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A p ril 8. 2009
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P o r tla n d . O b s e r v e r A u t o R e v ie w
2009 Ford Rex-Limited AWD
by
K athleen C arr
The 2009 Ford Flex is an all-
new midsize SUV. This boxy 4-
door wagon shares some of its
basic design with Ford's Edge
and Taurus X crossover SUVs
and is available in three trim. At
first look of the vehicle you see
the Scion from t he front and
the rear you might think the
BMW Mini Cooper. The box
like style and the oversized feel
ing will over power one at first
but the ride and comfort will
have you forgetting the size in
not time at all.
The Flex is distinguished not
only by its squared-off shape
but by contrasting roof and
body colors and use of exterior
chrome accents. Flex seats ei
ther six or seven on three rows
of seats. Power comes from a
262-hp 3.5-liter V6 mated to a 6-
speed automatic transmission.
Available safety features in
clude ABS, traction control,
antiskid system , front side
airbags, and curtain side
airbags. Some of Flex's other
features include a rearview
camera, power lift gate, voice-
activated navigation system
with real-tim e traffic and
w eather updates, four-panel
glass roof, and refrigerated cen
ter console. Other available fea
tures include Ford's Sync,
which is a voice-activated sys
tem that controls some cell
phone and MP3 player func
tions, and a cap less fuel filler.
The sheer mass makes the
Flex a rem arkable highway
In Loving Memory
J im m ie G re e n
A memorial service for Jimmie
Green, who died on April 2, 2009,
after courageously battling con
gestive heart failure, will be held
at 11 a.m. Friday, April 10 at
Caldwell’s, Hennessey, Goetsch
and McGee Funeral Home in
northwest Portland. Graveside services will fol
low at Willamette National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
He was bom in Ratio, Ark on Aug 18, 1923 to
Harrison and Annie Mae Green. He joined the
Navy in 1941 and served proudly on the USS
Hydra.
After World War II, he went to work for the
VA hospital and worked there until he retired in
Page A9
News and reviews on new motor vehicles
can easily take a seat. The slid
ing second-row seats afford
40.5 inches of legroom. The
window glass is blacked out in
every trim level; however for the
individual that is a small might
find it hard to look out the win
dow. Taking a Sunday we found
that those adults that are over
6 feet tall found the sitting and
leg room to be excellent, no
more knees to the chest in the
*4
back seat. Those who get the
Specifications: 3.5L V6 engine: automatic overdrive trans privilege of the way-back third
mission; 16 city mpg, 22 highway mpg; MSRP $43,120 row will find a useful 38.7 inches
cruiser. So silent your brain for back roads, it’s a handful; at of legroom when they get there.
gets which exit you were sup least its low center of gravity Unique interior features will in
posed to get off at, so stable helps the Flex handle better clude programmable lighting
and solid that if the big blue than most CUVs
that allows the owner to decide
Ford badge wasn’t adorned on
The Flex is a fine vehicle in which interior LED lights illu
the steering wheel, you’d swear which to be a passenger. The minate, and when. The Flex will
you were driving a luxury ve conventional doors open wide, also offer Ford Sync, a voice-
hicle. Its two-and-a-half tons of the step-in height is low and activated communications and
heft help make it a pleasure on there's a generous gap behind entertainm ent system devel
the freeway, but on winding the front seats so even adults oped with Microsoft. It inte
1983. He joined the US Army Reserves in the 1950s
and served honorably until he retired in 1981. He lived
a very good life after his retirement, enjoying garden
ing, traveling and being with his family and friends.
Jimmie met and married Almcta Cole in 1948 and
they were married for 41 years. She preceded him in
death, along with a daughter Sheila Green and son
Steven Cole.
He is survived by daughters Gail Green of San
Dimas, Calif., Donna Green Nickelberry and husband
Nolan of Seattle, and Debra G. Roper and husband
Gary of Portland; his sister Jessie Tate of Portland; an
aunt Margaret Brooks of San Diego; 9 grandchildren,
2 great grandchildren, and a whole host of nephews
and nieces.
The family request that remembrances can be made
to Urban League Multi-Cultural Senior Center. 5325
N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Portland.
Celebration of Life
Daniel Baldwin
A memorial service for
Daniel Baldwin will take
place at Bossanova Ball
room, 722 E. Burnside, on
Sunday April 12 from noon
to 3 p.m. to celebrate the life
of a beloved member of Portland’s motor
cycle and music community.
Baldwin died March 28 while riding his
motorcycle after being struck by a drunk
driver. He was known as "Hippy Dan"
amongst his friends and Flying 15 Motor
cycle Club members and "Quality Dan" by
the music community that supported his
band Power of County.
grates mobile phones and digi
tal media players and can in
clude a hard drive with space
for up to 23(X) songs. The multi
panel Vista Roof extends a glass
skylight over all three rows of
seats.
