Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

The West Coast’s Largest Stamp Library Just Down the Street

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Joshua Lickteig | Contributing Writer

Stamp enthusiasts sort through treasures at Oregon Stamp Society’s monthly Rose City Stamp Fair. Photo by Joshua Lickteig.

Had any fun with philately lately? Philately, the study and collection of postal delivery materials, prospers in an old fire station building on NE 33rd Avenue half a block south of Alberta Street. Its five columns, flagpole and prominent gable roof welcome visitors into worlds of hobby and history: stamps, postmarked envelopes, cards, letters, and souvenir sheets. Oregon Stamp Society (OSS), a volunteer-based organization belonging to the Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs, hosts regular public fairs and bourses that bring together buyer enthusiasts, casual collectors, heirs, onetime sellers, and dealers. OSS operates the Northwest Philatelic Library, which contains over 5,300 items, 160 journals, and over 120 years of price catalogs.

Whether you are interested in a particular era, geographical region, subject or theme, discovery awaits at a clubhouse gathering. There’s splendor in the way dealers, exhibitors, and collectors operate the floor with respect and cooperation.

“Here, everyone wants to share their knowledge,” says Deborah Jutz, whose son Cétán just began looking for baseball-themed stamps. They like the thrill of the search, learning about the pastime together, and the patience and sincerity of the relaxed sellers.

In the lobby Steve King, OSS president for the past three and a half years and member since 2005, identifies the period of an unmarked postcard from the Crater Lake Hotel. King worked with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for 31 years.

“Back then, there were no photographs of small towns taken by citizens; just by official postcard photographers,” he notes. Lit magnifying glass in hand, the basis for his assessment lies in the lodge’s apparent physical condition in the picture and the thin white border on the postcard (a cost-saving measure following WWI).

Contrasting the contemporary boom of shared digital images, few personal letters are sent today. The society’s library manager Isaac Oelgart, removing a short-brimmed fedora and white blazer, joins the room.

“A stamp is a service,” he says, “unless you don’t use it, then it’s just a piece of paper.” Stamps generate revenue for government-run postal systems and can appeal aesthetically or as investments to buyers. Oelgart says that most newspapers used to have a philatelic columnist.

Downstairs, a library is kept in a tidy L-shaped space with over 25 subject categories, from auction catalogs to antiquated postal stationery. In a glass case by its entrance is a framed photo of Mary McBride, president from 1959-1960, instrumental in acquiring the clubhouse when it came up for sale in 1960. Presently, there are 6,000 or more unique resources for research. “We’re the biggest small or the smallest big [mail] library in the United States,” Oelgart says. Only Chicago and New York host a more sizable set of stacks.

OSS is healthy as an organization, publishes its newsletter The Album Page monthly, and has low member resignation over the years. Though as some pass on, less join. In 1980 there were about 450 members; today 150, and ten to thirty people attend the board meetings. The clubhouse is also leased to other local organizations; namely, Webfooters Post Card Club, Sojourn Church PDX, All-Ireland Cultural Society of Oregon, and Northwest Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club.

Neighborhood support remains steady. In a couple of hours during my visit, at least three in-kind donations, mostly boxes of family collections, even stamp découpage, were received. Several passersby stopped and mentioned they’d been meaning to for some time. King says this is pretty regular.

OSS holds regular library hours, membership meetings and a monthly stamp fair that is open to the public. Deliver your intrigue to the historical realm of stampomania!

More Info

Library (4828 NE 33rd Ave.) open 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 10 am – 2 pm and 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 6:30-8 pm Rose City Stamp Fair every second Saturday, 9 am – 3 pm

Joshua Lickteig is an artist and engineer. He was born near the other Milwaukee and has been in Portland for six years. His latest book of poems is called Half Moon Day Sun.

Building Renovations, Students and Employees Move to Campus and 11/7 Event

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Schools

By Heidi Hiaasen | Contributing Writer

Designer Nur Abbas tours the UO Sports Product Management Innovation Lab after speaking to students. Photo by Heidi Hiaasen.

Newly renovated buildings on the University of Oregon (UO) Por tland campus started reopening in September, allowing employees and students to look inside for the first time in a year. Many marveled at the transformation of tired, dark and outdated buildings into light-filled, reimagined academic spaces.

