★★ June 2023 Newsletter ★★
★ June in Villages NW Territory ★
At last, the weather has given us a break. It is time to be outside! Gardens beckon. We’re seeing friends on the street and enjoying time relaxing on the back porch. Take advantage of our improved weather and get to know the attractions and neighborhoods of other Villages, or welcome members from a sister village and share your area’s unique history or geography.
Wanting to take advantage of northwest Oregon’s glorious summer? Ask Villagers to tell you about their favorite neighborhood features! Look around at Villages NW territory: Portland-Metro area, Clackamas County, Clark County, Washington County, and North Coast. Whether planning a staycation or just looking for a one-day outing, you couldn’t ask for more! Easy access to the mountains, the rivers, the ocean. Go just a little farther and you can enjoy the high desert. Meet your fellow Villagers to create an interesting excursion:
Villagers in Clark County enjoy the City of Vancouver, built along the curves of the Columbia River. Downtown Vancouver boasts of shops, restaurants, bars, breweries, and a Farmers Market on Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. The Waterfront Renaissance Trail is five miles of accessible, scenic, connective trail walking and biking, complete with interpretive information about the area’s indigenous peoples and early European settlers. The trail connects with the Vancouver Land Bridge, which leads to the fascinating Fort Vancouver historical site.
Clackamas County, home to Rivers East and Village at the Falls, is home to Oregon City, the site of the first Euro-American settlement in the Willamette Valley. In an early nod to the connectedness of our region today, Dr. John McLoughlin, Chief Factor and Master of the Hudson Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver, played a major role assisting many French Canadians who established early farms in the Willamette Valley. The Oregon City End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center recalls this and other significant chapters in local history. And if you go to Oregon City, don’t miss the Municipal Elevator and its many historic homes.
WLLO Village encompasses both West Linn and Lake Oswego. Well known for their sophisticated shopping and dining, Lake Oswego and West Linn have grown from their industrial past, when they hosted iron smelters and lumberyards. Perhaps the best way to explore Lake Oswego is to hit the trail! A seven-mile trail takes you around the lake where you can catch sight of many of the beautiful homes that rim this city-owned lake. Mary S. Young Park in West Linn offers hiking trails, birding, and access to the Willamette River.
Our neighbors at Village Without Walls in Washington County know that it is home to many opportunities to explore the great outdoors. You can cycle through farmland and look for u-pick farms. The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a haven for serious cyclists. There are numerous running trails. The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and Jackson Bottom Wetlands have many seasonal and resident birds and other wildlife for your enjoyment.
On Oregon’s breathtaking North Coast, Manzanita is home to Rainy Day Village. A beach excursion might start in Astoria, following Highway 101 south to Neahkahnie Mountain and the charming and picturesque seaside town of Manzanita. You can go hiking and birding in coastal rainforests, get your feet wet in the tide pools, catch a glimpse of sea lions, rent a boat, or book an excursion to go fishing or crabbing. Or you can just enjoy our public beaches – all of Oregon’s coastline is public land!
Directly west of the Portland area is Beaverton, where Viva Village members can take advantage of several outdoor recreation areas. Join them on the Fanno Creek Greenway trail, at Cooper Mountain Nature Park, the Jenkins Estate, Progress Lake Park and the Beaverton Farmers Market
If you haven’t explored Portland proper, where you can meet Eastside, North Star, and River West Villagers, you will find a plethora of outdoor activities to keep you busy. There are so many interesting neighborhoods such as Multnomah, Hillsdale, Sellwood, St. Johns and Overlook, and so many more!
There are City walks, hiking in Forest Park or the Pittock Mansion grounds, and NE Portland’s public stairs. Go to the Portland Audubon headquarters to look, walk, and listen. Check out the Japanese Garden and downtown’s Chinese Garden. There are two sites for the International Rose Test Gardens (Peninsula Park and Washington Park). And if it is a day to be inside, get lost in Powell’s City of Books, the Pittock Mansion or the Portland Art Museum. The Oregon Historical Society holds a wealth of information. And OMSI offers rotating exhibits as well as hands-on, experiential scientific exploration.
Get outside while the weather is amenable. Check in with your Village to see what kind of activities are offered. If transportation or accessibility are issue, ask your Village how they can help coordinate opportunities. Part of maintaining livability at home, where neighbors help neighbors stay neighbors, is being able to enjoy the many surrounding opportunities and enjoyable activities. Make new acquaintances, find kindred souls who share your interests. Be a volunteer who assists others get outside to help enhance the essence of ‘community’, and refresh weary minds after a long, dark, damp season of being indoors.
