Tualatin Community Advantage Magazine March 2024

503.825.2111

ADMINISTRATION

Matthew Nelson, Publisher

Catrina Nelson, CFO

Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant PRODUCTION

Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director

Donovan Darling, Content 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 Kelly Romo

Gretchen Van Lente Ty Walker

Alice Williams 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

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 Looking to

The Luck of the Irish

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

rish culture — a blend of folklore, superstition, and Catholic beliefs — is known for their lucky symbols like shamrocks, leprechauns, and horseshoes. But the phrase ‘the luck of the Irish’ wasn’t actually about good luck — originally it was bad luck! This was due, according to Elizabeth Stack, Executive Director of the Irish American Heritage Museum, to the high fatalities of Irish laborers during the gold rush. A big reason for these modern lucky symbols is due to Irish immigration into the U.S., as the Irish brought symbols of their culture as a means of comfort in a strange new land. And of course, like storytelling, the symbols changed over time. These days, the luck of the Irish is legendary and their symbols are popular worldwide.

Shamrock vs. Four-Leaf Clover

You may not know this (I didn’t!), but shamrocks are not the same as four-leaf clovers. Shamrocks actually have three leaves, grow in clumps, and come in green, purple, or white. Clovers grow alone and usually don’t have four leaves, so four leaf clovers, as we know, are extremely rare. The shamrock is the true Irish symbol of luck, as St. Patrick used the shamrock, which has three leaves, to describe the Holy Trinity. Yet, for some reason, perhaps due to its rarity, the four-leaf clover took over as the more popular symbol.

Leprechaun

The leprechaun, which we know from pop culture, may be rooted in the Irish belief of fairies, who supposedly live among us but stay hidden with magic. Interestingly, the leprechaun is believed to be one class of fairy among many, not a stand-alone magical creature. The leprechaun, of course, is a widely recognizable symbol, known as the mascot of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Lucky Charms, but especially known are the potential rewards of finding a leprechaun and getting a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There are countless designs for kids’ leprechaun traps online, but they are more for fun and celebration than catching the real magical creature.

Horseshoes

Horseshoes are definitive in Irish culture for many reasons. In folklore, the devil appears at a blacksmith and demands shoes, so the blacksmith nails burning hot shoes to his hooves. The devil walks away in pain and swears to keep away from them forever, thus the idea of horseshoes warding off evil spirits. Additionally, early Western Europeans believed iron was magical and could drive away evil, such as malevolent fairies and witches – which is why witches ride broomsticks, not horses. Then there’s the number of holes in horseshoes, seven, known worldwide as lucky: seven continents, seven colors in the rainbow, seven seas, seven days of the week. And there are two ways you can hang a horseshoe for good luck. Hanging a horseshoe heels up (like a U) keeps the good luck from running out of the shoe and inside the building. And hanging a horseshoe heels down allows good luck to flow down on everyone who walks underneath it. Sometimes people would even bury a horseshoe under the cornerstone of a new building for good luck.

Want a Lift?

Discover if a lash lift is right for you

Lash lifts have been getting more and more mainstream as spas add the service to their menus. What is it? Lash lifting is the process of getting your own natural lashes curled up like you would with a lash curler, but instead using a solution that keeps them curled for up to 12 weeks!

The great thing about a lash lift, well, it’s your own lashes. So you can rub and wash your eyes, and even wear mascara if you’d like. Some lash lifts even strengthen lashes and include a black tint, so you end up with stronger curled black lashes for up to a couple months. Sound like heaven yet? Not all lash lifts are created equal so best to do some research before getting one done.

about an eight- to 10-week cycle. To keep your lash lift lasting the longest possible, use an eyelash growth serum like Revitalash or Latisse, which artificially extends your lash cycle length, which in turn extends the length of your lift. Who shouldn’t get a lash lift?

My pick is the YUMI lash lift, pronounced “you me.” This lift is different than the rest because of the quality of the ingredients used. The formula for the YUMI lash lift originates from Paris, France, where standards are stricter for ingredients. This curling solution does not contain formaldehyde or ammonia like some of the other lash products on the market in the U.S. This is important when we are talking about getting really close to the eye area. The lash lift also has a strengthening keratin step to strengthen and nourish lashes, and also includes a black lash tint.