Students moved into on-site apartments while faculty and staff set up labs, classrooms, offices and student spaces. After a year of being split between locations, UO students and employees have reunited on the campus, enjoying outdoor spaces and exploring the neighborhood.

Neighbors are invited to tour the campus during the next UO Community Connection on Thursday, November 7th. The walking tour is from 4-5 pm, starting in the lobby of the Library and Learning Center (2800 NE Liberty St.) The meeting will start at 5 pm back in the Library and Learning Center with a brief update about the campus. ZGF Architects will next provide an in-depth look at the early design stage of the proposed Child Behavioral Health Building from 5:15-6:30 pm. Community members will have the opportunity to provide feedback at the meeting. Neighbors are welcome to join for all or part of the session.

“We are happy to return with another community meeting, as our neighbors have been so involved and welcoming,” says Jane Gordon, vice president. “Our Community Connection series has always been a great way for members of the community to get updates about our campus and establish relationships with our staff.”

Some renovation work continues around campus, but large portions of the construction fence have come down. NE 29th Avenue remains closed between NE Holman Street and NE Rosa Parks Way for the construction of the Child Behavioral Health Building. It will remain closed to vehicular traffic, but pedestrians can use the sidewalk outside the fence.

In addition to KISS Coffee, UO has partnered with Truckster to have a rotating mix of food trucks on Mondays (4-7 pm,) Tuesdays (11 am -2 pm), and Wednesdays (4-7 pm) in the open lot at the corner of NE Liberty St. and NE 27th Ave. Visit gotruckster.com/neighborhoods-office-buildings/uo-portland for the complete schedule. Community members are encouraged to order from the trucks to help make sure this service remains available.

KISS on Campus is open from 8:30- 3:30 pm, Monday-Friday in the Library and Learning Center. That building also has the UO Portland Library and children’s library on the second floor, which is open to the community.

Have questions about UO Portland or the campus? Email pdxinfo@uoregon. edu or visit pdx.uoregon.edu.

Heidi Hiaasen is the Assistant Director of Portland Communications for the University of Oregon.

Toys Gone Wild: Inside Ron Beideck’s Quirky Yard

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

Words and Photos by Dascha Orlova

Ron Beideck has called the house on the corner of NE Alberta Court and NE 36th Avenue home since 1994. Though the neighborhood has evolved, one constant remains: Ron’s creative spirit. As a retired typography editor, Ron’s eye has found new expression in an unexpected medium—stuffed animals and toys. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Ron began collecting whimsical items and slowly transformed his yard into a colorful and playful space that incites curiosity from passersby. The windows are adorned with themed collages made from pages of magazines and recycled books that change with the seasons—or rather, the bleaching of the sun. The current theme? Animals. The toys in his yard aren’t just for show—Ron encourages visitors to explore the yard, find a toy they love and give it a new home. It’s his way of spreading joy and fostering a sense of community, one saved toy at a time.

Portland Open Studios Event Offers the Chance to See Local Artists at Work

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

By Kepper Petzing | Contributing Writer

“So much of our world is curated and often what we see is the beautiful, finished product – whether it is art in a gallery, or a posting on social media. This event offers the opportunity to come and see what’s behind all of it – a lot of messiness – a lot of failures,” says artist Juli Rae Vignola.

What she’s talking about is Portland Open Studios, an annual event where 100 Portland artists open their studios to the public for tours. Portland Open Studios is also the name of the nonprofit that has put on the event for the past 26 years. Tours will run October 12th-13th and 19th-20th and six of the featured artists are in Concordia.

“There is a range from polished studios to people who are just painting on their kitchen table.Your neighbors are creating stellar work with just what they got”,  says participating artist Carson Abbert. Inspiring ideas don’t come solely from the art; artists often have creative homes or yards. 

Many works are also for sale. Concordia resident Lowen Berman says. “Just go on the tour. You’ll learn a lot, meet interesting neighbors, and you’ll have a good time.”

