PO December 29, 2010

Volume XXXX, Number 51

‘City of Roses’

Committed to Cultural DiversityEstablished in 1970

Wednesday • December 29, 2010

www.portlandobserver.com

Portland rap artists Reggie Da Boss (left) and K.O. Yessir, also

known as Reggie and Robert Watkins, are New-York bound to

compete in BET’s ‘106th and Park’ music completion show.

Local Rappers New York-BoundGet It Squadbrothers dream big

Born and bred Portland rap artists of Get ItSquad (G.I.S.), Reggie and Robert Watkins,also known as “Reggie Da Boss” or “RJBeats” and “K.O. Yessir,” have come a longway from watching BET music videosafterschool and sitting with two pens, tappingout beats on the kitchen table.

The 19 and 20 year-old brothers, sportingtuxes and retro hip-hip haircuts, were selectedearlier this year in the West Coast Blaze theStage Portland audition as winners of a trip to

New York to perform on BET’s 106th & ParkShow, after busting out strains from theirofficial mix tape, Evolution of Expression.

Aside from attending Mt. Hood CommunityCollege, the rap duo is fundraising to meet theirtravel expense goal of $5,000 before their BETperformance date on Jan. 26.

You can help these young rap dreamersrepresent Portland on the New York stage;by voting by texting the letter c to 79922;donating to their travel expenses in care ofBank of America savings account485007482107; or tuning in to BET’s 106thand Park show for continued support through-out the competition.

RespectingDif ferences

PHOTO BY MARK WASHINGTON /THE PORTLAND OBSERVER

Joy Wallace, chair of the Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition, leads a statewide effort

to stop bullying in schools. The panels behind her at the Q Center in north Portland chronicle the

decades-long struggle for civil rights by African Americans, women and gays.

Activists standup to bullyingBY MELISSA CHAVEZ

“I was a tom boy in school, andthey called me Tommy. Then, inhigh school, it was Queer.” Thoughshe didn’t know what it meant at thetime — which was more than 40years ago — she knew she didn’tlike it.

The reminiscing came as a room-ful of lesbian activists, all over theage of 55, shared their stories ofdealing with bullying as part of arecent "Anti-Bullying in Schools"talk held at the Q Center in northPortland.

Guest speaker Joy Wallace, Or-egon Safe Schools and Communi-ties Coalition board chair, told of hergroup’s efforts to end bullying andharassment of students.

The coalition has been workingsince 2001 to make Oregon schoolsa safer place for gay, lesbian, and

transsexual youth.Working closely with national

gay rights organizations, thenonprofit’s work also supports com-munity efforts to reduce youth sui-cide and other risk behaviors in thelesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender youth population.

“We help schools start a gay-straight alliance, do a safe schoolstraining once a year and hold a youthsummit each year too,” said Wallace.

When representatives from TheDalles High School came to a workshopto start an alliance, the coalition helpedthe student organizers and faculty ad-viser field parent objections. They gaveadvice on how to best present their caseto the school board. With the group’shelp, Wallace said, the school boardmeeting’s audience was filled with sup-portive members of the community.

Wallace said that the coalition’scurrent main focus is to make sureOregon schools are complying withthe Oregon Safe Schools Act.

The law, which went into effect in

2009, requires school boards to ap-prove anti-bullying policies; putsomeone in charge of implementingthe regulations; make sure the anti-bullying policies are updated on

school websites and in student,parent and employee handbooks;require that principals assign some-one to receive reports of bullyingand that the reporting role is known

to all students, parents and otherschool employees.

The act is in effect for K-12 public

continued on page 15

Happy New Year2 0 1 1

Page 2 December 29, 2010

Week inThe Review

Obama, Most AdmiredFor the third straight year, Presi-dent BarackObama ranksas the manmost admiredby people liv-ing in the U.S.,according toan annual USA Today-Galluppoll. Secretary of State HillaryRodham Clinton is the most-ad-mired woman for the ninth yearin a row, edging out formerAlaska Gov. Sarah Palin andTV host Oprah Winfrey.

Preparing for SnowTuesday, the City of Portlandwas preparing for possible snowand black ice as a powerful coldfront moves south. Forecasterspredicted that the snow would

start falling as close as Kelsolate Tuesday night and then workits way toward the higher eleva-tions of the Portland Metro area.

Extreme Cold TragedyEight people seeking refuge fromfreezing temperatures in an aban-doned New Orleans warehousedied Tuesday when a fire appar-ently got out of control and de-stroyed the building. In the North-east, folks were digging out froma massive blizzard that closedairports and clogged streets.

Police Shoot Armed ManPolice shot and wounded a 34-year-old man Monday who was

armed with a machete after firstfiring a stun gun and a beanbaggun at him. It happened in asouthwest Portland neighbor-hood after a 911 call that a manwas threatening relatives.

Consumer Confidence FallsA new survey shows consumerconfidence in the U.S. dipped inDecember amid worries overemployment, even after otherreports suggest people increasedtheir holiday spending at the big-gest rate in four years.

Courthouse Bomb ThreatThe Multnomah County Court-

house was evacuated Tuesdayafternoon after a bomb threatwas made by phone and a suspi-cious device was found. Theevacuation also closed thestreets and MAX lines aroundthe building

Parenthood for EltonThe piano man Elton John andhusband David Furnish have be-come parents to a baby boy bornon Christmas Day. The child wasborn in California via a surrogate,

whose identity is being protectedby the new parents.

Home Prices fallingHome prices are dropping in thenation's largest cities, includingPortland, and are expected tokeep falling next year, as fewerpeople purchase homes and mil-lions of foreclosures come on tothe market, according to a newhome price index released Tues-day.

New Year’s Eve PatrolsLaw enforcement agencies weregearing up Tuesday for extratraffic patrols during the upcom-ing New Year’s weekend. Since1986, 43 percent of traffic fatali-ties in Oregon during the holidayperiod have been in alcohol-in-volved crashes.

December 29, 2010 Page 3

I N S I D E

LOCAL NEWS

This pageSponsored by:

FOOD page 20

pages 10-13

CLASSIFIEDS pages 14

OPINION pages 16-17

HEALTH

page 2

pages 8-9

CALENDAR page 19

pages 4-7 Family lawyer cited for respect of peopleGovernor Names New Judge

Kathyrn Villa-Smith

Gov. Ted Kulongoski has ap-pointed Kathryn Villa-Smith to theMultnomah County Circuit Court.She will fill the vacancy created bythe retirement of Judge KeithMeisenheimer on Jan. 1.

Villa-Smith received her law de-gree from Lewis & Clark Law Schoolin 1982 and holds an undergraduatedegree from New Mexico State Uni-versity.

Currently a shareholder at thefirm of Gevurtz, Menashe, Larson &Howe, P.C., she has practiced do-mestic relations law for more than 16years. She has prior experience as a

deputy district attorney forMultnomah County.

Villa-Smith serves on the boardof the St. Andrew Legal Clinic andthe Multnomah Bar Foundation. Shehas also served as a pro tem judgefor Clackamas County andMultnomah County circuit courts.

“Ms. Villa-Smith will bring anextensive knowledge of both do-mestic relations and juvenile lawto the court,” said Gov.Kulongoski. “Her respect forpeople of all backgrounds and tire-less work ethic will make her anextraordinary judge.”

BSC Ticket Scam Costs HundredsAn Oregon man is out more

than $900 after he bought what hethought were two tickets to theBCS National Championship gamebetween the Oregon Ducks andthe Auburn Tigers.

The wire transfer he sent toFlorida was real, but the tickets

weren't.The scam began when the

Medford man — whom policedidn't identify — contacted a selleron Craigslist who promised thetickets for $850 and a fee.

The man wired the money onDec. 12, then waited for the tickets

to arrive by mail the next day.They never did.

