Page 4 Portland Observer JUNE 1,1989
News Around Town____
BPA TO HOST
BENEFIT FOR
COMMUNITY
HEALTH
CENTER
Walnut Park construction could portend
renaissance for lower Northeast business
Wyant group plans construction of town square type mini-mall at the old
Fred Meyer site. Project could begin by mid summer and end in 1990
b y S te p h e n E. M c P h e rs o n ,
S p e c ia l C o rre s p o n d e n t
Last w eek the big red and w hite
Fred M e ye r sign that has stood on the
ro o f top o f Fred M eyer as a quiet
sentinel o ve rlo o kin g the new M a rtin
L u th e r K in g A ve . came d o w n w ith
out even a w h im p e r. The w eek be
fore that m ost o f the w in d o w s and
doors that w o u ld be vulnerable to
vandalism and burglaries were co v
ered over w ith p lyw o o d . C hains bar
entry to the once busy p a rkin g lots
that arc ncAv litte re d w ith rubbish.
O ne can’ t w onder but how q u ic k ly
the process o f d e terioration sets in
once a piece o f property o f that size
lies dorm ant. A t firs t its was thought
ress unim peded, the entire develop
m ent is expected to begin by m id
sum m er and its com pletion could
very w e ll coincide w ith the opening
o f the nearby convention center. I l is
very exciting to observe that the entire
endeavor w o u ld be undertaken w ith
p riva te funds.
C u rio u s ly , the o ffe r to purchase
the site fo r this specific purpose was
one o f the firs t to be made when it be
came kn o w n that the W a ln u t Park
property w o u ld placed on the m arket
fo r sale. It d id not re c e iv e a v e ry high
p rio rity at the tim e possibly because
the assistance prom ised by the P o rt
land D evelopm ent C om m ission was
less speculative and offe re d w hat the
but that expectation d id not blossom
into fruition apparently because Kom o
its e lf is faced w ith a cash flo w im
negotiators thought was a better chance
fo r success.Chadwick and A ssoci
ates was in v o lv e d in the acq u isitio n
o f the property and the p ro m u lg a tio n
o f the new concept. T h e ir team was
spearheaded by Michael Debman and
pedim ent.
The business co m m u n ity should
not yet despair because a ll is not lost.
The W ya n t G ro u p o f Salem, know n
fo r developing im p o rta n t pieces o f
his brother, Chad. They are tw o
w e ll-k n o w n business men fro m the
A fric a n A m erican co m m u n ity. One
o f the e xcitin g things about th e ir in
volvem ent is that it gives the m in o r
commercial property all over the state
has shown an interest in that site
w h ich co u ld serve as the im petus fo r
ity contractor another chance to par
ticipate in the lu cra tive local co n
that K o m o Foods w o u ld f i l l the void
le ft by the departure o f Fred M eyer,
the comm ercial renaissance the lower
N ortheast has needed fo ra lo n g tim e.
The d riv in g force that propelled
the K o m o disappointm ent in to ju b i
lation is a package o f innovative ideas
p ro ffe re d by D on W ya n t, Jr. This
new approach has a decided advan
tage o ver the sim ple replacem ent o f
one fa ilin g store w ith another. It is
an endeavor that brings a lo t o f ex
cite m e n t to a depressed co m m u n ity.
W hen M r. W ya n t spoke to the P o rt
land O bserver last week he was quite
enthusiastic about the success o f the
plan. V arious details are s till being
w orked out, b u t M r. W ya n t indicated
that he was in consultation w ith an
a rchitect so as to determ ine w hat
w o u ld be the m ost e co n o m ica lly
feasible way to proceed w ith a plan
that w o u ld require m a jo r construc
tio n on the site. He also had entered
in to a discussion w h ich w o u ld see a
m a jo r re ta ile r as one o f the s ig n ifi
cant anchors on the site. In general,
the W ya n t plan calls f o f a m in i-m a ll
s im ila r to a to w n square prototype. It
w o u ld also in clude other a d ju nctive
business enterprises w hich could very
w e ll encompass parcels o f land adjac
ent to the present s ite .If plans prog-
struction industry and at the same
tim e also offe rs opportunities fo r the
e m ploym ent o f northeast residents.