Above all, let the sun shine on your face and breathe deeply as you absorb the Village spirit!
~ Nancy Doty
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy!
Join your Eastside Village hosts virtually as we discuss EV volunteering and membership. We’ll outline what we’ve been up to historically, and since the beginning of the pandemic. If you or a friend, neighbor, or family member is interested, call the Village Office (503-866-0571) and Office Manager Kathi will send them the link for online conferencing via Zoom.
From North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe: To better take advantage of the slowest and quietest time of day at the usual meeting place, Good Neighbor Pizza, I am changing the Village 101s (introduction to villages in general, North Star Village in particular) to the third Thursday of each month at 3:15 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or member, or have friends who’d be interested, join me on Thursday, June 15 at 3:15 pm, for a quick and informative overview of our village. We’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St., 97211. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let us know you’ll be there. See our website for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/.
Rivers East Village holds Informational 101’s sharing the benefits of becoming a Villager. Learn about your local village on the third Saturday of the month Saturday, June 17, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. To sign up and attend please visit their website.
RiverWest Village invites anyone interested in aging better and learning more about how to become involved either as a member or volunteer to have a one-on-one conversation with a RiverWest volunteer. Just call their office (503-495-4934) and request an Introductory Chat, or email info@riverwestvillage.org. You will be connected with a volunteer from their Outreach Team. Include your name, phone number, and email address in your message and RWV will be in touch with you soon!
Viva Village will host an Online Viva Village 101 on Saturday, June 17, 10:00 am – 11:30 am. An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Regiser on the Website or contact the office for the Zoom link – by phone: 503-746-5082 or by email: vivavillageor@gmail.com.
★★ May 2023 Newsletter ★★
★ Introducing Jin Darney! ★
The Board of Directors at Villages NW would like to welcome Jin Darney as our new Board President. Jin joins the Board after several years and after wearing many hats at Eastside Village. After retirement (and after many years of commuting to her job as faculty and administrator at The Evergreen State College in Olympia), Jin became a founding member and early volunteer office manager, well versed in the day-to-day operations of Eastside Village. Although Eastside Village now has a part time paid office manager, Jin remains an active volunteer both in and out of the office. She dedicates one day a week in the office, documenting transportation details and helping as needed.
A Portlander since 1978, Jin has 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren and a husband who is also very active in Eastside Village. Meeting new people is one of the things that Jin especially enjoys about her engagement with Eastside Village.
Jin joins the current Board: our outgoing President, Althea Ender, remains involved as a director; Anjala Ehelebe; Becky Crew; Brian Harrington; Flavia Youngstrom; Jurie Lewis; Lyn Trainer; Nancy Doty; and Sonya Norton.
As we make the transition to our new President, the Board also thanks Althea for her excellent leadership, stepping up when the previous president moved out of the area. Although Althea’s tenure was partially spent in Turkey, she managed to juggle the time difference and small children while attending to the duties of her position. It has been our pleasure to work under Althea’s leadership. Her enthusiasm, outside-the-box thinking, and community connections have been true assets to the Board.
Now we look forward to working with Jin, promoting her ideas for strengthening the Board’s connections to existing Villages and assessing the viability of new Village development.
~ Nancy Doty
★ Volunteer Appreciation Month ★
April was Volunteer Appreciation Month and each of our Villages celebrated their volunteers in a variety of ways. We also have a dedicated group of Villages NW volunteers who support other volunteers throughout the organization. We want to give a shout out to these volunteers for the amazing work they do behind the scenes:
- Ron Corkum, Transportation Coordinator, tracking drivers paperwork, documentation and keeping records current
- Dan Birnseth, Carol Cookson, Mark Leavitt, Kevin Tippett and Lyn Trainer, the Tech Team behind the Google Workspace implementation, training and support
- Carol Cookson, Dick Eyde, Wendy Orloff and Donna Van Ness, for their work assisting the accounting team
- Grace Merchant and David Taylor, Organizational Development Team, working with the Board and the Leadership Development Task Force
- Dennis McNulty, webmaster
- Jenny Sherman and Audry Koziol, our newly-formed HR Team
We also want to thank all the Village leaders who give their time to participate in affinity groups, task forces and work groups to support our Villages, improve and steamline our processes and share their experience to more effectively achieve our mission. Thank you for all you do!
