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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2019)
A16 NEWS Wallowa County Chieftain BMCC introduces new Wallowa County Small Business advisor By Casey White-Zollman Blue Mountain Community College ENTERPRISE, Ore. – Blue Mountain Com- munity College’s Small Business Development Center in Wallowa County is excited to announce it has added Lori Schaafsma to the team as a Business Advisor. BMCC operates a Small Business Devlep- ment Center (SBDC) out of Enterprise to serve the Wallowa County region. With a background in retail sales, banking opera- tions training and develop- ment, and family ranching and farming, Schaafsma looks forward to bring- ing the skills, experi- ence and abilities to assist small business in Wallowa County. She plans to help her clients navigate the process of creating a busi- ness plan to maintain the focus of why they started the business in the fi rst place. She helps business owners “own” their fi nan- cials by giving them a clear and easy understanding of the various numbers that refl ect the pulse of their business. “We all have certain fears associated with own- ing and operating a busi- ness,” Schaafsma said. Wednesday, October 9, 2019 Edelweiss Inn’s future uncertain Inn needs much while owners busy with tram By Bill Bradshaw Wallowa County Chieftain Contributed photo Blue Mountain Community College’s Small Business Development Center in Wallowa County has added Lori Schaafsma to the team as a Business Advisor. “Having focus and under- standing your business fi nances are the keys to the path of success. Small businesses are the super heroes of our communi- ties. They come to the res- cue to fi ll a need and pro- vide services at all sorts of levels, while creating jobs to build our local econo- mies. I am part of an awe- some team of guides that help small business super heroes build and maintain the foundation of their path to success.” To contact Schaafsma, visit her in the Wallowa Resources building in Enterprise, 401 NE 1st St., Ste. 13, call 541-278-5833, or email sbdc@bluecc.edu. OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER We’re investing in Salem coverage when other news organizations are cutting back. Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! Mountain View Medical Group Please help us welcome... It was the end of an era, this year, when Alpen- fest had to move from its 40-year venue of the Edel- weiss Inn to tents pitched at the Wallowa Lake State Park marina. “It wasn’t condemned or anything, despite rumors,” Edelweiss co-owner Mike Lockhart said. “It just wasn’t in a condition to be used for events.” He said the building’s roof is its biggest problem. Indeed, on Thursday, Oct. 3, one could see several places where melting snow was dripping inside. “We’ve been fi ghting that for over 15 years,” Lockhart said. He estimated it would be cost-prohibitive to refurbish the century-old structure. “It’d be well into the seven digits,” he said. Chuck Anderson, the alpenmeister of Alpenfest, said it was sad that the fes- tival wouldn’t be able to return to the inn. The orga- nization would plan to use tents again next year. “We’re not planning to go back,” Anderson said. “We appreciate that it was avail- able to us for 40 years,” not- ing that Alpenfest always had use of the building for Bill Bradshaw Edelweiss Inn co-owner Mike Lockhart stands outside the dilapidated-looking, century-old, former home of the Oregon Alpenfest on Thursday, Oct. 2, a week after Alpenfest moved to a new location. He and his partner are unsure of the building’s future, but it’s unlikely they’ll go to the expense of refurbishing it. free. As for the Edelweiss, Lockhart and partner Bill Whittemore, of La Grande, have no defi nite plans for the building at this time. He said he’d like to build another similar building and use some of the Edelweiss Inn’s materials, though it wouldn’t necessarily be at the same site. He said a venue is needed for wed- dings, receptions and other such occasions at Wallowa Lake. The Edelweiss was built in 1918, Lockhart said, with the intent of using it as an Elks Lodge. However, when Prohibition was imple- mented early in 1920, that fell through. With a solid wood fl oor and wide-open interior, the building was used as a roller-skating rink, a place for dances and recep- tions, and has largely sat idle for decades other than for occasional events. “When we acquired the tram in 1984, it wasn’t in great shape then,” Lock- hart said of the inn. “It never generated enough income to keep it going,” he said. Right now, Lockhart and Whittemore are focused on upgrading the Wallowa Lake Tramway, now that it’s Wurstwagen gives taste of Alpenfest all year long Mobile brat concession raises funds for event By Bill Bradshaw Wallowa County Chieftain Jennifer Little FNP Jennifer is a family nurse practioner with her masters from Vanderbuilt University Call Jennifer to schedule your appointment in Enterprise or Joseph today! 