C e rta in ly the sale o f the W a ln u t
Park p roperty is not going to resolve
the Urban League” s pecuniary short
fa ll. It does, how ever prom ise the
in fu sio n o f badly needed cash in to a
d w in d lin g treasury even though o f
fe rin g o n ly a tem porary respite fo r
the beleaguered organization. B y
some estimates the W a ln u t Park
property is valued in excess o f $1
m illio n . The W ya n t G roup is thought
to be purchasing it fo r $525,000 which
by any analysis is a tremendous bar
gain. O f the m oney realized on the
sale, i t also is k n o w n that the F irst
Interstate B ank has encumbered at
least $100,000 as a result o f a lie n
fro m a previous foreclosure. T o be
sure, i f the Urban League’ s problem s
co u ld be am eliorated w ith o n ly about
$400,000 then c e rta in ly w ith a clear
and free e quity o f m ore than $1 m il
lion in the W alnut Park property alone
they should have been e lig ib le fo r a
long term m ortgage. U n fo rtu n a te ly
some o f the problem s that plague the
U rban League are ch ro n ic, endemic
and intractable. In such cases th e ir
m oney managers should fo llo w the
Flagger Training Sessions Set at PCC Cascade
The N orthw est Business C enter Has scheduled sum m er classes in flagger
c e rtific a tio n at the P ortland C o m m u n ity C o lle g e Cascade Cam pus, 705 N .
K illin g s w o rth St.
Participants m ay choose Saturday sessions June 10, June 24, July 8 o r
July 22, said M ic h e le L . A lb e rt, center president. The classes w ill be fro m
1 to 4pm in Portable B u ild in g 5 at PCC Cascade.
A nyone w ho wants to take part in a June o r July session should register
and pay the $30 fee at the N orthw est Business Center o ffic e , 5516 N E 16th
A ve., no later than one day p rio r to the class.
F u rth e r in fo rm a tio n is available fro m A lb e rt at 284-8103.
<iWiyo‘f love
M owrys alo ^ c
example that other well-respected in
stitu tio n s have chosen when faced
B onneville Power A dm inistration
(B P A ) celebrates its S ixth A nnual
“ E nergizing the C o m m u n ity Bene
f i t ” , sponsoring the N o rth Portland
Nurse Practitioner Com m unity Health
w ith the same situation. Chapter 11
o f the federal bankruptcy laws w o u ld
a ffo rd them the o p p o rtu n ity to cut
th e ir losses and to re-organize under
m ore favorable circumstances. U n
der such a process they w o u ld need
the guidance o f a fid u c ia ry expert e x
perienced in breathing new life in to a
fa ilin g fin a n c ia l e n tity . T o ignore
such a set o f nagging problem s is not
to make them disappear.
F o r some tim e the U rban League
has expressed the v ie w that it d id not
have the business acumen to rem ain
engaged in the management o f real
estate. T h e ir loss o f property by
foreclosure, tax delinquency and sales
far b e lo w true m arket value w o u ld
appear to underscore that contention
provided.
The M arch o f D im es honored
M ariah T a y lo r in an annual “ Salute
to W om en o f A ch ie ve m en t” bene
Desgregation M o n i
toring A dvisory C om m ittee D M A C
Please com e o u t on Tuesday, June 6,1989; 7:00 - 9 :0 0 P M dem on
strate your support fo r the q u a lity education o f o u r ch ild re n and support
the preservation o f o u r c o m m u n ity school’ s programs
N o w is the tim e fo r us to com e together as a co m m u n ity and let the entire
c ity kn o w that we w ill s till have a voice and a say in the education o f o u r
ch ild re n .
T h is m eeting is to m uster o u r forces; share ideas to develop a strategy that
w ill assure us that the programs that are im portant to q u a lity education and
q u a lity o f life in northeast Portland w ill rem ain in o u r co m m u n ity and that
n o tifica tio n s w ill be made through o u r ow n co m m u n ity netw ork.
