(Published Saturday, July 21, 2007)

Corvallis becoming a baseball capital

It was a beautiful sight, seeing the Marketmen shaking Jack Richey’s hand and thanking him and the Richey family for their 40 years of sponsorship of American Legion Baseball. The Knights team was equally respectful.

The Corvallis Elks Lodge Charity Trust Committee arranged for the tribute to valued member Jack Richey, along with Dan Segel, Knights president.

We thank these people for making the night a wonderful memory: Nate Goodman, who is both a member of the Elks Charity Trust and the Knights Association, Holly Jones of the Knights Association, Kirk Mybold, the coach of the Marketmen, the American Legion Honor Guard, Eugene Elks, anthem singer Diana McCurdy, Dave Williams, who distributed tickets to the game to children from Community Outreach, Inc. Thanks also to Miner Parker, game announcer, for his enthusiasm. We baseball fans not only have the fantastic Oregon State University Beavers but also two other fine baseball teams of upcoming stars.

Urchyl Bohard

Elks Lodge 1413

Thanks to city for 50 beautiful years

We came to Corvallis in 1957 so my husband could attend Oregon State University. I found a good job, and Ted went to school on a hairdresser’s wages. Our son was 3 months old.

I worked in Corvallis for 13 years and have had a beauty salon in Philomath for 37 years.

Our three young folks graduated from OSU, and a third generation graduated this spring.

I want to express my thanks to all the ladies and guys who have been supportive clients and great friends through the years.

God has been good, and with His help, I will continue to cut and curl and bring smiles.

Betty Barns Champman

(and Ted, too!)

July 4th parade strode to success

I would like to thank the people who contributed “behind the scenes” to the success of the 18th “All-American, Anyone Can Join, Fabulous, Fantastic Fourth of July Parade”:

Chief Roy Emery of the Corvallis Fire Department, BarkernUerlings, Ken Lamb, Lt. Todd Bailey of the Corvallis Police Department, Dan Mason from public works, Joan Wessell from the Downtown Association, Ali Duever, who sang the Star Spangled Banner from the bucket of a fire truck, District Attorney John Haroldson, and Lauren and Mersa, who carried the parade banner this year.

Thanks to volunteers Courtney Cloyd, Tim Oliver, Mike Riccitelli, Barbara Luckenbruch and her friend Carol, Warren Sparks, Jay Thatcher and Linda Johannson, Carol Rathbun, Lynn Hill, Gene Johnson, Bill Cohnsteadt, Carol Mason, Evan and Gayle Evenson, Mark Shurman and probably a few others that I missed.

Thank you all for making this years parade the biggest and best so far.

Steven Black

Parade director

Public workers helped with house

The Benton County Board of Commissioners thanks the people of Benton County and elsewhere for donating their time and resources to build a new, healthy home for the Byers family. Legend Homes, hundreds of local tradesmen and tradeswomen and other volunteers constructed the Byers’ new home in less than a week by working 24 hours a day, every day.

Special thanks goes to City Manager Jon Nelson, the Corvallis Police Department, the Corvallis Fire Department, and personnel of the Corvallis Community Development Department, all of whom assisted Benton County with this project. And we extend our gratitude to the many Benton County employees and volunteers who supported this project.

Initiated by the ABC television program, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the Byers project swelled our community pride and gave us the opportunity to share with the nation and the world the humanitarian efforts of the people of Benton County. Thank you.

Jay Dixon

Benton County Commissioner

Birthday mural a cooperative work

Thanks to all the community members who attended “Help Make History” and placed a tile in the 150th Birthday Mural at the Corvallis Benton County Public Library on Saturday, June 23.

Corvallis Fall Festival was the original sponsor of this project, and ArtCentric came in as our partner and main facillitator. ArtCentric shepherded it through the city’s arts selection committee process, secured additional funding and then coordinated the artist and youth design development that culminated in a show at their main gallery. The city donated space and technical assistance at the library. Corvallis Kiwanis Club and the Benton County Cultural Coalition made donations and Pratt & Larson Tile of Portland donated all of the tile used in the mural.

