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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2017)
Applegater Fall 2017 7 NONPROFIT NEWS AND UPDATES — New name and direction for GACDC — Announcing “A Greater Applegate”: a new name and direction for GACDC. No matter how long you’ve lived in the Applegate, you have probably had some opportunity to enjoy Cantrall Buckley Park: picnicking, family and community celebrations, swimming, fishing, and hiking at this Applegate Valley treasure. But not everyone knows that the park, owned by Jackson County, is run by community people. Since 1996, a local nonprofit group with the awkward acronym of GACDC (Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation) and its Park Committee have kept the park open, thriving, changing, and getting better all the time. The Applegater has reported on many of those improvements in recent issues. The GACDC and those of us who use the park appreciate everyone who contributes financially beyond the modest $5 per car parking fee. The need to raise funds to operate and improve the park is constant, and we must use every opportunity to pass the hat—including now! You can contribute to Cantrall Buckley or to the general operation of GACDC by writing a check to GACDC and sending it to PO Box 335, Jacksonville, OR 97530. But that’s not the full story we want to tell. GACDC was created to operate the park, but its broader mission is to provide assistance, coordination, and resources necessary for economic and social activities that help sustain the livability of our community. Through the years that mission has led us to produce directories, surveys, and local initiatives, and to support other efforts in the valley. Most recently, we hosted the Applegate Valley Roadmap Project, led by Rural Development Initiatives and supported by the Ford Family Foundation, Applegate Valley Oregon Vintners Association, and Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce Foundation. A series of six community meetings brought to the surface a number of proposals and issues to address, including promotion of local and home-based businesses, economic opportunities aligned with Applegate Valley values, and challenges facing young people and families. The roadmap project has led us to a new and exciting opportunity to support the many interests of the Applegate Valley. A smaller group of organizational partners and community members is now meeting with consultants funded by the Ford Family Foundation to create a free community website, with tech support, which would enable public, nonprofit, and local businesses to share and manage their own events, stories, and more. The GACDC is a volunteer-led organization run by a small board whose members reside or work in the Applegate watershed in both Jackson and Josephine counties. Our board continues to consider new ways to better serve and represent the Applegate Valley. We recently decided to change our unwieldy name to “A Greater Applegate,” and filed the necessary paperwork with the State of Oregon. We believe A Greater Applegate better reflects our vision as we continue to grow beyond our work as stewards of Cantrall Buckley Park. We have also decided to expand our board to incorporate more age and racial diversity, while reflecting the expanding work of community building. Our role continues to evolve, and we are excited by the new opportunities. If you are interested in joining us as a funder or volunteer, please contact board chair Seth Kaplan at SethKaplanConsulting@ gmail.com, board vice chair Paul Tipton at ptipton@frontier.com, or write to us at PO Box 335, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Paul Tipton • ptipton@frontier.com Help support the Applegater by purchasing these unique items! Book. From the Heart of the Applegate anthology of original essays, poems, and short stories contributed by Applegate Valley writers in support of the Applegater. Available now for $16 at Amazon.com and applegater.org; Applegate Valley Realty, Jacksonville; Bloomsbury Books, Ashland; Oregon Books, Grants Pass; and Terra Firma, Jacksonville. Planter. Beautiful planters built with donated local wood and volunteer labor. See these useful and long-lasting “Applecrates” at Applegate Valley Realty, 935 N. Fifth Street, Jacksonville. A stock planter box, 12” wide x 22” long x 14” deep, starts at $40. For more information, call Chris Bratt at 541-846-6988. — McKee Bridge Centennial Celebration — The McKee Bridge Centennial Celebration on June 10 was over whelmingly successful despite the cool, cloudy w e a t h e r. T h e Applegate Lions Club provided tasty tri-tip sandwiches and hot dogs for folks to enjoy while listening to the Old Time Fiddlers produce some fine music for a couple of hours. Then Christina Lynn Martin and Butch Martin provided songs and poems with a local flavor, and Merle Ming Old Time Fiddlers entertained at the McKee Bridge got in a couple of Centennial Celebration in June. Photo: Patty Elliott. poems from his repertoire before the rain came in. On display were vehicles from the Stray park, our volunteers and helpers who Cats Car Club and a local Porsche club, showed up at just the right time to do and antique steam and gas engines from what needed doing, whether behind the the Hit and Miss Club. Local crafters scenes or right out front, and the dedicated displayed their wares alongside nonprofit committee members of the McKee Bridge groups, writers, and book and bake sales. Historical Society who spent so much time Several historical displays drew people onto and energy preparing for the event. But the bridge, where they could also sample especially, the success was due to all the local hard cider and children could work wonderful people who came out to enjoy on embroidery projects. If you didn’t get the day and help us celebrate the centennial your McKee Bridge Centennial t-shirt anniversary of an important piece of local that day, drop by the bridge on September history. We can’t thank you enough. weekends when t-shirts will be available or We plan to continue our annual McKee keep your eye out at local stores that may Bridge Days. In 2018, it will be held on be selling them. Saturday, June 9, and you can expect to Our success overwhelmed the parking see much of the same lineup of offerings area at McKee, and we apologize to anyone as at this year’s centennial celebration. In who was inconvenienced. But our success the meantime, stop by to enjoy the bridge was due to the outpouring of support from and the park, and, while listening to the many local businesses and individuals river, imagine all the vehicles and people who donated items for our raffle baskets who have used the bridge over the past and silent auction offerings (thank them century. If only bridges could talk. by shopping local), the great people at Paul Tipton • ptipton@frontier.com Star Ranger Station who take care of the Chair, McKee Bridge Historical Society HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Used books from $1 to $1.50 Managed by Friends of Ruch Library. Join us! Ruch Library oad Tuesdays 12 - 4 Thursdays 1 - 5 Saturdays 12 - 4 gate R r Apple Uppe Visit the A-Frame Bookstore @ Ruch Library A-Frame Highway 238 8 miles from Jacksonville
