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.

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.

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.

By Esther Lerman Freeman | Contributing Writer

Here are some environmentally friendly ideas that also make you happy while you’re doing them. I love anything that’s a win/win and these ideas qualify.

1. Make your Own Bean Sprouts
Making one’s own sprouts is waste free, really fun to watch, requires minimal time and provides fresh and delicious sprouts while saving you money. All you need is a one quart wide mouth jar and a straining lid. (Straining lids are infinitely reusable.) You soak the seeds overnight, drain them in the morning and then rinse them three times a day. In three or four days you’ll have a packed jar of yummy sprouts. Any kids at home will love being part of the growing process.

2. Switch Out Leaf Blowers for Good Old-Fashioned Rakes
Leaf blowers cause noise pollution for you and your neighbors, use energy and are unhealthy for ears and lungs. Old fashioned raking can be a lovely meditative experience since it is repetitive, requires little skill or thought and is done in the beautiful outdoors. I think of it as moving meditation. Additionally if you “leave the leaves” you are getting free mulch for your soil.

3. Shop at the Farmers Markets from May to November
Buying directly from farmers gives you access to the freshest and most beautiful produce and is definitely more fun than being at a supermarket. You can bring your own bags and reuse them, which decreases packaging as well as the energy used to ship vegetables from large farms to stores since you’re buying from local producers. There is frequently lovely music at the markets, interesting new produce to learn about and the farmers are making a better living selling without a middleman.

4. Make Broth from Veggie Scraps
Making broth is a money saver and a vitamin boost. Any time you devein kale or remove the stems of mushrooms, the ends of onions and garlic or the tops of carrots and radishes, just put them in a bag in your freezer until you have a full bag. Then boil everything in a pot of water for an hour or so, adding any salt or spices you like. Scoop the mushy veggies out and compost them and then let the broth cool. You can use it as a base for your soup, stew, or even to cook your rice or other grains. You have paid zero for the broth and there was no container to recycle.

5. Make Your Own Body Scrub
You can make your own body scrub with household ingredients. Combine 1/4 cup of sugar with 1/8 cup of olive or grape seed oil and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Next time you come in from gardening and your hands are dirty and feel dry, use this scrub.

6. Mend Your Own Clothes
If your favorite shirt has a hole in it, don’t despair! Visible mending is a new trend that turns a plain garment into a creative crafty expression. Either stitch around the hole with some embroidery thread so the hole becomes a decoration or find a scrap of lovely fabric to cover it and sew around it. The sewing is super easy and only requires a needle, thread and some creativity.

Try one of these environmentally friendly projects at home soon!

Esther Lerman Freeman is a certified Master Recycler and Concordia resident.

By Elaine Oliver with Nedra Rezinas | Contributing Writers

Last fall, I left my corporate job and decided to start my own
business. I also started as the Ad Sales Rep for Concordia News. Whether recently opened or around for a few years, local businesses have had to adapt to a variety of challenges. I wanted to hear their stories, so I reached out to three local businesses this month.

Autumn Coffee Roasting

First, I spoke with Andrew Hume, the owner of Autumn Coffee Roasting (328 NE Killingsworth St.). Andrew started his business serving coffee from a food cart at farmers markets and events. He took the plunge to open a brick and mortar storefront and chose Concordia because of his familiarity growing up in Parkside. Andrew has never taken any investment money and has built his business “slowly and sustainably,” he says. Autumn Coffee opened up at NE 33rd and NE Killingsworth in November.

Shortly after opening, Andrew had to weather the ice storm and was faced with the challenge of staying open. He also mentioned that parking can be an issue for some customers and that digital advertising is costly and doesn’t necessarily convert into meaningful new customers, which can be frustrating.

To get the word out, Andrew features local artists and hosts classes, sketch hours, and art talks.

ECOVIBE

ECOVIBE (1906 NE Alberta St.) on NE Alberta and NE 19th is a retail store focused on gifts and houseplants. It is family owned and operated, and was started in 2010 by Andrea “Dre” Allen and her husband Leonard “Len” Allen, whose family has lived in the neighborhood for six generations.

“One of our biggest business challenges is seeing retail decline in the last two years as people returned to work [after the COVID pandemic] and were less focused on the beauty of their homes and offices,” says Dre.

