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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2005)
PageA6 <ri’f' ^ J o r t l a n ù ( © b s e r u e r ________________________________________ May 11.200s Metro Promotes Composting M etro’s popular com post bin sale is com ing to town, and organizers are preparing to distribute thousands of the popular shiny black Earth M achines. The Earth M achine com post bins, which normally re tails for about $80, will be sold for $35 at 10 locations Saturday, May 14, including the Portland Community Col leg e C a sc a d e C am p u s in north Portland. M etro C ouncil P resident David Bragdon says that the simple act of composting brings a num ber of benefits to the region and the environm ent. “W hen people compost their yard debris and kitchen scraps, it saves the gas and oil that yard debris haulers would use to pick up those m aterials. Also, by using compost to build healthy soil for natural gar- dening, people don’t need to use pesticides and chem icals in their yards, which can harm beneficial bugs and w ildlife habitat,” he said. For more information about the bin sale, call M etro R e cycling Inform ation at 503- 234-3000. The M etro website at w w w .m e tro -re g io n .o rg has directions to the sales sites and inform ation on how to order a bin online. Are you a woman of a "certain age?" photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver Jefferson students show their displeasure with proposed cuts to their north Portland school. One sign compares the possible cut o f 26 teachers and staff at Jefferson High School to the proposed no cuts in staff at cross-town rival Lincoln High in southwest Portland. Are you a African American woman between 35 and 55 years old? Jefferson Loses One-Third of Staff continued from Front creating our small school. We spent years moving in the direction we were moving in and building the framework for the model that we had. Without these funds it’s diffi cult to implement it.” The anger and dismay among Jefferson was apparent when, at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, students and teachers began to file out through the halls in a walk-out pro test. A fire alarm went off, suspected to be a student’s doing, and the main field became filled with youth screaming “No More Cuts! What? No More Cuts!” “They’re upset. It’s a lousy situ ation. Some (teachers) have threat ened to leave and follow the teach ers th a t’re leav in g ,” said Rus Steinebach, a science instructor at Jefferson for 7 years. “The kids tend to be very loyal to the staff.” Sam M o rto n , a ju n io r at Jefferson, held a large red sign stat ing “Stop breaking up my family.” “It’s ridiculous,” Morton said. Help us evaluate a program about sex and relationships! $20 for your time When we heard they were cutting out teachers, it was devastating. There was already enough drama at Jefferson. Fill out 2 surveys and try a new computer software program - Angel Cobb, Jefferson High School student “It’s not even comparable to the other school cuts. Already our test scores aren’t the best." A huge mass of students joined together and marched twice around the perimeter of the school with unified shouts and hom em ade signs. One junior at the forefront was Angel Cobb, who helped stage the event. “When we heard they were cut ting out teachers, it was devastat ing. There was already enough drama at Jefferson,” Cobb said. “W e’re livid. They’re cutting our futures. They’re more than teach ers - this is a family, a community. It’s more than just layoffs and cuts. If we don’t stand up now it’s just going to be another hole to fall through. W e’re tired o f it.” A n o th e r ju n io r , S te p h a n ie H ughson, hoped the w alk-out would make the point that “it’s not just about Jefferson. It’s about other schools, the nation.” The dedication of the teachers at Jefferson, she said, is above and beyond w hat’s expected. “W e’re here with them every day. Our teachers are here from 6 in the morning to 10 at night -- they care. They help us get through each day. A lot of people rely on them. They help support us where our families don’t,” Hughson said. Principal Dashiell agrees. “T hese people are fam ily,” Dashiell said. “These are people that show up at your ball games, your dances, your plays, your com munity events.” For more information about this research study call: 1 -8 6 6 -7 3 0 -3 2 1 1 This research study is Ixang conducted by the ( hegon Center for Applied Science, Inc. with funding from the National Institutes o f Health. There are no sales or mailing lists involved. One Child Without a Family Having just turned 10, Brian has watched other foster sisters and brothers get adopted. He is just one of many Oregon children waiting to find a permanent family. B ria n ’s fo ste r m o th e r and teacher describe him as being a very sw eet boy. W ith a friendly and o u tg o in g p e rso n a lity , he laughs easily. Brian is very open and trusting and gets along well with others. Brian has a unique passion for gardening and loves plants. How wonderful if he could find a fam ily to support his “green thum b!” Brian’s cognitive delays require extra help and modifications at school in most areas. However, he is still inquisitive and eager to learn with younger peers. Brian has a lot o f w arm th and love to share with a family. Adop tive parents will need experience and education in w orking w ith special needs children in order to ensure that Brian m axim izes his potential. He also has some sib lings with whom he will want to m aintain som e contact. There are 300 Oregon Children available for adoption through out the state, because o f abuse and neglect. For more information on how to become a foster or adoptive parent, Brian contact the Special Needs Adop- new things. Like many children his tionCoalition at 503 542-2392 or the age, he needs reminders to stay on Department of Human Services at 1 task and plays most comfortably 800331-0503. Saturday, May 14 10 am - 3 pm • FUN GAMES WITH PRIZES • CRAFTS TO MAKE AND TAKE HOME MASTER GARDENERS AND BLM BOTANISTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Jefferson High School 10 Year Reunion The Jefferson High School Class o f 1995 is making plans fora 10-year reunion. The celebration has been scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20 with the exact time and location yet to be determined. Class member Wendell Raiford is encouraging his classmates to contact him about attending and making plans for the event. He can be reached via email at Free With Zoo Admission jenelley77 @ yahoo.com www oregonzoo.org • TAKE MAX TO THE ZOO G a n g A c tiv ity C reates D eb ate continued from Front der o f Police, the nation’s largest law enforcement union. Opponents include the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and others. They cite FBI findings that serious youth crime is declining, say states - not the federal government - can best address the gang problem and w orry about long-term c o n se quences for teenage offenders sent to adult prisons. If approved, it would move to the S e n a te w h ere S en s. D ian n e Feinstein, D-Calif. and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah have introduced a bill com bining tough anti-gang measures with new funding for crime preven tion programs. “We too want to do something about gang violence,” said Angela Arboleda of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights organization. “But punitive mea sures that lock up youths with adults is not a smart approach.” Arboleda says that Forbes’ mea sure - which the congressman has nicknamed “The Gangbusters Bill” - “is one of the worst bills w e’ve ever seen.” According to Forbes, street gang membership in the United States has grown steadily to more than 75O,(XK), outnumbering police of ficers. He said a federal approach is needed because gangs like M S-13 - the Central American-influenced Mara Salvatrucha - have spread to many states. “T hey’re organized; they have a board of directors inside prison and o u tsid e p riso n ,” F o rb es said. “Even while in prison, they recruit - teens, even down to elementary school.” C ritics o f the bill say state and local police agencies could e sc a late the fight against such gangs under existing laws. They also say the Bush adm inistration and Congress have cut back social program s that could deter youths from joining gangs in the first place. ! SubscribeI 503-288-0033 ! 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