A pril 5, 1995 • T he P ortland O bserver
’ age
A4
Readers Letting Us Know
They Are Out There
intentioned comments about the part
I played in the flight of the H ughes's
flying Boat makes more of me than I
deserve."
At this point 1 will paraphrase
W illiam Shakespeare, the famed
playwright of the 17th - Century;
"Me thinketh thou doth protest too
much." Yes. Mr Rutherford, you may
indeed deserve more acclaim that
has been bestowed upon you - in the
news media or in professional jour
nals. I speak to the incalculable ben
efit to our young folks that is brought
about through an enhanced aware
ness of the great contribution to tech
nology by African Americans.
Let us see if, in fact, M r.
Rutherford deserves every accolade
we may accord him; “for the record:
I was the Systems Specialist on the
Hughes Flying Boat project. Since 1
Designed The Engine Control Sys
tem, m v duties on the flight was to till
in as a back up for the active flight
engineer" No Sir! your light does not
go under a bucket.
Our youth need the motivation
and the inspiration.
And 1 stand corrected by the last
paragraph of this gifted black engi
neer who graduated from Portland’s
B y P rof . M c K inley B urt
Hey. 1 stand corrected, no prob
lem (last week s article, Lhe State
O f The Nation HI", first paragraph).
In the objective case, it is whom
not w ho'. Also. 1 try to avoid split
in finitives, dangling p articiples,
mixed metaphors and oxymoron; and
occasionally 1 am known to remem
ber that in the case ot a “situation
contrary to fact" one is supposed to
use the present subjective tense’ (“It
I were a king”).
But my eighth grade English
composition class was a long, long
tunc ago, so lets go on to other things.
For one thing 1 has e been getting a lot
of interesting letters lately - a lot of
them form out of state. L et’s start
with Mr. T.M. Rutherford. I wrote
about this African American engi
neer several weeks ago in connection
with the famed Howard H ughes’
Flying Boat - that an affectionate
media named, “The Spruce Goose”
(.February 15, 1995.
He o p e n s , T h a n k you for your
tlattering article in the Feb. 15, issue
of the Portland Observer, appearing
in the colum n, “Portland’s Black
History: L ostStrayedorStolen." Mr.
Rutherford continues: "Y our well-
Benson High School; "At no time did
I receive ’direct’ orders from Hughes
during the flight.” Be that as it may,
you were Both on board. Hundreds
of millions around the world have
seen movies of the famous flight, and
when my update of "Black Inventors
of America” comes out in late fall
(along with multi-media material),
millions will know of your role (for
give me for the little ’poetic license
taken in projecting a conversation
between you two). I still like it
(smiles).
In respect to that “Journey Down
W illiams Ave.” I took in the pages of
the Portland Observer during Black
History Month, I have a letter in hand
from Ms Mary Bird. I have been
properly scolded (in a nice way) for
letting the intervention of fifty years
interfere with an accurate account of
a phase o f operation at "Bob Bird’s
P lace'. She and her husband Bob did
in fact operate a "licensed” establish
m ent during their ow nership of
“ Bird’s Sandwich shop.” She pur
chased the licenses herself. She is
“not asking for an apology", but I am
certainly rendering one.
Thank you for your communi
cation - 1 appreciate it.
Symposium
Studies
Gender
Myths
Observing
Sewage Spill Prompts
Closure Of Leverich Park
A sewage spill near Leverich
Park has prompted Vancouver city
officials to temporarily close the park
until contamination falls to safe lev
els., according to Don Lawry, water/
sewer maintenance superintendent.
The contamination resulted from
vandalism which caused a sewage
spill above the park on the evening of
March 19. Debris clogged the line,
causing a back-up which spilled and
estimated 1,800 gallons of sewage.
The sewage flowed down Leverich
Park Way, contaminating the park’s
playground and picnic area
City utility officials responded
immediately to the incident. The con
taminated area was fenced ofl and
treated with a chlorine spray and
lim e. W arning signs w ere also
erected. The state D epartment of
Ecology was consulted and soil
samples sent to the Southwest Wash-
ington Health District for testing.
The city is now awaiting results of a
second test.
The decision to close the entire park
- with barricades at all entrances - was
taken on March 29. "We regret this incon
venience to park users," Lawry notes.
• However, the park is heavily used dunng
spring break. We are closing it as a public
safety measure."
To prevent future vandalism,
locking lids have since been installed
on all manhole covers in the area.
Report On Water Quality
Vancouver has mailed the V an
couver City Flyer newsletter, i nclud-
ing the annual W ater Quality Re
port, to 69,322 residences, busi
nesses and customers in the city ’s
service area.
This was the largest mailing the
city has ever completed, and it re
flects steady growth of addresses in
the city’s urban service area.
The spring issue includes news
and updates on key city projects,
activities and services.
It also includes a four-page sec
tion of extensive information on the
content of the city water supply, plus
information about test results and the
rigorous testing procedures which
are in place.
This is the first of six issues
authorized by the Vancouver City
Council to be produced in the city’s
1995/96 biennium.
