Enter To Win An RV And Support The Kid's Hope Center
Gib's RV will be raffling off an RV on August 10th 2019 at 4pm at Gib's Rv 1845 Ocean Blvd , Coos Bay . All proceeds will go to the Bay Area Hospital Kid's Hope Center. Kid's Hope Center investigates abuse allegations from communities throughout Coos County and beyond. Following the "medical model" of abuse investigations, Kid's Hope focuses primarily on meeting the whole-health physical and emotional needs of victims. Instead of telling a painful story again and again to a succession of strangers, a child visiting Kid's Hope experiences a single interview with a specially trained forensic investigator. Video recordings of these neutral, non-leading interviews take the place of repeated questioning and can even be admitted in court.
The RV donated by Gib's RV is a new 2018 Starcraft Comet Mini 16KS with a retail value of $20,417. Raffle tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at Gib's RV Superstore at 1845 Ocean Blvd, Coos Bay and at Oregon Pacific Bank, located at 915 1st Street, Coos Bay. Must be 18 or older to purchase unless accompanied by an adult. Raffle organized by Bay Area health District to benefit Kid's Hope Center.
Gib's RV Superstore 1845 Ocean Blvd, Coos Bay, OR. 541-808-3424.
For details visit https://go.gibsrvsuperstore.com/rv-raffle
Check Out The Charleston Marine Life Center!
PHOTO CAPTION:Pictured here is a Basket Star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) with a juvenile. Photo Credit: MacKenna Hainey
The University of Oregon's Charleston Marine Life Center, located on the edge of the Charleston Marina, turned three at the end of May! Nearly 50,000 visitors from near and far have visited since it opened, and it's never the same from visit to visit. The animals change, new exhibits are added, and the views out the windows vary with the comings and goings of boats, seals and sea lions.
The newest exhibit highlights birds seen from the Center's windows, and a Green Sea Turtle recently joined the Gray Whale, Orca and other whale skeletons on display. Along with many other critters, the Center currently has a Pacific Red Octopus, three young skates, young Chinook salmon, two wolf eels, some very large sea urchins and anemones, tiny juvenile Dungeness crab, and multi-colored sea slugs.
Be sure to ask to borrow one of the Center's macro lenses for your cell phone, then zoom in! Drawers of shells, projecting microscopes, an interactive kiosk where you can test your whale calls, a cold-water survivor suit (can you get it on in under 60 seconds?), and information on local fisheries mean there's something for all ages.
The CMLC is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11am-5pm. Check the website for information on school and camp programs. www.charlestonmarinelifecenter.com
Women's Health Clinic Now Accepting New Patients
Alaina Hendrix, FNP at NBMC
Well Woman Exams are specifically focused on helping you achieve and maintain overall health. By proactively managing your risk for health issues through a combination of education, guidance, and a physical exam, we'll design a personalized plan of care aimed at improving your quality of life while reducing your risk of preventable illness. We want all women to live longer in the happiest, healthiest manner possible so they can enjoy life now and as they age.
As each woman has a unique health and social history, discussions and education are adapted based on your individual risk factors. Topics covered may include: breast and pelvic exams, pap smears, mammogram recommendations, sexual health and STI screening, cancer and cardiovascular risk factors. We may address substance use, weight management, nutrition and exercise, in addition to bone health, injury prevention, and contraception options.
My passion is prevention. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, I spent many years working as a critical care nurse in an intensive care unit. So many of my patients over the years would express profound regret over the life choices that put them in their current state. The good news is that sound preventive measures have the ability to improve your life now, and ultimately, help you live happier longer.
North Bend Medical Center is located at 1900 Woodland Drive in Coos Bay. To schedule an appointment call (541) 267-5151 extension 1247. See my ad on page 8 for more details about services and find me on the web at nbmchealth.com .
Save Lives…Spay and Neuter
Birds do it, bees do it…and so do cats starting when they reach maturity at four months!! They do it with their mothers, their fathers, sisters and brothers. With the advent of spring, comes mating season and all those cute little animals. A female cat can give birth to 2 or 3 litters a year. And if each of those litters averages two females, in a very short period, there are far more kittens than there are homes. After a few years, that first cat and her female offspring have produced thousands of adorable sweet kittens, many of whom will end up unwanted. If they are lucky they will end up in an animal shelter or rescue. But all too often these sweet cats are tossed out like garbage, left to fend for themselves on the side of the road until disease and death take them much too soon. Sad, isn't it?
There is a solution to this… Spay and Neuter your pets! Our local shelter and rescue groups make sure the animals that are adopted are already spayed/neutered. There is a low cost spay/neuter clinic, S/Nipped Clinic in Empire, 541-808-2377, which helps current owners fix their cats and dogs. And for those who cannot afford even the reduced price, there is additional help.
Friends of Coos County Animals Inc. or FOCCAS, was founded by a newcomer to our area in 2005. Laura Jorgensen, who was involved in rescue before moving here, quickly realized that the Coos County Animal Shelter needed help, both to better showcase the adoptable dogs and cats and to help with the overpopulation and euthanasia of cats. Finding another animal lover in Debbie Eversole, by 2006 they had their IRS 501C3 status. After getting a successful foster program going to help adoptable dogs and cats find their forever homes, FOCCAS started the Community Outreach Program to provide financial assistance to low income pet owners to get their animals spayed or neutered. Since FOCCAS is a non-profit, run entirely by volunteers, it depends on donations and grants for the money to pay for the care of all these sweet animals. This is where The Eugene and Marlaina Johnston Charitable Foundation, Inc. came into the picture.