More Info

Portland Open Studios

portlandopenstudios.com
October 12th & 13th and October 19th & 20th from 10 am – 4 pm 

The tour guide is on the website, which includes information on each artist along with samples of their work. You can search by neighborhood, artist’s name, or medium. Tour is indicated by black and yellow posted signs.

A Powerful Cultural Experience

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

On September 7th, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) based in NE Portland hosted its 12th annual Neerchokikoo powwow. Neerchokikoo is a revitalized Native American village; an ancient gathering site near the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in what is today the Cully neighborhood. Since 2010 (with breaks during COVID) the powwow has welcomed thousands of community members from over 380 tribes to gather and celebrate Native culture through dance, music, art and food. 

Set up in the center’s gymnasium, a vendor market showcased more than 30 artisans offering jewelry, clothing, and traditional medicines. Delicious fry bread and Indian tacos were also available for purchase. When I first entered the covered area I was greeted with rhythmic traditional drumming accompanied by Native singers. Taking their turns on the dance floor, community members of all ages dressed in beautiful regalia danced in a swirl of color throughout the day.

The Neerchokikoo Powwow honors partners, volunteers and donors whose contributions to NAYA’s work have enhanced the lives of youth, families and elders. This year, NAYA is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the theme of the event  was “reclaiming our past, cultivating our future.”  The honoring ceremony was not only a tribute to the tribal councils but also a recognition of the enduring connection between the land and the Native American communities that have long called this site home.

“As an ancient Native encampment and gathering site, NAYA’s campus at Neerchokikoo has historic and cultural significance. For many centuries, Native Americans from tribes throughout the area came to this land to gather, trade, and build community,” says Ann Takamoto, Naya’s Director of Development.

The Neerchokikoo Powwow brought together hundreds from the Native American community. As a guest, I was overwhelmed by the power of celebration. It’s hard to translate into words the beauty and love I felt in the room. The care put into each beautiful regalia, some with hard earned eagle feathers, and dresses covered in tingly metal bells were inspiring and I was mesmerized by the power of the drums.

Around dinner time someone came over to me and offered me food. I enjoyed a delicious plate of salmon, wild rice, greens, and berries, all examples of Native first food. Then the dancing continued into the evening. 

The whole day was a powerful tribute to pride, love and honoring cultural history. It was an experience I’ll never forget. 

 

 

Concordia-themed Art Exhibition at Allery 

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

By Marsha Sandman | Contributing Writer

On a quiet alley off of NE Killingsworth St. and behind 5516 NE 27th Ave., you will find a world of wonder. As a painter, writer, poet and educator, Anne Jennings Paris has graced the outside wall behind curator Jennifer Jones’s home with her writing and painting in an art exhibition titled “Memories of the Kingdom”. The exhibition incorporates poetry and acrylic paintings in four future “retellings” of the Concordia neighborhood’s recent past.  

 The Allery, a play on the words “gallery” and “alley,” is the brainchild of artist Jones, one of the owners of the residence. Combining her love of public art and engaging her neighbors and friends, she decided to start The Allery. Exhibiting large scale framed paintings, it has become a popular summer locale in the Concordia neighborhood. 

Paris is also a Concordia resident and makes art in her backyard studio. She is the third artist to grace the outside wall behind Jones’ home and is a two-time recipient of an Academy of American Poets Prize. Paris has created works for the Portland Japanese Garden, Cedarwood Waldorf School, and the University of Portland. Originally from Florida, she is a graduate of Wesleyan University and received her MFA in Creative Writing from San Jose State University.  

 “Traveling around the world is inspirational. I treat the world around me as an art school. Places tell stories,” says Paris. Paris’ current project will be joining the team at Tyler FuQua Creations to build a large metal sculpture at Burning Man, a weeklong large-scale festival where extreme creatives gather in a remote desert in Nevada. This October, she will be offering a poetry workshop at The Omega Institute in upstate New York, as well as teaching how to use AI ethically in writing and art.  

 To enjoy the artwork and writing of Anne Jennings Paris visit the Allery and to learn more about her go to her Instagram page @PDXPOET.

 “Alleys are special places,” Jones says. “They are public right-of-ways, but they feel private. I wanted to create a place where magic can happen through surprise encounters with art.” Most of the exhibit will be open through November and two 4’x 8’ large-scale panels are up all year. 

