Willamette Valley Life: Fall 2010

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PLACES TO GO...PEOPLE TO SEE...THINGS TO DO

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Fall 2010/Issue 4 (Display until January 1, 2011) www.willamettevalleylife.com

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Best Valley Breakfasts Our guide to the best places in the valley to scratch your breakfast itch

Wheatland Ferry: Current Meets Past Page 6

Delicious Vinyl: Valley Record Stores Page 14

McMinnville Daycation Page 6

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

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et me start out by saying, that I love breakfast. I just don’t “get” people who don’t like or eat breakfast. And even beyond that, I don’t understand why a person wouldn’t love to go out for breakfast. To be pampered the first thing in the morning with the delivery of a huge plate of eggs, hash browns, bacon, toast and a cup of coffee with a smile from your server has got to be one of life’s greatest pleasures. Okay, maybe you don’t feel as passionate about breakfast as I do, but I at least wanted to pass along in this issue of Willamette Valley Life some of the best places to eat breakfast in the Willamette Valley, according to a few friends. This wasn’t a scientific study or poll; just some suggestions from people I know who love going out for breakfast. Drop me a line and let me know which favorite of yours that we may have left out.

doesn’t it? Well really, it almost was and, in fact, still is with a lot of music lovers who swear by them. Music lover and writer Jay Shenai visited a few of the last record stores in the Valley and found that vinyl records are far from dead and are actually preferred by a lot of music lovers.

When my wife Dawn and I first moved to the Willamette Valley from Texas almost seven years ago, I was intrigued to find out that there were river ferries in use on a daily basis here. With the exception of the Texas coast, I don’t believe that there are any ferries operating in the interior of the state. Here in the Willamette Valley, they have been used since the 1800s to provide a way to get to certain destinations without having to drive miles out of the way. I asked writer and musician, Loren Depping, to dive into the subject (so to speak) and see what he could find out about these connections with the Willamette Valley’s past. I think you’ll enjoy reading about his experience on the Wheatland Ferry.

I think you’ll also enjoy reading Ken Gardner’s ideas for paying down debt, Ryan Reichert’s list of the best wines to accompany a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner and gastronomical expert Bon Mangez’s review of the dining fare offered at Cinebarre in Salem.

Do you remember your first vinyl record? Do you know what a vinyl record is? At one time before music lovers started listening to music on shiny little discs or downloaded digital music files from the internet, grooved vinyl records were the only way to enjoy listening to your favorite band at home. The records were packaged in huge cardboard sleeves adorned with photos or art. You took the disc out carefully, lovingly placed it on your turntable and gently laid the needle into the vinyl groove. Sounds almost like a religion,

MEET THE PRESS:

PUBLISHERS/EDITORS Randy and Dawn Hill ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jessica Gardner ART DIRECTION Hill Design Studios

As always, thanks for picking up this issue of Willamette Valley Life magazine. Please support the advertisers in this issue with your business. They make it possible for us to bring you this magazine.

Songwriter and essayist Loren Depping lives and writes in Salem, Oregon. A fledgling pedal steel guitar player, he can often be found on stage with the Pacific Northwestern swing band Oregon Valley Boys or enrolled in a foreign language course of some kind when not behind deadline.

ADVERTISING SALES L. Andrew Brown Concept Marketing PHONE 503.507.1228 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 17264, Salem, Oregon 97305 EMAIL: publisher@willamettevalleylife.com Copyright 2010 by Willamette Valley LIfe Magazine

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Follow Willamette Valley Life Online!

Jay Shenai is a freelance writer who lives in the midWillamette Valley. He maintains to this day that the very best rock music ever produced occurred during the years 1987 – 1993, although he is currently rediscovering Van Halen’s David Lee Roth era.

to a loving, energetic, supportive wife as they both love volunteering at New Hope Church. There are 7 wonderful grown children between the two of them. John and Erin share their house with Leona, their cat. John currently runs a professional photography business photographing, weddings, engagements, CD covers, and portraits. He also loves to spend time in the wilderness backpacking and fishing with friends.

Ken Gardner writes for life, financial liberty, and the pursuit of member happiness. He has worked in the financial industry for over 10 years and does not have perfect credit…but he’s getting there.

Salem native Gus Frederick works as a Multimedia Specialist for the Oregon Office of Private Health Partnerships. His background includes working as a graphic artist, animationist, filmmaker and photographer. A long-time Mars enthusiast, he continues to be fascinated with many of the geologic analogs to the Red Planet he has seen in his native Northwest, most notably lava tube caves and similar volcanic features. He has participated in both the Mars Global Surveyor and current Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter public target programs, and has had several of his targets imaged by these Martian cameras. He currently lives in Silverton, Oregon with his cat and extensive 78 rpm record collection.

Photographer John Gould has spent the last 20 years mostly in the Silverton and Salem areas after moving from Northern California and Colorado. His background includes Victorian home restorationist, firefighter, medic, carpenter and photographer. He moved reluctantly from film into digital photography. He is married

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Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

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THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Ryan Reichert is originally from Northeast Ohio and recently relocated to the Willamette Valley to further his career in the wine industry.

He has received both his Intermediate and Advanced certifications from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, and is also a certified French wine enthusiast and Spanish Wine Educator. Ryan strives to learn all he can about wine and to share his passion with everyone. Ryan is soon to debut a new site focusing on the white wines of the Pacific Northwest. Visit www.nwwhites.com.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Loren Depping, Gus Frederick Ken Gardner, John Gould Randy Hill, Ryan Reichert Jay Shenai

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www.twitter.com/willamettemag Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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47th Annual Gem & Rock Show “Harvest of Gems in 2010”

Wine Country Thanksgiving

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he Willamette Valley Wineries Association hosts two annual, county-wide events: Wine Country Thanksgiving and Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country. Help celebrate the 28th annual Wine Country Thanksgiving, November 26-28, when more than 150 wineries open their doors to kick off the winter wine tasting season.