Police detective Scott Clausonsays he expects more such at-tempts at scams because of theimportance of the game.

Oregon plays Auburn on Janu-ary 10.

Ride TriMet and Celebrate SafelyAll rides on TriMet’s bus and

MAX lines will be free after 8 p.m. onNew Year’s Eve.

Operating hours will be extendedon Max lines until about 3 a.m. andtrains will leave the downtown areaabout every 30 minutes. Buses willrun on regular weekday service.

The last eastbound Blue train

will leave Hillsboro’s Hatfield Gov-ernment Center Station at 2:13 a.m.;the last westbound train will leaveGresham’s Cleveland Station at2:14 a.m.; the last train fromClackamas Town Center to Port-land City Center will leave at 2:08a.m. and the last train to PortlandCity Center will leave the Expo

Center at 2:11 a.m.When the Red Line service ends,

a shuttle bus will provide rides be-tween Gateway Transit Center andthe airport every 15-30 minutes until3 a.m.

On New Year’s Day, Saturday,Jan. 1, TriMet buses and MAX trainswill run on Sunday schedules.

Free Do-it-Yourself WeatherizationLayering on long johns, wool

sweaters and multiple socks maybe necessary to keep you toastywarm for your outdoor winter trav-els, but if inside you’re bundlingup in snow-expectant gear, youmay want to check your home’sinsulation. Chilly drafts can leakthrough unnoticed cracks andgaps in your doors and windows,causing you to lose heat andmoney on your energy bills.

Community Energy Project ofnortheast Portland realizes thatnot every homeowner or renterhas the know-how or extra cash toinsulate or weatherize their home,so with the goal to help keep yourhome warmer and save you moneyon energy costs, the non-profitorganization is offering free Do-it-Yourself Weatherization Work-shops on Thursday, Jan. 6 from 9a.m. to 11 a.m., or 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Qualified workshop partici-pants can receive free weatheriza-tion materials at a $150 value. Thepackage includes vinyl storm win-dow kits, door weather stripping,door sweeps, compact fluorescentlights, and much more.

Sign up for the free workshopat SEI Community and Family Pro-grams located at 4134 N.Vancouver Ave., Suite 311 or call503-285-0493.

YEAR IN REVIEW

WEEK IN REVIEW


Year in ReviewThe Portland Observer looks back at some of the top stories of 2010

Ill EquippedFeb. 10 – A mental health crisis

ends in death when policeresponding to an emergencycall shoot Aaron Campbell at

the Sandy Terrace Apartmentsin northeast Portland. A man

who was mourning the death ofhis brother just hours earlier,police believed Campbell was

armed with a gun but noweapon was found.

Hot Seat at City HallFeb. 24 -- A week after local protests and a visit by national civilrights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson, Mayor Sam Adams and PoliceCommissioner Dan Saltzman announce their support for a federalcivil rights investigation into the shooting death of AaronCampbell.

Legacy UnmatchedMarch 3 – Dick Bogle, a trail-blazing journalist, police officerand former city commissioner,is remembered for his serviceto helping others and forbreaking color lines. Bogledied at the age of 79.

TriMet Chief Moves OnMarch 24 – TriMet GeneralManager Fred Hansen, a leaderin transit growth with theopening of three light rail lines;and equity for minorities withemployment and contractingopportunities, announces thathe will leave the agency after12 years to pursue otheropportunities.

Young, Black & GiftedMarch 31 – Skylar Holt excelsat Jefferson High School, just

one of the city’s ‘Young,Black & Gifted” students

featured in a new exhibit ofhigh-achieving African-American students thatopened to the public at

school district headquartersand Lloyd Center.

Disaster Hits HomeJan. 20 – Ben Ferere, a native ofHaiti, and the co-owner of theBagel Land shop on northeastFremont Street, joins otherPortland residents with lovedones in Haiti, awaiting word fromother family members after Haiti’sdevastating 7.0 earthquake.


Year in Review (continued)

continued on page 6

Rescue BidApril 14 -- Ethos MusicCenter, a local non-profit thathas provided music educa-tion for disadvantaged youthfor the past 10 years, puts ina bid to occupy the newlyvacant Interstate FirehouseCultural Center, a communityresource that has servedmulticultural and diversepopulations.

100 Glorious YearsApril 21 -- Jefferson High School

alumnae Maggie Mashia, class of1980; Donna Maxey, class of 1966;

and Julie Rogers, class of 1974,publish ‘100 Years of Excellence,’ a100-anniversary tribute to the north

Portland school and featuring 100 ofits most distinguished graduates.

Troops Welcomed HomeApril 28 – Oregon National Guard troops were warmly welcomed homeduring a ceremony in north Portland after serving a tour a duty in Iraq.

Push BackMay 12 – Four hundred to fivehundred students, faculty andalumni from Benson and Marshallhigh schools converge on aschool board meeting to pushback against a controversialproposal from the superintendentthat would drastically alter bothschools. By the end of the year,Marshall was scheduled forclosure.

Police Chief ResetMay 19 – Mayor Sam Adamsnames Mike Reese, a formercommander of East Precinct and acop with public service roots, asthe new police chief after PoliceChief Rosie Sizer was fired in apublic dispute with the mayorover the police budget. But foradvocates of police reform, Reeseseemed to be an unknownquantity.


Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PCZchon R. Jones, DC

333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212(503) 284-7838

We are located on thecorner of MLK and RussellStreet, on the second floor

above the coffee shop.

Truly making a difference in the lives ofAuto Accident victims and Injur ed Workers for nearly 20 years.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident,call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838


Principal SidelinedMay 26 -- Jefferson High School Principal Cynthia Harris is placed onadministrative leave after an audit which painted a damning picture ofhow money was handled at the northeast Portland school.

Homeownersat Risk

June 16 – In responseto the worst housing

crisis in decades,local community

advocates go door-to-door on a cam-paign to promote

services that can helphomeowners facingfinancial difficulties

and get the vitalinformation they needto stay in their homes.

Ghosts of New ColumbiaJuly 7 – North Portland’s New

Columbia is shaken by twoshootings, but residents like

Ruby Hill say they still feelsafe. The neighborhood was

strengthening community tiesto ward off its old reputation

when it was a hotbed ofproblems associated with an

urban environment.

Blazers Hire GMJuly 21 – Rich Cho isnamed Trail BlazersGeneral Manager.He’s the first Asian-American generalmanager in NBAhistory.

Mayor Goes After Illegal GunsAug. 25 -- In response to nine shootings inwhich three people were shot and injuredover a three-day period, Mayor Sam Adamsproposes a set of ordinances intended tokeep illegal firearms out of the hands ofoffenders and off the street.

Idealism’s High PriceSept. 22 – The theater becomes avenue to begin reconciliation andunderstanding in a controversialplay about a young activist from theNorthwest who lost her life protest-ing the treatment of Palestinians inGaza. A Portland group created atheater and theater company toallow it to be shown in the city.

Yam Yam’s ClosesAug. 11 -- Closed signs go up at YamYam’s Southern Cooking and Barbeque,an eatery on Northeast Marin Luther KingJr. Boulevard that struggled to stay openafter being labeled a drug front in a federalinvestigation.



Uniquely QualifiedOct. 6 – Aneshka Colas-Dickson, a young African-American womanwho has made her mark in the local construction industry is voted inas the newest member of the Portland Development Commission.Colas-Dickson will be in a position to influence the city’s urbanrenewal and housing landscape.

Oregon Soars to No. 1Oct. 20 – The national

spotlight shines on theUniversity of Oregon when

the football team becomes theNo. 1 rated team in the

country. The Ducks finishedthe season 12-0 will play for

the national championship onJan. 10.

