Category Archives: Concordia News

By Astrid Furstner | CNA Chair

Although most of us are facing the trials and tribulations – aka adventure – of working from home and social distancing, the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) Board of Directors continues to be busy.

We have received many requests for funds.

Under normal circumstances, the association fundraises through various programs or activities we put together to help those within our community. Now, however, we too are facing a shortfall. Under normal circumstances we would be able to assist and donate funds but, as it stands, we don’t have the ability to put together activities. We are not generating any income. Therefore, we must fall back on reserves to persevere.

Participants in a street mural painting project requested funding to purchase paint so that they can restore a mural on Sumner Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Unfortunately, we could not fund their project this year, but perhaps those among us in the neighborhood can assist. If you have paint cans or funds you would like to donate, let me know and I’ll forward your offer along to them. My email is at the bottom of this column.

In addition, there were a few requests to assist local restaurants and businesses implement city-approved road closures. While the association cannot fund the entirety of the requests, we are able to spread it around among three plazas within the Concordia boundaries to assist with defraying some of the costs.

See Pages 6-7 for details on the innovations local restaurants and other businesses are pursuing to provide safe outdoor venues we can all enjoy.

Due to the current state we find ourselves in regarding COVID-19, the McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room is not available yet for us to use and to rent out. As soon as it is, we can begin to offer that perk once again!

The team planning redevelopment of the Portland Community College Workforce Training Center updated the CNA Land Use & Transportation Committee (LUTC) recently. They received public input from the community through our general meeting and other venues late last year. Now they’re reporting back on how that input is being used. Visit the update at PCC.edu/bond/pmwtc.

Finally, I need some assistance. We would like to put together a few educational webinars for our neighborhood. What interests you? What can we do as a neighborhood association to help keep you in the know, in the loop and interested?

I could use some ideas – so please send them my way at Chair@ConcordiaPDX.org. I look forward to receiving them.

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.

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

A group of the last standing Buffalo Soldiers would meet every Sunday afternoon at Magoo’s Pub on 42nd Avenue. Once Magoo’s sold in 2015, they lost their socializing venue.

Norman Sylvester understood. “We have been focusing on the impact Portland urban growth has on the African American community.”

“Tales of Old Portland,” a documentary with a projected seven episodes, presents an overview of the Portland historic journey from Lewis and Clark to the 1950s in its first episode, “Coming to Portland.” Find it at Facebook.com/oldPDX.

Norman and Concordian Jeff Dodge are creating the series. It’s been in the works for more than three years. Jeff explained, “I’d like to see this series come across with a genuine and accurate interest in where we come from and how we got into our contemporary standards.”

The next episode will focus on the ship building years in Portland, World War II, the establishment and destruction of Vanport and their overall impact on Portland history.

“The final episode is based around the history of the ‘Good In The Hood’ festival,” Jeff said. “That is actually where Norman and I met in 1995.”

If all goes well they will wrap up things by early 2021. At that time, they may expand into the other neighborhoods and those histories.

If you have tales to share with the two – especially from 1940s north and northeast Portland – they’ d like to hear from you at TrenchDigging@gmail.com.

Jeff and wife Jemila Hart have lived around the corner from Alberta Rose Theatre since 2004. They have seen a lot of change.

Between 1993 and 1995 was probably the most dangerous time in this area, as a lot of territorial gang disputes seemed to culminate around Alberta or Woodlawn.

Jeff said, “We’ll see how the interview process goes, but I’m really hoping we get to address that period of history in one of our future episodes.”

Giving his nieces a tour of Alberta last spring, he watched them take in the murals, various art galleries and eateries. It made Jeff believe this version of Alberta can survive and serve as a cornerstone of Portland culture.

“And I plan on celebrating Alberta’s and Concordia’s history as long as I live here,” he added. “I love the beautiful Concordia University campus,” Norman said. “Tears in my eye at the thought of it closing.

“The preservation of our history is a very important mission,” he added. “The reference point from our beginning helps us understand the present and prepare for the future.”

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a softer, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors – Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D – are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@EditKitten. com.

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

A precocious 6-year-old Concordian wanted to share an opinion piece she wrote about POTUS. She made copies and distributed them to her neighbors.

