May 30, 2007
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H o r t . Larue O l b s C T v e r A u t o
2007 KIA Rondo EX
The Kia Rondo is a new vehicle
in this y e a r's line up - the Kia
version of a crossover vehicle.
There is no match for seven-pas­
senger transportation in a small,
safe, low-cost, high-mileage pack­
age, and with to d ay 's gas prices
it’s looking like a good alterna­
tive.
The Rondo EX adds a higher-
grade cloth interior with leather
trim, 17-inch alloy w heels, chrome
grille, door handles and molding,
fog lamps, heated m irrors, w ind­
shield de-icer, leather-w rapped
steering wheel and shift knob,
lights for the vanity m irrors, and
aCD /M P3 six-speaker sound sys­
tem. O ptional is a package with a
2007 Ford
Fusion SEL
V6 AWD
The 2007 Ford Fusion is an excel­
lent choice among midsize sedans
and should not be overlooked. The
Fusion was introduced as an all-
new vehicle for 2006 and it's a fan­
tastic car. It handles well, it's com­
fortable, and it delivers good value.
The SEL ($ 19,250) adds automatic-
headlights, 17-inch wheels, and
automatic temperature control, up­
graded cloth interior, and upgraded
wood or piano black interior trim,
leather wrapped steering w heel and
an analog clock. The SEL is also
available with the V6 ($21,975), and
with the V6 and all-wheel drive
($23,825).
10-speaker Infinity sound sys­
tem and a sunroof ($1200).
The 2.4-liter inline four-cylin­
der that com es standard makes
162 horsepow er and is paired with
a four-speed autom atic transm is­
sion with a manual mode called
Sportmatic. The optional 2.7-liter
dohe V6 produces 182-horse-
pow er and com es with a five-
speed Sportm atic.
The Rondo looks like a cross
betw een a minivan and a five-
door hatchback, and not like a
small SUV. It has a clean design,
with a nicely sloped hood, trap­
ezo id al h ead lam p s w ith four
smooth corners and a tidy grille.
The first im pression would not
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News and reviews on
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Specifications: 2.4 Liter Engine Fuel Injection 4 cyclinders, catalyst; 4 speed automatic transmis­
sion; 17-25 city mpg. 24-34 highway mpg, $21,995 MSRP\
and the Five-hundred.
The Ford Fusion grille is not the
only feature that sets it apart from
other mid-size sedans in its class;
the sides of the car are crisply sepa­
rated from the hood, roof and rear
deck. It has an aggressive angular
body I find to be upscale and a
success for Ford.
New for SE and SEL models for
2007 is a front passenger seatback
that folds down, making it possible
to haul extra-long items. And heated
front seats are an option on SEL
models with leather seating. Also a
new option is All Wheel Drive on
Specifications: 3.0L4V V6 Duratec Engine; 6-Speed Auto
the Fusion.
Transmission; 16-22 city mpg, 22-30 highway mpg; $28,820
Fusion shares its basic archi­
MSRP.
tecture with the Mercury Milan and
When the Fusion was first intro­ as the new Edge crossover vehicle the premium-midsize-class Lincoln
duced, Ford executives said its and will show up on the new Focus. M KZ. Fusion offers S, SE, and SEL
three-bar horizontal grille would This distinctive grille catches your models. The SEL come with the 4-
become the signature styling cue eye on the road, distinguishing the cyl ora 2 2 1 -hp V6. The 4-cyI uses a
for Ford cars. Since then it has been Fusion from other mid-size sedans. 5-speed manual transmission or
seen on concept vehicles, as well It is the vehicle between the focus optional 5-speed automatic. The
V6 has a6-speed automatic. The V6
models are available with all-wheel
drive. Four-wheel disc brakes are
standard; ABS is optional. Trac­
tion control is standard on AWD
models, optional on front-drive V6
Fusions. Front side airbags and
curtain side airbags are now stan­
dard; they had been optional. A
sunroof and leather upholstery is
optional for SE and SEL.
The interior of the Fusion has a
European influence with a soft
touch interior found in luxury ve­
hicles. The console offers straight
forward controls that are easy to
operate. A convenient storage bin
on top of the dashboard features a
large clamshell lid and it's big
enough to hold a phone or small
camera as well as maps and the like.
The center console, door pockets
and front seatback pockets pro­
vide additional storage. The trunk
of the Fusion offers a large, flat, low
BY
K athleen
C arr
have one believing that it can fit
seven passengers.
It offers plenty of room for
passengers to fit com fortably,
with plenty of elbow room to
spare. The doors open wide and
close easily. It is a great alterna­
tive to the minivan for those who
may have senior parents or ch il­
dren to haul around. The third
row seat is a little tight in the leg
room for a larger passenger. The
seats fold down easily for plenty
o f cargo to fit.
The Rondo gives you the com ­
fort, flexibility and spaciousness
of an SUV, along with the precise
handling and fuel efficiency of a
sedan - all at an affordable price.
This is the vehicle to test drive if
you are looking for an alternative
to the bigger crossover vehicles.
area with plenty of room for items
like groceries, golf bag and the kids'
athletic equipments.
The Fusion delivers respon­
sive handling, solid high-speed
stability and a nice, smooth ride.
