^ortlaitb (Observer
October 23, 2013
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Fred Meyer
The W eekin Review
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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
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C lassifieds
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C alendar
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R ecipe
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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.