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy!
Join your Eastside Village hosts virtually as we discuss EV volunteering and membership. We’ll outline what we’ve been up to historically, and since the beginning of the pandemic. If you or a friend, neighbor, or family member is interested, call the Village Office (503-866-0571) and Office Manager Kathi will send them the link for online conferencing via Zoom.
From North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe: To better take advantage of the slowest and quietest time of day at the usual meeting place, Good Neighbor Pizza, I am changing the Village 101s (introduction to villages in general, North Star Village in particular) to the third Thursday of each month at 3:13 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or member, or have friends who’d be interested, join meon Thursday, May 18 at 3:13 pm, for a quick and informative overview of our village. We’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St., 97211. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let us know you’ll be there. See our website for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/.
Rivers East Village holds Informational 101’s sharing the benefits of becoming a Villager. Learn about your local village on the third Saturday of the month Saturday, May 20, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. To sign up and attend please visit their website.
RiverWest Village invites anyone interested in aging better and learning more about how to become involved either as a member or volunteer to have a one-on-one conversation with a RiverWest volunteer. Just call their office (503-495-4934) and request an Introductory Chat, or email info@riverwestvillage.org. You will be connected with a volunteer from their Outreach Team. Include your name, phone number, and email address in your message and RWV will be in touch with you soon!
Viva Village will host an Online Viva Village 101 on Saturday, May 13, 10:00 am – 11:30 am. An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Regiser on the Website or contact the office for the Zoom link – by phone: 503-746-5082 or by email: vivavillageor@gmail.com.
★★ April 2023 Newsletter ★★
★ A very big THANK YOU to our volunteers ★
In this time of post-pandemic community living, our many Village volunteers, have proven themselves to be committed, positive, creative, selfless, and compassionate. They have shown an interest in others; given others a reason to get out of the house; assisted with medical appointments or shopping; they have encouraged new connections through social events; and they have helped maintain the living environment.
They, as Village volunteers, step out to offer a hand or a heart to someone in need of connections. In general, they have bestowed their humanity on those in their community who have needed it most.
They have also applied their organizational skills and business acumen to administrative and leadership roles that keep the heart of Villages NW beating.
Our volunteers, are positive, inspiring, and compassionate. They offer solutions and demonstrate creativity. They help others cope with the trauma of life changes by being steady beacons of light, value and dignity.
Their personal contributions are demonstrated by being present to encourage others, to learn from others and teach or stimulate thought. This is an invaluable activity that may boost the quality of life for them as givers, as well as the recipients of their engagement.
In general, volunteering changes our perspective on what really matters in life! We thank them very much for all that they have done to continue delivering their skills and compassion, through thick and thin, in rough seas and smooth sailing.
They are the bedrock of our Villages.
We may think of frail elderly and vulnerable elders with a sense of foreboding. That time of reckoning may come to all of us. But in the interim, we take notice of member neighbors who can no longer do for themselves or who have become isolated. Through Villages volunteer activities and services, there is an opportunity to enhance our elders’ choice to remain in their home. It is where we may also choose to remain, especially after helping weave the strong fabric of our community.
The volunteers within the family of Villages NW have many reasons to be proud of their contributions to the community. Their impact creates the possibility of moving from survive to thrive for those relationships they foster. For community-dwelling seniors, building relationships, offering a sense of security through awareness, reducing isolation, and offering peer support, there is the possibility of making the entire community stronger, more collaborative, more engaged, and a more user-friendly environment.
For all of that, we honor our volunteers for their dedication, time and energy, and for their ability to better the world, one heart at a time.
~ Nancy Doty
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy!
Join your Eastside Village hosts virtually as we discuss EV volunteering and membership. We’ll outline what we’ve been up to historically, and since the beginning of the pandemic. If you or a friend, neighbor, or family member is interested, call the Village Office (503-866-0571) and Office Manager Kathi will send them the link for online conferencing via Zoom.
Join North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe on Thursday, April 13 at 4:30 pm, for a quick and informative overview of our village. We’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St., 97211. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let us know you’ll be there. See our website for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/.
Rivers East Village holds Informational 101’s sharing the benefits of becoming a Villager. Learn about your local village on Saturday, April 15, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. To sign up and attend please visit their website.
