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2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 1
Hillyard Festival Gazette 2012 Edition
Saturday, Aug 4th, 7-9am Kiwanis Midway in Harmon Park
$4 Suggested Donation
Sunday, Aug 5th, 8-10am Beer Garden Area in Harmon Park
$5 Suggested Donation
From The Desk of the President:
As many of you know our wonderfully Hillyard is changing.
We have many new things.
Additional vendor space, and full array of Entertainment.
Our annual Hi-Jinx Parade will still again come up Market
from Wellesley to Columbia. Following directly after the Hi-
Jinx parade will be the parade of the Hot Rods of Hillyard.
The Rods will be judged by the viewing public for the top
twelve winner for the 2013 Hot Rods in Hillyard Calendar.
We will then have two things going on at the same time, Hot
Rods in the downtown Hillyard and the Festival at Harmon
Park.
The Hillyard Kiwanis will have their dynamic Midway for
all and then Fireworks Saturday Night. The Lions will have
the ever popular Bingo center. Don’t forget great food and
entertainment.
The Hillyard Festival is the one great small event that
is Hillyard, It will not be the same without your.
We thank you,
Dave Griswold President,
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations
WWW.HILLYARDFESTIVAL.ORG
Hi-Jinx Parade AUGUST 4TH, 10AM
North Market Street
Hillyard Festival AUGUST 3RD - 5TH Sharpley-Harmon Park
Page 2 Hillyard Gazette 2012
2012 Hillyard Festival Gazette
The Hillyard Ga-
zette is a publication
put out yearly by
the Hillyard Herit-
age Celebrations
and is supported by
our advertisers.
Editor:
Luke Tolley
Ad Sales: Desi Bucknell, Paula Davis,
Adele Ward & Bernadette Howell
If your business or organization would like
to be added to the contact list for next
year’s Gazette, please contact the editor at
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations is a non-
profit organization of Hillyard citizens and
business people committed to bringing
quality fun and entertainment to Hillyard
and Northeast Spokane. The HHC meets
the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at
6:30 p.m. in the Northeast Community Cen-
ter, 4001 N Cook St. All are welcome to
attend. We appreciate any feedback you
might have and are always looking for new
members.
President: Dave Griswold
Vice President: Adele Ward
Secretary: Krystal Turner
Treasurer: Vickie Peterson
www.hillyardfestival.org
Copyright © 2012
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations
2012 ChalkArtWalk Winning Entry by Brooke Plastino
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 3
Get Involved!
Hillyard Neighborhood Council, 3rd Wed at 6:30pm, NE Community Center (NECC), 4001 N Cook.
Regular North-South Corridor Updates with WSDOT Staff.
Neighborhood Planning Neighborhood Clean-Up Regular Reports from All Neighborhood Organizations
Whitman Neighborhood Council, 3rd Wed at 6pm, NECC Bemiss Neighborhood Council, 2nd Tues at 6pm, even
months, NECC Greater Hillyard Business Association, 2nd Thurs at
6:30pm, NECC Hillyard Heritage Celebrations, 2nd & 4th Tues at 6:30pm,
NECC Hillyard Steering Committee, Last Thurs at 7:00pm, NECC Historic Hillyard Merchants Committee, Every Wed at
8:30am at Outlaw Café, 5012 N Market St. COPS Northeast General Meeting, 3rd Thurs at 6:00pm,
5208 N Market.
For more information and additional events, check out our calendar at www.HillyardFestival.org or www.HillyardGHBA.org. To get on this list, contact [email protected]
By Luke Tolley,
Hillyard Gazette Editor
The people who put out this publication
have gone through a lot of changes this year.
We left our centennial year last year with
high hope. We had several folks who
wished to take a step back from officer posi-
tions, but we had new, excited folks who
stepped up to take their places. As with
anything, change is a blessing and a curse.
We struggled a little bit to find ourselves
and went through some reorganizing, put-
ting aside the old Hillyard Festival Associa-
tion and creating the Hillyard Heritage Cele-
brations. The new organization is a blend of
the old guard that have been involved for
years and some new blood who’ve breathed
new life into us. Even with all those chang-
es however, we will still focus on bringing
the Hillyard neighborhood quality entertain-
ment and events.
As for me, I’ve personally struggled with
the transition though I think it will ultimate-
ly be healthy for the neighborhood and the
organization. I would classify myself as the
newest member of the “old guard.” I’ve
been involved with the Hillyard Festival
many years. The first Gazette I helped out
with was back in 2005 and I took over the
Editor position in 2006. I’ve struggled be-
cause from the inside looking out, I feel like
we’ve always done a good and sometimes
great job at accomplishing the mission of
what was the Hillyard Festival Association.
That said, I was trained in college as a busi-
ness consultant and being the son of a me-
chanic, I have an aptitude for problem solv-
ing. When I trained that eye on the HFA I
began to agree with those promoting the
reorganization, though I feared whether or
not we had time to go through such a reor-
ganization. Well, we did and now you have
a whole new group, the Hillyard Heritage
Celebrations coming together to bring you
the Hillyard Festival. Please understand this
is an open, public organization that not only
invites, but needs your participation to be
bigger and better. I encourage you to come
by a meeting on the 2nd or 4th Tuesday’s of
the month at the Northeast Community Cen-
ter at 6:30pm to get involved. You can sign
up to volunteer at any event or by contacting
us at [email protected].
[End of shameless volunteer plug]
It’s an exciting time to be in Hillyard. Our
businesses are doing well. East Hillyard is
being organized under the Northeast Public
Development Authority with a similar mod-
el to the one used in the University District
for revitalization. Our neighborhood plan-
ning partnership, the Greater Hillyard –
Northeast Planning Alliance (GHNEPA) has
been given innovation dollars from the
Mayor’s office to establish itself as a full
fledged 501c3, instead of just a lose alliance
of organizations. What this will mean for
people is a centralized place to coordinate
efforts and activities in Hillyard. WSDOT
is progressing with the North Spokane Cor-
ridor through Hillyard with construction on
the Francis Ave. Bridge happening just
blocks away as I type in my Market St. of-
fice. All “New Beginnings” for our neigh-
borhood.
As always, I must point out that this is not
one man’s effort. The Hillyard Festival
Gazette is the effort of all the Hillyard Herit-
age Celebrations volunteers. Thank you to
those who provided stories and pictures and
especially the amazing ladies who sell our
advertising. The Gazette is one of the fund-
raisers that is always successful for our or-
ganization and it’s because of you. Thank
you to our advertisers for supporting us.
Finally, personally, thank you to my won-
derful wife Katie. (Yes, “wife,” if you’re
following along at home, we were married
this January.) Katie you are a fountain of
Light and Love that could not be dimmed by
any darkness. Your compassion, generosity
and gentle nature make me love you more
and more each day. You are infinitely beau-
tiful outside and in. Thank you for support-
ing me and everything I do.
Thanks & Enjoy
-LJT
If you’re reading this and you’re interested
in advertising, submitting a story or any-
thing else having to do with the future edi-
tions of the Gazette, you can e-mail me at
[email protected] or call me at
475-3509.
Editor’s Notes
By Luke Tolley,
HHC Staff
The 2012 ChalkArtWalk almost didn’t hap-
pen. Not only did the organization that or-
ganizes the event (previously the Hillyard
Festival Association, now the Hillyard Her-
itage Celebrations) reorganize shortly before
the event, but when we woke up the morn-
ing of June 2nd, to say it was raining like
the proverbial cats-and-dogs would have
been an understatement. I joked with my
wife that I would start working on the ark if
she would start rounding up the animals two
-by-two. It was
raining that hard.
We assumed
ChalkArtWalk
would have to be
postponed. But
alas, just in time as
the faithful volun-
teers arrived to
begin setting up
the event, the skies
cleared and the
sun came out with
a vengeance, dry-
ing the sidewalks
enough to allow
quality chalk art to
be created...and
created it was.
Certainly attend-
ance was down
from previous
years because many assumed the rain would
continue and stayed home or found indoor
plans. But those 100 or so hardy artists
came out, got their free t-shirt and set to the
concrete. The theme this year was “Music.”
Being such an open-to-interpretation theme,
we had many different ideas for art. Some
simply drew what came to mind. In one
case, one of the coolest lions we’d ever
seen. Most however came up with unique
ideas to convey the theme.
For many of the younger entries dancing
seemed to be what “music” brought to mind
for them. Some of the more detailed artists
went the route of the musician from a harp-
ist to a whole jug band. Two notable entries
were the history of personal music from
radio to records to mp3 players that was
primarily a study in blacks, whites and greys
that stood out because of it’s monochro-
matic style. The other was an interpretation
of the Beatles Abby Road LP cover which
lent itself very well to being drawn on con-
crete sidewalks. Our winning piece of art
was a beautiful likeness of a piano, acoustic
guitar and trumpeter that harkened back to
the origins of American music.
The 2012 winner
of ChalkArtWalk
was none other
than long time
volunteer and
event co-founder
Brooke Plastino.
