Tualatin Community Advantage Magazine - July 2023

ADMINISTRATION

Matthew Nelson, Publisher

Catrina Nelson, CFO

Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant

Donovan Darling, Content Manager

PRODUCTION

Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director

Hilary Berg, Sr. Graphic Designer

Sean Carver, Sr. Graphic Designer

Brittany Jungenberg, Sr. Graphic Designer

Morgan King, Sr. Graphic Designer

Shawn Schmidt, Sr. Graphic Designer

Kate Astle, Proofreader

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

David Bates Patti Jo Brooks

Tyler Francke Olive Gallagher

Angie Helvey Robert Matsumura

Dennis McNabb Kelly Romo

Alice Wiliams

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Laurel Bice Carly Carpenter

Tyler Francke Angie Helvey

Malaina Kinne Lisa Kuhlman

Kara Langley Tayler Lundquist

Andrew Sambuceto Henry Schifter

Hayley Starkey Brittney Waterman

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

Ashley Berotte

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Grateful to Serve

Inspired in business and bravery

give back to his community, he signed on to the blended band of professional staff and volunteers. Looking back, he realizes how much that decision directed everything that came next in his life. That choice made him realize that because his family had a background in the armed services, he was pulled to become “civically responsible” and support his community in some essential way.

Over the course of the eight years he was with the department, he worked to fill needs within the ranks, becoming both a certified Oregon EMT and a Lieutenant. When asked where the courage comes from to run into a fire, he replied, “Good mentors, good training, good equipment.” As he matured within the department, he realized how lucky he was to be alive and doing what he was doing.

Crawling on your hands and feet into a structure fire, holding onto your fire brothers and sisters, you also learn over time to deal with the trauma and not panic, knowing someone’s got your back. It’s life safety first on the line: after that you just mitigate the circumstances the best you can. If you can portray calm in the middle of a storm, that’s invaluable.”

By Olive Gallagher, Contributing Writer

Acommon quality found in unsung heroes is a desire to give, rather than take. That impulse seems to be propelled by the desire to fill a need in the community or care for others. In Matt Zacher’s case, it was both.

Raised in Canby, Matt is highly aware of how fortunate he was, as an only child, to have loving parents who provided a safe, stable home. Canby Rental & Equipment, a firm that rents, sells and services outdoor power equipment to homeowners, landscapers, and tree services, was founded in 1979 by his grandfather. While Matt initially wasn’t driven to someday be the boss and take over the company, he grew up among family members who worked together — not always an easy feat among family-owned businesses, where boundaries are easily blurred and personal relationships are strained.

He was an honor student and wanted to play football, but his small frame ruled out that possibility. While earning a BS in Business Administration at the University of Oregon, he discovered he much preferred marketing to accounting. After graduating in 1999, Matt joined CRE, working in various jobs in the company but not particularly expected or needed to take over.

One day in 2005, after moving into his first home in Molalla, he drove by the fire department and noticed a sign recruiting volunteers. Propelled by a strong post-9/11 desire to

In 2008, after taking over the company, he realized the patience and perspective he had acquired in the department now served him well. He also realized his father had been silently grooming him to shoulder the responsibilities he now happily carries. Asked what one quality he values most in dealing with others, Matt’s answer was simple: “Choose kindness.”

Zucchini Chips & Yogurt-Garlic Dip

Delicious summer snacking

Chip Ingredients

2–3 mediums zucchinis

2 tablespoons avocado oil

2 tablespoons onion powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (plus to taste)

* fresh parsley for garnish

Directions

 Preheat oven to 250°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.  Using a mandolin slicer, carefully slice the unpeeled zucchinis in 1/8-inch slices, lightly patting the slices with a paper towel or napkin as

you go to remove excess water.  Place slices onto baking sheets; add avocado oil and season with garlic, onion and sea salt. Bake for 11/4 to 11/2 hours. Check chips frequently throughout last 15 to 30 minutes as different slices cook faster depending on location in the oven.  Remove chips once crisped to liking. Add more salt if desired. Sprinkle with parsley.

Dip Ingredients

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

* pepitas for garnish

Directions

 Combine all ingredients, giving them a good stir. Refrigerate.  Garnish with pepitas.

