Portland News and Events for Jan. 8 Through Feb. 9, 2015

PHOTO: The generosity of the community proved to be overwhelming with a record-setting number of adoptions during Multnomah County’s “Operation Silent Night” December promotion. 185 cats and 103 dogs found homes in Dec. 2014, marking the most successful adoption month for Multnomah County Animal Shelter in at least 10 years. “Operation Silent Night” nearly reached its goal of an empty (silent) shelter by Dec. 31 by offering adoption fees which coincided with the date of the month. For example, $2 adoption fees on December 2, $3 adoption fees on Dec. 3, etc.

The Multnomah County Animal Shelter is the only open-door shelter in the county and provides services for Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, Maywood Park and all unincorporated areas. In addition to caring for lost, homeless, stray, injured, sick, neglected and abandoned animals, MCAS is also charged with pet licensing, 24-hour animal emergency services and public safety incidents involving animals.
This is just one of the cats and dogs who now have homes thanks to members of the community. Visit multcopets.org for information on how you can adopt or foster a pet.

Help with Grieving

“Seven Strategies: Coping with the Recent Death of a Loved One,” is offered for the next two months at Providence Health facilities. The free, one-hour presentation is open to anyone in the community who has been bereaved in the past year.

The workshop offers suggestions on how to cope during the weeks and months following the death of a loved one, including information on additional resources available in the community. You are welcome to attend any one of the following presentations.

Eastside -- Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan Street, Portland, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 11 am – noon or Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 – 8 p.m.
Cancer Center Room C

Providence Willamette Falls Community Center, 519 15th Street, Oregon City, Monday, Feb. 9, 11 am – noon, Conference Room C
Westside

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, (East Pavilion Entrance), 9205 SW Barnes Road, Portland, Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 – 8 p.m. or Tuesday, February 24, 1- 2 p.m., Stanley-Shaffer Room 22

Providence Newberg Medical Center, 1001 Providence Drive, Newberg, Saturday, Jan. 24, 1- 2 p.m., Dundee Room

Because of limited space, registration is appreciated. For more information or to register, please contact Anne Kister at 503-215-4636 or Anne.Kister@providence.org.

Free FAFSA Workshop at Warner Pacific

College Goal Oregon is a free event at Warner Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 2219 SE 69th Ave., in Egtvedt Hall, room 203, Portland.

The event is for students including high school, college and non-traditional returning students, parents/guardians, and anyone who wants assistance in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You do not need to be enrolled at Warner.

Offered are assistance with completing your FAFSA, presentations about scholarships and information on paying for college.

Space is limited so RSVP to reserve your spot today at warnerpacific.edu/college-goal-oregon-event/.

GirlStrength and BoyStrength Volunteers Needed

Portland Police Bureau is looking for men and women to volunteer with the WomanStrength , GirlStrength and BoyStrength self defense and violence prevention programs.

WomenStrength and GirlStrength have a 35 year history of success and trained over 110,000 community members in the Portland area. BoyStrength is an exciting new program for boys ages 10-14 that provide boys with options, strategies and skills to make healthy choices and be leaders in non-violence.

Volunteer instructors are trained by professionals in the field of violence prevention. No experience necessary. Men and women from all backgrounds, abilities and ages (over 18) are encouraged to apply. Application Deadline: Feb. 5, 2015. Strength Instructor Training Starts: Feb. 21, 2015

Volunteer Information and Application: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/BoyStrength

WSU Vancouver Invites STEM Exhibitors to Career, Internship Fair

Washington State University Vancouver invites non-profit, government and science, technology, engineering and math businesses to exhibit at the 2015 Career and Internship Fair Feb. 17 - 19 in the Firstenburg Student Commons. Registration is free.

General business for all majors are invited to exhibit from 2:30 - 5 p.m. Feb. 17. Engineering and computer science-related businesses are invited to exhibit from 2:30 - 5 p.m. Feb. 18. All majors, including non-profit, government and sciences are invited to exhibit 2:30 - 5 p.m. Feb. 19.

WSU Vancouver's annual Career and Internship Fair provides a free forum for employers to speak with qualified candidates with varied experience and educational backgrounds. With more than 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students in 35 fields of study, this event provides business representatives with an opportunity to share information about their organization, collect resumes, and speak directly to WSU Vancouver students and alumni about internships and job opportunities. The Career and Internship Fair typically attracts more than 300 attendees.

Businesses may register online at http://studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/student-resource-center/career-internship-fair. Registration is open until full. For more information, please call Heather Chase in Career Services at 360-546-9285.

Feb

Rally and March to Close Guantanamo

Local peace and justice groups are once again raising their voices to call for shutting down the U.S. prison complex at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A rally and march titled "Close Guantanamo: America's Shame for 13 Years" is Friday, Jan. 10, at 5 p.m., at the SW corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square (SW Broadway and Yamhill), in downtown Portland.

While President Obama pledged to close the prison at the beginning of his first term, about 120 people are still there, and about half have been cleared for release but remain captive as the US finds places for them to relocate. Congress has repeatedly blocked funding to shut down the site, which has brought international condemnation upon the US, once considered by many as an example of democracy and the rule of law. This issue is of even more importance as the US seeks to normalize relations with Cuba.

For local information call Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065 or email Portland Peaceful Response Coalition at pprc@riseup.net.

Central Precinct Begins Pilot Project of Officers Carrying Naloxone

Beginning this week, 13 officers assigned to Central Precinct will begin carrying Naloxone (aka Narcan) that can be administered to people suffering from a life-threatening drug overdose. Naloxone helps reverse the effects of certain types of narcotics, specifically opiates like heroin.

Members of Portland Fire & Rescue have trained these 13 volunteer officers on the use and application of Naloxone and the Bureau will evaluate the pilot project for a year and examine the results in January 2016. The purpose of this pilot project is to determine if there is a reasonable application for police officers in Portland to deploy Naloxone.

This pilot project is being supervised by the Drugs and Vice Division, the unit charged with investigating drug-related deaths in Portland.

The officers trained on the use of Naloxone will work in districts with the highest concentration of opiate drug abuse and overdose incidents.

Anyone experiencing a drug overdose or knowing someone experiencing a drug overdose should call 9-1-1 immediately to receive potentially life-saving medical care.

To find more events, click here to check our Community Calendar.