Wilsonville Living Magazine October 2022

29165 SW BERGEN LANE

Fantastic Arbor townhome in Villebois! Move in ready, w/plantation shutters, an open kitchen and a walk-in pantry. Master suite w/soaking tub and lg W/I closet. Huge loft w/skylight. Covered front porch is perfect for relaxing in the summer. HOA includes pool, gym, clubhouse, and landscaping. Located on a quiet street in the middle of it all, including a community park right in front and a basketball court across the street. Come see what Villebois has to offer! SOLD!

29101 SW VILLEBOIS DR S.

Beautiful townhome in the heart of Villebois! Cherry hardwood floors greet you upon entry, into an open floor plan & enjoy a gourmet kitchen w/ lg pantry. Oversized loft is perfect for home office. Dual master suites means room for everything. Upgrades like wood trim, built-ins, & soaking tub all add comfort. This light & bright end unit includes pool/rec center access, as well as all the parks/trails Villebois is known for. Located in the middle of Villebois, this home truly offers everything!

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

Tyler Francke Dennis McNabb

David Bates Robert Matsumura

Patti Jo Brooks Olive Gallagher

Angie Helvey

Carly Carpenter Kara Langley

Laurel Bice Hayley Starkey

Malaina Kinne Angie Helvey

Brittney Waterman Schifter

Andrew Sambuceto

Don Ormsby Bill Kistler

Stephanie Baker Jim Belan

Peggy Jacobs David Long

Chris O’Brien Zobrist

Brad Marti Shelley Zeman

Tina Toney Dwyer

Lumera Regenerative Medicine

The Role of Hormones

By Roberta Huang

Hormones play a major role in a multitude of bodily functions. This includes the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone as well as other hormones such as growth hormone. It is not widely known is that declining hormone levels can start for some men and women as early as in their 30’s leading to symptoms that often become evident in a person’s 40’s, symptoms we often attribute to being tired, overworked, or just natural aging. It is also not well known that the hormone testosterone is as important for women as it is for men.

Menopause is a stage of life which results in a drastic reduction in hormone levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone with the cessation of menstrual cycles in women. Though each woman may experience menopause and the transition into menopause differently, the most commonly recognized symptoms which are related to declining estrogen levels include hot flashes and night sweats and as the low hormone state continues urogenital symptoms can worsen such as vaginal dryness, loss of lubrication, painful intercourse, worsening urinary incontinence and painful urination.

Symptoms of low testosterone in women include:

• Decreased energy levels/fatigue

• Mood changes including irritability, depressed mood, anxiety

• Lowered libido or sex drive

• Loss of muscle mass and increasing body fat

• Decreased bone mass (which is affected by both estrogen and testosterone)

• Brain fog with decreased memory and focus

Symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men include:

• Reduced sex drive

• Erectile dysfunction

• Decreased energy/fatigue

• Loss of lean body mass and increasing fat mass

• Mood changes such as irritability, depressed mood, anxiety

• Brain fog with decreased memory and focus

Of course, some of these symptoms are not only specific to low hormones but can also represent other physical health or mental health conditions, so before embarking on a quest for treatment with hormone therapy, it is important to have regular health checks with

a primary care provider and to strive toward healthy lifestyle habits such as optimizing one’s diet, getting adequate sleep and getting regular exercise.

Also worth mentioning is that despite the boost in well-being that is evident to both men and women who are appropriately treated with hormone therapy, testosterone therapy is still not widely accessible, especially to women. For this reason, men and women who are motivated to improve their quality of life often seek help for their hormonal concerns through clinics that specialize in hormone therapy. In fact, a drastic reduction in prescriptions for hormone therapy for women occurred after 2002 in response to a study published by the Women’s Health Initiate (WHI) which showed an increase incidence of breast cancer and an increase in blood clot related complications.

However, some experts have revisited and criticized that the study on the ground that it did not look closely enough at the different groups of women in the study and what types of hormones were used. We do know now that estrogen hormones taken by mouth can increase the risk for blood clots and that using estrogen either in the form of a cream, patch or pellet does not incur the same risk.

