Several years ago Lincoln Sew and Vac was purchased by Ken and Helena Roberts. They moved the store into the Factory Mattress Outlet showroom and have continued to expand inventory for both veteran enthusiasts and those looking to begin exploring the craft of sewing.

Sewing classes now offered in the store are taught by Debbie Zahradnicek. Helena says that, “we are very lucky to have Debbie Zahradnicek, a senior tech writer for Newport’s Garmin, teach our classes and pass on her extensive knowledge.”

Zahradnicek designs and lays out water craft electronic systems by day, but continues to sew, craft and teach in her spare time. In fact, Zahradnicek has a deep history in the art. She’s been sewing for 45 years and teaching for 25 years. Prior to working for Garmin in Newport she owned and operated a upholstery shop specializing in auto, boat and furniture. She has just about seen it all and has incredible technique and knowledge in all areas of the discipline.

Class size is kept small so that various skill levels can seek the assistance from Debbie in the areas that they need most. Students can bring their own machines or they can use the Janome brand machines available in the workspace. Attendees learn to create quick gift ideas, projects for every day decoration and more. Prices for each class range from $25 to $50 depending on the type of project executed.

In the video below students created fabric rope baskets. It provides a quick looking class into what it ‘s like when you take your next class with “Debz Desgins.”

The Home Sewing Association says that studies have shown that engaging in an activity like sewing reduces your overall heart and blood rates and promotes relaxation. Their belief is that sewing involves the muscles and the mind, promoting healthier body synergy, and that because sewing has been so successful at promoting relaxation among women who sew that it may be better than therapy…!

“Project Sewing by Debz Designs,” takes place on the second Saturday of every month between 10am to 4pm at Lincoln Sew and Vac. The next class is January 14th, 2012 @ 10 am $25 plus kit – Fabric Boxes: Great Ideas for Using Up Stiff Interfacing Scraps.  Play with patterns and make a size and shape that is unique for you.  Sign Up Now! Machines Provided! Register with Helena at Lincoln Sew and Vac. 256 East Olive Street. Call 541.265-2636

Additional note. Where do you look for good used sewing machines and vacuum cleaners with customer after care? And, where can you get your machine repaired? Right here at home. When Lincoln Sew and Vac sells new equipment, they frequently take in used machines in trade. They get every brand: Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Viking, Singer, Bernina, Kenmore, Newhome, Necchi and some of the minor brands based on the “dressmaker” line. They service and repair these machines and put them up for resale. Sew and Vac will repair the used machines we sell for a period of 30 days but charge extra for parts – these are used machines, after al

Lincoln Sew and Vac – 225 East Olive Street, Newport – 541.265.2636 – Open Every Day

The Oregon Office of Rural Health presented this year’s 2011 Rural Health Hero of the Year Award to Lincoln County resident Patricia Neal.  Her efforts in community health and her dedication and drive,  simply…  inspire.  Pat says,  “I have become a committee goer. I kind of see it as my third career. There’s no pay check, but there is a pay off in feeling that you do contribute to the community”

The recognition, presented in September,  is worth remembering and reviewing. Check out the nicely produced video below featuring testimonials from other hard working champions from the County’s health community.   Pat is certainly not alone in her efforts.  Lincoln County is comprised of many organizations and committees that provide vital feedback in the health continuum.  But, her wisdom strikes a deep chord, “It’s going to take everybody, whether it’s volunteers, professionals… to not only improve knowledge of what they need to do to be healthy. But, to get people participating so they will be.”

 The Oregon Office of Rural Health at Oregon Health & Science University, “annually opens a nomination process to determine a recipient of the Oregon Rural Health Hero of the Year Award. This award honors an outstanding person, program or organization that has been responsible for improving the quality and availability of health care in rural Oregon communities.”

“Pat Neal is a dedicated, tireless volunteer in our community. She has lived in Lincoln County for 22 years and has been volunteering in many community health initiatives throughout this time. Pat is currently on ten different health-related committees in Lincoln County and joined her first one, the Public Health Advisory Committee, in 1990. Other committees include: Mental Health Advisory Committee, Tobacco Coalition, Diabetes Coalition, Local Alcohol and Drug Addiction Planning Committee, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Council, Commission on Children and Families, Chronic Care Committee, Childhood Obesity Partnership and Healthy Communities Assessment Workgroup.”

If you are interested in blazing a trail similar to Pat’s (good luck keeping up!) or would like to participate in some of the above mentioned committee and board opportunities,  contact the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners office.  They can provide you with a complete list, applications and additional information.

Contact: Lincoln County Board of Commissioners – 225 West Olive Street, Room 110 -  Newport, Oregon 97365 – (541) 265-4100 - www.co.lincoln.or.us

We learned a lot of lessons from the distant tsunami that reached our shores after the March 2011 earthquake in Japan. One of those lessons is that we should prepare ourselves and our families for the possibility that natural disaster can strike our community at any time.

Seismic science postulates that the Cascadia Subduction Zone has the very real possibility of producing a significant earthquake and a subsequent tsunami at any time in the Pacific Northwest. According to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, “The last known great earthquake in the northwest was in January, 1700, just over 300 years ago. Geological evidence indicates that great earthquakes may have occurred at least seven times in the last 3,500 years, suggesting a return interval of 400 to 600 years.”

If you live in Lincoln County and want to add another tool to your personal emergency preparation check list then head to the Lincoln County web site and look for this icon or graphic below.  Click on it and you will navigate to a sign up page that you can populate with your personal information of preference for receiving alerts.  It takes a few moments. The Sheriff’s office states that ” the information that you provide will be used for emergency purposes only. We will not give or sell your telephone numbers or email addresses to any vendor or other organization.”

