Camas Community Advantage Magazine October 2022

Published

Active Media

PO Box 672 · Aurora, OR 97002 503.825.2111

ADMINISTRATION

Matthew Nelson, Publisher

Catrina Nelson, CFO

Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant

Donovan Darling, Content Manager

PRODUCTION

Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director

Stacy Benner, Sr. Graphic Designer

Holly Darling, Sr. Graphic Designer

Shawn Schmidt, Sr. Graphic Designer

Hilary Berg, Sr. Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tyler Francke Dennis McNabb

David Bates Robert Matsumura

Patti Jo Brooks Olive Gallagher

Angie Helvey Sherry Dorn

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Carly Carpenter Kara Langley

Laurel Bice Hayley Starkey

Malaina Kinne Angie Helvey

Brittney Waterman Henry Schifter

Andrew Sambuceto

ADVERTISING SPECIALISTS

Don Ormsby Bill Kistler

Stephanie Baker Jim Belan

Peggy Jacobs David Long

Chris O’Brien John Zobrist

Brad Marti Shelley Zeman

Tina Toney Darren Dwyer

Looking to reach local consumers? We specialize in direct mail products: community magazine advertising, mailing inserts, postcards and more. For more information, call 503.825.2111 or email info@ActiveMediaUSA.com

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Vancouver’s Favor ite Mexican Res t aur ant

By Angie Helvey, Contributing Writer Photos by Los Jalapeños

When Martin Garcia’s family first opened Los Jalapeños in Vancouver, there were very few options for Mexican food in the area. Over 20 years later, the choices have more than tripled, but Los Jalapeños continues to be a community favorite for delicious food, cold margaritas, and a casual, family-friendly atmosphere.

Family-owned and operated, Los Jalapeños offers a unique and tasty selection of Mexican cuisine. The family developed recipes based on traditional Mexican fare, combined with their own original flavor profiles.

“When our family first opened Los Jalapeños, many had worked at other Mexican restaurants,” explains Martin. “They took some from there, some from the other family recipes, and then made their own flavors.”

One of the top dishes at Los Jalapeños is the Carne Asada–a flavorful skirt steak deliciously marinated and grilled over

charcoal to perfection. Another favorite is the Camarones Mojo de Ajo–succulent shrimp and juicy mushrooms sauteed in butter, garlic, spices, and served with rice, beans, and tortillas. Martin says customers love the Pollo Con Crema–juicy boneless chicken breast prepared in a delicious parmacheese sauce and served with rice and beans.

The most popular combination is the Number 11, which includes a Chile Relleno, an Enchilada, and a Tostada with a choice of beef, cheese, chicken, or picadillo. The Chile Relleno is crispy and covered with melty cheese.

The menu at Los Jalapeños features several tasty egg dishes, including Huevos Rancheros and Machaca Con Huevos, featuring scrambled eggs with

tender shredded beef, sauteed bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, and served with rice, beans, and tortillas. Or try the Sunrise Enchiladas, two corn tortillas stuffed with a choice of meat, drenched in enchilada sauce and cheese, and topped with eggs over easy!

A platter of sizzling Fajitas is always a hit, and Los Jalapeños uses a unique and flavorful secret sauce with hints of salty and sweetness. Customers have a choice of steak, chicken, baconwrapped shrimp, or a combination of two or three!

Nothing goes better with Mexican food than a tasty Margarita, and Los Jalapeños has an abundance of cocktail options. With ten different tequilas to choose from, customers have all the classic choices in addition to a huge selection of Margarita flavors, including peach and banana. Or try a fresh Piña Colada.

“We also have the Loco, which is four different kinds of rum with pineapple, orange juice, and a splash of grenadine,” says Martin, “and our flavored Margaritas are delicious.”

And don’t forget about dessert! Finish off the meal with crispy and cold Deep Fried Ice Cream topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce, or a dish of creamy Flan. Try the Crispy Sopapillas, fried pastries rolled in cinnamon and sugar

and also topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce.

Los Jalapeños has another location in Camas, and the Garcia family

relishes being part of the Clark County community. They’ve continually been nominated for Best Mexican Food in Clark County and have won the title in years past. The Garcias love their customers and have many regulars that have been dining with them for years.