Two Eras; Two LegendsNov. 3 – Portland greats Maurice Lucas, a five-time NBA All-Starwho helped lead the Blazers to the NBA Championship in 1977;and Artie Wilson, a legend of the Negro American and PacificCoast Leagues, including the Portland Beavers are memorializedafter their deaths on the same day. Lucas died at the age of 58from bladder cancer. Wilson was 90.

Feminists Reaching OutDec. 8 – In Other Words, the only non-profit of 30feminist bookstores in the country, slips into aserious financial bind. But with a sense of urgency,supporters help bring a community focus to thenortheast Portland center and replace lost textbooksales through grants and individual donations.

Green IndustryDec. 15 – A Portland company wins approval to operate a recycling facilityon Northeast Columbia Boulevard that will turn food waste into electricity,but neighbors have concerns because the last effort at green industry atthe site caused a foul odor to drift over neighboring homes.

Leaf Drop Brings FeesNov. 10 – For the first time, local residentsin 28 districts will be billed for the leafpickups by city transportation crewswhich keep streets clear from hazards andunblock storm water drains.


HEALTHMATTERS

BY LARRY LUCAS

For Your HealthFighting Alzheimer’s

The word “retirement” typicallyconjures images of days filled withgolf, reading, family time and vaca-tioning. I’m lucky to have my healthto allow me to enjoy these types ofleisure activities today, but I alsorecognize that as our bodies age, sodo our minds.

While it’s expected that you mayforget the name of your high schoolclass president, forgetting how tocomplete simple tasks like tying yourgolf shoes is a frightening prospect.Unfortunately, it’s one that facesmillions of Americans, including theaging Baby Boomer generation, thefirst of which turns 65 next year.

Already, 5.1 million Americanssuffer from dementia, includingAlzheimer’s disease, which is themost common form of dementiaamong seniors. Alzheimer’s beginsby destroying brain cells and caus-ing problems with memory, thinkingand behavior severe enough to affectwork, lifelong hobbies or social life. Itis a condition that worsens over time

and is ultimately fatal. The number ofAlzheimer’s patients will only risewith the aging Baby Boomer genera-tion; in fact, an estimated 13.5 millionAmericans are expected to be livingwith Alzheimer’s by 2015.

A recent report from theAlzheimer’s Association found thatthe African-American community istwice as likely as its white counter-parts to develop Alzheimer’s – po-tentially because we have a higherrate of vascular disease than others,which is a suspected risk factor forAlzheimer’s.

In addition, minorities’ cases ofAlzheimer’s typically go undiagnosedfar longer than those of white pa-tients, allowing the disease to worsenwithout the help of available treat-ments to slow its progression. This iswhy it’s important to know the warn-ing signs of Alzheimer’s and to visityour doctor for regular checkups.

As with other age-related diseases,early detection is key, and being awareof the symptoms is essential for fight-ing Alzheimer’s. Early warning signs

include severe memory loss, diffi-culty completing previously easytasks, regularly misplacing things,confusing familiar places and dras-tic changes in mood or personality.

If you or a family member is expe-riencing Alzheimer’s-related symp-toms, be sure to see your doctorimmediately. Early diagnosis will pro-vide the best chance to receive themost effective treatments.

The good news is studies haveshown that by doing simple mentalexercises, such as crossword puzzles,reading the newspaper and keepinga journal, you can offset the disease’saffect on the brain. There are alsosteps you can take around the houseto help maintain your independence.

The Alzheimer’s Associationsuggests using memory aids likelabels and reminder notes, stayingactive and making home safety im-provements.

It is possible to live withAlzheimer’s if simple adjustmentsare made, medicines are taken asprescribed and we take care of ourbodies. The golden years are to besavored – not forgotten.

Larry Lucas is a retired vicepresident for the PharmaceuticalResearch and Manufacturersof America.

Thank you: A Happy and healthyNew Year to our great patients.

Flowers' Chiropractic Office2124 N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon 97212

Phone: (503) 287-5504

Now is the season to reflect onthe events of the past year andlook ahead to all the New Year hasto offer. This past year has cer-tainly been a happy one for all ofus. We’ve had so many kind andwonderful patients.

To all of you, “thank you.” Weappreciate your courtesy and yourzeal to share with friends howChiropractic’s natural healing hashelped you. It is really exciting tohave more and more people awareof the healing power of nature.

Only nature creates and only naturecan truly heal.

We look forward to continueserving those of you who’ve madethe natural selection: Chiropractic.The only major health sciencewhose only side effects are im-proved health and greater sense of

well-being. If you ever have anyquestions about your health orabout any of our many services,we’ll always be happy to help.

Again, we wish you a HappyHoliday and continued healththrough-out the coming NewYear.

Dr. Billy R. Flowers (above center) and his skilled staff are ready to help those in need.

Tenderfoot Care -- Treat your feet with a soak, nail trim, buffing andmassage from a licensed nurse at one of six clinics or at your home. Call503-251-6303 for more information.

Free Body Basics -- This physician recommended class is appropriate forall ages and health conditions. Plan to attend this one-session class andlearn the simple guidelines for safe exercises, including stretching. Call503-256-4000 to register.

Families with Mental Illness -- A free, 12-week course for people whosefamily members live with mental illness is offered at Emanuel Hospital, Mt.Hood Medical Center and Providence Medical Center. The course hasbeen described as “life-changing” by former participants. Registration isrequired by calling 503-203-3326.

Managing Chronic Hepatitis C -- Third Wednesday of each month at 5p.m. The informative session is led by a registered nurse to help youmanage side effects of medications and dosage preparations and admin-istration; doctor referral required. To register, call 503-251-6313.

Better Breathers -- An asthma educational support group meets on the1st Tuesday of the month from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Adventist MedicalCenter. For information, call 503-251-6830.

Cancer Resource Center -- Providence St. Vincent Medical Center andthe American Red Cross have joined forces to create the first in-hospitalresource center providing books, printed material, computer access andmore for individuals and families dealing with cancer. The center is openMonday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lead Poisoning Prevention -- Learn how to protect your family from leadpoisoning. Ideal for folks in live in older homes with children or pregnantwomen. Qualified participants receive a free kit of safety and testingsupplies. Call 503-284-6827.

Parenting Classes -- Newborns don’t come with instruction manuals butparents and parents-to-be can learn about a variety of topics from pain andchildbirth to breastfeeding to infant CPR and much more. For a scheduleof events, call 503-574-6595 or visit: providence.org/classes.

Cardiac-Rehab Exercises -- A medically supervised exercise program forpeople dealing with heart conditions. For information, call 503-251-6260.

Stroke Alert Screening -- Check your carotid arteries with a painlessultrasound to assess your risk. Fee $40. To schedule a screening, call 503-251-6137.

Empowerment through Relaxation -- Free informal meditation classes thataddress breathing techniques, some gentle ancient African yoga posesand mental balancing techniques -- People have left these classes joyfuland with a peaceful view of their lives. Call Dr. Marcelitte Failla at 503-228-6140.

Powerful Tools For Caregivers -- 6-week educational series designed tohelp family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for relatives orfriends with chronic illness. Class size is limited, and registration isrequired. Call 503-413-8018.

Leg Alert Screening -- Check for peripheral arterial disease with this safe,simple screening using ankle and arm blood pressure. The fee is $40. Toschedule an appointment, call 503-251-6137.

Smoke-Free Support Group -- Meets Mondays, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Forinformation, call 503-256-4000.

Heart Talk Support Group -- Meets on the second Monday of eachmonth; from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 503-251-6260.

Family Caregiver Support Group -- This topic-oriented group offers asafe place to discuss the stresses, challenges and rewards of providingcare to an older relative or friend. Meets the first Thursday of each monthat 3 p.m. at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. Chronic Pain Support Group-- Meets the first Wednesday at 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the thirdWednesday of each month, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information,call 503-256-4000.