Enjoy this unique opportunity to visit some of the region’s small, family-owned wineries often closed to visitors, as well as larger wineries and tasting rooms.

Taste from the barrel with winemakers, sample new releases and older vintages, and enjoy specialty food pairings, live music and other special activities.

Most wineries are open to the public 11am to 5pm. Tasting fees vary by location. For more information: www.willamettewines.com.

B.B. King at the Hult For more than half a century, Riley B. King, better known as B. B. King, has defined the blues for a worldwide audience.

His reign as King of the Blues has been as long as that of any monarch on earth. Yet B.B. King continues to wear his crown well. At age 84, he is still light on his feet, singing and playing the blues with relentless passion. November 3, 2010, 7:30pm at the Silva Hall, Hult Center For The Performing Arts, Eugene, Oregon.

12th Annual Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Merriment Enjoy a full day of fall festivities at the children’s museum with harvest crafts, games, fresh pressed cider, live music and entertainment, a 4-H farm animal petting zoo and much more! The grand lighting of hundreds of carved pumpkins takes place at dusk. Bring a carved pumpkin for discounted admission. $3 members and OMSI members (free with a carved pumpkin) / $9 nonmembers ($6 with a carved pumpkin). Saturday, October 16, noon – 8 pm. A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. Call: 503-371-3631.

Bluegrass at its best with The Travelin’ McCourys The Travelin’ McCoury’s do not stand still. They are on the road - and online - entertaining audiences with live shows that include some of the best musicians and singers from all genres. As the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury (mandolin) and Rob McCoury (banjo) continue their father’s work - a lifelong dedication to the power of bluegrass music - to bring joy into people’s lives. December 4, 2010, Rice Auditorium, 7:30 pm, Western Oregon University, Monmouth.

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” —Stanley Horowitz 4

Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

Clackamette Mineral and Gem invites you to attend its 46th annual rock, gem, mineral and fossil show Oct. 23 & 24, 2010. It will be held at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds, 694 NE 4th Ave, Canby, Oregon, Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm and Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm.

The show is held indoors, is wheel chair accessible and geared toward families and individuals interested in rocks, gems, minerals and fossils. Parking and admission are free. There will be lapidary arts and jewelry making demonstrations as well as hands on activities for children.

An hourly fluorescent show, with many examples of minerals that glow under black light, is offered at no charge. Vendors will offer gemstones, jewelry, rough and polished stone, beads, fossils and minerals for sale. In addition, they will offer books for adults and children on topics related to the earth sciences as well as lapidary and jewelry making tools. For more information contact Rick Mauer at 503-691-6395; www.clackamettegem.org. Free admission.

31st Annual Christmas Parlour Tour of Historic Homes, Museums, Churches & Library Enjoy the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned holiday celebration in Historic Albany, Oregon on Sunday, December 12, 2010 from 2pm until 7pm. This year the tour will feature several historic homes which have been lovingly restored and beautifully decorated for the holidays. Along with the homes on tour, you may visit the Whitespires Church (1891), The United Presbyterian Church (1913), the Albany Regional Museum (1887), the Monteith House Museum (1849), the Carnegie Library (1914), and the Historic Carousel and Museum (Mechanism: 1909).

For more information contact Matt Bennett owner of Sybaris 541-928-8157.

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OCTOBER Eugene Mayor’s Art Show: October 01, 2010 - October 16, 2010. Tuesday - Friday, noon - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Jacobs Gallery in the lower level of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene, Oregon. For more information call 541.684.5635. Admission is free.

Saturday Market in Eugene: October 02, 2010 - November 13, 2010, Recurring weekly on Saturday at 8th & Oak, Eugene, OR 97401. The oldest, open-air market in the United States offers great food, local crafts and live entertainment. Every Saturday, rain or shine. 541.686.8885. Free Admission.

Eugene International Film Festival: October 07, 2010 - October 10, 2010. A juried film festival with entries from around the world. For more information: www.eugenefilmfest.org.

Clay Creations: Thursday, October 14 - 1-3pm at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem, Oregon. Call: 503-371-3631.

12th Annual Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Merriment: Saturday, October 16 - Noon–8pm at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, Salem, Oregon.

Call: 503-371-3631.

47th Annual Gem and Rock Show: October 23 & 24 - Saturday, 9am - 6 pm, Sunday 10am - 5pm. Clackamas County Fairgrounds, 694 NE 4th Avenue, Canby, Oregon. Free Admission.

For more information: www.clackamettegem.org.

French Prairie Gardens 2010 Harvest Festival: September 25 - October 31 – Tuesday - Saturday, 9am to 6pm; Sunday, 10am to 5pm in St. Paul, Oregon.

Closed Monday. Saturday, Oct 24 open 9am to 9pm for Night Mazes!

NOVEMBER The Shedd Institute: B.B. King: November 3 - 7:30pm at Silva Hall, Eugene, Oregon. For more information go to www.hultcenter.org.

5th Annual Pacific NW Women’s Comedy Festival: November 20, 2010, 7pm at Richard E. Wildish Community Theater, 630 Main St, Springfield, OR 97477.

Performances by the funniest female comics from Oregon and Washington. A great girls’ night out event. For more information call, 541.688.1674.

The 2nd Annual Oregon Mid-Valley Road Race: Thursday, November 25 8:00am, Albany, Oregon. For more information: www.omroadrace.org.

DECEMBER 43rd Annual Downtown Holiday Sip-N-Shop & Tree Lighting at Western Oregon University: Enjoy the parade that begins on 6:00pm on December 3 in Monmouth, with the tree lighting ceremony immediately following. Artists and Holiday vendors are available for your Christmas shopping on Dec. 3 & 4.

