Kitzhaber offically declares; Everybody in the pool... in October; Art by the Bay; and flex those mussels.

Kitzhaber opts in…

Democrat John Kitzhaber announced yesterday he will run for a record-setting third term as Oregon governor. Kitzhaber, who left office in 2003, said on Wednesday the state and nation face "tremendous challenges" and that he believes he can bring political change to Salem to solve those problems. Only one previous Oregon governor has ever tried for a political comeback - and Tom McCall was defeated in that attempt in the 1978 Republican primary. Several other Democrats, including veteran Congressman Peter DeFazio, former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and Salem Representative Brian Clem are considering running for governor next year. The only announced Republican contender at this point is Allen Alley, a former high-tech businessman who ran for state treasurer last year.

The faucets were on yesterday at a pair of new pools that have been under construction at Coastal Fitness. Crews opened the valves and began flowing 90-thousand gallons of water as construction nears the final phase on a major remodeling at the facility.
203 – “Honestly it’s been about 15 years. I can’t tell you how many plans we’ve drawn up for swimming pools. And, so it’s a long time coming. But as far as this project it’s been about three years.”

Deena Mitchell, along with her husband Jim Mitchell have added about 10-thousand square feet in all to their business. The two pools… a warm water therapy pool and a competition lap pool… use the latest technology.
204 – “By state law we still have to use a little bit of chlorine. The majority of the pool will be sanitized by a UV system which is just top of the line. It’s the latest way to sanitize a pool. It’s way, way better. You won’t have the smell, the taste. It won’t damage your hair, your swimsuit, your skin like normal chlorine will.”

Mitchell said she hoped to open the expansion and the pools by October First.

Folks in Winchester Bay are gearing up for what they’re calling the ‘best beach party’ on the coast this weekend. It’s the annual Labor Day Weekend “Art by the Bay”. More than 40-booths will feature a wide variety of art. Many of the local artists will also be working on pieces during the show. A variety of media will be represented… stained glass, textiles, metal, silver jewelry, ceramics and more. The show runs Saturday and Sunday in Winchester Bay.

Levels of “paralytic shellfish poison” that have shown up recently in mussels along the central and southern Oregon Coast have dropped well below toxic levels. That’s prompted the Oregon Department of Agriculture to lift a ban on harvesting the mollusks in those areas. The PSP toxins still show up in mussels sampled between Newport and the Columbia River.