This wonderful foundation was founded by a couple of animal lovers who especially loved cats. Eugene and Marlaina visited the Bay Area and fell in love with Shorepines Bay Village. When the park came up for sale, in 1994, Eugene purchased it with the intention of some day retiring here. Eugene Dorian Johnston was born in Wisconsin and at the age of 5 began acting in the Our Gang comedies. After his childhood he had parts in musicals during the early 50's. Eugene and Marlaina were both in the New York Broadway Show, Guys and Dolls. Eugene later turned to a business career. Unfortunately, their dream of retiring to Coos Bay was never realized. Marlaina passed away while still living in California and Eugene followed a few years later. When they passed away they left half of their estate, in the form of a Foundation funded by Shorepines Bay Village, to the care and welfare of animals. Since 2012 The Johnston Foundation has donated over $300,000 dollars to FOCCAS with much of it dedicated to the free spay and neuter program. These funds have allowed the Community Outreach Program to grow from one or two hundred animals a year to well over a thousand! The funds are shared with other local rescues, including Kohl's Cat House in Coos Bay, Don't Delay Neuter and Spay in Myrtle Point and Port Orford Friends of Feral Cats to help reduce the population of unwanted animals.
Because of the generosity of the Johnston Foundation, if you cannot afford to spay and neuter your cats or dogs, you can contact FOCCAS at 541-269-1989. This is a voice mail only line; leave your name (please spell it), mailing address, phone number and information on pets you need spayed and neutered, dog or cat, name, sex, breed, age. Speak clearly. We will send you instructions along with a voucher for services at S'Nipped Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic. Feral cats can be taken to S/Nipped without a voucher; just contact S/Nipped directly 541-808-2377. Let's work together to stop the flow of unwanted pets. Spay and Neuter Today!
Thank you Eugene and Marlaina for your help with the animals in our community. We hope you are surrounded by your beloved pets. And, thank you to Hanson-Meekins Animal Hospital, Pony Village Mall and all of the donors, foundations and wonderful volunteers who have helped FOCCAS grow into the community organization it is today.
If you would like to help, we do accept donations. Tax receipts are given. Please mail to FOCCAS PO Box 911, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420.
Website www.friendsofcooscountyanimals.org
Email foccas@coosanimals.org
Jim Vick...Still Going Strong
Jim Vick is a familiar name locally, as he has lived and worked here in the Coos Bay and North Bend area for many, many years. He attended Marshfield High School and graduated in 1958. Soon afterwards he enlisted into the military, and after his service he came back and began his career selling cars. His first job was at the Chevrolet dealership, back then known as Bay Motors. Later on he worked in Coquille at the Chevy dealership, South Western Motors, where he eventually bought it after a few years. In 1971, Jim bought his first Buick and Chevrolet dealership in Reedsport. After some years, in 1981, Jim opened the first Datsun dealership in Coos Bay, on Ocean Blvd. Afterwards he opened Cadillac Olds, in Coos Bay, and later on he became the owner of the Subaru dealership on Bayshore Drive. He was also on the board of Oregon Auto Dealers Association and became a president for a year, back in the 80's.
After Jim sold his new car dealerships he opened up the used car lot Jim Vick Auto Sales, on a corner lot located at Broadway and Virginia in North Bend, and operated it for 10 years. Thinking he may retire, he decided to downsize and move the business down the street on Broadway, but the salesman in him wasn't done yet. Jim is now just down the street from the original location, at 2091 Broadway, North Bend. Stop in and say 'Hello'!
Jim has a wide variety of trucks, cars, and SUV's for sale. Like Jim says, "If I Can't Save You Money, I Don't Deserve Your Business!"
Check out Jim Vick Auto Sales, located at 2091 Broadway Ave, North Bend. Call 541-808-2400 or visit www.JimVickAutoSales.com for more information.
101 Marketplace of Bandon
Annette Langenstein, Staff Writer
Photo Caption: Cheryl Gagnon, owner of 101 Marketplace of Bandon, is all about service.
Published in the March 26, 2015 edition
For two and a half years now, Cheryl Gagnon has been the sole proprietor of 101 Marketplace of Bandon, located at 735 Third Street SE. Born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Cheryl came to Bandon in 1984, having a background in art and advertising. But for the last 24 years, she's been doing estate sales in the Bandon area. "It got to the point where it was either get yourself a building or get out of this business," said Cheryl. "You really can't do your best for your clients if you don't have a building or storefront where you can take higher-end items and showcase them."
Estate sales are generally three day events. Cheryl wanted to extend the sell time for items at estate sales, especially the higher-end ones. So she obtained the building she's now occupying and she sells items either on consignment or just outright because she's always shopping around for things that would do well in her store. In fact, the front of the store is filled with items from estate sales and her collectibles. The back room is for vendors, of which she has from 4-8 at any one time.
"We try to function as a small business incubator," says Cheryl. "That's what the back room in the store is for – the flea market room. We've actually had four businesses open as a result of being in the vendor area. It allows people to try out having a business part-time before they branch out on their own. They get a following and a regular clientele before they open their own business." In addition, Cheryl makes her own jewelry. And one of the items the store has branched out into selling is beads.
There's some exciting news coming up this spring, also. "We're going to be opening a take-out restaurant, called "Fleet Deli", which is going to feature local albacore tuna (her husband is a commercial fisherman), pulled pork, hot dogs, burgers, and other take-out items. We'll have simple but good picnic-style side dishes, and nothing will be deep fried. And of course there will be desserts, because I used to be a pastry chef right in here Bandon!"
