2010 Hillsdale News FLAG
Issue #101
Posted January 26, 2012 
Also in This Issue
* Ex-SWNI manager sentenced
* Local doc wants soda tax
* Bus service could be cut

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Commentary

How about a credit union and a bank?

 

Olympia TypewriterA few weeks back I wrote a commentary that suggested Chase Bank is too big to succeed in Hillsdale.

I'm still waiting for the big Wall Street bank to prove me wrong. They have an outside chance, but to seize it the bank has a lot of catch-up  work to do to win back any good will they thought they had here.

Sending Seattle-based vice presidents for whirlwind visits doesn't cut it. Nor does the deafening silence and stonewalling community leaders get in response to inquiries.

Meanwhile, more than 500 of us have signed a petition opposing a Chase branch in the Town Center. We'll present the signatures in person and with fanfare, when, and if, Chase files an application for a building permit. So far they haven't, according to city officials.

We're hoping that the alternative plan of having a credit union here can move forward.

Thanks to the Chase fiasco, we have learned is that there is tremendous interest in a credit union in Hillsdale. In financial industry marketing jargon, we are considered a "credit union desert."

We are also bank-saturated with five banks (two in the Town Center and three on Barbur - one of which is the Chase branch at Burlingame Fred Meyer.)

I'm not averse to compromise and intriguing innovation. So how about this? What if we put a Chase branch AND a credit union on the now vacant lot next to Baskin Robbins? Let people vote with their deposits. Who knows, maybe both institutions will thrive. Or perhaps the competition will result in the survival of the most community-minded.

Let the better financial institution win. That would answer the original question: Is Chase too big to succeed in Hillsdale?

 

Amplifying News 

 

You may not realize it but among the 700 readers of the Hillsdale News are reporters who amplify stories written here. That means that stories that appear in The News often end up reaching Oregonian and Southwest Community Connection readers as well as television outlets. That's all to the good. The more people find out about Hillsdale happenings, the better.

  

Kissed by a Pitbull


I don't know what you are planning for Valentine's Day, but I have on my list going down to the new Tr� Bone pet supply store to be kissed by a Pitbull. The novel event is part of the store's grand opening.  


We've shrunk 


Your eyes aren't deceiving you. This issue of the News is narrower so that it is easier to read on your screen and so that it can be printed out on standard 8 1/2 X 11 paper.

 

    Rick Seifert, Editor/Publisher

 

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

Hungry? You have 28 choices....

Hillsdale has a bounteous menu of eateries

The Golden Touch has been in business 30 years on HIllsdale's southwest fringe.
The inaugural issue of the monthly Hillsdale Main Street newsletter shared a surprising statistic.
The Main Street district along and near SW Capitol Highway in Hillsdale, has a jaw-dropping, salivation-inducing 17 places to eat or pick-up ready-to-eat food.

Who knew?

But there are more places than that if you move
beyond the Town Center but remain in Hillsdale.

Just beyond the Main Street district are Seasons & Regions, The Chart House, Fred Meyer, Baja Fresh, La Costita, The Crab Bowl, The Golden Touch, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Starbucks, New York New York and Norm's Chinese Garden.
Fryer Tuck
Fryer Tuck's location, and fame, belongs to Multnomah, not Hillsdale.

That's a total menu of 28 eating establishments in the Hillsdale neighorhood.

And no, we didn't overlook Fryer Tuck's and the Cider Mill Lounge at "Hoot Owl Corner." The corner is in the Multnomah neighborhood. But that's another story.

Here is the Main Street list: Verde Cocina, Sasquatch Brewing. Papa Johns, Noah's Bagels, Pizzicato, Food Front, Baker & Spice, Starbucks, Three Square Grill, Subway, Baskin Robbins, City Thai Cuisine, Casa Colima, Jade Dragon, Hillsdale Brewery & Public, House, Salvador Molly's, Hillsdale Farmers Market

 

RS 

Total loss put at $160,000

Ex-SWNI manager sentenced in theft case 

Virginia Stromer, Southwest Neighborhood Inc.'s former operations manager, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison for embezzling $130,000 from the agency.

On Friday, January 20, Judge Youlee Yim You of the Multnomah County Circuit Court handed down the sentence, which includes an additional 60 months of supervised post-prison probation.

Stromer, 62, has begun serving time at the Coffee Creek Correctional facility, said Sylvia Bogert, SWNI's executive director.

SWNI is the umbrella coalition for Southwest Portland neighborhood associations and business associations.

Bogert said that the agency is out approximately $160,000 including contributed volunteer time and various legal and accounting fees associated with the case.

Stromer, who worked at the agency 15 years, was convicted of 11 felony counts of "theft by deception" and has been ordered to pay complete financial restitution to SWNI. Bogert said that full restitution could be "hard to get."

Bogert became suspicious of Stromer in October 2010 when a SWNI check was returned for insufficient funds. Notified of the discrepancy by phone, Stromer never returned to the office and, after charges were filed, eventually turned herself in to authorities. She pled guilty last November.

Asked whether insurance covered any of the loss, Bogert said that was "confidential" information, but she did say that the direct loss to the agency after negotiations over insurance claims was $160,000. SWNI's policy is with Philadelphia Insurance Company.

SWNI's board agreed with the District Attorney's office that Stromer should serve prison time for her crime. The board recommended against community service, said Bogert. "It would be placing other community members at risk."

Just prior to Stromer's court sentencing appearance, SWNI's treasurer gave Stromer her final paycheck, which she had never picked up, and her vacation allowance. The total came to $3,367. At the sentencing she was invited to sign the two checks over to SWNI, which she did. She also paid $10,000 restitution, Bogert said.

