Learn how the new ‘Lents/Powellhurst-Gilbert RideAbout’ service improves the quality of life for those who can’t drive …

With the help of East Portland Chamber of Commerce members Richard Kiely of Home Run Graphics, Rich Sorem of Stewart & Tunno Insurance Agency Inc., and Ed Bejarana of Znith Exhibits, RideAbout patron Willie Hall cuts the ribbon to dedicate the service.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
There’s a new way for older folks and the disabled to get around in outer East Portland. It’s called the “Lents/Powellhurst-Gilbert RideAbout”.

“We surveyed the community and found that there is a need for shuttles to take people who can’t drive out for shopping or medical appointments, and other areas,” explained James Uyeda, development manager at Ride Connection. “These individuals can’t always get a ride with friends or relatives; we fill in gaps to help them get where they want to go.”

Standing next to one of the new Lents/Powellhurst-Gilbert RideAbout busses, Ride Connection’s James Uyeda says the new service provides more benefits than simply getting a lift.

Ride Connection, Uyeda told us, provides transportation options, resources, and services for older adults and people with disabilities in the Tri-County area. “We work with 30 community service partners, including Metropolitan Family Services. We’re here at Eastport Plaza to kick off the new mid-Multnomah County services with one of three of our shuttles.”

Service beyond TriMet
Although TriMet gives rides to individuals who qualify for ADA para-transit services, Uyeda said anyone who’s 60 years of age or older, or anyone with a temporary or permanent disability, can call the new ride service center and get the transportation they need.

Beyond getting a ride, we asked if the service provides other benefits.

“This new services gives people the ability to come and go as they please,” replied Uyeda. “It gives them a sense of independence. Recent studies have shown that having access to reliable transportation for older adults helps them be able to remain in their homes. It gives them the ability to go out and feel part of the community.”

Metropolitan Family Services’ Krista Larson says the service helps “make connections” in addition to providing transit.

Service adds richness to lives
At the September 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony, Krista Larson, representing Metropolitan Family Services, told those attending, “Our mission is to strengthen families and individuals, while connecting them in the community. But equally important, is the connections which the service makes.

“The first person who got off the bus today, when it rolled up, was an old friend of mine. That kind of connection shows us how important the service is. We see it as a win-win situation; it provides richness to all of our lives.”

Opening this ride service will provide 30,000 rides next year. “This is the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in providing for the community’s needs,” Larson added. “We look forward to serving members in this community.”

Mark Morley, also with Metropolitan Family Services, says the service offers both bus, and private car transportation.

Volunteers facilitate many rides
At the event, Mark Morley, a program coordinator with Metropolitan Family Services, told us that the service they provide is twofold.

“First, we have three buses that will operate in outer East Portland,” described Morley. “And, there’s also a component in which individuals take others to destinations in their private vehicles.”

Last year, Morley added, volunteers provided over half of the hours logged, either driving service-owned vehicles or their own individual vehicles. “Volunteers are a critical part of the service.”

Looking on is Betty Vasser; she’s both a client and a volunteer with Metropolitan Family Services Ride Connection.

Looking forward to new ‘school bus’ ride
“I’m so thrilled!” exclaimed Betty Vasser who is both a client and a volunteer with Metropolitan Family Services Ride Connection.

“It’s really a great thing for older folks. In addition to shopping and medical appointments, when I go back to school, in the middle of October, I’ll be riding on Ride Connection.”

There is no charge for the RideAbout circulator shuttle, but donations are an important part of the transportation program, and are encouraged.  Drivers are happy to help with assistance through the door and carrying of shopping bags, at their own discretion.

To request a trip on the Lents/Powellhurst-Gilbert RideAbout, or with the greater Mid-Multnomah County U-Ride, customers can call the Ride Connection Service Center at 503-226-0700 to speak with a Travel Navigator.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Who helped ROSE Community Development provide more good housing to SE Portland residents this year? Find out – and learn what our newest Portland City Commissioner, Nick Fish, had to say about Portland housing at this event …

Amie Diffenauer and Sherrena Torrence welcome guests to the ROSE Community Development Corporation Annual Breakfast.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Benefactors of ROSE Community Development Corporation celebrated their 16 years of “Revitalizing Outer South East” at their annual meeting at OMSI on September 25.

The event’s master of ceremonies, Steve Truesdale, sets the stage for the event.

The event’s master of ceremonies, Steve Truesdale, put the mission of the organization well, telling the group of about 200 guests, “ROSE is dedicated to providing good places for families to live. Each home, each project improves the surrounding community as a whole.”

“These are tough times for everybody,” said ROSE Executive Director Nick Sauvie. “But they’re particularly tough for many the people who live in our neighborhoods – including many seniors, people with disabilities, and people who’ve lost their jobs recently. These are people who need ROSE the most, and we’re here to serve them.”

ROSE executive director, Nick Sauvie, reminds the assembled guests of their organization’s humble beginnings.

Sauvie reminded guests that, “Beginning with the acquisition of a single house, ROSE has used housing improvement as a strategy to jump-start community revitalization. To date, ROSE has produced an inventory of over 300 rental and homeownership units.”

The keynote speaker at the event, Portland City Commissioner, and the City’s future Housing Commissioner, Nick Fish, says housing for the most vulnerable citizens is his top priority.

Commissioner Fish commends ROSE
“I’m so pleased to join you today, to support Rose CDC,” began the morning’s keynote speaker, Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish. “At Portland City Hall, we think very highly of ROSE, and consider you to be a critical partner and our role of housing priorities.”

Fish began by telling how, when arriving at his first major fire scene as Portland’s Fire Commissioner, he was humbled when the fire chief recommended that he turn his fire helmet around. “Circumstances like this help one keep a sense of perspective,” he quipped.

“ROSE has gone beyond bricks and mortar revitalization,” Fish continued. “You understand you must be community developers; your projects include child care, community safety, and educational programs. These are all programs that ROSE pioneered which substantially increase the vitality of neighborhoods and the quality of life for the neighbors.”

Commissioner Fish says he’ll make a “blueprint” that addresses housing issues in Portland.

Fish outlines City housing priorities
As the Rose City’s new Housing Commissioner, Fish decried the fact that 31% of the budget of Housing and Community Development consists of one-time only, general-fund money. “This fund totals almost $12 million, and invests in the very heart of what we care about: Rent assistance, affordable housing, preservation, and emergency shelter programs. Having these programs funded with one-time-only money, especially in a time of economic downturn and uncertainty, puts these programs at risk.

“I ask everyone in this room [to help me] make the case to my colleagues that we should not balance the [City’s 2008-2009] budget on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Fish said that Mayor-elect Sam Adams asked him to develop a “blueprint” for housing. “I’ll be working on that plan, and presenting it to him in November. We’ll be looking at some of the existing policies of our city, and the reaffirming them. This includes the 10-year-plan to end homelessness.”

Invokes the political spirit of Gretchen Kafoury
As the City’s new Housing Commissioner, Fish he intends to “provoke a very rich discussion with the City Council and the community, to set a new direction for housing policies. Since the days of [Commissioner] Gretchen Kafoury, we’ve had strong political leadership on housing that has kept us in the forefront of national efforts to end homelessness and build affordable housing.

“As I stand before you today, I make this commitment: I will provide the same vigorous leadership that Gretchen did. I will make affordable housing my priority in the city.”

Fish pitches his “11 x 13 Campaign” to shore up housing programs,

Appeals for support on three projects
Noting that federal subsidies will expire on eleven properties between now and 2013, Fish proclaimed an initiative he called the “11 x 13 Campaign” to shore up housing programs on a long term basis.

