December 8, 1999
Page A5
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Electrical safety ensures Preparing tended Families to Deal with the holidays
happier holidays
by
C olleen L ewis , W il l ia m T emple
H ouse
________CONTRIBUTED STORY_________
for T he
for T he
P ortland O bserver
One o f the greatest gifts you can give your family this year will never appear
under your tree— it’s the gift o f safety.
Shannon Shoul, local Pacific Power spokeswoman, offered several suggestions
to help ensure a safe holiday season.
For families decorating for the holidays, some key tips to keep in mind:
•
Never use indoor lights outdoors.
•
Check for frayed wires or uncapped plugs.
•
Only using a ladder to hang lights, keep at least 10 feet away from any
overhead power lines. And fasten outdoor lights to trees or house walls
to protect them from wind damage.
•
Never modify three-pronged plugs to fit into two-pronged sockets.
•
D on’t overload extension cords or outlets.
•
Test extension cords. If they’re hot to the touch, it’s likely a sign o f a
serious problem. And always turn off holiday lights when leaving home.
Shoul said other at-home safety tips should also be noted.
•
Be sure that all electronic gifts are UL approved.
•
D on’t use appliances with frayed wires or uncapped plugs.
•
Unplug electronic appliances and toys by pulling the plug, not the cord.
Also, children should be reminded o f the basic rules o f electrical safety. Keep
electrically-powered games, toys and appliances away from water and keep
little hands away from wires, cords and outlets. Grownups also should help
children heed the safety precautions that are included with games, toys and
other electronic items.
"During the holidays and throughout the year, always think twice about
safety,” Shoul said. “And remember the most basic rule o f all— use common
sense.”
P ortland O bserver
The holidays can be especially
stressful for blended families with
“hers,” “his" and “our” children. Here
are some practical and timely tips for
easing the stress o f the upcoming
holidays on separated, divorced or
re-married parents and their children.
Children come first- Remember, the
children didn’t have a choice about
the divorce, so they need to know
they are not the cause. The adults
must see that the children’s needs
come first, andwork to accommodate
those needs. Especially in planning
for and celebrating the holidays.
Plan for the holidays - Acknowledge
the added complications o f blended
families and plan now on how you will
deal with the holidays, who will be
where and when. The holidays often
involve travel, so start m aking
preparations now, ahead o f time.
Include the children - Adults aren’t
the only ones who feel stressed this
time o f year. The excitement and
disrupted routine so prevalent in the
holiday season can be even more
stressftil on children. So, have a family
meeting. Include the children, no
matter how young. Ask them what
they’d like and respect their wishes.
Keep things as simple as possible.
Pay special attention to younger
children - Ask them about their
favorite holiday traditions and honor
them if possible. It’s different with
older children. They may enjoy
blending family holiday traditions.
It’s very important, however, that
different religions in a new family
system be honored and supported.
For example, celebrate both Christmas
and Hanukkah. It’s vital to maintain
continuity for the children.
C hildren are often confused in
divorce - It’s normal for youngsters
in any household to play their parents
against each other. The more they
have been impacted by the divorce,
the needier they will be. That means
the adults have to communicate and
be in agreement on how they can
provide as m uch continuity as
p o ssib le betw een
the tw o
households. But be realistic. There
are limits. A good solution is to try
alternating holidays, so one holiday
can be celebrated at mom’s, another
one at dad’s, it’s essential to plan in
advance. Do not split up the day.
Don’t be alone - if the kids are going
to be at the other p a re n t’s for
Christmas or Hanukkah this year, you
need to plan something special for
yourself. You can plan a get-together
with other adults, or do some holiday
volunteer work or just go to a movie
or for a hike with friends. The
important thing is that you not find
yourself all alone for the holiday.
O ne big family is fine - sometimes it
is possible for the biological parents
and new partners to all celebrate the
holidays together with their children.
In fact, this is the ideal. It’s great if
you can do it, but it’s ok if you can ’ t.
When the family gets older - The
focus in planning for the holidays is
on the needs o f the children. But it
doesn’t end when they becom e
adults. As members o f your family
mature, leave home and start their
own families, their lives may be
complicated by having four separate
households to visit at holiday time.
Help is available - For families dealing
with separation and divorce or
blending new family units, there is
help. William Temple House in NW
Portland offers counseling, classes
and emergency services, at no cost.
Phone:(503)226-3021.
Colleen Lewis has been at William
Temple House since 1991. As Director
o f Fam ily Therapy, M s. Lewis
provides clinical supervision for
interns and counselors who see 30-
40 families a month. She also is a
parent-trainer and is skilled in the
various aspects o f family dynamics.