Cholesterol Profiles -- Get the resources to help you keep an eye on yourcholesterol and other indicators of heart health. Educational materialprovided. For more information, call 503-261-6611.

HEALTHWATCH


Cori Stewart--Owner, Operator

Avalon Flowers520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250

A full serviceflower experience

• Birthdays• Funerals

Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pmSaturday 9am til 2pm.

Website: avalonflowerspdx.comemail: [email protected] Offer Wire Services

• Anniversaries• Weddings

HEALTHMATTERSTeens Smoking MoreHookah Tobacco

Hookah lounges that use exotic pipes to burn tobacco are a

growing health concern because Hookah smoke contains danger-

ous levels of cancer-causing chemicals and toxic gases.

Study suggestsdangers areoverlooked

A new study indicates thathookah tobacco smoking amongOregon teen-agers is on the rise,due in part to a proliferation ofhookah lounges that may be tar-geting young people with candy-and cocktail-flavored tobacco,online marketing and a party at-mosphere.

Officials at the Oregon PublicHealth Division, which con-ducted the 2010 Indoor CleanAir Act Compliance Study, worrythat the increasing popularity ofhookah will reverse gains madeduring the last decade in theeffort to reduce tobacco useamong young people.

"The popularity of hookahsmoking that we've seen amongyoung people is putting us in aone-step-forward, two-steps-back situation in the battle againsttobacco use," said Dr. KatrinaHedberg of the state's Office ofDisease Prevention and Epide-miology.

"We believe teen-agers areturning their attention to hookahbecause they think it's a glamor-ous and safe alternative to ciga-rettes. It's not. Hookah could becreating a whole new culture ofyoung people who get togetherto smoke tobacco," Hedberg said.

Hookah tobacco – or shisha –is addictive, contains nicotine andcan cause lung cancer, heartdisease and other complications,just like cigarettes. Burning char-

coal in the pipe creates addi-tional risks, little is known aboutthe health effects of smokingadded flavorings.

Hookah pipes produce muchmore smoke than cigarettes.Hookah smoke contains danger-ous levels of cancer-causingchemicals and toxic gases, suchas carbon monoxide, posing ahealth hazard to smokers andlounge employees alike. Thestudy found that the air in hoo-kah lounges ranged from "un-healthy" at best to "hazardous"at worst.

Hookah lounges are requiredby law to prohibit access byminors younger than 18, but youthinterviews and observationalstudies by Oregon Public HealthDivision officials indicate minorshave little trouble gaining entry.

In addition, many coffee shopsand restaurants feature hookahsmoking on their patios, and hoo-kahs are increasingly availablefor purchase. Youth in the studysaid hookahs are a common fix-ture at parties and friends' homes.

Diabetics Test Strips Recalled(AP) -- Abbott Laboratories is recalling up to 359

million testing strips used by diabetics because theycan give falsely low blood sugar readings.

The testing strips are used to help diabetes patientscheck their blood sugar levels. But the Food and DrugAdministration says the products being recalled byAbbott can give inaccurately low measurements. Asa result, patients may try to raise their blood sugarlevels unnecessarily or fail to detect dangerously high

blood sugar levels.The FDA said the problems are caused by a defect

that limits the amount of blood absorbed by each strip. Abbott is recalling 359 lots marketed under a half-

dozen brand names, including: Precision Xceed Pro,Precision Xtra, Medisense Optium, Optium, OptiumEZand ReliOn Ultima.

Abbott said it will replace the affected test strips atno charge.


Happy Birthday

LV!

&ArtsEntertainment

Teena Marie passed away

recently at 54. She had a

great influence in the Soul

Community.

‘Ivory Queen of Soul ‘ Dies at 54Singer wasprotege of funkmaster RickJames

(AP) -- Teena Marie, the "IvoryQueen of Soul" who developed alasting legacy with her silky soulpipes and with hits like "Lovergirl,""Square Biz," and "Fire and Desire"with mentor Rick James, has died.She was 54.

Marie certainly wasn't the firstwhite act to sing soul music, but shewas arguably among the most giftedand respected, and was thoroughlyembraced by the black audience.

Marie made her debut on thelegendary Motown label back in

1979, becoming one of the very fewwhite acts to break the race barrier ofthe groundbreaking black-ownedrecord label that had been a havenfor black artists like Stevie Wonder,the Jackson Five, the Supremes andMarvin Gaye.

Marie was the protege of themasterful funk wizard James, withwhom she would have long, turbu-lent but musically magical relation-ship.

The cover of her debut album,"Wild and Peaceful," did not fea-ture her image, with Motown appar-ently fearing black audiences mightnot buy it if they found out thesongstress with the dynamic, gos-pel-inflected voice was white.

But Marie notched her first hit,"I'm A Sucker for Your Love," andwas on her way to becoming one of

R&B's most revered queens. Dur-ing her tenure with Motown, thesinger-songwriter and musician pro-duced passionate love songs andfunk jam songs like "Need YourLovin'," "Behind the Groove" and"Ooh La La La."

Marie's voice was the main drawof her music: Pitch-perfect, piercingin its clarity and wrought with emo-tion, whether it was drawing fromthe highs of romance or the mourn-ful moments of a love lost. But hersongs, most of which she had ahand in writing, were the other majorcomponent of her success.

She continued to record musicand perform. In 2004 and 2006 sheput out two well-received albumson the traditional rap label CashMoney Records, "La Dona" and"Sapphire."


Candy Korner4606 NE MLK Blvd., Portland, OR 97211

503.281.7000www.candykorner.net

&ArtsEntertainment

The Brothers of the Baladi return to Portland on New Year’s Eve at the Blue Monk for a night of

Middle Eastern world music and dance.

World Music and DanceThe Brothers of the Baladi return

to Portland on New Year’s Eve at theBlue Monk, 3341 S.E. Belmont St.,for a night of Middle Eastern WorldMusic and Dance.

“Raq in the New Year” will be afestive night to shake off your

troubles and start anew. The bandwill perform music from the recentCD, Just Do What’s Right, andhost a belly dance show withJustina, Latifa and the unpredict-able and exciting dance troupe,Offbeat Belly Dance led by

Karissa.The Brothers of the Baladi are

noted as a band that covers musicalstyles from Arabic, Turkish, Per-sian, Reggae, Global Rock and Latinin addition to their own originalstylings.

Graceful Names Art Exhibit“Graceful Names," an art ex-

hibit at Littman and White Galler-ies at Portland State University,downtown, will feature the workof locally-based artist KanaanKanaan and highlights the 99names of Allah (God) as tiles, eachwith intricate detail and vibrant

color.The show opens Thursday,

Jan. 6 and will continue through-out the month; there also is anartist's reception on Thursday,Jan. 13 and an artist's lecture, fo-cusing on contemporary Islamicart, on Thursday, Jan. 21. All are

open to the public.The event is co-sponsored by

the Arab American Cultural Cen-ter of Oregon; the Institute forChristian-Muslim Understand-ing; the Iraqi Society of Oregon;Middle East Studies Center, PSU;and Muslim Educational Trust.

Benefit Holiday Choir FestHuman Solutions’ Epiphany

Choir Fest will bring an upliftingafternoon of Christmas music tofriends and families on Sunday, Jan.2 at 3 p.m. to benefit homeless fami-lies served by Human Solutions’

Daybreak Shelter and other pro-grams.

The 9th annual event will be heldat Gethsemane Lutheran Church,11560 S.E. Market. Eleven localchurch choirs, plus a bell choir, will

perform their best Christmas an-thems, and the combined choirs willperform the “Hallelujah Chorus”from Handel’s Messiah.

The concert is free and everyoneis welcome.

