Commentary:
Elsewhere in this issue is a story about the July 26 Hillsdale Community Foundation book sale, which raised more than $5000.
The money is going to flow back into the community. But how? And where?
You'd think that giving the money away would be easy. As the acting chair of the foundation's board, I'm learning that giving money away is tough.
Where to begin?
In broad terms the stated objective of the foundation is to improve Hillsdale. But, surprise, surprise, each of the seven members has a slightly different view of what that means. Moreover, each of us wants to learn what the broader community thinks improving Hillsdale means. That's why we held a community forum in May to listen to ideas.
The one we settled on following the book sale had to do with making Hillsdale bicycle-friendly. As you've probably noticed, more and more bicyclists are passing through our community. They deserve some respect and reward when they get to the top of the hill.
So who is going to step up with ideas to make Hillsdale more bicycle friendly for $5000?
We are about to find out.
No official bicycle group exists in Hillsdale. There is no "Hillsdale Bicycle Coalition." But there may be one by the time we have made our grant. And I have the feeling that not all members of the as-yet-to-be coalition will be bicyclist. All of us have reason to encourage bicycling, even though we aren't ready to hop on bikes ourselves. You can start with global warming.
My feeling, and others on the board share it, is that the grant should do more than produce a capital improvement dedicated to bicycling. It should build new neighborhood relationships. Between kids, parents and bicycles, between the business community and bicyclists, between pedestrian advocates and bicycle advocates, between the City of Portland's Transportation Options Department and the Hillsdale community.
It's hard to put a price on such new connections, but something tells me that the foundation is about to see $5000 reap far more than $5000 in benefit to the community.
PS The web offers numerous resources to help us make Hillsdale bicycle-friendly. Look here, here and here.
Pancake and Book Connections
Connections flourished at the HBPA Blueberry Pancake Breakfast and the foundation's book sale. The breakfast buzzed with conversations. Business owners flipped pancakes side-by-side. Businesses contributed food, expertise and facilities. The book sale attracted more than 30 volunteers. Several businesses donated tables. Dozens of folks contributed bags and boxes of books to the sale.
We owe the volunteers and contributors a huge thanks. Whether they knew it or not, they were community building. A stronger community full of new connections will be their lasting contribution.
Thanks one and all!
Rick Seifert
Editor
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This year's pancake breakfast attendance drew record crowds and virtually no lines.
Hillsdale's 33rd breakfast, Sixth book sale
Blueberry pancakes, books draw crowds
Hillsdale's Sunday of used books and blueberry pancakes turned out to be a record-breaking day.
The tandem events of the book sale and the pancake breakfast on Sunday, July 26 exceeded organizers' expectations.
Both were held in the parking lot that separates the Key Bank and Casa Colima restaurant.
Officially called the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association Customer-Appreciation Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, the all-you-can-eat feast attracted a record-breaking 753 hungry neighbors.
With its modest charge for the breakfasts, ($5 for adults, $4 for children) the event barely breaks even. Any surplus helps pay for HBPA's hanging flower basket program. The breakfast is organized and run by HBPA volunteers from the business community.
This year's breakfast was dedicated to the late, beloved Tony Scuito, who for many years owned the Hillsdale Shoe Repair and died in April.
Many neighbors came early to avoid the heat, which rose to 93 degrees later in the day.
Those who anticipated the usual long lines were surprised this year. Thanks to a more efficient set-up, there were no lines to speak of, said Mike Roach, HBPA president.
Planners reported only two glitches. Starbucks, which donates the coffee, had new coffee-making machines that couldn't keep up with the heavy demand, said Elaine Gillaspie of the Hillsdale Wellness Center. And at one point maple syrup ran low forcing carefully calibrated rationing until new supplies arrived.
Gillaspie and Mark Reynolds of Edward Jones Investments were the principle organizers of the event.
For the first time in its 33 years, the breakfast was "green," featuring recyclable plates, cups and utensils.
A minute's stroll from the breakfast, the Hillsdale Community Foundation used book sale was packed with book lovers.
