Portland, May 1st. HBO held a kick-off an event at James John Elementary School on North Charleston Avenue as part of the May 14th premier of its four-part documentary series, “The Weight of the Nation”. At the event, the school’s wellness leader, Jane Harold, presented the Oregon Wellness Awards to Xitlalic Guzman and Cielo del Rosario James. HBO created the program in collaboration with Whole Kids Foundation and GLOBALTAP. John Elementary is one of many, in twelve cities across the nation, to receive salad bars and water taps in an effort to help combat childhood obesity.
Supporters celebrated the healthy new cafeteria additions at the event and saw a screening of the upcoming HBO program. “The Weight of the Nation” premieres Monday, May 14th at 8PM. All of the documentaries will be made available in English and Spanish, and will stream free of charge on HBO.com.
James John Elementary School enjoys a screening of HBO's The Weight of the Nation for Kids: The Great Cafeteria Takeover during an assembly to kick off HBO¹s The Weight of the Nation campaign in Portland.
Many local community activists joined kids, including: School Board Director Gitta Grether-Sweeney, Nutrition Services Director Beth Shelby, Principal Joyce Dougherty, and Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Ann Goetze.
From HBO: The campaign is tied to the premiere of HBO’s THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION, comprised of a four-part documentary series, a three-part series for families, 12 bonus shorts, and a nationwide community-based outreach campaign to support the initiative. THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.
Portland, May 1st. There’s a nice new trend emerging in the real estate community. Renaissance Homes partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Portland for a book drive during their Ultimate Open House Tour. Krista Boyd, Amanda Andruss, Randy Sebastian and his daughter, Rachel enjoyed visiting at the food and wine event. Renaissance Homes hosted the special evening event with a chef from Zeppos Restaurant. Guests were asked to bring a book to donate and be entered to win an iPad, courtesy of Directors Mortgage.
Visitors bring books for kids
“We want to be part in giving back to the community in which we serve and inspire others to do the same,” says Renaissance Homes President, Randy Sebastian. “The Boys and Girls Club is a natural fit because we are passionate about meeting the needs of local families.”
One of the new homes featured was at 2446 N Humboldt, in the Overlook neighborhood of Portland.
Mission Statement To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.
History Since 1946, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland has been providing thousands of young people throughout the Portland metro area with affordable, high-quality after-school and summer programs designed to help them develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. Our Clubs offer kids what they want most: safe, clean, fun places to go when they’re not in school; caring adults who respect and guide them; and challenging programs that teach them life skills and keep them engaged in productive activities.
In celebration of Spring, here’s a photo from the 1915 May Day Celebration at Pacific University in Forest Grove. The Oregon Historical Society has more than 2.5 million photographs in its collection! We’re excited to collaborate with OHS to bring some of those wonderful photos to you!
We love this one for May Day because, as Guenevere in Camelot put it, “Tra la! It’s May! The lusty month of May! That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray.”
You can explore the amazing history of our beautiful state at the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland at 1200 SW Park Avenue.
As the steward of Oregon’s history, the Oregon Historical Society educates, informs, and engages the public through collecting, preserving, and interpreting the past . . . in other words, Oregon history matters.
Through the generosity of Oregon’s citizens and friends, the Oregon Historical Society Research Library has gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of local, state, and regional history in the country, with holdings that chronicle the history of the Oregon Country from early exploration to the present day. Although the Oregon Historical Society is a private, non-profit institution, its resources are held in trust for the State of Oregon, and it functions as the state historical society. Collection strengths include: European discovery, exploration, and settlement; Native Americans; local history, family history, and genealogy; the fur trade; agriculture, timber, mining, and fisheries; performing arts; business; architecture and building history; politics and government; religion; and transportation. The Research Library houses more than 32,000 books, 25,000 maps, 12,500 linear feet of manuscripts, 4,000 serials titles, 6,000 vertical files, 18,000 reels of newspaper microfilm, 8.5 million feet of film and videotape, 10,000 oral history tapes, and more than 2.5 million photographs.
Here’s the story: Can you imagine? What it must have felt like? To believe-to know!-that it was the earth that revolved around the sun and not the other way around! To stand against the prevailing thought of the entire world! All the way back to his childhood as he enjoys an opera written by hisfather about-of all things-the magical story of planetary figures.
Richard Troxell as Older Galileo
We meet the famous astronomer on his deathbed, blind from looking sunward so often, and are guided backwards through his life. Back as the Church strips him of his freedom, back as he kneels to recant his work, back as he is declared a heretic.
