Committed to Cultural Diversity
December II. 2002
www.portlandobscrvcr.com
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SECTION
This event is very valuable to the community. Art has a way o f bringing people together, ab
- Charles Jordan, Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center founder
Adopt a Pet
T he O regon H um ane Society is
extending its outreach efforts to
several area pet stores this month.
H elp the H um ane Society bring
hom eless pets into the com m u
nity, call 503-285-7722, extension
204 form ore inform ation.
Community Energy Project
18 free w orkshops on w eatheriza
tion, w ater conservation and lead
poisioning prevention will be held
at various locations in north and
northeast Portland to give resi
dents ideas on how to save m oney.
Stop by the C om m unity Energy
Project offices, 422 N.E. A lberta,
or call503-284-6827fortunes, dates
and locations.
Australian Feminism
Brenda H unter, guest speaker and
visitor from Greelog, is a long time
environm entalist, staunch sup
porter o f A boriginal rights and a
w orking m other. H ear her discuss
current cam paigns including the
fight for paid m aternity leave,
defense o f refugees, and the anti
w ar struggle, W ednesday, Dec.
11 at 7p.m. at the Bread and Roses
Center, 819 N. Killingsw orth.
Cascadia Information Day
The C ascadia M ental H ealth of
fice at the co m er o f N orth A lbina
and K illingsw orth is sponsoring
its First A nnual C om m unity In
formation Day from 1 p.m .to4p.m .
on Friday, Dec. 13. V arious com
m unity agencies w ill be passing
o ut inform ation as visitors enjoy
free food and free pictures w ith
Santa. F or m ore inform ation, call
503-283-3763.
Grlnch of the Year Party
Join Jobs with Justice for the Grinch
o f the Y ear Party at The Peace
House, 2116N.E. 18,h Ave., al7p.m.
on Saturday, Dec. 14. Attendees
will be able narrow down the final
ists w ho include the Portland Pub
lic Schools Board, George Bush,
Jim Frasier, Joseph M iniace, Russ
Danielson and Kenneth Lay. Ten
votes and a beverage are given for
each $10 ticket purchased. Chil
dren are free and no one will be
turned aw ay for lack o f funds.
Charles Jordan, director o f Portland Parks and Recreation and the founder o f the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center discusses the principles of Kwanzaa with IFCC
visitors during the opening reception fora new show featuring the artworks o f over 24 artists.
P hotos by D avid P i . echi / T he P ortland O bserver
W ME5
ALBV
African traditions inspire powerful art show
by D avid P i . echl
Run/Walkfor Arthritis
T he annual Jingle Bell Run/W alk
is a fun-filled fund-raiser fo r the
fight against arthritis. Free food,
entertainm ent, costum e contests,
and prize draw ings accom pany
an 8K run, 5K run and w alk, and a
K id’s F un R un on Saturday Dec.
14, dow ntow n at The W orld Trade
Center. T o register for the event,
call 800-283-3004.
Kennedy Christmas
‘Tis the season for holiday fun at
M cM enam ins K ennedy School.
C om e see T he D isciples in Song
on D ec.6,7,13,14,20 and21 from 7-
8p.m. for spirited holiday caroling
w ith a gospel twist. The concert is
free. K ennedy School also w el
com es tw o perform ances o f the
holiday classic, ‘M iracle on 34th
S t.’ Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30p.m .
and Saturday, Dec. 14,at2:30p.m .
C ost is $3.
Winter Wonderland Lights
Enjoy the N orthw est’s biggest
light show from the comfort o f your
own car at the Thriftway W inter
W onderland light show this year
at the Portland International Race
way through Jan. 1. The show
features 40 fully animated display
scenes, 25 vehicle drive-through
arches and 12 themed display ar
eas. The racew ay is open Sunday
through Thursday from 5 p. m. to 10
p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights
until 11 p.m. For more information,
call503-821-4342.
One of many
Kwanzaa inspired
artworks on display
at the Interstate
Firehouse Cultural
Center.
Viewers browse the Kwanzaa gallery at the IFCC. The show will
run Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the
month, concluding on Dec. 31 with a Kuumba celebration.
