Serving the communities of Mill City, Scio, Lyons, Mehama, Gates, Detroit, and Idanha

Community pitches in to help tavern owner

When a truck and trailer loaded down with two new picnic tables pulled into the parking lot of the Trio Tavern in Mill City, owner Beth Kelley was blown away. 

“It was a huge surprise,” Kelley said, admitting that, while she had heard a rumor that there was something in the works, she “had no idea how grand the scale.”

That’s because even the woman who started it all, regular customer Brenda Stokes, didn’t know how extravagant the gift was going to be.

“Some of the patio furniture had seen better days,” Kelley said. “Brenda Stokes was out on the patio one day and said we’ve got to do something. So, she called Freres Lumber and…she just asked for some wood.”

Unbeknownst to Stokes, that phone call put her in touch with Freres Lumber’s vice president of operations, Kyle Freres, who – as a regular of the Trio Tavern himself – decided there was more he could do than donate a few pieces of lumber. 

“We have various remnants or pieces left over from jobs we do, and I was thinking this would work pretty well for picnic tables,” he recalled. 

And so, he called the company’s CNC Team together – Jason Pilgrim and Robert Rumplik – and asked them to create a couple of prototypes. 

“Those guys did all the work on the tables,” Freres said. “They did a great job.” 

But there was still more work to do. 

Beth Kelley, owner of Trio Tavern, was bowled over when new picnic tables arrived. Freres Engineered Wood contributed materials, design and construction and community volunteers finished and delivered them.     BRENDA STOKES
Beth Kelley, owner of Trio Tavern, was bowled over when new picnic tables arrived. Freres Engineered Wood contributed materials, design and construction and community volunteers finished and delivered them. BRENDA STOKES

“It was just a whole community,” Kelley confirmed. A team of people  joined together to apply putty and stain then lift, haul and finally unload the new tables onto the Trio Tavern patio. 

“It was a humbling experience,” Kelley said.

And one she sorely needed. 

“These past two years…I’m not going to pretend they haven’t been difficult,” Kelley said, referring to the sudden loss of her sister – former Trio Tavern owner Sara Kelley.

That was followed by her own difficult transition from working as a rescue ministry social worker in Salem to running a restaurant in Mill City.

“The loss, not only for my family but the community, it’s been an uphill climb,” Kelley said. 

“But these moments and this community…it just puts things into perspective that all the effort and struggle has been worth it.”

Previous Article

Incumbents lead in Detroit council race

Next Article

Rifle discharges during student school drop off

You might be interested in …

1,500 fire claims survive PacifiCorp challenge

A Portland judge has denied a motion by PacifiCorp to have more than 1,500 claims for damages thrown out in a class action lawsuit over the 2020 wildfire fires. On Wednesday afternoon, Multnomah County Circuit […]