Athena Community Website

Local business news: Gina's Gifts has moved to Moose Bees building. Amy Rogers has moved her graphic design studio and office, Tumbleweed, into the front of the ambulance building. For $20/month you can sign for unlimited use (during normal business hours) of exercise equipment at Moose Bees. Paula Babb obtained a license to take over and re-open the collectibles business formerly run by Dick Roscoe. The new name will be The Bees Knees. Remember that doing business locally keeps Athena humming ... whether it's grabbing a coffee or a lunch, getting auto body or mechanical work done, picking up a new broom or batteries, having your hair done, hiring someone to help with gardening or house repairs, or seeking out unusual gifts. The options for shopping right here in town have really grown; just explore a bit! (And save gas by doing business close to home!)

If you have memorabilia, photos, or clippings about Caledonian Games and its history, please speak with Sue Friese at 566-3880. A grant to compile an archives has come from the Umatilla County Cultural Coalition. Or mail materials to P.O. Box 161, Athena, OR 97813.

Knitting and crocheting group is meeting on third Mondays at 7 pm at the library; anyone is invited to participate. Sessions last about an hour; there are project patterns to share.

The city has revised the dog ordinance; check at City Hall to be sure you and your canines are in compliance. License your pets! License fees were due by January 1st! Please be sure you have paid yours.

The Lions club of Ahena and Weston will make good use of your old glasses and hearing aids to assist others ... call David Lynde 566 - 3887 or Debi Castor 566-2902 if you can donate.

Call Dawn Griggs for information about BOOK WORMS group for third graders at library. 566- 0454.

Meetings are at 7 pm on second Mondays for the Athena Book Group. The group's upcoming selections are

• March 12th -- Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo -- a father recounts his child's account of hospitalization, near death, and seeing heaven. Discussion leader: Nikki Murtaugh
• April 9th -- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, an Australian .. a novel set in Nazi Germany with Death as the narrator. Discussion leader: Deborah Johns
• May 14th -- Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, a fictional account of 1942 roundups of Jews in Paris.

Google the school website for dates of spring break, sport team schedules, and end-of-year events.

There are three very special online services available at the library, including downloads of audio books, e-books for your Kindle or MP3 player, and student tutoring services. Support for these offerings comes from Libraries of Eastern Oregon and the Wildhorse Foundation. The library's website has full details about how to sign in from your home computer to access these services.

The City Council is investigating projects to increase the amount of aquefer water available to the city, especially during dry summer season. Under consideration are deepening one well, new water piping along Main Street in conjunction with next year's ODOT repaving project, and added water storage facilities. Assistance is coming from the Oregon Water Resources Department in planning and permitting the water project.

Please pay your annual ALFA dues; contact Karen Montee, Ruth Rich, or stop by the library.

The current library art display and its slices of landscapes is worth checking out!

WATCH OUT! Careful driving is critical in town. There are children everywhere on bikes, walking to and from school, popping out of the park, etc. There's also quite a few older folks who walk slowly, sometimes using mobility devices such as canes, walkers, and motorized chairs. Speed limits are meant to be obeyed. Citizens who notice autos traveling in excess of speed limits should note license plate number, date, time, and place and turn in at City Hall so that the police can remonstrate with offenders. The source of information remains anonymous according to information given by Mayor Chuck Vickery.

Hodaka Days is again coming to town June 21st through 24th. Mark your calendars!

The Fire Department re-elected chief John Reitz; Jerrod Steele is assistant chief and Kevin Schreibner is president.

It's time to join the Chamber of Commerce, which is open to all in the community not just business people. It's a great way to support the town and be involved in improvements. Check the city's monthly newsletter for meeting times.

ALFA will sponsor a Fabric Faire in the spring; date TBA. Donations of fabrics and sewing notions will be needed, so please start cleaning out your cupboards! Clint Sloan has offered storage at C&C Tarps building on West College Street ... if you take there, be sure items are packed securely in plastic bags or bins so they will stay in good condition.

SENIOR CONNECTIONS is having some marvelous times for the over 60 crowd--bingo, potlucks, day trips. Please contact Doris McMillan (541-566- 3394) or Mary McGill (541-566-0369) for more information and look for activity announcements in the city newsletter.

Shawn Coffman and Evelyn Erler have been appointed to the Livestock Committee.

Work continues on the structural reinforcement and facade refurbishing at the GEM Theater. Volunteers to assist with various of the theater's restoration steps are always needed; contact Rob McIntyre at 541-566-0117.

If you know out-of-town folks coming to town who want a place to put their RV, do contact Everett Pixler at 541-566-9246 for reservations ... rates start at $20/night with reductions for longer stays.

The ODOT project to re-align, repave, fix up, IMPROVE Main Street which is also a state highway should begin construction in June 2012. ODOT staff plan to keep Main Street open to traffic by doing one side of the highway at a time. But there will be congestion at times, and certainly DUST and machinery NOISE. So everyone needs to be prepared to be patient.

Livestock Commission - first Tuesdays, 5:30 pm, City Hall

Library Advisory Board - first Thursdays, 5 pm, Library

Planning Commission - second Wednesdays, 7 pm, City Hall

City Council - second Thursdays, 7 pm, City Hall

Cemetery Board - third Tuesdays, 5:30 pm, City Hall

Chamber of Commerce - third Thursdays, 11:30 am, Doubletree Cafe; contact Gene Wright or Joe Schenck 566-0209 for details.

Athena Library Friends Association Board - quarterly board meetings (October, January, April, July) at the library; contact Robert Moore, Nancy Wright, or Alan Schroeder or ask at library for more information.

GEM Theater board - contact Joe Schenck or Rob McIntyre 566-0117 for information

Ambulance Board - contact Kevin Scheibner for information

School Board - rotates among schools, call 566-2551 to confirm place and time.

Ol' Quilt Batts - contact Doreen Munck or Lela Morton 566-9442 or Charlene Webb 566-2032 for information.

Helping Hands - contact Judy Weidert for information

Good Samaritan Ministries - contact Deborah Johns for information

Athena Civic Memorial Association - contact Karen Montee 566-3418 for information

Athena-Weston Lions Club - first Thursday meeting at 7 pm at Weston's Long Branch; and third Tuesdays, at 1 pm at Athena's Doubletree Cafe.contact David Lynde 566-3887 or Dean Parker for information and to confirm meeting times and places

American Legion Post - contact Eric Pickard 566-2480 or Irene Boatright or Tim Kennedy for information

Sunset Housing Board - contact Tim Albert, Nancy Parker or Karen Montee for more information

Blue Mountain Mediation, a non profit organization that provides free community services for neighbor to neighbor disputes. The volunteer mediators can help resolve conflicts before going to court. For more information call Joe Schenck 541-310-7116 or email at bmm@bluemountainmediation.org.