Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

News from the NET – How to maintain a firewise landscape

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Micha Wolf | Concordia/Vernon/Woodlawn Neighborhood  Emergency Team

True summer is beginning, temperatures are rising and so is the danger of a fire starting in our backyards. We live in an urban area, and you may think that fires (especially forest and wildfires) only affect homes far away in the mountains…

You might even be conscientious about watering your lawns and gardens, take measures to store your barbecue safely or if you smoke, diligently dispose of your stubs in a proper container.

Even so, it does not take much to start a fire in dry conditions and when occurring in summer, fires are more likely to result in damage and property loss.

A fire may start small by a burning coal, a dry patch of grass or a match accidentally tossed into your yard. While you might be able to get a smaller fire under control rather quickly, the real danger is a ladder fuel–a process where a small fire grows bigger by moving upward fast, through vegetation of different heights and possibly even advancing dangerously close to a building. Concordia neighborhood is susceptible to ladder fuels because it boasts lots of old-growth fir trees and many older homes have mature landscaping (tall trees and shrubs) around them.

Here are some tips from the Neighborhood Emergency Team on how to keep and maintain a firewise landscape:

  • Water plants adequately
  • Clear any debris from the yard
  • Mow grass and keep it under 4 inches of height
  • Prune trees high (at least 10 ft) to create a safe distance from other plants around and under it
  • Space mature plants two times their circumference apart
  • Cut dead material out of bushes (especially Arborvitae and Cedar) Following these precautions will significantly reduce the likelihood of a fire.

To fight a fire, always keep a functioning and serviced fire extinguisher nearby. Stomp out a very small fire. If in doubt, call 911 immediately. For more information on fire and smoke, see publicalerts.org/wildfire-smoke.

Next month’s News from the NET: how to plant a firewise garden.

Micha Wolf ha s retired from teaching primary school, loves being in nature and believes in building community through engagement.

LUTC Column – Land Use & Transportation Committee active again

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

By Kepper Petzing | LUTC Member

The Land Use and Transportation Committee (LUTC) of the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) has been reestablished after being inactive for about a year.

The purpose of the committee, chaired by Rich Burton, is to get together, discuss and take actions on issues that affect land use and transportation within the Concordia neighborhood. These issues include zoning and comprehensive plan maps, construction and development, demolition, bicycle and pedestrian issues, speed limit, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainability, among others.

This is the first installment of a new monthly column for Concordia News. Below is an overview of the issues that are currently being discussed at the LUTC meetings.

New speed safety cameras

Approximate locations

  1. Eastbound: 2800 NE Columbia Blvd.
  2. Westbound: 3000 NE Columbia Blvd. The cameras are installed and functioning. They are preceded with a sign that reads “Traffic Laws Photo Enforced,” a speed limit sign, and a speed reader board displaying the driver’s current rate of speed. Speeding tickets are automatically generated.

New bridges under construction

  1. 33rd Ave. over Lombard St. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is now hoping for an Aug. 25 opening date, subject to delays. Check the PBOT website for updates (plus find cool details about construction).
  2. 42nd Ave Bridge over NE Lombard PBOT is constructing a new earthquake-ready bridge that will also provide better access for freight, walking and biking. Construction will begin shortly after the 33rd bridge opens. Check the PBOT website for updates updates.

Safety concerns

  1. Intersection at 36th Ave. and Lombard St. LUTC supports neighbors’ concerns about safety at this intersection – especially with left hand turns on to and off of 36th Ave. We are recommending this intersection allow right hand turns only from Lombard or from 36th. Because Lombard is a highway (U.S. Highway 30 Bypass), control over it falls under Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) jurisdiction. LUTC is beginning inquiries to ODOT.
  2. Prescott Street speeding and volume of traffic LUTC is coordinating with other impacted neighborhoods to encourage PBOT to conduct a safety analysis of Prescott Street and consider what abatements and/or traffic calming measures might improve the issue. We encourage neighbors to write letters in support.
  3. Building at 2734 NE Alberta St. This building sheds bricks and has been labeled “dangerous” by city officials. We remain concerned about this hazard and are questioning the city about enforcement of building regulations.

