Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

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Protect our 30th & Killingsworth commercial district: Bighouse Development has city’s attention

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

By Ben Earle, Secretary, CNA LUTC
Updated September 22, 2016

Land Use, Transportation & Livability Update

Things are sure sizzling on the land use front, with the hottest activity being a ramp up of community advocacy for improving the Bighouse building design and for deciding which Residential Infill Project (RIP) proposal the LUTC will recommend for CNA to support.

Bighouse Development
We are encouraged by the letters from the mayor and commissioners Saltzman and Novick (see below) supporting the CNA’s professionally-crafted design improvement suggestions for the four-story “mixed use” apartment building going up at the northeast corner of 30th Avenue and Killingsworth.

We remain hopeful that at least some, if not all, of the ground floor units currently designated residential only can perhaps be optimized by converting them for use by either retail or residential tenants, as the current commercial storefront zoning guidelines clearly intend – and our city leaders agree.

Although the construction clock is ticking, it is not too late to consider any changes that may be possible — be sure to check back for project updates as they become available.

Residential Infill Project
Although the RIP process has completed its formal public review and comment phase, there is still an opportunity to provide input on the three different proposals from the Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC), on which LUTC chair Garlynn Woodsong served. The LUTC will recommend at the Sept. 13 board meeting that CNA send a letter supporting a modified version of the SAC’s Housing Diversity Perspective proposal to Portland Planning Commission as they agree on a preferred proposal for city council’s approval before year’s end.

To refresh your memory, the RIP’s purpose is to establish new code, before the full 2035 Comprehensive Plan is completed in 2017-18. The intent is to reduce house size and increase the range of housing types to address community concerns about the scale of new homes and the current housing supply challenges.

Our recommendations will be distributed via the LUTC Community email list and the CNA website so interested people can comment at the board meeting. For more info, see PortlandOregon.gov/bps/article/580581. Email questions to LandUse@ConcordiaPDX.org.

LUTC membership
Jay Fesler was approved to fill the open committee position created when Ken Forcier moved to Rainier, Washington. Jay is a project manager for Ankrom Moisan Architects, served on the Bighouse Redesign Team and is looking forward to helping with the launch of the Concordia Design Standards initiative this fall.

Concordia residents are always welcome at CNA LUTC Meetings, 7 p.m. every third Wednesday in the Community Room at McMenamins Kennedy School. For more information, visit the LUTC section of the CNA website, send your questions to LandUse@ConcordiaPDX.org and/or email LUTC_Secretary@ConcordiaPDX.org to be added to the LUTC notification list.

Nextdoor.com hot topic round up

Posted on by Posted in CNA

Doug update: The dachshund at Madison Square G… No. Madison Park. Possible Doug sighting near 78th and Siskiyou Aug. 7. Loving mom, Naomi Painter, continues to search for him, as, I imagine, do we all!

Lots to love despite those teeth: The possum, North America’s only marsupial, garners local love. Eats ticks, snails, small rodents and more, gets billed as nature’s pest control and cleanup crew!

Lock ’em up! Concordia residents note an uptick in prowlers – day and night – checking car door handles, scanning properties for unlocked goods, even digging up flowers. Sadly, one resident was burgled during his own backyard dinner party. Be aware, be safe.

Ask and you just might receive! Sam, looking for odds-n-ends weekend work, gives a shout out to neighbors and is inundated with offers. Way to go, Sam!

Ride like a girl? Gladys Bikes on Alberta gets high marks as a woman-owned and focused bike shop.

Neighborhood density a weighty issue: The Residential Infill Project keeps neighbors talking. One resident counsels wisely, “The question isn’t, ‘How do we keep things the same?’ That never happens. The question is, ‘How do we want things to change?'”

Carrie is a Concordia resident and lives on 29th Avenue. She is also a freelance writer with a penchant for poetic prose who 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.

Cultural empathy is to walk a mile in another’s shoes

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

An old proverb says you can ‘t really understand another person ‘s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. Concordia University associate professor of social work Julie Dodge, Ph.D., studies the application of this proverb to the modern world in the field of cultural empathy.

“Every day in the news we hear another story of violence that outrages us. It’s easy to pick a side,” she said. “It is much harder to actually listen to the stories of people who may face unique challenges in our society. Too often, we rush to blame.”

