Tualatin Community Advantage Magazine November 2022

Cabinet Cures THE CURE FOR THE COMMON CABINET

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Published by

Active Media Publishing Group PO Box 672 · Aurora, OR 97002 info@ActiveMediaUSA.com 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

Ashley Berotte

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COVER PHOTO BY CARLY CARPENTER

The Ultimate Burger Experience

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Photos By Craig Brubaker

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that hamburgers are one of the world’s most popular foods–we consume nearly 50 billion of them annually here in the United States alone! That said, there is little argument over the fact that not all burgers are created equal. Some would toss a chip of beef and some toppings on a bun and call it a day. Others toil for countless hours in the test kitchen perfecting their recipes, and present to us only the finest culinary delights. They serve art on a plate! Case in point: Killer Burger, where the burger is not just a meal, but an experience.

The location here in Lake Oswego just opened in January of this year, and Owner Lamichael James couldn’t be more grateful for the city’s warm welcome. Many of you will remember James as a local boy who made it to the big stage–a star running back for The Ducks before going on to play for both The 49ers and The Dolphins in the NFL. After retiring from the NFL and returning home, it was time to expand his horizons. Killer Burger, a smaller local franchiser, offered him the perfect opportunity. It not only provided an excellent business model with terrific growth potential, but also allowed him to serve and promote the local economy, to give back to those communities who supported him on his journey.

So, what is it about Killer Burger that makes their brand so “killer”? To start, every burger is crafted with 1/3 pound fresh, never-frozen, 100% ground chuck seared to perfection. Every burger includes bacon and an expertly-balanced flavor profile of varied and generous toppings as well as delicious made-to-order fries. And these are gourmet burgers, you won’t find anything “run-of-the-mill” on this menu. One of their most popular items is their Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon, including bacon, peanut butter sauce, house sauce, mayo, grilled onions, and pickle. But other unusual concoctions include their Teemah:

bacon, bleu cheese fondue and crumbles, house sauce, grilled onions, and pickle; and their Jose Mendoza: bacon, roasted green chilies, Monterey Jack, house sauce, grilled onions, and pickle. Those with food sensitivities can also rejoice! Not only do they serve fantastic meatless veggie patty substitutes, they also offer lettuce wraps and gluten free buns! Any way you slice it, you are guaranteed a mouth-watering explosion of flavor in every bite!

Of course, what’s a great burger without a great beer? 6-8 beers are typically on tap (and almost always local), which means you always have the perfect pairing with your meal. A local franchise owned by a local resident serving the finest in local cuisine using local ingredients. Supporting Killer Burger is supporting your local community!

Come down today. Tuck into a delicious juicy burger, fries, and a beer, and say hello to a local football star in the process! The experience is guaranteed to be killer!

Killer Burger is located at 9 Centerpointe Drive Suite C in Lake Oswego (off of Kruse Way, close to I-5). View their menu or order online at killerburger.com/locations/lake-oswego/.

CABINET CURES THE CURE FOR THE COMMON C ABINET

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer • Photos by Carly Carpenter

F or most of us, our kitchens are an integral part of our living space. No longer simply functional, they act as a central hub, a social gathering area for family and friends alike. To some extent, they are a visual representation of our personal aesthetic, and as such they have the strongest capacity to become outdated in appearance. Unfortunately, kitchens are simultaneously one of the most cost-prohibitive rooms to remodel. For a fraction of that cost, however, you can reface and refinish your cabinetry, and transform what was once an ordinary or outdated kitchen (or bathroom) into a fresh and luxurious custom showpiece using Cabinet Cures.

Husband and wife team, Kelly and Kelly Koch (pronounced Cook) founded the business out of their garage in 1985.

Through hard work and tireless dedication to the highest standards of excellence in both customer service and craft, Cabinet Cures has grown to become quite simply the best in the industry. By using their own state-of-the-art process, they are able to perform unbelievably beautiful kitchen and bathroom “makeovers” without the higher costs and inconveniences associated with complete remodels— although, as an option, they do fabricate new custom cabinets as well. In fact, regarding options, they offer more design, modification, and color choices than any of the competition, and they’re the only ones who offer a guaranteed start date on every job!

