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Author Archives: Gordon Riggs

Together we face CU closing

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Gordon Riggs Posted in Concordia News, CU Sale

By Astrid Furstner, CNA Chair

Resilience is defined as having the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity or the like. In Concordia, the place we call home, resilience is being able to recover from the news that left us reeling – the closure of Concordia University.

At our March general meeting, we had asked Julie Dodge, doctor of ministry, to speak to us about resilience – something that she deals with and helps others to deal with on a daily basis. The university associate professor was invited as a speaker for our March event prior to the university’s announcement about closing.

The strength and courage she showed in still coming to our meeting was amazing. As a matter of fact, there were several other staff/faculty members in attendance that night – not as representatives of the school, but as members of the community, neighbors and as people whose lives have also been changed.

The school is closing. The students will no longer be on campus. The faculty and staff are losing their jobs. This is what we have to contend with as a community.

There will soon be a void. There is uncertainty. How will we, as a community, come together and fill that void?

Let us begin with our children. Karmin Williams, Ed.D., Faubion School principal, attended. She alleviated some fears by reporting the Faubion building is owned by Portland Public Schools (PPS) – not the university.

Faubion is not closing. She also said the university was providing 40% of funding along with volunteers and teaching students, in addition to a full-time employee who coordinated community activities. So Faubion will face a shortfall, both in finances and assistance.

What can we, as a community, do to help? Volunteer. Any neighbor who wishes to volunteer must go through a PPS background check and application process. Learn more at PPS.net. How much time do you have?

The university provided our community with the use of its library. That’s closing. But, did you know that we have six other public libraries that we can also use – for free?

They are: Kenton Library on north Denver Avenue, North Portland Library on north Killingsworth Street, St. Johns Library on north Charleston Avenue, Albina Library on northeast 15th Avenue and the Hollywood Library on northeast Tillamook Street.

We also have several free little libraries in our community. Leave a book – take a book.

The closing of the university does have an impact on our community, but it does not have to destroy us. Change is here, how do we face it?

Personally, I say we face it together.

Why not work together to continue to make Concordia our home – a place where our children can live out their lives and create memories? A place where we care for our neighbors. A place where we thrive as a community.

Astrid Furstner is a mother, a wife, an immigrant, a local artist and an artisan. She lives with her luthier husband, Brent, and her artist-in-the-making daughter, Luciana. Together, they call Concordia their home.

Concordians share their memories of CU

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Gordon Riggs Posted in Uncategorized

CNews asked readers to send their memories of Concordia University to share with the community at this time of grief about institution closing. Below are some of the submissions.

If you have any to share, post them on Facebook.com/groups/ConcordiaPDX.

Karen (Sasser) Wrye

Karen (Sasser) Wrye Concordia University has been a part of my life for many years. My family moved to Portland in 1945. I grew up on 27th and walked past the campus on my way to Faubion to grade school.

We neighborhood kids also played on the campus. When it was time for college, I attended there to study to be a teacher.

After graduating, I lived out of state for eight years. In 1972, I moved back to Portland when my husband accepted a position to teach in the high school department at Concordia.

I have lived in the Concordia neighborhood since then. For 12 years, I was an adjunct instructor at Concordia University. Over the years I have witnessed the many changes and additions to the campus.

All my memories as neighbor, student and instructor are too many to list. A few of my favorites are singing in the Concordia College Choir, attending concerts and sporting events over the years, visiting the library and walking across campus on my treks through the neighborhood.

I live close enough to campus that, in recent years, I have enjoyed the music of the carillon. I grieve the closing of Concordia University and wonder what will take its place as my neighbor.

Dick Wrye

Dick Wrye The first five years I lived in the Concordia neighborhood of Portland, I taught in the high school department of Concordia College and High School. The high school then moved off the Concordia campus and became Lutheran High School.

At Concordia I taught music, primarily choir and band. Many of those students are still my friends. I am glad to have memories of the many years of teaching.

Georgina Sharadin Sievers

My parents, Don and Dolores Sharadin, built their house on 27th and Liberty in 1951 to send all their future children to Concordia High School — an all-boys high school, then a junior college, which later became a university.

They had five daughters, but fortunately the high school turned co-ed in 1968. Four of the five girls attended there, met their future husbands on the campus, and they were married in the chapel in Luther Hall.

After the girls left home, the Sharadins – who have seen tremendous changes to the campus – continued to support the growing university, and even rented bedrooms out to other students throughout the years.

