Page 6, Portland Observer, Decembej 2, 1987
Speak Out
W h a t reason w o u ld you give fo r
the b lig h te d c o n d itio n in the B lack
c o m m u n ity ?
by A rn old Pitre
*
Judy Bird
Service Coordinator
Housing Authority of Portland
Most of these properties are oc
cupied by people who are renting
rather than owning, and renters do
not have the concern for the main
tenance of these properties that an
owner-occupant would. Some of
these people s priorities are out of
order. They feel that since they do
not own the property, why should
they be concerned?
Vacated houses are being written
off for tax purposes. There is a real
lack of concern by the community
residents, and there is a lot of land
lord neglect.
The people who attempt to main
tain their homes are the people who
are victims of vandalism, because
they appear to have more. It is not
necessarily true, but the appearance
is there.
These areas are pooily lighted,
and that invited the criminal ele
ment.
Landlord neglect and the
lack of concern of community resi
dents all contribute to the blight.
It is too bad, because a lot of the
blighted properties are located in a
prime area and are potentially
valuable properties.
Judy Pitre
Program Director
Housing Authority of Portland
Black people need to take more
interest in their environment. Other
ethnic groups band together and
solve their own problems.
Why
can't we? We do have a few things
occurring within the community.
That is a step in the right direction
as far as solving our own problems.
Ron Herdon's Saturday School Pro
gram is a step in the right direction.
But there is a need for involvement
from other leaders or potential lead
ers in our community.
We need to get away from seek
ing help from outside sources. We
are not doing anything to promote
economic growth in our communi
ty. What are our banks doing to
solve our community problems?
We get pawn shops and X-rated
movie theaters as signs of our eco
nomic growth.
The drug houses emerging in our
neighborhoods detract from our liv
ability, and we are doing very little
as concerned citizens to do some
thing about it. If we take initiative
as a community and stick together,
other groups will begin to take us
seriously as a race of people. We
are living in a potential gold mine.
The time is now for positive action.
There is power in numbers.
Carol Foster
Retired Superintendent
Not enough pride in our commu
nity. There is not enough say-so to
determine what happens in our
community. Most Blacks are so low
on the economic ladder that they
have no say in the economic struc
ture. There are various committees
that work to improve the situation,
but they don't seem to have any
clout, and they are not well-known
by the general community; they do
not make themselves available to be
effective.
Most Blacks are having problems
enough trying to "keep their heads
above water" and do not have the
time to concern themselves with
most community problems.
It
seems that the Black people who
are fortunate enough to be finan
cially secure are not interested in
the Black community problems.
They are putting their money in
other areas, other communities.
We need these people in our com
munity.
Don Clinton
United States Army Reserve
Money . . . the lack of. Business
people in the Black community are
afraid of being robbed, vandalized,
and intimidated. People that live in
the community are afraid to come
out of their houses. The people
that are doing the robbing and van
dalizing are unemployed, and feel
that they need to do these kinds of
things to survive.
The prostitutes and criminal ele
ment along Union Avenue and in
the business area of the community
discourage business people from
starting up in the area. Businesses
have been forced out of this area
into other areas. Black businesses
as well as white businesses.
Wholesale
Pricing
On Groceries
Gone Public
Did you know that for almost 30 years you could have bought some of
your groceries at wholesale prices? The Bee Company, for over 30
years' has offered the public weekly shipments of name-brand
groceries at genuine wholesale prices.
You'll find canned and
packaged goods, pet foods, as well as frozen and close-dated deli
products on the shelves. The best feature is that you do not have to
buy by the case. You buy just what you want to buy, just the amount
you need. Located at 800 N. Killingsworth, just east of I 5, they are
open Monday through Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Isn't it about
time you save on your grocery bill?
PHONE 283-3171
Tbcy'lt Tell You >11 About It
YWCA: Catch The Spirit
When the 20th century dawned
on America, it was greeted by racial
segregation, racial strife and racial
uncertainty. By the time the cen
tury was two years old, 214 lynch
ings had taken place.
Aware that segregation could tear
the country apart, a number of all-
white organizations began to work
to bring about racial harmony. One
of those organizations was the
YWCA.
• 1893 (Dayton, Ohio):
The
" Y " chartered the first Black YWCA
branch;
• 1906: Organization of the
National YWCA. At the conven
tion, the National Board voted to set
up Black branches of the "Y ";
• 1913:
Eva Bowles became
the first Black woman to hold the
job of YWCA Secretary.
• 1915: The YWCA organized
the first interracial conference ever
held in the South;
• 1919: Organized the first inter
racial " Y " clubs for young women.
When it moved onto the national
level, the " Y " worked for (1) anti
lynching legislation, (2) endorsed
the establishment of the Fair Em-
ploymnet Practices Commission
(FEPC), and (3) called for full inte
gration in the Army, in industry,
and in housing.
