2 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
ABOUT ‘TOP OF THE VALLEY’ For the third year in a row, we invited you to tell us what you love about living in the mid-valley, and you responded with your votes. So here are your picks in 76 categories — everything from arts and crafts to local uproar. A total of 1,647 nominations were received from Aug. 18 through Sept. 9. In the finalist voting period from Sept. 14Oct. 7, more than 30,000 votes were cast. A number of new categories were added this year: Bar/Pub, Wait Staff, Doctor, Bank/Credit Union and Furniture Store. In this special edition, we have grouped categories by Top Shops, Top Bites, Top Nightlife, Top Places and Top Accolades. We have featured a number of winners, some of whom took
top honors in one or more categories in 2011 and 2010. Right underneath the winner in each category you’ll find four “finalists” — the next four top votegetters listed in the order of the number of votes they received. Because of ties, more than four finalists are listed in some places. We consider the mid-valley a special place to live, in part because of our Top of the Valley winners and nominees. We thank them all. We also thank all those who voted, our advertisers and you, our Top of the Valley readers. We hope you enjoy the section, and that it helps you find things to do and places to explore in the mid-valley. — Graham Kislingbury, Top of the Valley coordinator
TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES HOME REPAIRS
LATE NIGHT
Powell Construction
4 GameTime Sports
BANK/CREDIT UNION
WORLD CUISINE
Red Canoe
5 Sam City
ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS
PUB/BAR
OSU Federal
Flat Tail Brewing
7
BAKERY 9
Buzz Wheeler
CHINESE RESTAURANT
ARTIST
Bing’s Kitchen
Emily Bell
10
MARKET VENDOR
17
18
20
BAND 11
COFFEEHOUSE Dutch Bros.
15
PERSON OF THE YEAR
Jillicious Desserts
Gathering Together
14
Fate 55
21
ARTS NONPROFIT 12
LISTINGS Top Shops
3
Top Bites
6
Top Nightlife
13
Top Places
16
Top Accolades
16
Carousel
23
Monica Grissom and Graham Kislingbury coordinated the planning for this year’s “Top of the Valley,” and administered the voting. Sarah Payne designed the cover; Amanda Cowan, David Patton and Mark Ylen took the photos. Cyndi Sprinkel-Hart coordinated the advertising. The news staffs of the Albany DemocratHerald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express wrote the stories and took the photos.
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 3
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SHOPS ARTS & CRAFTS Michaels (Corvallis) Finalists: Spearit Beads, Creative Crafts & Frame Shop (Albany), Stash LLC (Corvallis), Many Hands Trading (Corvallis) Need a picture frame? Photo album? Yarn? Knitting needles? Beads? Cake decorating equipment? Art supplies? Clay? Glue? Leatherworking tools? You can find all that, plus stuff you didn’t even know you needed, at Michaels on N.W. Ninth Street in Corvallis.
AUTO REPAIRS London’s Automotive (Corvallis) Finalists: Willamette Auto & Marine (Corvallis), Possum Auto Body (Albany), D & B Bear Service (Corvallis), Gary’s Automotive, Crabtree Automotive (Albany) London’s Automotive not only made the list for the first time this year, but topped it. This downtown Corvallis business, which opened in 1982, provides full auto repair service for gasoline, diesel, hybrid and GEM electric cars.
BANK/ CREDIT UNION
Red Canoe Credit Union (See feature on page 5.)
BOOKS & PERIODICALS Grass Roots Books & Music (Corvallis) Finalists: The Book Bin (Corvallis), Albany Public Library, Browsers Books (Albany and Corvallis), Beaver Book Store (Corvallis) Grass Roots Books & Music has reclaimed the throne after taking the title in 2010 and then losing it to The Book Bin last year. Grass Roots in downtown Corvallis has been in operation since 1971.
CLOTHING Modern Avenue Boutique (Corvallis) Finalists: The Clothes Tree (Corvallis), Emma Downtown (Albany), Sibling Revelry (Corvallis), Kohl’s (Albany) Conveniently located on Madison Avenue in downtown Corvallis, Modern Avenue Boutique carries an array of clothing, accessories and jewelry, keeping up with the latest styles and trends. The clothing is fit for women of any age with a modern taste.
CUSTOMER SERVICE Dutch Bros. (Corvallis) Finalists: Grass Roots Books & Music (Corvallis), Powell Construction (Corvallis), Suite 101 Salon (Corvallis), Albany’s Canna Kitchen & Research, LLC What can we say? Our readers love Dutch Bros. The coffee franchise, which began in Grants Pass and now has more than 100 locations across six states, took first place this year for Customer Service and Coffeehouse (see feature on page 12). The Corvallis Dutch Bros. also knocked out the competition as Best Downtown Business and Best Drive-Through.
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS Dutch Bros., 1855 S.E. Third St., Corvallis Finalists: Grass Roots Books & Music (Corvallis), Vault 244 (Albany), Spearit Beads (Albany), and Suite 101 Salon (Corvallis) Dutch Bros. was also a winner for Customer Service, Coffeehouse and Drive-Through. The company says its “commitment is to serve our customers a consistent, quality product in a timely manner with a smile. We roast all of our own coffee ensuring freshness from the farmer to the cup.” Dutch Bros. is featured for top coffeehouse on page 12.
ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS OSU Federal Credit Union (See feature, page 7)
FURNITURE STORES Inkwell Home Store (Corvallis) Finalists: Blackledge Furniture (Corvallis), Boda Furniture (Albany), Beekman Place (Corvallis), Hometown Furniture (Lebanon) The Inkwell, on Third Street in downtown Corvallis, opened in 1965 as a stationers and bookstore and later morphed into its present incarnation as a furniture, kitchen and gift store, said Pat Lampton, who has owned the store with his wife Amy since 1990.“We hear people say that they find things here that they don’t see anywhere else, and that it’s a fun place to be,” Lampton said.“Hopefully, they feel like they’ve been treated well.”
GROCERY Trader Joe’s (Corvallis) Finalists: Market of Choice (Corvallis), First Alternative Co-op (Corvallis), Ray’s Food Place (Albany), Safeway Trader Joe’s won top business in 2010 and a finalist for best grocery in 2011. The company started
as a small chain of convenience stores in 1958, and expanded by “putting innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods in the Trader Joe’s name.”
HARDWARE/ HOME IMROVEMENT Robnett’s Hardware (Corvallis) Finalists: Powell Construction (Corvallis), Home Depot (Albany and Corvallis), Spaeth Hardware (Corvallis) and Economy Supply (Lebanon) A mid-valley staple since 1893, Robnett’s Hardware is “everything a hardware store should be,” according to customers. Although its wood floors harken back to a simpler time, Robnett’s shelves are chock full of items for today’s modern home or office. Customers say service is top notch and staffers know their stuff.
HOME REPAIRS Powell Construction (See feature, page 4.)
