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Neighborhood Mom Finds Respite at U of O Children’s Library

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News
Great natural light, carpeted floors and toddler-sized furniture at the new U of O Children’s Library

The University of Oregon Family Study and Children’s Library (2800 NE Liberty St.) is open now, and notably; open to the public six days a week.

In my nearly five years as a stay-athome mom in Concordia, I’ve longed for more walkable places to take my young kids, especially during the rainy months. I’ve longed for a place where I can meet other parents and not have to spend money or shop. For me, this library is a dream come true.

Tucked away on the second floor of the Library and Learning building, the room isn’t huge but it’s well laid-out, has great natural light and is stocked with more than 4,000 children’s books; many of which were inherited from the former Concordia University.

(left to right) Salene and Willa McLeod read
board books at the newly-opened U of O
Children’s Library.

My two-year-old twins and I have made three trips to the library since it opened in late September. We look at books and roll around on the cozy floor. They love both the child-sized furniture and the oversized stuffed animals. On the first visit, they went especially bonkers for a never-touched copy of Richard Scarry’s Best Little Golden Books Ever!, a lovely book set of vintage stories complete with gilded edges.

We borrowed the set and it didn’t take long for my toddlers to destroy it. But it was out of deep love: one twin, Salene, napped daily with it under her chest and every adult caretaker in our family read the book The Gingerbread Man at least 7 times to her sister, Willa. Unfortunately by the time we returned it, the naptime snafu had led to some ripped out pages. But the kindest library assistant, Lauren Anderson, assured us that it was just fine.

“Books are made to be loved and used,” she said, when I explained what had happened. Although the library hasn’t been too busy on the days we’ve been there, Anderson says traffic’s been picking up. Two to three neighbors visit per day to sign up for their library cards.

Library cards are free and available to anyone in the state over 16 and they can be obtained on the second floor in the main library. Bring your driver’s license or ID.

Perhaps what I love most about the Children’s Library is that it’s not just for kids – it’s a place for grownups too. U of O’s informational materials say they want students who have children to use it as a place to study together. It’s a wonderful idea and one that’s smartly facilitated by the design of the space–there’s lots of soft carpeted open floors, big comfy chairs and wall-lined desks. A huge whiteboard fills one wall, begging for adult collaboration, and it’s also adorned with two dozen rubber magnets perfect for preschoolers and older kids.

The U of O Children’s Library is open Monday–Friday from 9 am – 6 pm, and Saturday from 1 pm – 6 pm. If you’re feeling as inspired as I am by this new public resource, meet my twins and me at the Children’s Library Monday mornings at 10:30 am. Let’s learn and grow together.

Leigh Shelton loves getting to know her Concordia neighbors and exploring ways we can better support each other. Reach out and say hi at leighshelton@gmail. com.

Klezmer Music Festival Coming to Concordia

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Dina Sage Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
Yankl Falk (center) and his band The Carpathian-Pacific Express will be playing klezmer on Thursday, 11/2 at the Alberta Street Pub.

Yankl Falk says it has “very distinctive colors and flavors.” Sophie Enloe describes it as “both deeply sad, and deeply happy.”

What they’re talking about is traditional klezmer music. And this month, Concordians get to hear it for themselves at the second annual Portland Klezmer Music Festival.

The festival, slated for November 2–5 at various locations citywide, will include concerts, jam sessions, educational workshops and a dance party. You can visit bubbaville.org/klezmer for the full lineup of venues and events.

What is Klezmer Music?

Klezmer originated in the Middle Ages among the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe, where it was performed at weddings and other social events. Over time, it took on vestiges of Baroque, Turkish, Romanian, and Greek music as well as German and Slavic folk dancing.

Falk, a Portland clarinetist for over 40 years who’s been described as a ‘luminary of the klezmer world,’ concedes that in 19th century Europe, klezmer’s chief instrument was the fiddle.

