A Look Back at Hollywood Hank
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STAR The Hollywood Publishing, Inc. NEWNEWSS H ServingStar North/Northeast Metro Portland Neighborhoods H H February 2013 H Volume 30, Number 8 H A look back at Hollywood Hank By Star Staff Hollywood Hank, the canine corre- Marla Watson, with I Heart Retro: “He spondent who contributed dozens of col- was particularly adorable, especially in his umns to the Star, died in December. What reindeer antlers. He was so patient with the was Hollywood Hank like, and what was three-year-old kid in the picture with him. it like to be interviewed by him? Some of We will miss him.” Hank’s interviewees (and Kathy Eaton, Cheryl Howard, with the Hollywood the reporter behind the Boxer) share their Post Office: “Hank was an extrovert. He recollections: was always friendly. He would let almost Julie Rae, with No Bonz About It: anyone pet him. He liked treats, but he didn’t “Hank was one of those special dogs that demand them. He made you want to give only comes around just once in a while. them to him.” He was a sweet soul, a lot of fun, a part Linda Seals, with Posh Designs and Fur- of our Thursday crew, and he will be truly nishings: “He was a sweetheart. He had missed at No Bonz about it and all over problems with his health, but he was always Northeast Portland.” so happy to see you. He wagged the stump Symon Lee, with Furever Pets: “I re- of a tail off his little butt. He liked to come member Hank. He was a very friendly and around my desk and say hello. Even when we handsome dog, especially in his sweater, were closed, he would look in the window to and it was an honor to be photographed see if I was there. He was always fun to have with him.” around. He loved it when kids were around; Roberta Dyer, with Broadway Books: he was not too fond of men, but he loved “The interview was a lot of fun. Hank just the ladies. Being interviewed by Kathy was marched in the store like he owned it and, always nice. He knew the neighborhood. He Hollywood Hank shows No Bonz About It owner JulieRae just how much he enjoys spending time at the doggie daycare. — Photo by by that attitude, endeared himself to ev- will be missed.” Judy Nelson eryone around him. He was a great lover Paul Clark, with Township Properties of everything, I think. He was affectionate and the Hollywood Boosters: “He was a message. Strangers would inquire about his ions are being expressed, but they’re not and intimate and interested in everything friendly puppy who liked people and liked breed, standard Boxer, and comment on his necessarily my dog’s.’ Hank and I shared a around him.” being around the neighborhood. He was handsome good looks. One lady recently sense of humor. Snarky, yes, but we always Hollywood’s canine character and added commented ‘Nice socks,’ referring to Hank’s had a message to share or a point to make. memories to our neighborhood.” paws, not my wool socks. “I was rewarded when the community Kathy Eaton, Hollywood Hank’s “inter- “It always brightened my day when contacted the Star and asked if Hank could preter and secretary”: “What made Hank a someone would stop us on our walk and ask drop by to visit. One of my favorite requests great companion dog? He was easy-going, if that was the dog they saw in the newspa- came from the daughter of a 100-year-old always happy to see you and enjoyed walks per. Then they’d fuss over Hank, asking to resident of the Alameda Ridge. Accord- in familiar territory. When we were out walk- pet him and calling him a celebrity. I think ing to her daughter, Lillian loved reading ing and I commanded Hank to do something Hank knew he was special. Always well- Hank’s column and wanted him to come (sit, stay or leave it), he’d often turn around mannered and friendly toward children and visit her. So we did. Lillian, aka ‘Babe,’ wore and give me this sincere look with soulful adults of all ages, we generated story mate- her best blue dress and a string of pearls to eyes, as if to say, ‘What? Are you talking to rial along the way. Hank articulated the new meet Hank. She had a bag of treats for him me?’ I miss that look, almost as much as I dog policy for the Hollywood Farmers Mar- and stories to tell us. Alicia Dickerson of miss his short stubby tail wagging to show ket, and KeyBank changed their policy about Four-Legged Photo requested to profession- his delight with some treat or toy. When offering dog treats to canine visitors when ally photograph Hank so he could share the he combined that wag with a happy dance Hank dropped by. The owners of Region photos with readers of his monthly column. spinning himself around, it was pure joy to Bedroom Furniture started carrying a line Hank showed he had star power at Dicker- watch. Hank had the ability to make my day of canine beds when Hank suggested it. He son’s studio. better if I was stressed or just feeling blue. loved visiting Posh Designs and Furnishings “I learned so much about the Holly- “Hank was great to run errands with to because owner Linda Seals kept a supply of wood neighborhood by walking Hank and the post office, Rite Aid, the bank, numerous dog treats in the back of her store for Hank meeting so many interesting people. With coffee shops, always chatting with favorite and other canines. my faithful companion, a standard Boxer business owners along our walking route. He “Hank always told the truth, even about named Hank, we wrote 46 columns accom- made them smile, too. the time he didn’t pass the test for registra- panied by wonderful photos that captured “People we’d meet would inquire, ‘How’s tion as a therapy assistance dog after weeks the joy of living in a neighborhood named Hank today?’ and offer a hand for him to of training. When I told Hank’s owner Ben for a movie theater. We had a list of ideas Hollywood Hank and his owner Ben. sniff. He’d check p-mail on trees, bushes that Hank was merely expressing his opin- for his 2013 columns; Hank just left us too — Photo by Judy Nelson and street corners. Sometimes he’d leave a ions, Ben, smiling broadly, responded, ‘Opin- soon.” 97208 S C RAPHI G E ignatur S Portland, Oregon 97213 Oregon Portland, , OR , AND L ort P PAID 42nd Avenue PMB 142 PMB Avenue 42nd E N 2000 H E E POSTAG U.S. Northeast Metro Neighborhood News Neighborhood Metro Northeast STANDARD The Hollywood Star News Star Hollywood The D E SORT E PR 2 The Hollywood Star News February 2013 February 2013 Letters In This Issue Parking rules ignore affect Fiber art 3 Micro-roasting 4 on established neighbor residents Neighborhood news 6 Editor: Calendar 16 Thanks for your recent detailed account of the way that the Portland Planning and Sustain- Business 22 ability Commission gave its collective finger to residents of Northeast Portland neighborhoods Briefs 24 by refusing to consider changes to rules that permit the construction of apartment buildings Hollywood Hank 30 with inadequate off-street parking (or more commonly none at all). I happen to live on a block where the predictable effect of such construction practices is obvious: on-street parking for folks who actually live on this block, and for visitors, is now a scarce commodity, soon to be Page 4 become even scarcer when two more apartment buildings are completed and occupied. The Planning and Sustainability Commission members have all seen the results of sur- veys showing that most apartment-building occupants actually own cars. The Commission members don’t deny the data; instead they make ideological pronouncements: people have no legitimate need for automobiles and therefore nothing should be done about providing park- ing. They behave like the physician who insists the patient with chronic pain is a fraud who doesn’t actually need a prescription. Before moving to the Hollywood District in 1992, I lived for 3-1/2 years in what was then a barely developed part of Clark County, Washington. My spouse and I had moved from Seattle and bought a charming old farmhouse on an acre plot relatively near my Vancouver workplace. Within a year, everything around us began to be subdivided. The Clark County idea of planning and development does not include building a ratio- nal street grid: instead, subdivisions are built with only a single way in or out. All traffic is therefore funneled onto whatever happens to be the nearest existing old county road. That charming old farmhouse of ours was on one of those old county roads, and the traffic became awful. That’s the Clark County way: the quality of life of folks who happened to live on those Page 17 on old roads was quite knowingly sacrificed to satisfy contractors building flimsy new houses. My spouse and I opted to move to an established neighborhood in the city. Imagine my surprise, then, when it turns out that in the rush to facilitate permits for more apartment buildings, the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission is just as happy Page 30 as the Clark County “planners” to sacrifice—or perhaps just ignore—the quality of life of Page 16 established neighbor residents.