2010 Hillsdale News FLAG
Issue #79
Posted Jan. 23, 2011
 
Founded 2007
Also in This Issue
· Designs for Hillsdale
* Main Street's Launch party
* Food Front gets new marketing chief
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Commentary

If you have a problem, be part of the solution


Olympia Typewriter
Sitting at a Main Street board meeting recently, I thought about how all the people NOT in the room might react to what was being discussed.

In short, I was thinking about what's called "the public review process."

As far as I could tell, Hillsdale's Main Street has no public review process.

And that's when I had my "Daniel Kemmis moment."

Let me explain.

Daniel Kemmis was the mayor of Missoula, Montana, and wrote an influential little book, "Community and the Politics of Place." It's about leadership and citizen involvement as Kemmis practiced it. As mayor, Kemmis actually welcomed dissent because it was a sign of interest - usually passionate interest.

His attitude was that if critics had a problem with a particular proposal, it was time for them to become involved in finding the solution. In short, everyone - pro or con - had to "own" the issue and pitch in to solve it.

With Main Street, involvement is an assumption even before any problem arises. In short, if you are interested in one of Main Street's five programs (or anything they relate to) you're advised to get involved up front. Each program has a volunteer committee with open membership. (The committees are design, promotion, sustainability, operations and economic revitalization.)

And if you have a problem with what a committee is doing, sign on to the committee.

Let me give you an example. At the particular meeting I attended, a co-chair of the design committee reported that a potential candidate for spending $20,000 to improve Hillsdale is a landscape project near the mid-block, pedestrian crossing (that's the one between the Key Bank and Food Front.)

Maybe you think that's not the best way to spend $20,000 to improve Hillsdale. Or perhaps you think that the project might interfere with other potential transportation improvements.

Kemmis and Main Street's response is to invite you to join the committee.

(A corollary is that if you like what you hear but see that it requires more volunteer help, join the committee.)

Your potential involvement means paying attention to what's happening. That's where this little publication comes in. It has roughly 550 subscribers. There are probably 5000 adults who live in Hillsdale. Many of them don't track events in this community. And even if they did, they might not care about landscaping along Capitol Highway, or, more likely, they don't have the time to care.

But my guess is that you, because you are reading this, do care - and may have the time to put that caring to work.

You will find two Main Street articles in this issue. If you find yourself reacting to them, for good or for bad, it could be a signal to get involved.

If you want to find out how to do that, show up at the Hillsdale Main Street "launch" celebration on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Key Bank.

    Rick Seifert, Editor/Publisher

Letters to the editor are always welcome. Write [email protected]
Links to Hillsdale organizations


Expansion and upgrading work start soon

 

Burlingame Fred Meyer

to close over summer


By Valeurie Friedman

Burlingame Fred Meyer store will close for four months, from May 2 to September 2, to allow for a long-planned renovation and expansion of the building, constructed in 1950.

Earlier plans called for the grocery section of the store to remain open during construction.
Freddie's rendering 1
Changes feature more windows

"The major reason we are closing is the safety of employees and customers," said Bob Currey-Wilson, Fred Meyer vice-president for real estate. Closing the store is also expected to shorten the construction timeline from one year to six months.

Starting in mid-February a portion of the lower parking garage will be closed when demolition begins on the former Burger King restaurant in upper parking lot.

The original '50s-era sign on Barbur Boulevard will stay.

The pharmacy will take up temporary quarters at the  former Hollywood Video site, 7461 SW Barbur Boulevard, and possibly be joined by Chase Bank, a tenant in the current store.

Except for the store closure, Currey-Wilson said the plans for the scope of the $19 million remodel have not changed: the size of the store will increase from 76,000 square feet to 91,000 square feet, allowing room for more merchandise.

Freddie's rendering 2
Concave squares define the ceiling
Plans call for energy-saving and environmentally friendly upgrades and increased daylight from new storefront windows and skylights. A press release promises "significant upgrades to the intersection near the Burger King and the sidewalk around the south end of the store."

The 170 employees will be temporarily transferred to other Fred Meyer stores.

The announcement brought varied reactions in Hillsdale.

John Conlin, Hillsdale Food Front manager, sees the closure as "a great chance for us to introduce ourselves to a lot of people looking for a new place to shop," he said.

Conlin plans to present items that Fred Meyer customers will recognize, at a competitive price. He hopes that once they learn that the Food Front mission extends beyond the simple question "What's for dinner?" they will keep coming back.

For many Hillsdale inhabitants, it will mean inconvenience and learning some new shopping habits.

