Not one who frequents garage sales or rummage sales, I had no idea what to offer for the child’s table and two small chairs that I had come across at our local Amazing Grange Day on Saturday.
The table and chairs were well-used yet sturdy. Even with a couple of toddlers, I figured the “coloring table” must have a couple of good years left. Just to make sure the other half is onboard with such a purchase, I texted a photo home.
After receiving a positive response from my wife, I came up with a figure of $10 in my head. But knowing I’m a bit of a cheapskate and that these folks were raising money for their nonprofit, I doubled it to $20. Probably still wasn’t enough. Thank goodness they were able to take the debit card because I showed up to a rummage sale with $3 in my wallet — $2 of which went to the Sunbow Farm stand for a couple of onions.
Marys River Grange No. 685 was organized back in 1927 at a meeting in the high school. The Grange Hall where they meet and host various events dates back to the ’30s and volunteers have been keeping it alive all these years.
I mention “keeping it alive” because Marys River Grange nearly died back in 2009 when the few remaining members voted to close. The plan was to put the building up for sale and the members would merge with another nearby organization. But John Eveland, who with his wife owns Gathering Together Farm, took immediate action and helped bring in dozens of members.
In the years since, the organization has continued to add members and remain an important part of the Philomath community. On top of all that, these folks are just a really nice group of people.
By the way, the coloring table and chairs appear to be a big hit with our boys. Thanks to the physician who donated them to the Grange to help them raise some money while helping us find a way to keep crayons off of the dining room table.
New type of uniform for the day
The sheriff’s offices from Benton County and Linn County took to the field at OSU’s Goss Stadium early this month for a charity softball game. Jeff Van Arsdall, the new BCSO sheriff, came up with the idea to strengthen the relationship between the two offices and at the same time, raise some money for charity.
“When people deal with law enforcement, they are usually having a bad day. Whether it’s an emergency or they are in crisis, they call us for help,” Van Arsdall said. “What better way to put something like this on to build the relationship between deputies, but also give the public an opportunity to come out and interact with us and just have fun.”
The contest took place the evening of Aug. 10 before a Corvallis Knights game to raise money for the ABC House, a children’s advocacy center that serves both counties. Knights players were umpires. BCSO won the game, 13-11, and $1,400 was raised.
OLCC’s updated acronym
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is no more with the agency dropping “Control” and adding “Cannabis” to keep the original acronym intact. The OLCC began regulating recreational marijuana after voters approved Measure 91 in November 2014.
“The industries we regulate matter, they matter a lot to the state of Oregon’s economy,” said Paul Rosenbaum, Chair of the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission. “The cannabis industry in Oregon has become a billion dollar business and changing our agency name reflects our role in generating revenue to fund state programs.”
The OLCC was originally created in 1933 in the wake of national alcohol prohibition being repealed by the adoption of the 21st amendment to the U.S. Constitution. At the time, America was laboring to rise out of the “Great Depression” and the world stage was being set for the start of World War II. In 1933, Oregon’s Liquor Control Act became law and directed the OLCC to sell distilled spirits and to license businesses to sell beer and wine.
New health clinic in the works
A new wellness clinic will be coming to the OSU campus as part of a leasing agreement between the university’s Board of Trustees and Samaritan Health Services. The clinic will be accessible to OSU students, faculty and staff, as well as Benton County community members.
The four-story clinic, with 32,000 square feet of space, will be OSU’s new home for Student Health Services and will be located in a new building at Reser Stadium’s southeast corner.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).