Springfield Christmas Parade: December 04, 2010, 2pm in downtown Springfield, Oregon. Celebrate 58 years of the “oldest and coldest” parade in Oregon. This festive parade is a great way for the family to share the warmth of the holiday season. The route begins at 21st and Olympic, down Mohawk to Main and west to Pioneer Parkway. Admission is free. For more information call 541.988.0955.

Travelin’ McCoury’s: December 4 - 7:30pm, Rice Auditorium. Smith Fine Arts Series at Western Oregon University, Monmouth.

Christmas Parlour Tour: December 12, 2010: 2pm – 7pm in Historic Downtown Albany. Call 541-928-0911 for more information or visit us online at www.albanyvisitors.com.

Visit our online calendar at www.willamettevalleylife.com

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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Current meets past at Willamette’s Wheatland Ferry

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Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

Photo by Loren Depping

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regon’s major waterways boast a bounty of photographic and recreational opportunities.

However, many folks want something else out of them: they just want to get across.

If you need to traverse a swiftly moving current or expansive river today, you will probably cross a bridge. Early in Oregon’s history, you might just as likely have gone by ferry.

Ferries have been crisscrossing Oregon’s waters since the 1820s. In fact, it was commonplace to see ferries navigating the rivers of the Willamette Valley in the mid-1800s, according to Marion County senior ferry operator Ed Watson.

Crossings were both private and public, as operators often competed with one another to do the job cheaper or faster than someone else. Ferries carried individuals and their personal possessions, livestock and draft animals, as well as agricultural goods and other items. Eventually automobiles entered the mix, as they hitched a ride across the state’s rivers and bays (not to mention the Columbia River, which employed numerous ferries transporting travelers between Oregon and Washington).

In the post-World War II era, the creation of the interstate highway system gave rise to explosive growth in automobile travel. The more people drove, the more demand they had for roads that were quickly and easily driven.

Technology improved. Accordingly, local, state and federal governments responded by constructing more and better bridges.

Ferries began to fall by the wayside.

Currently, only three ferries continue to operate in Oregon, all of them in the Willamette Valley. Two of these are the Canby and Buena Vista ferries.

The third, Oregon’s oldest continually operated ferry, is the Wheatland. Located near Maud Williamson State Park, the small community of Wheatland on the Willamette’s west bank, and Willamette Mission State Park on the east, the ferry links Yamhill, Polk and Marion counties.

As such, it remains a vital access point for residents and travelers alike. The nearest bridge either north or south of the ferry is approximately 15 miles.

The first Wheatland ferry was built around 1843 or 1844. Understandably, no records exist to verify this. According to Watson, wooden ferries often had a lifespan of around ten years—even still, one to two years would not have been uncommon given the stresses put on a homemade wooden craft by a river’s debris and current. In his book, Oregon Ferries, author Charles F. Query credits construction of this first Wheatland ferry to early Oregon pioneer Lindsay Applegate

(dueling historical sources also credit the ferry to Lindsay’s brother, Jesse, or to both men together). The ferry had a load capacity described as “one horsedrawn wagon” and its power source was characterized as “mule power and a strong rope.” Shortly after its construction it was sold to the man who would become its first operator, Daniel Matheny. To those who ride the current ferry, Matheny’s name is exceptionally well known.

Query tracked the existence of six wooden “Wheatland Ferries” (though Watson believes there may have been more). Only the last of these was capable of carrying an automobile. It featured the first appearance of an on-board gasolinepowered engine and the ferry’s first propeller. This last wooden ferry remained in service until about 1937. Original operator Matheny was succeeded during the life of either the first or second of these wooden ferries, but his contribution to the ferry has survived longer than even he might ever have guessed.

In 1937 Marion and Yamhill Counties assumed the ferry’s operation. The first of the modern-era Wheatland ferries, this newly-built vessel featured gas power

The first Wheatland ferry was built about 1843 or 1844.

Understandably, no records exist to verify this. According to Watson, wooden ferries often had a lifespan of around ten years— even still, one to two years would not have been uncommon, given the stresses put on a homemade wooden craft by a river’s debris and current. and propellers as before. For the first time, though, it also featured a new name, the Daniel Matheny. There have been five of these ferries over the years. Each replacement bears the name of the ferry’s original operator followed by the new ferry’s accordant Roman numeral, marking succession.

As technology and the times have

changed, making the 580-foot trip across the Willamette (depending on the river’s level) has evolved as well. The current ferry, Daniel Matheny V, which went into service April 1, 2002, is a “cable ferry.”

That is, steel cables are used to support the ferry’s passage, bracing it against the river’s current. One cable lies under water on the downriver side, and one is suspended overhead on the upriver side.

Three other suspended cables also assist in generating power for the ferry’s two electric motors. For a time, the Daniel Matheny V operated its motors using an onboard diesel generator, which its predecessor lacked. When fuel costs rose dramatically a few years ago, the diesel generator was no longer cost-effective, so it was removed and the ferry returned to obtaining its power from the overhead lines. Operators do have a portable generator that can be employed in case of power outages. This prevents vehicles and passengers from being stranded if the ferry were sitting idle.

A trip across the Willamette requires only about eight minutes from loading to unloading, depending on the heaviness of traffic. Passage itself takes only about

Jim Russell, co-founder and “chief design guy.”

local traffic relies heavily on the historic ferry, managers try to solve maintenance issues before they arise and, when needed, perform as much maintenance after operational hours as possible.

“It’s a boat,” Watson laughs. “We do continual maintenance on it, but we try to do more pre-maintenance,” rather than waiting for repair emergencies. “That’s been management’s policy and it’s working very well.”