Kwanzaa at Portland City HallDiverse and Empowered Employ-

ees of Portland invites you to cel-ebrate Kwanzaa during a specialevent at City Hall.

The employees will honorUjamaa, the fourth of seven prin-ciples of Kwanzaa which focuseson Cooperative Economics: To buildand maintain our own stores, shops,and other businesses and to profitfrom them together.

The free and open to the publicevent will feature drumming byArt Alexander and Caton, musicby DJ Calvin Kyles, spoken wordrecitations by Renee Mitchell andAntoinette Edwards, catering byLe Sous Chef, Muffin Batiste, anda libation ceremony by JoyceHarris.

The celebration takes place onWednesday, Dec. 29 from 5 p.m. to

7 p.m. in the City Hall Atrium.Kwanzaa, the African American

and Pan African holiday, is cel-ebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan, 1.Rooted in the first harvest festivi-ties of Africa, Kwanzaa is derivedfrom the Swahili phrase “matundaya wanza” meaning “first fruits,”and began in the U. S. as a weeklongcelebration of family, communityand culture.


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Home Grown Concerts --Acclaimed young Portlandtrombonist and composer Javier

Nero,home duringhis winter break fromthe Julliard School inNew York City, per-forms Tuesday, Jan.4, from 6 p.m. to 7:30p.m. at Jimmy Mak’s,221 N.W. 10th Ave.;and Friday, Jan. 7 atReflections Coffee-house, 446 N.E.Killingsworth.

Last Polar Bear ex-hibit -- At the WorldForest Center Dis-

covery Museum, photographer Steven Kazlowskidocuments the devastating urgency of globalwarming’s impact on the Arctic in the new environ-mental photo exhibit, The Last Polar Bear: Facing theTruth of a Warming World. Visit worldforesty.org orcall 503-228-1367.

ZooLights -- The Oregon Zoo is awinter wonderland with the an-nual ZooLights display bringingmore than a million colored lightsto holiday festivities that con-tinue nightly through Sunday,Jan. 2.

Love-Rock Musical -- The smashBroadway revival of “HAIR” con-tinues its Portland run at KellerAuditorium though Sunday, Jan.2. The musical depicts the birth ofa cultural movement in the 60sand 70s that changed Americaforever.

Norman Sylvester Band -- BoogieCat Norman Sylvester and hisband perform Friday, Jan. 7 at theWest Linn Saloon.

New Year’s Eve Celebration --Legendary soul diva LindaHornbuckle; Friday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Jimmy Mak’s,221 N.W. 10th Ave. For tickets, visit ticketsoregon.com.

Tinker Toy Inspiration --Tinker toys are bigger than

ever at the Portland Children’sMuseum where a “Build Your Imagi-

nation” exhibit is now underway through Jan.23. Giant replicas of the classic Tinker toy constructionset provides for fun and educational activities targetedto children ages 3-10.

Murals Exhibit -- The exhibit“Walls of Heritage, Walls ofPride: African American Mu-rals,” showcasing murals fromPortland artists and all over thecountry takes place at the Or-egon Historical Society throughFeb. 13.

Discount Admission -- OMSIvisitors pay only $2 per person

for general admission on the first Sunday of eachmonth as well as discounted admission of $5 to thePlanetarium, OMIMAX Theater and USS Bluebacksubmarine.

Mel Brown Live -- Portland jazz giant Mel Brownperforms at Salty’s on the Columbia every Friday and

Saturday night. Known as the“Gentleman of Jazz,” Brown hasa career spanning over 40 years.

Explore What Makes You Tick-- OMSI’s new highly interactiveexhibit “Identity: An Exhibitionof You” explores the physical,psychological and social ele-ments in your life and challengesour notions of personal identity.

Live Jazz -- Every Friday andSaturday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.,the Third Degrees Lounge at theRiver Place Hotel, 1510 S.W.Harbor Way. No cover or mini-mum purchase. For more infor-mation, visit pdxjazz.com.

Music Millennium Free Shows-- The Music Millennium, 3158 E.Burnside, hosts in-house liveperformances. Enjoy free musicand the opportunity to meet art-

ists. Call 503-231-8926 for a schedule.

In Loving Memory ofLionel Eugene Paden

Dec 30, 1945 -Dec 30, 2009

Dearly missed andforever in our hearts

Mom and Paden Family


“Please Don’t Pass Me By”Inviting ALL women to hear words of wisdom

and share lessons of life from young to old

• Praise & Worship • Light Luncheon• Speakers • Networking

Jantzen Beach Mall, Near the Carousel, 747 NE MLK blvdJanuary 8, 2011 @ 11:00 am

[email protected] Contact: 503-957-7946

Carey Expecting Twins(AP) -- Mariah Carey is

going to be a mom twice over.Nick Cannon announced

on his radio show Thursdaythat his wife is expectingtwins.

Said Cannon on NewYork's 92.3 station: "I haven'teven told my wife I doing thisso I'm probably gonna getyelled at for not getting per-mission. ... We are havingtwins!"

Mariah Carey's publicistCindi Berger confirmed thenews as well.

Cannon said two VIPs didget the scoop: PresidentBarack Obama and wifeMichelle. Carey told the firstcouple during a taping of a"Christmas in Washington"show.

Cannon added: "Both babies are healthy, in tiptop shape."Carey, 40, and Cannon, 30, have been the subject of a baby watch since

they got married after a whirlwind romance two years ago.

Mariah Carey

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CLASSIFIEDS/BIDSOutreach Mgr / Trainer / Recruiter

The University of Oregon Division

of Undergraduate Studies is

seeking an Outreach Manager /

Trainer / Recruiter to coordinate

and manage the UO Opportunities

Program for students and their

families in underserved

populations in Lane County and

Oregon. This position works in

close collaboration with schools

and offices across the campus

including the Robert D. Clark

Honors College, the Office for

Equity and Institutional Diversity,

the Office for Multicultural

Academic Support, the Office of

Admissions, and the Office of

Student Orientation. This position

is fulltime. The successful

candidate will have the ability to

work effectively with faculty, staff

and students from a variety of

diverse backgrounds. For further

details on the scope of work and

specific responsibilities of this

position and for instructions on

how to apply, please visit: http://

hr.uoregon.edu/jobs/

This position is listed under

Unclassified Administrative

Positions. Applications must be

received by Friday, January 14,

2011 for priority consideration.

The UO is an EO/AA/ADA

institution committed to cultural

diversity.

2011 University of Oregon Reverse Vendor Trade Fair

Building Partnerships through Outreach

The University of Oregon once again invites businesses the

opportunity to meet with UO and other agency purchasers at one

time and in one location. UO departments and other agencies

will host different tables while businesses can meet with agency

representatives and market their products and services.

January 25, 2011, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Club Room at Autzen Stadium

2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Eugene

Registration available at pcs.uoregon.edu

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed

to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDSEliot Square Modernization

JOB NO. RFB 01/11-120

Sealed bids will be received at the Housing Authority of Portland (HAP),

135 SW Ash Street, Portland, Oregon 97204, 5th floor Purchasing

and Contracting Dept., until 2:00 pm, Thursday February 10, 2011. Shortly

thereafter, bids will be opened and publicly read. The First Tier

Subcontractor List, HAP-421, must be received by 4:00 p.m. the same day.

No bidder may withdraw their bid after the hour set for opening until

after the lapse of sixty (60) days from the bid opening.

The basic work consists of site work and extensive interior remodel

at Eliot Square Apartments, 56 NE Russell, Portland, OR 97212. Work at

the property includes: New playgrounds, paving, landscaping, fencing,

replacement of some plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems,

complete kitchen and bath remodels, new flooring, doors and

painting.