As far as breast cancer is concerned, whether the hormones are bio-identical may make a difference including whether a progestin is used versus a bio-identical progesterone. There is evidence that testosterone can actually lower a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer, including a recent study published in the European Journal of Breast Health showing a 35.5% lower incidence of invasive breast cancer. None of the participants in the WHI study had testosterone as a part of their hormone replacement program.

All of this being said, each person’s decision whether or not hormone therapy is appropriate for them needs to be discussed with a healthcare provider versed in providing these services and the pros and cons of therapy considered.

Lumera Regenerative Medicine is located at 6464 SW Borland Road, Suite C3, in Tualatin. For more information, visit lumeramedical.com or call 503-852-9680.

Dr. Roberta Huang, MD, FACOG

Our team of medical specialists and certified Aestheticians have years of experience. They have been trained in the latest technology specifically to help our patients get the results they want.

Meet Syd Dorn

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer

Syd Dorn Auto Broker promises you “The Dorn Good Deal.”

A trusted business owner, Syd Dorn’s extensive experience with automotive sales, combined with strong local and regional ties, prove to be a valuable asset to the community. Whether you’re looking for a truck, SUV, family sedan, or something with a touch of flair, yet safe enough for your teen to tool around in—make Syd Dorn Auto Broker your first call.

Automotive sales is a Dorn family legacy. Dorn Bros Used Cars was started in Salem, OR in 1946 by Syd’s dad, Ed Dorn, and Ed’s two brothers, Dale and Gale. Syd’s own automotive history consists of over 40 years experience in the retail auto business. He was Factory Sales Executive for Chevrolet, Peugeot, and Volkswagen, as well as Primary Sales for Syd Dorn Chevrolet Dealership in St. Johns, OR. Today, Syd’s automotive business, experience, and expertise has taken shape as Syd Dorn Auto Broker.

Syd sells New & Used Vehicles–All Makes, All Models–Priced from $5,000 to over $100,000. He’s executed sales throughout Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, as well as nationwide. As Syd explains, “The Dorn Good Deal” is by definition “a fair price for the buyer, and a fair (but modest) profit for the seller.” A testament to this fairness are the thousands of satisfied customers who become repeat buyers, and refer their friends

and family with confidence. Syd Dorn also offers assistance in finding “First Cars” (vehicles for first time drivers). Syd’s special brand of First Cars must conform to a specific formula: Must be SAFE, Must be RELIABLE, Must be ECONOMICAL, and Must possess a ‘WOW FACTOR!’

In addition to automotive sales, Syd is respected and active in the community. He is a family man who spends quality time with his wife, Sherry, his son, Jason, and his daughter, Shana, four grandchildren, and their Pekingese dog, Duke. He is currently a Member of the Wilsonville Rotary Club and a Member of the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce. He also held a past position as President of the Lake Oswego

Chamber of Commerce. Lining up your next vehicle? That’s “Who We Are, & What We Do!”

Syd Dorn Auto Broker: Saves You Time – by Finding What You Want.

Saves You Money – by Negotiating the Absolute Best Possible Price. Saves You Hassle – Uses Only True Automobile Professionals at Preferred Quality Dealers.

Sells Your Trade – Saving Time & Hassle! And for MORE $$ than you’d receive on trade-in.

Contact Syd Dorn by phone or text at (503) 928-6700, email him at syd@vehixbuyers.com, or visit his website, syddornautobroker.com.

Dick Spence Mr. Wonderful

By Olive Gallagher, Contributing Writer

Wonderful. An overused word. Webster defines it as marvelous or amazing. An adjective used to describe a place, a meal, a movie. But a person?

For Dick Spence, however, it fits perfectly. Married to Leanne for 56 years, father of three grown children and six grandchildren, Dick has an uncanny, well-intentioned, incredibly kind way of making any place or situation better, comfortable, and interesting. Quite simply, wonderful.

