UP MMJ - Spring 2020

It's 4:30 am on a Sunday, a time when most people are hours away from starting their day. But, if you're a baker you have batters to make, dough to proof and bread to load into the oven, there's no time to snooze the alarm. Michelle Vernier does it all with no recipes, timers, or assistants. Vernier hasn't always been a baker, it wasn't until 15 years ago when she traded in late nights on the line too early, quiet mornings covered in flour. She said her early bedtime can be difficult for her night-owl son, she takes the weekend baking shifts when he is at his dad's house to ensure she can get the sleep she needs, and during the week they can spend time together. Vernier started Bella's Italian Bakery in 2015, her goal with opening the brick and mortar store was to create a space similar to the Italian bakeries and markets she loved during her time on the East Coast. Along with that came creating recipes the way her Italian grandmother did....

Despite a considerable decline in church attendance at the University of Portland, individuals like Maria Saenz seek out any opportunity to reflect in this sacred space. With or without fellow worshipers. "Its not about who's with me, all that matters is that God is" But when another student entered the chapel, she jumped at the chance to pray with him. Maria signs her name on her way out, knowing she will be back again. "There is nothing more refreshing in the world, and whenever I get the chance to share that experience with other people it makes it that much better"

The Blanchet House: How Volunteers Help the Fight Against Poverty.  The Blanchet House of hospitality in Portland Oregon waits vacant as as the volunteers make a game plan for the day. The restaurant serves free breakfast, lunch, and dinner six days a week for those in need of a meal. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Workers and volunteers begin preparing plates with pizza and fruit for lunch. This food is donated by local grocery stores in the area and other companies supporting the cause. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jean, 87, is one of a handful of volunteers. She will be in the line of volunteers who are serving the guests. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ As the shift winds down, Jean finds herself waiting with the other volun...

On the road again...and again Junior biology major Gaby Hernandez Duran is a commuter. Each morning, she makes the trip from Hillsboro to North Portland and attempts to find parking on campus which she says is the most challenging part of commuting. She plans her day-to-day life around traffic, crashes, the weather and more. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Hernandez Duran arrives on campus at 8 a.m. so she has time to go to the gym and shower before class. She finds that going to the gym is a great way to start her long days filled with organic chemistry and other challenging courses. Hernandez Duran's backpack is filled with books and other class essentials. She spends her days in Buckley Center, Franz Hall and Shiley Hall taking classes she hopes will help her get into graduate school. Hernandez Duran appreciates the quiet parts of campus because it gives her a good atmosphere to study in. This is also why she likes living at hom...

The lovely Miss Lady was one of several emcees for Sunday's Blue Collar Wrestling matches. The event, which happens every Sunday with first bell at 6 p.m., had dozens of audience members, even though it took place during the middle of Super Bowl LIV.  The boot of J.B. Moonshine, one of several wrestlers participating in Sunday's matches. Each wrestler had their own persona, with Mr. Moonshine's schtick being, well, drinking moonshine while he stumbled around the ring in his overalls and boots.  Meet Kris Brady, the self-proclaimed World's Greatest Attraction and a mainstay of Blue Collar Wrestling. Brady fought in the main event, a tag team match between the fan-favorite Brandt Dynasty (Brady's team) and the evil, corporate Rockefeller Foundation. The Foundation won on Sunday.  Mother Russia's Gregor Petrov launches himself into Ugly Joe and prepares for a headbutt. Petrov played the heel to Joe, who was a favorite of the Blue Collar Wrestling...

Decadent Creations, a Hillsboro-based bakery, serves up cookies, cakes and pastries at the Beaverton Farmer's Market every Saturday. Owner and baker Mindy Simmons opened Decadent Creations in 2010. She's had a life-long passion for baking and loves watching people enjoy the treats she makes. "Love is the most durable power in the world," proclaims a nearby church marquee quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., as one of Mindy's customers pays her for some sugary decadence. Stacked macarons in various flavors add a feast of color to a cloudy Saturday. The delicate cookies cost $12 for half a dozen and $20 for a dozen.  Mandy smiles at a happy macaron customer as she returns her credit card. There were not many people at the Beaverton Farmer's Market overall on this chilly February Saturday, but the Decadent Creations kiosk did a brisk business. Each of Mindy's hands has a distinctly separate job, a visual metaphor for an entrepreneu...