Next, regarding the City’s “Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness”, Fish said “We are very close to finalizing agreements for the Resource Access Center, in Old Town/Chinatown, which is scheduled to open in 2010. This project is a critical cornerstone to our commitment to ending homelessness.”

Finally, he asked for support for the “Bridges to Housing” program. “We do a great job with single adults, in terms of our 10 year plan. But we need to do better dealing with families in crisis. I will continue to support this innovative regional effort to house and support homeless families.”

Taking control of local issues
No one in the room can solve the problems on Wall Street, noted Fish, adding, “At times like this, though, it is most important to look to our own backyards and take care of the issues we can control. By working together, we can help end homelessness, help make sure people have a decent place to live, and help families at risk.”

ROSE Partners honored

ROSE executive director, Nick Sauvie watches as Robert Mosier of William Wilson Architects accepts the Business Partner award presented by Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish and event MC Steve Truesdale.

Leading off the Rose Community Awards was their Business Partner Award, presented to William Wilson Architects, accepted by Robert Mosier, the project architect for ROSE’s Leander Court.

“We’re here because we believe in what ROSE Community development is her community,” Mosier told the group. “We believe that providing affordable housing and services helps make the entire community stronger.”

Executive program officer Libby Lescalleet, accepts the ROSE Community Partner Award presented to Wattles Boys & Girls Club by Commissioner Fish.

Community Partner Award went to Wattles Boys & Girls Club; accepted by executive program officer Libby Lescalleet.

“Six years ago, we brought supporters from Lents and Darlington-Brentwood neighborhoods together under a ‘Weed & Seed’ program,” Lescalleet said. “One of the programs is ongoing: ‘Shop with a Cop’ – it has spawned many other programs to help us build community.”

Troy Wilkerson of EXIT Realty is presented with the Outstanding Community Leader award by Nick Fish.

Their Outstanding Community Leader Award was presented to Troy Wilkerson with EXIT Realty for being a leader in the Lents Homeownership Initiative and for helping educate SE Portland residents about homeownership opportunities. “It’s a wonderful experience helping families move into homes. The smiles on their faces are priceless.

ROSE Volunteer of the Year award is given to Leander Court resident, Paula Hernandez by Housing Commissioner Nick Fish.

Leander Court resident Paula Hernandez was named ROSE Volunteer of the Year. Through an interpreter, she said, “On behalf of my family and myself, I thank you. To everybody and Rose, and all of you, I encourage you to keep helping Rose CDC.  Thank you.”

Kat Hand, tells why she appreciates ROSE helping her – and her family – move into a home.

ROSE homeowner tells of her ‘dream come true’
“As a mother of four daughters, until seven years ago I never dreamed that I’d be able to own my own home,” testified Kat hand. “My childcare provider mentioned to ROSE and the Shared Appreciation Loan Program.”

“Having the stability of homeownership is given by children something they’ve never had before. My family and I have become a part of the community. I’ve worked with my neighbors to help increase the livability of my neighborhood.”

Metro commissioner Robert Liberty says he’s attending because “I care a lot about our housing choices across the region.  ROSE is playing a solid role in community development; it’s very heartening to see, especially in such uncertain times.”

Contributing to a more stable community
Concluding the meeting, Truesdale asked guests to contribute to organization.

Paul Ellison with Bank of the West, looked up as he was filling out his donation envelope and said, “Having worked in Southeast Portland for 20 of my 30 years in banking, I see the need here every day. ROSE does an excellent job of helping people get in the homeownership, making for a more stable community, reduced crime and increased livability.”

After the meeting, ROSE executive director, Nick Sauvie and Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish congratulate ROSE Community Award winners Robert Mosier, Libby Lescalleet, Troy Wilkerson and Paula Hernandez.

For more information about ROSE Community Development Corporation – and the great programs they sponsor or host – or to donate to their causes – call 503-788-8052 or check their web site by CLICKING HERE.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Part I: Learn what a prostitution-fighting expert told neighbors at the “Take Back 82nd Avenue” Town Hall meeting. And, find out why the evening’s second keynote speaker, a reformed prostitute, was visibly angry about a leaflet handed out at the meeting …

Justin Cutler, Montavilla Neighborhood Association vice chair welcomes neighbors to the second “Take Back 82nd Avenue” Town Hall meeting, held at the Portland Community College SE Center.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Neighbors continued their discussion about reducing prostitution along 82nd Avenue of Roses at another “Take Back 82nd Avenue” Town Hall meeting, this time held at Portland Community College SE Center, on October 7.

Speaking to about 150 citizens gathered in the college’s atrium, Montavilla Neighborhood Association Vice Chair Justin Cutler started by thanking neighbors, organization leaders, and officials, for coming to the meeting.

A two-part meeting
Cutler told the assemblage that the evening would consist of two parts: two keynote speakers, followed by breakout group discussions.

Before introducing the first speaker, Cutler quoted a passage from author Jon Winthrop, “I call upon you all to enter into community in the midst of our present peril.” He added, “I ask of you to transcend any differences that arise and look to the future hope of what 82nd Avenue could become. It is in the spirit of unity that we offer two presenters tonight.”

Anti-prostitution crusader introduced
Cutler said the first speaker, Dr. Melissa Farley, has practiced as a clinical psychologist for 40 years, consults with government, and advocates for prostituted and trafficked women.

“Dr. Farley has articulated the harms of prostitution, pornography, and trafficking, as an expert witness in forensic evaluations,” Cutler’s introduction continued. “She has been categorized as a legal expert on the affects of sexual violence against women and children, post traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, prostitution, and trafficking. She spends her time at working with the San Francisco-based nonprofit organization ‘Prostitution Research & Education’.” To see Farley’s web site, CLICK HERE.

Clinical psychologist and advocate for prostituted and trafficked women, Dr. Melissa Farley, says she decries all forms of prostitution.

Says prostitution puts all women and children at risk
“The response of the commitment to fight prostitution along 82nd Avenue is encouraging to me,” Farley began. “It is painful and frightening to know that, once there is a culture of prostitution in the community, any female is a target of pimps and johns. The most vulnerable are the poor. But once johns and pimps get a foothold in the area, all women and children are at risk.

“The safety to the women and children who are not prostituting are put at risk by those women who are pimped out or are working at dance clubs.”

Rape higher where sex-for-money is legal
Farley said studies show that municipalities that have legalized prostitution have become more dangerous places for women.

“Nevada though it could provide prostitution and increase public safety,” she said. “But Nevada’s women are raped at twice the rate in New York and three times the rate of Los Angeles. The reason, according to the Rape Crisis Center is that men think they can get it away [with rape in Nevada] because prostitution is legal.”

In the United Kingdom, Farley continued, where “strip clubs” have been legalized during the last four years; the number of rapes has doubled

In Amsterdam, officials closed a number of legal prostitution zones. “Legal prostitution did not reduce crime as they hoped it could. Crime has increased; women are no safer.”

Decries all forms of prostitution
Street sex for sale along 82nd Avenue is merely the “tip of the iceberg”, Farley stated. “Internet sites like CraigsList.com, and Eros.com and other ‘social networking sites’ are used by pimps to sell women for sex.”

Holding up a copy of a full-color magazine, EROTIC, Farley added, “Here in Portland, you have the premiere magazine copy of its kind. Pimps are advertising nationwide for women to ‘come work in Portland’.”