I asked Cheryl how her Shopper ads have been working for her. "The ads are working really well. I've used the Shopper to advertise estate sales for 24 years. The paper is a really effective way to advertise because it reaches such a large audience. It does a great job for me."
101 Marketplace of Bandon is open from 11-5 on Thursdays, 9-5 Fridays and Saturdays and 11-5 on Sundays. Their phone number is 541-290-7030. "We're trying to be all about service," said Cheryl. "We're happy to explain things to people and if we don't have what they're looking for we'll help them find it somewhere in town. We want everybody who walks through the store to feel at home. People are perfectly welcome to come down here and browse our wildly eclectic collection. A big part of our job is helping people get good things at reasonable prices," said Cheryl.
Allegany Doors and Windows
Desiree Gaoiran
Photo caption: Blaine Messerle, owner of Allegany Doors and Windows in Coos Bay.
Published in the January 23, 2014 edition
Blaine Messerle, owner of Allegany Doors and Windows, started his locally owned family business 18 years ago. Blaine's son Chase works for the company and they employ several subcontractors for a number of different projects up and down the coast. Allegany Doors and Windows specializes in the sales, repair and installation of replacement doors and windows in your home. They offer a plethora of residential and commercial products at a very competitive price. Inside this wonderfully located showroom you will find hinged or sliding doors, trim and moldings, skylights and accessories, cabinets, replacement doors and windows. "We sell several manufacturers of good quality replacements under one roof. We want our customers to be educated. It's important that they are fully aware of all the options available to them before they spend their money. When I come to work, I come to help people, not to sell stuff," says the bachelor.
There are only two loading docks for freight on the entire Oregon Coast and Allegany Doors and Windows is home to one of them. "When you are handling this kind of high end product it is absolutely essential that it not be damaged and is installed properly. This eliminates damage to the product and prevents the product from being subjected to the elements," Blaine says.
When it comes to sustainability, there's nothing sustainable about a product that has failed to perform and has to be replaced yet again. "Generally speaking most people call us because they have windows, doors, or locks that have failed because of our coastal exposure. We want to make sure that the product they get from us doesn't fail. We don't want them to end up running into the same problem again!," Blaine says.
Are you interested in upgrading your windows or doors? Or perhaps you are finally ready to replace that frosted skylight? Let some light in that dark room with a patio door or up the value of your home with the entry door you have dreamed of! Give Blaine a call today for a free estimate. "Our customers refer us to other people and we appreciate them. Without our customers we wouldn't be here. I am very grateful to God for this community and the ability to help them. I just love what I'm doing," he says. Allegany Doors and Windows is located at 63098 Barry St. in Coos Bay. They are open Monday thru Thursday from 8am to 4pm, Friday 8am-12pm, and Saturday and Sunday by appointment. You can also visit their website at www.alleganywd.com or call them at (541)269-1963.
Alternative Healing Chiropractic Center
Photo Caption:Dr. Abby Stauss and Dr. Dianna Loudenbeck of Alternative Healing Chiropractic Center.
Debbie Loudenbeck is the office manager for the Alternative Healing Chiropractic Center, located at 576 Donnelly Avenue in Coos Bay. She has a very personal interest in this practice, too, since the founding Chiropractor is her daughter, Dr. Dianna Loudenbeck. Debbie was born and raised on the South Coast, graduating from Marshfield High School. Coincidentally, her daughter did, too.
I asked Debbie how her daughter decided to become a chiropractor.
"Dianna had been having migraines from the time she was in second grade," Debbie explained. "We went the whole route of taking her to different doctors, and for years she found no relief from her headaches. Finally, Dr. Lanway at Bay Area Chiropractic Center, helped her by using his adjustments and treatments and her migraines finally stopped. When Dianna was in high school, she knew she wanted to be a chiropractor to help people experience the same relief from pain that she had received."
In June of 2010 Dianna graduated with her doctorate degree in chiropractic from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland Oregon. In August of that year, her dreams were realized when she opened The Alternative Healing Chiropractic Center. Now the center boasts two doctors. Dr. Abby Stauss joined the clinic in May of 2016. She graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. She grew up in Fargo North Dakota, but is now proud to call the bay area her home.
"We get patients from all over the South Coast," Debbie said. "We are a full service chiropractic clinic, offering a complete line of physiotherapy, including ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, microcurrent, infrared light therapy, low level laser therapy, traction, therapeutic massage for the body or general physical well-being, and nutritional supplements. We see patients who have neck pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, disc problems, fibromyalgia, headaches, carpal tunnel, back pain, sciatica, whiplash, most any kind of ailment that the body experiences. Massage and chiropractic treatments are offered five days a week by appointment. We have two licensed massage therapists who are proficient in therapeutic massage, including deep tissue, cupping, and muscle scraping to name a few."
I asked Debbie what she thought made Alternative Healing Chiropractic stand out from other chiropractic centers in the bay area.
"Since we're a full service chiropractic center, our patients don't have to go someplace else for their specific need, as they can get an adjustment, physiotherapy and massage on the same day, in the same office." Debbie replied. "Another important point is that if someone was injured in a car accident, they can come directly to us for treatment, with or without a referral. Our two doctors are young women who are knowledgeable in all the latest chiropractic techniques. They are continually updating their education and training, and we consider this clinic to be very progressive. We pride ourselves in having a friendly staff, who makes everyone feel welcome."
Dr. Loudenbeck says, "Chiropractic is an overall way of looking at the human body. It's based on the idea that the body is self-sustaining and self-healing; that in essence it is completely controlled by the brain through its connection via the spinal cord and the vast network of nerves that make up the body. When this system is not functioning at its peak, the overall performance of the human body is lacking. And that's where we come in."