C lin ic (N P C H C )
A fundraising auction w ill be held
fo r N P C H C , F rid a y, June 2 3 ,1 9 8 9 at
7:00 p.m . to m id n ig h t, in the S m ith
M e m o ria l Center B a llro o m .Portland
State U niversity. The admission price
is $8. Food and m usic w ill also be
T o p ics o f concern include:
** *S tu d e n t A chievem ent
** *S tu d e n t D iscip lin e
•••U p d a te O n M u lti-C u ltu ra l C u rricu lu m -T h e Real Story
•••E c o n o m ic A n d M o ra le Im pact O f C lo sin g Jefferson HS
Be there------------ Have a say in w hat w ill happen to o u r ch ild re n ------------
T o our c o m m u n ity !!!!!!!!!!
June 6, 1 9 8 9 -K in g N eighborhood F a c ility
fit. M a ria h T a y lo r provides health
care to ch ild re n o f lo w incom e fa m i
lies. T he c lin ic serves in d ivid u a ls
4815 N E 7th
7 :00 - 9 :0 0 P M
aged 0 to 21 regardless o f the a b ility
w ith o u t challenge.
In the m eanw hile the sh o rt-live d
honeym oon p re vio u sly enjoyed by
the new U rban League leadership is
to pay.
Sweatshirts and T -S h irts are now
on sale in tw o colors: Peach and
Turquoise. They are available in sizes
now on the wane. Num erous co m
plaints are now expressed in the A f
S, M , L , and X L . The price o f the T -
S h irt is $8.00 and the sw eatshirt is
$ 13.00. I f yo u have questions, please
c a ll C herie L o n g at 230-4279.
D O N A T IO N S FO R A U C T IO N
IT E M S A R E N E E D E D ! ! ! F or
item s donated, please include the
rican A m erican co m m u n ity not o n ly
about the leadership style o f its
managers b u t people are also begin
ning to ask w hat experience do they
have in fu n d raising on such a large
scale.
O ne year later, the o u tlo o k is s till
bleak, but there is a g lim m e r o f hope
on the horizon.T he success o f any
vo lu n ta ry organization frequently is
determ ined by the enthusiasm and
co m m itm e n t o f its grass roots ele
m ent. Perhaps one o f the mistakes
the re tired Urban League board o f d i
fo llo w in g in fo rm a tio n:
re ors made was to harbor unrea
sonable expectations o f its new lead
ership. Even i f the new leadership
S hould it be Low ered
To help w ith the advertising, please
attach a picture o f the item i f you
have one. P rio r to the auction, items
should be delivered to K a th y M a y at
Bonneville Power Administration, 905
NE 11th A venue, Portland at 5:00
Students at Whitaker Middle School Excel in new
self-enhancement program
T im e L im it
L o ca tio n
Dates and N um ber o f People Y o u
can A ccom m odate
M in im u m B id
State W hether B id can be L o w
ered
I f B id can be Low ered, H o w M uch
had had the experience and success
in m anaging the day to day ac tiv itie s
o f such an organization and at the
same tim e was successful in d e ve l
oping new avenues o f fund raising,
the organization s till co u ld not have
succeeded w ith o u t a dedicated and
active clientele, knowledgeable about
how th e ir co m m u n ity w orks and how
L a S h a n d a H u ff
p.m. on W ednesday June 21, 1989.
On the n ig h t o f the auction, items
should be delivered to Petey F leish-
mann at the D ittm c r B u ild in g , 5411
N E H ig h w a y 99, V ancouver, W ash
ington.
I f you have questions, c a ll K athy
Hay at 230-7391 in Portland. A re
ce ip t w ill be given fo r tax-deductible
co n trib u tio n s, fo llo w in g the auction.
Join hands w ith B P A and N PC H C
the league should be run. There was
a tim e w hen the U rban League G u ild
served such a fu n c tio n . It recently
was re-organized under the leader
ship and demonstrated kn o w -h o w o f
Pat H ill. It is o n ly by co m m u n ity
in vo lve m e n t and m o n ito rin g w ill the
P ortland Urban League return to its
M a rv in L a m b e rt
C h a rlo tte H u d s o n
OREGON BLACK UNITED
FUND TO HOLD FORUM
IN COMMUNITY
place o f prominence w ith in the larger
c o m m u n ity.
