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Not on the Same Page: Local markets react to plastic bag ban proposal CARI HACHMANN THE PORTLAND OBSERVER Last week, lawmakers in Salem held a debate on Senate Bill 536, which if passed, would make Oregon the first state to ban single-use plastic bags, allowing customers the option to pay a nickel for a paper checkout bag or bring their own re-usable bags. Supporters of the ban include several environmental and legislative groups, as well as some larger grocery retailers who like the idea of encouraging customers to purchase reusable bags sold in their stores. Launching campaigns against the proposal is the plastic industry, arguing that plastic bags barely account for litter problems and offer recycling as a better alternative. As the lobbyists lock horns in the state capitol, the plastic frenzy flutters amid smaller shop owners, like local convenient stores and corner markets , who are just beginning to consider the reality of losing those plastic bags that slip so conveniently over six-packs and snickers bars. BY
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PHOTO BY CARI HACHMANN/THE PORTLAND OBSERVER Charles Bedford of Going Street Market helps longtime customer Latrell McNeely check out his purchases with a plastic bag. Lawmakers are considering a bill to ban the plastic bags to help the environment.
Grant Fields on Path to Fulfillment After decade of planning, designs ready for viewing CLIFF PFENNING THE PORTLAND OBSERVER It’s been more than a decade and approaching $3 million in the making, but the turf field project at Grant High School in northeast Portland appears to be on the path to fulfillment. Portland Public Schools, Portland Parks and Recreation and Friends of Grant Athletics will present designs for what the fields at Grant Park, Grant High School and neighboring Hollyrood Elementary School might look like with improvements that include two artificial turf fields. The football playing field within the Grant Park Bowl and the adjacent baseball and soccer fields are headed for all-weather turf, while the Hollyrood Elementary field will be revamped with BY
PHOTO BY CLIFF PFENNING/THE PORTLAND OBSERVER The muddy football field at Grant Park will be transitioned into an all-weather, artificial turf field thanks to the construction of new athletic fields serving Grant High School in northeast Portland.
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March 9, 2011
Week in The Review
when he lost control of the Triumph Daytona and hit a tree. A bystander performed CPR, but Golyshevskiy died at the scene.
Goldschmidt Portrait Removed from Capitol
The Portland Public School board voted Monday to ratify a new labor contract with teachers. The agreement freezes Cost of Living Adjustments for two years and includes provisions for creating a new system for how teacher performance is evaluated. The agreement is likely to save the district as much as $2.8 million.
Teachers Agree to Contract
A portrait of former Oregon Gov. Neil Goldschmidt was removed from the Capitol building in Salem Monday. Legislative leaders said they took the action out of respect of a sexual abuse victim who died recently. Goldschmidt admitted to having a sexual relationship with the girl decades ago, starting when Truck and School Bus Collide she was 13. A school bus carrying students to House Intruder Calls 9-1-1 schools in Gaston was struck by a A case of criminal trespass led to an passing tractor-trailer Tuesday unusual set of 9-1-1 calls Monday morning, injuring 10 people. The night – one from the Portland home- bus was stopped to pick up stuowner and one from the intruder. dents when the tractor-trailer Timothy Chapek locked himself in a rounded a corner and the truck bathroom and called 9-1-1 because slowed, but the trailer swung sidehe believed the homeowner had a ways and hit the bus. Some stugun and would shoot him. The ho- dents were injured in the collision. meowner also called 9-1-1 having returned to his home near Washing- Wu Stands Firm on His Job ton Park to find Chapek taking a Oregon Congressman David Wu said Monday he is still able to pershower. form the functions of his office deVancouver Teen dies in spite his recent battles with mental motorcycle accident health that led several of his staff A Vancouver teen died Sunday members to resign. The Democrat evening in Hillsboro while appar- spoke at the Washington County ently test-driving a motorcycle prior Public Forum and said his recent to a sale. Mark Golyshevskiy, 18, troubles led to him seeking out treatwas 3astbound on a tree-lined road ment for his mental health.
Bomb Plot Defense: Entrapment (AP) — Lawyers for a young man accused of trying to detonate a bomb at Portland’s holiday tree-lighting ceremony suggest in court filings that they plan to argue that the FBI tried to steer their client into a crime. Mohamed Mohamud's lawyers asked Monday in federal court that the government disclose how it trains agents for undercover operations, particularly stings such as the one that led to Mohamud's arrest. They asked for any materials "re-
garding the issue of entrapment," adding that serious questions exist about their client's "vulnerability, predisposition and inducement." The now-20-year-old Somali American is charged with attempting to ignite a weapon of mass destruction. He has pleaded not guilty. The men he thought were his coconspirators were really FBI agents and there was never a real explosive device. Prosecutors have until April 7 to respond.
Homeowner Assistance Forum for Seniors The challenges seniors are facing to maintain homeownership because of economic hardships will be the background for a homeowners’ assistance forum hosted by the local Minority Homeowners Assistance Collaborative. Area residents are invited to be part of the conversation to help find solutions to keep local seniors in their homes. The meeting will take place Tuesday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, 4134 N. Vancouver Ave. The collaborative was won fi-
nancial support from the Portland Housing Bureau to assist senior homeowners, 55 and older, in north and northeast Portland who need supportive services or referrals to prevent foreclosure. A free Homeownership Retention Program connects struggling homeowners with community resources such as loss mitigation services, home repairs, tax deferments and legal assistance. For more information, contact Shalonda Menefee at 503-288-2923, extension 123 or by email at Shalonda@pcrihome.org .
March 9, 2011
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INSIDE Week in The Review
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LOCAL NEWS College Grad Earns Title Named Miss Black Oregon USA 2011
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OPINION pages 8-9
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CLASSIFIEDS MARCH CALENDAR AUTO REVIEW page 19
FOOD page 28
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Helen Kidane took home the coveted title in the “the Crowning Event,” of the Miss Black Oregon USA 2011 pageant held at the Scottish Rite Center. In a marvelous display of intelligence, grace and total theater performance, 12 beautiful, talented and educated young women competed in the Feb. 27 scholarship event. The “Battle Royal” took place in five categories; personal interview, health and fitness, talent, evening gown, and a question and answer segment from the judges. Kidane, 21, graduated from Portland State University with bachelor’s degrees in Health Sciences and Community Health Education. She will advance on to represent the state of Oregon in the National Miss Black USA Scholarship 2011 competition in Washington D.C. Emerging from the beautiful harmony of glamour, dance, song, spoken word poetry and intellectual brilliance, the other top finishes in the competition were first runner up Dyvisha Gordan, 17, of De La Salle High School. The second runner up was Sandrina Powell, 17, of St. Mary’s Academy. The third runner up was Raynetta Steward, 21, a graduate of David Douglas. The
Helen Kidane is crowned the new Miss Black Oregon USA. forth runner up was Lauren Lucas, 17, of Grant High School. The Miss Black Oregon Scholarship Foundation cultivates excellence and awards scholarships to
further the education of deserving young women. The organization is a community-based group advocating and demonstrating community service.
