Tualatin Community Advantage Magazine
Published by
Active Media Publishing Group
PO Box 672, Aurora, OR 97002
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503.825.2111
ADMINISTRATION
Matthew Nelson, Publisher Catrina Nelson, CFO
Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant
PRODUCTION
Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director
Donovan Darling, Creative Project Manager
Kate Astle, Copyeditor
Kaity VanHoose, Social Media Manager
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Hilary Berg Sean Carver
Dani DeGraw Brittany Jungenberg
Morgan King Justin Nelson Shawn Schmidt
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Patti Jo Brooks Olive Gallagher
Angie Helvey Lucas Holmgren
Robert Matsumura Dennis McNabb
Edward Novak Malia Riggs
Kelly Romo Gretchen Van Lente
Ty Walker Alice Williams
Justin Woomer Kerry Yu
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Laurel Bice Carly Carpenter
Tyler Francke Angie Helvey
Brittany Jungenberg Malaina Kinne
Lisa Kuhlman Kara Langley
Andrew Sambuceto Henry Schifter Hayley Starkey
ADVERTISING SPECIALISTS
Don Ormsby Bill Kistler
Stephanie Baker Peggy Jacobs
David Long Chris O’Brien
John Zobrist Brad Marti
Shelley Zeman Tina Toney
Darren Dwyer Lynnette Scott James Keller
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8 ART EXPRESSIONS Tammy Jo Wilson
TASTE OF THE TOWN Dub’s Tavern
Through July 31, 2024, Grocery Outlet Tigard at Bridgeport is teaming up with Packed With Pride & Hunger Fighters, to collect food and cash donations in-store
• Give $5, Get $5 - When you donate $5 or more in a single transaction in-store, you receive a coupon for your next purchase of $25 or more .
• Purchase a Pre-Made Bag - Several of our stores offer the ability to purchase pre-made bags with assortments of groceries selected by the local community organization the store participates in.
• Round-Up your Total - Make a donation of $1 or $5 at the register when checking out or round up your total transaction to the nearest dollar to donate!
• Donate Online - Donate online and contribute to support foodinsecure households in the San Francisco Bay Area. All online donations go to the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
• Spread the Word - Share our campaign with your friends and family and encourage them to contribute to their local store or donations online!
IVisual Differences
Artist reveals Black female experience
By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer
n today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world, facing a constant barrage of new and compelling information means that we are always grappling to find clarity of purpose. It is increasingly rare, it seems, to meet people who are calm, composed and resolute in their goals. That is why it is such a breath of fresh air to speak with someone like artist, curator and arts organizer Tammy Jo Wilson. Not only is she committed to said objectives, but it’s for the betterment of all — for making this world a better place.
In her own words, reflected on her website, Tammy Jo seeks to, “Share through [her] work an expanded view of the black female experience in the 21st century. [She is] speaking to those among us that are looking for a broader understanding of commonalities rather than differences.
Historically rooted in the feminist art movement [her] work attempts to further the unraveling of antiquated thinking around women in art and society. [She offers] a visual entrance to an expanded view of the black female experience and the raw realities faced by marginalized people.”
She goes on further to state, “[Her] practice has evolved over the past 10 years to be less about individual identity and more reflective of cultural and societal understanding of inflicted identity versus projected identity. And she is “Interested in pushing back against what the Western art canon tells us black women’s art is, or should be.” It’s this last point I find most compelling in her work. Because as clear as her vocalized intent is, her absolutely gorgeous but sometimes eerie and abstract pieces are far less transparent. The true depth and meaning behind each piece is cleverly disguised under layers of symbolism and only revealed after careful study.
Tammy Jo is the quintessential artist. Encouraged at a young age, she began studying under professionals in high school. With both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in
Fine Arts, she has traveled every state in the country expanding and honing her craft. She has taught multiple classes and for the past 14 years held the position of Visual Arts and Technology Program Manager at Lewis & Clark College. In 2017, she co-founded Art in Oregon (AiO), a statewide visual-arts-focused nonprofit working to build bridges between artists and communities. In 2022, she also became Director of the Bush House Museum Exhibits & Programming.
Never one to rest on her laurels, Tammy Jo was recently involved in the Black Artists of Oregon Exhibition, a historic retrospective she was incredibly proud to be a part of. In May, she exhibited some of her most recent work (including her first full-sized wall mural) at the Souvenir Gallery in Portland. She is also working on an upcoming documentary short film series with MOsley WOtta called “Sketch and Release,” which will highlight black artists in Oregon.
