Commentary

Changes coming on Santiam and Pacific

Written January 14th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 16 responses.

I took this photo on a Sunday in February 2020, after ODOT announced plans to work on the busy Albany intersection of Waverly Drive and Santiam Highway. Now the department is getting ready to carry out that and another Albany project at an estimated combined cost of nearly $6 million.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Airport Road, Albany highway projects, highway work, ODOT, Pacific Boulevard, raised median, Santiam Highway, Waverly and U.S. 20

Sale pending of downtown landmark

Written January 13th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

A downtown Albany landmark, the historic Oregon Electric Railway depot, will change hands if a pending sale goes through as intended. But there’s no word yet on how the building will be used after it is sold.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: 133 Fifth Ave. S.E., Ciddici's Pizza, downtown Albany, historic Albany, historic depots, Oregon Electric Railway, railroad depots, Siddiqui, Town & Country

Parking lot hole, a mystery no more

Written January 12th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

Drivers parking their cars in the city of Albany-owned lot behind 201 First Avenue W. noticed a hole in the pavement. Then the hole got bigger. What could it be?

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: 201 First Avenue W., downtown Albany, forgotten cisterns, mysterious hole, old Albany, old cisterns, parking lot off Water

At the Capitol: More security, less freedom

Written January 12th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 14 responses.

One of the traditions of life in Oregon is about to come to an end, and it’s another step in our long slide of giving up little bits of freedom in the name of “security.”

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: "dangerous items", metal detectors, Oregon Capitol, Oregon legislature, security measures, weapons, X-ray scanners

Benton moves: Recalling courthouse visits

Written January 11th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 13 responses.

As far as I can remember, I’ve been inside the historic Benton County Courthouse only twice, the last time nearly four years ago when my wife and I went down into the basement (pictured above) to change our registration to vote.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Benton County, Benton County courthouse, Benton office moves, Kalapuya Building

Hard to find: A volunteer for planning

Written January 10th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 8 responses.

Finding a volunteer to serve on the Albany Planning Commission who lives in the city’s second ward has turned into a difficult challenge for Councilman Ray Kopczynski.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Planning Commission, council wards, Councilor Kopczynski, Planning commission

When the ride seems like a cure

Written January 9th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 26 responses.

You can’t know how excellent a service the ambulance crews of the Albany Fire Department provide until you try it out. Twice in the last two weeks I had the unwelcome opportunity to do just that.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany Fire Department, ambulances, COVID-19, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center