Debbie said that what she enjoys most about working at Alternative Healing Chiropractic is that "Patients come in here in pain, and leave feeling so much better. It's very uplifting to see. To keep feeling good, patients often come back for maintenance care. We even see little babies and toddlers. I recall one case where a three month old infant was crying continually and the parents were exhausted. Dr. Loudenbeck treated his little spine and he slept through the night for the first time. She checked him another two or three times, and that's all it took. Other babies are brought in just for a wellness check as there are many things that chiropractic care can treat."
Alternative Healing Chiropractic Center moved to their new location on Donnelly Avenue, behind the Coos Bay Fire Station, in June of 2017, and now has a beautiful office with lots of space and parking. They are adding two more treatment rooms which will allow them to see more patients soon. They gladly bill Medicare and most health insurances. Their hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Thursday and Friday from 10am to 5pm. Give them a call at 541-266-7543 and find out more about chiropractic care and how you may benefit from it! Please check out their website at www.alternativehealingchiropractic.com and take the video tour of their office. You'll be glad you did!
Antique and Collectables of Coos Bay
Photo Caption: Anella Dumas and Dianna Keith, owners of Antique and Collectables of Coos Bay, show off some of their items.
Published in the October 9, 2014 edition
Diana Keith and Anella Dumas are co-owners of a wonderful shop located at 235 and 247 North Broadway Street in Coos Bay, where they've been open for business four years this November. Antique and Collectables of Coos Bay is filled with everything from Hot Wheels to vintage jewelry, original art, antiques and just about any kind of collectible item you can imagine, "everything from A to Z," according to Diana. "We have Roseville and Fenton glassware, and lots of china tea sets," said Anella.
It's just the two ladies running the store, but they have 40 vendors that come and work two days a month each, so the store is always fully staffed.
When I asked Diana what she would like people to know about their shop, she replied, "It's clean! It doesn't smell like old peoples' things. It's light and bright, and we have a vast variety of merchandise. Even the colors we've painted our walls send a message to our customers. It's bright and cheery in here, and when people come in they're happy, and they shop."
"I think probably jewelry is our biggest seller right now," added Anella.
"There's vintage jewelry as well as hand-made and new pieces," said Diana. "We have three ladies that make their own jewelry and sell it here."
I asked Anella what they have that people might be surprised to see in a place like this "We have full toy train sets," said Anella. "We've placed them by the front door, and Vin, our train guy, positions himself there on purpose to talk to the men about the trains while their wives come farther into the store to shop!"
Anella has been in the antique business for 44 years and has owned four other shops, but this is the first time Diana has been an owner of this sort of business. "We bought out the inventory of another shop owner and that's how we started our business," added Diana.
When I inquired about how their Shopper ad is working, Diana replied, "I think our Shopper ad is doing well for us, or else we wouldn't keep advertising in it! We are seeing that it's a cost-effective way to advertise."
The day I interviewed the pair, they were gearing up for the monthly Wine Walk. Anella explained, "We get lots of people coming in here during the Wine Walk, anywhere from 250 from 577 people! We do really well selling during this event. Our store is wheelchair accessible, and there's lots of room for people to walk around in here. "
In November, Antique and Collectables will be participating in the Coos Bay Downtown Association Open House during their Customer Appreciation Day. They'll be providing snacks and drinks to all who enter.
I asked the ladies where they think the future will take them: "Next door," said Diana. "We want to take over the space next door now that the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Society is no longer using it as their office."
"I don't like to see empty storefronts," added Anella.
Antique and Collectables are open 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. Give them a call at 541-808-2168 or stop by and browse the huge selection they have available and you may find just the item you've been looking for. As busy as these ladies are, you won't be seeing an empty storefront in their location any time soon!
Backyard Buildings, LLC
Lisa Carroll
Photo Caption: Robert and Brenda Hall of Backyard Buildings are an inspired couple who really love their work of creating functional structures for people.
Backyard Buildings LLC. is the entrepreneurship of husband and wife team Robert and Brenda Hall.
It was Brenda who spearheaded the business back in the 1990's, when tasked with building a shed for her daughter. "She needed it to be portable," Brenda shares, "and something a woman could pick up and put in the back of her truck without having to ask her husband to do it." Over time and with the help of her girlfriends, a determined Brenda honed her carpentry skills until she developed the techniques to create structures she was proud of.
During this process Brenda met Robert, who was working at the lumberyard where Brenda purchased supplies. Robert was thoroughly taken with this woman who was teaching herself to be a carpenter. "I was flabbergasted," he told me, smiling warmly at his wife. Robert was impressed by more than Brenda's woodworking finesse. Brenda survived two brain aneurisms during the time she was building her business. "She is the toughest lady. We met in 1996, but she wouldn't marry me until she found out she was going to live." In 2003, Brenda underwent gamma knife radiosurgery to deal with the aneurisms. The procedure was a success, and the two of them were married four days later. Robert, along with a menagerie of friends, helped Brenda in her recovery, encouraging her along the way. As soon as she was able, Brenda was up and running again.
