Page A3 October 17, 2001 Free Energy Audits for Area Residents If you heat your hom e with oil, now is a good tim e to call for a free energy audit from the O r­ egon O ffice o f E nergy’s State H o m e O il W e a th e r iz a tio n (SH O W ) Program . First, the audit w ill tell you how to p re p a re fo r th e cold w eather th at’s right around the corner. Second, the audit will tell you what energy-saving measures will save you money and which ones are eligible for special rebates. And third, if y o u ’ve never had an energy audit o f your oil-heated home and you request one by Nov. 30, y o u 'll be entered in a draw ing for 100 gallons o f heat­ ing oil. T w o w inners w ill be se­ lected at random . SH O W analysts check insula­ tion in the attic, w alls and floors, inspect the w indow s and per­ form a free furnace efficiency test. O nly O regon residents are eligible. In addition, w hile special funds last, you can get as m uch as $1,200 cash back for energy­ saving m easures: Up to $200 for energy-efficient replacement w in­ dow s. Up to $200 for a high- efficiency replacem ent oil fur­ nace or burner or up to $600 if you replace an underground oil tank w ith an above-ground one. O ther provisions o f the pro­ gram include a 100 percent re­ bate, up to $100, for a blow er door test to determ ine energy savings and other benefits o f air sealing and duct sealing, up to $400 for blow er door-assisted air sealing and duct sealing by a certified contractor and up to $400 for insulation and program ­ m able therm ostats. To qualify for rebates o r fi­ nancing, the O ffice o f Energy m ust approve the project before w ork begins. The SH O W Program serves households that heat w ith oil, w ood, propane, kerosene or bu­ tane. O regon’s fuel oil industry provides funding. For more in­ form ation, call toll-free at 1-800- 452-8660 or visit the website: w w w .e n e rg y .sta te .o r.u s. Volunteers Build Neighborhood Playground King neighborhood volunteers John Mills, Bob Bern and Amy Rice use landscaping tools to prepare the ground for a new small park called “Mallory Meadow " at the intersection of northeast Mallory and Killingsworth. A $12,000 grant from the Bureau of Housing and Community Development is helping with the cost of the project, including the installation o f playground equipment. Home Depot has donated materials for new curbing, according to neighborhood volunteer Jennifer Siebold. photo bv D avid G iezy ng /T hk P ortland O bserver PDC Minority Contracting Grows M inority, wom en-ow ned and e m e rg in g sm a ll b u s in e s s e s earned nearly $ 1 o f every $5 aw arded by the Portland D evel­ opm ent C om m ission for con­ stru ctio n and o th e r serv ices during the last fiscal year. O verall, the m inority firm s participated in about 19 percent o f th e a g e n c y ’s c o n tra c te d projects, representing about $ 10 million. It is nearly double PDC’s annual m inority business goal and exceeds the m ark o f 14 p er­ cent a year earlier. There are 1,500 firm s in O r­ egon certified as disadvantaged, m inority or women business en ­ terp rises and/or as em erging sm all businesses. “Part of P D C ’s m ission is to create quality jo b opportunities fo r a ll c itiz e n s ,” say s D on M azziotti. PDC executive direc­ tor. “I t’s ju st as im portant to do that directly, through our co n ­ tracting and w orkforce training processes, as indirectly, by stim u­ lating new developm ent. W e are proud o f our leadership role in w orking tow ard ethnic and gen­ der parity in our projects and en ­ couraging our contractors to pro­ mote diversity in their own ranks.” PDC has historically encour­ aged participation o f m inority- and w om en-ow ned businesses in its projects, but stepped up its pace in 1997 when a study showed that m inority and w om en busi­ ness ow ners were struggling with discrim inatory actions and atti­ tudes in the regional construc­ tion and related trades. PDC staff now w orks even more diligently to reach m inority com m unities by w orking with such groups as the O regon A s­ sociation of M inority E ntrepre­ n e u rs, O reg o n T rad esw o m en N etw ork, and N ative American, H ispanic, and A frican A m eri­ can cham bers of com m erce. The PDC is a partner in City o f P o rtla n d and M ultnom ah County program s that recruit a p p re n tic e s in the b u ild in g trades, w ith an em phasis on re­ cruiting women and m inorities for those positions. Future efforts by the PDC may include identification of several annual “ sh o w c a se ” pro jects with higher minority-use targets of 15-25 percent; establishing an in te r-a g e n c y w e b -b a se d “ c o n tra c tin g o p p o rtu n itie s ” home page; expanding partner­ ing outreach activities to in­ crease m inority participation in all areas o f contracting; and w orking w ith the city and Tri- Met to maximize minority hiring for upcom ing projects in the Interstate Urban Renewal Area. Literacy Program Needs Neighbors The North Portland Health Department Metropolitan Family Services is seeking volunteers for a childhood literacy program at Columbia Villa in north Portland. As part of a program called Expe­ rience Corps, area residents are helping children to improve their verbal and written skills. They plan activities for the children and work to get the parents involved in their child’s education. Experience Corps is a federally funded program. Volunteers will be paid $5.50 per hour and will receive tuition assistance. There is a com­ mitment of 45 hours a month, and participants must be 21 or older. This is an opportunity for some­ one wishing to re-enter the work world, for older adults to supple­ ment their income, or for students to earn tuition credit. For more information, call Sue Tingley, program coordinator, at 503-232-0007, extension 203. The North Portland Health Center has moved from its location at 8918 N. W oolsey Avenue to 9000 N. Lombard Street Portland, OR On Tuesday Oct. 9, 2001 at 1:30 pm, the new location will open for service. If you have questions ask any staff BILLY REED'f RESTAURANT AND BAR Great Food, G reat Friends, Great Times OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BREAKFAST SAT. & SUN. 8AM-4PM - --------- =F LIVE MUSIC Seven Days A Week and Twice on FRIDAYS and SUNDAYS B uk , R egsze , F w c, S o u , K& B, ajt OS sscol BILLY REED'S SPECIAL DINNER OCT. 25 “FaZZ in Spain Dinner” Five Cburses $29.95 or $38 with Champagne or Select Wine—Taking Reservations Now! Every Sunday-Jazz Sunday w/the Albina Jazz Ensemble 1-4PM, No Compromise Featuring Louis Pain 7:30-11PM Every Thursday Night Ron Steen s Jazzberry Jam Session 7:30-11 PM Every Saturday “Sweet Baby James' & the Original Cats 8:30PM-12:30 AM SPECIAL FRIDAY NIGHT EVENTS IN THE SIDE ROOM: Oct. 12 The Outrageous DJ Geo Spinnin9 the Funk $3 Oct. 19 Norman Sylvester & the Boogiecats (Rlues/R&B) $5 Oct. 26 Recording Artist Shamir (Reggae/R&B/Hip-Hop)$5 BILLY REEB'f RESTAURANT A BAR k 2808 NE MLK JR. Blvd. (503) 493-8127 www.billyrccds.com " IN T H E 90111. 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