Do You Know The Way — to a Greener Home?November 25th, 2008 Yosemite Meadows and Mountains Concerned about the environment, global warming, rising energy costs or home-related health issues? Are you aware that there are more and more homes that address these concerns? Did you know that Earth Advantage*, a regional leader in green home certification, has a realtor certification program, EA S.T.A.R. (Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals)? According to Sean Penrith, Executive Director for Earth Advantage, the program goal is to “equip realtors with the necessary knowledge and tools to educate their clients on products, features, building methods and values that make homes energy efficient, healthier, and green.” What might an EA S.T.A.R. certified realtor do for you? A lot! They can point out features that are more efficient, such as Energy Star(r) appliances and give you information about the initial costs and long-term savings associated with them.  Home Interior They can inform you about products that off-gas and what that means for your family’s health and well-being. And tell you why linoleum is a better flooring choice for the environment than vinyl flooring. They can introduce you to suppliers and builders, architects and designers who focus on sustainable, durable and renewable products and materials. They can help you find a green certified home, or a home with green features. They also have information about financing, appraising and insuring a green built or remodeled home. And that’s is just the tip of the information an EA S.T.A.R. certified realtor has. Many work closely with and are Trade Allies of The Energy Trust of Oregon, a public-purpose organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. The Energy Trust will schedule a free one-hour walkthrough of your home and give you personalized, energy-saving recommendations and tell you about Energy Trust cash incentives and programs. If you have not scheduled such an energy review, please do. You will be amazed at how a few small changes will decrease your energy use, and save you money. Plus they will bring you some CFL’s (Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs) – and that will result in a lower electric bill! Talk to an EA S.T.A.R. realtor even if you aren’t buying today, it’s never too early to start thinking about how to live more sustainably. Talk to one to get information even if you plan to stay in your home a long while – upgrades you make now will help sell your home later. More and more people want energy efficient and healthy homes. And yes, I am an EA S.T.A.R. certified realtor. Get in touch anytime you want more information about living green — I love to share what I know.
*Earth Advantage, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, is a leader in the sustainable building industry in the Pacific Northwest. At a minimum, Earth Advantage homes are designed to use 15 percent less energy than houses built to standard code practices. Earth Advantage homes adopt the philosophy of holistic sustainability (4-pillar approach) and are accordingly certified for energy efficiency, healthier indoor air, resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. The organization has the ability to certify homes as Earth Advantage (Gold and Platinum levels exist too), ENERGY STAR®, or LEED for Homes® and certified close to 2,500 homes in 2006. Special Day– Moreland Farmers' MarketNovember 25th, 2008
 Red Apples Just in time for the holidays, the popular Moreland Farmers Market has scheduled a special market day. The First Annual Holiday Market will be held 25 November 2008, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, at the market’s usual space, Bybee Boulevard at 14th Avenue SE. Apples and cider — and perhaps an apple pie?  Broccoli You’ll be able to take something home for dinner, find a special treat for turkey day, and grab some prepared food to put in the freezer. Many of our favorite vendors will be there with lots of winter produce. You’ll find greens, winter squash, root vegetables, apples, pears, chestnuts, hazel nuts and more. Little Pots and Pans will offer their savory specialties. Finales Desserts will be on hand with their fabulous desserts and pies. Baird Family Orchards, as well as vendors with goat cheese, fresh eggs and chickens, goat and lamb will also be setting up their stands. There will be lots of variety as you’ll also find other cheeses, honey, specialty items and gifts for purchase. Mocha Mama will have her coffee van on site with coffee, tea, sandwiches and more good things to eat while you shop!
 Vintage Green Bus Attention seniors and persons with disabilities, Project Linkage will offer rides to Moreland Farmers Market’s holiday market. Service is scheduled to and from Sellwood Landing, Sellwood Center, Kenilworth Plaza, Westmoreland Union Manor and Sacred Heart Villa. For schedule and reservation information please call Project Linkage at 503-249-0471 or 503-341-9350. Seniors and persons with disabilities who cannot get to these locations may also call for service to the market.
