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Coexisting with Urban Coyotes

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Jordana Leeb Posted in Concordia News

“Neighbors, coyote sighting, NE 33rd at Going at 7:42am today, October 24. Heading confidently south on 33rd…absolutely unphased by passing traffic. Please keep your pets inside!” Being Neighborly – Concordia Facebook post, October 24th

A photo taken in 2010 that led to the start of Portland Urban Coyote Project. Photo by Sarah Chung.

Reactions to social media posts like this one range from enthusiasm, to fear, to curiosity. Some people share a link to portlandcoyote.com, the website for Portland Urban Coyote Project.

Portland Urban Coyote Project

Portland Urban Coyote Project (PUCP) is a citizen-science initiative started in reaction to an “eruption of coyote sightings in the NE Alameda neighborhood in 2010,” according to one of the project’s founders and current Project Advisor, Barbara Brower. PUCP, currently led by Zuriel Van Belle, is made up of researchers affiliated with Portland State University and Oregon State University who work in cooperation with the Portland Audubon and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The three major goals of PUCP are to provide up-to-date information about living with coyotes, collect and map coyote sightings in the Portland metropolitan area, and conduct in-depth analyses of coyote sighting data and report on its findings. More specifically, the project aims to “help people be better informed, less afraid, and more appreciative,” says Brower.

Brower has lived in the Alameda neighborhood since 1994 and was a Portland State University geography professor for 25 years before retiring recently. She said that although “people have been trying to kill off coyotes for 200 years, they are here, were here, and will stay here” living amongst us and that we need to “figure out how to coexist.”

What does co-existing with coyotes mean in an urban environment, such as the Concordia neighborhood, where sightings are frequent?

How to Identify a Coyote

First, it’s important to accurately identify a coyote. According to the interactive tutorial on the PUCP website, a coyote (versus a fox or dog) can be identified by:

  • A tail that doesn’t touch the ground and that looks like a paintbrush with a tip dipped in black ink
  • Ears that are large and triangular
  • A weight of 25–40 pounds

Coyotes mate for life and typically have one litter every year or every other year. They often travel in packs in a family unit with their growing offspring. Although urban coyotes can kill backyard chickens and unsupervised small pets, there have been only two known fatalities of humans ever reported in North America.

Tips for Coyote Safety

A few key points to remember if you see a coyote:

  • Never feed a coyote, even by accident; make sure to secure garbage and compost.
  • Don’t approach coyotes, instead haze them (make loud noises) if they come too close.
  • Supervise your pets when they are outside.

Due to budget constraints, PUCP has yet to conduct research on whether the Portland coyote population is increasing (most likely; yes), their lifespan (most likely; about 10 years), or their main food source (most likely; rats). These projects may be done in the future if PUCP is able to secure additional funding.

If you are interested in learning more, reporting a coyote sighting, sharing a coyote photo or donating to Portland Urban Coyote Project, please visit PortlandCoyote.com.

Jordana Leeb is a longtime Concordia resident who i s 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.

Concordia’s Christmas House

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Kepper Petzig | Contributing Writer

Visit Concordia’s Christmas house on NE 32nd Ave. between NE Jarrett and Ainsworth. Photo by Jack Wallis.

It started with a string of lights. Jack and Georgene Wallis had no idea of the Christmas obsession that would descend upon them. They were high school sweethearts from Puyallup, Washington. After they got married, Jack joined the army and Georgene followed him to Germany. As Jack was finishing his 15-year military service in 1990, Georgene and their new baby Jordann moved into their Concordia house off of Ainsworth. There were no decorations that first Christmas.

Jack joined Georgene and Jordann the next year. That Christmas they did a simple outline of their house in lights. Over the years they added second daughter Justene–and a whole lot of Christmas decorations. They hunt through Goodwill and look for sales. A new piece or two each year for 32 years really adds up.

Today their Christmas decorations draw onlookers from across the city. They get lots of outdoor visitors, including at times a tour bus and a limousine. Sometimes they get thank you cards and once, a little girl brought them cookies. One family hosts their annual family Christmas picture in front of the display.

“I think you can see it from the air when the planes come to land at PDX,” jokes Jack. Neighbors call it Peacock Lane (Portland’s festive “Christmas street” between SE Stark and Belmont) in one house.