The Vancouver City Flyer is in
its tenth year of publication. It is
produced in-house by city staff un
der the direction o f City M anager
John Fischbach. Editor is Marilyn
Westlake. Staff writer and photogra
pher is Richard Nardine.
Neighborhood Grants Awarded
"Exploring Myths: Sex, Stories,
Football and Feminism" suggests the
topics for discussion, Sunday, April
9, through W ednesday, April 12, at
the 14th Annual Gener Studies Sym
posium at Lewis & Clark College,
0615 S. W. Palatine Hill Road.
T h ro u g h panel d isc u ssio n s,
dance performances, lectures, work
shops, an art exhibit and other spe
cial activities, issues surrounding
gender will be explored. All events
are free and open to the public.
"The to p ic o f this y e a r 's G en
d e r S tu d ies S y m p o siu m re fle c ts
the e c le c tic c o lle c tio n o f in te r
e stin g p a p e rs b e in g p re s e n te d ,”
Jan e H u n e te r, a sso c ia te p ro fe s
so r o f h isto ry , said . “ It re p re
sen ts the d iv e rsity o f fe m in ist
v o ic e s.”
The City o f V ancouver an
nounced today that two neighbor
hoods have been awarded grants to
help with neighborhood projects.
Grant applications were submitted
by neighborhood association through
the city’s Neighborhood Matching
Grant program.
Anne Fausto-Sterling
Patricia Hill Collins
Nationally recongnized keynote
speakers include Anne Fausto-Ster
ling, professor of medical science at
Brown University; Jackson Katz, a
former all-state high school football
player and activist for preventing
violence against women; and Patricia
Hill Collins, professor of African-
American studies at the University of
Cincinnati.
“Feminism reflects many points
of view,” Hunter said. "Each speaker
will bring something interesting to
the program -A nne Fausto-Sterling
will talk about science and how it is
influenced by pre-conceived ideas
regarding gender. Jackson Katz will
discuss violence against women, a
key topic in the year of the O.J.
Sim pson trial. And Patricia Hill
Collins will focus on race as it inter
acts with gender.”
Karate
For Kids
Children 5 to 12 can learn basic
karate techniques through the V an
couver Parks and Recreation power
Kids class. Power Kids combines
karate techniques with an emphasis
on self-defense and common sense
awareness.
Classes meet Mondays, April
10 through May 15 at Bagley Com
munity Center, 4100 Plomondon.
Beginners meet at 6 p.m.. advanced
classes meet at 7 p.m. A second ses
sion is scheduled May 22 through
July 10. Register at Bagley Center.
The cost is $36, ($32 city residents).
For more information call 696-8006.
The Lincoln neighborhood re
ceived funding for a fannly-style
dance entitled "Spring Fever". The
neighborhood will use funds raised
to sponsor additional events that ben
efit youth and neighborhood beauti
fication projects.
The Shum w ay neighborhood
received full funding of a $900 grant
to train crime watch volunteers in
mediation, fire, first aid, earthquake
preparendness and other safety train
ing. The training will involve the
entire family and will culminate in a
"Safety Celebration" for the entire
neighborhood.
Neighbors Topped To
Attend Conference
V a n c o u v e r C ity M anager
John F. F isc h b a c h an n o u n ced
the nam es o f tw o city re s i
d e n ts se le c te d to re p re se n t
V a n c o u v e r n e ig h b o rh o o d s at
th is y e a r ’s N e ig h b o rh o o d s,
U SA (N U S A ) C o n fe re n c e .
T he co n feren ce w ill be in B ir
m ingham , A lab am a in M ay.
T he re p re se n ta tiv e s are
Polly H ohn b au m o f the W est
M in n e h a h a N e ig h b o r h o o d
a n d G e n e R e e d o f th e
M eadow H om es N e ig h b o r
hood. “T hey w ill bring back
id eas, p re se n te d by n atio n al
sp e a k e rs, re p re se n ta tiv e s and
a c tiv ists from n eig h b o rh o o d s
th ro u g h o u t the U n ited S tates,
on how to m ake V an c o u v e r
n eighborhoods m ore liv a b le ,”
sa y s C a ro l H a n se n o f the
c ity ’s O ffic e o f N e ig h b o r
hoods. “T hey w ill a lso have
th e o p p o r tu n ity to s h a r e
V a n c o u v e r 's n e ig h b o rh o o d
p ro g ra m s w ith o th e r c o n fe r
ence a tte n d e e s .”
T he local d e le g a te s w ill
w ork w ith the city to c o o rd i
nate the c o n fe re n c e held in
O cto b er.
The Glass Depot auto glass distribution center in Portland received two 1994 “Awards of
Excellence" from Apogee Enterprises of Minneapolis, Minn. Apogee is a leader in the fabrication,
installation and distribution of glass and aluminum for the construction, automotive and consumer
markets.
