Happy Valley Community Advantage April 2024

Ropa Vieja

Experience the delicious authenticity of Ropa Vieja at Bistro Cubano

By Active Media Staff

Ropa vieja, derived from the Spanish term meaning “old clothes,” is a dish celebrated with regional variations across Latin America, the Philippines, and Spain. Typically featuring stewed beef and tomatoes with a base of sofrito, its origins trace back to Spain where it holds a significant place in culinary heritage and is recognized as one of Cuba’s national dishes. The name “ropa vieja” likely stems from its historical use of repurposing leftovers from previous meals.

Historically, this dish finds its earliest roots among the Sephardic Jews of the Iberian Peninsula. Originating as a slow-cooked stew known as “handrajos,” reminiscent of the Spanish word “andrajos,” it was traditionally prepared for

consumption during the observance of Shabbat. Over time, the dish traversed regions, spreading to North Africa and the Canary Islands of Spain.

Immigrants from the Canary Islands are credited with bringing ropa vieja to the Americas, where it first appeared in Cuba around 1857. Despite its Spanish origins, it has become deeply ingrained in Cuban cuisine, representing a culinary fusion of diverse cultural influences. Today, ropa vieja stands as a symbol of cultural exchange and heritage, cherished as a quintessential Cuban national dish.

Our chefs meticulously craft this beloved Cuban classic, infusing it with authentic ingredients and traditional techniques passed down through generations. From the tender, slowcooked beef to the aromatic sofrito base, every element of our Ropa Vieja pays homage to its Spanish origins while embracing the unique nuances of Cuban cuisine. Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or a newcomer eager to explore new culinary horizons, we promise an unforgettable dining experience that will transport you to the sun-drenched streets of Havana. Join us at Bistro Cubano and let your taste buds revel in the irresistible allure of Ropa Vieja — a dish that embodies the essence of Cuba’s culinary legacy.

Backyard Bliss

Locally-owned company builds premium decks

By Angie Helvey, Contributing Writer Photos provided by Grand Decks

It’s that time of year when most Oregonians have grown tired of the winter season and are ready for spring! Many residents eagerly anticipate spending leisurely afternoons outdoors. Whether it’s lounging on the backyard deck with a refreshing beverage or hosting barbecues on the patio while children frolic in the yard, creating the perfect outdoor space is a priority. Alex Saculteanu, the proprietor of Grands Decks, specializes in bringing these outdoor dreams to life, and now is the ideal time to embark on your dream project!

Alex was working for a decking company in New Jersey about 13 years ago when composite decking became popular and he realized it was the wave of the future. He started his own decking business in Jersey called the Guardian and after much success, he moved to the Pacific Northwest and opened Grand Decks six years ago.

A thoughtfully crafted deck enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home while adding value and serving as a hub for social gatherings. Grands Decks offers a range of services including the design and construction of new decks, fences, patio covers and deck resurfacing. “Customers get confused because they think resurfacing refers to sanding and resealing their current deck surface,” Alex says. “But we actually replace

the floor. Most times we can use the current foundation and framing if it’s in good condition.”

With over a decade of experience in deck construction, Alex personally oversees every project to ensure impeccable quality and attention to detail. “As the project manager, I’m hands-on at the job site nearly every day,” Alex explains. “I ensure that my team follows the plans, delivers exceptional workmanship, and provides ongoing support to our clients throughout the process.”

Collaborating closely with clients to conceptualize their projects is Alex’s passion. “Building a deck is about creating a living space,” he emphasizes. “Understanding our clients’ vision and preferences is crucial as they’ll be spending a significant amount of time on the deck. We guide them through the entire process, offering samples, color options and visual aids to help them make informed decisions.”

Grands Decks utilizes premium materials from reputable manufacturers, with Trex® being their preferred choice for composite decking. Renowned for its durability, ecofriendliness, and longevity (with a lifespan of at least 25 years), Trex® is unmatched in terms of quality and performance. “Trex® offers superior products, customer service, and warranties,” Alex attests. “Our team is extensively trained in working with Trex® and adhering to industryspecific codes to ensure flawless construction and longterm satisfaction.” Trex also offers different grades of their composite at affordable prices so there are options and customers can choose what works for their budget.