How long will your lash lift last?

If you have very short natural lashes, a lift will not give you the best results. Also, people with naturally very curly hair may not like the results from getting a lash lift. Unless your practitioner is very experienced, these curly-haired clients can end up with lashes that are too curled.

Christine Lewy

Divine Complexions Spa Owner Licensed Esthetician Award-Winning West Coast Glo Skin Beauty Makeup Artist

NW YUMI Lashes Educator

How long does an appointment take?

Typically, a lash lift appointment is an hour. Price of the service really ranges from the product used and experience of the practitioner. Lash lifts usually range from $65 to $175.

Precautions before getting the service

If you wear contacts, you’ll be asked to take them out during the service, but you’ll be able to put them back in once it’s complete. You’ll also be asked to not get your lashes wet for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the product used. This ensures your lash lift is secure and will give you curled lashes for as long as possible.

Well, that depends on your natural lash length. The lash lift curl will last as long as your natural lash cycle. Shorter lashes have about a four- to six-week lash cycle and longer lashes have

If curled and strengthened dark lashes have been on your beauty wish list, a lash lift might be the treatment for you!

Dan Cable Presents...

Long-running podcast dives into music

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Everyone loves music. There isn’t a soul among us who isn’t affected by it to some degree. It lifts our spirits, fills our cups, compels us to move, to rejoice, to laugh, to cry. And for some, that’s enough – to simply allow it to exist, to acknowledge and appreciate its myriad gifts without questioning the inspiration behind it. For others, music possesses an almost mystical quality, an enigmatic draw that compels them to venerate their favorite artists and seek to discover what’s behind the veil. Local podcaster Dan Cable falls into the latter category, and what a gift he has afforded the rest of us.

A music fanatic from an early age, Dan grew up playing in bands, going to concerts, and generally just being a student of the form. When he moved to Portland in 2013 and began meeting some of the circuit regulars in town, he discovered that there was an abundance of talent, but limited access to anything outside the regional market. Bands needed a bigger stage where their voices could be heard, where their stories could be told, and Dan chose to answer the call.

In February of 2016, the first episode of the podcast Dan Cable Presents aired. Initially, he focused on the Portland market. Later, he expanded to include the whole Northwest region and finally our nation’s borders and beyond, but since moving to a weekly format in July of 2016, he has produced one episode per week, every week,

and never missed a single one! Now that he is closing in on 400 episodes, Dan Cable, without question, has become “that voice.” His podcast has become the platform of choice for bands new and old to share their inspirations, to talk shop, and to reveal a little of that magic which would otherwise remain locked in the vault.

And Dan does it like no other. He’s found such a wide audience because he approaches every episode and every band from a position of integrity. This isn’t a job for him, it’s a labor of love. It’s his passion. He is a fan of the music of every band he has on the show, and he has lived with their music for years/months/weeks (depending on how young the band is) before ever conducting an interview. He does his homework! His questions are in-depth, unique, and thought-provoking – what true fans would ask, not the banal standards of a poseur. Dan is the genuine article, and if you’re looking to get the real answers about your favorite bands, there’s no one who does it better.

The success of this thing has altered the trajectory of his life, but he has found his calling. This is exactly where Dan should be, and he couldn’t be happier. If you are even remotely a fan of music and discovering what goes on behind the scenes, check out DanCablePresents. Dan’s intelligence, enthusiasm, and professionalism are unparalleled in the industry. Find him anywhere you stream podcasts: Apple Music, Spotify, etc., or follow him on Instagram @ dancablepresents. He also has a spot on Kink FM every Thursday at 12:30 where he introduces and promotes new Portland acts. He puts out a new playlist of Portland acts on the 1st of every month or you can catch him around town DJing under the moniker “Ernie Moose Johnson.”

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

Do you know St. Patrick?

He wasn’t Irish — born in Britain to a Romanised family, he was kidnapped by slave traders in Britain at age 16 and worked in Ireland on a cattle farm for six years. Only later did he return to Ireland.