While Brenda initially focused on smaller buildings that were easy to move around, once Robert got on board, they began building larger structures up to 10' x 20'. The Halls construct their sheds from the ground up on 4" x 6" pressure-treated runners, using 16" centers, 2 x 4 wall construction (16" o.c.), 5/8" all wood T111 siding, 2 x 6 floor joists, 3/4" CDX subflooring, 1/2" CDX roof sheathing, and a 30-year dimensional shingled roof. The overhangs on the roofs extend 8" on the sides and 12" on the ends, which is an important consideration in our rainy locale. "For every shed, we go to the local lumberyards with a list of what we need, pick up our supplies, bring them home, and start the saws up," said Robert. Once erected, Brenda coats them with mildew-resistent primer and good quality paint in the customer's choice of color. Clearly these sheds are built to last. "We're not taking any shortcuts with these buildings at all," Robert affirms. "We take the time to build a real quality product. We have high standards and won't compromise them for anything." The buildings are delivered to your site ready to use and leveled with concrete blocks as needed.
Creating structures for people is relational process, and thus each shed becomes its own unique experience. "We meet a lot of nice people doing this," says Robert, "and you know, while the shed design doesn't change that much from building to building, every one of them is different." Brenda agrees. "You get to know people over the course of building them a shed. A lot of them have become our friends."
Those who buy these buildings consider them an investment. A quality building adds to property values, and people find uses for them that enhance their lives in some way. A Backyard Building might become anything from a computer game room to a cat house. Some are birthed into greenhouses, while others develop into finished cabins. Many are used simply for storage, as people realize the value of having extra room for their stuff. The chicken houses Brenda designed are built with the happiness of the chicken in mind, and are sturdy enough to withstand Oregon's toughest weather for decades.
Brenda and Robert live in a vintage home on the banks of the Coquille River, where they bring into being colorful lampwork beads, bottles, and jewelry. This started out as a hobby and has become another creative business venture on the side. Robert forges the kaleidoscopic glass in the flame,then Brenda fashions it into exquisite jewelry. "She's the creative one, " Robert says. "If it was up to me, I'd be building boring old sheds over and over. Every idea we ever had is her idea. I listen to her because of her proven track record. I'm accomplished at getting things done, and she doesn't even have to nag me anymore!" Robert said, as Brenda burst out laughing.
When they manage to find spare time, Brenda and Robert like to travel up the coast to visit artsy little shops and just enjoy living in this beautiful place. To learn more about Backyard Buildings, LLC, visit the website home.earthlink.net/~backyardbuildings, or give them a call at 541-396-7433. To check out their lampwork artistry, visit their online shop, High Water Studios, at www.etsy.com/shop/highwaterstudios
Bandon Supply
Photo Caption: Tom and Sarah Stadelman, owners of Bandon Supply stand in front of a Bobcat E35 compact excavator, one of the many items for rent in their Outdoor Store.
Published in the June 26, 2014 edition
Tom and Sarah Stadelman are the owners of Bandon Supply, located at 1120 Fillmore Ave SE in Bandon. They opened the store 17 years ago, and have eight employees with over 170 years of combined experience. In addition to the Home Improvement store, they have an Outdoor Living and Rental store in the same parking lot. The Outdoor Living and Rental Center is a unique addition to the overall operation, serving as a rental store, a feed store, a garden center and a service department.
Add in the largest selection of lumber and building materials, name brand rental equipment like Bobcat, Bomag, Genie, Ditch Witch and Vemeer, and the promise that "we service what we sell," Bandon Supply Do it Yourself Center and Bandon Supply Outdoor Living and Rental Center is THE most complete store in the Bay Area.
Tom grew up in the building industry. His father was the original owner of what is now Hennick's Home Center, just outside Bandon's city limits. Tom remembers going to construction sites as a small child. "I did construction work when I was 13 years old. We opened our first lumber yard in 1978. Francis Stadelman, my father, started the store from scratch and ran it for ten years before selling it in 1988. Tom added, "that inspired me to start my store, Bandon Supply, from scratch too."
When I asked Tom to describe his store, he replied, "Basically, Bandon Supply sells building supplies: siding, patio blocks, foundations, paint, roofing materials, flooring, hardware, tools, and everything else that you can think of that you need for your home. If we don't have it, we can get it quickly from our vast network of suppliers. Our Outdoor Store has a rental center, and products for sale that are more centered on lawn care, work clothing ranging from raingear to boots, barbeques and children's outdoor play equipment. We have farm animal feed featuring the Purina product line, as well as pet food, including Infinity and Red Flannel dog food. Our feed is 5 star rated. We are a full-line dealer of Husqvarna and Cub Cadet motorized and hand tools. These include riding and walk behind lawn mowers, chainsaws, weedeaters; pretty much everything you need to rent for the outdoors, we've got it."
Bandon Supply is conveniently located just off Highway 101 in beautiful Bandon by the Sea. Tom offered, "We'd like people to know the scope of what we have to offer, what kind of service we have, and the kind of savings they'll see here. We like to help people, and we understand that while we can't necessarily have all people's business, we're grateful for what we have and do the best job possible to keep our customers satisfied."
Most of their staff has been with them for many years. "When you come in here, if one person can't help you, there's always someone who can. Personally, I'm not great with plumbing and electrical, but I've got someone here that's been with me for 17 years that is great in those departments. I even worked with him at my dad's store when I was a teenager," says Tom.
I asked Tom how their Shopper ads are working out. "We've been advertising with the South Coast Shopper for ten years," he said. "It seems like our Shopper ads are pretty effective. You don't always know when an ad is working, but there are times when someone comes in and asks for something and I can tell they saw it in the Shopper."
