McMinnville Community Advantage Magazine February 2023

Kur t and Melanie Bar nes

Taxes With A Personal Touch

By Tyler Francke, Contributing Writer

Photos by Kara Langley Photogaphy

Many local business owners boast about being a familyowned and operated institution, but for Kevin Olson and his small group of H&R Block offices in Yamhill County, it could not be more true.

Olson literally grew up in the McMinnville office he now owns on Highway 99W, at the feet of his mother, Patricia Olson-Fries, who opened the location in 1967 and worked for decades to build its clientele and reputation.

“My first job was working as a receptionist in that office when I was about 15,” says Olson, whose company also includes offices in Newberg and Lincoln City. “It was a great environment to grow up in and learn the business that I love.”

Olson started managing the McMinnville office in 2004, then worked under a new owner for 10 years after his mother retired. He purchased the location in 2018, adding Newberg and Lincoln City in 2020.

One quirk of a familyowned tax office is that Olson now has a number of second-generation clients — and many of his clients have a second-generation tax preparer.

“Your clients are more than just your clients when you’ve known them for so long,” he says. “I have clients that have known me since I was born.

They saw me grow up. Some of them, I’m now doing their kids’ taxes, too. It’s almost like they’re part of our family.”

The closeness has made for some emotional moments in the office, he admits.

“When I have a client and someone has recently passed away, I’m crying right there with them, you know?” he says. “That was someone I had seen every year for 12 years. It’s very personal.”

When asked what appeals to him about the work he has done his entire adult life, he doesn’t hesitate.

“Working with people,” Olson says. “It’s a needed service, to help taxpayers make sure they are paying the correct amount of tax — nothing more and nothing less. And to be able to turn what can be a very stressful event into an enjoyable experience, it’s very rewarding.”

Math has always come naturally to Olson, and he regards navigating the myriad codes and provisions of the tax law as just a form of problem-solving.

“It’s really just about the relationships,” he says. “It’s about being involved in the community. I always tell people you can mention my name anywhere in this county and you’ll find someone who knows me or at least has heard of me because of what I get to do for a living.”

While they specialize in small business services, which they have found to be a growing area of need, Olson’s H&R Blocks are full-service tax offices — in every sense of the word.

“There is nothing we don’t do,” he says. “We do payroll, bookkeeping, corporate returns, all business services, estates, trusts. We have over 150 years of experience between all of my tax pros, so there’s nothing that can walk through my door that I’m not able to handle.”

H&R Block McMinnville is located at 865 NE Highway 99W, Suite F; Newberg is located at 2504 East Portland Road; and if you’re at the coast, the Lincoln City office can be found at 2413 NW Hwy 101. You can also find more information and get your return started today by visiting hrblock.com.

Mia, H&R Block Intern

Wedding Singer (1998)

One of my alltime favorite Adam Sandler movies, this is absolutely drenched in ’80s pop culture–movies, cars, fashion, and music. The story follows a talented, funny, and likable wedding singer (Sandler) living in his brother’s basement and who’s terribly in love with the wrong girl. His heart gets broken (of course) and he plunges into a deep pit of despair but refuses to quit working–singing for couples in love–to much expected comedy. Eventually he meets his dream girl (a very cute Drew Barrymore) who’s in love with the wrong guy. Hilarity, flirting, and crossed signals abound, it also stars Alexis Arquette, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert, and more, plus a cameo by Billy Idol. It’s bright and cute and wacky. Rated a strong PG13 for language and mature content, save this for the older kiddos.

Trolls (2016)

With pure blissful technicolor and heart-thumping pop music by Justin Timberlake, the Trolls movie skywrites in bombastic sparkly letters the message of love, joy, happiness, and positivity. A classic Us vs. Them, the meanie ogre Bergens threaten to capture the Trolls once for all–to eat the Trolls one-by-one and finally feel happy. Surely, there’s a better way to find happiness! And through conflict, trial-and-error, and lessonlearning, the Trolls teach the Bergens how to be happy WITHOUT eating others. On a smaller scale, there’s a classic love story: the untrusting hermit, Branch (Justin Timberlake), meets the happy-go-lucky girl-next-door, Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick). Their relationship very much parallels the Bergens vs. Trolls in their quest to conquer grumpiness and trust. And shocker, they fall in love. There’s singing, dancing, love, good feelings, and colors you’ve never seen before! Rated PG for mild rude humor and the threat of being eaten (I did tell you).

Eternal Sunshine Of The MindSpotless (2000)

This mindblowingly original sci-fi drama romance came barreling out of the early 2000s with an Academy Award for Best Writing and a slew of other awards. One of Jim Carrey’s earlier dramatic roles, his and Kate Winslet’s characters have a bad breakup and opt to have their relationship erased from memory by an experimental doctor, played by Tom Wilkinson. Also starring Kirsten Dunst and Elijah Wood. It’s surreal, quirky, indie, funny, sad, and far too relatable. As chaotic as it is, it’s utterly human with a heartwarming ending. Rated R for language, drug and mature content .

Available to rent from Reel Hollywood Video in McMinnville.

Yamhill River Writers Group

Every Month On The Second Monday

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Teen Night Out

Every Friday

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Poetry Night

Every Month On Thursday

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