Neighborhood House organizes a volunteer shuttle that provides transportation to Burlingame
Freddie's renderin 3
Check-out counters face windows
Fred Meyer for residents of The Watershed, which provides rent subsidized housing. Watershed manager Saretta Wool said the service will continue, but the destination will be the Raleigh Hills store instead.

The closure "will definitely impact my life" said Freddie's customer Sharon Meieran. "I go there virtually every day for something I find I need at the last minute."

Others shrug and figure they'll just go further down the road and visit the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyer, or increase their trips to Food Front, New Seasons, or switch over to Albertson's.

Still others look forward to giving a remodeled Freddie's renewed consideration. Hillsdale resident Dan Jenkins said, "We don't shop there now, but maybe we will after the work is done."

Greening Capitol
The "greening" of Capitol is one of two Hillsdale Main Street design candidates.
Roof over new bike plaza considered too

 
    Main Street team wants to "green" Capitol


Hillsdale Main Street's "launch" on Feb. 10 (see story in this issue) should come with a splash by mid-year.

All five of the organization's committees met January 18 and 19 to plan specific projects designed to at least start by June.

More than 40 volunteers from the committees (sustainability, economic restructuring, organization, promotion and design) gathered at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center to hammer out priority projects and then plot tasks and timelines to achieve them.

The agendas for the session were part of the National Main Street organization's established mandates for local Main Street programs. The Portland Development Commission (PDC) oversees the City's three designated Main Street efforts, in Hillsdale, St. John's and North Alberta.

The Hillsdale Main Street committee with the most visible projects, and most expensive, is the design committee.

It is considering a vegetation project to "green" Capitol Highway and a project that would   put a roof over part of the new plaza taking shape between the Food Front Cooperative and Baker & Spice.

In mid-March, the Main Street board will decide which project to pursue from each of the five committees.

The design committee has $20,000, by far the largest block of money, to spend in the fiscal year ending June 30. Sustainability has $5,000 and promotion has $3,000. The three committees, which have cadres of active volunteers, are inviting more help from the community.

The "greening" project at key "corners" along Capitol Highway would help visually unite the north and south sides of the commercial center and soften the appearance of the street, say its advocates.
Design committee plaza roof
Plaza roof would cover walkway.

Benches might be added at bus stops and concrete would be removed next to street trees to make room for shrubs, said Richard Garfinkle, the Main Street board member who acts as liaison on the design committee. Dying street trees would be replaced with the help of Friends of Trees.

Much of the project's cost would be maintenance. Garfinkle hopes the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association will help pay for watering in the summer months. The association presently helps to install and maintain Hillsdale's hanging flower baskets, which have become an anticipated fixture in the commercial district.

The roof project, which could cost double the $20,000 available from the PDC, would result in a covered walkway between Food Front and Baker & Spice, two popular Hillsdale destinations.

The design committee, which has an open membership, has about a dozen members, said Garfinkle. Two are designers, three are landscape architects and three are architects.

Garfinkle said that the committee also has other projects in the wings should problems arise with either of the two under most active consideration. A fallback is improving commercial lighting in Hillsdale.

Garfinkle, a Hillsdale orthodontist, has long been active in improving the Hillsdale Town Center and has been troubled by the slow pace of past change.

He doesn't anticipate delays with Main Street. The public should see "something happen" by mid-June, he said. "Everyone's feet are to the fire," he added. "Main Street has standards of performance and organizational tools for implementation. Things are actually moving."

A family-friendly embarkation

Main Street "launch" features mix of free events

How do you "launch" a street? Or, to be exact, Hillsdale's new Main Street program.

Cue the hand masseuses, the face painters and the Kung Fu instructors.

If you show up for the launch on Thursday, Feb. 10, you'll be able to dip truffles in chocolate (at SweetWares), have your face painted (at Paint Pots), taste wine (at Key Bank, courtesy of Korkage and at Food Front), nibble mini-kabobs (at Food Front), get a hand massage (at Salon Dirk Hair Color) and learn about the dental implications of cleft palate corrective surgery (from Hillsdale's Dr. Judah Garfinkle).

Some shops, like Second to None were still pondering their activity as this issue went to press. The children's shop is considering Valentine making for kids.

The wildly eclectic launch will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Hillsdale's Capitol Highway commercial center. The Launching Pad, so to speak, will be Hillsdale's Key Bank, which is contributing its space and funds to sponsor the event.

The idea behind the launch is to celebrate the five-pronged Hillsdale's Main Street Program, which is supported by the Portland Development Commission. Members of the Hillsdale Community Foundation raised $30,000 locally to help qualify Hillsdale for the designation.

