The Portland Audubon Society presents:

The Birds of Jamaica

Friday, February 10^th at 1:30 pm

When you think of Jamaica, you probably imagine white sandy beaches, warm water, and hot tropical sunshine. But did you know that Jamaica is also home to a wide variety of birds? Escape the winter with the Portland Audubon Society on Friday, February 10^th, at 1:30 pm at Cornell Estates Retirement and Assisted living as they take us on a 10-day excursion into Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Our tropical excursion begins in Montego Bay, a popular resort destination where we team up with local guide Ricardo Miller. Under Miller’s guidance, we will visit a nearby bird sanctuary famous for providing visitors with up-close views of some of Jamaica’s most interesting birds.

From Negril, we team up with Dr. Ann Hayes-Sutton, who will give us a tour of Marshall’s Pen, her historic estate and home to Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo, the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo and the Jamaican Owl, just to name a few. We will also head into the Blue Mountains in search of harder-to-spot birds, including the Blue Mountain Vireo.

Before heading home, our Oregon Audubon guide will pause on the northeast coast, giving us time to explore the beautiful Jamaican landscape through stories and pictures. And, of course, one last look at the many bird species that call Jamaica home!

The Audubon Society of Portland promotes the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife and their habitats. They focus on the local community and the Pacific Northwest, offering a wide variety of trips, classes, camps, and other programming. Founded in the early 1900s, the organization’s mission is “to use any and all lawful means for the protection of the wild birds and animals for the State of Oregon and elsewhere.”

This program is free and open to the public. Cornell Estates is located at 1005 NE 17^th Avenue, Hillsboro. For more information, please call (503) 640-2884.

Educational Travelogue: The Gulf Coast

Friday, January 20^th at 1:30 pm

If you were to hear someone say, “I took a road trip across America,” chances are that images of RVs, gas stations, and long stretches of empty highway would spring to mind. For Bob Kuest, however, the opposite is true. Join Bob on Friday, January 20^th, at 1:30 pm at Cornell Estates Retirement and Assisted Living as he shares his road trip experiences to the Gulf Coast and the Midwest.

Our rather unusual journey begins at the National Churchill Museum (as in Winston Churchill), located in Fulton, Missouri. The museum is housed in a 12^th century church that was relocated from London to honor the location where Churchill gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech. Walk alongside Bob and Lenora as they take us through a world-class collection of Churchill memorabilia through pictures and stories.

Next, let’s travel on to Lake Peigneur near New Iberia, Louisiana. On the morning of November 21^st, 1980, this 1300 acre lake was only 11 feet deep. Somehow, a Texaco drilling mine accidentally struck a salt mine shaft below, and in the course of 3 hours, the entire lake drained into the salt mines beneath it. Bob will re-tell the tale of the salt miners’ harrowing escape, and how the Gulf of Mexico refilled the empty basin, completely changing the landscape and ecology of the area.

Unlike our first two destinations, our final visit is to a very famous landmark: Carlsbad Caverns. Marvel at Bob’s beautiful pictures of columns, pillars, stalagmites, and stalactites. In his own words, the main Carlsbad cavern is “bigger than the Rose Garden!” It’s also home to several species of bats, and the wildlife area surrounding the caverns are crawling with interesting wildlife.

Educational Travelogue: Tanzania

Through the Eyes of a Professional Safari Guide

Friday, December 4^nd at 1:30 pm

While visiting the United States as a special guest of Hillsboro residents Jim and Gayle Darr, African Safari Guide, Gerion Kavishe, will take time to come to Cornell Estates Retirement and Assisted Living to share his experiences and insights of his beloved homeland, Tanzania.This program will be held on Friday, December 2^nd and is free and open to the public.

Kavishe, who recently received his PhD, will discuss Tanzania’s geography including the highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the deepest depths of Lake Tanganyika, vast plains of the Serengeti, the massive Selous Game Reserve and Ngorongoro Crater the 8^th wonder of the world. Once a volcano, it is now a collapsed crater 2,000 feet deep and 10 miles wide where prides of lions roam.