A good deal of trafficking in the sex trade, she declared, takes place at “gentlemen’s clubs” – “Plainly put, strip clubs. And, there is a greater number of strip clubs in Portland than other cities. At strip clubs johns get drunk, and sexually exploit and harass women. Prostitution takes place in back rooms – or VIP rooms as they’re called – not in neighborhoods. ‘Lap dances’ are part of the range of sexual gratification offered for sale.”

Strip club “circuits”, Farley went on, are controlled by pimps, crime families, and Mexican and Russian gangs linked to prostitution.

Dr. Farley holds up a Portland-based magazine she says promotes prostitution “off the avenue”.

Sex industry flourishes in silence, complicity
She asserted that prostitution prospers only when there is the silence of a community. “The community becomes ‘corrupt guardians’. The sex industry, the size to which it has grown in Portland, can only exist because of the complicity of businessmen, restaurant owners, politicians, and some police officials. Organized criminals who own and zone strip clubs are able to buy off zoning decision s from politicians.”

Farley said a Portland police officer told her, “Look around, you can get anything you want. Porn, lingerie modeling, nude dancing – sex is just a step further away.”

The expert said that pimps present themselves as business people who engage attorneys to check with City Hall to find out how and where they could zone clubs. “Which politicians’ campaigns are financed by strip club dollars? Think about this question.”

If one looked, Farley postulated, they’d find the same “dummy corporations” that bill john’s credit cards also contribute to politicians and political campaigns. “I’d certainly look for connections here.”

Four approaches
Farley said there are four approaches to dealing with prostitution:

• Criminalized – Everyone involved in prostitution is arrested. “How well is that working here?”
• Legalized – It is zoned, taxed, or tolerated. “Women are at higher risk of rape where this is the case.”
• Decriminalized – Remove all laws regarding the sex trade; including to those that apply to pimps and traffickers. “This approach doesn’t work for anyone’s benefit other than the pimps.”
• Abolished – “This is a human rights proposition that works to eliminate prostitution. It considers prostitution to be a harmful problem; and works to stop it, not ‘put a band aid’ on it. Prostitutes are decriminalized; johns and pimps are treated as felons. It is a felony in Sweden to buy and sell sex.”

Advocates for services
“There must be services to help all prostituted persons to get out,” Farley advocated. “The top 2% of prostitutes have options. The bottom 98 % does not have options – they want out, and want the support of the community to get out.”

As the economy worsens and recession deepens, prostitution will get worse, Farley warned.

“Shall we permit pimps and traffickers money to hide the sexual harassment, rape and battering of women and children?” Farley asked rhetorically. “Shall they be treated as a lower class, to service men?”

Answering her questions, she concluded, “No. No one should be sold for sex. It’s time to end the commercial sexual abuse of women and children. Please set an example for the rest of us.”

Cutler and Farley welcome self-proclaimed prostitution survivor Jeri Sundvail-Williams to the Town Hall podium.

Ex-prostitute steamed about leaflet
Cutler next introduced Jeri Sundvail-Williams, saying “She is a survivor of prostitution and has been a community activist in Portland for the last 14 years. She is currently the program manager for the City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s Diversity and Civic Leadership projects.”

Williams wasn’t smiling as she took the podium; she appeared to be angry.

“As a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder survivor – even after 20 years, this yellow sheet, [carrying a message that] supports pimps, triggers me to this day.” Williams said, referring to a half-sheet of yellow paper distributed the meeting entitled “‘Reducing the Demand Side’ Harms Women” allegedly distributed by “The 82nd Cares Coalition”. (Excerpts follow at the end of this article.)

“It really pisses me off that I could be so upset by misinformation [the leaflet] spreads,” Williams said. “It says that prostitution is a business; that it’s OK. Well, that’s a nice philosophy. But, I’m shaking as I speak; it feels like the abuse all over again. To think that they [who brought the flyer] can sit in audience and giggle about this. I had a speech prepared, but I’ll just tell you my story instead.”

Sundvail-Williams says the leaflet distributed triggers her anger at having been prostituted.

Williams’ story
“I am a self proclaimed prostitution survivor,” related Williams. “I just lived through it; I walked 82nd Avenue. I sold my body for money. I was ‘jumped into’ the Crips gang by ten guys.

“I did drugs eventually. I didn’t do drugs as a habit, but because I couldn’t deal with my life. I was beaten and cavity-checked by my pimp each day. I had two kids at the time who were ‘taken care of’ by my pimp’s girlfriend when I was working.

“There is nothing glamorous about it. There’s nothing glamorous about having sex with weird, filthy, disgusting men. There’s nothing glamorous about having a john steal your money, stab you in the neck, and leave you for dead. But, by the grace of God, I’m alive today.”

Escapes ‘the life’
Williams told how, when she escaped to a women’s shelter, she had difficulty “functioning as a a human being”.

“The only job I could get was in a motel. I thought to myself, ‘I used to lie on the beds, now I’m making beds’. I got my education on the streets – even though I taught at Portland State. I became an organizer for social causes.”

Sundvail-Williams says violence shouldn’t allowed in any community.

Calls for investment in people
Looking over the audience, Williams continued, “I love the neighbors here, but I still hate this street. I hate it.”

Referring to the yellow leaflet, Williams said, “This is what I lived. You cannot challenge me on this. You can’t challenge the knife what went into my neck that night. You cannot challenge that women are being forced to work on the street tonight. People and children who get trafficked are having violence done to them. No one should allow violence in their community.

“My goal is to make investment in people. We have a responsibility as neighbors to care about each other and make sure we’re safe. Elect people who will do a better job for us.”

’82nd Cares Coalition’ flyer text

“Some Portlanders are concerned about prostitution on our streets and are pushing for the strategy of ‘reducing the demand side’ of prostitution. It means that, instead of going after people engaging in prostitution to make ends meet, criminal justice system would be instructed to pursue Johns (clients) who purchase sexual services from them.

“The appeal of this approach is obvious: many people understand that women who trade sex for money do so under dire economic and personal circumstances, and feel it would be unfair to punish them for their predicament. On the other hand to people feel any sympathy toward johns: in fact, some may find it deeply satisfying emotionally to punish them severely.

“However, we must seriously consider the full implications of such policy if we are truly concerned about the women who would have to compete for declining demand for their services.  We believe, that while the approach to “reduce the demand side” is far preferable to punishing the women for their poverty and lack of options, it is nonetheless harmful to the safety and health of the women who work on our streets.”

The flyer presents these arguments:

• Due to a smaller pool of customers, it would force prostitutes to perform more acts for less money.
• It would reduce their bargaining power that is forcing them to engage in less safe practices simply to stay competitive.
• It would force prostitution into less safe areas; no would be around to help them when they call for help.
• Finally, it would drive out those men who are relatively rational and sensitive to risks, while the reckless and/or impulsive types would remain.

“In short reducing the demand side is harmful to women because it diminishes their bargaining power, forcing them to do more for less money, with more dangerous Johns, in a less safe environment. We cannot criminalize our way out of the current situation — we must address the social and economic concerned with solutions that achieve social and economic justice. We can begin by finding affordable housing, child care, treatment programs on-demand (instead of many months waiting list), and education and job training programs, instead of more jail beds and police cars.”

Next: The Community Responds
Read Part 2 of this report and learn how the City’s “new” anti-prostitution measures will work, according assistant district attorneys – plus, the citizen responses from the breakout groups.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

You can’t affect the plans of politicians in Washington DC – but you can decide who will take Lisa Naito’s Position #3 on the Board of Multnomah County Commissioners. Get to know the candidates better before you vote …

To get the meeting going, the Gateway Area Business Association’s “Rubber Chicken Award” is presented to Javier Gutierrez; manager of Midland Regional Library – the new home of the organization’s monthly meetings by the group’s president, Alan Sanchez.

