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Alrighty then.  I have to admit, in this particular climate,  in the spring when the grass grows like nobody’s business, a push mower just ‘doesn’t cut it" , if you’ll pardon the pun.  Now that things are finally heating up and drying out, the grass has slowed significantly.  If you’ve been considering abandoning that noisy gas-using thing you’ve been using, this is the time.  Hang on to the old mower for next spring. 

The key with a push mower is to keep the blades sharp, and mow when the grass is good and dry.  The benefits are - you get a really good workout - how good depends upon the size of your lawn - you don’t use precious gasoline, the noise is negligible compared with the gas mower, and your lawn is still getting mown.

It’s a thought.  And just a note from me - I think for those of you who are sticking with the noisy gas powered mowers, consider getting together and picking a day to mow, would you?  I hear mowers going all day, all weekend long.  There’s a relaxing noise.  Does anyone else notice that?

Just a friendly reminder that school gets out today.  Watch for kids on the road and in the neighborhoods at times of day you’re not used to seeing them.  (…and watch your yard signs……one disappeared from my yard last night.)

It’s like someone flipped a switch, isn’t it?  We’ve gone from sweaters and warm jackets to summer gear overnight.  The city fountains aren’t on yet, and Bally’s doesn’t open it’s pool until Memorial Day weekend.  How are you all staying cool in this heat?

Personally, I’m doing the "keep the windows open at night, and close them up in the morning" routine.  Which mostly works. 

Is it me, or is Wilsonville beginning to look like a small business ghost town in places?  I’m hoping to look into this a report to you what is going on.  If you have information about why so many small business spaces are emptying out and staying empty, I’d welcome it.  What’s up with that?  This was a bustling little community just a year ago.   Is it greed on the part of landlords?  Is there a diabolical plan to push out the little guy and bring in more big box stores?  Or is it something more mundane like the economy?  I’m curious - and more than a little upset to see our small businesses disappearing from our town.

Last night I had a night out on the town right here in Wilsonville.  Options are typically pretty limited here, and I often find myself with the pizza and a dvd option, not being one to frequent smoky bars. 

Then, came along Wilsonville Theater’s hosting of Improv out at the Frogpond Grange.  I got tickets, took a friend and made an evening of it.  First we went to Dar Essalam for a truly fine and especially unique meal around these parts.  Then we headed over to the Grange Hall for the entertainment.  The tickets were only $8 - and well worth every penny.  The Brody Theater - an improv group out of Portland was every bit as professional and creative as the improv you may have seen on television, not to mention entertaining.

It was a good evening.  If you have a chance to partake in similar events in the future, I highly recommend paying attention to what the Wilsonville Theater has to offer.

The following commentary comes from two students from Ralph Goldstein’s seventh grade science class at Wood Middle School.  They went on a field trip to Wilsonville’s Water Treatment plant recently, making some observations of their own.

To The Wilsonville Minute,

We are concerned that Wilsonville’s residents aren’t drinking the high quality water from the local water treatment plant. We recently took a field trip to the treatment plant and discovered that the water treatment plant produces more pure and sanitary tap water.
                                 
Bottled water has less bacteria checks and has a higher chance of containing impurities. Plus bottled water uses oil to manufacture the plastic bottles, which increases gas prices. After you finish the water bottle it goes in the trash, which later ends up in the landfill, which is bad for the environment. Most of Wilsonville’s residents that don’t drink tap water are afraid that there might still be parasites from the Willamette in the water. This statement is not true. The water treatment plant uses six key filter steps, which keep the water bacteria and parasite free. Another thing that residents might want to consider is the water prices. It costs 75 cents for one bottle of water; it costs 3 cents for a gallon of Wilsonville tap water.
                   
In conclusion we hope that Wilsonville’s residents makes the right choices about water.

Sincerely, Ricky Sala and Sam Collins. 

Markian Verbin, also an attendee of the Water Treatment Plant field trip in Goldstein’s class has this to say about Wilsonville Water.

Do you want to spend less money on bottled water? Well heres how! You can get water from your tap and it’s clean. Well you might say it’s from the Willamette River but it is clean. When they clean the water they have six steps.

On top of that they test the water every day. They test the water that they’re going to clean and the water that goes through our pipes. They test the chlorine level, ph level that comes to us. The raw water that they’re going to clean they test for e-coli ph, level, temp and turbidity every day.

When they do this you would believe that the water is clean. My class and the workers at the water treatment plant know the water is clean. At first I didn’t want
to drink it but I tried it and it was good and clean. So you can get lots of water for 3 cents a gallon,just go to your tap.

So, what are you thankful for on this fine November Day?  I’m sure everyone can think of something.  Today I am so thankful for a day off to spend with my family enjoying a wonderful meal.  It’s my favorite holiday - no gifts to worry about, no loud fireworks. 

We have a tradition of having our Thanksgiving dinner, and then getting outside for a nice long walk together weather permitting.  It used to be at Smith Rocks State Park in Terrebonne, but now my folks have moved to the coast, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be decent beach weather.  Then we all return to indulge in pie.  I’m terrible.  I have a little slice of each kind.  It’s always too difficult to choose, so why not?  Thanksgiving only comes once a year.

We at the Minute hope you are having a day to be thankful for, and have a moment to appreciate all of life’s gifts. 

Happy Thanksgiving!