BUSINESS BRIEFS

The Bee, Nov 4, 2009

AHB talk on “outside resources available to small businesses”

At this month’s public meeting of the area-wide Association of Home Businesses, Thursday, November 19, 6-9 pm, in addition to the usual buffet supper, the interactive program will feature Paul Swalco, local telecom and broadband expert, speaking about “Help for the home-based business: Using outside resources so you can stay focused on making money”. You don’t need to have a home business to attend this business association meeting! First-time visitors pay the members’ rate of $10 for the meal and evening, which takes place at Sellwood’s SMILE Station, S.E. 13th one block south of Tacoma Street, on the southeast corner of Tenino. RSVP’s requested for meal planning. For information and to reserve, visit online: www.ahboregon.org, or call Eric at 503/232-2326.

Glass art on exhibit in Brooklyn

A “Glass Art Exhibition” at Bullseye Glass in the Brooklyn neighborhood opens to the public on Monday, November 2nd, running through December 31st. The address is 3610 S.E. 21st Avenue. The new “Working Glass” exhibit, glass artwork made by the employees of Bullseye Glass Company, will join the “Material Matters” exhibit already in progress. “The public is invited to see artwork made ‘off the clock’ by people who make glass for a living. This is our 8th annual employee exhibition and will be on display in the upstairs gallery of Bullseye Resource Center,” says Janet Bartholomew of Bullseye. “Material Matters” explores the variety of material choices available to design and make glass art today. The exhibition is open weekdays 10-6, Saturdays 10-5, and Sundays noon till 5.

“Body, tissue, eye, organ donation forum”

A variety of nonprofits join to present a free forum on how to become a donor of vital organs, corneas, tissue, bone, or how to be a whole body donor for scientific research, on Wednesday, November 4th, at 6:30 pm at the River View Cemetery Adams Chapel, 0300 S.W. Taylors Ferry Road, not far from the west end of the Sellwood Bridge. Refreshments will be served. For information, call Jessica Repp at 503/246-4251.

Law firm moves into Sellwood

The law firm of Aubertine, Draper, and Rose will be occupying the entire ground floor of the recently-built commercial building at 8203 S.E. 7th Avenue in Sellwood, according to John Prell of Windermere Commercial. The Managing Partner is Krystin Draper Rose. The firm is moving from 1211 S.W. Sixth in Downtown Portland, and is expected to start its tenancy this month.

Last “Landlord Study Hall” of the year, this month

On November 11, realtor Katherine King and colleagues present their 11th and last “Landlord Study Hall” of the calendar year — open free to landlords and “unlicensed individuals of the community”. The subject this month is “Section 8 tenancies”. The hours on the 11th are 6:30 till 8 pm, and the location is All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 40th and S.E. Woodstock Boulevard. Free, but RSVP required; call 503/772-8825.

“First Friday” event evokes “Old Siam”

Elemental Arts, located at 6035 S.E. Milwaukie Avenue, across from the Iron Horse Restaurant, hosts the month-long display of artworks under the entitled theme “The Old Siam” — beginning with a public artist reception on Friday, November 6th, 6-9 pm. Featured artist Fasai Streed is a Thai artist, born from a family of artists. She explains that “The Old Siam” is a collection of 10 mixed media artworks that represent the traditional way of life from the time when Thailand was known as “Siam”.

Two local author readings at “Looking Glass Bookstore”

Two Sellwood authors will be reading from their new books this month at Looking Glass Bookstore at 7983 S.E. 13th Avenue, in the Red Caboose. On Tuesday, November 3rd, at 7 pm, Elizabeth Grossman will speak from her new book “Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Industry”. Then, on Tuesday, November 17th, at 7 pm, Richard Engeman will read from his new book, “The Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of the Useful, the Curious, and the Arcane”. Engeman is an historian and archivist; he graduated from Reed College. For information, call the store at 503/227-4760.

New businesses in Sellwood, Westmoreland

Chuck Martin, Manager of the Sellwood-Westmoreland Business Alliance (SWBA) which meets publicly on the third Thursday morning of each month in the ground-floor meeting room at the Windermere building, S.E. 14th and Bybee Boulevard, announces the opening of two new businesses: Creative Minds Learning Centers is starting a large day care at 1540 S.E. Martins, on Milwaukie Avenue, across from the Iron Horse Restaurant and Assured At Home in-home assistance, and they will occupy the entire first floor of the new building. Meantime, “Auntie Katusha’s Rare Books”, owned by Andrew Strom, has located in Suite 206, 8050 SE 13th Avenue in Sellwood. They deal worldwide in rare books.