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Who’s afraid of a little remodeling? HOME REPAIRS Powell Construction (Corvallis) Finalists: Pyburn & Sons (Albany), Willowtree Construction Inc. (Corvallis), Home Depot (Albany and Corvallis), Robnett’s (Corvallis)
Tom and Heidi Powell look over construction plans in their south Corvallis office. JESSE SKOUBO | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
ley poll. pages for a basic kitchen Founded in 1990, the remodel to scheduling company started out as a weekly progress meetings CORVALLIS — For general construction between the homeowner most Americans, buying a and the lead project carhome is the biggest inpenter. vestment they will ever “We take them through make. A major remodelthe process so they know ing project can be a close what’s coming next,” second, and the thought Heidi Powell said. “That’s of doing it can be pretty what we hear from cusscary for most homeown- tomers more than anyers. thing else ... these are “There’s a major fear things that take that fear of remodeling,” said Tom away.” Powell, who owns Powell That emphasis on conConstruction with his stant communication and wife, Heidi. “It’s a ‘Do I setting clear expectations really want to do this?’ for the cost and duration sort of thing.” of a remodeling project is Powell Construction one of the reasons readers invests a lot of effort in chose Powell Construceasing those fears, from tion as the winner of the providing detailed estiHome Repairs category in this year’s Top of the Valmates that can run seven BY BENNETT HALL TOP OF THE VALLEY
business but has evolved into a design-build outfit focused entirely on remodeling. In addition to the Powells, the firm employs four lead carpenters and two designers. SEE POWELL | 6
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 5
A plan for success BANK OR CREDIT UNION Red Canoe Credit Union (Albany)
Finalists: OSU Federal (Corvallis), Willamette Community Bank (Albany), Central Willamette Community Credit Union (Albany), Citizens Bank (Corvallis)
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Don Easdale is assisted by vault teller Lindsay Forster Tuesday afternoon at Red Canoe Credit Union in Albany, where Easdale has been a longtime member. JESSE SKOUBO | DEMOCRAT-HERALD
BY KYLE ODEGARD TOP OF THE VALLEY
ALBANY — The credit union with the unique name has a rather conventional plan for success — professionalism and customer service. Tina Halsey, branch manager for Red Canoe Credit Union in Albany, said that she and her employees try to build relationships with every member. “A lot of other financial institutions have lost that personable service,” said Halsey, a South Albany High School graduate. “We’ve gone back to basics. It’s taking care of our members and making
sure they trust us,” she added. Of course, this oldschool, small town approach doesn’t mean that Red Canoe is ignoring technological advances. The credit union has plenty of younger members who take advantage of online banking and mobile deposits using smart phones. But there are also the traditional customers, who stop in and visit with employees they’ve known for years. Halsey said she’s been to weddings and even funerals for members. The credit union also offers competitive rates on home loans and CDs,
Halsey said. Red Canoe has seven branches, but the other six of them are in Washington. The Albany branch moved from a mostly residential area on 34th Avenue about three years ago, and now sits at 810 Burkhart Street S.E. The spot is visible to
We’ve gone back to basics. It’s taking care of our members and making sure they trust us.
’
— Tina Halsey, branch manager Red Canoe Credit Union, Albany
people passing by on Pacific Boulevard. Halsey said the new location and community outreach programs has tripled its membership, which now stands at 3,500 people.
6 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
fixtures and materials that go into a Powell Construction kitchen, bathroom or home addition, Continued from page 4 In the company’s south and view a 3-D computer Corvallis showroom, cus- rendering of their own remodeling project. tomers can see beforeAfter consulting with a and-after photos of redesigner, setting a budget modeling jobs, get a firsthand look at some of the and settling on colors,
Powell
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SHOPS MUSIC/ ENTERTAINMENT Premier Sound and DJ Services (Albany) Finalists: Musicafe Rock School (Corvallis), Corvallis Community Band, OSU Choirs, Willamette Country Music Festival (Brownsville) Premier Sound and DJ Services owner Trey Kenyon, or DJ Trey K, spends his weekends disc-jockeying at school dances, special events and private parties. DJ Trey K prides himself on providing highenergy disc-jockey services with a bumpin’ sound system and professional lighting.
NEW BUSINESS Research Support Services (Albany) Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop, Terminus, Stash LLC (Corvallis), Albany’s Canna Kitchen & Research LLC Based in Albany, Research Support Services is an online startup (find it at www.the-research.com) with a global network of freelancers providing a host of services from editing and proofreading to translation and research project assistance. The fastest-growing part of the business, owner Kim Richards says, is genealogy research.
ONE-OF-A-KIND BUSINESS Spearit Beads (Albany) Finalists: Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop (Philomath), Mod Pod (Corvallis), Ball Studio Photography (Corvallis), Dream Dinners (Corvallis) Only one vote separated Spearit Beads and Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop in Philomath, both home-owned shops long on customer service. Customers can select from more than 3,000 beads at Spearit Beads and then attend one of numerous classes to learn how to turn them into beautiful jewelry. Jillicious is featured for best bakery on page 9.
SALON/SPAS/ BARBERS B’ Polished Nail Studio (Lebanon)
materials and other crucial details, the homeowner is presented with a thoroughly itemized estimate and complete project schedule stating what will be done when and how much evrything will cost, right down to the faucets on the kitchen
sink. “It takes the stress and guesswork out of the whole project,” Heidi Powell said. “It’s a process,” her husband added, “and as long as you follow the process, it’s almost like you can’t fail.”
ing jujitsu, judo, tae kwon do and karate into a modern curriculum for children as young as 3. Owner Michael Wise has more than 25 years of experience. The discipline is built around personal growth and mental self-defense.
BREAKFAST
THRIFT/ SECONDHAND
The Cat’s Meow Thrift Shop (Corvallis)
Finalists: Second Glance (Corvallis), Teen Challenge (Lebanon), The Arc Resale Store (Corvallis), Cosmic Chameleon (Corvallis) Staffed by volunteers, the Cat’s Meow in downtown Corvallis has been raising money to support the Heartland Humane Society since 1995.
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Finalists: Seriously Sassy Salon (Corvallis), Suite 101 Salon (Corvallis), The Retreat (Corvallis), La Belle Boutique (Albany) Customers will surely follow B’ Polished Nail Studio to its new location at 455 Weldwood Drive, espeJillicious Desserts cially since the business is expandBakeshop (See feature, ing to include spa services to inpage 9.) clude hair, nails, skin care, massage, tanning and waxing.
BAKERY
SPORTS/OUTDOORS/ RECREATION Kokoro Martial Arts (Albany) Finalists: Peak Sports (Corvallis), Trysting Tree Golf Course (Corvallis), Corvallis Knights, Corvallis Cyclery Kokoro Martial Arts honors centuries of martial arts skills, blend-
BARBECUE OR STEAKHOUSE Bo-Mack’s BBQ (Albany) Finalists: Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar, Block 15, Brew BQ and Terminus (all Corvallis) The popular family-owned restaurant at 119 First Ave. E in downtown Albany wins this category for the second year in a row.
Sam’s Station (Corvallis) Finalists: Sharon’s Cafe (Corvallis), Original Breakfast (Albany), Sunnyside Up Cafe (Corvallis), Nearly Normal’s Gonzo Cuisine (Corvallis) Sam’s Station restaurant and coffeehouse, a finalist in 2010 and 2011,“is dedicated to providing homemade cuisine made fresh daily along with a variety of baked goods.”
BURGER First Burger (Albany) Finalists: Block 15, Squirrel’s Tavern, Flat Tail Brewing and Les Caves (all Corvallis) This is the third consecutive year that First Burger has won top honors for the main item on its menu. The restaurant is owned by Matt and Janel Bennett, whose other First Avenue establishments, Sybaris and Clemenza’s, are also repeat winners.
CHINESE Bing’s Kitchen (See feature, page 10)
DESSERT Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop (Philomath) Finalists: Big River, Francesco’s Gelato Caffe and New Morning Bakery (all Corvallis) and Sidekicks (Albany) Pumpkin whoopie pie, cupcakes, and chocolate decadence are among the tantalizing items Jill Nagel offers at Jillicious, which opened last November. Jillicious also won for top Bakery. (See feature on page 9.)