The audience will learn about African food and culture, African traditions and taboos including the local Maasi and two other primitive tribes. An expert on Tanzania’s flora and fauna, Kavishe will explain the migration of more than one and a half million wildebeest to the nocturnal movements of the predators that stalk them as well other wildlife, including lions and zebras to hippos, flamingos, and more.

Gerion Kavishe is an employee of Ranger Safaris, one of the country’s oldest and most respected tour operators located in the heart of Arusha. The company arranges climbs on Mount Kilimanjaro, bird watching, cultural and historic tours as well safaris for groups and family members. It was while Gayle Darr was on a family safari with her three grandchildren, Riley, Sydney and Parker Hoffman, they first met Kavishe who served as their Professional Safari Guide.

This program is free and open to the public. Cornell Estates is located at 1007 NE 17^th Avenue, Hillsboro. For more information, call (503) 640-2882.

Educational Travelogue:

New Zealand

“A Short Trip Through the Land of the Long White Cloud”

Friday, November 4^th at 1:30 pm

Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud – otherwise known to most westerners as New Zealand – is an amazing country filled with exotic Polynesian cultures and scenic vistas that take your breath away. Join Tom Besson, a permanent resident of New Zealand who is in Hillsboro visiting his father, for an expedition to the Kiwi country on Friday, November 4^th, at 1:30 pm. Together, we will explore New Zealand’s rich history, culture, and diversity of flora and fauna, including many species found nowhere else in the world.

Our journey will begin with a brief mihi, or formal welcome speech in Maori, one of New Zealand’s three official languages. Next, we will travel back in time to trace New Zealand’s discovery, its annexation by the British, and their recognition of the Queen of England as their sovereign ruler. With Tom as our guide, we will experience New Zealand’s current culture and rituals, as well as explore the country’s rich flora and fauna.

Most impressive, however, is our final destination: a virtual trip throughout all of New Zealand. From the top of the North Island where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea crash together to the bottom of the South Island, where on a clear day you can almost see Antarctica, a New Zealand adventure as seen through Tom’s eyes and his wife Ann’s camera lens is waiting for us!

An international educator with thirteen circumnavigations of the planet under his belt, Tom brings with him a vast knowledge of the world and its treasures. His father, Woody Besson, is a resident of Cornell Estates Retirement & Assisted Living Community in Hillsboro. Tom is ‘chuffed’, as the Kiwis would say, to share it with the Cornell Estates residents and Hillsboro community members at large.

This program is free and open to the public. Cornell Estates is located at 1007 NE 17^th Avenue, Hillsboro. For more information, call (503) 640-2882.

Educational Travelogue:

Geology of the Columbia Gorge

Monday, October 24^th at 1:30 pm

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most striking features in Oregon.  But how did this amazing landmark form? Travel back in time with Marjorie Burns on Tuesday, October 24^th, at 1:30 pm at Cornell Estates Retirement & Assisted Living as she describes the geology that gave the Gorge its striking features.

Marjorie will also tell a second story about J Harlen Bretz, the man who first proposed that an ancient flood formed the Columbia Gorge.  His theory was wildly unpopular even through the 1920s, when most geologists were trying to wean the public away from images of the Biblical flood affecting local geology.

But, as it turns out, Bretz was correct: Giant floods, racing across Eastern Washington into the Columbia basin and on down to the ocean, were what created the shapes, formations, and waterfalls we see in the Columbia Gorge today.

Marjorie Burns is a professor emeritus of nineteenth century British Literature at Portland State University and one of the two original authors of Cataclysms on the Columbia. Copies of her book will be available for purchase after the presentation.

This program is free and open to the public.  Cornell Estates is located at 1005 NE 17^th Avenue, Hillsboro.  For more information, please call (503) 640-2884.

Educational Travelogue:

“Journey through Colombia”

October 7^th at 1:30 pm

For decades, the country of Colombia has been synonymous with fine imported coffee.  And yet, this thriving country in northern South America has so much more for tourists to discover and explore.  Join local tourist Ruth Ann McCullough on Friday, October 7^th at 1:30 pm as she takes us on a journey through Colombia.  With pictures taken during her trip, she will lead an expedition into the people, spirit, and culture of this fascinating country.

