Willamette Valley Life by Cindy Dauer

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

Volume 2 Issue 3/Summer 2011 (Display until October 1, 2011) WillametteValleyLife.com

Stand By Us Local Filmmakers Say Tax Debate Misses Bigger Picture

Plus:

T.W. Davenport Destination: Silverton Where Fantasy Rules Summer Wines Vacation Savings Great BBQ...and more!

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

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Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Summer 2011: Looks like we made it

Summertime in the Willamette Valley reminds me of the song that the “optimistic voices” sang to Dorothy as she woke up in the poppy fields in OZ. After a long, cold, wet winter and spring, summertime has arrived in the valley–even if it did start out in spits and spurts. Maybe I’m being just a tad melodramatic, but it is my favorite time of year. The entire valley seems to come alive with farmers markets, music and festivals of all kinds. You can toss boredom out of the window. Speaking of entertainment, a number of movies have been filmed in the Willamette Valley over the years. Just the other night I caught the last half of the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson, which was filmed at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. John Belushi’s National Lampoon’s Animal House was filmed in Eugene

MEET THE PRESS:

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. He currently lives in Silverton, Oregon with his cat and extensive 78 rpm record collection. Jessica Gardner loves the outdoors, enjoys a good cabernet every now and then, and wishes she could fly away in Doctor Who’s TARDIS one day.

and Cottage Grove, while the 2001 film Bandits, starring Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton, was filmed in and around the Silverton and Salem area. One of my favorite films of all time is Stand by Me, which was filmed in Brownsville, Cottage Grove and Eugene. Local writer Jay Shenai recently visited with some of the folks in the town of Brownsville, some two and a half decades after the film was made. He gives us a peak behind the scenes at how the area has been impacted by the film, as well as a look into how the Oregon film

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Cindy Dauer is a freelance writer and photographer living in Oregon. As a journalist, she has covered a wide variety of topics from arts and entertainment to local news. Recently, her work has appeared in several mid-Valley publications, and her online writing has been viewed around the world. A native of the Northwest, Cindy loves outdoor adventures and exploring local culture.

industry is developing. The town of Silverton, Oregon gets some attention in this issue. Besides being our designated “Daycation” spot, local historian/writer/photographer Gus Fredrickson shares some background on Willamette Valley pioneer T.W. Davenport, father of Silverton’s favorite son and cartoonist, Homer Davenport. Finally, be sure and check out the box at the bottom of this page announcing our ﬁrst annual “Best of the Valley” feature in the upcoming October 2011 issue of Willamette Valley Life. Take a few minutes to go online to the link provided and let us know who your own personal area favorites are. Once again, thanks for picking up this issue of Willamette Valley Life. While you’re out and about enjoying the sunshine, please support the advertisers who help make this publication possible and tell them that you learned about them here. Have a great summer! PHOTO BY PAZ REINGANS

“You’re out of the woods, You’re out of the dark, You’re out of the night! Step into the sun, Step into the light!”

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. Ryan Reichert is originally from Northeast Ohio and 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. nwwhites.com. Jay Shenai is a freelance writer living in the mid-Willamette Valley. He never had any friends later on like the ones he had when he was twelve. Does anyone? A native of Eugene, Mary Syrett presently lives in North Carolina, where her spouse is a visiting professor.

PUBLISHERS/EDITORS Randy and Dawn Hill ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jessica Gardner ART DIRECTION Hill Design Studios CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Cindy Dauer, Gus Frederick, Jessica Gardner, Ken Gardner, Randy Hill, Ryan Reichert, Jay Shenai Mary Syrett ADVERTISING SALES L. Andrew Brown/Concept Marketing Randy Hill PHONE 503.507.1228 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 17264, Salem, Oregon 97305 EMAIL: publisher@willamettevalleylife.com Copyright 2011 by Willamette Valley LIfe Magazine ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

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The Best of the Valley! Cast your vote at willamettevalleylife.com Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

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Compiled and Edited By Jessica Gardner

Oregon Brews & BBQs

cMinnville’s historic Granary District will host Oregon Brews & BBQs, an annual event that beneﬁts the McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity. Visitors can sip a variety of delicious brews and wines, dine on tasty BBQ, and enjoy a diverse selection of live music while raising awareness and support for a great cause.

Outstanding in it’s ﬁeld

he 43rd Annual Aumsville Corn Festival will be soon be popping into downtown Aumsville. This year’s theme, “Corn-tennial,” is in honor of Aumsville’s 100 year anniversary this August. Families will enjoy a wide variety of fun-ﬁlled events without having to spend a lot of money. Don’t miss the corn-themed parade–the creativity of the entries is “corntastic”–and the free hot, buttered corn.

Lick the butter off your ﬁngers and enjoy some live music, games for the family, vendor booths and a rafﬂe-style drawing throughout the day. Un-husked corn is also available for purchase, but get there early because these delicious “ears” go fast. Where: Aumsville When: August 27 Contact: aumsville.us

Homer Davenport Community Festival

ince 1980, Silverton has been honoring local son Homer Davenport, renowned cartoonist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a summer festival. This year’s festival focuses on the 100th anniversary of the death of Davenport’s father Timothy Woodbridge Davenport, known as “The Sage of Silverton” for his remarkable intellect and kindness. This three-day festival offers countless events for the whole family. On Saturday, visitors can relax and watch a community parade, admire classic cars, or lace up their running shoes for the Homer’s Classic Fun-Run. Sunday is packed with everything from the Ping Pong Ball Float to the Davenport Races–a one of a kind event where wheeled couches zoom down historic Main Street. In addition to the hand-made arts and crafts and local healthy foods, a new chili cook-off event will be added this year. Live music at the Main Stage will entertain the crowds with a variety of music, including blues, rock, Western swing and a Beatles tribute band. Where: Silverton When: August 5-7 Website: homerdavenport.com

“A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.” ~James Dent 4

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

Trailer For Two

Oregon Jamboree

he sounds of country music will once again ﬁll the air at the 19th Annual Oregon Jamboree, the Northwest’s premier country music festival. Founded in 1992 as an economic development project for the Sweet Home community, the Oregon Jamboree has since grown into a threeday event that features some of the biggest names in Lady Antebellum country music. This year’s lineup includes Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker. The music festival features twenty shows at the main venue as well as the more intimate second stage in Sankey Park. The park-like setting and scenic beauty of Sweet Home provides a dazzling backdrop for this star-studded weekend event. Where: Sweet Home When: July 29-31 Contact: oregonjamboree.com

If you’re planning to

camp this summer and the thought of sleeping in a tent makes your back ache just thinking about it–try one of these little babies on for size. You’ll be able to enjoy the comforts of home (on a tad smaller basis) anywhere you want to park it. Teardrop trailers ﬁrst became popular in the 1930s when Mechanics Illustrated published “how-to” plans. In recent years, the trailer has made a comeback and shows no sign of abating. You can learn more about them at teardropsnw.com.