The Wallis’ have a strict rule – Christmas decorations are turned on December 1st and have their last night December 31st. Jack admits that the motivation to begin set-up gets harder each year. His bones are aging. But, once he starts, the joy kicks in. Jack is the master artist, rearranging things each year to keep it fresh. Jordann and Justene critique the final display. Last year his kids banned Jack from the highly sloped roof. It hurts his heart because “that is where Santa and Rudolph truly belong.”

The inside is not neglected. They always have a big Christmas tree, visible through the window, and every room is decorated. Over the years they added an audiovisual display. To be respectful of the surrounding houses, Jack keeps the sound low and turns everything off at 10 pm.

It’s not just an artistic puzzle to fit everything in, but a practical one as well. To keep the breakers from tripping, each display is on a timer because the system can’t handle all of them at once. Georgene handles the invisible parts, such as changing the light bulbs. It takes about 24 hours, spread over several days, to set it up and 8 hours or less to take it down and store it away for next year. How big is the electric bill? “We don’t look.”

Like proud parents, Jack and Georgene decline picking a favorite decoration. All are loved. Jack says they just want to spread the joy and help to create memories. Stop by and see Concordia’s Christmas house at 5840 NE 32nd Avenue (not Place) this holiday season.

Kepper Petzing has lived in Concordia for 40 years, where, with their partner Lowen, they raised two children. They are nonbinary. They love community and are grateful for Concordia News.

Alberta Main Street Active Again and Seeking Volunteers

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

By Elise Scolnick | AMS Volunteer

Alberta Main Street volunteers clean up NE Alberta Street for the SOLV clean-up
project. Photo by Elise Scolnick.

What is Alberta Main Street?

Alberta Main Street (AMS) is a nonprofit aimed at “advancing efforts to develop Alberta Street as a vibrant, creative, equitable and sustainable commercial district serving residents, businesses and visitors of our community.” AMS has supported local businesses and community builders for the past 13 plus years through business help, community events, clean-ups, design and art projects. As a volunteer-led nonprofit, AMS has always relied on its residents, artists, business owners/employees, and other partners to successfully achieve its goals. Following a period of inactivity, AMS is becoming active again and recruiting volunteers. A social mixer was held at Baerlic Brewing on October 18th to reach out and reintroduce AMS to new and seasoned businesses.

History of AMS

Alberta Main Street became a non-profit in 2010. Prosper Portland, an organization that partners with non-profits to build a more equitable economy, chose four Main Street Programs, including AMS. The founding Executive Director of AMS was Sara Wittenberg, who built the organization into a volunteer-led community and business support network. Wittenberg passed away in 2018, deeply affecting the community and the board.

In 2019, primarily in honor of Wittenberg’s, volunteers’ and the board’s work, AMS received a National Main Street Award, a prestigious recognition of all the work done over previous years to improve and revitalize the Alberta Street business district and community.

Dormancy During Covid

During the height of the Covid pandemic, Alberta Main Street, like many other organizations, encountered challenges that it is still recovering from. In 2020, AMS pivoted to focus on helping businesses navigate federal relief funds and hosted community events online, including a virtual Alberta Street Fair.

By 2021, the Board had to step back from organizing events and focused instead on developing new goals in line with diversity, equity and inclusion. Funding had dried up, and in May of 2021, AMS experienced severe budget cuts and several staff had to be let go. Since 2021, AMS has been working on:

  • Support for businesses
  • Maintenance of Black Heritage Markers, signs along Alberta Street depicting the stories of 10 African Americans from NE Portland
  • Virtual and live events such as BIPOC markets, cleanups
  • The installation of new trash cans through collaboration with the city

Current Status

Fast forward to 2023 and Alberta Main Street is at a critical juncture. Board members have stepped down or their terms are ending and there is an urgent need for new direction.

We are reaching out now to provide an important update and to ask for your critical input. As a community nonprofit, AMS needs dedicated folks to step up and help navigate the road ahead. Special skills we’re looking for include legal support, financ, web design, volunteer coordination, grant writing, fundraising, nonprofit administration, organizational development, marketing and event planning fields.

We ask board members for a commitment of 5-10 hours per month. Usually the board meets once a month.

If you have any of the skills above or you would like to volunteer for specific events such as street cleanups, holidays, sidewalk sales or the annual street fair, contact James Armstrong, Board President at: james@albertamainst.org. Check out the AMS Facebook page at Facebook.com/albertamainstreet

Elise has lived in NE Portland neighborhood since 1979 and was one of several o r i g i n a l organizers of the Alberta Street Fair. From 2003- 20 0 6, she owned Tribe of the Winds Gallery at NE 22nd and Alberta. She served on the Alberta Streetscape Committee, on the Board of Art on Alberta and was a member of the Alberta Street Business Association, the precursor to Alberta Main Street. Aside from a break between 2021 and 2023, Elise has been on the Board of Alberta Main Street since 2016 and is currently serving as Interim Board Vice President.

