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Albina Vision Trust Celebrates the Grand Opening of its First Housing Development Photo by Mark Washington of the Portland Observer Albina One marks the first step in realizing the Albina Vision Trust’s plan to reroot families in the heart of Portland’s historically Black neighborhood. Albina One is a landmark project that combines deep affordability, cultural restoration, and sustainable design. The 94-unit development offers family-sized apartments, with 19 affordable units supported by project-based vouchers and most homes leased through Portland’s N/NE Preference Policy, giving displaced families and their descendants a path to return to Albina. “The Albina Vision Trust is honored to serve as the catalyst in bringing the realization of Albina One to our community and to our city,” said Michael Alexander, Board Chair of AVT. “It reflects what we can accomplish when aspirations, dreams, and commitment to the greater good drive our efforts, our resolve and our resources.” Developed by Albina Vision Trust in partnership with Edlen & Co., the project was built by Colas Construction, one of Oregon’s largest Black-owned general contractors, and designed by LEVER Architecture under the leadership of Chandra Robinson. On-site resident services will be provided by POIC, a long-standing legacy organization in Albina. The project marks only the second time a Black owned construction company has put a crane in the sky in Oregon’s history, both of which have been projects constructed by Colas. “Growing up in Northeast Portland, I understand the history, resilience, and meaning this neighborhood holds for the Black community,” shared Andrew Colas, President & CEO of Colas Construction. “As the GC of Albina One, we have been intentional in creating meaningful opportunities for Black and Brown contractors, alongside a diverse group of partners on significant scopes of work, ensuring successful outcomes rather than simply counting percentages; it is an incredible honor to build this project, and we are proud to be part of what is ahead.” Albina One provides a blueprint for development that is both equitable and sustainable. Supported by a $1.87 million grant from the Portland Clean Energy Fund, Albina One is fully electric and designed for high performance, with rooftop solar, heat pump water heating, and Earth Advantage Platinum certification pending. “Albina One is the beginning of a broader vision for Lower Albina,” said Winta Yohannes, executive director of AVT. “Together, we will continue to build a neighborhood anchored in restorative economics, cultural sustainability, inclusive housing, and community leadership.” The block party celebration will feature live music, food, art, and vendors, including local Black-owned businesses, artists, community organizations, and public institutions. This event is a commemoration of the first families moving into Albina One and a milestone in the larger vision to reimagine Portland’s central city as a place where working class families can live and play.

Historic redevelopment transforms 40 homes into 187-unit for the community Community Partners Celebrate the Grand Opening. Home Forward, Metro, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), the City of Portland, development partners, residents and Concordia neighborhood community members came together today to celebrate the grand opening of T. Joyce Phillips (formerly Dekum Court) redevelopment effort. The event celebrated the successful transformation of 40 affordable apartment homes into a vibrant and modern 187-unit affordable housing community in Northeast Portland. Redevelopment efforts added 147 additional homes to the 5.3-acre lot, which was made possible through the voter-approved 2018 Metro Affordable Housing Bond. “This project represents what’s possible when we truly center residents in our planning process,” said Home Forward CEO Ivory Mathews. “From day one, our families were partners in reimagining their community. Their voices, their dreams, and their needs guided every decision we made.” The community is named in honor of T. Joyce Phillips, a beloved early learning educator at Albina Head Start who served Dekum Court residents for decades. Phillips dedicated her career to early childhood education at Albina Head Start, where she worked directly with families from Dekum Court. Her approach to community building – listening to residents, amplifying their voices, and creating spaces for connection – became the foundation for how the redevelopment process was conducted. Teresa Phillips, speaking about her mother’s legacy, shared, “My mother believed that every child deserved a strong foundation, and every family deserved a place to call home. She would be so proud to see the same spirit of caring for one another that she championed at Albina Head Start.” The two-phase redevelopment effort allowed for all current residents to stay in their homes, serving as a model for how affordable housing communities can be reimagined without displacing existing residents. Home Forward hosted multiple resident meetings, design workshops, and feedback sessions that influenced everything from unit layouts and community spaces to safety features and amenities to ensure the new community would serve families for generations to come. “Looking at these new homes, I think of the profound impact this community will have,” Metro