Here’s the draft agenda for the November, 2020 CNA LUTC meeting.
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Hope to see you there, for our last meeting of 2020!
cheers,
~Garlynn
Draft Agenda: November CNA LUTC meeting
He helps community find its voice
By Michael French | CNA Media Team
André Middleton, executive director of Friends of Noise, is a man on the move. You might find the 53-year-old community leader, activist and youth mentor talking up his nonprofit, transporting a sound system to a fundraiser or protest, or supporting youth performers and musicians as they gear up for an all-ages show.
A native New Yorker who moved to Oregon for college, André earned a degree in film and video production from Marylhurst University.
He has spent the following two decades immersed in the Portland-area arts scene, working with the Regional Arts & Culture Council and Open Signal, among others. Today André sits on boards of multiple arts organizations.
He saw a need for all-age musical events when he found few performances his then 13-year-old daughter could attend. The void led André to start Friends of Noise in 2016 to provide all-age concerts, sound system training and paying jobs for youth.
“We produce concerts that are run and produced by the teens we work with. We work with young people who are performers as well,” André said. “We book kids to perform.”
Friends of Noise also produces a youth-DJ-run show on XRAY.fm and hopes to secure a permanent location for all-age performances in the next two to three years. For details and/or to support the organization, visit FriendsOfNoise. org.
After attending a local rally shortly after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, André realized speakers’ voices couldn’t carry over the crowd. The message was getting lost.
So André and a friend developed a battery-powered mobile sound system that’s since been used at more than 20 protests.
“My ability to amplify the voices of protesters became a salve for me. It allowed me to get out of the house. It allowed me to contribute to a movement that I believe in and support,” he said.
André said he sees signs of change. “I think the growing pains that Portland is going through hopefully will result in a stronger, broader, more diverse community.
“African Americans – through a lot of hard work and community building, despite gentrification – are rising to positions of power. Look at Cameron Whitten and the Black Resilience Fund. Look at Jo Ann Hardesty on city council, former police chief Danielle Outlaw and current fire chief Sara Boone.”
André appreciates what his Cully neighborhood has to offer. “It’s a beautiful area. I love the diversity, a lot of Asian Americans, African Americans – older, younger, families – it’s nice to see how diverse and broad the community is.”
Michael French is grateful to live on 28th Avenue in Concordia, a place where neighbors talk to each other and he can get most places on foot, by bike or transit. Contact him at MFrench96@gmail.com.
Pizza couple returns pizza focus to kitchen
By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team
You’d think after opening Pizzicato in 12 locations and Lovejoy Bakers in the Pearl District, these former New Yorkers would be ready to rest, retire and enjoy life.
Well, for Marc and Tracy Frankel, the idea of enjoying life is to open one more pizza restaurant.
Marc explained the motivation, “Although we never saw ourselves expanding, over the years, Pizzicato grew into a business of which we’re very proud.
“Running the company eventually took me away from the kitchen and the simple pleasures of chopping vegetables, making dough, baking a pie, serving our customers and working shoulder to shoulder with our staff.”
Marc and Tracy live in Concordia, and they wanted to open a casual, inviting space just a short walk from their home.
So they leased space one door north of the Killingsworth Street and 30th Avenue intersection. Hours are Wednesday-Friday 4-9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday noon-9 p.m. Orders are welcome via 503.297.7133, Hi@BigaPDX.com and BigaPDX.com.
After 30 years in the business, Marc explained his incentive now is the joy of getting to know his neighbors, sharing a cozy space where folks sit family style and get to know each other.
During the current need for social distancing, Biga offers takeout and home delivery. During the warmer months, outside seating was available in a cozy rear patio and in the plaza on 30th – which may continue this winter.
You can tell by the twinkle in his eyes when he explains the pizza method, Marc has a passionate and tactile relationship with the process of dough making.
The term “Biga” refers to Italian breadmaking starter dough. The three-day dough-making process results in buttery, light and crunchy crust, which makes a true Neapolitan pie.
The open kitchen has a Swedish electric oven, which heats up to 800 degrees. The highest quality ingredients are used and Biga’s menu reads like pizza poetry.
In addition to pizza, salads and desserts, Biga fresh-baked ciabatta bread and a wide variety of quality wines are available at market prices. They can be home delivered along with your pizza order.
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.
Add your voice to selecting board members – and the name of – Concordia Neighborhood Association!
Wednesday, Nov. 4, is the CNA annual meeting. Six board positions and the chair are up for election/re-election, beginning at 7 p.m. Nominate yourself or others. 2020 chair Astrid Furstner details the qualifications at Concordiapdx.org/2020/11/chairs-corner-dont-forget-to-also-vote-in-cna-election.