RiverWest Village invites anyone interested in aging better and learning more about how to become involved either as a member or volunteer to have a one-on-one conversation with a RiverWest volunteer. Just call their office (503-495-4934) and request an Introductory Chat, or email info@riverwestvillage.org. You will be connected with a volunteer from their Outreach Team. Include your name, phone number, and email address in your message and RWV will be in touch with you soon!
Viva Village will host an Online Viva Village 101 on Saturday, April 8, 10:00 am – 11:30 am. An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Contact us for the Zoom link – by phone: 503-746-5082 or by email: vivavillageor@gmail.com.
★★ March 2023 Newsletter ★★
★ March, named for the god of war ★
We are aware of our 12-month Roman calendar, established by Julius Caesar, a calendar that sports the names of Roman gods like Janus, the Roman god of beginning and ending. And February, named for the festival of purification that happens near the beginning of the year, assuring a fresh start.
And here we are up to the third month, March, named for Mars, the god of war. March represented the time of year when the weather became more mild and war could be waged.
There is already a lot of war in the world. Do we need more? Well, maybe! Perhaps as individuals who are frustrated by the way the world turns today, we might consider waging domestic war on poverty, injustice, and houselessness.
Can we fight for fair and reasonable compensation for a job well done? Can we promote dignity and opportunity? Can we demand transparency to be sure dedicated assistance goes to those in need?
How do we model conflict resolution and compassion among friends and family? How do we assure equity in our daily dealings within our little corner of the world? How can we best encourage our policy-makers and leaders to build a system of justice for all?
How do we address the crisis of houselessness? Will we help mend the broken social support system that has let down so many individuals and families? Can we throw a lifeline to compensate for the grinding gears of poor response to medical and mental health needs, victimization, loneliness, and despair? Can we work to ameliorate economic disparity?
In every one of these arenas, we find hopeless and helpless individuals who are barely able to make it through the week or the month due to circumstances that have overwhelmed them and rendered them ill-equipped to turn the tide of their fate.
As participants in the Villages, we are in a perfect position to individually practice what we believe will make our community more humane and equitable.
Each of us and all of us may learn to be engaged without being defensive, insist on mutual respect, and demonstrate compassion and empathy. By knowing ourselves, we will be better at understanding our internal biases and judgments that cause us to look away when we might be staring directly into the eyes of those in need. We can advocate for respect and acceptance from the businesses and institutions that serve us. And we can stand with victims, offer support, and speak up/ speak out when we see unintended or unrecognized unfairness.
In this month of March, dedicated to and named for Mars, the god of war, we are in a perfect position to wage war on oppression as we model inclusion, educate ourselves, and defuse negativity. Speak up for those who have lost their voice. And, most of all, be a Village of individuals who strive to elevate humanity.
~ Nancy Doty
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy!
Eastside Village will host an Information Session on Saturday, March 11th from 10:00-11:00 am. Join your Eastside Village hosts virtually as they discuss EV membership and volunteering. They’ll outline what they’ve been up to historically, since the beginning of the pandemic, and as they begin to visit in person once again. You can join the Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89541314807.
Join North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe on Thursday, March 9 at 4:30 pm, for a quick and informative overview of our village. We’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St., 97211. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let us know you’ll be there. See our website for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/.
Rivers East Village holds Informational 101’s sharing the benefits of becoming a Villager. Learn about your local village on Saturday, March 18, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. To sign up and attend please visit their website.
RiverWest Village invites anyone interested in aging better and learning more about how to become involved either as a member or volunteer to have a one-on-one conversation with a RiverWest volunteer. Just call their office and request an Introductory Chat, call 503-495-4934 to leave a message, or email info@riverwestvillage.org. You will be connected with a volunteer from their Outreach Team. Include your name, phone number, and email address in your message and RWV will be in touch with you soon!
Viva Village will host an Online Viva Village 101 on Saturday, March 11, 10:00 am – 11:30 am. An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Contact us for the Zoom link – by phone: 503-746-5082 or by email: vivavillageor@gmail.com.
★★ February 2023 Newsletter ★★
★ The 19th Bridge ★
Consider the bridge: a structure built to circumvent an obstacle. A bridge may be accessible by path, road, rail, or other ways in which the points on either side may be connected.
As we are all aware, Portland has been nicknamed Bridge Town or Bridge City. However, bridges are an important part of community life beyond the main city as well.