Housing needs

LUTC understands the need for infill housing in our neighborhood but would like our community to have a say in how development occurs. We are hoping for more transparency from the city regarding planned developments. If you know about building plans, have questions or concerns, please reach out.

Help us help you!

Consider attending our monthly meetings which are held in-person at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Room at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave. Everyone who lives or works in Concordia is invited.

Email us with ideas, information, or concerns at LandUse@ConcordiaPDX.org. Find us on the Concordia Neighborhood association website at ConcordiaPDX.org/lutc.

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.

Special Event – Gay pride in Concordia neighborhood

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

by Jon Dickman | Contributing Writer

Concordia is hosting its first ever gay pride event; a celebration on July 15 from 3-9 at Bonne Chance Wine Bar. Javier Puga-Phillips, former social chair of the CNA board, feels proud that Concordia is having its own gay pride celebration and encourages everyone to attend. He and CNA Treasurer Heather Pashley organized the event and when planning, wanted to make sure they were supporting local businesses that were welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.

Puga-Phillips moved to Concordia from West Hollywood and points out that unlike other large progressive cities in the United States, Portland does not have its own gay neighborhood, which he feels is important for residents to feel affiliated. For him, Concordia having its own gay pride event is “a way to bring light into our community and bring a sense of belonging to the gay people here.”

Three themed parades and a waterfront festival are also set to take place the same weekend at Waterfront Park. Many businesses, religious groups, cultural groups, sports teams, and LGTBQ+ organizations will gather at the festival to celebrate and show support for the community. Pride Northwest, Inc., a local non-profit aimed at celebrating the diversity of the gay community, has sponsored the parade since 1994. According to the sponsor’s website, the parade draws tens of thousands of people to downtown Portland and has a reputation for being “one of the largest small town pride parades west of the Mississippi.” The main parade begins on Sunday, July 16 at the North park blocks, and goes from 11-3.

Historically, gay pride parades began in 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall riots. In response to a police raid at The Stonewall Inn; a gay hangout in Greenwich Village, in 1969, the gay community led protests in the streets of New York for 6 days. The first Gay Pride Liberation March took place in Manhattan one year later and is often cited as the first gay pride parade and the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. In 1999, former president Bill Clinton made June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month”.

Federally, June is still recognized as LGBTQ pride month, but this year, Portland’s festivities are in July. Pride Northwest says the reasons for this change include Waterfront Park’s limited availability in June and other significant cultural events such as Juneteenth and Delta Park Pow Wow. More information about gay pride events and Portland Pride Northwest can be found at PortlandPride.org.

Jon Dickman, 71, has lived for 26 years in the Concordia Neighborhood with his husband Bob Wilson, who grew up in the home they live in. They have participated in five Portland pride parades together.

From the Board – Former CNA chair reelected

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

By Astrid Furstner, CNA Board Chair

Greetings Concordia! I would like to begin by reintroducing myself to you. My name is Astrid Furstner and I served as Board Chair in 2019 after Chris and before Peter and Kieran. I would like to thank those who came before me, the board members, all of you, and especially Brittany van der Salm for holding things together while a new chair was elected.

I am a Hispanic woman. I was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States when I was a little girl. I live in Concordia with my husband, Brent, and our daughter. We are a family of woodworkers and artists. My husband makes guitars, I make wood carvings, puzzles and portraits; and our daughter helps with everything! We sell our work and you may see us around town at local BIPOC markets such as the Portland Indigenous Marketplace, the Come Thru Market, or My People’s Market. If you see us, say hi!

I believe in finding common ground and having open conversations about the Concordia community and it is my hope that as chair, I can make a little bit of a difference in our neighborhood.

Currently, the CNA does a variety of things. Thanks to Javier and other team members this year, we have been successful with neighborhood cleanups, the Easter egg hunt, and various neighborhood meetups. These social events are a wonderful opportunity to bring our neighbors together.

We also contend with more serious matters, such as traffic, land use, in-fill, city projects and other issues that are important to us and our neighbors.

Like many of you, CNA has faced its challenges this year. We are, after all, a non-profit organization run by volunteers. We are looking for new volunteers who can help with social events such as yard sales, clean-up events, summer concerts at the park, and, as we head into the holidays, various holiday activities.

