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5, 1997
W a itin g C h ild r e n
Matthew and Michael are dash­
ing and spirited African-Ameri-
can/Caucasian brothers.
They are two of over 300 Or­
egon children waiting for an adop­
tive home.
Like many siblings, these two
enjoy a remarkably close relation­
ship. As best buddies, they spend
quality time playing with one an­
other.
Whether its tiding bikes, ma­
neuvering toy cars or frolicking
with the neighborhood children.
Matthew and Michael have extra
reserves of drive and go-power
These brothers will be respon­
sive to parent(s) who can lovingly
provide them with adequate super­
vision and attention. They’re a ter­
rific pair!
Oregon agencies waive or re­
duce fee for the adoption of
Oregon’s children in state care.
Matthew and Michael, ages 10 and 7
and pre-adoption trainings are of­
fered statewide.
To learn more about adoption
and the children awaiting homes.
contact The Special Needs Adop-
tion Coalition at 1 he Boys and
Curls Aid Society . (503) 222-
9661.
Work Force Training anticipated
Continued from Metro
♦
pool their resources,” he added, not­
ing that “instead o f spending $300-
400 to send one person to a class, it
could be lowered to only $100.”
These grants could go to newly
established consortia to cover their
initial organization costs, he said
Priority would be given to such
groupings of businesses that include
employees and their representatives
in the design and implementation ot
the programs. Tailored training
packages would be available.
The training provided under this
legislation would not replace estab­
lished state-certified joint labor-
management education and train­
ing program. Some o f the funding
might be used for building training
centers, he noted. Federal participa­
tion in funding would be likely.
“Oregon must shift to a service,
information and communication-
based economy in which high qual­
ity, skilled workers and advanced
technology are the critical factors of
production to continue to be com­
petitive in today’s global economy,”
said Apgar. “This means work orga­
nizations must restructure the work
in ways that permit highly skilled
Oregon workers to become produc­
tive.
Another key point of the legisla­
tion is to promote development of
industry and skill standards, avoid­
ing duplication of effort. The Em­
ployment Department would take a
lead role in most of the provisions of
the legislation, with the governor’s
office, the Office of Economic De­
velopment Department (OEDD) of
Education and the Office of Com­
munity College services acting as
partners in the effort.
In some cases guaranteed train­
ing loans would be available through
OEDD These would include train­
ing program administration and de­
velopment expenses; course mate­
rial development,; acquisition and
installation costs; trainer salaries and
employee wages, tuition, fees and
expenses; and other education re­
lated or job training expenses.
Apgar called the employer-based
training “an essential vehicle for
economic and technical change.”
“The ability of Oregon's employ­
ers and employees to respond rap­
idly to these changes will determine
the state’s adaptability and competi­
tiveness,” he added.
Apgar said Rep. Wooten is in the
process of seeking co-sponsors for the
bill and is likely to attract support
from several Portland legislators who
have already expressed a strong de­
sire for training legislation.
Apgar said Senate President
Brady Adams and state Labor Com­
missioner Jack Roberts were lean­
ing towards supporting it Rep Mar­
garet Carter is seeking federal fund­
ing to create a pilot program for
training unemployed Black and His­
panic men to pay them a stipend
while they train. She is also looking
for legislation to promote hiring of
at-risk young people. She said she
would support The Oregon Labor
and Industry' Training Act.
Similar legislation was approved
by the state senate when it was con­
trolled by the Democratic Party in
1993, but did not get the nod from
the Republican led House. In 1995,
it “never even made it out of the
House,” said Apgar.
“There seems to be more bi-parti­
san support in 1997,” he said, citing
extensive media coverage of the
search by employers for trained work­
ers. “Getting people into the job
market and then moving them up
with greater skills is a great selling
point," said Apgar
Apgar said co-sponsors in the
Senate include Kate Brown (D-Port-
land). Sue Cast iI Io( D-Eugene), Avel
Gordly (D-Portland) and Randy
Leonard (D-Portland). Supporters
in the House include Lee Beyer (D-
Springfield), Margaret Carter (D-
Portland), Barbara Ross (D-Corval-
lis) and Tom Whelan (D-Salem).
Kids & Drugs on Hawthorne
Unfortunately none of the kids in
question showed-up so about 10 of
us adults sat around and had a good
talk about the issue. Several mem­
bers of the group think kids feel
hopeless and don’t participate
Some of us fear many have now
been scared off by a recent drive-by
shooting at Roots R evolution
Records on Belmont Street. (It’s a
miracle no one was hurt or killed,
two bullets were shot through the
front window Monday (2/17), about
5 p.m. As far as we know the police
do not have any suspects in custody).