“We have customers that first came in when they were a child, maybe five years old, and now they’re married and have kids too,” says Martin with a chuckle. “That’s why we try to

do the best every time, to keep our customers happy.”

Los Jalapeños works with several local delivery services including DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, so customers can enjoy their flavorful food in the comfort of their own homes. But the ambiance in the restaurant overflows with the warmth of family and friends and creates a relaxing, laid-back environment. They have something for everyone, including several vegetarian options and smaller portions for little ones. So make this a regular spot and visit Vancouver’s Favorite Mexican Restaurant for over 20 years.

Visit their website at losjalapenosmexican.com. Los Jalapeños Vancouver is located at 11711 NE 99th St. #940. They’re open Mon-Sun 11am-9pm. Give them a call at 360-883-6588. Los Jalapeños Camas is located at 231 NE 3rd Ave. They’re open Mon-Sat 11am8pm, Sun 12pm-8pm. Give them a call at 360-834-5856.

READY TO RESTORE YOUR PROPERTY?

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer Photos by Hayley Starkey

Bring back the natural beauty and luster of your home by employing the best pressure washing company in Vancouver: Power Washing Professionals!

Living here in the Northwest, we are all too familiar with the constant battle against the elements. Homes nestled in cozy wooded areas lush with foliage and wildlife are the envy of people across the country, but they are also breeding grounds for moss and algae, elements which ultimately destroy those idyllic settings. Whether it’s to maintain the integrity of your home, roofs and driveways in particular, or to simply preserve its curb appeal, power washing is the only way to stay ahead of the game. That said, it requires a deft hand and years of expertise to do it right. Power Washing Professionals provide the best quality work in Clark County!

Founded in 2018 by Owner, Production Manager, and Lead Technician

Zach Roetker, Power Washing Professionals has grown steadily to become the number one business of its ilk in the region. They have done that, quite simply, by placing customer service at the top of their priority list. In speaking with him, it was immediately and abundantly clear that Zach genuinely cares about his customers. When he guarantees 100% satisfaction, he stands by it, and his reputation in the business is a testament to that fact! He was born and raised in the area. This is his home. Customers are his friends and neighbors. So providing anything but the absolute best service is just unacceptable.

Power Washing Professionals is a one-stop destination for ALL of your residential or commercial property’s exterior cleaning needs. They follow all

manufacturer-recommended methods and use eco-friendly detergents to ensure your house is as healthy as it is clean. They also employ the latest in soft washing techniques to avoid damaging delicate roofing tiles and asphalt. Driveways, fences, siding, roofs, windows; they do it all, and more! And they guarantee and warranty their work!

Power Washing

Professionals: locally-owned and operated, providing superior work, quick and friendly service, and competitive prices. There is no reason to call anyone else! Call 360-334-3588 or check out their website at washvancouver.com.

Sincerely Brewed In The PNW

By Hilary Berg, Staff Writer

Which came first, the pizza or the beer? If you talk to the founders of Camas Slices and Camas Brewing, they’ll say the former, and for good reason.

The journey to Camas began in Washington, D.C., where entrepreneur Eric Duensing co-founded D.C. Slices in 2009. The New York-style mobile pizzeria eventually turned into five food trucks, and with the help of Zachary Graybill, climbing the ladder from cook to co-owner, the company became a sizzling success story.

In 2014, Duensing migrated to the West Coast, where in the coastal town of Seabrook, Washington, he expanded his pizza empire with Frontager’s Pizza. Five years later, another business opportunity arose but in Clark County. Duensing, alongside Graybill and John Strocko, transformed Mill City Brew Werks into Camas Slices and Camas Brewing Co. & Taproom. It officially opened in March 2022.

The owners admittedly knew very little about brewing, so they hired best friends and recent Oregon State University fermentation science grads Jacob Speer and Michiel Creyf to lead production. The energetic duo crafts about 100 kegs a week.

So far, nine beers have officially made it to the tap, including Cambrewco blonde ale, a popular Hefeweizen, “Blue Fin” Pilsner, a classic Northwest

IPA, and a coffee nitro stout Graybill describes in taste and texture to a Guinness “but with coffee.” The brewery also crafts a Vienna lager, a brown ale, a hazy IPA, a couple Oktoberfeststyle beers, and an Irish red ale called The Big Red One, a nod to Duensing’s military service — look for the bullet tap handle. No matter

the style, the beers are made under a simple philosophy of producing highquality brews that are easy to drink.

