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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 1997)
• • • • • J. > . < • ' I Î . ? r ’ Volume XXVII. Number 39 • \ zy 'Ll • e S s Committed to cultural diversity. SEPT. 24, 1997 (Tin' ^dnrtlanò (©bseruer SECTION cc School days, but no golden rule ntnnt u n ity a I i n h a r West Side Story The musical masterpiece W est Side Story is back and more exciting than ever in a new national touring production that sings, dances and rumbles its way to the Civic A uditorium Tuesday, Nov. I I through Sunday Nov. 16. Poets on parade Poets of all ages and skills are invited to participate in the Oregon State Poetry Association s fall poetry conference, Sat urday, Oct IX at Marylhurst College, south of Portland between Lake Oswego and West Linn Registration opens at 8 a m W orkshops start at 9 a.in. For details call 638-7488. Bv P roe .M i K im i v B i ri n view o f the current turmoil in the Portland school district, is it any wonder that many Northeast resi dents are demanding a "return to basics?" And this time their relevant queries are as vigorously directed to the core o f the educa tional process as previously applied to the basic “3Rs." Backgrounding this tumultuous stage, we have the frenzied headlines. "District Plans for Bierworth Departure: Educators wrestle with how to keep the system running...” — "Finances Consumed Energy, Fueled Con troversy” - "Deputy’s Interim Role Unclear Despite E xperience”- "O utw ard Bound I Pioneer birthday The End of the Oregon Trail Interpre tive Center in Oregon City will host a variety of free events and activities in celebration of Oregon Territory Gov. Abernethy’s birthday, Oct. 11-12. Paper sculptures Paper sculptures of milk cartons, egg crates, pop cans and paper plates are some of the materials used by Meng Huang of Seattle, on display during October at the Interstate Firehouse C ultural C enter, 5340. N. Interstate Ave. Huang is a native of Hong Kong who recycles salvaged scraps in a modern interpretation o f a traditional Chinese craft Harvest Fest moves in The 25th annual Harvest Festival is a celebration of creativity, fun anti ingenu ity. The event is held Oct. 10-12 at the Oregon Convention Center, presenting a unique marketplace where artists and craftspeople from all over the country sell and demonstrate handmade works. Matt Terwillegar examines a patient at the Pacific University College o f Optometry's Northeast Eye and Vision Center at 5329 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard provides complete eye and vision exams for children and adults. (Photo by M. Washington) Eye clinic offers affordable, good service B y L ei : P eki . man This includes a test for glaucoma on the acific U n iv ersity C o lle g e of clinic's state of the art Vision Field m a O ptom etry's northeast Eye and Vi chine. and extended care for the disease if it sion Center is an anomaly: an in is detected. The charge for all this, for those ner city low-cost health care resource covered that's by health insurance plans or meet underutilized. ing county low-income guidelines, is $25, The center at 5.329 N.E. Marlin Luther which Aldredge says is "one half to one third King Jr. Boulevard provides complete eye of commercial ra te s" The cost of a Vision and vision screenings forchildren and adults. Field machine test alone is normally about $80, he says. “We do everything eye-related,” attend ing physician Dr. Brooks Aldredge says. New prescription glasses, with a variety P of trames, cost $90 apiece for single vision. $135 lor bilocals The center is a partnership between Pa cific University and Multnomah County. The intent is to "provide care for the community .il a price they can afford, and also to provide training lor (optométrie college) students.'' Aldredge says. He adds that the training doesn’t come at Continued to Page B4 Advocates sought Volunteers skilled in investigation and advocacy are needed to serve as om buds men for residents in nursing homes, resi dential care facilities, assisted living fa cilities and adult foster care homes. Call Kathy Walter with the state Ombudsmen program at I-8OO-522-26O2. Festival of clowns You can enjoy a parade of clowns, face painting, balloons and other party favor ites during the Northwest Festival of Clowns, Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Airport convention cen ter just east of N.E. 82nd on Columbia Boulevard. Arts fair Tuesday Students interested in the areas of mu sic, dance, theater, graphic design, paint ing and other areas of the arts are invited to attend the Portland Performing and Visual Arts College Fair, Tuesday. Sept. 30 from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel. Columbia River. Fall ritual at Civic Stadium The Wilson High School Boys Varsity Football team heads onto the field for a Friday night game with Grant. See related photos, in Sports. (Photo by M. Washington) Beach cleanup set Celebrate an Oregon scenic treasure by volunteering in the 14th Great Fall Beach Cleanup. The cleanup will take place Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a m. to I p.m. along the entire Oregon Coast. Call Stop Oregon Litter & Vandalism at 800- 322-3.326. Village School A meeting introducing Ikonniwa-lhe Village School, a free alternative elemen- try school in the Portland School Dis trict. will be held Thursday at M aranatha Church, 4222 N.E. 12th Ave. at 6:30 p.m. Call 282-0727 for more information. Hood River expo The Hood River Valley Harvest Fest is