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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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)

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.

The Hillyard Business District got a head start on Halloween with a walking tour and trick or treating on Friday. The event was a success and the blog couldn't resist posting a photo of these little cuties.

The Northeast Youth Center and downtown Hillyard businesses are sponsoring a “trek and treat” neighborhood walk on Friday Oct. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be lots of candy and Halloween fun - just stop by.

The blog is back at the Hillyard Merchant Committee's meeting this morning - it's been a while since the last time. I am still impressed by the number of people who show up here, every Wednesday morning, at the Outlaw Cafe.
The conversation is about neighborhood events - and the timing of when to have festivals and neighborhood gatherings to best help local businesses.
What's your favorite neighborhood event? Why do you like it?

The next city-wide neighborhood event is Girls Day Out on Nov. 12 - find them on Facebook here.

There's a pancake breakfast on Sunday Oct. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northeast Community Center (4001 N. Cook) in support of Hillyard Senior Center. The breakfast is co-sponsored by Hillyard Senior Center and The Hillyard Lions Club. Proceeds go toward the senior center's operating budget.
Tickets are $4 for adults and $2.50 for children six to 12 years old. Children younger than six are free. No need to make reservations - just show up.

The City’s Decennial Districting Board is holding three community meetings soliciting input from citizens on whether the boundaries of the City Council districts should change as a result of the new population figures and if so, how they should change.

The community meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on:

Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt.
Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone.
Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook.

The City has eight months from the official receipt of the 2010 Census data from the State Redistricting Commission to prepare a redistricting plan.
The redistricting process requires that the City work to create Council Districts that are as equal in population as possible and that meet other criteria as established by state law.  The process will not impact the 2011 City elections.  The current council boundaries and election precincts already are established for this fall’s election.

Via email from Marlene Feist, City of Spokane Public Affairs Officer.

For more details on city of Spokane redistricting read Jim Camden's story here.

Spokane COPS is presenting its third crime prevention forum at Northeast Community Center (4001 North Cook) on Tuesday Oct. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. Mayor Mary Verner and Spokane Police Chief Kirkpatrick will be there along side neighborhood resource officers and crime analysis specialists from SPD.
The crime prevention forum was requested by councilman Bob Apple for the Northeast quadrant of the city.

The regular Festival Association meeting is Tuesday Sept. 27 at 6:30 at Northeast Community Center. The Association is wrapping up this year's 100 year anniversary celebration and looking ahead to next year's festival.
Elections are next. According to the minutes from last meeting, here is a little update on who's running and who's not:

“Desi Bucknell disclosed she will not seek re-election, as did Richard Burris and Vicki Peterson.  Jessie Anderson expressed interest in being President, Tom Stoltz indicated he would like to be either President or Vice President.  Ken Close would like to continue as Vice President.  Luke Tolley expressed interest in being Secretary, and Marty Phanco was suggested for Treasurer.”

Voluteers are always needed - just come to the  meeting.

As most everyone knows by now,  Ferguson's Cafe and Mary Lou's Milk Bottle on Garland Avenue burned down last night. It's a terrible loss to owners and customers - and to the neighborhood.
The blog promised to remind readers that businesses in the Garland District remain open. No word yet on rebuilding plans for the two landmark restaurants, and the cause of the fire has also yet to be determined.

Here's a link to photographer Colin Mulvany's picture story from last night.

Which building or place is a landmark in your neighborhood?

The city of Spokane is warning residents that there is an on-going phone scam using phone numbers with the common city hall prefix “625.”
The call looks like it's coming from a phone at city hall, and the person is asking for personal and bank account information.
Marlene Feist, spokesperson for the city of Spokane, said in a press release this morning that no one at city hall would call and ask for bank account information.
If you receive a call like this, call Crime Check at 509-456-2233 or the Attorney General's Office at 509-458-3509