From the far southern end of the Metro area, the old Arch Bridge across the Willamette River has connected Oregon City and West Linn for 100 years. The I-205 Abernethy Bridge carries a large volume of traffic around the congestion of the inner city. It sweeps over the river, joining Milwaukie and Oregon City to the small town of Willamette and West Linn, as well as Lake Oswego and Tualatin areas.
Moving north, the Sellwood and Ross Island bridges are important links from SE Portland and the Sellwood community to the Waterfront, and links to the SW parts of the city. Highway 43 is an important connector to Lake Oswego and West Linn beyond. Where small communities might have remained disjointed, bridges brought them together.
The newest bridge, Tillikum, was designed for pedestrians, bicycles, and mass transit. No regular traffic can access the beautiful Tillikum Bridge with its design reminiscent of the mountains to the east.
A double-decker, the Marquam Bridge is the I-5 connector to I-5 South as well as to Hwy 26 going west.
Then the cluster of inner city bridges: Hawthorne, Morrison, Burnside, Steel (including its lower deck railroad bridge), and Broadway keep east and west Portland connected. These are the bridges that helped develop our city in the configuration it now demonstrates with a downtown area on the west and other business entities on the east. Many of our old and historic neighborhoods grew up dependent upon these bridges.
The massive Fremont Bridge carries traffic across the river via I-5 and 405. On the east side, it serves North and Northeast Portland. On the west, it ushers traffic into Northwest Portland, the NW industrial area, and Highway 30.
The beautiful St. Johns Bridge makes it possible for residents of St Johns village to access Highway 30 on the west side, leading to the NW industrial area, the community of Linnton, and on toward Astoria.
When the replacement Sauvie Island Bridge was being built, residents of the Island were reminded of the importance of that bridge in keeping them connected to goods and services necessary for their life on the Island.
For decades, the Burlington Northern Bridge, spanning the Columbia River, has been the route for trains between Portland, Vancouver, and beyond. The extensive rail line from north to south is crucial for moving people and goods.
Our controversial Interstate Bridge is in need of repairs and perhaps an additional span due to its very heavy use as a major Oregon-Washington link. Another bridge across the Columbia River is the Glenn Jackson, the I-205 route for travel between east Portland and Clark County.
And finally, in honor of Rainy Day Village in Manzanita, we consider the Neahkahnie Mountain Bridge (Chasm Bridge) which was the last link in the continuous north-south Highway 101 coastal route.
Imagine life without these bridges. Imagine the isolation of people and their inability to freely travel to destinations on the other side of The Willamette or Columbia Rivers, or among coastal communities. Think about the goods and services that wouldn’t be so easily attained or enjoyed. Think how your world would be so different without the historical development and economic impact of these bridges.
And consider the connections made possible by Villages NW, the family of Villages that links our neighbors so well in myriad ways with social and direct services. Staying connected is the Mission and the goal of Villages NW — our 19th Bridge!
~ Nancy Doty
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy!
Join North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe on Thursday, February 9 at 4:30 pm, for a quick and informative overview of our village. We’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St.; Portland 97211 It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let us know you’ll be there. See our website event calendar for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4001&club_id=78862.
Viva Village will be hosting an Online Viva Village 101 on Saturday, February 11, 10:00 – 11:30 am. It is an informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Contact us for the Zoom link at 503-746-5082 or vivavillageor@gmail.com .
Villages Clark County will be hosting a V101 – Age in Place on Saturday, February 18, 10:30 – 11:30 am at the First Methodist Church, 706 NE 14th Ave; Camas, Washington<.i>.
Rivers East Village will hold an “Informational 101 – Learn about Your Local Village” event on Saturday, February 18, 1:00 – 2:00 pm. To sign up and attend, please see their Events page.
★★ January 2023 Newsletter ★★
★ The Rear-View Mirror ★
With what we know about 2022, it is a year that many of us would like to forget. From war, violence, divisiveness in our own country, insecurity over the pandemic, and other negative elements, we might do well to ponder how to create a better world, beginning close to home, as we face 2023.
What will we do with this new year? How can we put it to beneficial use and create an image of satisfaction in the rear-view mirror? What meaningful New Year’s Resolution might we strive for to feel good about that ultimate rear-view image?
As family, friends, neighbors, and community members, we will interact with many people over this coming year. And how will we assure that our presence and interactions will be thoughtful, supportive, and leave a positive impression? On a personal level, Maya Angelou said that people may not remember what you said or what you did, but they will surely remember how you made them feel.
