harringtons - Portland Family Magazine

ly
all
new
october 11
home
AT
WITH THE
harringtons
PLUS
Cool
UnSchool
Green Holloween
Happiness Apps
to
family
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6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
25
30
36
38
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New, Noteworthy
& Nevermind
Divine to Dine
Goodness
8 Days a Week
All in the Family
Things I’m Not Apologizing For
Happy HallowGreen
Make October Spook-tacular!
In Step with
Shoe Designer Franco Sarto
Cool to UnSchool
At Home with the Harringtons
Q+A with Joey and Emily
40
20
25
30
Aloha on Kauai
Keeping it
Happiness Apps
The Family Fieldtrip – NORTHWEST
Everybody Eats withChef Patrick
This is Why I Fight
Cover photo and all feature photos
of the Harringtons ©Joni Schrantz
studioessphoto.com
OCTOBER 2011
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y
October 2011
vol.19 : no. 1
Publisher/Editor Janna Lopez
Events Karen Kuzmack
Operations Helen Payne
Copy Editor Julie Talbot
Graphic Design Tay Juncker
Online Editor Bill Evans
A D V E RT I S I N G
sales@portlandfamily.com
503-906-7952
C O N T R I B U TO R S
Jill Arena, Jessica Baldis,
Carisa Brewster, Kristin Donahue
Carolyn Jabs, Janna Lopez,
Kerrie McLoughlin, Marta Monetti,
Patrick Lee Warner
Mission Statement
Provide a comprehensive family
source for meaningful connection and
inspiration, and enable all who come in
contact with Portland Family to interact,
connect and support one another’s
wishes for fulfilling family living.
Letters Policy
Portland Family welcomes opinions
and letters to the editor. Letters should
be signed and include writer’s full name,
address and daytime phone number.
Portland Family reserves the right to
edit letters for length and clarity.
Opinions or ideas expressed by writers
and/or advertisers herein are not necessarily endorsed by, nor reflect the
opinions of, Portland Family.
Publisher’s Letter
Change is indeed the only constant.
Since human beings are mostly well-worn creatures of habit, the notion of
change can be intimidating. New endeavors may also be quite exciting. We all
need to look at ourselves, our interests and our lives with fresh mirrors so that
alternative reflections may be seen. Life is about evolving, growing, discovering.
Portland Familyis in one of those amazing times of change, with fantastic opportunities ahead. Those who know me will tell you that I’m always thinking, creating,
and dreaming big about what’s possible. I believe that since women are pulled in
numerous directions these days, we seek more meaningful connections with the
things that matter most. We may be tired or overwhelmed at times, but we’re
also engaged with life; perhaps we’re juggling careers and kids’ soccer schedules,
but we’re also trying to figure out how to be a good friend, plan a trip, engage in
community goodwill, take care of our health, enhance our looks and take pleasure in life. Living life to the fullest isn’t merely a cliché.
At this stage of the game we’ve maybe lost someone we love to an awful disease, seen the impact of a swinging economy or realized that whatever time is
left on our ticker, we want to make the most of it. It is in this spirit — the spirit
of change, discovery, happiness, fulfillment and enhanced living — that we present the new and improved Portland Family.
To be here with you, at this point in our time together, and
with this new, exciting incarnation of Portland Family
in your hands, is a very cool realized dream. Like an
Academy Award winner’s acceptance speech, I have
to publicly say, “I want to thank a few incredible
angels for standing by me, believing in me, and for
making this happen … Randy, I wouldn’t be where I
am without you; Helen, you have been my rock, my
friend, my glue; Tay, your compassion, kindness and
talent are like no one else’s; Mark, your love and
gorgeous eyes can guide me through anything.”
I love you Portland, and I’m honored for the
opportunity of this next phase to create a
little joy and meaning in your life.
Portland Family delivered to your door!
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Portland Family 12725 SW Millikan Way,
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Printed on 20% recycled (10% postconsumer waste) paper. All inks used
contain a percentage of soy base.
Published monthly. All rights reserved.
Reproduction (whole or part) without
permission prohibited. © 2011 Oregon
Family Media Inc.
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OCTOBER 2011
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5
Goodness
Local & Amazing
Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp,
the parent company to Souplantation/
Sweet Tomatoes, is now the first large-scale
restaurant chain nationally to be certified by the Green
Restaurant Association, an industry standard in restaurant sustainability. During the two-year certification process, Garden Fresh implemented measures
to reduce restaurant waste and disposables, along
with energy and water consumption. The restaurants
have also successfully increased the amount of
sustainable and organic food served and are now using
more sustainable furnishings and building materials.
The U.S. throws out 243 million tons of trash every year,
57 percent of which is buried in landfills. With the current
changes, the GRA estimates Garden Fresh will save 2.1
million pounds of waste, 7.5 million gallons of water, 4.4
million kilowatts of energy and 3,194 cubic yards of landfill
space. Visit blog.souplantation.com/green.
The Regional Arts
& Culture Council
(RACC) has awarded a total of
$1,639,763 to 44 local arts organizations.
With combined budgets of $78 million,
they serve over 2 million residents and
visitors this year. This is the second year
of a two-year “General Support” funding cycle in which RACC provides unrestricted operating revenue for arts
organizations demonstrating artistic
excellence, fiscal responsibility and
community service.
The Creating Minds Symposium (CMS), hosted
by MetroArts, brings together internationally recognized speakers on the subject
of education and connects them to policy makers, education leaders, teachers,
business and arts communities. The mission of CMS is to discuss how our educational system can meet the needs of students in the 21st century. This year, Bernie
Trilling and Charles Fadel, authors of the book 21st Century Skills:
Learning for Life in Our Times. will be the featured guests. Friday,
October 14th, 9 a.m. – noon. www.metroartsinc.org
Divine
to
Dine
We’re
totally
impressed
with
It’s true, Portland IS one of the foodie capitals of the universe.
So many great restaurants, so little time. We could also see
having a serious jean-fitting problem if given free reign.
However, there are standouts worth spotlighting.
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PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
New
If you’ve been lamenting not working out, you
officially have no more excuses. CRUNCH FITNESS
(Beaverton, Gresham and more locations coming) is the most
amazing gym. Brand spankin’ new equipment, awesome selection
of classes, huge state of the art facility — and for less than the
price of three Starbuck’s lattes. Yep, only $10 a month, NO
contracts, on a month-to-month basis. The enrollment fee was
only $29. Crunch Fitness is fantastic, accessible, first-class and the
real deal. No more excuses — visit CRUNCH FITNESS and start
taking care of your health.
N
o
t
e
w
o
r
t
h
y
A new favorite pastime is an old favorite pastime: kicking
back and listening to records. As in vinyl. My collection from 30+
years ago somehow miraculously survived and recently got resurrected
from storage thanks to technology’s sweet addition to the music market —
AUDIO-TECHNICA’S PROFESSIONALQUALITY USB DIRECT DRIVE TURNTABLE SYSTEM (AT-LP120-SRP: $299.95). Though most of my
records were in fair condition, the sound quality from this device is like silk.
There is just a warmth, tone and connection to vinyl that’s unlike any other.
I spent an afternoon at Music Millennium sifting
through the dollar bins and for less than $10 bucks
I got the Eagles, Cheap Trick, Beatles, Journey and
Supertramp. I came home, blended up a batch of melon
margaritas and made a night of listening to them.
Limited-edition
Pinkalicious cupcakes!
Oct. 15th to NOv. 20th
I should add that this is not a 1970s turntable.
Audio-Technica is a complete USB turntable
and software package that enables you to listen
and transfer vinyl records to digital media files. These include a
turntable and phono cartridge, PC- and Macintosh-compatible software,
a USB cable that connects the turntable directly to a computer, a built-in
phono preamp that enables it to be used with virtually any music system
and other accessories. The software converts the record audio to MP3,
WAV or other digital audio file formats, which can then be played on any
car or portable audio device. Audio-Technica has three turntable models;
$149, $299 and a professional grade model at $499 (www.shopaudiotechnica.com). For birthdays, holidays or just because vinyl is the coolest thing
ever, the gift of music and nostalgia with a modern twist is the perfect present that keeps on giving. –JL
& Nevermind
We recently went to a movie at CINETOPIA IN BEAVERTON.
Don’t bother unless you want to spend 52 bucks on nothing but movie admission for
two, two small drinks and one tiny popcorn. Admission and refreshments for a family of
four could instead go towards a car down payment or college tuition. The couch seating
in the “parlor” where our movie was showing was awkward and uncomfortable, with
nowhere to place refreshments. Cinetopia, you offer a great concept for movie-going,
but with sad execution. Times are tough for a lot of families. Make it affordable, not
exclusionary. Forego spending your extra investment dollars on oversized couches and
instead spread the wealth towards fair admission pricing.
Thirsty Lion
in Tigard. It is kid-friendly, and after dozens of
visits for meetings, happy hours and family
outings, the service is consistently exceptional
and the food is fantastic every time. The menu
is vast, with lots of healthy, vegetarian and
comfort food options. The soy-garlic sautéed
edamame is yummy, the pizza is incredible
and the chicken tenders melt in your mouth.
The combination of consistently outstanding
service and brilliant food makes this place a
family find! (www.thirstylionpub.com)
We are thrilled to
debut Chef Patrick’s
column in this issue
of Portland Family.
Scratch
Chef Patrick’s restaurant is a recently-donned
favorite in Lake Oswego. Everything — from appetizers, to main courses and desserts — is incredibly
fresh and delicious. The food is unpretentious,
creatively prepared and always mouth-watering
flavorful. A nice, quiet restaurant that may not be the
right scene with little ones for dinner. Lunch would
be better with kids in tow. Scratch is a must-do
destination for a date night, with friends or even
alone. (www.scratchfoodsllc.com)
OctOberto22
NOvember 20
Newmark theatre
Book by Elizabeth Kann & Victoria Kann. Music by John Gregor. Lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth Kann & Victoria
Kann. Based on the book Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann. Pinkalicious: The Musical is presented
through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights
Worldwide (TRW), 1359 Broadway, Suite 914, New York, NY 10018. (866) 378-9758.
http://www.theatricalrights.com
503-228-9571
www.octc.org
Presented by
Media sPonsor
sUPPort ProVided by tHe regionaL arts & cULtUre coUnciL
O C T Oand
B EworK
R 2For
0 1 art
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TUDIO CRAWL
P
INKALICIOUS
Beginning Oct. 22. Oregon
Children’s Theatre will kick off its
2011-2012 season with the spectacularly colorful Pinkalicious: The
Musical. Based on the popular
book; the title character craves
anything and everything pink —
especially cupcakes. But when she
eats one too many she turns pink
… so pink that even a bath won’t
wash away the color. The remedy
is a strict diet of green foods, but
Pinkalicious can’t stop thinking
about those cupcakes! $16 and
up ($13 for kids). www.octc.org.
O
KLAHOMA!
Through October 30. Portland
Center Stage takes a fresh look at
a classic, as director Chris Coleman sets the classic tale of hope
and the American dream in an allblack town at the turn of the 20th
century. As African Americans fled
the oppressive Jim Crow laws
and rampant discrimination in the
American south, they migrated to
Oklahoma and found new hope
for peace and prosperity. $39 and
up. www.pcs.org.