For more information, follow her on Instagram: tammyjowilsonart or check out www.tammyjowilson.com.
The people at Willamette Outdoor wash are on time, polite, friendly, hard workers who take care to not harm plants around the house. They washed our vinyl siding and applied moss control to our roof. The house looks brilliant now. We plan to use them to in the future as need arises, and can recommend them with confidence.
-Michael H.
I am the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Gilbert House Children’s Museum and recently hired Gary and his team to pressure wash our Outdoor Discovery Area. They were prompt, professional, and did an amazing job cleaning the space. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for their service.
Thank you!
-Meyer R.
The Family Legacy Continues
Same corner, same amazing food, fun and fantastic service
By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer
by Brittany Jungenberg
The tavern at the corner where Borland and Stafford Roads intersect has been owned by the Wanker family since its inception back in 1961. Walter “Dubs” Wanker was a passionate and hard-working man, and it was his distinct vision which established a legacy that has persisted for over 60 years. Passed down first to his daughter and most recently (as of January 2022) to his granddaughter, Tracie Tolbert, the family tradition lives on! And it has never been stronger!
Walking into Dub’s Tavern is like walking through a portal back to the ’60s. The walls are teeming with fun and fantastic bits of nostalgia: old license plates, hats, photos, you name it. An entire evening could be spent enthralled with the decor, and you won’t even have witnessed half of what there is to see. It’s a veritable archive of local events which have taken place over the past six decades. It’s warm, it’s inviting, and it’s everything you look for in a tavern.
And the food is outstanding! If you’ve been before, the menu hasn’t changed much, but Tracie understands the importance of not fixing what isn’t broken. If you’re coming in for your favorite burgers or ribs, fear not, they still serve them! What she has done though is add a couple of exciting new dishes. So next time you’re in, try their brisket sandwich, one of their pulled pork items, or one of their new appetizers. And for the first time in their long history, they are now serving amazing breakfasts on Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Since Tracie took the reins last year, she has put her heart and soul into honoring the legacy her family built while subtly making some small improvements and upgrades to carry them over the next 60 years. Some of you will have already noticed that she installed a new deck with heaters, a cover, and is working on getting ADA compliant restrooms. And there will be more changes to come as she adjusts to her new role.
Most importantly, she goes to work every day with a smile. She loves nothing more than seeing familiar faces and welcoming them in. This is a locally-owned and -operated business with ties to the community going back decades. If you’ve been looking for a neighborhood bar to call home, look no further than Dub’s Tavern.
Happy Hour is 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m. every day but Sunday. Come down and get a taste of local!
Dub’s Tavern is located at 2509 SW Borland Road in West Linn. Give them a call at (503) 638-2523.
Photos
Archers, Fair Maidens and Fun Galore
By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer
Inearby communities. In an effort to generate publicity for Sherwood, a group of World War II vets saw an opportunity to tie the town’s name with the Robin Hood fever in the air due to the re-release of the 1938 movie “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Dressing up in Robin Hood attire, the vets would make appearances at movie theaters where the film was playing. These costumed characters proved so popular with moviegoers that the theater owners invited them back, and eventually they came to represent the town of Sherwood in numerous festivals throughout the Portland area.
By 1954, the vets had inspired an entire medieval event that became known as the Robin Hood Festival. In 1956, the Chairman of the Robin Hood Festival issued a challenge to the people of Nottingham, England for an archery competition pitting archers from around the Pacific Northwest against their fellow archers in the U.K. A silver Tiffany bowl was contributed to the event by the festival association as a prize trophy. The challenge was accepted by the archers of Nottingham, and the popular competition continues annually to this day.