Together, we will explore the state of Santender, located in the northeast of Colombia near the Venezuelan border.  Fields of cassava, palm, cocoa, beans, and pineapple cover the land, while smells of char grilled beef, goat, and other meat dishes tantalize the senses.  Wet and dry tropical rain forests, bird sanctuaries, and even its wasteland provide great opportunities to explore the rich flora and fauna of Colombia.

Leaving Santender behind, let’s travel on to Bogata, the country’s capital. Often called the Athens of South America, Bogata is a city bristling with culture.  Botanical gardens, the national observatory and planetarium, and La Candelaria, the historical district, delight and entertain tourists from around the world.  There are also 75 sports and attraction parks, 150 monuments, and dozens of libraries, museums, and art galleries.

We will finish our journey in Santa Marte, a thriving city on the Caribbean founded in 1525.  As the oldest city in Colombia, Santa Marte’s historic downtown is a popular destination for tourists and Colombians alike.  The warm sun, cool evening breezes, and long stretches of Caribbean beaches make it the perfect destination to finish our journey through Colombia with Ruth Ann.

A second grade teacher at Harvey Clarke Elementary School in Forest Grove, Ruth Ann McCullough’s dream has been to travel to all seven continents.  When she visits, she loves to stay with friends for one to three months, allowing her to truly experience the people and culture of her destination.  With travel and adventure as her middle names, Ruth Ann is excitedly planning her future trips to other continents.

This program is free and open to the public.  Cornell Estates is located at 1007 NE 17^th Avenue in Hillsboro.  For more information please call (503) 640-2882

Educational Travelogue:

Cranes, Cloth, and Social Entrepreneurs in India

Friday, September 30^th at 1:30 pm

Most Americans’ knowledge of India is limited to the Taj Mahall, call centers,  and bright saris.  But there’s so much more to this growing and thriving nation!  Join world traveler Janet Visick on Friday, September 30^th, at 1:30 pm at Cornell Estates Retirement & Assisted Living for a special presentation on “Cranes, Cloths, and Social Entrepreneurs.”

Our first stop is the state of Gujurat, where cranes still migrate from Siberia every year in winter in the Little Rann salt marshlands.  Next let’s travel north to join Janet in the Great Rann.  We will watch as the young weavers practice their millennia-old trade.  We’ll also meet Judy Frater, an Ashoka fellow who has created an innovative local crafts museum and brought urban designers to collaborate with local artists.

Our final stop is Bangalore, where Janet conducted nine interviews with Ashoka fellows.  During her presentation, she will focus on one of these interviewees, a fellow who is committed to creating ways in which poor village women can leverage micro-credit opportunities to create businesses that can compete in the market.

A teacher and editor, Janet Visick is the daughter of resident Lois Minson. Since the late 1990’s, she has been part of Ashoka’s Innovators for the Public interviewing process for its candidates, writing “Stories of Five Social Entrepreneurs” profiling five Ashoka Fellows who work with women in Asia and Africa.

This program is free and open to the public.   For more information, please call us at (503) 640-2884.

Educational Travelogue:

Cultural Exchanges in China

Tuesday, September 20^th at 1:30 pm

China is in the news nearly every day: its politics, its religion, its growing importance in the world economy. But what is China really like behind the scenes?  Join Cornell Estates staff member Clarise Brannon on Tuesday, September 20^th, at 1:30 pm at Cornell Estates Retirement & Assisted Living as she shares her recent experiences on a cultural immersion trip to China.

The China Peking Universities Total Immersion Program brings 400 to 1000 Chinese elementary and middle school teachers from all over China to learn English.  They also partner with organizations such as the Beaverton Four Square church to bring English speakers to the Beijing campus. In this travelogue, walk alongside Clarise during her 15 day trip to China as she met both formally and informally with these teachers.

Along with her observations about Chinese life and faith, Clarise will also share pictures of the Forbidden City and two summer gardens that were both built and destroyed multiple times. She will also talk about cultural differences and the most shocking to her as an American in a city as large as Beijing.