Councilor Christine Lewis said. “With more than a hundred family-sized units and affordability secured for the next 99 years, this development will empower thousands of people and families in Concordia for generations to come.” The community features 187 affordable homes in 4-level apartment-style units. Apartments include studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, three-bedrooms, and four-bedrooms to accommodate families of all sizes. The development includes community gathering spaces, children’s play areas, community gardens, and on-site supportive services. “This community is a powerful reflection of what happens when we invest in people, place, and purpose,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “This community expands access to deeply affordable housing and honors the life and legacy of T. Joyce Phillips, a beloved educator and community builder whose impact continues to shape Northeast Portland. This new chapter is rooted in the belief that every Oregonian deserves a safe, stable home in a thriving neighborhood.” The project represents a $75 million long-term investment in affordable housing and community development, made possible through partnerships with public funders including Metro, OHCS, HUD, the City of Portland, and other community stakeholders. Portland City Councilor Dan Ryan highlighted the development’s role in the broader neighborhood: “This community represents our commitment to ensuring longtime residents remain rooted in the neighborhoods they’ve helped build. The resident-led approach here should be the standard for all affordable housing development.” The completion of Phase 2 marks not just the end of construction, but the beginning of a new chapter for a community that has shown how affordable housing development can honor existing residents while creating opportunities for new families. As families settle into their new homes and community spaces come to life, the T. Joyce Phillips affordable housing community stands as a testament to what’s possible when resident voices guide the way forward. New residents have already begun moving into their homes. Home Forward is still accepting applications for the property. Interested community members should email dekumcourt@homeforward.org. A media kit with b-roll and photos is available here.

Governors form alliance in rebuke of Trump administration Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. AP photo (AP) — The Democratic governors of Washington state, Oregon and California announced Wednesday that they have created an alliance to establish their own recommendations for who should receive vaccines because they believe the Trump administration is putting Americans’ health at risk  by politicizing  the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The announcement came the same day that  Florida  said it will phase out all childhood vaccine mandates. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to  curb vaccine requirements  and other health mandates that evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic in his state. The differing responses come as COVID-19 cases rise and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has  restructured and downsized  the CDC and attempted to advance  anti-vaccine policies  that are contradicted by decades of scientific research. Concerns about staffing and budget cuts were heightened after the White House sought to  oust  the agency’s director and some top CDC leaders resigned in protest. “The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences,” the governors said in a joint statement. “The dismantling of public health and dismissal of experienced and respected health leaders and advisers, along with the lack of using science, data, and evidence to improve our nation’s health are placing lives at risk,” California State Health Officer Erica Pan said in the news release. Washington state Health Secretary Dennis Worsham said public health is about “preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths.” “Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives,” Oregon Health Director Sejal Hathi said. “But when guidance about their use becomes inconsistent or politicized, it undermines public trust at precisely the moment we need it most.”  The three states plan to coordinate their vaccine recommendations and immunization plans based on science-based evidence from respected national medical organizations, according to a joint statement from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew G. Nixon shot back in a statement Wednesday that “Democrat-run states that pushed unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates, and draconian vaccine passports during the COVID era completely eroded the American people’s trust in public health agencies.” He said the administration’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices “remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS will ensure policy is based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic.”  Meanwhile, public health agencies across the country have started taking steps to ensure their states have access to vaccines after  U.S. regulators  came out with new policies that limited access to COVID-19 shots. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s health department said last week it is seeking advice from medical experts and its own committee on COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations for the fall respiratory season. The health department plans to provide residents “with specific guidance by the end of September to help Illinois health care providers and residents make informed decisions about vaccination and protecting themselves and their loved ones,” Health Director Sameer Vohra said in a statement. New Mexico said it was updating its protocols to allow the state’s pharmacists to consider recommendations from the state’s health department when administering vaccines rather than just the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “This order will remove obstacles to vaccination access” when it goes into effect by the end of next month, Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie said in a statement. On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at his request, the State Board of Pharmacy voted to protect access to COVID-19 vaccines for those most in need and make it available at CVS pharmacies across the state. “Health care decisions should be up to individuals — not the federal government and certainly not RFK Jr.” Shapiro said in a statement. “My administration will continue to protect health care access for all Pennsylvanians.” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has directed health officials to ensure access to updated COVID-19 vaccines. The state’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ned Calonge issued an order to allow pharmacists to provide COVID-19 vaccines without individual prescriptions. The order takes effect on Friday. Last month, public officials from eight Northeast states met in Rhode Island to discuss coordinating vaccine recommendations. The group included all the New England states except for New Hampshire, as well as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat who has been critical of federal cuts to public health funding and restrictions on vaccines, said her state was leading the bipartisan coalition. “We’re going to make sure that people get the vaccines they need — no matter what the Trump Administration does,” she said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Public Health said Wednesday that cross-border meetings “are nothing new.” “Public health challenges extend beyond state lines, making collaboration essential for effective response and prevention efforts,” the agency said in a statement. Last month’s meetings allowed the states to “share numerous public health best strategies to meet the needs of our states at a time of federal health restructuring and cuts.” The West Coast Alliance isn’t the first time Democratic-led states have banded together to coordinate policies related to public health. In the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, states formed regional alliances  to gain buying power  for respirators, gloves and other personal protective equipment for frontline workers and to  coordinate reopening  their largely shuttered economies. Governors in the Northeast and West Coast — all but one of them Democrats — announced separate regional groups in 2020 hours after Trump said on social media that it would be his decision when to “open up the states.”

Ex-pilot accused of trying to cut a passenger flight’s engines reaches plea deals Joseph David Emerson, back, appears in Multnomah County Circuit Court for an indictment hearing in Portland, Ore., on Dec. 7, 2023. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool, File) A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of  trying to cut the engines  of a passenger flight in 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit has reached plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors, his attorney said Thursday. Attorney Noah Horst declined to discuss details of the agreements ahead of change-of-plea hearings his client, Joseph Emerson, faces Friday in state and federal court in Oregon. He said that Emerson reached the plea agreements because he wants to take responsibility for his actions and hopes to avoid further time behind bars. Emerson was subdued by the flight crew after trying to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2023, while he was riding in an extra seat in the cockpit. The plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board. Emerson  told police  he was despondent over a friend’s recent death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier, and hadn’t slept in over 40 hours. He has said he believed he was dreaming at the time and that he was trying to wake himself up by grabbing two red handles that would have activated the plane’s fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines. He was charged in federal court with interfering with a flight crew. A state indictment in Oregon separately charged him with 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft. He previously pleaded not guilty to all the charges, but on Friday was expected to plead guilty to the federal charge and no-contest to the state charge, which carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea. Emerson was released from custody in December 2023 pending trial, with requirements that he undergo mental health services, stay off drugs and alcohol, and keep away from aircraft. In the meantime, he has  founded a nonprofit  focused on pilot mental health. The averted disaster renewed attention on  cockpit safety  and the  mental fitness  of those allowed in them.