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 7
Electronic top BITES transmissions BY MIKE MCINALLY TOP OFTHE VALLEY CORVALLIS — For more than a decade, OSU Federal Credit Union has worked diligently to drive its sustainability efforts on a number of fronts, and it looks as if the effort has paid off. The mid-valley credit union is the winner in the “Eco-Friendly Business” category of this year’s Top of the Valley Readers’ Choice contest. Mike Corwin of OSU Federal points to a number of initiatives the credit union has launched in recent years in the sustainability arena: • The company has given customers the option of receiving electronic statements instead of paper, saving more than 500,000 sheets of paper. • It offers discounted rates on hybrid auto loans and discounted fees for borrowers purchasing Energy Star appliances or LEEDcertified homes. • It’s a Blue Sky visionary partner, using 398,400 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy in 2011. • It regularly donates its used computers to nonprofit agencies and institu-
ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS OSU Federal Credit Union (based in Corvallis with many branches including in Albany and Lebanon) Finalists: Powell Construction (Corvallis), Gathering Together Farms (Philomath), Laughing Planet (Corvallis), First Alternative Co-op (Corvallis) tions: “We do not throw away any of our computers,” Corwin said. It’s not just the right thing to do, Corwin added — it also appeals to the credit union’s customers, and it’s resulted in considerable savings for the business. “We’ve saved a ton just on the elimination of certain mailings to members,” Corwin said, using electronic transmissions for those messages instead. In fact, the credit union arranged to donate $1 for every member who switched to the electronic statements to the Oregon Department of Forestry to SEE OSU FEDERAL | 8
DRIVE-THROUGH Dutch Bros. (Downtown Corvallis) Finalists: Hasty Freez (Albany), Burgerville (Albany), Coffee Culture (Corvallis), Purple Moon Organic Espresso (Corvallis) Dutch Bros. wins this category for the first time and takes tops honors for Downtown Business, Customer Service and Coffeehouse. (See feature on page 12.)
FARMERS MARKETS/ VENDORS/FOOD CART
Gathering Together Farm (See feature, page 11.)
HAWAIIAN Local Boyz (Corvallis)
Finalist: Uncle Ricky’s Hawaiian Grinds (Corvallis) Local Boyz, with a loyal customer base, also won this category in 2011 and the Asian/Pacific Islander division in 2010.
INDIAN Evergreen Indian Restaurant (Corvallis)
Finalists: House of Noodle (Albany), Nirvana (Corvallis) Evergreen, started by Meeraali Shaik in 1999 in downtown Corvallis, has won this category for the third straight year. Shaik also owns an Evergreen Indian Restaurant in Eugene.
ITALIAN/GREEK/
8 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
OSU Federal Continued from page 7
help pay for labor costs to plant tree seedlings — and OSU Federal employees helped plant some of those young trees. OSU Federal also sponsors occasional community shredding days, in which members of the public can have documents shredded for free. Those shredding days have been surprisingly popular, Corwin said. “We’ll start at 10 a.m.,” he said,“and by 9:15, we’ll be 20 cars deep, just waiting OSU Federal at 1980 N.W. Ninth St. in Corvallis. for us to open up.”
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do the best we can and work hard to make everybody happy,” Sandra said. The couple also own the Taqueria Alonzo restaurants in Corvallis and Albany (a finalist in the voting).
LATE NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN Clemenza’s Italian Fare & Wine Shop (Albany) Finalists: LUC (Corvallis), Mama’s Fine Italian & Wine Shop (Lebanon), Carino’s (Albany), Terminus (Corvallis) A three-time winner in this category, Clemenza’s is one of three restaurants owned by Matt and Janel Bennett on First Avenue in downtown Albany. The other two, Sybaris and First Burger, are also repeat winners.
LATIN AMERICAN/ MEXICAN/CARRIBEAN Dos Arbolitos Taqueria (Lebanon) Finalists: del Alma Restaurant (Corvallis), Mexico Lindo (Albany), Taqueria Alonzo (Albany), La Rockita (Corvallis) Alonza and Sandra Gutierrez have operated Dos Arbolitos Taqueria on Main Street for 15 years.“We
GameTime Sports Bar & Grill in Lebanon (See feature on page 14)
MIDDLE EASTERN Le Cafe D’el Jebal (Corvallis) Finalists: Terminus and Crystal’s Cafe (both Corvallis) Owner Jamilla Elatchi, who is from Morroco, opened Le Cafe D’el Jebal in July 2011 on Second Street in downtown Corvallis.“We have good support from Middle Eastern and and non-Middle Eastern people,” Elatchi said.“We do our best to serve the best sandwiches and Middle Eastern food.”
NEW RESTAURANT Sweet Red (Albany) Finalists: Les Caves Bier & Kitchen,Terminus,Eats & Treats Cafe and Brew BQ (all Corvallis).
The downtown coffee and wine bistro known as Sweet Red offers tapas and small plates in addition to a variety of sweets.Try the flaming
ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
dates,drizzled with honey and served over walnuts and bleu cheese.
PIZZA
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 9
BAKERY Jillicious Dessert Bakeshop (Philomath) Finalists: La Patissier (Corvallis), Market of Choice (Corvallis), Kris’ Kitchen (Lebanon), Great Harvest (Corvallis) existing clientele, wordof-mouth and after school traffic. But Nagel hopes to eventually erect a sign on 19th Street that points passersby in the bakery’s direction. “We knew it was going to be good,” Nagel said of opening a new business in Philomath. “I wasn’t surprised that it was really Jill Nagel, owner and pastry chef at Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop in Philomath, holds a tray of pumpkin well received.” whoopie pies with cinnamon cream cheese filling Oct. 12. The bakery, which seats AMANDA COWAN | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES about 10 on the inside, offers an array of seasonal and gourmet treats. In the fall and winter months, the shop offers gourmet hot chocolate, along with yearround milk and chocolate milk to accompany dessert. The menu, which changes each week, ranges BY JOCE DEWITT cious, someone who has her very own licensed greatly in price from TOP OF THE VALLEY been there through it all — around two dollars for a kitchen in Kings Valley. her mother, Luana Tekulvi. pumpkin whoopie pie, to After five years of bakPHILOMATH — Jill While many businesses $24 for a dozen cupcakes, ing from home, delivering Nagel of Kings Valley, has in the city have been orders and developing a been baking since she was a to $85 for a sheet cake. around for many years, clientele that reaches as far little girl. “Hands down, our Her mother was a home as Portland, Nagel took the Nagel said she doesn’t feel number one is the chocolike the rookie. economics teacher and got next big step: Jillicious late decadence,” Nagel said “I don’t feel like we’re Nagel hooked at a younger Dessert Bakeshop. of the flourless, gluten-free going to have a difficult “We opened Nov. 15,” age. treats. “It’s been popular time, ” she said. “If you Nagel said. “We love this “I grew up knowing how for a while.” know we’re here, we’re relocation and the city of to bake,” said Nagel, 41. For right now there are ally not that far off.” Philomath is great.” After studying at the no major plans for upscalLocated at 401 S. 19th The “we” Nagel referred California Culinary Acadeing the business, though my in San Fransisco, Nagel to was herself and the only St., Jillicious Desserts Nagel said she often works Bakeshop has thrived on other employee at Jilliopened a business out of long hours in the kitchen.
Jillicious dishes out sweet treats
10 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
Bing’s Kitchen serves fresh Chinese cuisine BY MATT DEBOW
CHINESE CUISINE
TOP OF THE VALLEY
LEBANON — Bing’s Kitchen has been serving Cantonese, Mandarin, and Szechuan cuisine for more than 45 years. Co-owner Kwong Mah has run the restaurant since 1966, a year after his father bought it in 1965. One of the reasons Mah said the restaurant is successful is because the eatery uses fresh ingredients. “We try to keep it as fresh as possible — real eggs, real beef, real chicken,” Mah said. Their ingredients come mainly from local vendors such as Pacific Seafood, and their meat comes from Van Vleet Meat & Food Service Co. in Albany. Mah and the cooks at Bing’s chop lettuce for their dishes. “(The lettuce) didn’t come out of a bag, which is a big deal nowadays,” Mah said. As part of keeping ingredients fresh, Mah will start working with stirfry vegetables that were grown in the Cascades School garden. “Kids will get to try the vegetables they grew,” he
Bing’s Kitchen (Lebanon) Finalists: House of Noodle (Albany), Ping’s (Albany) King Tin (Corvallis), China Blue (Corvallis).
