the cafe with his friend Peter for nearly two decades. Schimpf remembers Chris Sorenson, the pharmacist that served Alberta from 1940 until his retirement in 1969. A Portland native, Sorenson was raised on NE Gantenbein Ave. and attended Jefferson High School and later the Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) in Corvallis.

Rexall Drugs, A Neighborhood Hangout

Shortly after purchasing the Alberta Pharmacy, Sorenson, along with thousands of independent pharmacists across the country, franchised the popular Rexall brand and installed the now iconic ‘Alberta Rexall Drugs’ sign off the second story. The Rexall Drug Company initially manufactured branded pharmaceutical goods for sale in retail stores. Rexall would contract with only one retailer in any given market. Its products could be found on the shelves of the Owl Drug Company in Downtown Portland, located across the street from its bitter rival, Meyer and Frank. By the late fifties, Rexall was the largest drugstore franchise in the U.S. with 11,158 stores, which is just shy of the number of McDonald’s in the country today.

“When I grew up, this is where you got your Rexall,” says Schimpf. “As you waited to get your prescription filled, you got a soda or a coffee at the bar.” The soda fountain bar ran down the right side of the store, as did the pharmacy counter. Along the right wall on the left were newspapers and magazines. Home goods, like diapers, could be found in the back of the store. Neighbors came to pay their bills, cash money orders and chat with friends around the soda fountain.

In the late 1970’s, the Rexall model of independent pharmacies began to lose out to larger competitors like Thrifty Drug and CVS Pharmacy. The workingclass neighborhood of Alberta also struggled to hold its own, accumulating boarded up buildings and enduring a record crime rate.

28 year-old Andy Kostechka, Alberta’s last pharmacist, threw in the towel in September 1981, one week after being held at gunpoint Alberta’s last pharmacist for the third time. An Oregonian article on the robbery described the pharmacy as “the last neighborhood gathering place that isn’t a tavern” and “a meeting place for adults at midday, and everybody’s kids after school.” At a final gathering in the pharmacy, neighbors shared Lorraine Schimpf’s carrot cake and drank coffee poured by Terry Olbekson, who tended the soda fountain for 21 years. When the store closed, many thought its defining neon sign would be shut off for good.

Bohemian Cafes with Creative Atmosphere

Still, the community continued to gather around its times-old meeting place. In 1993, Magnus Johannesson, a prominent figure in the Alberta Arts real estate scene, bought the property and rented the commercial space to a series of bohemian cafes; including The Rexall Rose and the Star E. Rose. Johannesson opened some of the upstairs lofts to veterans that had been on the streets since they had returned from Vietnam. The coffee houses hosted musicians and open mics and frequently advertised in alternative periodicals like Just Out. Johannesson maintained the property at a loss and when his bills went into default, the building changed hands.

By the time Bob and Fayren Chang arrived in 2014, the property was an Anna Bannanas cafe and its owners were looking to retire. The couple, fresh to Portland after running an English school in Taiwan, loved the building for its old bones, high ceiling and its creative atmosphere that most other coffee shops had lost.

Last December, Just Bob, along with building owner Eric Payne led the charge to relight the Rexall sign. Funded by a grant from the now defunct Alberta Main Street Association, the community gathered on New Year’s Eve 2025 to cheer the light being relit for the first time in over 30 years. Now the Changs keep the sign lit 24/7. “It’s a beacon of hope and optimism,” Fayren says, “especially on a dark foggy morning, casting its red glow down Alberta Street.”

Just Bob continues to host local artists and host various musicians and performers. Mary Rose and her string band have batted out folk standards and protest songs every Sunday for the last 30 odd years. Newcomers have also arrived to the scene, such as the cafe’s very own Gabe Holmes, who hosts a comedy open mic the last two Saturdays of each month. You can still find Paul Schimpf eating breakfast by the window. If you do, say hello.