Key Witness Confesses to Murder Bryan Hooper Sr. speaks to reporters outside Stillwater Prison on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Bayport, Minn. after being exonerated in the 1998 murder of Ann Prazniak. (Matt Sepic/Minnesota Public Radio via AP) A Minnesota man wrongly convicted of murder who spent nearly three decades in prison after being falsely implicated by a woman who has since confessed to the crime was released Thursday. State District Court Judge Marta Chou had vacated Bryan Hooper Sr.'s first-degree murder conviction the day before. He was released Thursday morning from Stillwater Correctional Facility, a Great North Innocence Project spokesperson said. “Today, the courts have affirmed what Bryan Hooper, his family, his loved ones, and his advocates have always known: Mr. Hooper is an innocent man,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “It is our duty as prosecutors to hold the correct individuals responsible for their actions, and that duty demands that we acknowledge our mistakes and make things right as quickly as we can.” Hooper reunited with his children and planned to enjoy a meal with them and spend time with family, Project spokesperson Hayley Poxleitner said. He also plans to make his home for now in the Twin Cities area, where his children live. In 1998, a jury convicted Hooper of premeditated murder, felony murder while committing burglary and felony murder while committing kidnapping in connection with the death of 77-year-old Ann Prazniak. His conviction hinged largely on testimony from a woman who authorities say has since confessed to the crime. Police found Prazniak’s body in April 1998 in a cardboard box wrapped with Christmas lights in a closet in her Minneapolis apartment — her ankles, nose, mouth, wrists and head bound and her body wrapped in garbage bags, blankets and bedding. Her cause of death was ruled asphyxiation, and she died two weeks to a month before police found her body, according to court documents. Hooper received three life sentences with the possibility of release after 30 years. In 2020, a judge granted his request to vacate two of three first-degree murder charges after he argued he was wrongly convicted and sentenced for three counts of first-degree murder against the same person. Last month, Moriarty announced her office’s support of Hooper’s release, saying a crucial trial witness had recanted her testimony amid the office’s review of the case and confessed to killing Prazniak and hiding her body. Jailhouse informants who implicated Hooper also recanted their testimony long ago, Moriarty has said. Moriarty’s office and the Great North Innocence Project asked the court to vacate Hooper’s conviction. The judge wrote, “The Court finds that Mr. Hooper’s conviction was tainted by false evidence and that without this false testimony, the jury might have reached a different conclusion.” With Hooper cleared and freed, the Prazniak case will go back to the Minneapolis Police Department for any additional investigation, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office Chief of Staff Shawn Daye said. The woman who officials said confessed to the killing is in prison in Georgia for an assault-related crime and will be released in about four years.

Heavy hitters return for the fans Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson stands on the field before an NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sept. 24, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) (AP) Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are set to meet in an early 2026 matchup of boxing Hall of Famers. Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, will return to the ring after his loss to Jake Paul last year in an eight-round bout. He’ll meet the unbeaten Mayweather, 48, who said the “exhibition will give the fans what they want.” No date or site was provided in the announcement Thursday by CSI Sports, the live boxing production company which will launch a media streaming and broadcast partnership with this event. “When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’” Tyson said in the release announcing the fight. “But, Floyd said yes.” “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable — and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets,” Tyson added. “I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!” Internation Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2021 inductee Floyd Mayweather acknowledges paradegoers during the annual Parade of Champions on Sunday, June 12, 2022, in Canastota, N.Y. (John Haeger/Standard-Speaker via AP) Tyson was a heavyweight champion and though Mayweather won titles in five weight classes, none was above the 154-pound limit of junior middleweight. His last official bout of his 50-win career was against MMA star Conor McGregor in 2017. That fight, along with his victories over Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez, were the three richest bouts in boxing history. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” Mayweather said. “You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”

Search Continues for Two Suspects William “Liam” Spahnle-Bailey (Photo Courtesy of Gresham Police Dept) The first suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Liam Spahnle-Bailey has been arrested.  Liam was killed in April, when gunfire from a neighboring apartment passed through the wall and struck him while he slept.  In the early hours of September 9 th , multiple law enforcement agencies served a search warrant at a residence in northeast Portland and arrested Anthony Hunter Jr.    “With this arrest, a dangerous fugitive has been brought to justice; however, our work is not done,” said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. “Two suspects are still wanted for Liam’s murder.  Our officers, detectives, and law enforcement partners will not stop.  We will work tirelessly until they, too, are found and apprehended.”   Xavier Hirsch, age 20, and 17-year-old Terrell Coy are both wanted for Murder in the Second Degree, and other crimes.  The US Marshals Service is offering rewards of $5,000 each for information leading to their arrest.   Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said, “I appreciate the diligent work of detectives to get justice for Liam’s family.  I continue to urge the members of the community to come forward with information on Xavier Hirsch and Terrell Coy.”   The Gresham Police Department would like to thank the US Marshals Service, Portland Police Bureau, and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance leading to this arrest.

