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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 4, 2015 15A Polk County News EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Ashley Story and her father, David Kerns, are eager to be a part of the community through their new establishment, The Gym Bar and Grill, in downtown Monmouth. The Gym Bar and Grill brings people and family together By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer Check It Out MONMOUTH — At The Gym Bar and Grill, a “bench press” is not something to work your upper body mus- cles, but rather a specialty drink. Speaking of specialty drinks, once a month pa- trons are welcome to come invent a drink. If it’s good enough, that drink will be named after the creator and served all month long as one of the Gym’s specials. “It has to be an original,” said co-owner David Kerns. “It could be a one-armed pushup — the bench press with a twist.” Bar manager Ashley Story said it has been a dream of hers for a long time to work in her own bar. Her parents, David and Debbie Kerns, made that dream a reality with The Gym. “I’m good at what I do,” said Story, who runs the place with her husband, Jon. What: The Gym Bar and Grill. Where: 423 Main St. E., Monmouth. When: Daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. For more informa- tion: 503-838-4234; or find the business on Facebook. “I’ve been bartending for about 13 years. I couldn’t seem to get away from it, might as well run my own place.” David Kerns invested in the bar as a second busi- ness — he also runs a con- struction company, which came in handy when it was time to completely remodel the bar, located at 423 Main St. E. in the Monmouth downtown area. New features include an expanded dance floor and a refinished bar. “I’ve wanted to have a bar since I was young,” Kerns said. The bar’s food menu in- cludes the basics, plus daily specials, such as taco salad or pasta. At The Gym, people can enjoy a relaxed, quieter at- mosphere during the day. “We want older people to be able to come in and not have to yell to have a conver- sation,” Story said. “We want everyone to be comfortable.” The place comes more alive at night with a disc jock- ey or karaoke. Around 8 or 9 at night, the music is turned up for the evening crowd. Kerns said he hopes The Gym will fill a hole in Mon- mouth’s downtown bar se- lection where the locals and students from Western Ore- gon University can mix to- gether. The bar will host regular tastings, promotions and raf- fles, Story said. Some of those raffles will be spur-of- the-moment things on busy nights. Local food options topic of event Itemizer-Observer staff report INDEPENDENCE — Ef- forts to organize and educate the community about local food options will come to- gether at a FEAST (Food-Edu- cation-Agriculture-Solutions- Together) event in Independ- ence on March 14. Organizer Lexi Stickel said people should RSVP by Satur- day. The event is open to any- one who likes to eat, Stickel said. “People who are interested in community gardens, peo- ple involved in hunger or nu- trition, people who work with food pantries or people who aspire to work in food pantries,” she said. Past events, hosted by Mar- ion-Polk Food Share, have led to neighborhood gardens or community composting pro- It’s A FEAST What: FEAST event, learning about local food and food systems. When: Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St. Admission: Free, but you must RSVP by Satur- day (March 7). Of note: A free meal will be served made with locally sourced foods. For more information or to RSVP: Lexi Stickel, astickel@marionpolkfood- share.org; 503-581-3855, ext. 333. grams, Stickel said. “We also have folks who are interested in youth op- portunities, such as feeding kids in schools, educators and those interested in farm to school,” Stickel said. The event, which runs March 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Independence Civic Center, is free to attend for anyone in Polk County. A meal is included in the day’s agenda, prepared from local- ly grown foods. “Farmers will donate food; volunteers will put something together,” Stickel said. Part of the day will include a discussion on local food with a panel of experts, said Kate Humiston, of Full Circle Creamery. “We want to figure out how we can feed more people in our community with food grown and made in Polk County,” she said. “There are many folks looking for local food, and many that have extra.” Hospital visitor restrictions lifted Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — Salem Health announced Monday that it is no longer limiting patient vis- itors at West Valley Hospital in Dallas and Salem Hospital. The number of patients testing positive for flu is de- clining, according to Salem Health officials. Visitors have been limited at the hospitals since Jan. 2 to help prevent the spread of the flu. Infection prevention leaders encourage the public and health care practitioners to continue to use common sense with respiratory eti- Solution on Page 2A quette, such as coughing into their elbow or sleeve. “We will continue to close- ly watch flu activity in our community, though normal- ly flu season is over by the end of March,” Salem Health infection prevention manag- er Julie Koch said. 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