Another $8,000 needs to be raised before April 1.

The program, with its matching money from the city, allowed local business and neighborhood leaders to hire a full-time Main Street executive director, Suzan Poisner.

Poisner called the Launch a "family-friendly event" for the entire community.
"It's designed to help residents understand the full range of services in our commercial Center," she said.

And, she added, it's all free.


Food Front names new marketing chief

Community outreach for Food Front Cooperative's two stores has a new manager. Jessica Miller.

In early December Miller took over the job of Marketing Outreach director from Tom Mattox, who had helped establish the Food Front store in
Jessica Miller
Friends have left tributes.
Hillsdale in 2008.

Miller, who was born in Hawaii but grew up in Lake Oswego, is a 2004 graduate of the University of Oregon. She comes to Food Front after working in marketing at Cond� Nast Publications in Los Angeles, OregonLive.com and Jimmy Lewis Surfboards. She most recently worked at OHSU as a dietary host.

In an interview, she noted the importance of the HIllsdale Food Front as the commercial hub of the Hillsdale Town Center. She stressed the importance of Food Front's working closely with other businesses to determine their needs and to do cross-promotional events like "Hillsdale Has It" Days.

Food Front also wants to emphasize how the store supports local suppliers and the Hillsdale Farmers Market, she said. Health and good nutrition are other marketing themes she wants to emphasize.

Miller will be on the promotions committee of the the Hillsdale Main Street program. During Mattox's tenure as Food Front marketing director, he chaired the committee.

 

Food Front seeks new board members


If you are a Food Front Cooperative member,  Food Front board members want you to consider joining them.

The board is enlisting candidates, particularly those with seven to 10 hours a month to serve and who have a background in business, operational or financial management.

Those interested should come to a board dinner meeting. The next one is Monday, Jan. 24, at the Holiday Inn Express in NW Portland, 2333 Northwest Vaughn Street. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.
 
February's dinner meeting is Monday, Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. in Hillsdale at the Watershed Building, Bertha Court and Capitol Highway.

DATE BOOK

 Tuesday, Jan. 25

 
Movie night: 'Ingredients'


 

6 p.m. Hillsdale Branch Library. A documentary about Portland's local food movement. The film features the Hillsdale Farmers Market and is the first in a series sponsored by Food Front. Dates for others to be announced. Free.

 
 

Wednesday, Jan. 26 
 

Rieke Kindergarten Round-up
 

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rieke Elementary School. Parents of prospective kindergarteners are invited to meet the principal and teachers and to tour the school. 


 

Thursday, Jan. 27 
 

SW Trails meets to choose priority projects
 

 

7 p.m. St. Luke Lutheran Church, 6835 SW 46th Ave., conference room. Topic: Where should Federal funds be spent on pedestrian and bike improvements in Southwest Portland?


Wednesday, Feb. 2 
 

Hillsdale Neighborhood Association

7 p.m. St. Barnabas Church, 2201 SW Vermont. Topics include public safety update, emergency training and bike safety on Barbur Boulevard.
 

 

 

Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5


 

Book Sale for Wilson graduating seniors
 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Lukes' Church, 6835 SW 46th Ave. Proceeds support graduation party.
 

Saturday, Feb. 5 & Sunday Feb. 6
 

            Styrofoam recycling at Rieke

 
9 a.m. to Noon on Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to collecting Styrofoam, Green Teams for Rieke, Hayhurst and Maplewood elementary schools will show how to recycle household plastics. Recology, a recycling company, will see that collected Styrofoam is reprocessed. Donations appreciated. For more information contact Cindy Eldkrona, [email protected].

 

Sunday, Feb. 6
 

Lion Dancers welcome Chinese New Year
 

11 a.m., Hillsdale Farmers Market. Parade by the Mo Duk Pai Lion Dance Team will dance from the market to Food Front. Students from Hillsdale's Westside Academy of Kung Fu will perform.
 

Tuesday, Feb. 8 
 

Landslide Risk Reduction
 

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. OHSU, Old Library Auditorium, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road. A discussion with experts on landslide risk reduction. Sponsored by the Portland Office of Emergency Management, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and several neighborhood associations.


 

Thursday, Feb. 10 
 

                     Main Street 'Launch' Night

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Key Bank and various Hillsdale businesses. Numerous family-friendly events. See story above. Free.


 

Thursdays, every week


 

Southwest Portland Historical Center 
 

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. History Center, 2929 SW Multnomah Boulevard, Room 107. Visitors and volunteers welcomed. For more information, visit www.multnomahhistorical.com or phone (503) 893-5549.