By Jim Kinghorn
Those nuts in Mount Angel are holding their Hazelnut Fest Kriskindle Markt (apparently they forgot to buy a vowel) on Dec. 1 and 2. If that wasn’t nutty enough, they are holding a writing contest for “The Nuttiest Thing that Ever Happened to Me.” The contest is open to “every single person on the planet (Earth)” and has separate prizes for over and under age 18 divisions, but you’d better get crackin’ as your entry must be postmarked by Nov. 21. Contact the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce at www.mtangelchamber.org for information…
If you’re not a writer or never do anything nutty, don’t despair, you can enter the Habitat for Humanity ReStore’s 2012 Fall Reuse Contest. Designed to inspire customers to invent new uses for ordinary products found at the Mount Angel or Canby ReStores, your ingenuity could land you one of three gift certificates. Go to nwvrestore.org for all the details and get your creations submitted by Dec. 22.
20-year US Navy veteran Brian McCallister has returned to Silverton and opened the first fully functioning gun shop in the area since the 1950s. Set your sights on 211 West C. St. and give Santiam Gun Works a shot….
Did you hear about the tractor-trailer full of hamburger that rolled over and caught fire in the Columbia Gorge last week? The pictures of the fully engulfed wreck kinda reminded me of BBQ night at The Man-sion…. Unfortunately, calls for a truck full of ketchup went unheeded….
The local guys at Roth’s Fresh Markets were recently honored as a 2012 Governors‘ Gold Award recipient for their work with Oregon Special Olympics. Just another example of a local business givin’ back to the community in a big way…
Speaking of the bow tie brigade, check out these two dudes in their scary Halloween costumes… Is that Eli Lambert and Orville Roth… or is it Darin Rybloom and Ken Hector? Hmmmm, The Man isn’t sure either…
The Village of the Bells welcomes Alex Vasquez as the new manager of the Mount Angel US Bank branch and Bing Hma Chen and Yan (Judy) Zhen Chen who are the new owners of the ever-popular Happy Garden Restaurant …. Psst, The Man can get you a good deal on Bavarian clothing…
Break out the birthday cake and light the candles, Compex Two Computers is turning 10 years old. The small startup that Matthew Middlestetter began to perform home computer repairs has evolved into “proactive management of advanced technology solutions for business.” Now, The Man doesn’t know what all that means but if it’s been working for 10 years, then we salute you… Happy Anniversary!
It’s hard to believe next week is Turkey Day, the time to reflect on the blessings we have received in our life. The Man gives thanks for that gawdawful election being over; for college football (especially when my teams are doing great), for Golden Retrievers, for velcro, duct tape and super glue…. I give thanks for local micro brews, carbon fiber bicycles and digital cameras that allow us to capture scenes of the beauty of our surroundings on one little piece of magic plastic…. Thankful for computers, microwave ovens, cell phones, debit cards and thankful that I am old enough to remember a time when we lived just fine without them…. I am thankful that I can still remember the first time I met The Man-ette – I was six years old, she was five (yeah, I know, robbin’ the cradle) and the three wonderful children we raised… I give thanks for the advertisers that make it possible for you to receive this newspaper for free and for you, our readers without which Our Town wouldn’t exist… What’s on your list?
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving…..see you on the street…
