www. port landobserver. com
Decem ber 6. 20 0 6
Chinese, American
Cultures Merge
M etro
Multi-ethnic backgrounds
explored in ‘Seven Artists’
il’1 JJnrtlanh (Observer
»f»
4j) of
'community’ service
See Focus, page B3
SECTION
B
Soul-Stirring ‘Gospel Christmas’ Returns
Local choirs and
Oregon Symphony
continue tradition
The O regon S ym phony's perform ance
ot G ospel C hristm as will return for its
eighth year o f expressive, soul-stirring
C hristm as music in gospel style for three
7:30 p.m. show s this Friday, Saturday and
Sunday at the A rlene Schnitzer Concert
Hall.
The perform ances feature harm onies
and contem porary rhythm s o f the N orth­
w est G ospel Choir, a group o f m ore than
100 singers from m ore than 30 o f the Port­
land area’s gospel choirs.
C onductor and arranger C harles Floyd
will return to lead the Sym phony. A na­
tionally known conductor, Floyd has led
more than 500 orchestras since 1991, in­
cluding the San Francisco. Atlanta, and
H ou sto n S y m p h o n y O rc h e stra s. H is
eleven-year partnership with N atalieC ole
included the multiple Grammy Aw ard-w in­
ning tribute to Nat King C ole entitled
“ U nforgettable, With Love.” H isconduct-
ing appearances have included the annual
“G ospel N ight at Pops" at B oston's S ym ­
phony Hall and Esplanade Pavilion and a
PBS telecast o f “ Evening at Pops," featur­
ing Patti L aB elle and Edw in Haw kins in a
program o f gospel music.
Nationally known conductor Charles Floyd will lead the Oregon Symphony's
T h e c h o ir is d ir e c te d by G a ry
performance o f Gospel Christmas.
H em enw ay, pastor o f Journey Church in
W alla Walla, Wash. Rehearsals take place
three m onths prior to the perform ances,
and occur each weekend.
"T hese choir members, soloists and
m usicians are people who love to sing and
proclaim the G ood News through the m e­
dium o f gospel m usic,” said C hoirC oordi-
nator Dorothy L. Davis.
T his y ear's program will feature guest
ensem ble Derrick M cDuffey & Chosen
G eneration perform ing "K ing o f G lory"
and D o n 't Forget the Baby." U nder the
direction o f M inister M cDuffey. Chosen
G eneration has been perform ing for al­
most a decade. Hailing from M ississippi,
the group blends a large portion o f tradi­
tional and East Coast gospel ensem ble
with a West Coast mass choir feel.
The concert will also include arrange­
m ents including "Tell It On the M oun­
tain," “ Let Us Adore Him” and "The First
Noel.”
Tickets are $25 to $73 and may be pur­
chased at the Oregon Sym phony Ticket
Office, 923 S.W. W ashington, or charged
by phone at 503-228-1353, or Ticketmaster
outlets, 503-224-441X). Discounted tickets
for groups o f eight or more are available
through the group sales hotline at 503-
416-6380.
Kuni BM W/Cadillac is official autom o­
tive sponsor o f the 2(X)6-2(X)7 Gospel
C hristm as perform ance, with additional
support from the H eathm an Hotel.
Local Leaders Say ‘Bring Troops Home’
Human needs called
better alternative
Tw o northeast Portland lawm akers joined the Port­
land City Council in support o f a resolution to bring
U.S. troops hom e from Iraq and fund local human
needs.
State Sen. Avel G ordly and State Rep. Chip Shields
joined social service and peace organizations to say
that the $419 million Portlanders have spent on the
w ar though U.S. taxpayer m onies could have be
betterutilized for education, health care, housing and
the environm ent.
The Portland City Council voted unanim ously
Thursday to support the resolution filed by C om m is­
sioner Randy Leonard.
A "standing room only" crow d w itnessed moving
testim ony from m ore than 50 people who made the
Avel Gordly
case for the resolution.
Mukadzi
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t
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African
Cultural Arts
at IFCC
Loveness Wesa
<iom m n nity
L a 1 e n d a r
Holiday Express
ing, story telling, bagpipes, treats, toy
making and holiday beverages. Admis-
i sion is $3 or free for children under 15.