Baby you can drive...my lawn mower

et your mowers running and join The Oregon Lawn Mower Racing Association as it hosts the ﬁrst ever American Racing Mower Association’s West Coast Regional Points Race. Lawn mower racing is one of the fastest growing motor sports in America, and the OLMRA is Oregon’s oldest racing mower association. The Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo grounds will host the event on July 15th. Registration is at 3:00 p.m. and races begin at 6:00 p.m. For more info, call 503-385-1748 or 503-798-1262. email rubyracer44@yahoo.com.

PHOTO BY BILL COBERLY

PHOTO BY RANDY HILL

Where: McMinnville • When: August 19-20 Contact: oregonbrewsandbbqs.com

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July, August, September PHOTO BY RANDY HILL

July

41st Annual Great Oregon Steam-Up

he 41st Annual Great Oregon SteamUp at Antique Powerland Museum takes place this year in Brooks, Oregon, July 30-31 and August 6-7. Antique Powerland Museum began as a site for operating, displaying and interpreting historic farm machinery and has grown into a 62-acre campus of many heritage power museums. There’s a huge variety of family-friendly things to do. Enjoy homemade ice cream while watching it being made with the power of a steam engine. See how lumber is cut from logs in a real steam sawmill. Ride on miniature trains pulled by steam, diesel and coal powered locomotives or ride on a historic vintage trolley. Visit the truck museum and see 75 fully restored trucks dating from the early 1900s. In the large engine museum you’ll find the very first engine that produced the power to light Timberline Lodge when it was first built, as well as electricity generators that were made in Thomas Edison’s shop. The daily parade features vehicles with wheels or tracks, including vintage steam, oil fired, diesel and gas operated tractors, antique caterpillars, vintage trucks, cars, and fire engines. Other activities include a vast array of operating logging equipment, steam fire apparatus demonstrations and “hit and miss” engines showing how they were used on farms before electricity was available. Shoppers will find lots of vintage collectibles at the huge swap meet and flea market. And when you want to relax, sit in the free music tent and be entertained by the bluegrass band. Gates are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Adult admission is $10.00, Seniors 65 and up $8.00 and free for kids 12 and under. Parking is free, and there is free transportation around the grounds aboard the “people movers.” Church services are available at 8:00 a.m. on both Sundays. The many food booths located throughout the facility offer a variety of good food for breakfast and lunch. There’s also RV dry camping if you register in advance. For more information go to antiquepowerland.com or call 503-3932424.

Salem Saturday Market – Salem. Every Saturday through October. Locally grown fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, on-site prepared foods, entertainment, and a wide variety of arts and crafts. salemsaturdaymarket.com 8-9 –Turkey Rama – McMinnville. Turkey Rama is celebrating its 51st year. Enjoy a street fair in historic downtown McMinnville; the Turkey Trot 8K Run, 5K Run/Walk and 2 Mile Fun Walk; arts and entertainment; and the world’s largest turkey BBQ. mcminnville. org/turkey-rama 9-10 – Oregon Lavender Festival. Dozens of different lavender destinations throw their doors open to the public. Each location has its own varieties of lavender as well as activities arranged for the festival. oregonlavenderdestinations.com/festival 15-17 – da Vinci Days Festival – Corvallis. A three day festival with a broad range program of activities designed to encourage discovery. Enjoy award winning entertainers, children’s activities area, a ﬁlm festival, a Kinetic Sculpture Race, tours and electric powered vehicles. davincidays.org 15-17 – Jefferson Mint Festival & Frog Jump – Jefferson. Family festival featuring food, vendors and live music all weekend. Parade and car show on Saturday. Frog Jump competition and free family games on Sunday. mintfestival.com 27-29 – Abbey Bach Festival – Mt. Angel. Join the monks at 5:20 p.m. for vespers, 6 p.m. church concert, 6:30 p.m. picnic supper, and 8 p.m. feature performance. 503-845-3066 or 800-845-8272. mountangelabbey.org 28-31 – Newberg Old Fashioned Festival – Newberg. The annual festival celebrates with a hymn sing, dog show, beer and wine tasting garden, ﬁreworks, 5K run, dancing, pancake breakfast, museum tours, children’s activities, car show, carnival, vendors and live entertainment. newbergoldfashionedfestival.com 29-31 – International Pinot Noir Celebration – McMinnville. Join over 70 international Pinot noir producers, 50 Northwest chefs, and guests from near and far for a memorable weekend of eating, drinking, and celebrating together in Oregon wine country. 800-775-4762. ipnc.org 29-31 Oregon Jamboree – Sweet Home. The Northwest’s best country music and camping festival. In addition to featured headline entertainment, this family-style event hosts RV and tent camping, food booths, beer and wine gardens, and a variety of other attractions. oregonjamboree.com 30 – The 34th Annual Historic Tour of Homes & Gardens – Albany. Tour several historic homes, museums and churches. Horse drawn wagon, vintage trolley, refreshments and entertainment included in the ticket price. albanyvisitors.com

August Oregon Festival of American Music – Eugene. A celebration of American music including musicals, concerts, movies, lectures and camps. The theme is “Too Marvelous for Words,” a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Performances at the Shedd and the Hult Center. Various dates and times. ofam.org 3-6 – Yamhill County Fair – McMinnville. Oregon’s oldest county fair features old fashioned fair food, rides, exhibits, three day NPRA Rodeo and top name entertainment. co.yamhill.or.us/fair/index.asp 5-7 – Homer Davenport Community Festival – Silverton. Celebrate the life of political cartoonist Homer C. Davenport. Fun ﬁlled family events include a community parade, art fair, Davenport races, music and so much more. homerdavenport.com

19-20 – Oregon Brews & BBQs – McMinnville. An annual celebration of great beer, great music, great food and a great cause. Enjoy yourself while supporting the McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity. oregonbrewsandbbqs.com 26-28 – Northwest Art & Air Festival – Albany. Colorful hot-air balloons lift off from Timber Linn Park. Live music, children’s activities, wine/microbrew garden, artist demonstrations, food, Night Glow. cityofalbany.net/parks/nwaaf 27 – Silver Falls Star Party – Sublimity. Join park staff and NightSky 45 astronomy club members for a night of stargazing at Silver Falls’ Old Ranch. Learn about constellations, nebulas, and other heavenly sights. 503-873-8681 x21. oregonstateparks.org July 30-31 and August 6-7 – The Great Oregon Steam-Up – Brooks. A two weekend event with fun for the entire family. Train and trolley rides, steam tractors, steam sawmill, large engines, threshing, blacksmithing, tractor pull, a daily parade and much more. antiquepowerland.com August 26 through September 5 – Oregon State Fair – Salem. Celebrate all that Oregon has to offer! Concerts, animals, carnivals, wine, art, and more. Weekdays 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Weekends 10 a.m.-11 p.m. 503-947-3247 or 800-833-0011. oregonstatefair.org

