Committed to Cultural Diversity
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A pril 13. 2005
www.portlandobserver.com
Incredible Finish
M etro
Woods wins fourth M asters
^Jorttanh (Observer
C
D ni m u n i t y
a l e n cl a r
Whole Foods Nutrition
Joyce Y oung will discuss how
to eat for healthy m ind, body
and spirit, and teach how to
prepare easy nutritious foods
in an efficient way on M on­
day, A pril 18 at 7 p.m. at the
New Seasons M arket, 5320
N.E. 33"* Ave. Call 503-288-3838
for more inform ation.
Approaches to Menopause
Health expert Tori Hudson will
share her opinions on increas­
ing your libido during meno­
pause and relieving yourself of
hot flashes and sleepless nights
during a seminar on Tuesday,
April 19 at 7 p.m. at the New
Seasons Market on 1954 S.E.
Division. To reserve a space call
503-445-2888
Clean Up Your ‘Hood
Earth Day is on Saturday, April
23 and the north Portland com­
munity will hit the streets for liter
and illegal dumpsite pick-ups.
The St. John Lutheran Church,
4227 N. Lombard, will have space
to collect unwanted items. Come
and volunteer and do your share.
For more information please con­
tact Mary Jaron Kelly at North
Portland N eighborhood ser­
v ic e s,
5 0 3 -8 2 3 -4 0 9 9
or
mkelley@ci.portland.or.us
Be a Hospice Volunteer
Providence Hospital offers free
training for volunteers at least
18 years old who can commit
four hours a week for a year. Pre-
registration is required. For more
information or to get an applica­
tion packet please call Cynthia
Cohen, volunteer coordinator at
503-215-5774
Women Mentors
Women in Community Service
is seeking volunteer mentors for
female offenders at Coffee Creek
Correctional Facility. Mentors
provide support and encourage­
ment to women transitioning
from prison back into the com ­
munity. Mentors must be female,
24orolder. Training isprovided.
Call 503-570-6614for more infor­
mation.
Children’s Museum
Portland Children’s Museum will
hold a variety of art activities for
children throughout the month,
including mediums using mo­
saic, African arts and culture
and garden stepping stones. For
more information, call 503-223-
6 5 0 0 o r v is it th e w eb at
www.ptirtlandchildrcnsmuseiun.oQ;.
Get Fit, Stay Healthy!
Dominic Abaria (from left), Lorien Peterson and Becky Miller of the Concordia's A Capella Chorus belt out ‘Smooth Operator' during ceremonies marking the
university s 100 years of education.
photos bv N icole H ooper /T he P ortland O bserver
Concordia
Turns
Northeast campus
offers services to
local community
by N icole H ooper
T he P ortland O bserver
All the classrooms at Concordia Univer­
sity were empty April 5 to celebrate the
northeast Portland school’s 100,h birthday.
The teachers, faculty and students left
their desks and dispersed into the neighbor­
hood. No boring speeches, fancy banquets
or corporate “pats on the back.” Instead, the
Concordia campus community spent their
day giving.
“The goal was to celebrate our birthday
by serving the com m unity,” said Jen
Rondema, community outreach coordina­
tor.
Over 200 students, faculty and staff did
two-hour projects with non-profit organiza-
tions like the Oregon Food Bank, as well as
neighborhood groups. Something as simple
as mowing a lawn can help bring campus and
community together. Neighbors can request
services from the students and often utilize
this resource if they are elderly.
A business administration major at the
college, Hirav Dave helped the celebration
by designing a flier and making a marketing
plan — a “real world” experience that he
hopes will prepare him for his career.
Dave, 20, is the founder of a campus
organization called H.O.P.E (Helping Other
People Everyday). Heisfrom Houston,Texas
and came to Concordia because of the O r­
egon climate and because of the smaller
classes.
“I want to be a name rather than a num­
ber,” he said.
CU ’s mission is to “prepare leaders for the
transformation of society.”
Andrea Bruno, the college’s director of
continued
on page B5
Woman Urges Black Stamp Use
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
King Jr. Blvd. For more informa­
tion, call 503-285-2484.
Heritage stamps series alive and well
by N icole H ooper
T he P ortland O bserver
AIDS Awareness
A lbina M inisterial A lliance
sponsors a bi-monthly support
and education group for African
Americans living with HIV/
AIDS at Maranatha Church at
4222 N.E. 12th St. The group will
meet every second and fourth
Thursday of the month. For more
in fo rm a tio n , call E ln a th a n
Hudson at 503-285-0493 ext. 217.
Women in NAACP meets from
10:30a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Sat­
urday o f each month at the
American Red Cross Building,
3131 N. Vancouver. For ques­
tions, call 503-249-6263.
Birth Ready
♦
Roberta Jean Ramzy is proud of the Black
Heritage stamps she uses to mail her letters
and correspondence. She encourages oth­
ers to use the stamps to help celebrate the
g re a t a c c o m p lis h ­
ments of so many Af­
rican Americans.
Soit was with great
shock when she re­
cently got a forwarded
an email titled: U.S.
Post office to Destroy
A fr ic a n - A m e ric a n
Stamps.
T he
docum ent
claimed the Postal Service was not only
discontinuing the Black Heritage stamps
bu, planned to destroy the ones that were
not sold by March 30.
Like all commemorative stamps, the Black
Heritage stamps generally remain on sale
for a year, or as long as supplies last. This
series, which started in 1978, has made
stamps of many famous and literary figures
in history. In February, the post office hon­
ored singer Marian Anderson with the 28th
stamp in the Black Heritage series.
The USPS says the word on the series’
demise was flat out wrong.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,"
said David Failor. director of stamp ser­
vices for the post office. He said the rumor
seems to recur every year; right after the
latest stamp in the series is issued.
The Postal Service responded to the con­
cerns of Ramzy and others with the follow ­
ing statement on its website:
“ A recent Internet rum or saying the
Postal Service ^ d is c o n ­
tinuing the Black H eri­
tage series is another one
o f those untrue yarns
that the Internet is som e­
times famous for, as is
the rumor that the Postal
Service is destroying
current Black Heritage
series stam ps."
T he w e b s ite a lso
stated, “Black Heritage stamp series is one
of our most popular. We have no plans
w hatsoever to discontinue it. The Postal
Service remains as strongly com m itted to
honoring the historical achievem ents and
contributions o f African A m ericans on
stamps as w e’ve always been. And we are
proud to offer the latest stamp in the series
honoring the great civil rights advocate
and Suprem e C ourt Justice. Thurgood
Marshall."
Failor said the Black Heritage series is a
main component of the Postal Service’s
annual stamp program.
“W e’re already looking forward to a n ­
nouncing next y ear's honoree this fall,” he
said.
The USPS says
the word on the
series ’ demise was
flat out wrong.
Women In NAACP
W hether you need childbirth
preparation classes, or just a
refresher. Providence Health
Systems has a workshop for you.
Prepare for pain, take a weekend
seminar or prepare big sisters
and brothers-to-be throughout
the su m m e r by v isitin g
www.providence.org/classesor
call 503-574-6595.
Concordia University students enjoy a community picnic on the 10Cfh birthday of
the northeast Portland school.
photo bv
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Portland resident Roberta Jean Ramzy proudly holds some of the Black Heritage
stamps she received from the U.S. Postal Service.
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