ANU ARY 6. 1999
Committed to cultural diversity. http://www.portlaiKlobserver.net
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Historic Albina Landmark Threatened
~ Cleo-Lillian Social Club
Project Linkage
ers, and community. The major goal of this
plan is to improve our community image
while maintaining a healthy business. In
lieu of finding a suitable site to relocate,
Cleo’s proposes the following renovation
and operating upgrades at the current loca­
tion. The renovation will be conducted in
three (3) major phases:
Phase One - Change In Format
Can you volunteer about 4 hours a
month to help elderly residents in the
Northeast Portland com m unity? If so,
Project Linkage needs your help. We
are looking for people to drive elders
to doctor appointm ents, the grocery
store, and social outings. D rivers
must be 25 years o f age and have a
good driving record. We also have
other volunteer opportunities such
as minor home m aintenance, plum b­
ing, and yard debris clean-up. Call
2 4 9 -0 4 7 1 .
Swap Meet
The P o rtlan d M acin to sh U sers
Group will hold its annual Swap Meet
on M onday, January 11 at the N orth­
west Neighborhood C ultural Center
1819 NW Everett) at 6:45 PM. The
swap meet will feature new and used
M acintosh com puter-related item s
for trade or sale. Anyone interested
in renting a table space for $ 10 should
contact Jeffrey Thorns at 285-9563.
Adm ission is free and open to the
public.
■»
NW Natural Celebration
D o w n to w n P o rtla n d w ill be
sw ingin’ on Thursday, January 7 as
NW Natural kicks o ff its 140th birth­
day with a sum m er-like barbecue in
P ortland’s “Living Room ,” Pioneer
Courthouse Square. The public is in­
vited to enjoy free hot chili, hot dogs
and birthday cake from 11 AM - 2
PM. The festive live-m usic party is
the first o f many events celebrating
NW N atural’s 140 years o f business
in Portland.
Parenting Series
A T eacher’s Space will be holding
a four-part workshop based on the
book Taking Charge: A Parent and
Teacher Guide to Loving Discipline.
Participants can take any individual
session or the series as a whole. The
first session will be on January 11,
from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. A T eacher’
Space is located at 2755 NE Broad­
way. Call 288-3577.
Chamber Orchestra
A fter a national search, the Rose
City Cham ber O rchestra is pleased
to present visiting conductor Dr. Eric
K ujaw sky, M usic D irector o f the
Redwood Symphony. Dr. Kujawsky
has shocked audiences with his bold
in te rp re ta tio n o f c lassica l m usic.
Com e ex p erien ce this excitem ent
with the Rose City Cham ber O rches­
tra on Sunday, January 17 at 3 PM at
the Peace L utheran Church (2201
North Portland B lv d ).
Free Clinics
Attend one o f the free introduc­
tory clinics at the Oregon College of
Oriental M edicine (OCOM) and learn
how acupuncture can help you keep
your resolution to stop smoking. The
Saturday morning clinics will be on
January 9 - 16, from 9-10:30 Am at
the Oregon College o f Oriental M edi­
cine (10525 SE Cherry Blossom Dr.).
The free Saturday clinics this Janu
ary are part o f the com m unity educa
tion program o f the Oregon College
o f O riental M edicine. Call 503/253-
3443 ext.208.
B y C leo -L iluan S ocial C lub B oard of
D irectors
We are outreaching to the community
for support, technical assistance, and sweat
equity.
After numerous efforts, meetings and
plans: Cleo’s needs to make the commu­
nity awaie of the one sided effort to co­
exist in a neighborhood with “new neigh­
bors” that have no desire to be neighbors.
In short, C leo ’s is a victim o f
gentrification of the neighborhood in which
it resides. Part o f the strategy o f
gentrification is to take over key commer­
cial properties. The building which is home
to Cleo’s is considered a key commercial
property in the area.
Historical Summary
Cleo’s has been operating in its present
location since January 1958 and is the
second oldest African American locally
operated social club in the state of Oregon.