September 10-11 – Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire – Corvallis. With over 125 artisan stalls and 1,000 costumed players, visitors can browse the village for unique handmade goods and one of a kind treasures while surrounded by Renaissance revelry and entertainment. shrewfaire.com 8-11 – Patriot Day “Never Forget” Field of Flags – Salem. Over 4,500 flags and banners will be flown to observe the 10th Anniversary of September 11th. Viewing hours from dawn until dusk. Salem’s Riverfront Park. 503-364-9468. patriotsdaymemorial.com 15 – Grilling in the Garden Dinner Series – Saint Paul. Delight in the bounty of seasonal flavors highlighted within the farminspired menu while supporting sustainable local agriculture. Guests can stroll the gardens before dinner, enjoying the stunning sunset. French Prairie Gardens. 503-633-8445. fpgardens.com 15-18 – Oktoberfest – Mt. Angel. The sounds of oom pah pa and the aromas of grilled chicken and sizzling bratwurst herald the arrival of the 46th Annual Oktoberfest in Mount Angel, Oregon. The festival kicks off at noon on Thursday, September 15, and continues through Sunday, September 18, 2011. Oktoberfest hours are from 11:00 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday and from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. oktoberfest.org 11-30 – Tie Dye & Tofu: How Mainstream Eugene Became a Counterculture Haven – Eugene. This exhibit addresses the change in Eugene occurring 1967 through the mid-70s. It features the people and events, the politics and issues, and the fashion and music of the time. 541-682-4242. tiedyeandtofu.wordpress.com 24 – Celebrating Seasons of Change – Salem. Celebrate the changes in weather, habitat, food sources and needs of animals and plants, focusing on native fauna and flora. Families will have an opportunity to learn together with a variety activities and displays, including live animals and birds. 503-585-7012. missionmill.org 24-25 – Corvallis Fall Festival – Corvallis. Discover delightful treasures, dine on local fare and sip artisan wines as you enjoy continuous musical offerings. corvallisfallfestival.org

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

Stand By Us S T O R Y

P H O T O S

B Y

Local ﬁlmmakers say tax debate misses bigger picture J A Y

S H E N A I

Several yards away, Linda McCormick, a volunteer with the town’s chamber of commerce, turns and faces the tree, a hand raised. This is where River Phoenix fades away at the end of the movie, she says. Down the hill, vegetation threatens to overgrow the view of the town below, but you can still see the green truss bridge over the Calapooia River, north off Highway 228. For a time in 1985, it became the portal to a town called Castle Rock. Twenty-six years ago, the ﬁlm Stand by Me was shot on location in Brownsville. The cult classic, set in the 1950s, about four boys who journey on a quest to ﬁnd a dead body, remains one of the most 6

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION

he tree still stands on a parcel of privately owned land, up a steep hill off School Avenue and North Main Street, overlooking the town of Brownsville, Ore. The tree house that once perched on its sturdiest branch is long gone, as is the iconic actor who once played cards and roughhoused with three friends there. famous movies ever filmed in the state. The movie has left a legacy on the town that lasts to this day, like the Coca-Cola ad painted on a Main Street building that has never washed away. Places immortalized on film, like the bridge where the boys embark on their adventure or the crossroads where they say their final goodbyes, still draw fans into town to find where film magic happened, says McCormick. For residents, the fans are easy to spot, she says, in the diner, the bed and breakfast or walking along the street. “Pay attention. Watch,” she says, “You’ll see people coming to town to look.” But it’s not the only movie that was filmed there. McCormick recalls another more

recent production, an independent venture that came into town around 2006 with a working title The West Texas Children’s Story. A much more modest effort with a budget of around $5 million, the film, now titled Dream It Out Loud, is still in postproduction several years later, struggling with distribution. For McCormick, the experience of that film was nevertheless positive. Despite being a lower-budget feature with various production problems, she says filmmakers were always conscientious of their impact on the town, and generous. They not only paid businesses and local extras promptly, she said, but also used local restaurants for catering and altered the film schedule so as not to block traffic. “They gave the impression it was the nicest place to film,” she says. McCormick still hopes for the film’s release. Despite the lack of success of the film, she has no regrets. “I’ve seen with my own eyes that it’s worth it,” she says. Not every film can match the success or scope of Stand by Me, but independent movies have their place. For aspiring filmmakers it’s where careers are launched, where chances are taken, and where trends that can take over the big screen are started. And increasingly that place is in Oregon, where according to local filmmakers the independent film scene is on the rise. It’s a scene often overlooked in the debate over the relationship between Salem and big-budget Hollywood. But if it’s not taken care of, supporters say it could fade to black. Like many states, Oregon offers competitive incentives to lure big Hollywood films. But like many states, Oregon is also facing a severe budget shortfall, projected soon to be around $1 billion. So when House Bill 2167 was introduced, a bill that, in fact, boosts the budget for the Oregon Production Investment Fund (OPIF)–the fund used to pay for tax rebates to lure film and television projects to the state–critics cried foul. In an article in The Oregonian (“Critics question tax incentives for film industry,” March 31, 2011), tax activists criticized the program as essentially a payout to out-ofstate Hollywood moguls who exploit local towns for profit and leave without a trace. Without incentives, large-scale productions would certainly leave or would pass Oregon by for greener pastures. But some smaller productions would also have to close up shop, according to Shawn Justice of Justice Pictures, based in Vancouver, Wash. For Justice, a director and film producer,

Not every film can match the success or scope of Stand by Me, but independent movies have their place. For aspiring filmmakers it’s where careers are launched, where chances are taken, and where trends that can take over the big screen are started. His three current movie projects range in budget from $500,000 to under $2 million. For his films, he hires freelance production staff. Workers generally make around $50,000 per year, he says. According to the Governor’s Office of Film and Television, average wages in the film and television industry are 34 percent above statewide average. Vic Gilliam, Republican state representative for House District 18 and a supporter of the bill in the Oregon Legislature, believes that encouraging films to stay is good for job growth. “Tax [rebates] can actually be stimulus– job creators–a reason for businesses to come in or stay here,” he says. “And Lord knows we have given them every reason in the last four years to leave us.” Gilliam is also a part-time actor. He is careful to emphasize his efforts to separate the two roles, but as an actor, he says has seen those jobs first-hand. Last year he landed a small part on the second season of Leverage. While speaking to executive producer Dean Devlin during a break in shooting, he learned that over 80 people were at work on the set that day, he says. Almost all were Oregonians. “You get a lot of money for hotels, and you get a lot of money for restaurants, but for me, it’s the guys we pay behind the scenes,” he says. Being an actor “has definitely given me a firsthand view of just how big the industry is—how big of a network there is—how many different kinds of jobs, different kinds of projects are always going on in this state,” he says. According to the Governor’s Office of Film and Television, during the third season of Leverage alone, 471 Oregonians worked over 200,000 hours on the show. The production spent $350,000 on hiring locals as extras and used the services and products of 417 local vendors. For the Oregon film industry as a whole, the overall impact of OPIF on the state economy is now almost $350 million and projected to be nearly $542 million by end of 2011, according an agency study. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, nationwide in 2008, the movie industry supported 2.4 million jobs and over $140 billion

