The Last Angry
Anointed: Under
the Influence
Brown Hat
Anointed has risen from
virtual anonymity to one of
Christian Musics best
known vocal groups.
See Arts & Entertainment, page BJ.
(
115'{'
HIAPPJ KWANZAA
A Chicano Play by Alfredo
Ramos will be performed_
one time only, December 27
at Monroe High School.
See Observador inside.
ort anh
.e
Wishes
filled
at
C111ly
Holiday
Fiesta
IN
REVIEW
Proposition 209 on hold
A federal judge in San Francisco ha.<i
issued a preliminary injunction blocking
implementation of California's Proposi-
tion 209. The voter approved initiative
rolls back affirmative action programs in
the state. In a 67-page ruling Monday the
judge said opponents of the initiative dem•
onstrated the probability of success on
their claim that the initiative violates the
Constitution's equal protection guarante~
to full participation in the political life of
the community. Proposition 209 bars pref-
erential treatment based on race or SC)( m
public employment, education and con-
tracting. California Attorney General Dan
Lungren is expected to challenge Mon-
day's ruling. Civil rights groups called the
ruling a major victory.
Hebron deal in the balance
A deal on the long-stalled Israeli troop
pullout from the West Bank town ofHebron
is in the balance Tuesday during a sched-
uled high-level meeting. Palestinian lead-
er Yao;ser Arafat and h,raeli Prime Mimi.-
ter Benjamin Netanyahu will auempt to
finalize the Hebron agreement. Arafat's
spokesman says U-S Middle East envoy
Dennis Ross will join the meeting Tues-
day. Israel months ago was scheduled to
redeploy its troops in Hebron under the
Palestinian self-rule agreements. But
Ne1anyahu delayed this while demanding
protection for 400 Jewish militants who
live in the city of 100-thousand Arabs.
No break In Lima standoff
Peru's government is showing no sign
of bowing to the demands of leftist rebels
who are holding more than 140 hostages at
the Japanese ambassador's residence. The
guemllas late Sunday released 225 hos-
tages. 'The rebels called the move a good-
will gesture. But Peru's government gave
no public response. Electricity and water
services to the building remain cut off. The
rebels are still holding at gunpoint do7.ens
of lop Peruvian government officials and
aboul 30 high-ranking Japanese business-
men and "iplomats.
Clinton wishes troops
merry xmas
President Clinton, in a Yuletide salute
to the U.S. armed forces, visited a sprawl-
ing Marine base in North Carolina Mon-
day to greet troops on duty over the holi-
days. Clinton, wenttoCampLejeune, where
some42,()(X)MarinesandsailoBarebased.
A hi1hli1h1 of Clinton's 4 1/2-hour visit
was lunch with members of the Air Contin-
gency Force, a rapid reaction unit. He also
visited with volunteer social service work-
e111, many of them spouses of Marines and
sailors posted overseas. The president also
dropped oft' sacks of toys. donated by
White House slaffers, for the Marines'
Toys for Tots proaram.
Ball Denied for alleged spy
A federal Judge has denied bail in the
case of accused spy Earl Pitts. say mg there
is substanlial reason to believe the FBI
agent is a flight risk. FBI Aaent David
Lambert testified al Monday's bai I hearin1
in Alexandria, Va .. thatsurvei llance inves-
tiaators found an escape plan in a computer
in Pitts' office in 1995. Pitts. a 13-year
qency veteran, was charaed last week
with sellin1 U.S. secrets to Moscow. If
convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of
life in priaon and $250,()(X) in fines for
each count of a 12-count indictment filed
aaainst him. Pitts. 43. is 1eheduled to be
arraigned nul week and is expected lo
plead not 1uilty. No trial dale bu been Mt.
Photo bJ Douc Welker
Two young kids enjoy a visit with Santa at the Cully Holiday Fiesta
M
ore than 20 local businesses
and community troups brouait,t
Christmas to a community that
mlllht not otherwise be able to eel•
brate.