Portland, March 25th. An original play created by Miracle Theatre Group,” Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams) is on stage at the Milagro Theatre at 525 SE Stark Street. The nonprofit is dedicated to the Hispanic arts and community and has introduced a host of new performers, opportunities, and diverse artists to the local arts scene. (Photo Credit, Russell Young)
Pablo Saldana and Gabriela Dipascuale in Miracle Theatre Group’s production of “Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams),
Miracle’s outreach initiatives serve the underprivileged, at-risk youth, and under-served communities and individuals throughout the Northwest. Miracle has also utilized its artistic capacity and resources to collaborate with local and regional human and social service agencies to assist them in addressing important issues impacting health, education and cultural sensitivity.
Siumara Samayoa, Gabriela Dipascuale, Rosa Cristobal and Juan Antonio Martínez in Miracle Theatre Group’s production of “Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams),
Here’s more about the production:
Imagine the impossible, the magnificent, the terrifying … Like a garden of dreams, folktales are filled with legendary creatures who lead us down the paths of discovery. For some, it’s about love; for others, it’s about knowledge. For young Cristina, it’s about listening to her heart and finding her voice. Cristina is about to finish high school and go to college, and she needs all the support she can get. But her family is distracted by the technology of modern life, from cell phones and text messages to bills and budgets. They are all too busy to listen. But when Cristina enters a dream world, she encounters several familiar characters from Latino folklore — the jaguar, the armadillo, and the daughter of the Sun God, among others — who not only help her speak her mind, but give her the confidence to face her future.
Siumara Samayoa and Pablo Saldana in Miracle Theatre Group’s production of “Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams),
JARDÍN DE SUEÑOS
Written by Sofia May-Cuxim, based on text by Pablo Jiménez and Teatro Español, Directed by Nelda Reyes,
Sponsored by Sterling Savings Bank, Oregon Cultural Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, The Oregonian and the Consulate of Mexico in Portland
Presented in Spanish with easy-to-follow supertitles in English
WHEN: MARCH 22-APRIL 14, 2012 Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m.
WHERE: MILAGRO THEATRE, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon 97214
ADMISSION: $10 – $29; discounts for students, seniors, groups of 15+ and advance purchases
Tickets can be purchased from on line or by calling 503-236-7253
From The Miracle Theatre Group: We offers you an experience unlike anything else around. See one show, and you’ll have crossed the border to another culture; see a whole season, and you’ll have traveled the globe. Where else can you see live performances of a play by Federico García Lorca in Spanish with English supertitles? Or observe Portland’s longest-running (and bilingual) Day of the Dead celebration? From Afro-Cuban dance theatre to Argentine novelas, from Golden Age classics to world premieres of new work, you’ll find that performances at El Centro Milagro are always vivacious and visually stunning. We believe in experimentation informed by tradition; thinking creatively and acting collaboratively; being irreverent but never irrelevant. We entertain; we give you pause to think, feel and imagine; and, through the cultural lens of latinidad, we embrace the full spectrum of humanity.
Beaverton, March 10th. A group of NFL wives are rolling out the red carpet for the opening of Xtend Barre Beaverton. They used the grand opening event to raise money for the Harrington Family Foundation. Co-owners of Xtend Barre Beaverton are: Emily Harrington, wife of former NFL quarterback Joey Harrington; Sara Peelle, wife of San Francisco 49ers tight end Justin Peelle; and Whitney Mallard, wife of former NFL linebacker Wesly Mallard.
Class are up and running
The new business is located at 12305 SW Horizon Blvd Suite 15 in Beaverton. The grand opening included: Barre Classes, lululemon athletica Trunk Show & More. It also featured a Special Guest Appearance by Xtend Barre Founder, Andrea Rogers.
Drew Carney drew laughs with his appearance during KGW's morning show
The grand opening was a family affair for the Harringtons
The Harrington Family Foundation (HFF) awards grants to non-profit organizations providing health, education, and social services for children within the State of Oregon. HFF accepts grant applications from eligible non-profit organizations throughout the year. The board meets bi-annually to review requests and award grants in March and September.
Portland, March 13th. It’s a trend solidifying in Portland’s philanthropic circles: asking for donations for your favorite charity in lieu of gifts. That’s what Judi Inglis requested from girlfriends who gathered in the Pearl District to help her mark a milestone. They contributed nearly $2,000 to the Oregon Food Bank. Pictured are: Judi Inglis, Marilyn Brett, Courtney Singer, Patricia Eddy and Donna Kinsel.