But the sound and style of klezmer, like any aspect of traditional culture, changed and evolved over the years. By the early 20th century, klezmer had become popular in the US and by the 1930s, ensembles began including musicians that were influenced by the Big Band and early jazz music of that era. Klezmer bands became larger, developed hybrid forms, and the clarinet was now klezmer’s dominant sound. American Jews were assimilating and so was their music.

As klezmer grew in popularity, the bands got smaller. Falk believes this was because of a dearth of funds to pay musicians during the Depression, combined with improvements in recording equipment. Whatever the reason, the music’s popularity eventually waned until it got rediscovered and revitalized in the 1970s.

Today, klezmer bands can be small or large, include a variety of wind and string instruments, and play traditional, modern, or hybrid forms.

The Festival

The Portland Klezmer Festival was created by Bubbaville, a local nonprofit aimed at educating the public and encouraging appreciation of traditional music and dance. Since its founding in 2008, Bubbaville has hosted dances, concerts, campouts and competitions for artists and patrons of Cajun, country, and other traditional musical forms.

It was Enloe, a fiddle player sitting on the Bubbaville board, who came up with the inspiration for a klezmer festival in 2019. She and treasurer Suzanne Savell wrote grants and scheduled musicians for the first event, scheduled to take place in April 2020. But it got derailed by the COVID pandemic, Enloe says, “so we did some online workshops for musicians instead.”

The Sound of History

Both Enloe and Falk grew up in Jewish homes and have loved klezmer music since they were children.

Enloe’s father was a cantor; a song leader for Jewish worship services, and she says “he would play klezmer CDs for me starting when I was six or seven. When I first heard it, I had a feeling of it sounding familiar, like it was ‘my music’.”

Adds Falk: “It’s deeply personal—it’s the fabric of my upbringing. When I play klezmer, I feel my grandfather’s presence, and I want to pass that down to my grandchildren.”

The festival’s opening concert — featuring Falk and his current band, The Carpathian-Pacific Express as well as The Bieszczady Mountain Boys — is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, November 2nd at Alberta Street Pub (1036 NE Alberta St.). The entrance fee is on a sliding scale from $12-15.

Why should you go? Because Falk says, “klezmer is fun, exciting to watch live, and it’s unlike anything you’ve probably heard before.

Dina Sage is the Managing Editor for CNews and enjoys engaging in the arts and outdoor activities. She lives with her husband, daughter and their pets.

School Bus Driver / Former Post Office Worker Connects Through Bible Stories

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Ike Harris | Contributing Writer

When the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners sold Wapato Jail (14355 N Lake Bybee Ct.) for $5 million in 2018, they had no idea that it would be used for, among other things, a Christian ministry. But that’s exactly where I have been holding our in-person meetings twice monthly for the better part of a year.

Even as a child, I felt the call to be a minister. Growing up, my mother took me to a Baptist church in Pearl, Mississippi. We walked through the tall grass and sometimes there would be snakes but we would persevere until we got to church. I loved the preachers. When I was about 12, they took us out to a muddy pond to baptize us. The experience made me feel special, like I was under a divine umbrella.

Although choosing to become a minister was intentional, choosing to do it in Portland was not. After high school, I won a football scholarship to Alcorn State University, but ended up leaving college to move to California to live with my aunt. Then, my mother asked me to join the U.S. Navy, where I spent 3 1/2 years learning to be a signalman, helping ship captains communicate. I traveled to many ports and at the end of my tenure, my ship came to Portland to be serviced. Not knowing what to do next with my life, I reenlisted in the service for 6 months while I stayed in Portland to figure it out.

I had not attended religious services since high school but right in the midst of that deep valley of decision, I noticed one day that someone had left a New Testament on my ship, so I picked it up and began reading it. The Spirit of the Lord came upon me and I was born again right there. I had found my calling and what to do with my life; I knew I had been given the gift of preaching.

Before I found the bible that day, I had been spending time at Peter’s Habit, a nightclub formerly owned by independent candidate for governor Frank Peters. There, I had met a young woman named Pam. After picking up that bible, I went downtown and bought myself a new suit, I went right back to the club to see Pam and, in 1976, we got married. We moved to Concordia in 1979. Pam and I now have three children, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and; we just found out, one more grandchild on the way. I spent 22 years as a post office carrier in Concordia and I currently drive the Faubion school bus.