The B la ck U nited Fund o f Oregon
w ill hold a co m m u n ity fo ru m on June
8,1989 fro m 1:30pm to 3 :3 0 p m at the
N orth Portland Branch L ib ra ry A u d i
to riu m , 512 N . K illin g s w o rth . The
JOB CORPS TO
HOLD REUNION
forum w ill feature presentations by
K ay Sohi o f T echnical Assistance fo r
C o m m u n ity Services and Steve
and S ta ff reunion July 7th and 8th in
Johnson o f the Institute fo r Science
A sto ria , Oregon. The reunion w ill
E ngineering & P ublic P o licy. They
com m em orate the 25th anniversary
w ill discuss corporations that donate
o f the Job Corps program and w ill be
com puters and software to n o n -p ro fit
held in co n ju nctio n w ith the C enter’ s
organizations and how to best u tiliz e
annual Open House scheduled fo r
com puters fo r w ord processing, data
J u ly 7. R eunion a c tiv itie s include a
bases and accounting. F o r further
no-host dinner at the Eagles Lodge in
in fo rm a tio n contact Herman L .
A sto ria Friday beginning at 6:00pm
Bram e, T echnical Assistance M a n
and a free barbeque on the C enter
ager, The B la ck U nited Fund o f O re
fro m noon to 2:00pm Saturday.
gon at 282-7973.
Reservations are necessary fo r the
d in n e rb y June 15. A ll graduates and
fo rm e r employees o f Tongue Point
H U N G R Y: NEED M ONEY?
Job C orps C enter are in vite d to at
O U T O F W O R K , N E E D A JOB?
The tongue P oint jo b Corps C en
ter w ill sponsor an A lu m n i Student
tend. Please contact the D ire c to r’ s
O ffic e at Tongue P oint, A sto ria ,
Unity of Love offers authentic hair-weaving.
Contact Lonnie at 6720 NE Union - 283-5440.
Our hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Tues - Sat.
To: Community Leaders
From: Halim Rahsaan, C hairperson,
&
way.
1L
Niecey’s Restaurant & Lounge
5700 NE Union
248-1893
FOR YOUR EVERCHANGING LIFESTYLES
• NAOMI SIMS • BORNFREE
• MICHAEL WEEKS
Now open Featuring M rC ’s Bar-B-Que
hours 6:00am-2:00am
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner By Marie
Wide Selection of Beverages in
our comfortable lounge
ANO OTHER NAME BRANDS
EVERYTMNG FROM CURRENT STYLES TO SPECIALTY W B S
UNDUE HAM ORNAMENTS
HAM BEADS i BEAUTY SUPPLES
MRS C’S EBONY ESSENCE COSMETBS
ZUR, COSMETBS
“ Keeping you beautiful in any way we can is
what we are all about.”
M r. M oonan's eigth grade class. They have a ll made rem arkable im p ro ve
m ent in th e ir attitude, behavior and grade p o in t average. The P ortland
O bserver salutes these students w h o have chosen to excel in such a poositive
WHOLESALE & RETAIL
HUNDREDS OF WIGS
BETTY C A B IM
PROPR'ETO"
z
"T he I can and I w ill "is a new program established at the W h ita ke r M id d le
School. It is part o f a se lf-enrichm ent endeavor headed by Edna M . P ittm an,
the student service specialist. The youngsters pictured in this issue are from
W ORKERS
235-3536
MRS C’S WIGS
TUI5-SAT
1 1 ,3 0 -6 « )
E m a n u e l M o s le y
C A L L A M E R IC A N H A N D IC A P
O regon, o r ca ll 503-325-2131, fo r
m ore in fo rm a tio n .
A
T ra v is E llio tt
281-6525
I
7th & FREMONT (707 N.E. FREMONT)
BEAUTICIAN
& STUDENT
DISCOUNTS
Come get acquainted and enjoy
1 0 0 '/. HUMAN HAM
FOR
BRAIDING
WEAVMG
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