Bid Documents will be available January 4, 2011 at Ford Graphics,

1431 NW 17th Avenue, Portland, OR. 97209, phone: (503) 227-

3424, www.fordgraphics.com. A $50 deposit for one set and $20

(twenty) for each additional set is refundable when documents are

returned within 10 days after bid opening.

Attendance of bidders is mandatory at a pre-bid tour of the project

commencing at Eliot Square Apartments, 56 NE Russell St., Portland

OR. 97212 at 10:00 am, Tuesday, January 18, 2011 in the community

room. Questions posed during the tour, not addressed in the

documents, will be answered by addendum.

HAP has an aspirational goal of 20% of DBE/MBE/WBE/ESB

participation in the execution of this project. Therefore, non-D/M/

W/ESB prime contractors will be required to submit proof showing

that good faith efforts have been made to contract with D/M/W/

ESB subcontractors.

This contract is for public works subject to Davis Bacon Act (40

U.S.C.276a). In addition, this project is subject to Oregon Bureau of

Labor and Industry (BOLI) prevailing wage requirements as outlined

in ORS 276C.800-870.

The Housing Authority of Portland may reject any bid not in compliance

with the prescribed bidding procedures and requirements and may

reject any or all bids and waive all informalities if, in the judgment of

HAP, it is in the public interest to do so. Questions regarding this

project should be directed to Berit Stevenson at 503-802-8541.

Subcontractor Invitation to BidProject: GSA Portland Professional Office Building

Skanska Contact: Trevor Wyckoff, phone #503-641-2500,

e-mail: [email protected]

BID DATE and Time: Jan 11th, 2011 at 3:00pm

Additional Info: Project consists of a 4 story building, a single level

building and a parking structure. Bids are being accepted for the

following scopes: Paving, Landscaping & Fencing, Masonry,

Casework, Millwork, Roofing & Siding, Doors, Framing & Drywall,

Ceramic Tile, Flooring, Painting & Specialties.

Please Contact Trevor for access to the plans

Federal Davis Bacon Wage Requirements. For information on how to obtain

Bonding, Insurance, or lines of credit, contact Allied Insurance at (510)

578-2000 or Skanska USA Building, Inc. Skanska is an equal opportunity

employer and actively requests bids from all DBE, MBE, WBE, and ESB

firms, as well as all SBA recognized firms including VOSB, HUBzone,

SDB, WOSB, and SDVB.

ccb#153980

Affordable Housing May Be available at this time.

Income restrictions applyIf affordable units are not available at this time, qualified

applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

USDA rural Development is an Equal Opportunity

Lender, Provider, and Employer.

Complaints of discrimination should be sent to:

USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Orchards Plaza Apartments

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PORT OF PORTLANDPossibility. In every direction.TM

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The Port of Portland is a regional government operating airports,

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metropolitan area, to fulfill its mission of providing competitive cargo

and passenger access to world markets while enhancing the region’s

quality of life.

To view current job openings and to access the application form,

visit the Port’s website at www.portofportland.com or call the job

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The Port of Portland is an AA/EEO employer committed to workforce

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The Portland Observer


Sunday ServiceSunday School 10:00 A.M Worship Service 12:00 NoonY.P.C.E. 6:30 P.M Evangelistic Service 7:00 P.M.

Weekday ServiceTuesday Night: Bible Study 7:00 P.M.Friday Night: Regular Service 7:30 P.M.Prayer Meeting & Seminar: Monday - Friday 12:00 Noon

EMMANUELChurch of God in

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You are cordially invitedto worship with us inthese services: Pastor & Wife –

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503-335-8772

In Loving Memory

Respecting DifferencesJoy Wallace stands up

to bullying in schools

during a visit to the Q

Center, a community

facility for gay, lesbian,

and transsexual youth

on North Mississippi

Avenue; and as the

chair of the Oregon Safe

Schools and Communi-

ties Coalition.

PHOTO BY MARK WASHINGTON /THE PORTLAND OBSERVER

James LeeCombs Sr.

Funeral services for James LeeCombs Sr. , who died Dec. 12,2010, were scheduled Wednes-day, Dec. 29 at 11 a.m. at EmmanuelTemple Church, 1033 N. Summer.Committal services will follow atSkyline Memorial Gardens.

He was born June 25, 1942 inDeSoto Parish, La. He worked asa maintenance supervisor for theHousing Authority of Portland.He was a volunteer manager,coach and board member for theRiverside Little League.

Survivors include his wife, Vera

Combs and two sons; KennethCombs Sr. and James Combs.

Arrangements by Caldwell’s,Hennessey, Goetsch and McGeeFuneral Home.

education, and, Wallace said,school districts could lose statefunding if there is no an anti-bully-ing policy in place.

Portland Public Schools recentlystepped up its anti-bullying effortswhich focus on prevention to cre-ate a safe and welcoming climatewhere students are not worryingabout how they will be treated bytheir peers.

But with 201 school districts inthe state, the coalition has a bigchallenge ahead of them in trying tosee that the legislation is enforcedacross the board.

The Safe Schools Act is especiallyimportant now, as awareness of bul-lying among teens has increased inrecent months, escalated after thereports of at least five young menwho committed suicide as a result ofpeer harassment. This prompted “Sav-age Love” columnist Dan Savageand his partner to start the It GetsBetter campaign, which involves ce-lebrities, politicians, and citizens tell-ing their stories of being bullied whenschool-aged, and how their lives arebetter now.

According to the 2009 NationalSchool Climate Survey, a 10-yearstudy documenting the experiencesof lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender students, nearly 9 outof 10 LGBT students experiencedharassment at school in the pastyear and nearly two-thirds felt un-safe because of their sexual orienta-tion.

Released in September, thestudy found that 84.6 percent ofLGBT students reported beingverbally harassed, 40.1 percentreported being physically ha-rassed and 18.8 percent reportedbeing physically assaulted atschool in the past year because oftheir sexual orientation.

According to the survey:Nearly two-thirds of students

reported that they felt unsafe inschool because of their sexual ori-entation, and more than a third feltunsafe because of their gender ex-pression.

Twenty-nine percent of LGBTstudents missed a class at least once,and 30 percent missed at least oneday of school in the past monthbecause of safety concerns; com-pared to only 8 percent and 6.7 per-cent, respectively, of other second-ary school students.

The grade point average of stu-dents who were more frequentlyharassed because of their sexualorientation or gender expressionwas almost half a grade lower thanfor students who were less oftenharassed (2.7 versus 3.1 percent).

Increased levels of victimizationwere related to increased levels ofdepression and anxiety and de-creased levels of self-esteem.

Though Portland is the first ma-jor city in the nation to elect a gaymayor, Oregon as a whole is not as

accepting of gay minorities, as wasevidenced by the anti gay marriagepassage of Measure 36 in 2004.

Gay rights activists point toWashington’s safe school effortsand California’s Gay-Straight Alli-ance Network as national models ofways to provide safe and securecommunities for youth that are freefrom harassment, violence, and dis-crimination of any kind.

The Oregon Safe Schools andCommunities Coalition has modeledits mission on the two organizationsand has recruited affiliations withPortland Public Schools, the Port-land Association of Teachers, thePortland Council Parent TeachersAssociation, the Oregon chapter ofthe American Civil Liberties Union,the Sexual Minority Youth ResourceCenter, and dozens of other groupsto work toward ending prejudice andhate-motivated violence, while creat-ing safe schools and communities for

families, teachers, and students alike.To learn more about the safe

schools coalition, visit its website,oregonsafeschools.org.

Advertise with diversity in

The Portland Observer

Call 503-288-0033

ads@portlandob server.comcontinued from front


OPINIONOpinion articles do not necessarily represent the views of thePortland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos andstory ideas. Submit to [email protected].