Pam’s mother was a preacher at the then-named All Nations Church (2902 NE Rodney St.) now called Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, where we first belonged as congregants. In the book of Acts, when Jesus goes back to Heaven, he tells his disciples to go to an “upper room” and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. That’s why, in 1997, when I started my own ministry, I named it Upper Room. At each of our meetings, we have an opening prayer, sing a song or two, and then we read and I preach and teach scripture. Just like when you serve up a good meal, preaching well takes a little while. I like to get into the “meat” of the word.

Pam and I have grown to love Portland and would like to invite Concordia residents to join us as we learn from the gospel. The bible has helped me immensely and I truly believe it has something in it for everyone. We hold an Upper Room Ministry meeting every Sunday on Zoom at 10 am and in-person meetings twice a month on Sunday afternoons at the former Wapato Jail. If you would like to attend either, call or text me directly at (503) 901-0623. Call anytime for prayer. Thank you.

Ike is a retired letter carrier who believes that the greatest treasure on Earth is not silver or gold but people.

New Recovery High School Opens in Concordia

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Jordana Leeb Posted in Concordia News, Schools
Principal Todd Nicholson in front of Rivercrest Academy, photo by Jordana Leeb

In a study of Oregon’s substance abuse disorder services conducted by the OHSU Department of Public Health in September 2021 – September 2022, Oregon ranked 48th out of 50 states for teens per capita needing but not receiving access to drug treatment services. Concordia’s newest neighbor, Rivercrest Academy, hopes to be one part of the solution.

Principal Todd Nicholson worked with a real estate agent to search the city for an ideal location for the school, somewhere close to existing Portland Public schools that East County partners could access. He was excited to find the site they did and to be in the Concordia neighborhood. Rivercrest Academy opened its doors to students this fall, but is located currently at Leaven Community Center, while waiting for its permanent location on NE 30th and Ainsworth to be finished.

Nicholson says, “Nearby neighbors, including KISS Coffee and Ainsworth United Church of Christ, have been wonderful and embracing.” KISS Coffee co-owner Sarah Pearson adds, “We are excited about the growth and all the new educational facilities in the neighborhood.”

Rivercrest Academy currently hosts 15 high school students who have committed to abstinence from drugs and alcohol and to their education. These students are served by two full-time teachers, three recovery faculty and one school psychologist. Soon, there will also be a special education teacher on site. The current staff could, in the future, serve up to 30 students.

The recovery high school was developed through the Multnomah Educational Service District (MESD), which serves eight school districts in Multnomah County. Its creation was aided by an advisory committee made up of local nonprofits and schools.

Data collected by Vanderbilt University shows that 70% of students who return to a previous school environment relapse within weeks of treatment, compared to 70% of youth who are clean and sober one year after enrolling in a recovery high school.

Before Rivercrest Academy opened its doors, there was only one recovery high school for teens in the state of Oregon. There are currently zero in-patient locations for adolescent drug treatment in Oregon, and teens wanting that option need to travel out of state to Washington or California.

House Bill 2767, which was recently passed by the Oregon Legislature and signed by Governor Tina Kotek, is an attempt to address the gap for youth by supporting more treatment options. Rivercrest Academy will eventually receive some of its funding from the state.

Rivercrest Academy will partner closely with the Oregon Department of Human Services and Portland Public Schools (PPS) Drug and Alcohol Program and is in conversation with the University of Oregon about how the two schools can support each other.

If neighbors have questions or want more information about recovery programs, they can email Principal Nicholson directly at tnicholso@mesd.k12.or.us.

Jordana Leeb is a longtime Concordia resident who is passionate about the neighborhood, its residents and trees. She lives with her partner and dog on a street she calls home. You can see a film about her street and Concordia at TinyURL.com/Diaryofastreet.