Dick was born in Illinois in 1936, the youngest of three. Dick’s father was an executive with American Can. Soon after, the family moved to Utah where Dick realized his ability to get along well with strangers. At age 9, the family moved to Berkeley, California with its different kind of culture, and Dick discovered his knack to get along with kids from all kinds of backgrounds brought him new friendships. That only reinforced his intuitive ability to listen and support others. He also learned from his mother, who was very social, how to adapt. Dick recalled a special moment that impacted him deeply. At age 4, his mother took him to the library. Dick added, “Everything seemed so big and magical. All those books to read.”

Dick & Leanne

He was an above-average student, and by the time the family moved again, this time to New Rochelle, New York, Dick had learned “to float.” He played football, made friends easily, and adapted to yet another different town, aware of making a conscious choice “to fit in.” As a teenager, he also began testing his boundaries and discovered he had a clear sense of right and wrong.

After several years of college, he joined the workforce and took an outside sales job with American Airlines. He called on travel agents and corporate departments and found his ability to build relationships invaluable. He then joined Blue Cross

where he met his wife. After they married they moved several more times, deciding to leave the corporate world in 1977 and move to Oregon to run her dad’s paint and wallpaper store in Tillamook. In 1992, with the kids grown, the couple moved to Wilsonville where Dick joined the Logistics Group at Xerox.

His involvement in the community began immediately. By now, having recognized he always needed to be “on the move,” he first volunteered at the library. Named 2011 Wilsonville Citizen of the Year, Dick has continued to contribute his time and leadership to every organization in Wilsonville, from the Chamber to the library and his church. He acknowledges, “I don’t need stuff! I need to be involved with others, helping, pitching in. That’s what it’s all about,” adding with that everpresent twinkle in his eyes, “You can’t make footprints in the sands of time sitting on the beach.”

“You can’t make footprints in the sands of time sitting on the beach.”

HydraFacials FAQs

Common questions answered about your next skin treatment obsession

By Beauty Expert Christine Lewy

Christine Lewy

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

Have you heard of the HydraFacial treatment before? Well, let me fill you in on why this may be your next obsession for your skin! The HydraFacial is the name for the trademarked customizable facial treatment that has been made famous for being able to show you everything that came out of your skin in the “gunk container” and leaves your skin with an unforgettable glow. Celebrities are on IG flaunting their glowing skin after this treatment. Let’s dive deeper into why it’s so good:

 How is HydraFacial different from a traditional facial?

Traditional facials are relaxing, exfoliating, and targeted to your skin goals but are typically very superficial. The HydraFacial is a no-fluff, to-the-point, results-oriented facial that lasts about 30 minutes compared to a 60-minute traditional facial. The HydraFacial treatment penetrates deeper into the skin by using the patented vortex technology along with medicalgrade super serums.

The vortex technology of the machine used in this treatment infuses and sucks out at the same time, hence being able to deeply clean pores without the pain associated with manual extractions. Afterward, you’ll have the signature HydraFacial glow and be feeling ready for anything! Have a special event coming up? Then this treatment is for you!

 How often should you get a HydraFacial?

If you want the most benefit and your best skin, then stick to a regimen of once a month.

 Who can get a HydraFacial?

This treatment is for nearly everyone: teens, men, and women, but not during pregnancy. Have active acne? Then you’ll want to skip this until your skin doesn’t show any active pustules.

Whether you want to calm, smooth, and refine; restore and firm; hydrate; or brighten, there’s a way to level up your HydraFacial results. There are options to customize your treatment with boosters, LED light therapy, and detoxification with lymphatic drainage. I apparently retain a lot in my face. The first time I got the lymphatic drainage on my face, I swear it looked like I lost 10 pounds! I was totally hooked! There are also further options that can be offered around the lip and eye area, as well as the body.

F r o g P o n d F a r m

Pumpkin Patch & Spooky Farm Trail Fall Family Fun For All!

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Fall is a favorite time of year here in the Northwest. Our beautiful forests become a kaleidoscope of changing colors, temperatures cool, hearts warm, and pumpkin-flavored everything dominates over our food industry. Here locally, we are incredibly fortunate to have a singular location where every year we can take the whole family to celebrate, experience, and indulge in all things fall. It’s an experience like no other with food, drink, animals, games, gifts, and more. It’s Frog Pond Farm Pumpkin Patch and Spooky Farm Walk!

