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Page A6
Mayoral
Candidates
Address Issues
September 15, 2004
School Begins with Track Safety Push
The Community Association of Ports
mouth and University Park United Meth
odist Church will co-sponsor a Mayoral
Candidate Forum in north Portland on
Friday, Oct. 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Both
c a n d id a te s , T om P o tte r an d Jim
Francesconi will attend.
Currently, north Portland is experi
encing rising property values and large
public investments in transportation,
commercial developments, public hous
ing, and affordable housing.
The forum will be moderated by Rev.
Dr. Jeanne Knepper. Each candidate will
give a brief introduction. They will then
be asked a series o f questions posed by
the sponsors. Each candidate will have
the opportunity to respond. There will
be a chance for the public to ask ques
tions through the moderator. Following
the forum, refreshments will be served,
and attendees can speak personally with
the candidates.
Women’s Business
The Mt. Hood Community College
BizCenter is offering a comprehensive
educational program geared to helping
women develop their own businesses.
‘•Fresh Start for Women Starting New
Businesses” will hold twice monthly
workshops, and 12 hours of individual
counseling from business consultant,
Dollie Mercedes.
Some of the topics covered in the
workshops include: ways to define your
business, find the market potential, cre
ate an action plan and how to develop
leadership skills.
photo by
T rim et o ffic ia ls say th e sim p lest
ad v ice is still the best: lo o k b o th w ays
b efo re c ro ssin g the train track s.
W ith s tu d e n ts f lo o d in g th e s tre e ts
o n t h e ir w a y to s c h o o l, T r iM e t
w a n ts to r e m i n d p e d e s t r i a n s to
c r o s s tra c k s sa fe ly a n d k e e p an ey e
o u t f o r th e I n te r s ta te M a x ’s n ew
Y e llo w lin e in n o rth P o rtla n d , w h ic h
w as n o t ru n n in g b e f o r e s c h o o l le t
o u t.
“ W e h av e q u ite a few elem e n ts as
CaCchvetf’s
CoConiaC ChapeC
20 N.E. 14th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232
(.503) 232-4111
Denyse O. Peterson
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Ockley Green Middle School's Gobbeau Calhoun gets some tips from Richard Parker, a CEC Security officer for TriMet, on how to be safe around the Yellow
Line Max Tracks next to her school at North Interstate Avenue and Ainsworth Street.
The Pre-arrangement Concept
Dear Family Member:
Denyse Peterson represents funeral homes and cemeteries in the Portland Metro
politan area. Many families have a difficult time getting through all die associated
decisions, questions, grief and financial responsibilities that follow when a love one
dies. Denyse’s responsibility is to provide information. Pre-arranging lessens the
burden before the time of death with challenges such as emotional overspending,
indecision, haste and worry.
Our personal planning guide can lie a great benefit to love ones. Overall, pre
arranging will lrenefit families tremendously.
The pre-arrangement Dignity Memorial providers are honored to help families in
our community' with your funeral needs.
Representing these fine funeral homes:
• Caldwell’s Colonial Chapel
• Sunnyside Chapel & Memorial Gardens
• I incolli Memorial Park & Funeral Home
• Hennessey, Goetsch & McGee Funeral Directors
• Gateway Little Chapel of die Chimes
• lincoln-Willamette Funeral Directors
• Killingsworth litde Chapel of the Chimes
• Ross Hollywood Chapel
Skvline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home
w ell as a lot o f sig n s to rem in d p eo p le
how to be safe aro u n d M ax ,” said
M a ry F e tc h , a s p o k e s w o m a n fo r
T riM et.
T riM et has in stalled so p h istica te d
cro ssw a lk sig n a ls w ith im ag es o f a
train , au d io w arn in g s and cro ssw a lk
c o u n td o w n s .
T riM et sta ff m o n ito re d p la tfo rm s
last w eek n ear O ck ley G reen E le m e n
tary S ch o o l to m ake su re k id s knew
how to cro ss the track s safely .
Parental Abductions Addressed
Local leader
supports new
task force
A new task force o f law enforce
ment officials and other experts will
study strategies to reduce parental
abductions in Oregon and find meth
ods to resolve them in a manner that
serves the best interests o f the child
and the child’s family.
The effort has the backing of
state Sen. Avel Gordly, an African
American lawmaker representing
northeast and southeast Portland
“Each year, 200,(XX) children in
America fall victim to parental ab
duction. T heircases receive far less
police and media attention than ab
ductions by strangers, even though
stranger abductions are far less
com m on,” said Gordly. “It is my
hope that this task force will help
raise awareness of the problem and
lead to more effective strategies for
dealing with it.”
The Senate Interim Task Force
on Parental and Family Abductions
began its challenging work in June.
It will study a wide range of topics,
including the emotional problems
caused by parental abductions, the
financial im pactof such abductions
on abducted children, their families
and their schools, the actual inci
dence o f parental abductions in
Oregon and methods to resolve
Sen. Avel Gordly supports a taskforce on parental abductions.
parental abductions successfully.
The task force is also develop
ing bills for the next regular legisla
tive session, including one that
requires law enforcement officers
to report parental abduction infor
mation to the Missing Children's
Clearinghouse.
Although often dismissed as cus
tody battles, parental abductions are
in reality a form of child abuse. Vic
tims of parental abduction are tom
away from their homes and loved
ones and forced to suddenly start a
new life. Abducted children are of
ten given new names, religions and
identities, and instructed never to
speak about their past.
Experts say children taken into
hiding by a parent or family member
are often in serious jeopardy, both
psychological and physical.
Because parental abduction cur
rently is not considered a criminal
offense, the Oregon State Police
have little involvement with such
cases.
“Currently it’s acivil issue, statu
tory changes would have to be
made to turn it into a criminal is
sue,” said Glenn Chastain, O SP 's
public information officer.
Portland Team Heads to Uganda
For more information or to schedule an appointment,
please call Denyse Peterson at (503) 232-4111.
Get real
MAX weighs 55 tons
Look both ways before crossing tracks
I
Three veteran medical volun
teers w ith N orthw est M edical
Teams are headed to Uganda to
care for thousands of displaced.
needy families camped in makeshift
The team will carry in more than
shelters.
$40,000 in critically needed medical
Dr. Stephen Boyer, a Portland supplies. The antibiotics, ban
emergency room physician with dages, surgical kits and other items
Providence St. Vincent Medical will treat 10,fXX) patients for a 30-
Center, Dr. Robert Gibson, a Port day period.
land cardiologist in private prac
According to the United Na
tice, and Scott Gotter, a Hillsboro tions, more than 1.5 million Ugan
firefighter and paramedic with the dans have been driven from their
City of Portland, are the first volun homes in response to the on going
teers ever sent to Uganda by the fighting between the Ugandan gov
Portland-based agency.
ernment a n d rebel forces.
Book Giveaway Saturday
Give your kids the gift of reading
by attending the annual C hildren's
Book Fair, sponsored by the Urban
League of Portland and the North
Portland branch of the Multnomah
County Library.
The Fair is from 11 a.m .to2p.m „
Saturday Sept. 18, at the library, 512
N. Killingsworth St. Each child who
attends can choose a free book to
take home.
The free event is intended for pre-
sch<x,l through elementary school-
age children and features crafts,
storytelling and games. Bookman
and Bookwoman. the event's taped
crusaders of literacy, will make an
appearance. Stories in English. Span
ish, Vietnamese, French, German and
Chinese will be featured.
For more information, call 503-
988-5394.