Donating to various charitable organiza­
tions, Cleo’s has always been a positive
member of the community. Recognizing
the need for affordable housing and dem­
onstrating his commitment to the commu­
nity, Louis Browning, past manager and
property owner, sold land to HOST (Com­
munity Development Corporation) for a
housing project designated to low/moder-
ate income families at below market rate.
We continue to work with various local,
1. Relocate to a non-residential neighbor­
hood.
2. Operate in the present location, prima­
rily as a restaurant
3. Operate in the present location as a
private club with an effective security to
keep the level of noise acceptable to the
neighbors.
4. Make no operational changes; ask for
administrative hearing.
5. Dissolve/cease operation.
Plan
Since there are few venues for African
Americans to socialize in Portland, the man­
agement feel a responsibility to make what­
ever changes necessary to maintain the vi­
ability of the establishment and preserve the
richness o f our culture.
It is our goal to be a good neighbor while
maintaining a good quality cultural and so­
cial environment for our members, support-
< oui in u n it\
( a tc u d .il it i i n i m a l ion " i l l I" ' if i 'c l l
Kevin Fuller
| "The ultimate measure o f a man is
not where he stands in moments o f
comfort and convenience, but where
he stands at time o f challenge and
ites of Passage programs have
been a tradition in communities
c h a n g e s as sig n s th a t m an h o o d h as
throughout the world for centu­
ries upon centuries, marking the transition
been reached.
I n s t e a d , th e B r id g e B u i ld e r s
from childhood to adulthood.
R ite s o f P a s s a g e P ro g ra m s e e k s
A ro u n d the g lo b e , in tra d itio n a l
to g u id e y o u n g m en in th e ir u n d e r ­
and c o n te m p o ra ry c u ltu r e s , com -
s ta n d in g o f w ho th e y a re , w h at re a l
in g - o f - a g e c e r e m o n ie s h a v e i n ­
m an h o o d is and w h a t th ey m u st to
c lu d e d t r i a l s to t e s t a y o u t h 's
do to b ec o m e m en.
p h y s ic a l and m en tal fo r titu d e b e ­
It a ls o h e lp s p re p a re th em by
fo re he is in itia te d in to th e realm
g
iv
in g th e y o u n g m en a c le a r e r
o f a d u lth o o d .
v
iew
o f w h at a m a n ’s o b lig a tio n s
B ut o fte n in th e U n ite d S ta te s
are so m e th in g we h o p e th e y w ill
to d a y , ag e alo n e d e te r m in e s su ch
c a r r y f o r w a rd th r o u g h o u t t h e i r
a d is tin c tio n , w ith o u t any d e m o n ­
lif e t i m e s .
s t r a t i o n th a t e x p e c t a t i o n s h a v e
And once t h e y ’ve c o m p le te d th e
b een m et o r w ith o u t p re p a ra tio n
p ro g ra m , th e y a re in itia te d in to
th a t c h a lle n g e s can be fa c e d in
th e fr a te rn a l w o rld , to h a n d le b o th
the fu tu re .
th e a c c o m p a n y in g rig h ts and r e ­
E s p e c ia lly w ith A fr ic a n -A m e ri­
s p o n s i b il i t i e s .
can m a le s , y oung p e o p le s o m e ­
T o d a y , we are in a s ta te o f em e r-
tim e s c o n fu s e p h y s ic a l m a tu rity ,
g
e
n c y and b e lie v e it is tim e to
b ra w n an d o th e r t e m p o ra ry
R
Tubbs Snowshoe company is col­
laborating with Recreational Equip
ment Inc. (REI) and M errell shoe
company to provide a day for the pub
lie to try out the fast-growing sport
o f snowshoeing The free event will
be held on Saturday, January 16, from
9 AM to 3 PM at White River West
Sno-park, on Highway 25, four miles
east o f Governm ent Camp Call 624
8600 or 283-1300.____________ __
p r illi ils il (la tid I " " m i L \
In In i i l i l t i" t u l (lait .