Then stay tuned to discuss whether consideration should be given to changing the name of the Concordia Neighborhood Association. We were named for the university located here, and it’s now gone. Should we keep its name or consider others?
Details for joining the Google Meet session are at ConcordiaPDX.org/CNAMeetings.
Chair’s Corner – Don’t forget to also vote in CNA election
By Astrid Furstner | CNA Chair
Change is once again upon us. November is not only election time for the nation, state, county and city. It also is the election of seven board members for our association. It’s essential that you cast your vote for the board – and chair – positions that expire this year.
You don’t even have to leave home to participate in the Wednesday, Nov. 4, CNA Annual Meeting and election. It begins at 7 p.m. on Google Meet. Find log-on information at ConcordiaPDX.org/CNAMeetings.
The open positions are: chair, northwest 2, southwest 2, east 2, and at large 2, 4 and 6.
Who can serve/vote?
Any person who is a CNA member can hold an elected or appointed position and vote in CNA elections.
What does that mean?
Members include everyone located within the association’s boundaries (see CNA boundaries in map directly below) as residents and property owners, and one representative each from business licensees, government agencies, education institutions and nonprofit organizations. You must also be 14 years or older to run for election to the board and, if you’re younger than 18, have parent/guardian permission.
Geographic qualifications
To qualify for chair or an at large board position, you must meet the membership criteria described above. For a specific CNA district position – in this year’s case, northwest, east or southwest – your membership criteria must be based within the boundaries of that district. (Again, see CNA district boundaries in map directly below.)
Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings, attend CNA functions, participate in CNA committees, represent the association with partner organizations and otherwise contribute to our mission: to connect Concordia residents and businesses and to inform, educate and report on activities, issues and opportunities of the neighborhood.
As the chair, I have been tasked with drafting agendas, presiding over meetings, working with all of the committees and board members, and providing you with monthly updates.
Although I will not be seeking re-election, I highly recommend you get involved.
It has been an honor to have worked with my neighbors and to serve.
Many thanks to all who have emailed, called, or taken time to speak with me about their concerns for Concordia, this place we call home.
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.
Sweethearts knew what to name their shop
By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team
It’s a love story as old as time with a modern day twist. Two sweethearts – Jag Seyd and Joshua Bighaus – moved to northeast Portland and in July 2020 they opened the doors of their tattoo shop.
“Sweet Heart Tattoo is a love letter to one another, to the art of tattoo and to our clients,’” Jag said. “’Sweet Heart’ is also a reference to my wonderful grandmother who was full of love and kindness. My grandmother always called me ‘sweetheart.’”
Jag was excited to get the spot. The corner of 30th Avenue and Killingsworth Street has always been a community gathering space with local restaurants, shops and services.
Almost every day Jag and Joshua traveled past the corner. One day they noticed, tucked in between several of the stylish eateries, a little space for lease.
Sweet Heart Tattoo’s space is small, but foot traffic in the shop is limited, and they sanitize between clients, plus everyone who enters goes through a COVID-19 screening questionnaire.
Although Sweet Heart Tattoo cannot accept walk-in clients at this time, sameday appointments are available if you call ahead to 503.432.8570.
In the future when there is a vaccine for COVID-19, the sweethearts plan to host guest artists, and they are open to adding another team member.
Jag also hopes to host community art and charitable events as soon as it is safe.
“COVID is actually a big reason why we decided to open Sweet Heart Tattoo,” Jag explained.
“Joshua and I wanted to be able to ensure our clients had the safest possible experience while getting tattooed. We both had been quarantined together since mid-March and had limited our outings to exercise and essential travel like groceries.
“We wear masks, frequently wash our hands and sanitize — doing everything we can to keep ourselves and our clients healthy, happy and safe.,” she added.
“I have never had neighbors like the neighbors I have here — truly caring, sharing people, willing to help in any way they can. They have fed us, lent us tools, offered help and anything else they have to give” Jag said with a smile.
“Concordia is a beautiful community to walk through with parks, tree-lined streets, amazing restaurants, coffee shops and hidden treasures,” she continued. “But nothing compares to the people.“
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.
New shop fills hyper-local consignment needs
By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor
The nearly one year since Concordian Allyson Medeles opened the Pacific Holiday consignment shop hasn’t been easy. Perseverance, ingenuity, experience in clothing retail and dedication to sustainability propelled her.