Patrons can grab beer to go via crowlers (canned growlers) or stay for a pint and/or a slice, or two. Inside the taproom, Graybill

describes the design as industrial, a vibe that’s just right for the 21-andolder customers. The atmosphere of the adjacent restaurant feels like a New York pizzeria, complete with white subway tiles and cool marquee lights.

Regulars say the Pickle Pizza is a life-changer; other menu items also inspire praise. As for the beer, Graybill says the Hef and blonde are incredibly popular, but it’s all about personal preference.

The same rationale could explain how pizza comes before beer — or vice versa. At Camas Slices and Camas Brewing, it really doesn’t matter. Both are excellent; both are made fresh; and both will have you coming back for more.

Camas Brewing Co. is located at 339 NE Cedar St in downtown Camas. For Promotions and Events visit camasslices. com, or check out their Instagram @ camasbrewingco.

Ace Nilson Dakar Rally Competitor

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

The Dakar: 9,300 miles of the most intense, grueling, and exciting motor racing in the world! It all began back in 1976, when French competitive racer, Thierry Sabine, went off course and got lost in the Ténéré Desert while competing in a Abidjan-Nice Rally. He was so enamored with the terrain that he vowed to share it with his fellow racers. After working tirelessly throughout the following year to establish a new course, one which incorporated the desert he was so inspired by, in December of 1977 the first Paris-Dakar Rally was staged. It was a unique event, open to all riders, and promoted a sense of friendship and camaraderie between competitors. 45 years later, the race is still organized and run with that same spirit, and it has never once failed to challenge, surprise, and excite both racers and spectators alike.

This is the biggest rally-raid in the world; it’s legendary, and as such, participation for bikers and quads is limited. Candidates’ applications are carefully reviewed and selected based on previous experience in similar races. Only the best of the best are invited. So it is with great pride and gratitude that local resident, Ace Nilson, has been chosen to participate as a member of team DUUST.CO (a satellite of Red Bull KTM Factory Team). Being accepted with your first application is almost unheard of, but it speaks to Ace’s skill level

and dedication to the sport. This truly is a dream come true.

During the day, Nilson is the manager for the respiratory and cardiopulmonary departments at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. In addition, he founded, owns, and runs High Desert Adventures, Oregon’s premier off-road motorcycle adventure company. So he is clearly a very intelligent, ambitious, and driven individual, but dirt bike riding is his true passion. This is where he gets to escape, to let everything else go, and simply focus on the task at hand. These rally-raids are a serious test of endurance, but they are also the most therapeutic and exhilarating experiences you can imagine.

Of course, the cost of entry is astronomical–in the vicinity of $100,000 for entry fees, team fees, travel, etc.–and cost-prohibitive for many people. So if you’re interested in finding out more on Ace’s adventure, fundraising or advertising opportunities, please contact him via email at Ace@highdesertadventures.net. And check out his and others’ adventures at highdesertadventures.net.

Flooring

Richard Britschgi

By David Bates, Contributing Writer

Richard Britschgi looks at rocks differently than you do… He looks at them, and in rocks seized from a muddy riverbed or dug up in the desert, he sees possibilities.

For 30 years, the La Center resident was the operations manager for an automotive company while also serving as a firefighter and commissioner for Clark County Fire and Rescue. Upon retirement in 2015, he started picking up river rock during fishing trips. A brother-in-law gave Britschgi a tumbler to polish his finds, and then he started investing in other equipment, ultimately transforming his workshop into a fullystocked lapidary.

That’s where Britschgi, now an accomplished and entirely selftaught artist, realizes the possibilities he’s able to discern in a rock.

“When I cut rock, I inspect them and see things like faces, animals, eyes, and wings,” he says. “The rock tells me what I can and cannot do with them.” Recently, he was working with a piece of Brazilian agate, and upon cutting it open, was struck by how the interior reminded him of a mosquito’s wings.

So he made a mosquito.

