August 29, 2013

Whose fault is it?

I have to object to the recently reported  decision by C&K Markets that also owns Ray’s Markets to summarily close the storied Walterville Market.

The stated reason that “it has not been profitable for some time.”

Query:  just whose fault is that ?

This is classic of the frank coldness of the takeover scheme that similarly killed GI Joes.

When C&K acquired the long-standing Walterville Market in 2006, it was a wonderful place to shop, a tribute to the vision and efforts of Jerry, the owner/manager of some 20+ years.

What happened then is that C&K completely gutted the market of what made it both attractive and a success, substituting in its own less-sufficient alternative.

It then summarily fired their Manager who was the one from whom they acquired the store.

The thin reason given then is that he “was the last hired.”

This resulted in almost a community riot of protests, with C&K allowing that they “just didn’t realize he was so important to the Community.”

He was then rehired and  was thus able to continue his very personal Community service, including his association with Springfield Twin-Rivers Rotary preparing each Christmas for over 20 years over 80 giant produce boxes of food and treats to be distributed by Twin Rivers Rotary to local needy families.

C&K has now solved the risk of a similar protest by closing the Walterville store all together.

Robert D. Lowry

Eugene

A great festival

Thank you to all the volunteers, artists, food vendors and musicians, who helped, worked, participated and performed in the huge success of the 12th Annual McKenzie Art Festival! Over 1,000 people walked through, ate, listened to music and bought art in Leaburg on August 17th & 18th.  Many artists reported twice the sales of previous years.

Thank you too to the McKenzie Fire District for allowing the event to be held on their property again this year.

Stay tuned for events surrounding the 13th Annual McKenzie Art Festival.

Daryl Annette Swan

Emerald Art Center

A thought on school supplies

As the first day of school quickly approaches, I find myself thinking about the sheer amount of school supplies being purchased, and the opportunity it gives to teach our children a lesson in responsible consumerism.  There are plenty of “Made in the USA” options to choose from when looking for folders, pencils etc.  My son proudly tells his friends that we looked for supplies “Made in the USA”, and about the recycled newspaper pencils he found, not to mention that last years pencil box, ruler and scissors work just as well this year. We also found that piecing together a complete set of colored pencils appropriate for another year of use was no challenge.  Also, perhaps this year instead of mindlessly wandering into Walmart to purchase these items, how about heading to Bi-mart instead--the cost difference is negligible and your money goes to a Northwest based company which employs our friends and neighbors.  We can talk all we want about “leaving the earth a better place” for our children and “supporting our community”, but unless we actually show them how it’s done at this most basic of levels, it matters little.

Emily Withalm

Leaburg