Committed to Cultural Diversity
August 31, 2005
www.portlandobserver.com
M etro
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•Scommunity service
ommunity
a l e n d a r Duo featured
in music
Video Production
showcase
C
JR Productions and Filthy Rich
P roductions present th eir first
annual L abor Day celebration in
the honor o f the late Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. T his event
will be held Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to
6 p.m. at A lberta Park on N E 19lh
and A insw orth Streets. T he pro­
ducers will launch the new m usi­
cal and video com position cre­
ated in his honor and inspired by
his w orks entitled "Our H eav­
enly Brother."
Bones and Brew
T he Bones and Brew Festival has
m oved to the Pearl D istrict this
year, taking place on Saturday,
Sept. 10 from 12-8 p.m. and S un­
day, Sept. 11 from l2 -6 p .m .F o u r
city blocks will be filled with B BQ.
m usic, and local m icrobrew eries
and m icrodistilleries.
Breast Cancer Awareness
A breast cancer conference for
A frican-American fem ales will be
sponsored by the Z eta Phi Beta
Sorority, Pi A lpha Z eta C hapter
on Saturday, Sept. 3 from 11 -3
p.m . at the SEI C enter on 3920 N.
K erby A ve. Speakers from the
K om en Foundation, O H SU C an ­
ce r Institute and the A frican-
A m erican H ealth C oalition are
scheduled.
Loaves & Fishes Drivers
T he M eals-O n-W heels People is
seeking volunteer drivers to en ­
sure hom ebound seniors receive
healthy m eals and a bit o f c o m ­
panionship this Labor Day W eek­
end. For inform ation on how you
can help, contact C aroline Henry
a t503-988-6223 or988-5566.
Oregon State Fair
C om e celebrate the 140"' annual
event dow n in Salem now through
L abor D ay, Sept. 5. T he fair will
open at 11 a.m. Som e new high­
lights this year include a perfor­
m ance by Pepe and T he Bottle
B londes and LiveA rt!, w hich in­
cludes eclectic m usic, fine arts
and crafts, and a public art project.
Renters Rights Hotline
T he com m unity A lliance o f T en­
ant is looking for volunteers to
staff the R enters’ Rights Hotline.
T he m ajority o f callers are low-
incom e fam ilies. This hotline en ­
ables renters to save m oney, pro­
tect their rights and to prevent
hom elessness. V olunteer train­
ing is on Sept.24-25 during the
afternoon. N o experience is re ­
quired. For m ore inform ation,
contact Sarah Buckley at 503-
460-9702.
Native American Literature
N ative A m erican literature is cel­
ebrated at the C ollins G allery lo­
cated on the third floor at the
Central Library, 801 S.W. 10"'Ave
through Sept. 29.
by K atherine B lackmore
T he P ortland O bserver
R ight now , young hip-hop
duo D ynam ix are ju st trying to
m ake a nam e for them selves and
the city they live in. So far th ey ’ve
done w ell, opening for acts such
as E-40 and Bosko, with an album
release aim ed for early N ovem ­
ber.
C onsisting o f M ighty M ouse
and Rez, both 17, the Portland-
based group w ants to m ake their
home recognizable when it com es
to hip-hop.
“W e ’re trying to put Portland
on the industry m ap so every­
body can recognize it w ithout
asking any questions,’’ M ighty
M ouse said.
T h ey b o th sta rte d y o u n g ,
around the age o f 10, freestyling w ith hom e­
m ade lyrics and beats.
B eyond their com pelling stage presence,
w ith M ighty M o u se’s high energy and R ez’
DinnniK
Stays Local
With
Hip-Hop
Portland hip-hop group
Dynamix will perform
on Friday, Sept. 9 at
the Roseland Theatre
in conjunction with
Musicfest Northwest.
chill attitude, the group prides them selves
on their creative, intellectual lyrics.
T hey gather inspiration through rappers
with all kinds o f flavor, putting a positive
tw ist on personal issues that go along with
being teenager- including hanging out. home
life and politics.
A lthough perform ing can m ake M ighty
M ouse a little nervous at tim es, “the m inute
the beat starts you forget everything,” he
It looks like the Pier Park North Portland’s
P ier Park Pool in the St. Johns neighborhood
w ill serve future generations after all.