‘
We try to keep it as fresh as possible — real eggs, real beef, real chicken.
’
— Kwong Mah, co-owner Bing’s Kitchen
said. A stuffed chicken wing is one of the popular items on the Chinese menu, according to Mah. Stuffed chicken wings are a boneless chicken wing filled with ground chicken, mushrooms, and water chestnuts, deepfried with batter and served with sweet and sour sauce. “That’s our recipe,” he said. “You can’t get that anywhere else.” People are also fond of the sweet and sour sauce, Mah said. “People like it. They come back for it,” he said. “We have good barbecue pork sauce as well.”
Kwong Mah prepares pork chow mein Oct. 17 at Bing’s Kitchen. MATT DEBOW | LEBANON EXPRESS
Bing’s hosts weekly meetings for the Kiwanis Club, the Lebanon Optimists Club and Lebanon Rotary. Some Bing’s employees have worked there for about 35 years, Mah said. Most of the staff has worked there for more than 20 years. “They’re a good, dependable staff,” he said.
“We want to thank the people of Lebanon for supporting us,” Mah said. “People have been really good to us. We know most of the people of Lebanon; if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.” The restaurant, at 2416 S. Santiam Highway, is open from Tuesday through Sunday.
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 11
FARMERS MARKET, VENDOR OR FOOD CART Gathering Together Farms (Philomath)
Finalists: Springhill Farms (Albany), Creperie du Lys (Corvallis), Kris’s Kitchen (Lebanon), West Coast Philly’s (Corvallis) farm-grown produce combined with locallygrown meats and regional seafood. Melissa Norland, who has worked for the farm on and off for the past eight years, says Gathering Together enjoys a loyal cusAva Betts, 7, Mike Betts, 4, and Matt Betts, 41, buy doughnuts from Will Dixon at the Gathering Togeth- tomer base. er Farm booth at the Corvallis Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Oct. 13. “I think the reason ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES they’ve been so successful is because they have a really good business model and they take really good care of their employees, BY CANDA FUQUA several natural food coop- from the fields people all vegetables,” she always TOP OF THE VALLEY the way up to the office tells them. “They sell eratives, and restaurants people,” she said. “Maybe themselves; we just have in Corvallis and Portland. CORVALLIS — Emthat’s what the customers to put them out. ” Gathering Together is ployees from Gathering Gathering Together see. The customers notice also known for its small Together Farms set up a Farms has for the third when the employees are restaurant, which offers stall of organically-grown year earned the top honors happy.” dishes created from its produce and freshlyin the Farmers Market, baked pastries at the Wednesday Farmers Mar- Vendor or Food Cart cateket, spacing apart or over- gory. The family-owned company grows 50 types lapping different vegetaof vegetables and more bles to create the perfect than 300 varieties on 80aesthetic. plus acres of farmland Customers savor the south of Philomath along cooked samples that Elaine Daggett doles out at Marys River. Owned by the market. They ask what husband and wife team kind of olive oil she used or John Eveland and Sally Brewer, the farm’s organic how long she sauteed the vegetables, but it’s not the produce is shipped up and cooking method that cre- down the Willamette Valley, Portland and the coast ates the flavor, she said. to nine farmers markets, “The magic is in the
Magic in the vegetables
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Dutch Bros. earns love with four awards COFFEEHOUSE Dutch Bros. (Corvallis)
Finalists: Coffee Culture (Corvallis), Sweet Red (Albany), The Beanery (downtown Corvallis), Imagine Coffee (Corvallis) mas operated in downtown Grants Pass and has grown to 175 stores in seven western states. All but two of the outlets, the Monroe Avenue store and one in Grants Pass, are drivethrough facilities. Gilbert has been with Matt Taylor delivers a beverage to a drive-up customer at the downtown Corvallis Dutch Bros. on Oct. the company for seven 11. Taylor has been serving beverages for more than two years. ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES years. “I think that the biggest BY JAMES DAY Sweet Home and Lebanon. Boersma and Travis Boersthing for Dutch Bros. as a TOP OF THE VALLEY ma, celebrated its 20th anGrants Pass-based whole, and in Corvallis, is Dutch Bros. Coffee hit niversary in February. Dutch Bros., which was that the customer is who the jackpot in Top of the The company started started by dairy farmer we work for,” said Gilbert. Valley voting. with a push cart the Boersbrothers, the late Dane SEE DUTCH BROS. | 13 Dutch Bros. took home first place for Coffeehouse, Customer Service, DriveThrough and Downtown Business. “That’s awesome,” said manager Brendon Gilbert, who spends most of his time at the Monroe Avenue walk-in store. Dutch Bros. also operates drive-throughs: on Third Street in downtown Corvallis and on Santiam Highway S.E., Ninth Street and Pacific Blvd. S.W. in Albany, as well as outlets in
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 13
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American Dream Pizza (Corvallis) Finalists: Woodstocks (Corvallis), Cidicci’s (Albany), Papa Murphy’s and Cirello’s (both Corvallis) The three-time winner of this category, American Dream — with two locations in Corvallis — is a local institution where the menu’s always evolving, the stereo’s always rockin’ and the staff wear T-shirts that proclaim “Music Art Beer Pizza” in big block type.
RESTAURANT Sybaris (Albany) Finalists: Block 15 (Corvallis), Luc (Corvallis), Vault 244 (Albany), Terminus (Corvallis) Sybaris marks a three-peat with a win in this category. Owners Matt and Janel Bennett are committed to Northwest-centered ingredients and a fresh menu every month.
SANDWICHES Emmons Meat Market (Corvallis) Finalists: Old World Deli, Block 15, Baguette and Flat Tail Brewery (all Corvallis) Emmons Meat Market, 2½ miles east of Corvallis on Highway 34, is celebrating its 50th year in business. For the past decade, it
Dutch Bros. Continued from page 12
“The bottom line is we appreciate our customers and I like to say we love all and serve all, from college students on Monroe to a retired couple at our south Corvallis drive-through. “We like to give them
has offered lunches. And this year, its sandwiches got the top nod from voters.“We grind our own burgers on site,” said office manager Amber Nash.“We also also make our own pulled pork on site.”
Corvallis) Nearly Normal’s, known for its “Gonzo Cuisine” since 1979, has taken top honors for the third year in a row.
CUISINE SEAFOOD/SUSHI WORLD Sam City (See feature The Depot (Albany)
Finalists: Momiji (Albany); Aomatsu, Sada’s Sushi & Izakaya and Aqua (all Corvallis) The building at 822 Lyon St. S.W. has been a restaurant since the late 1930s and home to The Depot since 1975.“We get the best possible seafood and produce available in the Northwest, combined with superior customer service and care in a cozy, unique atmostphere,” said Rick Campbell, who has owned the restaurant for 26 years.
THAI The Woodsman (Philomath) Finalists: House of Noodle and Sam City (both in Albany) and Tarn Tip and Thai Chili (both in Corvallis) Nang Sisouvanh has owned the The Woodsman on Main Street in Philomath for more than six years. “I like it here very much,” she said. “I love my customers.” Her husband, Keo Bounkhoum, owns the Thai Express restaurant in Oregon City.
VEGETARIAN Nearly Normal’s (Corvallis) Finalists: Laughing Planet (Corvallis), Sybaris (Albany), Terminus and New Morning Bakery (both
Dutch love and say ‘we appreciate your business.’ “Both with our employees and our customer base — it’s all one big family. I don’t feel like I go to work every day. I feel like I go hang out with my friends. “I love our customers, and I hope they love us back.”
on page 15)
COCKTAIL Vault 244 (Albany)
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NIGHT LIFE Finalists: del Alma, Terminus, Snugbar and Luc (all Corvallis) Back for a third consecutive win, Vault 244 is best known for its “craft cocktails.”Tour the scrolling menu at www.vault244.com: Smores Tini, Rhubarb Cooler, Rosemary Lime Cooler, Crater Lake
Smokey Martini lead the pack.