While for a time they were focused

on expansion and franchise locations could be found across the country, the Kochs have since decided to reign things in and centralize their efforts on their Sherwood headquarters. Their main 20,000 sq. ft. production facility has actually been located in Sherwood since 2008, but it was just in July of 2021 that they opened their gorgeous brand new showroom. And what a sight it is to behold! This is not a retail space, this is a design space, established specifically for you, the customer, so that you can see first-hand exactly what Cabinet Cures can do for you.

This is truly a family business! It is locally owned and operated by the Koch family: Kelly and Kelly; their son, Charlie (Head of Production); their daughter Jamie (Design Manager); and Charlie’s wife, Julia (Lead Designer). Their other 23 employees are equally “part of the family,” as are their Sherwood neighbors. This is their home, and they are honored to service the western Portland metro area. Everything is manufactured in-house to your specifications. There is no cookie-cutter piecemeal work done here, and every job is completed one-at-a-time to ensure you get their full attention and support throughout the process.

If you are considering updating your kitchen or bathroom, there is only one place you need to call! Cabinet Cures: 503-832-6461 (for a free in-home design consultation). You can also check out their website, cabinetcures.com or visit their corporate office and showroom at 16008 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd. in Sherwood.

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HOPE & HEALING

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Established in 1914, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary set out to serve the veterans of this country and our communities in honor of the sacrifices and commitment of every man and woman who has served in uniform. We have unwavering support for uncommon heroes.

Before the beginning of World War II, twenty three overseas veterans gathered on August 31, 1940. Before the evening was over, they had elected officers and decided on the name Axel Rasmussen VFW. Major Rasmussen, brother of charter member R. W. Rasmussen, was a member of the U.S. Army First Division and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross by the United States and Croix de Guerre by the Government of France. He was killed on May 4, 1918 in France.

Major Axel Rasmussen Post 3452 was officially charted on October 25, 1940. The first vote of the Post was to form a Ladies Auxiliary. Twenty three ladies proceeded to organize and have been active ever since. The Post first held their meetings at Winona Grange while the ladies met at the Old Fellows Hall.

Over the years, the Tualatin VFW Post has welcomed veterans from Tigard, Lake Oswego, and other areas. The original Post met in its own building at 8455 SW Seneca and has since moved to 18820 SW Boones Ferry Road in Tualatin. The post building was the major social center for the Tualatin Community in the 50s and 60s, with weekend dances open to the community. Tualatin had fewer than 1,000 people until 1974!

Post 3452 started Tualatin’s Annual Crawfish Festival in 1951. At that time, the river had an abundance of critters. As a fundraiser, by the members and Women’s Auxiliary, the crawfish were cooked and sold to the festival attendees during the first four years in order to raise $4000 to build its first post building on Seneca Street. The festival is now coordinated by the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce.

These days Post 3452 continues to support the local community through various fundraising efforts, like the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Each year, more than 4,000 high school students grades 9-12 from across the country enter the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The first-place winner from each state advances to national judging and competes for national awards totaling $33,000 in scholarships.

Other community support efforts include their annual November partnership with Burger King® franchise restaurants to raise funds in support of the VFW’s Unmet Needs program. Now in its 15th year, the annual campaign encourages Burger King® customers to donate $1 or more to the program with their purchase.

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Remembering

A Generation

T he History of Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial

By Tyler Francke, Contributing Writer

The Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial in Canby represents many things: a community’s appreciation for the service members and veterans who have helped keep our country safe, a promise to protect oppressed people, fight for freedom and independence, and above all, hope for a better tomorrow.

For longtime Canby-area resident and United States Army veteran Michael Breshears, one of the driving forces behind the memorial, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, it represented something else: a chance for healing and reconciliation for so many Vietnam-era veterans, like himself, who were not given the heroes’ welcome they deserved.

When Breshears separated from the military in 1968, he was so disenfranchised that he actually threw away his Army uniform. “I was done with the military,” he told The Oregonian in 2011. “I was angry at the way we were treated and we weren’t thanked for what we did when we returned.”

