Commentary
Name with Care
 I believe in something called the public "Commons." The Commons belongs to "We, The People." We are talking about our publicly owned parks, streets, libraries, community centers and schools.
I also believe that the names we give such "commons" places should reflect where they are (eg. Hillsdale or Portland) or our values, or those who embody those values or played an important role in our history.
Thus we have the Hillsdale Branch Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Duniway Park, Naito Parkway and Grant, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Wilson High Schools.
Unfortunately, within recent years, our leaders, hard pressed for money, have begun selling off the names to civic properties to the highest bidders. The most notable sale was a replacement of the name very name "Civic," once attached to the stadium. It went to Portland General Electric and became PGE Park.
Next it became the ungainly Jeld Wen Field.
Corporations that bought the naming rights also had their names emblazoned on publicly-owned freeway exit signs. Citizens could no longer refer to the venue of a soccer game, for instance, without uttering the name of some Klamath Falls window manufacturer.
Mercifully, the selling of naming rights was never near to our Hillsdale home.
But that could end as those who seek desperately needed funds for a new Wilson High School field consider selling naming rights to the stadium.
Such consideration should be off the table.
If corporations are allowed to name the Wilson facility there's a serious question about which "names" will be welcomed. No doubt junk food firms, who target young people, will jump at the chance, just as Pepsi bought free bill-board space by "sponsoring" the scoreboards at the Southwest Community Center.
Other possible sponsors might be computer game firms ("World of Warcraft Stadium," anyone?), mobile phone or social media companies (Twitter or Facebook Field?).
Where do you draw the line?
And why did we pass a $482 million bond measure if naming rights sales are suddenly allowed? Why not simply sell off the names of all the schools? Why keep General Washington or General Grant's name when General Motors is so much more lucrative? What a waste of resources!
If private firms want to help the schools, fine. And many have, quietly. They should be thanked. Put up a plaque in some discreet location that warmly acknowledges the gift.
Corporations and citizens alike should remember that good deeds are worth doing for their own sakes. They should not be done with the expectation of receiving anything in return except better schools, an informed public or a great day in the park.
Rick Seifert, Editor/Publisher
Letters to the editor are always welcome. Write [email protected]
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John Morris warned Hillsdale neighbors about the dire aftermath of an earthquake. |
"You are on your own!"
Warning: Hurricane Sandy was nothing compared to expected Portland earthquake
Just days after Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the Northeast, a sombre John Morris rose to address a gathering at the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association on Nov. 7.
Sandy, he noted, was a mild disaster compared to the earthquake predicted for Oregon and these fractured, slide-prone West Hills of Portland.
Sandy's lesson is "expect to be on your own" when the earth trembles and shakes, warned Morris, a co-leader of Hillsdale's 14-person Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET).
The hurricane's devastation left millions without electricity. Services were out for days. In an interview Morris pointed out that three weeks after Sandy struck, thousands were still without electricity on Long Island. "It's hard to imagine," he said.
The message for Hillsdale neighbors: You could be without water, shelter, sanitation, food and electricity for a week or more, much more, after an earthquake strikes bringing with it panic-inducing aftershocks.
Using geologic records, scientists have pinpointed the very day the last massive quake hit here: Jan. 26, 1700, Morris says. That's nearly 313 years ago. The records also show that big quakes happen here every 300 to 400 years.
In short, we are due...and we are unprepared.
While the City is preparing to set up a westside emergency center in the old Sears Armory in Multnomah Village, the main center now is on the east side of the Willamette. After the big quake takes out most or all of our bridges, east and west will be largely severed, Morris says.
"Don't expect to call 911 and get help," Morris cautions. Your neighbors and emergency workers won't be of much help either. They will be looking after their own needs and simply overwhelmed.
The few people who have taken the 30-hour emergency training course here are largely doing it to prepare themselves, Morris said.
And even if they could free themselves to help others in Hillsdale, 14 volunteers can't do much to assist 7800 Hillsdale neighbors in dire need.
If there's good news, it's that Sandy may, just may, have raised public awareness of the havoc disasters can cause. But sadly, Morris says, the awareness soon disappears, "like water off a duck's back."
For information on how to prepare for an earthquake visit: www.preporegon.org
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Last year's White House holiday theme was "Shine, Give, Share"
and honored military families.
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Decking the Halls of Power
Two from Hillsdale help brighten
White House for the Holidays
"Dear Mrs. Obama" began the letter Hillsdale's Wes Risher wrote back in mid-August.
That letter resulted in Risher and his partner, Chris Schwarz, boarding a plane on Thanksgiving Day, and embarking on a festive mission in the nation's capital.
The mission? Decorate the White House for the holidays and for the crowds of visitors who will come there.
On Friday, Wes and Chris were scheduled to be up at 6:30 a.m. in Washington D.C. for a trip to a warehouse in Maryland where they will work with about 130 other volunteers preparing the decorations.
On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, they all report to the White House proper where the decorating will be guided by the First Lady and her staff. On Wednesday, Wes and Chris, along with two friends, are invited to a holiday reception at the newly adorned White House.
For the rest of us, the decorators' handiwork will be on display on the Home and Garden TV channel's special White House Christmas. The link showing last year's decorations is HERE.
The schedule for this year's HGTV presentation is HERE.
The tradition of inviting volunteers to decorate the White House began with Pat Nixon, Wes notes. It offers carefully-screened citizen volunteers the chance to festoon the White House in full holiday regalia.
In an interview just before departure, Wes was understandably excited about the trip. He speculated that the mood at the White House will be all the more festive in light of November's election results.
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Funds sought for Wilson field upgrade slated for next yearWilson High School has undertaken an ambitious plan to raise $1.2 million to improve its grid iron with artificial turf.
