Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, June 21, 1995, Image 1

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Volume X X V Number 25
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Committed to cultural diversity.
Schools Focus On
Inventions
(une 21, 1995
Join In Celebrating Our
Area children test their
imagine and ingenuity.
Apprentices
Graduate
Portland sees the largest
graduating class o f
electricians in the country’.
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See Metro inside.
S A R Y
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Se? Careers, inside.
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H i l l W a lk e r
U n i v e r s i t y o f O re g o n
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REVIEW
McMenamins
Welcomed To Kennedy
The 79th anniversary of the dedication
of Kennedy School and the beginning o f its
redevelopment by McMenamins Pubs and
Breweries was observed in a special cere­
mony. Mayor Vera Katz join over 300 neigh­
bors. Kennedy alumni and friends last week
for the opening of a time capsule and ringing
ofthe old school bell. Neighborhood restau­
rants served food, while the McMenamin
b ro th e r’s provided beverages. The
McMenamins plan to remodel the vacant
building into a brew pub, theater and inn.
Juneteenth was celebrated
Saturday at Alberta Park
with a community ,picnic,
music and special events.
The day pays tribute to the
anniversary of freedom for
African American slaves.
See additional photos on
page A5 inside.
Drug Dealers Arrested
Thirteen street drug dealers were ar­
rested for distribution o f crack cocaine last
week by Portland police. Officials said the
arrests were the latest in a series of enforce­
ment efforts that target areas affected by
drug trafficking and focused on northeast
Portland. Offices posing as would be buyers
were solicited by the dealers, who were then
arrested. One suspect had 14 grams of co­
caine in his possession, police said.
Rights Panel
Gets New Members
Anita Ball o f northeast Portland and
Norma Trimble, editor o f American Indi­
an News, have been appointed to the Met­
ropolitan Human Rights Commission. Ball
has been involved in labor organization,
health care and welfare reform. Trimble
has a long history o f involvement with the
Bow and Arrow Club which has enabled
Portland’s Indian community to partici­
pate in cultural activities since 1968.
Simpson Says
Gloves Don’t Fit
O.J. Simpson grimaced as he stood be-
I fore jurors last week and tugged on the
bloody leather gloves prosecutors say were
wore the night his ex-wife and her friend
were murdered. “T hey’re too sm all,”
Simpson told jurors as he struggled to get
them on. Simpson pulled the gloves over a
pair o f latex gloves he had to wear to protect
the evidence. The gloves seemed far too
small, but after Simpson persevered and
I nulled harder he was able to get them on.
Batman Movie
Sets Record
‘Batman Forever" earned $52 million
in its debut weekend, beating the record set
I by “Jurassic Park,” according to film in­
dustry estimates. The motion picture stars
Val Kilmer in the title role, replacing
Michael Keaton; Jim Carry plays his nem­
esis, The Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones as
I Two-Face, Carrey’s cohort.
Safe Summer Promised To City Kids
P
roject Safe Summer is kicking
off its fifth year at three inner-
north Portland schools.
The four to six week enrichment pro­
gram, at no cost to the student, gives instruc­
tion in the arts, computers, language and
physical education in the safe environment of
a neighborhood school.
Programs are held at Beach, Applegate
and Ockley Green schools.
Beach Principal Mike Verbout said it
will pay o ff when school resumes in the fall
with better school attendance and improved
academic performance.
“ Without a program like this, many of
the kids would have few positive experiences
during the summer,” Verbout said.
I wo years ago, Amy Sparkes’ parents
were concerned that her transition to a new
school and neighborhood would be difficult.
"Amy has a learning disability which
can be a barrier to making fiends and adapt­
ing to change,” said her father. Bob Sparkes.
Io help Amy adjust to Beach school,
Verbout suggested enrolling her in Project
Safe Summer.
Amy rotated through math, reading and
drama classes directed by teachers and older
students who serve as mentors and role mod­
els.
I feel it has helped my daughter strength­
en her academic skills,” said Sparks. “But
most o f all, she’s engaged in fun activities
and is learning to build and keep relation­
ships with kids she’s met during the school
year. She s looking forward to going again
this summer
Project Safe Summe. l.’egin in 1991 as a
com m unity partnership between K aiser
I ermanente, Nabisco foods, the Portland
Police and Parks bureaus, Piedmont Neigh­
borhood Association and parents.
Portland Police Officer Len Braithwait
has helped since its inception
Sometimes kids have few constructive
activities available to them during the sum­
mer months and too often this leads to van­
dalism, misbehavior or involvement with
gauges,” said Braithwait. "Project Safe Sum­
mer gives these kids and their parents a
worthwhile alternative.”
Virginia Feldman, chief doctor o f pedi­
atrics at Kaiser, believes these programs con­
tribute to the total health o f the child.
“ Even though kids may look fo r­
w ard to sum m er vacation, three m onths
o f in activ ity , m entally and so cially, can
really take a toll on school p rogress the
follow ing fall,” Feldman said. “ Program s
like P ro je c t Safe Sum m er keep the m o­
m entum of the school year going and
th e y ’re really needed. M any fam ilies,
w hose kids m ight benef it m ost from such
program s, may not have the resources to
send a child to a private program or
sum m er c a m p .”
I he effo rt is funded through d o n a ­
tions and req u ires $35,000 for teacher
sa la rie s, learning supplies and incentive
aw ards. Tax d ed u ctib le do n atio n s can
be sent to P roject Safe Sum m er 1995,
care o f the P ortland Police B ureau, 7 2 12
N. B urlington, P ortland, OR 97203, A t­
tention: O ffic e r Len B raithw ait.
Thomas Votes Against
Affirm ative Action
by
In an opinion issued last week. Su­
preme Court Justice Clarence Thomas com­
plained that much o f school desegregation
law is “based on a theory o f black inferior­
ity,” one that insists black children can
learn only if they are mixed with a proper
proportion o f white pupils. “ It is a type of
racial paternalism," he said. Thomas cast
the deciding vote in cases to cut back on
school desegregation and federal affirma­
tive action programs. “ In my mind, gov­
ernment-sponsored racial discrimination
based on benign prejudice is just as nox­
ious as discrimination based on malicious
prejudice," Thomas wrote.
EDITORIAL
A2
P romise K ing
D
Gov. Kitzhaber (center) in northeast Portland M o n d a y t o s f o w ^ p ^ f o ^ r ^
prevention and the House o f Umoja. Joining the governor ware Marcus Branch
(left) and Johnny A. Gage.
METRO
Bl
SPORTS
B2
wayne Jerkinson, 16, needs a
job and a GED and he won’t
worry about the law created
by Measure 11.
Even as young Jerkinson listens to Gov.
John Kitzhaber rap about the need to keep
kids like him from the clutches o f crime, he
doesn’t think society really cares about at-
risk youth like him.
“We need jobs and love, not intimida­
tion,” Jerkinson said.
Ballot Measure I Loverwhelmingpassed
by voters last November, gave legal muscle
to authorities to prosecute youths involved in
violent crimes as adults.
“ Its going to slow crime some, but it
ain’t going to stop it,” the unemployed teen
said.
However, K itzhaber reiterated his com-
mitment to help in the fight againstjuvenile
crime.
He was at the House o f Umoja in
northeast Portland Monday to deliver a
$70,000 check in this regard. 7he money
comes from Oregon’s share o f the Edward
Byrne Memorial grand, which is part of the
federal government’s crime package.
House o f Umoja is a program targeting
at-risk youth and it provides an alternative
to gang involvement.
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ENTERTAINMENT
HEALTH
RELIGION
CLASSIFIEDS
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