Leo Newman is a paralegal and aspiring writer based in NE Portland. Trained as a historian, he enjoys exploring the history of Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

NE Farmers Markets Kick Off Neighborhood Food Sharing Partnership

Posted on by Posted in CNA

By Joshua Lickteig  Contributing Writer

This year’s summer season will see a joint effort by the farmers markets of Cully, Woodlawn, and Rocky Butte to bring a new food sharing program called pahtl o’-pekwan, which means “full basket” in Chinuk Wawa, the native trade language of the Pacific Northwest. The goal of the program is to ensure communities in the NE quadrant are closely working together to disperse locally grown food and also showcase the need for access to fresh, healthy options. Each market will allot $50 in tokens (that can be either spent or combined at any of the three participating markets), for those in need, or through a “one time hardship application”, with priority given to minority group members and seniors over the age of 65.

“Grassroots efforts are the catalyst to change,” says S.A. Lawrence-Welch, manager of Cully Farmers Market (CFM) for the past two seasons. “Let’s advocate together for safe community spaces, push for access to fresh produce and other things people need. Let’s make sure the neighborhood is fed, taken care of and nurtured,” she adds with a smile.

Eligible food includes produce (root vegetables, greens, mushrooms, legumes, berries, fruits and some dried products like freeze dried unprocessed vegetables with no additives), meat (including fresh fish, canned fish with no additives \ seasonings or salt, eggs, beef, pork, chicken, and rabbit), and some additional products, such as honey.

CFM is “an Indigenous led and community-focused market”, funded by Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). Wapas Nah Neģe Shaku is the name of the NAYA garden that provides ten boxes of produce to CFM to distribute to community members each week .

“It’s scary to ask for help sometimes, but if you are met with a friendly face, it’s easier to receive that help. And when you’re safe you’re more able to make positive change and be a part of others’ lives,” Lawrence-Welch says. In addition to pahtl o’-pe-kwan, the Cully Token Program offers $20 to patrons who are receiving government assistance; a form is submitted for each request. The program started on May 24th and interested attendees can apply in person at the market.

“The community is everybody. All have unique experiences, but have the same goals, ” Lawrence-Welch expresses with heartfelt positivity. Look for more formal announcements and informational pamphlets once the project is closer to rollout in the coming season.

“Between Woodlawn, Rocky [Butte] and Cully we are going to make magic happen.”

More informationIf you currently qualify for any one of the following programs, you are eligible for farmers market subsidies. Visit the link below to learn more.

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / Oregon Trail
  • Double Up Food Bucks
  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • Rental Assistance
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS)
  • Employment Related Day Care (ERDC)
  • Oregon Low-Income Dis- count Program (LID) • Oregon Lifeline • Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP)
  • Public Housing
  • Housing Stabilization Program (HSP)
  • Multnomah Stability Initiative (MSI)
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • The Oregon Health Plan (OHP)
  • Medicaid
  • Children’s Health Insurance Program

cullyfarmersmarket.com/pahtl-ope-kwan
Open Thursdays June- August 4 – 8 pm and September 4 -7 pm

Joshua Lickteig is an artist and engineer. He was born near the other Milwaukee and has been in Portland since 2018. His latest book of poems is called Half Moon Day Sun.

From the Board – Meet Me at the Commons this Summer!

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events

By John McSherry

S ummer is a time to get outside, enjoy the sun, walk around, and meet with neighbors. When you are out exploring this June, a great spot to venture to is Concordia Commons. Concordia Commons is a City of Portland public street plaza maintained by the Bureau of Transportation in partnership with the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA). It is located at NE 30th and Killingsworth. Through CNA’s Friends of the Commons committee, we plan, sponsor and promote free fun activities and events all summer long. Here’s what’s on tap this month:

Live Music Sundays at the Commons
From 4 – 6pm through August
Bookings are still in progress. Scheduled at this time are: June 1st – Steve Cheseborough – acoustic country blues of the 1920s and ’30s, June 15th – Julie and the Astronauts – Alt- Americana originals mixed with rare musical treasures soaked in hot country licks and June 22nd – The Lawrence Jazz Duo – Instrumental jazz, pop, bossa nova, and swing.