The Cully Holiday Fiesta, in its fourth
year, was held this past Tuesday, Dec. 17,
from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the National Guard
Armory, located at I 0000 NE 33rd Drive, in
Ponland.
Low-income families from northeast Port-
land's Cully neighhorhood and the Villa De
Clara Vista Apartments were in attendance at
this event.
Attractions indudedSan1aand Mri. Claus;
gifts; enlertainm~nt provided hy the Villa De
Clara Vista dancers and singers; a clown
entertaining the crowd; and various chil-
dren's activities; such as face painting, arts
and crafts, and a puppet show
In addition. a variety of food was served
including burritos, vegetables with dip, and
tortilla chips and salsa. Popcorn, cookies,
cake and punch was also served
"This is the kind of event that makes you
feel good about lhe Holiday Fiesta Commit-
tee. "It lakes a lot uf work to make an event
like this happen. The smiles on the kids' faces
made it all wonhwhile."
"Kids look forward to Christmas all year
long," said Bob Tobin, program director for
the Portland Police Bureau's Sunshine Divi-
sion. "It is agam a joy for the Sunshine
Division to step in and fulfill the wishes of
these children."
Satlta and Mrs. Claus hoth of whom are bi-
lingual. gave each child at the event a gift.
These gifts were specific to the child's age
and 1ender. After recemng lheir gifl from
Santa, each child received a pic1ure of their
visit with Santa.
Western Family Foods has donated 90 toy
stockings from which kids will receive gifts.
The Portland Fire Bureau's Toy and Joy
Program and the Marme Corps Toys for Tots
program have also contrihuted toys for the
party.
"This is a special time of year, and helping
others in need is what showing holiday spirit
is all about," said Tom Drew, advertisin1
director for Untied Grocers/Western Family
Foods. "It is a pleasure 10 be involved with
such a great community effon once again this
year."
City plans for more pedestrians & cyclists
A
new city brochure wlll explain
requirements for bulldlncs to be
pedestrian and bike-friendly.
After several years of public discussion
involving the business and development com-
munities, neighborhoods associations and
citizens, new city standards for pedestrian-
and bike-friendly development will go into
effect January I, 1997 in response to the
state's Transportation Planning Rule (TPR).
"The TPR requires cities and counties to
reduce automobile usage ~y lwenty percent
over the next 30 years," Planning Director
David Knowles said. "That means we musl
make walking, bicycling, car-pooling and
riding transit more attractive and plan with
those modes of transponation in mind."
The new regulations amend the city zon-
ing code to strength the city's pedestrian
access and bicycle parking standards. Devel-
opment along transit streets--streets with buses
or light rail--will have to be more inviting to
pedestrians.
According to Knowles, new setbacks stan-
dards which will require buildings to be close
to the transit street will ensure a comfortable
environment for walking. Access to build-
ings will be more convenient for pedestrians
since main entrances will face lhe transit
st~et; and fun her promote pedestrian orien-
tation, the new regulations limit the amount
of parking area along site's transit street
frontage. The city ha.,; also adopted regula-
tions thal require more and higher quality
bicycle parking.
"All of these changes will help us accom-
Widening gap in job skills
A
report released by the Oreaon
Employment Department p~
Jected a wldenlnl &ap over the
next ten years between the Job skills of
Oreeonlans and the skllls required by
the state's employers.
While some finnscan 't find enough work-
ers with certain skills, especially engineer-
ing, computer, and other technical skills,
many Oregonians can't find jobs that match
their skills.
The new study, Oregon• s Future
Workforce: Will Supply Match Demand?,
looks at the 300,000 new jobs projec1ed to he
added to Oregon's economy by the year
2(X)~. and the replacement openings for that
time period. Replacement openings are cre•
aled by workers retiring or leaving jobs for
other reasons.
The new growth of roughly 30,(lOO jobs
annually will be supplemented by replace•
ment openings of about 34,()(X), for a total of
64,000 available jobs each year.