Anyone who has visited previously knows that Justin Timm and his whole family and crew always go way above and beyond to ensure that everyone has a great time, that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a true fall farm experience. At the center of it all, as always, is their incredible pumpkin patch. Anyone can go to the local

grocer and grab a pumpkin, but that’s not an experience. There are no llamas! At Frog Pond Farm, the pumpkin patch is an event, and it’s a place to make memories to last a lifetime! Festivities begin September 23rd and run through October 30th with daily hours of 9am - 5pm.

In addition, they have brought back the ever popular Spooky Farm Walk, boasting just under 1 mile of haunted trails, half of which are brand new ones, winding through the woods. As always, there will be both live actors and animatronics dispersed throughout the trail to enhance the experience, and guarantee thrills and chills! It’s all family-friendly and no-contact, of course, but it will definitely be spooky! The trails are open from 5pm to 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and get progressively scarier as the night progresses. So for those older kids who are really looking for a good fright, the later the better!

Please note that it’s best to make reservations for this attraction ahead of time on their website since it can get very crowded. They accept walk-ins, but there are no guarantees on wait times, so just keep that in mind.

And that’s not all! As they have every year, Frog Pond Farm will also provide somewhere in the vicinity of 20 different farm games and attractions, including things like cornhole, tetherball, duck races, jumbo connect four, hay towers, slides, a traditional hay maze, mini backhoe diggers (which you actually get to sit in and maneuver—aka dig!),

and a mining sluice where you can search for jewels and treasures! There’s also the slingshot challenge (you get to hit targets with tennis balls in a slingshot), hamster rollers (people-sized culverts you can roll around in!), and more. There is no end to the amount of fun found at Frog Pond Farm!

Of course, no farm experience is complete without animals, and this year they will have

roughly 15 different species on site, and 80 plus total! Llamas, camels, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, ponies, mini donkeys, regular-sized donkeys, emus, alpacas, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and geese–it’s like a miniature zoo! Because it is a real working farm, it can be difficult to make any guarantees about certain things, but the best way to plan your trip is to simply check them out first online at thefrogpondfarm.com. You can also find them on facebook @thefrogpondfarm. Tickets can be purchased online or on site.

This is a family-owned local business. They put all of this together every year for the pure joy of it,for providing what has become the best all-round fall farm experience in the region! Justin and his family are sincerely the nicest, most generous people you’ll ever meet, and they work hard every year to make this such a fun and special event. Please support local businesses and local families, and embrace the fall season while you’re at it!

Daytime General Admission tickets are $12 per person ages 2 and older. Parking has been expanded to include 3 lots now, more than double the space! VIP tickets will also be available and will include additional surprise activities, so make sure to ask about those! On weekends, they will have both food and coffee trucks on site, and they are hoping to possibly offer some adult beverages. Something else new this year: a 30 X 50 Event Tent, available to reserve for corporate and large group events! Call for details!

Frog Pond Farm is located at 2995 SW Advance Road, just northeast of Wilsonville. The pumpkin patch is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Visit thefrogpondfarm.com or call 503-475-5997 for more information.

Dear Wilsonville Community,

We're hiring for several new positions!  The Wilsonville Chamber is proud to announce the launch of the Oregon Business Recovery Center. A special Thank You to Senator Kim Thatcher for her designation of our Wilsonville Chamber to receive ARPA funding. Please visit the new website www.Oregonbrc.org

WHAT IS THE OREGON BRC?

