August 16, 2000 Page A5 (Elje ÿ o rlla n ô ©bseruer )J u r tla n h (f)beerue Family Living ■ H H fok T he P ortland P a s t hvfh Many Americans believe there is a rising wave o f youth crime in our country. But contrary to popular perception, youth crime and violence are actually declining. More than nine out o f 10 o f the children involved in the juvenile justice system are nonviolent offenders, and the majority o f juvenile crime involves property offenses: arson, burglary, car theft, and larceny. About seven percent o f youths in the juvenile justice system are serious, habitual violent offenders who pose a real threat to their communities, but there has been a 30 percent drop in the arrest rate for juvenile violent crime since 1994. Despite the good news, Black children continue to be overrepresented in all aspects o f juvenile crime. A report from the U.S. Department o f Justice found one-quarter o f all reported murders o f juveniles in 1997 occurred injust five counties: the counties containing Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Detroit. It also found 25 percent o f all identified juvenile murderers in the country in 1997 came from one o f eight counties: the counties containing Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Dallas. This shows a large number o f the youths who are murder victims and who commit m urder are concentrated in a very few places in our country— places where many Black children live. Black youths across all age groups are far more likely to be victims o f violent crimes than their White counterparts. When children who have committed crimes enter thejuvenile justice system, minority youths are overrepresented at every step. They are more likely to be stopped, questioned, arrested, jailed, sent to court, convicted, and given harsher sentences than White youths. The same Department o f Justice report found minorities made up just 34 percent o f the youth population, but 67 percent o f the youths committed to public facilities. — In an effort to assist homeowners to purchase long-term care insurance plans. Congressman John J. LaFalce, D-N. Y. has authored legislation that would reduce the cost o f financing U.S. governm ent-insured reverse mortgage, while concurrently saving Medicaid funds from being eroded u n n e c e ssa rily . A s p a rt o f the “American Home Ownership and Economic Opportunity Act” (H.R. 1776), the bill was unanimously passed by the H o u se B anking Subcommittee onFebruary 15,2000. “Longterm care insurance can be an effective way to protect savings built up over a lifetime,” LaFalce states,” and reverse mortgage allow seniors to access the equity in their home to pay the premium, with no monthly principal and interest due on such loans. Using a reverse mortgage to pay for long-term care insurance is a natural fit,” LaFalce pointed out. T he F ed eral H o u sin g Administration’s reverse mortgage S u m m e r concerts in Portland’s parks Talk to your kids. Ask them what’s cool. Encourage them to educate you on everything from toe socks to leopard to print handbags. ,, Make shopping fun. Go with your kids and tie in lunch or a movie to enhance the experience. Know your limitations. Check with your local school on dress codes. Even schools that require uniforms often allow some discretion. Use your family’s time wisely. Some area stores, for example, feature hair styling and vision centers in addition to back-to school clothing and school supplies. Fake comfort in the fact that some day your kids will be as clueless as you. Who: Your local Wal-Mart store manager and /or Rob Phillips, senior manager for U.S. media relations for Wal-Mart Stores When: At your earliest convenience. Contact: Diane Brown at (201) 568-0662, or dbrownpr@aol.com program enables homeowners age 62 and older the opportunity to turn their locked-up home equity into tax- free incom e w hile m aintaining ownership and requiring no monthly repayment. Eligibility requirements are quite simple and do not impose any standards based on income, as­ sets, credit or employment. By linking the reverse mortgage to long-term care insurance, homeowners can protect their saving against the potentially devastating expense of extend care. The Union Pacific Employee Club celebrated its annual banquet at the Lloyd Center Double Tree last week from August 8 to the 11. The program was hosted by Nine the local Portland Chapter. Louise Waters, club Nine President welcomed 500 people from 13 states. On Tuesday, August 8 they raised more than $5,000 in an auction fo r Portland Charities. The money will go to the Make A Wish Foundation, The Shriners ’ and Breast Cancer research. Next years banquet will be held in Denver, Colorado. If you're looking for a doctor, your search is over Legacy Clinic N ortheast welcom es two new prim ary care physicians, Lisa Alberts, M.D. (left), and Robina Wong, M.D. Both doctors, trained internists, are accepting new patients and join Sharadan Lisk, M.D., and Bernie Sperley, D O., at the clinic. T hey welcom e your call. Legacy Clinic Northeast 2800 N. Vancouver Avenue, Suite 231, Portland H ours are 8:30 a .m .