...w. Volume X X IV Number 49 4.». »- •• • Serving the eommunit\ through cultural diversitx tLlu' ^ o rtla n h (©bserxißr December 7, 1994 SECTION B Grotto n in m u n i t y a 1 c tt ò ;t r Kwanzaa At Firehouse Center The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N. Interstate Ave., is creat ing special festivities during the month o f December to educate and explain the holiday season o f Kwanzaa. An art ex hibit, community' marketplace, theater, storytelling, workshops and a lecture will also be featured during the month. All events are open and free to the pubic. Volunteers from the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 48 donated labor and , matenals to light The Grotto for the sanctuary’s annual ‘Festival of Lights ’ Christmas celebration. The 27-person volunteer crew included IBEW Local 48 Electricians from Sunset Electric, Cherry City/Morrow Electric, Electrical Construction Company. Chandler Electric, Far West Electric, Christenson Electric, Tice Electric, and Atlas Electric, all members of NECA. Area Women To Model Fashions Twenty area women wi 11 model fash ions from Sheba’s House o f Elegance during a fashion show to benefit Albina Youth Opportunity School. The event will be held Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the House ofElegance, 3223 N.E. Broad way. The show will feature offerings from Roslyn H ill’s Shades o f Color Art Gallery, door prizes, cakes and catering by Von Theroux and others, and many other gift and sty le ideas for the holiday season. Tickets are $10 per person and are available at Sheba’s, the Shades o f Color G allery at 316 N.E. Thompson, the school at 3710 N. Mississippi Ave. and at the door o f the event. Childrens Museum Hosts Party A birthday party to celebrate The Gilbert House Children’s M useum 's fifth birthday will be held Saturday, Dec. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The muse um is located at 116 Marion St., N.E. on the riverfront in downtown Salem. Five- year-olds and 55 year olds will be admit ted free for the party . Cake, ice cream, prizes and party favors will be featured. The museum offers innovative hands-on exhibits, activities and classes in the sci ences, arts and humanities. Kuumba Festival Held At Dishman Art works, food and entertainment will be featured this weekend at the Kuumba Festival at the Matt Dishman Recreation Center, 77 N.E. Knott. The festival is presented by the Lazarus Art Society. Highlights include the Hot shot Dancers, performing Friday evening. Sat urday afternoon adults and children can participate in hands on arts projects, Sat urday night there will be a special music anthology presentation and Sunday, more entertainment, awards and a raffle are scheduled. Call 281-0746 or 727-2694 for more information. Salvation Army Seeks Volunteers The Salvation Army needs volun teers to fill “Banquet-In-A -Box” food boxes which provide food for a tradition al Christmas dinner and a w eek’s supply o f groceries to meet the needs o f families o f all sizes. Individuals, families, school children, church groups, businesses and neighborhood groups are invited to take part in the program. Call Nan Haan at the Salvation Army at 234-0825. Group Sponsors Holiday Bazaar Practical gifts and rummage at work ing class prices will be offered Dec. 17 and 18 during a holiday benefit bazaar sponsored by Radical Women The event takes place beginning both days at 10 a m . at the M usicians Union Hall, 325 N.E. 20th, between Burnside and Sandy. P i ease S end A ll C ommunity C alendar I nformation T wo W eeks I n A dvance O f E vents S tarting D ate or the seventh consecutive Festival of Lights at The Grotto. year, volunteers from the T y p ic a lly betw een 24 and 30 International Brotherhood of volunteers from Local 48, many of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local whom 48 return each year, devote their and the National Electrical Contractors Saturday to provide the electrical and A s s o c ia tio n (N E C A ), O reg o n - human resources necessary to light Columbia Chapter, will donate time, ap p ro xim a te ly ten acres of The services, and materials to provide G rotto's 62-acre garden grounds electrical power for the Christmas including the central plaza area where F Urban League To Accept ACLU Award For Outstanding Leadership In Civil Rights The Urban League o f Portland will receive the American Civil Liberty Union Foundation ofO regon s E.B. MacNaughton Award at the A C LU ’s annual dinner on D ecember 7. The ACLU award recognizes the League’s long history o f outstanding leadership and service to the cause o f civil rights for Oregonians. Lawrence J. Dark, the League’s Presi dent and CEO, expressed the organiza tion s gratitude. “Getting awards is always an honor," Mr Dark said. “ But when the award involves issues as fundamental as civil rights and is granted by an organiza tion diligently working for many o f the same principles we advocate, it is truly meaningful.’’ “It is a special honor to receive an award named after a founding board mem ber o f our organization," Mr. Dark added. E.B M acNaughton was a publisher o f The Oregonian, a dedicated civil libertarian, and a member o f the first board o f directors o f the Urban League o f Portland in 1945 ACLU o f Oregon Executive Director David Fidanque stressed the significance o f the League's selection in 1994, the 40th Anniversary o f the U S. Supreme C urt’s Brown v. Board o f Education decision, which desegregated public schools. “The lessons o f Brown v. Board o f Education teach us that the struggle for racial justice take place not just in courtrooms, but in the classrooms, in the workplace and in our communities as well. The Urban League has been a bridge-builder among groups and communities and a source o f hope for all Oregonians who believe racial harmony is possible.” Founded in 1945, the Urban League o f | Portland has worked to improve the quality o f life for the poor, oppressed and disen franchised in the greater Portland commu nity. The League has, over time, extended its advocacy efforts to include equal rights and opportunity for many groups in addi tion to African-Americans. The ACLU League o f Portland is a non-profit, community-based human ser vice, economic and social justice agency serving at-risk youth and families, students, jo b seekers, and seniors in the metro area. The League is one o f 113 local affiliates o f | the National Urban League. much of the festival's lighting and entertainment is located. For the seventh straight year, electrician Lynn Romfo will coordinate the installation o f electric service for the festival. In c o n ju n c tio n w ith the e le c tric ia n s w ho v o lu n te e r th e ir tim e, N E C A -m em - ber e le c tric a l c o n tra c to rs d o n a te needed m a te ria ls, h ig h -lift v e h ic le s, and serv ice vans. N E C A c o n tra c to rs w ho have c o n trib u te d include: Rose C ity E lectric, who have play ed a vital roll since the e v e n t’s in c e p tio n ; B ro a d w a y /C o c h ra n E le c tric , w ho jo in e d the team in 1992; C ap ito l E le c tric , w ho p a rtic ip a te d for the first tim e in 1993; and C h riste n so n E le c tric , w ho c o n trib u te d d u rin g the e v e n t’s e a r ly y e a rs. Forum To Address Legislature State Rep. Margaret Carter, D-Portland, will hold a public forum to discuss ideas for the upcom ing Oregon Legislature. Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the King Neighborhood Facility, 4815 N.E. 7th Ave. Community involvement is crucial as Carter makes plans for the legislative pack age she will introduce when the Legislature convenes in January. Carter is seeking input on ideas an issues o f importance to residents o f her House D istrict 18 and all the people o f inner North and Northeast Portland. I expect to see a lot o f people come with good ideas," Carter said. “ We needed to make sure that the 1995 Legislature address es those issues that are critical to our commu nity.” The W om en’s Health and W ellness Act, which was introduced in the last legislative session, but not adopted will again be intro duced in January, Carter said. A coalition o f legislators and leaders from around the state are organizing in sup port o f this measure. Draft copies o f the bill Rep. Margaret Carter, D-Portland. is available through Carter’s office. “ I'd expect to get input on this legisla tion from those working on w om en's health and family issues within our community,” said Carter. “ If we need to add to these bills, now is the time to do it.” C arter can be reached at her Portland legislative office at 282-1585. F r e d ^ e y e r T r u c k s O r S a n t a ’s S l e i g h ? fred Meyer trucks are likely to be mistaken for Santa's sleigh as they once again deliver their loads o f Christmas cargo to Salvation Army Centers across 6 states. fred Meyer trucks will be delivering over $700,000 worth o f food, toys, housewares and apparel products to 21 Salvation Army Centers in Oregon, Washington. Idaho, Utah. California and Alaska this holiday season. Food Drive To Help Portland’s Hungry ill our foyer with food,” invited gomery. Monday through Friday from 9 a m Palmer Pardington, coord to 5 p.m. Contributions o f non-perishable inator of the Holiday Food grocery items to feed the hungry will be Drive sponsored by the Portland State distributed through the Northeast Emergen University Campus Ministry. “In doing cy Food Program, a program o f Ecumenical so, you'll help fill our empty cabinets,” M inistries o f Oregon. says Cynthia Hall, program assistant. Pardington hopes the lobby o f the min F The food collection takes place through Dec 16 at the ministry at 633 S W Mont- istry will overflow with such canned goods as chili, tuna, fruit and vegetables Also needed are cereals, pasta and large and medium diapers. Storable fresh vegetables such as potatoes and onions are also welcome. It s an especially good time to give unto others as you would have them give unto you,” he said. The Northeast Emergency Food Pro gram will serves 5-10 families per day at the beginning o f December, but more than 25 families per day at the m onth's end. Hall said demand is high. ' ' - í .'A j »nA-' * . “W e've seen an increase in client refer rals but a decrease in contributions,” he said. “For Thanksgiving we received only 16 tur keys, usually we have enough for everyone. But I think charitable organizations are hurt ing all around the city this year, for some reason." 1 he northeast program has been in exist ence for six years. For more information contact Hall at 284-5470.