Dolores received Concordia’s first Lux Christi Award, given to an outstanding educator for the Lutheran Church. Don couldn’t stay away from attending all the sporting events on campus. The Sharadins still maintain occupancy of the big yellow house. The landscape has changed immensely with the stadium, the library, the gym and campus apartments.

I taught swim classes as an adjunct professor, son-in-law Ken is the head of maintenance, granddaughter Karen is the campus nurse and great-granddaughter Atley is a freshman on the campus.

Sadly to say, we are all heartbroken. But we are thankful for the nearly 70 years our family has been a part of this Concordia community.

Concordia Neighborhood Association Mixer

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Gordon Riggs Posted in CNA, Concordia News, Events

Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, 6 – 8 p.m.

Location: YesYes Healing Garden, 1626 NE Alberta St.

Tour Alberta Street’s newest wellness practice. It offers acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, several genres of massage and more. Founders John Kozel and KMA Sullivan will offer tours, beverages and hors d’oeuvres. This is CNA’s first opportunity in 2020 to mingle with your neighbors.

Details: soniagf419@gmail.com

Concordia community events calendar for January

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Gordon Riggs Posted in Arts & Culture, Events

Tuesday, Dec. 31-Wednesday, Jan. 1, noon-5pm

CREATIVE PATH WALK: Turning of the Year–Hopes & Resolutions for 2020

Location: Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd

The monthly indoor community contemplative walk is on the historic Chartres pattern. Traversing the design offers the opportunity to focus & still the mind. Donations accepted, reservations encouraged. Wear comfortable socks.

Details: creativepathwalk.org

Fridays, Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31, 10:30am-noon

FEAST COMMUNITY CHOIR

Location: Subud Portland, 3185 NE Regents

Forget Everything & Sing Together (FEAST) is a community acapella choir with the goal to build community. New singers welcome.

Details/fee: feastcommunitychoir.com

Monday, Jan. 6-Friday, March 20, library open hours

Heather Goodwind Exhibit

Location: Concordia University Library

Helen Goodwind deploys paint, ink & graphite to create a personal anthology of the archetypal images she presents as a permanent record of her experience. Her current projects include large scale works on canvas, & self-data collection to track & optimize her creative process. The exhibit shows through the Concordia University Library Multicultural Arts & Events Program. A reception for the artist is Thursday, Jan. 30, 5:30-8:30pm.

Details/library open hours: cu-portland.edu/academics/libraries/library-calendar

Tuesdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, 4-8pm

TIME TOGETHER: TUESDAYS

Location: Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd

Gather, knit, craft, fold, chat, be. This open house connects friends. Most Tuesdays include a 22-foot Chartres pattern labyrinth for a contemplative walk.

Details: cerimonhouse.org

Saturday, Jan. 11, 3-5pm

Home Energy Score Workshop

Location: Community Energy Project, 2900 SE Stark

Portland homes now require home energy scores to be listed for sale. This class is for home sellers/buyers & real estate brokers. Class covers interpreting home energy score reports & effective energy efficiency upgrades.

Details/registration: communityenergyproject.org

Sunday, Jan. 12, 3-5:30pm

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

Location: Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd

Join community members to talk about neighborhood change in the premiere of the film “Diary of a Street. ” Learn about early neighborhood history from CNews historian Doug Decker. Explore diverse perspectives on neighborhood change with a panel from the housing field & community. Enjoy light refreshments & participate in the raffle for prizes from local businesses. Funded partially by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the event is hosted by Jordana Leeb, featured in CNews (Page 9 of the November 2019 issue at concordiapdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cna-201911-web.pdf).

Details/RSVP: tinyurl.com/ConcordiaConversations

Monday, Jan. 13, 7pm

Paranormal Pub: Ghosts of McMenamins

Location: McMenamins Kennedy School

Presenter Rocky Smith, historian & paranormal investigator reports the legends of ghostly apparitions guests have encountered at McMenamins properties, especially Kennedy School, White Eagle & Edgefield. In fact, those properties are featured regularly on lists of Oregon’s haunted hotspots. The in-depth presentation not only offers some of the most chilling entries from the famous McMenamins ghost logs–it also explores the mystery & history surrounding the buildings. Minors welcome with parents or guardians. Doors open 6pm.

Details: mcmenamins.com/events/213278-paranormal-pub-ghosts-of-mcmenamins

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7pm

Race Talks: The Color of Fear–Walking Each Other Home

Location: McMenamins Kennedy School

This session ends the 4-part discussion of “The Color of Fear,” an insightful, groundbreaking film about the state of race relations in America. It gives an in-depth look into the state of race in America. In the era of Black Lives Matter, gay pride & chants of “send them back”–with the urgency for racial reconciliation heightened–the film’s commentary is just as poignant today as it was 25 years ago. Doors open 6pm.