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.

‘Lights Out’ Program Urges Dimming the Lights for Birds at Night

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By Kepper Petzing | Contributing Writer

Every spring and fall, billions of birds  migrate through North America. Most make this remarkable and perilous  journey at night, sensing the magnetic  pull of the earth and using the moon and stars to set their course. From mid-September through mid October, on any given night, a million birds might be flying over your home. Turning off lights in our homes during this time reduces skyglow over our cities, and can help birds make it to their destinations safely. Lights Out is a national and international campaign every September 19th – October 19th and repeating April 15th – May 19th for spring  migration. 

Why is light pollution dangerous? 

Light from cities drowns out the stars  and other natural cues birds use,  disorienting them. The lights lure  birds into the city, where they are at risk of colliding with windows. They  may end up circling lighted areas until  exhausted, often leading to death. Skyglow is the result of both too  many lights and poorly designed fixtures that throw light up into the  sky. Growing evidence links the loss  of darkness at night to negative effects on wildlife and ecosystems, as  well as crime and safety (yes, lights can increase crime and decrease  safety.) 

https://darksky.org/resources/what-is light-pollution/effects/safety/ 

Humans need the dark too! Multiple  studies suggest that exposure to  artificial light at night may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,  diabetes, depression, sleep disorders, obesity and breast cancer.  

Follow the migrators.  

Track our feathered friends with  maps showing actual bird  migration from sunset to sunrise,  as detected by the US weather  surveillance radar network.

https://birdcast.info/ 

Take the pledge.  

You can make decreasing night light  an all year plan. Turning off  unnecessary lights helps us save  energy, reduces our carbon footprint,  saves money, improves health, and  lets us see the stars. 

The Bird Alliance of Oregon has a  pledge program which many  corporations, small businesses,  homeowners and renters have taken.  Take the Pledge to go Lights Out  today by visiting birdallianceoregon.org. 

For the lights you want to keep, make  sure they are well chosen and  properly installed. Select warm LED  bulbs that are under a 3,000 Kelvin  rating. Looking for good lighting?  The International Dark-sky  Association has a Fixture Seal of  Approval program! Learn more here: darksky.org/what-we-do/darksky-approved/

Go Lights Out September 19th– October 19th 

During peak migration weeks,  from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 

  • Be sure outside lights are  aimed down and well shielded  from the sky.
  • Turn off non-essential lights –  especially outside lights. 
  • Reprogram automatic lights to be off from 11 pm to 6 am. 
  • Have needed lights on motion   sensors, when appropriate, so   they are on only when needed. 
  • Turn off interior lights in  unoccupied areas. 
  • Close blinds or curtains in rooms where lights are in use  to prevent light escaping. 
  • Share the news about the  “Lights Out” campaign. 

Each light matters, and your  commitment makes a difference.

Kepper Petzing has lived in  Concordia for 42 years and  has sadly seen the decrease in  the number of birds in our  neighborhood. Kepper is  nonbinary. They love community and are grateful  for Concordia News.

The Right to Repair Yourself

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By Barbara de la Torre | Contributing Writer

You can’t run on a broken foot.

I once saw a patient whose mental health depended on daily exercise. I’m talking about someone who ran every day without ever missing a workout for two years. Three weeks before seeing me, she noticed pain in the middle of her left foot. The pain would get a little better and then worse after running. She finally checked into urgent care after the pain became suddenly worse.

I ordered an x-ray of her foot, which showed a stress fracture. It’s a tiny hairline crack in the bone that doesn’t cause a full break but is vulnerable to more injury or delayed healing. When I shared the results with my patient, she said anxiously, “I can’t stop running. That’s the only thing that helps my stress.” 

I studied both Western and Chinese medicine to gain the best tools from each system. Western healthcare is good at rescuing and dealing with emergencies, but it’s bad at  preventing chronic diseases and cultivating mental wellness. Chinese medicine is a culmination of thousands of years of observation of patterns and rhythms of the natural world. According to Chinese medicine, many chronic mental and physical diseases come from negative emotions—not from having them but from how long we hold on to them. It doesn’t matter how much we exercise or pay attention to healthy food trends if these emotions still linger. 