DAYS OF THE DOG STAR

The ancient origins of summer heat folklore

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Everyone has heard the saying ‘Dog Days of Summer,’ but what are they, when are they, and what does it even mean?

The Dog Days of Summer stretch for 40 days from July 3 to August 11, referring to the especially hot and humid summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, yet their roots began with ancient civilizations.

The Dog Days of Summer coincide with the dawn rising of the star Sirius, also known as the Dog Star. Part of the constellation Canis Majoris (the “Greater Dog”), this is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as its official name Alpha Canis Majoris. Apart from our own Sun, sometimes known as Sol (Latin for “sun”), Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.

Way back in ancient Rome and Greece, the Dog Days of Summer were thought to be a season of drought, unrest, and bad luck, where men and dogs would go mad due to the heat. More so, the combination of Sirius’ light and heat with the Sun’s was thought to affect men and women, animals and plants, even blighting the bark from tree trunks. These days we don’t think of the Dog Days so dramatically – and mostly farmers are concerned with them – but rather, we think of them as a period of peak summer temperatures and humidity.

In ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, all known for their extensive knowledge of astronomy and science yet still rooted deeply in folklore and superstition, they believed that the heliacal (“at sunrise”) rising of Sirius during this period caused the blistering seasonal heat. More specifically, that the heat of our own Sun and super-bright Sirius combined caused this “scorching” heat. The name “Sirius,” from the Ancient Greek seírios, even means “scorching.” For the ancient Egyptians specifically, the dawn rising of Sirius (also known as Sothis to the Egyptians) coincided with the flooding of the Nile River, and they used the star as a “barometer” to help predict when the flooding would occur. Contrary to ancient belief, we know now that the dawn rising of Sirius does not affect seasonal weather, but its appearance during the hottest part of summer does keep the folklore of the Dog Days alive and well.

Dog days bright and clear Indicate a good year; But when accompanied by rain, We hope for better times in vain.

(Henry Harrison Chase Dunwoody’s “Proverbs Relating to Months, Weeks, and Days”)

Sunny Days Ahead

Protect your skin from damaging rays

By Christine Lewy, Divine Complexions

The sun has arrived, and I wouldn’t be a good esthetician if I didn’t write an article on sunscreen!

Summertime signals more exposure as we start to think about getting a nice tan! It’s really only the last couple of decades that we’ve known about the harmful effects of tanning inside and outside. As an esthetician, one of the biggest complaints I hear from my clients is their disgust for their sunspots. These happen over time as we age from damage done from the sun. They may also worsen or darken when you’re outside for during the sunnier months.

But why are the sun rays so harmful and cause aging? The sun has two type of UV rays, UVA and UVB. The UVB rays from the sun are those tanning burning rays, which maybe you love to bask in when the sun comes out... hello sunspots. But did you know that the UVA rays, the other type of light emitted from

the sun, penetrates clouds and windows and this is the type of light ray that causes skin aging and even skin cancer? This is why wearing sunscreen on any exposed skin every single day is so important, even on cloudy rainy days.

The light from the sun alters our skin cells’ DNA, which can eventually lead to skin cancer. Some tanning beds are like light rays on steroids and even more dangerous than lying outside on a sunny day. So steer clear of traditional tanning and choose a good for you self tanner! My new at home favorite for fool-proof gradual tan skin…the Coola Sunless Tan Dry Oil Mist.

Sunscreens have come such a long way! There are fast absorbing formulas, formulas with a tint, and oil free formulas for acne prone skin! Need help finding the right one? Check out some of my favorites below.

I love your feedback and questions, so don’t hesitate to reach out at info@DivineComplexions.com.

CHRISTINE LEWY Licensed Esthetician • Owner of Divine Complexions Spa Award-Winning West Coast GloSkinBeauty Makeup Artist • NW Regional YUMI Lashes Educator

Opening Doors

Garage door installation, repair and maintenance

to help our customers decide which door they would like,” Ryan notes. Some of the more popular residential selections are insulated Classic™ Steel and Modern Steel™ doors. Various styles are available to complement both the home’s architecture and the customer’s preferences. All-glass doors are also very popular today. They have a great modern look and eye-catching curb appeal. Whatever style you desire, whether a simple steel door or a custom designed wood door, Oregon City Garage Door has the door for you!