In her anticipated iBook, titled “‘But I Would ‘t Do That!’ Teaching Cultural Empathy,” Dodge suggests we often fail in our work with people of different backgrounds because we lack cultural empathy. As a society, especially within our health and human service professions, we still struggle to understand why another person behaves differently than we would.

Cultural empathy is defined as the ability to consider the thoughts or perspectives and feelings of another person given their cultural background – values, experiences, beliefs – and to communicate this understanding effectively.

Brain research shows we are all capable of expressing empathy; however, we have to choose to activate those empathy pathways in our brains. So how can we do this?

“One way is to stop, listen, reflect and ask for clarification – especially if you hear something with which you disagree,” Dodge said. “Listening to another person ‘s story, instead of arguing another perspective helps build understanding of why a person thinks and feels the way they do. And that results in a better understanding of differences.”

Larn more about cultural empathy.

Learn more about Concordia University’s College of Health and Human Services.

Contributed by Concordia University College of Health & Human Services.

Your neighborhood, your voice

Posted on by Posted in Events

Housing Forum | Sep 10, 10am | St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N. Central Street

The City is preparing to invest an additional $32 million in North/Northeast Portland to help address the community’s need for affordable housing. Give your input and help shape the housing plan. 

You are invited to a community forum where you can share your priorities and ideas on how to invest the additional funding and learn about affordable housing programs available through the City of Portland.

JOIN US

Location: St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N. Central Street
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2016
Time: Breakfast 10:00 am • Session 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Registration: To request child care or translation services for this event, register online by September 7, 2016 or by calling 503-823-2375.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.portlandoregon.gov/phb/nnestrategy
Phone: 503.823.1190
Email: nnestrategy@portlandoregon.gov

 

 

 

Cupping is the ancient twist to modern massage

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Health and Wellness

By Penny Hill

The news and Twitter­verse are abuzz today about the cupping bruises – they are actually called kisses and are not bruises – on various Olympic athletes. If you missed it, and are new to cupping, it is the therapeutic application of a cup to the skin in which a vacuum is created. This vacuum creates a localized suction of the tissues up into the cup and stimulates a healing response.

All of the news coverage I saw focused on Chinese fire cups, which are used by acupuncturists and are stationary. But there is a different kind of cupping. In Massage cupping, the cup is plastic or even silicone, and the vacuum is achieved by means of a pump attached to a valve.

The value and use of cupping has been known since very ancient times. Massage therapists are getting in on the action, me included. Incorporating this ancient technique into massage cupping is sort of the Ginger Rogers of massage techniques. It does everything regular massage does, just backwards.

In a usual session of massage, all the pressure is directed inward but, with cupping the force is outward. This lifting separates tissue layers for more mobility. The cups can be used to break up other muscular adhesions and scar tissue, collect and drain lymph and increase blood flow. The process is very soothing to the nervous system and induces a deep calm and relaxation.

In general, cupping feels very like massage does. Some areas feel lovely, some not so much. The vacuum cups allow for regulation of the suction if an area of discomfort is found. The cups also stimulate the flow of stagnant energy.

The addition of cupping to your massage sessions can be transformative.

Penny Hill, LMT and certified EFT coach, can be reached by visiting concordiamassagepros.com. 

Combine labor of love with sense of purpose

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Health and Wellness

By Keren Brown Wilson, Ph.D

Labor Day is upon us. Started in 1882 to recognize the contributions of men and women in the U.S. workforce, in 1887 Oregon was the first state to make it a legal holiday.

Today it’s widely viewed as the unofficial last weekend of summer. But it’s still a celebration of the dignity of work, largely of the contributions that benefit society – like building things, caring for others or supporting the work of teams. And work implies a state of being worthy of esteem or respect.

Last month I mentioned that having purpose is an important element of successful aging. Tome, that’s related to dignity of work. Consider the phrase “labor of love.” Typically that’s something one does based on one’s interest in the work itself rather than any payment – work for one’s own enjoyment, or for the benefit of others.

For anyone who is retired from paid work – or sufficiently disabled to not work in the paid labor market – there is no barrier to being involved in a labor of love. It can give purpose to one’s life.

