MARYSVILLE – Darilee Bednar said Nov. 10 that she may have to sell 3rd Street Books, which she has owned for 28 years.

Bednar said she is upset that construction work going on at Third Street is taking up all of her parking spaces for customers.

She’s also upset that she didn’t even know the city was going to be doing the work.

To be fair, she admits she has been undergoing treatment for cancer, so the notice might have gotten lost in the mail.

She found out about the project during a visit to Hilton Pharmacy to pick up some medication. That’s when she saw all of the equipment outside her store.

Bednar, 69, is concerned because last time a major road project took place downtown a number of places went out of business, including the Royal Fork restaurant at State and Fourth.

Because she has been from chemotherapy, Bednar said her daughter talked to the city about the parking.

“We have to have access” to the store, Bednar said.

Her daughter was assured by the city the backhoes would be moved soon. The city also plans to put up banners so people know the businesses are still open.

Bednar admitted 3rd Street Books has been hurting financially. She said Marysville just lost a bookstore in Smokey Point so now it is down to two.

She said the business has never made a lot of money. She said she only makes about $3 an hour.

“I stay open to give me something to do,” she said.

Now that she can’t work, she pays an employee $10 an hour to keep it open.

“But eighty dollars a day is more money than I make,” she said.

Bednar said she has “chemo brain” because of all the medication, so she doesn’t want to make a decision on closing right now.

“My emotions are screwed up a lot,” she said. “I cry a lot and go on rants.”

Bednar said she’s been trying for years to work with local teachers to get them to support the store.

“We’ve tried to generate more people to come in,” she said. “Loyal people are still coming.”