In a move designed to draw upon
its rich heritage, the " Y " has situ
ated its Northeast Branch right into
the heart of Portland's Black com
munity. And the move suits its new
director, Connie Carley, just fine.
"One of the things that attracted
me to the " Y " was its positive
history of working with Black w o
men. Right here in our own com
munity, the " Y " has operated pro
grams since 1921. Very few people
are aware of that.
In the early
years, it was located on the site
C o n n ie C a r le y
where the Elks Club sits now: at
Williams Avenue and Tillamook
Street. In the '50s, it moved into
area church spaces where it became
less visible. This gave the impres
sion that the Northeast " Y " wasn't
functioning.
We're hoping to
change that perception," she ex
plained.
The Northeast "Y " will focus on
youth activities with an emphasis on
the family.
Its work with teen
parents formerly started in 1973 in
cooperation with Portland Public
Schools and Children's Services
Division (CSD). Since then, after
school and summer programs for
children have been a major focus.
Connie is determined to establish
quality programs at the new loca
tion. "W hen I came on board, there
was already a teen parent program
in place, which deals with teen
parents between the ages of 13 and
19. Again, keeping in line with our
Social Security
Q uestion:
I’m thinking about
taking Social Security early retire
ment at 62 next year. But before I
do, I would like to know what I will
be due. Is there a way to find out?
A nsw er: Yes. Anyone at least
age 60 can obtain a speedy estimate
by telephoning 223-1616 from Port
land and 1-800-452-1654 from else
where in Oregon.
Q uestion:
I know dependent
children age 5 or older listed on my
upcoming 1987 Federal tax return
must have a Social Security num
ber. Does this new law also per
tain to other dependents, both
workers and non-workers?
A nsw er: Yes. Dependents you
may list can include your children,
grand-children, adoptive children,
nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, re
latives and both non-relative work
ers and non-workers. So long as
they are age 5 or older and they
are properly listed as a dependent,
the new tax law requires that they
have a Social Security number.
Q uestion: My dentist says I will
have to be hospitalized for a dental
I BKB i
procedure that I need to have done.
Will Medicare pay for the procedure
and my hopsital stay?
A nsw er: Medicare's Part B Sup
plemental Medical Insurance gener
ally cannot pay for the treatment,
filling, removal, or replacement of
teeth; root canal therapy; surgery
for impacted teeth; or other surgical
procedures involving the teeth or
structures directly supporting teeth.
However, if you need to be hospital
ized for a noncovered dental pro
cedure, Medicare can cover your
hospital stay.
Medical insurance
can help pay for dental care only it
it involves (1) surgery of the jaw or
related structures, (2) setting frac
tures of the jaw or facial bones, or
(3) services that would be covered
when provided by a doctor. Part A
coverage questions can be answer
ed by telephoning 225-5300 from
Portland or 1-800-452-7390 from
elsewhere in Oregon. Part B cover
age questions can be answered by
telephoning 222-6831 from Portland
or 1-800-452-0125 from elsewhere
in Oregon.
“FREE” TRIPS CAN COST YOU 3 5
THERE M IG H T BE MORE TO A V A C A T IO N OFFER
mission of empowering young w o
men and their families, the teen
parent program will deal with en
couraging teens to finish school.
There will be parenting skill classes
and tutorial assistance.
We will
also have a support group where
teens can come in and share pro
blems and do problem solving. We
are looking at a mentorship pro
gram, a big-sister program, a foster
grandparent program, a nutritional
training program, cultural enrich
ment . . . We may not be able to
establish all of the programs I just
mentioned, but you can bet that
whatever programs we implement,
they will be quality programs. We
intend to offer quality alternatives to
young women. We want them to
feel and realize that they can make
it."
The Northeast " Y " will also offer
a Women's Support Services Pro
gram that is currently agency re
ferred. It is for women who've been
out of the work force for a number
of years and need training or up
grading of their work skills. The
after school program will be expan
ded: speakers will be brought in to
direct teens through alcohol and
drug sessions, special activities will
be organized, health and family
issues will be addressed, personal
development and growth will be
emphasized, and children will be
taken to leadership camps.
"W e need the community's help.
We are seeking volunteers to help
with the after school program. We
need assistant coordinators to or
ganize activities, and we need assi
stance with our child-care program.
In other words, we will accept all
the volunteer help the community is
willing to give," Connie empha
sized. "I urge everyone to get in
volved and catch the spirit."
Food Applications
Taken at
Christmas
Headquarters
People in need of Christmas food
and toys can apply for help at The
Salvation Army's 1987 Christmas
Headquarters at 710 N.E. Holladay
St. in Portland beginning Monday,
Nov. 30 at 9:00 a.m.