Therefore, perhaps we can take a lesson sometimes attributed to Socrates (469-399 BC), and use the filters of truth, goodness and usefulness when speaking with others.
Or we can adopt the Buddhist guidelines of letting our thoughts pass through three gates before speaking — the same three gates as Socrates’ filters.
It may have been Bernard Meltzer, the host of a call-in radio advice show (in the 1960s to 1990s), who popularized the notion of stopping to think about what one was prepared to say aloud: is it kind, is it true, is it necessary, is it helpful?
Some who are familiar with the admonition also add, “Is this the right time? Is it spoken with affection? Will it be beneficial? Is it said with good will?” It behooves us to remember “the swiftest horse cannot overtake the word once spoken.”
There is great wisdom in stopping to think before we speak, regardless of who said it first or who said it best.
Let’s make a pledge to treat one another with respect, speak the truth in loving and supportive ways, and be kind. It is difficult to remain cool under fire. And to think clearly in a crisis. When nerves are frayed, or disagreements raise hackles, it is difficult not to say regrettable things at the moment. In meetings, opinions might clash. In creative settings, competition might cause heightened anxiety and a desire for recognition. At home, too much togetherness can be irksome.
But if we can remember Maya Angelou and apply the sage advice to think before we speak, we will have fewer times reflecting “I wish I hadn’t said that!” when we look in the rear-view mirror. And those around us will fondly recall the time with us if we make them feel respected, accepted, and loved.
It all begins with each of us as individuals. We will be better people. The community will be a better place. And our legacy reflected in the rear-view mirror will be cherished by those who will remember us. Let’s make 2023 the best year yet.
Happy New Year to one and all!
~ Nancy Doty
★ Villages NW Event Series: Foodways ★
Foodways: Community Culture Through Food “Introduction to Millets”
Virtual talk
Thursday, January 26, 2:00 pm
Hosted by Villages NW
We are participating in a new Foodways program, Community Culture Through Food, brought to you by a group of food enthusiasts. We seek to address the cultural and community-building aspects of food traditions through presentations, hands-on classes, tours, and other activities as this new year progresses.
For this first year, Foodways and Community Culture Through Food will use the lens of the four seasons to explore various foods this winter, beginning with grains. Grains have been used for millennia by every culture around the world, a cornerstone of all culinary cultures. Millets are quite prevalent in many other countries, although lesser known in the U.S. To raise support for millets, the United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of the Millets. Over 6,000 varieties of millets in the world are highly nutritious and can be cultivated in drought conditions, unlike many other grains.
On January 26, the Foodways program is hosting an “Introduction to Millets” virtual presentation with guest speaker from Idaho, Joni Kindwall-Moore, co-founder of the North American Millets Alliance and owner of Snacktivist Foods. Ms. Kindwall-Moore will address the origin story of millets, why they are important to our diets, their role in the climate crisis and some pro-tips for cooking with them.
We sincerely hope you will join us with your friends and family or your Village. To register for this virtual talk, please contact Stefana Sardo, chefigata50plus@gmail.com.
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy!
Join North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe on Thursday, January 12th at 4:30 pm, for a quick and informative overview of our village. We’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let us know you’ll be there. See our website calendar for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4001&club_id=78862.
Viva Village will be hosting Online Viva Village 101 on Saturday, January 14, 10:00 – 11:30 am. It is an informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Contact us to RSVP for the Zoom link at 503-746-5082 or vivavillageor@gmail.com .
Villages Clark County will be hosting a V101 – Aging a New Way on Saturday, January 21, 10:30 – 11:30 am at the Battleground Public Library, Meyer Memorial Trust Community Room.
★★ December 2022 Newsletter ★★
★ A Holiday Alphabet ★
A – ADVENT, the four Sundays before Christmas bringing a message of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
B – I’ll BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, if only in my dreams.
C – CHRISTMAS CAROLS (in church, around the piano, on the radio, in the elevator….)
D – DIWALI in India (already passed), the celebration of light over darkness, good over evil.
E – The ELVES that do mysterious, helpful things around holiday time.
F – FROSTY the Snowman.
G – Time to GATHER, the GOOSE is getting fat.
H – Celebrate HANUKKAH to commemorate the Jewish miracle: when reclaiming their Temple from the usurpers who desecrated it, there was only enough untainted oil to keep the flame burning for a single day, yet the flame continued flickering until the 8th day.
