^ortlaitb (Observer October 23, 2013 IN S ID E This page Sponsored by: Page 3 Fred Meyer The W eekin Review What's on your list today?, photo by D onovan M. S mith / T he P ortland O bserver Muslim Community Center leader Omar Shabazz surveys the damage from a fire that causes extensive losses to the building and contents at 3801 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd. Incense Blamed Fire damages Muslim Community Center op US. rw>af»sy s O pinion i pages 12-13 C lassifieds page 14-15 C alendar page 16 R ecipe page 16 A fire broke out at the Muslim Community Center on Martin Luther King Boulevard Friday and now leaders of the center are looking to get re-settled. The fire, which broke out during the center’s youth teaching hours around 4:45 p.m. likely stemmed from burning incense unattended. No injuries were reported. The damage was primarily contained to one win dowless room near the back of the building before being extinguished by firefighters. The center’s members and building’s owner are separately insured and are currently working to estab lish whose insurance they will use to cover the unde- termined costs of damage, officials said. As for the various classes, meetings, events, and times of worship that were held at the center’s mosque, leader Omar Shabazz says they are currently consider ing several re-location options to tide them over until everything is resolved. “W e’ll just have to see,” Shabazz says, “This is going to take 6 to 8 weeks. We want to galvanize our community, because everybody is wondering what are we’re gonna do.” He said the center may have to suspend its afterschool program and temporarily find a new place to meet. Contributions to help the center can be mailed to the Muslim Community Center, P.O. Box 12214, Portland, OR 97212 H orneow nership Fair on Saturday A non-profit aimed at increasing economic stability and home ownership for African-Americans and other underserved individuals will host a housing fair on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Legacy Emanuel Hospital Atrium. The African American Alliance for Homeownership event will include over 40 housing professionals, free workshops, home retention resources for current homeowners, and acontest to win a $ 1,000housing grant give-away and other prizes. The fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public; pre registration in not required. Visit aaah.org for more information.