in total wages. Among those jobs, over 296,000 were involved in the production, marketing and distribution of movies and TV shows, with an average annual salary of $76,000, 72 percent higher than the average salary nationwide. In a press release issued earlier this year, the Governor’s Office reported that 2011 would be the biggest year for total dollars spent on film and television projects in Oregon history. For Oregon, those jobs are doing more than lowering unemployment. According to local filmmakers, they are helping bring together and grow a creative community. The NBC network show Grimm recently shot a pilot in Oregon and has since been picked up for a full season. Justice remembers getting calls from friends, tipping him off to potential job openings with the production and offering to forward his resumes. “There’s much more camaraderie up here; in LA it’s much more competitive,” he says. It’s the Oregon vibe, infused with Hollywood money. “I’ve talked to plenty of people who have moved from LA, who are tired of LA, and are drawn to [Oregon],” he says. “The more that’s shot here, the more buzz that develops in LA to bring films up here.” Local buzz may already be building at the Ashland Film Festival, where organizers have received over 600 entries for the 10th annual event. For Mike Prosser, a local filmmaker based in Portland, he has had friends leave for LA to make movies, but most have come back. “Very few of them stayed. And almost none of them have made a movie.” According to Prosser, money from productions like Leverage makes more movie projects possible. More film professionals and aspiring filmmakers launch personal projects or collaborate on each other’s projects. And when they’re not doing that, they’re doing the lighting, editing, grip work or camerawork for commercials, training films or industrial videos, says Gilliam. It’s a model Gilliam believes will foster growth in the local movie industry: Two large, steady serial television projects, generating lasting revenue and expertise, which then widen the talent pool and infrastructure for filmmaking, which initiates more filmmaking projects in state. This encourages more talent to relocate to Oregon and showcases more of Oregon worldwide. Ultimately, “it becomes easier to make a living in Oregon,” Prosser says. On a computer in his cluttered office, he pulls up a sequence from his movie Recovery. It plays on his screen with a displayed timeline marking the sound effects being added to the soundtrack. By day, Prosser is a production editor for X Factor Advertising, a commercial subsidiary of One-Eighty Films, but by night, this subtle horror movie–about a family coming together after a son’s suicide–becomes his life, as it has for several years now. “You know at the end of a movie when you watch 200 people’s names go by,” he says, “I’m doing all those people’s jobs,

PHOTOS BY JAY SHENAI

the tax incentive is critical. A producer of film and corporate video, he currently has a three-movie deal with Los Angelesbased investors. The tax rebates are a significant chunk of his operating budget. He’s not pocketing the rebate money, he says. And he’s not just buying souvenirs– he’s creating jobs. “That money is going back to pay Oregonians, script supervisors, grips and all the people it takes to make a film,” he says.

The Coca-Cola ad that still remains, from the shooting of Stand By Me.

The bridge into Brownsville, Ore. The ﬁlm, Stand By Me, was ﬁlmed in Brownsville.

Linda McCormick, leading a walking tour of scene locations in Brownsville for Stand By Me.

Local actor and ﬁlmmaker Mike Prosser, in movie makeup.

and I have to do them one at a time. And when you have a day job, it takes a while.” He does them because he loves movies and loves learning about every aspect of the filmmaking process. It helps him to “speak everyone’s language,” he says. It’s what he enjoys about independent cinema–the freedom to learn and experiment. As a result, independent movies are more thoughtful, he says, which is why many stylistic and thematic trends originate there and take over the industry. “Independent stuff is more risky, adventurous and ‘talkie,’” he says. To him, the Oregon film scene is more bustling and cohesive than it’s ever been. “The energy is there, and [local filmmakers] are doing so much work,” he says. People can speculate on how much it depends on tax rebates, but without them, at least one filmmaker knows he would likely have to leave. If he didn’t, he could risk losing his financial backing altogether, Justice says. “We’re not in it to make millions, and walk away and laugh about it,” he says.

practically being ushered into the role of reunion chairwoman at one town chamber meeting. Sitting in a chair at the Brownsville Times, she thumbs through a scrapbook of photos from the 2007 event that brought over 2,000 fans. She comes across a photo of people sitting at tables face-down in fruit pies. It’s her favorite scene in the movie, the famous “pie barfing” scene, she says. Many of the town’s residents were cast as extras. They were “so proud to be in the movie,” she says. The more recent 2010 reunion brought about 600 people, by town estimates, including members of the cast and crew. But one notable no-show was director Rob Reiner. He had been invited, but he was attending the premiere of his new movie, Flipped, a movie set again in the 1950s, but filmed in Michigan. In a press release for the reunion, he is quoted as saying that he had wanted to film in Oregon, but that the tax incentive package was twice as good. “Which is a shame,” says McCormick, “because I think Rob really enjoyed doing business here.”

Linda McCormick remembers the hard work that went into the town’s Stand by Me reunion. She remembers

Jay Shenai is a freelance writer living in the mid-Willamette Valley. He never had any friends later on like the ones he had when he was twelve. Does anyone?

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

E X P L O R I N G T H E W I L L A M E T T E VA L L E Y

COURTESY SILVERTON COUNTRY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Celebrating the “Sage of Silverton”

ven though Silverton celebrates its favorite son Homer Davenport every year, Homer himself would be the ﬁrst to mention others who also helped make our community what it is today. This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the passing of one such Silvertonian–T. W. Davenport, Homer’s father. Timothy Woodbridge Davenport, known as T.W., was a remarkable person in his own right. He was a medical doctor, pioneer farmer, surveyor, Indian agent, store owner, State legislator and more. He was born on July 30, 1826, in Columbia, New York. The Davenport family left New York and settled in Ohio for several years. In 1846 and 1847, while ﬁnishing his medical education, T. W. Davenport was a teacher at Wilson’s Academy in 8

T.W. also described and observed the mysterious “stone spirit chairs” which were built by the Kalapooian peoples on “Tap-a-lani-a-ho,” their name for what would later be known as Mt. Angel.

