Applegater Fall 2013 15
FEATURED ADVERTISER
Each issue, the Applegater features one of our valued advertisers. Here is the story of Crater
Chain Saw in Medford, Oregon, one of our long-time advertisers.
Applegate Library
The Friends of the Applegate Library
met on July 9 to discuss the future of the
15 branch libraries of Jackson County
and what ideas we might have to keep the
libraries open. Kim Wolfe, the Jackson
County Library director, explained that
unless some other funding sources could
be found, 14 of the branch libraries would
close by June of 2014. Only the Main
Library in downtown Medford would
be allowed to remain open. One of the
county commissioners, Don Skundrick,
proposed an annual $84 surcharge ($7
per month) to support the libraries, the
Jackson County Jail and other operations,
but it was turned down in a survey and
thus lost the vote of the commissioners.
There will be a series of public hearings
by the county commissioners to gather
ideas from local citizens as to how we
might raise enough funding to keep the
libraries open. The first one was held on
July 16 at the courthouse and was well
attended. Also, anyone who might want
to add his or her ideas can pick up a
survey paper at the desk of the Applegate
Branch Library. Please write to your
commissioners at the following addresses:
John Rachor at rachorjv@jacksoncounty.
org, Don Skundrick at skundrickdw@
jacksoncounty.org, and Doug Breidenthal
at breidedp@jacksoncounty.org.
On a more positive note, John
Jackson presented his interesting program
on worms and composting on July 16 as
part of our Summer Reading program,
“Dig Into Reading,” and Carol Hoon
announced her project for raising funds
for our library. Called “Hats Off to the
Libraries,” Carol is gathering the knitters
of our community to knit hats to sell at
the Applegate Library. The sale will take
place on October 18 from 2 – 6 pm, and
on October 19 from 10 am - 2 pm. If you
are interested in knitting a hat for this
project, call Carol at 541-787-7261. She
has obtained some beautiful yarn from The
Websters in Ashland, who donated their
yarn for this project. She also has patterns
to share.
We have set a date for the celebration
of our restored storage shed. We will have
an Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 5,
from 2 - 5 pm. This will include making
apple cider with a cider press, pumpkin
decorating and many treats to eat and
admire. Please join us for the fun! This is
a good time to bring your books to donate
to our November book sale.
Joan Peterson • 541-846-6988
Ruch Library
We have had a busy and successful
Summer Reading Program with 77
children and 15 teenagers signed up. 
More than a dozen adults participated in
the Adult Summer Reads program as well. 
The presentations were enthusiastically
attended. Children and adults learned about
fossils and worms, creating fairy houses,
making jewelry with repurposed t-shirts,
painting with natural earth pigments made
from rocks, and transforming river rocks
into clever houses, monsters or cars with a
little paint and lots of imagination. 
During September, we will have a
basket collection on display belonging to
Diane Wickstrom, a retired anthropologist. 
For October, we have scheduled Girl Toys,
a display of collectible and interesting toys. 
Free computer classes will be offered
again in case you missed the last sessions or
need some review.  Basics I runs September
12 through October 3 on Thursdays from
2 - 4 pm.  On October 10, the next level,
Basics II, begins and runs through October
31, also from 2 - 4 pm.  Please sign up in
advance for any classes that interest you.
Our Annual Friends of Ruch Library
Book Sale is scheduled for October 11 and
12 under the tent on the corner of 238 and
Upper Applegate Road.  Sign up to become
a member of the Friends of Ruch Library
so you can buy books on Friday. Saturday
the sale is open to everyone.
The A-Frame Bookstore adjacent
to the library is open on Tuesdays from
12 - 4 pm, Thursdays from 1 - 5 pm and
Saturdays 12 - 4 pm.  There is a wonderful
and constantly changing collection of great
books for sale.  Come check it out!
Your preschoolers are welcome to join
us for Storytime every Tuesday at 11:30
am.  Ruch Library is a cool place to beat
the heat—see you there!
Thalia Truesdell
Ruch Branch Manager
541-899-7438
Crater Chain Saw
Many things on Riverside
Avenue in Medford have
changed over the years, but
Crater Chain Saw has been
there for 48 years.  Started
in 1965,  Crater Chain Saw
has been owned and operated
by the same family. They are
proud to be a local family-
owned business whose number
one priority is to provide their
professional and homeowner
customers with the highest
quality products and service.
