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 Growing up in Albany and what's to come for the next generations  By Cathy Ingalls, Albany Regional Museum volunteer Doors
left unlocked, bicycles that were never stolen, and the freedom
children had to come and go pretty much as they pleased are examples of
what some longtime residents remember about growing up in Albany. Albany
Regional Museum board members Dennis Burkhart, Mary Arnett, and Darrel
Tedisch responded to questions concerning what they like and appreciate
about Albany's past and present and what their hopes are for the city,
primarily in an historical context. |
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Dennis Burkhart,
who is descended from the town's early founders, remembers that
children and adults rarely stepped out of line because punishment could
be severe.
He
recalls being allowed to walk on Saturday mornings from Main Street and
Seventh Avenue downtown to the Venetian Theater to watch movies.
Now he says it's fun to go to the Pix Theatre to see first-run
movies, especially when the operators offer food pairings in conjunction
with a film.
"As
a child, I didn't realize the significance of being part of a pioneer
family until I started to study the history of Albany in high school,"
Burkhart said. "We have the privilege of having our 'Auntie'
Virginia Burkhart, who is a font of information of all branches of the
family."
She is a cousin to Burkhart's father, Del; but as Dennis' only living older relative, she is more like an aunt.
By
working at the museum helping to catalog photographs in the Bob Potts'
collection and serving on the board, Burkhart said he has learned a lot
that he previously did not know about the family.
As for what's ahead for Albany, "Watching the revitalization of the downtown is wonderful to see," he said.
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Mary Arnett lived in Albany from age 4 in 1943 until 1968, returning 35 years later.
The
most memorable part of her childhood was the feeling of safety and that
she could be gone from home all day if she wanted.
"It
was not necessary to be in constant contact with our parents, and we
all seemed to have a built-in clock to be home by a certain time or at
least check in from a friend's phone," she said.
"We
would go to the park, ride bikes, visit the swimming pool, or stop at
the neighborhood store; Brunskill's comes to mind, and everyone had a
charge account."
After
returning to Albany she finds, "I really appreciate all of the
restoration projects, completed and in progress...the houses and
downtown structures."
She believes Albany to be a friendly, down-to-earth city, where there are lots of smiles and "some very generous donors."
Arnett
is impressed with the City's Talking Water Gardens, the carousel now
under construction, and she appreciates the City's pledging money to
renew and rejuvenate the downtown.
"The
City is continually investigating possibilities for downtown core
improvements, which are very important to preserving Albany's history,
then, now, and for the vibrancy of the future," she said.
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Albany's former fire chief Darrel Tedisch
has lived in the city all of his life; but it wasn't until going to
work for the Fire Department "that I began to understand the city's rich
history.
"Progressive
and visionary founding fathers who knew what they wanted for the
community provided Albany with many alternative transportation systems,
including steamboats, stagecoaches, trains, and roads - the hub of
Oregon," he said.
The
founders also created state-of-the-art schools, including a college,
and the Santiam-Albany Canal provided power and clean drinking water and
powered many mills and businesses.
Tedisch
appreciates the "beautiful and ornate" business buildings and the "rich
selection" of homes that date back to the mid-1800s. Besides the
town's architecture, Tedisch is proud of the city's Veterans' Day
Parade, parks system, Talking Water Gardens, and the city leaders'
foresight to use public money to revitalize downtown.
He credits the Monteith and regional museums for renewing and making known Albany's history.
"I
am especially proud of the Albany Regional Museum's work to expand,
preserve, and make available to the public an understanding of what
Albany was all about," Tedisch said.
"I
look at Albany today and am proud to see the same spirit, vision,
determination, and willingness by community leaders to provide a vision
for Albany as was done in its beginning," he said.
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 Fall leaf pickup schedule
Republic Services will pick up autumn leaves throughout Albany over three 2-week periods this fall.Thousands
of trees drop leaves every year through the 17-plus square miles inside
the Albany city limits. Residents can help keep streets, gutters,
and sidewalks free of leaves by raking and sweeping regularly and
putting as many leaves as possible in the yard debris carts provided by
Republic Services or collecting the leaves to use as winter ground cover
for sensitive plants or for compost.