His name wasn’t Patrick — ordained Patricus (Latin for “nobleman”), he was born Maewyn Succat.

He did not wear green — but rather blue.

He didn’t banish snakes — archeologists have no evidence that snakes were ever native to Ireland. It’s more likely the snakes are a metaphor for the evil he banished.

He might have popularized the shamrock — the shamrock is claimed to be a symbol for the Holy Trinity, with the three leaves representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

This Technicolor (full color!) Disney movie is a rare gem set in a small Irish village. Darby O’Gill (Albert Sharpe) is fired as caretaker of his leased farm and refuses to tell his daughter Katie (Janet Munro), especially when he’s been replaced by a brawny younger man (Sean Connery). On his way home from the pub, Darby falls into a portal to a secret land of the little people (leprechauns). He meets the leprechaun king, Brian (Jimmy O’Dea), and accidentally brings him home. As Darby has trapped him (that’s the trick), he demands that Brian grant him three wishes, bringing Darby bittersweet and surprising results. Funny, sweet and surprisingly thoughtful, this is great for the whole family. Rated G.

A visually gorgeous and beautifully scored Irish fable, this family movie won a slew of awards and was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year at the Academy Awards. In the wilds of Ireland, Cellach readies his fortress for a Viking raid looming on the horizon. Little does he know, his nephew Brendan rejects the savagery of warfare and instead chooses to hone his skills in the monastery scriptorium. As the Vikings draw near, Aidan, a respected illuminator (artist), seeks Brendan’s aid in a dangerous quest. Starring Evan McGuire, Christen Moone, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally, Michael McGrath and others. Great for the whole family. Not rated but essentially PG.

A coming-ofage comedy set in 1990’s Derry, Northern Ireland during the Northern Ireland conflict (The Troubles), this show is utterly hilarious and truly unique. It follows a group of Irish Catholic teens who rebel against everything — their school, parents, the conflict, you name it — leading to hilarious hi-jinks and consequences. They’re also obsessed with the music (featured in the show) and culture of the time, making for a nostalgiadrenched experience. Be warned, it’s full of profane and mature content. Best viewed by older teens and adults. Rated MA (aka R).

Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) The Secret of Kells (2009)

Derry Girls (2018)

Beet-Pickled Eggs

Gas station fave gone gourmet

Main Ingredients

6 large eggs

1 can sliced beets

2 cups apple cider vinegar

2 cups water

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons minced herbs (dill and chives)

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

4 sprigs dill, plus more for serving

1 medium red onion, sliced thin

Sauce Ingredients

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons prepared horseradish

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste

1 tablespoon minced dill, plus more for garnish

Directions

 Hard-boil eggs according to favorite method. Keep in fridge until ready to peel.  In large, nonreactive pot, combine beets (plus juice), vinegar, water, sugar, spices, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil. Stir until sugar dissolves. Take off heat. Let brine cool.  Set out 2 quart jars. Layer onions, beets, eggs and 2 sprigs dill in each jar. Pour brine to cover. Seal and refrigerate overnight (up to a week). Note color will saturate eggs after 2 days.  Before serving, whisk to combine all sauce ingredients in medium bowl. To serve, sprinkle with minced dill and freshly ground pepper.

PHOTO

Seeing Clearly

Experts protecting home investments

falling apart.” Brice invests himself personally in the end result of a job and in the ability to leave a property better than he found it.

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer

Photos by Brittany Jungenberg

Let Clear Choice Windows & Doors be your first choice! This local independently-owned company is committed to protecting the value of your home. In addition to window and door replacements, Clear Choice also offers roofing, gutter and siding repair and replacement. Ask about free in-home quotes and consultations as well as products that carry a lifetime warranty. With Clear Choice Windows & Doors the choice is clear!

Jonathan, whose expertise is roofing, siding and gutters, in addition to windows, came onboard to help grow the company and expand its services.