December Zoo Lights
The w hole fam ily can experience the by­ j The w alk-through w inter w onderland O r­
gone era o f the steam -pow ered train dur­ egon Z oo Lights com es to life throughout
ing the Holiday Express at O aks Park in 1 the m onth o f Decem ber. The festival in­
southeast Portland. T rains will be depart
cludes a lighted zoo train, choral and en ­
every hour on the hour for the next tw o
sem ble music, puppet shows, and a model
w eekends; from 2p.ni ,to8 p.m. on Fridays
train display. Festival hours are Sunday -
and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and
T hursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and
Sundays. For ticketing inform ation visit
Saturday, 5 to8:30p.m . Closed D ec.24and
orhf.org orcall 503-224- 8499.
C hristm as Day.
Holiday Bake Sale
Presents for Primates
T he SC R A P holiday bazaar & bake sale is
Saturday, Dec. 9, from 11 a.m. t o 6 p.m. at
3 9 0 1A N. W illiams Ave. Local artisans will
transform unw anted m aterials to cool and
creative gifts to raise recycling aw are­
ness.
On T hursday, Dec. 14, at 10a.m „ S an ta's
Elves will give holiday gifts to the Oregon
Z o o 's chim panzees, orangutans, mandrills
and other pri mates. Bri ng yourcam eras for
this great picture opportunity. Call 503-
2 2 6 -15 6 1 or visit oregonzoo.org for more
information.
Christmas at Fort Vancouver
Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10a.m. to4 p.m., the
Ft. V ancouver National Historical Site,
KX1I E. Fifth St., Vancouver, hostsC hrist-
mas at Fort V ancouver, a festive event
focusing on holiday preparations in the
184O's by the H udson Bay C om pany em ­
ployees. A ctivities include wreath mak-
Christmas Tree Permits
The Mt. Hood National Forest has opened
its personal use C hristm as tree cutting
program . Permits arc $5, limited to 5 per­
mits per household, with a 12’ foot m axi­
m um height per tree. For more inform ation.
call the forest headquarters at 503-668-
Chip Shields
“Three years ago, when the case was made for war,
many people, m yself included, were com pelled togive
those in charge the benefit o f the doubt. It is clear now
that we were grossly misled, and our service men and
women are standing in harm 's way as a result," said
Com missioner Leonard. "Adding our voice to the
chorus o f cities around the country calling for their
prompt return home is the least we can do."
W ith the ado p tio n o f the reso lu tio n . Portland
jo in e d m ore than 270 o th e r m u n icip alities around
the U .S. that have called for an end to the w ar and
o ccu p atio n in Iraq since the invasion in M arch
2003. T he resolution calls forthe US to “imm ediately
com m ence an orderly and rapid withdrawal o f United
States m ilitary personnel from Iraq," and support
efforts to rebuild Iraq.
The resolution also requests that “financial re­
sources used to prosecute the w ar be redirected to
address the urgent needs o f the most vulnerable
portions o f our population, including education,
health care and full benefits for returning veterans.”
Loveness Wesa presents
‘Half o f Myself ’
Z im babw ean artist and Portland resident Loveness W esa
brings a new dance production to the local stage with three
upcom ing perform ances at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural
Center, 5340 N. Interstate Ave.
W asa had her A m erican debut in 2(X>4 with Langi vela Khona
(W here I Com e From ), a theatrical dance based on the lives of
African im m igrants. She will be continuing this them e in her
newest production, Ingxenye Yami (H alf o f M yself) which
explores the relationship between African im m igrants and Af-
17(X) M onday through Friday from 7:30
a.m .to 4 :3 0 p .m .
Holiday Wreath Sale
I he Black History M useum o f O regon is
seeking brilliant m inds o f concerned indi­
viduals to help in restructuring the m u­
seum foundation's com m ittee. For infor­
mation, call 503-284-0617.
Oregon Food Bank
The O regon Food Bank seeks volunteers
on M ondays from 1:30 p in. to 4:30 p.m.,
and Tuesdays, 9 a.m . to noon, to sort and
repack perishable foods. Cal 15( 13-282-0555,
e x te n sio n 272 o r v isit O re g o n fo o d
bank.org.
about
th e
p ro g ra m .