They and professional book buyers spent $5,650 on books, breaking results from the previous five sales. Hardbound books sold for $2 and quality paperbacks for $1.50. Small paperbacks went for 50 cents.
Planners had expected to bring in about $3000 from sales. (See accompanying story for how the non-profit community foundation plans to spend book sale money.)
Neighbors donated thousands of books for the sale at the Hillsdale Farmers Market starting in June.
Les Jevning, the volunteer organizer of the sale, said he was impressed with the volunteers' help. "Everyone stepped up," he said. "When it came time to clean up, they were back again." At least 30 volunteers were involved in the event.
Several community organizations set up information tables between the two events, Children were invited to make chalk art, and firefighters from Hillsdale's Engine Company #5 showed off their pumper truck for kids.
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Filling a community need?
"Rotating Cinema" planned for September
A cinema has always been high on many wish lists for Hillsdale.
Now the community may get one - sort of.
Julian Lauzzana, a Hillsdale resident with experience in arts presentations, plans to start what he calls the "Hillsdale Rotating Cinema" as part of a "community arts café."
If all goes according to plan, the cinema will debut in mid-September at the Watershed Building's meeting room with the showing of a locally produced film, he says. He hopes to have film-makers on hand to discuss the film after it shows.
Lauzzana hasn't set the exact date of the showing but it will be on either a Tuesday or Wednesday and appeal to families. Other films might be more oriented to adult audiences and deal with social and political issues, he said.
Subsequent screenings of other local films would take place at other Hillsdale locations. Among the candidates he is considering are the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, the Hillsdale Branch Library and various retail locations.
Films in the series would be offered once a month initially. If there is interest, they might be shown more often.
Attendees would be invited to make a small donation for the screenings.
Supporting Lauzzana is foreign film enthusiast Robert Hamilton, who also has been interested in establishing a small cinema here. He cites a report indicating that communities not only welcome small theaters but find they enhance business and residential home values. "It's in much the same way that having an elementary, middle, and high school do," he says.
Working with Lauzzana as well as Hillsdale residents Jim Stuffs and Fred Faveluke, Hamilton hopes to use the results to the "rotating cinema" to see whether the community would support a permanent theater or dinner-theater.
Lauzzana said changing the locations has the advantage of introducing neighborhood audiences to different parts of Hillsdale. The concept will also give exposure to local filmmakers.
Lauzzana, who has lived here just over a year, is a video editor who teaches at the Multnomah Arts Center and at the Robert Gray SUN school. Prior to coming to Portland he managed an "event space" in Brooklyn.
"The rotating cinema idea matches my interests with community needs," he said.
The idea of an "arts café" is still in its formative stages but it would provide a place where community members could meet to discuss ideas, he said. In the same spirit, the rotating cinema will provide opportunity for discussion, he said.
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A precariously tilted truck took hours to free. Sunset Boulevard traffic was diverted.
Tipsy beer truck snagged by TV cable
It looks as though this beer truck has had one too many, but it was snagged by a heat-stressed, sagging cable wire in Hillsdale at about 2:15 on Thursday, July 30.
The odd accident on the 1500 block of SW Sunset Boulevard diverted traffic and drew a crowd.
 The truck's driver, Shane Romo of Maletis Beverage Company, said that if a fellow trucker hadn't yelled at him to stop, his entire rig would have toppled over.
"It was nerve-racking," said Romo. "I can't believe it didn't tip over."
Romo had just pulled onto Sunset after a delivery to Casa Colima restaurant. He makes deliveries to the restaurant at least once a week - uneventfully.
But hot temperatures caused the cable wires to droop and snag on the front left corner of his trailer.
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Hillsdale Foundation to grant $5000
for bike improvements
Attention Hillsdale bicyclists!
If you want to make Hillsdale more bicycle-friendly, money soon may be available to help your cause.
The Hillsdale Community Foundation Board has decided that money raised at the foundation's July 26 Book Sale will be used to make Hillsdale more inviting to bicyclists.
It will be "book bucks for bikes," as one wag put it.
But before the bucks can go for bikes, the bicycling community needs to put forward a proposal.