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer

Photos by Brittney Waterman

Let Oregon City Garage Door

Open the Door for You!

Experts in residential and commercial overhead garage doors, they will install, repair and maintain your new or existing garage door. Serving the Greater Portland Area and SW Washington, Oregon City Garage Door takes care of everything from a squeaky door or broken spring to custom installation and repairs for large commercial properties.

When you call Oregon City Garage Door, “You’re calling a professional,” says owner Ryan Dissen. Focused on customer service and fast turnaround time, many repairs are handled with same-day service. “We have 11 vehicles stocked and ready to go,” Ryan points out. New doors manufactured by Clopay (American-made and American-owned), can be scheduled for installation once they arrive at the local distribution center in Portland. Depending on the make and model, some doors are already in stock. Custom orders may take around three to four weeks to reach the local warehouse.

If you’re shopping for a new door, stop by Oregon City Garage Door and view a first-hand demonstration of one of their fully-operating doors. With the ease of a garage door opener, you’ll see how smoothly the installed door opens and closes. The showroom also features additional doors, representing four different styles on a sliding track for easy viewing. “We have samples, brochures and literature

A company that specializes in commercial projects as well, Oregon City Garage Door has every size and purpose of industrial door available — garage, bay or service door — including roll-ups and security grills. With a team of estimators on hand, commercial and residential estimates for new projects are completed in just a day or two. Follow up text messages are a way for clients to rate their overall experience. Watch for or ask about any current discounts, coupons or specials.

Family-owned and -operated, Ryan Dissen purchased the Oregon City Garage Door business from its previous owner in 2006. “We started as a one-man show seventeen years ago working out of the garage, and over the years continued to grow the company,” Ryan explains. Now, 17 years later, the business is run from a brick-and-mortar building owned by Ryan that includes a showroom and approximately seventeen employees. Ryan’s son, Tyler, is one of the company’s commercial installers. Ryan believes in treating everyone like family. Employees enjoy barbeques, birthdays and holiday celebrations. New hires often come through referrals because the employees like working there so much and are quick to make a recommendation.

Ryan grew up in Oregon City and graduated from Oregon City High School in 1996. He enlisted in the Air Force and worked in the munitions systems career field before taking over the Oregon City Garage Door business. Ryan also has a daughter who had worked for him in the office prior to following her father’s footsteps and joining the Air Force. Ryan continues his close ties to the community through membership, donations and fundraisers for the Oregon City Elks Lodge Christmas Basket program. Donations have also been made to La Salle High School for their softball hitting facility in which Oregon City Garage Door donated labor and installation services to accompany R&S Manufacturing’s donated garage door.

Stop by the Oregon City Garage Door showroom located at 16000 SE Evelyn St. in Clackamas. Call (503) 420-5168 or visit their website at oregoncitygaragedoor.com for more information.

Putting the Unity in Community

Family business serving Tigard since 2016

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Photos by Lee Gochenour

Unity Laundromat is locally-owned and -operated by Richard and Naila Lundstrom. They purchased the business in 2016, entrenched in the belief that everyone must work together to build a strong community. They aptly renamed the laundromat Unity. To them, Unity is not just a laundromat, but a communal space where you can get to know your neighbor, sit and read a book from the sharing library, or enter to win one of their regular customer appreciation raffles.

With this idea of customer comfort in mind, they completely renovated their facilities and turned them into a comfortable, clean and welcoming environment. With fresh paint, new signage, new machines, additional lighting, folding space and seating areas, Unity was transformed. They provide customers with the largest selection of washers, dryers and folding tables in the area! For those with oversized comforters and sleeping bags, they have large capacity machines to accommodate you. There is plenty of seating, vending machines for snacks or soap and free Wi-Fi! Unity is cleaned twice daily, once during the day and a deep clean every night.