Aside from times when the river level is at 15.8 feet or higher (“the road sits at that level…you’d have to bring your own ramps to board,” Watson says) or is too low, have there ever been times when the reliable Wheatland has run into uncharacteristic trouble—trouble that rendered it inoperable?

“Twice that I’m aware of,” Watson explains. In both instances the ferry’s mainline cable broke causing the ferry to come loose and travel downriver.

According to a retired supervisor, one of these instances was due to an act of vandalism. In both cases, the ferry soon came to a stop, but in order for it to return to its proper location a tug boat from Portland had to be dispatched for assistance.

These are extreme exceptions in the ferry’s 160-plus-year history. “There’s always fun, little interesting things going on,” Watson adds with a laugh.

Fun and interesting. This short trip across the Willamette is both of those things. It’s also a piece of living western Oregon history—one not to be missed.

Songwriter and essayist Loren Depping lives and writes in Salem, Oregon. A fledgling pedal steel guitar player, he can often be found onstage with the Pacific Northwestern swing band Oregon Valley Boys or enrolled in a foreign language course of some kind when not behind deadline.

Photo by Loren Depping

three minutes. Daniel Matheny V has a carrying capacity of nine cars (those less than 22 feet long), three more than the previous ferry. The cost is $2 per vehicle unless it is oversized.

“Passengers and bicyclists are free,” Watson says. “We don’t mind extra passengers. We can have 50 people on board at a time,” enough for the number of life vests available, as law requires. “We get a lot of bicycle groups on board,” he adds. Passengers get an unparalleled upclose look at the Willamette River from the ferry’s deck.

However scenic, Watson sees the Wheatland’s day-to-day operation as more practical, in contrast to another local ferry still in operation, the Buena Vista.

A ferry operator since 1995, he notes that the Wheatland’s mainstay traffic is predominantly agricultural and commuter in nature. “(On the Buena Vista), there was a horse and carriage, a grandson taking his grandmother across the water on the same carriage she crossed over on as a little girl,” he describes. On the Wheatland, the three full-time and four relief operators are apt to cross very large commercial and farming vehicles like semi-trucks and combines along with auto traffic.

RVs and older-style “U-Haul” moving vehicles prove too long for the ferry, though. Operators have to watch for these vehicles, encouraging their drivers to find an alternate route.

“That’s something pretty natural to us that gets lost in the daily use of the ferry by the public,” he explains. “Otherwise, you sit there and wait for a tow truck.”

Another fact that might get lost on travelers is how little downtime the Wheatland experiences. Still jointly operated by Yamhill and Marion Counties, Marion County assumes responsibility for the ferry’s management. Because

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Signs, signs, everywhere are signs What’s the best thing about your job?

I get to listen to my Christian music and praise God all day and get paid for it.

What’s the worst thing about your job?

Sometimes the weather…but I enjoy all kinds of weather. Sometimes it gets pretty miserable out here, but the people make me happy because they are always smiling and waving.

What’s your name?

Tommylyn Waller.

What’s the most interesting thing that has ever happened to you while you’ve been out here?

People stopping and just giving me gifts for no reason. They give me money, they give me gifts. Around Christmas time they want to beat each other to give me a gift before anyone else does. Everybody is wonderful out here.

How long have you been doing what you are doing?

About three years.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love to ride my bike. I jog a lot and exercise every day.

What do you call what you’re doing?

I “fly” a sign.

What other kind of jobs have you had?

I’ve worked in adult foster care homes. I

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Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

was a manager. I worked in my dad’s restaurant and cleaners - Hollywood Cleaners, Mr. Swiss Hamburger Stand and the In Between Café.

What are your future plans?

To keep living for God.

Photo by Randy Hill

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ou see them on street corners and sidewalks around town, waving signs of all sorts, from “Going Out of Business” to the best pizza deal in town.

Have you ever stopped and wondered why they do what they do (other than because it’s a job)? What their individual stories are?

If you’ve traveled down Lancaster Street in northeast Salem at any point during the day, you’ve probably seen the subject our interview, Tommylyn Waller. Of all the sign wavers that I have run across, Tommylyn seems the happiest and most energetic of the bunch.

Curiosity got the best of me and I stopped to ask her a few questions.

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Destination: McMinnville

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his past summer I spent an hour or so in the late afternoon sitting on a bench on the main street in the historic district of McMinnville. I couldn’t help but think that “Mac”, as the locals like to call it, has one of the best main streets for relaxing and people watching that I have ever been to. It really seems like the perfect main street with great restaurants, a historic hotel (Hotel Oregon), coffee shops, antiques shops, book stores…all within a short, casual walk.

Located in Yamhill county, McMinnville was founded by William T. Newby, an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, who named it after his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee.

McMinnville folks apparently like to have good times, as evidenced by the number of festivals and events hosted in the town year round, with two festival stand outs. Turkey Rama, held this past July, boasts the World’s Largest Turkey BBQ, Biggest Turkey Contest, music and more. The more famous UFO Festival, held in downtown McMinnville in May, becomes more popular every year. Be sure and wear your tinfoil hat. The highlight of this annual alien celebration is the parade which features area businesses and clubs dressed in their other-worldly finest.

Here are some other McMinnville events you might like to know about:

Yamhill County Fair

Oregon’s oldest county fair is held in early August each year. The Yamhill County Fair features old fashioned fair food, rides and exhibits. The fair is also

Photo by Randy Hill

Entertainment, Art and History

all over the world come for the 3-day program of seminars, tastings and fine food.

McMinnville Wine & Food Classic

host to a 3-day NPRA Rodeo and top name entertainment.

The McMinnville Wine & Food Classic (Sip!) is held each year in early March.

This weekend event, held at Evergreen Aviation Museum, features over 100 booths showcasing the state’s wine industry, gourmet foods, art and music.