HAPPY HOUR Crowbar (Corvallis) Finalists: 101 (Corvallis), Vault 244 (Albany), Sweet Red Coffee & Wine Bistro (Albany), Aqua Seafood & Steaks (Corvallis) Crowbar offers happy hours from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Saturday.
MICROBREWERY Block 15 (Corvallis) Finalists: Calapooia Brewing (Albany), Flat Tail Brewing, Oregon Trail Brewery and Sky High Brewing & Pub (all Corvallis) It’s the third-straight win for Block 15, where six standard taps pour out a rotation of seasonal and specialty brews. Warm up your Oregon winter with a Sunshine Daydream: three types of hops dry-hopped before kegging and lagered for six weeks for a big-hop flavor with notes of citrus and herbs.
PLACE TO DO SOMETHING TO REGRET
14 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
LATE NIGHT GameTime Sports Bar & Grill (Lebanon)
Finalists: Vault 244 (Albany), Block 15 (Corvallis), Terminus Lounge (Corvallis), tie: Del Alma (Corvallis), Pop’s Branding Iron (Albany) the specialty beef sandwiches are cut from a prime rib roast made specifically for that purpose. Ribeye and filet Owner Kurt Waggle, right, and Manager Chris Borgmann at GameTime Sports Bar & Grill in Lebanon. mignon are featured DAVID PATTON | DEMOCRAT-HERALD items as well. “We cater to a lot of tastes,” Borgmann said. And it is a mixed crowd. Borgmann said young and old are among the regulars and there are new faces almost every Top of the Valley voters ty. GameTime first BY STEVE LATHROP night. With the baseball seemed to notice. Game- opened in Albany in TOP OF THE VALLEY World Series, along with LEBANON — When a lot Time was named the top 2007, according to Wagprofessional and college spot for late night eating. gle. He started the of people are thinking football and NBA basket“That’s really good about turning in for the Lebanon bar in 2010. ball about to begin, Ganight, others are looking news,” said owner Kurt “We had success there meTime is facing it’s Waggle. “We try to make and decided to open in for some good late night this a place where people Lebanon as well,” Waggle busiest season. food. “Our big nights are can come and have fun.” And when nighttime said. “It’s paid off really when Oregon and Oregon Both agreed that the appetites increase, Gawell.” State are playing,” menu is as big a draw as meTime Sports Bar & Borgmann said sports Borgmann said. “That rethe games on TV and the Grill in Lebanon steps up. bring people in but the ally brings them in.” drinks. They have made “We do have a steady menu has become imporLocated at 3130 S. providing good food a evening crowd,” said tant to the success the Santiam Highway, Game priority. Chris Borgmann, the bar has achieved. Along Time is open seven days a “We have some enticrestaurant manager. with typical bar fare — week from 10 a.m. to 2:30 ing dinner specials,” “We’ve had to keep our burgers, sandwiches, sala.m. Information is Borgmann said. “We cooks working longer to make our own soups and ads and pizza — there are available by calling 541meet the demand.” 570-1537 or visiting the have prime rib every Fri- regular entrees. Borgmann said that Chicken, pasta and website at www.gtday. The popularity of the the kitchen crew gets a fish dinners are part of food has let us expand second dinner rush sportsbar.com. the menu and beef is a our menu here.” around 10 p.m. and it is Along with its popular crowd pleaser. Besides usually a steady stream of The Lebanon site is menu, there is a full bar orders until midnight. one of two in Linn Coun- the prime rib Fridays, all SEE GAME TIME | 15
GameTime satisfies those late night cravings
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 15
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NIGHT LIFE Peacock Bar & Grill (Corvallis) Finalists: Out of town, Upstairs Downtown Tour & Wine Walk (Albany), Dixie Creek Saloon (Tangent), Trysting Tree Golf Club (Corvallis), a televised public meeting This downtown Corvallis bar — the winner in 2011, as well — has been a late-night hot spot for OSU students and older residents for decades.
PLACE TO GO DANCING/CLUBBING Riley’s Billiards Bar & Grill (Albany) Finalists: Peacock Bar & Grill and Impulse Bar & Grill (both Corvallis) Riley’s in downtown Albany has DJ nights, live music, tons of space and pool tables.
Sam City owner Christian Kim in his Albany restaurant. MARK YLEN | DEMOCRAT-HERALD
Sam City aims to serve up quality food BY HEATHER CRABTREE
PLACE TO TAKE A DATE LUC (Corvallis) Finalists: Vault 244 (Albany), Sybaris (Albany), Block 15 (Corvallis), Clemenza’s (Albany) The web address is www.i-loveluc.com. Nuff said.
PUB/BAR Flat Tail Brewing (See
GameTime Continued from page 14
and an outdoor eating area when weather permits. Game Time employs 15 and they are the lifeblood of the business. “Our success depends on our employees and we have a great crew,” Waggle said. “They make our customers happy.”
ers that placement appropriate since his restaurant incorporates flavors that ALBANY — Quality matters. At least that is aren’t strictly from one Sam City owner Christian ethnic group. Kim’s philosophy when it Sam City’s menu offers comes to the food he everything from Pho, a serves at his restaurant. Vietnamese rice noodle “In the restaurant busi- soup, to Korean dishes to ness, it’s all about consis- American cuisine. tency. We do a lot behind SEE SAM CITY | 16 the scenes, so when the product is served, it shows,” Kim said. With a philosophy like that, it is no wonder the Asian fusion restaurant in Albany charged ahead in the world cuisine category to take the top spot this year. Sam City also placed third in the best Thai food category, but Kim considTOP OF THE VALLEY
WORLD CUISINE Sam City (Albany)
Finalists: Sybaris (Albany), LUC (Corvallis), Novak’s Hungarian Restaurant (Albany) and Creperie du lys (Corvallis)
16 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
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NIGHT LIFE feature on page 17.)
ART GALLERY Tie: Pegasus Frame
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PLACES Studio & Gallery and The Arts Center (both Corvallis) Finalists: Art in the Valley, Giustina Gallery at LaSells Stewart Center and Fairbanks Gallery (all Corvallis) Pegasus on Second Avenue in downtown Corvallis won the honor in 2010, and The Arts Center, adjacent to Central Park, topped the list in 2011. So we’re not surprised by a tie in 2012.
COFFEEHOUSE Dutch Bros. (See feature on page 12.)
LIVE THEATER/
CONCERT VENUE Albany Civic Theater Finalists: Corvallis High School Theater, Monteith Riverpark (Albany), Tyee Wine Cellars (Corvallis) Now in its 62nd performance season, this all-volunteer operation won Best Local Theater Group in 2010 and 2011. Its next production, Jeffrey Finn and Bob Walton’s “Game Show,” opens Nov. 2.
MUSEUM Benton County Historical Society & Museum (Philomath) Finalists: Albany Regional Museum, Monteith House (Albany), Thompson’s Mills (Shedd), Linn County Historical Museum (Brownsville) The Benton County Historical Society has been preserving historical artifacts, photographs and manuscripts since 1951.