Story by Watford Reed; photos by David F. Ashton
With the closure of JJ North’s Buffet, the site of their monthly meetings for years, the Gateway Area Business Association (GABA) has moved to Midland Regional Library for its October meeting.

The central topic of this month’s meeting was the race for Multnomah County Commissioner, Position #3, now held by Lisa Naito.

About 50 business people and neighbors came to hear the Candidate’s Forum presenting Mike Delman and Judy Shiprack

“This race is important,” observed moderator David F. Ashton, “Because the successful candidate will have a direct voice in administrating a $1.2 Billion dollar budget – derived from your tax dollars. And, with this responsibility, him or her will be paid $82,000 per year, plus benefits, for their services.”

With that, Ashton invited Mike Delman and Judy Shiprack to the front of the room, and asked each to say why they were running for the office.

Note: Rather than characterize the candidates’ responses, we present truncated full-text quotes so you may get to know them — in their own words.

Multnomah County Commissioner, Position #3 candidate Mike Delman.

Introducing Mike Delman
“Our county government is struggling to pay its bills, deliver services, and connect with the private sector and citizens,” Delman began. “The policies and programs undertaken by the county make a difference in all of our lives. I am running for Multnomah County Commissioner because my heart and soul is in this County, and I have the experience to make a difference.”

Delman outlined his service in the public sector as chief of staff to former Commissioner Gary Hansen, the executive assistant to the Multnomah County Sheriff, work with the Multnomah County Department of Aging and Disability services. He currently serves as the public affairs director for Portland Habilitation Center, a non-profit that trains and employs the disabled.

“I have seen first-hand how the county operates, and how it can run efficiently and effectively.”

Multnomah County Commissioner, Position #3 candidate Judy Shiprack.

Introducing Judy Shiprack
“I’m the candidate with real experience,” challenged Shiprack, as she outlined her vocational background as a teacher, deputy district attorney, and member of the Oregon State House of Representatives for three terms.

“I’ve been in charge of housing development for over 200 families and low income people. I have real experience, and have obtained real results. I understand problem-solving,” Shiprack said.

As a state representative, Shiprack said, “I created real programs; this is different from being a staff person. This is having a vote, and being in charge of advocating for programs that need to get support in order to pass.”

If elected to the County Commission, she said her priority is “investing in children; being smart about public safety, and getting our fair share of the taxes which we pay to Salem returned, to take care of services here in our community.”

Questions and Answers

Four questions were put to the two candidates; each had the opportunity to respond.

Q Many feel the board of Multnomah County Commissioners still carries the stigma of being back-room dealing, back-biting politicians; especially because some of these meetings appear to have broken “open-meeting” laws and these illegal meeting activities were never prosecuted. What will you do to make sure that the business of the County is conducted in the sunshine of openness and transparency?

A: Shiprack
“Was that a two-minute question?” Shiprack quipped. “The public meetings law is there for an important reason.  They’re important to me as a voter and a taxpayer. They will be important to me as a member of the Board of County commissioners.”

Shiprack paused giving her answer to make the aside that, in a six-candidate primary, she garnered 37% of the votes.

“The voters respect the fact that I am open; that I have conducted my businesses with high ethical standard, and I have been responsive to voters.  That is my record of achievement. I stand on that record. The conduct of public business in the full light of public scrutiny is very important to me. I will be an advocate for the continuation of that practice. And of course, as an officer of the court, they’ll be responsible and continue to be responsible to make sure that the light shines in our process.

Candidate Mike Delman.

A: Delman
“I’ve talked about independent verification for contracts and financial projects since I entered this race. I believe in further transparency. I will strongly work to enforce the existing statues to prevent decisions from being made behind closed doors; not before a public body.”

Turning to Shiprack, Delman added, “During this campaign, I have yet to hear my opponent comment on the actions of two of the [Multnomah County] commissioners considered responsible for allegedly breaking those public meeting laws.”

Q Politicians tell us of their lofty ideals. Instead, tell us the most important issues — ones that are actually under the control of the county — on which you’ll focus your efforts.

A: Delman
“I’ll focus my efforts on reopening a health clinic in the southeast quadrant of Multnomah County. There was a clinic at SE 33rd and Powell until three years ago. I’ve put forward a tangible plan inviting the Portland Adventist or Province Medical Center to partner with the county to open a health clinic to serve up to 2,500 people who are underserved. The incentive for them will be the reduction of uninsured clients coming in for emergency care.  Emergency care costs a lot more than primary care.

“I will examine the $57 million in [the County’s] general fund that goes to contracts. Auditors say as many as 58 contracts were turned in without any approval. I look to separate monitoring and evaluation from administering the contracts.

“I’ll look at getting the County out of its motor pool and vehicle maintenance business. The City of Portland has outsourced this for two years, and saved money.

“I will join [Multnomah County Commissioner] Jeff Cogan’s effort to get a voice with the Portland Development Commission to wisely use Urban Renewal dollars and tax increment financing dollars to promote family wage jobs all over District 3 – more than in the Gateway and Lents area alone.

“And, I would also work to open Wapato Jail through a partnership with the State of Oregon, and local government partners. I think it’s likely that one of the ballot measures [providing for mandatory sentences for property crimes] will pass, and that will give us the opening to open those first 150 beds which are the most expensive to the economy of scale.”

Candidate Judy Shiprack.

A: Shiprack
“I want to go back and say to invest in children; instead of moving public safety expenditures into what I like to call the shallow end of the pool. I know that investing in kids fights crime. We have two programs right now, Early Childhood Head Start and a targeted Visiting Nurse program. These are both evidence-based programs. They’ve been scientifically shown to prevent criminal behavior both in juveniles and in future adults. That’ll be one of my priorities – investing in kids.

“‘Smart public safety’ means that we need to invest more in addiction treatment. Over 80% of the people who are booked into the Multnomah County jails are alcohol or drug affected. We know that addiction treatment works. We know that when we release people from our jails back into our community, and they haven’t had any drug addiction treatment, they’re going to come back [into jail], because their property crimes are driven by their addiction. I want to have programs that divert mentally ill people from expensive jail beds.

“Right now, we know that 13% of the people who are incarcerated have a serious mental illness. Police are not equipped to diagnose mental illness, nor are emergency room treatment or booking room personnel. I will support a triage center so we can divert mentally ill people from our jails.

“I’m also going to support getting fair tax treatment — which means going to Salem — to go in for local option taxes.”

Q On your list of priorities, where falls “protecting citizens by incarcerating criminals, fully funding other Sheriff’s Office programs and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office” – and  why?

A: Shiprack
“I totally agree with [Multnomah County] Chair Wheeler that he did a wonderful job of establishing priorities for the county in light of an $18 million shortfall. Multnomah County, unlike the federal government, doesn’t print its own money. And we’re glad we don’t. What Chair Wheeler did with his budget process was that he drew a protective circle around services that Multnomah County provides to the most vulnerable of our services. By doing that, he defined what I was talking about as the ‘shallow end of the pool’.

“I was a deputy district attorney, and I understand how important is to fund programs in the attorney office.  In particular, child support enforcement programs in the district attorney’s office, get very little attention. But as we know, child support, and taking care of children, is one of the ways we invest in children and prevent crime in the future.

“Until the sheriff’s office has made real inroads on the recommendations that were made in the post-factors study, to limit the abuse of overtime – to limit the abusive behavior and abusive standards that were going on with the supervision of people in our jails – we should look with a very skeptical eye at increasing funding. We should ask the sheriff’s office to live within its means.”