You don’t have to be a chair or take on a huge amount of responsibility, but if writing letters is your thing, help us out. If attending meetings and reporting back is something you can do, help us out. If writing an article on a favorite topic is your thing, help us out. Do you have time to deliver newspapers to a few local businesses in Concordia? Do you have ideas on how to improve our community or an idea for a group or event? Let us know.

I hope that each of you will reach out and help in any way you can to continue to makeing Concordia a welcoming and diverse neighborhood. I look forward to working with each of you once again and hope to hear from you. Juntos, (together) we make Concordia our home.

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

Artist – Photographer supported by local artist

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

By Kepper Petzing | Contributing Writer

The artist behind the artist In his Concordia studio, Mark Silva is putting the final touches on a masterpiece, a photographic print created by internationally renowned landscape photographer Michael Kenna. It is likely destined for a major gallery or museum in one of a dozen countries.

Silva grew up in Oakland, CA. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2002. Kenna and Silva began their collaboration in 2000.

“We’re like an old married couple,” Mark says, “we finish each other’s sentences.” He compares their relationship to members of a band. “Michael is the lead singer and the lead guitarist. I play bass, hopefully keeping things together.”

The collaborative process

The process begins with Kenna wandering the globe creating photographs in the early morning hours or late into the night. He’s become known as the father of night photography, with exposures ranging from minutes to 12 or more hours. He uses medium format cameras, exclusively black-and-white film and all his photographs are printed by hand in a traditional optical darkroom.

Often photographing in mist, rain, or snow, Kenna says, “I prefer suggestion over description. The world is pretty chaotic, seemingly always speeding up and getting louder and more visually dense. I am interested in finding and creating calm shelters from the storm, places where quiet and solitude is encouraged and inner contemplation possible.”

Kenna develops every print by hand and when he has done all he can with camera and darkroom to achieve his vision, he turns it over to Silva to polish and perfect. Working with brush and ink, Silva ensures that there are no blemishes or unevenness in the background and removes unwanted objects or distractions.

“I’m Photoshop Version 0.0,” jokes Silva while performing his meticulous work under magnification. Every part of their process is by hand, so each print is unique. When done, Silva mounts the prints for display and distributes them to galleries and museums. Silva also helps edit Kenna’s books and organizes his exhibitions.

Local exhibit on display now

Kenna’s current exhibition, TREES 1973- 2023, will be on display at PLACE Galeria, 735 NW 18th Ave, through July 14th, M-F from 10-6. Silva will be there every Thursday from 4-6pm, to answer questions and share an additional 40 prints not on display.

“For 23 years I have made these exhibitions that travel far and wide, so I asked, ‘How about we do an exhibition in my town?’ Then I met the kind folks from PLACE and they were thrilled to host a Kenna exhibition. They said, ‘Tell us what walls you want and what color they should be and we’ll make them for you. So I had the creative freedom to sculpt a dream Kenna exhibition.”

Silva chose wild red walls and stark white walls and decided where each piece goes.

“I put the prints on the ground and started moving them around, until I got a photo poem that I liked. [The result] was one large poem with individual songs within.”

Silva has lived in Concordia since 2007, refusing to relocate because he loves our neighborhood and the small-town feel. For more information on Kenna’s photography, visit www. michaelkenna.com.

Kepper Petzing has lived in Concordia for 40 years where, with their partner Lowen, they raised two children. They love trees and Mark and Michael’s work.

June fun – Free neighborhood fun this month

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events

Summer is finally here and the time is right, neighbor, to come out of your shell. It’s the season of group bike rides and park dance parties, porch hangs with new neighbors and bounce house block parties. But in case you’re struggling to work up your social spirit, here are some free events happening in the neighborhood this June to get you moving.

Sunday Parkways Northeast
 The World Naked Bike Ride isn’t until Sunday, Aug. 13, but you can prepare for that exhilarating group ride by joining Sunday Parkways Northeast, rolling through Concordia on June 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the City of Portland, this 6.2-mile route closes several major streets in our neighborhood to car traffic and circles four parks.

Last year, I attended and loved the live music and dancing at Fernhill and Khunamokwst parks. I also loved the parade atmosphere that emerged along the route. The 2022 route was hot but neighbors rose to the occasion; setting up sprinklers, water stations and lemonade stands for participants. And I saw a few neighbors take advantage of the closed streets to throw some casual front yard/ block parties.

