After Bernie Turner honored 10/23/2016 with 'Turner Way' in McMinnville

Mac News photo from 8/2016.

 No bets, Bernie, on Clinton-Trump vote

10/28/2016 Whatchamacolumn by Jeb Bladine, president and publisher of the News-Register.

I missed Sunday’s party, when McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity celebrated the organization’s new Aspire subdivision and 25 years of contributions to Habitat by co-founder Bernie Turner.

News about the event prompted a few “episodic memories” about Bernie. That kind of thing seems to happen to me more often in recent years — you know, when you can’t remember what you had for breakfast yesterday while accessing detailed recollections of experiences decades ago.

We supposedly have infinite storage capacity for long-term memory, which can be procedural (how to do things), declarative (facts and knowledge) or episodic (events and personal experiences). Here are just a few of my episodic memories involving Bernie Turner:

During a time about 40 years ago, I fell into a regular series of handball games at Linfield College with Bernie, Ad Rutschman and the late Ted Wilson. And yes, as I recall, the presumably mild-mannered Baptist pastor was a terror on the handball court.

Skip forward about 15 years to Bernie’s fair-handed organization of a volatile community meeting related to the local school strike. He wasn’t exactly a fan of our editorial position at the time, but I remember him recognizing that some of the local rancor toward our newspaper coverage was misdirected.

Then there was the time Bernie and I made a friendly bet on a certain high-passioned presidential election. The loser, we decided, would donate $100 to the winner’s favorite charity. Someone, who shall remain nameless, formally accused me of illegal betting on elections, leading to an investigation by the state Elections Division.

Bernie, as I recall, considered it all somewhat amusing that his old handball partner temporarily was twisting in the wind, but I still refused to divulge his identity to state officials.

So what, you might ask, does any of this have to do with Habitat for Humanity creating Turner Way as the roadway alongside its latest affordable housing project? Well, nothing, I suppose — except, perhaps, that many people in the community have cherished episodic memories that involve Bernie Turner, and I suspect more than a few of those memories were recalled after this week’s story.

As luck would have it, next week Bernie and I will join a small breakfast meeting that has nothing to do with handball or Habitat. I won’t be surprised, however, if talk turns to yet another high-passioned presidential election — but no betting this time

………….

Habitat honors founder with new street

By Nicole Montesano N-R/News Register 10/24/2016

McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity held a street dedication Sunday for the Aspire subdivision in development in southeast McMinnville.

The purpose was two-fold — to honor founder Bernie Turner and celebrate its 25-year history.

The new road has been dubbed Turner Way. Because rain prevented crews from getting it paved in time, the celebration was held on the American Legion Hall’s covered patio.

Executive Director Mary Stern said about 100 people turned out, including some of the homeowners in the new subdivision.

Former Habitat Executive Director Marianne Milles told them she had known Turner and his family for 46 years — ever since he came to McMinnville as senior minister at First Baptist in 1970, she said.

McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity became an affiliate of its international parent organization in 1991, and Turner played a key role in that, Mills said.

She also praised community volunteers and businesses for dedicating thousands of hours of labor and tens of thousands of dollars worth of materials. And she shared a quip from Washington Roofing owner Harold Washington, who said he “got involved in Habitat by choice — Turner’s choice.”

He said Turner was very emphatic about the need for a roof for one of the chapter’s early houses, and he’s been involved ever since.

The Aspire project, which has been underway for several years, started out as a controversial one. Neighbors vehemently objected to the organization’s plans, and appealed local approval on to the state Land Use Board of Appeals.

Habitat for Humanity won in court. And it eventually won over the neighbors by re-designing some of the aspects they found most objectionable.

The changes included making one of the sections smaller, in exchange for adding a third set of homes, and enlarging a community park, to replace some lost open space.

Stern said five homes have been completed so far, and three more are under construction.

She said having a single large piece of property, expected to last for several years, greatly simplifies the homebuilding process. It also makes that process a lot more affordable, she said.

...........
Letter to editor, 11/4/2016 McMinnville N-R/News-Register

He’s a consensus builder

Last week I received a lot of ink in the News-Register. First, with a story about the Aspire project. It’s been a privilege to be involved with Habitat for Humanity and its work in the community. I am grateful for the recognition I have received. Then Jeb Bladine reminisced about the many ways we have been associated over the years in McMinnville. I enjoyed his reflections; thanks, Jeb.

Today I have in mind the ink Ken Moore has received. Ken is a good friend whom I respect. It has been troubling to me that his campaign has come under fire for the ads used by the Democratic Party of Oregon. I have not talked with Ken about these ads, but I believe he is a man of integrity who would not initiate these ads himself.

Why the DPO decided to inject this kind of politics in his campaign, I do not know. There is speculation about their efforts, which I’m sure puts Ken in a difficult position to comment. Our district has been served by Republicans for many years — Marilyn Dell was the last Democrat representative. Ken’s opponent, Ron Noble, is a good man and I do not believe the negative implications with which he has been charged, but I am sticking with Ken.

