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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2011)
community april12 Living on a Lake in the Country: Live Events at The Birkenfeld Store Add Spice to Life By Gayle Rich-Boxman My husband, Larry, and I discovered Fishhawk Lake, our “dream home,” by accident/divine intervention in 2002. We were weekenders here until 5+ years ago when we sold our home in Beaverton in 4 hours, left the urban sprawl for a lake in the country and never looked back! I am a realtor specializing in this slice of paradise called Fishhawk Lake in Birkenfeld, Oregon. I recently interviewed Mike and Wendy Ingraham, owners of the Birkenfeld Store, whose variety of offerings for things to do in the Birkenfeld community, including Fishhawk Lake, is ever- increasing. Mike and Wendy’s ability to provide the best in live entertainment at “The Birk” has added another great reason to live way out here! The live events happen every Saturday night, unless they have a prior event that takes precedence. It is dance music with no cover charge and starts at 7:00 PM and goes until 10:00 PM. The styles can range from a solo artist to 6-piece bands. The Inside The Birk genres range from 50’s oldies, to classic rock and roll, to country and blues music-- a little something for most everyone. Along with music, you can indulge in wine or beer and their regular menu offers snacks, burgers, and grilled sandwiches. Mike and Wendy usually add two dinner specials on music nights with the whole menu selection ranging from $2-$14. 2011 9 This all got started last year, thanks to the interest of two bands, Lock Stock&Barrel and the Linda Meyers Band, who were all instrumental (pardon the pun!) in getting music back to the old “dance hall” venue that this building used to be, on its 100-year anniversary. Lock Stock&Barrel are self- described as “red dirt country” and mostly showcase their own music, sort of an outlaw country style, and they have a new CD available now. Why is it that these talented musicians want to come “way out to the middle of nowhere?” It’s because, as an audience, we deliver! Wendy and Mike Ingraham. Photos by Gayle Rich-Boxman. As Mike and Wendy put it, “...it’s by Kimberly Hall and Timmy B who played a variety the crowd, the attentiveness and friendliness that the of music from The Eagles to Bonnie Raitt and took audience shows. It overwhelms them.” requests. Because of the intimate venue that The We all had a great time and the wine was good, Birkenfeld Store offers, it allows the musicians too! to feel really close to the audience and this heartwarming, open and friendly atmosphere Gayle Rich-Boxman, is a Broker with Vernonia typifies what Birkenfeld and the Fishhawk Lake Realty; you can reach her at (503) 755-2905 or community are. richbox@centurytel.net. Another plus for the musicians is that they get to stay overnight at the Birkenfeld Store, so they have an early evening and don’t have to face a ride home if they want to stay and go back to their homes the next day. During the summer months, “The Birk” has performances outdoors on their various decks, overlooking vast greenery with mountains in the background and gobs of uncluttered skies. They try to start this in June for Father’s Day if weather allows and it goes until August. A group of us from Fishhawk Lake had a private, catered Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Birkenfeld Store and my husband and I attended, along with roughly 20+ other people. We had a scrumptious The Ingrahams’ “bouncers”-- Skully (in foreground) and Jaeger on the dinner (I had prawns that were fabulous). deck taking in the view. Then we got to enjoy live music Trade Adjustment Columbia County to Hold CPAC Elections Assistance Available for Stimson Workers in Clatskanie Former workers of Stimson Lumber Company, Clatskanie, Oregon that have been laid off may be eligible for training funds and other benefits through the Trade Act program. On February 14th, 2011, the Department of Labor certified workers who are laid off from Stimson Lumber Company Clatskanie, Oregon between May 18th, 2008 and February 14th, 2013, as eligible for the Trade Act program. This program offers reemployment assistance, training, job search allowances, relocation allowances, and a health coverage tax credit. Also, additional unemployment benefits in the form of Trade Readjustment Allowances may be payable to eligible workers in approved training. Information about the Trade Act program is available on the internet in a slide show format at http://www.employment.oregon.gov/ EMPLOY/multimedia/Web/Trade_Act_Overview/a_ Start.swf. You may also visit the Department of Labor web site at www.doleta.gov/tradeact. There are deadlines to many of the Trade Act benefits so please be sure to contact a Trade Act representative at (877) 639-7700 or at (800) 436-6191 to ask questions about how to request the Trade Act program benefits and services. Columbia County will be holding Citizen Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC) elections for those positions whose terms are expiring. CPAC’s provide advice and recommendations to the County Land Use Planning entities, including the Planning Department, the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. Each CPAC is divided into neighborhoods. Members represent neighborhoods in which they reside or own property. Residents and/or property owners within the neighborhoods elect their CPAC members. There must be at least five voters from each neighborhood to hold an election for the neighborhood. In order to be eligible to vote you must show either picture identification proving that you live in the CPAC neighborhood where you will cast your ballot; or a tax statement proving that you own property within the neighborhood where you are voting. You may only vote once in your CPAC area. CPAC elections will be held in the following locations: We saddle shoe. Do you? Muffy’s 950 Bridge Street Vernonia, O8 97064 503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050 www.muffys.com World Headquarters Vernonia, Oregon Upper Nehalem, Thursday May 5, 2011 at 7:00 PM, Vernonia City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street; Scappoose- Spitzberg, May 10, 2011 at 6:30 PM, Scappoose Library; Mist-Birkenfeld, Tuesday May 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM, Natal Grange; St Helens-Columbia City, Thursday May 19 at 6:00 PM, Columbia County Courthouse. For more information about the boundaries of the CPAC and the elections process, please contact Glen Higgins, Chief Planner, Land Development Services, County Courthouse, 503-397-1501. WELLER & SON’S STEVE HM: 503-429-3400 CELL: 503-313-9006 SELF LOADER LONG LOGGER CUSTOM LOGGING DENNIS HM: 503-429-2810 CELL: 503-313-9044 1264 G ST. VERNONIA, OR 97064 O.P.L. CERTIFIED O.P.L.H. CERTIFIED ROAD BUILDNIG LAND CLEARING EXCAVATION Grey Dawn Gallery 879 Bridge St. (503) 429-2787 Photography - Bronze Jewelry - Glasswork Pottery - Custom Framing www.greydawngallery.com Featuring the finest in northwest art