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PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
C’EST LA FÊTE
A celebration of French cuisine.
The Benson Hotel
eventful.com/portland_or
Through October 9
JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS!
Kids’ classic hits the stage.
NW Children’s Theater
nwcts.org
Through October 30
GO GREEN ’11.
Learn business waste reduction strategies.
gogreenconference.net
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
See a classic. Coho Theater.
www.publichousetheatre.org
GOD OF CARNAGE.
See a Tony winner. Laugh.
Artists Repetory Theater
artistsrep.org
FASHIONISTAS UNITE!
Runway shows, parties, events.
portlandfashionweek.net
Through October 8
1
2
PUMPKIN MERRIMENT
A signature fall festival event.
Riverfront Park (Salem)
acgilbert.org
4 5 6
7 8 9
MECHANICAL MADNESS.
The high school robotics showcase returns to OMSI.
omsi.edu
PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL
Best-selling book debuts.
Oregon Children’s Theatre
octc.org
Through November 20
KID’S HIKE
Follow the spawning salmon.
Gorgefriends.org
GO BLUE
Blue Man Group.
Keller Auditorium
auditoriumportland.com
Through October 23
LAST KICK
Portland Timbers home finale.
Jeld-Wen Field
portlandtimbers.com
RUN LIKE HELL
Lace ‘em up for 5K, 10K or half marathon.
terrapinevents.com
14 15 16 19 20 22 23
LAUGH IT UP
The hysterical Hannibal Buress tells funny jokes.
Helium
heliumcomedy.com
Through October 29
YES UKE CAN
Learn to play the ukulele.
Fairview-Columbia Library
multcolib.org
$2 DAYS.
Explore the Museum on a budget. OMSI.
omsi.edu
iCHANGE.
Explore transformative dance.
Newmark Theater
www.pcpa.com
Through October 7
CELEBRATION OF BEER
Eat, learn, taste 30+ Northwest beers.
Skamania Lodge
skamania.com
Through October 9
CURIOUS GARDEN
Kiddy characters come to life.
Curious Comedy Theater
curiouscomedy.org
TAKE IT OUTSIDE WEEK
Get off the couch.
www.aahperd.org
Through October 22
POST PARTUM PAIN?
Get your back on track..
Third Way Chiropractic
thirdwaychiropractic.com
WORDSTOCK
Celebrate literature.
Oregon Convention Center
wordstockfestival.com
Through October 9
©2010 terrapin events
October 8-9 & 15-16. Portland
Open Studios offers a unique and
inspiring look at how artists work,
with access to more than 100
local artists within their studio
spaces. Have you always been
curious about what moves an
artist to work in the way that
they do? Indulge your curiosity
with an up-close look at artists
in action. A $15 full-color guide
book admits two adults (children
under 18 free) and includes a
map of participating studios.
portlandopenstudios.com.
HARVEST CENTURY
Family bike ride and festival.
Washington County Fairgrounds
harvestcentury.org
©Owen Carey
8A
WEEK
October 2011
DAYS
©Leilani Mueller
AIZE MAZES.
All month long. Not one, but
two labyrinths will confound and
delight visitors of all ages. The
Maize at the Pumpkin Patch ($7)
pays homage to the Portland
Timbers. The haunted maze ($10)
opens after sundown on selected
evenings to add some fright to
your night. Did we mention hay
rides, a pumpkin patch, a farm
fresh market? Make a day of it.
www.portlandmaze.com.
©2011 John Ellingson
M
RELIVE THE ‘80S
Journey, Foreigner, Night Ranger.
Rose Garden
gardenportland.com
TOYS ON ICE
Disney on Ice performs Toy Story 3.
Rose Garden
gardenportland.com
Through October 30
26
27
30
HALLOWEEN BASH
Kids + costumes = fun.
Portland Children’s Museum
by Portland Family
FAMILY
All
in the
Type of business
The Summa Institute
a learning community where Natural
Learning Relationships™ programs are
implemented. We offer family development,
parenting classes, research and professional
development. Natural Learning Relationships
(NLR) is a well-researched understanding
of child development that emphasizes the
consciousness of children and describes the
relationships for self actualization in every
moment of life.
Josette Luvmour, PhD, is the director
offamily and professional development at
Summa; she is also a mother and grandmother. Ba Luvmour is her husband, and
the Summa Academy director, he is also a
dad and grandfather. Amber Kara (Ba and
Josette’s only child) is Summa’s executive
director; she is the wife of Albee and
mother of two amazing girls, Ruby (5)
and Naomi (2). Albee Kara is Amber’s
husband, father to Ruby and Naomi and
the chief operating officer of Summa. In
addition to our roles as listed here, we
also all write and teach together.
Opportunities
We redefine work to include our whole
life together. Work is simply an extension
of our dedication to optimal well-being
and wisdom-based relationships. We extend
our love to community through the families
and children we serve. Our work includes
our life passions as we each change and
grow. We dissolve constraints of traditional
family roles, enabling us to self-actualize
and develop.
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PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
Things learned
Family support is a remarkable benefit
and asset in business. You can stay true to
ethics and breathe through uncertainties
when relationships are meaningful. Business
is not business when it furthers the purpose
of your life. Never take business personally.
We know and understand one
another’s language.
Challenges
There’s so much creativity we sometimes
struggle to name direction, fail to take
breaks due to our enthusiasm, or to
separate family time from impromptu
business meetings. The challenges are
often opportunities. We continuously redefine, destroy and rebuild our family
narrative. We never get bored!
Common threads
We are in service to something greater:
to self-actualization, social justice, knowledge that the leverage point for a healthy
society is optimal well-being in children,
families and education.
Piece of advice
Discover the common aim then set up
communication avenues so everyone
may support that aim. Spend time playing
together and enjoying one another. Don’t
mix too much business with family time,
allow each the time and space it deserves.
Face difficulties, don’t avoid them and
never turn away — work them through.
We’ve spent many nights working through
“issues.” Lastly, don’t assume.
OCTOBER 2011
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By Jill Arena
Things I’m Not
Apologizing For
Having turned 40 a couple of years ago,
I find there are many things about me that elicit a
snicker from my male friends and colleagues. At first,
I worried that perhaps they were right, and that I ought
not be so “high maintenance.”
I’ve since wised up, squared my shoulders, and have
now been so bold as to compile a list. So, what follows
is a whole compendium of stuff that you may chuckle
about, but I am going on record here. I am officially not
apologizing for any of the following:
My latte order. Yes, it fills up almost all of the boxes on the
side of the Starbucks cup. (Can’t bring myself to use that decaf one
— what’s the point?) And yes, I can spiel it off in the proper order
to make the barista’s day easier. For the record, it’s a triple grande,
non-fat, two-raw-sugar vanilla latte. Not all that difficult. If you can’t
remember it, just store it in your Blackberry under my contact info
so you’ll have it when you want to bring me a coffee. There’s a nice
Notes section that’s just perfect for storing details like that.
My shoe fetish. Imelda? I think not. A girl’s gotta have some
shoes. This is an immutable fact of the universe. Just ask Jimmy Choo.
And if I have twelve pair that are black, that should not be considered
a problem, or anything worthy of therapy. The therapy was in buying
them. And yes, I’m likely to need more therapy. Still, far cheaper than
paying an actual therapist. Trust me. I’ve done the math.
My need for regular pedicures. While we’re on the topic
of feet, what’s the point of cute sandals if your toes don’t look good?
Big bold colors for me. I take my six-year-old daughter along, and
we have Mommy-Daughter pedicures. This is the epitome of quality
parenting time. We chat. She gets blue polish. I’ve trained her well.
My car. It’s an SUV. Here in the Pacific Northwest, this borders
on criminal, but I will not buy a hybrid until I can actually tell when
the car is on. Don’t get me wrong; I recycle. I reuse. I compost. I just
don’t get why you’d want to buy a car that you can’t hear. I also want
something to happen when I put my foot down on the gas pedal. So,
when they make a hybrid like that, I’ll happily buy one.
My foodie tendencies. No, I don’t wish to
have a burger and fries, unless it’s from Higgins.
I’d rather sit down as opposed to driving through.
I’d rather a tablecloth than a paper cup with a
plastic lid and a straw. I’d rather two forks to the
left of my plate instead of a spork. I’d rather my
Caesar had some actual greens in it and freshly
grated Parmesan. Life is simply too short for any
foodstuff whose allure is that it’s been super-sized.
My purse. Specifically, the size and weight
of it. I get more flak for this, and from the very
people who are glad that I have some Advil when
they have a headache, or a Kleenex when they spill
something, or that stain remover stick to take care
of the ketchup that dribbled on the one pair of
dress pants they packed for the trade show. Where
do you think all of this stuff comes from, people?
My need for chocolate. Dark, white and
milk in that order, please. Ladies, back me up on
this one. I shouldn’t have to explain it.
My personal shopper. Yes, she knows my
closet, my sizes, my tastes. It’s like having an extra
hour to browse through the whole store, except
that you don’t have to do the browsing yourself.
And, she pulls some really outrageous things off
the rack that I would never try on if I were doing
the browsing. And they look good. And yes, I buy
them. Again, with the therapy thing. Still cheaper.
My love of gadgets. iPhone. Kindle. iPad.
Flip. I’ve got ‘em all. When the next new thing
comes out, I’ll get one too. Life is just more fun
and interesting when you have the right gizmo
for the job. Kinda like you guys and your tools.
Can someone please explain to me what an Arrow
Fastener Professional Rivet Tool is actually used
for? I rest my case.
Jill Arena is a busy mom, entrepreneur, volunteer and crafter. In her spare time, she loves sbeing with family and trying to catch up on her scrapbooks.
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PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
My lengthy voice mail messages. Yes, I
have a lot to say. There’s generally a lot going on,
and I’ve called you for a good reason — usually
several good reasons. I’ll number them for you in
the message to allow you to follow along. One of
my friends forwards the messages to his secretary
so she can transcribe them. At first, I was horrified
to learn that, and then I decided that it was a great
idea on his part. Now, there are a few people I can’t
even call, because, inexplicably, their voice mail system has a two-minute limit. I’m just getting started,
and that rude woman (Audix) cuts me off. If I ever
meet her in person, we’re going to have words.
My lengthy email messages. Corollary to
the above, just in electronic format. Again, I’ll number them for you, and no need for your secretary
to transcribe it, as I’ve done all of the typing.You
should be pleased.
My Starbucks app. This is a natural con-
sequence of several of the above items. When you
need a latte, you need a latte, and a smart girl will
know just how to find one. Very occasionally, you’ll
find yourself in a spot where there is not a sign with
green block letters in plain view. I’ve used this app
in Redding, CA, Minneapolis, MN and Orlando,
FL. And several times right here in River City. I will
continue to use it and I will be caffeinated.You will
still be wandering around in your appless state trying to figure out where to find coffee.
My dance moves. So I like to boogie. So I
may do a dance when something good happens. So
I like to dance in the rain.Yes, I have been known
to dance on the occasional table. I can keep up with
you in the boardroom and on the dance floor. So
put on your dancin’ shoes and let’s see you do
the mambo!
My moxie … otherwise, this article wouldn’t
have ever happened. Embrace your sassiness,
ladies. Let it shine. I’ve decided that since I am
also high output, I am officially owning and embracing my high maintenance status.
