Volume XXIV Number 49 We Are Family Christmas Lights Up The Grotto Portland ’s Fazzolari brothers capture the essence o f family in America. Singer Braxton Shines Volunteers spruce up The Grotto fo r the “Festival o f Lights. ” See Page A 7. Toni Braxton s new album is as mesmerizing as she is beautiful. See Metro, inside. See Arts & Entertainment, Page B3. Pnrtlitnb 0 THE H5 Small School Big In Math REW Murder Hits D.C. Population Hard When 60 citizens reporting for jury duty in a murder trial in Washington, D C. were recently asked by the judge ifthey had lost a relative or close friend to a homicide, one-fourth o f them stood up. It was a graph ic illustration o f what years of killings have done to the people o f the nation’s capital. The city has had the h ighest murder rate per capita in the last three to four years. The tiniest school in Portland is big in math and science. Take a look into one o f Hollyrood Elementary’s eight classrooms, buzzing with bugs in wire cages, baby rats snooz ing on wood chips, lots o f colorful clut ter, computers and kids who typically score within the top 25 percent o f the state's elementary students. The kindergarten though Grade 3 school at 3560 N.E. Hollyrood Court, has received a $10,000 state grant as a demonstration site for innovative sci ence and math programs. All 183 students at the school are taking part in projects and experiments ranging from organic gardening to rais ing fall Chinook fingerlings. The strong, integrated science and math programs result from unflagging energy, innovation and cooperation among school staff, parents, neighboring schools and the community, school offi cials said. The school is a member o f a Grant High School regional alliance that focus es on improving science and math achievement in all Grant neighborhood schools. Prescription For Youth Violence Fewer kids would choose violence if families, schools and community agencies work together as partners, according to the lead author o f “Antisocial Behavior in School: Strategies and Best Practices.” The book by Hill Walker, director of the Uni versity o f Oregon Center on Human Devel opment, and other researchers says the prob lem ofyouth violence has grown too big for families or schools to overcome alone. The authors are also highly critical o f the media, which they call an “addictive drug” that contributes to youth violence. i Christmas Cards Began As Wood University ofOregon folklorist Sharon Sherman says the first Christmas cards, around 500 years ago, were messages carved on wood. By the 18th century they were made from copper plates. The first modem Christmas card was printed in England in 1843. It’s a lithograph that shows a family party and as "A merry Christmas and happy New Year to you.” Just five years later, the first commercial cards were being printed. Third grade student Philicia Boss learns about science as she participates in an investigation of the old growth forest in Grant Park. Hot Chase For Sheriff’s Post Father Denies Nicole Simpson Report Nicole Brown Simpson’s father has disputed a magazine report that his slain daughter had written a letter predicting her death at the hands o f O.J. Simpson. Star magazine reports that Nicole Simpson wrote in May: “If I am killed my husband, O J. Simpson, did it.” a spokeswoman for the tabloid would not say how the magazine got the letter nor whether the information was paid for. Jury Convicts Rapper Of Sex Abuse One day after he was shot in a robbery, rapper Tupac Shakur, 23, was convicted last week o f sexually abusing a woman he had invited to his hotel room, but acquitted o f more serious sodomy and weapons charg es. Shakur and another man were charged with assaulting the 20-year-old woman in Nov. 1993, four days after she had consen sual sex with Shakur at a Manhattan dance club and at a hotel. Aid For Rwanda Goes To Hutus Tons o f donated food and goods are resupplying and fattening Rwanda’s exiled Hutu regime as it plots a return to power. The new government, meanwhile is bank rupt and at the mercy of a world seemingly indifferent to its struggle to rebuild a na tion. “ I’m stumped And I think it’s just scandalous,” said Chris Hennemeyer of C atholic Relief Services. “Either there is a massive conspiracy to keep Rwanda down or the world community is incredibly in competent.” EDITORIAL A2 Candidates List Top Priorities by P romise K ing h e re ’s a new race for Multnomah County Sheriff In the Portland metropolitan area with the recent retirement of Sheriff Bob Skipper. The announcement of Skipper’s depar ture came in the wake o f voter approval of Ballot Measure 8. the November initiative taking away six percent of the retirement benefits to public employees. Skipper was and also appeared in the Fox network just re-elected to a second, four-year term in series “ C ops.” May. How he m anages the affairs o f the The race to fill the office is now heating $53 m illion s h e riff s budget in the com up between John Bunnell, chief sheriffs ing m onths could determ ine his chances deputy correction officer, named acting sher in the com ing election. S upporters said iff last month, Vera Pool, a sheriff s lieuten his w orking relation sh ip with others ant who lost to Skipper in the last election, could give him the edge. and assistant Portland Police Chief Dan Bunnell told the Portland Observer that Noelle. The special election will likely be his priority is to diversify the department by held in March. pushing for more minority hiring, creating Bunnell 50, jo in ed the sh eriff d e better employee opportunities, eliminating partm ent at the age 24 as a recruit, w ork unnecessary positions and using the sheriffs ing his way through the ranks. He was budget to realize his mandates. appointed ch ief deputy o f corrections “ I want to have a diversified personnel. last July. I am not afraid to make change. We are in the As B unnell made his mark in adm in position to change the old way of doing istration and field operations, he gained things,” he said fame as a host for the ABC television Bunnell said he will also concentrate on series “A m erican D etective” in 1992-93 expanding jail space to house more criminals. T HOUSING A5 METRO Bl Vera Pool John Bunnell But Noelle said expanding jail space was his top priority. He indicated he would not eliminate any position in the sheriffs department. He emphasized the need for cooperation among law enforcement agencies in the coun ty. “All o f Multnomah County will benefit from a cost-effective and coordinated crimi nal justice system,” Noelle agreed. Noelle, 50, did pledge to eliminate du plication o f effort and cut administrative fat He began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer on the inner east side of Portland and worked on the streets for more than 15 years. He was the bureau’s public information officer for three years and has the endorse ment of the county district attorney Michael Schrunk. SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT B2 B3 Pool who ran this race before said she would push for more prevention and correc tions programs if elected. “ We must provide anti-crim e p ro gram s for law -abiding citizens and in carcerate those who continue to com m it violent crim e and instill fear in our com m unities,” she echoed She also believes that the need to be more pro-active in planning Adding that the sheriff s office can no longer afford to pro vide the same number of services it provided in the eighties. Pool has 20 years o f experience in the criminal justice system with the past 14 years in management and five years at the supervi sory level. Her political connections and her past experience in the county sheriff race may help her bid for the job RELIGION B5 CLASSIFIEDS B6