Molalla Community Advantage Magazine February 2023

HAZ UNA CARRERA EMPIEZA EN TU LOCALIDAD

Nuestros mejores talentos son DE ORIGEN LOCAL.

¿Buscas hacer una carrera gratificante con oportunidades de crecimiento y progreso?

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$3,000 Bono de inicio, pagado en incrementos durante el primer año

#StartHereGoFar (#ComienzaAquíLlegaLejos)

Presenta tu solicitud en línea en: Interfor.com/careers

Presenta tu solicitud en persona los martes de 9:00 am a 2:00 pm

BUILD A CAREER START LOCAL

Our best talent is HOMEGROWN. Looking to build a rewarding career with opportunity for growth and advancement? Interfor Molalla might be the place for you!

$21.25/hr Starting wage

Competitive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, Short-Term Disability, 401k and Profit Share

$3,000 Signing bonus, paid in increments over first year

#StartHereGoFar

Apply online at: Interfor.com/careers

Apply in-person on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

FIGARO’S PIZZA Serving Molalla Since 1991

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Andrew W.K. once said, “Anyone who says that money cannot buy happiness has clearly never spent their money on pizza.” More ardent words have never been spoken. Pizza is arguably one of the greatest—and most popular—foods ever to be invented. Like chocolate, just about everyone loves it. And while we may each subjectively have our favorite brands or styles, objectively speaking, great pizza is simply great pizza. It’s a universal equation: incredible crust plus delicious sauce plus fresh toppings all cooked to perfection equals a winning combination. If you haven’t tried the amazing combinations at Figaro’s Pizza, then you’ve been missing out!

Owners Andy and Linda Anderson have been serving Figaro’s superior brand to discerning pizza lovers in Molalla since 1991! They started as customers, but were so impressed by the quality of the product and the opportunities available within the Salem-based company, that they soon opened their first franchise location in Gresham. Not long after, they relocated it to Molalla, and thirtytwo years later, they’re still at it! They did open a second location in Sandy, which they ran for sixteen years along with a Blockbuster Video, but their heart has always remained with their 119 Robbins Street location in Molalla.

Andy and Linda are incredibly passionate about what they do. They’ve toiled long and hard to ensure their location is friendly, inclusive, and one-of-a-kind, while recognizing that ultimately it boils down to the product and their service. Figaro’s uses the highest quality ingredients made fresh to order. The dough is made from 100% American wheat milled right here in Oregon, and rolled fresh every day in store. Crusts come in Original, Sicilian Pan, Thin, and they even have a Gluten-Free option. The toppings are 100% natural, with no fillers, and no MSG. It’s this kind of attention to detail that sets Figaro’s Pizza apart!

But it’s not just about pizza! They also offer a wide range of fantastic calzones, sandwiches, salads, wings, loaded jojos, bread sticks, cinnamon sticks, and the list goes on! Everything is amazing of course, and it’s all prepared with the same level of care and attention. In an era when people are so busy and often both parents are working outside the home, there is a universal demand for quality, value and convenience, and that is exactly what Figaro’s provides. In addition to their in-house delivery drivers, Figaro’s partners with DoorDash for deliveries outside their standard delivery area.

And what a unique and fantastic location it is! With a warm and welcoming seating area, customers have the option for takeout, delivery, or dine-in. They also own the adjacent business, All Mine Frozen Yogurt, so it’s dinner and dessert in one—pizza and “froyo”—a complimentary combination made in heaven! It’s the perfect location for friends, families, and clubs to gather. Whether it’s for birthdays, group meetings/parties, or just a regular night out, everyone is always welcome, and they love hosting local sport teams for their end-of-season celebrations.