A: Delman
“The county has cut budgets for eight straight years. I had three main priorities to maximize use of funding. Those are: Public safety, health care and the School Programs.

“After trying to protect funding for those three areas, I believe we have to look at a new paradigm rather than ‘thinning down the soup’. I am pleased that I have earned the support of Sheriff Bob Skipper, Senior Deputy Norm Frank, and the Multnomah County corrections officers Association for my stance on public safety.

“My opponent and I differ on the use of a Wapato Jail.  I have supported [Multnomah County District Attorney] Mike Shrunk’s plan for the use of ‘hard’ beds and treatment beds. I don’t believe treatment is a panacea for everything. Frankly, our economy is not bottomed out. We need to have ‘hard beds’ for those who are found guilty and need to be detained – as well as treatment beds.  I think we can open Wapato, but it still needs to be looked at with higher jail beds as well as treatment jail beds.

Q What do you see as the main difference between you and your opponent in this race — and why should we care?

A: Delman
“I have the best experience needed to make a difference on the Board of County commissioners. I’ve assisted in balancing eight county budgets during the 1990s. I have strong relations in the private sector, public sector and in the nonprofit sectors needed to open up our decision-making process.

“You should care because the county has a $1.2 billion budget. No one respects ‘other people’s money’ more than I do. I will be the watchdog to make sure that your tax dollars are put to their highest and best use.

“There’s a clear difference between my opponent and I, when it comes to fiscal responsibility. One, I would never put myself, my family, and my organization, at risk in a speculative project that could lose a lot of money.  This is especially if I was not confident of success. If I did, I would spend the rest of my life trying to make up and repay those tax dollars. I wouldn’t go to the newspaper editorial boards and tell them that this makes me a better candidate.

“The difference between my opponent and I is the $1.8 million loss which she has said, ‘is a good use of public funds’ to subsidize 60 units of housing that sold for $140,000-$469,000 in 2001.

“I’d rather spend a $1.8 million on 57 jail beds, five deputy D.A.’s, two health clinics to serve up to 5000 who are uninsured, or 21 School Programs.

“There is a clear choice here.  If you want the status quo, support my opponent.  If you want someone can make a difference, I welcome your support.”

A Shiprack
“I think we just heard part of the reason why I am the better candidate. And, why I will be a better County Commissioner than my opponent: I actually understand how these programs work.

“First, it is a totally appropriate role for the Portland Development Commission, as well as the nonprofit community, to be innovative and be creative. And, had we not participated in building affordable housing in Old Town/Chinatown, there would not be a Pacific Towers development that brought 157 units of rental housing; there would not be a 24-hour presence in the area.

“And, I also want to say that the $1.8 million feels like ‘It’s a wonderful life’.  The $1.8 million is in the building, the property that is not sold because of a difficult location, and because of a difficult market.  We will see that realized.

“But I think that what we’re hearing is really misconstruction. But that doesn’t surprise me, because we’ve already heard that my opponent confuses aggression and passion. I want to assure you that I don’t confuse either aggression with passion, nor do I confuse assertiveness with aggression.

“I’m going to protect the very important role of government, and especially in hard times, and especially with leaders such as yourselves, to be innovative, to be creative, to be bold and courageous, and to go places, that really, the private sector cannot go on its own.  That is truly the role of government. It is more of the role of government in difficult times that it is an ordinary times. And we are in difficult times. I appreciate your support.”

Candidates pitch for your vote

Candidate Mike Delman.

Mike Delman
“I’m running to make a difference. I think there is a clear choice in this race.  I’m not here in Gateway after the fact, simply as a candidate. I’ve been coming to this organization for 18 months; I’ve been going to six business associations and 14 neighborhood associations; I’ve gone to every festival, Parade and Farmer’s market. I’ve been coming here, not as candidate, but to start a relationship with you.

“My mentor, and my former boss, Gary Hanson, allocated staff throughout his eight years in office to participate in meetings, to bring legislation forward from groups such as yours. If I’m lucky enough to be elected to represent you. I’ll do the same thing.  I know the difference between right choices and wrong choices when using your tax money for the highest and best use.  I hope I can earn your support.”

Candidate Judy Shiprack.

Judy Shiprack
“First, thank you all of you for caring enough about your local government to be here today. It’s been engaging for me to be at the doorsteps of so many voters, and to have won the approval of so many voters.

“I want to say that in the primary, I had over twice as many votes as my opponent; I think that is going to carry through again. I want to remind you once again, that I have been in the arena. I’m not standing back and throwing stones at other people’s work. I have done the hard work myself. I stand ready to do more of that hard work; and heavy lifting.

“The first ‘hate crimes’ bill was drafted at my desk and passed by a single vote in the House of Representatives with my advocacy. The Oregon Housing Trust Fund was not an easy sell. The Oregon Lenders Housing Tax Credit was not an easy sell. These programs required advocacy, and innovation.

“In terms of Multnomah County’s future, it is the future of our children; it is a future of our communities; it is the future of our lives that is the quality of our allies in this community.  I’m very proud of have the support of District 3; I look forward to being back here with you on many occasions.

Meet the GABA Members
GABA meets the second Tuesday of each month – to network, and to learn from community and business leaders. Find out more by visiting their website at www.gabanet.com.

David F. Ashton transcribed candidates’ responses featured in this report.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

The FBI is asking for help finding a man they suspect of being a serial bank robber. See what we found out about the October 8th crime wave …

One of the triple robberies of October 8 was here – at the Fred Meyer Employee Credit Union, across the street from Midland Regional Library.

The crime wave actually started two days earlier, on October 6th, when officials say a man attempted to rob this Key Bank branch in the Gateway Shopping Center.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
We may never know if the recent wave of bank stick-ups is related in any way to the faltering economy. We do know that four financial institutions – three banks, and two credit unions – were almost robbed or actually held up. And, three of the incidents occurred within one hour on October 8.

We listened to the jumble of calls coming over the police radios, and asked Portland Police Bureau (PPB) spokesman Sgt. Brian Schmautz if he could help us untangle the stories. “These are bank robbery investigations, conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Schmautz explained. He added that while the police assists the FBI during these events, these are federal crimes, and he is not permitted to comment on them.

Another of the October 8th robberies took place at this Fred Meyer Employee Federal Credit Union office near Midland Library.

Credit union suspects corralled, but not arrested
We listened, as PPB officers tracked a stash of cash – containing a hidden transmitter – taken from the Fred Meyer Employee Federal Credit Union on SE Morrison Street, just north of the Midland Regional Library.

Officers followed the moving money to an apartment complex about a block south, on SE 122nd Avenue, abutting the library’s parking lot. As police moved in, the avenue was shut down between SE Stark and Mill Streets for nearly two hours.

The day after the incident, Midland Regional Library’s manager, Javier Gutierrez, told us, “Police officers told us to lock our doors and not let anyone in or out.” He said that police officers swarmed around the apartment buildings to the south of the library’s parking lot.

Witnesses say police shut down SE 122nd Avenue while they encouraged the surrender of two robbery suspects in an apartment in this small compex, just south of the library.

From what we learned after the incident, from people who say they witnessed it, the police focused their attention – and weapons – on one particular apartment for just under an hour, before one man surrendered. Shortly thereafter, another suspect exited the dwelling.

Both suspects were detained while cops searched the apartment for evidence. As of October 10, according to FBI spokesperson Beth Anne Steele, no one was arrested in the Fred Meyer Employee Federal Credit Union robbery.

An accused bank robber in custody
Another robbery on that afternoon took place at the US Bank branch on 12203 NE Glisan St. about 4:25 p.m.

