Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 20, 2016 3A
City works to regain
old city hall building
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Pencil
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www.polkio.com
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file
Heidi Schulz, author of “Hook’s Revenge,” and “Hook’s Revenge: the Pirate Code,” vis-
its the library during one of the author talks, now regularly featured at the library.
Library programs evolve
Organizers, leaders check out new activities, draw crowds
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Notice any-
thing different about the
Dallas Public Library recent-
ly?
If you have, it’s by design.
With support and assis-
tance from the library board
and the Friends of the Dallas
Library, staff has developed
programs to inspire people
of all ages to pay a visit.
The popular adult color-
ing night, a series of Oregon
author talks, a unique “sto-
rytelling” festival and a re-
vived teen program are
among the programs that
aren’t necessarily just about
checking out books.
Cari Richey, the chair-
woman of the library board
and president of Friends of
Dallas Library, gives credit to
Dallas City Manager Ron
Foggin and Library Director
Mark Greenhalgh-Johnson
for envisioning the library as
thriving, not simply surviv-
ing.
“He (Foggin) and Mark
saw the same vision. One of
the reasons why I joined the
board was because I did too.
I didn’t want to see libraries
die,” Richey said.
Far from dying, the li-
brary, which began keeping
track of visits, is seeing more
people come through the
doors, Richey said.
“I cannot give the staff
enough kudos. They work
really, really hard. They are
dedicated and willing. They
are just super,” Richey said.
“I really give Mark tons of
kudos for what he’s done.”
She added that’s required
a willingness to change per-
spectives on the role li-
braries should serve in their
communities, something
Richey admits struggling
with at times.
She said activities such as
author visits and story time
seem more about “entertain-
ing people” than reading
books.
Dallas Library’s
new hours
Starting May 2, the li-
brary will have expanded
operating hours.
The new hours are:
• Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday — 10 a.m. to 7
p.m.;
• Thursday and Friday —
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
• Saturday — 10 a.m. to 3
p.m.
• Closed Sunday.
“You have to change your
thinking and your outlook,”
she said.
That goes for the Friends
of the Library, too.
The group is contemplat-
ing changing the time it
does its book sale from Dal-
las’ annual Summerfest cele-
bration to holding two: one
in spring and another in the
fall.
It held its spring sale the
first weekend in April.
“We were real pleased,”
she said. “We thought we
had a really good turnout.”
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May 7 - Sept. 29
General Vendors
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Food Vendors
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Featuring Growers, Producers & Artisans
from the Polk County area and beyond!
Sooo many new vendors!
Live music each week 11 am to 1 pm
Sponsors: West Valley Hospital
• Fowler Affiliates • Itemizer-Observer
• Dallas Retirement Village • Squirrel’s Taxi
Seeking: Vendors, Non-Profit
Organizations and Sponsors
182 Academy St., Dallas
(Corner of Main & Academy)
http://www.exploredallasoregon.org/bounty-market.html
503-623-2564
Facebook.com/bountymarket
The sale didn’t make as
much money as last year’s
Summerfest sale, but that
was expected as it was short-
er.
Holding a sale during
Summerfest has its advan-
tages, including pulling in
more visitors from out of
town.
“We are still debating
that,” Richey said.
She said the group has
long-term plans modeled
after what other friends of li-
brary organizations have
done: opening a year-round
book store.
“That’s our vision, to
eventually have a book store,
which I just think would be
so cool,” she said.
Those plans are just be-
ginning, and she hopes it
will be another addition to
an ever-expanding lineup at
the library.
“We will see,” Richey said.
“There are always new
things on the horizon, which
I think is terrific.”
For more information on
library events and programs:
go to ci.dallas.or.us/library.
INDEPENDENCE — The
city of Independence won a
summary judgement on
March 23 for the old city hall
building, which was pur-
chased by Jewels Cressor.
Cressor opened the
Family Treasures Market-
place in the building, a mix
of shops offering a variety
of crafts and knickknacks.
She hadn’t paid her bill on
the property for at least a
year, City Manager David
Clyne said.
Cressor bought the cor-
ner building from the city
i n Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 4 f o r
$385,000. She said she in-
vested at least $85,000 in
the property.
In September 2014, she
requested a third extension
on the closing date. The
council declined the deal.
The foreclosure process
had been delayed multiple
times before the March 23
judgement.
“Cressor believes delay is
in her interest,” Clyne said.
“The longer she retains the
building without having to
pay for it, she believes she
will be able to make up for
it and perhaps come up
with the money.”
The city council has dis-
cussed alternative uses for
the building once it re-
gains ownership, Clyne
Government
said. One line of thought is
creating a smart agricul-
ture business incubator.
But first, the old city hall
must be sold at a sheriff’s
sale.
The city will “bid” the
value of the judgement as
determined by the judge. If
no one bids higher, it will
regain the old building.
“The value of the judge-
ment is the full amount of
the building costs, and
anything that’s past due,
any penalties associated
with that and all costs —
attorney’s fees, court costs,
filing costs,” Clyne said.
“That makes up the total of
what’s due.”
Essentially, the city
would be able to write off
what Cressor owed the city,
Clyne said.
“That’s a decision we
have to work with,” he said.
Clyne said allowing the
situation to drag out is un-
fair to the taxpayers.
“We’re trying to get the
building back and put it
back into use,” Clyne said.