Fire Safety During the Holidays

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Micha Wolf | Contributing Writer

Electrical Holiday Lights. Source: National Fire Protection Agency.

‘Tis the season to be jolly: decorating your home at this time of year is a long-standing tradition in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, these decorations also increase the chance of a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), almost one third of home fires during the holiday season are caused by electrical problems. Although Christmas tree fires are not common; when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious.

Most families have at least one Christmas tree decorating their home during the month of December. Read below for some useful tips for a safe holiday.

Safety Guidelines for Christmas Trees

  • When picking a tree, choose a tree with fresh green needles that do not fall to the ground when touched.
  • Before placing the tree in the stand, cut at least two inches from the base of the trunk.
  • Place your tree at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles and heat vents. Also, make sure that your tree does not block exits.
  • Water your Christmas tree every day. A dry Christmas tree can burn very hot and very fast.
  • Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry.

Safety Guidelines for Lights and Candles

In many homes, trees are just one part of the decoration. Many families string electric lights on the outside of their home and light stairwells or furniture with lights. Candles are used for Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter festivities.

  • Before you put up holiday lights, inspect them thoroughly. Throw away any strands with frayed or pinched wires.
  • Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
  • Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns. Make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily.
  • Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.

Source: USFA.FEMA.gov

Micha Wolf ha s retired from teaching primary school, loves being in nature and believes in building community through engagement.

Albina Sports Program Wins School Board Vote

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Kathy Crabtree | Contributing Writer

Whitaker Field is located just south of Fernhill Park, off of NE 42nd Ave. Photo by Nancy Varekamp.

A recent 4-2 vote by the Portland Public School Board went to Albina Sports Program to move forward with their plan to build a new sports complex. The sports complex would be located on the former Whitaker Middle school site in Fernhill Park’s southern border, off of NE 42nd and Killingsworth. Several other proposals had been discussed including a community center, featured in both February and March issues of Concordia News.

Albina Sports Program, a local nonprofit, was established in 1965 by Phil Walden, a coach and teacher who worked to support diversity in sports and the athletic endeavors of the community.

Among the 3000-plus alumni involved in Albina Sports’ programs are 225 All-Americans; a title given to outstanding U.S. athletes competing at the collegiate and secondary school levels. The new sports complex would support the organization’s mission by providing multiple amenities to improve athletic skills including an indoor running track, a soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts, four baseball fields, a 400-meter track, and a one-mile cross-country running path.

Gary Hollands is the current executive director of Albina Sports Program. Though Hollands abstained from the vote, he also sits on the school board. Critics of the decision are concerned about this conflict of interest and the fact that the plan is estimated at costing $175 million.

The three-level plan includes a lower parking garage, retail spaces for new businesses and a walkable streetscape along NE 42nd Avenue. It focuses on the southside main entrance to the complex accessed through a one-way road – Phil Walden Lane, honoring Walden’s leadership and mentorship. Skylights would provide natural light and a green roof would collect and filter rainwater for the use of the building’s plumbing system. Solar panels would produce a portion of electrical needs.

Architect John Carhart states the goal is to “create a place for kids to become immersed in sports so that they can learn the things that will benefit them later in life: teamwork, cooperation, and leadership.”

Kathy is a recent transplant from the Midwest and, as she reports in CNews, things are a lot different here.

Shop for Everyone on Your Holiday List Right Here in Concordia

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Nedra Rezinas | Contributing Writer

Holiday shopping is around the corner and I want to encourage you to shop locally this year. Shopping locally creates jobs, keeps money in the local economy, nurtures a sense of community, and supports the environment by reducing waste and conserving energy. Luckily, we have access to a wide range of unique retail stores right here in Concordia. There’s truly something for everyone.

For the Ladies

Lady Mae’s Boutique provides lots of fashionable gifts for the holidays

Lady Mae Boutique (2136 NE Alberta St.) has a great selection of cute outfits and accessories to match. The boutique name is inspired by the owner’s mother “Lady Mae” and her ability to put together amazing outfits. Great gift items offered here are high quality sweaters, gold filled earrings, and super soft cashmere blend socks. They also have eye-catching hair clips featuring fruits and unique patterns in bright, happy colors and offer gift wrapping in pretty packaging. I’ll be stopping by to buy gifts for my daughter and niece.