Collection will be done:
- November 3-14
- November 17-28
- December 8-19
Residents
should rake leaves only into the street just before each pickup period.
Rows should be long, narrow, and two feet away from the curb.
Leaves should not block bike lanes, storm drains, or driveways.
Proper yard waste disposal to prevent polluted runoff
Yard
debris - leaves, grass clippings, branches, fertilizers - can lead to
flooding when they are swept or blown into storm drains and
gutters. They cause water pollution as they work their way from
storm drains into rivers and creeks. In addition to using yard
debris for compost or disposing of it in yard debris carts (or using the
leaf pickup during the designated dates ONLY):
- Sweep dirt onto grassy areas or place it in the trash.
- Limit the amount of fertilizers applied and only use according to manufacturer's directions.
- If fertilizers get on streets, sidewalks, or driveways, sweep them back onto grassy areas.
For more information on polluted runoff, call Kim Kagelaris, Environmental Services Technician, at 541-791-0087.
- To report illegal dumping of yard waste, call 541-917-7600.
- For information about residential yard waste collection, call Republic Services at 541-928-2551.
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Police offer landlord training November 6-7 at LBCC
Albany
landlords can learn how to reduce crime in and around their rental
properties and establish and maintain a stable rental environment in a
two-day training November 6-7, 2014, at Linn-Benton Community College.
Albany
Police Department is presenting the training session. Cost is $60
per student with payment due at the door. Registration closes on
Monday, November 3, 2014; and the class is limited to 75 participants.
The
first day's class focuses on crime prevention strategies for properties
and recognition of drug and other types of criminal activity that can
detract from the stability of any neighborhood. Participants will
also learn about local ordinances that affect rentals. 
Albany Police officers and City of Albany staff with expertise in each
of the subject areas will teach the class and answer common and uncommon
questions to help property owners protect their investment. All
speakers will be available for an open panel at the end of the first
day.
On
the second day, John Campbell of Campbell DeLong Resources, will
facilitate an expanded section on Oregon landlord-tenant law which
includes the ins and outs of applicant screening, rental agreements, and
the eviction process.
To register, visit www.cityofalbany.net/landlord.
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Have you signed up for Linn-Benton ALERT?
The Linn-Benton ALERT Emergency Notification System is a mass
notification system that allows public safety officials to provide rapid
notifications to residents of Linn and Benton counties of emergencies,
evacuations, and other urgent events.
By
signing up for the Linn-Benton ALERT, you will receive time-sensitive
emergency and safety alerts from public safety officials in the county
where you work or live. You may choose how and where to receive
alerts, including your cell phone, home landline, work phone, or
all three; by e-mail, text messages, or TTY (a device for individuals
with impaired hearing). You may also prioritize how you would like
to be informed.
The
service is available to anyone who lives, works, or has family,
friends, or property in Linn or Benton counties. It is sponsored
by a partnership of Linn County, Benton County, and the City of
Corvallis.
By
signing up for the Linn-Benton ALERT Emergency Notification System, you
agree to and accept sole responsibility for the accuracy of the
information you provide to the Linn-Benton ALERT Emergency Notification
System. All information is confidential and not shared with
outside organizations. Linn-Benton ALERT is only for use in
emergency situations.
To sign up, go to www.cityofalbany.net/lbalert.
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Volunteers Needed for North Albany Roadside Litter Cleanup Event
The
City of Albany is coordinating a litter cleanup event in North Albany
on Saturday, November 1, 2014. This is a perfect opportunity for
families and community members to take action and help clean the
community.
The
North Albany Neighborhood Association is organizing the event with
support from the City of Albany, Oregon Department of Transportation,
and SOLVE, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving Oregon's natural
resources. SOLVE facilitates volunteering and education opportunities
through various beach, river, and other environmental maintenance
projects by bringing together individuals, business groups, and service
and conservation groups.