Neighbor effort boosts Woodstock’s “Hair Affair”

When loyal customer Skyler Freimann heard that Suzi Kennedy, owner of Hair Affair salon, was facing the possible loss of her shop due to the impact of the recession, she decided that was unacceptable. “Suzi should have been excited about planning a celebration for being in business 25 years, not facing the prospect of trying to figure out how to get a job after working for herself most of her life”, she said. “I was shocked. I had no idea things were that bad. Suzi never complains and just soldiers on. I noticed there had been some turnover in the work stations Suzie rented out, but didn’t realize that, like many small, independent salons, customers had been forgoing getting their hair done in order to manage personal expenses.” She e-mailed friends, neighbors, and colleagues, inviting them to pitch in and help give Hair Affair a makeover in hopes that a new, fresh look would draw in customers, and a work party took place on Sunday, October 11th, through Wednesday the 14th, cleaning, repairing, panting, and decorating the shop — at 4424 S.E. Woodstock Boulevard. Freimann exclaimed, after the work was done, “if things go according to plan, Suzie will be celebrating her 25th Anniversary as a small business owner after all.”

Sellwood business exports to Japan

Ashiyu Foot Spas, open in Sellwood since 2006, announces that it has begun exporting its Japanese-inspired products to Japan. Owner John Condon reports that, “Ashiyu builds and sells innovative foot spas that resemble garden water features but are heated and jetted to make a comfortable foot-soaking oasis. The spas have been featured in the NW Natural Street of Dreams luxury home tours in 2007 and 2008, and in numerous home and garden shows. Ashiyu's showroom on 13th Ave doubles as a foot soaking center with a reflexology treatment area.” Ashiyu Foot Spas is located at 8015 S.E. 13th Avenue; the telephone number 503/232-0920, and its Internet website is: www.ashiyu.com.

New tenants in Woodstock

Angie Even, the former owner of The Flower Shop on S.E. Woodstock Boulevard across from Papaccino’s Coffee Shop and Country Bill’s Restaurant, and owner of the building in which it is located, reports that she has leased all four of the newly-renovated offices upstairs in the building: Karen Keeling is moving her Farmers Insurance Agency down the boulevard to this location, to be joined there by “M Therapeutic Body Care” massage therapy, “Clear Skies Virtual Event Producers”, and Diane Havnen of Smith and Serena Barton, Counselors.

Woodstock business branches out

Mitchell Physical Therapy, 5212 S.E. 52nd Avenue, announces it is opening a second location at 6542 S.E. Lake Road, Suite 105, in Milwaukie, just off Highway 224. Mitchell Physical Therapy provides a wide range of physical therapy services with an emphasis on orthopaedic conditions.

Sheet metal art spotlighted at First Friday event

Janovec Gallery in Brooklyn features the works of Suzanne Rexford (“Suzanne’s Street Metal”) at its First Friday public artist’s reception on November 6, 6-9 pm, with a display of her art Thursdays through Saturdays, noon till five, for the rest of the month. “Suzanne, trained in blacksmithing, finds her art material on the street.” Janovec Gallery is on the southeast corner of Milwaukie Avenue and S.E. Holgate Boulevard.

Web-based video drama filmed in Westmoreland

Vivien Lyon of “The Woods”, the acoustic/folk music venue in the former Wilhelm’s in Westmoreland, advises that “‘Fall of the House’ folks write, direct, and star in a new web series of 22-minute episodes, screened every week for seven weeks at The Woods (where the series is also filmed)”, and advises of a few upcoming events: 11/19 (Thursday) 9 pm, $5, Team Evil / IOA / Quiet Countries; 11/21 (Saturday), 8 pm, $10, “Stingray Sam” premiere screening; 12/10 (Thursday), 9 pm, $8/10, Anais Mitchell/Annie Bethancourt CD release. “The Woods” is located across from the Bank of America at S.E. Claybourne and Milwaukie Avenue.

Westmoreland acupuncturist offers Qi Gong classes

Elie Cole, whose Nourishing Medicine acupuncture, massage, and Chinese medicine practice is located at Cypress Salon on S.E. Bybee Boulevard near 14th, announces that she will be offering a six-week series of classes in the Chinese relaxation technique Qi Gong, from November 2nd till December 7th at Sellwood Yoga, 7970 S.E. 13th Avenue, with more series planned. The classes will be on Mondays, 6-7 pm. Cost is $60 for the six-week series (www.sellwoodyoga.com), or students can attend the classes on a drop-in basis at $12/class (for the first 3 classes only). These classes are intended for beginners who want to learn “One Thousand Hands Buddha” Seated Form and experienced students who want to practice. For more information about Qi Gong, visit online: www.nourishingmedicine.com.