Figaro’s Pizza in Molalla is locally-owned and -operated by local people who love nothing more than serving their community. They are heavily involved in local charity work through their own H.E.L.P. organization: Helping Education through Love and Pizza, which donates a percentage of every transaction to local groups in need. In addition, Andy and Linda both take their roles as small business owners very seriously by investing in the staff members they employ. They are incredibly proud of the hundreds of employees they’ve had over the years, many of whom counted this as their first job. It’s quite clear to them that Figaro’s Pizza –Molalla would have ceased to exist if not for the dedication and commitment of those people. Today the business is managed by two of Andy and Linda’s sons, Benjamin and Daniel, and their daughter-in-law Kynsi!

Fantastic pizza served by fantastic local people in a fantastic and unique setting! Come down to Figaro’s Pizza in Molalla today and try their newest creation, the Figgy Piggy. It’s sure to be a family favorite. And bring your friends! There’s no better place in town for a party. Call to reserve the space for no additional charge!

Order online at figaros.com, call 503-829-4900, or stop by at 119 Robbins Street in the ACE Shopping Center in Molalla.

Photos by Andrew Sambuceto Photography

The

Origins of the Tater Tot

A Tasty Oregon Invention

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

The Tater Tot. It’s hard to resist these crunchy golden-brown potato morsels piled high in a basket, or nestled on a plate accompanying our favorite burger or sandwich. For many of us, “Tater Tot” and “comfort food” go hand-in-hand. It’s ingrained in our culture—at least from a food perspective!

But did you know that these world famous potato nuggets were invented in Oregon, and that they were the creative byproduct of potato scraps originally used as cattle feed? The story of the Tater Tot traces back to two young Mormon entrepreneurs named Nephi and Golden Griggs who came of age during the Great Depression. Originally from Idaho, the Griggs brothers were potato farmers like most of their neighbors. Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, the Griggs survived by growing and selling potatoes, but during the postwar years as Americans increasingly turned to convenience foods—frozen foods in particular—the Nephi brothers were certain that their road to riches lay in servicing this growing demand.

Convinced that the future of produce resided in the frozen food section, the two brothers mortgaged their farms to purchase a flash-freezing plant in Northeastern Oregon for $500,000 (approximately $4.5 million today). As the factory was located on the border between Oregon and Idaho, they chose to name their new company Ore-Ida.

Corn and potatoes were Ore-Ida’s mainstay and the company soon became the largest distributor of sweet corn in the country, but the real profit lay in french fries. French fries, though immensely profitable, posed certain production problems. Nephi (the leader of the two brothers) described their challenge as follows: “We had a problem separating the fries from the slivers and small pieces of

potatoes that occurred when slicing the irregular shaped potatoes.” Instead of wasting the scrap pieces, the brothers had been feeding it to their cattle and other livestock.

Despite the fact that their potato scraps were being utilized as feed for farm animals, Nephi Griggs—always focused on efficiency and profit maximization—was bothered by their inability to derive any revenue from the constant flow of potato byproducts. In a letter to an OreIda colleague, Nephi vented his frustration at not putting to better use “product that has been purchased from the grower, stored for months, gone through the peeling process, gone through the specking lines and trimmed off defects, only to be eliminated into the cattle feed.”

An unexpected visit by a representative from an equipment manufacturing company, however, proved to be serendipitous. Although the company representative was there to demonstrate a prune sorter, Nephi and his plant superintendent envisioned utilizing the equipment in a different manner. Instead of sorting prunes, could the machinery be refashioned to sort irregular potato pieces from french fries? To their delight, it could.

It wasn’t long before the Griggs and their people at Ore-Ida devised a creative use for the supply of potato scraps. By smashing the bits together using new machinery, then blanching, forming the crushed potatoes into nuggets, and cooking them in oil, a completely new product was

created. These potato nuggets could subsequently be frozen, bagged, and distributed. Although the original idea was for the nuggets to be fried, it was soon discovered that baking them produced equally good results. According to Nephi, a man on their research committee who “traveled the markets playing a ukulele and demonstrating our product,” came up with the name. Unfortunately, the man’s name has been lost to history, though his talent for creative alliteration lives on. The name “Tater Tot” is iconic across the world for fun, palate-pleasing, potato goodness.