C o n ta c t
Kelly@ pclt.org or call 503-493-0293.
Bradley-Angle House
The Bradley-A ngle House needs volun­
teers to help its outreach against dom estic
violence. W om en o f color and bilingual
w omen are encouraged to call. For more
information, call 503-282-9940.
Parenting Classes
N ew borns d o n 't com e with instruction
i
JAZZ D IV A /
Team Up
for Holiday
Concert
T w o o f Portland’s best jazz , soul
and R&B musicians will team up fo ra
special Christm as Concert in the his­
toric M ississippi neighborhood o f
north Portland.
L e g e n d a ry so u l d iv a L in d a
Hornbuckle and keyboard goddess
Janice Scroggins will perform a duo
holiday concert in tw o show s on Sun­
day, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at
M ississippi Studios, 39309N . M issis­
sippi Ave.
Janice
Scroggins
A dm ission is $15. For tickets and
more inform ation,call Mississippi Stu­
dios at 503-288-3895.
Also on the schedu le for Ne w Y ear’s
Eve, the Linda Hornbuckle Band will
perform Sunday, Dec. 31 at Jimmy
M ak's, 221 N.W. I Oth Ave. Tickets are
$25 and can be reserved by calling 503-
295-6542.
rican-Americans.
Perform ances are on consecutive Tuesdays, Dec. 12. Dec. 19
and Dec. 2 6 at 7:30p.m. at the IFC C.The Dec. 2 6 performance will
be a special show for the first day o f Kwanzaa.
I ickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors,
and children under five are free. For reservations call 5 0 3 -2 8 1 -
4599 or visit lovenessw esa.com .
As with her previous works, Ingxenye Yami uses traditional
African dances and drum m ing to create a dram atic story, but
also adds an original musical score perform ed live.
Before moving to the United States from Bulawayo, Z im ba­
bwe, W esa was well known in her country as a musician, dancer,
actress, choreographer and theatre producer.
The Portland Parks Environm ental Educa­ Volunteer for Crisis Line
tion D epartm ent will be hosting the holi­ W ant to make a difference in yourcom m u-
day wreath sale on W ednesday, Dec. 6 j nity? Volunteers and advocates are needed
thru Sunday, Dec. I0 fro m 9 a .m .to 4 p .m „
for the Portland W om en’s Crisis Line. The
at the Mt. T abor G reenhouse, 6437 S.E. i needs include on-call advocates to re­
Division St. All proceeds go to scholar­ spond in person or over the phone, o ut­
ships for low -incom e youth.
re a c h an d e d u c a tio n a l e f f o rts , and
fundraising and adm inistrative duties. Call
Work Against Abuse
503-232-4176 for more information.
C om m unity A dvocates invites those in­
terested in protecting children from abuse
Home buying Classes
to becom e an event volunteer, event o ut­ I Portland C om m unity Land Trust helps
reach, technology expert, graphic artists
first tim e and low -incom e hom ebuyers
or office support team m em ber. For infor-
purchase hom es at below market price.
mation.call 503-280-1388.
Attend a free, one-hourclass to learn more
Black History Museum
Linda Hornbuckle
m anuals but parents and parents-to-be
can attend classes through Providence
Health System s to learn about a variety o f
to p ic s fro m pain and c h ild b irth to
breastfeeding to infant CPR and much
more. For a schedule o f events, call 503-
574-6595 or visit: providence.org/classes.
Stroller Class for Moms
Are you a new mom or have a toddler?G et
some exercise and meet other moms at the
free Stroller Strides class, 9 a.m. to 10a.m.
Tuesdays and Thursday at Peninsula Park.
All you need is a stroller, water, a mat or
towel and com fortable shoes. Call Helen at
503-260-5018 for more information.
Write Around Volunteers
Are you interested in becom ing a facilita­
tor for W rite Around P ortland's volun­
teer-run ten-week w orkshop? Contact Jill
Tulcya at 503-796-9224.
Women in Community Service
Volunteer female mentors are being sought
by W omen in C om m unity Service to work
with incarcerated w omen at the Coffee
Creek C orrectional Facility. The women
provide support and encouragem ent for
inmates transitioning from prison back
into the com m unity. Call 503-571 1-6614.
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