Despondent Man Fires on Police Critically injured officer expected to fully recover A 61-year-old man opened fire on police from inside his southeast Portland home Sunday, wounding one officer at the front door and another at a park across the street, authorities said. According to court documents, Ralph Turner wanted to commit suicide because of ongoing medical problems and hoped police would shoot and kill him. Two officers checked on Turner
The officers knocked on the door and were met with gunfire, he said. One of those officers, a nine-year veteran, received minor injuries from shrapnel, and the other retreated to call for help. A third police officer who responded to the scene was shot by the suspect with a scope rifle, Reese said. Parik Singh, a 13-year veteran of the bureau’s East Precinct, was hit in the lower abdomen and underwent surgery at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. He is expected to make a full recovery. Ralph Turner Negotiators eventually talked after getting a report that he was Turner out of the home, where podespondent and threatening to com- lice found a handgun, shotgun and mit suicide by taking pills, Portland continued on page 5 Police Chief Mike Reese said.
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March 9, 2011
SPORTS Local Teams Enter Tourneys Lincoln, Benson, and Roosevelt advance The boys’ basketball teams from Lincoln, Benson and Roosevelt all played their way into their respective state tournaments which begin this week. Lincoln beat Sheldon of Eugene 59-44 Friday and will play Central Catholic at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 at the Rose Garden in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A tournament. Benson reached the Class 5A tournament with a 65-54 win over visiting Pendleton Friday and will play Mountain View of Bend in the quarterfinals at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. The boys and girls finals are set for Saturday night. Roosevelt was scheduled to open play in the 4A tourney in Corvallis on Tuesday. The Roughriders reached the tournament for the second time in four years, having played in the class 5A final in 2007. Jefferson, the 5A champion the past three years, had its season end Friday when it lost at Milwaukie.
PHOTO BY CLIFF PFENNING/THE PORTLAND OBSERVER
Roosevelt junior Juwan Feliciano showcases his excitement during the Roughriders’ 65-54 playoff win over Sweet Home Friday.
Coach Signs Contract Extension Keeps McMillan in Portland through 2013 The Portland Trail Blazers signed Head Coach Nate McMillan to a two-year contract extension, it was announced Tuesday by General Manager Rich Cho. "With his NBA and USA Basketball track record, Nate has established himself as one of the premier minds in the game of basketball," said Cho. "What Nate has accomplished in the last few years is truly remarkable and getting his contract extended was a top priority for the franchise and me." McMillan, 46, is currently in his sixth year with the Trail Blazers after signing with the team prior to the 2005-06 season. He has a 234-239 (.495) record with the Trail Blazers and a 446-422 (.514) overall mark in 11 NBA seasons with Portland and Seattle. He is the second longest tenured Trail Blazers head coach behind only Jack Ramsay.
Nate McMillan "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to finish what we started," said McMillan. "Portland is home for me now and I greatly appreciate the bond between the fans and this basketball team. It's a very special place to be and it's the only place I want to be. "I want to thank all the support that I've been shown along the way, especially that of our owner, Mr. Allen, who time and time again demonstrates his commitment to this franchise and winning basketball. I also want to thank Larry Miller, Rich Cho, my coaching staff and everyone in the Trail Blazers family as we continue on this journey of bringing another championship to Portland," McMillan said.
Saadiq Calhoun
Outstanding Season Again Saadiq Calhoun, an 8th grader at City Christian School, has had an outstanding basketball season, helping lead her junior high team to the playoffs for the second year. As a seventh grader, Saadiq helped lead the Lions to the Metro Christian Junior High League Championship game. This year, Saadiq averaged a league high 34 points per game while leading the Lions to the semi-finals of the league playoffs. Saadiq also holds a league record for scoring 42 points in a regular season game.
March 9, 2011
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Not on the Same Page continued
from front
"Paper or plastic?" says Helen Lee to a young man purchasing groceries inside Cullen's Corner Market and Deli on North Alberta Street. "It doesn't matter," the customer says, and Lee smiles gently as she packs his few items into a small, brown paper bag. As a longtime store co-owner with her husband, Lee says she has used brown paper bags for quite some time now. "We use more paper bags, because plastic bags are...not good for the environment,” Lee said. "I think that before, we used more plastic bags, but the neighborhood has changed, and now more people use paper," she says, though she still gives customers the choice. Lee and her husband's market may be one of the few convenient stores in north and northeast Portland that offer paper carryout bags as first resort, but the small retailers like nearly everyone else also provides plastic, especially to those customers who have to walk in the rain. Chris Chung, owner of Alberta Street Market, says that he does not think the proposed ban will harm his business financially. "It won't affect me much,” Chung said. “We might have to pay an extra dollar or two to get more paper bags, but people will still shop here and
we will provide paper bags." However, Chung believes that his customers might be the ones burdened by a plastic bag ban. "A lot of people walk or ride bikes here, so it will be inconvenient for those customers, especially in Oregon where it rains a lot, I don't see how paper bags are going to work," he said. Despite thoughts of paper bags melting midway through a customer’s rainy commute, Chung sees the banning of plastic bags as a good thing, environmentally. "We all have to contribute somehow for the next generation. Whatever we have now might not be there in 2200," said Chung, “and what they’re doing now is better for our environment.” Other local convenient stores shared contrasting opinions. The manager of the KC Food Market on North Killingsworth Street, Matthew Yi, outright disagreed with the 5-cent charge for paper bags and claimed that there was nothing wrong with using plastic. Yi said, "We cannot charge 5 cents to customers because they might not be happy about it." Though Yi thinks the charge might displease clientele, he realizes that it would be optional, saying, "its better if they bring their own re-usable bag." Co-owner of Killingsworth Market, Kyung Hee Koh, speaks on
Despondent Man Fires on Police continued
from page 3
scope rifle in the house, Reese said. He was charged with aggravated murder. The house is a duplex in a gradually gentrifying but still industrial area. The shooting took place blocks from the iconic Aladdin Theater, and surprised Portland's Sunday brunch crowd.
Juan Carlos Munoz said he heard gunshots at about 9:20 a.m. He dressed quickly and stepped outside, where he saw a police officer take at least one bullet in the park. "He wasn't moving too much, but he had a vest on," Munoz said. "There was a lot of shooting, but they pulled him out pretty quickly." Associated Press contributed to this story.
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similar terms. "Everybody here uses plastic bags 100 percent" and “using small plastic bags saves our business, money,” she said. On the prospects of customers bringing re-usable bags, Koh said, right now, only, "One or two white people bring their own bags, but blacks and everybody else don't bring their own bag." In an increasingly gentrified neighborhood, not everyone is going to be on the same page, if on the page at all. One storeowner was not even aware of the debate nor his
potential loss of plastic bags. "I didn't hear about it! I didn't know," said Mohammad Musa, manager of In and Out Food Market on North Albina Avenue, when asked for his opinion about the proposed bill that could go into effect as early as November if it passes in the Legislature. Once briefed on the issues, he said, "I don't think it will affect people much, especially since that will be the only choice they have. But for us, it will cost more definitely, because paper bags are more expensive than plastic." Though some storeowners refuse to shrug off some of the downsides that would make the bill passing a rough transition, there was some agreement that paper bags
cost more than plastic; paper bags stand no chance against Oregon weather for those traveling by foot or bike; the 5-cent charge will irritate unacknowledged customers; and not everybody will remember to bring re-usable bags, if they even own one. But many embraced the potential burdens as an inevitable favor to the environment. As one customer said, as Going Street Market Owner Charles Bedford packed her few items into a notorious black plastic sack, “It ain’t passed yet. But I guess I have to buy one of those (reusable) bags.” Bedford agrees. He will wait to see if the bill passes or not before he draws a conclusion on the banning of plastic bags for his store.