The ride has no start or end and is free. Bring water and money for food trucks along the way. Visit Portland.gov/sunday-parkways/northeast-event-2023 to learn more.

Pedalpalooza bike rides
If something a bit more indie is your scene, try Pedalpalooza, Portland’s summer bike fest. Peruse the online calendar to find literally hundreds of themed rides planned throughout summer. I like the sound of the 80s New Wave Retro Ride that rolls through Concordia on June 10 at 7 p.m. Start at Woodlawn City Park, at Northeast Dekum and 13th streets, and ride a casual 11 miles while grooving to the best synthand new wave hits. Riders are strongly encouraged to come dressed for the 1980s. The ride will end at Tough Luck bar (21 and over) on 1771 N.E. Dekum St. The ride is free and for all ages.

Community Arts Center
Cully has a new Community Arts Center at 4524 N.E. Going St., which offers an open studio, after-school programs for kids, and classes in fiber arts, ceramic hand building, and art fundamentals. On Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., it’s opening its doors for a free, family-friendly Craft Day and Open House.

Dance on Wheels Nights
Roll down to the playground at Vernon School, 2044 N.E. Killingsworth St., on Saturday nights this summer to Dance on Wheels, an all-ages gathering.

Organizer Janet Strong started roller skating during the pandemic, after a long hiatus.

“Everything was such a bummer,” she said. “I needed more joyful movement in my life.” The informal roller-skating nights were such a hit that they’re bringing them back for summer 2023. All wheels are welcome, including scooters, skateboards and bikes.

Strong brings the music; you can bring your own drinks and snacks. Strong says her favorite nights are when another roller skate group shows up, clad in helmets and elbow pads, to practice their tricks. Gatherings are held from 5:30-8 p.m. on weekends, and most are planned one week in advance.

To get in the know, find Strong on Facebook or go see her in the main office of Vernon School, 2044 N.E. Killingsworth St., where she works. Note: this is an informal gathering, not school-sponsored.

Owl Fest concert
On Saturday, June 3, a much bigger party will go down at Vernon School. Join neighbors for a community-wide celebration at Owl Fest from 3- 7 p.m., an event that hosts hope to hold annually.

Two special parent bands have assembled to provide entertainment. Strong, from the roller parties, plays keyboards and sings in one band. She is pretty tight-lipped about the set list, but promises danceable cover songs that represent diverse artists and span the decades.

Owl Fest also promises games for all ages, food trucks, silent bidding and “Take the Cake” musical chairs.

Vernon PTA President Maya Pueo von Geldern says her group hopes to hold Owl Fest outdoors. Free to attend, but a wristband for unlimited games is $5.

Belagarth Medieval Combat Society
Every Sunday at 2 p.m. in Alberta Park, 1905 N.E. Killingsworth St., a group of 15-20 folks battle it out at Belagarth, a medieval combat society. The “battle” takes place on the green field just south of the basketball court. I visited on a recent Sunday and observed a friendly, athletic and creative group of people gather to blow off some steam and have a lot of fun. Belagarth is more martial art than live action role play, although according to one organizer, Belagarth does include storylines, and players are welcome to make up their own fantasies. The pace of the battle varies from methodical to fast and hard, depending on who’s engaged. The group welcomes all skill levels, and organizers say the rules are easy to learn. Participating is free and foam shields and swords can be borrowed to get you started. Get out of your comfort zone and give Belagarth a try.

Science Fiction Book Club
More into sitting for your socializing? Concordia’s sci-fi book store Parallel Worlds Bookshop, 2639 N.E. Alberta St., hosts an ongoing, monthly in-person Book Club. Owner Sam Jones told his Instagram followers that starting in June, the group will meet at a larger space upstairs at Dream House PDX, 412 N.E. Beech St.

June’s book is Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic, “The Lathe of Heaven,” and a discussion will take place on June 1 from 6:15 – 8:15 pm.

Singing group
Portland’s long-running free singing group, the Sacred Harp singers, meet twice monthly at McMenamins Kennedy School community room, 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave. Improve breathing and release tension by joining them on Sundays, June 11 or 25, at 4 p.m. Newcomers welcome.

