The LBCC Commuter

3 weeks ago | lbcommuter.com | Ryland Bickley

Housed in a 138-year-old building, the Albany Regional Museum fits right into the city’s historic downtown. In fact, it blends in so well that it’s easy to miss its 136 S.E. Lyons Street location when headed north toward the Willamette River. But once you find the “Albany Regional Museum” signage and enter the storied building, you’ll be treated to a collection of local history and exhibits, open five days a week, Tuesday-Saturday. And the first person you’ll probably meet is Sean Kinsey.

1 month ago | lbcommuter.com | Ryland Bickley

Growing up as a Steelers fan on the West Coast, Pittsburgh was always out of reach. I was the only fan in my family; growing up, I made it to the East Coast twice for vacations, but never visited the Steel City. Instead, I watched Steelers games on TV and read about how electric it was in-person the day after. That finally changed when my dad surprised me with tickets to the Steelers’ 2022 home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a gift after I graduated high school.

1 month ago | lbcommuter.com | Ryland Bickley

Over the weekend, Linn-Benton’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon, Oregon sounds like a racetrack as you approach the campus. However, the vehicles being pushed to the max aren’t moving at all. LBCC’s annual “Dyno Days,” hosted by the school’s RPM Club (automotive) and Diesel Club, is a two-day, free-entry event running May 16-17. The main feature (and namesake) is each program’s dynamometer – essentially, a vehicle treadmill that measures horsepower and torque.

2 months ago | lbcommuter.com | Ryland Bickley

Not many album openers start with a harpsichord these days, and the ones that do certainly don’t name-drop TikTok in the final verse. Black Country, New Road’s third studio album, “Forever Howlong,” manages to do both in the British six-piece’s genre-bending, multilayered April release.

2 months ago | lbcommuter.com | Ryland Bickley

It was around halfway through the dusty, hot slog of my first day on the job – a 14-and-a-half-hour shift – when the crew boss’ truck pulled alongside the tractor I piloted and motioned for me to stop. Don’t forget! Clutch and then brake. I came to a halt and opened the door. “How’s the first day going, Ryland?” he asked. “Pretty good,” I replied. And then in a goody two shoes, new hire sort of way: “I’m making mistakes, but I’m learning.” He chuckled. “That’s good.