Details: mcmenamins.com/events/213267-the-color-of-fear-part-ii-walking-each-other-home

Thursday, Jan. 16, 6-8pm

FREE CRAFT NIGHT

Location: Atlas Pizza, 710 N Killingsworth

collage & Atlas Pizza collaborate the third Thursday of each month to sponsor this event. Supplies & instructors provided, no registration necessary.

Details: collagepdx.com

Saturday, Jan. 25, 8:45am-1pm

Groundwater 101

Location: McKinstry Company, 16790 NE Mason

Join the Portland Water Bureau & the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for this workshop geared toward adults & adolescents as young as 17. You’ll learn groundwater basics including local geology & hydrology, the role groundwater plays in the local drinking water system & what you can do to protect this resource that lies beneath the cities of Portland, Gresham & Fairview. The workshop is presented with a mix of hands-on & classroom-style teaching, Light refreshments provided.

Details/registration: columbiaslough.org/events/event/71

Saturday Jan. 25, 10am-1pm

Stewardship Saturday: Columbia Park Nature Patch

Location: 7701 N Chautauqua

Help plant native trees & shrubs to create habitat for pollinators & birds at this north Portland park. Not only do they require less watering & chemicals to thrive & create healthy wildlife habitat for pollinators, native plants discourage invasive species, & they help manage stormwater naturally to improve the health of the rivers & streams. Instruction, gloves, tools, snacks, & warm drinks provided for this family-friendly event. Cosponsors are the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Friends of Columbia Park & Portland Parks & Recreation.

Details/registration: rachel.walsh@columbiaslough.org, 503.281.1132

Sunday, Jan. 26, 10am-5pm

Sacred Geometry & Mandala Art: Drawing the Universe

Location: Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd

The morning segment of this playshop focuses on sacred geometry & learning to draw 2 basic patterns. The afternoon explores the contemplative process of the mandala. Short, guided meditations align with the significance of 11/11 & will be offered throughout the day. The day is presented by the Liminal Space Society, no experience is necessary & supplies & beverages provided. Bring your own lunch. A similar gathering was highlighted in CNews (Page 9 of the November 2018 issue at concordiapdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cna-201811.1-web.pdf).

Details/fee: cerimonhouse.org/calendar/2018/mandala-geometry

Monday, Jan. 27, 7pm

History Pub: About the Making of “The General”

Location: McMenamins Kennedy School

Presenter Oregon Encyclopedia author & former state librarian of Oregon Jim Scheppke introduces Buster Keaton’s masterpiece silent movie that was filmed in 1926 in Cottage Grove, Oregon. He’ll describe the filmmaking process, including the famous train wreck scene that was most expensive scene in the history of silent film. Following a screening of the movie, Jim will answer questions. Doors open 6pm.

Details: mcmenamins.com/events/213230-the-making-of-the-general-buster-keatons-masterpiece

Community calendar items Admission to events is free unless otherwise noted. Priority is afforded to local events sponsored by–or which benefit–local nonprofit organizations. Submit information to CNewsEditor@ConcordiaPDX.org by the 10th of the month preceding the event.

Concordia Neighborhood Holiday Party

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Gordon Riggs Posted in CNA, Events, Family

HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD

Concordia Neighborhood Holiday Party

You Are Invited!

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Cerimon House, 5131 N.E. 23rd Ave.

Featured!

  • Vernon School Band
  • Faubion School Choir
  • Grupo Latitudes Band featuring South American and Andean music
  • Craft table and activities for kids

Step into our International Food Terrace and enjoy taste samples from around the world, featuring a variety of ethnic bites presented by some of your favorite local restaurants!

Nonalcoholic beverages and scrumptious dessert table!

Food drive and raffle to benefit Northeast Emergency Food Program

Suggested donations:

Men’s & women’s clothing • Soups, canned meat, rice, pasta, cereal and oats • Canned fruits and vegetables • Staples (salt, pepper, cooking oil, etc.) • Snacks and treats • Personal hygiene items (toilet paper, feminine hygiene, soap, shampoo, etc.) • Household supplies (laundry and dish detergent, cleaning supplies) • Pet food

Raffle tickets: $2 each or six for $10

Great Raffle prizes graciously donated by Concordia neighborhood businesses. All businesses will be announced from the stage!

2019 National Night Out Family Fun Day

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Gordon Riggs Posted in CNA, Events, Family

Friday, Aug. 2, 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Fernhill Park

Music by THE LARKS pdx (6:15 – 8:15 p.m.)