Officials from the FBI say this man, Jheraun Alexander Dunlap, was taken into custody in connection with the robbery at the US Bank branch on NE Glisan St.

The FBI’s Steele told us 25-year-old Jheraun Alexander Dunlap was arrested in connection with this case, but gave no other details of the alleged crime.

FBI searches for “Mullet Man”
Typically, the FBI is tight-lipped about bank robbery investigations. However, their spokesperson, Beth Anne Steele, asked for help identifying and locating a man responsible for two bank robberies and three attempted bank robberies in the Portland-Vancouver metro area this week.

The man, nicknamed “Mullet Man” by the FBI because of his appearance, attempted his first robbery in Portland on Monday October 6 at the Key Bank located at 1205 NE 102nd Avenue. The same day, officials say he actually succeeded in robbing a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Tualatin.

Have you seen “Mullet Man”? If so, contact the FBI immediately!

“Mullet Man” is also wanted in connection with attempted or successful robberies of Bank of America branches in Vancouver and Portland, and the IBEW Federal Credit Union in the Mall 205 area.

In several of the robberies or attempts, including the Key Bank in Portland and the Bank of America in Vancouver, he wore what looks (on surveillance video) like a long-haired wig. Witnesses describe him as a white man in his mid-40’s with a slender build (about 160 pounds), and is about 5’9″ tall. On several occasions, he wore a blue Nike baseball cap as well.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI in Portland at (503) 224-4181 twenty-four hours a day, or the FBI in Vancouver at (360) 695-5661 during normal business hours.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

One by one, we sadly bid farewell to East Portland markets. In addition to a photo of the cutest kid enjoying an ear of corn, see why – and when – this market will reopen in November …

Will Clem and enjoys a freshly steamed ear of corn on the closing day of the Moreland Farmers Market.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
There was a good-sized crowd of shoppers at the Moreland Farmer’s Market on September 24 – the last day of its regular season. Rain-filled clouds moved overhead, and reminded shoppers that they are Oregonians, as a shower sent them scurrying undercover.

That didn’t stop market volunteers from dispensing cups of fresh-pressed apple cider and hot, steaming ears of corn-on-the-cob.

Looks back on a ‘great year’
It wasn’t long until we spotted the market’s manager, Laura Wendel, helping customers.

“Our market is year was great, just great,” Wendel said with a smile. “Our attendance increased from about 1,200 to about 1,500 customers in each market day; we saw as many as 1,800 on some Wednesdays.”

It looked as if all vendor stalls were full. “We’ve had pretty much the same 30 fantastic vendors, week to week,” Wendel reported. “The best thing about our market this year is the amazing variety and quality of the product. That’s what keeps bringing customers back.”

Moreland Farmers Market manager Laura Wendel says she’s pleased by the increased number of shoppers and vendors this season.

Volunteers credited for success
Wendel commented that she was pleased at how well the community has accepted and supported the market.

“And, we have a great team of volunteers, without whom we cannot do this. And, we really appreciate that Wilhelm’s Funeral Home continues to let us use their parking lot – it’s a wonderful location.”

During their “off season”, she said, the volunteers work on plans for the next year’s markets and write grant proposals.  “We look forward to being back in the mid May, for another 20-week season.”

Inner Southeast Portland residents scramble for greens, as farmers lay out their vegetables for almost the last time this season. But wait! They’ll open again on November 25 …

One-day-only November market
The market will hold a pre-Thanksgiving market on November 25, announced Wendel. “Note that this is a TUESDAY, not a Wednesday. It will be open from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., right here in this same spot. We’re hoping to find a big tent or some type of cover for the event.”

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

The ‘public notice’ of this computer security breach was buried – literally – on the obituary page of the big Sunday paper. See what school officials have to say …

This former schoolhouse, serving now as the Maywood Park Campus for Mt. Hood Community College, is the location from which the ID information computer was stolen.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It is understandable that an institution of higher learning – Mt. Hood Community College – would prefer that it receive little publicity regarding an incident in which a computer, loaded with data used to produce student identification cards, was stolen sometime in the first week of September.

A month after the incident, the school’s administration informed the public of this potential security breach by placing a “Public Notice” advertisement in the daily newspaper, and local community papers, on the weekend of October 4.

We hadn’t heard of the theft that occurred at the college’s Maywood Park Campus, located at 10100 NE Prescott Street.

We couldn’t believe it when a sharp-eyed reader told us their ‘public notice” was buried – literally and actually – amid death and funeral notices last Sunday’s OREGONIAN, until we saw it for ourselves.

Here’s how Mt. Hood Community College’s “Public Notice” appeared in the paper.

The text of the Public Notice:

Important Notice for Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) ID Holders

On or around September 8, 2008, a computer used for issuing photo IDs was stolen from MHCC’s Maywood Park Campus. The computer contained the following information: names, birth dates and MHCC identification numbers from approximately 1995 through 2005. No other information was stored on the computer, and most importantly, no Social Security numbers or addresses were stored there. Initial findings from the investigation indicate that this is an isolated incident.

Because MHCC is committed to protecting the integrity of its constituents’ personal information, and the College is taking this situation very seriously, and is reviewing its data security processes and procedures throughout the institution to ensure that the situation never happens again, and is informing its constituents.

According to the Oregon Identity Theft Protection Act of 2007, the information stored on the stolen computer does not constitute personal information.  Individuals with questions about identity theft should contact the Oregon Department of Consumer Business and Services at 503-378-4100 or http://egov.oregon.gov/DCBS/.

For more information, please visit the MHC see Web site at http://www.mhcc.edu/, click on the Quicklinks drop-down menu and select “Data Security.”  Thank you.

School officials comment
Our first call regarding the situation was to the college’s president, Dr. John “Ski” Sygielski, who confirmed that the photo-ID computer was, indeed, stolen from their outer East Portland campus.

“I didn’t know that the Public Notice ad was run in the obituary section,” Sygielski told us. “Mike Wolfe and his team are handling this. He’s in a meeting in Salem; I’ll ask him to call you as soon as he can.”

While we’re accustomed to getting the “brush off” from officials – Dr. Sygielski apparently acted on his promise. Within the hour, we received a call from the school’s Chief Operating Officer and administrative VP, Michael D. Wolfe.

“In 2005, we were testing photo-ID software,” Wolfe explained. “We were doing a ‘beta test’ run with a test sample set of data to see how the system performed.”

Because they were testing software, the computer wasn’t hooked into the school’s database, and thus the hard drive of the stolen computer contained a limited data.

“We intended this ad to run in the ‘public announcements’ section of the newspaper,” Wolfe assured us. He declined to comment further, but added that this incident has prompted the school’s administration to carefully examine the policies, procedures and systems used, to ensure that personal data is kept secure.

Our suggestion: If you were a student of the college in the ten years listed, you may want check your credit report just to make sure an ID thief hasn’t found a way to utilize the pilfered information.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Find out why Central Northeast Neighbors held the event –
and why it was successful beyond all of their expectations …

Taking a brief break, sitting among some of the tons collected at their Electronics Recycling event, Ronda Johnson, CNN’s office manager and project coordinator, says she’s both amazed and pleased at the response.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The photocopier at Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) was on its last legs – and the coalition office didn’t have money to replace the old machine that clicked, whirred, chugged, spit out a copy or two – then shut itself down.

“Our copy machine is in really sad shape,” added CNN’s office manager and project coordinator, Ronda Johnson, as she took a break from during the Electronics, Plastics and Metal Recycling Fundraiser she spearheaded. “We came up with this event to raise the money to buy a new one.”