After so many
years of volunteer-
ing for the event,
this was the first
time he ever de-
cided to partici-
pate as an artist
and his efforts
were rewarded.
Congratulations
Brooke!
As always, the
Hillyard Hertiage
Celebrations or-
ganization has
many folks to thank for this wonderful
event. Thank you to all the volunteers and
especially the judges. Thank you to Aunt
Bea’s Antiques for use of their parking lot
as our headquarters and thank you to Outlaw
Café for housing the scorekeeping facilities.
Finally thank you to the citizens and fami-
lies of Hillyard for once again making
ChalkArtWalk a great success.
See you next year!
ChalkArtWalk 2012
The 2012 Winners:
Best of Show – Brooke Plastino
0-5 Years – 1st: Elijah Rowley; 2nd: Harmony
Martin; 3rd: Aundrea Armstead
6-10 Years – 1st: Calynn Bray; 2nd: Ashley Ni-
cholson; 3rd: Elijah Anderson
11-15 Years – 1st: Sarah O’Brien; 2nd: Kayla
Foster; 3rd: Abagail Meeks
16-20 Years – 1st: Laura O’Brien; 2nd: Thien
Nguyen; 3rd: Brandon Robison
21+ Years – 1st: Joe Rosales, 2nd: Wayne Foster;
3rd: Linda Stott
Family – 1st: The Martin Family
Page 4 Hillyard Gazette 2012
By HHC Staff
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations. You proba-
bly haven’t heard that before. You may be
more familiar with Hillyard Festival Associ-
ation, but my gut tells me that most folks
don’t tune into those names too much.
Don’t get me wrong, I know how much peo-
ple appreciate what we do, they just aren’t
hung up on labels.
As you may have read, the folks that organ-
ize the Hillyard Festival, ChalkArtWalk and
various other events during the year have
reorganized themselves into Hillyard Herit-
age Celebrations. This new identity sym-
bolizes new beginnings for us, the Hillyard
Festival and maybe, to an extent, greater
Hillyard. That’s why the we picked “New
Beginnings” as the theme for the 2012
Hillyard Festival.
Last year was our Centennial celebration of
the Hillyard Festival. One hundred years of
honoring our Hillyard pride, heritage and
community. For our 101st Festival, the
group thought new beginnings were appro-
priate and not just because we were starting
a new century of Festivals. It could be said
that the old Hillyard Festival Association
was in a slump or maybe a rut. We had
done a lot of things the same way we
always had and had relied upon institu-
tional memory (“why are you doing it
that way? Because that’s how we’ve
always done it.”) instead of our best judg-
ment to make decisions. So, early this
year the decision was made to create
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations and hand
over the reins to the Hillyard Festival and
ChalkArtWalk. HHC, while comprised
mostly of the same folks that have always
been involved has committed itself to
taking a fresh look at how we conduct the
business of promoting Hillyard and our
neighborhood events.
So, this fresh outlook, along with all the
exciting new things that are happening
and Spokane and in Hillyard this year led
to the adoption of “New Beginnings” as
our theme for 2012.
Collectively, the people of Hillyard can look
forward to new beginnings in 2012 and
2013. We will have a new Francis Ave.
Bridge, thanks to WSDOT and the North
Spokane Corridor Project. We have new
leadership in the Mayor’s office, on the City
Council and in many of our neighborhood
organization. After the November elections,
we’ll have new leadership in many of the
State offices as well.
In the coming months Hillyard will also
have a new organization to coordinate com-
munications, planning and economic devel-
opment that will truly be what the people
and the organizations make of it. That or-
ganization has heretofore been known as the
Greater Hillyard-Northeast Planning Alli-
ance (GHNEPA) as a loose partnership of
organizations will get a legal definition of
it’s own and the leaders of the organizations
of the Neighborhood will convene to decide
the best way to benefit the community.
Take a look through this publication and
you’ll no doubt see a few more examples of
“New Beginnings” in our community. And
come out to Harmon Park during that first
weekend in August to check out what the
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations brings to the
table for the Hillyard Festival.
New Beginnings
Present this coupon for
1 Large 5 Topping Pizza Expires 8/31/12
Good only at Hillyard
Papa John’s
2023 E Wellesley Ave. $9.99
Find us on
Facebook!
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 5
Forward By Amber Waldref
Spokane City Councilmember,
District 1
Forward: Over the past two years, many dedicated neighbors, business leaders, Spokane City representatives and other interested stake-holders have worked diligently to create an action plan for industrial and residential de-velopment of land east of the tracks in Hillyard. As you know, this is a prime indus-trial area within the City that presents great promise for current and future business de-velopment and the growth of living wage jobs along key rail and freight transportation corridors, just steps from Historic Hillyard. I'm very excited to support these efforts and I urge you to stay engaged as plans are im-plemented and new opportunities emerge for Hillyard and the entire City!
The Northeast Development Advisory Board
(NEDAB) and Stakeholder Leaders are
pleased to present these action strategies for
the Northeast Public Development Authority
(NEPDA). This strategy document was creat-
ed with guidance and assistance from the
greater Hillyard community and builds upon
their foundational work - including the award
winning Greater Hillyard Northeast Planning
Alliance (GHNEPA) Neighborhood Plan
completed in 2010.
In December 2011, we requested that the
City of Spokane create by ordinance (C-
34813) the Northeast Public Development
Authority. Passed by Spokane City Council
on December 12, 2011, the ordinance states:
“The creation of the Northeast Public Devel-
opment Authority will assist in providing
economic development to the northeast por-
tion of the City, which will provide econom-
ic stimulus and benefit to the entire City. . .”
Now that the NEPDA board members have
been appointed, we are entrusting you with
this strategy document, which maps out how
you can build upon the past foundational
work; contributing your expertise to the fu-
ture development, redevelopment and job
creation in the North-
east Development target
area. We remain com-
mitted to assisting and
supporting you as you
move forward in imple-
menting the priorities
and strategies identified.
Northeast Develop-
ment’s (NED) identifi-
cation in the City of
Spokane’s Comprehen-
sive Plan and the Great-
er Hillyard Northeast
Planning Alliance’s
Neighborhood Plan,
created by the Whit-
man, Hillyard and Be-
miss neighborhoods for
industrial and manufac-
turing development/
redevelopment and job
creation, coupled with
its potential for public-
private partnership and
the opportunity to lever-
age infrastructure in-
vestments make it ideal for targeted area
development strategy implementation.
While the full market demand for the NED
industrial target area is unknown, we know
this site of 507 acres of industrial and 329
acres of residential land has tremendous po-
tential. It is one of only three industrial areas
within the state’s second largest city and one
of only two sites within the city with access
to the US 395 North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) corridor, BNSF rail,
and an existing T-1 freight route.
Northeast Development (NED) Advisory
Board and the Northeast Stakeholder Group
were established by Mayor and City Council
in October 2010 to assist the City in imple-
menting
its target area development strategies. Four-
teen board members were appointed soon
after.
Throughout 2011, the Advisory Board en-
gaged in an educational process to learn
about available economic development tools
and formed work groups to explore potential
strategies around
infrastructure, community outreach, recruit-
ment, and retention.
An ordinance (C-34813) creating the North-
east Public Development Authority, recom-
mended by the Advisory Board was passed
by City Council December 12, 2011.
Northeast Public Development Authority
(NEPDA) is an instrument of the City that is
designed to carry out specific land and eco-
nomic development activities. As a munici-
pal corporation, the NEPDA is best under-
stood as a “civic entrepreneur” that can help
facilitate public private partnerships and fi-
nancing for economic development activities
in pursuit of broader community goals.
The City, by way of its broad land use and
economic development responsibilities, cre-
ates the policy and regulatory environments
within which NEPDA operates.
Public Development Authority’s Action
Strategy for Northeast maps out the role for
NEPDA as it enters the start-up phase (6-
9months) and in the near-term (10-24
months).
A Public Development Authority (PDA) acts
as a market catalyst, creating and enhancing
development opportunities. Actions included
in this Strategy address two main objectives:
1. Building organizational capacity, 2. Set-
ting the stage for area economic develop-
ment.
The City of Spokane, in cooperation with neighborhood leaders is taking applications for members fo the NEPDA Board and plan-ning outreach activities where the public will have more opportunity to learn about the exciting possibilities in store for East Hillyard.
A New Beginning for the East Hillyard Industrial Area
Want your story in the next issue of the Hillyard Gazette? E-mail [email protected] to find out how.
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 6
By Luke Tolley
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations
At the Coeur D’Alene Casino, a rather unas-
suming young man waits as the chaos builds
around him. He’s dressed in jeans, a t-shirt
and an old black straw cowboy hat, with ear
buds in his ears. It’s hard to get his atten-
tion; he’s a little zoned out as he walks the
crowd. As he runs into friends and family
taking their seats, his face brightens and he
embraces them with hugs and smiles that
belie his physical potential. He just seems
like a regular kid. As the stands fill up and
the lights dim, Jacob Harkness, professional
mixed martial artist from right here in
Hillyard, Washington retreats backstage to
prepare for the competition he’s about to
engage in.
