Editorial

Vol. 2, Issue 6

March 20, 2005

EDITOR'S COMMENTARY

Heavy Traffic...
by Karen Tuininga

Three less-than twenty-something's poked their heads into my door and asked me if I allowed kids into my store. Inviting them in, I wondered why they were so hesitant. Upon questioning, they revealed that they were not generally welcomed into the core businesses. Seems that the way they choose to represent themselves isn't very favorable in these parts.

Being old... old school, I can't say that I haven't been startled by the piercings, tattoos, and funky hair stuff, but I got to thinking about how long hair hippy types were regarded way back when I was young, and my mind said that the path lies along the way of the passengers.

A new dynamic is occurring in Hillyard. Young people are traversing and infiltrating. They are energetic, curious, and powerful. They are the future of Hillyard. They retain and re-invent what Hillyard is, what it has been, and what it will be. Friends and family are invited to come around to Hillyard to take a look... or a second look. SWEET!

Consider what we have going on around here... the skate park, two new tattoo establishments, the Molotov dance club, high school dances in the Groove Room at the Market Street Market. Youth oriented experiences in Hillyard. What does this mean? Revitalization. Interest and energizement like this is the key to renewal and development. Without these investments the past will fold and die, killing what should and could be.

Trust and be trusted. Believe and be believed.

Let us know your thoughts. Email us at Editorial Response@Historic-Hillyard.com or post your thoughts in the Forum.

Editorial Comments do not necessarily portray the views of Historic-Hillyard.com. The aim of this column is to inspire, embrace, and query our reading public. Hillyard, like all neighborhood communities, has general issues as well as issues specific to this community. It's easy to talk about what's right and good with our neighborhood, it's leaders and general public, but it takes a bold stance to voice and bring to the forefront those negative and not so good issues of the same.

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