Game Night at Concordia Commons
Every Thursday from 5 – 7 pm through August
We have over 50 games for a wide range of ages and abilities including Scrabble, strategy games, cooperative games, and others. Come have fun with your neighbors.

Vivid Memories: A Slide Film Showcase
 Saturday, June 14th from 8 – 10 pm.
Mia Rose of forage films will be presenting a projected art show featuring five Portland photographers in celebration of color reversal film. While you are there, check out the Slide-o-matic mystery slide vending machine.

Everything in the Commons is always free. Check our website for updates on what is happening.

In addition, we love it when other people hold events at Concordia Commons. It is free to use but the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) must approve your application. Learn how to apply.

Another free ongoing event is Loose Threads, a drop-in workshop every Friday from 2 – 5 pm in the Community Room at Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave.) Bring your knitting or crochet projects from home to work on, or make a felt project such as a plant pick, eyeglass case, pansy boutonniere, or tiny, whimsical brooch. Materials provided; one project per participant. For more information, contact CNA Stitching Coach Caprice Lawless at (720) 939-3094.

Save the date for Concordia Neighbors Night Out at University of Oregon (2800 NE Liberty St.) on Thursday, August 7th from 6 – 8 pm. It will be be our 50th Anniversary celebration of the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) and also our first annual family friendly concert on the lawn amphitheater. Family friendly activities will include face painting and lawn games. Additionally, U of O will have a Community Open House with information and tours of buildings. Come, bring a picnic, a blanket or lawn chairs, and join our neighborhood night out.

Also, consider signing up to help host our Thursday game nights or Sunday Fun in the Commons by contacting Kepper Petzing at karenpetzing@gmail.com.

I hope to see you there!
John McSherry, Vice Chair

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.

Soccer Now at the U of O Stadium

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Elaine Oliver | Contributing Writer

Soccer, or what is mostly known around the world as football (or futbol) is often touted as “the world’s game”, though for players who are also fans, like me, it can resonate more deeply. I played soccer growing up but not in college. Shortly after college while an expat in Sydney, Australia, I found an amazing soccer team and group of friends. Being on the field again became a core part of my social life, fostered the opportunity to learn about other cultures and revived an exercise routine that had diminished as a working adult.

When moving back to Portland, it was clear to me that locating a similar soccer club would help ensure my quality of life. I moved into my house off of NE 27th and Dekum in January of 2020. I wanted to be near a stadium because I love women’s soccer. I was excited to have a beautiful school stadium nearby. Or so I thought! Concordia University shut its doors and my plans for being part of a thriving support squad were squashed. The campus was quiet and the stadium doors were sealed for more than five years.

So, I made a friend who was managing a women’s and non-binary team in the Northwest United Women’s League (NUWS), and immediately kickstarted a rhythm of weekly soccer. Soon enough, I began co-managing the team and have enjoyed doing it since. There’s a special kind of joy in embracing a person’s return or fresh start to the game, and knowing they’ll be welcomed by a supportive group. About four years ago, a few friends from my team and I decided to buy season tickets to the Thorns and we routinely commune for a drink or food before cheering on our amazing hometown squad in their matches.

In spring of 2023, even as University of Oregon reactivated the campus; renovating buildings, holding community meetings, and revamping its groundskeeping beyond bare minimum; the stadium doors remained closed. It was understandable- NE Portland is the school’s satellite campus and there aren’t collegiate teams requiring its use. Each day, I walked past the stadium with my dog and longingly hoped that one day I myself would get to play a game of soccer on it.

