We check local baggage all the time.

[August 16th, 2006] * Gayrightswatch.com posted a Gresham police report this week in which former Oregon Christian Coalition head Lou Beres admits to "sexually touching" a teenage relative and two other minors . The admisssions came during an investigation into charges that he sexually abused female family members about 30 years ago. The October 2005 report quotes Beres defending his actions by citing the fact that he is Hungarian and "very affectionate." Investigators called off their inquiry into Beres a year ago, saying the alleged abuses such as licking young girls occurred too long ago for him to be prosecuted. Beres has continued to deny any criminal wrongdoing.

* Rosemary Celaya-Alston , a department of human services manager in Multnomah County, was told last week by her boss that she can't be identified as a non-county employee while doing outreach work. The county's internal investigation into Celaya-Alston was prompted by a WW report (see "Citizen Clara," WW, June 28, 2006) that found two references to Celaya-Alston as an official with a well-connected nonprofit, the Susannah Maria Gurule Foundation, when she was working out of the nonprofit's offices for the county. County Human Services interim director Rex Surface says Celaya-Alston didn't know about the two references to her in a newspaper and conference program as an official with the nonprofit, or the implication that she was working for the nonprofit on county time.

* The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students places the University of Oregon among the top 20 best places in the country for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students . The guide, put out this month by the national LGBT biweekly newsmagazine The Advocate, doesn't rank schools within its top-20 list but does note that the Eugene campus was among the few with a queer student coalition before the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, and has since been a strong supporter of LGBT rights. UO hosts dozens of LGBT programs such as Pride Week, Queer Prom and the Queer Film Fest.

* On the heels of last week's Best of Portland package, reader Steve Rubinstein nominates his friend Cindy Harnly for Best Samaritan after she helped prevent a suicide on the Fremont Bridge earlier this month. Harnly and Rubinstein were driving eastbound across the busy Fremont on the morning of Aug. 2 when they noticed a man perched on the railing, apparently preparing to jump . They pulled over and Rubinstein called 911, while Harnly urged the distraught man to come down. Fire and police officers pulled the man to safety 15 minutes later. "I have no training in mental-health issues, but part of what I teach is critical thinking in emergencies," says Harnly, a health and physical education teacher at Mount Hood Community College. "I just reacted." The thirtyish man was taken to Emanuel Hospital for evaluation.

* What do you do for fun when you're a Democratic congressman from Portland with no serious challenger and your name often gets mentioned in talk of future statewide runs for governor or senator? If you're Earl Blumenauer, you use your campaign website to ask Net surfers for help selecting four Democratic candidates for the Oregon House who should get $1,000 donations from the congressman. Until Monday, Aug. 21, voters can log on to www.earlblumenauer.com and pick their favorites.

CORRECTIONS

Last week's "Polluter Scooters" story made mistakes in reporting the maker of the 2005 Stella and the gender of Shayne Weinstein. The Stella is not made by Piaggio. And Weinstein is a woman. WW regrets the errors.

^WEB-ONLY MURMURS:

Public service alert: As of Wednesday, Aug. 16, only 62 days remain until the Oct. 17 deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 7 election. Thankfully, signing up in Oregon is as easy as 1-2-3, even if you're a felon currently serving time behind bars (yes, felons who are incarcerated can register; they just can't vote until they get out) or don't have an Oregon driver's license. Voter registration forms are available at all Multnomah County Library locations, or online at www.sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/vreg.htm.

Portlanders outraged by recent Israeli violence against civilians in Lebanon and Gaza are putting their money where their collective mouth is. Last weekend, as much of the world awaited the U.N.-negotiated ceasefire in the Middle East, a coalition of local groups called Palestine Lebanon Emergency Action, or PLEA, raised $31,600 at a candlelight vigil Saturday to support emergency humanitarian efforts in the region. The money raised at the rally, which attracted about 370 people, will go to the American Red Cross, Mercy Corps and American Near East Refugee Aid.