Committed to Cultural Diversity
The Greatest Show is Here
M etro
Ringmaster Kevin Venardos and circus
diva Danette Sheppard usher in Ringling
Bros. And Barnum & Baily Circus.
il!C JJnrtlanb © hseruer
See Focus, page B3, inside
section
Rummage Sale and BBQ
W alkerTetnple will host a rum
mage sale and barbeque lun
cheon on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. at 5023 N. Michigan Ave.
The com m unity is encouraged
to attend. For more information,
call 503-287-7232.
Reclaiming
G
Restored privileges
follow time served
Your Vote
AIDS Walk 2004
Helpsave lives by participating in
AIDSWa!kO4 on Sunday, Sept.
26, presented by Nike. This 5k
event starts at 8:30a.m. at Pioneer
Courthouse Square and ends at
the same location. Activities run
through noon. For more informa
tion, call 503-223-9255.
Gallery of Visual Arts
View art from talented local art
ists of all ages throughout the
month of August at the Inter
state Firehouse Cultural Center;
5340 N. Interstate Ave., from 9
a.m .-6 p .m ..free.
Alberta Farm Market
M arketing healthy, affordable,
high quality food, the Alberta
Cooperative Grocery offers sea
sonal produce from local grow
ers, ready-to-eat food and weekly
entertainment. Open from 10a.m.
to 2 p.m. daily, located on 15(X)
N.E. Alberta St. For more infor
mation,call 503-287-4333.
Experience Cultural on
Alberta
Com e to A lberta Street and dis
cover a thriving urban com m u
nity at the annual community
fairon Sept. 18 for an outpouring
o f street spirit, with a parade,
music, food and a dazzling dis
play o f arts and crafts. Learn
more at www.artonalberta.org.
Get Fit, Stay Healthy!
Sankofaa Health Institute offers
a free diabetes support group
from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every third
Thursday at Alberta Simmons
Plaza. 6707 N.E. Martin Luther
KingJr. Blvd. For more informa
tion, call 503-285-2484.
VOICE program organizer Cassandra Villanueva (left) and David Dean, a volunteer, celebrates his right to vote by registering for the approaching
general presidential election and urging others to do the same.
by J ohanna S. K ing
Oregonians leaving the criminal
T he P ortland O bserv f . r
justice system need to know that
Most people upon release from they can vote, said C assandra
a state institution are pounded with Villanueva, staff coordinatorof the
information regarding the things Western Prison Project, a seven
they cannot do. The VOICE Project state organization dedicated to
(Voter Organizing for Increased criminal justice reform.
Civic Engagement) is sending ex
She said voting is one avenue
offenders a proactive message on for these individuals to make a dif
their renewed civic duty, the com ference and reconnect to their local
mitment to register and vote.
communities.
In Oregon, voting rights fo rex -
felons are automatically restored
upon release from confinement or
com pletion o f parole. although not
every state is as generous concern
ing its civic freedoms to citizens.
Other states in the West Coast re
gion that also allow ex-felon's the
right to vote include W ashington,
Utah. Idaho and Montana.
Making it a vital point to inform
formally incarcerated individuals of
their right to register and vote is the
backbone of The VOICE Project.
"W e are sponsoring major out
reach efforts to educate as many ex
offenders as possible about their
right to vote and register those who
wish to vote,” said Villanueva.
"Unfortunately, many people out
there are not aware o f this right.
T h at's where we com e in at, to
Home Improvement
The largest show if its kind on
the West Coast featuring the
latest trends, the newest prod
ucts and expert advice for re
modeling. new construction and
home improvement ¡scorning to
the City o f Roses Sept. 23 - 26 at
the Oregon Convention Center.
Visit www.remtxlelshow.com for
ticket information.
Ginny McCarthy helps oversee the re-development o f the old
Shriner's Hospital grounds on Northeast 82nd and Sandy .
A free information meeting for
prospective adoptive parents is
held the third W ednesday of
every month from 7 to 8 :3 0 p.m.
at Belmont Public Library, 1038
S.E. 39,h Ave. For more informa
tion, call 503-226-4870 or visit
www.openadopt.com .
Creative Space For Dance
to Fill Housing Need
Work For Change
The Com munity Energy Project
holds free workshops on water
conservation and w eatheriza
tion. For more information, call
503-2844962.