So if you're looking for any kind of home improvement item, or just need to grab a bag of high quality dog food, visit Bandon Supply Do it Yourself Center or Bandon Supply Outdoor Living and Rental Center. And if for some reason you can't get in, give them a call. They have a large fleet of trucks and are able to deliver everything from a house package to decking to one of their pieces of rental equipment. The lumber yard is open 7:30 to 5:30 Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 8:00 to 4:30. The Outdoor Living and Rental Center is open Monday through Friday 8-5 and Saturday from 8-4. Their phone number is 541-347-2662. Tom concluded the interview with this statement: " I enjoy what I do, and I plan to keep on doing it!"
Bandon Youth Center
Linda Laverty
Photo Captions: Bandon Community Youth Center and the Bandon Youth Thrift Store.
Published in the December 16, 2010 edition
The much-needed filling of a void in the community of Bandon has turned into a successful challenge. The Bandon Community Youth Center was in danger of closing its doors to the community's youth due to low funding. To the rescue, Harv Schubothe, another of our many heroes here on Oregon's Southern Coast.
A native Oregonian from Salem, Harv moved to Bandon 6 years ago. Experienced in and retired from public administration, Mr. Schubothe rose to this challenge, along with previous executive director Bobbi Bolden and the Board of Directors at the Youth Center. To assess how a non-profit organization could generate enough revenue to keep the Center open, by way of a stable business model, was brought to the discussion table. Part of the challenge was not taking customers away from small profit based businesses in the community. This challenge was met with the solution of a thrift store and a copy shop. Harv followed the example of other non-profit organizations around the country, who are able to generate funding through operating small businesses.
As Executive Director of Bandon's non-profit Youth Center, Harv foresees more dependable funding with these two businesses. "The kids in Bandon need and deserve a safe place to go for education and recreation," says Harv. "We are grateful to be able to fill a community need." The Bandon Youth Center employs four staff members who share responsibility for operating all three establishments: The Thrift Store, The Copy Shop, and the Bandon Community Youth Center. Harv's long-term goal is to staff the Youth Center and The Copy Shop with young participants from the community to provide experience, opportunity, and to assist them to develop a sound work ethic.
Because of the low overhead, all the proceeds from the businesses go to keeping the doors open for the kids at the Youth Center. The Bandon Youth Center is host to an excellent classroom, fully equipped with computers. There are numerous kinds of interactive games and indoor and outdoor recreation with pool, ping pong and other activities.
Located at 101 11th St. SW in Bandon, the Youth Center also houses The Copy Shop. The Copy Shop provides copy services and business card design and production. Hours for The Copy Shop are: Tuesday – Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm, The Bandon Youth Center is open for fun Monday – Friday 3:30pm - 6 or 7pm. The Thrift Store is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00am – 4:00pm, is located at 50375 Hwy. 101 S., Bandon and is managed by Kim Logue (541-347-9832).
All proceeds go to the Bandon Community Youth Center.
Barrington Well Drilling, LLC
Photo Caption: Pictured here hard at work is Ron Barrington, owner of longtime family business Barrington Well Digging.
Whether you're a cranberry grower needing more water for your bogs, a farmer looking to hydrate fields and livestock, or simply a person tired of drinking funny tasting H2O, Barrington Well Drilling LLC can help. Started by his grandfather in 1953, Ron Barrington carries on the business which had its beginnings in Curry county. Ron's family moved to Coos Bay when he was 5 years old because there was more work to be found here, and he continues the well and water business to this day, serving the entire Southern Oregon coast
I spoke with Ron's daughter about the business. "Dad is really modest," she explained, smiling. "He's just a 'one foot in front of the other' kind of guy. He doesn't toot his own horn." None-the-less, there are plenty of toots to be had for Ron.
Barrington Well Drilling has a good reputation in the area for being very conscientious about its work. When done with digging ditch lines, for example, Ron and crew cover everything back up. They take care not to underbid a job, and make sure the customer is kept in the loop.
When doing this kind of work, you never know what you might find. Sometimes you go to a job expecting to be done in just a few minutes, only to discover something that winds up taking all day to handle. You have no control with what's under the ground, so there cannot be a cookie cutter approach. Ron is experienced in working with special circumstances, knowing when to apply for variances when needed. If you think you don't have an option for your needs, he'll try to find an option for you. To be willing to work with people is Ron's general philosophy.
Ron and his family like to spend a lot of his spare time with horses, of which they have a variety of. In fact Ron's wife, Lisa, rescues horses, and is also a dog trainer. His daughter recalls the time Ron wowed her junior high school science class when they were studying geology and rocks. "My Dad brought in a bunch of different rock formations he'd collected. He even brought his diamond bit and drill rig into town, to show the class how drilling through rock actually works."
A lot has changed in 60 years, though Ron still has some of the original cable tools, and a military truck he doesn't use that often, but it's there if he needs it. He has multiple drills- different drills have different purposes, so basically, Ron comes prepared to do the job.
Barrington Well Drilling does more than construct new wells. They also clean out and deepen existing wells, lay in pump systems and holding tanks, dig ditch lines, and install complete water filtration systems. They will conduct water and flow tests to help pick the correct system for your water.
Call Barrington Well Drilling at 541-269-7221, or visit their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/barringtonwelldrillingllc , for more information.
Bassett-Hyland
Photo Caption: Stop by your friendly Bassett-Hyland service station the next time you need to refuel!
Published in the December 4, 2014 edition
In 1959 Maurie Bassett began working for Standard Oil Company in Oregon's Willamette Valley. After spending four years in Washington with the company, Maurie returned to Oregon, where in 1980 he merged operations with a Roseburg-based fuel company owned by Harold Hyland, and the Bassett-Hyland organization was born. After Maurie and Harold retired, Maurie's sons Scott and Roger Bassett took over, with Scott staying in Coos Bay and Roger running the Roseburg branch.
