Steelworkers support Buy American effort

The United Steelworkers Union, which includes Local 8378 in McMinnville, has launched a nationwide Buy American campaign to ensure federal stimulus money received by states, counties and cities is spent on products and services produced by American workers and provided through American companies.

Local President Joe Munger said stimulus funds will be most effective if spent locally, keeping Americans at work to help us emerge from the current economic turmoil. He said the union is asking local jurisdictions are being asked to pass resolutions to that effect.

Yamhill County and the city of Carlton have already passed such a resolution, and the McMinnville School District and cities of McMinnville and Lafayette are entertaining the idea.

For more information on the Buy American Resolution and its progress nationwide, visit www.usw.org.

Hampton buys BLM timber

The Salem District of the federal Bureau of Land Management has sold approximately 21.8 million board feet of timber to Hampton Tree Farms, the top bidder in an oral auction at $1.92 million.

Hampton bought 5.2 million board feet from the Toll Ridge Timber Sale, along Yamhill County’s border with Washington, for $198,742. The timber was appraised at $146,054.

Hampton also bought 16.6 million board feet from Gordon Creek Thinning I, in Multnomah County, for $1.72 million. The timber was appraised at $421,928.

There were three other bidders on the second parcel, but only one other on the first.

Budget Blinds extends service

A custom window coverings franchise based at the coast is now offering mobile van service for residential and commercial customers in McMinnville, Forest Grove, Newberg and the surrounding area.

The independently owned and operated franchise, associated with the national Budget Blinds company, offers free, personalized in-home consultations, expert fit measuring and professional installation for new window coverings. It also supplies area rugs or pillows and assists with their selection.

Owners Randy and Madelyn Harris said the move into Yamhill and southern Washington counties represents an extension of services they have been providing for three years along the northern and central Oregon coast, from Astoria to Yachats, in the Salem area and in Southwest Washington.

“We have a wide variety of products and manufacturers for consumers to choose from, just like the big box stores,” Randy Harris said. “But unlike the big box stores, you’re the only client we’re serving during your personalized in-home appointment.”
“Getting an accurate measurement can be challenging for people who don’t measure windows everyday. We take care of that for you and professionally install the product, so you can enjoy your treatments.”

Initial consultations are free. For more information, call 503-472-0792 or visit www.budgetblinds.com/mcminnville.

Wedding professionals will network

The Mid-Willamette Valley Wedding Professionals Networking Group will hold its next event from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the McMinnville Grand Ballroom.

Cost is $15 per person. RSVP to Becky Simpson of No Ordinary Affair Wedding & Event Planning at 503-868-9455 or becky@noordinaryaffair.com.

The Allison Spa has new director

Tara Calton has been named director of The Allison Spa, due to open inside Newberg’s Allison Inn on Sept. 24, according to General Manager Pierre Zreik.

Calton will direct services for the 15,000-square-foot spa, which will feature 12 treatment rooms, a private suite for small gatherings and men’s, women’s and co-ed lounges. It is part of a complex also featuring a deck-level indoor swimming pool, a spa pool and a fitness suite.

She most recently served as spa director and business manager at Root Whole Body. Prior to that, she served as fitness director at Spa Chakra.

Her first foray into the spa realm came at the Avalon Hotel and Spa. Originally from Ventura Beach, Calif., she previously owned and operated Soul Fitness.

The Allison Inn will feature 85 guestrooms and suites, a signature restaurant and function space within nearly 155,000 square feet. Situated on 35 acres, the grounds include gardens, walking paths and the inn’s working vineyard that will produce The Allison’s own pinot noir in 2011. For more information, visit www.theallison.com or call 1-503-554-2525. 

Chemeketa to offer spa management

This fall Chemeketa will offer a new, online certificate in spa management as part of its hospitality management degree program.

“Our graduates will help Oregon, national and international resorts and spas meet their growing needs for professional managers,” said program Director Nancy Duncan.

The four-term program will feature online courses in spa safety, services and supervision, managing for quality customer service and marketing in the hospitality industry. The program will culminate with a term-long practicum in a working spa.

“This combination of classes will give students the convenience of doing their coursework online with a schedule that fits their lives as well as benefiting from practical, real world experience,” Duncan said.

For more information, call 1-503-399-5186.

Meriwether buys Veneta property

The Domaine Meriwether Winery of Carlton has purchased 54-acre Secret House Vineyards, which has become a popular venue for summer concerts, weddings and other events. It is off Highway 26 in Veneta, east of Eugene.

Buzz Kawders, owner of Domaine Meriwether, said the winery has been operating out of the Carlton Winemakers Studio co-op since 2002.

He said he has been looking for a place to develop a stand-alone winery, preferably in the southern Willamette Valley, closer to his Eugene home. He noted Domaine Meriwether’s first harvest was grown at LaVelle Vineyards, near Secret House.
Dr. Jack Bagdade, a Eugene endocrinologist, founded the winery in 1986. Kawders took over in 2005.

The existing production facility at Secret House will be renovated and expanded. A 2,500-square-foot tasting room and 2,000-square-foot barrel room will be added, with the barrel room doubling as a venue for tastings, wine club events and winemaker dinners.

A medium-sized winery by Oregon standards, Domaine Meriwether produces 8,000 to 10,000 cases a year. It is known for sparkling wines, which account for about half its production and sales.

For more information, visit www.domainemeriwether.com.

Team Pomeroy to host barbecue

Team Pomeroy, 13500 S. Highway 99W, McMinnville, will host a free barbecue to benefit the YCAP food bank from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

People are asked to bring canned or nonperishable foods for the food bank, which serves the needy.