New Restaurants at Alberta Alley Offer Unique Specialties and Cheerful Spaces

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Nedra Rezinas | Contributing Writer

Wall art along Alberta’s Alley outdoor alleyway, photo by Roxanne Rezinas

The graffiti art on the building in the alleyway at Alberta Alley (3003 NE Alberta Street) is playful, depicting children holding hands, walking along the street. I’ve been watching with curiosity to see the unfolding of this space. Currently there are three new restaurants: Boxer Ramen and Baes Fried Chicken opened early this year; Kinnamons, a bakery that sells cinnamon rolls and soft serve, opened this summer. I decided to take my family to check out these new businesses.

One standout feature is the covered alleyway itself. Framed by a large wall of plants, the alleyway connects all the storefronts and allows customers to eat outside, rain or shine. There’s also bench seating outside of the restaurants to enjoy during sunny weather that connects via a pedestrian walkway.

Ndamukong Suh and Micah Camden own Baes and Kinnamons together. Suh was excited to develop the space along Alberta. A native of Portland, Suh has watched Alberta change and evolve in the last decade and investing in building on Alberta was his way of creating the Portland he wanted to experience as a kid. According to an April interview in Eater, Suh wants Alberta to be a safe place to walk and encourages people to support the ever changing arts district.

Baes

The first thing I noticed walking through the front door of Baes was the tropical wallpaper with pineapples. Plants, elegant mirrors, and natural light fill the space.These features would make any Portlander perk up on a rainy day. Large jars of pickled cucumbers and green beans fill the shelves, serving as a reminder that Baes appreciates quality ingredients in their food.

At Baes, you can have your fried chicken three ways: traditional, hot, or honey butter. Salads, mac and cheese, waffle fries, biscuits, sandwiches and slushies are also available. My husband, daughter and I sit down. We order waffle fries and chicken sandwiches.

The smell of the waffle fries brings back memories of the county fair. They are delicious, crispy and pair well with Bae’s custom hot sauce. The chicken is tender and juicy with very flavorful housemade pickles. Open 7 days a week, Baes also offers a brunch menu.

Kinnamons’ welcoming outdoor seating, photo by Roxanne Rezinas

Kinnamons

Kinnamons has a very clean, open feel with lots of space to eat indoors or out. It has a delightful selection of cinnamon rolls in flavors such as maple bacon, raspberry pistachio, coconut key lime pie and of course, the simple classic cream cheese. What you won’t find online is their soft serve menu with flavors that mirror their cinnamon rolls. If you aren’t craving something sweet, Kinnamons has a selection of drinks including cold brew coffee, kombucha on tap and Steven Smith teas.

At the front counter, we order a raspberry pistachio cinnamon roll and when it arrives the first thing I notice is the size of the raspberries: they’re huge! It’s a great pairing that’s light and airy. Being fans of raspberry, we also try the soft serve raspberry chocolate combo. I love the crunch of the chocolate pearls and discovering the hidden hot fudge at the base of the ice cream.

Boxer

Crave ramen on a cold or hot day? Boxer is your answer! Boxer offers a number of plates such as classics like chicken karaage as well as bowls and potstickers. Their ramen bowls include spicy red miso with pork belly and vegetable curry. They have a number of cocktails on hand and saké by the glass and by the bottle.

Ramen is such a comfort food and being a meat eater, I enjoy Tonkotsu Shio with the pork belly. The broth has a nice savory flavor and pairs well with the noodles. The delicate, yet delicious poached sliced egg with a bold yellow yolk complete the dish.

Be sure to check out the delicious food at Alberta Alley. I encourage you to order in and enjoy the open environment, indoors and outside.

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.

Sunderland Couple Live On and Write About the Columbia Slough

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Kathy Crabtree | Contributing Writer

Authors Nancy Henry and Bruce Campbell give credit to Amanda Williams for the book cover design as well as the enchanting chapter illustrations throughout. Photo by Raymond Crabtree

The title, This Rough Magic, at Home on the Columbia Slough is immediately intriguing. The book was published in August and is about the preservation and restoration of the Columbia Slough Watershed, a natural swamp containing over 20 miles of channels that flow from Fairview to the Willamette River in Portland. Authors and partners Bruce Campbell and Nancy Henry explain that the title describes how the slough transforms the “roughness” of industry degradation into the “serendipitous magic of the natural world”. The publisher, Aristata, is a woman-owned non-profit organization that was founded in 2020.