The Bassetts continue to be a family-run business, with another brother involved until about a year ago, and their sister still working in their Coos Bay office. They have two warehouses, one at 425 West Lockhart in Coos Bay and another at 127 NW Garden Valley Blvd. in Roseburg. The Bassetts also operate two gas stations, one in Coos Bay at 1059 Evans Blvd. and one in Reedsport at 1399 Hwy. 101. The Coos Bay gas station is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and in Reedsport they're open at 5:30 am and close around 11 pm. Altogether, the Bassetts employ about 45 people, with 10 at the warehouse in Coos Bay, six in the Roseburg warehouse, and the rest working at their gas stations.
I asked Scott about the services that Bassett-Hyland offers. "Our warehouses are stocked with Chevron lubricants, diesel fuels, gasoline, heating fuels, and motor oils, all available for delivery," said Scott. "We also have a line of heavy duty Baldwin filters for pretty much every application from boats to trains, cars and trucks, plus heavy equipment. We sell fuel additives and we have a line of absorbent material for spills and cleanups. We actually deliver to a lot of sites up in the woods where people are logging and building roads, as well as mines, rock quarries and sawmills. And of course our two service stations offer both gasoline and propane fuels."
Bassett-Hyland is also a member of the CFN cardlock network, (Commercial Fuel Network), a nationwide 24-hour fuel purchase company with over 30,000 sites. Customers are issued cards to buy gas at any time at three locations: the Coos Bay Chevron station, in Coquille at 341 West Hwy. 42 (near Sturdivant Park) and south of Roseburg at 4150 South Old Highway 99.
"We've been around long enough that most people know who we are and what we do," continued Scott. "We pride ourselves on being locally-owned...there aren't a lot of companies that can say that anymore."
I asked Scott how their Shopper ads have worked for them. "We've had good response to them. I have people come up to me and say, 'Hey I saw your ad in the Shopper!'"
Scott's business takes some interesting twists during a weather emergency. "I remember a few years ago when we had a big snowstorm that knocked power out between here and Roseburg for about a week," he began. "We were fueling police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and taxis out of our storage facility by truck...one individual had to get to Eugene for his dialysis treatments. We didn't advertise that we had limited fuel because we were afraid that we'd run out...but we kept emergency vehicles running."
It's easy to take it for granted that there will always be vehicle fuel when you need it, but because of the remote location we find ourselves in on the South Coast, it's good to know there's a local company looking out for the interests of the community, and dedicated to serving it when the need arises.
Better Built Sheds
Photo Captions: Les Glenn of Better Built Sheds stands in front of his truck at his business on Bayshore Drive in Coos Bay.
Les Glenn is the owner of Better Built Sheds, located on Bayshore Drive, one block north of the Marshfield Bargain House in Coos Bay. He's been building sheds for over 20 years, and is open 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. He's a one-man business, but isn't entirely by himself at the shop. His three year old Queensland Blue Heeler, Jake, keeps him company and lets him know someone has arrived by barking like the dickens. "But he's lazy," says Les. "And once somebody comes in here, he just wants to be petted."
Les has moved his business around over the years, finally winding up in his current location, which is in a large warehouse that has an upstairs office. "I have a sign out front, but I need to put one of my finished sheds out there so people notice the place," says Les. "Only trouble is, when people see a shed out there, they want to buy it right away, and then I have to replace it."
I asked Les to tell me about what he builds. "I custom build a variety of structures...everything from storage sheds to greenhouses. Some people even use them as extra bedrooms, although I don't think that's exactly legal. I use solid wood construction for my sheds, as well as Lexan corrugated polycarbonate sheets for the greenhouses. It's better than glass, and is tough and lightweight."
Les told me that last year he was busier than ever. At one point people were waiting three months for their custom-made shed. He has photos of his products for people to refer to when picking out a shed model, but "all the plans are right up here," he said, pointing to his head.
Usually Les will build a shed at his shop, but there are times when he takes his flatbed truck out to a customer's property and assembles the building right there. But he prefers to do his work in the warehouse on Bayshore Drive where all his tools are.
I asked Les how his Shopper ads were working. "They seem to be doing fine," he said. "I haven't had as many ads in lately because I've been so busy trying to keep up with orders." I guess that proves that advertising in the Shopper works!
So what does the future hold for Les and Better Built Sheds? "I'll just keep on custom building these sheds for as long as I can," said Les. "I had some injuries some time ago that prevent me from working on my feet eight hours a day, and being my own boss let's me take a break when I need to. I like what I'm doing."
As busy as Les stays, it seems his customers like what he's doing, too. He says he has lots of repeat customers who have multiple sheds on their property. And he'd like people to know that he accepts all major credit cards. If you'd like to join those ranks of satisfied people, give Better Built Sheds a call at 541-404-3802, where Jake will be waiting to let Les know you've arrived.
Charleytown Marketplace
Photo Captions: Donna and John Kaiser built the building that houses Charleytown Marketplace, which they have owned for a few years.
Published in the June 5, 2014 edition
Donna and John Kaiser are the owners of Charleytown Marketplace, a gift shop offering an amazing variety of items in Charleston. Located at 91152 Cape Arago Highway, the Kaisers have owned the marketplace for nine years. But you really have to go there yourself to see all that they have to offer.
"We started with two local artists and now we have over 140. We have everything from artwork, wood working, sweets from the Candy Basket in Portland, Euphoria chocolates, Misty Meadows jams and jellies, and local honey. Over the last few years we've really expanded our antique section. We literally have new stuff coming in every day," says Donna.