-5 p.m., M onday through Friday For a p p o in tm e n ts, call (503) 413-4134 w w w .legacyhealth.org ■ Health System Legacy Health System includes Emanuel Hospital & Health Center, Emanuel Children's Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center, Meridian Park Hospital, M ount Hood Medical Center, Visiting FOOD & DRUG Look For Your Safeway Weekly Shopping Guide in the Portland Metro Area ...and save more by shopping at Safeway. 12-Pack Coke Products Fresh Pork Country Style Ribs Valu Pack. Bone-in. 5-lbs. or more. SAVE up to $1.00 lb. • ^ W lb . Safeway Club Price 12-oz cans. Assorted Regular, Diet and Caffeine i Free varieties. Plus Deposit in Oregon. Limit 4. save up to $5.72 on 4 Safeway Club Price Red Ripe Seedless Watermelon Visit Safeway's Web site at w w w safew aycom PRICES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 2000 Sun Mon Tue Wed 16 20 21 22 Pnces ENectivf Wr-riresday 7am August tbrii Tesela Fri 18 ■ LEGACY SAFEWAY I I" “1 I H " Nurse Association, Legacy Clinics and C areM ark/M anaged Healthcare N o rthw est PPO. © 2 0 0 0 In Your Oregonian FOODday t __ ____ Do We have to go Back to School Already ??? tuMRiairtasroRY What better way to enjoy these warm August evenings than by packing a picnic and attending one o f the many free concerts taking place in parks throughout Portland! Lents Founders Day Celebration takes place in Lents Park, SE 92 & Holgate, on the weekend o f August 12-13 with concerts featured on Saturday, 1 l:00A M -3:00PM ,onthe Fanner’s Market Stage (honky tonk, country, and bluegrass) and the Boys & Girls Club Stage (blues and folk). On S u n d ay , 1 :0 0 -4 :0 0 PM , neighborhood performers and the Providence Stage Band will perform in the gazebo. A series ofTuesday evening concerts are taking place in Couch Park, NW 20 & Gilsan, 6:30-8:30 PM. August 8: Babes With Axes, August 15: Dancing Trees Marimba Band, and August 22 : Mirage. __ - T h is d isp ro p o rtio n a te m in o rity confinement is worst o f all for Black youths who are held in residential facilities at five times the rate as White youths. They are more than twice as likely as White youths to be held in a detention facility for similar offenses and are held an average o f two w eeks longer than W hite youths who committed the same crimes. Violent youth crime peaks between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. Every community needs the resources to provide after-school and sum m er program s which give children positive opportunities during the hours they are not at school. Job training programs help youths get a foothold in the job market and reduce the odds o f their involvement in crim e and other risky behaviors. The Department o f Justice report found that one youth leaving high school for a life o f crime and d ru g ab use co sts ta x p a y e rs approximately two mill ion dollars. Imagine what kinds ofpositive alternatives foryoung people could be funded with the same amount? Despite proven results America still puts far more money into prisons than prevention programs. We need to reverse these priorities and invest in children before A d vertise in they get into trouble. T he Portland O b server Above all, we need to invest in children by making them feel connected to parents and C all 288-0033 other caring adult mentors. Young people need these critical connections to have a se n se o f v alue and purpose. W hen they are connected to their schools and families they are less likely to have their futures What: Wal-Mart the nation’s leading retailerand a major back-to- cut short by risky behavior school merchandisers, offers tips to parents about what’s hot this and bad choices, and much year...and how to get your kids ready for the school year. more likely to choose safe We have developed a number o f feature items (including the tips and positive paths for their below) for your audience about this traditional - and important - own lives and contribute to family matter! a healthy, safe community. Reverse mortgage linked to LTC Care Insurance FUKlUtPomUVMFQBSERViH H H H UPE Club celebrates annual banquet An update on juvenile justice ai_M.uuAxVVjutJii_EutLiiA> H H M Sat Whole melons. Grown in California. SAVE up to $3.96 on 2 19 Attorni n I W W»PS ft pncn m lb« ad are avadabto M your toc» Safeway stoœs No utos » deafen eM«,-ann or msMunom Safes