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March 9, 2011
Library Offers Music Downloads Free and legal service expected to be popular
For everyone who’s ever heard a song on the radio and wanted to add it their collection, wanted a hit single off an album, or just wanted to explore the work of new musical artists, Multnomah County Library has
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library’s website at multcolib.org/ freegal. This service is free for all Multnomah County Library cardholders, and all downloads may be kept permanently. “Providing this service is a reflection of the library’s priorities,” said Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke. “It gives our patrons access to more of the materials they want, in a format that is convenient and accessible while being highly efficient for the library. We anticipate that this will be a very popular new service.” Each library cardholder can downVailey Oehlke load up to three songs per week (156 per year) and, unlike with checked a new, free online service. Freegal Music, a downloadable out materials, keep the songs formusic service like iTunes and oth- ever. All that is needed to access ers, is now available through the this service is a Multnomah County
Library card number and PIN. Freegal Music provides access to the Sony Music Entertainment catalog, which includes hundreds of thousands of songs, more than 100 genres of music, and more than 50 record labels. No special software is needed to use the service, and there are no digital rights management restrictions. Downloading of songs is completely free and legal for library cardholders. Songs are downloaded in a universally compatible MP3 format, so they can be saved to any computer, mobile device or MP3 player, including an iPod. Songs can be downloaded at home or at computer stations in libraries via a USB device, such as a flash drive or MP3 player.
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Whether it’s a research ques- library account, the answer is now Library’s new text-a-librarian sertion, a question about library ser- only as far away as your mobile vice. Multnomah County Library vices, or a question related to your phone with Multnomah County is collaborating with other libraries to offer patrons this service around the clock. To text a question to a librarian, a patron simply sends it with the word multcolib to 66746. A librarian responds within a few minutes. There is no charge to use the service, other than the users standard text messaging rate. Text messaging augments the many other ways Multnomah County Library patrons can connect with their library, including by chat, e-mail, phone, and on Facebook and Twitter. Advertise with diversity in The
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iPad2 Beats Competition on Size, Price (AP) – South Korean giant Samsung Electronics admits it faces a tough challenge to compete with Apple's new slimmer and cheaper iPad. The iPad 2 unveiled last week is
one-third the thickness of its predecessor (about one-third of an inch) and also thinner than Samsung's latest Galaxy gadget. "We will have to improve the parts that are inadequate," saod Lee
The iPad 2 with a Smart Cover is shown area after the launch of the tablet computer during an Apple event last week in San Francisco.
TriMet Tests Audible Pedestrian Warnings System triggered when bus driver starts turning TriMet has begun testing a system that makes automatic announcements when a bus is turning. Ten buses have been equipped with the external audible warning system. When the operator turns the steering wheel to enter a turn, an external announcement is triggered, announcing “Pedestrians, bus is turning.” The announcement will be made in both English and Spanish. This test will help the agency determine if an automatic audible warning will make it safer for those near a turning bus. It was recommended that TriMet explore the technology as part of the comprehensive safety review initiated following the fatal bus crash last April. A few transit agencies including Baltimore, Cleveland and Washington, D.C., have experimented with similar systems. “We are testing this system to see if it helps pedestrians and bicyclists be more aware that a bus is
turning,” said Shelly Lomax, TriMet Operations Executive Director. The 10 buses will be put in service on lines 14-Hawthorne and 15Belmont/NW 23rd. These routes allow TriMet to test the warning device in commercial, industrial and residential environments. The buses will be rotated to other lines for additional testing. The announcement will be activated if the steering wheel is turned one revolution to the right or left. Buses changing lanes should not activate the system. The audio level is set at 100 decibels, which is the same level as TriMet’s external automatic stop announcement). The use of this system does not change TriMet’s legal and professional obligation to operate safely, be alert and scan the intersection before turning. Part of the evaluation includes feedback from people living, working, walking, biking and driving nearby, as well as TriMet operators. Comments can be emailed to comments@trimet.org or by calling 503-238-RIDE (7433) weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Don-Joo, executive vice president of the Korean firm's mobile division. "Apple made it very thin." Apple is also winning on price so far. Samsung's original seven-inch screen Galaxy Tab was priced at nearly $900 if bought without a twoyear contract from mobile opera-
tors, while the cheapest iPad 2 costs $499. Samsung has not announced pricing for its new 10.1-inch tablet. Samsung has sold two million Galaxy Tabs since October 2010 while Apple sold 15 million iPads in April-December. Rival manufacturers have been
scrambling to bring their own tablet computers to market since Apple introduced the iPad last year. Overall sales of tablets, which can be used to surf the Web, read electronic books, watch videos and more, are forecast to hit 55 million this year.
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March 9, 2011
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OPINION
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com.
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Standing Up for the Poor, Working Class Congress should reject cuts to housing programs BY JUDGE GREG MATHIS
Once again, the Republican Party is showing that it cares very little about the average American and their struggles. While taking a stab and crafting a budget that will serve the nation in the long-term, Republican members of the House of Representatives proposed cutting $5.7 billion from affordable housing programs. They also want to eliminate more than $550 million from a program that offsets rent costs for low-income senior citizens and do away with over $200 million that helps people with disabilities pay for housing. If that weren’t enough, they also want to end funding for a program that provides counseling to families fighting foreclosure. The recession has seen an increase in the
number of homeless people in this country. With so many Americans out of work or employed in low paying positions, rent is an expense that eats away at a large chunk of whatever income they bring in. Without these government subsidies, we’ll see more and more families forced into the streets. Similarly, foreclosure counseling has helped a great number of people stay in their homes. Without access to this service, more people will lose their greatest asset. Of all the programs the Republicans could look to cut, housing is the one area they should leave alone. It’s inconceivable that a political party would fight so hard to extend tax cuts for the rich while working equally hard to keep the poor down and to move the middle class into poverty and homelessness. Congress has gone back and forth, arguing on a budget that would carry the federal government through the remainder of this fiscal year. There is a sense of urgency; if no agreement can be reached, the government will shut down and any ‘non essential’ government business would cease.
