Category Archives: Events

by Tony Fuentes, CNA Vice-Chair

As I read the local papers and listen to the news, there have been two big things on my mind lately. The first is the recent gang incidents that have occurred in Northeast and North Portland.

The gang problem is complex and we must strive to fully address it. We need to create an environment and choices in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in our job market, and in our social circles that provide the knowledge and support our young people need to succeed. We also need to work together to help address immediate day-to-day concerns related to gang activity.

So what can you do? One small but important thing is keeping the police and city informed of what is happening. For instance, be sure to document and report all graffiti – all it takes is a call to the graffiti hotline at 503-823-4824. And it is critical that all criminal incidents and suspicious activity be reported to the police no matter how minor it may seem. For instance, public drinking, disruptive house parties, car prowls, any public display of weapons, and illegal drug use should always be reported without hesitation. The bottom-line is that if you see something, say something. Emergencies should always be reported to 9-1-1, non-emergency issues and suspicious activity can be reported to the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.

Another thing I have been thinking about is the upcoming elections, the CITY elections. Not as glamorous as the presidential race but the decisions made by the city council always impact your day-to-day life and affect the overall livability of our neighborhood.

To help inform your decision on council members, the Concordia Neighborhood Association will be holding a forum on April 1 featuring candidates for commissioner positions 1 and 2. I hope that we fill the Gym at the Kennedy School with Concordia neighbors that night. This will be a unique chance to learn more about the candidates and their stand on the issues facing our fair city and our neighborhood.

Got a burning question for the candidates that can’t wait until April 1? Go ahead and ask the candidates – really. Most are accessible by email or phone or both and if they want to be a commissioner, they better be open to dealing with the public, right?

As part of the planning committee preparing for this forum, I can say that we are definitely open to suggestions on questions about local issues. So feel free to also email me your hot topic as well.

*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.

Is there be a better way to spend a summer evening than gathering with your neighbors at Fernhill park for music, dancing, food and family fun? Thanks to the generous sponsorship of local businesses and individuals the free Concerts at Fernhill Park have become a much anticipated summer tradition in Concordia.

The Fernhill Concert Committee is already hard at work making plans to fill Fernhill Park with incredible music and family fun on every Friday in July following Independence Day and on National Night Out in August. In addition to the work of volunteers, the concerts can’t happen without support from local businesses and individuals. We especially count on the generosity and community spirit of our business neighbors to help raise the dollars we need to produce the free concerts at Fernhill.
So even though summer is a few months away, please consider becoming a sponsor of the Fernhill Summer Concerts or providing support at any level. It doesn’t matter if you are a business-owner, a family, or an individual, we need you to make the concerts happen!

For information on supporting the Fernhill Concerts, please don’t hesitate to contact Tony Fuentes at 971-570-6930, Milagros@milagrosboutique.com or Katie Ugolini at 503 – 296-7839, kugolini@earthlink.net. Check back here to download sponsorship forms directly from our website.

If you live in the Concordia Neighborhood, there is almost a 50% likelihood that the radon level inside your home is higher than the EPA’s recommended action level potentially putting your family at unnecessary risk of lung cancer.

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, concentrates inside buildings. Nationally, radon is responsible for 15,000-22,000 lung cancer deaths every year—more deaths than caused by drunk driving and drowning combined. The second leading cause of lung cancer in America, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

According to a Portland State University study, nearly the half the homes (old, new, with or without a crawlspace or basement) in the Concordia Neighborhood have indoor radon levels exceeding EPA’s recommended action level of 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter of air). That’s the bad news. The good news is that testing for radon is simple and inexpensive and that, when needed, reducing indoor radon to safer concentrations is affordable.

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[Ed. note – Apologies for not getting this posted before some of the events have taken place; events will go through year-end however…]

Kwanzaa, December 26 through January 1, is a unique holiday celebrating the strengths and accomplishments of the African American community. Kwanzaa activities will be featured at two Portland Parks and Recreation sites – the Matt Dishman Community Center and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC).

On Wednesday, December 26, the Matt Dishman Community Center (77 NE Knott) will honor the first day of Kwanzaa, Umoja (Unity) with a presentation of the Feast of the Seven Tables, a performance by Liquid Moves Entertainment. The event runs from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M., with the candle lighting at 6:30 P.M.

The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (340 N. Interstate) honors Kujichagulia (self-determination), the second day of Kwanzaa week, with live performances by poets and drummers throughout the Gallery from 4:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, December 27. The candle lighting ceremony will be held at 6:30 P.M.

In addition, IFCC is presenting a Kwanzaa Marketplace from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. on Saturdays and Sundays through December 30. The Marketplace will also be open during the Kujichagulia celebration on December 27. Great gifts and art finds by African American artists will be available, as well as art supplies, décor, and ideas for creating one’s own Kwanzaa Celebration. Artists featured at the Marketplace include Donna Smith, Renee Mitchell, Kemi Arigibon, Vivienne Mathis, Kahunya Wario, Marsalis Brown, GG, Romaine Harris, Jaime Lee Christiana, Wanda Wright, and Blacque Butterfly.

The IFCC Gallery will feature the works of artists GG, Mo, Art Alexander, Raymond Alexander, Adriene Cruz, Helen Montgomery, and Wanda Wright, each of whom have created an altar dedicated to each of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. Connected to The Center for Black Studies at Portland State University, Senator Avel Gordly, Reverend Dr. W.G. Hardy Jr., and Dr. Dalton Miller-Jones share their photos from a recent trip to Ghana. The works will be on view in the Gallery from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M., Tuesday – Friday, and 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. Saturday and Sunday, through December 31.

For more information, visit portlandparks.org.

The 4th Annual Tannenbaum Madness event will open during the upcoming Last Thursday, November 29th. Sponsored by Art on Alberta, businesses up and down NE Alberta Street will create a walking tour of whimsical, artistic, and unique holiday trees on display in their front windows.

This year’s trees include Frock’s “Glitter Dolls,” “Le Petit Prince” at Tour de Crepes, “Silly Faces” at Guardino Gallery, “Tinseltown Tree” at Videorama, “Puestos de la Loteria” at Random Order Coffehouse, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” at Onda Gallery, “Tree for World Peace” at Enterbeing, and “Haute Hanukkah” at Foundation Garments. A complete list of participating businesses, as well as where to find printed directories will be available at the Arts on Alberta website.

Take a tour of this community celebration, and make sure to vote on your favorite tree during opening weekend. Ballot boxes will be distributed throughout the event with special prizes awarded for the top three trees. This event will run through December 31st.