For two years, Ken Moore has worked hard to be informed about the desires of the electorate. He has talked with people. I believe he is prepared to serve us well. I was disappointed with the harsh position taken by the News-Register in last week’s editorial. Ken is a consensus builder and he will work with both sides of the aisle to represent the people of this district. I am voting for Ken and I hope you will join me in supporting his efforts.

Bernie Turner
McMinnville

What's next for McMinnville's Deluxe Billiards?

Fate of Deluxe hangs in the balance

Story from McMinnville N-R/News-Register 10/27/2016

Photos from Mac News 12/2014

As workers renovate the apartments gracing the second-floor of the Douglas Hotel building, and negotiations continue with a potential tenant for ground floor space at the corner of Third and Galloway, the fate of The Deluxe Billiard Parlor hangs in the balance.

The popular bar is living on borrowed time. Owner Mark Baisch, whose parents purchased it in 1972, is scrambling to find a new location before his scheduled Dec. 20 eviction.

At his request, building owners Denny and Lucetta Elmer have offered him an extension until the end of the year. But that’s not much of a reprieve.

Other existing tenants are being invited to stay, but not The Deluxe.

“We don’t have a plan,” Denny Elmer said. But he said, “We know we want something a little quieter in the evening for the tenants upstairs.”

Baisch is working with a commercial real estate broker to find a new home, preferably downtown. He concedes that it’s tough to envision The Deluxe in any other space, but sees that as his only option at this point.

“It’s hard for me to imagine,” he said Thursday. “But I’m trying to keep a positive attitude and hope that something comes up.”

Baisch took a look at the Taylor Dale building on the southeast corner of Third and Ford, but ruled it out.

“They’re asking for $12,000 a month,” he said. “That’s a little out of my league.”

Thanks to the bar’s popular owner, deep roots and dedicated, multi-generational clientèle, it long ago transcended the moniker of merely a “long-time McMinnville business.”  

Like the Blue Moon a few blocks west, it’s become an iconic hangout, opening early for workers finishing the night shift and closing late for serious pub patrons.

Twenty-somethings go there for a drink, burger and pool game. They mingle with older patrons who might be found enjoying pinot and pasta at Nick’s Italian Restaurant another night, or even earlier the same night.

The Deluxe has operated out of 711 N.E. Third St. for 65 years. Prior to that, Baisch said, it was occupied by Timmreck & McNicol Jewlers.

“I’m not sure the year it was established there,” he said, “but it was turn-of-the century, I know that.”

The bar moved to its current location, closer to the railroad tracks, in 1951. It was purchased by his parents, Harriet and Eldore Baisch, in 1972.

Baisch started working there when he turned 21. He arranged to pay off his parents’ loan when his father died in 1985.

Having now worked there 44 years, Baisch occasionally finds himself carding the children of customers he carded decades ago.

The Elmers, who own other properties downtown, bought the building around 2008. They’s been mulling a remodel for years.

The building features 14 apartments upstairs. For years, it hosted a computer shop in the corner space.

The second-longest ground floor tenant is the Thai Country Restaurant. The Odditiorum, an eclectic art gallery, recently moved into the space between Thai Country and The Deluxe.

Originally known as the Eggleston Block, the two-story stuccoed concrete structure was put up in 1928 to house the Hotel Bays. Later housing the Douglas, it featured rooms upstairs and a lobby and set of office tenants downstairs.

The land and building cost a combined $50,000, according to the McMinnville Downtown Association’s Stroll Historic McMinnville guide.

The structure has housed several prominent businesses over the years, including the As You Like It Café, The First Motor Company and Maloney’s Barber Shop, in addition to Timmreck & McNicol.

Renovation began earlier this year on the upstairs apartments and first-floor corner space.

The Elmers originally envisioned a boutique hotel upstairs. They settled instead on upgrading the existing apartments, aiming them for people in the market for downtown living, but might set a couple aside for tourist rental.

The corner shop remains a work in progress. But a sign in the window advertises upstairs apartments at “Douglas on Third,” with a starting price point of $800 a month.

“We’ve got some very interested people, a really good tenant,” for the corner space, he said. He declined to identify the prospective tenant, beyond saying it was an existing Third Street business interested in relocating.

As for Baisch, he said he’ll retire if he can’t come up with a new location. He said his biggest concern isn’t for himself, but for his half-dozen employees.

“I’ve got a number of people who work for me I’m concerned about,” he said. “They depend on me to make a living and so I’m trying to find a new location so I can continue business and they can continue to make a living.”

Beautiful fall colours driving on McMinnville (Oregon) Third Street 10/18/2016

Presented by ‘Mac News’ http://mac97128news.blogspot.com

Bird (heron) is the word in a McMinnville neighborhood. Afternoon 10/14/2016

Restaurants: A Jem and a Gem in Yamhill County

Yamhill County has two restaurants (each calls itself a “saloon”) which are gems.

--In Newberg, it’s Jem 100 Ice Cream Saloon at 208 N Main St.“Welcome to Jem 100 Ice Cream! Jem 100 is the place to get great American style food and ice cream in a 50's style environment.”

jem100.com

--In McMinnville it’s Gem Creole Saloon at 236 NE 3rd St. “Relive the sounds and legendary cuisine of New Orleans - a fusion of cultures and food - truly an American creation.”

www.mcminnvillegem.com