Floyd Landrath (235-4524). di­
rector o f the A nti-P rohibition
League, speculated this incident
could be related to anti-drug groups,
or independent vigilantes. Mr.
Landrath also pointed out the bibli­
cal injunction about violence begets
more violence; he implied that re­
cent use offeree by the police against
kids at Coffee People may have acted
as a green-light to those individuals
who live to hate, or just get paid to.
Mr Landrath also criticized local
ABC affiliate. KATU-TV for sensa­
tionalizing “drugs” and trivializing
the issue of homeless youth in our
community. “They didn’teven men­
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tion the drive-by, a drive-by that
could have easily taken a young life.
I guess that shows how much KATU
really cares about kids, they have to
get killed before they become news­
worthy,” Landrath said.
Paul McAdams (731-2555), a
league volunteer, recounted being
hit over the head one night a few
weeks ago on I lawthorne by a group
of men who kept saying “We’re go­
ing to get the slackers out of here.”
No one was quite sure what that
means, but it obviously has to do
with people this group considers
undesirable. As with the drive-by we
know of NO arrests
Of course there is more than one
issue here and there was general
agreement that bigger social issues,
like “drugs” and violence for ex­
ample, are major contributing fac­
tors to the problems we see here in
our community. It as also agreed
that “drugs” represent the biggest
single "change” (for the worse) from
the days when most of us were the
age of the kids we are now talking
about
The group seemed to favor a sug­
gestion from Jonathan Cook (233-
8111), a program supervisor from
Yellow Brick Road (a local youth
program), that more effort be put on
“out-reach” to kids on the street. Mr.
Cook talked about programs con­
ducted downtown that go out on the
streets and gives kids information
about where they can go if they need
help. Everyone agreed something
like that was needed here too. No
one disagreed that youth must be
treated with respect and dignity if
adults expect it in return. Our mes­
sage to kids must be "we care about
you.”
Mr. Cook also mentioned that
Harry’s Mother (a local youth shel­
ter) was going to use a vacant lot in
the neighborhood to set up a veg­
etable garden and local youth might
also be able to get involved. He’ll
follow-upand let us know next week.
Bruce Chaser (23 8-0143), a mem-
berofthe Hawthorne Blvd Business
Association, received unanimous
support for the idea of a “ Y outh Care
House."
Next “ Kids & Drugs on Haw­
thorne" Meeting is Tuesday Feb 25
7:30 p.m at the Phantom Gallery.
3125 Se Belmont Street. Portland:
Sponsored by the American Anti-
Prohibition League.
Living trust mills shut down
Attorney General Hardy Myers
today warned Oregon’s senior citi­
zens of unscrupulous salespersons
selling living trusts and announced
that two "living trust mills" have
agreed to cease operating in Or­
egon and to reimburse victims As­
surances of Voluntary Compliance
today were filed in Marion County
Circuit Court against Jim Wirth ot
Eugene and his company Estate
Preservation Consultants and Lib­
erty Trust & Associates of Sacra­
mento, California. No violation of
law was admitted.
“Estate planning is a serious
subiect which should be handled
by competent Oregon lawyers who
have expertise in the area,” Myers
said. “Salespersons who are not
competent to give advice on com­
plex legal documents are selling
living trust and creating financial
time bombs ”
Wirth, a non-lawyer, targeted
homeowners 60 years of age and
older by using contact lists gener­
offering information on how to
avoid probate by buying living trusts
often are followed up by high-pres-
sure door-to-door sales Booths at
state and county fairs and senior
expositions also offer living trusts.
“only a skilled attorney familiar
with estate planning can tell you
whether, on the whole, a living
trust is right for you, your family,
and your assets.” Myers said “1 oo
often, we have seen seniors with
small estates buy expensive living
trusts when simple wills would have
accomplished what they needed."
Since March of 1995. the Depart­
ment o f Justice has initiated 34
civil investigations into living trust
sales.
Consumers can request com­
plaint forms and information on
living trusts by calling the Attor­
ney General's consumer hotline at
(503) 378-4320 or (503) 229-5576
(Portland only) or write Financial
Fraud, 1162 Court Street. N.E.,
Salem. Oregon 97310
ated by mailers sent to the Eugene
and Bend areas. Consumers returned
the mailers indicating they wanted
information on living trusts. Wirth
sold approximately 100 trusts.