541-426-7900 We treat you like family 601 Medical Parkway, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3111 • www.wchcd.org Wallowa Memorial Hospital is a equal opportunity mployer and provider shut down for the season. They’re refurbishing it for next year; their crews add- ing new windows, fabric and seats to the tram cars; paint- ing all 25 towers that hold nearly 2 miles of cable that are pulled by a 150 hp elec- tric motor on the 3,800-foot rise to the summit of Mount Howard. But Lockhart doesn’t really want to see the his- toric building torn down or scrapped. “I’ve had lotta people calling in and wanting to salvage the stuff from the building, but we’re not inter- ested in that,” Lockhart said. With the 2019 Ore- gon Alpenfest in the his- tory books, it’s time to begin raising money for the 2020 event. One of the chief fundraisers is Alpen- meister Chuck Anderson’s Wurstwagen. “All summer long, we sell bratwursts, mostly in down- town Joseph on Saturdays as a fundraiser for Alpenfest,” Anderson said. “Then, when there are special events like the car shows or a music festival, sometimes we go to those because obviously there’s going to be more traffi c.” ~ and Gail Swart ~ Cordially invite you to join us for our annual Christmas Caroling Dinner Party Saturday, December 7 th & Sunday, December 8 th , 2019 The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with caroling in the lobby. Dinner and a program of Christmas music follows. Complete dinner with your choice of: Bill Bradshaw Alpenfest Alpenmeister Chuck Anderson stands alongside his Wurstwagen, which sells bratwursts at special events about 60 days a year to raise money for the annual Oregon Alpenfest. He estimated the Wurst- wagen is open about 60 days a year, staffed by Ander- son, his wife and Alpenfest volunteers. The menu is limited, but quite in keeping with Alpen- fest. Bratwursts at the wagon sell for $6 for the sandwich. The Wurstwagen’s his- tory coincides with the mod- ern Alpenfest. It is a bit of a reincarnation of a soda-and- bratwurst concession oper- ated by some of the found- ers of the original Alpenfest, Joe and Rita Ehrler, who still live in Joseph. They spoke highly of Anderson’s oper- ation and his efforts at the renewed Alpenfest. “Chuck does a wonderful job,” Rita Ehrler said. Anderson revived Alpen- fest, and along with it, the Wurstwagen, in 2012. “We started borrowing a Coca- Cola trailer or Pepsi trailer from the distributors in La Grande and we would sell bratwurst out of them,” Anderson said. “Then, three years ago, I noticed that this concession cart was for sale near Ontario, Ore. It was a shaved ice concession, painted a light blue color. The family that owned it decided they didn’t want to do shaved ice anymore. My wife, Carmen, and I made an offer. Although it was less than what they were ask- ing, we considered the dif- ference to be a donation to Alpenfest. So, they got a little bit of a tax deduction from that.” But a blue color and shaved ice hardly went with Alpenfest. A member of the Alpen- fest board of directors, Calina Ide, had experience painting stage sets. Ide and her mother painted it red, with little fl owers and a hand-painted sign. It looked a lot more Bavarian. Anderson fi nds the wagon a profi table venture. He said they usually raise about $3,000 gross each year, half of which goes to Alpenfest after covering their costs. He said the materials used are all procured locally. The brats come from the Hines Meat Co. in La Grande. The sauerkraut comes from the grocery store in Joseph. They make it right there with their special rec- ipe. The buns and condi- ments come from the Dollar Stretcher. Anderson values the idea of everything going back into the community. “You bet, that’s what we’re here for, to support the community,” he said. “We calculate that with all the people who come to town for Alpenfest, we contribute about $150,000 each year at the end of the tourist season to the local economy.” Cornish Game Hen, stuffed with an almond-cranberry-cornbread stuffing ~ ~ Bison Meatloaf, with garlic-mashed ~ red potatoes and brown gravy ~ Vegetarian Lasagna ~ ~ All dinners are served with salad, roll, green beans with bacon Gail’s Christmas cookies for dessert Cost is $35.00 per person, includes gratuity A portion of each dinner purchased benefits the Darrell Brann Family Reservations are required. Please call the Lodge at (541) 432-9821 Reservations close as of November 25 th , 2019 The residents and staff of Wallowa Valley Senior Living would like to recognize Lyn Moffit for her contribution to our success. Lyn’s positive attitude and welcoming smile brightens everyones day. She continues to be a strong role model always striving for excellence and building positive relationships with not only her co-workers but all of our residents. Thank you Lyn! (541) 432-9821 - wallowalakelodge.com 60060 Wallowa Lake Highway Wallowa Lake, Oregon If you are interested in exploring rewarding career options in Wallowa County and have qualities similar to Lyn, please call 541.426.5311 to schedule an interview