Hillsboro holiday parade will be 'A Storybook Christmas'

It will be the beginning of "A Storybook Christmas" season Saturday when the annual Christmas parade takes to the streets of Hillsboro. 

Sponsored by the Hillsboro Uptown Business Association, the parade will beginning rolling at 2 p.m.

Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink will be the 2011 grand marshal. 

"Everyone is really looking forward to it," said HUBA President Rachelle Trefz. "It looks like the weather is going to be good, and we're hoping it's going to be even better than last year." 

Trefz said that there are approximately 100 units that will be featured in the parade. 

HUBA said that Zink was chosen for his years of service to the community. Zink, who has served for eight years as Hillsboro mayor, and did not seek a third term. His term ends Dec. 31.

"Zink has worn many hats in the city of Hillsboro over the years," according to HUBA.  "Dick has been a volunteer and board member of many organizations to numerous to volunteer and board member of many organizations to numerous to

list. His commitment to his community has always been reflected in his life. From little league to City Council, Dick Zink has given of his time, his love of community and family have always been reflected in his service."

Hbegan his service in city government in 1972 as a council member representing Ward 2, he served in this capacity for two years and three months at which time he moved from the ward. Dick served as a Councilman-at-Large in 1978 and 1979. He was elected as president of council in 1980 and served in that capacity until 1992. He was again elected as president of council in 1994 and was appointed mayor in January 1995 upon the retirement of Mayor Betty Bishop. In January of 1992, he was again elected council president serving a two-year term.

In January of 2004, he was elected Mayor and reelected in 2008. He was instrumental in completing the Water Plant project, the new police and fire facilities and bringing the city in to compliance with its EPA discharge permit at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with the upgrade at the plant and with many infrastructure improvements to the system.

"Mayor Zink has led the city of Hillsboro through trying economic conditions and has made many departmental and personnel changes to reduce costs. Not of the least is the change in call in pay for firefighters, reduced overtime in all departments and mainstreaming the city into the electronic age which has resulted in saving man-hours and reducing departmental costs. Under his tenure, the departments under his control have been within, if not under budget, each year, doing more for less has been his administrations mandate while still providing the services the city of Hillsboro residents need and deserve," HUBA said.

When asked about his plans in the future. Mayor Zink said “I feel like spending time doing what I want to do from here on out. I would like to thank all the citizens that have supported me through out these past years and especially my wife Jo, my son Steve and daughter Andrea. I have learned a lot serving the citizens of Hillsboro for 27 years and would like to retire knowing I have done the best of my ability to fulfill the duties of the offices I have held.”