Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1979)
Portland Observer Thursday, July 12, l«7S Page 3 Reading Tree opens at Irving Park Reading isn't so hard . . . at The Reading Tree. The Reading Tree, an annual ac tivity sponsored by local residents and supported by donations, opened July 5th in Irving Park. The Reading Tree is an outgrowth of parents' concerns about the lack of reading skills in Albina schools and the positive response of their children to competent tutors. Reading assistance is o ffe re d those children who need it, and for others there are many books to read for pleasure. Afternoons are spent on art and craft activities. High schoo1 students and volunteers help. Children of all ages, and of course of all races, are welcome at The Reading Tree daily from 10:00 a.m . to 2:00 p.m. The Morris Marks House 1501 5W Harrison Street Portland 97201 Telephone: 227-2CÔ6 * DES CONN ALL Professional Corporation IEGALCUNIC CONCENTRATING IN THE FIELDS OF: Photos: Terry Robertson Veteran organization seeks Agent Orange victims The list o f American casualties o f the Vietnam W ar continues to mount, even though U.S. involve ment in the fighting in Indochina end ed several years ago. Hundreds o f thousands—possibly many more—American GIs were ex posed to Agent Orange and other pow erfully toxic defoliants while fighting in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange con tains dioxin, which Barry Commoner and many other scientists have called “ the most toxic man-made substance known.” D ioxin has been blamed fo r a number o f severe health problems and some deaths among Vietnam veterans, as well as birth defects among some o f their children. These disabilities are showing up years af ter exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange. The 622,000-membcr Disabled American Veterans (D AV) has set up a nationwide program to assist these veterans in filing claims with the Vet erans A d m in is tra tio n (V A ) fo r health care and disability benefits for illnesses that may be associated with r dioxin poisoning. The most common symptoms at tributed to dioxin poisoning include: • Numbness in fingers, toes, arms and legs in varying degrees; • Nervous disorders, especially loss or decrease in the sensitivity o f the senses; • Psychological effects, includ ing loss o f memory, confusion, ag gression or irritability; • Skin rashes, specifically chlor- acne, which resembles a severe case o f acne and is usually found on the face, arms, chest, back or legs; • Altered sex drive, including di minished sex drive or impotence among men i .d increased sexual ac tivity among omen; • Cancer, particularly cancer o f the liver; and • Birth defects in children born to affected parents— prim arily de fects o f the hands, fingers, feet and toes. Some hyp e ra ctivity and psychological problems have been reported in children o f affected parents. “ It w ill be extremely difficult to show that these disabilities are 'he result o f exposure to Agent Orange for the purposes o f claims for VA benefits,” said DAV National Direc tor o f Services Norman B. Hartnett. “ That’s why it’ s so important that a Vietnam veteran have a veterans’ benefits expert, who does not get his pay check from the government, rep resent him in filin g this type o f claim.” The services o f D A V veterans’ benefits experts are provided free o f charge to veterans and members o f their families. Veterans o f the war in Southeast Asia who have symptoms they feel may be related to exposure to such herbicides as Agent Orange should contact: National Service Headquarters Disabled American Veterans 807 Maine Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 200?A The case w iil then be referred to a DAV National Service Officer in the veteran’s area, who w ill have the re sources and expertise o f the entire D A V N ational Service Program behind him in developing a claim. CRIMINAL LAW INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS DOMESTIC RELATIONS WORKERS' COMPENSATION BANKRUPTCY PERSONAL INJURY WILLS - PROBATE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS CONSUMER PROTECTION If you have a problem that is not covered In this list, please call and ask whether we can help. Chances are, we can. If not, we can recommend someone else for you to call. One way or the other, we w ant to see you get the kind of professional legal counsel you're entitled to. The best time to call us, or any attorney, is before you are embroiled in a legal problem. This is called preventative law and it makes a lot of sense. Regardless, when you call us we w ill arrange for an initial consultation at your convenience. Cost: $20. W e probably can't solve anything in this meeting, but it is a chance for you to explain your particular problem and for us to give you some idea of w hat it'll take to reach a solution. If you w ant us to proceed, w e'll give you an estimate of the fees you should plan on. In w riting.