I have a Master’s certification in a movement-based therapy called qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”). Qigong is a branch of Chinese medicine that focuses on movement, breathing, stretching, and mindfulness. The word qigong means “the cultivation of Qi (chee),” which is the energy that sustains life. Qigong started 5,000 years ago in China and evolved into thousands of forms to address several health conditions. It’s a way of being, living, and seeing the world. 

One form of qigong is called Xi Xi Hu (“she she who”) or “walking qigong.” It consists of five easy routines to balance and release the five negative emotions of sadness, worry, overexcitement, fear, and anger.

Even though my patient’s mind wanted to continue to run on a broken foot, her body had to stop. We are a mind/body ecosystem where all the parts depend on one another for survival and vitality. The mind and body communicate with us every day if we’re listening.

 Qigong, when combined with proper breathing, good sleep, and eating and living with the seasons, helps us listen a little better. Superior medicine doesn’t come from the doctor. It comes from the right to repair yourself.

Join Barbara at Concordia Commons (NE 30th and Killingsworth) for a free group qigong lesson on Sunday, September 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. 

Barbara de la Torre is a Concordia resident, artist, and physician. She founded ThirdOpinionMD.org to cultivate healthy individuals and communities.

Woodlawn Farmers Market Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Joshua Lickteig | Contributing Writer

“Shop, volunteer, donate!” says Woodlawn Farmers Market (WFM) Manager PZ with a smile, in a refreshing patch of shade at a nearby park. The independent outdoor market will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Saturday, September 7th, from 10 am – 2 pm. Anjala Ehelebe, local historian and author of the Images of America Series book about the Woodlawn neighborhood, will be speaking.

The location of WFM is convenient for those in Woodlawn, Concordia, and Piedmont neighborhoods who don’t have a market within walking distance. Additionally, WFM is open beyond Cully Farmers Market (which closed at the end of August) and like other Portland farmers markets, accepts SNAP food stamps.

“Fundamentally I believe everyone should have access to fresh produce. This wouldn’t be the case without the market,” says Erin Cooper, a WFM board member.

The event will have 20 vendors, two live bands, face-painting artists, and offer balloons, raffles and prizes. Barn Owl Jazz and Beacon Rock Family Band will play music. Nonprofits Kindness Farm and Care Oregon will host the community tables. Vendors for the celebration include Mexican restaurant Xocalo PDX, Pink Goose Bakery, Flipturn Cellars Urban Winery, GEMMM Soaps, ZK Flowers, and three local farms. 

One of WFM’s goals is to support start-ups by charting pathways from pop-ups and booths onward to brick-and-mortar establishments. Once a vendor, Rangoon Bistro now has two locations and other businesses such as HiFi Baking Company and For My Ancestors Tinctures started at Woodlawn Farmers Market. And unlike most grocery stores, the market is not subsidized. Surrounding businesses pitch in with refreshments for volunteers, power, trash handling, and supply storage. 

What’s next beyond the 10th year? WFM is looking to add tents, sustain permits, create scholarship opportunities, recruit two more board members, and find a more durable supply shed. The board is also writing a proposal for a grant from the Oregon Farmers Markets Association. The grant would help protect from environmental impacts like disruptive heat, high winds and ensure high air quality, by, for example, funding local indoor space and cooling stations. 

PZ adds, “A highly valuable direct impact you can make in your neighborhood is  to commit to buying local produce, which supports vendors and also pays booth fees.” Further, it reinforces  the cultural, economic, and social significance of a neighborhood joining together. This takes a committed  group of volunteers and donors to keep the work moving each week. “[It] truly is a community event.”  See you around the markets!

More Info

Woodlawn Farmers Market is open every Saturday through October 26th, from 10am-2pm on NE Durham Ave. between NE Dekum and NE Madrona streets. You can learn more at woodlawnfarmersmarket.org and on Instagram, Facebook, and Nextdoor at  @woodlawnfarmersmarket.

Joshua Lickteig is an artist and engineer. He was born near the other Milwaukee and has been in Portland for six years. His latest book of poems is called Half Moon Day Sun.