To meet the challenges of the pandemic, small business owners have needed to be agile. As we move into a more post-pandemic phase, now is the time to seek out and seize new opportunities to emerge even stronger and more resilient. The Oregon Business Recovery Center (BRC) can help local Wilsonville small businesses (i.e, 50 or fewer employees) maximize opportunities to recover and rebuild so they will grow and thrive. OregonBRC will provide help in two primary areas: Business Recovery Assistance and Grants/Relief Funds.  Moreover, it will be providing help to small businesses not only in Wilsonville, but also Sherwood, Newberg, and Keizer. Please help us share the great news that we are hiring. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Jessica Chanay, Business Recovery Center Manager.  jessica@wilsonvillechamber.com

Amber Moore is the new franchise owner of our local Black Bear Diner. Amber's  parents owned one of the first Black Bear Diners, so you can say that she literally grew up with an intimate understanding why Black Bear Diner is everyone's favorite. Amber knows the Black Bear history of delicious dishes and delectable desserts, and she has also brought her own passion for great service with a newly trained and dedicated customer service team. Amber has also upgraded the banquet rooms.  The larger space accommodates up to 40 people and the smaller room can fit 14 comfortably. Reservations for these rooms are available on weekends. An added bonus is high-speed internet access throughout the restaurant.

Grim(m) Tales

Wednesday, Oct 5

11 am-12:30 pm

Zoom

For over tw o hundred years, the remarkable stories of the Brothers Grimm have f ascinated and sometimes terrif ied us. This presentation def ines w hat a f olk tale is and then explores the meticulous research that Jacob and W ilhelm undertook to accomplish their goal of collecting signif icant stories f rom around Europe

Sign up onl ine to receive the Zoom meeting code.

Book Notes Concert

Portland Guitar Duo Saturday, Oct 10 2-3 pm Central Area

Beginning Spanish Class Mondays

Oct 17 - Nov 21 6-8 pm

Oak Room

Address

8200 SW Wilsonville Rd Wilsonville, OR 97070

Hours

Monday - Thursday 10-8

Friday - Saturday 10-6 Sunday 1-6

W ith a shared enthusiasm f or the duo medium, James Manuele and Foti Lycouridis f ormed the Portland Guitar Duo in 1999 The Portland Guitar Duo f ocuses on Historical Interpretation and perf orms on a number of instruments f rom the guitar and lute f amilies such as Renaissance, Baroque lutes and Mandora, Baroque guitars, Romantic guitars of the 1800s, Modern Classical guitars and 10 string guitars

Beginning S panish w ill consist of 6 tw o hour c lass presented by Carlos Iturrino For each topic to be covered, w e w ill provide you w ith the initial tools you need to start using the S panish language (grammar & vocabulary) so that you can start to communicate and f unction in a variety of real lif e situations (reading, listening, speaking, and w riting in S panish)

Class limited to 15 participants. Register online. es ,

More Information (503) 682-2744 wilsonvillelibrary.org reference@wilsonvillelibrary.org

The Tale of Stingy Jack

Exploring the myth behind Halloween’s pumpkin pastime

By Krysta M. Nelson, Contributing Writer

Oh autumn, what a wonderful time of year! A time to break out all my favorite sweaters just as the leaves are turning into vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red. And best of all, the arrival of Halloween, my favorite holiday. My nickname as a kid was Little Miss Mess Maker, as carving pumpkins has always been my favorite Halloween activity–one time I even recreated a horror movie with gourd guts. While carving pumpkins is extremely popular, most people don’t know the myth behind the mess and tradition.

Long ago in a small Irish town, a drunkard named Stingy Jack earned his moniker after tricking the Devil himself. Jack was notorious in his little town, and Satan had heard of his mischievous deeds. Jack may have been known for being a drunken scoundrel—scuttered and bollocksed—but he was also a clever lad, so he convinced the Devil to take him to his favorite pub as a last request and to pay for the bill. When the tab came due, Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin so Jack could pay for the drinks, then they could leave for the underworld.

The Devil was fooled. And instead of paying up, Jack dropped the coin into his pocket alongside a silver crucifix, trapping the fiery foe in the form of a coin. The Devil begged Stingy Jack to

release him. And so Jack released him, but only on the condition that the Devil would not bother him for another year, and should Jack die, Satan could not claim his soul.

