I got the golden ticket!
This morning I got to take look behind the scenes at Victorian Chocolate Company in Lebanon. There were no Ooompa Loompas or flowing chocolate rivers, but I bet my son is still jealous that I took this field trip without him. Kelly Reetz creates his handmade treats in the back of the small shop on Grove...
Ode to the Farmers Market
Ah Thursdays. It’s the day the Downtown Farmers Market sets up for the afternoon in the lot kitty-corner from my office. As soon as I see the tents begin to pop up over the hedges, I start to get a bit excited, perhaps a bit distracted, even. The Farmers Market means fresh everything. When it...
Rosy’s 2011 NFL Draft predictions — 4.0 final
Since the NFL combine in late February, this year’s top prospects have been analyzed to see where they could possibly land in tomorrow’s draft. While Oregon State defensive tack Stephen Paea is the only player from the either of the local universities likely to see his name called in the first day, a handful of...
Drunk driving is never OK
Today I covered a fatal accident involving a family of four and a car full of high school students. The driver had been drinking. Don’t think me unkind for talking about such a tragedy, but it was a reenactment of what a drunk driving accident looks like, part of a senior project. None of it...
Rosy’s mock NFL draft 2.0
Jake Rosenberg’s April 15 Mock Draft Round 1 1. Carolina – Cam Newton – QB – Auburn Despite an underwhelming February combine, character issues and doubts of his ability to run a pro-style offense, the Heisman Trophy winner is currently regarded as the favorite to be the top pick. Former Oregon State quarterback Matt Moore...
Brown bagging it
I pack my own lunch nearly every day. Even when I was in school, I often ate from a bag. My mum would put my name on it in a colored Sharpie. She would sometimes pack a little note, telling me to have a good day. It was then, and still is, a treat to...
Draft notice
College or pro, if you’re any type of football fan, you probably already know that the NFL draft is less than three weeks away. The start of meaningful basketball (finally), opening day baseball and the NHL playoffs (the most competitive pro playoffs) pale in comparison to the anticipation of adding seven (or so) top-level rookies...
Does bullying start at home?
I’m an observer by nature. Last week, I was on my front porch and watched as the two girls across the street played together in what felt like the first sunny day Oregon has ever had. The two young girls zoomed around on their bike and scooter, one was yelling, “red light, red light!” After...
Increase taxes to increase revenue is oxymoron
The Oregon Legislature is tossing around an idea to tax cigarettes even more, $1 to $2 a pack. Legislators are saying it will increase revenue, something the state (and everybody) is low on. They also say it will encourage people to quit smoking, because smoking is unhealthy. But they don’t want people to quit. It...
March Fadness
The Sweet 16 is set with games getting underway tonight, but the four March 24 matchups (Duke-Arizona, UConn-San Diego St., Butler-Wisconsin, BYU-Florida) offer me little reason to stray from my regular three-hour session of watching NBC’s Thursday night comedy six-pack. I’ve never taken to the fad of March Madness. And despite being the biggest sports...
An introduction to Budget Season
It may seem a bit strange, but I look forward to budget season. It’s a time when I get to focus on lots of documents and take a really close look at how public officials spend taxpayer money. Whether it’s federal, state, property taxes, or from a levy, it’s all your money they are spending...