To date, the committee promoting the effort, which started its work in June, has raised $8,800. That amount will be combined with $77,000 in seed money from the School District, said Erica Meyers, the school's business manager, who is the fund-raising committee's secretary.
The Wilson Fields Improvement Project Committee, a subcommittee of the Wilson Boosters, would like construction to begin next May.Those interested in contributing volunteer time or money to the effort should visit the web site, http://wilsonfields.org/WilsonField.html.  The artificial turf will allow the field to be used year-round by Wilson football, lacrosse and soccer teams and PE classes as well as by other sports groups who would rent the facility. Meyers said that Bridlemile and Foothills soccer clubs, which suffer from a shortage of fields, have shown interest in helping fund the project.
The committee also hopes that well-known alumni might make a "substantial" contribution in exchange for naming rights to the stadium. The Wilson committee hasn't spoken to any corporations about naming rights but it is being considered, Meyers said.
The Wilson field now has a natural turf which requires high maintenance and fallow times for reseeding.
Reseeding shortens the time the field can be used. "The new turf will make the field pretty much available 24 hours of the day," Meyers said.
By renting the field to community groups and youth leagues, the school will be able to build up a surface replacement fund. The expected life-span of the artificial turf is 10 to 12 years.
Roosevelt, Cleveland and Lincoln high schools have already replaced their fields with artificial turf, Meyers said.
As an incentive to donors, NIke and the City of Portland are partnering with the school district to provide funds as the committee nears its fundraising goal. Nike is not seeking naming rights, Meyers said.
The committee is also considering selling bricks for a plaza to be built near the big W at the southeast end of the field.
The new field is seen as the first phase of a series of athletic facility improvements. A later phase could replace the well-worn, much used Rieke soccer field's artificial turf.
Funding for the project was included in a school bond measure that was defeated in the spring. When the measure was revised to seek less money, the athletic field money was dropped. The new $482 million measure was approved by voters early in November.
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Meet your Neighborhood Association board
 | | The HNA meets the first Wednesday of every month. The volunteer board members pictured here are Duane Hunting, VP and Land-use Chair; Mikal Apenes, President; Robert Hamilton, Sheila Greenlaw-Fink, Glenn Bridger, Transportation Chair; Corinne Paulson, Lynn Rossing, Secretary; Carolyn Raz, SWNI Representative; Peter DeCrescenzo. Absent:Don Baack, Treasurer. See listing below for December's meeting. |
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Date Book
December 2, 9, 21 & 24
Community Church Christmas events
All events at the Hillsdale Community Church, UCC, 6948 SW Capitol Hwy Sunday, December 2, 10:30 a.m. Spontaneous Christmas Pageant, Christmas Story, caroles. All ages. Sunday, December 9, 6:30 p.m. Glitter and Glorias: Christmas Dessert Concert. Tickets $6, available in at the church office (open weekdays 10-2) or by calling (503) 246-5474. Friday, December 21, 7:00 p.m. Longest Night: A service of healing and hope on the longest night of the year. Quiet music, time for silence, candle lighting and prayer. Monday, December 24, 11 p.m. Christmas Eve Festival of Lessons and Carols Sunday, Dec. 2
Swing Band at the Watershed
4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Watershed Community Room, 6388 SW Capitol Highway. Swing Into Solstice with the Minidoka Swing Band. Open House. Free. Monday, Dec. 3
Friends of Terwilliger Open House
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fulton Park Community Center, 68 Miles Street. Open House with hor d'oeuvres and refreshments. Display about parkway history. Review of accomplishments and challenges.
Wednesday, Dec. 5
Neighborhood Association visioning
7 p.m. St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 2201 SW Vermont St. Updating HNA's Action Plan, setting priorities for new sidewalks, pedestrian and bike trails, parks and green spaces. All are welcome to attend. Saturday, Dec. 8
Free dinner at St. Barnabas Church
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., St. Barnabas Church, 2201 SW Vermont St. Meet your neighbors and enjoy a free dinner. Second Saturday of every month. Sunday, Dec. 16
Food Park Holiday Celebration
At Wilson High School's Capitol Highway entrance. Craft sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Santa 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., sing-along 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free chai, soup and baklava. Thursday, Dec. 20
Third Thursday last-minute-shopping
Hillsdale shops open late. Sales events, live Music. Trail of balloons lead to participating businesses . For a full schedule go to www.hillsdalemainstreet.orgMORE...
Neighborhood House's English as a Second Language program needs financial and volunteer support to work with adult students needing reading and writing help, and with assisting learning activities for young children who accompany their parents to the class. To learn more or to contribute please contact Mari Yerger, Development Director, at 503-246-1663 x2119 or email at [email protected]Portland Parks and Recreation offers several classes for Seniors (55 and older) Among the subjects are health and fitness, computer skills, music and dance, genealogy, activities to boost brain power, writing, arts & crafts, hiking, home & garden, and multiculturalism. Info on upcoming classes and registration can be found on the Portland Parks & Recreation Senior Recreation by going to the website or calling PP&R Senior Recreation at 503-823-4328. Rieke Elementary School has been nominated for Clorox's "Power a Bright Future" grant. The school's EcoThink Club asks you to vote on-line to support the nomination. The deadline is Dec. 12. Go to the website HERE. The $50,000 grant would help pay for an outdoor education facility, a community garden, an age-appropriate playground, and a bike shelter. The Golden Ticket Program Is back for the Holidays. Shop at a participating business in Multnomah Village or Hillsdale and receive a Golden Ticket. Use the Golden Ticket to redeem rewards at other participating businesses. The rewards program ends December 31.
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