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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2012)
Applegater Fall 2012 1 U.S. Postage Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, Inc. P.O. Box 14 Jacksonville, OR 97530 Paid Non-Profit Permit No. 50 Grants Pass, OR 97526 Log on to our website www.applegater.org Photo by Teya Jacobi FALL 2012 Volume 5, No. 3 Applegate Valley Community Newspaper Serving Jackson and Josephine Counties — Circulation: 9,300 Your Applegater needs YOU! Postal Patron TRENDS AND OBSERVATIONS Lady lost It’s that time of year when we ask you—our readers and friends—to help support the Applegater. Our financial situation is even more critical this year because we were unable to hold our annual BBQ fundraiser this past spring, and printing and mailing costs are continually rising, in spite of utilizing the cheapest methods and materials available to us. Although revenue from our loyal advertisers helps greatly, it isn’t enough to cover our costs. The Applegater needs your DONATIONS! A donation envelope tucked into the centerfold of this issue makes it easy for you to send a tax-deductible donation to the newspaper. Put this envelope with your bills and when you are writing your checks include one to the Applegater (or donate online at www.applegater.org using your credit card or PayPal). The Applegater is mailed quarterly to each household in the Applegate watershed, which stretches from Wonder and Wilderville in Josephine County, to the Red Buttes Wilderness area in Siskiyou County, to McKee Bridge and Jacksonville Hill in Jackson County, and everywhere in between. Although you receive it for free, the costs are considerable to prepare, publish and mail, even with most of the work being done by unpaid volunteers. Keep it coming! Over the last 18 years, the Applegater has been your source of interesting, educational and relevant news, events and activities that are important to you. In addition, volunteer Applegater contributors keep our fellow Applegaters informed about fire, fish, farming, wildlife, forestry projects and community activities. Interesting stories, commentaries and a sprinkling of humor also make the Gater what it is today. Our online calendar showcases events all over the region and is a source of news and other information between Gater publications. The Gater website has articles exclusive to our site, and the readership of the online version is steadily rising. Please help keep the Applegater coming to your mailbox. Thank you for your donations and thanks to all who have supported us throughout the years, especially the 50-plus volunteers who contribute their time to help keep our community informed and entertained. Board of Directors Applegater Newspaper bY RAunO PERTTu My wife Jan passed away early on the morning of June 25. She was 62. Five days earlier, her dementia had taken away even her ability to swallow. So began the vigil for me and our children Kirk and Emily. In the end, death was merciful in freeing her from Jan Perttu racing down the slopes of Mount Hood. the personal prison that had been slowly built by her progressing disease. Yet distinguished herself, including winning no matter how merciful, it was still painful. the Shakespeare Cup and other trophies Some of us are lucky enough to have at our local Mount Ashland. Her love the person we fall head over heels for of skiing led Jan to Colorado College in actually love us in return. With Jan, I was Colorado Springs, and onto the college ski one of those lucky people. We shared 38 team. After her first year, she decided to eventful years and two children together. I take a year off and became a “ski bum” at wish we could have had many more years, Steamboat Springs. After her year of fun, but life granted me those 38, so I have she returned to Portland and enrolled at to consider myself very lucky. She was a Portland State University in geology, which special lady. was a fortunate choice for me because it led Jan grew up in Portland in a family to our eventual meeting. of skiers. She had an older brother who When I met Jan, she was an honors died many years ago in an automobile graduate student in geology at Portland accident, and a younger sister who lives State. Our geology connection and the near Whitefish, Montana. They had a cabin fact that she was an intelligent, attractive at Mount Hood and spent many winter blonde with a delightful sense of humor weekends there, where everyone including caught my attention. I quickly realized her mother and father “hit the slopes.” that I would have to become a skier if I Her parents took the family to many ski were to have any long-term chance with areas and ski competitions, where Jan See LADY LOST, page 8 Applegate Valley Days 2012 a success bY DAViD LAAnAnEn The first Applegate Valley Days, held on June 23 and 24, was a success. Although the weekend weather, including a very wet Saturday, wasn’t the best, more than 500 people took part. One of the goals of the weekend was to introduce people to Cantrall-Buckley Park, Christina Duane performs with Butch and Skip of Sons of the Oregon Trail. Photo by Hincks Photography. a Jackson County park that is operated by the nonprofit Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation in partnership with the county. Many visitors were delighted to see and tour this beautiful facility on the Applegate River. Most of the events were held at the park. Showcasing the history of the area were displays of old logging equipment (thanks to Bob Baize) and antique cars (thanks to the Rogue Valley Model A Club), as well as demonstrations of gold panning. Also at the park, 35 vendors showed off their local products, including arts and crafts and a variety of outstanding locally produced food See APPLEGATE VALLEY DAYS, page 22 INSIDE THE GATER Get yer goat...........................................................................page 4 Great gardens start with sweet Winter Dreams......page 15 Federal grant approved to restore McKee Bridge.....page 6 Thin for quality and health, not spacing....................page 16