“The most common thing, I guess, is that most people in the lapidary world cut and polish slabs and maybe sell them to the jewelry world,” he says. “I did this for a while, but then I took it

to the next level.” It’s tedious work, as you might imagine, but also incredibly rewarding.

Britschgi’s mosquito, the creation that included drilling tiny holes into which he inserted wires that function as the insect’s legs, took his work to yet another level. He entered it in a show held by the Mosaic Art Association at a gallery in Vancouver, and it won the First in Show award. “I was flabbergasted,” he said.

Britschgi is now a member of the Battleground Arts Alliance, the Ridgefield Art Alliance, the Mosaic Arts Alliance, the Society of Washington Artists, and the Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance. He has collaborated with other artists, and in November he’ll participate in the Clark County Open Studios Tour, which means you can see his lapidary and see him at work yourself.

“My wife and I are nervous but excited to open my lapidary shop to the public,” he said. “I will be explaining processes and equipment, and showing and selling my art and polished rock.”

After years of working for VW, Britschgi heard plenty of Volkswagen stories—cramming the little cars as full as possible, etc. As a lapidarist and artist, he now understands the attraction of rock stories.

“People seem to have so many memories of ‘grandpa collecting rocks,’” he says. “Rocks seem to have a magical, mysterious quality to them it seems. The young kids love them and carry around little bags, and collect certain types of rocks they want to find and collect because they have a certain meaning and power to them.”

Visit Richard Britschgi and see his work at the Clark County Open Studios Tour, November 5–6th.

Local Artists Open Minds and Hearts

By David Bates, Contributing Writer

Artists in southwest Washington know that there’s power in numbers and fellowship, and it is toward that end that the nonprofit group Artstra dedicates itself. Yearround, the group serves as an advocate for artists in every medium while also hosting summits, relief for those who have limited access to creative tools, and events like Poetry Moves, which gets the verse of local poets on C-Tran buses in the region.

But the biggest event of all is coming up. The 9th annual Clark County Open Studios Tour is a juried show featuring the work of 50 artists that you can see on a free self-guided tour Nov. 5-6. It’s not in a gallery, it’s in the studios of the artists themselves.

“We’ve always had artists here but many worked solitarily in their studios and didn’t know each other,” said artist Jennifer Williams, a painter and event

The art media and styles represented, the artists, and even the studios themselves are diverse. On this year’s tour, you can visit studios on farms, a historic barn in Vancouver, a sheep farm in Ridgefield, an alpaca farm in Camas, and an organic garden in Fern Prairie. It’s a chance to learn first-hand about painting techniques, printmaking, sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, photography, and much more.

To date, more than 180 different artists have participated in the event.

organizer. “Open Studios brings us together and not only shines a light on individual talent but also works to highlight our arts community.”

“Going on the tour for the first time is a unique experience,” says Williams. “The tour is very different from seeing work at a gallery or festival. Open Studios invites the public into the artist’s workplace to experience where the creative process happens. Visitors get to see the tools, ask questions, and hear the stories behind the scenes.”

If you want a one-stop sampler to help you plan your tour, you can preview all 50 artists’ work at Art at the Cave gallery, 108 East Evergreen Blvd. in downtown Vancouver. The exhibit opens 5-8 p.m. Nov. 4, one night before the tour and will remain up all month.

The tour’s impact on artists is profound. In 2021, more than 220 people visited Williams in her studio, including collectors from out of state. She had commissions lined up for several months.

“At one point, a visitor was sharing how he could feel my work and basically repeated my artist’s statement that he had never read,” she recalls. “I had to fight back tears, because I knew at that moment that my work was really speaking and everything that I put into it was translating and impacting someone else.”

The 9th annual Clark County Open Studio Tour will be held Nov. 5-6. For a complete guide to participating artists and more information, including wheelchair accessible studios, visit artstra.org/openstudios.

It’s a chance to learn first-hand about painting techniques, printmaking, sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, photography, and much more.

Rain or Shine,

T hey’ve Got You Cover ed!

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Photos by Shonda Feather

Many of us living in the Pacific Northwest share a common passion: the love of the great outdoors! Lush greenery, majestic mountains, crystalline rivers; the gorgeous views, even from some of our homes, are truly awe-inspiring. Now imagine having the ability to enjoy those views yearround, not from the confines of your stuffy living room, but from your beautifully-designed, custom-built outdoor living space. Pioneer Patio Covers & Decks turns that dream into a reality!