Then, my wish came true. This January, the Pickles baseball franchise made an agreement to rent the field for a new soccer team in the USL League Two called the Bangers. The coaches are two former Timbers players who each have a special place in the culture of soccer in Portland. Diego Valeri is a 2021 retiree from the Timbers (playing attacking midfield), an Argentine who made a second home with his family here over the course of eight years playing for the Timbers. And the head coach is Jorge Villafana, who especially got my attention because he was an talented left back defender – my favorite position to play. Villafana was a huge reason why the Timbers progressed and eventually won the 2015 MLS championship. I bought tickets.

On a roasting late Friday afternoon last month, the Bangers welcomed the city for Community Day, a free season opener to experience what’s in store for the inaugural season. Banners were abound with signature vibrant pink and lush green. Within the first three minutes of play, the ball landed in the east pavilion bleacher block, just a few seats from a few members of the Concordia Neighborhood Association board. Then the energizing call-and-response began.

“Let’s go, Bang-ers!” Fans clapped and cheered. Kids ran in every direction across the sidelines, lounge areas and risers, some quite jubilant after having achieved selfies with the “fearless and feisty” Saucy T. Sausage, whose surname is common for the British slang of the club’s handle. The first goal was scored at 26:29; the next 57:11.

“It’s like a reunion, I know so many people here! Everyone looks familiar.” said an attendee at concessions just before halftime. The sport has enabled me to make new friends, rediscover a level of exercise I didn’t think I was capable of anymore, and allowed me to meet people from all walks of life who come together each week to try and achieve something together. I look forward to seeing more of my neighbors at games this summer.

Elaine (she/her) is a former tech trainer turned ADHD coach and Concordia newspaper ad sales rep. She is a passionate auntie, pitbull mom, and soccer player who has called Concordia home for 4 years. You can find her eating good food with friends or walking her lovable pitbull Charlie in the neighborhood.

Poetry Corner

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

Aerial Posture
By Joshua Lickteig

O those humming birds’ dharmas
each day with attention new to
layers of the canopy,
Green plumages of the crown
near motionless all the while
remarkable wingbeats
Convert inner energy
to greatest amplitudes
of refined motion,
Wings reorienting their angles in
figure ∞ patterns.
This wax-leaf privet, they know,
was set here years past
by way of another form’s action.
One chose the same route
for five days, inspecting first
the progress of yesterday’s petals,
then paused in a windless place,
Its gaze upward
the very direction
of its heart.
Now it returns to the purple rosemary flower, just as it did moments
Ago.

Bopping Around Concordia
By Mary Therese Otis

Raindrops shine like JuJubes on flowers leaning out from lawns:
Rhododendrons! Tulips!
Euphorbia! Rosemary!
Lavender! Licorice Ferns
fanning from mossy boles of trees…
Out I go for my morning joe into the herbal air,
where joyful offerings sprout
like wild onions everywhere –
playful pops against long charcoal days and heavy, listless skies –
disarming as a baby’s
laughter in church.
Greeting each burst as I go, I SMILE
at the painted metal ant, ADMIRE
the landscape on the garden wall, TASTE
the free blueberries (thanks), EXPLORE
the little library, the wildlife sanctuary, READ the poem on the wooden stand, CHAT
with the chickens, and LAND
at last, on Alberta Street, with rhymes under my feet. And there I MEET in a shop window, the image of
a stranger – me – transformed, luminous
like the indigo glow on Portland’s crows….

Boys & Girls Aid Seeking Volunteer Foster Parents

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Sophie Hauth | Contributing Writer

In the late 1800s, Portland faced a crisis of homeless and abandoned youth who had little support. At the time, the common response of the government was to incarcerate or institutionalize them. However, our founder, Thomas Lamb Eliot, refused to give up on these kids. In 1885, he rallied Portland’s leaders to establish the Boys & Girls Aid Society of Oregon, an organization whose mission was to obtain legal custody of at-risk youth and place them in private foster homes. Today, there is a shortage of foster homes in NE Portland and Boys & Girls Aid (BGA) is looking to recruit new foster family volunteers to support these children.