In addition to Trex’s 25-year warranty, Grands Decks stands behind its workmanship with a three-year warranty for deck resurfacing and a five-year warranty for new deck installations. Transparency and integrity are at the core of Grands Decks’ business philosophy. They never alter the agreed-upon price mid-project, even if unforeseen expenses arise.

If you’re in the market for a new deck this year, you’ll want to start the process early. “From the moment the customer signs the contract we are working on architecture, blueprints and making engineering calculations, but many projects require permits from the city and we have no control over their timeline,” Alex explains. “It’s best to start the process at the beginning of the season or even before. That way in May or June you’ll be enjoying your new deck rather than waiting several weeks to start the project.”

As a friendly, locally-owned business, Grands Decks takes pride in fostering strong relationships with clients, prioritizing open communication and resolving any issues promptly. “Our motto is ‘no problems, just work to do’,” Alex declares. “We’re committed to delivering exceptional results and ensuring our clients’ complete satisfaction.”

Visit their website at granddecks.com for more information or to request a free estimate. Or give them a call at 503-305-3965.

Hoaxes & Hilaria

April Fools’ Day through the ages

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Gregorian Calendar

April Fools’ Day is often credited to the calendar reform of 1582 in France, during the transition from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Before this change, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1, consistent with traditions in other cultures such as the Hindu calendar.

However, with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar and the shifting of New Year’s Day to January 1, the observance of the new year got complicated. Some people were unaware or just refused to change and continued to celebrate the new year in late March through April 1, and these people were subjected to jests and pranks and mockingly called “April fools.”

A popular prank played back then involved placing paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting victims and referring to them as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), a term which supposedly symbolized both the innocence of a young, easily caught fish and that person’s gullibility. From there, a tradition of good-humored tricks, pranks and mischief began.

Hilaria in Rome

April Fools’ Day’s origins have also been credited to festivals like Hilaria in ancient Rome, celebrated by followers of the cult of Cybele. Hilaria, “joyful” in Latin, involved disguises and mockery, possibly inspired by Egyptian mythology. Another theory suggests a tie to the vernal equinox, with nature’s unpredictable weather fooling people.

The tradition spread in Britain during the 18th century, with Scotland adding a two day celebration. The first day, “hunting

the gowk,” sent people on fake errands (gowk meaning cuckoo bird, a symbol for a fool). This was followed by Tailie Day, featuring pranks on people’s butts such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.

Modern Day

Nowadays April Fools’ Day has become a playground for elaborate hoaxes. Newspapers, TV stations and websites will often create outrageous fictional claims to fool their audiences. In 1957, the BBC reported a record spaghetti crop in Switzerland, complete with footage of noodles being harvested from trees. In 1985, Sports Illustrated published a fake article about a pitcher named Sidd Finch throwing over 168 mph.

In 1992, NPR had a Richard Nixon impersonator announce a presidential run. In 1996, Taco Bell announced the purchase of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. And lastly, in 1998, Burger King advertised a “Left-Handed Whopper.” Google, on the other hand, has now become known for its annual pranks, from a “telepathic search” to turning Google Maps into Pac Man.

Homemade Toaster Pastries

Breakfast classic worthy of dessert

Ingredients

1 package rolled pie crust (2 count)

1 cup jam or preserves

1 large egg

1 cup powdered sugar

2–3 tablespoons milk or cream

½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

 Preheat oven to 400°F.  Lay sheet of parchment paper on baking sheet. Set aside. On a different sheet of parchment, unroll the crusts. Cut as many rectangles (approximately 3 by 5 inches) as you can from each crust — use an index card as a guide. Knead together remaining crusts and roll out into another large, thin piece (just under ¼ inches). Cut remaining

rectangles.  Beat egg in small bowl. Lay out 8 rectangles on parchment-lined baking sheet, adding 1 tablespoon of desired jam to each. Brush edges with egg wash. Then place another rectangle on top of rectangle with jam. Gently pinch edges to seal. Use fork to crimp edges. Poke some holes in top of pop tarts. Brush entire tops, including edges, with egg wash. Continue with rest of pop tarts.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool.  Whisk powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla. Spread over each pop tart. Top with sprinkles or whatever you desire!

