Letter To Editor Dear Editor: 1 want to express my pleasure at the work you are doing with The Northwest's Best Weekly your paper. True it isn’ t the New York Tim es, but to me it A Black Owned Publication is worth the support of a ll c iti - zens. Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2726 N.E. Union A paper can mean much in the Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97212. development of a cornu.unity and Subscription rates: 61) cents per month by carrier, $5.00 per year; G od to be developed. But only $6.00 per year by mail in Tri-County area; $6.25 per year by mail outside Tri-County area. Phone 2 8 2 - 0 9 2 9 when the people have a vehicle in which to express themselves can ALFRED LEE HENDERSON, Publisher and Editor there be progress. 1 hope you w ill be able to provide it. Meanwhile everyone really in­ terested in what a newspapercan A teen-ager is a college- he become should give you support. Between the learning of child­ has the appetite of a horse, the hood and the dignity of adulthood Sincerely yours, digestion of a disposal, the ener­ we discover a remarkable crea­ W illie Jenkins gy of an o v e r r i p e banna, the ture called a teen-ager. He comes cu rio sity of a cat, the lings of an in assorted sizes, weights, a n d orator, the im aginatiin of Wal­ c o l o r s , buteachhas the same te r M itty, the shyness of a violet creed: to assert his freedom and on his f i r s t date but the con­ independence, to preach against fidence of an astronaut on his conform ity, while at the s a m e s e c o n d, the enthusiasm of the tim e dressing and acting like It certainly m arks the age of fourth of July, and when he reach­ everyone else. one who remembers the days of es fo r something— look out.* Teens are found everywhere— “ Let George Do It,” in the day in front of record players, on top He likes french frie s , cokes,— of radio plays. Those whodo re­ hamburgers, hot rods, the beach, of Mom’ s best furniture, inside member are struck by the con - lunchtime, the opposite sex, and of automobiles, and underneath tra s t of the public non-involve­ sum m er vacations. He is not piles of school work given b y ment of th e ’ 40’ s and *50’ s and much fo r visitin g relatives,E ng­ t e a c h e r s who ’ ’ think their present times. lis h class, study hall, dressing subject is the only one.’ ’ Locally one of the sterling ex­ up on weekends, music lessons Moms and dads throw up their amples of citizen involvement is coats, or getting up in the morn­ hands in d e s p a i r , younger the Model C ities Program . The brothers and sisters "bugf’ them. ing. requirement fo r citizen p a rtic i­ A teen-ager is an amazing and n e w s p a p e r s squelch them pation in Model C ities has evok­ wonderful creature. You can tell and God loves them. him once and you can count on ed more interest and concern ... A teen-ager is t r u t h with throughout the country than p e r­ telling him again. You can ex­ a questioning mind; beauty with haps any other element in the pro­ pect a child one minute and an the s h irta il out over his Levis; adult the next. You m ight as gram . It has been the m ost.... wisdom with the response, “ You- w ell give. He’ s your M t. Everest complex element and most d if­ te ll me to grow up and act my age, your joy, your life , and re ally — fic u lt to accomplish. We have then you tell me I ’ m not old reason to believe that Portland probably much like you w h e n enough” ; and the hope of the fu­ program has had much success in you were his age. ture carrying a picket sign pro­ But one day w o rrie s o r an­ citizen participation and would- testing the ’ ‘ status quo” with the xieties w ill evaporate when his like to take this opportunity to word mispelled. own child runs to your a rm s... commend those who have given When you need a teen-ager, he carrying with him those magic so much of th e ir own efforts and is never around. When you call words •‘Thank you fo r your un- tkme. him, he never seems tohearyou, But with the degree of success even from the next room, and the derstanding?” When he develop already enjoyed there rem ains— telephone is just never yours more room fo r even a greater into a fine citizen. when he is home. number of citizens participating in Model C ities. The govern - m ent’ s policy calls for construct­ ive involvement of the Citizens in the Model Neighborhood area , and the city as a whole in plann­ ing and carrying out the program That means residents views on policy making, planning and ca rry ing out the demonstration is re­ quired. The underlying basis fo r the policy is the belief that im prov­ ing the quality of life of the res­ idents of the Model Neighbor - hood can be accomplished only by th e affirm ative action of th e people themselves. The convictions upon which., this policy is based were reach­ ed afte r long and searching ex­ plorations. These explorations squarely faced the fact that F eder al, state, and local programs in­ volving physical or social ctiange were not addressing citizens* c o n c e r n s and receive subse - quent citizen resistance. T h u s evolved the need and programs fo r citizen participation. The Portland Observer urges its readers to become a “ model citize n ” and participate in one of the committees of the Model C ities Program . ____ “ NO CHARBT FOR NEWS IT E M S " PORTLAND/OBSERVER Thursday M a r. 11,1971 The Northwest’s B«*t Weakly A Block Owned Publication 'P H A R M A C Y P R I S C R I P T I O N S a o -" U N IO N What is a teen-ager D ate For H’s your future. F A IL IN O 9 *7 3 1 3 H o u r s : 9 : 3 0 to 6 : 3 0 C l o b i d S u n d a y s a n o H o l io a y s Ron’s Texaco Service 11 1 N Killingsworth At Vancouver Double Green Stamps with Fill up Quality Service our Motto 2 8 5 -6 4 9 1 LILLIAN’S Beauty Salon Specialists In All Phases O p e ra to rs : L illia n W illia m s R uby R e e d E th e l B a te s 3632 N. Williams Ave. 284-6554 CLEANERS A LAUNDERERS Established 1912 L K 1014 N. KILLINOOWOKTH QUALITY DRY CLEANING REASONABLE RATES •SAME DAY SHIRT SERVICE •2 H O UR C LEA N IN G SATURDAYS UNTIL N O O N •COMPLETE LAUNDRY SERVICE SELF SERVICE DRY C L E A N IN G AVAILABLE Do It Youriell 1 0 1 4 N KILLINGSWORTH 4 Blocks East of Interstate 289-9357 And Save LEADERS IN THE FIELD letters The Portland Observer always has room fo r your le tters. Got a gripe, problem, or idea y o u want to express? You w rite it: We’ ll publish. Remember noth­ ing is a powerful as an Id e a whose time has come II Cash and Maxey’s KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN KENTUCKY BEEF SANDWICHES H. SALT ESQ. FISH & CHIPS zîér A L L OWNED AND MANAGED BY Barber Shop lake stock in America. hqAar aoyiRf U1 SovtifB BanA 4 6 0 3 N. Williams Avenue Phone 2 8 4 -5 1 8 8 SS V Perfect for parties, picnics, lunch or dinner Statewide Clean-up ANO 2 8 1 -3 9 6 7 Cities A pril 3 Is AVCNUC PORTLAND, ORKOON Model we w ant Human life may be likened to the flowers on yonder tree. The wind blows down the flowers, of which some are caught by the screens and scattered on the beautifully decorated mats and cushions, while others are blown over the fence and dropped on the d u n g heap.— Fan Chen 31 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU See Yellow Pages