It doesn’t hurt that the storefront at 4443 N.E. Fremont St. has housed consignment shops for 30 years. During the eight weeks indoor shopping was banned, customers turned to Instagram offerings on @pacificholiday and appreciated curbside pickup.
“The neighborhood has been using us as their local boutique/closet,” Allyson reported.
“People are becoming more hyper local. They check here before going to malls or downtown, whether it’s yoga pants, running shoes, comfortable sweaters, whatever.”
Allyson promotes comfortable clothing in the caftans she designs, and in consigned items in the store.
“We also don’t really focus on luxury goods,” she explained. “But we like quality. Sometimes that’s less expensive and sometimes it’s more expensive. I wouldn’t call us upscale, but we are affordable.
“We probably have the most caftans of any store in town,” she added. That includes her Hermosa line. Allyson’s love of summer – and casual, resort-style wear – is the foundation for the shop’s name Pacific Holiday.
But that doesn’t mean the store will lack clothing for winter weather. In fact, Allyson will offer gift items for the holidays, and she’ll promote the shop’s gift cards.
Longtime consignment shopper, Allyson believes strongly in clothing sustainability.
“It’s just such a better way to go, gentler on the planet. That’s especially true with the recent ‘fast fashion’ movement of buying cheap clothing, wearing it once, getting a hole in it and sending it to the landfill.”
Her website, PacificHolidayPDX.com, quotes the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: “Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned and, if nothing changes, the fashion industry will use up a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050. Extending the life of our garments is the most direct way to cut waste and pollution…”
Allyson goes two steps beyond reselling clothes. Her own Hermosa caftans are made of deadstock fabric, the leftovers of larger designers.
Moreover, Pacific Holiday offers its consignors an easy way to donate their unsold clothing. The store offers to send those items to Rose Haven, a local day shelter and community center. It serves women, children and gender nonconforming people who experience the trauma of abuse, loss of home and other disruptive life challenges.
Allyson pointed out, “It’s a good fit for us, since we have plenty of women’s clothing.”
Nancy Varekamp is semiretired from her career in journalism, public releations and – her favorite work engagement – writing and editing targeted newsletters.
Concordia Art Works – Artists create new means to reach audiences
By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works
“Portland has built its ‘brand’ on the backs of our arts community, a multi-million-dollar industry that provides thousands of jobs, is a major tourism attraction and drives business to hotels, restaurants and retailers across the city,” said Chloe Eudaly, Portland arts commissioner.
According to America for the Arts in 2015, the nonprofit arts and culture industry nationally reported $166.3 billion of economic activity, supported 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in revenue.
When COVID-19 attacked, the arts were hit hard. Performers and venues depend on large groups to earn money. Most freelance artists have been left out of relief projects, and galleries can no longer invite the public to opening night events.
Needless to say, artists are creative and have found ways to reach their audiences. Converge 45 commissioned 12 artists, created posters of their work and have posted those on the streets of Portland. Posters are available for $25 and the proceeds go to the Nat Turner Biopic Artist Relief Program.
Alberta Street galleries are selling art pieces online via websites and social media, and they offer pick-up and drop-off services. Openings have given way to monthlong art shows that allow for staggered viewing. Galleries report sales haven’t waned too much, maybe because people became bored of tired walls while in lockdown.
Last Thursday, now in its 23rd year, went virtual this summer. Alberta Main Street and Alberta Art Works (AAW) used Portland Bureau of Transportation’s summer budget for the event to pay artists to create short promotional videos and classes that were aired on social media.
AAW hired artists of color to perform at various Alberta Street galleries and livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Visit LastThursdayPortland. org for free movement and art classes, to discover local artists and to find the street concerts by artists like Arietta Ward, Onry, Rejoice: Diaspora Dance Theater, and Ekone.
CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.
Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.
CNA Letter on Highway 30 Safety
The Concordia Neighborhood Association sent this letter to decision-makers, following a series of recent fatal crashes on North Portland Highway / Highway 30 Bypass:
Hwy_30_Safety_Letter_CNA-Sept_2020-signed
To date, we have only received supportive responses from Congressman Earl Blumenauer, and Metro Councilor Sam Chase. No other decision-maker has had the common decency to even reply, much less join the coalition seeking solutions for the conditions on this deadly facility.
CNA LUTC Draft Mtg Agenda for October, 2020
Hi folks,
Here’s a draft agenda for next week’s CNA LUTC meeting.
Join by web:
https://meet.google.com/ocg-wgut-iki
Or phone:
316-512-3077 PIN: 417604919#
Also, please find here the minutes from the last meeting:
cheers,
~Garlynn