There’s the list.
A lengthy justification of my
female excesses,
quirks and fetishes — or a mature, well-grounded
examination of some
of the delightful things
that make me who
I am?
by Kerrie McLoughlin
Happy
HallowgREEN!
Between
costumes, candy
holders, treat wrappers and
plastic decorations, Halloween can
quickly become a landfill’s worst
nightmare. Multiply that by the
number of kids you have, and it
can become quite a bit of wasted
junk on your conscience. Fortunately, just about anything you do
can be done in a more ecologically responsible way, and it’s easy!
Check out these tips to green
your Halloween — and save some
serious cash (paper green!) in
the process.
costumes
GreenHalloween.org has started National
Costume Swap Day, which is October 8,
2011. Their great idea is that your kids trade
costumes with friends instead of buying
new ones. Other ideas to go green and
save green: recycle among your own family
members, use an old karate or ballet outfit,
or break out the princess dress-up clothes.
Google “Halloween costumes you can make
at home for cheap” and start surfing. Don’t
forget to check thrift stores and garage sales
all year.
Trick or Treating
Grab that rechargeable or LED shake flashlight and head out the door. Wait! Don’t forget the decorated cloth bag you can reuse
next year. An even cheaper route (and it’s
still space- and eco-friendly) is to go retro
and use a pillowcase or go modern and
use a cloth shopping bag. Pick up trash as
you follow your trick-or-treaters and keep
it in a separate bag or in the bottom of the
stroller if you’re taking little ones along, too.
Treats
Just so we’re clear, I’m not of the camp that
lumps eco-friendly with sugar-free. Even
if you’re handing out healthy Halloween
treats, chances are you’re still sending individually wrapped stuff into
the world (oh, the trash all
over my neighborhood!).
Instead, consider handing out something that
can be either useful or
recycled. Ideas include pencils, erasers, quarters, crayons,
juice boxes (recyclable cardboard),
cool bandages, bookmarks or seed
packets (edible flowers, herbs, etc.).
Decorations
Instead of buying decorations made in China
that eat up batteries, consider strategically
placing some hay bales in your yard or porch.
Chrysanthemums, gourds, colorful corn, ghosts
made of sheets, and scarecrows stuffed with
hay (use some old clothes) are cheap and
green choices. Nontoxic window paints are fun
for kids to use on windows and doors. There
are all kinds of Halloween crafts you can make
out of materials you have around the house
that can be saved for next year or recycled
later. Crafts like bottle cap pumpkin magnets,
tin can bat treat holders and an egg carton
animal nose mask can also be a great activity
at your Halloween party (see below). Check
out familycrafts.about.com/od/halloween for
instructions and more craft ideas.
Pumpkins
Speaking of decorations, pumpkins are the best
decoration out there, and you can even grow
your own if you have the space. Just toss a
bunch of seeds in a large garden area and you’ll
have freebies for next year. Otherwise, take
an educational trip to a local pumpkin patch
(www.PumpkinPatchesAndMore.org) to support local farmers. Make sure you toast some
pumpkin seeds (cinnamon sugar seeds rock!)
and make a pie with the rest.
Parties
After you send out an Evite, start planning your
green Halloween party. Instead of setting out
individually wrapped treats, put carrots, orange
slices and pretzels in bowls. Make sugar cookies in cool Halloween shapes (bats, pumpkins,
ghosts) and have the kids frost and decorate
them with orange and black frosting. Throw
some newspaper on the table, break out the
nontoxic paints and decorate some pumpkins.
Kerrie dresses up like a referee on Halloween because it’s not a stretch, because she has five kids. TheKerrieShow.com.
14
|
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
by Jessica Baldis
Spook-tacular
Make October!
October is a great time to get
the family together and have some
Halloween fun. Here are some tried
and true ideas that make Halloween memorable for everyone.
Read a spooky story.
Get in the spirit of Halloween with one of the many
Halloween-themed books. Your little one is sure to
love the colorful pictures and rhythmical rhymes in
Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming. For preschoolers
through early elementary school, try Big Pumpkin
by Erica Silverman or The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t
Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams. For older kids,
pick a classic like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
by J.K. Rowling.
Make caramel apples.
Whether you’re a gourmet who can make caramel
from scratch or you simply microwave pre-packaged
caramel, making caramel apples is a fun and delicious
treat for the whole family.
Create your own
haunted house.
A haunted house can bring lots of spine-chilling fun.
Get the whole family involved in the planning and
creating. First, pick a location for your haunted house
— the front walkway, garage, hallway, basement, family
room, etc. Next, set up some spooky lighting. If you
have windows or your haunted house is outside, you
may want to use cardboard or drape dark sheets to
block out extra light. Add effect using a black light or
colored light bulbs, available at most home stores for
a few dollars. Next, bring out the Halloween props.
Hang ghosts and skeletons from the ceiling, stretch
spider webs in the corners, place jars of floating eyeballs (grapes or Marciano cherries frozen in ice cubes)
on tables, etc. Remember to make your haunted
house age-appropriate. If you have little ones, opt
for more fun and less fright. Finally, add some scary
sounds and special effects. A fog machine or witches’
cauldron bubbling with dry ice creates an eerie
ambiance.
Get smart!
Learn about the history of Halloween. Did you know
that Halloween is linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain which celebrates “summer’s end”? Traditionally,
in Ireland and Scotland turnips (not pumpkins) were
carved into lanterns to remember the souls held in
purgatory. Check out more interesting Halloween facts
on Wikipedia.
Watch a scary”movie.
Break out the popcorn and get comfy in front of the
TV, but don’t go overboard on the scare-factor. For
the little ones try Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie
(rated G) and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
(rated G). For older kids there’s Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets (rated PG), Corpse Bride (rated
PG), or The Nightmare Before Christmas (rated PG).
Make a scarecrow.
Touch and feel boxes.
Conjure up your
own ghost story.
Download spooky songs.
Grab an old pair of jeans and stuff them full of straw.
Use rope to tie off the ankles. Now, stuff a flannel shirt
with straw. Use rope to tie off the wrists and then tuck
the straw-filled shirt into the pants and secure with
rope. Get creative on what to use for the head — an
old pillowcase filled with straw and painted with a face
works, or for a more frightening scarecrow, try a plastic
jack-o-lantern bucket used for trick-or-treating.
Get the family together and take turns telling a ghost
story. Each person gets to make up one sentence, then
it moves on to the next person. You’ll be surprised by
the silly, spooky story that emerges. You can kick off
the story with something like: “One Halloween night,
Gilbert the ghost decided he wanted to go trick-ortreating … ”
Take a nighttime
nature walk.
Arm your little ones with flashlights and head out
after dark. There’s a lot to see, even if you stay on the
sidewalk. Check out the night sky — can you spot the
Big Dipper? Look for spider webs and other creepy
crawlies. Maybe you’ll get lucky and spot an owl.
Make lollipop ghosts.
Lollipop ghosts are simple and easy — even your
preschooler can get in on the action. To make a lollipop
ghost: (1) Drape a white napkin over a lollipop. (2) Tie
a purple, orange, or black ribbon around the napkin at
the base of the lollipop to create the ghosts head. (3)
Use a black sharpie to draw eyes and a mouth.
Gross out your little ghouls! Cut a hole in a cardboard box — just big enough for your hand to fit in.
Cover the opening with fabric to prevent peeking.
Set up three or four boxes, and fill them with all sorts
of slimy, squishy, scary objects. Have the kids reach
in and feel eyeballs (olives or peeled grapes), worms
(cooked spaghetti), severed fingers (little smokies
sausages), brains (jello), etc. Listen to the kids squeal
with a mix of fear and delight, and be sure to have
wet wipes ready to wipe sticky hands.
Make ghoulish
goodie bags.
Surprise friends at school, playgroup, or soccer
with Halloween goodie bags. Treat them to some
Halloween candy as well as other goodies like
glow sticks, ghost-shaped pencil erasers, silly string,
spider rings, and so on.
Plan ahead for safe and
fun trick-or-treating.
As it gets dark, cars have trouble seeing trick-ortreaters dashing across the road. Pick up a few
packs of glow sticks so your little ghosts will be
illuminated on Halloween night. Plan your route
ahead of time, and remember that little ones will
go slower and visit fewer houses than older kids.
If you plan to let the older kids split off, be sure
you have adequate supervision — plan to go with
friends or have family help out. Have fun watching the little ones ringing doorbells and collecting
candy, and have a safe and spooky Halloween!
Make your own Halloween playlist. Include frightening favorites like “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr.,
“Monster Mash” by Bobby Boris Pickett, “Thriller” by
Michael Jackson, and “The Addams Family Theme” by
Vic Mizzy.
Throw a spinechillingly fun party.
Gather all your little ghosts and their goblin
friends for some Halloween fun. Whether it’s
a small group or the whole neighborhood,
Halloween is a great excuse to get together.
Invite everyone to come in costume. If your
party guests are preschoolers, stick to fun
decorations — bright orange pumpkins and
friendly ghosts. If your guests are older, go
for something scarier. Plan some creepy crafts,
devilish delights, and ghastly games. Check out all
the different Halloween recipes and crafts online at
MarthaStewart.com (www.marthastewart.com/halloween) or the Food Network (www.foodnetwork.
com/topics/halloween).
Jessica Baldis is a freelance writer. She lives in San Diego with her husband and three sons.
16
ILY.
|
PORTLANDFAMCOM
OCTOBER 2011
|
17
by Portland Family
PF: What makes you happy about
designing shoes? They’re so beautiful and have such a happy feel
to them.
you’ve ever been to Nordstrom, surely
you’ve perused the shoe displays, with both
longing and lust in your heart. It’s most certain
you’ve stopped and gazed at the seasonal
offerings from one of the more fabulous
designers, Italian master, Franco Sarto. Reasonably priced for designer shoes and beautifully
crafted, Franco Sarto has put his stamp on the
international designer footwear market.
FS: Sense of humor is very important. When I perceive something,
I have an idea of a creation, I
do research then I start to create
the idea. This is what makes me
happy, this process of creating the
shoe after getting the idea.
To this day, Sarto hand sketches many of
his designs. According to his press materials,
“While the technician in him continually pushes
to make shoes as comfortable as possible, the
other side of Franco Sarto lives for fashion. He
understands a woman’s undying passion for
shoes and is dedicated to keeping that passion
alive by crafting beautiful shoes that bring joy
to women around the world.”
FS: For the woman to be sexy, the
higher the heel. The more open
the shoe, the sexier. High heel,
nude, open.
Franco Sarto recently went on an international
tour to talk about his latest collection and
included Nordstrom at Washington Square as
a stop. Portland Family was lucky to interview
him with the help of a very quick-witted translator, and in honor of Portland’s Fashion Week
in October, here are some of Sarto’s thoughts
on shoe designing.
In Step with Shoe Designer
PF: What is it about women’s
shoes that are so sexy?
PF: Since retail is so seasonal, how
far ahead do you have to think
about an idea and then create it?
OES OH PortFam 7.5x4.75P.indd 1
9/15/11 12:19:59 PM
FS: Trends and colors are at least
a year ahead. I create three
collections.
PF: What does research consist of?
