Views of the News
Time to let transit planners know what you think The route chosen for High Capacity Transit in Southwest Portland will shape of Hillsdale's future.
It's as simple as that.
The transit corridor extends from downtown Portland to Tualatin. If all goes according to plan, in 15 years Light Rail or large, articulated buses on dedicated lanes, will serve the area.
In the next few weeks public officials will be making decisions that will narrow the route options. They are asking to hear from you about what you prefer.
To let them know, go HERE and follow the link in the prominent "What do you think?" box. It takes about 10 minutes to answer the major questions. It is time well spent. The site will remain open through Friday, April 25, so don't delay. Specifically, the questionnaire invites you to indicate whether Light Rail or Bus Rapid Transit should serve the Hillsdale Town Center or skirt it by going down Barbur. Hillsdale leaders are on record as wanting a Hillsdale stop. They worry that without a Hillsdale station, our commercial center could become a "backwater." Also of note is that three important meetings about the Southwest Transit Corridor are being held at the Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Highway) in the next few days. The first is a SWNI (Southwest Neighborhoods Inc.) forum featuring key public officials from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29. An open working group meets from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 5, and finally the decision-makers/elected public officials who sit on a Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee will meet from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 12, at the Arts Center. Win-Win for Arnie
Detroit's (via Boise) gift to Hillsdale and TriMet won two awards in one week this month. The irrepressible Arnie Panitch was named Volunteer of the year at the Portland Visitors Center and TriMet's Ride-Connection Ride-Wise Ambassador Volunteer of the Year for excellent service. No one has bestowed on him the award for most shopping carts returned to Freddie's yet, but they should. Arnie also leads lively history tours of old South Portland, once a lively ethnic stew. His tours, too, are worthy of award. 'Friends' are new neighbors
In the advertising section below is a new notice. It's for Hillsdale Quakers, "A gathering of Friends."
I've had a hand in starting this group which met for the first time on Sunday, April 13.
(Hillsdale Quakers gather at 10 a.m. on Sundays in the Sunset Office Building, 1509 SW Sunset Boulevard. All are welcome.) I've been a Quaker for more than 50 years and have sought to bring Quaker values to Hillsdale, particularly the value of community.
Quakers come in many varieties. "Hillsdale Quakers" are generally considered "liberal Friends."
We are also called "unprogrammed" and "non-pastoral" because we have no set "program of worship" and no traditional clergy or "pastor." We often say that our belief in equality and community means all of us are clergy to each other. In effect, 'non-pastoral" Friends have no "laity."
We sit in the silence of "expectant waiting," and speak only if deeply moved to do so. After 45 minutes attenders are invited to briefly share any helpful insight or 'leading' they experienced in the stillness. Most Friends, true to Quakers' 17th Century roots, are Christians, but many are not. A few are atheists, non-theists and agnostics. We are, as we say, "radically inclusive." Of course there is much more that could be said about Quakers - many know Friends for their active involvement in, and commitment to, social justice. Quakers have played historic roles in prison reform, care for the mentally ill and victims of war, the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, civil rights, and on-going opposition to war - all war. Hillsdale Quakers are grateful to Sunset Office Building owner Frank Hasabe for providing a home for us and to friends at the Jewish Humanist congregation, Kol Shalom, for lending us their meeting room as a two-hour gathering place in the building. Rick Seifert
Editor/Publisher
Return to top of commentaryCorrection:
The Sunday, May 4, Health and Wellness Fair will be held in the Bowman Pharmacy/Portland Ballet parking lot. NOT the Rieke School Parking lot. |
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OnPoint Credit Union to be in new Wardin Building
OnPoint, the largest credit union in the state, will be the anchor tenant in the new Wardin Building planned for the vacant lot east of Baskin Robbins ice cream shop in the Hillsdale Town Center. Tory McVay, an OnPoint senior vice president, said the credit union hopes to have the Hillsdale branch open by the end of the year. Ardys Braidwood, one of three Wardin family siblings owning the lot and the new building (see Hillsdale News, #130 in the archive linked at the left), is in the process of finding two more tenants. OnPoint will take approximately 3,200 square feet of the 7,800 square-foot Wardin Building. McVay said the new branch will fill "a gap" in inner Southwest Portland. Currently the nearest credit union is at the Veteran's Administration Hospital. OnPoint's nearest branch is 4.6 miles away in Sellwood. Another is 6.2 miles away in Beaverton on Cedar HIlls Boulevard. Yet another is in Lake Oswego on Kruse