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Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 7, 2017 NEWS IN BRIEF Pickleball at Tuesday on the Square DallaS — Pickleball has around 2.5 million players with a prediction of 8 million by the end of 2018, according to the Dal- las Pickleball Club, who has players ranging in age from 17 to 77. members of the club play mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Sunday and Tuesday evenings from 6:30 “until we can’t see the ball,” according to the release. The club plays on the tennis courts at Roger Jordan Park in front of the Dallas aquatic Center. all are welcome to join. mem- bers will provide a paddle and instruction. Tom Widden, a pickleball ambassador from Oregon, will be at the club’s booth at the city of Dallas’ Tuesday on the Square from 4 to 7 p.m. in downtown with information about pickleball. There will be a demo court, plus a court for people to give pickleball a try with paddles and balls provided. Community ‘gathering’ at outdoor stage EmIlY mEnTzER/Itemizer-Observer Cub Scouts from Troop 38 say the Scout Oath and Law before the ribbon cutting of the new Little Free Library. Cubs bring reading to Inspiration Garden By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — A new structure graces the grounds of the children’s garden at the Inspiration Garden at Mount Fir Park in Independence. It’s a Little Free Library disguised as a fairy house, not containing small, winged residents, but in- stead books that can take a reader to magical places and other worlds. The newest little library in Independence was dedicat- ed on Friday evening by the creators: The Pack 38 Cub Scouts. The project was part of the boys’ achievements throughout the year. “Generally we stick to planting trees and cleaning spaces, but this year we had an idea that maybe we would want to build a Little Free Library,” said Den Mother Abby Fitts. “One of the Den moms, Tracy Swan- borough, sort of took it and went running with it.” The boys, all first- and EmIlY mEnTzER/Itemizer-Observer Independence Mayor John McArdle selects a book. second-graders, talked about the values of reading, Fitts said. “Hearing the boys talk about, from their own expe- riences even as a second- grader or first-grader, what reading means: To learn, to grow, or to have an idea, or get lost in something for just a little while, inspired me to help inspire them,” she said. The young Scouts let their imaginations run wild with the plans for the little library. Initial design ideas included a shoe, a log cabin, a Pinewood Derby car, a snake conveyer belt, and a little li- brary at the top of a ladder that people would have to climb to get a book. Some of the ideas — though creative and fun — got stuck in figur- ing out logistics. “The boys came up with all sorts of amazing ideas on how to design this little li- brary,” Fitts said. “Some had dinosaurs pooping out books. It was really creative, but we went with a fairy house.” Independence Children’s Librarian Jo Hall said it was exquisite. “They have one of my fa- vorites, a big volume of Curi- ous George,” Hall said. Independence Mayor John McArdle was on hand to help with the ribbon cut- ting ceremony. “You helped make this the heart of our community,” McArdle said. “You know, sometimes people say kids can’t do anything. But I want to tell you, look what you guys have done. All of you working together have pro- vided a little library. You got your moms and dads to help — which is a good thing, recruiting others to help — and you planted flowers. You’ve made a posi- tive difference in the com- munity both today and to- morrow.” mOnmOuTH — To celebrate another season of the Smith Fine arts Series, the board has organized a community event, “The Gathering,” from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Rice au- ditorium outdoor stage. If it rains, the event will be moved in the Pacific Room in the Werner university Center. The event is open to all students, faculty, staff and communi- ty at-large, and will feature live performances from students and community members, a wine pull, and food and beverages for sale — including Van Duzer wine and Rogue beer. “The Gathering” is not just to celebrate a successful Smith Fine arts season, but also to showcase local talent, according to a press release. after the event, the final concert of the 2016-17 SFaS will fea- ture Danilo Perez with the Western Hemisphere Orchestra. any remaining tickets for the concert will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply now to grow canola in 2018 POlK COunTY — The Oregon Department of agriculture is accepting applications from those interested in growing canola in the Willamette Valley for the 2018 growing season. Information from the applications will be used to determine allocation of 500 acres to be designated for canola production in the Willamette Valley Protected District, as provided by House Bill 3382a, passed in the 2015 Oregon legislative session. Completed grower applications are due to ODa by June 15. applications may be found at go.usa.gov/xnPmr, or by calling 503-986-4550. Reunion planned for fire survivors DallaS — a 30-year reunion is being planned for those who remembered and survived the Praegitzer Industries’ fire. The reunion will be held on aug. 12 and 13. a bring-your- own picnic will be from noon until 4 p.m. on aug. 12 at Dallas City Park on the new side of the park. a golf outing is planned for aug. 12 at 10 a.m. at Cross Creek Golf Course, with room for 28 golfers. a brunch at Eola Hills Winery will be held aug. 13 at 11 a.m. For more information: eric.rogers1947@gmail.com. What’s YOUR neighbor up to? Find out in the Itemizer-Observer. You may find your neighbor, your boss, your friend or yourself in the pages of the I-O. Local stories on local people—that’s our specialty.