At the event, held at Glenhaven Park, just north of Madison High School, cars and trucks were lined up on September 20, filled with all kinds of “appliances that plug in the wall”, as well as plastic items and Styrofoam.

CNN’s executive director, Alison Stoll, checks in and collects donations from one of the many neighbors ready to unload their expired electronics and used plastic things.

Raises money; reduces landfill dumping
In addition to helping buy a new copier,” Johnson told us, “this event shows our community how to recycle, and helps them recycle this stuff the right way. Without having an event like ours, a lot of electronic equipment would just go into the landfill.”

The recyclers break down all of this equipment into component parts, Johnson explained. Pointing to an abandoned home computer, “All of the parts will be recycled, reused, or broken down, to the point that only a handful of the remaining pieces will to into a landfill.”

The volunteer pitching old plastic into a recycling bin, is Rose City Park neighbor Fred Stovel.

“We kept the fee is very low; we’re charging just a little more than our recyclers are charging us,” Johnson added.

“We have quite a bit of traffic,” said CNN’s executive director, Alison Stoll, as she checked in folks waiting to drop off their recyclables. “In fact, the response is more than we expected. We,ve had people from Milwaukie, Oregon City and Clackamas. It looks like the word got out!”

Master Recycler Lisa Sundvy organizes recycled plastics at the event. “All of this plastic goes to a company that actually grinds it down and reuses it; none of it will be going into a landfill,” she said.

17 tons of waste
A total of 33,970 pounds of “e-waste” was collected during the one-day event, Johnson later reported. Here’s the breakdown:

• 16,383 lbs of monitors and televisions (151 monitors/210 TVs)
• 3,638 lbs of computers (154 computers)
• 7,679 lbs of general e-waste, including stereos, power tools, misc. electronics
• 2,748 lbs of scrap steel and printers
• 650 lbs of lead acid car batteries
• 605.5 lbs of insulated wire
• 353.5 lbs of household batteries
• 151 lbs of mixed ABS plastic
• 141 lbs of fluorescent light bulbs

“We were all very excited about the results of this fundraiser,” Johnson said. “We thank all of our wonderful volunteers, and all of the media that helped us publicize our event.”

Learn more about Central Northeast Neighbors, Inc., by visiting their web site: CLICK HERE.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Take a look! There’s nothing old-fashioned or boring about these new action-packed games, now at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry …

OMSI president and CEO, Nancy Stueber, welcomes guests to the opening of the new exhibit “Mindbender Mansion”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As more physically-interactive software titles come on the market for Wii and other gaming consoles, it might seem doubtful that a museum could come up with a room full of games that could truly engage young (and adult) visitors. We thought so too, until we visited Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s (OMSI) newest exhibit, “Mindbender Mansion”.

At the exhibit’s premiere, on September 26, we watched as hundreds of youngsters and grown-ups took the challenge of solving the newly-created human-sized puzzles throughout the “mansion”. Some challenges looked to be cerebral; others required full-body participation.

Eager visitors hurry into the “Mansion” for the first time.

Robert, Zandra, and Emmy Olko say they traveled from Tigard to be the among the first Mindbender Mansion gamers.

Play builds better brains
“Mindbender Mansion is an exhibit about problem-solving, and exercising your problem-solving skills,” commented OMSI’s president and CEO, Nancy Stueber, as visitors streamed into cavernous room on the museum’s lower level.

“We all need to exercise our problem-solving skills,” Stueber continued. “The same skills that are used to solve these puzzles may help our young visitors someday unravel important social, environmental or even engineering problems in the future.”

Jonathan, and his dad, Seldon Saks try their hands – and bodies – at playing the wacky furniture-moving game, “Mix and Match”.

Joining the “Space Race” are Jennifer and Douglas Davis as they pull strings to rack up points.

The ‘Mansion’ OMSI built
Over the years, Stueber related, the museum’s staff and management have noted that puzzles are a popular attraction. “We found that – in addition to solving puzzles themselves – visitors enjoyed pulling other people in to help them solve problems. We decided to turn this concept into a whole exhibit.”

The project took about a year, from inception to completion, Stueber noted. “All told, from the people who developed and research the ideas, to designers, into the evaluation team, to the exhibit fabricators, about 45 staff members and contributors worked on this exhibit.”

To add another layer of interest, the OMSI development team created a theme for the exhibit, so each of the room-full of puzzles contributes part of a solution to an over-arching puzzle. “When visitors complete the puzzles, they’ll have collected the clues and secret passwords that permit them to become a member of our ‘Mindbender Society’,” Stueber told us. “Society members are presented with a personalized certificate, and their photo is added to the ‘Wall of Fame’.”

David, and his dad, Tom Vollum, find that the Amazing Maze is like a pinball game in which players must tilt the machine!

Players young and old tackle mind-bending table games at the OMSI exhibit.

Push-ups for the brain
Lee Dawson, the museum’s public relations director, was enthusiastic about the new exhibit. “It’s like push-ups for the brain! While this exhibit is fun and a little bit wacky, guests learn essential problem-solving skills: Identifying patterns, thinking ahead, logical reasoning, and looking at problems from different perspectives.”

The games include:

• Feeding Frenzy – It’s a race in the kitchen as guests try to beat the clock by filling ‘TV Dinner’ trays with five kinds of food on a fast moving conveyer belt. (Does this remind you, at all, of a famous scene in the “I Love Lucy” series…?)
• Space Race – Maneuver a mechanical spaceship around a large game board by cooperating with other players.
• Spelling Fever – Its Hopscotch meets Scrabble®, as players race to correctly spell words by jumping on light-up letter squares.
• Move and Match – Visitors slide their dining room chairs on wheels into a correct pattern, before the clock runs out.
• Amazing Maze – By working together to tilt a giant “floating” table, players work to guide a steel ball into several holes as quickly as possible.

Ready to wait on customers at the newly-redesigned OMSI Science Store is April Powers.

Mansion goes mobile
After the New Year, Stueber said “Mindbender Mansion” start a tour as a “traveling exhibit” at other, similar science museums.

“Come and see one of our best exhibits ever,” she encouraged. “Membership to OMSI is a great way to enjoy it – you can come back again and again to work on the puzzles.”

To learn more, check out their newly-designed web site by CLICKING HERE.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

Why this illegal-alien drug-runner thought hiding pounds of pills in a baby diaper was a good idea is beyond us!  But take a look at the stash sharp-eyed Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies found right here in outer East Portland …

MCSO Special Investigations Unit deputies say the baby diaper didn’t keep them from finding the two pounds of ecstasy pills. MCSO photo

Story by David F. Ashton
About 2:00 p.m., a blue Chevy Tahoe with California plates was headed northbound on I-205 on October 8. What happened soon thereafter will bring tears of sadness to rave-goers throughout the region.

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO) spokesman Dep. Paul McRedmond said the driver wasn’t on a sight-seeing trip as he passed through town – he was on a delivery mission. “MCSO Special Investigations Unit, following a drug trafficking investigation, made a traffic stop,” stated McRedmond.

The Tahoe’s driver gave deputies permission to search his truck. “They found a specially-altered center console compartment,” related McRedmond. “Inside was about 4,000 pills of the illegal drug called ‘ecstasy’ wrapped in a diaper.”