FS: I do my research mostly on
the streets in big cities like Rome,
Milan, New York or Paris. I look at
people in the streets, restaurants,
or even in the mall. I look at
how they dress, in the morning, in
the evening, or in the afternoon.
Even if I’m in a restaurant having
a salad, I may look around and
see what they’re wearing. In the
airports, all this world around me,
this is how I do my research. For
the fall I might look at the cities
with a more fall atmosphere …
PF: Like Portland most of the year
… {laughter}
FS: Even Portland is a nice place.
It’s my eye that decides. I get my
inspiration not sitting in a room
and thinking, but in going outside.
All things that move around are,
for me, fashion. It’s alive.
18
|
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
OCTOBER 2011
|
19
by Carisa Brewster
Cool to
During my research into homeschooling, I came
across the term “unschooling” or child-led learning.
Parents who unschool do not have a curriculum.
Skills in subjects such as grammar, math or science
are learned through playing games, baking a cake or
simply going to the grocery store. If a child becomes
interested in, say, butterflies, the parent will do whatever they can to facilitate learning more about butterflies, be it going to a museum, getting books from
the library, or searching for critters in the backyard.
There are no statistics on the number of children
being unschooled in the United States, but they are
among the millions being homeschooled.
The late John Holt, author and educator, is considered the founder of this educational movment. He
wrote How Children Learn, a book detailing his observations and interactions with children. In the preface,
Holt says that that he wrote the book to oppose the
two ways of looking at children: as “monsters of evil
to be beaten into submission” or as “little two-legged
walking computers whom we can program into
geniuses.”
My husband and I already practice attachment parenting and gentle guidance, so unschooling was very
intriguing to us.
I started devouring the articles on a parenting website, The Natural Child Project (NCP). The Director of NCP is Central Oregon resident Jan Hunt,
who unschooled her now adult son, Jason. NCP
is a child advocacy organization that provides information and advice on parenting topics such
as education, gentle guidance and attachment
parenting. She is also an attachment parenting/unschooling counselor.
20
|
hen our son turned three, my husband and I decided that instead
of enrolling him in preschool, we would explore homeschooling.
My husband was no stranger to the idea; he was homeschooled for
almost six years. I was a product of Philadelphia Public Schools, with
a mother who had me practically living at the library starting when
I was about three.
Hunt says when she was pregnant with
her son, she and her husband talked extensively about how they would educate
their child, knowing right away that
public school was not an option for
them.
While still not the norm, homeschooling is becoming more popular. The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) in
Salem, Oregon, conducts research about homeschooled students and
publishes a research journal, Home School Researcher. As of 2010,
NHERI estimates that there are about 2.04 million children being
homeschooled in the United States.
“Children in public schools are
under a lot of stress,” says Hunt.
“They have to sit still all day
which is quite frustrating for active
children. They are told what to learn, and
their interests are ignored.”
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
One day, she read an article in a free community magazine about John Holt and
homeschooling. She then read How Children
Learn and another book by Holt, TeachYour
says, and he struggled with both the classwork and the classroom environment. Not
wanting to recreate school at home, she
started “relaxed, eclectic” homeschooling.
If a child becomes interested in, say, butterflies, the parent
will do whatever they can to facilitate learning more about
butterflies, be it going to a museum, getting books from the
library, or searching for critters in the backyard.
Own. She joined an unschooling group in
British Columbia, where she was living at
the time.
Unschoolers, says Hunt, trust their children
to know when they are ready to learn and to
choose what they are interested in learning. This is the environment in which babies
acquire the skills to walk and talk.
“No one worries that a baby will be too lazy,
uncooperative or unmotivated to learn these
things,” says Hunt.
Corvallis resident Mary Gold took her son,
Conor, out of public school in the
4th grade. It was never
a good fit, she
“It took only a few months before I realized
that my attempts to teach were getting in
the way of his natural desire to learn. It was
then that we started unschooling,” says Gold.
Gold saw her son blossom. In just a few
months, he was reading, writing and making improvements in all of the skills he was
struggling with in public school and during
their brief time with semi-structured homeschooling.
Philadelphia resident Brittany McCollum
unschools her son, who will be five in October. McCollum is a certified birth doula
and breastfeeding counselor. She attended
public schools and remembers many times
throughout her childhood feeling like too
much time was spent disciplining
distracted students and
assigning busy work.
“[My husband and
I] have always been
amazed by the developments that naturally
occur as children blossom at the most basic
level,” says McCollum.
“A large part of my reason
for homeschooling is to
further this natural progression of development without
hindering it with standards and
competition.”
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OCTOBER 2011
|
21
NP
hila
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“Socialization, and, in my
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happens all day, every day when
one is out in the world. My son,
at four years old, is comfortable talking with people ranging
from 12 months to 12 years to
80 years old. This is something
that comes from him knowing
that everyone has something to
offer at every age and through
him being encouraged to recognize that and interact.”
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In case there is any doubt,
unschooling is legal. Like every
ll
NW
In 2007, Gold started organizing the
26 annual LIFE is Good
Unschooling Conference. At the
27-28
time, there were no conferences specifically for unschooled
families anywhere in the Pacific
NW Burton
Corne
Bri
dg
e
y3
0
Hw
s Rd
hn’s
NW 24
NW
“I don’t believe it will be an issue for him to perform ‘at grade
level’ because his exposure to
subjects such as science, math
and reading is woven so thoroughly into everything he does,”
she says.
NW 28
keshor
e
Looking back, I realized that
my son learned his alphabet by
asking what the letters were on
our moving boxes. My son’s experience and all the stories I’ve
heard are all proof that children
can learn in unconventional
ways. I believe that unschooling
is an equally viable path for a
child’s education.
32
ST JOHNS
BRIDGE
NW La
The next conference will be
May 24–27, 2012, Memorial
Day weekend, at the Hilton
Hotel in downtown Vancouver,
Washington. For more information, visit their website at www.
lifeisgoodconference.com.
Because they live in Pennsylvania, McCollom and her husband
will have to declare their decision to homeschool their son in
a year, and submit portfolios in
another three years.
Cedar Hills
“My dad was an immigrant from
Russia and had to quit school
“The [overall] misconception is
that we do nothing, that we’re
irresponsible, let our children
run wild and don’t care about
their education,” says Hunt.
“It’s actually just the opposite.
Unschooling parents care very
So what about socialization?
McCollum believes that socialization doesn’t just happen between a couple dozen six-yearolds in a classroom together.
Hunt says at one point, she
knew her son Jason was improving in his reading, but, as far she
knew, was not able to read fluently. One evening she told him
she would not be able to read to
him because she was not feeling18
well; he told her he’d read to
her instead and read the entire
book without a hitch.
“Unlike traditional homeschooling conferences, there are no
curriculum vendors and no
emphasis on traditional academics,” says Gold. “We try to be a
community of learners supporting and enjoying one another.”
“I have not yet met an unschooler that does not meet the state
requirements easily,” she says.
NW 119
Hunt’s parents also had serious
doubts about her parenting approach, especially her father.
There are misconceptions about
homeschooling in general, but
unschooling is an even more
alien concept, so assumptions
abound.
“Any parent of a toddler can
certainly tell us how many
numbers her child can count
to, how many colors he knows
— not through testing, but
through many hours of listening
to his questions and statements.
In unschooling, this type of
observation continues on into
higher ages and more complex
learning.”
Northwest. For four days, there
are presenters, chats, “funshops,”
concerts, dances, movies and
games.
state, Oregon requires homeschoolers of all stripes to take
tests to make sure they are
exhibiting “satisfactory progress
in academic areas”; children
are tested before the end of
grades 3, 5, 8 and 10. But,
without traditional educational
materials and curriculums, is it
a challenge for unschoolers to
meet those demands? Gold says
definitively, no.
tate ewis
L
ters
N
N In
Spending time with family and
friends of all ages, and learning
skills using her son’s interests
as reference points, McCollum
Reactions from family and
friends have been varied for
McCollum. In response to
questions, she has learned not
to list every activity they do or
all the groups they are a part
of. It takes a long time to build
confidence in taking a path most
do not tread. One question she
often gets asked is how will her
“I was happy, my kids were
happy and thriving. So they
couldn’t really argue with the
results.”
People often wonder how
unschooling parents measure the
progress of their children. How
do you know when your child
has mastered a skill? In an article
entitled “How do Unschooling
Parents Know Their Child is
Learning?”, Hunt says it’s simply
by direct observation.
NW 141
“Familial relationships form
the most basic foundation for a
confident, independent person
and the time spent exploring
the world with my son allows us
to know one another intimately
while navigating the challenging
aspects of close relationships,”
says McCollum.
says she and her husband feel
that unschooling allows for the
most freedom to enjoy all that
the world has to offer while
encouraging a hands-on, experiential education.
“It’s when they need the skill
that it’s easiest to learn and
the most natural,” says Gold.
“Both of my children learned to
read by being read to, looking
at books, asking questions and
playing with letters and words.
Grammar also comes from
reading and listening to the
language as it is spoken. Reading
and writing online with games,
chats and various forums has
greatly helped with writing and
comprehension.”
NW 143
Her reason for going the
unschooling route is simply to
have more time with her son.
“Math is all around us, from
weighing our apples at the
grocery store, to figuring out
how many pizzas eight people
will require, to building a
hermit crab cage,” says McCollum. “I point out to people how
frequently they use all those
concepts they learned in school
and then remind them that they
could learn them by doing those
things first, as opposed to sitting
in a classroom and then having
to learn where to apply them.”
Gold said it was difficult to
explain to family and friends the
difference between homeschooling and unschooling,
but she never got any negative
feedback.
deeply about their children’s
education and that’s why we
don’t trust their education to
anyone else.”
NW Cornelius Pass
son
learn
math,
as if this
were the one thing
that must be learned
inside a classroom.
in the 9th grade to work,” says
Hunt. “From my perspective, I
thought that was great because
he learned so much more by
working. He had a wonderful
business sense and was successful in every type of work he
did. But he always regretted not
finishing high school. So it was
hard for him to understand the
concept of unschooling.”
OCTOBER 2011
SELLWOOD
BRIDGE
SE Tacoma
|
23
by Janna Lopez
The Kohl’s Car Seat Community Outreach Program
Why Car Seat
Outreach?
A properly used car seat
reduces the risk of death
by 71 percent for infants
and 54 percent for toddlers.
Yet studies show as much as
73 percent of car seats are
incorrectly installed or do not
fit the child properly.
Together with Kohl’s and
ACTS Oregon, the Tom
Sargent Safety Center
at OHSU Doernbecher is
launching a yearlong car
seat outreach program to
help reduce the number of
children exposed to improper
car seat use. Each month,
certified child passenger
safety technicians will
check car seats for correct
installation, damage, recalls,
and size/age appropriateness.
Car seats are available due
to a generous donation from
Kohl’s. These events are free
to the general public.
Learn how to properly install your child’s car seat.
What:
Bring your car seats in your family vehicle for inspection to
ensure they are being used correctly and properly installed.
Replacement car seats may be available to families, when deemed
necessary. Proof of financial assistance, i.e. WIC, Oregon Health Plan
etc. and valid Oregon ID are required.
Where:
Hillsboro Kohl’s Department Store:
7360 NE Butler Street, Hillsboro
When:
Saturday, October 29, 2011,
car seat check up 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn More!