Brown Sugar-Cinnamon

Filling and Icing

Combine ½ cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 tablespoons melted salted butter and 1 tablespoon flour. Scoop 1 tablespoon onto pastry. For icing, add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar to icing ingredients.

Cows, Racing, and Western Wonderland

The history of Alpenrose Dairy

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

Pony rides? Baseball? Go kart racing? A person unfamiliar with the history of Alpenrose Dairy might frown in confusion at the mention of such activities in relationship to a dairy, but for those of us fortunate enough to have grown up in the Portland area during the last half of the 20th century, the name Alpenrose conjures up so much more than just dairy products.

It all began in 1896 when Florian Cadonau, a Swiss immigrant, moved to Oregon with his wife Agnes. The couple purchased a dairy at 35th and Vermont (known then as Hoffman Road) and started delivering milk to customers via horse-drawn buggy. At the time, many Swiss immigrants were moving to Portland due to the state’s fertile land and temperate climate. So similar were Oregon and Switzerland in this respect that in 1912, Paul Ritter, the Swiss Ambassador to the United States, while touring the state called Oregon “a second, but a larger Switzerland.”

In 1916, Henry Cadonau, Florian’s son, along with his wife Rosina (daughter of the Swiss consul to Portland) took over the family business. Henry and Rosina established their own farm nearby at 45th and Vermont which they named Alpenrose Dairy. The next few decades saw Alpenrose expand its operations, thriving while other competing dairies fell prey to mergers and consolidations. However, in 1943 a fire destroyed a barn and other equipment, and the decision was made to relocate Alpenrose to its present location on Shattuck Road. For years the Alpenrose delivery truck was a common sight in Portland neighborhoods, delivering milk in glass bottles straight to the milk box at one’s front door. At its height, Alpenrose had 50 delivery trucks and 35,000 customers.

It was during the 1950s when Henry’s grandsons were playing baseball too near Rosina’s rose garden (and trampling some of her plants) that she tasked her husband with building a baseball field for the boys. It wasn’t long before the local Little League was playing there also, and dugouts, lights, and a scoreboard were subsequently added. In the following years two more fields were constructed, and Alpenrose became known for its excellent baseball facilities. For a number of years Alpenrose Field even hosted the Little League Softball World Series which was broadcast on ESPN.

As it turned out, the baseball fields were just the beginning of Alpenrose’s involvement in the community. A hundred Shetland ponies were purchased by the family shortly thereafter, and pony rides were offered to children visiting the dairy. The Cadonaus also brought the ponies to local events — making it possible for numerous children to experience their first horseback ride. Alpenrose trotted out their ponies to represent the dairy in many city parades as well.

Soon baseball and ponies were not the only attractions drawing people to Alpenrose. Uncle Ray, the father of Rod Birkland — a cousin of the Cadonau boys — being mechanically-minded, came up with the idea of a quarter-midget racing track. It wasn’t long before the idea became a reality, and child-sized race cars were zooming around a track a quarter-mile in length, set in a natural bowl shaped area with seating for up to 500 spectators. In addition to the midget racing track, a velodrome facility was added in 1967 for bicycle racing. Carl Cadonau Sr. was sold the idea by the owner of Kissler’s Cyclery, a longtime bicycle shop in Southwest Portland. At the time the Pan American games needed a location for cycling trials. The Alpenrose Velodrome was one of the first constructed in the U.S. for that purpose, and with the steepest bank of any outdoor velodrome in the world, it drew enthusiasts from around the globe.