His perspective changed in 1986, when he and his wife, Irene, saw a traveling version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall

monument in Washington, D.C. “I have no idea why seeing the wall was a turning point for me, but it was,” Michael Breshears recalled. “My anger at the military and the way I was treated stopped. After seeing the wall, I ended up joining and being active in several veterans’ organizations.”

The Breshearses were so moved that they, along with a large group of other veterans, civic leaders and volunteers, worked for 12 years to fundraise, design, and build another spectacular memorial in Canby, alongside Highway 99E.

“From individuals to businesses, everyone had a hand in making this happen,” said Randy Carson, former Canby mayor. “It could not have happened if it weren’t for the dedication of countless people.”

The committee raised more than $1 million in in-kind and monetary donations from countless businesses, organizations, and individuals to make the ambitious project a reality. The land was donated to the city by The Holland Inc., which owns the neighboring Burgerville.

Hundreds of letters and notes, phone calls, and emails they received over the years inspired them to push forward, the Breshearses recall. “Even though it hasn’t been easy, we just kept going,” Irene said.

“We once got to a point when we didn’t know how we were going to raise the last $40,000 to complete the project,” said Michael, adding that he’s thankful to the Canby Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus for hosting fundraisers in February that brought in the last dollars for the bronze statue. This final fundraising push included–among other efforts–a campaign collecting thousands of bottles and cans (worth a nickel apiece) to furnish the bronze statue that was the monument’s finishing touch.

The plaza’s most distinctive element is “Little Orphan Annie,” the real 1970 Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter refurbished to look like a MedEvac chopper that hovers over the memorial, as if about to continue its life-saving work of airlifting wounded service members to hospitals.

The Huey, which is believed to be (theoretically, at least) still in working order, was acquired from the Ohio National Guard and personally delivered across the country by two Oregon National Guard members: Sgt. Leslie Larios of Canby and Spc. Kevin Magsayo of Milwaukie, members of Alpha Company, 141st Support Battalion, who accompanied the apparatus on the nearly 2,500-mile journey on a lowboy trailer from Ohio to Oregon.

It takes a lot of paperwork–and patience–to get a surplus chopper from the Department of Defense, and Breshears had been trying to snag one for three years before finally locating the one that now serves as the centerpiece of Canby’s memorial.

Opportunities to get a Huey from California and Idaho National Guard units fell through, but the Canby committee got approval to borrow a Huey from the Ohio National Guard. The helicopter is on permanent loan from the federal government.

“She’s a good old bird,” Michael Breshears said at the time. “We’re thrilled to death to get her.”

The Huey is more than just a flying machine to Breshears, whose life was saved by a crew flying a similar model while he was serving as a combat photographer in South Vietnam. During a vicious battle on Veterans Day in 1970, Breshears’ shoulder and right leg were pierced by shrapnel, but heavy fighting kept the rescue helicopters away until the following day when the Hueys appeared, hovering inches off the ground, to lift the injured soldiers from the battlefield.

“Angels from heaven,” Breshears recounted to The Oregonian in 2003.

The plaza, which is also a Blue Star Memorial, is also dominated by the bronze statue known as “A Hero’s Prayer,” which depicts a wounded soldier being carried by another soldier, with a Vietnamese girl holding the wounded soldier’s hand.

The wounded soldier represents Army Spc. Warren E. Newton, of Canby, who was only 18 when he went missing

in action on Jan. 9, 1968. The soldier carrying Newton represents Marine Pfc. Gary W. Martini, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing two other Marines during a firefight that killed him on April 21, 1967.

Other elements (like the bell) celebrate Vietnamese culture. The plaza is in the shape of the Asian character “Shou,” which means “long life” or “longevity.” The plants surrounding the memorial also hearken back to the Southeast Asian country, including palm trees and bamboo.

Michael said he wanted the memorial to be a place of peace and healing, a place to remember the men and women who served their country

in all wars. “This is a humanitarian memorial, not a war memorial,” he stated. “It’s about hope. The people in the bronze statue will be looking up at the helicopter that is coming to help them or they could be looking up at the sky in prayer.”

The site is overseen and maintained by the nonprofit Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial committee, with the support of the Canby/Aurora VFW Post 6057 and other local veterans’ groups.