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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2016)
Wallowa County Chieftain News wallowa.com June 8, 2016 A5 Celebration brings ideas to lodge Construction of conference center under consideration By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain Investors and fans alike gathered at the Wallowa Lake Lodge on Saturday for the much anticipated “We Saved the Lodge” celebration. Through the combined ef- forts of local investors and support throughout the Paciic Northwest, the newly formed Lake Wallowa Lodge LLC raised $3.1 million to purchase the lodge and cover the ex- penses of a nine-month cam- paign. It was a whirlwind, his- tory-making endeavor, led by managing director James Monteith. Lake Wallowa Lodge LLC was created speciically to preserve a popular tourist area from excessive development while still proudly embracing the Travel Oregon 7 Wonders of Oregon designation. On Saturday, the lodge kitchen staff served 141 of the investors (and more interested parties). There were cham- pagne or cider toasts hailing the work of the core group and the Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain Lodge Manager Laura Cosgrove concentrates as she pours out the champagne for the celebratory toasts at the “Save the Lodge” community gathering Saturday at Wallowa Lake Lodge. staff at the lodge — and more investors stepped forward. “We actually got six more investors,” Monteith said. A board of nine managers has been appointed and seven committees or working groups designated according to the in- terests of the investors. “There’s going to be oppor- tunities for contributions (of talent) in those committees,” Monteith said. “They’re in- tended to be portals for people who have various interests.” There are three legs to the plan going forward, Monteith said. The irst leg is the com- pletion of the remodel of the Cattleman’s Bar downstairs in the lodge, perhaps connecting it by circular stair to the lob- by and back porch. Nothing is decided at this point. It’s all brainstorming, but archi- tects have offered their time and many exciting ideas were kicked around. The second leg of the plan is considering whether to add a few more cabins and a cou- ple more rooms to the lodge. Again, no decisions have been made, but ideas are being con- sidered. The third leg of the project is the construction of a small conference center. “The conference center could go over where the shop is now, on the edge of the park- ing lot,” Monteith said. “This is just a possibility. A walkway or breezeway could connect the lodge and conference cen- ter.” All of the plans are de- signed to “preserve the Wal- lowa experience,” while pro- viding opportunities for more Admirers, treasure-seekers beat a path at Joseph’s annual Art Walk By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Perfect weather greeted art aicionados who ventured into Joseph to take part in the city’s 10th annual Art Walk on Saturday. Several galler- ies went out of their way to make this year’s event spe- cial, serving hors d’oeuvre and libations. Rhea Jeffreys-Salas of Valley Bronze at 18 S. Main St. said her gallery prepared for the event by displaying work of new artists such as Val Freeman’s impressionis- tic, kiln-ired works as well as that of Union metal fabrica- tion artist Tracy Case. The gallery also brought in bronze works from Oregon automotive bronze artist Sam Wanlass for the show, as well as for next weekend’s Oregon Mountain Cruise car show. “We’re really excited to be featuring his stuff,” Jef- freys-Salas said. “The tourists have been amazing,” Jeffreys-Salas said. “We open at 10 (a.m.), and I had people peeking in the windows and trying to get in at 9:30.” She added that she hoped to have about 200 people pe- rusing the gallery throughout the day. Missy Marshall of Missy’s Uptown Art at 13 S. Main St. celebrated the Art Walk at her new space she’s semi-sharing with famed Western land- scape and cowboy photog- rapher Robert Dawson, who Steve Tool/Chieftain The ball with sprouting horns was just one of Scott Foster’s pieces attracting attention at Stewart Jones Design. moved to the Wallowa Valley area from Cave Creek, Ariz. Dawson rents the space next door. Marshall has represent- ed Dawson in her gallery for more than a dozen years. “Robert wanted a space, and next door became avail- able,” Marshall said. “Since we overlap anyway, Robert surprised me and took the wall out, which we’d talked about. We’ve worked together for so long that it was an easy evolution.” Both spaces feature exam- ples of Dawson’s work. Down at the Stewart Jones Designs gallery, Jones’ wife Catherine Matthias, who de- signs the gallery’s displays, brought in the work of Port- land sculptor/fabricator Scott Foster especially for the event on the recommendation of Matthias’ daughter. Many of Foster’s pieces have a mythological feel with a half-man, half-beast motif, Matthias said. Foster’s work is featured in the gallery’s display windows as well as inside the gallery. The work of local wood- en bowl designer and creator Tom Clevenger was prom- inently featured in the SJD gallery as well. By 6:30 p.m. the side- walks of Joseph contained a large number of people, many carrying the art work they purchased, making their way from gallery to crowded gallery in search of more trea- sures. From that vantage point, the Art Walk looked like a complete success. Wallowa Lake Lodge Board Chairman Jay Graves and “delusional dreamer” James Monteith toast to the completion of a dream Saturday evening. people to have that experience, Monteith said. Investor Alexandra Jordon of Walla Walla explained that Wallowa experience this way: “The irst time I came to this area the hair on my arms stood up and I knew this was a very special place. I think what this group needs to do next is to decide what is the experi- ence we want to provide — and let’s do that.” Dave Albion of Lebanon, treasurer of Lake Wallowa Lodge LLC, reminded inves- tors to think carefully. “We have the chance to write the next chapter of Wal- lowa Lodge,” he said. Whatever that chapter looks like in detail, the investors are committed to preservation in hand with more community involvement. For a comprehensive inves- tor’s packet with prospectus, call 541-398-0305 or send an email request to info@lake- wallowalodge.com. Enterprise Cemetery Memorial Day Decorations Please retrieve any bouquets or other decorations you'd like to keep no later than June 12th. Ater that date, the cemetery maintenance crew will remove any items in the way of mowing and trimming the grounds. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation hank you, Enterprise Cemetery Maintenance District Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Do you feel hopeless or has the joy gone out of your life? Are you struggling to make your marriage work? I can help! A few sessions can make a big diference. Jeff Harman, MA., LPC Professional Counseling In A Private Setting www.jharmancounseling.com To schedule an appointment call Jef Harman (541) 426-3067 Preferred Provider for Regence Blue Cross, ODS, Cascade Centers and many other private insurance and employee assistance programs. Season Opening Party Friday, June 10 th Discovery Walk at 10am Kids’ Activites Cookies & Refreshments Fun, Fun, Fun! Call for Entries ! D L I W E N O F LOWERS G Friday June 10 th • 7 pm Karen Antell, PhD Professor of Biology, EOU Come learn about the birds and the bees and pollen on the breeze Natural History Discovery Center 508 N. Main • Joseph • Wed - Sun • 10am-3pm • wallowology.org