“We found that a lot of customers would have siding repair issues in addition to needs for their windows,” Brice relates. He explains that the expansion was a natural progression as “a lot of these exterior projects go hand-in-hand.” Clear Choice employs a local team of trusted professionals, each with a minimum of 5 to 10 years experience in home renovation. Additionally, quality products such as Milgard and Infinity from Marvin combine to make up the Clear Choice standard. Brice also points out that Clear Choice is the exclusive distributor of Infinity from Marvin replacement windows for the Portland area.

Serving the local community for nearly 23 years, Clear Choice Windows & Doors has been family-owned and -operated since 2002. Brice Callison, the current owner of Clear Choice Windows & Doors, along with business partner, Jonathan Tutt, have over 20 years experience in the construction industry. Brice, whose specialty is remodeling and reconstruction, comments on his philosophy about a house, “I almost care about a house like it’s a person. I feel bad to see it

Clear Choice Windows & Doors offers the most reasonable price possible for their expert work; they use quality installers and finish a job exactly as agreed. Serving homeowners throughout the Portland area and from Salem to White Salmon, they have received hundreds of five-star ratings and are one of the highest reviewed and rated window companies in the area. Clients can check the website or call to find out more about current promotions and specials and free no-obligation consults. Clear Choice also offers assistance with financing solutions.

An active member of the community, Clear Choice Windows & Doors maintains close ties with local Habitat for Humanity and the Rebuild-It Center in Portland. They generously support these organizations through their donations of materials and financial assistance.

Clear Choice Windows & Doors Showroom is located in Tigard near Bridgeport Village at 7244 SW Durham Rd. Suite 900. Open Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sat by appt. For inquiries, call (503)643-3887, email info@clearchoiceconstruction.com or visit clearchoiceconstruction.com.

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A lively dive into St. Patrick’s Day history and traditions

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

Did you know that the color originally associated with Saint Patrick was blue, and that pubs were closed on the day we celebrate this holiday? Delving into the history of Saint Patrick’s Day and the traditions associated with it provide a glimpse not only into this fascinating holiday but into Irish history as well.

New York University admits that information on the famous saint is scant at best. “We know he was a Roman Citizen, because Britain was Rome then, and then he was enslaved and taken to Ireland, where he either escaped or was released.”

This man, later known as Saint Patrick, became a priest and returned to Ireland where he was instrumental in converting the followers of Druidic culture to Christianity.

As the story goes, St. Patrick’s birth name was Maewyn Succat, but at some point in time, he changed his name to Patricius — a name whose Latin roots are associated with the concept of fatherhood, or a father figure.

Today, shamrocks and green beer are common Saint Patrick Day traditions. In 1631, however, when the Church established March 17th as a feast day honoring St. Patrick, such traditions were non-existent. While the celebration of Saint Patrick dates back to 1631, the man himself was even further removed in history. So who was Saint Patrick and when did he actually live? Marion Casey, a professor of Irish Studies at

It wasn’t until the 18th century that St. Patrick’s Day celebrations began to ramp up and assume the form we associate today with the holiday. As St. Patrick’s Day falls during Lent, it functioned as a day off, so to speak, from the prescribed abstinence leading up to Easter. In fact, the celebrations became so excessive that the Church felt compelled to remind people of the religious significance of the holiday. The symbol it chose to commemorate Saint Patrick was the shamrock. Not only was this clover leaf already ensconced in Irish culture and lore dating back to pre-Christian times, but its classic three-leaf shape directly corresponded to the number three — a number associated with the Holy Trinity. The story went that when Saint Patrick returned to Ireland, he employed the shamrock as a symbol to illustrate the Trinity to the heathen masses he was striving to convert to Christianity.

Throughout the 1700s, St. Patrick’s Day traditions continued to evolve. Despite the fact that the holiday originated in Ireland,

the first St. Patrick’s Day parade actually took place across the Atlantic in New York City in 1762. It wasn’t until the Irish Rebellion of 1798 that the color green was associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Prior to the rebellion, blue was the standard color linked to Ireland, as it was featured in the royal court and also present on the ancient flags of the country. In contrast to the famous red of the British military, the Irish adopted green as their color, proudly singing “The Wearing of the Green” during the war, thus cementing green as the national color of Ireland.

