www.portlandobserver.com
Committed to Cultural Diversity
March 12. 2008
An Evening with Sonny Turner
M etro
Hit-making voice from The Platters
to perform in Lincoln City
See A&E section, inside
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/n o m m u nity
C a le n d a r
Health Inequities
The public is invited to join in the dia­
logues with community members, orga­
nizations, business leaders and local
elected officials to discuss the root causes
of health inequities as well as long-term
solutions in a this seven-part series. For
neighborhood locations, dates, and times
visit mchealth.org/healthequity.
The Shamrock Run
Sunday, March 16 the Shamrock Run
charity race to benefit Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital will take place; racers
can choose from a 5 K, 8K and 15 K race or
a 3.5 mile fitness walk; the event features
theClan Macleay Pipe Band. To register,
visit shamrockrunportland.com.
Church Milestone
The historic Vancouver Avenue First
Baptist Church, 3138 N. Vancouver Ave.,
will host a special observance Sunday,
March 16 at its 10:30 a.m. service com­
memorating the 50th anniversary of the
laying of the cornerstone and the comple­
tion of a renovated church building. The
annual Palm Sunday Soul Food Feast will
follow. All are welcome!
Spring Beach Cleanup
Saturday, March 29, between 10 a.m. and
1 p.m., SOLV needs thousands of volun­
teers for the 24th-annual beach cleanup
to restore the coastline to pristine condi­
tion. Toget involved.call 800-333-7658.
Kids Who Help K.I.D.S.
Sunday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to noon,
kids ages 12 and under who bring a new
clothing item with tags attached to their
nearest Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant will
receive a free breakfast meal; all clothing
to be donated to Kids in Distressed Situ­
ations. For more inform ation, visit
w e b site s S w eetto m a to e s.c o m or
Kidsdonations.org.
Camp Fire Incredible Kids
Camp Fire USA Portland Metro Council
invites the public to honor any incredible
child. Honorees will receive an award,
coupons and their name in print. The fee
is $25 per child with registration available
until March 3 1. For more information, call
503-224-7800extension 142.
Homework Help
The Black Parent Initiative and Concordia
Teachers Corps provide free homework
help for kids ages 5 through 19 on Tues­
days and Thursdays, from 3:45 to 5 p.m.
at Grace Covenant Church, 5450 N.E.
Flanders St.; and from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at
Calvaiy Christian Center, 126N.E. Alberta
St.; as well as Mondays and Wednes­
days from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the East Port­
land Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th
Ave.
Concordia Candidate Forum
Tuesday, April 1, from 6:30 to9 p.m., the
public is invited to attend this free forum
featuring candidates for the Portland
Commissioners Position I and Position
2.; the event is to be held in the Gym of
McMenamin's Kennedy School. 5736
N.E. 33rd Ave. For more information, visit
concordiapdx.org.
Rain Garden Workshop
Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to noon,
Leach Botanical Gardens. 6704S.E. 122nd
Ave., will host the workshop teaching
how to build a beautiful rain garden to
capture rainwater runoff, followed by a
community open house of the Botanical
Gardens, from I to 4 p.m. To register for
the events, visit Welcomelherain.org or
call 503-652-7477.
*
Homebuyer Programs
PDC’s homebuyer-assistance programs
address the gap in home ownership rates
between whites and communities of color.
For information about the new and ex­
panded homebuyers assistance programs,
visit pdc.us/nhpor call 503-823-3400.
Sharing Faith through Music
The world renowned Harlem Gospel Choir will perform at the
University o f Portland, Tuesday, March 18.
Harlem Gospel Choir
sets Portland date
The internationally acclaimed Harlem Gospel
Choir will perform at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 in the
Chiles Center on the University of Portland cam­
pus, 5000N. Willamette Blvd.
Founded in 1986, the choir travels the globe,
sharing its joy of faith through music while
raising funds for children’s charities.
The choir features some of the finest singers
and musicians from Harlem's churches and from
the Greater New York area. The scheduled per­
formance highlights the theme "Bringing People
and Nations Together and Giving Something
Back.”
The choir’s mission is to promote greater un­
derstanding of African-American culture through
music, compassion for the less fortunate through
charity fundraisers, and above all. a world filled
with peace, love, and acceptance.
Since its conception, the choir has performed
internationally for the likes of Pope John Paul II,
Nelson Mandela and Elton John, and alongside many
musical legends including U2, Diana Ross, Cindi
Lauper and Lyle Lovett.
The choir's dynamic concerts feature spiritual songs
such as "Amazing Grace,” “When the Saints Go March­
ing In,” and "I’ll Fly Away," and are designed to leave
audiences uplifted and inspired.