Officials say that not only was 21-year-old Alonso Ramirez-Sanchez, in the country illegally, he was carried more than two pounds of ecstasy. MCSO photo

Ramirez-Sanchez was booked into the county jail on three felony drug charges related to his alleged possession and distribution of ecstasy (MDMA). He is also on an “immigration hold” for INS action

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

While all students from three Parkrose schools were eligible for the Masons’ Summer Reading Program, find out how many how many did – and what they won …

Dale Imbleau, Worshipful Master of Eastgate Lodge #155, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Christos Efthimiadis, Worshipful Master of Parkrose Masonic Lodge, begins the Summer Reading Awards program.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Eastgate and Parkrose Masonic Lodges celebrated youngsters who had participated in their Summer Reading program on September 25.

“This year, we expanded the program to include three Parkrose elementary schools: Prescott, Shaver, and Sacramento,” explained Dale Imbleau, Worshipful Master, Eastgate Lodge #155 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Students who qualified for the drawing from Prescott Elementary School await their certificates – and to learn if one of their names was drawn to win one of the new bicycles.

Over the summer, Imbleau, said, young students were required to read 15 books – at their grade level – to qualify for a drawing for a free bicycle. “About 50 students took us up on our offer, and qualified for the drawing,” he told us, “and we have a dozen bicycles to give away tonight.”

Asked why the Masons host a reading program, Imbleau told us, “One of the tenets of Free Masonry is that we have is free thought. By encouraging children to read, we encourage them to become better-educated, and more active in their communities. In short, we equip them to be better citizens.”

Prescott Elementary School student Jack Ramirez draws names out the hat held by Christos Efthimiadis – Worshipful Master of Parkrose Masonic Lodge.

Short program features drawing
Christos Efthimiadis, Worshipful Master of Parkrose Masonic Lodge ,welcomed teachers, parents, and a room full of expectant students to their meeting. “This is our second year at Sacramento School, and we are glad that we can include Prescott and Shaver this year as well,” Efthimiadis announced.

“It is very exciting for us to reward the children. It is our honor to be able to reach out and encourage young readers, and bring them here for the special evening. It’s good that you’ve read books. It’s very important that you continue to do that.”

In addition to the brand-new bicycle, the winners also were given a bicycle safely helmet. Efthimiadis advised them, “Be sure to wear it and stay safe.”

Each child who qualified for the drawing received a Certificate of Participation. With that, the drawing began.

Parkrose Lodge’s Past Master James Akers presents lucky summer reader Mckenna Galyon with her brand-new bicycle.

Summer Reading Program Honor Roll

Prescott Elementary School

• Sonja Keller Young
• Caleb Martindale
• Lamberto Lavadores Villacis
• Steve Mendoza Ruiz
• Luis Soto
• Jason Gutierrez
• Christian Ponce Zuniga
• Daniel Senina
• Ivan Senina
• Bill Truong
• Jamari Gilbert
• Henry Mendoza
• Alan Lavadores Villacis
• Marlene Hernandez
• Karina Patel
• Tabitha Klein
• Nicolay Senina
• Kinsey Martindale
• Maria Than
• Michaela Bersine
• Alina Ursatiy
• Chelsea Lopez Cabrera
• Cherry Mendoza Ruiz
• Kaitlyn Cha
• Elizabeth Escobar
• Tamika Perret
• Shelbie Dunn
• Kelly Cha
• Candy Mendoza Ruiz

Sacramento Elementary School

• Jonathan Almasan
• Kayley Le
• Gabe Sieber
• Margot Amdal
• Yudie Lewis
• Benjamin Almasan
• Dmitriy Rogozhnikov
• Leia Braich
• Moses Ramirez-Torres
• Rikka Gustey
• Cassidy Calyon
• Alexus Torres
• Tyler Minden
• Buno Vongsay

Shaver Elementary School

• Rene Cervantes
• Maryangela Cervantes
• Erick Olvera Duran
• Belen Liliana
• Zemar Smith
• Minh Le
• Nguyen Le
• Ediberto Marvin

“Next year, we hope to encourage even more students to read over the summer months,” Imbleau said. “And, give away more bicycles.”

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

You’ve read here how the aquifer located under outer East Portland near the Columbia Slough provides our back-up source of drinking water. See how this event promotes keeping it clean …

Pirates? Actually, they’re Portland Water Bureau education specialists Jody Burlin, Rebecca Geisen and Briggy Thomas – seen here during their “Aquifer Adventure” event near the Columbia Slough.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
One way the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) helps educate outer East Portland neighbors about the importance of caring for the aquifer – the underground water table near the Columbia Slough that provides our back-up source of drinking water – is by offering lunchtime informational programs. (CLICK HERE to read our article about such an event held during the summer.)

But a couple of weeks ago, the PWB, in conjunction with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, held their annual family event to express the importance of keeping this natural water resource clean and viable.

Showing off an event commemorative T-shirt is shirt Melanie Hering, a volunteer from Grant High School.

Nora Polk holds her little pirate Makeda. “Our kids love pirates; and we love nature,” says Polk. “So, we’re interested in learning more about groundwater – and enjoying a canoe ride.”

Pirates of the Slough
“We’re engaging young people in activities that teach them about groundwater,” said First Mate Rebecca Geisen – actually, she’s PWB’s Water Resources Program Manager. “We’re helping them learn what aquifers are, and showing them what they can do at home to protect their drinking water.”

The Aquifer Adventure has a pirate’s treasure hunt theme, she told us.  “We find that kids love treasure hunts – and everyone likes pirate-themed events.  We consider our groundwater to be a ‘hidden treasure’. Thus, we came up with our annual Aquifer Adventure program.”

Pirate Kelly Ray (Mulholland), PWB Maintenance & Construction Director fights gallantly – but gracefully acknowledges that he is out-fenced by young swashbuckler, Eli Holstein.

Mixing fun with learning
Some of the demonstrations – like having kids race around a track, carrying gallon jugs of water to help them get an idea of how much water they use taking a 10-minute shower – taught water conservation lessons.

“We’ve added an event for the grownups this year,” Geisen told us. “We’re showing them how they can easily make non-toxic household cleaners. This both saves them money, and helps save our environment.”

About 30 volunteers helped out at six educational stations, including giving canoe rides on the Columbia Slough.

How much water does one use during a 5 minute shower? To illustrate the answer, Ayriahna Bauer learns by carrying these gallon jugs around the track, ten times.

Preserving a Portland water source
The event took place just east of the Columbia South Shore Well Field off NE Airport Way near the bureau’s canoe launch. This well field is metropolitan Portland’s secondary source of sanitary drinking water. (See our story about this system by CLICKING HERE.)  Groundwater in the area supplies these wells, Geisen explained, and the well field can serve up to 800,000 people if service from the Bull Run Reservoir is disrupted.

While the major risk of polluted groundwater comes from area companies that use hazardous materials, Geisen said neighbors also need to be aware of the below-ground water resource.

“Potential pollutants poured on the ground can reach and negatively affect the aquifer,” expounded Geisen. “There are parts of our aquifer that aren’t as deep or don’t have confining layers over them. We’re encouraging people to act responsibly and protect the groundwater.”

Kari Salis, Drinking Water Engineer with Oregon Drinking Program making an “Editable Aquifer” in a glass with breakfast cereal, ice cream and soda.

Do your part
We asked what steps neighbors can take to help protect our groundwater.

“Properly disposing of household hazardous waste through the Metro Hazardous Waste Roundup is one method,” replied Geisen. “Don’t pour chemicals or fertilizers down the drain or the storm drain; don’t let motor oil to seep into the ground. When you clean painting equipment, properly dispose of the latex-paint tainted water or paint thinner – instead of dumping it on the ground.”

Finally, she added that it is helpful for neighbors to reduce their use of lawn chemicals, such as fertilizers. “Most people over-fertilize. If you want plants and boshes, consider planting native greener.”

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News