PLACE FOR KIDS IN SUMMERTIME Osborn Aquatic Center (Corvallis) Finalists: Corvallis Knights baseball games, Downtown Corvallis fountain/Corvallis Farmers Market, COOL! Pool (Albany), Boys & Girls Clubs, Waverly Lake paddle boats (Albany) Osborn Aquatic secured a place among the finalists in 2011 while its outdoor pool, Otter Beach, took first. With two pools, one Olympicsized and the other a small “therapy” pool, the center features family movie nights each month. The next one begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 16.
something we work so hard at,” Kim said. Sam City’s house Continued from page 15 dressing has also made a Pho is one of the name for itself. restaurant’s top sellers and “We started selling our has been since Kim teriyaki first, but came to opened Sam City in 2007 find out our house dresswith his wife, Samantha. ing is more popular,” said “We baby it for 13 Kim. hours. It takes a lot of work Customers stop in just to produce clear broth. It’s to pick up bottles of the
Sam City
PLACE TO BE CREATIVE Spearit Beads & Co. (Albany) Finalists: Surefire Design (Albany), Albany Tie Dye, Imagine Coffee & Live Arts (Corvallis) Spearit Beads and Co. is located in downtown Albany and boasts a variety of more than 3,000 sizes, styles and colors of beads. It also has more rare varieties, including gemstones and pearls that are sold both on strands and individually. Spearit won best customer service and downtown business in 2010.
PLACE TO GATHER
menu that changes every month depending on the crops.
PUBLIC PARK Avery Park (Corvallis) Finalists: Riverfront Park (Corvallis), Talking Water Gardens (Albany-Millersburg), Monteith Riverpark (Albany), Timber-Linn Memorial Park (Albany) Avery Park, the popular 75-acre park in south Corvallis, has won the top honor for the third year in a row.
WINERY Sweet Earth Vineyards (Monroe) Finalists: Lumos Wine Co.
Corvallis Saturday Farm- (Philomath), Emerson Vineyards ers Market (Monmouth), Tyee Wine Cellars
Finalists: Downtown Albany, Squirrel’s Tavern (Corvallis), American Dream Pizza (Corvallis), Corvallis Knights baseball games The Saturday Farmers Market at First and Jackson attracts hundreds of people from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday (April through Nov. 17). Its win this year follows a second-place finish in 2011.
PLACE TO IMPRESS OUT-OF-TOWNERS Sybaris (Albany)
(Corvallis), Marks Ridge Winery (Sweet Home) Purchased by its current owners in 2005, Sweet Earth specializes in Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.
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ACCO LADES
Finalists: Oregon State University, Sweet Earth Vineyards (Monroe), Vault 244 (Albany), Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop (Philomath) With a cozy location on First Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Albany, Sybaris was a 2011 finalist in this category, and Matt Bennett is a three-time winner for Best Chef. It aims to spotlight the best local foods with a
Emily Bell of Emy Lyn Photography (See feature on page 20.)
sesame-based dressing, and Kim hopes to eventually bottle and distribute it. He would also like to expand the restaurant’s offering of authentic Korean dishes, remodel the restaurant’s interior and even open another location in Corvallis or a second location in Albany.
As for winning best world cuisine: “I was tickled and flabbergasted,” said Kim. “We do our best to let the community know we exist, prepare great good and offer great service.” Adding later, “I’m pleased to know a lot of people in the area support us.”
ARTIST
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 17
PUB OR BAR Flat Tail Brewery (Corvallis)
Finalists: Calapooia Brewing Company (Albany), Les Caves (Corvallis), Vault 244 (Albany), Terminus (Corvallis) the business’ modest beginnings. He said they didn’t have a corporate sponsor or $1 million in startup funds. Flat Tail Brewery usually draws its largest crowds Friday nights before OSU home football games. Sean Martin, lead brewer at Flat Tail Brewing, scoops grain out of a mash tun while brewing cucumber “I think what people Berlinnerweisse earlier this month. really like about us our AMANDA COWAN | MID-VALLEY SUNDAY consistency,” Duncan said. “We have changed our menu and added different beers over time, but I think our quality has remained consistent. And then there’s the BY RAJU WOODWARD cated at the former Fox toward OSU,” said Iain wide selection of craft TOP OF THE VALLEY Duncan, who co-owns and Firkin site at 202 S.W. beer, from its flagship ofFlat Tail Brewing with Second St. It seats about Visit Flat Tail Brewery fering, Tailgater Kolsch to 90 people. and the main concepts be- Dave Marliave and Jason its spicy Jarabe Caliente. Duranceau. “Then we Duncan said that the hind the brewpub jump There’s usually between wanted to be able to intro- brewpub has exceeded his out at you. 14 to 20 beers on tap. About every inch of the duce sports fans to craft expectations, considering SEE FLAT TAIL | 19 walls is covered with Ore- beers.” And the combination gon State University athappears to be successful. letics memorabilia, from photos to autographed jer- Just two years after opening, Flat Tail earned the seys. Behind the bar is an im- most votes in the “Best pressive collection of craft Pub/Bar” category in the Gazette-Times’ 2011 Top beer on tap that’s brewed of the Valley Readers’ on site. “We wanted this to be a Choice Awards poll. Flat Tail Brewery is losports-themed, especially
Sports and craft beer: A winning combination
18 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
Buzz Wheeler shares his philanthropic spirit BY ALEX PAUL TOP OF THE VALLEY
ALBANY — Step into Buzz Wheeler’s office at Coastal Farm & Ranch in Albany and it’s easy to see he takes great pride in his home state of Nebraska. Red and white University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football regalia fills shelves, even though Wheeler is a 1972 University of Northern Colorado business graduate. Wheeler and his wife, Sheila, have called the mid-valley home for 22 years. Numerous community organizations have benefitted from their generosity, especially those that affect children and food share groups. That philanthropic spirit is one reason Wheeler was named the Best Local Person of the Year. “There’s no reason anyone should go hungry in this country,” Wheeler said. “If you have food in your stomach, it makes it a lot easier to look for a job.” The Wheelers are also major supporters of the local 4H and FFA programs, SafeHaven Humane Society, and the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA. “We’re for supporting anything that helps kids,”
PERSON OF THE YEAR Buzz Wheeler (Albany)
Finalists: Matt Boring, (Corvallis), Janel Bennett (Albany), Dave Henderer (Corvallis), Aleita Holcombe (Corvallis) Hale. “I visited the stores and asked them if they would be interested selling them,” Wheeler said. “Things were tight financially in those early years, but it was still fun.” Wheeler said there were only eight employees in those days and the company has grown to more than 400 employees Buzz Wheeler, owner of Coastal Farm and Ranch, was voted "Local today with eight stores in Person of the Year." Oregon and four in WashDAVID PATTON | DEMOCRAT-HERALD ington. “We plan to continue to Wheeler said. taught by his father. grow. It’s been fun, why In 2007, when budget Wheeler was managing not keep it going?” cuts threatened the paddle a farm store in Nebraska Wheeler said. “We believe boats on Waverly Lake, the when he was contacted by there are many more marWheelers stepped up and the owners of the kets where we can do the donated funds to keep Orscheln company, a Midthem operating. west chain of farm stores. same thing we’re doing Although surrounded The company had recently here.” Wheeler says the comby farms and ranches in purchased the three pany’s growth can be Grand Island, Neb., Coastal Farm & Ranch traced to “hiring good Wheeler grew up in town. stores in Albany, Woodpeople.” His father, Lloyd, was inburn and Eugene and volved in agricultural asked him to manage “Many of our employsales, and Wheeler credits them. ees either grew up on his business acumen and The company had been farms or ranches or still life’s credo to lessons started in 1963 by Maury SEE BUZZ WHEELER | 19
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 19
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ACCO LADES ARTS NONPROFIT The Carousel (See feature on page 23.)
ATHLETE Logan Storie Finalists: Jacob Pebley (Corvallis), Leslie Mak (Corvallis), Benjamin Duerr (Lebanon), Isaac Seumalo (Corvallis)
Buzz Wheeler Continued from page 18
live on them,” Wheeler said. Wheeler said each store is responsible for its sales progress, but merchandise mix is tightly controlled. “We don’t sell fancy stuff, but we have the things people need on the
Flat Tail Continued from page 17
“Our signature is that we don’t have a signature beer,” said Marliave, Flat Tail’s brewer. “That’s a good thing, we are always trying new ideas.” Duncan also said the establishment strives to use local meats and produce as often as possible. And helping reinforce its reputation as one of the midvalley’s top sports
Storie is a former Corvallis High School swimmer who competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha, Neb. Storie finished 55th overall in the 400-meter freestyle and 65th in the 200-meter free. He graduated from Corvallis in 2007 and competed collegiately at the University of Florida.