With almost 30 years of experience and expertise in the industry, owners Robert and Jennifer Holbrook are quite simply the best in the business. It’s a point of pride, having both been born and raised in Vancouver, that they can stand behind their products and craftsmanship while servicing friends and neighbors. Their impeccable reputation in the industry has been hard won, and is a reflection of their absolute commitment and dedication to excellence.

Combining their strengths to form quite the dynamic duo, Jennifer comes from a business and marketing background while Robert grew up in construction. In fact, his father, Bob, co-owned and operated a local company, Spacemaster Construction, and that’s where Robert gained his passion for this kind of work. Robert went on to spend time in the Army and as a practical nurse, but nothing provided the level of gratification he received from working outdoors with

his hands. After purchasing their first new home, he built a deck, patio cover, and fence, and his neighbors were so impressed they hired him to do theirs. That planted the seed and word spread quickly. Pioneer Patio Covers & Decks was born!

Now, all these years later, they couldn’t be happier with the business they’ve built. They can design and construct everything from the simplest of decks, to the most innovative, elaborate, and expansive deck and patio cover systems, transforming any outdoor space into a beautifully-integrated, comfortable, year-round sanctuary. These systems both match and enhance the look of your home, and add great value. In particular, their ACRYLITE® patio covers are boasted as the only system available which keeps the weather out while still allowing the light to pass through.

Of course, no business can succeed without the support of a dedicated staff, and Robert and Jennifer are truly grateful for theirs. Their six craftsmen: Rikki, Charley, John, Patrick, Matt, and Sam are the gears that keep the machine rolling. These guys have been with them for an average of 15 years each—a true rarity in this business, and Robert and Jennifer recognize they couldn’t do it without them.

Specializing in ACRYLITE® patio cover systems, custom patio covers and custom decks, they do the best work in town. Don’t go another season looking dejectedly out your living room windows! Call Pioneer Patio Covers & Decks today at 360-574-9085, and let them help you to create the outdoor living space you’ve always dreamed of!

Pioneer Patio Covers & Decks is located at 11318 NE Highway 99 in Vancouver. Give them a ring at 360-574-9085, or visit their website at pioneerpatiocovers.com.

The Tale of Stingy Jack

Exploring the myth behind Halloween’s pumpkin pastime

By Krysta M. Nelson, Contributing Writer

Oh autumn, what a wonderful time of year! A time to break out all my favorite sweaters just as the leaves are turning into vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red. And best of all, the arrival of Halloween, my favorite holiday. My nickname as a kid was Little Miss Mess Maker, as carving pumpkins has always been my favorite Halloween activity–one time I even recreated a horror movie with gourd guts. While carving pumpkins is extremely popular, most people don’t know the myth behind the mess and tradition.

Long ago in a small Irish town, a drunkard named Stingy Jack earned his moniker after tricking the Devil himself. Jack was notorious in his little town, and Satan had heard of his mischievous deeds. Jack may have been known for being a drunken scoundrel—scuttered and bollocksed—but he was also a clever lad, so he convinced the Devil to take him to his favorite pub as a last request and to pay for the bill. When the tab came due, Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin so Jack could pay for the drinks, then they could leave for the underworld.

The Devil was fooled. And instead of paying up, Jack dropped the coin into his pocket alongside a silver crucifix, trapping the fiery foe in the form of a coin. The Devil begged Stingy Jack to

release him. And so Jack released him, but only on the condition that the Devil would not bother him for another year, and should Jack die, Satan could not claim his soul.

True to his word, the Devil didn’t return for a whole year. When the Devil finally reappeared to claim his soul, Jack tricked the Devil to climb a fruit tree and pick him a last meal to eat before traveling to Hell. Once the Devil reached the top of the tree, Jack carved a cross into the bark of the tree trunk, trapping the Devil high among the branches. Again, Satan begged Jack for freedom, but this time, Jack made the Devil promise to not bother him for another 10 years. Of course, the Devil agreed to his terms and was freed.