 Vegetables in Baskets A special event will help others. A fresh produce food drive is planned to benefit FISH Emergency Service. FISH distributes to residents of N, NE and SE Portland and feeds about 1700 people each month. Children are one third of the recipients! Anyone who donates $5.00 or more will be entered in a drawing to win a New Seasons gift basket. Many thanks to New Seasons for their support! The winner’s gift basket will be delivered the Monday after the holiday.  Treble Clef Music, Music, Music! As always there will be live music for your enjoyment. Market tokens and Oregon Trail tokens can be purchased at the information booth and used at the market or given as holiday gifts for use at the Moreland Market next season. I’ll be at the Information Booth from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, stop by and say hi.  Brown Eggs REMEMBER – parking is available at 14th Avenue and Glenwood, across the street from the market. Mortality, Change, and the MarketOctober 31st, 2008
 Riverview Cemetery I drive past the Riverview Cemetery on Taylor’s Ferry Road several times a week. Several of my great, greats are buried there, I always think of them, the Langworthys and Fosses. I’ve looked for and found their grave sites.
It is a little uncanny to look at a mossy headstone, see names and dates that are a hundred years old and reflect that the dust under the stone was once flesh and blood.
It is only recently that I’ve thought about mortality as I pass Riverview. My mortality to some extent, since I haven’t decided where I want my ashes scatered, or stored! But also mortality in the sense of change since change is a kind of death. One thing ends, becomes something else, shifts, modulates or crashes. I’ve been rediscovering how hard it is to let go of the old story, the what used to be.
 Change- Quarters, Nickles, Dimes The reluctance to change, deal with new realities comes in many forms. And while I resonate with the closing lines of the Dylan Thomas poem, “do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light”, I’ve learned there are times to let go, to accept the death as part of the story.
I know that change is scary, just as death can be. I’ve heard my own reluctance to accept change in my little inner voice that complains about current conditions, or something else that is out of my control. I’ve heard it from the seller who is thinking in terms of last year’s market, or even more problematic, 18 months ago. Who is saying, I know it is worth more than THAT! I’ve heard it from some fearful buyers who thought the wild ride would be there when they were ready to purchase. They express concern that maybe we aren’t at the bottom, that there won’t be appreciation in the house they buy. I’ve heard it from other agents in a variety of ways, and I’m sure you have too.
 A Pair of Dimes! Just as hospice and care can ease the passing to the biggest change, easing this change, the passage to this market is part of our role. I’m being more explicit with sellers, giving lots of statistics and graphs, talking current market realities, and reminding them that they may be getting less than they thought perhaps, but they are also going to pay less for their next home. And I’m providing care and comfort. I’m spending some time handholding with a few first time buyers. I’m even more consistent in my education about current market values and historically low interest rates. I’m reminding them about the appreciation trends over time, and real estate as a long term investment. I’m saying the market has a future, and now is a great time to buy! The market has changed. The old market is dead! Long live the market! It’s a market with incredible opportunities. Small World in Wine CountryOctober 26th, 2008We’ve a saying in Portland, “it’s a small place.” You never know when you’ll run into some one you know. And as for six degrees of separation, it’s small enough that we are really only about three degrees, maybe fewer, of separation. It’s not unusual to meet someone and during the initial conversation we discover one of us knows someone who knows someone to whom the other is connected. And after almost 5 years in Portland, I’m not surprised when I run into someone I know when I’m out and about in town. But wine country? Forty miles southeast of the city?  Vineyards Friends and I went down to Yamhill County today, one of Oregon’s fabulous wine regions. There are over 200 wineries in the state, and we planed to check out just a few of them. It was a beautiful fall day. High sixties, clear skies, sunshine, and green and gold countryside. A day to truly appreciate, most likely one of the last we’ll have before the rains. We stopped for lunch at the Dundee Bistro.  