“A” Street Dental (828 NE A Street) hosted a going-away party last month for two long-time colleagues of over 45 years. Gerd Taylor, hygienist, and Betty Lampert, clinical administrator, retired and moved onto other pursuits. In a going-away statement, the office wrote: “Gerd, we wish you well in your continued travels. And Betty, no one will ever answer the phone with a smile quite like you do. You will both be greatly missed not only by us but by all our patients who have become your family over the years. Thanks for the memories.”

Getting accurate information about the efficacy of drugs is the cornerstone of all the pharmaceutical advances that have been made since penicillin was discovered in 1929. Before any drug is approved by the FDA, it has to go through a rigorous system of clinical trials with volunteers willing to participate.

If you think massages are something to get only after you’ve been working in the garden for three days, and it’s hard to even move around in bed, well … you need to think twice.

When Raymond Spencer opened The Herb Shop (247 SW G) in 1987, his goal was for him and his family to provide high-quality wellness products to the community. Here it is 35 years later and while Raymond is no longer here to see the fruits of his labor, his children and grandchildren (Mila [Elizabeth] Hall, Diana, Mon, Tammi, Tim and Nahum Spencer) continue with the tradition.

Spring is about to be sprung, and over at Southern Oregon Compost (5863 Lower River Road) they’re ready to assist homeowners with whatever chore needs to be done to prepare their yard and garden for a bountiful year. From compost and soil to bark and manure, they have it all, and they work overtime to provide the exact right mix for proper growth.