BARTENDER Seth Waddell (Crowbar, Corvallis) Finalists: Chris Churilla (Terminus, Corvallis), Kenny Szymanski (Wilhelm’s Spirits & Eatery, Albany), Robbie Wilson (Magenta, Corvallis), Kinn Edwards (del Alma Restaurant & Bar, Corvallis) Waddell is known for being innovative; he delights in creating new drinks, but also has a strong grasp on classic cocktails.
farm, whether that’s fencing supplies or Carhartt work clothes,” Wheeler said. At 62, Wheeler sees no sign of retiring. His daughter is an attorney in New York and his son is in real estate in Arizona. “Our key people have been with us 20 years,” Wheeler said. brewpubs, Flat Tail Brew-
CHEF Matt Bennett, Albany Finalists: Rick Byrd, Mama’s Fine Italian (Lebanon); J.C. Mersman, Gathering Together Farms (Philomath); Ian Hutchings, Luc (Corvallis); Mitch Rosenbaum, del Alma (Corvallis) Bennett, the mastermind behind Sybaris – not to mention First Burger and Clemenza’s and whatever other new restaurant he’s dreamed up this week – repeats as the winner in this increasingly competitive category.
COACH Mike Riley (Corvallis) Finalists: Logan Storie, Ken Provencher, Craig Robinson (Corvallis), Tanya Chaplin (Corvallis) Now the winningest football coach in Oregon State University
For the last five years, the company has returned $127,000 in SAIF rebates to employees. “As long as we’re working safely, it seems like the right thing to do,” Wheeler said. “Our motto is there’s nothing worth anyone getting hurt over. We like to give the money out in cash, too. It just seems like
at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Comcast Channel 37. ery has hosted Talkin’ And Oct. 13, Flat Tail Beavers, a Comcast Brewing was packed with SportsNet Northwest people watching the show that highlights OSU Beavers take on BYU. sports. Filming takes place Watching customers enMonday and the show airs joying tasty beer and the
history, Riley has been head coach for the Beavers since 2003 when he began his second stint at the OSU helm. He’s led OSU to five bowl wins, and the Beavers were unbeaten and ranked seventh in the country through the first six weeks of their 2012 season.
COMMUNITY SERVICE NONPROFIT Rotary Finalists: Community Outreach Inc. (Corvallis), Love INC (Albany and Corvallis), Vina Moses (Corvallis), Stone Soup (Corvallis) With a number of clubs and hundreds of members throughout the mid-valley, including Lebanon, Philomath, Albany and Corvallis, Rotary claimed the victory in this competitive category.
more fun that way.” Wheeler said he has never regretted moving to Albany. “It’s a great community and living in the mid-valley is the best,” Wheeler said. “The weather is mild and we’re close to everything.” Beavers was a welcome sight to the owners. “It was like watching a football at home times 20,” Duncan said. “It was incredible. That’s what we wanted when we opened this place.”
20 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
BEST ARTIST Emily Bell (Albany)
Finalists: Photography by Lainey Dyer (Corvallis), Melissa Babcock Saylor (Albany), Jan Maitland (Corvallis), Chris Becerra (Becerra Photography, Corvallis)
Photographer Emily Bell of Emy Lyn Photography in Albany was voted top artist.
Emily Bell wins with her portraits BY CATHY INGALLS TOP OF THE VALLEY ALBANY — Emily Bell has operated her Emy Lyn Photography business for less than four years and already the word is out about how good she is — good enough to be voted top artist in the 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards poll. “I’m so overly excited about this that it’s blowing my mind,” she said of the honor. “This is above and beyond anything I could have dreamed for my business.” Bell, 39, has been in the Albany-Corvallis area since 1993, when she arrived from California to pursue a degree in speech communication at Oregon State. After graduating, she married Albany police officer Curtis Bell. The couple have two children, Erin, 8, and Ian, 6. Bell’s interest in photography began in junior high and high school, where she enjoyed taking photographs of
people, never landscapes. “I tried to do pretty landscapes but honestly, I don’t see it,” she said. “But when I think about a portrait I almost know in advance what it will look like.” Bell put her interest in photography on hold until 1997 when she approached Barb Barker at Bowman Photography in Corvallis and asked Barker to teach her about photography and how to use a camera. Barker first put her to work cropping negatives at a light table. “There was a lot of repetition,” she said, “but it gave me a solid grasp of composition. After Barb thought I was ready I did senior photos and helped her at weddings.” Bell didn’t have any interest at that time of becoming a full-time photographer. Later, she bought a cheap digital camera to take pictures of her kids. “It wasn’t too terribly long
after that that people started saying ‘Wow that’s really good. Can you take pictures of my kids?’ And that’s when thing started to roll.” Bell got a Facebook page to post her photos and people posted Bell’s photographs on their Facebook pages “and before you know it, I had a full-blown business.” Bell specializes in weddings and girls senior pictures. She also does occasional “mini” family sessions that last a half hour.
About shooting weddings, she says. “I’m not just trying to capture pretty pictures, I’m trying to capture the bride and groom’s relationship. I want them to look at their pictures later and have them remember what was happening in the moment. I don’t even want them looking at the photographer.” Bell said her “business has grown so much I’m having to find ways to pull it back. My goal is to be a local, smaller business that puts out good work. I even doubled my prices last year to slow things down but it didn’t so I have to specialize to maintain being a mom and the wife of a cop with a crazy schedule.”
Bell, who works out of her home, doesn’t have a business phone. To reach her, look for her on the Internet under Emylyn.com or on Facebook at Emy Lyn Photography.
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 21
BAND Fate 55 (Corvallis)
Finalists: Little Rascalz (originally from Albany), all OSU bands, Xenat-Ra and Dave Plaehn & Jeff Hino (Corvallis)
Fate 55 wins for Local Band and frontman Don Thorp, far right, was voted top vocalist. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Filling the dance floor BY CORY FRYE TOP OF THE VALLEY
seem like family when we play.” Although they’ve experiFor 21 years Fate 55 has enced some turnover since been a major source of mid1991,the nucleus remains valley energy,electrifying the same: Thorp,bassist soirees,clubs and festivals Ricky Lee Smith and guiwith timeless classic rock. tarist Gale Farley.Second Their simple formula — guitarist Kendall Lee (once a fill the dance floor and keep member of Lynda “Wonder it moving — has earned them Woman” Carter’s group) Top Local Band honors in the and drummer Kelly Bilyeu third annual Readers’Choice complete the lineup. Awards poll.In fact,they Fate 55 averages about 20 won quite handily,leading shows per year and can play the field by nearly 7,000 anywhere from one to five votes. hours,thanks to a deep,di“The people who follow verse repertoire of some 150 us and love to dance bring songs.A partial list of covers their friends,so it’s built over is available at the years,” says frontman www.fate55.com,along with Don Thorp,who was also an email address for suggesnamed top vocalist.“It does tions.The band’s sole crite-
ria: the number’s got to move. “For every five songs we learn,we probably keep only one or two,” Farley says.“For a long time we had quite the compilation: Steely Dan, some jazz tunes.But for the past five or six years,we’ve concentrated more on rock because that’s what people
want to dance to.” Fate 55 has enjoyed a prolific 2012,performing at the Red,White & Blue Riverfront Festival and the Strawberry Festival,as well as their usual Mid-Valley Brewfest gig,in addition to a regular slate of concerts both public and private through the end of the year.Perhaps their greatest exposure came at this summer’s Linn County Fair,when they opened for Three Dog Night. “When I was a little kid, they were one of my favorites,” Thorp says.“Once I knew we were booked,I turned my 10-year-old son on to them and he became a big fan.He’s the only little kid who got a backstage pass. To see legends like that and hang out with them — that was cool.” SEE FATE 55 | 22
22 TOP OFTHE VALLEY
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ACCO LADES DOCTOR Patrick Allender (Corvallis Clinic) Finalists: Mark Rampton (Corvallis Family Medicine), Shawn Hathaway (Samaritan Pediatrics, Corvallis), Douglas Thayer (Calapooia Family Medicine, Albany), Bruce Byram (Philomath Family Medicine) Allender has been with the Corvallis Clinic since 1995. He gets rave reviews for going the extra mile for his patients.