Nephi remarked in his notes (which are now housed at the J. Willard Marriott

“new product has about a three year

the “Tater Tot” name, purchased additional machinery, and began mass producing their tasty invention.

Despite the success of the Tater Tot, the process to create them was a bit of a sticky mess—literally. New equipment had to be fashioned to deal with the starchy potato product. Steel drums the diameter of a human torso rotated continuously filling tot-sized molds with potato. These molded potatoes would then be ejected onto a conveyor belt and sent down a line for seasoning and subsequent freezing.

Ore-Ida’s commitment to the Tater Tot, in spite of production difficulties, proved a gamble worth taking. The Griggs brothers’ promotion of their new product at the 1954 National Potato Convention was a huge hit, garnering interest in Tater Tots throughout the industry. The media was also quick to embrace Tater Tots as a convenient

new food for snacks and meals that was tasty and easy to prepare. So successful was the Tater Tot that Nephi referred to it as their “hero profit item,” and cited it as responsible for making Ore-Ida a household name. By the end of the 1950s, Ore-Ida had captured 25 percent of the domestic frozen potato market. A second plant was opened in 1960, and by 1961 Ore-Ida had gone public.

In 1964, despite generating an annual profit of $31 million, problems within the family necessitated the sale of Ore-Ida. The Griggs sold the company to H.J. Heinz in 1965 for $30 million. The Heinz purchase of Ore-Ida was the company’s first foray into the frozen food market. By the time Heinz merged with Kraft in 2015, the Tater Tot was so common of a product that few people realized the name was still trademarked to Ore-Ida. An advertising campaign was even created to differentiate OreIda tots from the competition. The campaign warned, “Don’t be fooled by Imi-taters,” because Ore-Ida Tater Tots were the “original and only.”

Today, as one of America’s cherished food items, Tater Tots have been incorporated in multitudes of home recipes and even elevated to culinary feature items at certain restaurants. There is no end of possibilities when it comes to something as versatile as the Tater Tot! So, next time you find yourself reaching for a crispy golden Tater Tot, think of the Griggs brothers and the Oregonian ingenuity that transformed cattle feed into a delectable treat enjoyed by millions.

Nephi Grigg was the inventor of the Tater Tot

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A SHINING EXAMPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

Mattress stores seem to be a dime a dozen, with locations on virtually every street corner and dozens of online options as well. And you’d think the buying experience would be the same as the next, right? Wrong. For starters, there’s the personability. Sean has been in the business for over 25 years. He started the parent company Furniture Showcase, Inc. in 1995, and has been serving the community as Mattress World Northwest (MWNW) since 2004. He and his team are dedicated to making your mattress buying experience one of a kind. In talking to Sean, it’s obvious he cares deeply about his employees and his customers.

Sean spoke passionately about MWNW’s three-pronged approach to business success. Firstly, they are dedicated to helping their customers get a better night’s sleep. Thorough training and the largest selection in the NW allow them to assist every person to find the most comfortable mattress for a better night’s sleep.

Secondly, MWNW’s business mission is making sure their employees are happy. This is one of those places you hear about but rarely find – a place young folks start working at and never leave! They legitimately treat their employees like family and empower them to live their best lives.

Most impressive and thirdly, MWNW prioritizes giving to the communities they reside in. Sean and the MWNW team incorporate charitable giving and philanthropy into the corporate culture. Walk into any one of their stores throughout the year, and you’ll see they are promoting some sort of fundraising event, whether it’s in support of Polar Plunge For Special Olympics Oregon, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure, the Senior Citizens Council of Clackamas County, or one of our local schools.

In the month of March, all MWNW stores will be asking for donations to support Polar Plunge

for Special Olympics Oregon. Their main fundraiser, The Polar Plunge, takes place March 11 at Willamette Park in Portland.