(across the river).
OLCC has issued a “Notice of Violation”
(ticket), Grounds for cancellation or sus­
pension of license or imposition of civil
penalty. “Neighborhood Livability.”
In light of possible cancellation of the
liquor license, Cleo’s has outlined five pos­
sible scenarios to be accomplished by May
31, 1999:
R ites o f Passage
Snowshoe
Demonstration
SI l t \ l l s s | ( ) \ s
state, and federal government agencies to
sustain the livability of the neighborhood in
which we now reside.
Cleo’s is best known for a good drink and
better soul food. It is the last club from the
fabulous ‘50’s, 60’s and ‘70 s when African
Americans owned and operated night clubs
throughout the Albina community.
As a result of the “new neighbors”, Cleo’s
has experienced an increase in complaints
about noise from our members and guests
leaving the club (loud talking, car stereo’s,
etc..). Cleo’s has begun educating patrons
on Oregon Liquor Control Commission
(OLCC) compliance issues. These issues
are posted and have become part of the
membership package and application.
During 1996, Cleo’s sought a permanent
solution to neighborhood and membership
concerns by attempting to relocate within
North/Northeast Portland Due to the lack
of affordable property in non-residential
locations, a suitable site was not found.
During a recent Elliot Neighborhood As­
sociation Land Use Committee meeting, a
former member admitted that she moved
into the neighborhood knowing that Cleo’s
was there and with a legal background, knew
of laws on the books that could close it. She
organized neighbors to complain about the
club. Now that she has successfully placed
Cleo’s in danger of closing; her family has
now moved into another neighborhood
Change to Jazz and Blues format - this
will attract and maintain a mature member­
ship who value and respect neighborhood
livability. Improve community image by
developing into a positive social establish­
ment.
To successfully implement “phase one '
meeting tools (i.e.: overhead projector,
white board, etc.) and games must be pur­
chased and advertised for use during busi­
ness hours.
Open restaurant to general public - Spe­
cializing in “soul food” cuisine in a non­
smoking, non-alcoholic family environ­
ment
We invite you to visit Cleo’s and we
welcome your support by:
Letters o f Support to: OLCC
P. O. Box 22297
Mibvauke, Or 97269
City o f Portland, Oregon Bureau o f
Licenses
1900 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 40
Portland, OR 97201
Cleo-Liliian Social Club
3041 N. Williams Avenue
Portland. OR 97227
(503) 284-7150
e-mail: xav@hevanet.com
We ask that you send CL Vs a copy of
any letter sent OLCC or City of Portland.
These letters of support are needed for
possible City Council Hearing and OLCC
Hearing.
Financial Support: Donations are
needed and investment opportunities are
available.
Volunteer Opportunities: Attend Hear­
ings, buy membership @ $25.OO/year, serve
on Advisory Committee, participate in
work parties and/or become a Noise Moni­
tor.
COW frOVC/SJ
Martin Luther King Jr.
m ove to “ H ig h e r G ro u n d .” C itiz e n s
a c ro s s th e c o u n try are v o tin g to
g et rid o f A ff irm a tiv e A c tio n p ro ­
g ra m s , and n e a rly 50 p e rc e n t o f
all 1 7 -y e a r-o ld m a le s are id e n t i ­
fie d as fu n c tio n a lly i llite r a te .
I f w e do n o t c r e a te a v illa g e to
p ro p e rly ra is e o u r y o u th , th e Ben
C a rs o n s . R e g g ie L ew ise s and C olin
P o w e lls in o u r c o m m u n ity m ay
n e v e r h av e an id e a l to c a p tu re .
M y g ra n d p a re n ts c h a lle n g e d me
lo n g a g o by a s k in g on a d a ily b a ­
s is , “ W h at d id y ou do to d a y to
m ake th e w o rld a b e tte r p la c e ? ”
S ee B r id g e B u il d e r s
P ortland F O C U S
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