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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2008)
vernonia’s voice outdoors & recreation june 2008 11 Barlow Bikes and Boards-Full Service In Vernonia By Scott Laird Clyde Barlow was looking for a way to stay busy in re- tirement. Now he has more than he bargained for. The Barlow family saw an opportunity in Vernonia and opened the shop here last spring. “With the Banks -Vernonia Linear Trail and the C-Z Trail coming over from Scappoose, then Stub Stewart State Park opening and the Skills Park the city is build- ing, we thought it was a chance to expand into a growing market,” said Barlow. Barlow has begun rent- ing bikes in Vernonia and found that many visitors will take advantage of this service. His sons Paul and Phil have also begun oper- ating Barlow Adventures which offers shuttle ser- vices for riders and runs group tours every summer. Barlow helps runs Barlow Bikes and Boards, a family business that includes his two grown sons, Paul and Phil, and his wife, Shirley. Together they operate two full service bike shops in St. Helens and in Ver- nonia and offer sales, rentals, parts, accessories, and repairs. “I would have never pictured myself working on bikes, but that’s how it’s turned out,” said Barlow, as he worked assembling a brand new single speed cruiser that a customer had just purchased. The Barlow family purchased the shop in St. Helens, an existing business, six years ago. “My boys used to go in there and hang out when they were kids and get help working on their bikes. The owner used to joke that someday he was going to sell the shop to them,” chuckled Barlow. “And he did.” Barlow has been learning the art of bike repair. He is the perfect example of how you can teach an old dog new tricks. “You really have to know quite a bit, and I’m still learning.” A natural with people, Barlow says he is getting a lot of repeat busi- ness, both for repairs and sales. The cruiser he was building was the fourth bike he sold to the same person. Barlow’s offers full service repairs and tune-ups, and Clyde likes to help kids learn how to do their own easy fixes. Barlow Bikes and Boards in Vernonia carries a good selection of parts and ac- cessories including tubes and tires, repair kits, gloves, helmets, pumps, and fend- ers, and sells BMX, road and mountain bikes as well as some skate boards and skate accessories. Barlow Bikes and Boards is located at 886 Bridge Street in Vernonia- 503-429-0762. For more info go to www.barlowbikes.com. In St. Helens call 503-397-4900. ODFW Hold Youth Angling Event Skate Park and Bike Skills Park in Vernonia Look to Begin Construction For the fourth year Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlief (ODFW) vis- ited Vernonia as part of ODFW’s Youth Angling Enhancement Program. Over sixty kids signed up this year and one did catch a trophy (5 lbs, 9 oz) to win a rod and reel. ODFW helped prep Vernonia Lake for the event by stocking 1,000 rainbow trout. ODFW also supplied rods and reels for use by young anglers who do not have their own fishing equipment. Bait was provided and volunteers from the Association of Northwest Steelhead- ers were on hand to assist those young anglers who needed a little extra help. Under Oregon Sport Fishing Regu- lations, anglers under the age of thirteen can fish for free. A juvenile license is required for anglers fourteen through seventeen years of age. All other anglers must have an Oregon adult fishing license. In additional Vernonia Lake fishing news, the Vernonia Parks Committee in con- junction with the KUPL Fishing Derby Committee, recently stocked Vernonia Lake with 300 pounds of four to eight pound trout to encourage more fishing visits to the lake. GREAT FOOD & ESPRESSO! B OPEN LATE R E A K F A S T C O M I N M, W, TH 11a.m. - 9 p.m. G FRI & SAT until 9 p.m. S SUN 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. O Closed TUES O 854 Bridge Street - Vernonia N The Vernonia Lions Club and the Vernonia Parks Committee are moving forward this summer with plans to construct a Skateboard Park and the Bicycle Skills Park at the Mill Site property next to Vernonia Lake. The Lions Club has begun a serious fund raising effort this spring and hopes to pour a cement slab and build ramps on the land set aside at the Mill Site. The hope is to have construction under way this summer and have the park in use before fall. The Lions are recruiting help with fund raising, particularly on June 21st. To sign up to help raise funds for the Vernonia Skateboard Park contact any Lions Club member. The Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park received an $18,000 grant from Cycle Oregon to assist in construction of the project secured the services of Alta Planning and De- sign to assist in the further development of the park. Alta Planning and Design, who specialize in bicycle friendly community planning and design of trails, parks and greenways, have offered the services of Chris Bernhardt, a mountain bike special- ist, for the project. The city has also entered into a partnership with Westside Trail Federation, a local groups of trail builders, to spearhead the construction of a dirt jump track and the technical trail features in the park. Local volunteers are needed to help move this project forward. Local residents interested in getting involved in trail building work parties and construction projects can contact Scott Laird at 503-367-0098. Dates for work parties this summer for the Skateboard Park and Bicycle Skills Park will be posted as they are scheduled. Citizens and Visitors Reminded of Park Rules As we enter into summer, and use of local Parks increases, it seems like a good time to remind park users and visitors about Vernonia city park rules. The following is a paraphrased list of rules from City Ordinance 761. • Visitors shall pay all applicable fees upon entering parks. • Use of Park system constitutes implied agreement to abide by rules and regulations. • Motorized vehicles are allowed only on designated roads and parking areas. • ATV’s, dirt bikes, and other off-road vehicles are prohibited, unless authorized. • Speed limit in all parks is 5 MPH. • Overnight Camping is allowed only in designated areas. • Users of the Parks are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. • Destruction, damaging, defacing or abusing Park structures, equip- ment, shrubs or trees is prohibited. • Possession of a loaded firearm, or discharge of a firearm or any other weapon capable of injuring any person or wildlife is prohibited. • Dogs and other pets must be kept on a leash. • Pet owners must clean up after their pets. • Fires are permitted only in authorized camp stoves, fireplaces, and fire rings. • Possession, serving, or consumption of alcoholic beverages is pro- hibited, except in designated areas, including campsites that have paid for by registered camp users, and at Hawkins Park with autho- rization by Friends of the Scout Cabin. • Fishing is allowed only in accordance with ODFW rules and regulations. • Parents are responsible for children using the Park system, and will be held responsible for damage or injury caused by their children. • Park Custodian, Caretaker, or City Employee has the authority to ask any person to leave the Park immediately for violating rules or refusing to comply with a request of person in control of the Park. • Any person violating park rules, verbally or physically abusing or harassing others will be asked to leave park premises immediately. • Any person violating the above may be temporarily banned from use of the Park in the future. • Any person found to be a repeat or serious violator of Park rules may be permanently banned from using the Park in the future. • Violation of Park rules Ordinance is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