True to his word, the Devil didn’t return for a whole year. When the Devil finally reappeared to claim his soul, Jack tricked the Devil to climb a fruit tree and pick him a last meal to eat before traveling to Hell. Once the Devil reached the top of the tree, Jack carved a cross into the bark of the tree trunk, trapping the Devil high among the branches. Again, Satan begged Jack for freedom, but this time, Jack made the Devil promise to not bother him for another 10 years. Of course, the Devil agreed to his terms and was freed.

Jack died soon thereafter. Because of his mischief and sins, he was denied entrance to Heaven. Upset by the trickery and scheming, and true to his word of not claiming his soul, Satan denied Jack entrance into Hell, too. As a parting gift, the Devil gifted Jack a lump of burning coal to light his way

and sent him off into the night. Jack placed the burning coal in a hollowed out turnip, and he has roamed the earth ever since. The Irish began calling this eerie creature “Jack of the Lantern,” or “Jack O’Lantern” for short.

In Ireland and Scotland, people began carving their own unique versions of jack-o’-lanterns, cutting terrifying faces into turnips, potatoes,

beets, or rutabagas, and lighting and displaying them near doors or windows to frighten away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits. In the mid-1800s, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the jack-o’-lantern tradition with them when they moved to the U.S. And they soon found that pumpkins, a large fruit native to America, made for perfect jack-o’-lanterns.

Since then, there have been many attempts in popular culture to revive this long-forgotten tradition of carving jack-o’-lanterns from turnips. In 2015, due to a severe pumpkin shortage caused by severe rain, the charity English Heritage called for Brits to rekindle their love for turnip carving and return to the original tradition of turnip jack-o’lanterns. English Heritage even went so far as to install many ghoulish turnip jack-o’-lanterns at Dover Castle to inspire others to do the same. Whether carving trunips will become popular again is still unknown.

In Ireland and Scotland, people began carving their own unique versions of jacko’-lanterns, cutting terrifying faces into turnips, potatoes, beets, or rutabagas, and lighting and displaying them near doors or windows to frighten away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits.

There are, however, many benefits to turnip carving over pumpkin carving. There’s no stringy pumpkin mess or seeds to clean out. Turnips are quite small and portable, so they can actually be hung like little lanterns. Also, turnips are cheap! So you can afford to make dozens and dozens if you’re so inclined. If they’re careful with a knife, older kids can carve a turnip by themselves because they’re so much simpler and smaller. The red-white color and eerie roots are scarier than pumpkins. After you scoop out the insides of the turnip, you can make mashed turnips. Yum! And because they’re available year round, you can carve turnips for more than just jack-o’-lanterns — votive holders, artwork or whatever you want.

So, there you have it. I love it when holidays and their fun-filled activities have such a rich history as Halloween and the Stingy Jack origin of pumpkin carving. And the fact that the history is also a ghost story is even more fun! Whether you choose to carve a pumpkin or turnip, I hope you and yours have a safe, fun, messy, and memorable holiday.

KNOCK-KNOCK!

By Tyler Francke, Contributing Writer

Ghosts, ghouls and other “creatures of the night” are set to take over the Canby Fairgrounds again this fall, for the 2022 edition of the Canby Haunted House (formerly known as the Clackamas County Scare Fair) — and this year’s version promises to be the spookiest one yet.

Creatures of the Night, the haunting experts who have collaborated with the fairgrounds for three straight years of thrills and chills, are set again to present this year’s uniquely tailored Halloween experience, “Knock, Knock,” which will take place over four weekends in October.

To say Creatures CEO David D. Jones is excited would be a bit of an understatement.

“Halloween is one of the most universal of celebrations for us as a people,” David says. “Halloween is the one day that we feed the people who come to our door. It’s the one day that every child is safe. It’s the one day that we all agree to play the same game — and that’s worth protecting.”

David and his nonprofit team, which has included family, friends, and hundreds of volunteers over the years, got into the scaring business sort of by accident.

“Creatures of the Night started nine years ago in the Mary S. Young Park in West Linn, where we accidentally created an urban legend,” he says. “We literally got into haunting as a lark, as a goof. It wasn’t for ‘realsies’, it was just us being silly. We entered a contest, and we realized we were

weirdly, really good at this. So we continued, and we started studying and doing research and becoming better at it.”