Got a free activity planned for this summer? Tell us about it and we’ll feature your event in an upcoming issue. Email Dina Sage at CNewsEditor@ConcordiaPDX.org.

Leigh Shelton is the ad rep for Concordia News. She loves getting to know her Concordia neighbors and exploring ways we can better support each other. Reach out and say hi at CNewsBusiness@ ConcordiaPDX.org.

Board member on Juneteenth

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events

By Kepper Petzing | Contributing writer

On June 19, 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed people in Confederate territories from slavery, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. He read out General Order Number 3, informing everyone that the Union had won the Civil War, and slavery was abolished in the United States. This date is now celebrated as Juneteenth.

Juneteenth in Portland
Oregon was the only state to enter the Union with a clause excluding Blacks in its constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment, which made exclusion illegal, was passed in 1868. Understandably, few Black people moved to Oregon until their labor was needed in the Portland shipyards during World War II.

Clara Peoples was one such person. She moved here from Muskogee, OK, and was surprised to learn that Juneteenth was not celebrated here. In 1945 she led her fellow workers in the Kaiser shipyards in the first Juneteenth celebration in Oregon.

Peoples continued to work for official recognition of Juneteenth but she and her family were displaced by the 1948 Vanport flood, and moved to 1406 NE Ainsworth St., a redlined restricted area. In 1972, she helped organize Portland’s first official Juneteenth celebration, enjoyed annually ever since. It earned Peoples the nickname, “Mother of Juneteenth.”

Peoples died in 2015, the annual parade was named the Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade and Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

Board member’s thoughts
“Growing up in Mississippi, Juneteenth was never heard of,” Isham “Ike” Harris, Concordia Neighborhood Association board member said. “AfroAmerican history is a very rich history. It is a oneness with American history, but it isn’t taught that way.

“I applaud the people who are making a special effort to get the 1619 Project taught,” Harris added, referring to a journalistic endeavor to revise American history to include Blacks that were enslaved in the Virginia colony as early as the year 1619. “There are voices [today] trying to shut that history down, which is really a bad thing because life is generational. You don’t want the next generation coming up behind you to be ignorant of their own history.”

Reparations
“The fact that Juneteenth is a paid holiday; a federal holiday today – that is a good thing,” Harris said, “but as far as I’m concerned it is unfinished business… All those hundreds of years of slavery represent economic deprivation. People were working for free. Until America reparates Afro-Americans with dollars and cents, [there is no closure].

“We should not see ourselves as people who are satisfied with just having a holiday picnic,” Harris said. “I’m also calling out my own people. There should be more protests for reparation payments. Picnics and fairs are good, but it doesn’t pay for free labor. And when you keep that history away from the younger generation, they don’t know that their great foreparents built this country for free.”

Our newest holiday
Juneteenth has been called America’s second Independence Day. Every year the Juneteenth Oregon organization leads us in celebration, with a parade down Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., live music performances, vendors, educational booths, community resources, and a Miss Juneteenth pageant.

Join in this free festival at Lillis-Albina Park on June 17-18 and look for events around the city. Info: Facebook.com/juneteenthoregon15.

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.

Laundry Sports Store – Alberta Street shop sells clothes, history

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

Chris Yen never expected his sports-heavy childhood to lead to a career, but that’s exactly what happened.

In 2017, Yen opened Laundry, a sports retail store carrying hundreds of vintage jerseys, hats and tees. But Laundry, 1723 Alberta St., wasn’t a product of years of collecting and planning; Yen describes it as a “happy accident.”

“I was just trying something out; it was an experiment,” says Yen, 40, who holds a degree in English Literature and previously worked in publishing. The experiment succeeded: in 2017, Willamette Week called Laundry “the most original vintage shop Portland has seen in years.”

The shop has since worked with professional stylists to outfit stars like LeBron James and Odell Beckham, Jr., to name just a few. And in March of this year, it moved from Chinatown to its new home on Alberta Street. “I’m happy with the prospect of the Concordia neighborhood,” says Yen, a Phoenix, AZ, native and father of two. “There’s greater access to foot traffic and to residential families and children.”