Celebrating the importance of science Attendees focused on science experiments at OMSI The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) returns for the third Oregon Science Festival on September 13 and 14, bringing together individuals, families, and all lifelong learners to celebrate the importance of science as a force vital to our local culture, education, and economy. The Oregon Science Festival includes Science Week, five days of events in the Portland Metro Area and beyond, and culminates in the weekend Science Festival at OMSI. From Monday, September 8, to Friday, September 12, community partners will host events and tours that highlight STEAM experimentation, advancements in science and innovation, and local organizations who connect STEAM and our community. Partners include Oaks Park, Vintage Tektronix Museum, Pacific NW College of Art, and the Portland Fruit Tree Project.   The week is capped by the Oregon Science Festival on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, at OMSI. The celebration features more than 41 partner booths, science demonstrations with OMSI educators, plus events and workshops across the museum. New this year is the Curiosity Stage on the front plaza, which will feature story times, Taiko drummers, a magic show, and a science comedy show.  “This is the event of the year if you love science, engineering, or innovation of any kind, “says Melony Beaird, Director of Events at OMSI. “This year, attendees can expect fun-filled, hands-on learning about robotics, fossils, sustainability, music, and more!”   Event sponsor the Oregon College Savings Plan will present a special guest, Curious George, at their vendor table on Saturday, Sept 13. "What a privilege it is to sponsor the Oregon Science Festival, an event that brings STEAM education to life for young people across our state,” said State Treasurer, Elizabeth Steiner. “The Oregon College Savings Plan is all about investing in those young minds and their educational futures. We're also looking forward to previewing an upcoming change to our program, with the goal of helping more families navigate their saving journey with confidence. And what better way to celebrate hands-on exploration and curiosity—key elements of STEAM education—than with the one and only Curious George?"   Partner and sponsor Portland General Electric, a strong supporter of STEAM education, will also be on site with its fully electric tiny home for families to explore and see firsthand the environmental and cost-saving benefits of electrifying their homes. Kids can also learn about powering their communities through energy resources like solar.   PGE’s Vice President of Policy and Resource Planning and OMSI Board Trustee, Kristen Sheeran said OMSI is leading the charge to make STEAM education fun and exciting. “Portland General believes hands-on learning is key to inspiring our future leaders and teaching them about careers in energy,” said Sheeran. “Events like Oregon Science Fest are empowering our future innovators to create sustainable communities for all of us.”   Quantum Fiber has also teamed up with OMSI to support the event. “Quantum Fiber believes access to innovative technology opens doors for students and empowers communities to thrive. We’re honored to support the Oregon Science Festival as it inspires curiosity and imagination in young minds throughout our region.”   Food carts will also be on site for visitors. Tesla coil demos, live reptiles, stop-motion animation tutorials, AR smart glasses demos, robots in action—all this and so much more awaits families, students, and explorers of all ages. Thank you to Oregon Science Festival’s sponsors: the Oregon College Savings Plan, PGE, Quantum Fiber, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Forth, and Weir. For more information and a full up-to-date schedule of events, visit https://omsi.edu/events/oregon-sci-fest/ .