Beyond well-documented improvements in education and career outcomes, our foster parents give children the love and consistency they need to form lasting relationships and achieve a secure future. Few acts of service can change a life so completely.

Youth in the program may be anywhere from 4-21 years old. Foster parents must be able to pass a background check, show financial stability exclusive of the foster care stipend, have a valid driver’s license, have a reliable vehicle to transport youth, and be able to provide a separate bedroom for youth with a window and a door. Foster parents provide food, shelter, clothing, and activities. They also communicate with BGA staff and Oregon Department of Human Services caseworkers and lawyers, as needed.

We offer extensive support to all of our foster parents, including 24/7 staff availability, financial assistance, and paid time off when needed. Whether you can commit to a full-time placement or just a few days each month, we have flexible fostering options that can fit your schedule.

By becoming a foster parent with Boys & Girls Aid, you can provide the nurturing foundation that empowers a child to thrive and lead a fulfilling life. For more information, visit boysandgirlsaid.org/fostercare or contact our Recruitment & Certification Coordinator, Daisy Pesak, at 503-258-7932 or daisy@ bgaid.org.

As a Recruitment & Certification Specialist at Boys & Girls Aid, Sophie Hauth (she/ her) guides and supports families throughout their journey to becoming foster parents, from attending an information session to completing their certification and welcoming a youth into their home.

PCC Opportunity Center

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Schools

By Kepper Petzing | Contributing Writer

A Community Hub I n 1957, Safeway built a large store with extensive parking at the corner of NE 42nd & Killingsworth. In 1972, when Safeway moved on, Portland Community College (PCC) had a vision of repurposing the building for a Workforce Training Center to support those entering or reentering the job market.

In 2017, PCC wanted to update it and Multnomah County voters approved a bond measure to make that vision a reality. In 2023, the Opportunity Center at NE cm42nd Avenue opened, gathering together essential services in one place, while still helping people navigate changing work environments.

This year, the remaining pieces of the community hub will open, completing the vision almost 10 years in the making.

Services at the Opportunity Center

At the Opportunity Center, the PCC team helps people explore careers, develop skills, and create a plan to succeed. The Center also provides education and on-the-job training. The Small Business Development Center helps community entrepreneurs launch or grow a small business through no-cost, one-on-one business advising and affordable business education for longterm success.

A variety of non-profits have partnered with PCC for this project. Oregon Department of Human Services supports all residents on a path out of poverty and toward whole well-being. Programs include food benefits, cash assistance, services for domestic violence survivors, resources for refugees, and support for youth experiencing homelessness. They welcome people to stop by with questions. Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) is a family of numerous tribes and voices rooted in sustaining tradition and building cultural wealth. It provides culturally specific programs and services that support youth and families. The soon-to-open Fernhill Health Center offers primary care, a pharmacy, and dental care. If you are unable to pay or don’t have health insurance, they want to help. Neighbors are invited to the Grand Opening on May 30th to hear about the center and tour the facilities. See calendar on page 12 for more details. Home Forward is building a new 84-unit family-focused affordable housing apartment community on the site. Early learning classrooms run by NAYA will be part of the housing complex and are also expected to open in the summer.

This project was made possible, in part, by the 2018 voter-approved Metro Housing Bond. When completed, the apartment complex will have a 16,000-square-foot plaza and amphitheater. Along with Concordia Commons at NE 30th & Killingsworth, it will be a neighborhood space for community gatherings. What will we celebrate there?

A Collaboration for the Community

Ivory Mathews, CEO of Home Forward says, “This collaboration is a testament to what can be achieved when organizations come together with a shared vision of creating opportunities for families to thrive and communities to prosper.”

Kepper Petzing has lived in Concordia for 40 years where, with their partner Lowen, they raised two children. They are nonbinary. They love community and are grateful for Concordia News.