Jacob grew up in Hillyard. When he was 4
years old, his older brother attended Bemiss
Elementary School where their parents were
approached by the P.E. teacher about joining
Spokane Junior Wrestling. The elder Hark-
ness was 6 at the time, not unusually early
for one to start wrestling, but both Jacob and
his brother began wrestling together. Jacob’s
parents didn’t have the kind of schedule that
would allow for two different wrestling prac-
tices for the two boys, so Jacob learned to
wrestle by practicing with opponents two
years older than he was. He spent a lot of
time getting roughed up in practice those
first few years, but when it came time for a
meet, where he was wrestling against his
peers, Jacob out shined his competitors on a
regular basis. In fact, Jacob wrestled from
kindergarten to 6th grade without ever being
defeated.
The transition from elementary school to
middle school can be a difficult time. For
Jacob, it meant ridicule from his undera-
chieving class mates for his academic suc-
cess and excellence in sports. He was called,
“golden boy,” and tasted the stigma of suc-
cess from those who failed to reach for it.
Though he considered ending his participa-
tion in sports, his parents encouraged him to
keep going. He moved on to Shaw Middle
School, where he won the City Champion-
ship and participated in the Jason Crawford
Memorial Tournament, the largest one-day
youth wrestling tournament in the nation,
winning the state championship in his weight
class.
Jacob’s freshman year of high school was
2006. That year he was the first freshman at
John R. Rogers High School to be good
enough to go to the State Wrestling Tourna-
ment in 12 years. Throughout high school he
continued to improve his wrestling skills,
and he began running cross country when he
wasn’t wrestling. He was an honor student
and Greater Spokane League Winter Athlete
of the Year. As a senior, Jacob’s English
Teacher, Mr. Ham saw Jacob running and
told him he was built for fighting, not just
wrestling. Together, they came up with a
plan for Jacob to research and make his sen-
ior project his induction into the world of
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) culminating in
his first fight.
You might know MMA as “cage fighting” or
from the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champion-
ship). Mixed Martial Arts is the evolution
and combination of wrestling, boxing, kick
boxing and various international martial arts
(Muay Thai, Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Sambo,
etc.). Just like boxing, it has various levels
and various sanctioning bodies who keep the
rules and watch over everyone’s safety. As
Jacob researched this new opportunity, his
coach knew of another coach who was open-
ing up an MMA gym that he could join.
With that gym, Jacob fought in 3 matches in
the 145lb weight class, winning all three
matches. Needless to say he had a natural
talent that went beyond just wrestling.
As a senior at Rogers, he took a break from
MMA to wrestle, earning his way to being
ranked 3rd in Washington State. He wrestled
in 4 matches, all four ending in pins. During
the fourth match, he blew out his knee. Keep
in mind, he still pinned the other wrestler,
with his blown out knee and that wrestler
later went on to win regionals in their weight
class. Jacob had to stop wrestling to allow
his knee to heal. For 6 months, he was basi-
cally immobile and couldn’t work out at all.
To add insult to injury, his gym closed dur-
ing his hiatus. Jacob graduated from Rogers
High School as an honor student, working at
a local grocery store the whole time to pay
for his training.
Once Jacob got the medical all clear on his
knee, he walked into Brazil Ju Jitzu Spokane
on Francis Ave, signed a contract and started
training again. He trained for many months,
preparing for his first fight in his new 155lb
weight class. His first fight back ended in a
loss, by decision, to an undefeated fighter.
No fighter likes to lose, much less in a deci-
sion, but Jacob, as has become his pattern,
learned a great deal from that particular bit of
failure. He was angry and decided that he
was not going to let himself lose again. That
may seem arrogant or even naïve to some,
but for Jacob Harkness it’s simply an exam-
ple of his commitment to excellence and
continually improving himself.
Jacob’s next fight was different. In a title
bout, he was hit in the head in the first round
and got a concussion. Even concussed, he
fought to a 5 round victory by decision win-
ning him the Northwest Fighting Champion-
ship for the 155lb Lightweight Division.
From then on as an amateur, Jacob fought in
main events. His next two schedule oppo-
nents, challengers for the belt, both backed
out of their fights with Harkness. Because
the fight must go on, both of those matches
Jacob fought instead with 170lb weight class
top contenders to entertain the crowd, even
though the belt wasn’t on the line. Jacob
beat both men by submission with choke
holds. His first title defense came from a
former holder of the championship. Jacob
beat the challenger in a decisive victory,
breaking the other fighter’s elbow in the pro-
cess. Until now, all Jacob’s fights have been
in Spokane. His next fight would be in Can-
ada against a Ju Jitzu champion. Harkness
won again in a 3rd round decision.
Jacob’s second to last fight as an amateur
changed his life. The bout was held in Seat-
tle, broadcast over internet pay-per-view to a
much larger audience than he had ever been
in front of. Jacob says he got careless, “I
forgot that he could hit back,” relying on his
aggressive style to carry the day. Instead,
Jacob’s opponent got ahead of him enough
that the referee decided to stop the fight.
Harkness, as probably all fighters do, be-
lieved he could have continued, but admits,
“…the refs have to make a split second deci-
sion. I never should have gotten in the posi-
tion where he would stop the fight.” Once
again Harkness used the adversity to learn a
lesson. He learned that he was venerable.
“What am I? I’m a wrestler. I shouldn’t be
standing the whole time.” He admits that
immature confidence cost him the match.
Thereafter Jacob decided to re-evaluate his
fighting style. He worked to improve his
The Fightin’ Pride of Hillyard, Washington
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 7
standing work and fine tune the wrestling-
style ground work that was his bread-and-
butter. His final amateur match ended in a
standing choke hold victory. In the end, he
had a record of 9 wins and 2 losses, 2 title
belts and was undefeated in 3 weight classes.
In the fall of 2011, Jacob had his first oppor-
tunity to fight as a professional. Doing so
represented a whole new set of variables,
more opportunities to get hurt. “I was all
nerves and jitters,” Jacob reported about his
first pro fight. In a match at North Idaho
College, Harkness fell to a choke submission
in the first round against a fighter named
Jerome Jones who was a tough amateur and
had three professional bouts under his belt.
In retrospect, Jacob felt like he rushed things
getting into the ring so soon as a pro, which
is uncharacteristic of him. He tried to focus
on his ground game, the wrestling fundamen-
tals that had served him so well and simply
“got caught,” and lost by submission 1:13
into the first round.
Again, adversity changed Jacob’s outlook.
He was hungry and wanted to fight again
right way. His trainer found him an oppor-
tunity in Dickinson, North Dakota – 850+
miles away from home. A fighter had
backed out and Jacob was able to challenge
an opponent who was 8-0 as an amateur,
Jacob Hauck. Hauck was the 3rd ranked col-
legiate wrestler in the nation, but in his first
fight as a pro. Harkness approached the fight
as an opportunity to, “…do what I do. Beat
him on my feet and be tactical on the
ground.” After two solid rounds, Harkness
locked an arm bar submission onto Hauck
for the win.
In December of 2011, Jacob got his next
opportunity to fight away from home. He
was to take on Frank Ramesy in Great Falls,
MT for the Intense Cage Fighting light-
weight belt. Jacob and Ramesy battled for
four long rounds on Ramsey’s home turf, in
front of 2800 screaming Montanans. Sixteen
Jacob Harkness fans travelled the six hours
from Hillyard to Great Falls, but by the end
all 2800 were Harkness fans. Every fight
Frank Ramesy had fought as a pro had result-
ed in a knock out. By the end of this fight,
Jacob was beaten and bloody, but we kept up
toe-to-toe with Ramsey. At the end of the
fourth, it was up to the judges: Jacob had
lost each round by one point (10-9). Ramsey
retained his title, but Great Falls, Montana
and Intense Cage Fighting learned a new
respect for young Harkness. “By the end,
they were all cheering for me and a bunch of
them came up after the fight and supported
me,” reported Harkness.
Jacob keeps his blood stained trunks from
that fight hung on his wall for inspiration.
After that hard loss, Jacob fell to a record of
1-2 as a professional fighter and he decided
to reevaluate his training. “I went back to
road work, back to running like I did (in
cross-country) while I was wrestling,” Hark-
ness said he found a new intensity. “Getting
your arm raised is the most fantastic feeling,”
and he had to get that feeling back. His next
opportunity came in May and he would be
fighting on the same card as men he thought
of as mentors and legends; top ten contend-
ers that fought out of his same gym like Lyle
“Fancy Pants” Beerbohm. Plus, it would be
for a new top level promoter with King of
the Cage at the Coeur d’Alene Casino and
broadcast on national television.
On May 17th, 2012, Jacob Harkness donned
his trademark pink and grey camouflage
shorts to take on Jordan Cook. Cook, from
Coeur d’Alene, was 15-1 as an amateur and
was making his professional debut that night
in the 155lb lightweight bout. In fact, he had
called Jacob out. He wanted to fight Jacob
“The Darkness” Harkness to try to make a
name for himself. Jacob didn’t underesti-
mate Cook; he was just as hungry for a victo-
ry. Harkness knew most of his victories had
come while wrestling on the ground and that
Cook knew it too. “I didn’t want to be
pegged as a ground submission guy,” Jacob
wanted to show his striking ability; hitting
hand-to-hand. He focused his training
on take down defense, finding ways to
stay on his feet. He trained for months,
building muscle memory for the fight.