T he Portland City C ouncil has pledged to
com e up with the $70,000 to 80,000 to pay for
needed operating costs in its current budget
cycle.
T he outdoor pool had been scheduled to
close for good on Aug. 5 at the end o f its
sum m er season due to city budget cuts. The
reversal o f fortune cam e after intense objec­
tions from local residents. It m eans the pool
that has served St. Johns for decades will
continue to provide sum m er recreation for
kids and fam ilies next year.
T he council has also pledged to reverse
course and keep B uckm an Pool in southeast
P ortland and the M etropolitan Learning
C enter pool in northw est Portland in o p era­
tion. Buckm an, a year-round indoor pool,
w as closed this y ear because o f the need to
repair a leak.
T he support for pools by the council
c o m e s a f te r C ity C o m m is s io n e r D an
Saltzm an, w ho recently took o ver the Parks
and Recreation D epartm ent, pledged to look
for w ays not to close any o f the city ’s pools.
He drew the support o f M ayor Potter and
the other com m issioners.
C ity C om m issioner R andy L eonard said
that keeping pools and oth er parks facilities
open should be on par w ith the c ity 's co m ­
m itm ent to m aintaining fire stations and
police precincts.
PHOTO
by M ichael
L eighton /
T he P ortland
O bserver
Providence School Supplies Benefit 1,000 Kids
Red Cross Teaches Safety
T he N orth S tar B allroom , 635 N.
K illingsw orth C t., hosts begin­
ning drum m ing and G hanaian
rhythm classes. For m ore infor­
mation call 503-632-0411.
on page B3
Pier Park Pool in the St. Johns
neighborhood of north Portland
has been saved from the city
budget axe.
Kids on the Block uses the pow er
o f puppetry to help children un­
derstand and accept differences
in each other and to learn skills to
be safe and healthy. T he non­
profit group is recruiting volun­
teers to educate children in pub­
lic and private schools. E xten­
sive training isprovided. For more
in fo rm a tio n c o n ta c t L y n e tte
Jelink, Program D irector at 503-
736-3200 o r Lynette ft» pow erful-
puppetry. org.
African Drumming, Dance
continued
Saint Johns Neighborhood Saves Pool
Become a Puppeteer
T he A m erican Red C ross offers a
range o f safety classes for crisis
situations, from learning how to
baby sit to perform ing C PR . The
courses are intended for children
aged 8 through adult. For more
inform ation visit w w w .redcross-
pdx.org.
said. “ I alw ays like to see people get up and
on their feet. Rez fills my spots. It’s a good
balance.”
Providence Health System's Baruti Artharee (left) and Dave Underriner welcome a long line o f eager students waiting for free
school supplies at the Back to School Summer Jam at Vernon Elementary in northeast Portland.
TriMet Fares
Increase
Starting Thursday, Sept. 1 it w ill
cost a little more to ride buses, M AX
and the Portland Streetcar.
Most fares w ill increase 10 cents:
5 cents fo r in fla tio n and an addi-
tional 5 cents to help cover rising
diesel costs.
Like everyone who drives. T riM et
is coping w ith record-high fuel
prices. Transit o fficia ls say this is
I
O ne thousand local children are equipped
for the first day o f school thanks to Provi­
dence Health System . T he youngsters picked
up their bags o f free school supplies at the
recent 5lh Annual Back to S chool Sum m er
Jam . organized by Safe Place.
T his year the line o f eager students w ound
through the Vernon Elem entary School play­
ground as young people w aited for new
backpacks and basic schtw l supplies such
as pencils and notebooks.
Providence Portland M edical C enter A d­
m inistrator D ave U nderriner helped hand
ou, the supplies, saying “ P rovidence par­
ticipates in this annual ev en t because it
makes a difference for kids in o u r com m unity
and it gives them the tools they need to have
a chance to succeed in school. Providence is
pleased to be part o f this.”
Safe Place, w hich organizes the annual
Jam , is a faith-based, non-profit organization
that offers school tutoring, sum m er cam ps
and w eekly children and teen program s.
M ore than 1,200 people attended the
y ear’s afternoon o f free fixxl and fun in early
A ugust. C orporate Express also w as a m ajor
sponsor o f the school supply give-aw ay.
the main reason fo r the fares
going up.
Adjustments to service sched­
ules also begin Thursday for about
one-third o f T riM e t bus lines.