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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2017)
Wallowa County Chieftain Local wallowa.com THREE minutes with ... March 8, 2017 The store is celebrating its 40th year. How long have you been proprietor ? What were its origins ? Today, March 1 marks 29 years that I have owned the store. It was opened in 1976 by Rich and Judy Wand- schneider. What titles are selling these days ? As always, local interest books sell the best. The local memoirs that came out last year continue to do well. Other more recent books that have sold well include A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, and a new poetry collection by Kim Stafford, The Flavor of Unity. Caption Who comes into your store? What is the mix between locals and visitors ? I like to think that my customers are anyone who enjoys reading, drinking good coffee, chocolate-lovers, and those who appreciate beautiful art that refl ects the area. That should be everyone, right? The locals are the ones who keep the store going year- round. Visitors give a much appreciated boost, mostly in the summer months. MARY SWANSON Has the store been visited by notable authors ? Yes! Back in the late 1990s, the children’s author and illustrator Jan Brett. There was a massive line stretching out the front door and around the corner. She stayed and signed books for every person who came. Popular regional authors Craig Lesley, Molly Gloss, Jane Kirkpatrick, and Patrick McManus have all done readings at the store. Proprietor of The Book Loft in Enterprise A7 ‘I think people have come to appreciate the opportunity to have a real vs. a virtual experience.’ Tell us what else you have in the store, beyond books ? I have surrounded myself with all the things I love: beau- tiful cards, nice journals and pens, really good chocolates, coffee and tea. And of course, The Skylight Gallery in the back of the store features amazing work by local artists: photography by David Jensen, Olaf pottery by Ted Juve, blown glass by Russell Ford, and jewelry by Annie Rob- inson and Brenda Burt. I also carry Wendy McCullough’s lovely Sally B Farms goat milk soap. There is a national trend that independent booksell- ers are much healthier than was expected in the age of the E-reader. To what do you attribute the Bookloft’s endurance ? Customer loyalty is a huge factor. Also, there is my carefully selected inventory of books tailored to my cus- tomers and the high level of customer service I offer. And the fact that I pay lots of attention to the business side of things. But most importantly, I offer the experience of real books in a real bookstore. In this digital age, I think people have come to appreciate the opportunity to have a real vs. a virtual experience. As I say in my website bookloftoregon. net, The Bookloft provides a sensory experience. Wallowa city revitalization plans move forward Five key projects identified and begun By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain It’s not just tulips popping up in the city of Wallowa. The city’s revitalization is blooming. Specifi cally, there is the prospect that the Forest Service compound has fi nally found a lessee. This is an es- sential element in Wallowa’s revitalization. It’s been six months since the City of Wallowa launched its revitalization program, adopting the Wallowa Home- town Project as their name and securing Wallowahome- town.org for their web page. City Councilor Garrett Lowe is spearheading the revitalization and he reports progress on numerous fronts. Coming off one of the worst winters in decades, most of the progress is in planning. Five projects have been identifi ed as core projects and “fi rst on the list,” according to Lowe. The list includes: • Moving the Wallowa History Center offi ces. • The city signage project. • Setting a date for the “vi- sion-to-action plan.” • Connecting the Nez Perce Homeland Project with the city for walking tours. • Consulting with the Or- egon Main Street Program to improve the downtown corri- dor. The city received the For- est Service compound build- ings by Presidential grant in 2012. Originally acquired because a lessee was at hand, those buildings have been a burden to the city, after the lessee backed out. However, the city re-roofed two of the four buildings with matching funding from Oregon Heri- tage, Oregon Parks and Rec- reation Department last year. Now, the Wallowa History Center has expressed an inter- est in moving its expanding collection of documents, pho- tographs and artifacts to the compound. “It’s not settled but we’re thinking our collection will go into the offi ce building. That’s our hope,” said Mary Ann Borrows, director the Wallowa History Center. The proposed lease has been approved by City Coun- cil after legal advice and awaits approval from the His- torical Society as of this pub- lication. The Wallowa History Cen- ter may be a key player in the revitalization in other ways, GUN - ANTIQUE & HORN SHOW March 11th & 12th TROPHY DISPLAYS (Bring your trophies) $3,500 in prizes Includes 3 each Henry personalized engraved rifles. 