Posted by Pia

March 26, 2012 5:12 p.m. - Updated: 5:28 p.m.

The 14th annual flash light Easter egg hunt is this on this Saturday, March 31, at Hays Park which is located at 1700 E. Providence Ave.

Sponsored by North East Youth Center the egg hunt is divided into three age categories, with the youngest going at 7 p.m. and the oldest group at 8 p.m. Wear warm clothing and bring your own flash light - it will be dark by the time the egg hunt starts.

Tickets are $11 and you can get more information by calling NEYC's Jessica Hyatt at (509) 482-0708

Here's a link to the NEYC's website, which has all the information and a PDF format entry form you can download.

Posted by Pia

Feb. 15, 2012 5:05 p.m. - Updated: 5:18 p.m.

The annual Hobo Dinner benefits the Hillyard Heritage Museum - get your tickets soon. The blog just noticed there is no phone number on the poster - here it is: call Mike at 509-483-2383 for tickets.

Posted by Pia

Jan. 26, 2012 11:47 a.m. - Updated: 11:57 a.m.

I stopped by the Merchants Committee meeting Wednesday morning at the Outlaw Cafe - they meet at  8:30 a.m. every Wednesday - and there's always lots to talk about. Here are a few of my notes:

There is a meeting tonight at Northeast Community Center at 5 p.m. featuring Mayor Condon and city council member Mike Fagan, addressing the proposed cuts to senior, community and youth centers across town. Northeast Youth Center, which is threatened with closure, will be there with a big presentation and encourages everyone to show up.

The Greater Hillyard Business Association is having a meeting on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Northeast Community Center. This meeting features a tax accountant who'll share advice for the upcoming tax season.

Posted by Pia

Jan. 25, 2012 2:35 p.m. - Updated: 2:48 p.m.

At this morning's Hillyard Merchant Committee meeting there was some conversation about who and how snow may be cleared from street parking spots (aka cut outs or parking bays).

In the business districts along Market Street, North Monroe, Garland and South Perry, the snow and slush often end up filling those on-street parking spots between curb bump-outs. These parking bays are very popular with business owners when it’s not snowing, but what’s a person to do when they are filled up with slush and hard-frozen snow?

“The street department will try to clear out the parking bays but it’s lower on the priority list, behind basic plowing of the streets,” city spokeswoman Marlene Feist wrote in an e-mail. “It also has to be done at night since the parking bays are used during the day.”

Read the entire story here.

Posted by Pia

Jan. 20, 2012 6 a.m. - Updated: 11:39 a.m.

If you are on Facebook already and want to stay in touch with what's going on in and around Hillyard, here are some Facebook pages for you to follow:

The Greater Hillyard Business Association can be found here.

The Hillyard Festival Association can be found here.

Hillyard's main Facebook page is here.

Northeast Community Center's (not very frequently updated) Facebook page is here.

I'm sure there are community organization Facebook pages out there that I don't know about - let me know if I forgot some.

Posted by Pia

Jan. 19, 2012 11:56 a.m. - Updated: 12:02 p.m.

The Spokane City Council approved an ordinance establishing a public development authority for northeast Spokane on Dec. 12.

Establishing a public development authority in that area has been at the top of the agenda of the Northeast Development Advisory Board, which was created 12 months ago.

“We now have an entity that will be focused on economic development in northeast Spokane,” said Elizabeth A. Tellesen, a member of the Northeast Development Advisory Board. “This entity will not be as easily influenced by political changes at City Hall.”

Read the entire story here.

Which issues and development projects would you like for the PDA to address? Why? How?

Posted by Pia

Dec. 14, 2011 2:32 p.m. - Updated: 2:51 p.m.

For the ninth year in a row, Hillyard Santa is getting ready to distribute gifts to children in Northeast Spokane. The first distribution days are Thursday Dec. 15 and Friday Dec. 16. And then he's back for one more round all next week - from Dec. 19 through Dec. 23 - supplies and gifts permitting.

Posted by Pia

Dec. 13, 2011 12:26 p.m. - Updated: 12:30 p.m.

Michael Carlson has started a business group in Hillyard. The first meeting was a few weeks ago, and the next one is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Cricket Link Wirless store next to Safeway (3721 N. Market Street)

“We had nine businesses represented and learned a bit about each business. We already have two of the businesses starting to work together,” Carlson wrote in an email. “Our goal is to have around 25 businesses represented and to bring each other many profitable leads and referrals. It is free and there are no attendance requirements. This is an opportunity to build relationships and help each other out.”

Carlson may be reached at (509) 847-5313.

Posted by Pia

Dec. 12, 2011 2 p.m. - Updated: 2:31 p.m.

The non-profit group Rebuilding Together Spokane is looking for homeowners in the greater Hillyard-area who need help completing home repairs or updates. The group is looking for disabled or elderly homeowners who are overwhelmed by home repair projects. Veterans and low-income families are encouraged to apply, too. Non-profit facilities may qualify as well.

To qualify for free home repairs you must own your home, have home owners insurance, intend to continue to live in your home and explain why you can't do the repairs yourself.

“We wish we could help families who live in rentals,” wrote coordinator Whitney McKelvey in an email, “but we found that landlords often evicted the family or increased the rent after we made repairs.”

Homeowners who qualify will receive help on Rebuilding Day, April 28, 2012.

For more information call (509) 218-5655 or email: mckelveywithrts@hotmail.com

(The blog has been on hiatus for a bit and it's now back - please e-mail news bits and pictures to piah@spokesman.com or give me a call at 509-459-5427 - watch for expanded neighborhood blogging in the new year)

Posted by Pia

Nov. 2, 2011 11:50 a.m. - Updated: 11:55 a.m.

The Greater Hillyard Business Association and the City of Spokane is hosting an event featuring the newly eleted Spokane politicians on Nov. 10 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will be held at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, 6116 N. Market St. and it's $15 for GHBA members and $20 for non-members. Dinner will be served by the Red Dragon Chinese Restaurant.
Here's a chance to meet up close and personal with the newly elected mayor, city council president and the city council member representing District 1, position 1. Current city council member Amber Waldref will be there too.