Victor Merced, director of the Oregon Housing and Community Services, talks about the importance of affordable green building at the grand opening celebration of the Shaver Green building, 375 NE Shaver St. The apartment building, built to Gold LEED standards, is designed for low-income individuals and families. . . .

A new regional forecast by Greenlight Greater Portland shows that despite a projected loss of 38,500 jobs this year, the region can expect to add 39,500 new residents – including more foreign-born and minority residents than bigger West Coast cities.
The study, called the 2009 Greater Portland Prosperity Index, says the region's 1.6 percent population growth is consistent with Portland-Vancouver's year-over-year increase in the past five years, suggesting that newcomers in general aren't deterred by the decline in jobs. . . .

Some 285 households in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties, most of whom are families with children, seniors and people with disabilities, will potentially become homeless as of July 1, activists charge. On May 26, the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority sent letters to 285 Section 8 housing assistance voucher recipients stating that as of July 1, they would no longer receive rent assistance. . . .

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Washington State University Vancouver nursing staff and students will hold their fifth annual sports and camp physical exams clinic, 12:30 to 5 p.m. June 17 at Battle Ground High School, 300 W. Main St. in Battle Ground, Wa. Students from any middle school or high school may participate. The cost is $15.

Witness humankind's largest pilgrimage and one man's historic journey of discovery that lasts a lifetime. Journey To Mecca runs next week, June 15-21 only at Pacific Science Center's Eames IMAX Theater. "Journey to Mecca" tells the story of Ibn Battuta (played by Chems Eddine Zinoun), a young scholar who leaves Tangier in 1325 on an epic and perilous journey, traveling alone from his home in Morocco to reach Mecca, some 3,000 miles to the east. Ibn Battuta is besieged by countless obstacles as he makes his way across the North African desert to Mecca. Along the route he meets an unlikely stranger, the Highwayman . . .

When New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced at Omar Edwards' funeral that the slain officer would posthumously be promoted to detective, it seemed liked a genuine gesture toward Edwards and the family and friends he left behind. It was actually pressure from the NYPD that made Kelly promote Edwards. "That was a result of the NYPD asking directly why isn't he being promoted," said Anthony Miranda, executive chairman of the National Latino Officer Association. "We had initially approached him about it and he actually questioned why. He said that he'd look into it.". . .

Just in time for the start of summer, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is opening its seven outdoor pools on Monday, June 22. The outdoor pools, which will be open through August, include Creston Pool, Grant Pool, Montavilla Pool, Peninsula Pool, Pier Pool, Sellwood Pool, and Wilson Pool. In addition, PP&R operates six indoor year-round pools: Buckman Pool, Columbia Pool, East Portland Community Center, Matt Dishman Community Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, and Southwest Community Center. . . .

On June 15, The City of Portland and Multnomah County will introduce an effort to increase participation of traditionally undercounted communities in the 2010 Census. Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish and Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury will kick off the Complete Count Committee (CCC) . . . .

As the nation comes to grips with the horrifying tragedy that struck the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in the District of Columbia this week, its lone victim, 39-year-old security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns, is being remembered as a gentle giant. Johns lived in Temple Hills, Md., and was a graduate of Crossland High School. He had worked at the museum for six years and was also described as a caring family man. "He was a pretty great guy,'' said his 11-year-old son, Stephen Jr., who lauded his father as a hero. The boy added that his dad was someone who always there for him . . .