Ms. L ew is holds an M .S. in
Counseling from Portland State
University and has done graduate
work at Reed College. The mission of
William Temple House, a non-profit
organization founded in 1965, is to
provide counseling, social services
and training without charge, and to
preserv e hum an d ig n ity w hile
promoting self-sufficiency. Services
are available regardless o f age, race
religion, gender, marital status or
incom e. L ocated in N orthw est
Portland, William Temple House
serves peo p le in O reg o n and
Southwest Washington.
Human rights award dinner Become a community peacemaker!
Applebee'sand
th e N a tio n a l
K id n e y
F o u n d a t io n
provide toys for
the kidney kids
this holiday
Join other supporters o f human rights at the Metropolitan Human Rights
Center Annual Award Dinner, a highlight will be the presentation o f the Russell
Peyton Award, an honor given every year since 1973 to our most dedicated
human rights advocates.
Nominations for the Russell Peyton and other awards are earnestly requested.
Send one page with at least three reasons supporting your nominee to: The
Metropolitan Human Rights Center, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Room 516,
Portland, Oregon 97204. Call 823-5136 with questions or reservations.
To be presented:
The Russell A. Peyton Award to an individual for “outstanding service and
commitment to protecting the human rights o f all persons within the City of
Portland and Multnomah County.”
Business Diversity Award to a business outstanding for its success in
recruiting and maintaining a diverse workforce. Must be located in Multnomah
Applebee’s restaurants will collect
toys this holiday at eight o f their
locations throughout Portland, Salem
and Vancouver for kids who are
directly affected by kidney disease
th ro u g h the N a tio n a l K id n ey
Foundation ofOregon & Washington
(N K F_0SW ). Over 200 kids will
receive games, new clothes and other
toys through A p p leb ee’s “ W ish
Tree” and anyone can help. By
selecting a tag from the return it to
A pplebee’s these are gifts for kids
where toys and new clothes are often
a luxury these families can’t afford to
provide their children. General public
contributions are also welcome to
help NKF-OW provide their children.
Some holiday cheer to these families
struggling w ith kidney disease,
dialysis treatments or waiting for an
organ transplant. W e need financial
support and volunteers to help in this
campaign. Please contact the National
Kidney Foundation o f Oregon &
Washington at 1 -888-3 KIDNEY with
y o u r su p p o rt, v is it y o u r lo cal
Applebee ’ s and drop-off a toy or new
clothing. Together we are Making
Lives Better. Petitions are available
from state employment service offices
or other officials designated by the
governor. Based on the petitions, the
Labor Department investigates to
confirm w h eth er w orkers w ere
adversely affected by increased
Mexican or Canadian imports or by
tran sfer o f p ro d u ctio n to those
countries.
A fter they are certified eligible,
workers may apply for benefits at a
state employment service office. They
m ay receiv e a b ro a d ran g e o f
re e m p lo y m e n t an d re tra in in g
services, including career counseling,
job placement assistance, job search
and relocation allowances, income
support during long-term training,
and under the regular TAA program
support service such as child care
and transportation assistance.
Benefits are administered by the
Employment Department, State of
Oregon, with funds provided by the
federal government.
P o rtland O bserver
The Neighborhood Mediation Center
is seeking community members to
serve as volunteer mediators.
Mediators help Portland resident
have constructive conversations and
w ork out peaceful solutions to
everyday conflicts. Women and men
M ed iato rs a ssist n e ig h b o rs,
landlords and tenants, schools,
consumers, businesses, government
agencies, and community groups
throughout the city.
Application deadline: December 31,
1999. Call 823-3152, or stop by the
MediationCenterofficeat4815 NE7th
AVE. Portland, for application
information and materials.
located in Multnomah County.
Community Harmony Recognition to individuals or organizations who cross
ethnic and cultural lines to respond to injustice and promote harmony in daily
life.
P ortland O bserver
for T he
o f all ages, cultures ethnicities and
background are encourages to apply.
Mediation training is free in exchange
for volunteering three hours a week
for at least one year.
T he P o rtlan d N eig h b o rh o o d
M ed iatio n C e n te r has help ed
P o rtla n d
re sid e n ts
reso lv e
n e ig h b o rh o o d and com m unity
disputes since 1978.
County.
Non-Profit Diversity Award to a non-for-profit organization maintaining a
diverse workforce and embodying cross-cultural values in its work. Must be
CO NTR IB l TED STORY
for T he
CONTRIBl rEDSTORI
African American Men’s Club
A Non-Profit Organization
‘In the community.. .For the
community’
Happy Holidays!
Holiday Benefit Dance
(Helping Those Who Are In Need)
Donation: $5 & 2 Cans of Food
(At the Door)
Raffle: 50/50 Split
Food, Friends & Fun
Saturday, December 11,1999
9 PM - 2 AM
Elks Lodge
6 N Tillamook Street
Music by: DJ Papa Chuck
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