I – INDULGE (just a little).
J – You can hear the JINGLE of bells and a JOLLY Ho, Ho, Ho!
K – For KWANZA in honor of African American history and heritage: focus on unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
L – LAS POSADAS, a processional Latinx celebration with candles, singing, prayers, and feasting, ending with the piñata.
M – The MERRY, MERRY days of winter holidays.
N — Clement Moore’s The NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
O – OLD ST. NICK, an alias used by Santa Claus (sometimes also known as Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Pere Noel and other fabulous names to disguise his true identity in many foreign lands).
P – For PRESENTS in pretty packages.
Q – Is the delicious, traditional English QUINCE JAM served at holiday time.
R – RUDOLPH (and Dasher & Dancer, Prancer & Vixen, Comet, & Cupid, and Donner & Blitzen).
S – Is for SOLSTICE, that shortest, darkest day of the year that is celebrated by lighting many candles.
T – Reminds us of the TREE bedecked with TWINKLING LIGHTS.
U – Finds us UNDER the mistletoe.
V – VERY warm holiday wishes to you and yours.
W – A WREATH on your front door.
X – Do not despair if ‘XMAS’ bothers you; think of ‘X’ as the Greek chi, first letter in Christos, Christ, and Christmas.
Y – The traditional YULE LOG, really the trunk of a whole tree, was brought in on Christmas day. As one end was shoved into the fire, it was continuously fed into the embers and expected to burn until the Twelfth Night. (And don’t forget the YULE LOG cake!)
Z – Sweet dreams and visions of sugarplums. ZZZzzzz…
May you enjoy every moment of your own traditions. May you share the hopeful holiday spirit with friends and family. And may you find peace and joy in the family of humankind, right in your own community!
Happy holidays to one and all.
~ Nancy Doty
★ Help Wanted ★
Villages NW – Metro is the Hub to 10 Village spokes, the wheel that makes our conceptual Villages go ‘round. It is our Mission to create dynamic, intentionally inclusive, caring communities that connect, engage, and support older adults as they maintain active and purposeful lives. We are neighbors helping neighbors stay neighbors! And we thrive because of our dedicated volunteers who provide services to enhance the quality of life for our older neighbors, helping them remain in their chosen abode for as long as possible.
We need you!
In every Village, we need volunteers with time, knowledge, skills, and compassion to share.
And at the Hub level, we need a volunteer with HR/personnel experience who can help with employment policy, procedures, and support. Although we currently have only two employees, it is possible that our employee base might expand as Villages grow and thrive.
We are looking for a volunteer who has experience, interest, and time to help us with our Employee Handbook updates as needed; promote fair labor practices; serve as an advisor to the Board on matters of pay scale and benefits; improve Hub-level awareness of employment issues in Villages; liaise with Villages as they consider hiring employees; once-a-year evaluation of employee performance and potential wage increases (per COLA and/or enhanced job skills); suggest volunteer training; and serve to generally anchor our employer/ employee relationships.
Ultimately, as we don’t know what we don’t know, we are looking for a volunteer with experience who will help Villages NW model a good employment program that will attract and retain good employees.
If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Villages NW – Metro at: info@villagesnw.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Nancy Doty,
Villages NW
VP for Community Relations
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy. No RSVP needed.
North Star Village will host an Information Session on Thursday, December 8th at 4:30 pm. Come and learn about North Star Village, a virtual community of older neighbors who became friends. NSV often meets online and lately, in person, where they entertain and educate each other, and help their community members with neighborly tasks like rides and minor fix-its. Join North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe for a quick and informative overview of their village. They’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St, 97211. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let them know you’ll be there. See their website for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/
Viva Village will host an informational meeting for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village on Saturday, December 10th from 10:00-11:30 am. RSVP for Zoom Link by phone: 503-746-5082 or email: vivavillageevents@gmail.com.
★★ November 2022 Newsletter ★★
★ You’re Invited to Join…
A Year of Community Culture Through Food ★
Throughout 2023 there will be several virtual and in-person opportunities to celebrate the foods of different cultures, ethnicities, and regions. Get to know your neighbors and their special foods by engaging in recipe exchanges, cooking together, and telling the stories of your personal celebrations and important food traditions. Learn about new-to-you foods and how to prepare them. Build bridges in your community by partnering with friends of different cultures, ethnicity, and traditions. Celebrate moments – large and small – with new friends.
