Canyon Conversations: Ghosts, gatherings, books & dolls

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”

Group hires assistant for 5 projects

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

In an effort to offload the amount of work required on five separate projects, the organization, which strives to improve the facade of businesses and other buildings within the downtown core, felt the need to hire someone for the position, said Charlotte Fugate, co-chairwoman of the organization. That person is Kayla Kirksey.

Continue reading “Group hires assistant for 5 projects”

Stayton acquires services of Oregon RARE participant

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”

Smart Energy: A year well done for RARE

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”

Hermiston Addresses ‘Parallel Parking Phobia’

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’”

Burdick Building will get $100,000 remodeling

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”