Gracie’s Shoppe, the nonprofit thrift store that sends proceeds to Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center, is moving to a new location.

In preparation for its move to 2492 N.E. Stephens St., between Les Schwab and the Salvation Army, Gracie’s Shoppe is having a clearance sale this week. Until the end of Saturday, all items are on sale at 50 percent off or more at its current location, 738 S.E. Pine St.

Manager Diane Clerihue-Smith said the move to the newly purchased building will annually save $12,000 a year in rent money, all of which can now be directed to treating animals and saving them from euthanization.

Gracie’s Shoppe spent two years at the Pine Street location. Clerihue-Smith was named manager last October. Information: 672-1473.

<b>FRIDAY NIGHT BRIX:</b> Brix 527 in Roseburg, 527 S.E. Jackson St., is now serving through Friday evenings until 9 p.m. And on the last Friday of each month, live music is included.

Owners Misty and Mark Russell, who bought Brix 527 last August, began extending their hours on Fridays in January. They are open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the Friday extension. Information: 440-4901.

<b>SOMMELIER SAVOIR-FAIRE:</b> Seems people lately just can’t lay the niceties on thick enough when it comes to winemaking and wine tasting in the Umpqua Valley.

Check out wine.appellationamerica.com, a wine-industry online journal, for its front-page article on Umpqua wineries, “Oregon Wineries Move Beyond Pinot Noir.”

<b>RESUMING MILL OPERATIONS:</b> According to Random Lengths, the Swanson Group Inc. of Glendale has resumed mill production at its lumber and panel mills throughout Douglas County and Oregon after temporarily shutting down for a couple of weeks this March.

<b>OTHER WOOD-RELATED NEWS:</b> Also according to Random Lengths, housing starts across the United States in February were 28.4 percent below the February 2007 rate, citing the U.S. Census Bureau.

Single-family starts in February were 6.7 percent below the January rate.

<b>PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT:</b> Umpqua Bank has joined the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership, becoming a critical player in the development of new businesses in Douglas County. Announced in late February, Umpqua Economic Development Partnership Director Helga Conrad said, in an issued statement, “We look forward to working with Umpqua Bank on industrial projects in the future.”

<b>QUALITY ASSURANCE:</b> Cagle Communications in Roseburg, 1941 Mulholland Drive, has been honored with the Edge Wireless Retention Award for, you guessed it, maintaining customers and serving them with excellent service this past year.

Cagle Communications also received the Quality Assurance Award from Edge Wireless, an Oregon company based in Bend. Cagle Communications has been an authorized Edge Wireless dealer for seven years.

<b>OTHER BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR:</b> Oregon Business magazine recently named its 2008 list of “100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon,” and though this column noted the businesses located in Douglas County named to the list, it regrettably failed to mention Staffing Services Inc., based in Springfield, which has a branch in Roseburg.

Staffing Services Inc., which ranked No. 14 in the state, has been in business in Roseburg for eight years. Rob Douglas is the local branch manager.

Information: 672-2264.



• You can reach reporter Adam Pearson at 957-4213 or by e-mail at apearson@newsreview.info.