AUGUST 26, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A11
Bowling alley changing owners after nearly 50 years
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
After 49 years under the
same owner, a new face is
taking the reins of Town &
Country Lanes.
Jayne Sonognini is in the
process to transitioning own-
ership of the business from
Don Lebold, whose name is
practically synonymous with
bowling in Keizer.
“We decided to do the
three-month transition to
make sure it’s a good fi t for
both of us. I want to keep the
business
community-based
even though there are going
to be changes,” said Sonogni-
ni. “Right now, I have a three-
year plan and I’m hoping at
the end of it the whole place
will be looking pretty new.”
One of her fi rst priorities,
when the transition is com-
plete, is getting new score-
keeping monitors.
Sonognini moved to Keizer
16 years ago with her family
after running some of her own
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Jayne Sonognini is transitioning into the ownerships of Town & Country Lanes in south Keizer.
She is taking over the business from Don Lebold, the owner for the past 49 years.
successful businesses. Now that
she is somewhat through tak-
ing care of family, she decided
to get back into the workforce.
“Don and I have been teas-
ing each other back and forth
about me taking over and it
just ended up being the right
time,” she said.
While some of her plans
are still works-in-progress or
waiting in the wings, she’s al-
ready started trying to bring
in new customers.
“Last Saturday night, we
had our fi rst karaoke night
and it was a blast. We had
people coming in just for the
karaoke. We had 3-year-olds
who were singing, 60-year-
olds who were singing and
everyone in between,” Sonog-
nini said.
The next karaoke nights
are scheduled for September
10 and October 8.
While branching out into
new areas is one focus, she’s
also expanding the options
for bowlers. For the fi rst time,
Town & Country will offer
fl ex leagues this fall. Partici-
pants can come in any time
they want to bowl except for
Friday and Saturday nights
and the bowling alley will
keep track of their statistics.
“It’s really aimed at people
who don’t have the time to
commit to a certain night ev-
ery week, or those who are
just interested in getting start-
ed. We’re trying to offer them
something as an alternative to
a sanctioned league,” she said.
A 12-week league starts at
$15 a week, but bowlers can
pay $20 a week and go home
with their own bowling ball
at the end of the season. The
16-week league is $10 per
person or $15 for bowling ball
package.
Sonognini was already a
longtime patron at Town &
Country, but she said the re-
sponse to her becoming the
new owner has been over-
whelming.
“I’ve had nothing but to-
tal backing from every bowler
I’ve met here. I knew a lot of
them, but I’ve had a lot just
come up to me and ask to
shake hands,” she said. “I want
to do a painting party when
it’s time to redo the interior,
and so many people have of-
fered to come and help.”
Keizer on parade
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
The Iris Parade mural at Town & Country Lanes will have its offi cial dedication on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 11 a.m. The public is invited
to attend.
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