SEAN HATHAWAY Owner

According to Special Olympics Oregon, “Polar Plunge is your chance to step out of your comfort zone by jumping into an unforgettable experience that directly impacts the lives of Special Olympics Oregon Athletes. By participating you provide 5,000+ Special Olympics Oregon Athletes access to sports, activities, and community.”

Here is why Special Olympics Oregon is so important: “Special Olympics Oregon believes in the transformative power and pure joy of athletic competition. Every day across the state, we help children and adults with intellectual disabilities become athletes and grow a strong, supportive community of advocates. Through year-round training and serious competition, Special Olympics participants journey along a proven pathway to better health, essential life skills and lifelong friendships.” Please help us raise funds by donating online or visiting one of our local stores. Family-owned and -operated, dedicated to providing their customers the best products at the best prices, all while donating to and participating in their local communities, Mattress World Northwest exemplifies the best of what retail businesses have to offer. This proves that not all mattress stores are created equal.

Get a better night’s sleep and help support your community at your local Mattress World Northwest, with 22 locations across Portland, Salem, Vancouver, and more. Order online at mattressworldnorthwest.com.

Special Olympics Oregon uses sports training and competition to grow acceptance and inclusion of those with intellectual disabilities. Learn more at: soor.org.

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY

Feeling Is Believing.

Beware of DIY Real Property Deeds

We have previously discussed some of the pitfalls of “doit-yourself” (DIY) legal work. We are going to look at some of the issues that can come up when executing real property deeds; these documents have long term (and often permanent) consequences. At our office, we have done a fair bit of work to “roll back” or “fix” property improperly deeded with results that the clients had not intended. Oregon recognizes several specific types of deeds and each does different things; so, as in all things, it is important to know the right tool for the job. The following is a non-exhaustive discussion of some real property issues that we’ve seen because of mistakes with deeds.

Survivorship Rights: Oregon recognizes different forms of ownership in real property. Depending on the type of ownership and owners’ circumstances, state law applies different presumptions regarding how the property is held, and what happens to an ownership interest when the owner dies. These “survivorship rights” are where we have seen many client pitfalls. There is very specific phrasing that deeds must recite if the deed is to have its intended purpose. We have seen clients who assumed their deed created one type of ownership in the property when it actually created something very different. We have seen cases in which a person inadvertently divided their property into small fractional interests by executing the wrong type of deed. This problem is compounded if a person necessary to unwind or correct the problem passes away, at which point the property can get stuck in the wrong type of ownership, and the only option is to move forward with the erroneous ownership.

Irrevocable Transfers: Often, property conveyances cannot be undone. In addition to the example involving a deceased

grantor, discussed above, another example we frequently see involves someone gifting their real property to a friend or family member. Later, the grantor realizes that the gift was a mistake but the recipient refuses to return the gift. Litigation may be the only remedy and the results are hardly guaranteed.

Unforeseen Tax Consequences: Gifting and changing property ownership can have far-reaching tax consequences. Examples of types of tax liability that a conveyance of real property can create include estate tax, gift tax, and capital gains tax. It’s not uncommon for someone to make a property conveyance to avoid one type of tax and, without realizing, create an event with even greater tax implications than would have been due in the first place.

Due on Sale/Acceleration: Transferring property for estate planning purposes, gifting purposes, to avoid taxes, or because of the beginning or end of a personal relationship may seem logical and straightforward. BUT, these are common ways to accidentally breach your Trust Deed and cause the acceleration of your home mortgage (making its entire balance due and payable).

Executing deeds without full knowledge of the property rights, type of ownership, and the tax implications can create a minefield of issues, costs, and potential litigation. This column has mentioned it before but – taking the DIY route may save you a little in the short term but could create a much more expensive issue for you, your estate, or your family. It can be “penny-wise and pound foolish.” If you’re considering making a real property conveyance, we would be happy to speak with you to ensure the result is what you intend.

“Gifting and changing property ownership can have far reaching tax consequences.”