We’ll hold several of these programs this fall. To find out when and
where a car seat check up event is happening in your community,
please visit the OHSU Tom Sargent Children’s Safety Center website:
www.ohsu.edu/childsafety
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24
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PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
home
WITH THE
o
ne would think Oregon Duck football hero Joey Harrington would
have a pad slathered in football memorabilia. But upon initial glance, not
a single college or NFL shot glass or jersey graces the interior. For Mr.
and Mrs. Harrington, parents of 2-year-old son Jack, being low-key suits
them fine. Having a conversation with Joey and Emily about parenthood,
Joey’s recent bicycle accident and their latest nonprofit work through the
Harrington Family Foundation, is where their humility shines through.
OCTOBER 2011
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25
Janna: How has your life
changed since having a child?
Joey: It’s one of the most humbling, joyful experiences.You
think you’re prepared. Then,
you bring the baby home,
and it’s ‘Okay, now what?’
You’re constantly learning and
growing as a parent to figure
out what to do to raise your
child.You’re going to make
mistakes. He’s going to throw
you curve balls. But at the
same time, he wakes up in the
morning and says, ‘Mommy,
Daddy, up,’ walks up and gives
you big hug and a kiss. And it’s
… incredible. Absolutely lifechanging.
ure, there have been well-documented ups and downs in Joey’s professional career. He acknowledges that
while many people know him as a
football player, that chosen path didn’t
define who he was. Grounded by a
strong sense of family, faith and community, Joey remains clear about his
life’s priorities and giving back.
Emily, his wife, is a nurse with a passion for improving access and quality
of healthcare. Both feel a strong sense
of commitment to organizations
serving kids. Joey and Emily agree that
becoming parents two years ago to
their son Jack has been the biggest
blessing and eye opener of their lives.
Now that they’re back in Portland
to stay, they’re excited to solidify a
place within the community through
the growth of the Harrington Family
Foundation …
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Emily: Joey and I knew we
wanted children. We had
things many couples make
sure they have before making
the decision to have a family:
financial security, a home, basic
necessities. We felt prepared. I
thought, being a healthcare provider and working with babies, there’s
nothing this child could throw at me
that I’m not prepared for.Yet, when
we had our child, we were knocked
religious faith. How does faith play a
part in parenting?
Emily:You’re a parent for life. I’m a
30-year-old woman and when Jack
was a newborn and Joey was in New
Orleans playing, I was having a hard
time. I thought of my mom and dad.
They’re the first people I call.You’re a
parent for life.
Janna: Joey, for you having a son,
being close with your dad and the
whole perception about following
in his footsteps, did you have any
preconceived notions about what
you wanted for your son, but then
changed your mind once your son
was born?
Joey: I don’t want to say the idea of
following in my dad’s footsteps is
overblown, but I think it’s a … nice,
stereotypical story. People assume that
a father pushes, that my dad pushed
me towards Oregon or towards
football. But that wasn’t the case at
all. If anything, he was cautious not to
do that.
Janna: Do people have that misconception?
Joey: In general, people do. But not
Every child has a right to receive
a quality education and proper
healthcare in a safe and nurturing
community.
pretty far back on our heels because
one can’t truly prepare for it until
you’re in it. I’d like to think Joey and I
are both selfless people but parenting
is a never-before encountered force of
selflessness.
Janna: When you have a child you can
have a game plan, but nothing stays
to the rules.
people who know my father. He was
fantastic. He’s an incredibly wonderful
man, nothing but supportive when I
was growing up. He didn’t push me in
any one direction when I was deciding where I wanted to go to school.
He was very objective … here are the
good things, here are the bad things
… you make your decision.
Joey:Your kid doesn’t care about your
game plan.
Janna: You and Emily both come
from tight families with strong
Joey: We were both raised in Catholic families. My great uncle was our
parish priest for many years up at All
Saints. It’s been a part of my life and
family and I love that part of our family. I love the sense of community and
taking care of each other. That’s one of
the things that has stuck out for me is
the idea that it takes a village to raise
a child … the idea of … helping out
family members, the idea of community. That’s a very faith-based idea for
me. It’s not just about me. I’m not the
only person. It’s about looking out for
those around you.
JL: Did faith help you deal with the
glamour, attention and trappings of
NFL life? Did it balance or equalize
you?
Joey: Absolutely. I was able to put
football in its place and say football
was what I do, not what I am. This
was largely based on a background of
family and faith. When I got into the
NFL, it was a priority for me, but it
was put in its place. All the things that
guys in the locker room thought were
important? To me, were … ehhh …
pretty trivial. We’re playing a game;
people pay us tons of money to play a
sport. There are thousands of people
who can’t go to the doctor.
Joey: There’s a reason why so many
guys in the NFL don’t see their kids or
nearly 90% of people who are married
in the NFL are divorced within five
years.You place such an importance
… your identity … everything on
this sport and when it’s over, your life
collapses and you have nothing to hang
your hat on.
Emily: Our family is our center.
Our core groups of friends are the same
people we grew up with. We all have
kids around the same age. We pull a lot
on the support of friends and family to
maintain our sense of selves.
Joey: We finally have stability. I remember sitting in New Orleans, having
a conversation, ‘Well, do we unpack
Jack’s boxes? Do we set up his room?’
We didn’t know if we’d be there next
week.
Janna: The recent bike accident you
were in must have rocked your
world…were you aware of what was
happening when you got hit?
Joey: I was hit from behind by a car
going about 35mph and flipped off my
bike but never lost consciousness on
either the impact with the car or the
ground.
I saw a side of people and sports
that … I don’t know. Like when you
have people calling and leaving you
death threats because you threw an
interception, or people are screaming
‘I spent a $100 on this ticket and you
didn’t win the game for me.’ I think,
well, you know what? You have your
health, your family—life’s great. In
some respects, in order to be successful at that level you almost have
to put a fake sense of importance on
it. I eventually realized I’d rather be
successful in life than successful in the
NFL because I believed that in order
to be successful in the NFL I was going to have to sacrifice certain things.
Emily: I received the initial call that
Joey had been hit, it was from a gentleman named Steve. He was riding on a
motorcycle behind the car that struck
Joey. Fortunately, Steve was a trained
wilderness first responder
and had knowledge that
I was a nurse. In a
matter of minutes
he was able to
inform me of
Joey’s injuries,
but most importantly that Joey
was alert enough
to provide my
phone number. I
was able to talk
briefly with Joey
which provided
me reassurance.
Janna:Those thoughts must have
included your wife or family?
Joey: I broke my
right collarbone,
the first two ribs below my collarbone and punctured my lung. I got six
staples in my head behind my right ear.
Ironically, I think that at some level,
years of getting blindsided in football
trained me how to absorb an impact
but I wasn’t thinking about it at the
time. I was in the hospital for three
nights, the first night was spent in ICU
so they could monitor the hole in my
lung, the next two I was on a “regular”
floor for recovery and pain management. The lung and broken bones just
healed through rest but I will have a few
months of physical therapy to heal my
shoulder.
Janna: Was this accident emotionally
or mentally different than obtaining a
sports injury?
Joey: This was definitely emotionally
different than any playing injury I had
because I knew that injuries were a risk
of my job. After I retired I expected the
“long term” injuries to go away. It’s also
difficult to maintain the type of rehab
schedule I’m used to. When you’re
playing, your job is to rehab your body
and make sure it’s in shape to play that
weekend. Time’s built into your day for
that purpose. Now it’s an inconvenience
thrown in with other daily activities. I
never felt as though I was in any serious
danger after the accident. It wasn’t until
OCTOBER 2011
|
27
NOW OPEN!
I got home and looked at
my helmet, that I realized
how lucky I had been. My
helmet was pretty badly damaged
and covered in blood. I never ride
without it, but if I wasn’t wearing
a helmet, things would have been
much different.
Emily: If you’re a cyclist and expect
to be treated with the same respect
vehicles are provided, cyclists need
to be informed and honor the rules
of being a cyclist. helmets should be
worn. I’m in disbelief when I see cyclists traveling at high speeds weaving
through traffic without a helmet on.
This is reckless and poor judgment.
Whether or not a cyclist is traveling
amongst cars, it only takes one fall
and a significant blow to one’s head to
truly alter a person’s life.
Janna: This is also where the importance of health insurance comes in.
You’ve both extended support to
local organizations such as Project
Access Now which increases awareness about healthcare access and
affordability. There are approximately
300,000 people under- or uninsured
in Oregon. If something happens
like Joey’s recent bike accident, lack
of insurance could be
catastrophic.
Emily: Project Access
Now does a great job
of identifying medical
providers in the city that
have time and resources
to give. The definition of
the “needy” has changed.
It could be a neighbor
down the street who’s in
construction, maybe had
basic health insurance, but
with the economy, had to let
it go. They seem to have a normal
house, drive cars, look together… but
they’re uninsured. Project Access Now
links fantastic providers willing to give
care to the people who need it.
Janna: Is there anything regular citizens
can do to advocate for health care access?
Emily: I’m a big supporter of think globally, act locally. We live in a city where
innovative services exist. Lend support to
local organizations such as Project Access
Now, Central City Concern, VirginiaGarcia and Outside In, just to name a few.
Additionally, we as citizens need to make
judicious health care choices of our own
and use our system, which is suffering, as
wisely and carefully as we can.
Janna: Was creating the Harrington Family Foundation a meaningful way to get
involved with organizations doing great
work? Joey, your whole family is involved
including your parents and brothers.
Northwest Surrogacy
Center is seeking
surrogates to help
create families.
Substantial financial
support is provided.
2722 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR
503.233.2818
info@nwsurrogacycenter.com
www.northwestsurrogacycenter.com
28
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PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
Joey: Now that Emily and I are home, the
foundation will be a full-time focus for us.
The foundation provides funds for existing
programs. So if the agenda includes raising money for charity, you need to know
where to go. I spent the last year trying to
figure that out.
Janna: The mission of the Harrington
Family Foundation is that “Every child has
a right to receive a quality education and
proper healthcare in a safe and nurturing community.” Most of what you do
• Pediatrician-Staffed
• Walk-Ins Welcome
• Open 365 Days A Year
• Serving Ages 0 – 21
• We Accept
Most Insurances
What Will inspire
Your next BirthdaY partY?
Spend your special day surrounded by 200 aircraft, spacecraft and
exhibits! Do you have a summer birthday? Call now to book your event
in our brand new Wings & Waves Waterpark, opening Summer 2011!
is supported by “community partners,
respected organizations, businesses, and
individuals who are dedicated to the
belief that improving the quality of life
for children today is an investment in
the well-being of society tomorrow.” It’s
an awesome mission. Do you ever feel
overwhelmed?
503.597.KIDS
7:00 p.m. –10:00 p.m. Mon. – Fri.
1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Weekends/Holidays
11790 SW Barnes Rd., Ste. 140, Portland
(Just west of Cedar Hills Blvd. on Barnes Rd.)
McMinnville, OregOn – Open 9–5 – 503.434.4180 – evergreenMuseuM.Org
pediatricurgentcareonline.com
Joey: I’m humbled by it. Children’s
spirits are pure. Through the work of
our foundation, and the programs and
services we fund, we give kids and their
families opportunities they may not have.