You’ll receive alerts about severe weather, tsunami inundation area evacuations, fires, floods, toxic environmental issues and other emergencies using the notification system. Messages can be sent via cell phone, home phone, email, text messaging, fax, pager, PDA and more.  Emergency Services will be conducting a Countywide test on January 17. This will be a great opportunity test the notification system and see how it works for you.  Sounds like and effort worth participating in!

www.lincolncountysheriff.net

The Seashore Family Literacy Center is a Waldport based non-profit that provides educational programming, food, clothing and more. Check out their web site to get an idea of how awesome it is to see what a community can do when it works together at this level, sharing, and uplifting others in need. With a small staff, volunteers, community partnerships and donations the Center is addressing the human fundamentals that everyone should have the opportunity to experience.

One of the umbrella programs offered is Green Bikes. According to Seashore it is a “way to promote good health and recreation, the Green Bike program provides bicycles for anyone to ride, any time, to any destination — no questions asked. The premise is simple: Find a bike and use it for fun and transportation. When done, leave the bike in an accessible spot for the next rider.”

Lincoln County is witnessing more people taking advantage of riding in recent years.  Many are riding to save money because of higher fuel costs. Some are trying to lessen their carbon footprint and others ride for recreation and wellness. Whatever the case, you might say the bike is making a comeback, and the end result is human vitality.

Green Bikes is making a statement about how a small town envisions the use of the bicycle. Over 100 bikes have been placed in the community and residents are putting them to good use. Travelling to Waldport? Keep your eyes peeled for a green bike. Then take one for a spin.

Once again, “Bike Repair for the Independent Woman” is being offered at the Green Bike Co-op in Waldport.

When: Tuesday evenings beginning Feb 7 thru March 13 (6 pm-8 pm)

Who: Classes taught by Rick Hill and Assisted by Tyler Balfour

What: Basic bike repair subjects presented in easy non threatening manor. Learn how your bike works and gain an understanding of what to do when it breaks down. Bring your own bike.

Subjects: Parts of the Bike, fixing flat tires, brakes, shifters, cassettes, wheels and spokes, derailleurs, bottom brackets, head sets, bearings and threads, and more.

How: Contact Rick Hill by email at rhill@casco.net. When at least four women sign up, the class will proceed. Maximum of six students. Women only.

Cost: There is no cost for the class, but a donation to the Seashore Family Literacy Program ( Green Bike’s umbrella agency) would be appreciated.

http://www.seashorefamily.org/

Not long ago a co-coworker turned me on to the abundance of affordable used watches at the Newport Nostalgia Antique Mall. She said she “got a great watch for 4 bucks!” and was pleasantly enthused about her discovery.

So, I hightaled it over there and sure enough… there was his little booth in all its glory: “Watchman” Booth #63.

My general observation is that you’ll find a big variety of men’s and women’s watches and indeed they are mostly priced around four bucks.

The cashier who unlocked the booth cabinet said that he thinks the Watchman buys bags of the timepieces in bulk and does basic repair which consists mostly of replacing batteries. I am not sure if the Watchman takes his best finds and resells them on Ebay or if WYSIWYG from his entire inventory.

I have purchased two clocks to date and they are working splendidly. My current favorite is labeled a Chereskin and the other a Rivera. From a brief internet investigation I presume these are mass produced and as the “stainless steel back” suggests not particularly high quality. Rather than buy a new cheap watch why not buy a used cheap watch that may have otherwise been destined for a landfill? Perhaps, these watches will provide years of accurate timekeeping. So far so good!

Ironically, I was recently reading the neighbors WSJ Magazine that comes monthly with the neo classical economic daily The Wall Street Journal newspaper. Inside, a photo caption describes, “An Old School Watch” and “A Classic Timepiece Makes Every Man Look Cooler and More Elegant.” In the photo is a Patek Philippe Calatrava watch for $23,000! Really?

The web site, Chronocentric has a Beginner’s Guide to Major Watch Brands. In this section it discusses the Rolex brand watch, stating “It was in the 1980′s that their reputation went from stellar to astronomical from being broadly publicized as the luxury wristwatch of choice of the so-called ‘yuppie’ movement of young, affluent people who enjoyed conspicuous consumption as a indication of their new found status. Both the people who embraced and those who decried the yuppie image were very effective in making the name of Rolex a household word. In that time, Rolex prices took a stellar rise to match their popularity. A stainless steel DateJust model that sold new for around US $900 in 1981 rose to US $2350 by 1991, despite only nominal changes to the product. Models in finer metals took even more dramatic increases, leaving many existing owners to joke about the newer models now being made of “unobtanium.”

The lesson from the above story parallels strongly with Consumerism, defined by Wikipedia as a social and economic order based on fostering a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. Conspicuous Consumption and Materialism fit in here too and the concepts are worth exploring.

For those who would like to reuse, recycle or upcycle goods then a visit to the Nostalgia Antique Mall may have what you are looking for, watches or otherwise.

Located in Newport, Oregon, Nostalgia Estate Sales and Antique Mall offers over 200 vendor booths as well as estate sale services along the Oregon Coast. With a constantly changing inventory of unique, vintage, and antique items as well as resale, you’ll probably find something cool.

In October of 2008, after nearly two decades under Craft Warehouse Management, long-time vendors Peggy and Jerry Sabanskas took over the mall, combining it with their own business, Nostalgia Estate Sales. Residents of Newport for over thirty years, they are committed to the community, fostering children, establishing several local businesses and serving on the Newport City Council.

http://nostalgiainnewport.com