f you’re in Sherwood in the summertime, don’t be alarmed if you encounter men dressed in tights and medieval garb, brandishing bows and arrows. If this is the case, you’re likely in the midst of the town’s annual Robin Hood Festival. The town was originally named Smockville after its founder, James C. Smock, and was renamed Sherwood in 1892 due to general dissatisfaction with its prior name — the consensus being that “Smockville” was not representative of the town, nor befitting its status as a thriving hub in Oregon’s burgeoning new economy. At the suggestion of local businessman, Robert Alexander, the name “Sherwood” was adopted. Alexander was a transplant to the area from Sherwood, Michigan, and maintained that the verdant forests surrounding the town evoked the Sherwood Forest in England of Robin Hood fame. Following World War II, with the development of Highway 99, Sherwood found itself competing for business with other
Along with the archery competition, the Robin Hood Festival features a parade highlighted by Maid Marian and her Court — local girls of varying ages who represent Sherwood in community events and festivals throughout the state — and Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Also popular is a Renaissance Village that includes a traditional Knighting Ceremony and medieval reenactments such as swordplay, magicians, alchemists and clowns. In addition to the parade and historical entertainment, there is also a Vendor Village with booths for shopping, as well as food and drink galore with a beer/wine/cider garden featuring selections from local wineries and breweries. And what festival would be complete without music and dancing? The Robin Hood Festival provides plenty of both, showcasing bands from throughout the area on their two stages.
The Robin Hood Festival is typically scheduled for mid-July and happening July 19-20 this year. So if a mid-summer gala steeped in medieval pageantry and the traditions of Robin Hood is up your alley, be sure to mark your calendar for this wildly popular annual event. In our fast-paced digital era, Sherwood’s wonderful festival is a whimsical nod to simpler times and the magic of old fashioned entertainment. For further information visit robinhoodfestival.org.
70+ Years of Sherwood’s Robin Hood Festival
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This We’ll Defend
U.S. Army vet turns dedicated fire marshal
By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer
David Nelson is what one might affectionately refer to as a relic of a bygone era. He is the type of man we refer to with hushed reverential tones and argue, “They don’t make them like that anymore.” He is a man of grit and principle with a DIY sensibility and a work ethic second to none. After dedicating his life to the service of others, of literally putting his own life on the line to ensure the safety of the community at large, he is a man to be venerated.
It all began in 1966, when at the age of 24, David was drafted into the U.S. Army. At that time, he had a promising job working as a safety engineer for an insurance company and was also a volunteer firefighter with the Beaverton Fire Department. Following the invitation to serve his country, he left his home in Oregon to attend boot camp at Fort Ord, California, where he was quickly recognized for his innate leadership skills. He was promoted to Squad Leader for Infantry Training and named “Outstanding Trainee” of his entire Company (250 men)! He was then assigned to Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Lee, Virginia, where, upon completion, he would find his name listed on the shipping roster to go to Vietnam.
Before leaving, however, he would discover that his father was
ABOVE: David Nelson (second from left) with his Fort Lewis crew in the ’60s. TOP RIGHT: A young David Nelson proudly serving in the U.S. Army. RIGHT: Retired Beaverton Fire Department Fire Marshal David Nelson speaks during the dedication of a historical plaque he spearheaded. Hanging in the Beaverton City Library, the plaque honors the historic fire district now a part of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.
diagnosed with leukemia, and he would receive a “compassionate reassignment” to go instead to Fort Lewis, Washington, which enabled him to be closer to his father. Reporting for duty, he requested and was granted assignment to the Crash Rescue Fire Station at Fort Lewis Gray Army Airfield. A lot of the work the Crash Rescue Team did was familiar, and utilized not only his insurance industry experience, but also his education and background in firefighting and prevention. He served the balance of his tour as Crew Chief and was discharged as a Sgt E5.
David’s father was Fire Chief and one of the founders of the Summit Fire Department in Woodinville, Washington. David had grown up in that environment, attended and graduated from the Oklahoma State University’s School of Fire Protection (one of only two schools in the entire country at the time that offered such a program), and had always intended to be in some way involved in the fire service. As it happened, David was able to utilize that prior training to his and the Army’s advantage and gain additional experience. When he was honorably discharged in 1968, David returned to his insurance job (which, incidentally, he had continued to work part-time, even while in the Army). A year later, he left the insurance company and
would join the Beaverton Fire Department as a paid firefighter, becoming Fire Marshal for the City; he retired from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in 1999.
David is a highly-decorated and well-respected member of the firefighting community. Throughout his lifetime of dedicated service, to his country, community and friends and neighbors, David Nelson has always put the safety and wellbeing of others before his own. Next time you see him in town, make sure to recognize him for his brave and selfless nature, and thank him for his service.
DAVID NELSON
PHOTO BY
PHOTO PROVIDED