held Oct. 3-5 with handcrafters, fresh local produce, food, wine tasting, dem- wstrations and live entertainment on the Hood River waterfront. SUBMISSIONS: Community Calendar information will he given priority if received two weeks before the event date. I B Kids hear from sports legends College, professional bests attend NIKE ceremony son and Miami Heat All-Star Guard Tim Hardaway were on hand for the presentation ike gave one of its shoes to Sell and to encourage SEI youngsters during the Enhancement Inc. last week, and morning s activities. it seemed to really fit the need. Both gave a solid message to youngsters On the side of the athletic shoe was that getting on an NBA team is not as impor written an official check for $750,000 to tant a goal in basketball as enjoyment of the support SEI’s summer programs for the sport and using it to get a good education. next three years. Thompson expressed appreciation for the Handing the plexiglass-enclosed shoe to modern SEI facility, but noted “The most SEI President TonyHopson. Nike Public Af significant thing you do isn’t the program or fairs Director Doug Stamm said the slogans ol the building, but being there to give guidance both organizations had parallels. to young people, sit down with them and give SEE s slogan is “Life has options" N ike's some direction.” is “Just do it.” He stressed the need for more role mod Both challenge people to improve them els and mentors. selves anil find personal success.” said Hopson noted that many people donated Stamm. funds to build the modern SEI structure on “Y ou've got the sale space and caring Failing Street, but donations dwindled after adults.” he noted. “We will walk with you the facade was completed. and we plan to use this program as a model . ” SEI youngsters were asked what they Georgetown Hoya Coach John Thom p B y N eil H eilpern N would do if they had the power of the president and answers ranged from stop ping violence to helping homeless people- find shelter. When the children were giv en the chance to pose questions to their guests. Hardaway was asked how long he has played basket ball. “Since sixth grade,” said the 3 1-year- old player, “but the hard work paid off.” A future NBA hopeful teen asked Th ompson what he looks for in a point guard. “A lot!” was the simple answer, followed by Thompson’s description of a visit to a prospec tive player’s home sohecould see first-hand the level of respect the young persi >n has de veil iped for family and community. “I also lixik to see if you have across ov er dribble " “Don’t go to school kxiking to be in the NBA " said Hardaway. “Use spoils togetagixxl education. Don’t take that for granted." Coming on the heels of the “Humboldt Blowup”, Superintendent Bierwirth’s resignation was hardly an announcement designed to sooth the jangled nerves of frustrated parents Blamed For Ju m p " The media hue and cry is no less a fore cast ofan educational armageddon than some o f the doomsday predictions o f a very con cerned community. Coming on the heels o f the "Humboldt B low up" the news o f Super intendent Bierwirth’s resignation was hardy an announcement designed to sooth the jangled nerves o f frustrated parents - and it certainly had no such effect. It was not so much that a possible savior had departed, but more like “Good Lord, what else is going to happen - is a defecting leadership a portent o f even more disruptive events to come? I find these concerns being expressed among teachers o f my acquain tance as well as parents and guardians. And, certainly , the dialogue is not limited to those w ho are d ire c tly a sso c ia te d w ith the Humboldt Elementary School. O f course, there is intense ‘speculation’ within the system itself and, according to media pundits who put claim to a good rela tionship with insiders, “m achination" was said to be a more appropriate term It is projected that there will be a bitter and protracted battle between the “good-ol- boys” network and those “who believe school reform is possible and that Mr. Beirwirth had it right - but then came the final defunding economic blows." (Isn't their ever a “good- old-girls” network). For now. those who are on the outside to varying degree watch the swirling shadows on the surface o f the pool and speculate about the turmoil beneath School district administrators wrestle with the expected problems; how will the new superintendent be chosen, how much time will that process take and what will be the form o f the interim structure? Will he (or can he) be told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.’ W ill he or she be treated like the "Pied Piper o f Hamein' who was hired to rid a village o f rats, then belatedly informed, "we are broke?" It is to be remembered that Superintendent Bierwirth has three children in Portland public schools and that in the past he has said. "I would pull them out o f the system if I ever believed they were not getting a sound education. But Portland schools haven't reached that point.” That was then and this is now; Gone Bierwirth, gone superientedency, gone children' What is he telling us? While many minority community leaders praised Bierwirth's com m itm ent to raise test scores among all students (Said to be dem onstrated by H um boldt), both Will Fuller, President o f 'Schools For the City' and James K. Sager, former President o f the Portland Teachers Union said that the super- dentintendent made a serious mistake with his 'Humboldt blowup" (Sager is now presi- Continued to Page A2