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

Woodstock, Champaign Co., Ohio. After he received his medical degree, he practiced medicine in the same area for a year until joining the rest of the Davenport family in their trek west. T.W.’s father Dr. Benjamin Davenport and his wife Sarah packed up the family and left their home in Ohio. They headed out to Oregon Territory by covered wagon, arriving in the Silverton Country in the fall of 1851. The initial Davenport farm was located south of town in the Waldo Hills. He soon gave up his medical practice to concentrate on surveying, a skill more in demand in the then sparsely inhabited Willamette Valley. While there were some Native Americans in the area, most–close to 90 percent–died of various pandemics

during the preceding decades. By the time the Davenport family arrived, the locals were few and far between. T.W.’s surveying skills were quickly put to use as he personally surveyed land for government or private parties. He was even with the team that charted the course over the Cascade Mountains that we know today as the Santiam Pass. T.W. also described and observed the mysterious “stone spirit chairs” which were built by the Kalapooian peoples on “Tap-a-lani-a-ho,” their name for what would later be known as Mt. Angel. T.W. apparently had great respect for the Native peoples, as evidenced by quickly learning the Chinook jargon upon arriving in Oregon. In his longest published work, Recollections of an Indian Agent, he recounts his nine month experience as the temporary head of the Umatilla Agency in raw, and sometimes horrifying, detail. His descriptions of the behind the scenes functions of a Civil War-era federally run reservation system, and the nearby U.S. Army fort to protect it, is riveting despite its age. Prior to the Civil War, before Oregon became a state, T.W. was also active in the newly formed Oregon Republican party. Staunchly anti-slavery in tone and tenure, T.W. and his fellows were effective in defeating the majority Southern sympathizers so that Oregon joined the Union as a free state, albeit with some nasty compromises such as the “negro exclusionary laws.” After the war, he served as Marion County surveyor and was elected and served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives. He also served one term as an Oregon State Senator. During this time, he was raising what would eventually become one of the world’s most famous political cartoonists as well as four other children! He was a distinguished member of the Silverton community, earning the nickname “The Sage of Silverton” for his incredible intellect and humanity. In his later years, he took to writing down his incredible life experiences. These are available on the Homer Page, as part of the Homer Davenport Community Festival in historic Silverton. Join us this August as we honor the memory of T.W. Davenport!

ars 33 Ye

HELLO WILLAMETTE VALLEY!

32 Y ea

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Gillespie’s Meat Shoppe

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The best steaks, ribs and chicken Tell us you saw us in Willamette Valley Life!

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

O U T

A N D

A B O U T

Destination: Silverton

nown as one of Oregon’s most picturesque towns, Silverton is a great choice for a summer daycation destination. The town also serves as the gateway to Silver Falls State Park, so when you plan your trip to Silverton, make sure you give yourself enough time to visit all that the area has to offer.

Explore A great place to begin your daycation in Silverton would be The Oregon Garden. The Garden opened to the public in 1999 and features a number of specialty gardens, an amphitheater for music events, one of the only Frank Lloyd Wright houses in the Paciﬁc Northwest that is open to the public, and a resort hotel. The Garden hosts a number of public events throughout the summer, so be sure and check ahead on their website at oregongarden.org/events.htm. The Gallon House Bridge is a wooden covered bridge located two miles from the city on Gallon House Road. The bridge got its name during the Prohibition when it was a meeting place for local moonshiners and bootleggers. It is the only covered bridge in Marion County. The Ames/Warnock/Burch house, located on E. Main Street between First and Second Streets, is the location of the Silverton Country Historical Society and Museum. The museum features displays depicting life in Silverton over the past 150 years. Silverton’s murals are another local attraction worth taking the time to explore. The ﬁrst mural was completed in the mid-1990s. Titled “The Four Freedoms,” the mural featured reproductions of Norman 10

One of Silverton’s many beautiful parks.

Rockwell paintings. Other mural subjects include Bobbie the Wonder Dog, Homer Davenport, The Old Oak Tree, The Covered Bridge, world champion cowboy Doug Brown and many others. Get a free map online at silvertonor.com/murals or pick one up at the visitor center on 426 S. Water St. Silver Falls State Park should probably be a “Daycation” destination on its own. With over 9,000 acres, it is the largest state park in Oregon and a hiker’s dream. There are over 24 miles of hiking trails, 14 miles of horse trails and a 4 mile bike path. The 177 foot South Falls is the most popular of the park’s ten waterfalls. The park began its life in 1888 as Silver Falls City, primarily a logging community. In 1900, Silverton photographer June D. Drake used his photos of the area’s waterfalls to help campaign for park status. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the property turned into a Recreational Demonstration Area. The Civilian Conservation Corps developed the park’s facilities, including the South Falls Lodge, which was completed in the late 1930s.

Art If you’re interested in seeing some great local art while you’re in town, here are a

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

few destinations that ﬁt the bill nicely. Begin your tour at the Silverton Arts Association’s Borland Gallery. Located at Coolidge McClaine Park, just a few blocks from the downtown area, the gallery features a rotating schedule of local arts and crafts. If you’re interested in taking an art class, the Art Center next door hosts classes on a regular basis. Be sure and visit Lunaria Gallery at 113 N. Water Street. This art co-op was founded in 1995 by local artists and features an ever changing array of eclectic local art.

Dining and Entertainment Sure, Silverton is a small town, but there are lots of dining and entertainment options. You’ll ﬁnd Silverton’s mayor Stu Rasmussen taking tickets at the Palace Theater, located in the heart of the downtown area. He worked there as a projectionist when he was in high school and is one of the co-owners. Mac’s Place is the oldest building in Silverton and features great food and live music. Silver Creek Lanes offers a great family bowling destination. Hungry? We already mentioned Mac’s Place (201 N. Water Street) where you can dine on burgers, steaks, pizza and

PHOTO BY RANDY HILL

In 1854, Polly Lavinia Crandall Coon Price, Silverton’s founding mother, planned the town around an old Oregon White Oak tree that had been used as a meeting place by local Native Americans. Price named the town after Silver Creek, located a few hundred yards to the west. In 1855, she married millwright Stephen Price, who built the Smith and Barger grist mill, the first flour mill in the area. Silver Falls Timber Company built their operation on Mill Street in 1912. By the 1920s, Silver Falls Timber Co. was one of the largest sawmills of its kind and remained in operation until 1947. A number of historic figures have called Silverton home over the years, including Theodore Thurston Geer, Oregon’s tenth governor (and first native-born); political cartoonist Homer Davenport; astronaut Donald Pettit; and Bobbie the Wonder Dog.

PHOTO BY RANDY HILL

History

seafood. Check out Creekside Grill (242 S. Water Street) which offers steaks, seafood (you’ll dream about their crab cakes–they’re so good) and burgers in a secluded atmosphere. Looking for a little Willamette Valley cuisine? Chef Jeff Nizlek dishes up some of the best in the valley at Silver Grille Café & Wines. If you have a hankering for breakfast, grab

COURTESY SILVERTON COUNTRY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

In 1854, Silverton’s “Founding Mother,” Polly Coon Price, planned the town of Silverton around a large old Oregon White Oak tree, locating the town square of the new town around it. She named the town after Silver Creek, which ﬂowed by the Old Oak several hundred yards to the West.

a table on the outside deck overlooking Silver Creek at O’Briens (105 N. Water Street). Great pancakes, omelets and other breakfast (and lunch) fare.