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PUBLISHER: Charles H. WashingtonED I T O R:Michael Leighton

D I S T R I B U T I O N MA N A G E R: Mark WashingtonCREATIVE DIRECTOR: Paul Neufeldt

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Portland Observer , PO Box 3137 , Portland, OR 97208

The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will bereturned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property of the newspaperand cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager, unless the clienthas purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUC-TION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer--Oregon’s OldestMulticultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Founded in 1885, and The National Advertis-ing Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association

Established 1970

Give the Gift of Sharing and CaringReflecting on what really matters

BY MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN

No matter what faith traditions we come fromor celebrate—Ramadan, Christmas, or Hanuk-kah—this time of year is one of reflection onwhat really matters.

It’s wonderful to share special times and giftswith friends and family, but for many adults this holy season hasbeen commercialized and become defined by shopping for the“in” toys, clothes, and other material gifts we think our childrenwant. And while it’s fine to give children these things when wecan, we should never forget to give them the more importantgifts of ourselves—our time, attention, and family rituals—thatchildren need.

We also should be teaching them the importance of sharingwith others. Too many children are afflicted by physical poverty,but too many are afflicted with “affluenza”, the spiritual povertyof having too much that is worth too little. Perhaps this seasonwe can teach that the greatest gift is one of caring, sharing, andservice.

Let us commit to standing up and caring for the millions ofchildren in our midst who are destitute, homeless, and hungry,and threatened by violence in our rich, powerful nation today. Alaw enforcement officer is less likely to die from gun violencethan a child under 10. Nine children and teens die from gunviolence every day in our gun saturated nation.

Let’s care and call for justice for the over 15.5 million poorchildren, millions living in extreme poverty and with daily foodinsecurity. It is time for all of us to do better: to reset our nation’s

I Care And I Am Willing To ServeLord I cannot preach like Martin Luther King, Jr.or turn a poetic phrase like Maya Angeloubut I care and I am willing to serve.

I do not have Harriet Tubman’s courageor Franklin Roosevelt’s political skillsbut I care and I am willing to serve.

I cannot sing like Fannie Lou Hameror organize like Bayard Rustinbut I care and I am willing to serve.

I am not holy like Archbishop Desmond Tutu,forgiving like Nelson Mandela,or disciplined like Mahatma Gandhibut I care and I am willing to serve.

I am not brilliant like Elizabeth Cady Stanton,or as eloquent as Sojourner Truth

and Booker T. Washingtonbut I care and I am willing to serve.

I have not Mother Teresa’s saintliness,Dorothy Day’s love or Cesar Chavez’sgentle tough spiritbut I care and I am willing to serve.

God it is not as easy as it used to beto frame an issue and to forge a solutionbut I care and I am willing to serve.

I can’t see or hear well or speak good English,I stutter sometimes, am afraid of criticism,and get real scared standing up before othersbut I care and I am willing to serve.

I’m so youngnobody will listenI’m not sure what to say or dobut I care and I am willing to serve.

Use me as Thou will today and tomorrowto help build a nation and worldwhere no child is left behindand everyone feels welcome and justly treated.

moral and economic compass to protect and investin every child.

Let’s pray that we may commit to acting onGod’s call through the prophet Zechariah “to seethat justice is done, to show kindness and mercy to

one another, not to oppress widows, orphans,foreigners, who live among you or anyone else inneed” by joining together and serving and caring.

Marian Wright Edelman is president of theChildren’s Defense Fund.

America takes a step backwardSegregation Still ThrivesBY JUDGE GREG MATHIS

In the 1980s, America’sneighborhoods becamemore diverse as whites,blacks and other ethnicgroups began to live inclose proximity to one an-other. It was as if the ideals ofthe Civil Rights movement werefinally coming to life. Twenty orso years later, things havechanged…and not for the bet-ter. As far as integration goes,this country has taken a stepbackward.

Analysis of the most recentCensus data tells us that segre-gation is alive and well. In fact,

most people, regardlessof their ethnic group, livein neighborhoods thatare overwhelminglymade up of people wholook just like them.Blacks are the most seg-

regated minority group in thiscountry; more than 60-percentlive in majority black neighbor-hoods while only 48-percent ofHispanics and 45-percent ofAsians live in monolithic com-munities. The average whiteAmerican lives in neighborhoodthat is 74-percent white.

This isn’t the segregation ofthe 1960s, though some of the

deep seeded feelings and poli-cies that created that system stillaffect us all today. Rather, manyAmericans tend to self-segre-gate. It’s not as if blacks arefalling over themselves to live inall white communities. Our natu-ral tendency to ‘stick with ourown’, however, has its draw-backs. When racial groups areseparated; that division createsunfamiliarity with the beliefs andculture of others. This lack ofknowledge creates an environ-ment where stereotypes and ra-cial and ethnic bias thrive.

Additionally, segregatedneighborhoods lead to separate

but wholly unequal services. Forexample, in communities wherethe majority of the residents areminorities, there is less fundingavailable for schools. As a re-sult, our children receive sub-standard instruction. Indeed,middle class black children livingin majority black neighborhoodsare less prepared for collegethan lower income white chil-dren living in majority white com-munities.

Anyone who lives in – or hasvisited - Milwaukee, New Jer-sey, Detroit, Chicago and NewYork will not be surprised thatthese cities lead the nation in

segregation. The mayor’s ofthese metropolitan areas shouldform a task force and work to-gether, along with the federalgovernment, to address the divi-sions that segregation creates.

From purposefully creating di-verse, mixed-income neighbor-hoods to developing a schoolfinance system that equally fundseach child, there are numeroussteps cities can take to lessenthe negative impacts of racialsegregation.

Greg Mathis is a formerMichigan District Court judgeand current syndicated televi-sion show judge.


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OPINION

Padding Corporate Profit MarginsBiofuelindustry’s $6billion giftBY MARIE BRILL

Who needs $6 bil-lion? I do! Especiallyduring the holiday sea-son when I try to bal-ance my budget andever-growing Santawish lists.

I can also tell you who doesn'tneed $6 billion this year: big oiland gas conglomerates. They justgot a little extra via the VolumetricEthanol Excise Tax Credit. If youcan believe it, this tax credit -- oneof the best examples of wastefulspending out there -- was at-tached to the tax cut deal Presi-dent Obama negotiated with Re-publicans.

U.S. taxpayers will initially bearthis boondoggle's cost. Ultimately,the poorest people around theworld--and our planet itself--willpay the bigger price.

Once thought to be a promis-ing renewable fuel, evidence ismounting that corn ethanol andother basic biofuels are actuallyworse for the environment than

the fossil fuels they're supposedto replace. When you take intoconsideration the impact on theland and the deforestation that

results from biofuel-driven agriculture, yousee a rise in greenhousegases.

And, if the BP oil di-saster weren't enough,runoff from the fertiliz-ers used to grow biofuelcrops has contributed

to the "dead zones" along the GulfCoast. Hasn't the Gulf sufferedenough without another environ-mental threat?

Industrial biofuels aren't justbad for the earth. Biofuels, in-cluding corn ethanol, have con-tributed to the rollercoaster ridethat corn prices have been onover the past few years. Thisvolatility isn't good for anyone--neither for the independent corn-growing farmers in Iowa, nor forthe smallholder farmers inMozambique.

When food prices are too low,farmers can't afford to grow un-derpriced crops. When foodprices are too high, consumersgo hungry. The rapid growth ofbiofuels was a major contributingfactor to the 2008 global food

crisis that pushed 100 millionpeople into poverty and caused30 million to go hungry.

Even though prices went down,many are still feeling the impactof that price hike. Perhaps youknow someone who will have tofast, not feast, this holiday seasonbecause they lost their job andcan't afford the grocery bill. Inmany countries around the world,growing numbers of smallholderfarmers won't feast this seasonbecause they lost their land toindustrial biofuel farms in fla-grant land grabs. As a result, theycan no longer produce their ownfood nor afford to buy it.

