By Jim Kinghorn
Local historian, author, photographer, publisher, literary magnate, gadabout, ne’er do well, and Mars cheesehead Gus Frederick(son) did the usual book promo send out for his latest tome about some dude named Homer Davenport…..much to Gus’ surprise, he got a response back…and a book…and a handwritten note…from none other than PBS commentator Bill Moyers…..
Also from the clan of Ma Frederick(son)’s, comes word that Gus’ younger and much better looking brother Rod had one of his famous wildlife paintings chosen for a new Habitat Conservation Stamp by the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife…. Wow, Moyers, an ODFW award and now two bits in The Man…that’s a pretty good month for any family…..
The tents are down, the crowds gone, the oom pa music has faded away and another great Oktoberfest is in the books… The Man hopes maybe next year he will be able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful and mysterious Okto-barbie. The blonde bombshell, not unlike Suzanne Sommers in American Graffiti, always seemed to have left just before The Man arrived at venues all weekend long… Maybe next year…
The Silverton Senior Center is seeking volunteers to assist with a “Fix it Squad” on Make a Difference Day, Oct. 27. The squad will assist in yardwork, gutter cleaning, window washing, changing storm windows, basic electronics or tasks as simple as changing light bulbs. Assistance requests need to be made by Oct. 22. Call the center 503-873-3093 for request information or to volunteer.
Cheryl Blanchard and Wendy Burton have opened Old Stone Coffee and Collectibles in Mount Angel. Stop by, say hi and pick up some java with your jam, a smoothie with your soap, or caffeine to go with your collectibles, all at the cool brick building on the corner of Main and Charles.
Soooo… The Man loaded up the Man-Mobile and headed off to a wedding in the Bay Area last week….. After the long drive we decided that we should do the obligatory sightseeing thing in San Franciscobut we were unaware on this particular Saturday they were also hosting Fleet Week, and the America’s Cup Sailboat Races, and the first game of the Major League Baseball Playoffs, and a jazz festival, and a giganto (as the Man-ette likes to say) cruise ship was in port, and, oh yes, did I mention the B1 stealth bomber, various and sundry other planes and helicopters doing flyovers and a very cool air show by the Blue Angels right over the bay that shook the windows of all the buildings in town for four hours. Oddly enough, we soon came to discover that all this was not arranged in anticipation of our arrival – apparently the whole of the population of California wanted to see all of this at the same time as well. Kinda gave new meaning to the phrase “the bigger the crowd, the more people show up for it.” We had a really fun day (even including the trolley ride, crammed in with quite a few of the local “colorful characters” who make some of the fringe of Portland and Eugene look positively normal, and the bank robbery we almost stumbled into) but I sure wouldn’t want to live there. I guess The Man just isn’t cut out for that kind of population density – I’ll take our local “gridlock” any day. I think my GramMa(n) said it best “Travel east, travel west but after all home’s best.”