Breckenridge Cartwright breck@canbylaw.com

James M. Hunsaker jim@canbylaw.com

Alex Redmond alex@canbylaw.com

FENDER COMES TO CANBY

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer

Photos by Andrew Sambuceto

Canby Music welcomes Fender! Following a 2½ year delay from the original order date, this iconic guitar brand takes up its long-awaited place at Canby Music. Fender guitars, amps, basses, and everything else comprising the full Fender line has finally arrived. Canby Music is excited to be your local Fender dealership and offer “one of the biggest names in guitars.”

With upwards of 100 guitars in the Fender line on-site, customers will have the luxury of selecting just the right instrument to fit their music style and level of expertise. Beginning with the Squier, a more affordable brand in the Fender line suitable for a beginner, moving up to the quality instruments crafted in Mexico, and ultimately the Made in the USA top-of-the-line Fender guitar. A complete inventory of amplifiers, everything from practice amps to full-stage tube amps are also available, as well as all the accessories—straps, strings, stands, and more. Don’t see something in the Fender line you’re looking for? No worries. Canby Music can order it for you!

Brian Haines, owner of Canby Music, began his business in 2008 on “kind of on a whim,” he relates. All through his 20s he had traveled on the road playing guitar in different bands. He enjoyed local success performing at fairs, rodeos, and casinos, and often performed weeklong gigs within the Western United States. On

his final road trip Brian had been gone 6 months, returning home at 29 years old. “This has all been fun and dandy,” he remembers thinking, but he also entertained the idea of settling down and having a family. Wanting to stay in music without traveling, Brian decided that “a music store would be the way to go.” He opened Canby Music in downtown Canby, and due to multiple requests he began teaching lessons as a service to the community. Along the way, band instrument rentals and repairs were also added.

After 10 years of growing business, Canby Music bought the “blue house” property in 2018 and began renovating. Completing much of the work himself, Brian opened the new location in September 2020, which includes: 4 lessons rooms staffed by instructors who teach multiple instruments, an instrument repair shop, band rentals, a high-end retail shop, and climate control throughout. In addition to more space, Brian expresses, “It’s nice and new, everything works.”

Canby Music hand-picks their staff of highly-qualified individuals. Nathan Doty, Repair Technician, started with Canby Music at the downtown location. Nathan is the school liaison, in charge of instrument repairs for all the local schools.

Christian Engerman, Studio Manager, teaches lessons and is responsible for lesson scheduling and billing. Lana Szenasi was “perfect” with her background in band and was assigned to school band rentals. Lana also teaches lessons and repairs instruments in the rental fleet. Ryleigh Mulhern, a school senior, came in with family and thought it would be “neat” to work in a music store. She sat and played their piano, the staff was impressed, and thought she’d be a good fit for the store. She teaches lessons and is their graphic designer. Cody McEldowney heads up Drums and School Percussion. He’s also in charge of the retail business, receiving and displaying products, and ringing up sales.

Brian continues teaching 20 or so individuals who’ve “been coming for years,” he says, “but mostly steers the ship

these days.” Living in Canby with his wife and 2 school-age children, both in Canby School District, Brian Haines knows what it means to be a local independent business owner and active community member. Brian, who’s originally from Canby, came up with the concept of Canby Music, and he states candidly, “This is as Canby as it gets.” He donates instruments and lessons to school auctions and equestrian events (showing support for his daughter who rides). He shops generously at the fireworks booth at Canby Music Boosters Club,

which raises money for high school and middle school bands. He is also a member of Canby Chamber of Commerce.

Stop by Canby Music today and check out their impressive inventory of Fender guitars as well as their other local brands such as Breedlove from Bend, OR. Don’t forget to ask about Free Financing!

Canby Music is located at 590 NW 1st Ave. in Canby. Call them at (503)263-2263 or email brian@canbymusic.com. For additional information visit their website at canbymusic.com.