Crater Chain Saw carries the complete Stihl line of power
The store carries the
equipment and original factory manufactured parts.
complete Stihl line of power
equipment, which includes chain saws, Chain Saw is proud that, over the 45 years
blowers, trimmers, brush cutters, pole they have carried the Stihl line, they have
saws, cultivators and cut-off machines, as been designated an Elite dealer every year.
well as their new line of lithium battery-
Being a local family-owned business,
powered equipment.  All equipment they are involved in community projects,
when purchased includes  free set-up especially those that involve the youth of
and instructions.  They also register all our community.
warranty, perform any needed warranty
The store carries a full line of Carhartt
work and carry a complete line of original clothing in men’s (small through 4x-large,
factory manufactured parts.  Their factory- some 5x-large, and talls up to 3x-large),
trained mechanics include one with women’s x-small through 2x-large), infants
the highest certification Stihl has for a and toddlers (3 months through size 4).
mechanic.
The store carries pants in denim and
Stihl saws range from homeowner Carhartt duck material; some are double
saws starting with 12” bars to professional front with an extra layer of fabric over
saws with up to 42” bars. They also carry the knee. Some styles go to size 58. Also
chain saws made specifically for the tree available are flannel-lined jeans and pants.
service customer. The Stihl trimmers start
In stock are over 20 colors of men’s
with battery powered or electric for home pocket, sleeveless and long -sleeved t-shirts;
use. For landowners and professionals, shorts; woven shirts in both short and long
heavy duty and commercial use brush sleeves; shirt jackets; sweaters; coats; jackets;
cutters are available. The brush cutters also waterproof and breathable rainwear; vests;
have a variety of attachments that can be sweatshirts; socks; gloves; long underwear;
used on specific models. Many are ideal for hats; and wallets.
clearing property for fire safety.
In Carhartt women’s pants, unlined
As landowners themselves, the folks and flannel-lined are available. Shirts,
at Crater Chain Saw use many of these sweatshirts, vests, tank tops, coats and
products to keep their own properties ready jackets, long underwear,  socks, caps,
for fire season. This enables them to help wallets and bags are in stock.
advise what tools work best for each job. 
In infant-toddler sizes are bibs, pants,
For the homeowner or professional, onesies, shirts, sweatshirts and sets.
they carry a wide range of pole saws that
Crater Chain Saw offers discounts for
are both manual and gas powered. Some larger orders, and can also handle custom-
are fixed lengths and some extendable.
embroidered items for your company.
The store carries bar oil, mix oil, safety
They invite you to come in and see
glasses, safety chaps, gas cans, bars  and all they have to offer both in product
miscellaneous items for your equipment, and service. The address is 1321 North
and replacement chain up to 100-foot rolls. Riverside, Medford, Oregon. Phone: 541-
Stihl classifies their dealers—an Elite 772-7538. Hours are Monday - Friday 8
dealer being the highest level. Crater am - 5:30 pm, and Saturday 8 am - 12 pm.
Williams Library:
A thriving community resource for all ages!
The Williams branch of Josephine
Community Libraries is an important part
of our community and here to serve you
in valuable ways. Although our building
is small, there is something for everyone.
Community. This summer 50
children enrolled in the Summer Reading
Program, enjoyed books, and earned
prizes each week. The library’s children’s
book collection is now more conveniently
arranged. Hundreds of books were moved,
and outdoor cleanup projects were
completed by volunteers in partnership
with AmeriCorps and College Dreams.
The Williams Elementary School Garden
is behind our library and we invite you to
enjoy our new outdoor reading and WiFi
area under its shade trees in the butterfly
and vegetable gardens.
Resources. Our small library branch
is part of a four-branch system, and
patrons can reserve materials from any of
the branches, which will then be brought
out to Williams by a volunteer courier.
This allows Williams residents to have
convenient access to thousands of books,
DVDs and audio books.
Access. There are exciting changes
at the Williams Library. Our hours have
expanded thanks to a generous donation
by Herb Pharm, and matched by an
outpouring of community support. In
July, library enthusiasts came together to
host a yard sale, complete with activities
for kids, refreshments, and local musicians
(see photo). The funds we raised were then
topped off by Southern Oregon Sanitation,
allowing us to extend service hours. The
Adopt-an-Hour program allows the
community to find the funds to extend
library services. Each additional hour at
the Williams Library costs $37.14, which
is $1,931.28 for an entire year. Annually
sustainable donations to this fund are
always welcome.
Nonprofit. Josephine Community
Libraries reopened in 2009 after Josephine
County cut all funding in 2007. We are
a donor-supported, volunteer-operated
library system. We need your help here
at the Williams branch. Donating is easy,
and becoming a $5-a-month contributor
takes just one simple form. Without you,
we cannot continue to thrive.
Volunteers keep the books flowing
and help us offer exciting programs.
Volunteering is also great for teens and
instills the value of helping others. If
you would like to join us for even one
hour a week, please contact branch
manager Danielle Schreck at dschreck@
josephinelibrary.org or call 541-846-7020,
or stop by the library at 20695 Williams
Highway during our new extended hours
of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
from 1 - 5 pm.
Danielle Schreck • 541-846-7020
dschreck@josephinelibrary.org