‘Oroville strong’ and trampolines

If anything emerged as an overall message a few weeks ago at the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce and Oroville Economic Alliance’s annual dinner, it was unity. The whole situation with the dam, while frightening and eye-opening—and not over yet—clearly also brought the community together. Several speakers even repeated a mantra: “We are Oroville strong.” The power of those words was palpable.

Unity, it turned out, was a theme for the evening. Chamber/Alliance CEO Sandy Linville reminded those in attendance that a little less than a year ago, the chamber and the Oroville Economic Development Corp. joined forces under the umbrella of the Oroville Economic Alliance. (The chamber operates as the membership arm, while the alliance focuses on attracting and building businesses.)

Overall, the tone was positive. Linville highlighted new businesses to the area, including The Exchange, an upscale tapas bar downtown, and Langlers Webworks, a small-business Web design firm that recently relocated from the Bay Area. After all the bad press Oroville received because of the dam, the businesses there deserve some optimism. I support you, Oroville, and your strength to move on.

One door opens … After 18 years in business, Off the Wall Soccer is shutting its doors. The year-round indoor soccer facility, which offered programs for all ages, faced increased competition from the Chico Area Recreation and Park District, which recently ramped up its adult leagues. According to the Off the Wall website, the competition proved too much. It’s winding down operations as we speak.

It’s not all sad news at the corner of East 20th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, however. City Manager Mark Orme confirmed that the owners of Rare Air, a trampoline park in Redding, had signed a letter of intent on Friday (March 31) to lease the Off the Wall facility. He expects it will open sometime later this year. It looks insanely fun. Check it out online at rareairpark.com.

Market update It appears communication really is key. After a sit-down between Downtown Chico Business Association reps and food vendors regarding changes to the market’s policies on street food, both sides seem quite a bit more at ease. In fact, compromise was reached in two key areas. First, there will be three spots for rotating booths (instead of two). Second, nearly all the menu restrictions were lifted. So, you’ll be able to pick up Truck-A-Roni’s famous mac and cheese (yes, they decided to stay in the market). In addition to all the familiar faces, two new trucks were added to the rotation: The Wolf & The Lamb and Gnarly Deli.

Just goes to show that collaborative communication can go a long way in minimizing conflict. Now, let’s eat!

Dine out for autism This Friday (April 7), Sin of Cortez—that rockin’ breakfast/brunch joint on The Esplanade—will be donating 20 percent of sales to The Yellow Door, a nonprofit that supports individuals with autism and their families. The fundraiser is in honor of Autism Awareness Month.