With even basic stuff that so many of
us take for granted, I’ve seen firsthand
that a little can do a lot. Playing football
afforded me a lot of opportunities. I used
that time to learn about myself and others. I loved the game, I loved hard work.
I enjoyed learning new plays. I loved the
fans. But most of all, I was grateful for
the opportunities both college and the
NFL provided me to give back and help
others. To open doors for those less fortunate. Portland is my home. My
family, this place, and the people
in it are what make my life special. I intend to show that giving
to the community and helping
others who have helped me
along the way is an opportunity
I won’t take for granted.
Janna Lopez is the mother of an 11-year-old
daughter and a 7-year-old son.
OCTOBER 2011
|
29
by Janna Lopez
Kauai
KEEPING IT ALOHA ON
Nothing feels quite as
magical as stepping off
Hawaiian Airlines ready to
begin the Kauai experience.
Our adventure commenced from
the moment we chose Kauai as
our first vacation together. My
beau Mark had never been to
any of the Hawaiian Islands; I
was excited to share with him
the beauty, the aloha spirit of
the Hawaiian people and the
gorgeous turquoise of the ocean.
I tried to explain that seeing a
postcard of a Hawaiian sunset is
nothing like seeing one in real life
for the first time. I was thrilled
to be the one to introduce this
enchantment to him.
Lucky for us, we were scheduled to stay
at The St. Regis Princeville Resort for
the initial part of our trip. The sunsets
from this northern side of the island are
magnificent. The St. Regis Princeville is
a gorgeous, recently renovated property
located on the North Shore, and is the
focal point of Princeville at Hanalei. We
arrived later in the afternoon, greeted
by fragrant leis, with enough time to
unpack, get settled and gaze out of our
beautiful room. We were extremely
giddy and felt like royalty when we oohed
and ahhed our way through the opulent
lobby and corridors.
This 251-room haven overlooks Hanalei
Bay, with the dramatic backdrop of the
Namolokama mountain range. The hotel
itself is a delectable experience; aesthetically, everything is luscious and intentional. The interior has been designed
to reflect Hawaii’s natural world of sea,
sky and earth. The liberal use of koa and
other Hawaiian woods, stone and glass,
plus open-air access to all the scenic
beauty, create an atmosphere of understated luxury.
From the large picture window of our
elevated room, we had a view beyond the
bay, of steep rain-carved ridges dissolving into the west toward a setting sun,
silhouetted beyond the legendary peak
of Bali Hai. The room itself was spacious,
modernly appointed with a sitting area, a
comfy king-sized bed and a marble-infused
bathroom fit for a queen. A huge sunken
tub and shower was a masterpiece —
crowned by high-tech privacy glass which
was clear and provided a view to the bay,
but with a flip of a switch, turned milkywhite and provided privacy.
to decide. I had the Opah, accompanied by
wilted bok choy and ginger in a lemongrass
broth. Mark had the grilled Ahi, with white
asparagus, Big Island mushrooms, charred
pineapple relish and bacon emulsion. We
topped off our meal by sharing Maui Gold
Pineapple Clouds which are doughnuts,
pineapple confit and macadamia nut brittle
ice cream. An amazing sunset and tantalizing meal constituted a perfect first evening.
After we watched the sky, decorated by
huge puffy clouds, turn all shades of pinks,
purples and oranges, we went downstairs
to St. Regis Princeville’s 5-star, awardwinning Makana Terrace restaurant for
dinner, which was almost better than the
restaurant’s gorgeous bay view. The service
was top notch. All the waitstaff were attentive and courteous, making sure we felt
warmly welcomed.
With so many island-infused culinary
choices based on the chef’s use of and creativity with local ingredients, it was hard
Kauai is known as the “Garden Isle,”
because of its truly lush landscape. It’s the
northernmost of the Hawaiian islands and
the name “Kaua’i” has been translated to
mean “season of abundance” or “time of
plenty.” After a brief, totally pampered
five-hour Hawaiian Airlines flight from
Portland to Oahu, then a mere 25 minutes from Oahu to Kauai, it’s easy to have
toes in pristine white sand in no time.
The St. Regis Princeville Resort. Hotel and beach (l), Royal Suite (r).
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OCTOBER 2011
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31
A
aloha:
[Alo = presence, front, face] +
[hâ = breath of life] =
“The presence of (Divine) breath.”
The word aloha derives from the Polynesian root “alofa.” It has
descendents in other Polynesian languages, such as the Māori word
aroha, also meaning “love.” Aloha in the Hawaiian language means
affection, love, peace, compassion, goodbye and hello. “Aloha” is a
recognition of life in another. Life is believed to be everywhere—in
the trees, the flowers, the ocean, the fish, the birds, the pili grass, the
rainbow, the rock—in all the world is life, is God, is Aloha.
Sunrise the next morning was warm,
the air was sweet and we were excited
to get out on the world-famous Makai
golf course. The Makai course has been
included in Golf Digest’s America’s
Greatest Golf Courses for 17 consecutive years. While I’m a
total beginner, Mark has been golfing for over 30 years. Being
on a course with such pristine greens and dramatic ocean and
mountain views was a dream come true for him. We had a relaxing, awesome time on the greens. Mark had a pretty good game
and made a few memorable shots. With the sun on our back, it
was hard to imagine that Portland was having a wet, rainy week
while we were in paradise.
Later that afternoon, we took a 40-minute drive south to
Kilohana Plantation to experience a family adventure of the
farm’s train ride. This is a must if you’re traveling to Kauai
with your kids; cars are open-windowed and the train travels
around the plantation, while the narrator explains the history
and characteristics of many of the local fruits, plants, vegetables
and animals. It was a nice way to hear and learn more about the
farming life of Kauai.
Seeing the interior and learning about Hawaiian life is one of
the greatest aspects of being on Kauai. Nearly all air, land or
water tours include historical facts and lore about Hawaii and
its people. One of our favorite tours there was the Fern Grotto
Wailua Riverboat at Smith’s Tropical Paradise.
Though crowding onto a covered, open-air flat-bottom boat
may feel a bit touristy, hearing the fascinating stories about the
royalty who once lived there while leisurely cruising up the river toward the fern grotto is worth it. What makes it even more
special is that once you dock, take a short walk to the famed
fern grotto, which is dotted by hundreds of dripping vines, the
crew serenades you with beautiful songs and chants. The warm
jungle air and sweet flower fragrances surround you.
The harmonies of the music, mingled with garden sweetness,
stayed with me the entire day after we’d left the fern grotto and
driven back toward the St. Regis. After being treated with such
hospitality and experiencing one of the most gorgeous hotels
I’d ever stayed in, it was difficult to pack our bags, yet it was
time to experience the other side of the island, Poipu. In less
than an hour, we arrived to the fondly-regarded island favorite:
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Paradise within paradise,
this extremely family-friendly property truly offers something
for everyone.
Set
on 50 spectacular acres with beach
access a stone’s throw away, this
602-guestroom resort has endless, beautifully landscaped gardens, meandering
salt and freshwater lagoons, cascading
waterfall features and sparkling swimming pools for different age groups,
including adults only, families and a
sand-banked lagoon for small children.
Rooms are comfortable and wellappointed; the one we stayed in had a
fantastic ocean view. Mahogany furniture adds richness, Grand Beds™ have a
plush pillow-top mattress, and amenities
such as an iHome stereo with iPod docking station are standard.
Also on the property are the awardwinning, 18-hole Poipu Bay golf course,
tennis courts, several outstanding
top-notch restaurants and a must-do
visit to the 45,000 sq. ft. Anara Spa for
full-on pampering. The Grand Hyatt
Kauai also offers an array of free cultural
activities for families, including ukulele lessons and lei, shell jewelry and
Hawaiian basket-making. If you want to
take off with yourself or your honey for
alone time, the kids won’t mind, since
they’ll be at Camp Hyatt, an active keiki
(children) program for children ages 3
to 12. Camp counselors customize the
day’s schedule to the group’s interests
and integrate play with culture, while
learning through art about endangered
plants, animal and landscapes.
is called the “Grand Canyon of
the Pacific.” It’s difficult to even
describe the breadth, scope or magnitude of such immense splendor. The
canyon measures 10 miles long, 1 mile
wide, and more than 3,500 feet deep.
the ocean horizon below are fantastic.
Learning about the flora and fauna and
geologic make-up of the canyon along
the many pit stops made for a very
unique experience. The Waimea Canyon
area of Kauai is a must when you visit.
It was carved thousands of years ago
by flowing floods draining from the
summit of Mount Waialeale (the rainiest spot on the earth, with nearly 450
inches of rain a year). Horizontal lines
layering canyon walls depict different
volcanic eruptions and lava flows that
have occurred over thousands of years.
The emerald greens, crimson reds, lilac
purples and russet browns constantly
change as the sun moves across the sky
and afternoon cloud cover starts to
form.You could come back a thousand
times and the landscape or view would
never look the same twice.
The last few days of our Kauai adventure were spent hanging out poolside at
the Grand Hyatt, snorkeling and discovering favorite places to eat. One place
you must try if you go to Kauai is Puka
Dogs in the Poipu Shopping Village. A
special-recipe bun is toasted, then filled
with one of seven unique secret recipe
Hawaiian relishes, including sweet Maui
onion, spicy Hawaiian pickle relish or
spicy garlic pepper cheese.You also
have your choice of either vegetarian or
grilled-meat premium Polish-type sausage. We had Puka Dogs for breakfast!
We decided to experience this landscape by riding bikes down from the
top to the bottom, on 12 miles of paved
road. There were people of
all sizes, ages and physical
abilities on our tour. The
morning air was slightly chilly
and full of eucalyptus aroma.
Since riders are followed by
a van and part of a group, it’s
very safe, and the views of
Another favorite dining discovery was
the Beach House, a Poipu shining-star,
fine-dining restaurant with a beautiful
sunset view. Mark had the lemongrass
Since the best way to learn about Kauai’s
diverse landscape is to experience it, we
scheduled a Waimea downhill canyonto-coast bike ride with Kauai Outfitters
for the next morning. Waimea Canyon
Poipu Bay golf course, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
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OCTOBER 2011
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33
and Kaua’i kaffir lime-crusted sea
scallops accompanied with saffron rice,
chili aioli and Maui up-country baby
bok choy. I had a grilled macadamiabuttered mahi mahi with citrus miso
beurre blanc. For dessert, we had to
fight over the bananas foster in caramel
sauce served over a puff pastry garnished with vanilla bean ice cream and
macadamia nuts, and the molten chocolate desire, a flourless chocolate tart,
baked to order and served piping hot.
Sadly, as all blissful vacations must come
to an end, we had just one more night
in paradise. We booked the Southern
Star prime rib dinner sunset sail with
Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures. This
will always stand out as perhaps one of
my fondest lifetime memories. I’m very
prone to motion sickness so this particular cruise is geared towards staying
in the calmer bay waters which outline
the Lawai Kai and Poipu coastlines.
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We started our three-hour cruise
aboard a brand new, fully custom 65-ft.
luxury sailing catamaran with a few
“sneaky tiki” cocktails in hand. We were
waited on hand and foot by an absolutely exceptional crew. The boat is a work
of art, with every immaculate detail
crafted for passenger safety, luxury and
comfort. As we sailed along, the gorgeous turquoise water glistened like diamonds as the sun made its way towards
the horizon. Mark and I watched the
Kauai coastline in the distance, awed by
the beauty and tranquility of this island.