Way. The new OnPoint branch will be able to serve 9,000 members who already live within three miles of Hillsdale, McVay said. Old and new OnPoint customers are expected to add to the pool of shoppers using Food Front Grocery, which has a similar membership-owner model. The grocery also rents from Wardin Properties, which owns the Hillsdale Shopping Center and other properties in the commercial center. OnPoint, which has 265,000 members, was Portland Teachers Credit Union until 2005, when it was granted a community charter allowing it to serve the general public living in the region. McVay said the Hillsdale branch will offer "a full suite of financial services and products, including consumer & business accounts, loans, mortgages and investments." It will be staffed with seven to nine full-time employees. McVay called Hillsdale "a perfect choice for OnPoint," citing the community's population density and proximity to I-5 and other arterials such as Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and Capitol Highway. The community's vibrancy has particular appeal, he said. "Hillsdale is a community with schools, parks, a library, grocery store, restaurants, coffee shops, health and wellness practitioners, a post office - all these places build a community where people work, shop and live their lives." OnPoint was approached by a local group in late 2011 when Chase Bank was hoping to build a branch on the lot. The group felt that another national commercial bank branch wasn't needed in Hillsdale. Moreover, Chase wanted to build a smaller building than called for in the Hillsdale Town Center Plan. McVay said OnPoint was "thankful to be considered. We have always wanted to be in Hillsdale and we really appreciated that the community sought us out when the opportunity arose." As reported last month, the Baskin Robbins ice cream shop will be torn down to make way for parking. Baskin Robbins is a potential tenant in the new building. Instrumental in persuading Braidwood to drop the Chase land-lease deal was the realization that a credit union would attract a whole new clientele to Hillsdale. Business leaders, like Mike Roach, president of the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association, also saw that a credit union would stimulate business for Food Front and other Hillsdale businesses. Food Front is the anchor business for the Wardin-owned Hillsdale Shopping Center. News that OnPoint plans to locate here drew praise from Roach, co-owner of Paloma Clothing for 39 years and another Wardin tenant. "This is the most important event since Food Front located here five and a half years ago," he said, adding that "with OnPoint's arrival, we shall truly offer a complete array of financial services almost unequaled outside of downtown Portland." He said that the Hillsdale OnPoint branch could draw customers from as far away as Tigard, Lake Oswego and even close-in southeast Portland. Roach said, "We look forward to the synergy between this member-owned credit union and our member-owned grocery." When the Chase deal was still in play, John Conlin, Hillsdale Food Front's store manager, impressed upon Braidwood the benefits of having a credit union over a bank across the street from the grocery. Conlin said the new branch will provide "new faces and new energy." "Their customers align well with ours. They know the importance of community support and keeping things local. Those are at the forefront of what we are trying to do at Food Front." Besides, he added, "I bank at On-Point; it will make my life easier."
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End of Raz Transportation closes a chapter in Hillsdale history
Raz, a name long associated with Hillsdale's history, has been most prominently displayed on Raz Transportation buses.
But last month, Raz Transportation closed its doors and went out of business.
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Buz and Carolyn Raz hold a cherished photo Buz with his dad, Henry.
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Until 10 years ago Raz Transportation was owned by Buz Raz and his wife Carolyn. Buz is son of S. Henry Raz, who started the company.
The couple sold to Coach USA, a national company, in 2004. Last year Raz transportation was sold again - as it turned out for the last time.
In mid-February, the owner announced the business was closing.
The bus business had its roots in Hillsdale's dairy farming past
The pioneering Raz family once owned the dairy that eventually was sold to the school district. Wilson High School and Rieke Elementary School are on the dairy property.
For Buz and Carolyn, who together ran the bus company for 29 years, its closure means the end to a living link to Hillsdale's past.
Buz describes the early years of Raz Transportation as "a snapshot of Hillsdale during the Great Depression and into the WWII years."
He recalls, "It was the many dairies in the Hillsdale area that set the stage for the bus company."
Buz's father, Henry, was born on the sprawling dairy farm in Hillsdale. His grandfather, John, had earlier owned the Raz Brothers Dairy with two of his brothers.
When they sold the dairy, John continued in dairy operations and purchased the land which today is the site of the Greater Portland Bible Church behind the Shadow Hills Apartments on Vermont Street.