International Pinot Noir Celebration

Oregon Brews & BBQs

McMinnville founder, William T. Newby

IPNC is held in late July of each year.

Pinot Noir producers and wine lovers from

An annual celebration of great beer, great music, great food and a great cause.

Oregon Brews & BBQs is held midJune each year in McMinnville’s historic Granary District and is a benefit for the McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity.

Dining

Photo by Randy Hill

There’s no shortage of great places to eat in McMinnville. McMennamin’s Hotel Oregon is a nice place to start. First, be sure and take a tour of the hotel itself and all of the wonderful art on the walls, hand painted by Oregon artists. In the mood for something with a French flare? Try Bistro Maison, located in the historic district.

Italian food? Try the 30-plus year legendary Nick’s Italian Café, also located in the historic district. Want to try a local brew with some exceptional food? The Golden Valley Brewery located in what was once a 1920s warehouse should fit the bill nicely.

Museums Prepare to be wowed when you get a close up look at Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. It’s just…huge. The wings themselves are twenty feet longer than a football field. Built during World War II, the craft was built out of wood, adhering to a government mandate not to use materials (like aluminum and steel) critical to the war effort. There are a large number of other historic aircraft situated indoors around the Spruce Goose as well as outside on the museum grounds. Also located on the grounds is the Space Museum, Evergreen IMAX Theater and two cafes. The Museums and IMAX complex is located at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, Oregon 97128. For more information visit www.sprucegoose.org.

How to get there...

The Spruce Goose

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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Good Morning!

Best Valley Breakfasts

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s there anything in the world better than a stack of hot, steaming pancakes drizzled in butter and syrup on a fall morning? I guess it depends on what your idea of a favorite breakfast food would be. The Willamette Valley is so rich with fresh produce and agriculture, no wonder it is also one of the best places to wake up to a fabulous breakfast.

As difficult of an assignment as this was for us (ahem) we set out to make a list of some of the best breakfasts in the Valley. We would like to make the claim that this was a scientifically based study...but we can’t. Instead, we took a random sampling from friends and associates around the Willamette Valley and came up with this list of some regional breakfast favorites.

Best Creative Waffles Off the Waffle in Eugene specializes in Liège waffles. What’s a Liège waffle you ask? Liège waffles are made from a yeast-based dough containing imported Belgian pearled sugar, which caramelizes throughout the waffle due to its high melting point.

Try the “Felony,” Mango Sorbetto, organic coconut, organic banana, whipped cream and drizzled with organic maple syrup and sesame oil. Want something not-so-sweet? Try the Schmooli with organic peas, smoked Gouda cheese, organic apple sauce, crushed walnuts and freshly ground organic coriander.

2540 Willamette St. Eugene, OR 97405 www.offthewaffle.com

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Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

Best Chicken Fried Steak Having tried a variety of places here in the Valley to find a good Chicken Fried Steak, we were pleased to find ourselves with a humdinger on our plate at Tater’s in Dallas, Oregon. Not only was it battered correctly, it had a cream gravy that had us believing we were eating in some roadside diner deep in the south. The coffee was excellent too—something a lot of places have a hard time getting right. As with most popular dining spots, be prepared to wait.

683 SE Jefferson St, Dallas, OR.

Best Throwback Breakfast Diner There just aren’t that many places where the waitress will call you “Hon” or “Sweetie” anymore. That gave White’s Restaurant in Salem an easy 10 points right there. In 1936, Charles and Myrtle White, with sons Bob and Ken, opened White’s Restaurant and regulars have been coming back here ever since for their down-home breakfast choices. Just good, down-home food with a smile.

1138 Commercial St SE Salem, OR.

Best Omelet The Sassy Onion has quite a few great omelets. Try the Meatlovers—ham, bacon, sausage, chicken, hot links, and three cheeses, or the Spinach & Portobello Mushroom —fresh spinach, diced portobello mushrooms and angel hair parmesan.

1244 State St, Salem, OR

Best Take on Valley Pancakes You might want to skip a couple of meals before you try to tackle a stack of these puppies. Busick Court serves up hot, fluffy pancakes the size of dinner plates to hoards of hungry diners. Heck, even Rachel Ray has eaten here.

250 Court Street NE, in Salem.

Best Retro Atomosphere The folks that put this restaurant together on the outskirts of Salem knew what they were doing. In a world where budding restaurateurs seem to give little thought to design details, the owners of Cafe 22 West, went all out. From the coffee mugs to the color scheme to the antique signs and gasoline pumps scattered both inside and out, this spot simply does it right.

5152 Salem Dallas Hwy NW Salem, OR.

Best Healthy Breakfast

Best French Toast Tucked away on a side street in Salem, Word of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro has been getting raves for it’s Crème Brûlée French toast - French Toast with a creamy custard center and caramelized crust.

Served with two eggs and two strips of bacon, it is heaven in your mouth. Be prepared for a wait. This spot is popular. www.wordofsalem.com 140 17th Street N.E., Salem, OR

Best Hash Browns Located in Aumsville, Neufeldt’s Restaurant serves up a great country breakfast, just like grandma used to make. Among other great offerings, be sure and order your eggs and bacon with hash browns—golden, chunky bits of potato heaven on a plate.

190 Main, Aumsville, OR

So, you say, “How could you have left off such and such restaurant?!” Well, let us know which of your favorite spots we left out, and we’ll put it in a follow up. Email us at publisher@willamettevalleylife.com.

Someone from the Oregon Garden gave us this little tip, so we had to give it a try.

Crunchy granola, sliced almonds, yogurt and berries—lots of them—blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and boysenberries, makes this light and healthy breakfast worth stopping for. Oh yeah, great espresso, too.

Gear Up Espresso, 430 Mcclaine St, Silverton, Oregon.

