Mid-Hillside & Hillside East
Community Council News
October 2001
Agenda
O'Malley School Library
October 18, 2001
Mike Sharrock , President
Hillside East CC 346-4442 dipietro@alaska.net
We meet at 7pm on the third Thursday of the month in the Library at O'Malley Elementary School on Rockridge off O'Malley. For more information see www.communitycouncils.org/hillside
Get involved ...
it's your neighborhood!
Annual Meeting
October 18 is our Annual meeting! This is when the boards for the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils are nominated, elected and organized.
While the bylaws present a fairly rigorous procedure for accomplishing this, the current reality is, there is room on the boards and simply raising your hand will get you a spot.
Too busy to be on the board? Time is tough to find, but board activities are sparse. We have 9 regular meetings a year. A few phone calls to help set up speakers and occasional emails are most of the additional tasks.
Being on the board makes you a conduit for your neighborhood's concerns. As we get more people on the board, we'll have a better sense for the issues that the councils should work on. We'll also be more likely to represent the community's mood on various issues.
Long time President Chris Birch has decided to pass the torch this year. While we'll miss his contribution, it sets the stage for a transition year that we hope will include you.
But that's not all! We will be giving away ...
Sometimes presentations on the hot topics of the day and even the excitement of choosing a new board is not enough to get some people to skip other important events and come to their Community Council meeting. So we are using a tried and true method to fill the room at our Annual Meeting: FREE STUFF!
TALL TREE'S donated ½ cord of firewood. Hilltop Ski Area donated two day-passes for great skiing. A+ Home Service donated a residential septic pumping. A $95 value! BOSCO'S donated two $20 gift certificates.
You can only win these if you come to the meeting!
Close Service High?
Should High School campuses in Anchorage be "closed" during school hours? A closed campus would require that students stay at the school during regular school hours unless they have an acceptable waiver.
Proponents say closed campuses decrease crime, increase grades and make for a better city. Opponents say it's impractical, costly and not necessary.
Rick Helms will speak on his drive to add to April's ballot a proposition to close Anchorage's high schools. His group, "Anchorage Safe Schools and Community Coalition" is gathering signatures now.
Also attending will be Pat Podvin, principal at Service High School, and several Service High students.
There was a "Point-Counterpoint" article in the Daily News on October 11 presenting two views on this issue. There's a link to these articles at our council's website. See http://www.communitycouncils.org/hillside/newsletter.htm
KNIK ARM CROSSING?
Senator John Cowdery reports that the Senate Transportation Committee will be holding a hearing regarding the Knik Arm Crossing on Tuesday, October 16th at 10am. The hearing will take place in the Legislative Information Office - 716 West 4th Avenue. Or send your comments via email to Don_Smith@legis.state.ak.us .
Roads and city water on the hillside for security?
Be sure to read the Mayor's October 12 article on changes he envisions for the new Anchorage Comprehensive Plan in light of the terrorist attacks on Sept 11. "On our hillside there are no waterlines to serve homes or provide water hydrants.... Anchorage urgently needs new east-west and north-south thoroughfares ...." See a link from http://www.communitycouncils.org/hillside/newsletter.htm
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