By Vanessa Miali | CNA Media Team

He is a fixture in Concordia. You’ve likely seen him playing his cello outside of New Seasons, at the Portland Saturday Market or at any number of other local festivals or farmers markets.

Martin Watkinson has played the cello since he was 5 and, if you haven’t heard his music, you’re missing out on a unique, alternative sound.

”I channel positive energy from spirit and release it through looping cello psychedelically,” he said.

Martin played classical cello his entire childhood, then dabbled in folk music and ska, a predecessor of reggae, and now wraps it all into what he calls ethereal layers.

There is also a layer of love entwined throughout his music – a love of mother earth, a love for living in unity with all things, and a deep and everlasting love for his wife and bandmate Cherita Meadows.

She describes their meeting at a party as divine intervention. In no time they were playing free-style music together. “It was magical,” Cherita said. “I was already in love with him.” She has a soulful voice that complements his cello perfectly. She also plays a box drum called the cajon. Early inspiration came from her childhood mentor and friend, musician and activist Ani DiFranco.

Shortly thereafter Martin, Cherita and Jackson Coffee formed their band GAEA, and their song “Ready for Love” was created from that first meeting. They’ve since produced three records, the most recent to drop next autumn, “Phoenix.”

They pride themselves in having full creative control and working on a donation-based system for music distribution. That allows everyone access to their distinctive music.

There have been many successes for GAEA beyond the album releases. Martin performs background music and two original songs for the movie “Seed: The Untold Story.”

He also plays throughout Macy Gray’s song “Stoned” and a few other tunes on her album “The Way.” Together, Martin, and Cherita create infectious beats and uplifting melodies that sometimes move their crowds to tears. But life hasn’t been easy.

Two and one-half years ago, their rental house caught fire. Martin, trapped inside, nearly died. He now suffers from extreme lung tissue damage, which acts up in harsh pollution and has left him susceptible to infections.

The fire claimed their pets, $20,000 worth of musical equipment and all of their personal memorabilia. The financial devastation of the fire has also left them homeless, and they work tirelessly to make ends meet.

To hear their music, visit GAEASoul.com. To donate, visit YouCaring.com and type in the search engine: GAEA.

Vanessa Miali has lived in Concordia for 18 years. She is a former public relations professional with two kids who cooks every day and gardens occasionally.

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

What do you do if you have spare time and love animals? You volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society (OHS). Concordian Diane Hogan has been volunteering at the OHS cattery for the past 23 years.

Her love of animals started when she was four with a dog, a cat and a chicken. It was also when Diane was four that her father got her mother a Siamese cat. It was the late 1940s and Siamese cats were extremely rare. He was a pure bred named Woo Yang of Jericho.

Currently, Diane’s cats – whom she adopted from OHS – have less outrageous names.

Both Isaac and Aurora are participants in OHS’ Friends Forever Program. “In return for a bequest from the pet parent’s estate, OHS will receive, provide all necessary care and find appropriate homes for the pets,” Gary Kish, explained development vice president of development.

Diane sees many good things in OHS. “People around here so good at spay and neuter with the monthly Spay & Save program.” Once a month, pets from low income families come to OHS for their spay or neuter procedure.

When she first started volunteering, Diane felt sad for animals, but then realized if they made it here they would find good homes.

Diane appreciates the people at the cattery – the staff, the customers. “It is psychologically healthy,” she pointed out.

The hardest aspect is a very rare occurrence. Sometimes a kitty is in so much pain and the quality of life is so poor that euthanasia is necessary. Staff members are advised so they can say good bye. This is taken very seriously.

Thirty-five years ago, Diane and her husband Joseph were living in southwest Portland. They decided their home needed some remodeling. When they got the quote, Joseph said, “You can buy a whole house for that amount of money.” So they did and they moved to Concordia.

Diane admitted that the neighborhood has changed. She especially likes the local restaurants, and her favorites are Helser’s, DarSalam and Thai Noon.

She loves all the color and the murals that continue to pop up in her neighborhood. “There are so many people out walking the street and shopping.”

Editor’s note: There isn’t space in CNews for Tamara’s full report on Diane Hogan and her volunteer work at OHS. For the rest of the story, visit ConcordiaPDX.org/dianehogan.

Tamara Anne Fowler is a copy/content editor, fiction editor and accountability coach. Visit her at EditKitten.com, email her at Tamara@ editkitten.com or call 310.359.6038. She would love to hear from you.

By Cynthia Newton & Chris Thomas

If you have questions about your rights as a bicyclist in Oregon, come to a free Bike Legal Clinic in 2018.

The clinics are hosted by Thomas, Coon, Newton and Frost (TCNF) in partnership with the Street Trust. This tradition goes back to 1993, when attorney Ray Thomas hosted his first clinic, and is continued today by TCNF’s four bike trial lawyers: Ray Thomas, Jim Coon, Cynthia Newton and Chris Thomas, who will take turns presenting.

Cynthia Newton and Chris Thomas both live in northeast Portland and commute by bicycle to the TCNF office downtown. Cynthia will present at several 2018 clinics, including the July 10 clinic at Gladys Bikes for women cyclists.

Cynthia has defended the rights of injured Oregon cyclists in hundreds of cases since 2004, giving her abundant experience on the practical effect of Oregon law following a collision. She has written extensively on the application of Oregon insurance law to bicyclists and the danger to cyclists posed by commercial vehicles.

Although Chris Thomas is the most recent addition to the TCNF team of bike lawyers, he has been actively involved in the Portland bicycle community for over 15 years.

He has lived in, and commuted primarily by bicycle from northeast Portland, downtown, Beaverton and rural Washington County. He also competes as a Category 3 road cyclist. As a father to two young boys, most of his weekend riding currently involves pulling a kid trailer, which gives him a heightened sense of the importance of protected bike routes.

Each clinic attendee receives a free copy of Pedal Power: A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists by Ray Thomas, which is a compilation of statutes and articles regarding Oregon bike law.

Clinic topics include taking the lane, riding on sidewalks, signaling, lighting, e-bikes, riding under the influence and more.

The 2018 clinic schedule includes:

• July 10 at 6 p.m. at Gladys Bikes (Women’s Bike Clinic), 2905 N.E. Alberta St.
• Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at Outer Rim Bicycle Shop, 10625 N.E. Halsey St.

(Story reprinted with permission from Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods newsletter, Hey Neighbor!)