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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W I L L A M E T T E

V A L L E Y

W I N E

Wines to Accompany a Vegetarian Thanksgiving Celebration

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ith the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, many will begin to inquire about finding that perfect wine that pairs harmoniously with everything at the table. This has always been an issue for me because, in general, I subscribe to the philosophy of having multiple wines open for Thanksgiving, allowing everyone to get something they like best with their mountain of food.

However, since becoming a vegetarian, and knowing many others who don’t eat animals, I started to wonder what kind of wines would do well in a no-meat situation.

In the Willamette Valley we’re fortunate to support one of the best—and certainly most versatile—food wines, Pinot Noir, which might seem a simple solution that pleases most. You can pair this flexible red with turkey, mushroom gravy, sausage stuffing and a variety of other foods. But what should you pair with Tofurky? (Turtle Island Foods, the home of this extruded modern-day wonder, is, after all, just an hour outside of Portland in Hood River, OR.) Luckily some Willamette Valley producers were more than happy to help in my quest to find a veggie-friendly wine, and I am happy to report the findings of my, ahem, “research.”

approachable. Pairs nicely with rich mushroom gravy creating a balance of fruit and earth flavors. (www.wildairecellars. com) 2008 Vidon Vineyards 3 Clones Pinot Noir ($40) Burgundy red with a soft rose edge and an earth-driven bouquet offering aromas of mushroom, tobacco, herbs and dark fruit. Similar notes on the palate lead to a finish of slate and raspberry. Compliments earthy flavors of mushrooms and wild rice stuffing.

••• 2009 Vidon Vineyards Pinot Gris ($20) Straw yellow in color and boasting a nose with aromas of pear, orange peel, melon and hay. The bright acidity and fruit flavors compliments savory components, leading to a creamy round finish.

Recommended with sweet potatoes or yams. (www.vidonvineyard.com) 2009 Seven of Hearts Chatte d’Avignon Viognier-Roussanne ($20) Golden yellow color with a nose that offers fragrant aromas of orange blossom, tropical fruit and yellow apple. The full texture lingers as flavors of peach, candied citrus and honeysuckle develop.

Paired well with roasted squash and corn, and although this wine is dry, it would be a great compliment to a rich pumpkin pie. (www.sevenofheartswine.com) 2008 Adelsheim Vineyards Caitlin’s Reserve Chardonnay ($40) 12

Dried yellow grass in color and stewed yellow apple, vanilla and clove on the nose. Full bodied with flavors of lemon zest, apple, hazelnut and oak. Highly recommended with Tofurky, which brings out the more subtle fruit notes of the wine. (www.adelsheim.com)

2008 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir ($24) Intense ruby red color and a melange of red apple, cherry, rhubarb and baking spices on the nose. Flavors mimic the aromas in addition to sweet licorice and raspberry which linger on the finish.

Highly recommended with Tofurky, stuffing and mushroom gravy, playing on the sweet fall apple notes.

•••

2008 Wildaire Cellars Timothy Pinot Noir ($20) Bright cherry red with violet tinges and a nose dominated by red fruit including cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Soft on the palate with hints of similar fruit and muted tannin make this wine very

Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

While all of these wines were great choices for my vegetarian dinner, I would strongly suspect that they would be welcome additions to any holiday meal. Further, you’re likely to find other wonderful candidates for turkey and

tofu alike as you taste around the area.

Whatever you choose, enjoy exploring the beautiful Willamette Valley wine country this fall and be sure to support the excellent wineries highlighted here and other local producers.

Ryan Reichert is originally from Northeast Ohio and recently relocated to the Willamette Valley to further his career in the wine industry.

He has received both his Intermediate and Advanced certifications from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, and is also a certified French wine enthusiast and Spanish Wine Educator. Ryan strives to learn all he can about wine and to share his passion with everyone.

Ryan is soon to debut a new site focusing on the white wines of the Pacific Northwest. Visit www.nwwhites.com.

Honey wine

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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MU S I C

Despite downturn, record stores still flipping tracks

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Delicious Vinyl

Photo by Feather River Photography

t’s a brisk business at Ranch Records in downtown Salem on a Saturday afternoon. As store manager David Ballantyne rings up a purchase, a rare compilation CD from the Grateful Dead, he offers the customer an odd tip as he works the register.

“Somebody said they saw Jerry Garcia this morning driving a Stratus. Yeah, they were going to breakfast, and they swear it was him,” he said.

In the record bins behind them, past and present blend – the latest releases from Eminem, Radiohead and Tom Petty on vinyl, alongside other older LPs you might expect: KISS’ “Destroyer,” Manowar and Iron Maiden.

On the surface, the store itself seems like an anomaly. It was supposed to be the demise of brick-and-mortar record storefronts, the perfect storm of online retail, big-box megastores and digital downloads. Indeed, once-formidable chains like Tower Records, Sam Goody and Virgin Megastore all either went belly-up, shriveled up, or packed up and left the country, leaving Amazon, WalMart and iTunes to get the party started.

But area stores like Ranch are digging in their heels, cutting costs and adapting to changing times to stay viable. And ultimately, it could be what they’ve always offered – the rebellion of youth – that just might keep the needle on their records.

Flipping to Plan B Nationwide, the trends are not good for retailers. According to consumer surveys for the Recording Industry Association of America, 30 percent of respondents in 2008 bought music from a store, down from 45.5 percent in 1998; meanwhile, 28.1 percent reported buying from the internet (i.e. online stores) or digitally downloading it, a nearly nonexistent statistic ten years ago. According to Nielsen SoundScan, digital music accounted for 40 percent of all music sold in the U.S. in 2009, with over 1.15 billion digital tracks and 76.4 million digital albums purchased.

