Little Lavender Farm to Close Downtown Newberg Shop at End of February
NEWBERG, Ore. — Little Lavender Farm will close its downtown Newberg retail location at the end of February, the owners announced last week.
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In a statement shared on social media, owners Pam, Mark, and Lauren Baker said the decision comes after six years in downtown Newberg and reflects a desire for greater flexibility as they enter a new stage of life, including welcoming a new grandson.
“After much discussion and with a heavy heart, we have decided that after six wonderful years in downtown Newberg, we will be closing our shop at the end of February,” the Bakers wrote.
The closure applies only to the downtown retail storefront. The family said their farm in Dundee will continue operating, and the business’s online shop will remain open and fulfill orders.
The Bakers also said they are exploring partnerships with local retailers to carry Little Lavender Farm products, allowing customers to continue purchasing items locally. Updates on those efforts will be shared on social media as they develop.
“It has truly been an honor and a pleasure getting to know you all,” the Bakers wrote, adding that they will “cherish the time in our sweet little shop and the friends we made along the way.”
The downtown shop is expected to remain open through the end of February.
VFW Post 4015 Relaunches Veteran, Active-Duty Banner Program in Newberg
NEWBERG, Ore. — Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015 has relaunched its Veteran & Active-Duty Banner Program, naming Newberg as the first community to participate in the renewed effort.
The program honors local veterans and currently serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces with patriotic street banners displayed throughout the city. Each banner features the honoree’s name, branch of service, and photograph.
The banner program previously operated in Newberg and has been revived following Post 4015’s return to the city after several years based in Dayton. The post allocated $5,200 in initial funding to restart the program, which members approved through a formal vote.
Post 4015 was formed through a merger of the former Newberg and McMinnville VFW posts and now serves most of Yamhill County. Newberg is serving as a pilot city, with plans to expand the program to other communities as sponsorships are secured.
The program is funded through a combination of VFW seed funding and community sponsorships. Nominations and sponsorships are open for veterans and active-duty service members with a meaningful connection to Newberg.
Post 4015 now meets at the Friends Center, 200 S. College St., and hosts public community dinners at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.
More information is available at vfw4015.org. Questions can be directed to Rebecca Wallis, adjutant for Post 4015, at adj@vfw4015.org.
Oregon Transportation Commission Seeks Public Input on 2027-30 Transportation Improvement Plan
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Transportation Commission and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) have opened a public comment period on the draft 2027–2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), a four-year plan that outlines how state and federal funds will be used for transportation projects across Oregon.
The STIP is a financially constrained multimodal program that identifies investments in roads and bridges, public transportation, bike and pedestrian facilities, safety improvements, and other transportation assets from 2027 through 2030. It is developed jointly by the transportation commission, ODOT, and a range of local partners and stakeholders.
The public open house for the draft STIP runs through March 20, 2026, and offers Oregonians the opportunity to explore proposed projects, review regional highlights, and provide feedback on priority needs and potential impacts.
Community members are encouraged to review the draft plan, including project lists and interactive maps, and share their views through the online open house. Information available through the open house includes explanations of how funding is allocated, types of projects proposed, and how the draft STIP aligns with statewide goals for safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
Public input gathered during this comment period will help inform the final STIP, which guides transportation investments across the state for the next four years. Details on the draft plan and how to participate are available on ODOT’s STIP open house website.
Newberg Public Library Bathrooms Closed for Repairs
NEWBERG, Ore. — The Newberg Public Library has started work on remodeling its main floor bathrooms. There is no public timeline for when the bathrooms will be completed.
“If you’ve used the (ahem) facilities, you’ll know it’s way past time to give the space the attention it needs,” wrote library director Korie Jones Buerkle in the library’s monthly newsletter. “While we don’t have the city funds to completely reimagine the space, we can give it the glow-up it deserves.”
The library has one operable public restroom during construction in the Children’s Library on the main floor. The neighboring Chehalem Cultural Center is also open to the public and has two sets of public restrooms.