Černivec will oversee all basketball operations, including leading the search for the team’s head coach New Portland Fire General Manager, Vanja Černivec Credit: Portland Fire The Portland Fire have hired Golden State Valkyries executive Vanja Cernivec as the expansion WNBA team's new general manager, the Fire announced Monday. Cernivec has served as vice president of basketball operations for the Valkyries since June 2024, helping build the team ahead of its first year in the league. With the Fire, Cernivec will oversee all basketball operations, including the search for a head coach and the construction of the team's first roster. She'll start on Sept. 15. “Portland is a city with a deep passion for the game, and I want this team to reflect that energy in this new era — rooted in legacy, fueled by passion, and driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence," Cernivec said in a statement released by the Fire. The expansion Fire begin play next season, along with the Toronto Tempo. "Vanja is a visionary, and we are confident she will help define what this franchise can be,” Fire co-owner Lisa Bhathal Merage said. “As a foundational leader in this new chapter for the Fire, she brings the experience, integrity, and passion for advancing the women’s game that this moment demands.” Cernivec has also worked with the NBA's Basketball without Borders program, and was a scout for the Chicago Bulls from 2020 to 2022. Her appointment as general manager of the Fire was first reported by a local media outlet, the Rose Garden Report.

Clark Partners with Local Companies for Workforce Training Clark College Campus Clark College has been awarded $77,610 job skills grant to train a consortium of local employees including Cascadia Metals, Kyocera, nLight, and Vigor, local companies who are looking to transition toward a lean culture focusing on continuous improvement and leadership training.   The college’s Community, Continuing Education & Customized Training department has collaborated with ETI Group to develop a comprehensive training plan tailored to meet these business needs for customized, short-term, and job-specific training for this consortium of employers.  ETI Group  provides a broad range of training and consulting services for Six Sigma, Lean, process improvement, teambuilding and management.  The objective of the training program is to create a lean culture focused of continuous improvement and practices. The goal is to equip employees to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to improve processes, function, and efficiency, while facilitating the change and continued transition to a Lean Culture.   This training is needed to help the consortium of manufacturing companies overcome the changes and growth opportunities they are currently experiencing.  “We are excited to partner with local businesses to create relevant educational pathways that bolster the skills of our local workforce,” Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards said. “Clark College has a long history of strengthening the Southwest Washington community through these partnerships which are so integral to our community’s economic and educational vitality.”   Working closely with the Washington State Jobs Skills Program (JSP), these grants are awarded to licensed educational institutions in Washington. JSP funds the training cost, with partner employers provide a cash or in-kind match.   “Clark College is available and ready to assist local businesses with customized training for their employees,” said Ann Campbell, Director of Community Continuing Education and Customized Training. Interested businesses can reach out to Campbell at  alcampbell@clark.edu  or call 360.992.2356.   As the grant requires dollar-for-dollar matching, employers ensures that participating employees are paid their hourly wage and benefits to attend the training, as well as managerial support in organizing and ensuring employee participation in the training.  Manufacturing is ranked as the #2 industry in Southwest Washington and contributes to the region’s economic vitality. Meanwhile, unemployment in Clark County is at a record low of less than 5%, resulting in a shortage of skilled labor to meet job demands. The additional training will help current employees build competencies and upgrade their skills.