Jack died soon thereafter. Because of his mischief and sins, he was denied entrance to Heaven. Upset by the trickery and scheming, and true to his word of not claiming his soul, Satan denied Jack entrance into Hell, too. As a parting gift, the Devil gifted Jack a lump of burning coal to light his way

and sent him off into the night. Jack placed the burning coal in a hollowed out turnip, and he has roamed the earth ever since. The Irish began calling this eerie creature “Jack of the Lantern,” or “Jack O’Lantern” for short.

In Ireland and Scotland, people began carving their own unique versions of jack-o’-lanterns, cutting terrifying faces into turnips, potatoes,

beets, or rutabagas, and lighting and displaying them near doors or windows to frighten away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits. In the mid-1800s, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the jack-o’-lantern tradition with them when they moved to the U.S. And they soon found that pumpkins, a large fruit native to America, made for perfect jack-o’-lanterns.

Since then, there have been many attempts in popular culture to revive this long-forgotten tradition of carving jack-o’-lanterns from turnips. In 2015, due to a severe pumpkin shortage caused by severe rain, the charity English Heritage called for Brits to rekindle their love for turnip carving and return to the original tradition of turnip jack-o’lanterns. English Heritage even went so far as to install many ghoulish turnip jack-o’-lanterns at Dover Castle to inspire others to do the same. Whether carving trunips will become popular again is still unknown.

In Ireland and Scotland, people began carving their own unique versions of jacko’-lanterns, cutting terrifying faces into turnips, potatoes, beets, or rutabagas, and lighting and displaying them near doors or windows to frighten away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits.

There are, however, many benefits to turnip carving over pumpkin carving. There’s no stringy pumpkin mess or seeds to clean out. Turnips are quite small and portable, so they can actually be hung like little lanterns. Also, turnips are cheap! So you can afford to make dozens and dozens if you’re so inclined. If they’re careful with a knife, older kids can carve a turnip by themselves because they’re so much simpler and smaller. The red-white color and eerie roots are scarier than pumpkins. After you scoop out the insides of the turnip, you can make mashed turnips. Yum! And because they’re available year round, you can carve turnips for more than just jack-o’-lanterns — votive holders, artwork or whatever you want.

So, there you have it. I love it when holidays and their fun-filled activities have such a rich history as Halloween and the Stingy Jack origin of pumpkin carving. And the fact that the history is also a ghost story is even more fun! Whether you choose to carve a pumpkin or turnip, I hope you and yours have a safe, fun, messy, and memorable holiday.

By Tyler Francke, Contributing Writer Photos by Hayley Starkey

Denis Kurudimov, owner of NW Breeze, has a simple mission: “We want to have people breathing healthier air,” he says. “Especially nowadays, with a lot of people working from home, the air quality in your home is more important than ever.”

Denis and his specialized team work with many clients who are sensitive to allergens, dust, and other air quality issues. His results have even been endorsed by many of the Portland area’s top doctors. “We work with a lot of doctors and the best mold remediation company in the Northwest,” he says. “We’ve worked with some of the most sensitive people, and the immediate change we have seen it have on our customers is what has inspired us to keep doing this work.”

Air duct cleaning is not always the easiest service to sell, he admits. For many homeowners, it’s one of those things that is out of sight, out of mind. “A lot of people just leave it and never get it done,” he says. Plus, unfortunately it’s an industry that can be prone to scams. “It’s one of those jobs that’s something the homeowner can’t really see,” Denis says. “There are trust issues with that. That’s why we are as transparent as possible. We show exactly what we’re going to do, the tools that we use and how it all works.”

The tools and processes they use are pretty cool, so it’s no surprise that they like to show them off. The process

is called “negative air suction,” which uses a giant vacuum cleaner. The vacuum itself is about half the size of a standard pickup truck or van! The hose attaches to the furnace duct. Once it’s turned on, it pulls an estimated 1,800 square feet of air every 60 seconds.

Denis and his team then go to different registers and access points in the home to agitate the dust and debris, sucking it away and leaving behind only a perfectly clean duct. Of course, some debris may be too large to be sucked out by their massive vacuum, so that stuff gets cleaned out by hand.

