Unleash the trees!

[January 26th, 2005] If you haven't taken down the Christmas lights on your front porch, don't feel bad. The Portland Business Alliance has yet to take down holiday lights it strung downtown more than two years ago. The problem: The limbs supporting them show some damage from the now-snug cords . The city expressed concern when the lights went up that the lofty lacewoods could be harmed. But City Forester Brian McNerney told WW that so far the damage from the lights, like those on this tree at Southwest 3rd Avenue and Salmon Street, is mainly cosmetic. Jodi Jordan , spokeswoman for the downtown merchants' group, says the lights were always intended to stay up more than a year; the ones hung in 2002 will be removed in the next few weeks.

Lew Frederick , longtime spokesman for Portland Public Schools, finds himself in an awkward position these days: addressing the rumor that he, among others, may be fired . New superintendent Vicki Phillips is looking to shake up the communications department and have everyone reapply for their jobs. As former KGW reporter Frederick puts it, it's not clear that he has a job, but "it's not clear that I don't, so we'll see what happens." Sarah Carlin Ames , Phillips' communications czar, says it's not just the PR unit in line for a shakeup. Phillips has brought in Michael Don , a former Fred Meyer executive who is "between positions , " to look for other potential cost-saving shakeups. Stay tuned….

On Feb. 7, Russ Rymer, the top editor at Portland Monthly, will start pushing pages at Mother Jones. Why leave the P-town glossy after only seven months? "Because I can get my political licks in there," Rymer explains about his new gig as editor-in-chief of the San Francisco-based national lefty mag (circ. 240,000). Sadly, this means Rymer's partner, Pulitzer winner Susan Faludi will be leaving, too.

Buffeted by some negative headlines lately, Gov. Ted Kulongoski has parted company with his longest-standing aide, senior political advisor Steve Schneider . Schneider will return to D.C.-based AIPAC , the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where he worked previously.

When WW offered a color-coded list to the myriad knockoffs of 2004's must-have accessory, the yellow Livestrong bracelet ("The Cabinet of Cool," Dec. 29, 2004), we were at a loss to guess what feel-good cause would snatch up the color green. We suggested herpes . Wrong! Murmurs hears some hipsters around town are sporting neon-green wristbands to show their support for organ donation , not a cure for genital angst. Meanwhile, proceeds from a new progressive statement, the $2 TrueBlue wristband-especially for blue-staters and other lefties-go to Portland-based global-relief foundation Mercy Corps (see www.betrueblue.com).

Iconic political punk band Gang of Four , featuring Portland's own Dave Allen reinstalled in his bass-guitar slot, has reunited for a tour. Most dates are in the band's native U.K., with only one U.S. gig booked so far (in California). On Monday The New York Times reviewed the resurrection at a "scruffy" London pub. Writer Jon Pareles' verdict: "They immediately reclaimed the meticulous ferocity that made the Gang of Four one of postpunk's most influential bands."

Portlander Keir Pearson recieved a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination this week for Hotel Rwanda , which he co-wrote with director Terry George.