Wintry weather didn’t keep the Highland Park Action Committee from going ahead with its scheduled meeting last night at Highland Park Improvement Club. Thanks to Deanie Schwarz and Dina Lydia Johnson, we have details on major items of interest, starting with:

ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS’ MOVE: Three weeks after Deanie broke the story here that Zippy’s is moving to White Center, owners Blaine and Rahel Cook were at HPAC last night. They told the group they have set the closing date in Highland Park: Saturday, April 16th – they’ll serve that day until they run out of food. They hope to open at the new location, 9614 14th SW, on April 25th. Rahel mentioned it was bittersweet for them to have recently made their last HP rent payment. (They started the business in the 16th/Holden location almost three years ago – here’s our opening-day story; they’re moving because the site’s future has been clouded by foreclosure.)

After the jump – Dina’s report on the name-change discussion:

HPAC NAME CHANGE: The group has been talking for a few months about whether to change its name. Dina says she spoke in favor of that idea – here’s a handout she distributed – and she reports:

I spoke in favor of a name change for Highland Park Action Committee, with a handout explaining my points:

1. The word “committee” is completely inaccurate as a label for our multifaceted neighborhood organization.
2. The word “action” describes only a part of our organization (activism), not the whole thing.
3. To be more inclusive and welcoming, we need a new name for the umbrella organization, one that will be inviting to the general public.

An interesting discussion ensued. Some had been thinking about this since the last meeting when I brought up the same thing, and had modified their initial resistance. Most agreed with my points, but had mixed feelings how to proceed or what name to adopt.

In the end:

1. Everyone agreed we needed to retain the “Highland Park Action Committee” within the org, because of its recent successes (jail issue) and wide name recognition.

2. Most preferred a new name with the same acronym: HPAC

3. Someone proposed we use “Survey Monkey” to solicit new name proposals through the website for several weeks, and put those names to a vote at the next meeting (including proposals to keep the same name).

So– MY proposal is: “Highland Park Area Connection.” Several others ideas were brought up: retaining the word “Action”, or using the word “Community” or “Alliance”.

Watch highlandpk.net for a survey link – we’ll mention it on WSB when we find out it’s up.

Other meeting notes:

HPAC 2011 GOALS: The new leadership has been working on these, and they’ll be on the March agenda.

WESTCREST PARK WORK PARTY MARCH 12: Volunteers are needed to pull ivy from the dead end on the Cloverdale side of Westcrest, and then to plant hemlocks and firs. More details to come as it gets closer.

The Highland Park Action Committee meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at Highland Park Improvement Club, 12th/Holden, 7 pm.