Denis says he has seen it all. “We’ve found everything from necklaces, bracelets, a Taco Bell cup from the 1980s, $1,000 in old hundreds and twenties in a glass jar,” he says. “Literally anything you can imagine that can fit in there, I’ve found it and pulled it out.” There’s also construction debris, especially for newer homes or those recently remodeled. “A lot of times, those vents are treated as garbage cans during construction,” he says.

Denis has been in the business for about five years, and he started working for an HVAC company as a teenager. “He taught me everything I know about air duct cleaning,” says Denis. The day after his 18th birthday, he walked down to City Hall and got a business license for his own company. “I knew what I wanted to do,” he says. “I just thought I’d try going into business on my own and see how it goes. It’s been going pretty well. Especially the last two or three years, it’s really grown.”

NW Breeze in the Portland metro area, but also McMinnville, Salem, Corvallis, and Bend. Duct cleaning is recommended every three to five years, depending on your HVAC system and allergies and sensitivities.

Now that it’s autumn, it’s more important than ever to give your ducts a thorough cleaning! Let the amazing professionals at NW Breeze make your air clean again so you can breathe deeply and stay healthy.

For more information about NW Breeze and the services they offer, give them a call at 503-925-3155 or visit nwbreezeor.com.

“We want to have people breathing healthier air.”

Elmer’s Flag & Banner was started by Elmer Reider in 1963. A former car salesman, Elmer learned about a new kind of business when his car lot was visited by a man whose trade was decorating dealerships with flags, signs and colorful banners. “The story goes that there was a guy who was coming around doing decorations for the car lot,” explains Dave Anchel, president of Elmer’s. “Elmer asked him if he was making any money and the guy said, ‘Better than you!’” Elmer believed it, so he left auto sales for the car lot decorating business. The store prospered, thanks to his talent for spotting niche business opportunities, like flags and banners, and his commitment to building customer loyalty with quality products and honest service. Today, Elmer’s is Portland’s largest flag, banner and kite store, with 4,000 square feet of products, everything from weathervanes to windsocks.

Anchel grew up in rural northeast Pennsylvania, where he spent 22 years in the family business, learning how to run a successful small company. In their search for a business to purchase, Anchel and his wife visited Portland and fell in love. “We came to Portland, had some really good chocolate and said to each other, ‘We could live here,’” he recalls.

Variety is the spice of life and it’s also what you’ll find at Elmer’s. Anchel estimates the store offers some 8,000 different products, about 1,200 of which are available online. Elmer’s also makes its

own custom flags and banners, by hand and in-house. They make both high-quality, digitally designed flags and banners, and are one of the only companies in the United States that still does appliqué - the time-honored tradition of sewing one piece of fabric onto another - just like Betsy Ross.

“We make those by hand, upstairs in our sewing shop, and they look gorgeous,” Anchel explains. “It’s for when people want an heirloom qual ity flag, like of their family crest, or when a high school wins a cham pionship and wants to hoist a banner to their gymnasium ceiling.”

Elmer’s also manufactures, sells, installs and services custom poles, including two of the tallest in the state of Oregon, measuring 120 feet. “They’re monsters,” Anchel says with a laugh.

Elmer’s selection of kites, flags, banners, weather vanes, wind spin ners and other wind toys will amaze you. Looking to spruce up your home’s exterior? Stop into the retail store at 1332 NE Broadway in Portland, Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Or visit their website, elmersflag.com anytime.

Called to Help

Lori Lindberg a true inspiration

By Olive Gallagher, Contributing Writer

Every day most of us pass by strangers obliviously. And then there are the givers who, driven by a different rhythm, always find extra time in their days to serve and give to others. Lori Lindberg is one of those quiet, unsung hometown heroes driven by the desire to serve others. She learned as a child, from her parents’ example, that what you get back is so much more than you could ever give: a sense of purpose and satisfaction from the small and thoughtful gestures which change others’ lives. For Lori, her family always found time to help and volunteer at their church and in the community, like the Kiwanis, the March of Dimes, and her school.

Married for thirty-four years to Dan, a construction estimator, and mother to two grown children, Lori grew up volunteering for nonprofits with her parents and in her church. Before she became a mother, she volunteered as a Sunday school teacher. Suffering herself from Lupus and uncertain she could have children, she realized talking about her condition was not only self-healing but could help others, too. “We all have something to deal with. I realized if I shared my story, I could perhaps help others dealing with similar issues.”