On a rainy-May Monday, I decided to check out the store for myself. In its windows hang brightly colored items of clothing on a 1920s antique rack from a German department store. I step inside. The small shop is white and clean. In the middle of the front room, a 1960s metal garment conveyor holds more colorful jerseys. On the back wall, dozens of vintage ball caps line clean shelves below traditional Chinese woodwork. It’s clear that Laundry is something different and special.

Because sports retail companies didn’t start manufacturing broadly for fans as consumers until the 1980s [and not before then] Laundry carries mostly vintage items from that era until today. Yen estimates that 99% of his merchandise is sourced from within 30 miles of Portland.

“We buy from professional pickers and resellers, and sometimes from regular folks who have outgrown an article of clothing or a team,” says Yen. He sells lots of Damian Lillard, Brandon Roy, and Rasheed Wallace jerseys, but also carries merchandise from lesser-known sports team including The Breakers, who played football for the United States Football League in Portland circa 1985.

Also represented are the two women’s basketball teams that have played locally; Portland Power, an American Basketball League team active from 1996- 1998, and Portland Fire, a WNBA team from 2020-2022.

Yen grew up in a Chinese family that first immigrated to the US in the 1870s. Under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and The Geary Act of 1892, Chinese immigration was restricted and the Chinese already here required licenses to work. Opening up and working in hand laundries enabled them to support their families because it required no English and whites considered the work undesirable.

Yen says he chose the name Laundry because it connotes accessibility, and it emphasizes the strong impact clothes have on how people view each other. In addition, Yen wished to pay homage to the Chinese laundries that form an integral part of his cultural heritage. That tribute is also reflected in the store’s décor, with its gorgeous Chinatown wood carvings and big red lantern in back.

The store is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every other day. Yen says he’s excited about the new location and hopes to sell some presents for Father’s Day “The aim of the store is to try to tell a story.”

Dina Sage is thrilled to be the new editor for CNews. She’s looking forward to paddle boarding, bike riding and tasting new ice cream flavors this summer.

Social column – Summer fun, fall events in Concordia

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events, Volunteer Opportunities

Hey there, Concordia! It’s already June, and I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who came out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with us at Chilango PDX. Thank you, Wilder, for the gift certificates. We had a blast, and it was great to see so many familiar faces and meet some new ones too!

Social committee meetings
Speaking of community events, I want to give a big shoutout to everyone who attended our first in-person Social Committee meeting of the year. Your presence and input were greatly appreciated. Social Committee meetings are generally scheduled for the first Friday of each month, sometimes online and sometimes in person. Business owners, please reach out to Social@ConcordiaPDX.org if you are interested in hosting a Social Committee meeting.

Upcoming events
We’ve got some exciting events lined up for the rest of the year, and I wanted to share them with you all. First up, on Saturday, June 3, we’re having a neighborhood litter pickup event at Alberta Park, 1905 N.E. Killingsworth St. Volunteers will be meeting bright and early at 9 a.m., so bring your best trash-picking-up skills. It’s a great opportunity to get some exercise, meet your neighbors, and make our community a better place.

In June, we’ve got two big events happening. Concordia’s very first gay pride event will be held at the wine bar, Bonne Chance, 2209 N.E. Alberta St., on Thursday, June 15! The event starts at 3 p.m., so come out and show your support for our LGBTQ+ community members.

Then, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29, we’re having a concert in Alberta Park. We’re asking neighbors to gather at 5:30 p.m. This year, there will be a salsa band playing and we’re moving the stage to the front of the park to create more shaded areas for our neighbors. It’s going to be a blast, so mark your calendars!

In August, Concordia will celebrate National Night Out, an event to raise police awareness, and details are being finalized, so stay tuned for more information on that one. I

n late summer, the Social Committee is hosting another neighborhood cleanup at Alberta Park on Saturday, Sept. 2, and then a yard sale over Labor Day weekend.

Volunteering
In October, the committee is planning a Halloween party, but it needs your help to make it happen. If you’re interested in volunteering, planning, or coordinating, please let us know; we’d love to have you on board. Finally, in December, we’re looking at having our holiday party at Teote Mezcaleria, 2700 N.E. Alberta St. More information will be coming soon.