If you’re looking for a charity to support, here’s a good resource: The Charity Navigator. It’s an independent nonprofit evaluator working to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluation the financial health and accountability and transparency of America’s largest charities.
And here’s a bit more about the Oregon Food Bank, too.
Since 1982, Oregon Food Bank has been leading the fight against hunger in Oregon and southwest Washington by collecting and distributing food through a network of four OFB branches and 16 independent regional food banks. The OFB Network helps nearly 1 in 5 households fend off hunger. OFB also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, garden education and by helping communities strengthen local food systems.
Portland, February 18th. Portland’s Second Annual Mardi Gras Ball was a foot-tapping good time at the Bossanova Ballroom. The group crowned a queen: Kathy Ware. Planning for the event is a year long process for the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus, a Portland based Louisiana style Mardi Gras Krewe dedicated to bringing the spirit of Louisiana joie de vivre to the Pacific Northwest.
The 2012 Mardi Gras Ball featured colorful costumes
This year’s Ball included a costume contest, a second line, shoebox float parade, and the crowning of the 2012 King and Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball. Live music from Atomic Gumbo, Transcendental Brass Band, Too Loose Cajun Band, and Philly’s Phunkestra kept the costumed crowds on the dance floor all night long. Donation buckets were set up for Gulfsongs Oregon – the organization which raises money to support the gulf coast after the BP disaster through musical events.
Queen Kathy Ware and King Bruce Polonsky on their thrones
Planning is already underway for next year
Record crowds and fabulous costumes proved that Portland supports a lively Mardi Gras celebration. Look for Mysti Krewe of Nimbus at various parades and community events during the summer, and watch for the third annual Mardi Gras Ball in February 2013.
Portland, February 27th. Here’s a horse racing update, just for fun… A 4-year-old Quarter Horse named, Danner, broke a 16-year-old racetrack record at Portland Meadows by clocking 300 yards in just 15.51 seconds. Jockey, Jose Zunino, rode Danner into the record books. Danner has now won 7 of 17 starts and made over $43,000. (Photo credit, Erin Palmer.)
Posing for a photo afterwards are Danner's owner Yaqueline Ibarra, trainer Hector Magallanes and jockey Jose Zunino
Danner had struggled a bit making the transition to running against older horses, but he got back on track on Monday at Portland Meadows as he set a new track record for 300 yards when he completed the course in 15.51 seconds. The old record was set by Thinkin Strawfly who ran 300 yards on April 30, 1995 in 15.55.
Danner was bred in the state of Oregon by Hayden Brothers Ranch.
The opera Madame Butterfly (1904), was based upon a play of the same title by David Belasco, which, in turn is based upon a short story by John Luther Long. Long contended his story was based upon actual events as related to him by his missionary sister, Jennie Correll, who spent years in Nagasaki, and knew not only many of the naval officers who put into port, but the local people, too.
Kelly Kaduce as Cio-Cio-San with Roger Honeywell as Pinkerton
As part of its commitment to the community, Portland Opera makes the final dress rehearsal of each opera available to the region's students.
Here’s a link to the YouTube video of Madame Butterfly. It will break your heart–Kelly Kaduce is just amazing! The whole company is world-class! This video is worth watching if you love opera.
When the American naval officer stepped onto that foreign land, he should have known. And if he didn’t, the simple sincerity of Cio-Cio-San’s tender voice should have told him. To be careful. That she would believe his every word. That she was delicate, like … like a butterfly.
But he didn’t. And in that suddenly changed world plays out one of the most emotional and unforgettable of all operas.
Feb 3, 2012 Friday 7:30 pm
Feb 5, 2012 Sunday 2:00 pm
Feb 9, 2012
Thursday 7:30 pm
Feb 11, 2012 Saturday 7:30 pm
Puccini at his best! Music so powerful, so achingly beautiful, that it has never failed to wring the tears and win the hearts of audiences throughout the world!
Sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Performances held at the Keller Auditorium. Estimated running time 3 hours, 15 minutes
CAST
Cio-Cio-San
Kelly Kaduce
Pinkerton
Roger Honeywell
Suzuki
Kathryn Day
Sharpless
John Hancock
Goro
Jon Kolbet
Prince Yamadori / Registrar
André Chiang
The Bonze
Gustav Andreassen
Commissioner
Nicholas Nelson
Kate Pinkerton
Caitlin Mathes
Conductor
Anne Manson
Stage Director
Christian Smith
With members of the Portland Opera Orchestra and Chorus
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