Veronica Nocera

2 days ago | oregonlive.com | Veronica Nocera

Though Adam Bienvenu’s children are the first in his family to grow up in Sherwood, his history with the Portland suburb spans generations. His great grandmother, an artist, owned a farm in Sherwood where she would paint during the summertime — property that has been handed down through the family. Bienvenu and his mom both frequented the farm as children, and six years ago, he relocated to Sherwood with his wife and two children.

5 days ago | oregonlive.com | Veronica Nocera

After four years living in east Portland, Lily Burnett noticed there was something missing from her family’s neighborhood. The community in her area is tight-knit, she said — there’s “one middle, one high school and a whole lot of pride.” But while chairing the committee in support of a Parkrose teachers levy last year, she realized the neighborhood lacked off-campus gathering spaces.

5 days ago | oregonlive.com | Veronica Nocera

It’s never a bad time to cuddle up (or, on a sunny day, sprawl out) with a good book — and now, you’ll know just where to find your next great read. Last week, The Oregonian’s Readers Choice Awards asked readers to chime in with their favorite local bookstores. Hundreds of votes later, the results are in. Here are the five best bookstores in the Portland area, according to you.

6 days ago | oregonlive.com | Veronica Nocera

Ask a Portlander where they got their outfit, and there’s a nonzero chance they’ll point you to a thrift store. Portland loves its second-hand stores. They’re a way to fine tune your fashion sense and hunt for hidden stylish treasures — all while doing good by the environment and, if you play your cards right, saving a buck or two. That’s why this week The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Readers Choice Awards is on a hunt of its own, searching for the best thrift stores in the Portland area.

1 week ago | oregonlive.com | Veronica Nocera

Consumer Reports is raising the alarm about high levels of lead in products made with cassava, a root vegetable often used in gluten-free cooking and baking — and its tests found that an Oregon product contained one of the highest doses. The product testing nonprofit measured the lead levels in 27 food items and ingredients made with cassava. Two-thirds were found to have more lead in a single serving than Consumer Reports’ food safety experts recommend eating in one day.