Dundee Bistro Another car arrived at about the same time and I was waiting for them to pass so I could take a few photos. One of the men politely motioned me to go ahead, and as I said “no, that’s okay, I’m waiting to take a photo,” the woman in front turned around. It was one of those moments. Simultaneous recognition and loud voices! ”Alex/Renee!” It was Renee Dobbes, a mortgage broker, also down from Portland with friends for some wine tasting. We hadn’t planned to go over to the Dobbes Family Estates, her family’s winery, so it’s on the list for next time. They do have some great wines, and also produce Wines by Joe. As I joined my friends inside, I laughed and said small world. I really hadn’t expected to see anyone I knew. If you go to Dundee, please don’t miss the Dundee Bistro. The food is fantastic, they showcase regional wines including the wines of the Ponzi Vineyard and foods of the northwest. After a glass at lunch, couldn’t resist and bought a bottle of the Pinot Blanc to take home.  Domaine Drouhin After lunch we drove a little further south on 99W and turned off at the Archery Summit Road toward Domaine Drouhin. A winding and rutted gravel road means a slowed down drive, but all the better to ooh and ah at the vineyards’ fall colors. Domaine Drouhin is at the top and you’ll pass several other wineries. You’ll be tempted to stop – but catch them on the way back. You definitely want to see the views from Domaine Drouhin.  Vineyard We were on the deck, basking in the sunshine, watchng the light change on the hills and sipping our second taste, a 2006 Pinot Noir, when I heard my name called. Paula Springer, a stager colleague, is walking toward me. Paula, her husband, and her parents are down from Portland for wine tasting. Small world indeed! By now my friends are giving me a teasing time, saying I know everyone, and can’t get away for a day. I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised to see people I know. Yamhill County is not that far, and it’s one of the things Oregonians do — wine tasting. I wonder though, if we had chosen to go to one of the other regions in the Willamette Valley, would we have run into others that I knew? Possibly, or it would have been another of our group’s small world day!  Hillside at De Ponte After a leisurely tasting at De Ponte Cellars, just a little further down the ridge, we headed back to Portland. And here’s the topper for a small world day, we stopped at Market of Choice on Terwilliger Blvd on the way home, and I ran into Simone Meekins who works there, and used to work at Burdigala - a favorite wine shop in Portland! I don’t have to wonder about this though — when you’re in Oregon, whether you are visiting, planning to move here, or already living here – you’ll be spending time in our wonderful wine regions. I’ll meet you there, or take you – and I promise, it will be a day you won’t forget.  Domaine Views  Yard Art De Ponte Cellars It's Not Too Late! You Can Still Do it …October 14th, 2008— sign up for the Run For Ed.5K to benefit Sellwood Middle School.  Sellwood Middle School The walk will be along the Springwater Corridor on Saturday, October 19th. Registration begins at the school at 8:30 am. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Sellwood Middle Shool Foundation and directly support the school’s diverse electives program of art, band, Spanish and industrial arts. One of the treats in my life is that I live across the street from the school and have the privilege of hearing the various bands practice. They march right past my house, in formation, looking and sounding great! The sound of the marimba band fills my garden on spring days and makes the weeding go that much better! It’s a sad fact that now days there aren’t funds for the kinds of activities that many of us took for granted back in the day. Schools are forced to turn to the community in a variety of ways – and the 5K Fun/Run/Walk is one of those ways. So let’s get out there and walk — or become a sponsor of the event. You can download forms and register at the school’s web site, www.sellwoodmiddleschool.org, The registration fee is $20, adults, and $15 for kids. The 1k fun walk is free. Or get more information by contacting May Kyle McCurdy, 503-777-5312, or Dana McKillop, 503-349-1808.  School Playing Fields
See you there? It will be fun! Dragon Boat – 23 Suvivors Strong!October 9th, 2008I got a catch-up email from my good friend, Lynn, the other day. She’s a member of a dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors, located in the Capital Region of Upstate NY. She says she is loving being a part of the group. Here’s what she says about the Dragon Boat team and why they do it: “ We paddle because we can. We paddle for those who cannot.”
