Expansion

The Sheriff of Hillyard

By: Adam Gangelhoff

Paul Hamilton talks about the HillyardNeighborhood.

March Edition 1, Issue 6

Services Extend Beyond Main Agencies

By: Adam Gangelhoff

Construction of the expansion here at the Northeast Community Center has made forinteresting days. Last week the center felt like a washing machine on spin cycle as the crewsplaced temporary shoring next to the building. These sheets of steel are driven into theground to create a retaining wall that will prevent the existing building from sliding into thefoundation hole for the new building. With that done, the cement walls for the foundation can

be nished and the setting of the structural steel can begin.

With all the commotion outside, things have stayed just as busy inside. Although mostvisitors come to the center for appointments with one of the agencies, there are many otherservices offered every day in the building. From tax preparation, to prescription assistance, there is virtually something for everyone.For the past 20 years, AARP Tax-Aide has been offering free, volunteer-run tax assistanceand preparation services to taxpayers with low to moderate income at the Northeast Commu-nity Center. Site coordinator Mary Abbott said her group of eight volunteers helps an averageof 40 people each Thursday afternoon. With the average return costing $200, she estimates they save the community $8,000 each day they are here. “That keeps a lot of money inpeople’s pockets that need the money,” Abbott said. The volunteers are here every Thursday

from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. through the rst week of April. Appointments can be made by calling

Washington Trust Bank at (509)358-3526.Also on Thursdays, Kelly Armstrong from MTGMEDS offers free prescription drug assistance. Armstrong says she acts as a conduit for people who need medicine but can’t afford them. “Most pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs,” Armstrong explained.“I help people access a resource that most don’t realize is there.” These programs offer freemedicine to the under-insured and uninsured, with the high-cost brand name drugs and in-sulin generally being the medications that qualify. Armstrong is at the Northeast CommunityCenter Thursdays from 9-5. Call (509)981-6420 for an appointment.

Con’t on back.

AARP Tax Aid volunteers are at the Northeast Community Center on Wednesday’s to assist with taxes.

If you’ve spent any time in

Hillyard, Spokane’s rst neighbor

-hood to be listed in the NationalRegister of Historic Places, chancesare you’ve run into Paul Hamilton.He’s hard to miss, a strong man ina cowboy hat, long grey hair andbeard, he looks like the sheriff froma Clint Eastwood movie. A self-de-scribed lifelong, civic minded indi-vidual, Hamilton started serving hiscommunity as a young man thanks to encouragement from neighbor-hood activists like original NECCABoard Member Joyce Jones. Todayhe often walks the streets making friends with everyone from the kidsat the skate park to the seniors inWinchester Court.“If you don’t take control of yourneighborhood, who will?” Hamiltonexplained.Hamilton is a third-generationHillyard resident. Both his fatherand grandfather worked for therailroad, which up until the early1980’s, was the main industryof the neighborhood. Except forsix years away for college, Hamil- ton has lived here his entire life.“I live here, work here, raise mychildren here. My life is consumedby Hillyard.” A graduate of ShawMiddle School and Rogers HighSchool, Hamilton claims that if you cut him open, he would bleedRogers purple. He coached theRogers wrestling team for 30 yearsand still has coffee with his formerwrestling coach every Friday morn-ing.