The event was King of the Cage – Wild
Card. Jacob was featured on the adver-
tisement on the back page of the Inland-
er right next to men he looked up to like
Beerbohm, Trevor Prangley and others.
His family and friends bought their tick-
ets and drove down to Worley to see his
biggest fight to date. Many wore their
“Darkness” t-shirts; black with flo-
rescent pink printing. Harkness knows
how to catch your eye. Once he does,
his t-shirt much like the man himself
has much more to show. The main de-
sign is a cross with a quote from Psalm
144:1: “Blessed be the Lord my strength
which teacheth my hands to war, and
my fingers to fight…” Harkness says,
“I just want to show that the most pow-
erful people are devote and strong in the
Lord.” He also wants to, “be that guy in the
cage nobody wants to stand across from, but
on the street to be the guy who people want
to talk to.”
The air was electric in the casino’s events
center. Big promoters and big matches close
to the homes of the fighter bring big, raucous
crowds. Both Harkness and Cook had pock-
ets of supporters and mentors from their
home gyms fighting higher in the card. It
was loud when the two men took the ring.
After the standard briefing and “handshake”
to start the fight, the two men circled each
other. Now, watching a MMA fight as a
casual fan is a little bit like watching cats
fight, or pro hockey from the cheap seats.
You can’t always tell what is transpiring if
you don’t have that trained eye. In this fight,
Jacob was determined to keep to his feet,
which apparently Cook didn’t mind because
the two primarily boxed at each other for the
first round. Harkness had the reach ad-
vantage, with his 78” wing span, getting a
few good hits in on Cook. At the end of the
first round, it was still anybody’s fight. Both
men were slightly bruised when they came
out for the second round. It started much as
the first had, but before long the men transi-
tioned to the ground, wrestling for position
for the dominant strikes that so often end a
cage fight, but that didn’t last. Soon Hark-
ness began to take control of the fight. He
caught Cook with a punch that left him
bleeding from his eye. Jacob worked Cook
around the ring, off the cage, on the ground,
but every time Cook escaped. With his eye-
brow bleeding and his feet unsteady, Cook
raised up to box again with Harkness. At
that moment, Jacob struck fast and hard,
catching Jordan Cook in the face and sending
him to the ground. That was enough. The
referee stepped in and called the fight. As he
wished, Harkness’ arm was raised in victory
once more.
Jacob “The Darkness” Harkness lights up
like a supernova when he is victorious. It is
as if the weight and struggle of the previous
months training and the crescendo of the last
few minutes of combat all wash away in an
instant and he is just Jacob again, doing back
flips off the top of the cage. It’s his energy
and light that makes Jacob’s moniker, “The
Darkness” seems odd. Sure it rhymes with
his last name, but it means much more. It
started at Rogers when he would have to cut
weight for wrestling; apparently not eating
makes Jacob rather grumpy. I think it also
speaks to the way Harkness carries the load
of his training, his fights, his struggles.
Without darkness, there is no light.
After the headlining fights were over, Jacob
came out from back stage and again hugged
his family and friends, a Hillyard boy on top.
The fighting pride of Hillyard, Washington is
once again victorious.
You can see Jacob’s next match at King of
the Cage – Breaking Point at Coeur d’Alene
Casino on August 23rd. You can also find
much of Jacob’s work on YouTube by simply
searching for “Jacob Harkness.”
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 8
Hi-Jinx Parade Route Saturday, 8/4, 10am
Start at Broad Ave. & Market St.
Finish at Bismark Ave. & Market St.
By Staff
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations
Parade Committee
Parade Instructions. Report at the sign in booth at Queen and
Green, a block east of Market not later
than 9:45 am on Saturday the 4th. Fill
out this form in advance, or pick one up
at registration. Turn it in, and pay your
entry fee of $10, cash or check only. If
you wish to be judged for prizes, a num-
ber will be issued at registration. The
parade will stage as usual on Green
Street from Queen Street all the way
down to Broad and Market. Other en-
trants will be staged on Broad Street west
of Market, with floats positioned on Mar-
ket Street south of Broad. You must be
prepared to move promptly at 10 am or
be excluded, and blend in at the instruc-
tion of the parade director.
Since side streets will start to be barri-
caded after 8am, please enter the parade
registration area via Queen Street from
Haven Street, as Market Street will be
closed after 8am as well. Notify barri-
cade monitors that you are a parade par-
ticipant. All other traffic will be exclud-
ed.
For further information, contact Richard
Burris at 253-720-4669, 2012 Chairman
of the Festival Parade Committee.
Parade Marshall. Hillyard Heritage
Celebrations would
like to honor
Hillyard Senior
Center Executive
Director, Jerry Un-
ruh. Jerry is truly an
asset to the Hillyard
Community. He has
an amazing amount of passion for our
community and especially the seniors of
our neighborhood.
Additionally, Jerry is an amazing enter-
tainer who is always quick to offer his
talents to a good cause, whether it’s
crooning on the Hillyard Festival stage or
just MCing at a Senior Center fundraiser.
Under Jerry’s leadership, the Hillyard
Senior Center has flourished while other
similar organizations have suffered great-
ly. Sure he feels the pinch of smaller
budgets and a depressed economy, but
his sheer force of will and amazing posi-
tive attitude must have counted for some-
thing, because our Seniors are doing
okay.
For all these reasons and myriad more,
Jerry Unruh has been named the 2012
Hillyard Hi Jinx Parade Marshall.
Parade Judging. Every year, the Hillyard Heritage Cele-
brations awards our Hi-Jinx Parade par-
ticipants with recognitions for the crea-
tivity of their entries. This year the Pa-
rade Committee would like to share with
you the categories we will be judging.
Judging Categories:
Best Hi-Jinx (1st, 2nd & 3rd)
Most Creative
Best Pedaled Apparatus
Most Unique
Oldest Entry
Best in Theme
Several categories tie in to our theme for
the year. The 2012 theme for the
Hillyard Festival is “New Beginnings.”
Be creative, find ways to show off this
year’s theme.
Thanks to our partnership with the
C.O.P.S. Northeast volunteers, we sepa-
rately recognize children’s entries. They
will be judging and awarding various
prizes. Childrens’ entries should pre-
register at COPS NE, 5208 N. Market for
free entry into the parade. Only those
who pre-register will receive free entry
into the parade.
The participants in the Hot Rods in
Hillyard Car Show and Parade will also
be recognized.
Hope to see you at the Hillyard Festival
Hi-Jinx Parade. Remember to cheer on
your favorite entries!
Parade Information
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 9
2012 Hillyard Festival Program
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
All events are located in Sharpley-
Harmon Park unless otherwise noted.
Friday 8/3 12:00PM – 2011 Hillyard Festival
Officially Opens.
Lions Club Bingo Opens
1:00PM – Beer Garden Opens
10:00PM – Festival & Beer Garden
Closes
Saturday 8/4 7:00AM – Hillyard Festival Breakfast
at Kiwanis Midway, until 9AM.
9:00AM – Hillyard Festival Opens
10:00AM – Hillyard Hi-Jinx Parade
along Market St., begins at Broad
Ave., ending at Harmon Park.
12:00PM (Immediately Following the
Parade):
Lions Club Bingo Opens
Beer Garden Opens
Car Show Cars run backwards
down the parade route.
Roving Gamblers MC Motor-
cycle Show n’ Shine Opens,
southeast corner Harmon Park,
Judging ends at 2pm.
1:00PM – Hot Rods in Hillyard Car
Show Opens, Downtown Hillyard,
Judging ends at 3pm
DARK – Fireworks in the Park
10:00PM – Festival & Beer Garden
Closes
Sunday 8/5 10:00AM – Hillyard Festival Opens
HP
12:00PM – Lions Club Bingo Starts,
Beer Garden Opens
5:00PM – Festival & Beer Garden
Closes
Sharpley-Harmon Park is
located on the 6000 block of
N. Market St., one block
south of Francis.
