Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s 100^th Birthday Party

A Centennial Salute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe with live music, swing dancing, special guests and more is coming up Friday, March 20, at Portland Spirit River Cruises at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The 100th birthday for Portland’s jazz icon starts with boarding 10:30 p.m. at Salmon Springs Dock, then cruising from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. The event features Joe Baker and Joy Pearson of The High Water Jazz Band, cruising performances by Alder Street, Portland Rhythm Shakers, Jacob Miller and the Bridge City Crooners, soul songbird Liz Vice, and DJ Phil Manijak of Corvallis Swing Dance Society. For more information and to book the cruise go to https://www.portlandspirit.com/r.php?e=46318. Photo courtesy Pace Rubadeau

African American Health Study

As many residents of Portland know, African Americans experience poorer quality of care than any other racial/ethnic group. Research has shown that, despite efforts, healthcare disparities persist for African Americans.

In an effort to understand what can be done, a team of students at Portland State University is conducting a study to gain a better understanding of how African Americans experience stress in the healthcare system. They hope that the information obtained from participants will help improve the quality of care for African American patients.

To participate in this study, you must be 18 years or older, must have seen a healthcare provider within the last five years, and identify as Black or African American. If you are interested and meet these requirements, you can find the survey at http://goo.gl/MJSB1Z . If you prefer to respond with paper and pencil, please email AfricanAmericanHealthStudy@gmail.com or call 503-567-4801. The survey also has a Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/AfricanAmericanHealthStudy .

This Sunday: A St. Patty's Pancake Breakfast

Wear your green to join the youth group and  families for St. Andrew’s Catholic Church’s biggest fundraiser of the season, March 15, after 9:30 mass in the community center. Breakfasts are $6 a head; $25 for a family of 5 gets you pancakes and syrup with optional green sprinkles and hazelnut or raspberry topping (gluten-free available), a pot-o-gold fruit salad, meat or veggie sausage, and juice, coffee or tea. We will even have a leprechaun, whom you may recognize, as Master of Ceremonies! Fair trade goods will be available for purchase. Find out more at www.standrewchurch.com.

OLCC Seeks Nominations for Rules Advisory Committee

Anyone wishing to serve on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s marijuana rules advisory committee has until March 15, 2015, to submit a brief e-mail outlining their qualifications and areas of expertise to marijuana@oregon.gov.

The rules advisory committee will help the OLCC develop the administrative rules necessary to implement Measure 91, the recreational marijuana law approved by voters last November.

Anyone applying should put “RAC Application” in the subject line.

Under a staff recommendation approved by the Commission today, the advisory committee, which will have between 11 and 15 members, will include individuals from the general public as well as those with expertise in areas related to the implementation of the new law. They include law enforcement, local government and those involved in the existing marijuana industry.

Volunteers for the marijuana rules advisory committee should be aware of the time commitment involved with serving on the committee. The committee will meet at least once per month between April and October of this year, with the subcommittees meeting as needed. The agency must complete its rulemaking by November in order to begin accepting applications for commercial marijuana licenses in January of 2016.

Learn more at http://marijuana.oregon.gov

Outreach Meetings for PDX Concessions Opportunities

Local businesses interested in offering retail items, food and beverage, or passenger services at Portland International Airport are invited to attend one of two meetings on March 17.

The meetings, designed to outline how to do business at PDX, are scheduled from 8 a.m.-noon or 1-5 p.m. in the Mt. Hood Ballroom at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel at 8235 NE Airport Way. The meetings will better orient potential concessionaries for new opportunities starting in 2016. Those planning to attend a meeting must RSVP by March 12 to PDXConcessionsOpportunities@portofportland.com or by phoning 503.415.6007.

The concessions opportunities are the second phase of refreshing concessions through 2017, as existing concessions leases expire. Continually refreshing concessions themes at PDX has proven successful in maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction and recognition in the industry.

Meeting attendance is not required to submit proposals later this year. However, in order to submit proposals, it is necessary to complete the concessionaire registration on the Port of Portland’s online bid and proposal system found at www.portofportland.com under the business opportunities tab. Registration assistance is available by calling 503-415-6293.

Tenth Annual Native Caring Conference in April

The tenth annual Native Caring Conference will be held on April 15-16 at the Three Rivers Casino and Hotel in Florence, Oregon. All Native Elder caregivers and relative caregivers of children from Northwest Indian communities are invited to attend.

The two-day conference features local and national spokespersons on Caregiver Well-Being, Medication Management, Elder Abuse, Children's Alcohol and Drug Use, and How to Communicate with Health Care Providers.

Registration deadline is April 3. The cost is $150, the registration fee includes two lunches, dinner, and breakfast.

For more information contact: Doug Morrison, CTCLUSI (541) 997-6685; Wilson Wewa, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (541) 553-3313; or, Michelle Carson, The Klamath Tribes (541) 783-2219 ext 175.

The Native Caring Conference is hosted by: Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Coquille Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indians Reservations, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, The Klamath Tribes, Burns Paiute Tribe, AARP and the Oregon Department of Human Services State Unit on Aging. 

For more Portland and Seattle area events, visit the Community Calendar page.