Many young people helped to design and install much of the mural, and Sam Bernardi should get hugs from all of us for his easy-going approach to art-making.

Cynthia Spencer-Hadlock

Corvallis Fall Festival

Thanks from OSU gifted kids program

Expeditions, Oregon State University’s program for talented and gifted third- and fourth-graders, completed another successful year and thanks these businesses and organizations for donating scholarships and supplies: Benton County Foundation, Benton County Schools Credit Union, Darrell’s Restaurant, Kiwanis Club of Corvallis, Lebanon School District, American Association of University Women, Highland Bowl, Wilson Motors, WinCo Foods, Woodstock’s Pizza, and the American Chemical Society.

Other generous donors include Edward and Lisa Lee, Dana Perryman, Kim Sargent, Lynette and Shanaka DeSilva, Alice Mills Morrow, Brigid Sullivan, Frederic and Elisa Parnon, Julie and David Hamby, Ana Demorest and others who request anonymity.

Thanks to those who contributed time and support including Corvallis School District Facilities Services, Wendy Novak, Kelsey Dickson, Adams steward Nancy Hausen, Beth Young Garden Design, Lori Stephens of Broadleaf Architecture, Corvallis Police Detectives Karin Stauder and Tyson Poole, Sue Lyn Thomas of Beyond Belief Interior Design, Liz Alperin, and Janet Bauer.

Carol Brown

Expeditions coordinator

Furniture Share thankful for help

On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors of Benton Furniture Share, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to local businesses for their recent generous donations of water and ice to the volunteers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Donations made on behalf of Benton Furniture Share were from: Candy Byrholdt of Prudential Real Estate, Circle K, Costco, Grocery Outlet, Mission Hills Mortgage Bankers, Safeway and Shop N Kart.

And a special thanks to Legend Homes for all their efforts in coordinating Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and allowing the community to be involved in such a meaningful event.

Michelle Maddux

Benton Furniture Share

Philomath Classic Car Show shined

The 11th annual Philomath Classic Car Show on July 7 was a huge success. A total of 178 classic cars registered and 200 showed up at the city park for a great day of fun in the sun.

The great turnout is due in part to the car show committee: Malcom Rose, Jerry Anderson, Waylene Ballentine, C.A. and Debbie Campbell, Ben Yenchik, Dean Bloomfield, Mona Luebbert, Adrian and Laury Ferbrache, Rick Kelley, Jeff McDaniel, Steve Boggs, Dave Williams, Mike Fay, Ed Grindstead, Hans Neukomm and the Philomath Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to all of the above-mentioned for the hard work they put into making this a record-breaking show for the second year in a row.

Steve Boggs

Philomath

Park a community inspiration

As the dust has settled, and the last few features are completed at Wildcat Park, the committee would like to thank the entire Corvallis community for the support they poured into our restored playground.

I say “our” because this playground belongs to the community that built it! The names and businesses are too numerous to list here, but let me assure you, the project could not have been a success without the Corvallis community. With your help, we were able to build a great park! Thank you!

Mark Hoffman for Wildcat Park Steering Committee

Rose show a bloomin’ success

The 67th annual Corvallis Rose Show in June was again a great success. There were hundreds of beautiful roses and rose arrangements on display. This event is sponsored by the Corvallis Rose Society, and many of its members worked long and hard to make it a success. Of equal importance was the contribution of Rite-Aid, which hosted the show and whose employees were always very helpful.

Some dedicated rosarians traveled considerable distances to judge, teach or exhibit, and we greatly appreciate their participation. We would also like to thank the Corvallis High School Robotics Team for helping with setup and teardown and the various organizations and businesses that provided trophies or advertised in the rose schedule.

Gardening is a popular hobby in Corvallis, and this show provides the community an opportunity to admire and learn about one of the world’s most beautiful flowers.

Nancy Mandel

Corvallis