4 Winter 2016 Applegater
Creating our future together:
Applegate Valley Economic
Vitality Roadmap
BY BONNIE RINALDI
You may have heard about the
Applegate Valley Economic Vitality
Roadmap Project. This project began
with some focus group meetings with
local residents in October, followed by a
larger community meeting on November
3. In two more community meetings,
one in December and one in January,
the Applegate community priorities will
be developed.
Last spring, staff from Rural
Development Initiatives (RDI),
s u p p o r t e d b y t h e Fo rd Fa m i l y
Foundation, approached Applegate
residents who were members of the
foundation’s former Leadership Groups
and the Greater Applegate Community
Development Corporation (GACDC)
about an opportunity to bring the
community together to identify priorities
for action.
Because it has been a long time since
the entire Applegate Valley watershed
has come together to discuss broad
community issues, the group decided
that it would be helpful to hear from
the community and make efforts to
determine our future.
This planning-and-doing
process is called the Applegate Valley
Economic Vitality Roadmap Project. In a
fast-action, four-month process (October
2016 through January 2017), RDI
staff is facilitating the development of
a “roadmap to economic success in the
Applegate Valley,” which includes:
• Evidence-based community economic
assessment
• Focus group meetings (held in October
to gain some insight on the current
thoughts of our residents and business
owners)
• Several community meetings
(November 3, December 1, and a
January date to be determined)
• Surveys and interviews to identify
priorities for action
• Development of a short list of top
community priorities for action for
economic and community improvement
• 90-day-plus action plans and
community action teams to implement
the identified priorities
At the community meetings on
November 3, RDI presented some
interesting data about the Applegate
Valley’s demographics. They also
presented some emerging themes from
the interviews and surveys received
to date. Frequently heard words were
“beautiful,” “diverse,” “abundant,”
“creative,” “sacred soil,” “exceptional
environment,” and “outstanding
recreational opportunities,” along with
phrases like, “We came here to live our
dreams and are passionate about the
place,” “Employment opportunities are
See VITALITY ROADMAP, page 5
•••BIZ bits•••
BizBits highlights businesses new to the area, holding special events, or offering new products.
If you are a business owner, let us know when you move into the area or to a different location,
hold a special event, expand your business, or mark a milestone.
Email Shelley Manning at manningshelley@icloud.com.
Art Presence. This gallery in the annex of the museum in Jacksonville is excited
to announce that Diana Coogle will be reading at a
reception for her new book, Wisdom of the Heart, co-
authored with artist Barbara Kostal, on Saturday, January
7, at 2 pm. Each of Diana’s essays was inspired by a painting
by Barbara, also in the book. An exhibit of 20 paintings
will be in the upstairs room of Art Presence throughout
January. 206 N. 5th Street, Jacksonville • 541-899-3759
• artpresence.org • annebrooke@ watercolor.com.
• • •
Casablanca. Whenever I ask people for restaurant recommendations in Grants
Pass, Casablanca is inevitably mentioned. How exciting that they just opened another
restaurant in Murphy! Opened by owners Andy Baida
and Eric Losoya on October 8, Casablanca serves a
variety of high-quality ingredients in wraps, tortas,
and boxes. They also serve salads, soup, tots,
smoothies, and fancy coffee drinks. Did it live up to
the talk? I say “yes”! My Casa Special box was delicious
and the Casa’s house sauce rocks! There’s even a drive-
through for your convenience. Inside is tidy, pleasant,
and inviting. Open Monday - Friday 6:30 am – 9 pm,
Saturday 8 am – 8 pm, Sunday 9 am – 5 pm • 6410 Williams Highway, Murphy
(near Union 76 gas station and Circle K) • 541-846-3131.
• • •
The Crossroads Cafe. Owner Chris Atkins opened The Crossroads Cafe in
Williams last August after making major renovations. When Chris moved to Williams
from Chicago about a year ago, he saw a need for more restaurants in the area. And
“I like to eat,” Chris added. The cafe specializes in local and organic farm-fresh
food. They offer breakfast all day and feature a kids’ menu. For lunch and dinner,
there are burgers, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Many vegetarian and gluten-free
options are available, too. With Chris’s years of experience catering music festivals,
The Crossroads Cafe is equipped to accommodate large orders and to cater events.
Open daily from 8 am - 8 pm • 120 Cedar Flat Road, Williams (just past Takubeh
and Williams Country Store) • 541-846-0120.