1 each Current, Prior & Youth Harvest Trophies received after 9 am Saturday only. Nez Perce County Fairgrounds 1229 Burrell Lewiston, Idaho Sat. 9-6 & Sun. 9-3 Info 208/746-5555 Wallowa County Chieftain Archives A WURA Fishing Train crosses one of the 100-year-old bridges along the Elgin to Minam line. soon. But Burrows cautions that details must be settled before she can publicize those plans. Signage decisions coming A second project on the list is the sign project. The city had decided to go with an in- dustrial theme for signage and a selection of possible styles has been completed. Deci- sions on that will be forth- coming. Nez Perce Homeland Project Connecting the Nez Perce Homeland Project and Tam- kaliks grounds to the city by way of a bridge, facilitating walking tours is the fourth project. The fi nal project is the re- vitalization and improvement of streets and the downtown corridor with improved light- ing, landscaping and resurfac- ing. Sheri Stewart of the Ore- gon Main Street program, Or- egon Parks and Recreation is helping the city fi nd funding, Lowe said. The Greater Enterprise Merchant’s Association has also expressed interest in be- ing part of the process to gain funding for both cities’ main streets. “Our ad hoc committee has three members from Wallowa and two from Enterprise,” Lowe said. “There’s a lot of interest on the part of this committee to help streamline the process by which mon- ey can come to both down- towns.” Introducing new Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Barden This week’s athlete of the week is Jimmy Wells, an Enterprise High School junior. Wells plays basketball for the school. During the 2016-17 school year, Wells, 16, played point guard for the Outlaws and played consistent basketball throughout the season, always among the top players of the game and one of the team’s best all-around players when it came to stats. The third project is to set a date for the “Vision to Action Plan” where members of the public come to draw pictures of their desires for the city. North East Oregon Develop- ment District (NEOEDD) is working with the city on that project with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency. Bates Mill site and the railroad bed may both be con- sidered Brownfi elds and be eligible for funding through that program according to NEOEDD. May 4 will be that com- munity meeting, at the Wal- lowa School, and children’s input will be encouraged. Participants will be asked how the city keeps the in- dustrial theme and draws tourism while still qualifying as a place where people can raise their kids and not have to worry about crime, drugs and urban problems. “We want people to be able to live the small-town experience and still have businesses that provide a good solid standard of living for residents,” Lowe said. Jennifer brings 17 years of nursing experience covering the areas of emergency, trauma, oncology, telemedicine, pediatrics and public health. Now, as a nurse practitioner, Jennifer can diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, take care of your annual physical exams, and help you stay well. Now accepting new patients Schedule your appointment today! 541.426.7900 Jimmy Wells Mountain View Medical Group 603 Medical Parkway (next to Wallowa Memorial Hospital) Enterprise, Oregon 97828 Proudly Sponsored By: Eastern Oregon’s Full Service Propane Supplier We treat you like family 601 Medical Parkway, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3111 • www.wchcd.org Wallowa Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and provider. 201 E. Hwy 82, Enterprise 541-426-0320 www.edstaub.com HEALTH LINE 519 W. North Street, Enterprise 541.426.3413 Mon-Thurs 9 to Noon/1-5pm; Fri. 9-1 Specializing in Anti-Aging Skin Therapy Customized Facials Waxing Services, Brow Sculpting Body Polish-Back Facials High-Perfomance Products 541-398-0759 | Located @ beecrowbee 01 Main Joseph Keycode Entry Weight Room • Cardio Women’s Circuit • Tanning 202 W. 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