Following the book sale, the foundation's board decided to invite project proposals from bicyclists. Up to $5,000 is being made available for a project.
At a foundation forum held in May, bicycle amenities were identified as one of several improvements needed in the community.
Dave Johnson, an avid bicyclist, was at the meeting and was pleased with the board's decision. He is urging fellow Hillsdale-area bicyclists to join him in applying for the grant. He invites them to email him at dave3401@gmail.com or call 503-730-5625.
Mike Roach, a foundation board member and president of the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association, said that he receives frequent requests for bike racks and storage lockers from bicyclists.
One idea is to have a bike station that allows bikers to store bikes before hopping on the bus to go downtown.
Jim Stutts, a Hillsdale resident and foundation board member, pointed out the advantages of encouraging bicycling. "More bikes and fewer cars is always good, but in our community where we have a severe shortage of sidewalks, fewer cars also means safer walking. "
Early this fall, the board will publicize a process for submitting proposals.
The foundation's purpose is "to nurture Hillsdale through community-building projects by collecting and disbursing money from contributions and fundraising events."
The Foundation was established last year and is a 501 (c) 3 organization. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to The Hillsdale Community Foundation, 2115 SW Tyrol St., Portland, Or 97239.
Board members in addition to Roach and Stutts are Bruce Murray, Pam Field, Linda Doyle, Stark Ackerman and Rick Seifert.
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Multnomah Farmers' Market closes
for lack of vendors, customers
The Multnomah Farmers' Market sold its last radish and raspberry on July 9.
The Thursday market with hours from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. started with strong community support a year ago spring.
It was likely the victim of its mid-week position, customers' working later, and poor economy, speculated market manager Eamon Molloy.
Because the largest and most profitable markets are on the weekends, farmers harvest on Fridays, he explained. Coming home late from a Thursday market was too wearing for many who had to rise early Friday morning to get to the fields.
The strain resulted in few vendors and that resulted in few customers.
Tye Steinbach, who is on the four-person market board, said "It was kind of a Catch-22. We needed more vendors to bring in people and more people to bring in more vendors."
He noted that most mid-week markets have similar problems throughout the metro area. Still, the board plans to discuss the possibility of reviving the market. "The only way we would do it is if we could bring a relatively full market to the community," he said.
Both Steinbach and Molloy remarked how hard the market farmers work and their need to be rewarded for how they spend their time.
"It's hard," said Steinbach. "Everyone did as well as they could."
He said he was grateful for the support from the Hillsdale Farmers' Market, which Molloy also manages. The Hillsdale market lent its truck and equipment to the Multnomah effort.
Molloy said the decision to close after July 9 was necessary because the few remaining vendors were losing money. It seemed likely the next market, on July 16, might attract no vendors at all.
"When you have a business situation that isn't working you just have to end it," he said.
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Florist to close Hillsdale shop August 15
After four years in Hillsdale, the Z-Fiori florist shop in Hillsdale is closing.
The last day of business will be August 15, said owner Christy Hillman, who will continue selling, arranging and delivering flowers out of her home.
"The income was just plummeting," said Hillman, who was dipping into her own savings to keep the business afloat. The cost of her inventory was another drag. "For the last three years, the fourth quarter was particularly bad. Last winter's storm really hurt," she said.
The final blow was the loss of the store's biggest corporate contract. Z-Fiori provided flowers for employee celebrations, special events and professional sessions.
Despite the closure, Hillman hopes to reopen in Hillsdale when the economy improves but the new shop would probably be in a smaller space. "I love Hillsdale and the whole 'local' philosophy. I have met wonderful people here."
She singled out her landlord Ardys Braidwood, for praise. Braidwood has responded to the recession by lowering rents for her tenants. "Ardy did everything she could to work with us. I can't tell you how great Ardy has been," Hillman said.
After Hillman closes shop and holds a close out sale, her clients will find her flowers for sale at Food Front, which is next door to the store. And they can continue to place delivery orders with her at www.zfiori.com or by calling (503) 246-4221. She is also working on doing a "bucket shop" at Anastasia's in Multnomah Village.
