Ever since my father, Arthur Olivo, died on March 18, 2001, I have been struggling to create some sort of "continuum" for myself so as to gain a clearer perspective on what I have been through. This book - NOSOTROS: THE HISPANIC PEOPLE OF OREGON - has helped me in my quest to understand my life history because it profiles my childhood home, "Colegio Cesar Chavez" (Spanish for "Cesar Chavez College"). Colegio was a "college without walls" program that was headquartered in the small town of Mt. Angel, Oregon (about 15 miles north east of Salem), and it had students from as far away as New York and Canada. In its day, Colegio Cesar Chavez was the only four year "Chicano" ("Mexican-American") college in the United States. From the summer of 1980 to May 1982, my father served as the caretaker of the grounds and facilities of Colegio Cesar Chavez, and occasionally as supervisor of "work study" students. My family lived on campus during that period, in the "Art Building" house that was behind the college.

My memories of our time at Colegio Cesar Chavez are the most enduring of my childhood. Everything in my world hinged on Colegio Cesar Chavez; it was my entire world. And then suddenly, mysteriously, it was gone. My family moved, the college was closed, and what had once been a vibrant community seemed to have vanished completely from larger consciousness. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had always wanted to know what had happened, what it was all about. And somewhere in my heart I had always wanted to return to Colegio and re-establish that sense of community I had felt, and would never again encounter anywhere else. Looking back, I now realize that the two years I spent at Colegio were the happiest and most stable of my childhood.

In contrast to the almost idealic sense of community I had felt from within the Colegio, I often felt hated by those in the outside community (I remember the neighbor boy throwing rocks at me for no apparent reason); no one ever would explain why I was hated, why we were hated, and over the years that question has often plagued me. NOSOTROS: THE HISPANIC PEOPLE OF OREGON has helped me understand why we were hated by the larger community. In the subsection of this book titled "Memories of Colegio Cesar Chavez," Jose Romero, one-time President of Colegio, recalls that Colegio Cesar Chavez was not well liked by the larger community because Mt. Angel was a farming community, and the man the Colegio was named for - Cesar Chavez - was thought by many to be a "trouble maker" because of his fasts and protests on behave of Mexican farm workers. Jose Romero has memories of something worse than rocks being thrown, in this book he recounts that occasionally some people would actually shoot at Colegio signs.

Further commentary on Colegio Cesar Chavez is provided by those who were affiliated, and a picture of Cesar Chavez visiting the campus is included in this book (Mr. Chavez visited the campus twice; my mother recently told me I had the honor of meeting him one of those times [though I was far too young at the time to have known how important he is]). A postscript is provided: the campus has been converted into a shelter for the homeless, many of them Mexican farm workers. In a further attempt to "integrate" my life experience, I occasionally visit the former campus of Colegio Cesar Chavez and am flooded with bittersweet memories of the community I had known and loved (sometimes my emotional reaction to seeing the former campus of Colegio Cesar Chavez is so strong that I feel they may suffocate me; I suppose I will always feel that it is "mine" and that it was unjustly taken from me). I still feel as though I can hear the laughter of my friends, and see the vibrant Aztec-themed murals that once covered the inside walls; the mural that has remained most vividly in my mind is the one of Che Guevara that hung in the reception room for Colegio. Unfortunately, all but one of the murals have long since been painted over.

* * * *

Also profiled in this book is another group with which I was once affiliated: "Teatro Milagro" or "Miracle Theater." Teatro Milagro is the only Hispanic theater group in Oregon; I was once stage manager for one of their plays, and my mother has performed in a few of their productions. Maria Luisa Baragli de Bevington, a high school Spanish teacher from Argentina, is featured in this book as well. Maria is a collegue of my high school Spanish teacher, and therefore Maria was a peripheral presence in my high school education in Portland.

I have found this book to be very helpful. I was overcome with emotion to see the section included on Colegio Cesar Chavez. My only concern with this book is that in some places it comes across as a little patronizing. I obviously agree that Hispanic history needs to be acknowledged, but the tone of this book at times seems to take the angle of trying to "justify" Hispanic culture to convince non-Hispanics of the acceptability of the Hispanic population. My opinion is that the retelling of history should not be mixed with "cultural sensitivity training."

Describing the Oregon Coast Range could be a rugged task, but author Jane Claire Dirks-Edmund takes a graceful approach.

She explores a life of living in the ancient forest of Saddleback Mountain, known today as Saddle Bag Mountain, on the Van Duzer Corridor in Lincoln County. Covering a 60 year segment, Dirks-Edmund writes of a captivating tale of the mighty Douglas-firs, cedars and hemlocks that once grew there.