Pack up your blanket, chairs and your picnic and come to the park!

There will be:

  • Face painting
  • Games
  • Balloon art
  • Henna tatoo artist
  • Portland Police Canine Unit
  • Firetruck
  • Free ice cream for kids
  • Craft table
  • and much more! 

Join us to celebrate our community and to get to know your neighbors.

Concordia Spring Clean Up – Saturday, June 1

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Gordon Riggs Posted in CNA, Events, Volunteer Opportunities

We are in great need of volunteers for the cleanup on June 1 to help unload vehicles, direct traffic, and work the electronics, block styrofoam, and #6 plastic recycling stations. We have two shifts to choose from: 7:45 – 10:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Please contact Katie Ugolini at 503-449-9690 or Ktugolini@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering for this event.

 

 

Bring your kitchen & garden tools to May 19 CNA Spring Clean Up for professional sharpening

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Gordon Riggs Posted in CNA, Events 1 Comment

Don’t use dull blades for your home spring clean up

Bring your kitchen and garden tools to the May 19 CNA Spring Clean Up for professional sharpening. Between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., 1Sharptool Edge Service will donate a percentage of the proceeds from sharpening:

• Knives
• Pruners
• Pocket knives
• Hoes
• Scissors
• Loppers
• Garden shears
• Chisels
• Machetes
• Axes
• Shovels
• Rotary mowers

Services are first come first served. Prices start at $6.25 for garden tools and $7.50 for kitchen knives. 1Sharptool Edge Service accepts cash, checks and credit cards.

For details, contact 1Sharptool Edge Service at 360.606.7062 or visit 1SharpTool.com.

CNA Spring Clean Up Saturday, May 19

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Gordon Riggs Posted in CNA, Events, Volunteer Opportunities

CNA SPRING CLEAN UP

Saturday, May 19

8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

PCC Workforce Training Center at NE 42nd & Killingsworth

Spring cleaning comes to Concordia, and CNA will dump, recycle and/or find new homes for your household items.

ACCEPTED MATERIALS

• Household waste
• Metal
• Styrofoam (no peanuts)
• Furniture
• Electronics
• Lamps
• Mattresses
• Clothes
• Bicycles
• Other household items

SUGGESTED DONATIONS:

Car: $10
Truck, van, SUV: $15
Large truck: $20
Oversized load: $30
Electronics: $5

PROHIBITED MATERIALS

• HAZARDOUS WASTE, including batteries and chemicals
• Construction, demolition, roofing & remodeling debris
• Kitchen garbage
• Residential yard debris
• Commercial landscaping materials
• Waste & recyclables collected curbside
• Light bulbs
• Refrigerators & freezers
• Large appliances/white goods
• Tires, rocks & concrete
• Paint & oil

METRO prohibits the disposal of construction, remodeling or demolition materials suspected of containing asbestos at all neighborhood clean ups. Examples of prohibited materials:
Flooring: vinyl tiles, vinyl sheet, mastic
Walls: plaster, decorative plaster
Siding: cement siding shingles “Transite”
Ceilings: acoustical tiles, “popcorn” and spray-on texture
Insulation: spray-applied, blown-in, vermiculite, pipe, HVAC and lagging
Electrical: wire insulation, panel partitions
Other: fire doors, fire brick, fire proofing

SPECIAL FEATURES IN 2018

“You Price It”Yard Sale: See something you like among the reusable household goods, say what it’s worth to you and it’s yours.
Professional tool & knife sharpening: Details here.

All proceeds support CNA’s mission to organize human and physical resources, build community and enrich livability here.

THANKS TO THE CNA SPRING CLEAN UP’S GENEROUS SPONSORS

Spring Egg Hunt – Saturday, March 31, 2018

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Gordon Riggs Posted in Concordia News, Events, Volunteer Opportunities
SPRING EGG HUNT
Saturday, March 31
Fernhill Park
(Playground along NE 37th Avenue)

The hunt begins at 10 am SHARP.

Don’t be late – it ends in a flash!

Volunteers needed to:
– stuff 6,000 plastic eggs with candy on Friday, March 30, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meet at the American Legion at 2104 NE Alberta St.
– hide 6,000 candy-filled eggs on Saturday, March 31. Meet at Fernhill Park (Playground along NE 37th Avenue) at 8 a.m.

Sponsored by Concordia Neighborhood Association & American Legion Post 134

Contact Katie Ugolini at Social@ConcordiaPDX.org or 503.449.9690.

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