She said she will continue to hire her one full-time employee and one part-time employee.
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Expanded Fanno Creek Clinic adds pediatrics to services
With the opening of its new addition in late July, Hillsdale's Fanno Creek Clinic has added pediatrics to its medical services.
Construction, which cost $500,000, expanded the clinic by 2500-square-feet, adding12 exam rooms to the facility.
New to the clinic's staff are pediatricians Dr. Dina Kempler and Dr. Holly Faber , who start in August, and Dr. Lisa Sullinales, who will start in October.
All three physicians are accepting new patients. Appointments can be made by calling Fanno Creek Clinic at 503-452-0915.
The Clinic at 2400 SW Vermont employs a staff of more than 50. Included in the number are 11 primary care practitioners as well as specialists in Cardiology, ENT, Gastroenterology, Psychiatry and Podiatry.
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The Date Book
Saturday, August 1, 2 p.m. - Introduction to Humanistic Judaism
All are invited to learn about a human-centered connection to Jewish culture, values and heritage. At the Hillsdale Branch Library. The free event is presented by the Kol Shalom Community for Humanistic Judaism.
Tuesday, August 4, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Willamette Park Concert
The Wicky Pickers play at the South Portland Neighborhood Association picnic. All welcome. Children's program begins at 6 p.m. Parking in the park is free for the concert.
Tuesday, August 4 - National Night Out
Several neighborhood events are planned. Here are three in HIllsdale:
* Hillsdale Terrace, 6775 SW 26th Avenue, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
* Turning Point, 6552 SW 19th Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
* Custer Park, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.. a potluck, bake sale and music jam.
Thursday, August 6 - 6 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. - Mazama evening hike
From the Hillsdale Library, exploring the cool, wooded trails up to Council Crest. Cost is $2/ person or if you are 55 or older the cost is $1. The pace is fast, going 6 to 7 miles with elevation in 2 hours, but the group makes frequent stops.
Saturday, August 8, 8 a.m. to noon - Grauer Back-to-School Project
The program at St. Luke Lutheran Church provides clothes, shoes and gear for poor kids. Donations accepted until Monday, August 3, at the church, 6835 SW 46th Avenue.
Saturday, August 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - "4-Ts" hike
SW Trails' Don Baack leads an excursion that uses the 4-Ts - trails, trolley, TriMet and Tram. Leave at 9 a.m. sharp from the Capitol Highway entrance to Wilson High School. The group will carpool to the Zoo to begin the walk. Or meet at the Zoo elevators at 9:15. Bring water.
Saturday, August 15, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. - Multnomah Day Celebration
Events throughout the day include Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast (8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.), parade (9:45 a.m. start), MAC mural painting, Kid Zone, MAC arts and crafts sale, dog wash, street music, wine and beer garden, and more music
Saturday, August 15 - SOS (Slow Our Street) garage sales
The sale raises money for constructing speed tables on Capitol Hill Road. Sales will be held along the street, which borders Custer Park.
Wednesday, August 19, 7 p.m. - Mothers' Circle
An introductory session for non-Jewish mothers who are raising their children Jewish. Mothers' Circle provides free education and support in raising a family in an unfamiliar faith. At Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol. For more information call program coordinator Caron Blau Rothstein at 246.8831 x139 or e-mail Portland@TheMothersCircle.org Also Sunday Saturday, Aug. 23, at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Flea Market and Free Acupuncture
Working Class Acupuncture is holding a flea market and free acupuncture event in its parking lot at 4410 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway. Artists, vendors and young and old creatives interested in participating call (503) 244-7525 to rent a table for $35.
Sunday, August 23, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - SW Hills Residential League Ice Cream Social
Ice cream, fun and balloons at Portland Hills Park (next to Strohecker's)
Saturday, August 29, 9 a.m. - noon - Robert Gray Community Care Day
The community is invited to help clean up the middle school grounds in preparation for school. Work gloves advised.
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Rick Seifert
Editor, Hillsdale News
(503) 245-7821
editor@hillsdalenews.org
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