Special Thanks
to the Hillyard
Heritage
Celebrations
Supporters: A to Z Rentals
Guardian Self Storage
Hillyard Community
Futures
Roving Gamblers MC
SustainableWorks
AUGUST 3RD, 4TH & 5TH Sharpley-Harmon Park
AUGUST 4TH, 10AM North Market Street
ENTERTAINMENT
SCHEDULE
All shows are located in on Main Stage
at Sharpley-Harmon Park,
Friday 8/3: 12:00PM – Tommy G from the 509
4:00PM – Jerry Unruh
5:00PM – Hillyard Belles and Train-
men Showband
6:30PM – Occasional String Band
Saturday 8/4: 12:00PM – Dysfunktynal Kaos
2:00PM – On A Mission
4:00PM – Electric City
6:00PM – Tommy G and The Nug
Jug Band
7:00PM – Armed and Dangerous
Sunday 8/5: 9:00AM – Worship in the Park, multi
-denominational church service
12:00PM – Ken Davis and Friends
Jam Session
3:00PM – Ken, Danny and Brother
Page 10 Hillyard Gazette 2012
WWW.HILLYARDFESTIVAL.ORG
Hillyard Festival AUGUST 3RD - 5TH Sharpley-Harmon Park
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 11
WWW.HILLYARDFESTIVAL.ORG
Hi-Jinx Parade AUGUST 4TH, 10AM
North Market Street
Page 12 Hillyard Gazette 2012
2012 Hillyard Festival Program
Stop by the Hillyard
Heritage Celebrations
Booth For:
Information/Lost &
Found
Bottled Water
Official Hillyard Festi-
val 2012 T-Shirts
Hillyard Hats, Mugs,
Water Bottles, etc.
Run your credit or debit card at the Hillyard
Festival Booth to purchase wooden nickels for
use in the Beer Garden and at select ven-
dors.
BINGO!
Support the Spokane Hillyard
Lions Club and have a
lot of fun doing it!
All 3 Days of the Festival!
We Are Lighting Up The Sky of Northeast Spokane With Fireworks! Saturday
August 4th at Dark
Hot Rods in Hot Rods in Hot Rods in HillyardHillyardHillyard
\ Aug 4th
After Parade
Hillyard Business District
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 13
Big Sky’s Tavern 5510 N. Market, Spokane, WA 99217
(509)489-2073
*Best Beer Garden in Town *Pool *Darts
*Live Music *Karaoke *Pull Tabs
*Video & Golf Machines *Kegs to Go
Upcoming Events:
Aug 4th, after the Hi-Jinx Parade:
11th Annual Car Show
VENDORS WANTED!
The Hillyard Festival is expanding! More vendors! More electricity! More food vendors! Join the 100 year tradi-
tion in Northeast Spokane! Reach over 3,000 people!
We are looking for craft vendors, commercial vendors, car-nival vendors, bake sales, flea markets, kids games, inflat-ables, anybody who wants to sell their wares or entertain
folks.
Booth spaces start at $100, ($50for non-profits, $150 for food vendors) for all three days. Contact our Vendor
Chair, Linda at (509) 879-2357 or click www. hillyardfesti-val.org. There is still time!
By Richard Burris
Historic Hillyard Merchant Commit-
tee
The first
Hillyard Ap-
preciation
Day on Sat-
urday, June
30th was a
smashing success, with over a hundred cars
on display, live music, and free food! It was
followed just two weeks later with a Flap-
jack Feast and Chili Cook-off in the historic
business district on Saturday, July 14th!
We’re “Moving at the Speed of Hillyard”,
and just look what we have planned for you!
Saturday, August 4th: Just as soon as the
northbound Festival Hi-Jinx parade clears
Market at Central, the Hot Rods in Hillyard
Parade gets turned loose southbound from
the staging area south of Francis Street, so
expect a few minutes delay in the downtown
area between these colorful and exciting
parades. And be sure to look for the ballots
and the boxes to deposit your vote for your
favorite entrants, as the winners go into the
2013 Hot Rods in Hillyard Calendar!
Saturday, September 8th: Bigger and better
than ever,
this trip back
to the sixties
never fails to
entertain.
There will be
live music
not only at Queen and Market but at Olym-
pic and Market as well, along with scores of
vendors themed for this event.
Saturday, October 6th: Hillyard Harvest
Festival is being planned as an opportunity
to enjoy the traditional farmers market and
includes an educational experience. How do
I cook it, preserve it, and savor natures’
bounty in the cold months to come? You’ll
learn it here and be able to buy it here, along
with everything else you need to pull it off!
If you’d like to learn more, or even join in
the fun, drop in on any Wednesday at 8:30
in the morning at the Outlaw Café on Mar-
ket Street. The welcome mat is out, no ex-
perience necessary!
Mark Your Calendar! HHMC Upcoming Events!
By Gary Winslow
Roving Gamblers Motorcycle Club
Attention: To all motorcycle riders come
and join the Roving Gamblers Club
(RGMC) of Spokane in the Hillyard Herit-
age Celebrations Parade.
Time: 10am
Date: Saturday, August 4th, 2012
After the Hi-Jinx Parade, stay and join in the
Show and Shine presented by the RGMC or
just park your motorcycle on the hardtop at
North 6100 Market at Sharpley-Harmon
Park and enjoy the rest of the one hundred
and first celebration of Hillyard’s heritage.
The Roving Gamblers Motorcycle Club has
been in Spokane for over 60 years. One of
our oldest members is 96 years young and
regularly attends meetings.
The RGMC Show n’ Shine differs from
regular events, where in the attendees vote
and do the judging (based on what they like
and enjoy as their favorite) in any particular
class.
Monetary awards are given for the follow-
ing classes:
1. Best of Show
2. Custom
3. Classic
4. Stock
5. Motor Trike
6. Motor Sidecar
To enter your motorcycle, after the parade
be at the southeast corner of Harmon Park.
The sign up fee is $10.00 for each bike.
Other events the RGMC is planning on do-
ing this year include an overnight campout,
different rides for charity organizations,
pizza fee for the Cherry Wood Place, and
also attend rides sponsored by other clubs,
and last but not least we just love to ride
with friends. All rides that we sponsor wel-
come all motorcycles.
We have meetings every Wednesday at the
Lariat Restaurant in Mead at 7:30pm. Come
look around and stay awhile. We are cur-
rently taking applications for new members.
For further information, contact members at
the Festival or President Gary Winslow at
509-292-8302.
(Note: Roving Gamblers assume no respon-
sibility for Motorcycles parked on the hard
top in the Roving Gamblers Area. Please do
not leave any items unattended.)
RGMC Motorcycle Show n’ Shine
The Hillyard
Heritage
Celebrations
always needs
volunteers!
If you are interested please
contact our President,
Dave Griswold at 868-2900
Hillyard Heritage Celebrations would like to thank two Hillyard businesses for giv-
ing back to the community by sponsoring the Occasional String Band show on Friday, August 3rd at 6:30pm. The Occasional String Band will appear at the
Hillyard Festival courtesy of JP Truck, Inc. and Keith Johnston, P.S., Attorney at Law. JP Truck, Inc. transports fine art and antiques throughout the U.S.
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 14
5150 N. Freya St. Spokane, WA 99217
By Lynn Weiler
COPS Northeast
We are into our 19th year and still going
strong.
Last year we had 663 general inquiries at the
shop. We also reported 96 crimes against
Persons and 213 property crimes. We report-
ed 88 drug houses and got several closed,
we had 802 city referrals to the departments
that could help find a resolution to the prob-
lem.
Block Watch is a strong crime deterrent and
we would like to start up several more in our
neighborhoods. Come by the shop and find
out how.
We have several projects that are in need of
volunteers to help run them—They are:
N.O.P. (Neighbors on Patrol)( night time
eyes and ears for Patrol, Walking N,O.P.,
( where as you take a stroll in your neigh-
borhood, you can write up Code Enforce-
ment Form or report any problem you might
see), Business Watch, Latent Fingerprinting,
Graffiti Reporting, and Operation Family
ID. If there is another project you feel needs
to be done, come by the shop and let us
know and help get it started.
The new AIM (Accountability Information
Management) Report, which is available to
all citizens, shows what is happening in the
city and your neighborhood. This report is
generated by our citizens reporting all
crimes. Reporting suspicious activities and
suspicious persons is a big help to our ana-
lyst put together target areas to work on.
Please, Please, Please keep calling in any-
thing out of order. Help keep our neighbor-
hoods safe
Coming up is the Hillyard Festival Parade.
Kiwanis, the North East Youth Center and
COPSNE all have prizes for kids.
COPSNE has cash prizes for single and
groups of kids 12 years or under. If the kids
want to sign up for our portion of the parade,
please sign up at COPS NE. You can be on a
bike, walk or pull a wagon. Be sure to wear
a costume and decorate you bikes, wagons
or skateboards. We want to see lots of kids
in the Parade.
Please come in an visit with the volunteers.
Remember—NIGHT OUT AGAINST
CRIME on Aug. 7th.
COPS Northeast, 19 Years & Going Strong
By Lynn Weiler
COPS Northeast
It’s time again as the Department of Correc-
tions has changed the boundaries of each
COP Shops and the responsibilities of each.
COPS NE DOC Officers will now be re-
sponsible for the area of East of Standard to
Havana and South to Empire and North to
Day Mt Spokane Rd.
If there are questions or concerns about
DOC offenders in your area, please make
contact with your local COPS Shop and the
DOC Officers will assist in any way possi-
ble. We continue to work closely with all
stakeholders in the area to ensure a safe
community.
Our DOC Officers are Allen Warren and
Franz Griffin.
