Author: krystinv

Settling into his third week in town, Isaac Kort-Meade acknowledged that he knew little about Stayton prior to moving here.

Originally from Santa Rosa, Calif., Isaac is a recent graduate of University of Oregon’s Planning, Public Policy and Management school. An AmeriCorps-connected program, Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) lured him to Stayton where he’s applying new knowledge while learning some ropes as an intern. Continue reading “Canyon Conversations: Ghosts, gatherings, books & dolls” →

ONTARIO — The nonprofit organization Revitalize Ontario’s new resource assistant has begun work at the start of this week.

Continue reading “Group hires assistant for 5 projects” →

City of Stayton agreed to engage in a partnership with Friends of Old Town Stayton to acquire services from University of Oregon’s Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program.

On Monday, Aug. 7, City Administrator Keith Campbell and City Planner Dan Fleishman provided Stayton City Council with an overview of the program, noting that Friends of Old Town Stayton had been awarded a RARE participant. That participant, a college graduate or graduate level student, will provide almost a year of community-development service. Continue reading “Stayton acquires services of Oregon RARE participant” →

In September 2016, I began my year-long RARE (resource assistance for rural environments) service term working with Douglas County Smart Energy. This group has a two-part mission:

1. To promote energy efficiency throughout our community utilizing educational town hall meetings, social media and presentations to businesses and community groups.
2. To promote and develop renewable energy options with an emphasis on community solar…offering low and moderate income households the opportunity to participate.

Continue reading “Smart Energy: A year well done for RARE” →

A group of renewable energy leaders gathered Thursday to celebrate a solar array slated for construction atop the Hood River Public Works building.

Partners in the project highlighted the trailblazing aspect of bringing the solar development to town. Continue reading “Solar ‘pioneer’: Renewable energy project coming to HR public works” →

St. Helens Economic Development Corporation (SHEDCO) was awarded $100,000 from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant for the rehabilitation and expansion of El Tapatio Restaurant on Columbia Boulevard. Continue reading “SHEDCO receives grant to rehab and expand El Tapatio” →

Do Hermiston drivers have a phobia when it comes to parallel parking? If they do, the Hermiston City Council stepped in Monday night to alleviate those fears.

The council voted to convert parallel parking along a portion of Second Street between Main Street and Hurlburt Avenue to diagonal parking. The change will add two additional parking Continue reading “Hermiston Addresses ‘Parallel Parking Phobia’” →

In the span of about eight months, Molly Turner of the Pendleton Downtown Association has gone from intern to director.

According to a Saturday press release, the association has named Turner its first executive director. Continue reading “Pendleton Downtown Association hires executive director” →

The Reedsport Main Street Program (RMSP) has been awarded a $100,000 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant.

The grant’s purpose is to support downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network, and may be used for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction of buildings in downtown areas. Continue reading “Burdick Building will get $100,000 remodeling” →