Special Events

July 3 – Silverton Day at The Oregon Garden. Family activities throughout the garden, food booths, concert at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater, and fireworks at 10 p.m. Residents receive free admission to the Garden and fireworks; paid admission applies to non-residents. Garden opens at 10 a.m. For more information, visit oregongarden.org. July 4 – Old Stuff on Main Street, an American Antique Fair. Peruse treasures from the past. The fair is on Main Street, between Water St. and First St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also on July 4th – Art on Main Street Celebration. This is a day-long market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 16-17 and 23-24 – Canterbury Renaissance Faire. The Canterbury Renaissance Faire is a living history village of 1500s era England. Enjoy jousting, four stages of continuous entertainment, period demonstrations of archery, wool spinning, hand hammered armor, blacksmithing, sword fighting and more, as well as a healthy dose of food and ale. Located at Whitewind Farm, 6118 Mt Angel Hwy, Silverton, just north of the corner of Pine St. and Hazelgreen Rd. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit their website at canterburyfaire.com. August 5-7 – Homer Davenport Community Festival. Includes arts and crafts, parade, Lions Harvest Breakfast, Flywheels Car Show, Fun Run, Silverton High School All Class Party, Davenport Races and more. See the full schedule at homerdavenport.com. August 7 – A Taste of Wright at The Gordon House. Food and farm fest to benefit The Gordon House. Held at 869 W Main St. from 2-7 p.m. Reservations are $30; call 503-874-6006.

PHOTO BY RANDY HILL

There is something going on in Silverton year round–so no excuses about being bored! Here’s a list of things to do in the area this summer:

August 20-21 – Silverton Fine Arts Festival in Coolidge McClaine Park. Family-friendly event featuring two entertainment stages, an international food court, a wine and beer garden, and arts activities. Contact silvertonarts.org. August 28 – Stop and Smell the Roadsters Car Show at The Oregon Garden. Amazing cars “planted” throughout the garden plus music, food, beer and awards. Located at 879 W. Main St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. oregongarden.org. —Randy Hill

How to get there...

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

A R T & E N T E R TA I N ME N T

Where Fantasy Rules

“Lords and Ladies of the realm, prepare for merriment and mischief!” Words such as these are heard at various times throughout the year in America, shouted from faux castle walls and ramparts, announcing the opening of Renaissance festivals and fairs at particular locales. For persons who have never experienced Shakespeare, seen the musical Camelot or studied history, you should definitely consider attending a Renaissance-themed festival. When you do, make sure it’s one that strives for historical authenticity. A Renaissance festival is a gathering open to the public that emulates a certain historical period for the entertainment and enlightenment of guests. Renaissance fairs feature jugglers, jousters, storytellers, pirates, sword fighters, human chess players, knife throwers, puppeteers, singing milkmaids, handicrafts for sale and delectable food offerings. Ever wonder what it was like to live during the Renaissance period? Have you ever asked yourself how the nobility and the townsfolk behaved, dressed, talked and had fun? If you’re seeking new experiences and new historical perspectives, then several festivals in Oregon are must events for you. These present a variety of different scenarios as people are taken back in time to yesteryear. The Canterbury Renaissance Festival will be held July 16-17 and July 23-24 in Silverton, Ore. During the festival, engaging historical personalities wander about greeting and conversing with townspeople. Here you may meet the town fool, a fishmonger, pirate, knight, magician, a gaggle of amiable mimes or–if you’re lucky–a member of the royal court. From the moment you step onto the festival grounds, paths lead off in many directions, but don’t let that overwhelm you. If you can’t decide between the jousting arena, the court jester’s show, Renaissance games or a giant turkey leg for lunch, then make plans to step into a dressing room first. For a fee, visitors can rent an authentic period costume that will not only transform your exterior, but also bring your mindset closer to the way things were “way back when.” Now suitably attired in the dress of a king, a jester, a knave, damsel or even William Shakespeare himself, you can set out to explore the village. At the Canterbury Renaissance Festival, “lanes” are lined with “shoppes” where vendors sell period-theme handicrafts, clothing, books, glassware and paintings. Food vendors are found throughout the festival grounds as are game areas, including skill events such as archery and axe throwing. At the festival, there are kings and

PHOTOS BY MARY SYRETT

queens as well as knights, magicians and wenches. “Wench” is an acronym for Women Entitled to Nights

Many knights made their

fortune in these events, while others lost their money or even their lives. For example, Henry II of France died when a shard of his opponent’s broken lance went through his visor and into his brain. of Continual Happiness. At a Renaissance festival, she kisses male faire-goers or drags them into a circle of wenches who demand to be kissed. A wench can get away with outrageous behavior because, while you’re not likely to take a lusty wench home with you as a souvenir, you will deﬁnitely have more fun on the

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

grounds because of them. Festival activities include sword swallowing, fire eating, musical comedy, storytelling and juggling. Another popular Renaissance-themed entertainment activity involves jousting, with feats of skill and daring held in an outdoor jousting arena. Said arena fills up quickly, so get there early to secure a seat. Jousting is an activity engaged in by two armored combatants mounted on horses, using a variety of weapons, usually in sets of three such as tilting with a lance, blows with a battle-axe or strokes with a sword. Jousting was one of several popular martial games engaged in during the Middle Ages. Though the first recorded tournament was held in 1066, jousting did not acquire widespread popularity until the thirteenth century. It maintained its status as a popular European sport well into the seventeenth century. The joust permitted a display of individual skill and, while undeniably dangerous, offered large sums of prize money to the winner. Many knights made their fortune in these events, while others lost their money or even their lives. For

example, Henry II of France died when a shard of his opponent’s broken lance went through his visor and into his brain. The Faerieworlds Festival is a music and arts festival held annually in Oregon. The 2011 Festival will take place on June 17-19 at Mount Pisgah Arboretum in the Howard Buford Park Recreation Area southeast of Eugene. Called “mythically magical” and “a oneof-a-kind otherworldly event,” Faerieworld features a marketplace filled with faerie books, art, fashion and handicrafts. A children’s area will feature craft activities such as mask making, doll making and lantern making with a lantern parade in the evening. In just a few years, Faerieworld has become the premiere mythical music festival on the West Coast. Featuring acclaimed fantasy artists, Grammy-award winning musicians, and an arts and crafts village, people from around the globe come here to experience the magic of Faerieworld. The Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire, set in the years 1558-1603, will be held September 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Kings Valley, Ore. Here visitors can experience interactive living history in keeping with the flowering of the English Renaissance. Fascination with that period, including the reign of Elizabeth I, is brought to life at this gathering. Over 100 artisan stalls and 1,000 costumed players, joined by jousters, bards, minstrels, jugglers and dancers, will be on hand to entertain visitors. The Imperial Knights demonstrate full-contact jousting twice each day at noon and at 4 p.m. Food purveyors can be found in Friar Tuck’s Forest while mead, a sweet-tasting alcoholic drink made from fermented honey, will be available in The Shrew and Thistle Pub. Among food items sold at the festival are turkey legs and Scotch eggs. At the 2010 Shrewsbury Festival, my spouse and I specifically requested the juiciest and biggest turkey legs. Thankfully, the attentive vendor searched her case for ones that best filled the bill. Considering the prices charged–it’s best to go big. But remember this is a meal, not just a snack, so the turkey legs are well worth it. You will definitely need a plastic bag full of paper napkins to stop the oily goodness from dribbling down your hands to your arms. The turkey legs sold here must come from creatures that were on steroids–they are so huge. Scotch egg–a hard-boiled egg removed from its shell, wrapped in a sausage meat mixture, coated in breadcrumbs and then deep-fried–are eaten cold, usually with salad and pickles. At the Canterbury Renaissance Faire, the Faerieworlds Festival and the Shrewsbury