But as with anything, there's more to the story. This book is also about the lives of great and small creatures and plants, of slugs and worms, spiders and bugs, butterflies and birds, lichens and mosses.

This in-depth study has never been undertaken on a single western forest before, nor is it likely to ever be repeated, according to the publisher WSU Press. The title of the book refers to the fact that more than trees make up a forest.

It reveals all that is lost when an ancient forest is destroyed and the story of a tenacious woman, an ecologist who studied Oregon flora and fauna before there were guidebooks. The author stresses that this is not a technical book and one that could be enjoyed by anyone interested in the nature and ecology of the Northwest.

Dirks-Edmund began studying a small parcel of ancient forest in western Oregon while an undergraduate student, working with her mentor, James A. Macnab, at Linfield College in McMinnville. After several more years of schooling and teaching, she returned to studying her beloved forest through its logging in the 1940s and clear cutting in the 1980s.

Not Just Trees is a story close to Dirks-Edumund's heart which is shown through the pages with a passionate intensity. The deeper one reads into the book, the more her love for the forests wears on the reader. It inspires those who are concerned about what has been lost to have hope for the future of forests.

While on a spy mission in Lebanon eleven years ago, Helen Bradley's spouse died during a terrorist act.For the next decade, Helen, a former police officer stayed single. However, now she is happily remarried, lives in Oregon, and loves her job as a writer of travelogues. While working on her latest book, Helen receives a call from an Irene Kincaid, asking for her help. Irene believes that her spouse, the renowned gerontologist, Dr. Paul Kincaid, was murdered because of his work on slowing down the aging process.

When Irene is shot to death, Helen decides to investigate by setting herself up as a target. She feels that someone at Kincaid Labs has secrets they want kept buried. To uncover them, Helen checks into Edgewood Manor, one of the top convalescent centers in the nation even as her son pleads with her not to become involved. Inside the idyll home, Helen learns that once she is there, she might not leave the place alive.

The first novel, NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, in the Helen Bradley mysteries is an interesting thriller that is highlighted by an interesting lead protagonist. Even though, the story line is relatively simplistic, to Patricia H. Rushford's credit, it remains a gripping suspense laden tale. This series will be well liked by readers of mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Chock-full of useful details about every park in Washington and Oregon, both state and national, this book is organized by area. Details for all types of activities include innovations such as yurt camping, backpack and bike camping, group camping, hiking, cave touring and more. This is a "take with you edition" complete with phone numbers for reservations, campsites that don't take reservations (overflow sites), a couple good maps and and short locator descriptions for each park, to be used in conjunction with a roadmap (not included). Find out where there are ranger talks, river access, and even an underground structure that was built as a bombproof communications center, muzzle loading demonstrations, park hours, marine facilities, equestrian facilities and more! An at-a-glance manual for the on-the-road, want-to-go-there Oregon and Washington park visitor.

This book was given to me by my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Mansperger. It was at the time of my parents splitting up and I think she saw a connection with the main character and myself. It is a story of a pioneer family heading west on the Oregon Trail. The young man is forced to grow up fast and assume the responsibilities of a grown man. The story glorifies the value of family, perseverence and dreams. A badly needed glory for todays adolescents exposed to the daily mindnumbing instant emotion-bites on MTV, WWF and video games. The book is out of print but I am going to get a copy for my kids to read and shut off that damn TV. Warren Reid, Williamsport, PA

This comprehensive encyclopedia about Oregon is remarkable. Virtually anything you want to know about this wonderful state, from "4H clubs" to the "ZX Ranch" is covered. A wonderful reference, it includes an extensive bibliography and maps.

My wife and I are planning to travel some of the trail this coming summer - I think this book will help us feel a part of the past as it not only shows great pictures, but tells the stories about these places as you follow it!

As a young college student, Francis Parkman, the later noted historian of the early West, goes to the land of the Lakotas and experiences their life. This is a personal history of the travels of the author through the lands of the Lakota before the great American westward expansion. Tales of Indian life and their "wars" with each other. Also tells first hand of the author's maturation in this environment. Should be required reading for any "lover of the wild west" because "This Was The It Was".

Oregon Under Foot is the perfect rock identification book for all ages. It is easy to read and under stand yet gives good information and includes great color photos of agate and petrified wood types from not only Oregon but the Pacific North West as well and is sized to fit in your pocket.

The photos of the Oregon I knew growing up are superb. This book brings back fond memories of the Oregon forests. My family and I now live in Florida so need this book as a wonderful memory refresher.