We dined on fresh, gourmet food
including a Kauai mixed green salad of
locally grown greens with lilikoi vinaigrette dressing, choice American prime
rib beef grilled with Hawaiian salt and
secret spices, barbecue jumbo shrimp
with a sambal aioli, roasted potato
medley and grilled seasonal vegetables.
Soft Hawaiian music and even some
classic rock such as the Eagles and Rolling Stones accompanied us as the warm
wind, beautiful sky and wonderful
memory-making enveloped us. The setting sun left streaks of orange and pink
brushed across a delicate, crisp blue sky
as we pulled back into the dock. My
heart and mind were at peace.
The next morning we packed up to
come home to our kids, to the rain,
and to our busy lives. As we boarded
the Hawaiian Airlines jet to head
toward Portland, I knew that I’d just
had an amazing week, at a place I love
dearly with someone who’d never been
there. It was awesome to share the experience of Kauai’s warmth, aloha and
magical beauty.
K
kauai 411
Hawaiian Airlines safety and flight schedule performances are consistently top-
ranked and the service is awesome. Flight time to Oahu or Maui is just over 5 hours.
Inter-island connecting flights are under a half-hour. Visit www.hawaiianair.com or
800-367-5320.
St. Regis Princeville Resort:
www.stregisprinceville.com, 808-742-1661,
reservations: 866-716-8109
Makai Golf Course:
www.makaigolf.com
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa:
www.kauai.hyatt.com, 808-742-1234
Fern Grotto Wailua Riverboat Tour,
Smith’s Tropical Paradise:
www.smithskauai.com
The Beach House Restaurant:
www.the-beach-house.com
Outfitters Kauai (bike tours):
www.outfitterskauai.com (they also offer
zipline and kayak tours)
Southern Star Prime Rib Dinner
Sunset Sail, Capt. Andy’s Sailing
Adventures: www.napali.com
Janna Lopez is the mother of an 11-year-old
daughter and a 7-year-old son.
OCTOBER 2011
|
35
By Carolyn Jabs
[HAPPINESS APPS ]
FOR PARENTS
[PEOPLE] often think Here are just a few of the apps that promise to lift your mood.
happiness is elusive, the
result of good fortune that
1:: [LIVE HAPPY]
can’t be predicted or conis an app developed by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychologist at the
trolled. Researchers workUniversity of California who has spent her career studying what makes
people content. The app encourages you to think about goals for youring in the field of positive
self and your family, and then take baby steps to achieve them. It also
psychology dispute that
encourages you to savor what is good about family life by arranging
point of view. Not only
photos in an easily accessible album that will trigger happy feelings. And
have they devised interestit reinforces meaningful social connections by prompting you to express
ing ways to measure happigratitude to people who have made a difference in your life. (99 cents
ness, they’ve also become
for the iPhone)
convinced that people
can increase their sense
2:: [GRATITUDE STREAM] 3:: [HAPPINESS
of well-being by deliberis an app that focuses specifically on the
TRACKER]
ately cultivating “a posithankful feelings that are correlated with is a good first step because it
tive emotional style.” For
happiness. Many psychologists recomhelps you become aware of
most people, this means
mend keeping an individual gratitude
your own emotional state.
changing habits, letting go
journal, but Gratitude Stream puts you
Developed by a Harvard
of negative patterns and
in touch with what makes people around researcher who investigates
adopting behaviors that
the world feel grateful. Seeing what trig- what makes people happy,
gers gratitude in others can make you
boost happiness.
the app contacts you at ranOf course, changing habits
isn’t easy. Most people
need constant reminders
to stay on course. And
that’s where smartphones
enter the picture. A growing number of applications
provide gentle reminders
that may actually help you
become a calmer, happier,
more optimistic parent.
Obviously, that’s good for
you, but it’s also good for
your kids because research
also shows that children
whose parents have a
positive emotional style
are more resilient and, yes,
[HAPPIER].
more attuned to good things in your own
life. One mom, for example, posted that
she was grateful her daughter missed the
bus because it allowed them to spend
an extra thirty minutes together that
morning. (Designed as an iPhone app,
the Gratitude Stream is also available on
Twitter and Facebook. )
dom times and asks how
you’re feeling and what
you’re doing. The information goes into a research
database and you get periodic
reports about how your happiness varies depending upon
your circumstances. To sign
up, visit trackyourhappiness.
org and fill out a brief questionnaire. (Free)
4:: [iCOUNSELOR ANXIETY]
packs some of the benefits of cognitive therapy into an app so you can
carry a counselor in your pocket. Developed by a psychologist and a
social worker, the app asks you to rate your anxiety level and then suggests a calming activity, as well as ways of revising the thoughts that provoke anxiety. Comparable programs are available for anger, depression,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders. Although these
programs aren’t a substitute for face-to-face counseling, at 99 cents,
they provide an inexpensive way to reinforce the mental and emotional
habits that make happiness more likely. (Available at icounselor.biz)
5:: [THE GROUCHIES]
1
2
:)?
3
4
5
6
When kids are happy, parents are happy. The Grouchies,
a free app based on the book by the same name, has silly
pictures and wacky rhymes that may just charm kids out
of a grumpy mood. Released by the American Psychological Association, the app promises to boost emotional
intelligence for children and includes a helpful Note to
Parents that offers advice about breaking the spell of a
bad day. (Available for iPad)
6:: [RELAXATION APPS]
For busy parents, the best way to get happy is often a
simple time-out. The quick break offered by a relaxation
app may revive your spirits and induce a happy sense of
relaxation. Koi Pond turns your phone into an aquarium
where you can watch fish, rearrange the lily pads, create
ripples and even induce the fish to nibble at your finger.
White Noise immerses you in environments created by
40 soothing sounds ranging from ocean waves to a Tibetan bowl. Zen Garden lets you create a tiny tranquil space
where you can rake sand, arrange rocks and read enigmatic quotations. (Programs are designed for iPhone but
comparable programs are available on other platforms.)
By now, it may have
occurred to you that many
of the apps you already
have on your phone
contribute to your sense
of well-being because they
help you stay organized
and connected, qualities
that are definitely associated with happiness. Any
app that makes you l
augh is also a good bet,
especially if you can share
it with your kids. So make
funny faces with FaceGoo
or play a round of Cool
Mad Libs or talk in goofy
voices with Talking Carl.
Come to think of it,
those are all things you
can do without the
benefit of a smartphone.
With or without technology, the best happiness
app seems to be staying
alert so you notice life’s
joys whenever and
wherever they appear.
Carolyn Jabs, has been writing about families and the
Internet for almost 20 years. www.growing-up-online.com.
THE
ONLY
WATERPARK
THAT COMES WITH AN AVIATION AND SPACE MUSEUM
EVERY ASTRONAUT PRACTICES THEIR FIRST SPACE WALK IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST POOLS.
BEING UNDERWATER IS THE CLOSEST THING TO WEIGHTLESSNESS ON EARTH. WINGS & WAVES
WATERPARK HAS A BIG POOL—AND IT HAS WAVES. LET’S HOPE THE ASTRONAUTS DON’T GET JEALOUS.
36
|
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
OFF HIGHWAY 18 IN MCMINNVILLE
OCTOBER 2011
EVERGREENMUSEUM.ORG
|
37
By Kristin Donahue
The Family Fieldtrip: Northwest District
Want to learn how to become
a child care provider?
To kick off Portland Family’s monthly
column, Family Fieldtrip, we’re heading to
Portland’s quirky — and popular — Northwest district. It is in the heart of Portland,
bordering Forest Park, Burnside Street and
downtown.
• Resources for starting or
improving your child care business
• Professional Development Services
• Training classes
Clackamas County
503-675-4100
Multnomah County
503-548-4400
Washington & Columbia
Counties
971-223-6100 or
800-624-9516
OregonChildCare.org
Start Early.
Think
Internationally.
Think
Maternelle.
World renowned early education.
— also known as the Alphabet
neighborhood because the
named streets move north in alphabetical order from Burnside
— was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in
2000. The neighborhood boasts
many beautiful historic homes
and estates, and lovely tree-lined
streets. Even if you don’t visit
any of the listed top picks in the
area, just walking through the
neighborhood is a treat.
N
Northwest includes many parks
including Lower Macleay Park
(part of Forest Park), Wallace
Park and Couch Park. But what
Northwest is really known for
is the shopping and dining along
NW 21st and 23rd streets.
Like most of Portland, Northwest is pedestrian-friendly. With
short blocks and cafés on nearly
every corner, and easy access
to the Portland Streetcar, some
Northwest locals claim that it
is the most pedestrian-friendly
area of Portland. Of course,
they aren’t biased or anything
… So, load up the family and
begin exploring:
3
PRESCHOOL / PK / K-8
the
FRENCH
AMERICAN
SCHOOL
LET THE KIDS RULE.
On a rainy autumn day, curl up with a warm cup of Stumptown coffee
and a good book, and let the little ones run wild at Playdate PDX, a 7,500
square foot indoor
jungle gym castle. After
checking the kids into
the play structure,
parents can sit back at
one of the café tables,
enjoy a book, chat or
work, utilizing the free
8500 NW Johnson St, Portland OR
503.292.7776 | www.faispdx.org
|
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
Is there anything more beautiful
than a warm Pacific Northwest
autumn afternoon? Watch the
leaves flutter to the ground on your
hike in Lower Macleay Park along
Balch Creek. The family-friendly trail
is a three-mile loop that takes you
under a bridge, through the woods
and a lovely old Portland neighborhood, and along Balch Creek.
Kids love to come upon ‘the
witch house’— a mysterious,
moss-covered shell of a
house that sits by the trail.
There are various picnicking
and cutthroat trout-watching
spots by the creek. Access
the park and trail at NW
29th Ave. & Upshur St.
CATCH
A SHOW.
Let your kids experience the theatre at the Northwest Children’s
Theatre and School. If you have a
child in grade school, then you’ve
probably heard of Junie B. Jones.
Independent, impatient, sometimes
impertinent, the outrageously funny Junie B. reminds us all that growing up can be
tough. Don’t miss the feisty, first-grade phenomenon from one of the best-selling
children’s book series of all time in the season’s opener Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells,
Batman Smells. If your kids are entranced by the performance, consider signing
them up for acting classes. For more information, visit nwcts.org.
At Portland Family we believe it is important (and fun) to
explore the world with our children. But as the humming
routine of fall sets in, it can be difficult to get out of the
work-school- homework-dinner routine. Our goal is that
the Family Fieldtrip inspires you and your family to leave the
roost and explore the eclectic neighborhoods that Portland
and its surrounding areas have to offer. Love a neighborhood
that you would like to see featured in this column? Email
suggestions to publisher@portlandfamily.com.
WiFi. But, don’t be surprised
to find yourself with the kids,
slipping down the castle’s slides
and shooting foam darts out of
the cannons.
GET OUT THE FIELD GUIDE.
Visit the Audubon Sanctuary, grab a native flora and fauna guide
and begin exploring. Tours of the facility include
natural interpretive trails and bird sanctuaries.