Since 2008, Campbell and Henry have lived in Sunderland, just north of North Colombia Blvd. Their log cabin sits on the slough which has provided an opportunity to observe the slough’s capability to withstand the damages caused by the modern world. That was the inspiration to write about its history, the settlements of the indigenous tribes and the arrival of the Euro-Americans to it, as well as the negative environmental impacts on it, in their new book.

The authors traverse the slough via foot, kayak, and bike and pass establishments such as shopping centers, highways, fruit orchards and tent camps. Among the people, buildings, and neighborhoods they encounter, there are also moments of serene beauty. The slough’s tributaries and vast wetlands are home to a myriad of creatures such as bald eagles, river otters and painted turtles, who continue to need the support of humans to survive.

The couple describes Rough Magic as a labor of love; they wrote alternate chapters and edited each other’s work. Campbell’s contribution focuses on restoration; the “re-wild-ing” of the area bordering the Buffalo slough, an arm of the Columbia slough that’s between 8 and 9 miles from its mouth. Rewilding is an unusual term but according to Campbell, it is exactly descriptive of the process needed to restore and preserve nature. Henry’s chapters are devoted to the creative efforts it took to build a life on the slough and restore their log cabin.

As a whole, the book seeks to celebrate the many people and efforts that exist to revitalize and clean up the Columbia slough, and Campbell and Henry also hope to influence others to advocate for it. One such organization is the Columbia Watershed Council, a non-profit founded in 2002 whose mission is to “enhance the gem of the Columbia slough.”

Campbell and Henry hope that Rough Magic will help them make new contacts who value increasing wilderness within city limits and they encourage others to take advantage of the accessibility of the sights and sounds of the slough. For those wanting to learn more about the Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC), contact: Heather King, Executive Director at Heather. King@ColumbiaSlough.org, or Amanda Gallegos, Outreach and Event Director at Amanda.Gallegos@ColumbiaSlough. org. To learn more about the slough watershed and how Concordia residents can support environmental restoration projects in their own neighborhood, visit ColumbiaSlough.org.

Kathryn Crabtree is a retired Nursing Educator and author of books that celebrate women of a certain age- invisible to many, who use their deductive reasoning to solve mysteries. The bad guys never see them coming.

Ideas for Fun Outings via Public Transit

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Megan Cecil-Gobble | Contributing Writer

Grandfather and grandson on their transit adventure to the zoo, photo Megan Cecil-Gobble

Looking for a novel and inexpensive way to entertain the kids and save on fossil fuels? Want to see holiday lights and hear spiritual music along with getting some exercise? These adventures can be done by riding our area TriMet buses, MAX trains, and Portland Streetcars. Read on.

Family Adventure by #70 Bus and MAX Train

Getting your family to the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park is a bus ride followed by a train ride and it takes about an hour and 15 minutes from Concordia. There are lots of sights to see along the way. Catch the southbound #70 bus along NE 33rd. Get off the bus at Lloyd Center (NE 11th and NE Multnomah) and walk south to catch the red or blue line trains towards Beaverton or Hillsboro. Get off at the underground Washington Park station. Take the elevator up to the surface and walk to the zoo. Don’t forget to purchase tickets ahead of time online at OregonZoo.org.

You could also opt to hike part of the well-marked Wildwood Trail which starts north of the elevators. There’s even a part of it that is OK for strollers and wheelchairs. All buses and trains are equipped to carry them–and you. Other

Local Adventures Using Buses #17, #72 and #8 Bus

#17 runs along NE 27th and gets you to Downtown Portland for shopping or fairs, to the Convention Center for craft or car shows, or to see Fireworks on the 4th or Christmas Ships in December at Trillium Crossing.