• • •
Devitt Winery. Devitt, which defines boutique wine-making in the Applegate
Valley, recently announced their new wine club. Member benefits include a 15
percent discount on all wine purchases and a 25 percent discount on all cases,
including mixed; no tasting fee for members or guests; monthly newsletter; and
semiannual shipment of either three or six bottles (cost not to exceed $60 plus
shipping for three bottles or $120 for six bottles). Pick up wine to avoid shipping
costs (wine not picked up in a month will be shipped). Shipments will be made in
the spring and the fall. Advance notice will be emailed. The Devitt Winery tasting
room is a must. You will experience what passion and art taste like when blended
with wine-making. Devitt is open year-round from 12 - 5 pm (look for the “Open”
sign) • 11412 Highway 238, Jacksonville • 541-899-7511 • devittwinery.com.
• • •
The Great Unbaked Chocolate Factory. Sample delicious new holiday
creations—pumpkin spiced and candy cane truffle balls—along with the many other
creative truffle flavors! Check out the award-
winning, raw, non-GMO, fair trade, vegan,
organic chocolates and desserts, too. Raw
chocolate retains vitamins, minerals, and
phytochemicals, giving you even more
reasons to eat chocolate. Perfect for holiday
gifts! Stop by Monday - Thursday from 8:30
am - 4 pm • 8880 Williams Highway,
Grants Pass • 541-450-9080.
The Honeysuckle Cafe. Too busy to bake? The Honeysuckle Cafe announces
holiday baked offerings! Applegate Apple Pie made with organic local apples: $26;
Pumpkin Pie made with locally sourced pumpkins:
$22; Pecan Pie: $30; Linzer Torte: $32; Raspberry
Linzer Tart: $25; Chocolate Pumpkin Tart with
toasted pumpkin seeds and ginger snap crust (see
photo): $30; French Apple Tart: $26; Carrot Cake
(serves 10 - 12): $30; Local Pear Cake: $26;
Cinnamon Rolls: half- dozen—$27, dozen—$54.
Pies and tarts serve eight. Orders must be placed
by Friday, December 16, and picked up on
Thursday, December 22, between 8 am - 12 pm. Open Wednesday - Sunday, 8 am
- 3 pm • 7360 Highway 238, Jacksonville (Ruch) • 541-702-2525.
• • •
Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds. After a long summer collecting native seeds
in the foothills and mountains of the Applegate and beyond, Klamath-Siskiyou
Native Seeds has updated its inventory for those
seeking locally sourced, wildcrafted native plant
seeds. With a focus on flowering native pollinator
plants, the motto of Klamath-Siskiyou Native
Seeds is “Grow Native, Grow Wild.” Online mail-
order for packets of native seeds is available, as
well as seed-collection contracting for larger
amounts of seed. Native plant seeds are used in
Black-tailed bumble bee foraging
habitat restoration projects, land stewardship, and
on sulphur flower buckwheat.
gardens of all kinds: pollinator gardens, butterfly
gardens, rock gardens, permaculture, food forests, native hedges, ornamental gardens,
and more! Support native plant conservation and local, sustainable business in the
Applegate Valley. klamathsiskiyou@gmail.com • klamathsiskiyouseeds.com.
• • •
Derick Price, Home Quest Realty. For the last 17 years Derick was a firefighter
and fire hazard specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry, but he recently
made the change to a full-time real estate broker. He chose to sign on with Home
Quest Realty because the company shares both his desire to treat each client like
family and his commitment to service to community.
Over the last decade and a half, Derick worked with
families in and around the Applegate Valley to reduce
the fire hazard around their properties. Now he’s able
to help in different ways, giving information about a
home’s current market value, advising how to increase
marketability, and answering other real estate-related
questions and needs. Call, text, or email anytime at
541-621-7049 or derick@HomeQuestOregon.com.
• • •
Williams General Store. Tom and Heather Glass took ownership of the Williams
General Store in July with the vision of
keeping it “country.” After Tom spotted
the General Store on the Internet, the
Glass family decided to relocate from
Beaverton to Williams. Come in and
you’ll notice a buffed-up General Store
that embraces its history and boasts
lower prices and more products.
Heather wants you to find everything
you need to fix dinner and is open to
requests if you need something you
don’t see. Future plans include opening a deli! Open Monday - Saturday 7 am - 9
pm, Sunday 9 am - 6 pm • 20180 Williams Highway, Williams • 541-846-6212.
