M arch IO. 2010
Ælfe jportlanò (Obscruer
P o rila n d
O b s e r v e r .A u é o
2010 SubaruOutback 2.51
by
K athleen C arr
The 2010 Subaru Outback has
made changes that may not be no­
tice from first sight but once you put
yourself inside you can clearly no­
tice the larger vehicle. It is much
bigger in nearly every dimension.
Not only does this provide a more
visual distinction from traditionally
wagon, but it also provides a signifi­
cant improvement in rear seat space
and cargo capacity. Larger itemscan
be strapped to the roof using the
standard, adjustable roof rails that
easily swing inward to serve double­
duty as cross rails. It's a great fea­
ture that cuts down on the wind
noise and air drag that go along with
fixed cross rails, this is in ah effort to
draw new consumers to the Outback.
The new model will be available
in the buyer's choice o f a 2.5-liter,
normally aspirated flat-four giving
170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet
o f torque (backed by one o f two new
transmissions: a six-speed manual
or Subie's "Lineartronic" C VT) or a
3.6-liter flat-six (256 hp and 247
pound-feet) paired to a conventional
five-speed automatic. Regardless of
which engine is specified, the fuel
tank grows to 18.5 gallons (from
16.9), and regular fuel is all that's
required
The base 2.5i comes standard
with 16-inch steel wheels, automatic
headlights, adjustable roof rails and
cross bars, full power accessories,
cruise control, a tilt-and-telescop-
ing steering column, height-adjust­
able driver seat and a four-speaker
stereo with CD player and an auxil­
iary audio jack. The 2.5i Premium
adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights,
rear privacy glass, eight-way power
driver seat (with power lumbar) and
R
Page 17
e v ie w
Tested Vehicle Information: 2 .5 Liter SOHC16
Valve Boxer Engine; Six speed manual
transmission: 1 9 City MPG, 2
Highway MPG; MSRP$24,995
a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Optional on the Premium is an All-
W eather package that adds heated
side m irrors, a w indshield wiper
de-icer and heated front seats.
The optional Harman Kardon ste­
reo includes nine speakers, a six-
CD changer and Bluetooth phone
and audio connectivity. The 2.5i
L im ited adds the A ll-W eather
package, Harman Kardon stereo,
CVT, a four-way power passen­
ger seat, dual-zone autom atic cli­
m ate control and leather uphol­
stery.
The Outback on the road the
chassis felt solid. Over bumps and
uneven roadw ays the O utback
tracked well and kept its line with
confidence. It had some good initial
grunt in each o f the 6-speed gears
but then, after 3500 rpm, it didn’t
really pull the car with much ur­
gency. This was more an issue merg­
ing on the freeway and getting up to
speed.
The last-generation Outback was
already comfortable, all-weather and
off-road capable, and able to haul
pretty much whatever you threw at
it. The improvements still may not
be enough to get the attention o f
new consumers.
Neighborhood Activist was Unsung Hero
Betty Walker
Betty Walker, who epitomized
the role o f unsung hero for her neigh­
borhood, died Feb. 17 o f cancer at
age 90.
Walker was a consistent volun­
teer for community causes. She was
involved in the Model Cities pro­
gram in the 1960s and ‘70s, was a
member o f the Sabin Community
Association from its creation in 1969
until her “retirement” last year, and
was that organization’s delegate to
the Northeast Coalition o f Neigh­
borhoods when it was founded in
1975 to continue the work o f Model
Cities.
Her efforts earned her a Spirit o f
Portland Award.
“She was always there when help
was needed,” Sabin co-chair Rachel
Studer said at a memorial service on
Saturday. Another neighborhood
activist, Diane Meisenhelter added,
“Betty was there year after year at
neighborhood cleanups, and you
wondered why they couldn’t find
someone else, younger, to take that
on.”
for other causes such as the Demo­ She later worked at the Reed C ol­
cratic Party and the League o f lege Library for 20 years.
Women Voters.
In 1946 she married fellow Reed
In her later years Walker assumed stu d en t G raham W alker. The
the role o f elder statesperson and couple had three children - Hoyt,
the repository o f information about C aro lin e and M arguerite. She
the organizations she served. One
Reading Tree veteran called her “a
human google” resource.
Edna Robertson, who served as
the Northeast Coalition’s director
from 1975 to 1994, says that Walker
was “like a sister” to her, and visited
her frequently.
Born in Parkdale, Ore. in 1919,
W alker was the daughter o f Homer
Rogers, who built the Mt. Hood
Lodge and ran the Cloud Cap Inn.
T ogether with her sisters Sally
and Kate, she grew up in the moun­
tains hiking and horseback riding;
she retained a love o f the out­
doors for the rest o f her life. Even­
tually the fam ily moved to Port­
land and the girls enrolled and
g ra d u a ted from C atlin G abel
School. W alker studied for two
years at Reed College, then took a
jo b as a phone com pany operator.
eventually had four grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren, and
took on the role ofdoting grandma.
One o f her in-laws said o f her,
“Betty was so accepting and so
gentle.”
Hodge Comprehensive
Counseling Service
W alker was also a consistent
supporter o f The Reading Tree, a
volunteer-run summer remedial read­
ing program that took place every
summer in Irving Park from the 1970s
until 2005, serving thousands o f
young people. However, as another
supporter, Marie Tabor, said at the
memorial, “It wouldn’t have lasted
as long as it did if not for Betty. She
operated behind the lines, writing
grants and doing whatever else was
needed.” She played a similar role
In Loving Memory
Jamell Patrick Taylor
Jam ell Patrick Taylor, was born on Dec. 11,1987,
in Tacoma, to proud parents Drake and JoEIlen
Taylor. He grew up and attended school in Portland
with his three sisters and one brother.
Jam ell developed a love for sports at an early age.
At 9 years old, he was the youngest player on a Pop
W arner football team. He was featured in the O rego­
nian as one o f the youngest and fastest up-and-
com ing running backs. He continued his football
career throughout high school and into the sem i-pro
league and he had dream s o f going pro. In 2007,
Jam ell began attending Mt. Hood C om m unity
C ollege w ith plans to transfer to a university
college.
Jam ell was a very spiritual man who gave his
life to Christ at an early age and was w ater bap­
tized with his entire family.
In 2007, he met the love o f his life Dominique
Adrian LaSane and on Aug. 23,2009 they entered
into holy m atrim ony. Although, their m arriage
was short, they deeply loved each other and
shared many loving m em ories.
Leaving to cherish Jam ell’s m em ory is his lov­
ing wife Dom inique and their three children,
Khaliyah, Khalil and Kyree; his parents, Drake
and JoEIlen; his sisters Tam ika, Kara and Brandy
and his brother DeShawn. He also leaves behind
m any uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins
and a host o f many friends and acquaintances.
hodgehspks@msn.com
Dr. H. L. Hodge, Ph.D.
Life Change Specialist,
Licensed Pastoral
Counselor, Professional
Trainer. Dr. Hodge has
20 years addressing
Life Stressors
www.nwvoiceforchrist.com