Renaissance Festival, people are awed by feats of daring, dazzled with displays of wares and made delightfully hungry by offerings of Renaissance-themed food. Enjoy learning what life was like in long ago but fascinating times. Canterbury Renaissance Festival July 16-17 and July 23-24 6118 Mount Angel Highway, Silverton, Ore. canterburyfaire.com 503.873.3273 Faerieworlds Festival June 17-19 Mount Pisgah Arboretum in the Howard

Buford Park Recreation Area southeast of Eugene, Ore. faerieworlds.com Shrewsbury Festival September 10-11 Hwy. 223 and Grand Road in Kings Valley, 15 miles from downtown Corvallis, Ore. shrewfaire.com 541.929.4897 A native of Eugene, Mary Syrett presently lives in North Carolina, where her spouse is a visiting professor.

Severin Sisters take on the Willamette Valley

omeone once said that sisters are like different ﬂowers from the same garden. When it comes to the Severin Sisters, they are more like different instruments made from the same tree. Sisters Amy and Heidi are a pair of local singer/songwriters planning several shows around the Willamette Valley this summer. They have at least three performances booked so far, including the Marion County Fair in Salem, the da Vinci Days Festival in Corvallis and Pioneer Days in Canyonville. Since they were nine, music has been a huge part of life for the fraternal twins, who are originally from Salem. Around that time, Amy learned to play the guitar and Heidi the violin. The girls practiced, performed and took on even more instruments. Amy also learned the banjo and cello while Heidi moved on to the ﬁddle and mandolin. The music they make is a blend of bluegrass, American roots and country. Avid tourers in the past, the Severin Sisters have opened for the likes of Rascal Flatts and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. But the girls haven’t been hitting the

circuit as hard the last few years while they both earned degrees in music composition, editing, engineering and recording from Oregon State University. Amy went on to earn a master’s degree from OSU while Heidi has been busy raising a family. Now the Severin Sisters are back and working to build momentum. We may see a lot more performances from them in the coming months as the girls play with a band and as a duet. Check them out this summer on July 7 at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. They’ll play again at noon on July 16 at the da Vinci Days Festival on the OSU campus in Corvallis. The ﬁnal show they have planned thus far is on August 27 at Pioneer Days in Canyonville. Cindy Dauer is a freelance writer and photographer living in Oregon. As a journalist, she has covered a wide variety of topics from arts and entertainment to local news. Recently, her work has appeared in several mid-Valley publications, and her online writing has been viewed around the world. A native of the Northwest, Cindy loves outdoor adventures and exploring local culture.

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

W I L L A M E T T E

V A L L E Y

W I N E

Enjoy the Heat with Willamette Valley Summer Sippers T

his sumer started off with a remarkable stretch of warm weather. Not only is this good for development in the vineyards, but it is also a perfect excuse to ﬁre up the grill, lounge on the patio and crack open a cool bottle of wine. Bright, crisp, and refreshing—rambunctious acidity is the key. There are plenty of new white and rosé wines being released just in time for this summer-like weather. Here are seven of my favorites to seek out while exploring the valley in the summer sun. Ponzi Vineyards 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc ($17). Clear, brilliant, medium golden yellow color. Clean nose with youthful medium intensity aromas of white ﬂowers, fresh cut Honeycrisp apple and lime zest. Dry on the palate, medium body, with medium acidity. Flavors of apricot, green apple skin, Bartlett pear and nectarine. J. K. Carriere 2010 Glass Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Blanc ($20) Clear, bright, medium salmon pink color. Clean nose with youthful medium intensity aromas of strawberry, cherry pit, fresh

herbs, mustard seed, soft yeastiness and citrus. Dry on the palate, medium body, with high acidity. Flavors of green strawberries, apple skin and tart cherry. Ghost Hill Cellars 2010 YamhillCarlton Pinot Noir Blanc ($25) Clear, bright, medium-light straw color. Clean nose with youthful medium intensity aromas of mango, banana, fresh fennel, peach pit and ginger. Dry on the palate, medium body, with medium-high acidity but a round texture. Flavors of pineapple, sliced yellow apple, cooked pear, candied lemon rind and pink apples. Trisaetum 2010 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($20) Clear, bright, medium golden color. Clean on the nose with youthful high intensity aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, green apple, fresh herbs and the sweet smell of freshly cut grass. Dry on the palate, medium body, with medium-high acidity. Clean ﬂavors of pineapple, mango, Granny Smith apple, peach, grapefruit, watermelon rind, lime zest, herbs and grass.

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

ENSO 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris ($18) Clear, bright, medium-light green yellow color. Clean nose with youthful medium intensity aromas of firm pear, yellow apple and white peach. Dry on the palate, medium body, with mediumhigh acidity. Vibrant flavors of lime and white blossoms, offering texture and complexity not typical of this variety. Seven of Hearts 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Rosé ($12) Clear, bright, medium peony pink color. Clean nose with youthful mediumlight intensity aromas of flowers, white peaches, strawberry and raspberry. Dry on the palate, light body, with medium acidity, creamy texture. Flavors of savory herbs, tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry and stone fruit. Kramer Vineyards Domaine Krieger NV Brut Willamette Valley Chardonnay ($24) Clear, bright, golden color. Clean nose with some development and mediumlight intensity aromas of lemon, lime,

apricot and caramelized sugar on a brioche. Medium-dry on the palate, medium-full body, with medium high acidity and a delicate mousse (bubbles on your palate). Flavors of lemon, peach pit and lime. Teutonic Wine Company 2010 Chehalem Mountain Riesling ($16) Clear, brilliant, medium-light white gold color. Clean nose with youthful medium intensity aromas of stone fruit, green apple, slate and peach pit. Dry on the palate, medium body, with medium-high acidity. Crisp flavors of nectarine, green apple, fresh pineapple and lemon zest. Ryan Reichert is originally from Northeast Ohio and 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 authors a new site focusing on the white wines of the Pacific Northwest. Visit nwwhites.com.