Today, less than 2,000 independent music stores remain, according to information from the California-based firm Almighty Music Marketing. Those that remain are forced to be creative and flexible. And lean.

At Ranch, in the past where two to three part-time employees manned the counter on any given day, Ballantyne is now the only salesman you are likely ever to see. Three years ago the store relocated to its new location on High Street for the 14

Above: David Ballantyne of Ranch Records.

lower lease, and its opening hours have been cut.

Local stores are also diversifying their inventory and expanding services. Harvest Music in Salem offers resurfacing for CDs, DVDs and video game discs. CD World in Eugene has expanded its offerings to include posters, t-shirts, incense, cards and other novelties. The store also hosts live music and artist appearances. Ballantyne occasionally works with promoters to sell tickets exclusively at Ranch for local bands at smaller venues in town.

For all three stores, the focus has changed to high-volume used and alternative music merchandise.

“Used merch is a big part of our business,” said William Kennedy, manager of CD World for the past six years. The store also takes risks, selling artists that more mainstream places won’t carry.

“Trying to keep up with box stores, it’s

Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

hard to try to carry top releases that are out in hopes that you’re going to sell them,” said Brian Cossack, owner of Harvest Music. “So I try to [offer] a deeper catalog, stuff people won’t find anywhere else.”

For local record stores, catering to the Top 40 set is a losing proposition, according to Ballantyne.

“A lot of other businesses really, really push to the youth market, and in a cheaper way than we can - the Hot Topics of the world, and the Best Buys and Targets,” he said.

“So the youth demographic that we get tends to be more alternative, tends to be more open-minded, free-thinking kids than it does the Justin Bieber kind of a crowd,” he said, as a few heads rose from the LP stacks and turned toward him at the mention of the name “Justin Bieber.”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” he said.

They’re also increasingly looking for vinyl. Long thought to be dead itself, longplaying (LP) records are in fact making a modest comeback, according to Nielsen SoundScan statistics that show a 33 percent leap in sales in 2009 to 2.5 million copies, up from 1.88 million last year and over double the 988,000 sold in 2007.

Computer-compatible turntables are even available for sale at major retailers.

According to the report, two of every three vinyl records were sold in an independent record store. And not just to parents.

“It’s ‘niche,’ but it’s beyond just DJs and oldies fans,” Kennedy said. “Often more people are in our vinyl section these days than anywhere else in the store, and they’re all under 40.”

Top artists and new releases are making their way onto wax. Alongside vinyl mainstays Bob Dylan and the Beatles, according to Nielsen the top 10 sellers last year were Radiohead (#1), Metallica (4), Wilco (5), Animal Collective (7) and Pearl Jam (8).

Newer records are coming with more goodies in the jackets, including, ironically, CDs and mp3s, Ballantyne said. But many music fans are apparently rediscovering what they love about vinyl, what they call the “warmth” in the sound of an LP over that of a compact disc.

“I personally think vinyl has some of the best sound reproduction and it’s a sacrifice for convenience that people go for downloads,” Cossack said.

“Digital music exists on a much higher - I think more irritating - frequency,” Ballantyne said.

Caring for a record also instills a sense of respect for the music, he said.

“There’s a certain ownership quality to [vinyl],” said Ballantyne. “You can’t just throw this stuff around; you got to treat it right.”

In fact, ownership may be one of the biggest selling points for both records and record stores going forward. Every week Ballantyne reports a customer comes to his store after losing mp3s in a computer crash.

“There is something to be said for when you’re buying it [from me], you own it,” Ballantyne said. “I’m not going to take it back.”

Also, as digital downloads increase market share, it’s somewhat counterintuitively made harder-to-find stuff harder to find, according to Ballantyne.

In fact, in the age of Amazon’s “suggestions,” iTunes’ licensing agreements and Wal-Mart’s “clean”version CDs, there increasingly appears

“So the youth demographic that we get tends to be more alternative, tends to be more open-minded, free-thinking kids than it does the Justin Bieber kind of a crowd,” he said, as a few heads rose from the LP stacks and turned toward him at the mention of the name “Justin Bieber.”“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” he said.

Jay Shenai is a freelance writer who lives in the mid-Willamette Valley. He maintains to this day that the very best rock music ever produced occurred during the years 1987 – 1993, although he is currently rediscovering Van Halen’s David Lee Roth era.

Photo by Feather River Photography

to be a niche for independent music stores where purchase suggestions are not market-driven, where you do not have to click “I Accept” to continue shopping, and where with some help you can find just about anything you seek.

Sound familiar? It all smacks of rebellion, heritage of the record store, the dark place at the end of the block where the menacing glares of Jim Morrison, Joey Ramone or Axl Rose over the decades would look down from posters on the wall

at nervous pre-teens and their purchases.

“It used to harbor a real counter-culture vibe, not that we don’t still,” he said.

“You’re going to find fouler, dirtier things here, probably, than you would at the more corporate-regulated markets out there.

That’s just a fact.”

About 25 to 30 people enter Ranch Records every day, Ballantyne said.

Cossack launched Harvest Music in 2002 because he believed in the power of the physical, tangible marketplace.

It’s “a chance of meeting somebody and striking up a conversation about a band of mutual interest, getting turned on to something you didn’t hear before,” he said.

“I hate to see the physical format of music die. So I try to do my best in my part of the world to keep it alive,” he said.

He’s not sure where he’ll be in two years, but for him it’s worth the hardships of running a record store to see music, including those records he’s personally preserved, take root in the imagination of others.

“I don’t want to run a museum - I want to see my music sell.”

Above: Brian Cossack of Harvest Music.

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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F I N A N C E

The Payoff

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or the past decade or so, many Americans have relied heavily on credit cards. Because of this, the average American household carries over $15,000 in credit card debt, according to a Federal Reserve study in May 2010.