Jaw-dropping choreography and incredible athleticism! Group shot 2024 photo courtesy of whitebird White Bird is thrilled to welcome back crowd-favorite, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, for their 2025-26 season. Known for their jaw-dropping choreography and incredible athleticism, Complexions returns with an epic program featuring a selection of engaging, iconic pieces, including Dwight Rhoden's exhilarating new work featuring the music of U2, "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD." The performances will take place at the Newmark Theatre from October 2-4.   Since Complexions’ founding in 1994, co-founders and artistic directors Dwight Rhoden and Desmon Richardson have instituted an instantly recognizable synthesis of contemporary and classical dance, celebrating diversity, artistry, and individuality as the heart of the company. Richardson is a Tony Award Nominee, Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and former principal dancer for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, and Frankfurt Ballet. Principal choreographer Rhoden has created over 100 ballets for Complexions and other prestigious companies, including the San Francisco Ballet and New York City Ballet.   Complexions will perform six uniquely powerful pieces choreographed by Dwight Rhoden. In the hypnotic full-company piece, “This Time with Feeling,” poised dancers stretch out into a single captivating line set against frosty lights and lush fog. An instant spark between two strangers comes with highs and lows, beautifully depicted in “First Comes Love,” a vibrant duet bursting with chemistry. Choreographed in 2000, the powerful trio, “Gone,” embodies the anguish and passion of Civil Rights Activist Odetta’s accompanying ballad, “Another Man Done Gone.” A crowd favorite since 1995, the sublime pas de deux, “Ave Maria,” set to the music of Giulio Caccini, balances urgent passion and measured reverence. Matching the thunderous music of Hans Zimmer, dancers in gauzy white garb double as boisterous and unapologetic percussion artists in “Mercy.”   Complexions’ new stirring, nuanced work, “FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,” set to the music of U2, exemplifies the fundamental values of the company through Rhoden’s trademark dynamic choreography. Exceptional dancers push the bounds of feasible physicality with dazzling leaps, lifts, slides, and twirls in this electrifying fusion of poignant rock and passionate ballet. With powerful and sensitive movement, “FOR CRYING OUT LOUD” is a raw, emotive journey of communal and individual identity, proudly exclaiming Complexions’ long-standing message of unity and empathy. As part of our commitment to community engagement, Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s visit includes an Intermediate/Advanced Dance Workshop. White Bird and Complexions Contemporary Ballet present a dynamic workshop for dancers ages 13+, led by Associate Artistic Directors Jillian Davis and Joe Gonzales. Hosted by Oregon Ballet Theatre, the session includes a barre warm-up, Complexions repertoire, and a Q&A. Attendees of Friday’s performance on October 3, 2025, will have the opportunity to join in conversation with members of Complexions Contemporary Ballet immediately following the show.

Celebrating The Orchard & Ale Fest and Harvest Fest Giant pumpkin photo courtesy of the Harvest Fest Hood River celebrates the fall harvest season with the return of two beloved traditions: the newly revamped Orchard & Ale Festival , formerly the Hood River Hops Fest, and the long-standing Hood River Valley Harvest Festival , now in its 42nd year. Together, they deliver the region’s signature blend of flavor, community, and Columbia Gorge scenery that make Hood River the perfect setting for a fall getaway.   “Fall in Hood River is a time when everything slows down just enough to be savored,” says Katie Kadlub, CEO of Visit Hood River . “Orchard & Ale Fest and Harvest Fest capture that feeling perfectly. The events showcase what makes this valley so special: its farms, its makers, and its incredible sense of place. Together, they’re the cornerstone of fall in Hood River.”   The festivities begin Saturday, Oct. 4, with the Orchard & Ale Festival . Formerly known as Hood River Hops Fest, the festival has now expanded to feature more than 100 fresh hop beers and cider taps from over 50 Northwest producers. Highlighting the best of Oregon’s breweries and cideries alongside food vendors and live music. Details, including ticket information and schedules, can be found at orchardandale.com .   “The Hood River Hops Fest was pioneered by downtown business owners nearly twenty years ago,” said Lee Perry, event producer for True West Presents. “Thanks to their dedication, the event has grown year after year. Now, as Orchard & Ale Fest, we celebrate both hops harvest and fruit harvest through libation at a scenic home along the waterfront.”   The following weekend, Oct. 10–12, the Hood River Valley Harvest Festival  takes over the waterfront. With more than 80 vendors offering local produce, handmade goods, and wine, beer, and cider tastings, Harvest Fest is a celebration of the Gorge’s fall bounty that has drawn visitors for more than four decades. More information and tickets are available at hoodriverharvestfestival.com .   Both festivals will once again be held at the Hood River Event Site, situated along the waterfront with a backdrop of the Columbia River, just minutes from downtown. The venue offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy sweeping views of the Gorge while tasting, shopping, and celebrating the season.