Darby, a fellow neighbor, educator and father of two young daughters thought creating a newsletter might be good idea. So he gave the kids an opportunity to create their own every-other-week newsletter and thus practice their writing and drawing skills.

The young writers, ages 5 to 12, named it “Concordia Kids News.” They charge a sliding scale of $2 to $5 per issue and donate the proceeds to the Black Resilience Fund. That emergency fund is dedicated to healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders in need.

The Modern Orthodontist, owned by one of the parents, matches donations to the newsletter which, by CNews press time, had raised $200.

Darby looked at local newspapers for inspiration and guidance. He gave the youngsters creative license to use their imaginations. Some write, some draw and others create original cartoons.

Darby puts it all together for the every-other-week issue and emails to subscribers. To subscribe, email him at ConcordiaKidsNews@gmail.com. He will let you know your payment options.

The first issue went public June 20, the second newsletter July 5 and the third July 19. Future issues will publish every other week thereafter, as long as the enthusiasm continues.

The current creative staff includes Pierce, Poppy and Waylon, age 5; Ari, 6; Avery, Laurel, and Paisley 8; and Nijal, 12. Ari commented “It’s fun, and I get to hang with my neighbors.” “I like to work with friends on projects,” Avery added. Laurel said “I get to use my imagination and I like interviewing people.” “I like to have fun and entertain kids,” reported Paisley. Nijal, Pierce, Poppy and Waylon had no comments.

Submissions aren’t edited, but contributors need a little encouragement to meet their deadlines.

Topics are varied, like tooth fairy customs around the world, what who wants for Christmas, great stories about kittens and more. If you want to enjoy those and some cartoons and impressive art work, subscribe.

You’ll be helping a good cause and a bunch of blossoming journalists.

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

By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor

When Julie Olsen house hunted last year, she had two criteria – a long driveway and a basement to transform into an auxiliary dwelling unit.

She found them on Ainsworth Street, along with the Shangri-La of chicken coops and five hens.

The chicken coop serves as part of the fence separating her back yard from the alley between 23rd and 24th avenues, north of Ainsworth. Although the sellers gave her permission to rehome the hens, Julie researched the care and feeding of hens, and she wanted to apply her knowledge as an animal behaviorist.

She found the care is relatively easy, with countless rewards. “As it turns out they’re like goldfish with feathers,” Julie said. “I sit and watch them, and it brings me a lot of calm and peace.”

As it turned out, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians in the alley enjoy the hens too.

“People were stopping to say hello to them. But, if you didn’t have food, the chickens saw you as an intruder and retreated,” Julie said. “I wanted this to be like an interactive community petting zoo.

“I cut a slot in the fence so people could feed them, and I provided the food. Now the chickens run up to people at the fence excitedly, hoping for something to eat.”

Foot traffic increased when the pandemic hit. Hand drawn pictures of the hens – compete with their names – was the first of several signs. Some signs share the results of Julie’s research, and those have become part of neighbor children’s home schooling.

One sign offers directions for hand feeding the hens. “Sometimes kids get really scared, so I warn them that the touching is going to be weird. When a chicken pecks the food out of your hand, it’s pleasurable – but it tickles.

“I used to wake up to hearing the chickens making their little trilling sounds,” she said. “Now I hear people saying ‘Good morning, chickens’ from cars and bikes.”

For visitors on foot, she’s provided a bench for taking in the same calm and peacefulness she enjoys from her side of the coop.

Julie’s glad to see – and often meet – the visitors.

“Since the chickens have brought me so much joy, it felt only right to share it,” she explained. “It’s a way to be a part of my new community and to enrich people’s lives.

“I learned as a child that – when you empower people with kindness – good things will happen.”

Concordia Curiosities

Concordia Curiosities is CNews’ newest ongoing feature. You’re invited to submit your own high-resolution photo. Point your lens at an object, scene, event, etc. in/near Concordia that you think is unusual or special – and that contributes to the neighborhood’s distinction.

Send submissions to CNewsEditor@ConcordiaPDX.org.

This month’s curiosity is intended to complement the story above about hens. Do you know where this rooster lives? Can you find it? Not to fear: CNews will publish the address next month. Photo by Nancy Varekamp

Nancy Varekamp is semiretired from her career in journalism, public releations and – her favorite work engagement – writing and editing targeted newsletters.