• Les Couleurs de Provence table linens now available
• Cedar Mill Farmers Market: You spoke, we listened
• Beaverton Farmers Market
• Sunset Credit Union asks: Are you taking advantage of these tax-shelter accounts?
• Aging with advocacy
• Vibrant senior living at Anthology of Beaverton
• Benefits of organizing through grief
• Cedar Mill real estate market: Housing market trends
• Attend a home buyer seminar

Les Couleurs de Provence table linens now available

Every weekend February to May, 9 am-6 pm, by appointment only. Please call 503-679-1681.

Les Couleurs de Provence, a small home business, specializes in indoor and outdoor table linens that are great for your kitchen, and as special occasion gifts such as birthdays, housewarmings, Valentine’s Day, and more. 

Cedar Mill Farmers Market: You spoke, we listened

Last September, we asked market shoppers to complete an online survey to provide feedback about the market. We were especially interested in ideas to make the market accessible, inclusive, equitable, and inviting to everyone. The respondents included folks who identify as (in alphabetical order) Asian American, Black, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and White. There were both Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic respondents. Most (87%) were women.

We received lovely comments and helpful feedback in the survey. The market responded immediately to some suggestions. For example, based on one shopper’s request, the market added two parking spots for folks with disabilities. The survey results included excellent suggestions for new kinds of food items to add to the market, such as Asian vegetables, wine, seafood, dry beans, pasta, nut butters, dried fruits and vegetables, cheese, and prepared foods like frozen soup. Respondents also suggested adding more options for locally produced non-food items like fiber and yarn, ornamental plants, household items, and kids’ crafts. 

The market manager and directors work hard to find new vendors during the off-season, but please let us know of potential local vendors for these products. Additionally, survey respondents requested adding more diverse music, including classical piano, a reggae band, and music specifically for kids. We are excited to hear from musicians of all kinds to add more range to the market.

Each summer, the market provides free space to a limited number of community and sustainability groups, and we are grateful for their participation. Suggestions for additional booths in these categories included food banks, the Humane Society, scouts, and wellness organizations. Organizations interested in participating can contact us at ourcmfm@gmail.com.

“We sincerely thank all who responded to our survey, and we are working to implement the many ideas that fit the market mission of providing locally grown produce, food cooked by local chefs, and an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere,” says Market manager Karen Carroll. 

The Cedar Mill Farmers Market will open on Saturday, May 4 for our 2024 summer season! We are excitedly putting together a volunteer team this year and putting the call out for musicians. Please contact us at ourcmfm@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us! We look forward to seeing you on opening day and beyond.

Beaverton Farmers Market

February 3-March, 10 am-1:30 pm, April-November, 8:30 am-1:30 pm, SW Hall Blvd. between 3rd and 5th Streets

While most of our farms won’t make their appearance until later in the season, you can count on Riverland Family Farms to start on day one. Established by three brothers who took over Denison Farms, you will always find their stall filled with fresh seasonal, certified organic, produce. Another market veteran who will be with us on opening day is Winters Farms. In fact, they have been with us since we opened in 1987, making them one of our “Heirloom Vendors”. This multi-generational farm grows a great variety of fruits and vegetables, produces jams, jellies and honey, and will keep market goers stocked with fresh eggs from their Troutdale chickens.

Santos Family Farm raises a variety of chickens, ducks, and turkeys both for eggs and meat. With the Lunar New Year coming up, they are featuring their meat ducks. They raise Pekin ducks which have a wonderful mild flavor and delicate texture. Santos Farm raises their ducks on pasture, giving them lots of room to roam and swim. 

Lots more information about opening day vendors in the newsletter! Sign up to get their email updates here. Visit the website here.

Sunset Credit Union asks: Are you taking advantage of these tax-shelter accounts?

Here’s a quick overview of two of the most common retirement plan IRAs, traditional and Roth, and how they compare.

With an IRA (traditional or Roth) you are investing money and letting it grow until retirement. You generally can’t withdraw money without penalty until age 59½. Traditional plans are sometimes also referred to as “regular” plans. One key difference between Roth and traditional plans is how contributions are taxed.

You can invest pre-tax income in traditional accounts. So one advantage of traditional accounts is that when you contribute money, you can generally write off the contribution as a tax deduction, thereby lowering your tax bill. One disadvantage of traditional plans is that you pay taxes on the money as you withdraw it.

In Roth IRAs, unlike traditional IRAs, contributions are never tax deductible. But the money you contribute to your Roth IRA can be withdrawn tax free at any time. Here’re some advantages to a Roth IRA:

You get tax-free growth and withdrawal. Unlike a traditional IRA, contributions to a Roth are made using money that’s already been taxed. While there’s no tax benefit up front, your earnings within the account grow tax-free, and withdrawals made during retirement are also tax-free.