There is much to be done in our communities and for others in acts large and small. Imagine not only benefitting others, but yourself by various activities in which you get involved. Look around as you enjoy the last weekend of summer and ask yourself, “Where am I needed?”

Never think you are too old, too used up or too out of date to be able to contribute meaningfully as a part of aging gracefully… with purpose and with dignity.

Keren is president of the Jessie F. Richardson Foundation. Based in Clackamas, the nonprofit helps elders live full lives with dignity. Its strategies focus on bridging the gap for elders, families and communities throughout the United States and around the globe. Contact her at 503.408-4088 or KWilson@jfrfoundation.org, or visit JFRFoundation.org.

Cully Camina invites you to ‘walk, go, trot, wend your way’

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events

The Cully Association of Neighbors and Oregon Walks are partnering Sept. 18 for the first of a new series of free, pedestrian-focused open streets events. The 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cully Camina will encourage participants to explore the Cully neighborhood on foot and use the streets for play in Oregon Walks’ new Oregon Walkways program.

What’s a camina? Loosely translated, it’s the Spanish word to walk, go, trot, home in on and/or wend one’s way.

Inspired by the success of the city of Portland’s Sunday Parkways, this event will close off portions of Killingsworth Street and Alberta Court to cars and open them to people. The route will highlight the newly minted Living Cully Plaza and the forthcoming 42nd Avenue Plaza, with activities along Cully Blvd, Alberta Street and Alberta Court, especially in and around Khunamokwst Park. Booths for food and art vendors as well as local nonprofits will be located near both plaza areas.

Volunteers, vendors and participants are all invited. Volunteers are needed on the planning and outreach teams, and to direct traffic.

Potential vendors may email Inna Levin.

Sponsors already include: Metro, the city of Portland, Our 42nd Avenue, Living Cully, Verde, Hacienda CDC, Andando en Bicicleta en Cully and City Repair and individuals who live and work in the neighborhood.

Oregon Walks is a pedestrian advocacy organization that works to ensure walking and the conditions for walking are safe, convenient and attractive for everyone. Learn more about Cully Camina.

Stop! Look! Listen!You could save a life

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Family

By Karen Wells

It’s back to school time. You can feel the excitement, the anticipation in the air. The shopping trips to get the new school clothes, gear and electronics – the stuff that makes it all possible.

If you do the traditional, round robin of shopping malls and outlets, you drive there and back, right? If you’re lucky, the ideal parking space awaits, right?

Remember to Stop! Look! Listen! Check for your children or other kids around your car before you park, after parking and before pulling out.

Kids are short. Parents are distracted. Kids are excited and curious. Parents are in a hurry. Cars have blind spots. Kids are oblivious to cars, both parked and moving. Parking lots and driveways are dangerous places, ripe for tragedy.

Stop! Look! Listen! Check where children might be before getting into your car. It takes seconds and could save a life.

According to KidsandCars.org, about 114 children younger than age five were killed in 2015 from backovers – cars that backed over unseen children – and frontovers – cars that moved slowly forward over unseen children.

Don’t leave a child younger than five unattended in a car, even for a minute. Heatstroke or another medical emergency can occur in moments. If the outside temperature is 70 and the windows are closed, it’s 125 inside that car.

We’re good parents. Let’s do our best to keep our children safe. Stop! Look! Listen!

karen-wells-100x100Karen is a master trainer in early childhood education at Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education. She provides health and safety training to parents and childcare staff via Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County. Reach her at 5CornersFamily@gmail.com and 619.244.7892.

Aquifer Adventure September 17

Posted on by Posted in Events, Family, Volunteer Opportunities

Free family event - Aquifer Adventure - Sept 17 NE 166 and Airport Way

Saturday September 17, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Big and little pirates alike are welcome to join us for a family festival all about groundwater! Play fun games and go on a scavenger hunt in search of hidden treasure – not gold, but groundwater, a precious resource that flows beneath your feet! Come dressed in yer finest pirate togs, or else the Cap’n might make ye walk the plank! Free kids T-shirts to the first 300 kids!

Location

Portland Water Bureau Launch
16650 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97230

Admisssion: Free

Learn more about the Aquifer Adventure