All top-of-the-line Unity machines are manufactured by Speed Queen, one of the industry’s leading manufacturers. These high-end, innovative machines are eco-friendly and

no longer rely on the need for coins. No more pockets full of quarters! Coins are still an option on some machines, but they all run on credit/debit cards or the Unity Fascard! Even more impressively, the Fascard allows customers to accrue points towards free services. Along with the Fascard app, customers are able to monitor which machines are available, track the status of their loads and even receive notification when loads are complete.

This is a locally-owned and -operated business with 2 locations in Tigard: one at 11945 SW Pacific Hwy Ste. 123 (Tigard Plaza) and the other at 14305 SW Pacific Hwy (Canterbury Square). Richard and Naila are active members of the community. They support various local nonprofits such as Just Compassion and the TTSD Foundation.

Next time you do laundry, come down to Unity Laundromat and become a part of the Unity Family!

Unity Laundromat is located in Tigard. Both locations can be reached at 503-894-5819. Visit unitylaundromat.com for more information.

Heat Blocker Extreme® is one of the most energy efficient residential windows available! Dave's presentation took 30 minutes and the price was 1/3 the cost of double pane windows and a 4 hour presentation by another company…….. The reduction in street noise with these new windows is amazing………..YELP REVIEW

As

Oregon’s Own Marionberry

Beloved hybrid berry created in 1940s Oregon

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

If you’re like many Oregonians, summertime and Marionberries go hand-in-hand. From early July through August, Marionberries are harvested and begin appearing in the produce section of grocery stores, pies and a plethora of other food and drink items. But, did you know that this scrumptious berry did not even exist until the 1940s? Had you walked into a Portland diner in the 1920s and asked for a slice of Marionberry pie, you would have been met with puzzled looks.

While an urban myth circulates that the Marionberry was named for the American politician Marion Barry, the actual origin of this delectable berry traces back to the 1940s when the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University collaborated to create a blackberry hybrid like no other. The two organizations have long worked together cross-breeding berries in an effort to produce varieties with greater flavor, fragrance and higher yields. In the Marionberry this collaboration struck pure gold.

It was USDA horticulturist George F. Waldo with the agency’s station in Corvallis, and horticulturists from Oregon State University, who were responsible for bringing us some of our state’s signature berries. One of these was the Hood Strawberry — the favored variety of Oregon berry farmers and local consumers alike. The other berry creation was the Marionberry. This partnership between USDA berry breeders and OSU horticulturists is unique — a true oneof-a-kind collaboration that has spanned over a century and exists nowhere else in the world.

Chad Finn, a USDA-ARS research geneticist who currently occupies Waldo’s previous position in Corvallis, describes Waldo’s pioneering work as, “classical plant breeding,” a process that is “always a combination of art and science.” Finn’s admiration runs deep. “One of the things that I think is lost, really, is that he created a whole crop that never existed before,” Finn explained. “That’s remarkable.

We would be dead in the water without him or somebody like him.” Because much of the early testing for this new berry creation was done in Marion County, it was called the “Marionberry.”

So, what exactly is a Marionberry? The Marionberry is a cross between a Chehalem blackberry (a berry with native blackberry, loganberry and raspberry in its genetics) with an Ollalieberry (another blackberry crossbreed). All that one needs to know, though, is that it is absolutely delicious! Linda Strand of the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission

George F. Waldo

describes the Marionberry as “sweeter than most other berries, but not overly so.” She shared that “in blind taste tests around the country, people always prefer it. It’s our gold standard in the industry.”

Marionberries are often marketed as being seedless, but, in fact, a seedless berry is actually impossible. Even though one detects no seeds while eating a Marionberry, there are, indeed, extremely flat, thin seeds in the berries that are coated with a gelatinous material that renders them undetectable to the tongue.

According to Bernadine Strik, an OSU professor and leader of the university’s berry research program, “Oregon continues to be known as the premier blackberry growing region in the world,” she proclaims. “It’s a fact.” And of all types of blackberries grown in Oregon, the Marionberry still reigns supreme, called by some the “Cabernet of blackberries.” The Marionberry accounts for approximately 25% of the state’s berry production, which is an impressive accomplishment for a variety that was developed over 50 years ago, and must continually compete with newer rivals bred to topple the Marionberry from its throne.