Last but not least, the social committee needs your help with its Labor Day Yard Sale. It was a huge success last year, and we’re hoping to make it even bigger and better this year. If you’re interested in participating or volunteering, contact Social@ConcordiaPDX.org. We want to hear your ideas and suggestions to make this year’s event even fun and inclusive.

That’s all for now, folks. Keep an eye out for more updates and events coming your way, and stay safe and healthy.

Javier Puga-Phillips has served on the Southwest 1 position on the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) Board of Directors, managed rentals of the McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room and has chaired the CNA Social Committee. He is a real estate professional locally, and he is a published author and motivational speaker in Latin America and Spain.

Prescott Street – Meeting to address speeding, crashes

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

By Rob Cullivan and Kepper Petzing

Neighbors living along Northeast Prescott Street have one message for drivers: SLOW DOWN!!

Fed up with hundreds of vehicles daily speeding – and sometimes crashing on their street, residents are working together to ask the city of Portland to address traffic safety issues.

Traffic safety advocates will discuss their concerns at the General Membership Meeting of the Concordia Neighborhood Association at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, in the Community Room at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 N.E. 33 rd Ave. The Prescott issue is planned to be addressed at 7:30 p.m.

Sabin leader
 Kathleen McConnell, chair of the Sabin Community Association’s Land Use and Transportation Committee, said she wants to rally residents of five neighborhoods through which Prescott runs to put an end to vehicular speeding on her street. McConnell said residents of the Concordia, Sabin, King, Vernon and Alameda neighborhoods need to raise their voices about the issue.

“Visually, Prescott looks like a speedway,” she says, noting its posted limit is 25 mph, but hundreds of cars daily exceed the limit. “It invites people to speed through it.”

She and other residents would like to see the Portland Bureau of Transportation install speed bumps aka cushions as well as more stop signs on Prescott. She noted that one concerned resident has even started an Instagram page, “@slowdownonprescott” to collect photos and data on crashes.

Tiffany Allmandinger lives near the intersection of Prescott and 24 th streets. Had she known Prescott would be overrun by speeders, she would have never bought her house there five years ago, she says.

An astronautics engineer who’s also an amateur auto racer and semi-pro cyclist, Allmandinger says she’s familiar with how vehicles sound when they speed and estimates that only 10 percent of drivers on Prescott observe the 25-mph speed limit.

Every night, vehicle after vehicle drives anywhere from 45 to 90 mph past her house, she says. Her corner was the site of a fatal accident in 2020 when a speeding drunk driver was killed after crashing into a tree at 90 mph.

“At night it’s basically a racetrack,” Allmandinger says, adding that cars routinely recklessly pass each other. A cat she owned was killed by a driver, she says, and a neighbor’s dog was injured after a hit and run. There are almost no stop signs or signals for much of Prescott in her area, she adds.

“I want the city to make it physically impossible for people to speed on Prescott,” she said. “You can’t get people to change their behavior, you have to encourage them to change behavior. I would be happy to see a stop sign on every other block.”

PBOT response
Since learning of the residents’ concerns in 2018, PBOT has responded with some measures over the past few years to mitigate the traffic issues. Prescott’s speed limit was reduced from 30 mph to 25, and the city pruned tree limbs as well as prohibited parking within 20 feet of intersections to increase pedestrian visibility, among other measures.

However, in a Jan. letter PBOT sent to the Sabin LUTC, an official noted that, as bad as Prescott is when it comes to crashes, it’s not as bad as other Portland streets. Due to budget constraints, among other factors, PBOT prioritizes addressing traffic safety issues in what is called the High Crash Network. The HCN is made up of 30 streets with the highest number of serious crashes in Portland. The HCN makes up 8% of Portland’s streets, and yet they account for 60% of fatal crashes.

“NE Prescott Street is not part of Portland’s High Crash Network,” PBOT told the Sabin LUTC.

PBOT has stated it plans to install at least two Speed Reader Boards, electronic signs that use radar to detect the speed of an approaching vehicle and display them, on Prescott. Dylan Rivera, PBOT public information officer, said his bureau is gathering information to further address neighbors’ concerns.

“We plan to take a closer look at the area later this year to see what we might be able to do to address safety concerns with signs and markings,” he says.