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Federal workers would be out of work and the services they provide no longer available, creating frustration for all of us. President Obama just approved a temporary budget that will keep the government running through March 18. But, he and Congress need to decide on a longer term budget, one that will keep the government funded through Sept. 30. Already, there is some dissatisfaction with the $4 billion in cuts in the temporary measure. Indeed, America has to make some tough decisions about how it spends its money if the nation is to reduce the deficit. Intellectually, most Americans understand and accept that truth. The progressive thinkers among us just don’t want those cuts to come at the expense of the poor and working class. Call your Congressman and express outrage over the Republican budget proposal. Tell them to keep their hands off housing programs. Demand that they stand up for the average American. Greg Mathis is a former Michigan District Court Judge and current syndicated television show judge.
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OPINION The Truth Will Eventually Set Us Free Media flunks WikiLeaks 101 BY WILLIAM A. COLLINS
Maybe we were fortunate that the U.S. press chose to print any WikiLeaks disclosures at all. Given the media's generally supportive stance of unilateral American foreign policy, it could have simply said, "We're not interested." Luckily it did better than that, but not much. The media reported articles of minor diplomatic embarrassment with glee, but let matters revealing serious U.S. government perfidy or brutality slide. Take Honduras. There was always strong suspicion that the state and defense departments had quietly supported the military that overthrew the populist president. Natu-
rally, our media never noticed. It has always taken a dim view of liberal presidents. But then WikiLeaks provided chapter and verse of our involvement. Still no coverage. An even deeper diplomatic cesspool bubbles daily in the Middle East and Pakistan. The United States has conducted illegal warfare in Yemen and Pakistan for some time. Our authoritarian allies there and elsewhere have long engaged in brutal repressions in the name of anti-terrorism. Much of this calumny WikiLeaks has now revealed. Yet the press considers it a nonissue. Even the graphic video of an American helicopter gunning down Iraqi civilians in Baghdad generated little media investigation or follow-up. Unfortunately this ho-hum response to the most significant disclosure of government impropriety
since the Pentagon Papers hardly comes as a surprise. The press tends to share Wall Street's perspective and back Washington's interventionist foreign policy. To wit, my local paper just headlined an Associated Press story, "More Positive Signs for Economy." It's as though unemployment and foreclosures simply don't exist in the media's parallel universe. The messages behind the protests at last summer's arrogant G20 summit in Toronto received the same "blind-eye" coverage. Much ink was consumed recounting damage to property, mounting arrests, and dismissive comments by world leaders. Any parallel analysis of the destructive wealthheavy economic policies promulgated by those leaders landed on the cutting room floor. Media support of our various wars is equally plain.
Just before Christmas, hundreds of military veterans and supporters gathered in the snow in front of the White House to protest the war in Afghanistan. More than 130 vets were arrested. That probably wasn't as painful an ordeal as their basic training. But in our society, willingness to risk jail time for one's beliefs marks' a real commitment. Nonetheless most of the mainstream media, including The New York Times, didn't report a word. Conservatives are more blessed. They don't need to get arrested. They hold a rally and earn front page coverage. Check out the tea party. By contrast, a liberal coalition convened last summer's U.S. Social Forum in Detroit. More than 20,000 people debated issues and conceived strategies. Somehow, the cat got journalists' tongues on that one, too.
So don't expect WikiLeaks' dramatic revelations to lead to change in the short run. Since the mainstream media is a co-conspirator in our nation's corporate pro-war culture, the tide of domestic disgust with wars rises very slowly. But abroad, it ascends far faster, and pressures are mounting internationally for us to behave ourselves, as we have recently been forced to do in Egypt. Don't hold your breath, but don't give up either. Just watch Al-Jazeera English, which you can only view on the Internet unless you live in Toledo, Ohio, or Burlington, Vermont, or Washington, D.C. The truth will eventually set us free. Meanwhile, I nominate Julian Assange to be Man of the Year. OtherWords columnist William A. Collins is a former state representative and a former mayor of Norwalk, Conn.
Black America’s True Religion: Optimism the long-term unemployed; and the housing and foreclosure crisis has pushed the black homeownership rate down to its level of 15 years ago and left more than 20 percent of African American homeowners in danger of losing their homes. And yet, in a survey released last month, blacks by a large margin declared themselves – in sharp contrast to whites – full of optimism about their financial standing for the present and the future. The survey, conducted by the Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University, found that 85 percent of blacks are “optimistic” about their future, compared to 72 percent of whites; that 65 percent feel “financially secure;” and that 59 percent of blacks believe that “when it comes to the
Getting through tough financial times BY LEE A. DANIELS
There they go again. Don’t they know any better? African Americans as a group continue to be battered worse than any other Americans by the nation’s three-year-long-and-counting economic crisis. In both stand-alone and comparative terms, from the top to the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, they’ve suffered a severe loss of the little wealth they possessed and have almost no protection against a future economic shock. For example, their unemployment rate, now at 15.7 percent, has been in double digits (nearly double that of whites) since the Great Recession began three years ago. They’re more likely than whites to be trapped among
availability of good jobs for American workers … the best times are yet to come. Only 40 percent of whites think that is so. Latino Americans, though less confident than blacks, are also markedly more optimistic on most measures than whites.
some that blacks are simply misperceiving the seriousness of their predicament. These studies’ other findings indicate blacks are fully aware of how unequal and precarious their economic standing remains. Further, the Pew survey of January 2010 reported that more than 80 percent of blacks, compared with about a third of whites, believe that racism remains a significant factor in American life. Nonetheless, the surveys also found that blacks, and to a lesser extent Latino Americans, feel that under a Democratic administration, they have a chance for improvement. In other words, blacks aren’t in a swoon now that the President of the United States is a black American. Instead, I’ve explained it as a matter “equanimity” born of historical experience and “faith.” Those explanations apply to the findings of the Washington Post-Kaiser-Harvard poll as well. They stem from the most sustaining root of black Americans’ society—their profound religiosity. The last finding of the Post-KaiserHarvard poll revealed that 83 percent of blacks (compared to 50 percent of whites and 61 percent of Latinos) count “religion or faith in God as very important in helping them get through tough financial times. They lead one to conclude that, whatever their denomination, black Americans have an over-arching common religion: optimism. Lee A. Daniels is Director of Communications for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
The survey marks at least the fourth time in the last year that a major study has reached the same conclusion: blacks (and Latinos), though significantly worse off than whites, are significantly more optimistic about the country’s future and their own.