Headlines in the FinancialTimes, The New York Times,and other publications point toanother food price crisis in 2011.And, experts at the InternationalFood Policy Research Institutewarn that food crises could soonbegin to occur more frequentlywithout changes in the global foodsystem. This information shouldcompel Congress to question theoutrageous federal biofuel targetsand re-evaluate the costs and ben-efits of converting food to fuel.

Instead, our lawmakers havehanded the biofuel industry a $6billion giveaway through the etha-

nol tax credit. Ethanol advocatesclaim this money supports jobgrowth, but this subsidy willbarely make a dent on our stub-bornly high unemployment rate.It may hardly even boost ethanolproduction.

The $6 billion cost is higherthan the savings from PresidentObama's two-year federal payfreeze. According to the Govern-ment Accountability Office, not apenny of this subsidy goes di-rectly to helping farmers. Thisindustry giveaway goes to gaso-line refiners who blend corn etha-nol into gasoline, but it will trickledown to pad agribusiness profitmargins at the expense ofAmerica's bottom line.

I have two kids, and my familyhad to make hard choices duringthis holiday season. I expect mymember of Congress to do thesame, and next year choose touse my taxpayer dollars for re-newable energy sources that ac-tually protect the planet withoutputting poor people at risk ofhunger.

Marie Brill is a senior policyanalyst at ActionAid USA, anagency that works around theworld to end poverty and injus-tice.


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Call for an appointment! (503) 228-6140

• Automobile accident injuries• Chronic headache and joint pain• Workers Compensation injuries

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THE LAW OFFICES OF

Patrick John Sweeney, P.C.

Patrick John SweeneyAttorney at Law

1549 SE LaddPortland, Oregon

Portland: (503) 491-5156Hillsoboro: (503) 615-0425Facsimile: (503) 244-2084Email: [email protected]

Incredible Talents to be MissedNotable and celebritydeaths of 2010Teddy Pendergrass, 59. R&Bsinger who was one of the mostsuccessful figures in music untila car crash left him in a wheel-chair. Jan. 13. Colon cancer.

Bruce Llewellyn, 82. Became one of the country'smost successful black businessmen in retailing, bot-tling and media. April 7.

Benjamin L. Hooks, 85. An attor-ney and pastor who became theSouth's first black state trial courtjudge since Reconstruction andthen led the flagging NAACP in astrong rebound. April 15.

Guru (Keith Elam), 48. Influential rapper known forintellectual themes, a monotone delivery and his com-bination of jazz sounds with hip-hop beats. April 19.Cancer.

Dorothy Height, 98. The lead-ing female voice of the 1960scivil rights movement and akey participant in historicmarches with Dr. MartinLuther King Jr. April 20.

Lena Horne, 92. Jazz singer known for signature song"Stormy Weather" and for her triumph over bigotrythat allowed her to entertain white audiences but notsocialize with them. May 9.

Hank Jones, 91. Jazz pianist and composer who played

with some of the biggest names in American jazzincluding singer Ella Fitzgerald. May 16.

Gary Coleman, 42. Ador-able, pint-sized child star ofthe 1970s TV sitcom"Diff'rent Strokes" whospent the rest of his lifestruggling on Hollywood'sD-list. May 28. Brain hemor-rhage.

Ali-Ollie Woodson, 58. Led the Motown quintet theTemptations in the 1980s and '90s; helped restore themto some of their hit-making glory. May 30. Cancer.

Garry Shider, 56.Longtime musical di-rector of Parliament-Funkadelic whosefunky guitar work,songwriting skills andmusical arrangementsthrilled fans and earned

him a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. June 16.

Manute Bol, 47. Lithe 7-foot-7 shot-blocker from Sudan who spent 10seasons in the NBA and was dedi-cated to humanitarian work in Africa.June 19.

Vernon Baker, 90. Belatedly received Medal of Honorfor World War II valor after being denied the awardbecause he was black. July 13.

Jefferson Thomas, 67. One of nineblack students to integrate a LittleRock high school in American's firstmajor battle over school segregation.Sept. 5. Pancreatic cancer.

Albertina Walker, 81. Grammy-winning singer fromChicago known as the "Queen of Gospel." Oct. 8.

James Moody, 85. Jazz saxophonistwho recorded more than 50 solo al-bums as well as songs with the likes ofDizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, LionelHampton and B.B. King. Dec. 9. Pan-creatic cancer.

CALENDAR 2010JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary


SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

DecemberDecemberDecemberDecemberDecember CALENDAR 2010

26 27 28Bubble Bath DayKwanzaa

Eat to your heart's content today

29 30 31New Year EveFace Pack DaySpread Happiness

TodayImpress others today

JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary CALENDAR 2010

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

New Year’s Day

Japanese New Year

Let's Go On a LongDrive Today

Show You Can Epiphany

Keep Your City Clean

Sketch somethingtoday

Set Your Goal Today

Paint Your RoomToday

Self Grooming Day Feel Great Today Confess Your LoveTo Someone

Doing Nothing Makar Sankranti

Pongal

Give HappinessToday

Women In Skirt Day Martin LutherKing Day

Wildlife Week

Fun At Home Today

Blind Date Today Speak Up Today Sit Close To MeToday

Kiss YourSweetheart/LoveToday

Listen to me Darling

Love To Be with You

23 24 25 26 27 28 29I’m always there foryou

Indian Republic Day

Australia Day

Spouse Day

Tell Someone YouLike Him/Her Day

Friendship Kiss

23 24WorldLeprosy Day

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY


FOOD

Crab PuffsIngredients:• 2 ounce(s) (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter• 1/4 cup(s) minced shallot (from 2 shallots)• 1/4 cup(s) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour• 1 1/2 cup(s) whole milk• 4 ounce(s) lump crabmeat• 1 ounce(s) (1/3 cup) Parmesan cheese, grated• 1 tablespoon(s) minced fresh flat-leaf parsley plus 1/4cup whole leaves, for garnish• 1/2 teaspoon(s) finely grated lemon zest• Cayenne pepper• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper• 3 large eggs• 1 1/2 cup(s) fresh breadcrumbs• Vegetable oil, for frying• 2 tablespoon(s) large brine-packed capers, rinsed anddried, for garnish

Directions:1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.Add shallots, and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Addflour, and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Addmilk in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly, untilmixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook,whisking often, until mixture has thickened, about 3minutes.

2. Add crabmeat, Parmesan, minced parsley, lemon zest,and a pinch of cayenne. Remove from heat, and stir untilcombined. Season with salt and pepper. Spread mixtureon a rimmed baking sheet, and let cool completely.(Cooled mixture can be covered and refrigerated for upto 1 day.)

3. Set a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Whiskeggs in a shallow dish. Place breadcrumbs in anothershallow dish. Shape cooled crabmeat mixture into 1-inchballs. Working with 1 ball at a time, coat in beaten egg,then in breadcrumbs. Transfer to rack. Repeat withremaining balls. Let stand, uncovered, at room tempera-ture for 30 minutes.

4. Heat 4 inches of oil in a large, heavy pot until it reaches375 degrees. Working in batches, fry crab balls, turningonce, until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. (Adjust heatas necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.) Usinga wire-mesh skimmer, transfer crab puffs to paper towelsto drain, and immediately season with salt.

5. Reduce heat until oil reaches 350. Fry capers for 1minute, and using a wire-mesh skimmer, transfer to papertowels to drain. Fry parsley leaves for 1 minute, and usinga wire-mesh skimmer, transfer to paper towels to drain.(The capers and parsley may cause the hot oil to spatterwhen added to the pot.) Sprinkle puffs with capers andparsley. Serve warm.

PO December 29, 2010

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