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Summer 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Willamette Valley Life

F I N A N C E

Summer Savings s spring ends and we head into summer, extra expenses tend to crop up. Things such as vacations can have a dramatic effect on our budgets if not planned for and managed properly. Check out some summer vacation tips below to keep those costs in check. Studies have shown that taking multiple small trips provides the same psychological effect of taking a longer multi-day vacation. The added benefit being that you can better budget on things like gas if you spread it out over multiple time periods throughout the summer. This also helps if you can’t get a larger chunk of time off at work. One of the things I’ve always loved about Oregon is its vast natural beauty. For those seeking an outdoors related vacation, you need not look further than your own backyard. With many state parks and natural attractions, the Pacific Northwest offers a long list of spots you can easily drive to. For a listing of all Oregon’s vacation spots, head on over to traveloregon.com where you’ll find a plethora of resources to help you plan your summer getaway. Also, check out our “Daycation Planner” on page 10 for some more great areas to visit. But what about those high gas prices, you ask? Visit oregongasprices.com to find the cheapest gas along your travel route. For you smartphone users, download Gas Buddy from your phone’s application market for a handy mobile version of the site. If you have the budget for it and are looking to fly to another area of the country, visit airfarewatchdog.com for fare alerts and discounted ticket listings. The site searches all the major carriers as well as the discount shops such as Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak. If you’re on twitter I highly suggest that you follow the company as well (@airfarewatchdog)

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

PHOTO BY CHALENE HILL

since they have been known to tweet unlisted one-day only air deals. For families, ideas like camping in the backyard or creating a treasure hunt in a nearby park are great ways to give your kids the feel of a getaway without the cost and burden of going far. If you’re near the Salem area, head on over to the Kroc Corps Community Center where they have a great set of affordable summer programs for kids and adults of all ages. Check out all the details and get info on memberships at salemkroc.org. Whether you’re staying close to home or travelling across the country, summer vacations can be a pitfall financially. So once you get to your destination, have a budget in mind, take cash with you as much as possible and look for coupons along the way. With some proper planning and a keen eye for deals, you and your family can relax knowing you’re not breaking the bank. I wish you all the best in your travels far and wide. See you in the fall! 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.

BBQ: The source of many battles and twice as many good memories. I love good BBQ, and ever since my favorite locally-owned location closed down, I’ve tried to enjoy other establishments. Sadly, whenever I felt nostalgic for BBQ, I found myself, *gasp*, going to a chain nearby. But perhaps there is hope with Bo-Mack’s BBQ in Albany. Will they be able to keep me from wandering? On to the review! Sadly, Bo-Mack’s BBQ is hidden away from direct view of downtown Albany. If not for Randy Hill, I might have never known they existed, let alone have a chance to sample their wares. It goes to show you that sometimes the best don’t need ﬂashy lights and Main Street parking. Bo-Mack’s is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. They are closed most Sundays through Tuesday. I say most because they were open on Father’s Day (and I brought my family back) and Mother’s Day. Decorations are homey, but appropriate for the fare.

Before I was even able to begin ordering, I was presented with a platter of thick, hot, golden cornbread with a healthy side of whipped butter. They use this same cornbread in their strawberry shortcake, and while this may seem odd, it is one of the best variations of the dessert I have had in a long time. Side dishes for your carnivore fest include sweet coleslaw, potato salad, fries, hush puppies, sweet corn, baked beans, sweet potato tots (the only item that didn’t seem to be homemade) and more. There simply isn’t enough room to talk about these delights. Sufﬁce it to say, I enjoyed them all. As for the BBQ meat options, the ribs ($13-28) were fall-off-the-bone delicious. Also available are brisket, pulled pork, chicken and sausage (another item which is delicious, but not made by Momma) for $14 per pound. The Bo-Mack plates range from $11.50-$18.50 with a $7 option to add 6 oz. of meat or three ribs. My second visit focused more on the ribs and pulled pork, two favorites of mine. Bo-Mack’s also makes their own BBQ sauces in varying levels of heat, although I found that even the hottest version wasn’t all that spicy. There are non-BBQ options available, but why would you even pretend you were interested. I certainly couldn’t think about salad when there was all this smoky deliciousness to nibble. Like the rest of the dishes, the desserts have Momma’s touch. In fact, one of the menu items is “Whatever Mama feels like making.” Best leave a little room or plan to take some home. To do otherwise would leave your taste buds very disappointed.

The staff, or rather, the family at Bo-Mack’s is really what makes the restaurant. Even if the homey decor isn’t your thing, a hug from Momma will blast all your worries away. The Knebels are incredibly gracious to everyone, serving with a smile and taking the time to chat, if you like. Then, if you are lucky, the girls will come out and sing, sing, sing. I already savor the thought of returning.

Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

VAL L E Y P H O T O S

Everything Passes...Just Keep Smiling Photo by Bill Coberly

ow lucky can a photographer get? This lucky—when you devote some time wandering back roads along the McKinsey River looking for subject matter. I did not see it the ﬁrst time I passed it, but when I turned and headed back toward the main road it appeared just barely visible through the brush. I had to walk back a short distance to get a clear view, but when it was fully visible I felt that I had just discovered a national photographic treasure. There it sat, festooned with bursts of glossy green ferns and overlaid with a ﬁne mossy coat as nature enfolded it with the adornments that would reclaim its substance. I do not know what make or year it is, but I do know something about the designer of the fender, the grill and the cab. He or she had a great sense of humor and would be proud to know that this mossy apparition has kept its smile in retirement. It makes me happy that I have found in nature a design for a planter that will, in its unique natural beauty, remain unmatched by any human inspired design. -Bill Coberly

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. 18

Willamette Valley Life • Summer 2011

Center 50+ is a growing, dynamic organization poised to meet the evolving needs of the 50+ population of today and tomorrow. Keynote speaker, Jennifer Powers, MA, CPC

Passion & Purpose Conference Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:00 a.m. • 1:00 p.m.

Cost - $10 per person

(includes lunch)

This half day mini-conference will address the potential barriers to ﬁnding passion and purpose the second half of our lives. The topics will address ﬁnancial obstacles, emotional obstacles, and personal responsibilities such as caregiver issues. Life coaches and other experts will provide tools and guidance to map out a plan of action to meeting our retirement goals. Turn your wish list into your accomplishments. Conference includes keynote speaker, choice of break-out sessions, lunch, door prizes and more. Tickets available August 1st. Purchase tickets in advance at Center 50+.

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Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service Oakleaf Crematory

The community legacy of service that

Virgil or “Tommy” started continues today. We offer preplanning to ﬁt your needs, a central location which serves all cemeteries and mausoleums and a knowledgeable and caring staff. As Virgil or “Tommy” often said, “the impossible only takes a moment longer.” We are your answer in time of need.

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Tom C. Golden, Tom P. Golden Virgil “Tommy” Golden 1895-1990

605 Commercial St. SE Salem, Oregon 97301 • 503-364-2257 vtgolden.com • salemcremations.com

�� Summer 2011 • Willamette Valley Life

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Willamette Valley Life â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2011