From COPS NE D.O.C. Officers
3121 E Francis at Market
“Your Locally Owned Upscale Dollar Store”
Present this coupon for:
“The Dollar Depot Dozen”
By 12 Items and get the 13th free! Expires 10/31/12
By Jerry Unruh
Hillyard Senior Center
The Hillyard Senior Center is making life
after 50 an enjoyable time for those older
adult individuals looking to improve the
quality of their life! Seniors in Northeast
Spokane can participate in an array of pro-
grams and services when they visit this local
NE area senior recreational center. For a
mere $15 per year membership, seniors can
take part in the many offerings that available
on a monthly basis.
“We had a great time on our overnight trip
to Seattle recently.” quoting Kathy Fisher,
volunteer coordinator and member of the
Board Of Directors of Hillyard Senior Cen-
ter.
“Traveling on day and overnight trips with
the center is just one of the many ways a
person can have fun at the Hillyard Senior
Center” Fisher said.
The center operates recreational, education-
al, social, nutritional, and cultural activities,
classes, and special events aimed at keeping
the senior 50+ active and healthier in their
golden years. With choices of art classes,
exercise, bingo, cards, travel, Wii bowling
and a summer croquet league, Hillyard Sen-
ior Center offers a wide spectrum of oppor-
tunities that keep seniors from sitting alone
at home.
If you would like to know more about the
Hillyard Senior Center or receive a compli-
mentary copy of their monthly newsletter,
contact their office at 482-0803 or visit their
web site at www.hillyardseniorcenter.org
and stay active and healthy in your retire-
ment years.
HSC Offers Great Activities for Adults 50+!
Hillyard Senior Center Pictures
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 15
By Tracy Swank
Northeast Community Center
Addressing issues of food insecurity, child
care needs, access to affordable medical and
dental care, and recreational opportunities for
seniors, the agencies of the Northeast Com-
munity Center are impacting the lives of
thousands of northeast neighbors. Families
that utilize the services not only become and
remain self sufficient but also contribute to
the well-being of their community.
In 2011, the agencies delivered 229,524 units
of service including everything from attend-
ing a Library sponsored summer reading
programs to receiving a bag of groceries
from the food bank.
Hearing the community’s need for access to
counseling services for youth, Daybreak
Youth services joined the coalition of agen-
cies at the Northeast Community Center in
2011. Serving youth 10 – 13 the agency of-
fers free prevention programs in 5 elemen-
tary schools in the community and counsel-
ing services for youth involved in substance
abuse and for their families.
Focused on the specific needs of seniors, the
Hillyard Senior Center offers opportunities
for older citizens to recreate together in a
safe environment at the center. Seniors exer-
cise their bodies with Zumba and virtual
bowling and their minds with a new series
called “Brain Games”, created by Hillyard
Senior Center director, Jerry Unruh. Living
healthy in the senior years is encouraged
through daily meals and through opportuni-
ties to volunteer. Seniors provided 15,748
hours of service to their center, keeping the
operating cost at a minimum, and were the
mainstay of volunteer programs in many
neighborhood programs.
Recognizing that residents of long term care
facilities can become isolated and lonely,
Friend to Friend works to facilitate regular
visits for them from trained volunteers.
Since locating in the center last July, Friend
to Friend has brought a record number of
interested volunteers into their orientation
program.
Head Start, managed in the Northeast com-
munity Center by the Community colleges of
Spokane, opened two additional classrooms
in September of 2011, building their on-site
capacity to serve pre-school children with
education that prepares them for Kindergar-
ten. Children are provided health screenings
and are linked to the available medical/dental
services at the Rivestone Family Health Cen-
ter also located in the center. The program
also provides meals and snacks daily for all
children participating in the program. With
the increased number of children on-site, the
Community Center needs to expand the
kitchen where USDA recommended meals
and snacks are created daily for the children.
The Hillyard Steering Committee has provid-
ed seed money to help make this possible.
While their funds will cover the cost of relo-
cating a kettle that can greatly increase the
efficiency of the kitchen, additional dona-
tions are needed to secure more efficient
equipment and accomplish the related con-
struction. Contributions are welcome at the
front desk of the center.
In addition to serving the Head Start chil-
dren, the kitchen also supports the Northeast
Child Development Center and the pre-
school age children that attend the full day
care program. Families that are working,
entering the work force for the first time, or
preparing themselves for employment rely on
the program not only to watch over their
children but to offer accredited education
specifically designed for young children. In
2011 the center became one of only five cen-
ters in Spokane to complete the rigorous pro-
cess to achieve accreditation from the Na-
tional Association for the Education of
Young Children. A limited number of open-
ings are anticipated for the fall and early ap-
plication for enrollment is encouraged.
With the completion of construction of the
new wing of the Community Center, North-
east neighborhoods welcomed the opening of
Riverstone Health and Dental clinics. The
clinics operate on a family health care model
and seek to serve full family needs. Shortly
after opening First Steps, a supportive mater-
nity care program was incorporated into the
mix of services offered in the clinics. Addi-
tional new providers are scheduled to begin
practice in the clinics over the next six
months. With more than 20,000 medically
uninsured or under insured, in the 99207 zip
code alone, the presence of this resource ad-
dresses a broadly recognized need to help
families remain healthy. With the opening of
the clinics, 21 new jobs were added in the
neighborhood.
For many, the medical need requires access
to medications that their budgets cannot cov-
er. Prescription Assistance Program, operat-
ing in space provided by the center, provides
services one day a week to help those pa-
tients apply for free or low-cost medications.
Because this program meets this need, not
only do the patients live a healthier, fuller
life, but their limited resources can be used to
meet other financial needs. The value of the
medications received by 127 northeast resi-
dents last year exceeded $481,000.
Economic downturns are accompanied by
increased need for basic services resulting
food insecurities for families, many for the
first time in their experience. The Northeast
Food Pantry, supported by donations from
neighbors across the community, has been
there to help. 2,872 families received assis-
tance in 2011 and many others accessed fresh
produce through the weekly Farmer’s market
offered during the summer months. Others
chose to grow their own produce by renting a
garden plot at the community garden. WIC
served 4,168 women, infants, and children
under 5 with nutritional guidance and food
supplements. The program also added
$48,960 for WIC families to access fresh
produce at local farmer’s market outlets and
to support local growers.
Energy and utility bills brought increased
concerns for families over the past few sea-
sons. SNAP manages its Community Action
core of services from the Northeast Commu-
nity Center and offers families access to ser-
vices from minor home repair, budget man-
agement training, and emergency energy
assistance. Grants to families for heating
cost that originated out of the NE SNAP of-
fice brought $2,730,536 back into the neigh-
borhood economy in 2011.
Find out how you can access services or sup-
port the work of the center and its agencies
by visiting the center at 4001 N. Cook or on
its website at www.myspokane.net/necca.
Contributing to the work of the center helps
assure services for those in need and helps
grow the neighborhood economy.
COMMUNITY CENTER SERVES NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS
By Tracy Swank
Northeast Community Center
There once was a barren piece of land; hilly,
sandy, rocky, and used mostly by kids on
bicycles riding fast and jumping from place
to place. For years adolescents from the mid-
dle school chose the site to “settle their dif-
ferences” without weapons or grudges.
A community center was constructed near by
and homes for the elderly were built to the
North. New houses for families with modest
incomes were developed to the West. The
site became smaller, and surrounded by com-
munity growth. And there it sat, isolated and
unused.
During the years that followed, the garden
grew and its mission expanded to welcome
newly ar-riving immigrants from Asian and
eastern European countries. For many immi-
grants, agriculture had been a way of life.
The gar-den was often filled with multiple
languages and songs. Garden-ers rented the
spaces and grew their own produce. They
enjoyed time with friends and meeting neigh-
bors. Fruit trees flourished in the corners and
flowers bloomed in the most unlikely spots.
Originally named the Pioneer Garden, Spo-
kane’s first Community garden continued as
a fixture of the northeast community for a
decade and was called by many names
through the seasons.
Still, the gardeners knew that there would
come a time when expansion of the Commu-
nity Center would need to fill the land that
they had come to love. That day did arrive in
2005. Parking would be needed for the addi-
tion of a full primary health clinic and space
for youth programming. The Board Members
of the Northeast Community Center recog-
nized that the garden was too important to
simply pave over and deter-mined to relocate
the garden. Funds would be needed to pur-
chase the land, to build new beds, to provide
water access and to fence the garden. With
financial donations from many Friends of the
Community Center–individuals, businesses,
foundations, the Hillyard Steering Commit-
tee, and the Taxpayers of The State of Wash-
ington--land was ac-quired through a partner-
ship with Spokane Youth Sports Association.
Workers from the Washington State Depart-
ment of Corrections assisted with the con-
struction of the beds at the new site on the
corner of Liberty and Lacey and the location
soon became ready.
The gardeners, knowing that the site where
they had nurtured the soil and grown their
gardens would soon serve other needs,
planned their growing season to accommo-
date the move. They asked only one thing,
permission to take their soil with them. In the
middle of the gardening season in 2006, the
gardeners, carefully removing the plants they
could, and carrying the dirt to the new site in
5 gallon buckets, began growing new gar-
dens.