Aquatic Fitness
Providence has a full schedule
of fitness classes including w a
ter exercising at the Providence
Aquat ic C enter. 48( )5 N.E. Gl isan.
Fora schedule, call 503-215-6301.
on page B4
Victims o f
Violence
Honored
T h ey w ere b oth v ictim s u n
e x p e c t e d l y c a u g h t in th e
c ro ssfire o f v io len ce. G u n sh o t
w o u n d s in n o c e n tly to o k th e
liv es o f n o rth ea st P o rtlan d re s i
d en ts A sia “ B ell" Ja m es an d
Isaiah S trick lan d .
N eith er o f th ese tw o in d i
v id u a ls had any reaso n to be
k illed nor an y in v o lv e m e n t in
the p ain fu l ac ts o f v io len ce that
w e re m is ta k e n ly ta rg e te d at
th em .
Corner
Aurora dance studio, 5433 N.E.
30th ( & Ki I lings worth ). offers an
array of classes for children,
teens and adults at all levels of
ability. Call 503-249-0201 or visit
online at w w w .hevanet.com /
auroradance for additional in
formation.
Home Improvement
continued
Community to
march on
Saturday, Sept. 11
Choose To Adopt
Com munity Advocates invites
those interested in protecting
children from abuse to become
an event volunteer, event out
re a c h . te c h n o lo g y e x p e rt,
graphic artists or office support
team member. For more informa
tion, call 503-280-1388.
inform the uninformed.”
As the Nov. 2 General Election
draws nearer, theorganization’sef-
forts to educate the public is grow
ing more intense. Resources such
as brochures and posters are being
sent to parole and probation of
fices, social service agencies and
many groups are also conducting
Construction begins on grounds of Old Shriner’s Hospital
by J aym ee R.
C trl
A historic location along Sandy Boulevard
finds new use as construction begins for a
muitigenerational. affordable housing com
munity.
The landscape on the com er of Sandy
Boulevard and Northeast 82"'1 Avenue has
changed. The Shriner's Hospital adjacent to
the Grotto has been replaced by a construc
tion site, the future location of Columbia Knoll,
a major housing com munity for moderate-
income residents and seniors.
"T his is such a positive thing for that
area, said Ginny Me C arthy. a spokeswoman
for the project. “ For one thing, it's going
to be providing more housing options and
a new environm ent with beautiful grounds."
G round broke in July for a senior facility
know n as H eights at C olum bia Knoll. The
interactive, affordable senior housing com -
* / see situations where
residents in the senior
building will teach
crocheting, story telling,
and reading to the kids.
- Ginny Me Carthy
m unity is designed for 208 one and tw o
bedroom apartm ents.
A multi-family residence known as The
Terrace at Columbia Knoll adds 118 one. two
and three bedroom apartments. An on-site day
care center for resident families and em ploy
ees' children sets this project apart from other
development.
A lsouniquetoC olum bia Knoll isthe oppor
tunity for in ter-g en eratio n al in teractio n .
McCarthy explained.
"I see situations where residents in the
se n io r b u ild in g w ill te ac h c ro c h e tin g ,
storytelling, and reading tothe kids. I think that
as a real plus." she said.
McCarthy says she plans for the dem o
graphic of the housing community to reflect the
surrounding population.
continued
on page 114
In h o n o r and rem e m b ran c e
o f Jam es, S tric k la n d an d all v ic
tim s o f v io len ce. A llen T em p le
C h u rch M in istries is h o stin g a
se rie s o f c o m m u n ity a c tiv itie s
on S atu rd ay . Sept. 11 to h elp
put an end to gun v io len ce.
T h e day w ill b egin at 10 a.m .
w ith a m arch titled ; S en se less
V io len ce L ead s to S ilen c e s ta rt
ing from the north side o f Irv
ing P ark . 7 0 7 N .E . F re m o n t
S t., a n d e n d in g at A lb e r ta
P a rk o n N o rth e a s t 2 0 th an d
K illin g sw o rth .
A park e v e n t fo r kids d irec tly
fo llo w s from 11:30 a.m . to 6
p.m . w ith free hot d o g s, g am es,
and m usic p ro v id ed .
V o lu n te ers an d d o n a tio n s are
b ein g g rac io u sly accep ted . T o
help , call P asto r L ero y H ayes o f
A llen T em p le C h u rch at 5 0 3 -
2 8 7 -0 2 6 1 .
I