Many of you may have already heard these figures quoted before in major news publications or consumer finance blogs.

The fact that Americans have a high level of unsecured debt is readily apparent.

What hasn’t been mentioned nearly as often are strategies to pay down this debt.

With long term interest rates at an all time low, one would think that credit card rates would be low as well. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case. Quite the opposite, in fact, as many card issuers have raised rates to all time highs over the past two to three years. Couple the high rates with increased fees, lower limits, and in some cases having accounts closed out altogether, and consumers are feeling the squeeze all around.

One strategy I have found helpful is using the equity in your vehicle to pay down higher interest debt. Essentially, this works in one of two ways. First, if you already own your vehicle outright, grab your title and head on over to your local credit union and ask them about an autoequity loan. Credit unions are known for their service, but also for their expertise in auto lending. Most likely they will have a program to help you consolidate your debts using the vehicle as collateral.

Second, if your vehicle is already financed elsewhere, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Check out www.nadaguides. com or www.kbb.com to determine your vehicle’s value.

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Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010

Step 2: Obtain a payoff on your current auto loan.

Step 3: Compare the value of the vehicle to the payoff amount. If you owe more than the value of the vehicle, this strategy will not work. If you owe less than the value, proceed to step 4.

Step 4: Talk to your local credit union about an auto-equity loan to pay down your credit card debt.

This strategy can be used on multiple vehicles and multiple times if, needed.

Don’t be afraid to bring in your credit card statements either. The more information the credit union knows, the more they can potentially help you.

And for those with less than perfect credit, don’t be hesitant to talk about this strategy either. Using the vehicle as a backup to the loan reduces the risk to the credit union and increases the chances of getting approved even without stellar credit.

Finally, once you have reduced or paid off your credit card debt, dump the big bank issuers in favor of more consumer friendly credit card programs. Check out www.creditcardconnection.org to find the best cards in your area.

Ken Gardner – Ken writes for life, financial liberty, and the pursuit of member happiness. He has worked in the financial industry for over 10 years and does not have perfect credit…but he’s getting there.

Cinebarre 501 Marion St NE, Salem OR Welcome again to another episode of my cuisine hunting adventures. For this episode, we are taking a little sidestep away from the norm, namely to a movie theater named Cinebarre to sample some non-standard movie fare.

These days, we would rarely consider going to the Cineplex for anything other than fake buttered popcorn and a huge drink. You may enjoy liquid cheese nachos, but I do not. Nor do I want to partake of a hotdog that has been spinning on metal rollers for most of the day. Thankfully, the trend has been changing - and for the better. Perhaps now I can feed both my mind and my belly with enjoyable tidbits.

On to the review!

Cinebarre is a partnership between Regal Cinemas and the former CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. This explains what seemed to be a sudden transition from Regal Movieland 7 into this new form factor. Since they show first run movies, the ticket prices are similar to what you would spend at any other first run location, save on Tuesdays where all the tickets are $5. The Salem location is downtown at the corner of Marion and High Street. The main eating area, near the bar, has tables and chairs and really should set your expectation as the food you are going to be served. This is not fine dining, my movie-going friends. Indeed, by simply looking through the windows, one could assume you are going to be served pub style grub. Set this in your mind early, and you’ll avoid disappointment.

The appetizers range from $6 (popcorn or fries) up to $10 (chicken strips). Entrees are similarly priced, running from $8 to $13 (salad to pizza). What makes this even more interesting is the ability to purchase and imbibe your favorite brew, vintage or cocktail while gazing at the silver screen. Seasonal drafts are available ($4-5) along with the standard drink fare. Dessert, ranging from apple pie ($5 without the ice cream) to cinerolls ($6), can be had as well. Each of the menu options has its own movie-based name (“Soylent Greens” as the house salad or the aforementioned cinerolls as “Princess Leias,” for example), which adds a little light-heartedness to a normally mundane process.

The “Big Lebowskies” (fried pickles) were indeed hand battered and were crisp, tart and delicious. The fries (“Blade Runners”) are made from fresh Idaho Potatoes, and while slightly overcooked, they were still crisp and perfectly seasoned. Unfortunately, the burgers didn’t have the same level of attention: pre-shaped patties, standard sesame buns, and little to offer in the way of taste or texture, they were simply average. The “Chicken Run” pizza, on the other hand, was almost enough food for two and had a nice crisp yet chewy crust with a BBQ sauce base. The “American (apple) Pie” was a little below average, but at least came out warmed to my liking. Then again, I love all pie. Compared to some of the other food-serving movie venues in the area, Cinebarre was at least on par with the rest.

Outside the theater, in what could be considered the restaurant proper, the servers were prompt and ready to please. Samples of beer were brought when requested, and drinks were quickly filled. The service became spotty, however, during my recent visit, seemingly due to a shift change midway through the movie. Thankfully, previous visits were more consistent.

Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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VAL L E Y P H O T O S

Abiqua Falls Photo by Gus Frederick, Silverton

Mysterious and remote, Lower Abiqua Falls plunges over 130 feet into its tranquil pool. Located about 15 miles Southeast of Silverton on Abiqua Creek (Silverton’s source of water), Abiqua Falls, like its more popular cousins along Silver Creek, are spilling over the Western Edge of Columbia Basalt Plateau, a solid cap of lava over a mile thick in places.

Silverton locals recall the movie of dare-devil diver Doug Patton’s head-first dive off the falls in 1975, captured by this photographer in slow motion.

-Gus Frederick, Silverton, Oregon

Do you have a photo that you have taken that you would like to share with our readers?

Send a hi-resolution photo (300 DPI) to: publisher@willamettevalleylife.com.

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Fall 2010 • Willamette Valley Life

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Willamette Valley Life • Fall 2010