Creatures of the Night creates highly crafted, thoughtful haunts that are uniquely tailored for each year and location they partner with. Though the team presented an in-person haunt in a different location at the fairgrounds last fall — this year’s will be completely different. The haunters also rely heavily on ancient myths, more modern urban legends, local lore, and interviews with hundreds of area residents, business owners, and leaders to produce their unique experiences.

“If you just do a collage of mad scientist, alien, Godzilla monster and so on, it doesn’t resonate,” David explains. “You’ve got to have a cohesive story, a narrative. It’s got to be like a three-act play: beginning, middle, and end. You start with universal stories, and then you get more specific. You have to reflect the stories and fears of people now. So when we start writing the story in early spring or the turn of the year, we’re trying to guess what people are going to be scared of 10 months from now.”

And when we say Creatures’ haunts are “uniquely tailored” and “hand crafted,” we mean that literally. David and his team spend the weeks leading up to October training volunteers and staff — as well as building their haunted houses and all of their associated set pieces by hand. Many of their volunteer actors who participate in the haunt also lend a hand or, you know, paw, claw, talon, or fin.  The actors, which the outfit usually refers to as “creatures” or “haunters,” are a huge part of the experience — and much more goes into it than you might think. As David explains, these are not people pulled off the street, given a mask, and simply told to lunge and go “Rawr!” at whomever passes by. For Creatures of the Night, there is an in-depth training and character development process spanning at least two months.

“They are a full character: There is a history, there is a complete story — and it’s actually a tragic story,” David says. “Like Frankenstein’s monster, every monster was somebody who was on a hero’s journey, which is what a haunt really is. We’re creating an environment where we tell a story, but the guest is the hero of the story. They’re the ones that have to fight the monsters. They have to figure their way out of the maze.”

But as to the specifics of what guests might experience at the Canby Haunted House this year, David’s lips are as sealed as Billy Butcherson’s in Hocus Pocus, saying it would be like a magician revealing his secrets — before the show. The only way to find out is to dare to enter the Canby Haunted House for yourselves.

The Canby Haunted House will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, October 7 through the 29th. It will take place in the 4-H Hall at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds and Events Center, located at 694 Northeast 4th Avenue in Canby. For more information, visit creaturesofthenighthalloween.com or connect with Creatures of the Night on Facebook at facebook.com/CreaturesHaunt.

“This year’s uniquely tailored Halloween experience promises to be the spookiest yet.”

the ADDA ms FA mily (1991)

“Smell that air, Fester! Like a tomb.”

Another of my favorites, this dark comedy

is based on the 1964 TV show! Starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci, the movie follows a gloomy but loving family of outcasts who live in a gothic mansion on the hill. Full of the macabre, cartoony violence, and biting social commentary, the jokes and goofs land like punches in this otherworldly romp. Rated PG-13.

CA s P er (1995)

“Who says there’s no such thing as ghosts?” In this dark fantasy dramedy, afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) move into a haunted mansion to exorcize ghosts for a greedy inheritor bent on finding treasure. It’s silly and slapstick, yet serious and contemplative–after all, you can’t have ghosts without death. Good for kiddos 6+. Rated PG.

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

h o CU s Po CU s (1993)

“Oh, look. Another glorious morning. Makes me sick!”

One of my favorite Halloween movies, it’s the story of three witches burned at the stake who return to terrorize the children of Salem, Mass. With a killer cast including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Thora Birch, it’s whacky, spooky, and actionpacked. Rated PG, but with strong language and mature themes it’s more like PG-13.

ghostb U sters (1984)

“Who you gonna call?”

There’s nothing like it, pure and simple. A supernatural comedy starring a legendary cast, including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, and more. Parapsychologists turn ghost hunters in New York City and end up saving the world. There’s ghosts, marshmallow giants, and so much nostalgia. Rated PG, but with strong language and mature themes it’s more like PG-13.

