December 26, 2018 The Skanner Portland & Seattle Page 5
Events & Announcements
2018 cont’d from pg 2
DOGS IN TUNE
WITH HUMANS
When classes resumed
in late February fol-
lowing the massacre
of 17 students and staff
at Parkland’s Marjorie
Stoneman Douglas High
School, a therapy dog by
the name of Fergie was
brought in.
Fergie, an 8-year-old
cross between a golden
retriever and a poodle,
zeroed in on one young
man and sat on his feet
the entire class, barely
moving, said Aneysi Fer-
nandez, volunteer coor-
dinator of the nonprofit
group Canine Assisted
Therapy.
“It turned out that was
one of the students who
lost most of his friends
in the shooting,” said
Fernandez. “Some of our
dogs like Fergie are very
in tune with human emo-
tions.”
Several therapy ani-
mal groups helped out in
those dark days after the
Feb. 14 mass shooting.
The dogs — and in some
cases, donkeys and hors-
es — went into the cafete-
ria and classrooms. They
were also at vigils and
marches.
Fernandez’s organiza-
tion sent 35 therapy dogs
and their handlers into
the school. All of the an-
imals were trained and
selected for their calm,
happy demeanor.
Some Parkland stu-
dents specifically asked
for a dog to shadow them
during classes, saying
that the animals’ pres-
ence eased the stress
of returning to a place
where such a horrible
thing happened.
“It’s nice not to be asked
any questions, to not
have to relive the event,”
Fernandez said. “Every-
one grieves differently.
Students who didn’t want
to talk could pet a dog.”
Ten months after the
tragedy, a dozen dogs
still show up at the school
every day, mostly to sit
by the side of those teens
who need a calming pres-
ence.
— AP writer Tamara Lush
in St. Petersburg, Florida
‘IT’S IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD’
It was known as the
Wall of Forgotten Na-
tives, a sprawling home-
less encampment that
sprouted along a Min-
neapolis freeway sound
barrier over the summer.
Most of those living
there were American
Indians, who make up
an outsized portion of
the homeless population
in the city, and the tents
stood on what was once
Dakota land.
University of Minne-
sota medical and law
student Kristina Tester
grew up nearby and be-
gan helping at the camp
as part of an elective ro-
tation for her degree. She
began doing clean-nee-
dle exchanges and con-
tinued on as a volunteer
for months after her as-
signment ended.
“There’s really not
much of a difference be-
tween myself and any
of the residents who are
here at the homeless
camp, other than sort of
luck of the draw and geo-
graphic-political lottery,”
she said.
The 26-year-old Tester
said she organized groups
of university students to
do laundry for camp res-
idents. She also served
meals about once a week
with neighbors. Recently
she delivered cookies and
blankets made by high
school students.
Tester, who is non-In-
dian, said she did it be-
cause “it’s in my neigh-
borhood.”
At its peak, the encamp-
ment had 300 people, but
they began moving into a
temporary shelter across
the highway as winter
approached.
Maggie Thunder Hawk,
56, an Oglala Lakota from
Wanblee, South Dakota,
picked up two blankets
that Tester delivered.
“If it wasn’t for her,
we’d be cold, because she
brings us warm blankets,”
Thunder Hawk said.
“I love her.”
— AP writer Jeff Baenen
in Minneapolis
AP writer Jocelyn Geck-
er in San Francisco con-
tributed to this story.
Community
Calendar 2018
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31
FREE TRIMET RIDES ON NYE: Once again, TriMet is offering free bus,
MAX and Portland Streetcar service after 8 p.m. on New Year’s
Eve! No need to tap your HOP card or buy a ticket at the station.
Transfers are free, too. And with special extended late-night MAX
service, you can get to the celebration — and home again — the
safe and smart way. Starting at 8 p.m.
brought to you by
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2
Visit us at a store near you
Portland Metro
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
LATIN NIGHT: No Vacancy Lounge, in partnership with Trending
Latin Nights, presents another edition of Latin Dance Night at The
Lounge. The event includes a Bachata lesson by Inaki Villanueva
(8-9pm) followed by a night full of Salsa, Bachata, Reggaeton and
other Latin rhythms with DJ Ariel until Midnight. 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.,
$5 Online / $10 Door, No Vacancy Lounge, 235 SW 1st Ave.
COOKIES & COLORING: Escape the hectic holiday madness and drop
in for some relaxing coloring and thumbprint art. Cookies and col-
oring supplies will be provided. All ages welcome! 2 – 4 p.m., West
Linn Public Library, 1595 Burns Street, West Linn.
READ TO THE DOGS AT HOLLYWOOD LIBRARY: Improve your reading
skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog.