With the popularity of the aforementioned facilities, the Cadonaus created a final addition to their burgeoning recreational wonderland — Dairyville. A dairy-themed village with Old Weststyle storefronts, the charming attraction featured a doll museum, a harness-maker’s shop, an ice cream parlor, a music shop, and a 600-seat opera house with a Skinner pipe organ (now located in Portland’s Keller Auditorium). For decades, Dairyland was the nexus of a plethora of community events, ranging from “Sunday Fundays” featuring kite flying and frog races to visits from Rusty Nails, a popular clown with a local television show for children. From trapeze acts to chariot racing, Alpenrose grew from just a local attraction to a major amusement venue for the entire region.

Rosina Cadonau became known simply as “Grandma” to generations of fourthgraders who field-tripped to Alpenrose to learn the operations of a dairy. “Swiss Miss” taught the children how to milk a cow and then escorted them across the street for ice cream and cookies baked by “Grandma.”

The winter holiday season saw Alpenrose transform into a magical place. Christmas in Dairyville featured Storybook Lane, an elaborate display with live animal displays and 300 Christmas trees set in a miniature town. Each year 400 volunteers gathered to set up and host this

traditional event that drew thousands of families from around the area.

Today, Alpenrose Dairy remains in operation, but Dairyville is closed. The race tracks and sports fields, too, face an uncertain future. A dispute between family members that ended in litigation resulted in Alpenrose being sold to the Kent, Washington-based Smith Brothers Farms. Smith Brothers continue to operate the dairy under the Alpenrose name. In July of 2021, items from the former Storybook Lane and Dairyville were sold at auction, bringing to a close one of Portland’s most cherished cultural treasures.

For those of us who grew up in Portland with the good fortune to partake in the sporting events, pony rides, fireworks, and holiday fun that was Alpenrose, we will forever miss this magical place. But we should all thank the Cadonau family for their generosity, decades of hard work, and a community spirit that transformed a regular dairy into a place that will reside in our memories forever!

Mattress World NW is a local, family-owned business dedicated to helping their customers get a better night’s sleep, serving their community and helping their employees have the best life possible. We serve our customers with the best selection in the NW and ensure confidence in your new mattress with free delivery and haul away, plus a 90 night comfort and price guarantee.

We support many local charities in the community like Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Senior Citizens Council of Clackamas County, Special Olympics Oregon, and many smaller organizations including high school fundraisers, for which we’ve raised over $200,000.

This April we are supporting Make-A-Wish Oregon’s World Wish Month campaign. World Wish Month celebrates all wish kids past, present and future, and is a remembrance of the first ever wish granted for Chris Greicius back in 1980. Thanks to the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, every dollar raised here in Oregon will be matched up to $300,000. Learn more at www.oregon.wish.org/worldwishday.

Thank you for your support! We are proud to serve your community.

CREATING JOY FOR CHILDREN FIGHTING CRITICAL ILLNESS

My name is Indie. I am 6 years old.

My wish was to be a princess. I love putting on princess outfits, going in the backyard and belting out my favorite songs. In fact, my neighbors knew when I got sick with cancer because they didn’t hear me singing in the backyard anymore.

After treatment, my wish brought me to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at the Walt Disney World® Resort. It was a total surprise. It brought me to this very good place where I wanted to be for two years. It felt like I was in the world where princesses live. I loved it very much!

My wish also created a special core memory for my family as we were watching the fireworks over the castle. I wanted to show my mom and dad how happy I felt, so I took a glow stick and made the shape of a cancer ribbon to wave high. It showed me that fighting cancer gives me power.

Today, I’m asking you to support me in donating so we can share that renewed strength with future wish kids.

Let’s show other kids in our community what can happen when a group of caring people rally around them to make dreams come true. Donate today in support of local, life-changing wishes, like mine.

Opus

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Agnes

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Cutera’s Nd: YAG and ProWave lasers use state-of-the-art technology to remove hair from all skin types. These lasers provide comfortable and long-lasting hair removal treatment you can count on.

ACCENT ULTRA V-SHAPE

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