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Nightm A re o N elmstreet (1984)

“Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.” I binged all 7 of these movies last year, and they are equal parts horror and camp. They’re so bad that they’re good, you know? Imaginative, terrifying, funny, and always graphically violent, Robert Englund haunts my nightmares indefinitely! Adults only.

Rated R. AUN o F the D e AD (2004)

“Winchester?”

One of the very few horror comedy zombie movies, this movie has “killed” since released. Like Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s other movies, this plays on genre tropes and makes for geniuslevel comedy. Ultra violence and profuse profanity really make this a dirty pleasure movie. Adults only. Rated R.

Balancing The Real Estate Market

BELTRAN PROPERTIES GROUP at eXp Realty

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

“Extreme conditions” are never permanent, and the market adjustment that’s been looming on the horizon has inevitably arrived. That does not mean that anyone has missed out on this unique window of opportunity!

Anyone who has been following the real estate market over the past 24 months will be familiar with our current situation here in the Northwest. Namely, the market has been exceptionally competitive. Continued low inventory has allowed sellers to secure higher-than-normal offers, while continued low interest rates have kept things simultaneously attractive for buyers. Houses have been placed on the market, sometimes with little-to-no preparation, only to be scooped up within days for tens-of-thousands of dollars over asking price. It’s been an exciting and lucrative time. But things are beginning to change.

On the contrary, the shift has only just begun. But it does mean that the time to act is sooner rather than later, and now, perhaps more than ever, it is imperative to have an agent with a profound understanding of the market; one with a proven track record, an exceptional reputation, and an already-established network of vetted industry experts ready to assist in every step of the process. In the Portland Metro area, there is no better agent than Jaimy Beltran, and no better agency than Beltran Properties at eXp Realty!

Constantly following the trends and analyzing the markets, the Beltran team has been anticipating this “correction” for some time. They have prepared for it,

Sellers take note: the long-delayed shift towards a more balanced real estate market is finally upon us. Now is the time to act!

(l to r) Michelle Benikov, Davide Cook, Sherine Beltran, Jaimy Beltran & Greg Kozina, (Photo by Kelby Maria Photography

and in conjunction with their network team of experts, they have adjusted logistically to match the shifting market. As conditions continue to change, their thorough preparation and proven methodology places them in the perfect position to help their clients prevail.

But what types of changes has the market begun to see?

There are a variety of factors influencing the market, but it mainly comes down to 3 things: inflation, increasing interest rates, and a bump in inventory. Inflation and higher interest rates both mean less affordability. An increase in inventory means an increase in “time on market” which can also lead to forced reductions on pricing (58% of current active listings have had price reductions!). Portland was under 1 month of inventory from November of 2020 through May of 2022. Again, unprecedented conditions, but June jumped up to 1.4 months, and in July we were at 2 months of inventory. As the trend continues, the “frenzied climate” buyers experienced just months ago is beginning to ease. Buyers can afford to be choosier, to take their time, and to make greater demands on sellers.

As a result, active residential listings are now as high as they were in 2020 before the influence of COVID really impacted the market. This is good for buyers. It’s much more likely you will be able to secure a property without having to enter into a heated bidding war. You may also be able to make demands on the seller; request upgrades like new carpet, appliances, paint, etc. For sellers, the opposite is true. As we advance further into the shift, it will be more important than ever to make preparations before putting your property up for sale. Painting, staging, making appropriate repairs; these are

all things sellers must be willing to do in order to remain competitive. And there is no one bettersuited to assist you with that process than the Beltran team.

This is a call to action!

It’s not too late! Sellers can still take advantage of these current conditions, but the writing is on the wall, and the best time to act is now! Beltran Properties Group, along with their primary lending partners at Academy Mortgage, are the most well-equipped team in the region to turn your real estate dreams into a reality. With unique financing options through private mortgage lenders (especially for land developers and investors), there’s no need to contact anyone else. Call Jaimy today and discover for yourself why the Beltran Properties Group at eXp Realty is the premier brokerage in the area!

Jaimy Beltran can be reached at 503-502-3330, or check out their website, beltranproperties.com.