OREGON EXPERIENCE: Vortex I Premieres February 8

Go back in time to Oregon's "Woodstock"

Summer, 1970. Richard Nixon was president and the Vietnam War raged on. The preceding months had seen the shooting of war protesters at Kent State University and the beating of demonstrators here. Now anti-war activists were planning to converge on Portland during an American Legion convention. The FBI was forecasting 50,000 people and a violent outcome.

Governor Tom McCall’s solution? A “biodegradable festival of life.”

Discover Oregon's "Woodstock" on the next OREGON EXPERIENCE on Monday, February 8 at 9pm on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

To this day, Vortex I remains the only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history. It was, in fact, a diversionary event to lure young people away from planned -- and potentially violent -- anti-war protests at an American Legion convention in Portland. And by most almost every measure, it succeeded.

The festival took place at a state park near Estacada. Some now-unknown person created the name "Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life," and it stuck. Many people came. Estimates ranged from 30,000 to 100,000.

On the surface, Vortex appeared much like hundreds of other counter-culture music events of that era: Young people listened to mostly local bands, wandered about in little or no clothing and partook of illegal substances.

But Vortex was different.

Entry was free. Private businesses in Portland contributed much of the food, supplies and building materials. Law-enforcement officers kindly escorted hundreds of young people to the festival location at McIver State Park. Yet no laws were enforced on the park grounds themselves. And all of this was endorsed and underwritten with state money and services by the Republican governor, Tom McCall.

OPB's "Vortex I" portrays the political environment which spawned the festival and shares many stories from the people who were there.

To compile the imagery for the show, producer Eric Cain worked with the Oregon Historical Society’s Moving Image Archives. “Vortex I” includes film footage and photos from many photographers, amateur and professional, who were there. (Cain himself went to the festival as an 18-year-old, but neglected to take pictures.) Author Matt Love, too young to have been at Vortex, has written the definitive book about it and shares his research in the program. Ed Westerdahl, executive assistant to Governor McCall, maintained a low profile during the event, but he was probably the person most responsible for Vortex I. In an interview from his California home, he reveals some unique insights. Several bands that played -- or almost played -- on the Vortex Stage have provided some of the show's music and include the Portland Zoo Electric Band, Jacob's Ladder, Notary Sojac and Brown Sugar.

Watch the complete program online anytime after February 8 at opb.org/oregonexperience or at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home.

New OPB/Fox12/Portland Tribune/Community Newspapers Poll Shows Measures 66 & 67 Could Pass on January 26; Election Outcome Could Be Very Close

A poll commissioned by OPB, Fox 12, the Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers shows Measures 66 and 67 receiving a narrow majority of “Yes” votes with one week left in the campaign. The poll shows Measure 66 leading 52 percent Yes to 39 Percent No. Measure 67 is even closer, with 50 percent Yes and 40 percent No. The remaining voters are undecided, suggesting a tight race on Election Day.

Measure 66 raises income taxes for families that earn more than $250,000 and individuals that earn more than $125,000. Measure 67 raises the minimum tax corporations pay from $10 to $150. It also changes the way most corporations are taxed. Combined, the two measures would raise more than $700 million to pay for state services such as education, health care and public safety.

The poll also shows 50 percent of the voters surveyed feel things in Oregon are headed down the wrong track, with only 31 percent saying things are headed in the right direction.

The OPB/Fox 12/Portland Tribune poll indicates high voter interest in this election. As of January 18, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division reports 521,106 ballots have been returned. All ballots in the special election must be returned to county elections offices by 8pm on January 26 (postmarks do not count).

Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. surveyed 500 registered voters from January 13-15. The margin of error in this poll is +/- 4.4 percent. More information on the poll results is available at http://opbnews.org.

OPB, Fox 12, the Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers will release new poll results this Friday to track the upcoming vote. Also, you can tune in to a special election edition of OPB’s THINK OUT LOUD focused on the two measures Friday morning at 9am on OPB Radio, and at 9pm on OPB Television. The program is being taped at OPB’s Portland studios on Thursday night at 7pm. The taping is open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis.

THINK OUT LOUD to Address Ballot Measures 66 & 67

Public invited for live recording to air on OPB Radio & TV

Measure 66 raises income taxes for families that earn more than $250,000. It raises nearly $500 million to balance the current state budget.

Measure 67 raises the minimum tax corporations pay from $10 to $150. It also changes the way most corporations are taxed. It raises more than $250 million to balance the current state budget.

As you read and watch the ads from both campaigns, what questions are you left with? How will you vote on these measures? Why?

Oregon Public Broadcasting's THINK OUT LOUD will address these questions in a program recorded in front of a live audience in OPB's TV studio on Thursday, January 21. All are welcome, but seating is limited. Doors open at 6pm. Show begins at 7pm. Please join us, or help get the conversation started online now at opb.org/thinkoutloud/.

The show will air on OPB Radio Friday, January 22 at 9am & 9pm and on OPB TV on Friday, January 22 at 9pm and Sunday, January 23 at 5pm.

OPB is located at 7140 SW Macadam Avenue in Portland. For more information, go to opb.org/thinkoutloud.

About THINK OUT LOUD
THINK OUT LOUD is OPB's engaging local online and daily radio broadcast that explores the issues, ideas and culture that make our region a unique and vibrant place. Listen at 9am weekdays (rebroadcast at 9pm), and always online at opb.org/thinkoutloud.

Financial Aid for College 2010 Airs January 28 at 9pm

Annual OPB Special Provides Crucial Advice for the College Bound

Plan for the future as financial-aid experts provide crucial information on loans, scholarships and grants, as well as advice on the college application process in FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE 2010. This half-hour special hosted by Steve Amen airs on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, January 28 at 9pm and will rebroadcast on Sunday, January 31 at 2am and 1pm.

Viewers can go online at www.opb.org/financialaid through January 28 to submit questions for the panelists to discuss during the program. Questions not answered in the on-air panel discussion will be answered by financial-aid experts in a Q & A feature on the Web site after the broadcast. A phone bank of financial-aid professionals will also be on-hand to answer questions from viewers during the broadcast and until 10pm.

Experts interviewed on the broadcast include Kathy Goff, senior Financial Aid coordinator for Portland State University and Dan Preston, dean of Enrollment Management at Linfield College.

FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE is a cooperative project of the Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, ECMC and Oregon Public Broadcasting.