3
Street roots
Jan. 7, 2011
A violent
week a t
year's end
fo r homeless
STAFF REPORTS
t was a very rough week for the
homeless community in Portland.
I
On Wednesday, Dec. 29, four
individuals, ranging in age from 17 to 19,
were arrested after beating two homeless
individuals in North Portland. Attacked
were 52-year-old Donald Dickerson and
48-year-old John Hammons, in what police
believe was a random beating. The two
sustained numerous injuries, none of
them life-threatening, and one of their
wallets was stolen.
This comes on the "heels of another
attack reported by Street Roots in which
rocks were thrown at individuals
experiencing homelessness near St.
Francis in November and injured an
individual sleeping outdoors.
Police released information that
confirmed a homeless individual died on
Thursday, Dec. 30, of hypothermia during
the cold spell. The deceased person has
been identified as 58-year-old Randy Lee
Tinnell. Mr. Tinnell was wearing several
layers of wet clothes, and officers noted
many empty alcohol bottles, clothing and
other property near his body.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner
has conducted an autopsy on M r. T in n e ll
and determined that he died of
hypothermia.
Then on Sunday, Jan. 2, a homeless
man was shot and killed by a police
officer after police say the man charged
at them with a knife. The incident
occurred at an abandoned car wash on
82nd Avenue near Powell Boulevard. The
case is still under investigation.
REGIONAL
green building
Some o f the writer/performers o f “Stories: From the Streets”: Terry Miller, Leo Rhodes (a Street Roots vendor and board member), Jeannie Lower,
B rian Thompson.
Homelessness takes the stage with Stones: From the Streets
STAFF REPORTS
What: “Stories: From the Streets”
treet Roots, a nonprofit newspaper
When: Jan. 28, at 6:30 p.m. and
that assists people experiencing
Jan. 29 at 8:30 p.m. (Reception to follow)
homelessness and poverty, and Lunacy
Stageworks, a new theater organization in Where: Sellwood Masonic Lodge, 7126
the community of Sellwood, are teaming up
SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland
to produce an evening of readings written
Tickets: $12.00 suggested donation.
and performed by members of Street Roots.
Available online at:
“Stories: From the Streets” will comprise
www.lunacystageworks.org
poetry, stories (fictional and auto
Or by phone at 1-800-494-8497
biographical), political satire, music, and
visual art, created by people who are
homeless or have experienced
homelessness. The event will be staged Jan.
authentic voice, and that helps break
through these stereotypes. To hear them
28 and 29 at Lunacy Stageworks at the
and to see them up close, that they get so
Sellwood Masonic Lodge
engaged in their stories. Their stories are
“Stories: From the Streets” is part of an
so good, it’s just great writing.”
ongoing project started by Ann Singer to
Last year’s event was called “The 3rd of
collect stories from many different walks of
July”, in which immigrants from around the
life.
world told their stories of coming to
“It’s live theater, but it’s not being done
America and what that meant to them. This
by actors,” Singer says about the event.
year’s event will be held on Jan. 28 and 29
“This is these people’s stories that they
(Friday and Saturday) 2011, in cooperation
wrote themselves. You’re hearing their
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hotline
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That which I write
I 503 823 5431
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Friends tell me they like what I write
But there’s something closer, they say
and “what I really want to know,” they ask
“What is you writing spirit?”
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C a l l u s t o d a y a t 3 Q 3 .2 Z B .S Z 2 2 \
1 S T R A I G H T A N S W E R S . N O C O N S U L T A T IO N F E E . :
- S o c ia l ,
with The Fertile Ground Festival and
Lunacy Stageworks.
Presented by Portland Area Theatre
Alliance, Fertile Ground, 2011 is a 10-day
arts festival running Jan. 20-30 throughout
Portland, featuring up to 30 world premiere
theatrical and dance projects, staged
readings, comedy, film and other arts events
from the local creative community.
“Theater itself and any kind of art form is
a big equalizer,” Singer says. “Nobody cares
about where you come from, what your class
is, what your race is, your nationally. It
brings together all these different people,
with different backgrounds, religions and
nationalities. Nobody cares where you come
from when you can play an instrument,
write a story or act in a play. And that’s
what I hope people experience.”
A reception will follow the Jan. 29
performance, where donated food and
beverages will be provided, along with an
opportunity for the audience, collaborators,
and performers to interact.
S Z Q SW SECOND AVENUE, S T E 2 0 0 J
PO RTLAND, O R 9 7 2 0 4
o u r w e b s it e : w w w . s t c - l a w . o o m j
CORRECTIONS
It’s my intention friends
to share despair and dream
‘cause in sharing the despair dissolves
and the dream then evolves
What I see in self I see in many
even in cats, spiders, and ants
and then in their reflection
I see myself again
What you ask - you already know
what you search points back to you
otherwise you wouldn’t ask
and wouldn’t care to know
Street Roots strives fo r accuracy, but
we're human. So w e also strive to correct
errors in our paper whenever possible.
Please report any errors to our managing
editor, Joanne Zuhl, at 503-228-5657, or
w rite in streetrootsnews@gmail.
“Love is a being” I remember
are the words of our teachers
who is with you at all times
and present in all creatures
“Self cannot turn away from s e lf
There must be surrender dear ones
in releasing the ‘who, why, and where’
then what remains is what we share-
Sharing is not something to be done
it is how beings come about _
like rain, ocean, and rain again
and there’s no mind to doubt
I don’t know how to tell you who one is
You’re the memory of ancient presence
like déjà vu of silence love
and a butterfly in metamorphosis
Who. writes is ÿou, love
that which we each possess
like a bird on your shoulder
and in heaven at the same time