The ice storm in January forced them to close for a week and a decrease in consumer spending due to inflation is another pressure they face. “The more that neighbors shop local, the more likely those shops will be able to keep their doors open.” She also encourages sharing positive reviews on Google, Yelp, or social media.

Queer Plants Cafe

Ross and Ernest Koh opened Queer Plants Cafe (5027 NE 42nd Ave.) in November of last year. Queer Plants Cafe is a plant, gift, and coffee cafe with personality and charm. Ross says that one of his challenges is finding people who will love and support them, which takes time. Additionally, new small businesses are often burdened with start-up debt, which makes it difficult to spend a lot on marketing.

At their previous jobs, Ross and Ernest had little control, and they felt like their talent and ideas were untapped. They appreciate the ability to use their creativity to design, build, enhance, and nourish Queer Plants Cafe. Now Ross and Ernest feel like they are flourishing and able to express their creativity while hosting their own community and events.

One easy way to support local businesses, says Ross, is to tell a friend or family member about it. Another way to help is to bring your own cup and skip the take-out packaging to help businesses save money and reduce waste.

If you are a small business in Portland and are looking for support, see the box below for resources that provide support to small businesses.

One of Concordia Neighborhood Association’s goals is to connect Concordia residents and businesses. I can’t think of a better way to help our neighborhood shine; I highly recommend you choose to keep your dollars in our neighborhood when you buy a cup of coffee or shop for yourself or someone else. Our neighbors who own these businesses will thank you.

• Livelihood NW – livelihoodnw.org
• Soul District Business Association – souldistrictbiz.org/membership
• Prosper Portland – prosperportland.us/for-businesses
• Portland Metro Chamber of Commerce – portlandmetrochamber.com

Elaine (she/her) is a former tech trainer turned ADHD coach and Concordia newspaper ad sales rep. She is a passionate auntie, pitbull mom, and soccer player who has called Concordia home for 4 years. You can find her eating good food with friends or walking her lovable pitbull Charlie in the neighborhood.

Nedra Rezinas lives near U of O in Concordia. She does marketing strategy for small businesses, is a mom, drinks tea, is a birder, and is passionate to build community.

By Joshua Lickteig | Contributing Writer

On a stroll in your neighborhood, you may have noticed a sign in a neighbor’s yard: Certified Backyard Habitat, or Backyard Habitat Certification . . . In Progress. I recently enrolled in the program myself; a unique offering from a collaboration between the Columbia Land Trust and Bird Alliance of Oregon.

Enrollment is offered on a sliding scale, starting at $5, and open to any residential lot smaller than a single acre. The Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) requires naturescaping, or planting a majority of native plants amongst the groundcover, shrubs and trees of your home’s outdoor space. All of the outdoor space on a property is included, so your front, back, side yards, and even the parking strip must comply in order to become certified.

From shrub and bush species types to the tree canopies in which they live, and all the natural inhabitants or visitors of each (birds, pollinators, bug friends); there’s much to consider, whether attracting wildlife or stewardship of a sustainable, biodiverse ecosystem as a conscious contribution to your local green economy is your particular draw.

A site visit from a habitat technician is the first step after enrollment; the outcome of which is a site report with recommendations. Certification may be achieved at that visit, over weeks or may even take years.

You’ll confer with a vast free library of resources (BackyardHabitats.org/resource-library) along with the certification criteria (BackyardHabitats.org/certification-criteria) and begin to grow knowledge about nourishing native vegetation layers, identifying harmful weeds, reducing pesticides, even managing stormwater.

There are plenty of decisions to make and opportunities to learn about how to help connect urban and suburban greenspaces, no matter your familiarity with plants or trees and the very soil itself. New ways to think about, volunteer, and engage with your community and nature will begin to present themselves.

My visit is scheduled for the beginning of this month.

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.

By Catherine Noble | Contributing Writer

Portland International Raceway (PIR) is the only raceway owned and operated by a city municipality in the United States and since 1987 has offered a chance for regular citizens to live out their racecar driver fantasies.

The address of PIR on N Victory Blvd. is a fitting testimony to a community that overcame disaster. In 1948, on Memorial Day, a dike broke, flooding the city of Vanport, Oregon, the second largest city in the state at that time. In 30 minutes, the flood swept away the city’s post office, library, fire houses, infirmary and elementary schools. The college relocated and became Portland State University, but the other buildings were never rebuilt, leaving behind remnants of their foundations on an array of still intact city streets.