FESTIVAL Corvallis Fall Festival Finalists: Northwest Art & Air Festival (Albany), Septembeerfest (Corvallis), Upstairs Downtown Loft Tour & Wine Walk (Albany), Lebanon Strawberry Festival A repeat winner, Corvallis Fall Festival celebrated its 40th year in
September. The next fest is scheduled for Sept. 28-29, 2013.
LOCAL BAND Fate 55 (See feature on page 21.)
LOCAL MUSIC SERIES River Rhythms (Albany) Finalists: Corvallis-OSU Symphony, Musicafe Rock School outdoor shows (Albany/Corvallis), Best Cellar Coffeehouse (Corvallis), Lebanon Community Chorus River Rhythms won in 2010 and 2011, and this year’s vote was once again a landslide. Locals packed the lawn at Monteith Riverpark to hear bands such as WAR, Hot 8 Brass Band and Ricky Skaggs.
LOCAL PERSON OF THE YEAR Buzz Wheeler (See feature on page 18.)
LOCAL THEATER GROUP Albany Civic Theater Finalists: Corvallis/Crescent Valley High School, Lebanon Association for Theatre Arts Albany Civic Theater gets a three-peat in this category. Its past
once the party starts.” Two decades later,that party shows no signs of Continued from page 21 stopping,and there’s no Sports fans catch the pressure to be more than a band’s semiregular sets at the traveling celebration. Peacock Bar & Grill following “We have no grand illuOregon State University sions of being stars,” Farley home football games,a tradi- explains.“We’re just a garage tion since the mid-2000s. cover band.It’s still fun,and Whether the Beavers win or the crowd actually entertains lose,Fate 55 delivers,and even us.Plus,if you’ve got a lot of bitter rivals have a blast. stress,you go on and play, “We’ve played after Civil and you leave it all behind. You feel so much better Wars games when they’ve been up here,and it’s all been when you’re done.” “There’s no reason to do it happy times,” Bilyeu says. if you’re not getting some “Once the game’s over, everyone gets along,” Thorp enjoyment out of it,” Bilyeu agrees.“All that goes away adds.“It keeps us young.”
Fate 55
year has included diverse shows such as “Curtains,” “A Streetcar Named Desire” and the West Coast premiere of “Pirates of the Chemotherapy.”
LOCAL UPROAR Central Albany Revitalization Area Finalists: Plastic bag ban, food cart controversy, traffic circles and Da Vinci Days (all Corvallis) CARA, the urban renewal agency, is charged with eliminating blight in Albany’s core area. Some people are critical of the city spending public money on private projects. Tom Cordier got enough voter signatures to place two city-debt limiting initiatives on the March 2013 ballot. One seeks a vote before another urban renewal district is formed or the current one is substantially changed.
PARADE Veterans Day Parade (Albany) Finalists: Corvallis Parks & Recreation Children’s Parade, Strawberry Festival Parade (Lebanon), Downtown Twice Around Christmas Parade (Albany), Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade (Harrisburg), OSU Homecoming Parade Billed as the biggest Veterans Day Parade west of the Mississippi River, the Albany tradition has won this category three years in a row. This year’s parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in downtown Albany.
TEACHER Mike Reardon (East Linn Christian Academy, Lebanon) Finalists: Brian Wake (Corvallis High School), Everett Hartman (West Albany High School), Ryan King (Lebanon High School), Jenny
Swanson (Muddy Creek Charter School), Kim Perdue (Hoover Elementary School, Corvallis) Reardon is a jack of all trades at East Linn. In addition to teaching pre-calculus, chemistry, history, world views and contemporary issues, he serves as an advisor for senior students.
VOCALIST Don Thorp (Waterloo) Finalists: Audrey Perkins, Gale Hazel, Rita Brown and Cassandra Robertson (all Corvallis), Georgiana Rodriguez (Albany) Thorp is the powerful singer for classic rock band Fate 55. (See feature on page 21.)
WAIT STAFF Kalee Bolshakoff (101, Corvallis) Finalists: Sybaris (Albany), Carino’s (Albany), Vault 244 (Albany), Adrienne Marler (Luc, Corvallis) Bolshakoff is described by her boss, Brant Pollard, as very engaging. He said she does a good job of reading her customers. Sybaris finished at a very close second, with waiter Jesse Brown singled out for his service.
WRITER Christina Nelson (Corvallis) Finalists: Kathleen Dean Moore, Karen Barnett, Marjorie Sandor and Don Iler (all Corvallis) Nelson is a Corvallis writer who is one of the country’s leading Christian fiction authors. She received the honor of finalist in two categories in the Genesis Contest for American Christian Fiction Writers.
Albany Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Gazette-Times and Lebanon Express, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 23
ARTS NONPROFIT Albany Historic Carousel Museum
Finalists: The Arts Center (Corvallis), Albany Civic Theater, Majestic Theater (Corvallis) stance, wearing Murphy’s favorite color — purple — with 12 tadpoles on her apron, one for each of Murphy’s children. Crunchy, a Shetland pony adopted in memory of Morris HunsakA model of the Albany Historic Carousel illustrates the placement of the creatures, while drawings of er, carries the family cat, animals for the carvers to reference adorn the walls of the carving studio in Albany. Mau, behind his saddle. MARK YLEN | DEMOCRAT-HERALD Visitors can watch the carvers work, ask questions and even run their fingers over the 4,000 handcarved scales on the Chinook — all for free. Some 2,000 visitors check out the museum every month, ground in 2013 on a new BY JENNIFER MOODY When completed, the from every state in the TOP OF THE VALLEY building at its studio site, carousel will feature 52 reg- country and all the U.S. ter503 First Ave. W. The build- ular animals, two chariot ritories. ALBANY — Aaand, it’s ing will house the carousel, benches, six replacements A recent art auction and the Albany Historic powered by an antique, and three to five seasonal sales raised about $6,000 Carousel Museum for the animals. vote for top Arts Nonprofit, working mechanism dofor the carousel project, exnated to Albany by the famEach figure has been de- ceeding a goal of $5,000. winning by a nose! ily of creator Gustav signed specifically for its Make that about 25 For more information, Dentzel. noses by the end of this sponsor. The family of check out the museum’s Carvers have put in more Anna Murphy designed year, all belonging to aninew website at www.al than 137,000 hours so far mals designed, carved and Harriette the frog, for inbanycarousel.com. sculpting blocks of basspainted by hand. wood into the legs, ears, Inspired by similar tails and whiskers of the carousel projects in Salem and in Missoula, Mont., Al- figures that carousel will hold. bany’s carousel is a nonLocal species — a hare, a profit, volunteer project bear, a Chinook salmon — taking shape over more share quarters with more than a decade of work. exotic species, such as a giThe current artist studio raffe and an elephant, as also holds a free museum well as a dragon, a griffin, a featuring antique carousel unicorn and others who live figures and memorabilia. The plan is to break only through imagination.
Hand-crafted animals make the Carousel go ’round
24 TOP OFTHE VALLEY