Guest speakers, a little education, and a lot of fun will be available at intervals all year long. With a focus on seasonal foods, the year will bring you several presentations:
Winter – Focus on grains, beginning with traditional holiday baking featured in celebrations around the world. The UN has designated 2023 ‘The Year of the Millets’, a grain that is nutritious, delicious, and grows in drought conditions. We’ll be learning about what that means around the world. From amaranth to wild rice, we’ll be hearing more about grains.
Spring – Wild foods and foraged foods. Ever been on an urban forging field trip? Fish and sea foods… Fresh spring-time produce… We will focus on the joys of real, basic foods, minimizing the processed and already-prepared items that cost more and hold reduced nutritional value.
Summer – Cultivated foods. What do you grow in your garden? Do you grow something you need for especially meaningful, traditional foods? What’s fresh and fabulous at the farmers’ markets?
Autumn – Preserving. Everything from canning and freezing to drying and fermenting. Do you have your grandmother’s recipe for berry jam or pickles? Do you know how our Indigenous Peoples preserved their harvest?
It all begins the week of December 4th. Be the first in your Village to gather friends – old and new – for this exciting opportunity. Watch for more details!
The Food Enthusiasts in your community will be busy preparing the seasonal presentations for your enjoyment. So plan to join the fun!
Contact Stefana at her contact page on Chef Igata 50 to get your Village involved, beginning with Holiday Baking traditions. We want to know about your Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Solstice, Las Posadas, New Year (and more!) celebrations including the representative traditional foods or recipes that you can share with your community. Tell us your stories and memories of the holidays, and bring them to life by baking with friends as we begin this Year of Community Culture Through Food.
See you there (sometimes virtually, sometimes in person)!
~ Nancy Doty
★ Help Wanted ★
Villages NW – Metro is the Hub to 10 Village spokes, the wheel that makes our conceptual Villages go ‘round. It is our Mission to create dynamic, intentionally inclusive, caring communities that connect, engage, and support older adults as they maintain active and purposeful lives. We are neighbors helping neighbors stay neighbors! And we thrive because of our dedicated volunteers who provide services to enhance the quality of life for our older neighbors, helping them remain in their chosen abode for as long as possible.
We need you!
In every Village, we need volunteers with time, knowledge, skills, and compassion to share.
And at the Hub level, we need a volunteer with HR/ personnel experience who can help with employment policy, procedures, and support. Although we currently have only two employees, it is possible that our employee base might expand as Villages grow and thrive.
We are looking for a volunteer who has experience, interest, and time to help us with our Employee Handbook updates as needed; promote fair labor practices; serve as an advisor to the Board on matters of pay scale and benefits; improve Hub-level awareness of employment issues in Villages; liaise with Villages as they consider hiring employees; once-a-year evaluation of employee performance and potential wage increases (per COLA and/or enhanced job skills); suggest volunteer training; and serve to generally anchor our employer/ employee relationships.
Ultimately, as we don’t know what we don’t know, we are looking for a volunteer with experience who will help Villages NW model a good employment program that will attract and retain good employees.
If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Villages NW – Metro at: info@villagesnw.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Nancy Doty,
Villages NW
VP for Community Relations
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Villages is invited to attend the informational events below. Come and enjoy. No RSVP needed.
North Star Village will host an Information Session on Thursday, November 10th at 4:30 pm. North Star Village is a virtual community of older neighbors who became friends. NSV often meets online and lately, in person, where they entertain and educate each other, and help their community members with neighborly tasks like rides and minor fix-its. Join North Star Village member Anjala Ehelebe for a quick and informative overview of their village. They’ll meet at Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum St, 97211. It is fully accessible, with seats available in the well-ventilated interior or at comfortable tables outdoors. Call North Star Village at 503-793-8518 to ask questions and to let them know you’ll be there. See their website for more information: https://northstarvillage.clubexpress.com/
Viva Village will host an informational meeting on Saturday, November 12th from 10:00-11:30 am. RSVP for Zoom Link by phone: 503-746-5082 or email: vivavillageevents@gmail.com.
Eastside Village will host an Information Session on Saturday, November 12th from 10:00-11:00 am. Join your Eastside Village hosts virtually as we discuss EV membership and volunteering. They’ll outline what they’ve been up to historically, since the beginning of the pandemic, and as they begin to visit in person once again. You can join the Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89541314807.