North Morrow Volume XVIIII Number 6
January 6, 2012
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Mouse Factory celebrates 25 years Park Bench project begins It’s not often that a Boardman business celebrates its 25th anniversary, but that’s just what Linda Toms did on December 9th when she celebrated 25 years of owning The Mouse Factory, and in the same location at 200-B Northwest First Street, Boardman. “My sister, Pam Phipps called my husband, Stan to tell him of a job opening with Boeing Agri Industrial near Boardman. He interviewed and got the job, so he moved to Boardman.” Linda was still attending Phagen’s Beauty College in Madras, where she had grown up, so soon after Stan started work, Linda completed her school and followed him to Boardman. She took her final exam for her license at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Pendleton, passed, and started looking around Boardman for a place to set up shop. “I rented this space from Joe Tatone, and I’ve been here ever since!” “The very first day I was open I had five haircuts, I was so excited! Throughout the years, I have kept a lot my original clients, including two from my very first day: Larry Gross and Lori Fedder.” When Linda opened for business on December 9, 1986, she didn’t want to call it “Linda’s” so she chose “The Mouse Factory”. Her husband, Stan is a cartoonist, and he designed her sign and business card, and then gave her the first of many Mickey and Minnies Linda collects. “We thought it would be a fun place to get haircuts for the whole family,” Linda said. Last year Linda had a contest to guess how many mice are in her collection at the shop; last year it was 85. Many of her collection have been given to Linda by customers, family and friends. Linda likes to treat her customers the way she likes to be treated. “I am a good listener, and I don’t blab, so people trust me and feel
Linda Toms holds Micky and Minnie on her lap. They are the first two mice in her collection of close to 100. Her husband, Stan bought the two stuffed mice for her when she opened her shop in 1986 comfortable.” She has enjoyed the many changes she has seen in the Boardman area, from the many new businesses, changes in agriculture, new housing developments, growth in the Port of Morrow and the city itself with the new City Hall, the Senior Center, the Clinic under construction and she’s excited about the SAGE Center coming soon. She lauds the Chamber of Commerce for the good job it does in promoting the area. People ask Linda when she will retire, and she replies “Maybe never, because I love my job, my customers and the social aspect. I used to be shy, but now I am more outgoing.” Linda was honored with the Boardman Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year for 2011. She was nominated by Dean Kegler, long-time customer and friend. When Linda isn’t working, she enjoys gardening and she and Stan share an interest in classic cars. “But,” she states, “My work is my hobby!”
The Toms have two grown sons, Kevin and Jeff, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The Mouse Factory is open Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. Phone number is 481-3216.
Linda Toms cuts Rita Irwin of Irrigon’s hair, Rita has been visiting the Mouse Factory for six years
Ron Ledbetter, right, of High Country Post & Pole, LaGrande, custom cut and delivers another load of lumber for the next batch of benches. Ed Glenn, left, placed the stickers while Ron does the heavy work. Bryan Johnson made a persua- $100 and the Committee is solicitsive request for more park benches ing sponsors in the hopes that they at a public meeting called by the can build and place not fewer than Boardman Chamber of Commerce 25 new benches in the City Park, in October. The meeting, attended the soccer fields and at the Marina by more than 40 people, was called Park before early summer. Locato collect ideas for making tions for 23 of those benches have Boardman a better place to live and already been identified, just waitdozens of ideas surfaced. Consoli- ing for donors to step forward with dated and combined, the ideas fell a check payable to the Boardman into two groups – Beautification Chamber of Commerce. and Sports Facilities. While a $100 donation will cover Brian’s park bench project was the cost of materials, all labor for assigned to the Beautification the construction of the benches is Committee including both he and being volunteered by members of his wife Bryn, Matt Kegler, Christy the Committee and others. Perry and Ed Glenn. Off to a roarBoth the Beautification and ing start, the Committee designed Sports Facilities Committees have a park bench made from heavy cus- many more short term and long tom sawn limber, securely bolted term projects, about which you will together and each bearing a be hearing in the future. donor’s plaque. Ed and Frances Glenn Materials for each bench cost sponsored one of the first benches shown here, now placed at the soccer fields along N.E. Front Street. Bolt heads in the seat and back are recessed and the seat and back surfaces have been sanded. Stop by and try it out.