T hf . P ortland O bserver
A vibrant holiday show alive w ith color, texture
and em o tio n is now sh o w in g at the Interstate
Firehouse C ultural C enter in north P ortland as a way
o f celebrating and honoring the seven principals o f
Kwanzaa.
The event runs through D ecem ber and features
over tw o dozen artists w ho have com bined co ntem
porary design w ith tribal and spiritual passions.
D irector o f Portland Parks and R ecreation and the
founder o f IFCC C harles Jordan, w elcom ed the artists
and all w ho cam e to view the stunning collection at
an opening reception last T hursday.
“T his event is very valuable to the com m unity,”
Jordan said. “A rt has a w ay o f bringing people
together.”
M any o f the artists w ere on hand to talk about their
w orks and visit w ith the public.
Silas Clark is showing acrylic paintings on canvas that
meld principalsof m odem innercity life with tribal ritual.
Clark, w ho is also a rapper, said the w orks reflect his
inner life m ade tangible in com plim enting blues, o r
anges, greens and reds.
“Spiritual things are the m ost im portant elem ents in
my life,” Clark said.
Local artist Sylvia W elch brings m ud-cloth and
earth toned textiles to life with her em otionally m oving,
handcrafted tapestries.
Her work represents the Kwanzaa principal o f Kumba,
or creativity. W elch cherishes her chance to be part o f
K w anzaa in an artistic way. She believes the festival is
im portant to both young and old.
“W e kind o f forgot our history," she said, “K w anzaa
helps us rem em ber.”
continued
on page B2
Local Legislators Entertainment for Everyone
Bookies brings character and panache to sports bar
to Host Town Hall
by
State R epresentatives Jackie D ingfelder and Steve M arch and
State Senator A vel G ordly are planning a tow n hall m eeting to update
the northeast P ortland com m unity on issues facing the 2003 L egis
lature.
T he event w ill be held S aturday,Jan. 11 fro m lO a.m . to noon at the
H ollyw ood Senior C enter, located at 1820 N.E. 4O'hAve.
“O regon is facing a $1.4 billion shortfall, school funding u ncer
tainty, continued high unem ploym ent, and the highest rate o f hunger
in the nation," said Rep. D ingfelder. “I w ant to keep our com m unity
inform ed on these and other issues, as w ell as seek citizen input.”
“T his tow n hall will be a great opportunity for anyone w ho has
questions or concerns th ey ’d like to raise w ith th eir elected officials,
including the upcom ing vote on the tem porary tax increase " said Rep.
M arch. “W e are here to serve the com m unity.”
Sen. G ordly added that there w ould be inform ation available on
getting and staying involved in the legislative process.
“Please com e out and bring a neighbor o r tw o along,” she said.
“O regon needs its citizens engaged in problem solving m ore than at
any other tim e in our history."
D avid P i . echl
T he P ortland O bserver
“T a k e a s e a t.” “ M a k e y o u r s e lf at
h o m e ." “ W o u ld y o u lik e a b e v e ra g e
fro m th e b a r? " A w e lc o m e is w h a t y o u
g e t at B o o k ie s S p o rts B a r a n d L o u n g e ,
a m u ltic u ltu ra l v e n u e th a t h a s fo u n d a
n ic h e a f te r ju s t 9 m o n th s in b u s in e s s .
C e n te re d
a t th e i n t e r s e c t i o n
of
L o m b a rd an d A lb in a th is n o t- s o - little
s p o rts b a r an d e n te r ta in m e n t lo u n g e is
a ttra c tin g a h a p p y c lie n te le e a g e r to
ta k e a sip fro m th e ir fa v o rite d rin k a n d
k ic k b a c k to so m e h o p p in g liv e m u s ic
Bookies Sports Bar, on the corner o f North Albina and
Lombard, offers a full bar and entertainment lounge.
photo by D avid P i . f . chi 7 thf . P ortland observer
e v e ry F rid a y a n d S a tu rd a y n ig h ts .
continued
yf
on page B2