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The survey marks at least the fourth time in the last year that a major study has reached the same conclusion: blacks (and Latinos), though significantly worse off than whites, are significantly more optimistic about the country’s future and their own. So said a study by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, faculty members at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. So stated a white paper on the impact of the Great Recession released in June by the Pew Research Center, and a January 2010 report also released by Pew. The title of the latter – “Blacks Upbeat about Progress, Prospects” – accurately reflects the psychological state of the majority of black Americans now, despite the economic devastation they’ve endured and are likely to face for years to come. In articles on the findings of the previous studies, I’ve dismissed assertions made by
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March 9, 2011
Arts&
Entertainment
Powerful Play for Women’s History Month IFCC hosts moving story
PassinArt: A Theatre Company will present a moving story of a family surviving the rigors of marriage and an unexpected life
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changing diagnosis of breast days and Sundays Tickets cancer that causes a mother available online at of two to question her faith, passinart.net, Reflections marriage, family and friends. Coffee House and Talking She eventually learns to relinDrum Books, 446 N.E. quish her ideas of how it is Killingsworth or call supposed to go, ask for what 503.235.8079 for more inforshe needs and accept the love mation. The play will feature and limitations of family, Portland’s artists RaChelle friends and herself. Schmidt as Angela and KenTough Titty by the late Afneth Dembo as her husband, rican American playwright and artist Oni Faida Lampley Shaka, along with Shelley Johnson, Anya Pearson, celebrates the constructive Harold Phillips, Laura Li, engagement with the incurable uncertainty of life. It’s a Isha Tell, and directed by A. journey of love, courage, huNannette Taylor. mor and healing, that will take Oni Faida Lampley The production was made the stage at Ethos at the Interpossible in part by Legacy state Firehouse Cultural Center, through March 26, with Friday Health and Susan G. Komen for the and Saturday performances at 8 Cure of Oregon and Southwest 5340 N Interstate Ave. Shows are Friday, March 11 p.m. and 3 p.m. matinees on Satur- Washington.
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It boils down to one insistent refrain: Authority Must Always Be Questioned. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest pits trickster convict Randle Patrick McMurphy against icy, authoritative Nurse Ratched. A band of crazies gets half-inspired, half destroyed by McMurphy’s rebellion and the question remains… was it worth it anyway? Chief Bromden (Tim Sampson) understands more than Nurse Ratched (Gretchen Corbett) suspects in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Playing now through March 27 on the Main Stage theater at Portland Center Stage.
March 9, 2011
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Arts&
Entertainment
50 Great Years of Cultural Expression Alvin Ailey dancers inspire, enlighten
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Linda Celeste Sims.
PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American ?Cultural Ambassador to the World, will inspire, enlighten and entertain when the New York company continues its world tour with a stop in Portland. Led by the renowned Judith Jamison in her final year as artistic director, and joined by artistic director designate Robert Battle, the tour will celebrate five decades of Revelations, an American classic called a must-see for all people. A short film will be shown prior to the performances, giving audiences the opportunity to learn about the inspiration, meaning and significance of this modern dance masterpiece that is a tribute to Alvin Ailey’s genius and the African American heritage. “We are thrilled to share this exciting time in Ailey’s history,” said Jamison. ?We’re on a journey that began 52 years ago because of Alvin Ailey’s groundbreaking vision. His Revelations is a profound manifestation of how dance can celebrate the human spirit and impact our hearts and minds.” Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets are available at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts box office and from Ticketmaster Outlets.
FIREFIGHTER $21.96 - $30.26 Hourly We are seeking disciplined individuals who would like to serve their community and are drawn to challenges. This is your opportunity to join one of the most progressive, innovative and dynamic fire departments in the nation. This is demonstrated each day through the dedication and hard work of our 400 + firefighters and 35 civilian staff members. The Department takes great pride in its ability to serve the needs of our diverse community. Each day, our citizens call upon us to respond to a variety of emergencies including: structure fires, emergency medical responses, hazardous material and technical rescue situations. Firefighters are primarily responsible for the protection of life and property through firefighting activities. This is general duty firefighting work including combating, extinguishing and preventing fires, providing emergency medical services and maintaining fire department equipment, apparatus and quarters. Requires graduation from High School or equivalent and a minimum of 18 years of age. Go online for an application: Visit www.cityoftacoma.org/jobs. Equal Opportunity Employer.
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March 9, 2011
Arts&
Entertainment
Women’s Film Festival -After months of jurying over 400 films from female filmmakers from around the world, the Women’s Film Festival (a.k.a. POW Fest) opens its fourth annual series Wednesday, March 9 at the Hollywood Theater with screenings continuing through Sunday, March 13. Features include true pioneers in women-created cinema, but also those who are just getting their start. For a complete list of programming and schedule details, visit powfest.com. Saturday Market -- Portland Saturday Market is open each Saturday and Sunday along the waterfront in Old Town. The market has celebrated arts and crafts in the Pacific Northwest for 38 years. T. Rex of the Seas! -- The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry invites visitors to take an incredible voyage, 200 million years back in time, for a faceto-face encounter with the “T. Rex of the Seas,” in a new OMNIMAX movie, Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World. Zimbabwe Art Exhibited -- The Beaverton Arts Commission is hosting new exhibits throughout the month of March at Beaverton City Hall, 4755 S.W. Griffith Dr., and featuring works by an accomplished local artist as well as authentic Zimbabwe village artisans. The art is for sale and can be seen on the first, second and third floor corridors. Perseverance: Black Pioneers in Oregon -- A unique exhibit, developed in collaboration with the Oregon Historical Society and the Oregon Northwest Black Pioneers, highlights the environment and stories of early Oregon black pioneers who lived in the state prior to World War II. Now showing through April 3 at the Oregon History Museum, downtown. Buckman Art Show -- Live music, dance, some of the city’s most popular food carts, and of course massive
amounts of artwork will all be part of this year’s Buckman Art Show and Sell, Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12 at Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School. The sale benefits the school, which is in grave danger of losing its arts program due to funding gaps. Pacific NW Black Pioneers Exhibit -- Admission is free to the Pacific Northwest Black Pioneers exhibit at City Hall, downtown, through Friday, March 11. The show depicts the experiences and challenges black pioneers faced while settling in Oregon, Washington and Alaska, from 1870 to 1990. Norman Sylvester Band -- Boogie Cat Norman Sylvester and his band performs Friday, March 11 at the West Linn Saloon; Saturday, March 12 at Tillicum in Beaverton; Friday, March 18 at the Candlelight; and Saturday, March 19 at Clyde’s. Mel Brown Live -- Portland jazz giant Mel Brown performs at Salty’s on the Columbia every Friday and Saturday night. Known as the “Gentleman of Jazz,” Brown has a career spanning over 40 years. Mysteries of Ancient Egypt -- Through cutting-edge modern technology, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will take visitors on a journey back in time to experience the mysteries and wonders of ancient Egypt in the new exhibition “Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science,” now playing through May 1. Discount Admission -- OMSI visitors pay only $2 per person for general admission on the first Sunday of each month as well as discounted admission of $5 to the Planetarium, OMIMAX Theater and USS Blueback submarine. Last Polar Bear exhibit -- At the World Forest Center Discovery Museum, photographer Steven Kazlowski documents the devastating urgency of global warming’s impact on the Arctic in the photo exhibit, The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World. Show runs through April 3. Live Jazz -- Every Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., the Third Degrees Lounge at the River Place Hotel, 1510 S.W. Harbor Way. No cover or minimum purchase. For more information, visit pdxjazz.com. Music Millennium Free Shows -The Music Millennium, 3158 E. Burnside, hosts in-house live performances. Enjoy free music and the opportunity to meet artists. Call 503231-8926 for a schedule. Explore What Makes You Tick -OMSI’s new highly interactive exhibit “Identity: An Exhibition of You” explores the physical, psychological and social elements in your life and challenges our notions of personal identity.