Its nice com bination o f ride and
handling are benefits o f the rigid
structure. The all-wheel-drive Fu­
sion offers excellent handling sta­
bility and grip in adverse condi­
tions. The rack-and-pinion steer­
ing is precise with just the right
am ount o f w eight to make the
driver feel connected to the road
w ithout being edgy. The six-
speed autom atic transm ission
shifts smoothly.
The 2007 Ford Fusion delivers
sporty handling with comfort and
value. Its crisp lines, big headlamps
and a bold, chrome grille give the
Fusion a distinctive appearance.
The all-wheel drive handles excel­
lent in wet weather.
‘Roots Festival’
continued
from Front
and rock band Ozomatl i last year,
but managed a successful festival
anyway.
“W hat we found ou, when
Ozomatli fell through was that we
didn't need them, because it's all
about the local ta le n t,” says
M akerusa Porotesano, a north
Portlander who is president of the
Pacific Islander Club and this
year’s Roots Festival coordina­
tor.
Back again this week, the sec­
ond annual celebration of diver­
sity has expanded to two days of
education and entertainment.
The keynote speaker, Renee
Mitchell, columnist for the Orego­
nian, will serve as the keynote
speaker at 7 p.m. on Thursday in
the PSU Smith Center.
“ We want everyone to join
us in having fun w hile learning
about the im portance o f diver­
sity,” said Porotesano. “ I be­
lieve that bringing people to­
gether from all different cultural
backgrounds makes us a much
stronger com m unity.”
Organizers from 16 of PSU’s
multicultural clubs hope to bring
students and the community to­
gether to celebrate diversity by
exploring the crossroads at which
people of various racial, ethnic,
sexual and political backgrounds
find themselves.
“I am excited about the Roots
Festival," said PSU President
Daniel B ernstine, an African
American who is departing PSU
for a Pennsylvania law council. “It
gives us all a chance to celebrate
the diversity that is PSU.”
Various media will be explored
by artists and academics, includ­
ing film, music and print publica­
tions.
This y ear’s festival begins
Thursday at 10 a.m. in the South
Park Blocks. All events are free,
except for a $3 global dance party
at the Native American Student
and Community Center to con­
clude the festival late on Friday
night.
photo by
S arah B i . ovnt /T he P ortland O bserver
Monique Hedmann joins Martin Luther King Jr. Loaves and Fishes Center Manager David Lomax just before a Friday delivery. The
hot and cold food delivery program helps feed more than 200 seniors throughout north and northeast Portland.
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FINANCIAL ADVISOR
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k
Meals on Wheels Keeps Rolling
continued
from Front
planning a Hawaiian luau and sev­
eral summer barbecues, and will
partner with the Urban League ol
Portland forajam balaya fundraiser
in August.
But when it comes to the simple,
daily act of delivering meals to se­
niors, the rewards can sometimes
mean saving a life.
T h a t's b e c a u se M eals on
Hedmann said. “W ecan see w hat’s
going on and do something about
it.”
As former artists, bankers, book­
keepers and caretakers themselves,
these seniors benefit from the pro­
gram in many ways.
Take Manye Main for example.
Almost 90, Main receives her meals
in her apartment near PCC, where
seniors is only going to increase,
with a huge effect on society un­
less we do something now,” she
said.
The MLK Meals on Wheels is
looking for more volunteers for 12
delivery routes. Volunteers gather
meals at the center and then follow
a mapped-out route with 12 to 15
seniors that takes about an hour to
complete.
MLK center m anager David
Lomax said volunteers must only
have a vehicle, a valid driver's li­
cense and insurance.
Lomax said the two years he has
been with the center has made him
- Monique Hedmann, Meals on Wheels coordinator
familiar with nearly every senior
W heels volunteers also act as she has two parakeets to keep her
who receives meals.
In contrast, he said that as an watchdogs. Drivers are encouraged company. She said she seldom has
engineering student at Portland to keep tabs on living conditions visitors and looks forward to vol­
Com m unity College he w asn't and the health of recipients. If some­ unteers, who have always treated
aware there was such a large senior thing is wrong or conditions are her kindly.
“Usually they're like a breath of
unsanitary. Meals on Wheels can
community.
Now Lomax and staffare brain­ refer seniors to a network ol social sunshine that comes in," Main said.
And sometimes a nutritious meal
storming ideas for upcoming pro­ agencies.
"That is another very valuable is all it takes to revive a person's
grams that will educate people
about Loaves and Fishes. T hey're thing about Meals on Wheels.” health. When senior Lyda Overton
t The number o f homebound seniors
is only going to increase, with a huge
effect on society unless we do
something now.
began receiving her meals, her
health improved and she began to
go to the center for lunch. Eventu­
ally Overton became head of the
Loaves and Fishes steering com ­
mittee, a group that comes up with
ideas and plans for fundraisers.
“ S h e 's ju s t a fire c ra c k e r,”
Hedmann said. “She’s always look­
ing out for everyone else, making
sure other seniors are taken care
of.”
Meals on Wheels is also look­
ing for senior volunteers for their
steering committee that meets once
a month, as well as volunteers of all
ages at the center's kitchen.
Hedmann noted that the senior
population will double and triple in
certain parts of the country over
the next 20 years.
"It’s so important right now for
our generation to get used to inter­
acting with seniors," she said.
"Right now there is a generational
divide, but w e've got to meet in the
middle and learn from each other.”
To find out more about Meals
on Wheels, call 503-988-5211 or
visit loavesandfishesonline.org.