Stromer expressed remorse and confessed she had a shopping addiction for which she sought therapy, said Bogert.
 
Bogert said SWNI has now put in place new financial policies and procedures that put "multiple eyes on every transaction."

Current SWNI Board Chair Marianne Fitzgerald said that the agency used payroll savings to make up for the loss.  She added that Bogert worked unpaid overtime, and volunteers pitched in at the office.
 
As operations manager, Stromer managed SWNI's books and prepared monthly financial statements and reports. She also wrote checks, some of which were written to herself.
 
Reviewing Stromer's reports, Bogert and others never detected anything was wrong - until the bounced check. Because audits are expensive, because the books balanced and because of trust placed in Stromer, no audit was ever performed in all those years, Bogert said.

Investigators found evidence of embezzlement going back to 2006.

RS  
Money for physical education, jobs

Hillsdale doctor leads effort to put soda tax on November ballot

Dr. Gregg Coodley, the co-founder of Hillsdale's Fanno Creek Clinic, practices health both at his clinic and in the public arena.

In his patients' health issues, he sees causes in the society at large. He looks for ways to address both.
Soda on shelf
Each fluid ounce could net a penny in tax revenue for jobs and youth fitness.


In the past Coodley has pushed a plan to pay for health insurance for uninsured children in Portland public schools. The clinic has funded jobs to hire the unemployed to work in the community. In 2010 his clinic offered free pediatrics services at the clinic for two and a half months.

Now he is promoting a way to help the economy by putting a one-cent per fluid ounce surcharge on soft drinks and sugary juices. The $35 million raised each year would pay for an estimated 4000 jobs in the county, fund salaries for physical education teachers and support after-school and summer physical education programs.

But first he and paid signature gatherers must get 17,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot next November. And, if he succeeds, voters will have to approve the initiative.

The beverage industry is already weighing in against the measure, Coodley says.

The per bottle fee is also expected to lessen demand for sugary drinks, a prime cause of childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

The money raised to address the high unemployment rate will also serve Coodley's goal of improving health. He says that unemployment carries numerous health consequences including substance abuse, stress and depression. Often the unemployed are uninsured or are forced to pay higher premiums.

For more about the effort to get the initiative on the ballot, go to  http://www.everyoneworksmultco.com/

RS

#55 Hamilton and #45 Garden home eyed

 TriMet looks for ways to address big budget shortfall 

Faced with a $12 million to $17 million TriMet budget shortfall, the public transportation agency wants the public to comment on various options to address the challenge.

If you go to trimet.org/choices, you will be led through the options. The on-line survey is closed, but there will be an open house Wednesday, Feb. 15, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the
Portland Building, Room C, 1120 SW 5th Ave. where you can comment.

 Donald Rhodes, TriMet marketing representative, says that "everything is on the table" for possible cost-saving measures.

Of particular interest to Hillsdale TriMet users is the reduction of "low-performing bus service with lines that serve less than 15 riders per vehicle hour. Included in that category, said Rhodes, are lines 55-Hamilton and 45-Garden Home.

TriMet is researching who rides, when they ride and for what purpose to assist with the decision-making.
  
Rhodes can be reached at (503) 962-6455.
Date Book

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Sunset Sidewalk meeting

6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Hillsdale Branch Library. Discussion with City transportation officials about the alignment of a proposed sidewalk on Sunset Boulevard between Dewitt and SW 18th drive.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Hillsdale Neighborhood Association Meeting

7 p.m. St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 2201 SW Vermont. Hillsdale Neighborhood Association monthly meeting. Sunset sidewalk update. The latest on Chase Bank's plans for a Hillsdale branch. Open Board meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 2

The condition of our schools

7 p.m. Wilson High School. Portland Public Schools Chief Operating Officer C.J. Sylvester and Director of Facilities Tony Magliano report on the condition of school district buildings, talk about research on the relationship between building conditions and student achievement, and provide an overview of seismic, accessibility and related financial issues, as well as answer questions.

Friday, Feb. 3

Family Kung Fu movie, event
for Fulton Park Center


4 p.m. movie, 5:45 p.m. Kung Fu demonstration, Fulton Park Community Center.  Family Kung Fu movie and martial arts demonstration.  All-age events include a Lion Dance performance by Westside Academy of Kung Fu. Free. In support of keeping the Fulton Park Center open.

Saturday, Feb. 4

Usual Suspects "sweep" up the Town Center

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Food Front "veranda." Put in an hour's worth of Town Center litter patrolling with your "trash talking" neighbors. Treats after courtesy of Food Front.

Sunday, Feb. 5

Styrofoam recycling drop-off

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in lot just east of Baskin Robbins, 6361 SW Capitol Highway. Rieke and Maplewood Green Teams together with Hillsdale Main Street will collect Styrofoam. Suggested donations are $5 for a trash bag, $10 for a car, $15 - $25 for larger truckloads (to cover transportation and processing).  Additional donations to help the Green Teams are welcome.  Volunteers invited.
Contacts: Cindy Eldkrona from Reike [email protected], or SW Watershed Resource Center (503) 823-2862, [email protected]


Wednesday, Feb. 8

Rieke Kindergarten Round-up

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rieke Elementary School gym. For prospective kindergarden students for the Fall of 2012. Meet the teachers, tour the classrooms and learn about Kindergarten. Childcare will be provided. Call the the school to reserve a spot. (503) 916-5768. If you are unable to attend, inform the Rieke office to expect your child in Kindergarten this Fall.