For the Guys

If you know a dude who loves sports, Laundry (1723 NE Alberta St.) can help. Carrying a wide selection of vintage sports hats, jerseys, sweatshirts, shorts, jackets and accessories from many current and retired teams, you’ll find something unique that he will love! Another option, Blendily (1532 NE Alberta St.) carries an impressive selection of homemade beauty products that make nice stocking stuffers like beard oil, beard combs, and mustache wax.

For Your Colleagues and Acquaintances

Candles are inviting year round, but especially nice on cold, rainy winter days. Stop by Mister OK’s Essentials (1455 NE Alberta St.) for soy-based scented candles with creative names like Belvedere and Empathy. For those who enjoy something sweet, pick up a box of mini cheesecakes and other delicious treats at Tiny Moreso (4520 NE 42nd Ave.), a vegan bakery. Petite Provence Boulangerie & Pâtisserie (1824 NE Alberta St.) offers seasonal and standard macarons, lemon tarts, croissants, and more French pastries, which can be boxed up as gifts.

For Little Ones

A wide selection of toys and more at
Grasshopper

Shopping for the children in your life? Grasshopper (1816 NE Alberta St.) has got you covered with products from abroad and locally that are eco-friendly and fair trade. Grasshopper has something to delight kids of every age; from science-based toys, art kits, clothing and wooden toys to tea kits, books and games. Great gift ideas are the classic pull–along snail and Blabla dolls with distinct personalities. Don’t forget the cute stability balls for preschoolers and 200-500 piece animal puzzles for grade schoolers.

For Pet Lovers

Endless treats for pets at the Filling Station

The Filling Station (2001 NE Alberta St.) has everything you need for your pet; leashes, collars, toys, bowls, and food including freeze dried treats (good for both cats and dogs.) Many of the items are natural and eco-friendly. Show your pets some love this holiday with fun stuffies for your dog including the popular Lamb Chop and indulge your kitty with catnip pillows, tuna puree, and crinkle balls. The Filling Station is also a friendly place to bring your pets, boasting an outside treat station and lots of love and treats for pet guests inside. Can’t wait to get my dog something special.

For the Vintage Lover

KItchenware and more can be found at Take It or Leave It.

Take it or Leave It (5012 NE 42nd Ave.) is a nicely curated thrift store filled with treasures from today and yesterday. A majority of the store’s inventory comes from individuals who bring items for consignment or trade. This store has furniture, clothing, accessories, housewares, jewelry, kids’ toys, and puzzles. It has an impressive selection of vintage and new glassware, bowls, pitchers, plates, mugs and more. I find kitchenware makes an excellent gift. I’ve had luck buying items for my in-laws here (and for myself too!).

For Sci-fi and Fantasy Fans

Sci-Fi and fantasy books at Parallel Worlds

Parallel Worlds (2639 NE Alberta St.) has a vast collection of new and used fantasy and sci-fi books. I can buy YA fantasy books for my daughter and sci-fi books for my husband here. You’ll find classic authors like Ursula LeGuin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Prachett, and many more. Gift recommendations are The Green Bone Saga by the local writer Fonda Lee and Monk & Robot by Becky Chambers.

Our neighborhood shops have a wide range of creative, unique items that make wonderful holiday gifts. This year, try exploring some of the stores above or one you’ve been curious about for your holiday shopping. I bet you’ll find some fun surprises along the way.

[All photos by Roxanne Rezinas.]

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.

Meet Mable, the Eight Year Old Beekeeper

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Kathy Crabtree | Contributing Writer

Concordia’s youngest beekeeper, Mable Bagerski, at her family’s honey trailer

In rural areas, it’s common to see numerous stacked white boxes lining meadows and fields sitting back from the highways. These are beehives, owned by beekeepers. However, residents would be surprised to learn that Concordia has a few hives of its own. One such hive is owned by an intrepid 8-year-old Buckman Elementary School pupil named Mable Bagerski. For the last two years, Bagerski has been helping her mom, Libby, and her father, Adam, care for and harvest the family honey to sell to the community.

During the summer and early fall, the Bagerski family sets up a beehive box called an apiary. A hive starts with 10,000–20,000 worker bees and one queen bee. While the worker bees collect nectar from flowers, the queen births new honey bees, which adds 20,000– 30,000 additional workers a year. Stored in hives, the nectar breaks down into simple sugars. Using special equipment, the Bagerskis then extract the honey from honeycomb, a hexagon-shaped beeswax storage structure created by the bees.