Before you leave, have your kids sign up to
become a Junior Audubon. Every month
they will receive a packet in the mail
with a new task that asks them to explore their backyard, conduct research
or join other Junior Audubon kids in a
field-based activity. See audubonportland.org for more information.
www.everywomanshealth.org
503.284.5220
Everywoman's Health, P.C.,
is a progressive group of female physicians who
believe that health care is a cooperative undertaking
between a patient and her provider.
3900 SW Murray Boulevard
Beaverton, Oregon 97005
Ph: (503) 626.9089
www.gspdx.com
Everywoman’s Health
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
A network of 470 schools around the
globe. And one in your backyard.
TAKE A HIKE.
On a golden October evening, pack a picnic and
blanket and head to Chapman Elementary to
witness thousands of Vaux’s Swifts circle and
eventually funnel into the old brick chimney of
the school for the night. You may even witness
a hawk grabbing his evening meal. Chapman is
the largest known Vaux roost for these migrating
swifts. Each September and October the swifts
use the chimney — which the school decided
to abandon in favor of the swifts when the birds
moved in — as a roost, before continuing on
their journey south. The Audubon Society has
bird counters on hand to answer questions. See
audubonportland.org for more information.
NORTHWEST
We offer:
38
PICNIC WITH THE VAUX’S SWIFTS.
501 N. Graham Street, Suite 445
Portland, OR 97227
It’s like sending your child to Germany for the day.
At the German American School of Portland we have a knack for teaching young
children a second language.We make it fun. Not only will your child learn a second
language, they’ll be immersed in German culture through music, art, books and
conversation with everyone around them.
In return, they have the opportunity to become better listeners, more flexible in
their thinking and more open to other languages and cultures.
Bilingualism.The gift that lasts a lifetime.
OCTOBER 2011
|
39
Everybody
Eats
with Chef Patrick
Beyond the Mighty Pumpkin Pie
Halloween is here and it’s time to get out
your favorite carving knife and head out to the pumpkin patch to pick up a spooky gourd to hang on your
front stoop. With all the hayrides and petting zoos and
old-timey snacks, it’s easy to forget about how many
tasty and nutrition-dense recipes we can make with the
pumpkin.
You have a lot of choices in the pumpkin category.
‘Sweety pie’ is aptly named for its use in sweet pie
recipes, and I have also used it for a mild curry pumpkin
soup. ‘Butter’ is a mid-sized gourd with a creamier flesh,
great for casseroles, stews or just baked and drizzled
with a little good olive oil and some parmesan cheese.
You may even encounter an heirloom variety like the
‘Cinderella’ pumpkin; these are great for grilling, roasting and mashing.
Roasting pumpkins is really easy. Simply remove
the stem and cut the pumpkin in half, then
remove the pulp and seed matter (I like to
use a large metal spoon for this job). Save
your seeds — they are vitamin rich and
tasty little treats (I’ll give you a great
pumpkin seed recipe at the end of
this article.)
Pre-heat your oven to 400
degrees Fahrenheit, place
your pumpkin halves
cut-side down on a sheet
pan. Roast in your preheated oven for 20-25
minutes or until
the pumpkins have
some give in their
flesh. Allow the
pumpkins to cool
on your counter,
then slip the
skins off your
roasted pumpkins, and you are
ready to make a
variety of dishes.
Roasted
Pumpkin Walnut Pate
Yield: 1 quart
Great on toasted pita, as a dip for vegetables,
or a spread for a turkey sandwich.
2 cups roasted pumpkin
1/2 cup toasted walnuts
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Add all the ingredients to a food processor. Process
for several minutes, turn off the machine and scrape
the sides of the bowl, process for several more
minutes. Transfer the pate to a bowl or cold storage
container. Enjoy. (This recipe freezes well; I use small
size zip-lock freezer bags.)
Roasted
Pumpkin Kibbeh
Makes a 7 x 7 inch panful
A great, hearty dish that could be eaten
as an entrée with a green salad, or served
as a side dish alongside some fresh greens
and roasted lamb.
4 cups roasted pumpkin
1 cup bulgur wheat
2 medium onions, sliced
1-1/2 cup vegetable stock
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup chopped garlic
1 tablespoon toasted cumin
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Blend the pumpkin with the bulgur wheat. Allow
to rest covered on the counter while you prep
the rest of the dish. In a sauté pan, over low heat,
melt the onions and garlic. After about 20 minutes,
add spices, stir well, then quickly add liquids to the
pan and raise heat to high, stirring occasionally, to
bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook
until most of the liquid is gone from the pan. Cool
this mixture. Once cool, layer the pumpkin-bulgur
mixture, with the onion, garlic and spice mixture
in your 7 x 7 baking dish. I always strive for six or
seven thin layers; it always seems to bake up better
in thinner layers.
Bake covered with aluminum foil in a pre-heated,
400-degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes,
remove foil and bake for 20 more minutes.
Watch a video demonstration at portlandfamily.com
40
|
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
sevenTy
percenT
mosT peopLe who Abuse
prescripTion drugs
One-Pan Cinnamon
Custard
Pumpkin
g e T
Pumpkin Seeds
Yield: 1 quart
Quick and easy and twice as tasty
as regular custard.
2 cups roasted pumpkin, blended smooth
1 cup heavy cream
2 egg whites
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup brown sugar
Zest and juice of one lemon
In a small sauce pan, add blended pumpkin,
sugar, lemon product, cinnamon and butter.
Bring to a boil, turn off heat. Allow to cool
slightly, then add your egg yolks while whisking
to prevent scrambling the egg proteins. Let this
mixture cool on the counter while you whip
the egg whites into firm peak meringue, and
the cream into medium peak whipped cream.
Fold the egg meringue into the pumpkin
mixture in three equal batches, folding carefully
to maintain aeration and texture, then add the
whipped cream in three equal batches. Refrigerate for at least half an hour before serving
— for best results, three hours refrigeration
will produce a thicker finished product.
In my opinion, the seeds are the best,
but lots of work goes into freeing them
from their white outer shell. You can
eat the outer shell, but it really offers
only fiber and gives no flavor, so if you
need a little more fiber in your diet feel
free to just eat them whole. Otherwise,
I recommend soaking the whole fresh
seed in cool water for half an hour
before roasting. This will help split the
shell as they roast, making the prize
inside much easier to obtain.
T h e m
f r o m
friends or
r e L A T i v e s*.
it
TALKup
LocK
Roast in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven
(not convection) for 6 minutes.
it up
Shake the pan, moving the whole seeds
around, then roast for 4 more minutes.
When the seeds are toasted, I pour
them out on a cool, clean countertop
and let them rest until they are cool to
the touch. Peeling should be easy; just
find the crack in the seed and pop out
the pepita. Enjoy.
Chef Patrick Lee Warner owns and operates Scratch in Lake Oswego.
(www.scratchfoodsllc.com)
All your pediatric needs under one roof:
Pediatrician & Pediatric Dentist
Michelle D. Stafford, D.D.S.
Paul Thomas, M.D.
Pediatric Dentist
Pediatrician
REDS
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BLUES
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11790 SW Barnes Rd, Portland, OR 97225
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10 - Yellow
11- Lime
12 - Leaf Green
13 - Sea Green
14 - Emerald
15 - Teal
16 - Cyan
17 - Sky Blue
18 - Ultra Marine
19 - Violet
20 - Purple
UN LIMITED
Building A, Suite 280
503.626.9700
www.visitworldofsmiles.com
Building A, Suite 140
503.643.2100
www.drpaul.md
OCTOBER 2011
|
41
Fight
T
S
by Marta Monetti
This is Why I
Too many women (and men) are
impacted by the disease. Some
can call themselves “survivors”—
others, like my sister Terry, cannot.
In Oregon alone, 53 women
each week will be diagnosed with
breast cancer and 10 will die.
I
Some women live in rural areas
with little or no access to care,
others do not have healthcare,
cannot afford the important treatments necessary to live and some
are making choices that no one
should have to make. Where you
live should not matter IF you live.
I currently serve as the board president for the Oregon and SW Washington
affiliate board of directors and each year we raise money aimed at saving
lives and ending breast cancer forever. Recently, Komen Oregon advocated
for Senate Bill 433, sponsored by Senator Diane Rosenbaum and signed by
Governor Kitzhaber on August 5. Because of the passage of that bill, women
diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer will have access to life-saving treatments they need and deserve. Before the bill, if women were diagnosed
outside of the Oregon Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (OBCCP) they
were refused treatment.
I
It’s clear that Komen’s work has made a difference for women
and men with breast cancer. Mortality rates from breast cancer
are down 31 percent in 20 years; five-year survival rates from
early-stage cancers are 98 percent, versus 74 percent when we
started. Women are benefiting from more personalized
treatments for this disease.
please
I
It is now over 14 years since I lost my
dear sister, my mentor and my friend to
breast cancer. Terry was just 35 years
old when this terrible disease took her
life. Unfortunately, my family is all too
familiar with breast cancer as almost
everyone in the family has been diagnosed with the disease—my two
aunts (twice), my father (twice),
my mother and me.
U
Unfortunately, we still
find women who don’t
understand their risks,
believe old and outdated
myths, or are simply too
frightened to seek information. But if only they
would consider these
facts: When breast cancer
is detected early, the fiveyear survival rate is over
98 percent, and when
diagnosed late, that rate
drops to 26 percent,.
Too many women are
putting off their yearly
mammograms even if
they have the means
to be proactive
about their health.
Donations
gratefully
accepted
through
the end of
October!
WWW.K103.COM
Keyword “Cure” at k103.com
Please join me in supporting Komen for the Cure or other organizations to accelerate
the progress—to join me in the fight, until no one fears a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Marta Monetti, President, Affiliate Board of Directors, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Oregon
and SW Washington. www.komenoregon.org. (Pictured at left with her sister).
Cancer & Family
Be part of the
special feature in the November issue of Portland Family
A:
here
Photo
B:
here
Photo
Scrapbook of Love
Snapshot Categories:
Surviving & Thriving
Your personal snapshot includes
a photo of your loved one and
(1-year survivors and beyond)
15-30 words, either sharing a
Stay Strong! message of inspiration; offering
(for those currently battling) encouragement and hope;
In Memory reflecting on cherished moments.
Visit portlandfamily.com for more information
Partial proceeds of funds raised will be donated to the Children’s Cancer Association
42
|
PORTLANDFAMILY.COM
Janie, you’re an amazing
strong woman!! Keep
fighting! We’re with
you! I love you! -Julie
Option A (above): $24
size = 1.35”w x 1.665” h
photo: 1” x 1” | word count: 15
Alex, your with me
every day. I think
of your strength,
love and courage! I
remember we used
to laugh so hard until
we cried. I miss you.
Love, Mom
Option B (right): $44
size = 1.35”w x 2.925” h
photo: 1” x 1” | word count: 30
OCTOBER 2011
|
43
brea st ca ncer
In one visit to our comprehensive breast cancer
clinic, our entire team of experts collaborates on a
custom treatment plan just for you. At OHSU Knight
Cancer Institute, our breast cancer nurse navigator
is here to guide you every step of the way.
ohsuknightcancer.com | facebook.com/OHSUKnight
We personalize medicine.