Under My Hat - August, 2008

—by Helen DuFault

Co-op Expansion

The exciting latest is that the co-op has signed a purchase agreement with the IOOF.

Work in the space next door is back on track after some inspection delays. We found out that we need to remove the old kitchen floor and replace it with quarry tile. We will also have a mainfloor bathroom; it's being roughed in as I write. The ceiling is also being painted.

When we're done, the aisles in our original space will be less crowded, which will be appreciated by all.

Local Produce

People have been eagerly waiting for locally grown produce. For us, the season of abundance begins in August; some of the earlier crops, such as berries, have a very short supply window. We will buy everything we can locally—it's part of our mission. We will have apples, melons, squash, potatoes, onions, and more stocked for your enjoyment.

Out-of-Stock

In recent months we've had a lot of trouble with items being out of stock with our suppliers, from oatmeal to yogurt. In some cases a product will be unavailable for weeks at a time. We are sorry for the inconvenience; we will try to be better at posting "out-of-stock" labels.

Bike Rack

You may have noticed that we have two new bike racks. The smaller one will replace the dilapidated rack near the back entryway. Thanks to HPC member George Hansen for building this rack!

The larger rack is by the picnic area. We've taken one parking space for bike parking, because so many of our customers and volunteers are riding bikes these days.

Parking Lot

A big thank you to Matt Hass for painting all the stripes in our parking lot. Unfortunately, some of them will have to be re-done, because repairing the holes in the parking lot will require tearing up sections of tarmac and rebuilding from scratch. That will happen some time this fall; you will need to park in the street for a few days while repairs are done.

Annual Meeting

Our annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 9. Plan to attend and share an appetizer/dessert potluck with fellow members. We expect to have music, a speaker (not scheduled yet), reports, and election of new board members.