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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 2010)
10 business november9 2010 Double C Tack Closes, Absorbed by Vernonia Hardware A little over two years ago, Dawn Carr turned her passion for horses from a hobby into a small business. In tough economic times, Carr’s Double C Tack in Vernonia has been incongruent-- a business that was successful, that outgrew its space, a business that has actually thrived over the last two years. On October 30, Tom and Dawn Carr took down the Double C Tack sign and closed their business-- not because Double C Tack wasn’t successful, but because Dawn Carr wanted to be able to spend more time with her family. Willow Burch and Jay Nesmith, owners of Vernonia Hardware and Supply have purchased Carr’s stock and will continue to provide the feed, tack and other barnyard supplies that Carr had been carrying. “The last two years have been wonderful,” said Carr on her over two years of being in business. “I’ve had a great time.” Carr started in July of 2008 in a twelve-by- twelve corner of Creatures pet store, selling tack and other supplies, then rented more space and expanded into feed and grains. In March of 2009, she moved into a building at the corner of Bridge and Rose Avenues. Carr, who left the medical field as a nurse and moved into retail sales with the start of her business, says it’s been a great experience. “I loved every one one of my customers.” Carr says she chose to close the shop because her husband, Tom, has been traveling a lot for work recently. She said working six days a week made it too difficult to mange home and work. “Something in my life had to change, and it wasn’t going to be my family,” says Carr. “For my family, closing was the right thing.” With her newly found free time, Carr said she intends to be available to travel with Tom, ride her new horse, Whisper, and spend time with her daughter, Brianna, during her senior year of high school. Carr is pleased that the business will continue here in the community. She says she thinks she found a great match with Vernonia Hardware. “I wanted someone to take and love it like I did,” says Carr, “and Jay and Willow seemed to be the perfect adoptive parents. I think it’s going to be perfect.” For Burch and Nesmith, the feed business is a Tom and Dawn Carr on the day they took down the sign for Double C Tack. Vernonia Hardware and Supply have bought the Double C Tack inventory and will continue to carry most of the same products including feed and grain. natural fit. Nesmith says he grew up working in his parents’ feed store in Seaside and his step-dad spent seventy years in the dairy business. Burch grew up around farm animals, so they both have a background that will be conducive to this new business venture. “Jay has some knowledge of running a feed store,” said Burch. “My background is a whole lot more organic. I grew up on a farm with horses, sheep, goats, chickens-- taking care of them and learning through hands-on what animals need.” “I think it will be a good addition to what we are already doing,” said Burch. Vernonia Hardware will carry feed and grains and will carry the tack and other supplies that Double C tack has been stocking. “We bought all the inventory from Dawn, so it comes with a good line of tack,” said Burch. “We’re going to play it by ear. It’s a good place to start. It’s like anything else in the store, we’ve built it on what people need, what people ask for.” Burch said that Carr has offered to assist Vernonia Hardware as they enter into this new phase with their business. Carr has said she would be available for consulting on ordering seasonal items. “Dawn has said she would be available to be involved at whatever level we need her,” said Burch. “It shows she really cares about her business and her customers.” Vernonia’s Voice would like to congratulate Dawn Carr on her business success and hopes she enjoys her free time. And good luck to Vernonia Hardware on their new business venture. P&C Construction Meets With Contractors in Vernonia Members of the P&C Construction Project Team that will be building the new Vernonia K-12 school met with local contractors and workers on October 26, 2010, to explain the project and discuss subcontractors Steve Anderson of P&C Construction discusses work opportunities on the Vernonia School Project with local contractor Dennis Nelson. they are planning to work with on the project. They also introduced a list potential work opportunities for local participation. “We’re very excited to get this job started,” said Steve Anderson, P&C Construction Project Executive. Kevin McCall will be the Project Manager and David Haggard will be the On-Site Superintendent for P&C when they break ground later this year. About thirty local contractors showed up at the Vernonia School Cafeteria to hear the presentation by P&C staff and to ask questions about the project. There was also time for local workers to meet one-on-one with P&C staff to get more details about how they might assist with the project. P&C Construction provided a list of potential opportunities for local workers on the main building that included jobs like landscaping and irrigation, photovoltaic system, water and coffee services, temporary electric, final cleaning, joint sealers, and temporary construction signage. They also listed job WOEC Construction Has Begun opportunities for the Rural Sustainability Center project which included all trades, sitework, concrete work, wood framing, masonry, roofing, sheet metal, interior wood trim, painting, plumbing, and HVAC. The full list of available opportunities is online at the P&C Construction website and at the Vernonia School District Office. P&C Construction can be reached at (503) 665-0165. Their website is www.builtbypandc.com. Vernonia Hardware and Supply Hey, did you hear? Double C Tack closed up shop! What?! Where are we going to buy our feed now? It's OK, they moved all their stock to Vernonia Hardware. Vernonia Hardware and Supply is now carrying Payback grains and feed, as well as English & Western tack and other farm animal supplies. VERNONIA HARDWARE AND SUPPLY, LLC 1026 BRIDGE STREET, VERNONIA 503-429-5651 MONDAY-SATURDAY 10 AM TO 6 PM SUNDAY 12-5 PM Construction has begun on the new West Oregon Electric Cooperative Headquarters as general contractor Five Star Construction has begun leveling the site.