Also available is a real refrig
erator that can chill drinks rather
than simply keep them cold.
Ford claims its cool box will chill
seven 12-ounce cans, four half
liter bottles or two 20-ounce
bottles from room temperature
to 41 degrees in two-and-one-
half hours, or 40 percent faster
than a conventional home re
frigerator.
Safety features in the Flex will
surpass most minivans. All vari
ants will come with front-impact
airbags, side-impact airbags for
front passengers and curtain-
style head-protection airbags
for all three rows of seats.
Full of compassion, creativity, inspiration, love
and curiosity, he enjoyed being in nature, whether
it was on his motorcycle, building trails, playing
music around a campfire, or just soaking up the
beauty of the outdoors.
The memorial service will be a kid-friendly event
with music and a potluck. An open mic will en
courage members of the music community to bring
instruments and join in the festivities.
Baldwin was bom on March 11, 1966 to Warren
and Eleanor Baldwin of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He is
survived by both parents and his sister, Ruth
Churak.
Donations can be made through a memorial pre
viously set up for Baldwin’s grandfather, the
Norman H. Nye Memorial Scholarship in Engi
neering fund at the University of Akron, Depart
ment of Development, Akron, OH 44235-2603.
^Jnxdlaxtb (OhsexAu'r
presents
The 4th Annual
Joyce Washington Classic
• *
•
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.
Joyce Washington Scholarship
2009 Women’s All-Star Teams
Home Team (Gray)
Head Coach: Floyd Hall
PLAYERS
JudeSchimmel
Shoni Schimmel
Mariah Ladd St.
Denaya Brazzle
Ariel Reynolds
Kristen Swim
Mikayla Elliiott
Hannah Munger
Bailee Jurgenson
Aliyah Green
Shan'nice Story
Zoie Sheng
Marin Hobson
,
i
t
.
,
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'
H igh S chool A ll -S tar
B asketball G ames
HIGH SCHOOL
Franklin
Franklin
M ary’s
Jefferson
Jefferson
Franklin
Franklin
Newberg
Franklin
Jefferson
St. M ary's
St. Mary’s
Franklin
Joyce Washington Scholarship
2009 Men’s All-Star Teams
Home Team (Gray)
Head Coach: Michael Harper
Assistant Coach: Paul Kelly
HIGHSCHOOL
PLAYERS
Terrence Jones
Jefferson
Roosevelt
Larry Richards
Derrick Hayes
Wilson
Nick Kunis
Franklin
Franklin
VladBahjak
Franklin
Max Snodderly
Roosevelt
David Jordan
DoniiniqueGilles
Marshall
Tyrone Phillips
Jefferson
Ryan Robertson
Wilson
Roosevelt
Ashton Murdock
Donta Harris
De LaSalle
VISITING TEAM (BLUE)
Visiting Team (B lue)
Head Coach: DennisCarline
PLAYERS
HIGHSCHOOL
Kay Phosakham
Benson
Tyrisha Blake
Jefferson
Jacque Shaw
Grant
Monique Carlson
Roosevelt
Krystal Forthan
Jefferson
Razja Goodman
Cleveland
Diamond Ferguson
Benson
Kiarra Berry
Grant
Maddy May
Cleveland
Brittany Raz
Cleveland
Mia Robinson
De La Salle
W omen’s Coach of the Year:
Cecille Moses Franklin High School
In memory of
Cory Neal Washington,
1965-1991
Head Coach: Michael Holton
Assistant Coach: Michael Mangum
PLAYERS
highschool
JD Esters
Lincoln
Grant
Mike Moser
Sunset
Michael Holton JR
Grant
MikeFendall
Damarcus Davis
Benson
Roosevelt
Terrell Manlley
Perry Dinyain
Benson
Cleveland
Joe Owen
Sunset
Anthony Holton
Lucas Shaw
Grant
Cleveland
Jack Hollowell
Zachary Minden
Cleveland
Men's Coach of the Year:
Pat Strickland, Jefferson High School
Come see the best of high-school basketball players! Be there to support your school!
May 9th at Self Enhancement Inc., 3920 N. Kerby, Portland
Doors Open at 3:00 p.m.
Girls Classic at 4:30 p.m.
*
Dunk Contest at 3:30 p.m.
Boys Classic at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at The Portland Observer (4747 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd.)
$5 for adults, $2 for kids (age 7-17) & Seniors. *Kids 6 and under free.
Proceeds raised go to the Joyce Washington Memorial Scholarship Fund
For information, call Mark Washington at 503-288-0033 or Floyd Hall at 503-804-9504
CANNON'S
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Colimbi^ f| A
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