Two
main roadways in North Albany will be the focus of litter cleanup
efforts. Anyone interested in volunteering should come to one of
two registration sites at 9:00 a.m. For volunteers wanting to work
along Highway 20 from Spring Hill Drive to Blossom Lane, register at
the former Ray's Food Place, 621 Hickory Street NW; for Gibson Hill
Road from the roundabout to Scenic Drive, register at Gibson Hill Park,
2880 Gibson Hill Road NW.
Participants should dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. All other supplies and instructions will be provided.
Children
younger than high school must be accompanied by a participating
adult. All participants must sign a waiver, and those under 18
must have a parent or guardian's signature.
For
more information or to preregister, contact Heather Slocum, Public
Works Environmental Services Technician, 541-791-0058, or e-mail heather.slocum@cityofalbany.net. For more information about SOLVE, visit www.solveoregon.com.
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Human Relations awards competition open
Nominations are now open for the Human Relations Commission Award, sponsored by the City of Albany Human Relations Commission.
The
Commission wants to recognize individuals and nonprofit organizations
or nonprofit businesses in Albany that have worked to promote harmonious
relations among the citizens of Albany. Selection will be based
on a demonstrated commitment to promoting human relations, diversity,
and/or equality through community programs and activities.
Nominees need not be Albany residents.
Award
recipients will be chosen in two categories: "individual" and
"nonprofit" organization/"nonprofit" business. Up to two
runners-up in each category will also be recognized. Awards will
be announced and presented at the January 28, 2015, meeting of the
Albany City Council.
The first Human Relations Commission award was presented in January 2012.
Nomination forms-in English and Spanish-are available on the City website, www.cityofalbany.net, and hard copies will be provided on request.
Nominations
are due no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 1, 2014. They
may be hand-delivered to Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW;
mailed to Human Relations Commission Award, P.O. Box 490,
Albany, OR 97321; or faxed to 541-917-7511.
The
Human Relations Commission was established in 2007 to promote
harmonious relations among Albany citizens. It was created to
recommend programs, activities, ordinances, expenditures, and other
appropriate governmental activities that serve the goal of maintaining
respectful interactions within the community. Annually, the
Commission supports events or activities to observe the Martin Luther
King, Jr., holiday; mental illness and mental health awareness;
National Night Out; and Festival Latino. The Commission also seeks
opportunities to meet with groups or individuals throughout the
community to learn about their experiences of living in Albany.
Commission members are appointed by the Mayor and City Councilors.
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City Council reschedules meetings for holidays
The Albany City Council revises its meeting schedule for November and December to accommodate the year-end holidays.
The
Council will hold work sessions at 4:00 p.m. Mondays, November 3 and
10, and regular meetings at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays, November 5 and
November 12. City Hall offices will be closed on Tuesday, November
11, for Veterans' Day and again Thursday and Friday, November 27-28 for
Thanksgiving.
In
December, the Council will hold regular meetings at 7:15 p.m.
Wednesdays, December 3 and 10, with a work session at 4:00 p.m. Monday,
December 8. City Hall offices will be closed on Thursday, December
25, 2014, and Thursday, January 1, 2015, for Christmas and New Year's
Day.
City
Council work sessions are held in the Municipal Court Room and regular
meetings are in Council Chambers, both on the first floor of Albany City
Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW. All meetings are open to the
public and fully accessible.
Regular Council meetings are also streamed live at www.cityofalbany.net,
broadcast live on Comcast Channel 28 in Linn County and Channel 23 in
Benton County, rebroadcast for two weeks on the Comcast channels, and
archived on YouTube and the City website. For more information,
call 541-917-7507 or e-mail marilyn.smith@cityofalbany.net.
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General Information: 541-917-7500
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Mayor Sharon Konopa: 541-791-0300
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City Manager
Wes Hare:
541-917-7505
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Ward I Councilors:
Dick Olsen,
541-926-7348
Floyd Collins,
541-928-2961
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Ward II Councilors:
Bill Coburn,
541-928-0649
Ray Kopczynski,
541-917-0490
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Ward III Councilors:
Bessie Johnson,
541-791-2494
Rich Kellum,
541-791-0158
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