Vol. 2, Issue 9

© Historic-Hillyard.com

May 5, 2005

EDITOR'S COMMENTARY

Flower Power Hillyard Style
by Karen Tuininga

As a result of the most recent Historic Hillyard Partnership meeting, chaired by Sandy Martin, all of the planter boxes from Broad to Diamond are planted with violets. Luke Tolley's mom gently took them from her garden space and they have been lovingly planted by our new neighbor and keeper of the planters Willie La France. Mentally challenged as well as physically disabled, Willie lives above D's R.V.s with care giver Larry Smith, who also manages Hillyard Variety. Willie immediately accepted the invitation to plant and maintain the planters in this area of Market Street and is proud of his new civic responsibilities.

Born and raised around the Spokane area, in 1984 Willie was the victim of a pedestrian hit and run at the age of 16. A witness identified the vehicle, but after five weeks and four days in a coma Willie could not pick the driver out of a line-up. "I lived." he says. "Now I get to laugh at him!" After nine months in the hospital and a further nine months of speech, physical and occupational therapy, Willie has overcome brain damage and multiple broken bones, but has difficulty walking and is "still trying to unscramble my brains." Larry befriended him on the streets of downtown Spokane and has been caring for him since without compensation.

Willie has been provided with a wagon, watering cans, and gardening tools so that every morning he can go around to water the flowers and collect any trash around the planters. When asked how he feels about his new role he says "Peace, love, and joy! I am more happy with my plants. I have an important Hillyard job with respect, family, friends and neighbors. Let's be cool with the plants. These are Hillyard plants! Let's keep Hillyard clean!"

Let's all be cool with Willie.

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.

We encourage any and all responses to our Editorial Commentaries.  You may either submit an email to EditorialResponse@Historic-Hillyard.com or start a discussion in the Forum.

Get Involved! 

Historic-Hillyard.com staff.