Where some would see ruins, the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce (known as the Jaycees) envisioned a place to race, and in 1960, convinced then Mayor Terry Shrunk to strike a deal with the federal government for a gift of approximately 89 acres of broken roadways for racing.

From 1961, especially during what became the annual Portland Rose Festival’s Rose Cup, racers careened through the erstwhile city on motorcycles, in sports cars and karts, and the low hum of city life became the thunder of mechanical engines in what was now known as West Delta Park. The sport was dangerous. Drivers spun out, slamming into piles of broken foundations, or tumbling into ponds. Sanctioning racing bodies threatened the continuation of The Rose Cup Races, demanding a safer roadway, and in 1971, the track was finally paved.

Two years later, in 1973, PIR turned a profit, and now the commercial enterprise brings in almost $50 million a year. Races held at PIR include IndyCar, Formula E, NASCAR Xfinity series and SCCA autocross events and PIR holds 650 events annually for 400,000 spectators.

And for Portlandians who want to try out racing themselves, $500 can get you a day to race your own car through the 12 turns on the track. The course includes classroom instruction and instructor-led spins around the almost 2-mile loop.

Jonathan Morgan, a sales professional, is one such Portlandian who recently attended Hooked on Driving School. Morgan says the experience increased his admiration for people who race professionally and also led him to think about his city driving in a new way.

“Not that I wasn’t a safe driver before, but now I know how to handle braking and turning for maximum efficiency.”

Three years before the Pro Drive Racing School was founded, the track underwent $800,000 of renovations including the addition of a chicane, an S-shaped curve that adds drama to the flat track.

“It’s two 90-degree turns in quick succession,” Morgan explains. He says he came out of the serpentine curve a little too fast, and thought it wise to stop racing for the day. “It was a disappointment, but a total hoot.”

Hooked on Driving and Pro Drive Racing School both offer a variety of classes for Portlanders with a need for speed. For those who enjoy quieter activities, there’s also a dog park there.

Catherine Noble, MFA, is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and misses the winters not at all. She credits her parents for encouraging her love of engines, both mechanical and social, which factors in her current project: a book on the 1920s aviatrix Bessie Coleman.

By Marsha Sandman | Contributing Writer

I considered getting a bicycle when I forgot to change the transmission oil in my 2002 Honda CRV. Goodbye Old Faithful. So now it’s the MAX, buses, Ubers and rides from my son. Maybe a bicycle might be the thing for me. However, unlike my many fit neighbors, I have not been on a bike since my long gone youth. If you perhaps can relate, then read on.

Being a mobility challenged senior, my son was concerned about me moving on two or maybe three wheels. Keeping in mind physical changes such as vision, coordination, balance, and cognitive function may make cycling more difficult as my fitness-challenged body has aged. So I did some research.

Fortunately, I found Mathew Mendez right here in Concordia at his small shop, Upcycle, just off of Killingsworth (5516 NE 16th Ave.) He bought the established Dekum cycle sale, repair, and customizing business last November.

I asked him about tricycles and e-bikes. I thought three wheels would make them more stable for me.

“There is still a possibility of falling over if too much speed is used when turning corners or traveling on uneven ground”, Mendez told me when I asked about their stability.

There is also a low riding 3-wheeler recumbent tricycle which is lower to the ground, more stable and that comes in an e-bike version. But poor visibility and the high price do not appeal to me. And my son discouraged me from riding a three wheeler. So maybe an e-bike for me?

E-bikes are very popular and come in a wide price range starting at about $1,300 all the way up to $13,000. Being able to ride with or without the electric assist makes this an attractive option. An electric assist can provide extra help, enabling longer rides and making it easier to conquer hills. However, e-bikes are a bit heavy to pick up if they tip over.

Additionally, older adults such as myself may be more at risk of falls. Consider taking a cycling skills course to improve your knowledge and safety.

To ensure safety, seniors should know their physical, mental, and health limitations. Understanding your limitations helps you choose a bike, a route and riding pace suitable for your abilities, reducing the risk of overexertion or injury.

A believer in cycling at all ages, Mendez suggests “biking more” and “enjoying every mile.”

I’m still looking for the best senior bicycle for me, but yesterday I bought a used Honda with a good transmission. Now my son is worried about me driving.

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.