Tickets are currently on sale at the Chiles Center box
o ffic e , at all T ic k e tm a ste r o u tle ts, o n line at
ticketmaster.com or by phone at 503-224-4400. Indi­
vidual tickets are $ 15, and group tickets (for 5 or more
people) are $10 each. University of Portland students
can purchase tickets for $10 per person, but only at the
Chiles Center box office.
Mt. Hood Chooses New Leader
Ohio native to
start July 1
The Mt. Hood Community College
Board of Education has chosen Dr. John
J. “Ski” Sygielski as its new college
president.
Sygielski, who prefers to be called by
his nickname “Ski," has served as Presi­
dent ofLordFairfax Community College
in Middletown, Va., for the past five
years and will begin his new position on
July I. His appointment comes follow­
ing a comprehensive search process.
"This is an exciting time for the col­
lege,” stated Duke Shepard, board of
education chairman. "Dr. Sygielski is an
energetic leader who has the experience to
guide the college toward a greater future.
We are extremely happy in being able to
find someone of his quality.”
Sygielski. a native of Ohio, oversaw
more than $22 million in capital construc­
tion projects in his most recent position,
including the opening of a third campus
location, increased community partner­
ships in support of economic, social and
cultural activities; and improved outreach
efforts to high-school students resulting
in a 25-percent increase in the number of
dual enrolled students.
"Education is about transforming lives.”
Sygielski said. “I now look forward to
makes in its
serv ice r e ­
gion.”
S ygielski
holds a d e­
gree in phi-
I o s o p h y
(w ith h o n ­
ors,, master’s
d eg rees in
John “Ski" Sygielski
b u s in e s s
management and administration and a
doctorate in education.
His work experience includes corpo­
rate training: elementary, secondary and
post-secondary education; and public-
and private-sector consulting.
iRabbit Romp"* 1 Ushers in Spring
With egg hunts,
activities for all ages
The Oregon Zoo invites families to
"Rabbit Romp," acelebration of spring, on
Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The morning will feature egg hunts
every 20 minutes with children ages 3 to 10
divided into age groups and challenged to
find candy eggs and prizes. Toddlers 2
and under can participate in a candy hunt
organized especially forthem. Rabbit Romp
festivities all day include a petting zoo,
games and photo opportunities.
Sea otters and other animals also re­
ceive egg-themed enrichment, and - con­
tinuing its Year of the Polar Bear celebra­
tion - the zoo will host special polar-bear
activities as well.
The bears receive plastic boomer halls
to play with, while keepers describe how
climate change is affecting polar bears in
A polar bear enjoys enrichment activities in one of highlights coming to the Oregon Zoo on
Saturday, March 22 during "Rabbit Romp " day.
Explore the Nights Sky
The Planetarium Sky Theaterat Mt. Hood
Community College - Gresham Campus,
will explore the mysteries of the universe
and the beauty of the heavens. Public
shows are available on the second Tues­
day of each month at 7 and 8 p.m. for $ I
admission.
Helping the Hungry
The Oregon Fixxl Bank desperately needs
your donations of nonperishable hxxls
or funds. To find out how you can help,
call 503-2824)555.
working with MHCC students who strive
to succeed; full and adjunct faculty who
raise the bar of learning for first generation
students; transfer students; dual enrolled
students; persons of color; individuals
interested in starting a small business or
those interested in entering (for the first
time) or re-entering the workforce after
being absent for years for a variety of
reasons; employees who are committed to
helping others succeed; donors who want
to make a difference: alumni who support
the institution that gave them a start;
government,education and business lead­
ers who are in need of an educated and
qualified workforce: and elected officials
who understand the impact that MHCC
j T
.-J
Visitors can
learn about the
plight of
Washington
pygmy rabbits
at an informa­
tional booth
during the
Oregon Zoo's
Rabbit Romp
spring festival.
the wild.
By hosting Rabbit Romp, the zoo hopes
to also focus attention on threatened
Washington pygmy rabbits.
In 2002, following a steady population
decline, the Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife enacted an emergency
recovery program after finding fewer than
20 rabbits in the entire state. Since then,
the Oregon Zoo has successfully bred
and released these rabbits into the wild,
helping bring them back from the brink of
extinction.
/
Visitors can learn about the plight of
Washington pygmy rabbits at an informa­
tional booth, where they can guess the
number of bunnies in the booth and learn
more.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is
located five minutes from downtown Port­
land, just oil Highway 26. The zoo is also
accessible by Max light-rail line. Zix, visi­
tors are encouraged to ride Max or take
Tri Mel bus No. 63 to the Oregon Zoo.
Visitors who take the bus or Max re­
ceive $ I off zix> admission.