local news
Community news Briefs
Rally to Shut
guantanamo
Local peace and justice groups
are joining an international call to
action to shut down the U.S.
prison complex at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. The protest is this
Friday, Jan. 6, departing from the
SW corner of Pioneer Courthouse
Square, SW Broadway and
Yamhill, in downtown Portland,
before a march begins at approxi-
mately 5:15 PM.
Most held at the facility have
been denied access to legal help;
many have been exposed to harsh
conditions that have been
described as torture.
The
National
Religious
Campaign
Against
Torture
(www.nrcat.org) and others are
joining Amnesty on Jan. 11, the
exact 10 year anniversary of the
detention camp’s opening, in
Washington DC for a protest.
For local information call Peace
and Justice Works at 503-236-
3065 or Portland Peaceful
Response Coalition at 503-344-
5078.
Everybody
Reads: Heidi
durrow
What if everybody read the same
book? We’d talk to each other
about issues that matter, and we’d
celebrate the power of books in
creating a stronger community.
For the tenth annual Everybody
Reads program at Multnomah
County Library, the selection is
“The Girl Who Fell from the Sky,”
by Northeast Portland native Heidi
W. Durrow.
c
o
This debut novel tells the story
of Rachel, the daughter of a
Danish mother and a black G.I.,
who becomes the sole survivor of
a family tragedy. With her strict
African American grandmother as
her new guardian, Rachel moves
to a mostly black community in
Portland, where her light brown
skin, blue eyes and beauty bring
mixed attention her way. Growing
up in the 1980s, she learns to swal-
low overwhelming grief and con-
fronts her identity as a biracial
young woman in a world that
wants to see her as either black or
white.
“I am thrilled and honored that
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is
the Multnomah County Library’s
Everybody Reads 2012 selection,”
says author Heidi Durrow. “My
hope is that the story — set in
1980s Portland — generates lively
discussions about identity and
belonging in my beloved home-
town.”
Readers can borrow or down-
load the book or audiobook from
the library; borrow one of the
extra copies available at all
Multnomah County libraries,
Oregon Public Broadcasting, or
Portland State University Library
beginning in January (while sup-
plies last). Readers are encouraged
to share these special copies with
friends, coworkers and neighbors.
(Items checked out from the
library must be returned or
renewed as usual.)
Share your thoughts at a book
discussion at your neighborhood
library, local bookstore or else-
where in the community.
Hear from author Heidi Durrow
on Tuesday, March 6, 7:30 p.m. at
the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
More information at www.mult-
colib.org .
m
m
u
n
Pet of the week
Are you looking for some bunny to love? Meet donnie, MultCoPet of the week! donnie is
very social, litterbox-trained and just 7 months old. Multnomah County Animal Services
(MCAS) is an animal rescue shelter. we offer dog and cat licensing, lost and found pet
services, and animal adoptions through our shelter in troutdale. www.MultCoPets.org.
Location: 1700 w Columbia River Hwy, troutdale, OR 97060. Shelter Hours: tues, thur and
Fri 11 am - 6 pm; wed 12 pm - 6 pm; Mon closed; Sat and Sun 11 am - 4:30 pm.
good or Bad?
Community
Meeting on
Elected Officials
Help identify the skills and abil-
ities community members want in
Portland’s mayoral and city coun-
cil candidates Thursday, Jan. 19,
from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Philip Neri
Catholic Church, Carvlin Hall,
I
t
y
c
2408 SE 16th & Division.
Portland voters deserve to know
whether mayoral and city council
candidates have the skills, tem-
perament, and wisdom to serve
our community effectively if we
elect them.
Join other Portlanders for a
unique community forum in which
community members will share
their experiences working with
city council members and use this
information to identify the skills
and abilities we want and need in
a
l
e
n
d
our elected city leaders.
A wide range of community and
neighborhood organizations have
joined together to sponsor this
forum. The forum co-sponsors
will use the input from the forum
to develop a list of desired skills
and sample questions community
organizations and individual vot-
ers can use to help them evaluate
mayoral and city council candi-
dates.
Parking is available; nearest
transit is the #4 Bus Line.
a
r
P ortland J anuary 2011
B ulletIn B oard
If you have an event you want to share
with the community, email it two weeks
in advance to The Skanner at
info@theskanner.com
Friday – Sunday January 6 -8
FABULOUS BRIdAL AFFAIR! don’t miss this free event
if you are a bride-to- be. Portland area brides-to-
Page 2 The Portland Skanner January 4, 2012
be have an opportunity to help recession proof
their wedding. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Crowne Plaza
Hotel, 1441 NE 2nd Ave.
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Embassy Suites Portland –
washington Square, 9000 Sw washington Square
Rd.
Saturday January 7
Saturday January 14
KICK StARt yOUR NEw yEAR wItH EASt PORtLANd
COMMUNIty CENtER! Checkout various fitness
programs, see other local vendors in our
community, fitness specials & raffle prizes. this is
a free community event. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. East
Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave.
For more info call 503-823-3450.
ByOF dAy (Bring your Own Friend day to IKEA). A
nationwide in-store event inviting shoppers to
benefit from a day out with their friends!
Featuring: Free breakfast, IKEA food samples, free
blue bags and much more. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
IKEA, 10280 NE Cascade Pkwy.
tuesday January 10
PORtLANd JOB FAIR! Free admission! Anyone
looking for work in Portland is encouraged to
attend this free event. Coast-to Coast Career
Fairs will also be providing free resume critique.
FIRStENBURg COMMUNIty CENtER HEALtH &
wELLNESS FAIR! the fair will run from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. and will include vendor booths, aerobics
classes at the Center’s gym and drawings for
prizes. Firstenburg Community Center is located
at 700 NE 136th Ave in Vancouver, wA