 Hope In The Boat Team, Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival, 2008 “I personally paddle for a handful of friends who have had breast cancer. Albette. Amy. Linda. Liz. Meredith. I paddle my hardest for Pat Emmet. I don’t know how I would have gotten through my cancer without her (and many of you!!). Pat ironically received her own bc diagnosis when I was just finishing my treatment, and, after a recurrence, she died in May, 2007. Knowing Pat was pure joy. She would have loved to race in a dragon boat!! In Princeton, at the Paddle for Pink Festival, we came in 2nd out of 6 breast cancer teams, and up at the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival in August, during two days of pouring rain, we finished 9th of 13 teams of breast cancer survivors. This is pretty amazing considering many of our team members had never even been in a boat before the day of the first race! Without a boat to practice in, we’ve become known as the “the team that paddles around a picnic table” (which is exactly what we have been doing, trying to at least syncronize our strokes).” They’ve rented a boat for the two races they’ve been in. “Legend holds that dragon boat racing got its start more than 2,000 years ago in  Dragon Heads southern China, where boats festooned with dragon heads were used in rituals to encourage bountiful harvests. Dragon boat racing is now the fastest growing sport in the world.” - Hope in the Boat web site.The sport is hot in several areas of North America, including here in Portland, and also Florida, DC area, Canada to name a few. Why Dragon Boating and cancer survivors? In 1995, Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician in Canada, pioneered the research that led to encouraging women with breast cancer to challenge themselves physically. He conducted a research study that overturned the prevailing medical view that women with breast cancer should restrict upper body exercise to prevent lymphedema. He did this study using the ancient sport of dragon boating and concluded that women with breast cancer can undertake upper body exercise, encouraging living full and active lives. Today, breast cancer survivors dragon boat teams flourish across the United States, Canada, and internationally.”- Hope in the Boat web site. Lynn and the team want to buy their own boat. A 40 foot long boat, related equipment, and a home and training site for the team will be $20,000. Just think if each of us sent $5.00 or 10.00 -Yes, this is a pitch! - they’d have their boat in no time! And could move right on to raising funds for their goal of raising awareness about the quality of life that is available. That you can survive breast cancer and have a full and healthy, active and whole life during and after detection! I know, there are a gazillion causes and we support many of them. Breast cancer awareness, early detection and survival is a big one for me. My mom died of complications from breast cancer in 1972. She was younger than I am now. Today she might have survived. If you do want to support this team from 6 counties in upstate NY, here’s how to do it. Write a check to Hope In The Boat. In the memo section put the name Lynn F (via Alex). Mail it to Hope in the Boat, 47 Dove Street, Albany NY 12210. They hope to have a boat in the water by spring.  Lynn Kayaking, 2006 If Lynn can raise enough, she’ll be able to have a 3 line plaque on the side of the boat. Knowing Lynn – she’ll dedicate it to the people she paddles for. Cool and Free personal signatures – check this out!October 9th, 2008Take a look at this: You can have your own signature too — http://www.mylivesignature.com/mls_menu.php It’s easy and fun. Green Brew Pub – even the tissue holders are recycled!October 5th, 2008 Exterior Hopworks Urban Brewery Went to Hopworks Urban Brewery - HUB – the other day. And I’m totally impressed. Not only is it the first eco brewpub in the Northwest, they’ve done it fantastically well! Housed in the old Sunset Fuel Company’s building on SE 30th and Powell, it was a gut rehab to end all gut rehabs. Thick concrete walls had windows sawed into them, timber was saved and reused in booths and the bar. In an interesting twist on the original location’s function the oil from the fryers is recycled in the biodiesel tank which powers the trucks and the brew kettle.  