Traditionally in journalism the designation - 30 - marks "The End" of a story.

In the above headline it marks the end of an eight-year, 147-issue run of The Hillsdale News.

If you read last month's issue, this should come as no surprise as I prominently announced my intention to cease publication and gave my reasons for doing so. No need to repeat those reasons here. (The archive of nearly all the issues will remain accessible at hillsdalenews.org)

The response to my announcement has been a heartening outpouring of gratitude for The News. Many said they fully understood the reasons for my decision. No argument.

Another response has been that a handful of supporters and community activists see The News as such a vital resource that they hope to keep it alive. I've volunteered to advise them or anyone else who wants to keep the Hillsdale News "flag" (another journalistic term) flying.

With some entrepreneurial initiative, I believe The News could be a viable, part-time business.

Another response to my announcement was an invitation from Southwest Community Connection editor Kelsey O'Halloran to write a column. I accepted. My first column appears in the September issue of The Connection, which happens to be a paper I founded 21 years ago. (I will also continue to post on my blog, The Red Electric.

"Communication defines Community" has become a mantra for me. Without communication (printed, on-line, over the backyard fence) we aren't a community but just a bunch of folks who find ourselves in the same place. But a caution: If our communication is false or cruel or biased, our community will suffer. If what we say or write is true, informative, constructive and fair, we will thrive.

Keeping in mind the need for constructive communication, we should ask: "What does it mean to be informed?" And the corollary, "What does it mean to inform?" The questions are particularly hard to answer as our attention spans grow ever shorter and our lives become ever more complex, interconnected and often impulsive.

What is the proper balance between public and private interests? The question, for starters, touches on housing density, forms of transportation (including trails, sidewalks and more freeway lanes), taxes, and commercialism in our schools. Where are public/private "partnerships" appropriate and where are they inappropriate. For instance, I'm increasingly troubled by the fact that Portland Public Schools seemingly has no guidelines about advertising on school property...including on fences next to running tracks used by the public (hint, hint.)

The above is part of a larger question: How can we honor and enhance The Commons - the Hillsdale Commons? My own pet project for years has been to underground utilities in the Town Center. If undergrounding is important enough for the Pearl and the Lloyd districts (to say nothing of most of European cities), it should be important for a proud community like Hillsdale. Imagine our Town Center without its current blight of wires, poles and transformers.

I remain troubled by the situation at Food Front's two-store cooperative grocery. The success of our Town Center is inextricably tied to the success of the Food Front "anchor" store here. Food Front has failed to communicate predictably or substantively with its 11,000 owners. In September several changes will take place on Food Front's seven-member board following upcoming board elections. At press time, details about the elections had not been forthcoming. The board (probably the "old" board) will hire a new manager soon. Much of the anticipated managerial change should focus on open, operational (as opposed to promotional) communication with owners, customers, the business community and Food Front's own employees (who recently unionized).

To this community's hundreds of volunteers - in the schools, on civic boards, in the Farmers Market, at community events, in faith communities. A special thanks to those from Hillsdale who have stepped up to run for the Food Front board (see above): Ted Coonfield, Dave Hawkins, Eamon Molloy and Jett Maertz.

To Neighborhood House, at the heart of so much that we do to help the less fortunate.

To business owners and employees who so faithfully meet our needs.

To public servants, whom we often are  quick to blame but oh-so slow to thank. Thank you!

To those who have thanked this volunteer editor/publisher/writer down through the years. Your words of encouragement have been my "pay" and kept me going.

Thanks too to my constructive, thoughtful critics. You have helped make me and this publication better.

Finally, to my wife, Diane Moskowitz, who has proof-read every word you have ever seen here and has spared me from embarrassment and you from error.

Rick Seifert
Editor & Publisher

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