The Salvation Army expects to
provide food baskets or vouchers to
2,769 families and new toys to 2,142
children between Dec. 21 and
Dec. 24.
To qualify, a family or individual
must earn less than 150 percent of
the federal poverty level.
Each applicant must bring a valid
ID and proof of address to the
Christmas Headquarters.
Salvation Army staff and volun
teers will enter names of all appli
cants into a mainframe computer,
which will help 21 Multnomah
County agencies keep track of more
than 13,200 families this Christmas.
People in need of help can call
231-HELP (231-4357). People wish
ing to donate food, toys or time can
call 238-GIVE (238-4483).
BBB
o„
T H A N MEETS THE EYE
When jomeone o H in you o "free vocation certificate" for travel to a
retort, always remember one rule: you never get something for nothing.
In virtually oil instances investigated by the Better Business Bureau,
"vacationers" were required to make a purchase or attend a soles promo
tion. Other conditions set by the promoter may odd other costs or limita
tions.
Vacation offers vary. Some include transportation, lodging and food, but
most offer only a portion of this. Others may offer one free trip when an
other is purchased full fore.
BBB experience with these certificate offers is that they can be misrep
resented. For exomple, while a free or inexpensive portion of a trip may be
offered, the full cost of this portion may be mode up by charging a high
rate for another portion.
The goal of the majority of these offers is to attract as mony people as
possible to o location where an often high-powered sales pitch eon be
made.
Consumers should be particularly wary of unsolicited telephone promot
ers which ask for credit cord informotion over the phone. Some have been
known to charge fees without the consumer's permission. The BBB strong
ly recommends that you never give credit cord information to someone you
do not know.
Also be aware of regulations in certain states that ore designed to pro
tect consumers against misrepresentation by unscrupulous vacation certifi
cóte promoters. Some states will take action against those who misrepre
sent their offers. Other states olso require certoin types of land or time share
promoters to register with their state's ottorney general or real estate com
mission.
Call your BBB for informotion obout a specific offer before you try to
get something for nothing. The BBB also suggests that you not accept an
offer unless you ore truly interested in whot's for sale.
This bulletin brought to you by the Better Business Bureau ot South Flor.<M Fd u.M .orM l Foundation. In<
Christmas Tree
Essay Contest
The World Forestry Center is
holding its fourth annual Christmas
essay contest for children 12 years
and younger. By entering an essay
on "The Importance of Trees at
Christmastime," a child may win a
Christmas tree for their family!
Essays should be fifty words orl;
less and neatly printed on 8% x 1T
inch paper. Entries should be sub; ,
mitted by Friday, December 4, and;:
must include name, age, address •
and telephone number. Incomplete ;
entries will not be judged.
Each essay will be judged accor>;
ding to the writer's age and all es
says will be judged on December 4, ;
Writers of the ten winning entries
will be notified the following week.
Ten trees, each six to seven feet’
tall, will be awarded to the top final
ists. The finalists may come to the
Center during the holiday season,;
and select their trees from among
the freshly cut Douglas fir trees for
sale at the Center's Christmas tree
lot.
Mail all entries to: World Forestry
Center, 4033 S.W. Canyon Rd.,
Portland, OR 97221
For more information, call (503)
228-1367.
Children's Holiday
Ornaments
Children from 8 12 years old can
make special ornaments for the holi
day season in this class, offered by
the World Forestry Center. The
class will meet on Saturday, De
cember 5 from 1 to 3 p.m., in the
Center's Miller Hall Woodshop.
Cost for the class is $7 for WFC
members and $8.50 for others;
parents are welcome to attend free
of charge.
Children will create their orna
ments from cones, spices, bark
and other natural materials. Orna
ments range from whimsical to
colorful, and each is suitable for
giving as a small gift or as a tree
decoration.
For more information, contact
the World Forestry Center, 4033
S.W. Canyon Rd., Portland, OR
97221, (503)228 1367.
Scouts Collect
Food For
the Needy
Saturdays, December 5th and
12th, Scouts from the Columbia
Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of
America, will be assisting the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul in
the collection of canned food for
their annual Christmas food cam
paign.
The Boy Scout Council and the
St. Vincent de Paul hope to collect
nearly 400,000 lbs. of canned food
to feed 10,000 needy families during
the holiday season.
Over 200 Scout units represen
ting 5,000 Cub Scouts and Explorers
will be participating in this holiday
good turn. Scouts receive a special
segment patch from St. Vincent de
Paul recognizing their participation
in the food collection.
Those wishing to help the Boy
Scouts and St. Vincent de Pau
should place canned food in the
collection bags distributed by the
Scouts. Bags should be placed on
front porches for pick-up by the
Scouts from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
December 5th and 12th.
Tapes and Records
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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
The deepest known depression in
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