Over time, dairy trucks replaced horse-drawn milk wagons, and it was out of the need to repair the trucks that the bus company emerged.
Henry took in trucks to repair while living on his father's dairy farm. In the booming automobile era, the business grew. Many of Henry's customers were dairy farmers who needed timely repairs so as not to miss deliveries. Often Henry worked through the night to keep the trucks running.
As Buz tells it, Henry hired mechanics to keep up, even as the Great Depression came and went. He eventually had a shop and service station in Hillsdale. The two businesses were near the intersection of Bertha Court and Capitol Highway.
In 1937 one of Henry's customers, who owned an older school bus often needing repairs, sold the bus, along with a contract with the local school district to Henry.
And that was the start of Raz Transportation. As additional school bus contracts became available, Henry eventually closed the repair service to focus on the school bus operation. Business expanded to become Raz Transportation under the stewardship of Buz and Carolyn, who took over in 1975.
A physical remnant of the business is the garage on Bertha Boulevard near the entrance to Stephens Creek Nature Park.
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Agreement between Habitat, neighbors opens way to
seven new housing units
With concerns once dividing Habitat for Humanity and Capitol Hill Condominium residents board largely resolved, Portland Habitat for Humanity will start building seven low-income housing units on a lot next to the condominium located at the corner of Bertha Boulevard and Capitol Hill Road.
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The red dot marks the site of the Habitat property. The condos are just above it. Both properties front on Capitol Hill Road.
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Condominium owners told the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association last winter that they were concerned the project could cause parking problems and that the building might breach the property line. They also had questions about construction noise. But at the suggestion of the neighborhood association, the two sides met, and, while parking issues still could be a problem, they worked through the issues and may draft a Good Neighbor Agreement. Once Habitat home owners move into the project, called Trillium Court, they may form their own Good Neighbor agreement with their condo neighbors. Portland Habitat for Humanity CEO Steve Messinetti said volunteer construction workers plan to break ground in May, a delay of about two months from the original schedule. He said that it would take 10 months to complete the buildings. Messinetti said, "We are committed to doing everything to avoid unnecessarily disturbing the neighbors." He added, "It has been good to make clear what we are talking about." Representatives of both parties met about the project in March and concluded that there is no dispute over the property line and that a fence would clearly delineate the lots. Mary Nester, who is on the condominium board, raised the concerns before the neighborhood association. she said the board recently decided it "could live with the situation." She added that if cars are illegally parked and intrude on the condominium, they can be towed away. Trillium Court will be for seven families. The project marks the first time Habitat will build homes on Portland's west side. According to the Habitat web site, the homes will be built at certified platinum Earth Advantage levels, including energy efficient air ventilation systems to ensure indoor air quality is high with minimum energy expenditure. "The estimated heating and cooling costs are as low as $175 a year for the two-bedroom homes and as low as $316 a year for the largest home with five bedrooms," the web site says. Habitat will need volunteers starting in August to put finishing touches on the project. The property was purchased in 2011 from the Greater Portland Bible Church for $200,000. Home Forward (formerly the Housing Authority of Portland), which is developing Stephens Creek Crossing, helped Habitat with the purchase.
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Two Hillsdale Water Bureau projects to start soon
The Water Bureau will begin construction of two water system improvements in Hillsdale early this summer. The Water Bureau, in a press release, says work is scheduled to start in May or June, on the Bertha Service Area Improvement Project. A contractor will install approximately 2,230 feet of eight-inch main and 375 feet of four-inch main from the intersection of SW 14th Ave. and SW Westwood Drive down to SW Martha Street, across Martha Street, and up SW 18th Drive until just past the intersection with SW 18th Place. For a map of the Bertha Service Area project, go HERE. The construction will last about five months, according to the Water Bureau. Typical work hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the option to work on Saturdays. The project's general contractor will be selected soon. The second project - slated to start in May or June- is phase 2 of the SW Carolina Pump Mains Project. Construction crews will install 3,400 feet of new 24-inch diameter pipe from the intersection of SW Burlingame Avenue and SW Chestnut Street, north along SW Burlingame Avenue, then turn east on SW Burlingame Terrace down to SW Terwilliger Boulevard. Once on SW Terwilliger Boulevard, the construction will continue north to the traffic island at SW Capitol Highway where new underground vaults will be installed. For a map of the Carolina Pump Mains work go HEREConstruction will last about nine months, according to the Water Bureau. Typical work hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the option to work on Saturdays. The contractor is Tapani, Inc., based in Battleground, Washington. At both project areas, flaggers and traffic control measures will direct motorists past work zones. At times, streets will be closed except for "Local Access Only." On-street parking may also be restricted. Delays should be expected. Motorists are encouraged to find alternate routes during construction. For project updates, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/water/swcarolina or www.portlandoregon.gov/water/berthaarea.
