Along the Street: The aliens are coming

We have temporarily occupied the body of this unsuspecting business writer to send you a message.

We aliens are invading your part of the world this weekend. You will be required to enjoy every aspect of our presence May 13-14 as we take over your little village.

You may already be noticing the welcome signs in store windows and the banners hanging from the streets, because local businesses are eager to please us.

Do not be afraid. After possessing this town for a week or so, we will quietly depart until next year.

For more information, visit the McMinnville Downtown Association website at www.downtownmcminnville.com. And for a good time, come on down and join in.

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If you are seriously into the UFO thing, check out the six pictures taken in 1964 of UFOs in Arizona. Were they among the cadre of “visitors” who also stopped off in Yamhill County? See for yourself, said Cheri Dickey, owner of Retro Rama. The collectibles shop owner said the pictures are “compelling,” but she didn’t commit to a belief in aliens.

“It’s UFO Fest, and I thought people might be interested,” she said.

Retro Rama is at 406 N.E. Third St., downstairs in the building that also houses La Bella Casa.

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The public is invited to tour an oak prairie ecosystem the morning of May 20, a Friday, to learn more about their restoration and conservation. Experts will speak and answer questions from 8:15 a.m. to noon.

Participants will be shuttled to and from the site, on private property near Yamhill, from the Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District office at 2200 S.W. Second St. in McMinnville. The site, now under restoration, features examples of wet prairie, oak savannah and oak woodland ecosystems.

Tour topics include removal of weeds, elimination on non-native plants and the promotion of native plants, using tools like controlled burns and mechanical intervention. Guides will discuss a wide variety of ways to manage for enhancement of rare and native plants and animals, and how such efforts can be supported through conservation plans, agreements and easements.

Speakers include Chris Seal of the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Kathy Pendergrass of the Natural Resource Conservation Service, landowner Norvella Koelling and district staffers Dean O’Reilly, Michael Crabtree and Amie Loop-Frison. The tour will involve walking on steep terrain, so boots or waterproof shoes are recommended.

Although the tour is free, reservations are requested by May 18. To get more information or place reservations, contact Marie Vicksta at 503-472-1474 or marie.vicksta@or.nacdnet.net.

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LeTip International of McMinnville has announced its new board members for 2011-12.

Chris Chenoweth, owner of the computer sales and service outlet Acupro Oregon, is the chapter’s new president. The rest are of Larissa DeHart, owner of the McDonald Lane Farmers Insurance office, vice president; Kim Dunckel, escrow officer at Western Title & Escrow, secretary; Hillary O’Callaghan, independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics, membership chair; Sally Razo, owner of Erickson’s Auto Supply in Lafayette, treasurer; and Ralph Brickley, sales and marketing director at Innovative Security and Communications, TipMaster.

The local chapter is one of more than 550 in the U.S. and Canada. It meets at 7:01 every Tuesday for a breakfast meeting at Michelbook Country Club.

“We are a serious business referral organization,” Chenoweth said. “Our board will be putting our leadership and networking skills to work for each other, just as each member does for one another. Finding qualified leads and new business for everyone is what LeTip is all about.”

For more information, visit www.letipofmcminnville.com or call Rachel Karl at 503-583-2547.

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Heiser Farms and farmer Pablo Munoz are hosting a strawberry festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the weekend of May 21-22 at Munoz Farms, 21425 Grand Island Loop.

The festival is a family celebration of the first ripe strawberries. Munoz Farms grows seven different kinds, in addition to many other fruits and vegetables.

In addition to strawberry picking and strawberry shortcake, the festival will feature live music, train rides, pedal tractors and a gift shop. Next up are a raspberry festival set for June 25-26 and blackberry and peach festival set for July 30-31.

For more information, visit www.pablomunozfarms.com.

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Closet comedians, poets and singers are invited to strut their stuff for Juliette’s House at a Saturday fundraiser hosted by Panther Creek Cellars.

The talent show begins at 7 p.m. at the winery, downtown at 455 N.E. Irvine St. Proceeds will be donated to Juliette’s House, which provides assessments and support for child abuse victims in Polk and Yamhill counties.

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Women in Business, an offshoot of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wednesday Wines, 250 N.E. Third St.

The informal event aims at bringing business women together in an informal setting every third Tuesday. The speaker this month will be Erin Stephenson, owner of Third Street Flats.

Admission runs $10 for members, $15 for non-members. That includes a glass of wine and light appetizers.

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The Chamber of Commerce also has two other events coming up.

Business After Hours is set for 5:15 p.m. Thursday at Rock of Ages/Valley View Retirement. Greeters will start at 8:15 a.m. Friday at Scotty’s Playhouse, at the Nazarene Church on the Hill.

The greeters focus will be on the See Ya Later Foundation. Rock of Ages is located at 15600 S.W. Rock of Ages Road, south of McMinnville, and the Church on the Hill at 700 N.W. Hill Road.

For information about any of the chamber events, call Mary King at 503-472-6169 or visit www.mc-minnville.org.