Of the 64,000 annual new and replace-
ment openings. fewer lhan 1 1,000 will re-
quire at least a bachelor's dep-ee, while more
than 16,000 Oregon college graduates will
enter the labor force each year.
"However. on an individual hasis a col-
lege education continues to be a viable choice
for those who aim for advancement and posi-
tions requiring specific degrees", the report
slates. "S1a1istics still show thal the wages of
workers with some college education contin-
ue to surpass those wilh a high school educa•
tion and training make workers more com•
petitive and increase opportunities for ad-
vancement even in jobs that may not require
a degree initially."
modate our growing population without com-
promising our high quality of life," Knowles
added. "These amendments will promote a
more efficient use of our land and resources-
-we 'II spend less money and use less space
for new roads by making better use of exist
ing roads, sidewalks and bike lanes."
The Planning Bureau is preparing a bro-
chure to help developers, neighborhood asso-
cillionsandothercitizensunderstandthechang-
es. FOi' more information or to get a brochure,
call Robin McIntyre at (S03) R23-7849.
Rot Jay joins
Visitor
Association
School board exam'ines nee~ for change
A
n extensive Hit-examination to
help "define what succeH IS all
about" and determine the best
method of pursuln1 that success was
announced last nllftt at a Portland Board
of Education meetlna.
"Class Action: Collaboration for the Fu-
ture of Portland of Public Schools" is the
name of the plan involvin1 lhe community
outlined by the board. II addresses the need
for new direclion in public education brou1h1
about by changes in funding, expectations
about student achievement, demands on
school personnel and preparation of sludenls
for the world of work.
The plan developed out of a $5,()(X) plan-
ning granl Ponland Public Schools received
last sprina to study the possibility ofbe<:om-
ina a chaner district.
"We asked ourselve1, how can we lake a
good school system and make ii a better
one?" says board member Lucious Hicks.
"1'hrou1h an examination of charter district
status, the superintendent challenged us lo
broaden our thinking."
The board's examinalion revealed the need
for an in-depth look across the district repre-
sentatives, will begin meeting within 30days
and will pre!ICnl their findinas to the board
this sprinJ.--vote on which of their recom-
mendations they choo!C to pursue, then will
vote on a plan 10 implement the recommen-
dations by the end of the school year.
"We'll end up with a critical combination
of punuits," Hicks says. "if they are allow-
able under current state reaulations, we'll go
ahead with them. If not, we will seek a waiver
or ask for charter status."
The board's examination of its current
method of governance is prompted by chang-
es in school funding and shifts in local deci•
sion-making authority since the passage of
Measure 5.
Portland schools have lost $50 million
over the past five years, while requirements
of educational reform legislation place in-
creased demands on schools.
Passa1eofMcuure47 (cut and cap)threat•
ens to take an additional $20 million from
next year's bud1et, which could result in cuts
of hundreds of teachers and many successful
programs.
Community members are encoura1ed to
participate on the teams examinin1 district
operations Nomination forms are available at
the Blane hard Education Service Cenler, 50 I
N. Dixon Sr
R
oy Jay, Prealdent of Oreton
Convention and Yllltor S.r-
vlcu Network was recently
unanimously elected tre•urer for the
W•hlnston County Visitors ANocla-
tlon by the o,....lutloM board of
directors.
He will replace Mau, Director of Sales
for Sweetbriar Inn. who will be leavina to
accep1 a similar position in Washinaton
State with Heathman ManqemcntOroup.
Jay, who has been a lon1 standin1 and
active member of the WCV A Board will
become an oftker and exec1&1ive board
member sts1in1 in I f/97 in aucceuion for
po11ibly the board presidency in the fu-
ture.
EDITORIAL
EDUCATION
METRO
CHRISTMAS
ARTS & ENT.
FAMILY
OBSERVADOR
CLASSIFIEDS
A2
A3
Bl
B2
B3
B4
B5
B7