Selling honey during the Concordia Community garage sale with her father

“I help open the hives and hold the frames while wearing my bee suit outfit,” Bagerski says, while sitting in the trailer her family uses to sell their honey. She also fills jars with honey and makes labels. Bagerski says the funnest part is her and her dad working together to harvest the honey because he makes her laugh, like by “pointing out that the queen bee has a bigger butt than the other bees.”

“The hardest part is staying calm around the bees when harvesting and trying not to ‘squash’ the queen,” says Bagerski, who does admit to being stung once. When questioned why she decided to work with stinging insects, she responds, “I thought it would be cool to look at them up close.”

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), honey bees pollinate 130 types of fruit, nuts and vegetables in the U.S. each year, totalling about $15 billion worth of crops. The Oregon Department of Agriculture requires every person who owns, or oversees, five or more colonies of bees to register their hives each year.

Data from the Economic Research Institute says that the average hive produces an average of 30–60 pounds of honey annually, and that a strong healthy colony could produce up to 100 pounds. Most natural honey sells for $5 -$10 a pound. An average honey bee produces ½ teaspoon of honey a year, and it is common for a healthy hive to have 50,000 bees in residence, so annual income for a beekeeper would average $300–$600 a year per hive.

The greatest takeaway lesson Bagerski’s learned from beekeeping is “how bees help us survive. It is important for us to protect the bees and keep providing a safe place for them.” If you’re not afraid of getting stung, Bagerski recommends that anyone interested in harvesting their own honey become a beekeeper. “Not only do you get free honey for yourself, but you can make money, too.”

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.

“Activating” the 30th / Killingsworth Plaza

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Richard Burton | LUTC Committee Chair

Concordia’s newest public street plaza at NE 30th and NE Killingsworth. Photo by Gordon Riggs.

Changes to Plaza at 30th and Killingsworth

The street plaza north of NE Killingsworth and NE 30th was previously designated a “healthy business plaza” during the pandemic but is now a “public street plaza” offering full access to the area. The city of Portland has created a system for this and other plazas to “remove barriers for small-scale neighborhood-based activities that build social and community connections.” The community may now use the plaza for “activations”; the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) term for plaza events and gatherings.

The plaza is a collaboration between PBOT and the neighborhood. NE 30th Street, north of Killingsworth will remain closed and now has an 11–foot emergency access lane. Some changes you can expect to see are new street planters (PBOT– supplied with plant content maintained by the community), existing seating painted with PBOT logos, periodic trash pickup and a community sandwich board for advertising plaza activations. Additionally in the first half of 2024, PBOT is interested in repainting the plaza surface with updated art.

For casual use of the plaza, any table with PBOT labeling is available for public use. Bring friends, books, food, crafts and enjoy the outdoors.

Holding Events and Gatherings at the Plaza

If you’d like to use the plaza for an activation, some rules apply:

  • Small plaza activation events must be free and open to all members of the public. Excluding people from the plaza is prohibited unless an individual is violating the plaza rules as posted. Ticketed events require a permit. (See Additional Information below for more info.)
  • Small Plaza Activation events designed for fewer than 100 attendees may occur at any time.
  • If amplified music will take place, PBOT must be notified.
  • Event organizers must demonstrate respectful behavior towards neighbors and ensure nearby residents are not disturbed.
  • Events may not obstruct pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare or access to the plaza.
  • Events may not obstruct the designated 11’ emergency access lane. People are allowed in this area, but no tables, tents, or other objects may be placed in the emergency access lane.
  • If food is offered, organizers must follow all Multnomah County Health Department rules and permitting guidelines for temporary food events.
  • If alcohol is present, vendors must follow rules permitting guidelines set out by Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) for special events.
  • Street plaza areas are car-free spaces. All vehicles must park only in designated parking areas and must pay all applicable fees. If vehicle access is required to deliver heavy equipment, the vehicle must immediately leave the plaza after the drop off or pick up of that equipment. Traffic control signs and objects found before the event must be put back in place after the event. These traffic signs and objects must be in place before, during, and after your activation.

Additional InformationActivation Permits: An application permit can be downloaded and returned at PortlandStreetPlazas@PortlandOregon.gov. Please allow 5 business days for processing of applications.

Permit: Download permit here

Learn more about Portland Public Street Plazas

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

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.

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