March 9, 2011
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Arts&
Entertainment
The Portland Cello Project is an ensemble of local musicians who are dedicated to forming partnerships to build a stronger music community. Members of the group will perform a family concert, March 11 at the Community Music Center, 3350 S.E. Francis St.
Cello Project to Present Fun, Family Concert The Portland Cello Project is presenting a free and fun concert for parents and kids to attend together. The project’s "Indie Cello Orchestra", performs Friday, March 11; at 7:15 p.m. during the Portland Parks and Recreation Department’s Family Friday ConThe percussive hit musical Stomp returns to Portland with some new surprises and full-scale routines.
STOMP-ing Across America STOMP is making its return to Portland’s Keller Auditorium this weekend with five shows, beginning Friday, March 11and continuing through Sunday, March 13. The percussive off Broadway hit is a phenomenal show of bashing, crashing, smashing, swishing, banging and kicking. Two new full-scale routines utilize props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans. From its beginnings as a street performance in the United Kingdom, STOMP has grown into an international sensation over the past 14 years. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.
Story of Black Radical on Film The Bread and Roses Center, the documentary The Eyes of The 6834 N.E. Glisan St., hosts an Inter- Rainbow. national Women’s Day showing of In this film, Assata Shakur tells her story of being a leader in the Black Panther Party and in the Black Liberation Army, and her political exile in Cuba since 1986 after her escape from a U.S. prison. Her story can be linked to the current struggle against targeting of activists, Muslims, and immigrants by the FBI. The documentary will be shown on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. A $2 donation will be accepted at the door and everyone is welcome. A Latin American buffet, with vegetarian option, will be available at 6 Assata Shakur p.m. for a $7 donation.
cert Series at the Community Music Center, 3350 S.E. Francis St. Tickets are available at the door with a suggested donation of $5 or $15 for a family of any size. Fresh popcorn, snacks and refreshments are sold at the door for a minimal price. The Portland Cello Project is an ensemble of 8 to 16 cellos. The local
musicians have a philosophy to build a stronger music community with collaborative performances. Members include a "who's who" list of Portland musicians, from The Dandy Warhols to Laura Gibson, Vagabond Opera, and Storm Large, as well as most of the members of the Decemberists.
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March 9, 2011
Arts&
Entertainment
Let’s Get Curious, George Children’s exhibit opens eyes
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Curious George: Let's Get Curious! introduces children to the world of that unforgettably nosey monkey Curious George, leading visitors on a fun, interactive math, science and engineering-based adventure while it emphasizes the central role that parents and caregivers play in a child's life. The exhibit encourages children's natural curiosity as they explore early science, math and engineering through hands-on play. George lives to find new things to discover, touch, spill and chew. Learn like George - through direct experiences and problem solving. Curious George: Let's Get Curious! continues through June 5 at Portland Children's Museum, 4015 S.W. Canyon Curious George has hugs and high-fives for kids at the Portland Children’s Museum. Rd., next to the Oregon Zoo.
Discount Tickets Bring ‘Music for All’ Cultural events and the arts made accessible Local low-income families and individuals can now purchase $5 tickets to classical music performances in Portland as part of a unique pilot program called Music for All. The discounted tickets are being made available to households utiliz-
Tom Cirillo ing the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Oregon Trail Card, formerly the Food Stamp Program. The goal is to helping to make life-enriching arts events more accessible and affordable for people struggling through hard times. The discounted tickets are made possible with the support of the group Go Classical PDX, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Work for Art, the
City of Portland and All Classical 89.9 FM. "Musicians devote their lives to the positive effect music has on people," said Tom Cirillo, executive director of Portland Baroque Orchestra and spokesperson of Music for All. "As we see more of our neighbors depressed by these tough economic times, the classical music community wants to reach those individuals who need inspiration most." SNAP enrollees can buy tickets for $5 each to eligible events by showing their Oregon Trail Card at the time of purchase and paying with personal funds. SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase tickets or other non-food items. Classical music organizations participating in Music for All include: Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theater, Chamber Music Northwest, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Friends of Chamber Music, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Portland Piano International, Portland Symphonic Choir, Cappella Romana and Portland Vocal Consort.
March 9, 2011
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from front
a drainage system. “It’s been a long haul, but it’s slowly advancing,” says Lloyd Lindley, the president of the friends of Grant group, a non-profit created to raise funds for the project as well as create community awareness of neighborhood sports programs. “We’re about 60 percent of the way toward completion of the design process, and it’s a great time to show the public where we’re at.” The boosters will join school and parks officials during an open house to showcase the project designs on Wednesday, March 16 at 5 p.m. in the Grant High foyer. When completed, Grant will be the fourth public school in Portland to install an artificial turf field, although this project is unique because the Grant Bowl is owned by Portland Parks and involved administrative approval from two public organizations, which has created additional hurdles beyond simply raising funds. “There’s been some additional paperwork involved,” says Matt Shelby, the public information officer for the school district, “but that’s given the project another advocate and that’s very helpful, especially because the Parks Department has some funding available for the capital campaign.” The district has installed artificial turf fields at Lincoln (2001), Cleveland (2007) and Roosevelt, which opened its field in fall. Roosevelt is still working to complete fundraising for its track. When the Lincoln field opened, the school system provided architectural drawings for revamping the fields at its other nine high schools in order to provide a sense of unity. The key ingredient to each upgrade was securing monies for the projects, which remains the single largest hurdle for every school. Lincoln parents raised more than $1 million for their field and resurfaced track. Cleveland parents raised
more than $2 million. Roosevelt’s project included a fundraising manager who worked within the school to raise nearly $2 million. Friends of Grant Athletics kicked off its capital campaign in September and, Lindley says, has raised more than $400,000 from more than 600 donors. Lindley says the vision to install turf at the Grant Bowl began in 1999 when then football coach Gary Thorson proposed playing home games inside the bowl. The vision quickly evolved to installing turf and advanced once Lincoln installed its field. Because of the Grant Bowl being a public park, the overall project required a significant level of public input, which slowed the process and altered the original design.
and they’ve been itching to get going for a long time. It’s great to see it moving forward.” Not only would the fields be used by Grant High athletics, but nearly two dozen community organizations, from Police Activities League to soccer clubs and Little League, would use the facilities. With three fields already constructed at PPS high schools, Lindley says the Grant High project may ignite the larger project to install turf fields at Madison, Franklin, Jefferson and Wilson at the same time. Installing turf fields is a feature of the $548 million facilities bond measure the school district has put before voters on the May 17 ballot. “We don’t know how the ballot measure is going to come out, and that’s a bit of a hurdle because some potential donors are waiting to see the results,” Lindley says. “But there’s a lot of interest in helping create equity for students throughout the district and that involves
There’s been some additional paperwork involved, but that’s given the project another advocate and that’s very helpful, especially because the Parks Department has some funding available for the capital campaign. — Matt Shelby, public information officer for the school district The original vision included construction of permanent seating within the bowl to accommodate fans for home football and soccer games. It also included installation of lights. To address neighborhood concerns related to noise and increased traffic, the plans for seating as well as lights were eliminated. Shelby says there are still neighborhood concerns related to traffic and parking, but there is significant neighborhood support as well. “Facilities like these are a neighborhood asset and can quickly turn into a source of neighborhood pride,” he says. “They’ve got the capacity to raise the funds for this
building fields at more than just Grant at the same time. “In a broader view, it makes a lot of sense to build more fields because that gives the district more inventory and makes the fields last longer.” The field at Lincoln is past its marketed life span, but remains one of Portland’s most used fields with youth clubs and adult recreational leagues running events most nights throughout the year. Passage of the facilities bond would provide most, but not all, of the funding for turf fields at the other Portland high schools. For more information on the Grant project, visit friendsofgrant.org.