A mother of three and an aspiring photographer, Clarise Brannon is no stranger to adversity and world travel. Peering through the lens of a camera, Clarise has an uncanny eye for the innate beauty of everyday life coupled with the ability to gracefully introduce her viewers to a sometimes-painful reality.

This program is free and open to the public.  For more information, please call us at (503) 640-2884.

Educational Travelogue:

The Peoples and Cultures of Israel

Friday, August 12^th at 1:30 pm

Hillsboro residents Jim and Landa Carlson have recently returned from a tour of Israel and will share their photos and insights in the travelogue: The People and Cultures of Israel, on Friday, August 12^th at 1:30 pm, at Cornell Estates Retirement and Assisted Living. The timing of their visit found the Middle East in a period of turmoil and transition. They had personal encounters with the people and the wondrous sites of Israel and its heritage which helped them gain new insights into Israel and its role in the sensitive region and changing world.

Their presentation will include Israel’s struggle for the land, with a special visit to the Golani Brigade training Base where they met with the soldiers who are actively involved in Israel’s defense as well as with the Druze Israeli Arab community, minorities in Israel’s society.

The audience will see Nazareth, home of Jesus’ parents, Joseph and Mary. The Basilica of the Annunciation commemorating that sight. Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee will be covered with a visit to Caesaria Phillipi, site of Peter’s “Great Confession” of Jesus as Messiah and where many remember the transfiguration; Mt. of Beatitudes the traditional site of Jesus’ delivery of the Sermon on the Mount, and Capernaum which is frequently mentioned in the Gospel as Jesus’ main base.

You will see the head waters of the Jordon River in the beautiful Banias Nature Reserve and the Yardenit Baptismal Site at the lower end of the Jordon River.  In Jerusalem the presentation will travel to Mt of Olives, the chapel of Dominus Flevit (“the Lord Wept”), Garden of Gethsemane, The Garden Tomb and the church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Wailing Wall.

Learn more about the industrial and economics of Israel.  As a start up nation in the Upper Galilee, Tefen Industrial park has two new companies as well visit Eshkol National Water Carrier Site with seventy years of innovation in the face of Israel’s environmental and security challenges.

Heading south to Tel Azeka, to an archeological adventure, the Carlsons had a chance to dig up the past with their own hands at Tel Maresha/Beit Guvrin, dated back to the Hellenistic Period. Their presentation will take you to the Judean Desert for a camel trek and Bedouin dinner, and to Masada where the last Jewish freedom fighters faced the mighty Roman Empire 2,000 years ago.

This travelogue is free and open to the public.  Cornell Estates is located at 1005 NE 17^th Avenue in Hillsboro.  Call 503-640-2884 for more information.

Educational Travelogue:

Dublin and Galway, Ireland

Monday, July 18^{th at} 1:30 pm

Dublin University, Ireland

Are you ready for a summer vacation?  Then join Skip and Sandy Farmer on Monday, July 18^th, at 1:30 pm as they lead us on a mini-vacation to Dublin and Galway, Ireland.  The presentation will include a series of photographs set to music along with commentary about the people and places that we will meet on our journey.

Dublin is the heart of The Republic of Ireland, with history dating back nearly 1,000 years. Walk alongside the Farmers as they discover Dublin’s vibrant culture, from its first Viking settlers to its beautiful Georgian architecture and the famous Book of Kells.

From Dublin, let’s travel on to Galway, located on the western coast of Ireland.  As we walk along its streets we might catch snatches of Gaelic; nearly ten percent of its population speaks Irish. If we are lucky, we might also hear traditional Irish music, dancing, and songs, perhaps at the Irish language theatre.

Skip and Sandy Farmer have traveled extensively for the last 15 years.  For 11 of those years, Sandy has brought their travels back to life with her knack of capturing the moment.  It doesn’t matter what country that moment is in, her photography brings the flavor of the experience back to the present.   Skip and Sandy’s stories, along with the captivating photographs, make you feel like you’ve just been there.

Please join us on  Monday, July 18^th, at 1:30 pm!