You can withdraw contributions at any time. The money you contribute to a Roth IRA can be removed at any time for any reason, but a 10% early distribution penalty tax will apply to the taxable amount unless you meet one of the IRS’s early distribution penalty tax exceptions.

You can contribute as long as you’re working, regardless of age. You can keep adding to your Roth IRA well into retirement, no matter your age. By contrast, with a traditional IRA, contributions must stop when an earner reaches age 70½.

Sunset Credit Union is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Washington County. Because everyone’s investment needs are different, if you have questions about which IRA is best for you, please call Debbie at Sunset Credit Union at: 503-643-1335.

Aging with advocacy

After 30 years working in healthcare, local Cedar Mill native Lisa Stember shifts her focus to being an Aging Life Care Manager®. In her past work as a medical speech pathologist, Lisa regularly saw the need for people to have an advocate when navigating a medical event or the aging process. In today’s world, she notes, you are better served when you have someone who knows who and what to ask when you are in the hospital being discharged or the many resources you need to make plans, make decisions, or live safely in your home. 

Aging Life Care Professionals® are experts in the field of aging and disability. We help seniors and their families navigate the challenges of aging and make positive, informed decisions about the care of their loved ones. We are strategic planners and have a holistic approach to aging with key knowledge areas that include crisis intervention, housing, health and disability, advocacy, family legal, financial, and local resources.

Lisa is especially knowledgeable and passionate in dementia, acquired brain injuries, and end of life care. Find out more about Lisa and her skills here, or just give her a call at 971-361-6183.

Vibrant senior living at Anthology of Beaverton

There’s no need to settle for less in retirement when you can indulge in a future filled with exquisite living spaces, first-class amenities, and gourmet cuisine. You’ll feel like you’re residing in a hotel. Our upscale community frees you up to continue your life story in style. Let’s connect over a tour: call 971-251-2564. Please visit the Anthology Senior Living website for more information. 

Benefits of organizing through grief

Wednesday, February 7, 4-5 pm, free, via Zoom, Register here 

Join us for a transformative virtual event with special guest Angie Freyer, professional home organizer and occupational therapist, as we delve into the powerful journey of organizing through grief. In times of loss and sorrow, finding a sense of order in our lives can be an incredibly healing and cathartic process. Our expert organizers, who have personally navigated the complexities of grief, will guide you through practical strategies and valuable insights into the relationship between organization and emotional healing. 

Learn how to declutter your physical space, create personalized systems that foster a sense of stability, and uncover the profound impact of organizing on the path to healing. Whether you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or undergoing a major life transition, we hope you will join us. For questions please contact: whitney@bigrocksorganizing.com. 

Cedar Mill real estate market: Housing market trends

By Jan Dempsey, Realtor, Windermere Realty Group

There is a best time of year to buy a home in Portland every year. There is also a best time of the year to sell a home in Portland every year. This repeated seasonal impact remains consistent year over year, regardless of whether the overall real estate market is heading up or down. It will be no different in 2024.

The ice and snow have kept us in our holiday season, which is typically slow for sellers. There is a peak in available home inventory now as many would-be buyers put home shopping on hold and sellers will withdraw their homes from the market to wait for better weather and the Spring Market. This Spring will bring a new wave of motivated buyers to energize the housing market, increasing competition and creating more favorable conditions for sellers. If possible, the ideal time to list your home is in the Spring (in particular March through May), unless early spring is warm, and sunny, your home is prepped for the market, and you are ready to sell!

If you are searching for a new home now, current market conditions will work in your favor, with both the large pool of available homes and the lack of competition from other potential homebuyers. This annual holiday lull in the real estate market pushes sellers to compete for buyers by dropping their prices and increases the likelihood of finding a great deal on a new home. So, now is a good time to buy, not sell. Best time to sell is March through April. Next month I will discuss getting your home ready to sell. 

If you have real estate questions, it would be my pleasure to answer them. I have 39 years of real estate experience. I would love to learn your plans to help guide you through this complicated process. Don’t hesitate to call me at 503-706-6358, or email jdempsey@windermere.com.

Attend a home buyer seminar

Saturday, February 17, 9:30-11:30 am, Symposium Coffee, 12345 SW Main St, Tigard, free, RSVP by calling/texting Marie Conser at 503-459-2726

The housing market keeps moving and, with interest rates trending downward, the activity is already picking up! If you have thoughts of buying a home in 2024, whether it is your first home or not, please join me to discuss the current market conditions, financing options, offer terms that win and the overall home buying process. I will be joined by local Sr Mortgage Advisor Tim McBratney, PacRes Mortgage (NMLS 133935) and local Insurance Agent, Dave Snyder, American Family Insurance. 

Looking forward to seeing you there! Marie Conser, Oregon Principal Broker, John L. Scott Real Estate.