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March 9, 2011
HEALTHMATTERS Health Screenings for the Uninsured Focus is on blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity The Urban League of Portland has joined forces with the National Urban League and Walgreens drug store to offer free health care screenings to Portlanders who have little or no health insurance.
Beginning on Tuesday, March 15 to March 26, the Urban League and Walgreens will embark on a nine day Wellness Tour across Portland and Vancouver with a fully equipped health education and screening vehicle. Health professionals will provide individuals with free screenings for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, glucose, bone density, body mass index and waist circumference. The screenings are designed for detection and prevention of dis-
eases such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity. These preventable diseases are on the rise in all communities. "Many people in Portland are losing their health insurance during this difficult economy and many more do not have access to any health services,” said Ty Schwoeffermann, health equity organizer for the Urban League of Portland. Schwoeffermann said the health screenings tour highlights the overwhelming need for health services
in the region. “Early detection can save lives,” he said. “We have built partnerships with community clinics, non profits, and churches to help people gain access to services where they are available." The Wellness Tour schedule is as follows: March 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Walgreens, 2829 N. Lombard St.; March 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Walgreens, 2103 S.W. Burnside St.; March 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pioneer Square, downtown; March 19, 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. at Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth St.; March 20, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Highland Christian Church, 7600 N.E. Glisan St.; March 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Multicultural Seniors Center, 5325 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; March 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Walgreens, 2521 Main St., Vancouver; March 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Walgreens, 6116 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; March 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rosa Parks School, 8960 N. Woolsey Ave.
Abstinence Grows Among Youth Experts say this generation may be more cautious
past decade has had some influ(AP) -- Fewer teens and young abound for why they're doing it predecessors, more aware of sexu- ence. Or maybe they're just too busy. adults are having sex, a govern- less. Experts say this generation ally spread diseases. Or perhaps The study, released Thursday, is ment survey shows, and theories may be more cautious than their emphasis on abstinence in the based on interviews of about 5,300 young people, ages 15 to 24. It shows the proportion in that age group who said they'd never had sex rose in the past decade from 22 percent to about 28 percent. There are other surveys of sexual behavior, but this is considered the largest and most reliable. Health scientist Anjani Chandra of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention described the decline in sex as small but significant. She declined to speculate on the reasons. It's difficult to look for a trend earlier than 2002 because previous surveys did not gather as much detail about various types of sex, she added. However, data over the years on vaginal intercourse among nevermarried adolescents shows a steady decline since 1988. That seems to be in sync with other CDC studies showing an overall drop in teen pregnancy.
March 9, 2011
Page 17
HEALTHMATTERS Big Drop in Kids’ Ear Infections Credit goes to less exposure to cigarette smoke (AP) -- Ear infections, a scourge that has left countless tots screaming through the night, have fallen dramatically, and some researchers suggest a decline in smoking by parents might be part of the reason. Health officials report nearly a 30 percent drop over 15 years in young children's doctor visits for ear infections. That's half a million fewer trips to the doctor on average. Why the numbers are declining is a bit of a mystery, but Harvard researchers think it's partly because fewer people smoke, meaning less irritation of children's airways. Many doctors credit growing use of a vaccine against bacteria that cause ear infections. And some think increased breast-feeding is protecting more children. "We're sort of guessing here," said Dr. Richard Rosenfeld, a New York-based ear, nose and throat specialist who speaks about the issue for the American Academy of
Pediatrics. To be sure, middle ear infections still plague many U.S. children. For decades, they were the most common reason parents brought young children to a doctor, according to health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hadn't issued a report on them in nearly 20 years. Cases skyrocketed from 1975-1990. The visit rate for children 5 and under more than doubled in that time. A big reason, Rosenfeld said, was a steady rise in dual-career families. More families put their kids in day care, and day care is a breeding ground for the germs that lead to ear infections. But the study by Harvard University suggests another contributor: cigarette smoke. Most ear infections occur after a cold. In children, the ear is more directly connected to the back of the nose, so infections in a child's nose and throat can easily trigger ear inflammation. Such swelling is a fertile setting for the bacteria that cause ear infections. Cigarette smoke, inhaled through
Chesnie Shaver, 2, with her mother, Jessica Hyatt, 21, in their Spokane, Wash. house. Hyatt said Chesnie has had four ear infections, including a recent one that lasted close to two months. (AP photo)
a child's nose, can trigger the same kind of irritation and swelling, said Dr. Gordon Hughes of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. CDC figures show that 88 percent of U.S. nonsmokers were exposed to secondhand smoke around 1990, but that fell to about 40 percent in 2007 and 2008. Harvard research indicates the decline coincides with a drop in childhood ear infections. "When people are smoking less around their kids, when homes are smoke-free, the rate of ear infections can and has decreased," said Hillel Alpert, lead author of a study published recently by the journal Tobacco Control.
Second Wind Food Drive More than 20,000 students in the Portland metro are mobilizing to fight hunger this month - with a little help from their teachers, neighbors, local businesses and service organizations. Project Second Wind is the oldest and one of the most successful annual food-and-fund drives in the region. It was started in 1971 by high school students who realized that while food donations drop after the holidays, the need for food does not. Last year, Project Second Wind
HEALTHWATCH
raised 37,254 pounds of food and $29,752. Supported by Umpqua Bank, the event supports the Oregon Food Bank's mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes. "We are proud to support the efforts of our community's youth to help alleviate hunger in Oregon,” said Robyn Shuey of Umpqua Bank. For more information, visit oregonfoodbank.org.
Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tenderfoot Care -- Treat your feet with a soak, nail trim, buffing and massage from a licensed nurse at one of six clinics or at your home. Call 503-251-6303 for more information.
Lead Poisoning Prevention -- Learn how to protect your family from lead poisoning. Ideal for folks in live in older homes with children or pregnant women. Qualified participants receive a free kit of safety and testing supplies. Call 503-284-6827.
Cancer Resource Center -- Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the American Red Cross have joined forces to create the first inhospital resource center providing books, printed material, computer access and more for individuals and families dealing with cancer. The center is open Monday through
Parenting Classes -- Newborns don’t come with instruction manuals but parents and parents-to-be can learn about a variety of topics from pain and childbirth to breastfeeding to infant CPR and much more. For a schedule of events, call 503-574-6595 or visit: providence.org/classes.
Dr. Billy R. Flowers (above center) and his skilled staff are ready to help those in need.