Bus #72 is a commuter bus, but also gets you where you want to go for the sights. Around the holidays, The Grotto’s light and musical entertainment is a few blocks from the bus stop at NE 82nd and Sandy. The #72 bus goes to Clackamas Town Center, but a faster way to get there is switching to the yellow line MAX train going east at the NE 82nd and I-84 MAX Station. Catch the #72 on its route along Alberta to NE 30th, then Killingsworth past 42nd toward 82nd.

Bus #8 runs along NE 15th and runs by Lloyd Center, through downtown, and up to Pill Hill (OHSU, VA hospitals). For a round trip from OHSU, hike or bike across the Tilikum bridge, catch the streetcar back downtown, catch the Max back to Lloyd Center & take #8 or #17 back to Concordia.

Out Beyond the Neighborhood

Because my family is experienced taking the bus around Portland, we enjoy riding local buses wherever we go on vacation. It is a great way to see sights, meet people, and save money and carbon dioxide. Once you’ve practiced transit skills around our neighborhood, you too will be able to travel the world.

Be seeing you–by bus, by bike, or by legs.

Megan is the SW2 rep and a retired nurse/engineer. She travels, bikes, hikes, and swims along with her local multigenerational family. Stay active, be healthy.

The Benefits of Community Gardening

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Gardening

By Kepper Petzig | Contributing Writer

Maria Cummings tending her tomatoes, Photo by Kepper Petzing

Have Your Own Garden

Have you ever thought that tomatoes and strawberries from the store don’t have the flavor you crave? Do you love making flower arrangements for family and friends? If you dream about having fresh home-grown vegetables and fruits and you enjoy getting your hands in the dirt, all this can be yours with a garden.

What? Not enough sun? Not enough space? You’d rather have roses in your yard than potatoes? A Portland Park District Community Garden may be for you.

Community Gardens

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) operates 60 community gardens located throughout Portland. The only community garden that falls within the Concordia Neighborhood is the Kennedy Community Garden. Located on 35th Street behind McMenamins Kennedy School, the Kennedy Community Garden has .36 acres and was acquired by the city in 1999. Maps of the Kennedy Community Garden and the other Portland community gardens can be found on the PP&R website.

People interested in joining a community garden must submit a plot request form and are added to a waitlist. Since most gardens have a one or two year waiting list, it is possible to be on two garden waitlists at a time. Garden plots are assigned as they become available.

Costs and Labor Involved

There are different sized garden plots and fees are based on the size. Fees and sizes vary from $5 a year for a single ADA-accessible raised bed to $220 a year for an 800 square foot plot. 100 square foot plots are popular and cost $9 to $36 a year. There are scholarships available based on income.

In addition to the plot itself, tools and gardening materials must be purchased but gardening can be done fairly inexpensively. Many gardens provide donated compost and/or bark chips. Garden starts and seeds may be obtained from neighbors. Water is provided at no additional charge. However, most gardeners spend money on their garden for soil amendments, tools, seeds and plants.

As plants grow, weeds grow, too and gardening is work. The garden’s community plantings need care and each gardener is required to contribute 6 hours per year on community upkeep.

Learn and Share from Other Gardeners

A community garden is a chance to meet neighbors and share seeds, starts and information. Maria Cummings began gardening at Kennedy Community Garden in 2007. She loves the garden so much that last year she moved across the street.

“In case I grow too old to drive, I can still walk to my garden,” says Cummings. In addition to onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and shishito peppers, Cummings grows beans from seeds she brought from her native Brazil. She is especially proud of the dahlias she tends in the community plot. Cummings is well-known at Kennedy for helping other gardeners. If you want to know how to grow tomatoes or how to grow and braid garlic, ask Cummings.

Another Concordia resident, Will Goubert, gardens at Sumner Street Community Garden. Goubert loves community gardening.

The community garden “lets us have trees around our house and have a vegetable garden, too. I enjoy the community and the chance to interact with other gardeners,” says Goubert.

Good for the Community

Community gardens do more than just provide food for their plot owners. Some of the community gardens support a Produce for People program which provides fresh produce to food banks and pantries. Goubert describes his garden plot as “a refuge, a sanctuary for all the stress in my life.” Fall is a good time to get on a waitlist for a community garden. To learn more, visit the Portland Park District Community Garden website.