Although there were twice as many growing
plots as the previous site and challenges were
many, the garden was soon filled and has
flourished for six years. There have been
youth gardeners from 4-H, second grade
classes, novice and experienced gardeners,
vandals and admirers. The harvest season has
been celebrated with carrots and peas, goose-
berries and raspberries, onions and flowers,
music and laughter.
The garden continues to grow and the sup-
port of the Friends of the Center is once
again needed. JJ Moody, an Eagle Scout can-
didate has volunteered to develop accessible
beds for those who are mobility challenged
and plans to undertake this work through the
summer. Funds are needed for materials to
construct the beds.
By becoming a Friend of the Center, you can
help grow the Northeast Garden and help
celebrate the harvest this com-ing October.
As the growing season is already underway,
your membership investments, starting at
$125, are needed now. Mail your member-
ship to Friends of the Center, 4001 N. Cook
or visit our website at www.myspokane.net/
necca to donate via credit card. Be part of the
legacy of Spokane’s longest op-erating com-
munity garden. Visit the garden, remember
its story, and see what a beautiful difference
your membership gift can make.
YOUR FRIENDS OF THE CENTER MEM-
BERSHIP will provide:
•4 yards of soil for a garden bed
•1 yard of gravel for wheel chair path to ac-
cessible
beds
• Lumber
and rebar
for one
plot
frame
Friends of the Center Grow a Garden
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 16
By Tracy Swank
Northeast Community Center
Hardly an aspect of today’s
living functions without tech-
nology. Want to apply for a
job? More and more compa-
nies of all sizes are requiring
on-line applica-tions. Trying to fix your car
yourself? Research it on the web. Have rela-
tives in another state or country? E-mail
them or post pictures of the grandkids
through Facebook. Need an energy appoint-
ment or assistance from DSHS. Click the
icon on the desktop in the computer lab at
the Northeast Community Center.
As families face the challenges of the down-
turn in the economy, the Cen-ter is assisting
with free access to technology. More than
600 people per month are utilizing the com-
puter lab at the community center to do job
search, stay in touch with friends and family,
file reports or find needed information. Some
come regularly and some only come once.
The computers, including the software, were
provided to the Center through a Broadband
Technology Opportunity Program grant from
the US Depart-ment of Commerce. TIN-
CAN, a Spokane non-profit focused on im-
prov-ing access to technology, wrote the
grant on behalf of a coalition of orga-
nizations in the greater Spokane area. Inter-
net access, furnishing, space and electrical
support of the lab are provided by the com-
munity center.
“The community center was a natural partner
in this coali-tion, particularly since they had
offered access for so many years and served
the populations the grant was intended to ben
-efit.” stated Karen Michelson, executive
director of the TINCAN and manager of the
grant.
In 2001 the Northeast Community Center set
up its first computer ac-cess center with
equipment provided by ICM Asset Manage-
ment Com-pany. VISTA volunteer Joseph
Anderson coordinated the effort and as-sisted
people with skill building around how to use
the internet. Then, as now, people were most
interested in being able to email and do job
search.
Chuck has been a frequent visitor to the labs
since the beginning and often found himself
serving as a resource for others. “I’ve always
been fascinated by technology and the
worlds it opens for us.” He said. “It wasn’t
easy for some to step into the digital era.
Computers were expensive and the month-ly
cost of connecting to the internet was some-
times prohibitive. For retir-ees like me, the
lab at the center is easy to access, saves me
the expense.”
Computer users most often identify
job search activities as their reason for using
the free access. Staff member Kathleen Hill
is always thrilled to hear one of those who
have created their resumes and applied for
positions on line say, “I got a job!” For
many, the world of job search has changed
dramatically since they last had to look for
work and the personal assistance they re-
ceive from staff makes the process a little
easier to navigate.
A second lab debuted in 2011 and hosted the
AARP TaxAide program. Trained volunteers
assisted low-income taxpayers in filing 1,260
on-line re-turns. According to Mary Abbott,
area coordinator for the service, the North-
east Community Center site was the second
busiest in the State. “Because we could use
the computers at the Center, we could serve
more efficient-ly.” She reported. “Between
the refunds and what we saved people in
filing fees, we estimate putting over a $1
million back into the local economy.” The
program continued in 2012 but operated one
less day due to a shortage of volunteers.
Income tax returns generated for families
still topped the $700,000 mark, facilitated by
the access to technology.
Plans are now underway to offer free training
programs in the com-puter lab and to estab-
lish the third lab to assist middle school
youth in their education, career, and personal
development. TINCAN.
With funding reductions to community cen-
ters already forecast by the City, the Com-
munity Center is asking Northeast neighbors
to become “Friends of the Center” and help
support the broadband access necessary to
support the computer labs. Each $125 mem-
bership provides a month of access. Join
today, on line, with your credit card, at the
Website, www.myspokane.net/necca , by
stopping by the center, or mailing your check
to 4001 N. Cook, Spokane, WA 99207
Computer Access Offered at Community Center
By Paul Manley
Hillyard Evergreen Cemetery Associ-
ation
History of Evergreen Cemetery
The cemetery was created by the Hillyard
Masonic Lodge in 1909 and was originally
titled and known as the Hillyard Masonic
Cemetery. The property was purchased on
July 2, 1909 from Milton & Kezia Anderson
for $556.50.
The original plat
was filed in the
Spokane County
Court House in
January, 1910.
The fact that the
property was in-
tended to be a
cemetery at the
time of sale to the
Hillyard Masonic
Lodge cannot be in
doubt as there are
several known
burials prior to the
filing of the plat.
Earliest known burials:
Veda Helen Bliss (age 1), July 1909
Uriah C Casey (age 79), Oct 1909, GAR
Rachel Prehm (age 2), Nov 1909* Once
thought to be the first burial, was later
moved to Greenwood
There were once several wooden markers
near the area where the Gwaltney family is
buried. These may also have been burials
from 1909-1910.
By 1911 the name changed to Masonic Ever-
green and by 1913 was shortened to Ever-
green. The cemetery changed hands a num-
ber of times and was virtually abandoned for
many years. For the past 20 years, Hillyard
VFW Post 1474 has maintained the cemetery
and on April 1, 2012 title to the property was
transferred to the Hillyard Evergreen Ceme-
tery Association.
Grand Army of the
Republic
Within the ceme-
tery there is a
fenced section, set
aside by the
Hillyard Masonic
Lodge for mem-
bers of the Grand
Army of the Re-
public, many of
whom may have
been members of
the lodge. There
are at least 12 GAR members buried in this
section and one buried outside the section.
In addition, there is 1 Korean War Veteran.
It is also believed that there is at least 1
Spanish-American War Veteran and other
possible veterans. Research is needed to
determine which persons are veterans.
The Future
The Hillyard Evergreen Cemetery Associa-
tion has set as its primary goal to revitalize
and make Evergreen Cemetery a viable cem-
etery. In order to accomplish this, we must
first identify all locations where graves exist
and, if possible, identify the names of the
burials.
The following projects are also in process or
in the planning stages:
Replace all unreadable cemetery mark-
ers.
Research funeral home records to verify
names, dates, and possible family mem-
bers.
Research men of proper age for possible
military service in the Civil War, Span-
ish-American War, and WWI.
Make contact with living de-
scendants and relatives of those
buried in the cemetery.
The Hillyard Evergreen Cemetery
Association meets on the 2nd Monday
of each month at 10:00 a.m. at
Hillyard VFW Post 1474, 2902 E
Diamond Ave. Their primary objec-
tive is to make the cemetery a viable
cemetery. There is room to add at
least 1000 more graves to the ceme-
tery.
Resthaven Cemetery
In the south end of the property is an
additional section known as Rest-
haven Cemetery. This section was
originally named the IOOF
(Oddfellows) Cemetery. There are
over 60 graves of senior citizens buried be-
tween 1948 and 1952 in this section.
Help and Support
Tax-deductable donations for support of the
cemetery can be made to:
Hillyard Evergreen Cemetery Association
c/o Paul Manly, Sexton/Cemetery Director
8422 N General Grant Way
Spokane WA 99208
Persons desiring access and/or grave location
information can call Paul Manly at 509-979-
1627.
Evergreen Cemetery
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 17
By Marj Brewer
Hillyard Heritage Museum
What should I do with my old Roger Annu-
al? Who could use Mom’s old Dutch oven
and the wine crock that’s chipped and
cracked? Would anyone be interested in any
of Grandpa’s pictures of the trains and those
of the Hi-Jinx Parade? The answer is a re-
sounding YES! The Hillyard Heritage Mu-
seum Society exists, in part, to care for and
display all such treasures.
The Society also leases the property and
maintains the lawn and trees at the Queen
and Market Hobo Park. Each February they
sponsor the Hillyard Hobo Dinner to help
cover the cost. Homemade Hobo Stew and
fresh baked dessert are featured, an auction
conducted by “Jumpin’ ” Jack Summers and
great listening music make for a fun filled
evening. Many thanks to the many north
side businesses who help underwrite the cost
of the fresh ingredients and
contribute items for the auc-
tion. Thanks also to the
Hillyard neighbors and Lions
Club members who made $5
donations this spring to pur-
chase a ten foot Nordman Fir
which was planted at the park
and is destined to become a
lovely living Hillyard Com-
munity Christmas Tree next
December and will be so for
years to come.