“First Friday” art reception at Tilde

Tilde, 7919 S.E. 13th Avenue, will host a public First Friday Reception for the Portland artist Bishop Lennon on Friday, November 6, 6-9 pm, with a showing of the artist’s work through Sunday, November 29. Lennon’s current work involves stretched canvas, acrylic paint, ink, pastels and collage with delicate layers of tissue paper. She is inspired by street art and stencils as well as creating her work around themes. Her current theme of choice is “Flowers of the Month.” Do you know what your birth month flower is?

Craftsman Design wins national honor

A national competition for design excellence in residential remodeling has recognized a Portland design/build firm in the Historic Renovation category. Craftsman Design and Renovation’s restoration of an airplane bungalow stood out among contestants for the prestigious Master Design Awards, sponsored by “Qualified Remodeler” magazine. The award was presented in Indiana on Tuesday, October 27, in an awards ceremony. “We’re honored to be recognized for our area of expertise and to help spotlight Portland as being in the vanguard of historic architectural preservation,” said company owner and senior designer Wade Freitag. Freitag founded Craftsman Design in 1995, and has served on the board of the Architectural Heritage Center in Portland. His work has appeared in “Along Bungalow Lines and Beyond the Bungalow”. Craftsman design is located at 1235 S.E. Division Street, Suite 203A.

Sellwood “Vital Body Studio” expands

“Vital Body Studio” announces that it is expanding in its current location, at 8235 S.E. 13th in Sellwood — now in both suite 11 and 12. In addition to offering private and semi-private training in Pilates and Gyrotonic, the indicate that they will be offering Personal Training and Group Classes such as Pilates Mat and Equipment classes, Vinyasa Flow and Kundalini Yoga, Qi Gong, Vital Kid’s classes and more. Located in Sellwood for the past three years, “Vital Body” welcomes the community to come try any class or training on equipment at no charge. The telephone number is 503/233-8122, and its Internet website is: www.vitalbodystudio.com.

Portland’s only “laughter club” chortles at 1st anniversary

The “Awakenings Laughter Club” has been filling a small studio in Southeast Portland with peals of laughter since last October, led by Andrea Crisp, a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and Holistic Health Counselor, who says that the club is currently the only free, regularly scheduled laughter club active in the Portland area. The Awakenings Laughter Club meets every Tuesday morning from 7:10 to 7:40 am in the studio at Awakenings Wellness Center at 1016 SE 12th Avenue. The weekly club is free, although donations are collected for the use of the space. The Internet website is: www.portlandlaughteryoga.com.

First Friday reception at “12x16 Gallery”

The featured artists at Sellwood’s “12x16 Gallery” — on display through the 29th, and featured in a public reception, 5-9 pm on Friday, November 6th — are Luke Dolkas and Liz Cohen, both of whom work in Mixed Media. The gallery is located at 8235 S.E. 13th Avenue, #5, on Sellwood’s Antique Row.

“Natural Casket Company” alive in Sellwood

Scott Cummings contacts THE BEE to announce that “Portland Natural Casket Company, LLC” is open in the Sellwood area, “offering quality caskets that are eco-friendly and fairly priced. Each casket is biodegradable, non-toxic, and perfectly suited for green burial or cremation”. Caskets are built locally of ponderosa pine from Oregon mills. For details, call 503/502-0012, or visit the Internet website: www.portlandnaturalcaskets.com.

“Zumba” dance class announced

Kristina Mola announces that she has started up a fitness class/group at Portland Dancesport in Sellwood: “Zumba is a Latin dance-based fitness class that is intended to have a party-like atmosphere, so you barely realize you’re working out. Merengue, cha cha, salsa, samba, and other dance moves are used. All moves are simple enough to do even if you have never danced before! That's part of the fun for the men and women who participate.” The class is Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:15 am and Saturdays at 9:30 am. “Drop in’s are always welcome.” Portland Dancesport is located just north of Rockin’ Roxy’s Dog Spot on S.E. 17th at S.E. Nehalem in Sellwood.

Country music on stage at Brooklyn’s Aladdin Theater

Randy Houser, country music artist nominated for two CMA Awards, and whose recent single “Boots On” reached No. 2 on the Country “Billboard” charts, will be performing at the Aladdin Theater on Thursday evening, November 5th, at 7 pm, with Jamey Johnson, as part of “CMT On Tour 2009”. Tickets are $25. The theater is on S.E. Milwaukie Avenue a half block south of Powell Boulevard.