Kepper Petzing has lived in Concordia for 40 years where, with their partner Lowen, they rai sed t wo children. They are nonbinary. They love gardening and fresh food and are grateful for the community gardens.

Local Chiropractor Opens New Skate Park

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Marsha Sandman Posted in Concordia News
New skatepark on NE 30th and Killingsworth is open now. Photos by Leigh Shelton

The first skateboards in the U.S. were started in the late 1940s using wooden boxes, or boards, with roller skate wheels attached to the bottom. Crate scooters preceded skateboards, having a wooden crate attached to the front of the board which was formed with rudimentary handlebars. Soon the boxes turned into planks, similar to the skateboard decks of today.

And now our neighborhood has a new skatepark located near NE Killingsworth and 30th St and adjacent to Jet Black Coffee (5308 NE 30th Ave). Curated and designed lovingly by property owner Thomas Grace and his family, the park design follows the waves and curves influenced by water and their love of nature.

Grace’s friends at Collective Concrete helped him design and create a half pipe four years ago on his 50’ x 100’ vacant lot. After selling his house in 2022, he had the funds to add a wave inspired sculpture to the space. The park and the sculpture will be lovingly dedicated to Grace’s deceased wife, Rachel. She unfortunately passed in 2022 during a recreational water incident. After the dedication, the park will be called the “Rachel Grace Memorial Skate Plaza”. Her memory will live on.

New skatepark on NE 30th and Killingsworth is open now. Photos by Leigh Shelton

Grace remembers that, “There was nothing that Rachel embarked on that she did not master. She cherished her family above all else and made everyone around her feel they were a part of hers. Rachel brought joy and light to everyone who knew her. She was the embodiment of unconditional love.”

Though the park is on private property, Grace allows the public to respectfully use the park. He lives next door to the park and above the coffee shop which he and Rachel once owned. Grace is a local chiropractor and owner of Natural Pain Solutions, adjacent to the building at 3007 NE Emerson St.

The park can be enjoyed by people aged 5 to 65, including Grace’s four sons and stepsons who are 15 to 21 years old. Enjoy your skating but please; no later than 10PM. Have fun!

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.

Leaders Push for Equity in City Planning

Posted on September 19, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Rich Burton | LUTC Chair

In November 2024, Portlanders will vote for three representatives in each district, expanding the City Commission to 12 members. The districts are North / Northeast, East, Southeast, and West. There are three proposed maps for district boundaries and the Concordia neighborhood designation is in the North / Northeast district in all three proposals.

This is a result of Ballot Measure 26-228, which was approved in November 2022. Ballot Measure 26-228 directed the City of Portland to implement these three changes by January 1st, 2025:

  • Establish four geographic districts, with three city council members elected to represent each district, expanding the city council to a total of 12 members
  • Allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, using ranked choice voting
  • Establish a city council that focuses on setting policy and engaging with community, transitioning day-to-day oversight of bureaus to a mayor elected citywide and a professional city administrator

The Independent District Commission (IDC); tasked with implementing these changes, has been conducting in-person meetings and collecting feedback on the district proposals.

A meeting was held on July 13th in the North / Northeast district at Self Enhancement Inc., a nonprofit aimed at serving underserved youth. At the meeting, North / Northeast Portland community leaders urged to boost engagement efforts and hear all voices to improve equity. Community leaders testified on how the districting process might impact Black Portlanders. Speakers mentioned communities of color and renters as key voices that should be heard when determining the four geographic voting districts. Renters, they said, have traditionally not had a voice on the City Commission and urged the IDC to consider access issues so engagement is truly inclusive. Watch a video of their testimony here.

Feedback gleaned from these community engagements will be used in development of the district plan. Learn more at Portland.gov/transition/districtcommission.

Rich Burton is the Chair of the Land Use and Transportation committee and serves as Member at Large #4 for the Concordia Neighborhood Association board. He is interested in building community.

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