Plans are underway to erect a
new sign featuring a short
history of Hillyard and the
Great Northern Yards and showing pictures
of both. Sharp, clear photos are needed. If
you have any you are willing to lend please
contact one of the museum board members.
The same people will accept your donation
of cash which will help purchase the land for
a future museum building or make arrange-
ment to archive any items you may wish to
donate. At present the Society has a travel-
ing display of photos and small items availa-
ble for a program or cultural display which
we will be glad to bring to your meeting.
Please contact Society President Paul
Pearce, Vice President Gary Garberg, Treas-
urer Mike Brewer, Secretary Marj Brewer,
or At Large Members Donna Jilbert, Doro-
thy Jilbert and Tom Weaver. Our mailing
address is 5022 N Stone St., 99207 and our
message phone is 483-2383.
Steam’s up, green board ahead. See you in
Hillyard!
Hillyard Heritage Museum
By Clyde Decker
Kids Christmas in Hillyard
Kids Christmas in Hillyard 2011 at the
Hillyard Branch of the Bank of America
was a great success. The Hillyard Lions
Club helped and we welcomed 709 fami-
lies for a total of 1706 kids. Santa met
some of the nicest mothers and fathers and
received many sincere "thank yous."
Unfortunately Santa was ill last summer and
most of the winter so he was really slowed
down this year. Donations were way down
and he does not know if the 10th year of the
program will happen. If anyone would be
willing to help, please call the Hillyard San-
ta hotline at 509-220-2885. Donations of
money or toys can be dropped off at the
Outlaw Cafe, 5012 N. Market St. Santa is
able to make cash donations go much further
because he is able to purchase toys for 10
cents on the dollar to maximize the number
of gifts are available. This makes the dona-
tions go a long way. Last year Santa spent
just over $2200, yielding enough toys for
1706 kids. Those gifts were greatly appreci-
ated by the parents, who wouldn't have been
able to afford them otherwise.
Those who would rather purchase toys to
donate should remember our local
Walgreens at Wellesely and Crestline. Over
the years this store has helped the program
many times and will always be there for us.
Also remember that Hillyard Santa will have
a fundraiser at the Hillyard Safeway store
during the month of November. Stop by and
say hello.
Please support all those who support the
Hillyard Santa, thank you to: Bank of
America-Hillyard Branch, The Hillyard Li-
ons Club, Outlaw Cafe, Walgreens, Safeway
and everyone else who has been so generous
over the years.
Thank you.
-Santa.
Hillyard Santa—Hello & Help
By Art Knoll
Spokane Housing Authority
In 2008, Spokane Housing Authority (SHA)
applied for and received funding from the
Comprehensive Health Education Founda-
tion (CHEF) to provide activities for youth
in the Hillyard neighborhood during the
school spring break. SHA created a partner-
ship with the Northeast Community Center,
Spokane Youth Sports Association, and the
Boys and Girls Club to design a fun, educa-
tional, and empowering program for youth
in the neighborhood, which was named
North East Sports Team (NEST) Builders.
Our idea was to recruit youths identified by
their school counselors and provide them
with opportunities to learn about healthy
living, gain self-confidence, and foster team-
work.
Each year since 2008, SHA has received
funding for the NEST Builders program.
The activities over the last four years have
been varied and include: A day at the EWU
Confidence Course, Gonzaga University
tours that include the basketball team train-
ing facilities, sports training by SYSA in
football, lacrosse, soccer, and basketball; the
confidence course at Camp Sekani; educa-
tional and career counseling at NECC and
Gonzaga; and a tour of the Hollister-Stier
plant.
How do we measure success? Participants of
NEST Builders participated in pre and post
testing at each camp and every year the stu-
dents show improvement in understanding
and knowledge. A secondary and signifi-
cantly more telling measure are the person-
al changes in lives of youth and adults. Sev-
eral participants have come back year after
year and when they are too old to participate
they volunteer to assist in the camp. One of
the original counselors changed his major
and became a teacher; because, he said, he
really loved working with the kids. One
young boy had never been involved in stu-
dent activities and has since been elected as
student body President. In 2010, on the final
day of the camp, we took the participants to
a local family fun park. One of the NEST
girls found an envelope that held $1,000 in
cash and she immediately turned it in.
A child having a birthday party that
day dropped the envelope.
These small programs have made a
big impact in many lives and SHA
looks forward to continuing the part-
nerships build with CHEF, Northeast
Community Center, Spokane Youth
Sports Association, and the Boys and
Girls Club in the future.
Partners for Personal Growth
Pictures of SHA’s Kehoe Place Grand Opening
By Karen Tuininga
Historic Hillyard Merchants Com-
mittee
HILLYARD HIPPIE HAPPENING-Food,
Vendors, Live Music!
On 9/8/12, 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. the
Hillyard Merchants Committee will present
the 3rd Annual Hillyard Hippie Happening.
On the streets of Beautiful Uptown Hillyard
will be held a Celebration of Family and
Community, Harmony and Co-Existing with
our Planet.
Offered here to you for FREE will be eight
hours of delicious tunes from; Strawberry
Fields (Nighthawk), Wicked Obsession w/
jam friends, Frank Delaney, Kozmic
Dreamzz - The Janis Project and Green
Piece (Ricks Brothers). Sonny and Cher will
be back with more songs and Jimi Hendrix
will open the show.
There will be vendors galore on Olympic
and Queen Streets, along with the You Can
Paint It “Groovy Bus” and The Balloon
Guy. Don’t forget to grab your one of a
kind, hand made Karma Bag, spin the Prize
Wheel, or participate in the Authentic Hip-
pie Garb and Name That Tune contests. And
who knows what other groovy stuff will
come our way in the meantime? So stay
tuned in and turned on!
This is a Politician Free Zone but all are
welcome as citizens, neighbors, and friends.
“Hoodstock” - Be There or Be Square.
“Hoodstock” - Be There or Be Square
Page 18 Hillyard Gazette 2012
HillyardFestival.org
By Clyde Decker
The Hillyard Plaza was built in 1973. it was
originally an apartment complex - 59 one
bedroom HUD subsidized senior and handi-
capped low income facility. Hillyard Plaza
is a great community to live in. The resi-
dents have pave potluck dinners every
month and outside entertainment as often as
possible. These gatherings are are an oppor-
tunity for otherwise lonely residents to visit
with their neighbors. The residents also
often have outside excursions to various
places in the area. These events are paid for
by our fundraising events, such as the up-
coming yard sale. Please visit the Hillyard
Plaza yard sale, they need your help. The
yard sale will be held on the Everett Avenue
side of the building.
Yard Sale
Hillyard Plaza
2808 E Sanson Ave.
Friday August 3rd; Saturday August 4th
8am-5pm
Hillyard Plaza Yard Sale
By Mike Rapp
Hillyard Neighborhood Council
Clean Up Coordinator
The Hillyard, Bemiss and Whitman neigh-
borhoods had another successful neighbor-
hood cleanup this year thanks to a lot of
hard work by hundreds of volunteers.
I was this year's coordinator. I answered
many calls after the April 28th event asking
about bringing waste and whether another
cleanup is planned this year. Honestly it
would be hard to get volunteers to commit to
2 cleanups in one year. We do have plenty
of funds left for dump passes. The 2nd dump
pass distribution ends on June 23rd. There
should be funds left to have at least one
more 2 week period some time in July or
August. As in the past, the passes are worth
$25 toward the cost of the load of waste
with no refunds if the load is under the $25
certificate. Passes are available at NECC,
Northeast Community Center during busi-
ness hours for Hillyard, Whitman and Be-
miss Neighborhood residents. They are use-
able only at the Waste to Energy Facility at
S. 2900 S Geiger Blvd. Verification of cur-
rent residency (drivers license, utility bill,
etc.) in one of the 3 neighborhoods is re-
quired. One dump pass per household.
Watch for the 2013 cleanup. Be forewarned
that more monitoring will be done to prevent
people from violating the policies and re-
strictions in order to allow more residents to
participate. Call Mike Rapp 939-5244 for
questions
Neighborhood Clean Up
The following was mailed to the
Hillyard Neighborhood Council
“May 1—2012
When your group of volunteers left my yard
this last weekend, I was so pleased with the
job they did to help clean my year, and they
were so happy to do it. I just feel I had to
write and thank you all for being so thought-
ful. My “thank you” seems very small
praise for the thoughtfulness of your organi-
zation.
Most Sincerely,
Mrs. Virginia P.”
Thank You For Clean Up
2012 Hillyard Gazette Page 19
WOULD LIKE TO
THANK ALL OUR
VOLUNTEERS
AND SUPPORTERS
Hillyard Community Futures
Page 20 Hillyard Gazette 2012