Wirth agreed to not sell living
trusts in Oregon He also paid the
Department of Justice $ 1,250 for its
Consumer Education Fund and
$5.000 to be used for restitution to
consumers who purchased living
trusts and who complain to the De­
partment within the next 60 days.
Non-lawyers representatives of
Liberty Trust & Associates sold more
than 30 living trusts to Oregon se­
niors in Dallas. Albany. Grants Pass
and other communities. Owner Rob­
ert Brogan of Citrus Heights, Cali­
fornia agreed to not sell living trusts
in Oregon and has one year from
today to reimburse victims.
Senior citizens are specifically
targeted by living trust companies
using advertisements in magazines
and newspapers offering free semi­
nars or workshops. Mail promotions
F un , F ood &. Music
T he T ower of P ower
C oming M arch 22 nd
at the
C hinooic W I nds
Casino at Lincoln City
Join Us M arch 22nd for...
• Music, Fun & Games (3:00 p.m. Shuttle)
• Or Just Fun & Games (1 1:00 a.m. Shuttle)
Leaving from 4747 N.E. MLK Jr. Blvd./The Portland Observer
Free Butter with Paid Tour Ticket
Tour Ticket with Concert Included #30.00 Each or Two for $55.00
Tour Ticket without Concert $10.00 Each or Two tor $1 5.00
For more information contact Danny at 288-003 3
Tickets avaialahle at FAST1XX 1 -800-99 2-T IXX, and The Portland Observer
Sponsored in part by C h inook W in d s
and ¿Elii’ JJovfkiiiti (Dlierruer newspaper
It
» ■ ♦ *
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Grand Opening Celebration
March 13, 14 & 15th at 432 N. E. Killingsworth, the cross street is Martin Luther
King Blvd. (MLK).
Now there’s a BLIMPIE® restaurant in your neighborhood!
We use only quality meats and cheeses for the tastiest subs in town.
Come in and enjoy the BLIMPIE® difference.
♦
During, the Grand Opening we will offer drawings
and prizes, face painting clowns, balloons
and Buy One 6 " regular Sandwich get one Free.
The restaurant is open Mon.-Thurs. 10am to 12pm.,
Fri.-Sat. 10am-2am and Sunday 1 lam-11pm.
Mayor Katz proclaims “George Bell Day”
George Bell has several years
under his belt as a high-voltage
ex ecutive at the B onneville
Power Administration. But he's
not just a conductor of electric­
ity, he’s a maestro behind many
scenes in Portland’s arts, cul­
ture. and community networks
These are just two reasons why
Portland Mayor Vera Katz is
honoring Bell with the procla­
mation of Feb. 27 as "George
Bell Day.”
In her proclamation. Katz rec­
ognized B ell’s “long d is tin ­
guished service at the Bonneville
P ow er A d m in is tra tio n " and
“praised the contributions of the
strong...men and women who have
paved the road of opportunity for
all.”
After 32 years, Bell worked his
way up from a design engineer to
senior vice president at BPA.
where he manages more than 1.900
employees in the transmission ser­
vices department.
The secret to his success?
“Well there arc five.” he says.
“Come early and stay late. Don't
be afraid of any task Steer clear of
unneeded confrontation. And, pre-
sume everyone wants to do a
good job - that will make you
friends and supporters. Finally,
stimulate and motivate other to­
wards results.”
His palate of culture-enhanc­
ing volunteer activities includes
serving as Chairman of the Port­
land Center for the Performing
Arts advisory committee, Port­
land Center Stage Theatre Com­
pany board of directors, the Lake-
wood Center for the Arts board
of directors, and the Regional
Arts & Culture Council board ot
directors.
SUBS « S41ADS
BUY ONE,
GET ONE FREE
Free Regular 6" BLIMPIE® Sub Sandwich
with the purchase of any Sub Sandwich
of equal or greater value.
Please present this coupon betor ordering Not valid it altered or
duplicated One order per coupon One coupon per customer per
visit. Customer must pay any sales tax due Not good in combination
with any other offer. Cash value 1/100 of 1C Offer expires 4/1/97
Offer good at:
I&a>Jheuttrfu£>1Àinf.
T
I
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FREE DRINK
AND CHIPS
Free 22 oz. drink and regular bag of chips with the
purchase of any 6" or larger
BLIMPIE® Sub Sandwich.
(Value Menu not included.)
Please present this coupon befor ordering Not valid if altered or
duplicated One order per coupon One coupon per customer per
visit Customer must pay any sales tax due Not good in combination
with any other otter Cash value 1/100 ot 1e Otter expires 4/1/97
Otter good at:
Id