So popular was the Marionberry that in 2009 an effort was made to make it the official state berry. Many legislators supported the initiative, but ultimately the proposal was abandoned when a prominent berry producer insisted that focus on a specific berry variety might damage the sales of others. And while the Marionberry didn’t achieve official status as the state berry, the Pacific Northwest and Oregon in particular still maintain supremacy in the

production of this highly prized berry.

Not only do the Willamette Valley’s cool, mild winters and warm, temperate summers create the ideal climate for berries to thrive in, but decades of Marionberry cultivation have resulted in the development of harvesting techniques specifically designed for obtaining the optimal yield. Marionberries are delicate by nature, and in order to maintain consistent flavor and texture — particularly for processed products — specialized technology is employed to ensure only ripe berries

of Marionberries. And while Marionberries are still a wildly popular treasure of summer, the cultivation of these marvels of the berry world pose a number of challenges. Since

are harvested (unlike other berry types which are harvested in large batches without such care). During the compressed four-week season that commences with Independence Day, Marionberries are picked every few days with finely calibrated row machines that vibrate at designated frequencies causing only the ripe berries to detach themselves from the plants for collection.

It is this combination of ideal climate combined with specialized harvesting technology that has limited the production of Marionberries to this region. Other areas of the country lack either the climate and/or harvesting technology which are critical for successful commercial production

Marionberries are thorny, hand-picking is difficult (requiring specialized machinery as noted above), and they are less cold-tolerant than other varieties, which can affect variances in production volume. These are a few of the challenges horticulturists are striving to solve through selective breeding and experimentation.

If you’re wondering about the difference between Marionberries and blackberries, here’s a simple rule of thumb: Not all blackberries are Marionberries, but all Marionberries are a type of blackberry. Visually, Marionberries are more oblong, and tend to be sweeter and juicier than blackberries, and in general a bit firmer.

So, the next time you’re enjoying a slice of Marionberry pie or, perhaps, a Marionberry ice cream cone on a warm summer day, remember George F. Waldo and the many hard-working horticulturists at the USDA and Oregon State University who over the years have created this delectable true Oregon original, and are still striving to develop new delicious berries for future generations.

Going Against the Grain

Local artist creates custom wares, furniture and 3D artwork

By Dennis McNabb, Staff Writer

There’s something special about woodwork, isn’t there? Whether it’s the beautiful natural grain, the interesting twists and gnarls that inform its shape, or the knowledge that it was once a living thing, we connect to and appreciate art made of wood in unique and distinctive ways. Particularly here in the Northwest, where our forests are such an integral part of our economy and also our identity, we have an even stronger affinity for the medium. This is what inspired local artist, Ethan Hill, to follow his current path.

Ethan grew up working with his hands. When both his father and a close friend began working with wood, Ethan discovered that he was not only drawn to it but also naturally adept. With no formal training and working only out of his garage, Ethan experimented with an endless variety of methods and outcomes until he found his niche in building cutting boards. Customdesigned to any specifications, his beautiful cutting boards are what put his name on the map. Through mere word-of-mouth, he has built himself an impeccable reputation and an impressive following. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg!

In recent months, he has added 3D art and furniture to his growing list of offerings. The 3D art pieces are laser-cut, painted and layered images that look absolutely fantastic on your wall! Subjects currently include farm animals, wildlife and landscapes, but he is always expanding. Similarly, the furniture he is currently making is primarily wood (although sometimes reinforced with metal) and restricted to non-cushioned

items like epoxy tables, coffee tables and more. That said, the future holds nothing but open possibilities, and Ethan hopes to expand all of these lines. At some point, he even hopes to move beyond wood to include other mediums.

Beautiful, natural wood art holds a special place in all of our hearts. When it’s done right, there is nothing more striking or original. Every piece has its unique qualities, its own stories to tell. And Ethan Hill is a master of absolutely stunning pieces that you have to see for yourself to believe. Discover this local rising artist now and tell your friends later, “you knew him when…”

Check out his website at hillsideworkshop.com for more details. You can also find him on Instagram (@Hillsideworkshop) or at the Sherwood Farmers Market.