By Jim Kinghorn
So there you are, driving home from work on a day in late August and you encounter a traffic jam on the highway. Not wanting your spouse to hold dinner, you call to tell them that you might be a little late….like maybe mid-September. The Man isn’t making up this scenario, on China’s National Highway 110 a back-up ensued….a 60 mile backup….which officials don’t expect to clear until around the time you read this. The “delay” left hapless travelers inching along at a little more than a third of a mile a day. Local mayor Stu-san Rassmu-san was heard to lament, “If we only had two-way streets, this wouldn’t happen.” (OK, I made that last part up) but it kinda puts a perspective on our local traffic issues, don’t it?
Checking in from jolly old England is local author Naseem Rakha who reports her book, The Crying Tree has been chosen by the Richard and Judy Book Club. Richard and Judy by the way are considered the equivalent of Oprah in the UK and Naseem is the only US author in their eight-book lineup. Can I get a hearty “pip, pip, cheerio” for Naseem.
Local adventurers Rod and Laura Wanker are off on a six-week bicycle tour of Greece, Croatia and several other countries that The Man can’t pronounce. If that ambitious plan wasn’t challenging enough, Air France “misplaced” their bikes (no bikes make a bike tour kinda difficult) for five days and then a rather harrowing emergency trip to a dentist has added to the excitement. You can follow their progress at www.crazyguyonabike.com/lwanker
After several months of negotiations, The Silverton Hospital Network announced its plans to renovate the former Lind’s Market and move the busting-at-the seams Mount Angel Family Medicine to the new location. The move will allow them to, as their motto says, Provide (even more) Compassionate Care for their Communities.
Words of wisdom spotted on the wall at the Silverton Arts Association: If at first you don’t succeed, maybe skydiving is not for you……
It’s time once again for an installment of the ever popular, fabled in story and song, The Man’s Business Musical Chairs. Ya know, with the economy being what it is these days there just hasn’t been as much business activity as usual but cue the music and let’s give it a go……Willamette Valley Bank moved from Water Street to its shiny new facility at Westfield and McClaine, Rosie Green left Ticor Title and will help open a new Amerititle office where Willamette Valley was and Gary Field has moved his accounting firm from next to where Willamette Valley Bank was to new offices next to Citizens Bank. The Game Exchange opened on First Street in the old Menita’s Gifts location, Molly Ainsley closed her Rolling Hills Bakery and coffee shop on First Street, kept the SortaSausage portion of her business, added a small market and moved across the street to the former location of…..a small market. Anna Kuzmin will open The Gathering Spot restaurant, coffee shop and bakery in the former location of the aforementioned Rolling Hills Bakery (and coffee shop), Lisa’s on Water St. closed, Lynn Musga closed The Silverton Garden Restaurant for a while but has now reopened with a new menu, John Bateman’s Pudding River Winery moved from, um……The Pudding River(?) to a tasting room in the back of the Green Store and The Wine Walk, set to open at Main and First streets , thought better of it and walked away from the wine……sheesh, no wonder my head hurts every time I do this column……
See you on the street……
