Jeff Hilber reports that Friends of Last Thursday (FoLT) is making several significant changes designed to reduce the negative impact of the event on nearby residents and businesses. For example, to help reduce rowdiness, the OLCC has agreed to become more active in issuing citations for open containers. The city will
continue to provide police officers, but FoLT hopes to recruit more volunteers to handle security, and gradually reduce the number of officers required.

To return to the original focus of promoting local artists, FoLT will impose fees for all vendors except those selling locally-made art. Portable food sales will be moved off Alberta Street into nearby pods with reserved spots, making it easier for inspectors to do their work and improving access to established restaurants.
 
In previous years, Sabin residents have had to contend with heavy traffic and blocked driveways as far south as Sabin School. FoLT is asking the city to become more active in issuing citations to reduce these problems. Jeff is seeking impacted residents to help develop a plan to alleviate the parking and traffic issues. If you’d
like to participate, call Jeff at 503-329-4756.

What's on Your Plate? is a documentary that follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain. Sadie and Safiyah address questions regarding the origin of the food they eat, how it’s cultivated, how many miles it travels from the harvest to their plate, how it’s prepared, who prepares it, and what is done afterwards with the packaging and leftovers. They discover programs that help struggling farmers to survive and provide affordable, locally-grown food communities, especially to lower-income urban families.

The film has been hailed by Michael Pollan, Kofi Annan, Marion Nestle, Alice Waters and other food activists.

by Matt Henderson

In 2010, we staged a quaint and traditional Christmas Nativity which drew friends and a few neighbors to the Xhurch at NE 20th and Going. Last year, our Alien Nativity attracted hundreds of visitors and garnered international media attention with its kitsch extra-terrestrial motif.  This year's installation will abstract even further away from the original, presenting a visual feast while riffing on topics like infinity, the coming Technological Singularity, immortality through technology, modern spiritualism and THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!

Please consider making a donation to support this year's unconventional nativity scene, right here in Sabin!

Portland Playhouse, located at 602 NE Prescott, has announced it's line-up for season 5.  See one play or purchase a season ticket and see all of them...

http://portlandplayhouse.org/season-five-we-the-people

7-7:30pm: Elections of SCA officers and business
Treasurer’s Report and Sabin Front Garden Tour update

7:30-8:30: Arts Program and Performances
Poetry by Naomi Pusch
Bach violin/cello piece by Robin and Liam Dubay
Poetry by Liz Mariani and Barbara Conable
Performance by Brian Weaver (Portland Playhouse)
Poetry and piano by Bill Youngren

FREE Childcare. We hope to see you there!