Part 8. CONSTIPATION: The backing up of body’s sewage system.
Q
: Nothing has ever really helped my constipation. What can Chiropractic possibly do? : As a natural form of healing, there is much a Chiropractic and the improved lifestyle we recommend can do to remove the immediate distress and long term health hazards of constipation. But before we begin, you should understand that constipation takes two approaches. The first is the tight, sometimes painful feeling in the lower back area. The second and more insidious type is what we call “hidden constipation.” This is when we seemingly
A
move our bowels regularly, but never completely eliminate everything in our colon (large intestine). This causes the colon to back up and spread toxic poisons throughout the body. This can lead to everything from sinusitis to allergies to arthritis. Chiropractic can help to alleviate this problem by gently turning nerves back on in the colon and small intestine. It is not uncommon for a patient
to have two, three or even four bowel movements after the first adjustments on his or her spine. A man with FBSS (failed back surgical syndrome) went home and had 12 bowel movements that night. And he claimed he wasn’t even constipated! Whatever questions you might have about health and healing, you’ll find that Chiropractic is often the answer. Call us for an appointment today.
Flowers' Chiropractic Office 2124 NE Hancock, Portland Oregon 97212
Phone: (503) 287-5504
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March 9, 2011
CALENDAR for March2011 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
1 Pulaski Day Eat Something fresh Today
6
7
Employee Appreciation Day
text
8 Mardi Gras International Women’s Day
13
14
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2 Pet Lovers Day
9
15 text
3 Maha Shivratri Listen to music today
Parents Helping Parents March 9,2011- July 26,2011 YWCA 3609 Main, Vancouver, Wa 6:30pm- 8:30pm
SATURDAY
4 text
10 text
16 St. Urho's Day
FRIDAY
5 text
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Freedom Of Information Day
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THE LAW OFFICES OF
Patrick John Sweeney, P.C. Patrick John Sweeney
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1549 SE Ladd Portland, Oregon (503) 491-5156 (503) 615-0425 (503) 244-2084 Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com
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Advertise with diversity
Attorney at Law
Portland: Hillsoboro: Facsimile: Email:
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Water Day
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Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 ads@portlandobserver.com
Must Sell Brand New Hovaround Motorized Chair $1400 or best offer Call George at (503) 284-9906 (503) 449-9770
March 9, 2011
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Portland Observer Auto Review 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV AWD Platinum BY KATHLEEN CARR
The Escalade ESV is the stretched version of the Escalade and uses much of the same hardware as the Chevrolet Suburban.The Escalade ESV gets a full complement of luxury equipment, including leather seats, plenty of exterior chrome and optional 22-inch wheels. It's available with rear- or all-wheel drive. Cadillac now includes standard scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, replacement of engine and cabin air filters, and multipoint vehicle inspection for four years or 50,000 miles. The Escalade ESV is 21 inches longer than a standard Escalade, seats up to eight and is able to haul up to 137 cubic feet of cargo with the second-row seats folded and the third row removed. The ESV offers the same basic layout and features as its shorter model, but adds more luggage room behind the rear seats and the option of a third-row flip-down DVD entertainment screen. The top-of-the-line Platinum Edition brings it all with exclusive 22-inch wheels, LED headlamps, upgraded full leather trim, unique wood and aluminum accents, heated and cooled cupholders and DVD screens for second-row passengers. A second-row 60/ 40-split bench seat (eight-passenger seating) is available on all models except the Platinum Edition, it has second row buck seats. Third-row occupants benefit from increased legroom, and cargo capacity behind them nearly triples.The liftgate opens and closes by pushbutton as a hatch or glass-only for lighter items, a convenient feature.The pull-type door handles are easy to grasp, particularly appreciable in cold
climates when wearing gloves. This type of door handle is more comfortable, less likely to snap away from your fingers and less likely to break fingernail than the more stylish, more aerodynamic kind. Cadillac Escalade delivers responsive acceleration at all speeds due to its big 403hp V8. Its handling inspires confidence, especially with the active Magnetic Ride Control suspension.The Magnetic Ride Control Suspension helps while driving over rough roads absorbing the impact of the driving terrian .Magnetic Ride Control uses a variety of sensors to measure road surface and vehicle parameters 1,000 times per second and adjust the shock damping accordingly. That adjustment is done magnetically, changing the thickness of the shock fluid (that's filled with tiny magnetic particles) for maximum control of the shock. This system has been used advantageously on expensive imports and the Corvette for a few years, and is often paired on the Escalade with the 22-inch wheels. A relatively tight 39-foot turning circle helps with overall drivability, but maneuvering in tight quarters can be a hassle even with the aid of the standard rearview camera. The towing capicity is 7,600 (RWD) or 7,800 pounds (AWD) when properly equipped. The Cadallic ESV is a large, luxurious SUV that delivers performance and style. Classy and powerful, it looks great for a night on the town or can haul everything. Cadacllic has open a new door for those who want luxury and capabilities in a Luxury SUV.
Tested Vehicle Information: Vortec 6.2L V8 SFI, 403 HP with Flex-Fuel Capability and Active Fuel Management; 6-Speed Heavy Duty Automatic; 13 City MPG, 18 Highway MPG; MSRP $87,345, Tested MSRP $88, 295.
Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC Zchon R. Jones, DC 333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212 (503) 284-7838 Truly making a difference in the lives of Auto Accident victims and Injured Workers for nearly 20 years. If you or someone you know has been in an accident, call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838 We are located on the corner of MLK and Russell Street, on the second floor above the coffee shop.
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FOOD Foster Farms has announced its call for entries for the second annual Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest, with a chance to win $10K and a year’s supply of Foster Farms chicken. Recipes must feature Foster Farms fresh chicken and should be inspired by ingredients grown on the West Coast as a testament to Foster Farms’ commitment to foods that are fresh, locally-grown and always natural. The deadline to enter is May 31, 2011 at 11:59:59 p.m. PDT and the contest will culminate with finals held on September 30 at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif., during National Chicken Month. For complete contest rules please visit www.fosterfarms.com/ cookingcontest.
2010 Winning Recipe:
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts by Alexandria Boswell from La Jolla, CA
Ingredients: 4 Foster Farms chicken breast halves, boneless and skinless 1 Tbls olive oil 1/2 cup onion, finely diced 1 bag (10 oz) spinach leaves 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped 1/2 cup Feta cheese crumbles 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. In large skillet over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add onions to skillet and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add spinach to skillet, cover, reduce heat to medium and cook until spinach is wilted. Transfer onion and spinach to large bowl. Add dill, Feta cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salt and pepper to bowl; mix well to combine. 3. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place eggs in small bowl and panko in pie plate. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. 4. Using sharp knife, slit each chicken breast along long side, cutting only about 3/4 of the way through. Divide spinach mixture into four sections and stuff each breast with a portion of the mixture. Dip breasts first in egg mixture and then in panko to coat. Place chicken on prepared pan and lightly coat chicken with olive oil cooking spray. Place in hot oven and cook 45 minutes or until chicken is done.
March 9, 2011