Volume X X IX , Number 12
Com m inai to cultural diversity.
MARCH 24,1999
www.portlandobserver.net
Gospel Pioneer,
Edwin Hawkins, Revamps
"Oh! Happy Day" For
New Millennium
41 st Ebony
Fashion Fair
"Fashion to Love"
See Page B2
See Focus
BI EK RATE
I ,S. POSTAGE
PAID
PORTEAME OR
PERMIT \O .
161(1
University o f Oregon
Knight Library
Nike's New Outlet Store
Palestinian Statehood
Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader,
is nearing the final day to declare a state
by May 4. Under an Oslo peace agree­
ment with Israel, that is the day when a
five-year transitional period o f sel f-rule
ends. Arafat has been pressured to post­
pone statehood from officials in America,
Europe, Jordan and Egypt as well. The
Palestinian leader may delay only until
a new Israeli prime minister is installed
who would reestablish peace negotia­
tions with him.
Russian Prime Minister
Yevgeny Primakov. R ussia's prime
m inister will be facing an important
challenge o f winning several billion
dollars in credits from a skeptical Inter­
national M onetary Fund. His mission
is to gain world market respectability
and restructure R ussia's huge foreign
debt. Primakov was installed as prime
m inister at a time when the ruble had
crashed, inflation was soaring and har­
vest was a bust.
Cable Merger
Comcast Corporation and Mediaone
are preparing a $53 billion merger that
w ould create the third-largest cable
television company in the nation. They
are the only two industries that have
communication cables that pass almost
every house and business in the coun­
try. Consumers to both companies will
not see any increase in their rates as a
result o f the merger. The government
will be deregulating the cable industry
this year. Both companies are taking
advantage o f this by trying to entice
customers with new, advanced data
and phone service.
‘Shakespeare In Love’
The movie, “Shakespeare In Love”
was selected as best picture this year
by the Academy Awards committee.
Promoters o f “Shakespeare In Love"
re c e iv e d h a rsh c ritic is m from
Spielberg's Dreamworks company for
spending millions o f dollars on adver­
tising the film in numerous Hollywood
tra d e p a p e rs and n e w sp a p e rs.
Spielberg received the O scar for best
director for “Saving Private Ryan” , the
favored winner for best movie
L ee P erleman
The Lampus family, which has owned the
ike is moving closer to building a new
property
for decades, will continue to do so.
outlet store on Northeast Martin
accordingto
representative Jim Lampus. Nike
Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The ath­
would
rent
the
space on a ten-year lease, with
letic shoe and apparel company is undergo­
an
option
for
renewal.
Nike and the Lampus
ing city design review fora new 18.000 square
family have agreed to the proposal in prin­
foot building on the west end o f the “Lampus
ciple, but have yet to formally sign an agree­
Block." between Northeast Russell and Knott
ment. Lampus says.
streets. The one-acre site has been vacant
The proposed design was endorsed by
since a fire destroyed a warehouse there two
the Eliot Neighborhood A ssociation land
years ago. It is four blocks south ot N ike's
use committee last week, in part because o f
existing 10.000 square foot store at 3044 N.E.
changes Nike made in response to con­
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
N
cerns voiced at an earlier meeting. To en­
courage pedestrian useage and pedestrian
safety the brick structure will have its only
entrance on M LK. There w ill be extensive
windows along the boulevard, as well as
along Knott Street and the south side o f
the structure, the path from the parking lot
to the front door.
The parking lot. part of which will front
on the boulevard, was the most contentious
issue for Eliot. Several residents said that the
street already had too many parking lots on it.
and suggested a “false wall or some other
device to screen the cars.
Others said that if the lot were obscured
from sight, it might become a scene for
illegal activity. Nike is proposing exten­
sive but low landscaping, plus five brick
and metal colum ns that will provide seat­
ing, lighting and ram shelter. Nike rejected
a request that they recess their front door
to break the m onotony o f the front facade,
saying this would interfere too m uch with
their retail space.
Blazers Boys & Girls Club Gears Up For
Spring
teak
Balloon History
Dr. Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones
made history by flying nonstop around
the world within 20 days. Both men
c o m p leted the voyage w ith th e ir
Breitling Orbiter 3 by keeping an altitude
o f 36,000 feet and travelling about 130
miles an hour. Advanced computer
modeling and satellite weather readings
allowed ground controllers to track the
balloon continuously and calculate the
best altitude
Medical Marijuana
The long-awaitedCiovemment-com-
missioned report on marijuana was is­
sued recently. It was found that mari­
juana smoke was even more toxic than
tobacco smoke. Nonetheless, the inde­
pendent experts o f the report deter­
mined that the drug is effective for treat­
ing pain, nausea and the severe weight
loss associated with AIDS.
Linda W hite, Executive
Director, Blazers Boys A
Qlrls Club, goes over the
rules and activités for the
w eek w ith local area
participants.
I
>