Comment:
More to do
When I started the Southwest Community Connection 13 years ago, it was called, "The Hillsdale Connection."
I believed those who spoke through the little monthly paper could help define a community. I also believed that the quality of that communication would help determine the quality of our community.
Since that first issue of The Connection (now The Southwest Community Connection) this community, and community journalism here and elsewhere, have come a long way in a relatively short time.
The most profound journalistic change has been the rise of the Internet as a source of information. We have seen how various local lists have alerted communities to issues in a matter of minutes.
The intent of this new on-line publication, the Hillsdale News, is to enhance information about our community in order to maintain our progress.
Just as community journalism has changed, so too has our community. Back in July of 1994, Hillsdale had no neighborhood status. Today it is a thriving place known throughout the city. At its core is a commercial and civic Metro-designated Town Center with its own plan. Its Farmers Market has served as a model for neighborhood markets elsewhere. The Hillsdale Alliance, the sponsor of this site, is a unique organization designed to foster cooperation and communication.
While we have accomplished much in these 13 years, there is still much to do. The Hillsdale News will explore and address those challenges and mark the changes in future issues.
RS
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Links to Alliance Members
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Welcome!
Hillsdale is blessed with several sources of news, and with this first issue of the Hillsdale News, it is getting yet another through the medium of the Internet.
Because of the ease of publication and distribution, news here will be more frequent than in local print publications. The intention is not to supplant those publications, but to supplement them. Much of the content will come from member organizations of the Hillsdale Alliance.
The newsletter was created with a small city grant awarded to the Alliance through Southwest Neighbors Inc.
The hope of Alliance members is that Hillsdale News will bolster their efforts to build a thriving, creative and involved community.
The Alliance, which was founded in January 2004, is an informal group that meets quarterly in January, April, July and October. It consists of representatives from several Hillsdale organizations and institutions: the Neighborhood Association, the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association, the public schools, the Hillsdale Farmers Market, the Hillsdale Branch Library, SW Trails, the Hillsdale Neighborhood Emergency Team, Neighborhood House and Hillsdale Votes.
The newsletter's frequency of publication will vary, but it usually will appear at least two or three times a month, and often once a week. On its home page, "HillsdaleNews.org", it provides an archive of past issues and links to other neighborhood sites.
Comments and news releases relevant to the Hillsdale neighborhood are always welcomed. Please send them to editor@hillsdalenews.org
In addition to the news, is provided for commentary and brief letters regarding events here. As editor, I will occasionally offer my views.
On behalf of the Alliance members, I welcome your observations and suggestions about Hillsdale News and especially about Hillsdale itself.
Rick Seifert
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Liberty calls for fall Metro meeting in Hillsdale
 Metro Councilor Robert Liberty wants his colleagues on the elected Metro Council to hold one of their scheduled meetings in Hillsdale later this year.
Much of the meeting would be devoted to exploring how Metro, the regional government, could help Hillsdale serve as a "model town center." Liberty announced his plan for the meeting at the July 11 quarterly Hillsdale Alliance meeting.
If Liberty's request is approved, the Metro Council would likely meet in Hillsdale in October or November.
Hillsdale is one of 27 town centers in the Metro area, and community leaders here would like to explore how Hillsdale can serve as a model to help Metro control and manage growth in the region.
On June 22, leaders took Liberty, who is the elected representative from this area, on a walking tour of Hillsdale. He is shown above with HNA President Don Baack and HBPA President Mike Roach.
Lead by Baack, the group showed Liberty the site for the proposed Town Center civic plaza and the pedestrian loop that would link the library to the plaza and shops.
The group also discussed what can be done about visual blight caused by overhead wires in the town center.
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Rieke's saviors honored
The Rieke/Hillsdale team that worked for months to develop a plan to keep Rieke Elementary open has been honored as the Hillsdale "volunteers of the year."
Many were involved in the effort to save Rieke from closure, from the general community to the Rieke PTA, the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association, and the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association.
As a result of the effort, the Board of Portland Public Schools accepted a marketing plan for the school that acknowledges that Rieke is a thriving, successful program that can serve as a model to keep families in the public schools.
The award was made at a SWNI Awards Ceremony and Dinner on Monday, June 25, at the Multnomah Arts Center.
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Books pour in for July 29 Hillsdale Book Sale
When hundreds of book lovers visit the Hillsdale Benefit Book Sale, they will find a record number of books.
 The sale will be Sunday, July 29, at the old Estby gas station from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be held in conjunction with the annual Blueberry Pancake breakfast.
Volunteer Les Jevning, shown here, is leading a volunteer sorting team.
Last summer, community members donated approximately 5000 books for sale. This year organizers report they have at least 6,000. Donations for the sale took place over the past six weeks at a drop-off site at the Hillsdale Farmers Market.
Proceeds from the sale benefit Hillsdale Alliance member organizations which include Hillsdale Public schools, the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association, the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association, Neighborhood House and the Farmers Market.
Another sale may be held in early December if a site can be found for it. The old gas station is likely to be torn down this fall to make way for a new development.
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Rick Seifert
Editor, Hillsdale News
(503) 245-7821
editor@hillsdalenews.org
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