It may take another two months or so to finish repairs to Novak’s, the famous Hungarian restaurant in downtown Albany that was damaged by fire and smoke on Feb. 27.
Council curtails mayor’s appointment power
Written May 22nd, 2019 by Hasso Hering
The Albany City Council Wednesday stripped Mayor Sharon Konopa of the power to name all the members of several commissions and boards including the Landmarks Advisory Commission.
CARA budget focuses on riverfront upgrade
Written May 21st, 2019 by Hasso Hering
For Albany’s downtown urban renewal program known as CARA, the focus now is on launching and completing a redevelopment of the riverfront along Water Avenue, finishing some remaining projects, and then going out of business, possibly by 2025.
Making waves: New river law nears passage
Written May 20th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
These little wavelets on the Willamette, left by a passing boat near Bowman Park on Monday, are nothing compared to the big wakes caused by some powerboats lower on the river. Now, a bill trying to prevent big waves from damaging the banks in the Willamette River Greenway is likely to become law.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: HB 2351, river boating, wake boarding, wake surfing, Willamette River
Tags: HB 2351, river boating, wake boarding, wake surfing, Willamette River
For Liberty, less lawn and more parking
Written May 19th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
The Albany planning division has invited public comment before issuing a conditional use permit for an expansion of the parking lot at Liberty School. It’s hard to see the point since the school board has already awarded a construction contract for the work.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany school bond projects, Greater Albany Public Schools, Liberty School
Tags: Albany school bond projects, Greater Albany Public Schools, Liberty School
At LBCC, tennis goes and pickleball comes in
Written May 18th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
At Linn-Benton Community College, they haven’t played tennis for years. And now they plan to replace their courts with a pickleball venue that the Albany Parks and Recreation Department will build.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany parks and recreation, LBCC tennis, Linn-Benton Community College, Pickleball
Tags: Albany parks and recreation, LBCC tennis, Linn-Benton Community College, Pickleball
Reducing carbon without being forced
Written May 17th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
The legislature’s approach to cutting back our emissions of carbon dioxide is to enlarge the state bureaucracy with the power to impose rules and raise the price of fossil fuels. Simple steps that would save Albany residents money and actually lessen CO2 get no mention in the 182-page bill.
CARA still coy about Fargo offers, but …
Written May 16th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
Albany’s urban renewal agency continues to be shy about naming the parties that offered to acquire the former Wells Fargo branch in the heart of downtown. But it plans to decide on selling the building to one of them the next time the CARA advisory board meets, which is June 19.
How Albany got the Swan Lakes
Written May 13th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
On a generally aimless ride around town the other afternoon, I came across this low dam and wondered when it was built and by whom.
Council asked to back single-payer health plan
As if it didn’t have enough on its plate, the Albany City Council has been asked to get involved in the drive by many Democrats in Salem and Washington for single-payer health insurance. It may do so by considering a resolution on June 10.
Tags: Albany council, health insurance, Oregon Health Care for All, Ray Hilts, single-payer health plan