After her children were born, she got involved in her children’s activities, and when her church donated space to establish the Rocksolid Community Teen Center in Brush Prairie, she felt “called to help” and offered to organize their first fundraising auction, even though she admitted readily at the time that she’d never done anything like that before. But since she had worked successfully in sales before becoming ill, that challenge came naturally and the event was a great success. Every nonprofit dreams of someone walking through the door and offering to volunteer with that kind determination and generosity of heart. True to form and following in her footsteps, Lori’s son has also begun volunteering at Rocksolid.

It would be challenging to read through even this partial listing of Lori’s contributions to her community in one breath: Board Advisor; Marketing & Procurement volunteer for Battle Ground Senior Citizens group; The Columbian Blue Crew member; Greater Vancouver Chamber Ambassador; Rocksolid Community Teen Center Board Director Emeritus; Rocksolid Community Teen Center board member, volunteer, and auction team lead person; 2013 Battle Ground Citizen of the Year; 2002 Rocksolid Citizen of the Year.

Recently, Lori began serving senior citizens. She knew that her husband’s stepfather, Don, who in a sweet twist of fate had gone to high school with Lori’s mother, loved to sing despite his limited abilities. During COVID, knowing that Don was sad to be unable to visit and sing for others, Lori arranged for him to serenade local nursing homes over Zoom, bringing joy and music to dozens in quarantine. This past Christmas, Don and Lori joined the Battle Ground Senior Citizens Group, and Don sang at several luncheons and led a sing along. When Don passed away this past July, the Mayor of Battle Ground arranged for “You Are My Sunshine” to be sung in his honor at the monthly luncheon. Lori also recently organized an effort to continue providing monthly lunches for seniors when Meals on Wheels ended. She persuaded local restaurants to donate to this ongoing project, making certain the community continued to be served, literally and figuratively!

They say that good deeds are made one small step at a time with good intention and a loving heart. Lori Lindberg personifies someone whose life is made up of those seemingly small, daily steps fueled by a loving heart. Our lives are richer because of hometown heroes like her.

the ADDA ms FA mily (1991)

“Smell that air, Fester! Like a tomb.”

Another of my favorites, this dark comedy

is based on the 1964 TV show! Starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci, the movie follows a gloomy but loving family of outcasts who live in a gothic mansion on the hill. Full of the macabre, cartoony violence, and biting social commentary, the jokes and goofs land like punches in this otherworldly romp. Rated PG-13.

CA s P er (1995)

“Who says there’s no such thing as ghosts?” In this dark fantasy dramedy, afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) move into a haunted mansion to exorcize ghosts for a greedy inheritor bent on finding treasure. It’s silly and slapstick, yet serious and contemplative–after all, you can’t have ghosts without death. Good for kiddos 6+. Rated PG.

Stream these movies where available, or rent from your local movie store, library, or rental kiosk.

h o CU s Po CU s (1993)

“Oh, look. Another glorious morning. Makes me sick!”

One of my favorite Halloween movies, it’s the story of three witches burned at the stake who return to terrorize the children of Salem, Mass. With a killer cast including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Thora Birch, it’s whacky, spooky, and actionpacked. Rated PG, but with strong language and mature themes it’s more like PG-13.

ghostb U sters (1984)

“Who you gonna call?”

There’s nothing like it, pure and simple. A supernatural comedy starring a legendary cast, including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, and more. Parapsychologists turn ghost hunters in New York City and end up saving the world. There’s ghosts, marshmallow giants, and so much nostalgia. Rated PG, but with strong language and mature themes it’s more like PG-13.

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Nightm A re o N elmstreet (1984)

“Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.” I binged all 7 of these movies last year, and they are equal parts horror and camp. They’re so bad that they’re good, you know? Imaginative, terrifying, funny, and always graphically violent, Robert Englund haunts my nightmares indefinitely! Adults only.

Rated R. AUN o F the D e AD (2004)

“Winchester?”

One of the very few horror comedy zombie movies, this movie has “killed” since released. Like Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s other movies, this plays on genre tropes and makes for geniuslevel comedy. Ultra violence and profuse profanity really make this a dirty pleasure movie. Adults only. Rated R.