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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2016)
NOVEMBER 17, 2016 // 9 Celebrate 10 years of Blue Scorcher Worker-owned cooperative puts on community contra dance at Netel Grange ASTORIA — The workers at Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe are throwing a party to celebrate 10 years of business. The public is invited to come dance with them at Netel Grange on Saturday, Nov. 19. The hall opens at 4 p.m. with fresh-baked treats and non-alcoholic drinks for sale, and the dancing starts at 5 p.m. No experience is neces- sary — veteran caller Dave Ambrose will give instruc- tions before the first dance to get everyone in step. Be sure to come at 5 p.m. if you’re new to contra or folk dancing. Live and lively string band dance music will be provided by John Fenton, Dan Sutherland, Larry Moore and Randy Weiss. Cost is $5 to $10 per person on a sliding scale. Children under 12 are free with adult admission. All ages are welcome, and there will be a play corner for small children. PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe, celebrating 10 years of op- eration in downtown Asto- ria, bakes homemade bread and pastries, like this cream cheese Danish and mini car- damom almond roll. FILE PHOTO About Blue Scorcher Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe is a worker-owned cooperative located at 1493 Duane St. in the Fort George building in downtown Astoria. “We signed our lease with then-owner Robert Stricklin in June 2005, providing the leverage for him to get funding with John Berdes at Shorebank,” re- calls co-owner Joe Garrison. “Back then the building was unoccupied, and many of the windows were broken out. We had to duck under police ‘Do Not Cross’ tape to walk the building with Robert.” Blue Scorcher employs 30 to 35 workers, 15 (and still rising) of whom are owners, half of which are women, and many of whom Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe is located at 1493 Duane St. in the Fort George Building in downtown Astoria. got their training locally. For example, Deer Island native Brandon Sears came to Astoria to attend the Tongue Point Jobs Corps Center’s culinary program, interned with Blue Scorcher, and is now an owner, elected by his Scorcher peers as lead of the kitchen department. “As with the Community Store (now Astoria Coop Grocery) before us, it’s re- markable for a rural commu- nity the size of Astoria, with the surrounding communi- ties, to support businesses like ours — one of the many indicators of the uncommon- ly fierce community spirit here,” Garrison says. “We’re carriers of a torch that was lit in Astoria by Michael and Emily Hender- son at Home Spirit Bakery Cafe: handmade organic baked goods, back when it was commonly considered impossible to successfully use such ingredients com- mercially.” Blue Scorcher uses organic, often stoneground flours to bake pastries such as scones, chocolate crois- sants, cardamom almond rolls and oatcakes as well as several kinds of bread, including traditional French breads, naturally leavened hearth loaves, yeast-risen pan breads and enriched specialty loaves. The cafe serves a seasonal menu of breakfast and lunch plates featuring produce and eggs from local farmers. Blue Scorcher’s mission is three-fold: create seasonal and sustainable foods, be a worker-owned cooperative, and foster strong commu- nity. About the venue Historic Netel Grange has been a central part of the Lower Columbia farming and country dance scene for decades. Located about 7 miles south of downtown Astoria alongside river, forest and working farms, the hall has been well-main- tained and in regular use since it was built. During the birthday cake-cutting ceremony, dancers will get a chance to honor some of the people who kept the local farm, country dance, and grange traditions alive: mu- sicians, callers and farmers. Netel Grange is located at 90525 Logan Road. Ride sharing will be available. Call Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe for details at 503- 338-7473 or visit www. bluescorcher.coop A RT C ARDS , A RTISAN C RAFTS , G ALLERY & W ORKING S TUDIO 1133 Commercial St. Astoria 503.468.0308 Buy direct fr om local farmers this Th anksgiving! Fresh fall produce, baked goods, cheese, meats, $10 SNAP-match, desserts and more! TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22 ND 2:30-5:30 PM N ORTH C OAST F OOD W EB 577 18 TH S TREET CARRUTHERS 240 11 TH STREET ASTORIA, OR 97103 WWW .N ORTH C OAST F OOD W EB . ORG 1198 Commercial Street Astoria, Oregon 97103 503.975.5305 Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday 4pm-6pm and 8:30-Close