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Date Book
Tuesday, April 29
Forum on SW Transit Corridor Plan
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center Auditorium, 7688 SW Capitol Highway. An opportunity for decision-makers and the SW community to discuss the SW Corridor Plan, with a focus on how high capacity transit could improve access to jobs, services and education, as well as overall livability within the Portland section of the corridor. Panelists include City Commissioner Steve Novick, Oregon Department of Transportation Region 1 manager Jason Tell, TriMet general manager Neal McFarlane, Metro Councilor Bob Stacey and Southwest Neighborhoods Inc. (SWNI) president Marianne Fitzgerald.
Friday, May 2
Truth be Told
A night of Storytelling
and Music
7:30 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Highway. An evening of storytelling and music presented to benefit the Multnomah Arts Center.
Friday, May 2 and 9; Saturday, May 3 and 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m.
ROCK!
A Robert Gray Musical Presentation
At Robert Gray Middle School, 5505 SW 23rd Ave. What happens when you continue to lose in life until one day you pick up a guitar? Come find out in the original musical ROCK! where Rocky a down and out high school student finds a new way to look at life when his friend teaches him to play guitar. $10 adults; $5 students. For tickets e-mail [email protected]
Saturday, May 3
Be a 'Usual Suspect' litter-picker
9 a.m. at the Food Front "verandah." "Usual Suspects" volunteers revel in an hour of cleaning up litter. Special project will be "gardening" the wall trellis along Bertha Court. Good clean fun and fellowship. All invited. Free coffee courtesy of Food Front.
Sunday, May 4
Springfest Health and Wellness Fair
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bowman Pharmacy/Portland Ballet parking lot next to the Farmers Market. More than 35 local health and wellness practitioners will be at the event on the same day as the annual opening of the....
Hillsdale Farmers' Market
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first day of the weekly summer market season. For more information go HERE.
Rieke Art Fair
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Dozens of professional artists offering artwork ranging from jewelry and paintings to ceramics and artistic fashions. Support Rieke students who will be selling their creative handiwork. Art classes for $15 for kids throughout the day. Wednesday, May 7
Neighbors to choose
"Neighbor of the Year"
7 p.m. The Watershed Building, Capitol Highway and Bertha Court. The Hillsdale Neighborhood Association will hear and update on Wilson Cluster projects and will choose its "Neighbor of the Year."
Friday and Saturday, May 9 & 10
Spring Arts & Crafts Sale
Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Highway. Ceramics, textiles, jewelry, prints and paintings. Supports arts education.
Saturday, May 10
Neighborhood House Benefit Gala
5:30 p.m. doors open. Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 SW Salmon. Annual funding raising event for Neighborhood House, the SW Portland social service agency. Event theme: "Rebuilding Lives, Families and Communities." Individual tickets $100. Tables for ten, $1000. Tickets go on sale March 1 HERE. Saturday, May 10
Solv/SWNI Spring Clean-Up
Starting at 9 a.m. lasting to 1 p.m. at the Portland Christian Center, 5700 Dosch Road. This year, in addition to recyclables, reusable items will be accepted. Litter patrol volunteers, who will meet at 9 a.m., should bring work gloves and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Saturday, May 10
Walk through West Portland Park and Far Southwest
Meet at 8:45 a.m. behind Wilson High School bleachers to carpool to Barbur Transit Center. Bring a snack and water and dress for the weather. Hike will be about six miles with an elevation gain of approximately 300 feet. The trails in the natural areas may be muddy. Well behaved dogs allowed.They must be on leash. For health reasons, there is no smoking on SW Trails hikes.For more information contact Virginia Hendrickson, [email protected]. Tuesday, May 20
Graffiti Summit explores
Graffiti culture, prevention
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. OMSI Auditorium. How law enforcement works with others to fight graffiti. Pre-registration by May 10. Call (503) 823-9666. Free.
Click to go to top of Datebook
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