November 9, 2011
^iortlanh (Observer
Page 27
Veterans Celebration at PSU ReturningSoldiers
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 12
Viking Vets, a student-veterans group
at Portland State University, will hold a
celebration in honor of Veterans Day on
Thursday, Nov. 10, from noon to 2 p.m.,
featuring guest speakers, refreshments,
and information on veteran-related sup­
port services. The free and open to the
public event will held on the first floor of
Smith Memorial Student Union.
to higher education.
‘It is important for us, especially on
this campus, to help celebrate our veter­
“Viking Vets understands how im­
portant PSU ’s unique relationship with
the veteran community will be in the
ans,” said Paul Polsin, acting president
of Viking Vets.
Polsin noted that PSU was founded
in the wake of World War II to provide
returning service members with access
near future, as thousands of veterans
return to the Portland area following
service in the global war on terrorism,”
he said.
PHOTO BY C a RI H a CHMANN/
T he P o r t l a n d O
b ser v er
Femininity and nature
are subjects found in
wqrhs o f Kate Ferris, a
formerly homeless artist
who paints from her
experiences.
Artist’s Gallery is the Street
abrupt,” she said.
work she crafted with supplies from
Ferris learned the ironies of the Dollar Tree. Ferris has sold over
Ferris sat by her side everyday at homelessness after she was released
160 paintings, all ranging in price,
OHSU during her last living days. from one hospital visit into the not-
from $5 and up, to sometimes free.
At this point, Ferris was ex­ so welcoming arms of nature. Weary
Ferris bought eye contacts with
hausted, out of money, and her own and cold, she took rest under some one driver’s $100 offering, a near­
health was suffering. After her bushes near an office building.
sighted necessity she lost with her
mother died, "Everything fell apart,"
There were a few things she could car.
said Ferris.
not get used to while living outside,
A jo u rn ey o f hom elessness
In the same year, she and her including the rain and cold, people
ended when Ferris and her husband
husband both fell ill with chronic stealing everything, the mentally ill were picked up on a snowy day by
health problems. With her shop and physically pained people wan­
JOIN, an agency that helps people
long-closed and no health insur­ dering the streets at night, and other off the streets. JOIN helped the
ance, Ferris sold her house to pay nightm ares. She often watched
couple into an apartment, where they
for medical bills. The couple lived people getting into their toasty cars reside now.
out of her car with all that was left of and just wished to be warm.
For all the troubles she has come
their belongings.
Ferris had quit painting in her free to face, Ferris is surprisingly opti­
“It was embarrassing,” Ferris time long before she was homeless, mistic and happy. As an artist, she
said. While some of her Sellwood but cold and wet with empty pock­ admits to, at times having liked the
friends remained well-off and up­ ets, she longed for some expression idea of living free and unbothered
wardly mobile, she was mentally of hope, “I feel so much more com­ on the skirts of society.
distraught by the fact that she could fortable when I have an outlet,” she
She considers time spent living
no longer keep up and pay for the said, “It definitely saved my life.”
with her husband in their neat and
house she enjoyed for 20 years.
Flying signs by the side of the tidy tent downtown “kind of fun”
Then, another misfortune struck; road were less intimidating than a and calls the entire experience
her car was stolen.
stuffy art gallery, she said, but “amazingly informative.”
"T hat’s how I ended up doing people still hollered everything un­
Largely, Ferris is elated to be
this," said Ferris, pointing to a der the sun at her. “Get a job!” one painting again.
h a n d -p a in te d c a rd b o a rd sign. lady dripping in diamonds called
“Where are all the people today?
Hom eless with her husband, she from a Cadillac. Some people gave In their cars?” She answers her own
lived in a tent near Goose Hollow her their trash.
question as she continues to inter­
from M ay through N ovem ber,
Other drivers were extremely rupt rush hour traffic with her pris­
nearly eight m onths. “It was so pleased and surprised by the art­ matic paintings.
« * * •
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 15
that job aren’t those that are in demand right
now.”
“We just keep working away and try to get
those veterans jobs,” said Dominick, who en­
courages any veteran or military person who
hasn t contacted the veteran representatives at
the Oregon employment office to do so.
Dominick said he just hopes the economy
turns around so there are more available jobs
for people.
Battling High Costs
of Cooler Days
emerged, known as the Indow W in­
dow.
learn how to stop cold drafts in
T hese custom -m anufactured
their home by using affordable sheets of acrylic glazing are edged
and simple tools such as scissors with a patent-pending compression,
and a screwdriver.
which provides double pane win­
“Our workshops are important dow performance— at a fraction of
because they allow everybody to the cost.
have control over their energy
"In these days, everybody is try­
costs, even if they are renting,” ing to save money with the economy
said Smith. “If your house is drafty, being so tough,” said Pardue. “It
you’ll love it.”
can save people between 15 and 30
Recently, there have been a high percent on their energy bills.”
number of funding cuts to the
Indow Windows, which simply
city ’ s energy assistance programs, press into place on the inside of a
which have helped individuals in window frame, create a tight seal
the past pay their heating bills. without any nails, screws, or adhe­
Smith said, however, by taking the sives, and provide insulation and
workshop, residents can learn energy savings.
how to reduce their reliance on
Through collaboration with the
these assistance programs. “The regional Neil Kelly Company, Indow
people who take the classes are W indow s
striv es
to give
their own heroes,” she said. “In a homeowners an easy and cost-ef­
way what we are really doing is fective way to insulate their homes,
removing barriers people have to which will also help to create more
make their own changes.”
jobs for local residents throughout
Smith said, people who have the winter months.
taken the classes report saving
“W e’re hiring employees as we
$30, on average, a month after tak­ try to keep up with demand for effi­
ing a workshop.
cient and affordable green building
Through education, hands-on products,” said Pardue. The com­
training, and distribution of weath­ pany, which has 12 employees cur­
erization, water conservation, and rently, expects to double that num­
lead poisoning prevention materi­ ber in the next four months.
als, the Community Energy Project
Pardue said individuals love their
works for a future where all mem­ product because it boosts the com­
bers of the community have af­ fort in hom es so dram atically.
fordable homes they live in with “That’s really what it’s all about,”
dignity for both themselves and he said. “And our product is much
the surrounding environment.
more affordable than double pane
And their organization is not window replacement.”
alone, said Smith.
“Saving energy has an effect and
A number of local businesses, reduces your carbon footprint,” said
public and private organizations, Smith. “Conservation energy and
and the county are also working conservation of natural resources
with members of the community go hand in hand, and it’s a win for
on ways people can reduce en­ everybody.”
ergy costs during the drafty days
Coming up on Thursday, Nov.
of winter.
10, the Community Energy Project
One local business, headquar­ will hold its second fundraising
tered in north Portland is Indow event, which is sponsored by Indow
Windows, which was founded in Windows, which will be auctioning
2010 by Chief Executive Officer off their product at the function.
Sam Pardue who wanted to find a
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the
better and less expensive way to Kiernan Community Center located
insulate the windows in his 1906 at 4940 N.E. Eighth Ave.
Portland Craftsman home.
For more information about the
After a gust of innovation, sus­ fundraiser and a schedule of the free
tainable and energy efficient de­ weatherization workshops, visit
signs, “thermal window inserts” communityenergyproject.org.
continued
from page 15