Switch Boxes Store Condiments Everthing possible is reused, recycled or designed to have minimum impact on the environment. The exterior planters are steel kegs that have been cut in half. The parking lot pavers allow the rain to drain into the soil. In each of the booths, the salt and pepper are stored in old power utility boxes. Even the tissue holders in the women’s bathroom are from old pipe.  Pipe Tissue Holders The brewpub is the dream child of Christian Ettinger, you’ll have to read the blurb on the HUB’s menu for that story, and his family have been super involved as well. Designed by his architect father, Roy; his mother, Karen who formerly owned a plant business, has taken on keeping the planters filled with native and non-invasive plants. Of course the purpose of a brewery and brew-pub is the beer. Well I didn’t have any yet. It was lunch and sad to say beer makes me sleepy. Food and service were great! I am going back though and test out some of the organic ale and award winning beers. Meet you there?  Beer Keg Planters Line the Rail New Foundation – old diploma, a mysteryOctober 1st, 2008The work crew had to dig out a portion of the dirt floor — it’s a crawl space under my house — in order to pour the new foundation. I was amazed at what they found.  Old Bottles A brown bottle with Purex etched on the surface, filled with burnt wooden matches, water and sludge. I had an image of a teenager sneaking smokes down there, hoping to hide the evidence by dropping it all into the bottle. There were tin cans, partially rusted with crumbling labels, remnants of the home’s staples: Carnation Condensed Milk and Folger’s Coffee.
 Noxema jar The woman of the house, or perhaps the adolescent daughter, used Noxema face care, packaged in the familiar deep blue glass jar and white lid now turned rust.
Weights and pullies from windows, a few brick cobbles from an unknown Portland street, more bottles and jars now unrecognizeable, encrusted with 40 or 50 years of dirt and most surprizing of all, a High School Diploma. Encased in musty, semi-moldy black leather turned greyish, the gilt lettering still gleams in an Old English font, Robert Service High School, Anchorage, Alaska. Inside, under a plastic casing is the certification that Michelle Rene Warren has satisfactorily completed the Course of Study prescribed for graduation, and is awarded this Diploma, given in May, 1987.  Diploma The saved Commencment program, on gold paper has frayed edges, and a similar type face as the front of the diploma. Inside, the list of the evening events and the graduates. Michelle Rene Warren, one of 441 graduates, wasn’t the Salutatorian or Valedictorian, nor listed as one of the Honor Graduates. She might have been a cheerleader for the Cougars, or is it a Bobcat sketched on the front? Perhaps she sang in the Swing Choir and perfomed “Brothers and SIsters”, or played the recessional piece, “The Crowning Glory” with the Symphonic Band. Or maybe none of these activities were hers. Perhaps she was a student who loved literature and language and went on to get her Ph.D in French language and Medieval Studies at Stanford in 1993. A Michelle R. Warren did, and then taught at University of Miami in Florida, perhaps then went to Dartmouth. I googled the name and found that info. Of course they are not necessarily the same person, there could be a dozen women with the name Michelle R. Warren.  Robert Service HS Diploma, 1987 She would have been one of the last to receive her diploma that night. Was she thinking of her future as she waited, was she getting ready to move? How did her diploma get to the basement of a house on Sherrett Street in Sellwood, in Portland, Oregon? Did she live there? Or come to visit an aunt or uncle the summer she graduated, a fun trip before she went to college? It’s another mystery. Trivia – but not TrivialSeptember 19th, 2008Did you know?
Some facts about a popular ‘green’ flooring, marmoleum, pulled from the net –
Linoleum is made of linseed oil, jute, wood, cork and rosin. Vinyl flooring is made from a petroleum product, polyvinyl chloride, which releases cancer causing dioxins during production. Linoleum has a life span of 30 to 40 years in contrast to vinyl’s 10 to 20 years.
Marmoleum is a linoleum flooring.
I also came across some conflicting information about linoleum/marmoleum and landfills. One source said it would break down in a landfill, a second source said it would not. A second piece of coflicting information was that it has no odor while another said it did.
Please do your due diligence before choosing marmoleum or any type of flooring.
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