Governor Faces
Challenges Of Community
Lawyers Think
Simpson Will
Be Freed
Continued from front
▲
The consensus among criminal
He used last year's anti-homo
defense lawyers is that O.J. Simpson,
sexual initiative by the Oregon Citi
who is on trial for the murder of his
zens Alliance as an example o f a
wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and movement which puts a wedge into
her friend, Ron G oldman, will prob
diversity.
ably walk out of the Los Angeles
“This country was incredibly
courtroom a free man
diverse from the very beginning and
David Chesnoff, a noted crim i
diversity should be used as a building
nal trial lawyer in Las Vegas, whose block not as a stumbling block and
views generally reflect those ol his never as a weapon and the OCA kind
peers, told Parade m agazine colum o f attitude is not the way to build a
nist W alter Scott. “ I think that all community." he said
trails, especially lengthy trials, re
Kitzhaber has skillfully repack
ally are decided during jury selec aged the Democratic agenda, toned
tion.”
z
4
down the “liberal leanings" and now
draws considerable sympathy from
both Democrats and Republicans.
How he faces the political, so
cial and economic challenges ahead
will determine his political fate and
the fate o f his party in Oregon
But Kitzhaber’s disarming re
ceptivity and am bitions are well
tucked into the vestiges o f political
maneuvering and seem beyond the
reach o f his opponents
This and many more invisible
pol it ical strategies may keep this shin
ing Democrat in power as long as he
would like to practice politics.
A. Ready/» l.(XX)/Quinto/Roy
Aaron Goldin/»2.500/Scratch/La Center
Alan McRobcrt/»t’>.r>7/Lotto/Bothell
Alexander Poquiz/» 1.000/Quinto/Renton
Allan Avery /» 1,000/Quinto/Kirkland
A lta Lonsdale/»6.000/Scratch/Seattle
An Le/»644/Lotto/Canias
.Arthur ( >ar<i<V»l JXXl/Quinto/Silverdale
Barbara Nelson/KXiA/Lotto/Sumner
Barbara Ross/»4,(>(X)/Scratch/Blaine
Ben Burgi/S 1 (XXI/yuinto/Raymond
Beverly Dunn/il.OOO/Quinto/Copalis Beach
Brian Bremmeyer i s M illion/Lotto/Eniimclaw
Brian C risafulli/ÍO O t'i/bntto/ljngley
Carl Ihisek/»b(Xi/lx>tto/Stanwood
Carlo ( ab itar J1.IK)|/Quinto/Federal Way
Cary Carxon/tfiOO.OOO/Quinto/Everett
Charles Dunrarv»t>47/Lolto/Chiniacum
Charles M edlock/»617/Lotto/Tlikw ila
Charlie Bryant/il.OOO/Quinto/Granite Falls
Chris Em st/»606/Lotto/t)ak H arbor
( larence Sorenson/» 1 .(XXl/yuinto/Spanaway
C lifford H isco ck/» lil7 /L o tto /b r Conner
Daniel Neely/» 10,000/Scratch/Vancouver
Danny Widen/»(XXI/Lotto/Grahani
Darryl Hansen/$1,001/Quinto/Port Orchard
David Morse/»657/Lotto/Grapeview
David Post/»2,100/Scratch/Elnia
Dean Loan/»834ZLotto/Fife
Deanna Baker/» 1.000/Quinto/Buckley
Diana Yoiingz»tXXi/Lotlo/lx>ngview
Donald Enden/» 10.000/ScratcMTacoma
Dwayne Blackney/»10,00Q/Srralrh/Sn<>honiish
Edwin Jess/»l>12/Lotto/Ednionds
Eileen Duket/Jl.OOO/Quinto/Seabeck
Elmo Sag»'dahl/»H;I7/Lotto/Is<vaquah
The W ashiniilon Stale l i l i e r j . Do
j ii
Musi lie 18 years nr nliler in iiurehase
(
E rik Hayes/tl,(XX)/Keno/Federal Way
Evans l«irs< >n/J 1 .(XXl/yuinto/llwaco
Frances Heitzman/$665/Lotto/Tuniwater
Frank Hovey/»609/Lotto/Aubum
Freddy Hartwig/» 1,000/Quinto/Arlington
Gabriel Sanchez/» 1 JXXl/Quinto/Rochester
Gail Goetz/» 1,000/Quinto/Gold Bar
I ia il Biirkholder/»'2tX).OO0/Quinto/Tacoma
Gary Huethek/»C>57/Lotto/Bnish Prairie
Gerald Jonea/»1,000/Quinto/Mill Creek
Greg Blanchard/» I,IXXl/Quinto/Port Angeles
Gregory Carpenter/»609/Lotto/Mount Vernon
Greta Kenner/StMA/Lotto/Tenino
II .1 Miller/»I.OtXI/Quinto/Redmond
Harold Jensen/» 1,000/Quinto/Chehalis
Horace Reavis/J644/Lott(VMontesano
Jack Klumh/il.OOO/Quinto/Gcean Shores
Jack Sweeney/il.OtXVQuinlo/Gig H arlxir
feel lic k j?