As for the current traditions common to St. Patrick’s Day, one might assume they originated in Ireland. Contrary to popular belief, however, a number of these familiar traditions were born right here in the U.S. One such American invention was green beer which traces back to an Irish-American physician, Dr. Thomas Hayes Curtain, who in 1914 added a drop of blue coloring to beer, turning it green. The coloring utilized by the doctor was referred to as “blue wash,” an iron powder solution with dye intended to brighten up white clothing. Unfortunately, beer at the time contained acetaldehyde, which

not only adversely affected the flavor of the beer, but reacted negatively with the blue wash, making the St. Patrick’s Day imbibers ill. Fortunately, today’s green beer is made with a drop or two of blue or green food coloring and acetaldehyde is no longer an ingredient in beer. While other towns and individuals claim to have invented green beer, historians tend to give Dr. Curtin the nod.

Speaking of turning things green for St. Patrick’s Day, how about an entire river? In 1962 when city workers used dyes to trace the source of illegal sewage dumping in the Chicago River, they applied a St. Patrick’s Day concept. Injecting 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river, they were able to turn it green for an entire week. Today, in an effort to be environmentally conscious, only 40 pounds of dye are used, turning the river green for a matter of hours rather than days.

When it comes to food, the typical St. Patrick’s Day classics are corned beef and cabbage: traditional Irish food, right? Not so fast. In truth, traditional St. Patrick’s Day fare in Ireland would have consisted of Irish Stew and soda bread, or perhaps a meal of pork and potatoes, which were less expensive than beef. Food historians suggest that struggling Irish immigrants likely substituted beef and cabbage for pork

and potatoes, which at the time were more expensive.

Another fact that might blow people’s minds today is that until 1970 pubs were closed in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day in observance of its status as a religious holiday. Subsequently, laws were passed to have the pubs open on March 17th, a move which, as you might imagine, was embraced by business owners and promoted heavily. An official campaign by the Irish government was launched in 1995 to spur tourism to the country by marketing St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture abroad.

Today, St. Patrick’s day is celebrated not only in Ireland, but throughout the world, particularly in North America and Australia. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations take place as far from Ireland as Japan, Singapore and Russia. What began in Ireland as a religious holiday, and later expanded to represent Irish culture and nationalism, was embraced by people around the world as a day to make merry, appreciate Irish traditions, and knock back a pint or two while enjoying corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and perhaps a hearty bowl of Irish stew. So the next time you’re donning a bit o’ green for St. Paddy’s day, propose a toast not only to old Saint Patrick, but to the rich historical evolution of this fascinating holiday!

Egg-citing Time

Annual egg hunt set for March 30

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer Photos courtesy of City of Wilsonville

The annual Wilsonville Egg Hunt is almost here! Held the Saturday before Easter on the ball fields in Memorial Park, volunteers lay out and hide over 10,000 candy and prize-filled eggs, with some filled with special prize coupons supplied by local businesses. Children up to age 11 are able to participate.

As someone who attended many exciting egg hunts as a kid and now continuing this with my own daughter, it’s exciting to see this tradition living on in the Wilsonville community. A joy-filled event that brings together families and locals in a celebration of springtime and community, this nostalgic tradition is always highlighted by the children’s excitement

(and those who are children at heart) as they eagerly wait for the thrill of the hunt. Laughter, nervous giggling and excited discussion fill the air before the signal is given (often by the Easter Bunny), then the grass fields are suddenly rustling with shoes and egg baskets, children scouring the park for thousands of coveted colorful eggs hidden among the fresh-cut grass.

The annual Wilsonville Egg Hunt fosters a sense of togetherness, with families enjoying quality time outdoors as spring has just arrived. The egg hunt also promotes the childhood joy of finding hidden sweets and the importance of outdoor play and exploration. Family friendliness is also at the heart of this tradition, as parents and guardians join in as they guide their little ones and share in their delight. The event also often includes an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

The Wilsonville Egg Hunt will be held March 30, 10 a.m., in Memorial Park, 8100 S.W. Wilsonville Rd. This is a free event.