The dogs and handlers are from Pet Partners From 6 – 7:30 p.m.,
Hollywood Library, 4040 NE Tillamook St.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
KWANZAA CELEBRATION: Join us as we celebrate the third princi-
ple. During Kwanzaa, the community is encouraged to consider the
principles of collective work and responsibility and to find ways to
apply them throughout the new year. From 5:30 – 7 :30 p.m., North
Portland Library, 512 N. Killingsworth St.
EROTIC CITY PRINCE TRIBUTE: The Erotic City Prince Tribute comes
to The Secret Society. Come dance the night away to your favorite
jams. $10 advance, $12 day of show. From 9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m., The
Secret Society, 116 NE Russel St.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29
STAR WARS OREGON AT THE GALAXY BLOOD DRIVE: The Force is
strong with blood donors! Come to the Galaxy Blood Drive to save
a life and make a difference. The members of Star Wars Oregon
will be there to represent the dark side and light side of the Force.
Help save the galaxy....one pint at a time! 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., 3131
N Vancouver Ave.
NOON YEAR’S EVE PARTY FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Celebrate the new
year with your young child, ages 0-5. Enjoy dancing, balloons, ac-
tivities and snacks. It’s a family friendly way to ring in 2019! From
11 – 12:30 p.m., Northwest Library, 2300 NW Thurman St.
GET ON UP, THE REBIRTH OF FUNK: Takimba & DJ saucy and are
throwing down a New Year’s dance party featuring remixes and
mashups from all your favorite funk. They will be teaming up
throughout the night featuring samples and beats by an all-star
cast including Stevie Wonder, Aretha, P-funk, Prince and many
more. From 9 p.m. – 2 a.m., Goodfoot Pub & Lounge, 2845 SE Stark.
NEW YEAR’S CARD MAKE & TAKE: Ring in the new year with this
card using alcohol inks and the word punch board from We R Mem-
ory Keepers. From 1 – 3 p.m., Craft Warehouse,130530 SE Mill Plain
Blvd., Vancouver.
JO ANN HARDESTY SWEARING-IN CELEBRATION: With the new year
coming, Jo Ann Hardesty is bringing new changes to City Hall and
she’s starting by celebrating her official inauguration where the
people belong — Portland City Hall. Join us for a great night of his-
tory in the making as we welcome our new city commissioner to
the dais. Free and open to the public. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Portland City
Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave.
NO IVY LEAGUE: Join Portland Parks & Recreation’s No Ivy League
and SOLVE for a morning of invasive species removal and in Forest
Park. Tools, gloves, instruction, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Please dress for the weather, bring rain gear, wear sturdy shoes
and bring a water bottle. Volunteers will take a short hike to the
site and will be working on uneven ground. From 9 a.m. – noon.
2960 NW Upshur St.
GFO LEARN & CHAT: At the Genealogical Forum of Oregon’s Learn
& Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular
expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences
and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that
work for them. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and
help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan. From
10 a.m. – noon, Genealogical Forum of Oregon, 2505 Southeast 11th
Avenue, Suite B-18.
FAMILY SPANISH CLASS FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS: Learn
alongside your child with our immersive Spanish language learn-
ing class! Songs, games, and lots of movement make these classes
fun & engaging for the whole family! Register online. Classes start
Jan. 2 and run through March 20th, at 5:15pm in Muir Hall at Tabor-
space, 5441 SE Belmont St.
Seattle Metro
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
JEREMY BELL, UTOPIAN BLACKNESS: Jeremy Bell’s mixed-media
portraits of his family in ink, encaustic, graphite, spray paint,
charcoal, wax, and wood celebrate the beauty of blackness. On
view through Mar. 24, 2019. Northwest African American Museum,
2300 S Massachusetts St.
HAIKU NORTHWEST: Haiku Northwest is an enthusiastic and friend-
ly group of poets from around the Seattle metropolitan area who
are dedicated to writing, studying, and appreciating haiku and
related poetic genres in English. We meet monthly to share and
critique our work, and new members are always welcome to at-
tend. 7 p.m., Third Place Books Lake Forest Park, 17171 Bothell Way
NE, Lake Forest Park.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31
ANNUAL ‘MOULIN ROUGE!’ NYE SING-ALONG: The Moulin Rouge Sing-
Along will continue its tradition of ringing in the New Year with
Baz Luhrmann’s ode to 19th-century Paris and 20th-century pop.
For $15, you’ll get a “bling ring,” a drink, and the satisfaction of
belting along with Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, and company.
As always, you’ll get out of the theater early enough to toddle over
to Seattle Center for the fireworks show. 6:30 p.m., SIFF Cinema
Uptown, 511 Queen Ann Ave.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
JOLABOKAFLOD PDX: Bringing the Icelandic celebration of “Yule
Book Flood” to Portland for the first time! Jolabokaflod is a national
holiday tradition in Iceland where people exchange books as gifts
on Christmas Eve then spend all night hiding away and reading
them over mugs of hot chocolate (spiked or not!). Nordia House,
3:30 p.m., 8800 SW Oleson Rd.
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