Comment:
Readership growth
Two issues ago I shared ambitious plans for growing the readership of this publication. At the time, the Hillsdale News had 30 readers signed up to receive it. My goal was to double the number with each new issue until circulation neared 500.
As I write this, 113 of you will receive issue #4, so I'm nearly on pace with my doubling. Of course the doubling targets become more difficult as numbers grow. I doubt that after only two more issues, we will have hit the mark of 480.
That said, I signed up 40 newcomers to this issue in the Hillsdale Farmers Market on Sunday, August 26. I enjoyed chatting with folks and having them add their names to the subscribers' list. Many more took my card and said they would consider signing up on-line at the web site, hillsdalenews.org.
I hope to set up the table again in late September and into October.
Once the Hillsdale News' circulation nears 500, I will invite businesses to place small ads here to help pay for the costs of maintaining the newsletter and its web site. I haven't decided on rates, but they shouldn't be more than $5 an issue and will likely be available to only a handful of local advertisers.
Rick Seifert
Editor
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Links to Alliance Members
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Mayor welcomes Rieke students
back to school
Mayor Tom Potter and Interim School Superintendent Ed Schmitt
(right) were on hand to welcome Rieke Elementary School students to the first day of classes, Wednesday, Sept. 5.
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Hillsdale plans agenda
for Metro Council
For the past year, architect and planner Mark Seder has been working on innovative designs for a Hillsdale Plaza. This rendering shows solar panel shelters and retractible canopies for the year-round Hillsdale Farmers Market. During the week, the market site would serve as a covered parking lot.
For more of Mark's drawings go to the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association web site
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A Hillsdale vision list is taking shape in preparation for a Metro Council meeting scheduled at Wilson High School on Thursday, Nov. 29.
Community leaders have identified more than 40 tasks or projects to put before the regional government councilors.
Hillsdale is one of 27 Metro-designated Town Centers, which are commercial and residential core communities with exceptional transit service.
Recently Hillsdale has been accepted by both Metro and the City of Portland as being a "model" Town Center, in part because of its record of community organizing and involvement.
The list of topics for the Metro meeting falls under nine broad headings: community events, a Commons/Civic Plaza, transportation, schools, housing, aesthetics, revenue, expenditure and implementation.
As an example, community events sub-topics so far include:
Concerts
Clean-ups
Games
Book sales
Food events
Those interested in refining, developing and preparing the topics for the Metro presentation should contact HNA president Don Baack, and Rick Seifert of the Hillsdale Alliance.
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Fountain, sign on Watershed's wish list
The new Watershed Senior Housing project has struggled to stretch its dollars in light of the world-wide building boom, which has driven up materials and labor costs.
The cost of the new building, to open in mid-November is now put at $11.5 million, up from early estimates of $9 million, said Martin Soloway, project manager for the developers, Community Partners for Affordable Housing.
As a result, CPAH is looking to the community for help with three attractive, but non-essential amenities - a glowing solar-powered tower light, a solar back-lit, vertical "Hillsdale" marquee, and an outdoor drinking fountain.
Community leaders are waiting for costs estimates, but, with some help from community organizations and individual donors, funds for at least two of the project are likely available.
Ted Coonfield of the Hillsdale Farmers Market, Wes Risher of the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association, and Rick Seifert of the Hillsdale Alliance and the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association are taking the lead in exploring funding options.
In addition, CPAH is looking for funds to pay for ceiling fans in the Watershed's 51 living units, extra landscaping and a plaza canopy, said Soloway.
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Wilson High's business load shifted to manager
Wilson High School Principal Sue Brent is getting a huge load lifted off her shoulders with the arrival of Erica Meyers as school business manager.
Meyers is one of four business managers hired under a one-year, $250,000 pilot program sponsored by Nike. Wilson, Lincoln, Franklin and Jefferson are the sites of the program.
With Meyer overseeing Wilson's operational needs )everything from room scheduling to maintenance), Brent is free to focus on the academic program.
The idea of school business managers originated in England, explained Meyers, who has a masters in education and a bachelors in child and family development. Prior to being hired by the school district to manage Wilson's business, she was the director of a Kindercare school in Northwest Portland.
Meyers said that after the pilot program ends next spring, she hopes her contribution will lead to a permanent business manager's slot at the school.
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Short Takes
Robert Gray School wants your old computer
Robert Gray Middle School started the new year with a spruce up from the community - but it could use some more help.
The school is grateful to the 50 volunteers from the community and the congregation of the Portland Christian Church for working on the school grounds on "Community Care Day," Saturday, Aug. 25, reports Principal Larry Dashiell.
To install an additional computer lab at the school, Dashiell is calling on the community for unneeded computers and flat-screen monitors. The computers should have Pentium 3 chips or above with a minimum 512mb.
Call Dashiell at (503) 916-5676 to make your donation.
Hillsdale Neighborhood Association invites grant project ideas
The deadline for grant applications for SWNI-administered grants to neighborhood groups is Nov. 1, and Hillsdale is looking for fundable ideas. The small grants range in size from $200 to $2000. If you would like to submit a project for funding through the neighborhood association, contact Don Baack.
Disaster Fair planned
A fair planned by the Fulton Park Community Center won't be a disaster. It'll be about one - and how to plan for it.
The Center's Front Stoop Project, an emergency preparedness fair, will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the center, 68 SW Miles St.
The Portland Office of Emergency Management, utilities and the police and fire bureaus will be present to help you prepare, "just in case."
The name "Front Stoop Project" comes from New Orleans' Katrina experience. Marsha Weber, one of the Fulton Park organizers, said that following Katrina, the front stoops of gutted houses became gathering places for displaced citizens. On the stoops residents shared information about who needed help and who could provide it.
For more information, contact Marsha Weber (503) 244-5017 or e-mail her at mannwe@juno.com
Three Square Grill shifts to nighttime service
After 12 years serving dinner five nights a week, Hillsdale's Three Square Grill is now open every evening.
The restaurant in the Hillsdale Shopping Center is dropping week-day lunch although the Sunday brunch will return Sept. 23.
Upgraded OLCC licensing will allow serving mixed drinks.
Adkins backs Measure 49
Ruth Adkins, our area's newly elected Portland School Board member and a Hillsdale Neighbor, is urging the passage of Measure 49 on the November ballot.
She describes the measure as a fix of Measure 37.
"Measure 49 will allow people to build up to three homes on their property but will prevent the big developments that voters didn't realize would come about as a result of Measure 37," she said.
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Rick Seifert
Editor, Hillsdale News
(503) 245-7821
editor@hillsdalenews.org
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