The Kaisers put a lot of emphasis on nautical items. Donna showed me a beautiful wooden ship's wheel and said, "We have nets and floats for landscaping, locally made seagulls, anything you need for outside decorating. We really try to use locally-made products. The reason we call this the marketplace is because we intended this to be like an indoors farmer's market, but open all year round."
Donna and John carry a lot of Bigfoot items like books, bumper stickers, tee shirts, and posters. "I have over a hundred stories about Bigfoot from local people, and I'm thinking of writing a book on the subject," says Donna.
I asked Donna how their Shopper ad has been working for them. "Excellently. Our ads have been targeting specific items, like this ship's wheel that we've had for over two years. Within three days of putting that ad in the Shopper, we sold the wheel. For every ad that we've run in the Shopper we've had at least one person come in and look at the product."
Charleytown Marketplace is open 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday. They also have a food van, Big Dawg's BBQ, in their parking lot that's open noon to 4 pm those same days. Their phone number is 541-888-0146.
"I think the most exciting thing about this store is that you can see something new every day," said Donna. "We have a friendly store that's consistently open, provides free gift wrapping, and will ship items for customers. If you haven't checked us out, then you're missing out!"
Chinook Charters
Photo Caption: The charter fishing boat Chinook is ready and waiting to take a maximum of six people on a great fishing expedition.
You'll find Bob Baumann, owner of Chinook Charters, down in the Charleston Boat Basin, where he's been doing charter fishing for ten years. He wasn't always fishing on the west coast of the U.S., however; for 25 years he was a commercial fisherman in New York.
So how did Bob wind up on the Oregon Coast? "I slipped two discs in my back and couldn't do heavy physical work anymore," said Bob. "I had a couple of degrees so I went to Gallup, New Mexico to teach school for a year, then on to Weslo, Arizona and taught for a year, and then finally moved up here and taught for 23 years in Glendale, South Umpqua, Canyonville, Myrtle Creek, and Roseburg...but I'd rather be fishing!"
Bob's boat, the Chinook, is based out of Charleston, where he takes a maximum of six people on charter trips. "I try and provide individualized, small group fishing," said Bob. "Six people maximum, but most of the time not that many. The experience you have is more important to me than the money I make. I really want people to have a good experience. I point out the caves under the Coast Guard Station where they used to stash booze during Prohibition; I tell my customers about the grounding of the New Carissa; I show them the lighthouses, basically just give them the royal tour...people appreciate that."
It's June right now, and Chinook Charters has in-shore black rockfish and small ling cod fishing, with a guaranteed limit of black rocks. "May 14 was opening day on the Bandon high spot for the halibut fishery," said Bob. "We have a guaranteed limit of one fish per person. I've got electric reels on the boat that makes things much easier...350 feet of cranking gets real old. June 25 until the end of September we go for off-shore tuna. We fish from outriggers and poles, and we can troll for an hour without a bite, then have seven on at once when I find a thermocline (a place where there's a temperature break from 58 to 61 degrees). I have satellite imagery to help that out, too."
Bob continued, "we also do in-shore black rockfish and halibut fishing during the summer. Tuna's 30, 40, maybe 50 miles off-shore. From October 1 to April 1 we fish the Northwest high spot for the big lings and assorted rockfish, and we get ling cod from 30-40 pounds. Finally, from August until October 15, we will set out crab pots if the customer wishes. And we don't keep small fish."
I asked Bob what he tells people when they call to schedule a fishing trip. "If they're concerned about seasickness, which can be a problem, I tell them to take a Dramamine® the night before, one that morning before the trip, and do not eat breakfast. If people do that, they're generally okay. There's always a couple that say, 'I'm not gonna get sick,' and they spend the trip over the rail."
Chinook Charters provides all fishing tackle, bottled water...everything people need except their lunches. All ages are welcome. "I have a photo of an eight year old kid that I initially didn't want to take," said Bob, "and he caught a 45 pound ling cod! I thought that fish and my expensive electric reel were going overboard but I'm holding the rod and he's running the reel, and we got that fish. He was so proud; that fish was bigger than him!"
If you're looking for the fishing experience of a lifetime, give Chinook Charters a call at 541-662-0964 and talk to Captain Bob, but don't ask him for any fish recipes...he doesn't eat fish!
Chuck's Landscape Maintenance
Photo Caption: Chuck Briggs encourages his clients to have year-round landscape maintenance.
Published in the May 15, 2014 edition
Chuck Briggs of Chuck's Landscape Maintenance is an enterprising and hard-working young man who is quickly building up a business going solo doing landscape maintenance. He had previously worked for 16 years for his family, who owns C & C Landscaping in Coos Bay, but in February of this year he started his own business.
Armed with a beautiful new pick-up and large trailer in which he hauls brush and stores his lawn equipment, Chuck is licensed, bonded and insured for both residential and commercial work.
When I asked Chuck what his specialty was, he replied, "It's got to be shrub trimming, I've done it for so long. I even do ornamental trimming, carving animals like swans, and even chairs out of bushes. It's really an art, and takes lots of time and practice, but I've been doing shrub trimming for years."
But that's not all that's in Chuck's repertoire. He also mows lawns, trims hedges, puts down bark, cleans gutters, pressure washes and paints decks, fixes fences, prunes fruit trees, and hauls away trash and debris. The only thing he can't do is add new things to a yard; that's for landscapers. But what he does do is beautifully maintain existing landscapes.
Chuck emphasizes that he encourages his customers to have a year-round maintenance plan. "I know the grass doesn't grow year-round, but that's when you can have your gutters cleaned, your shrubs trimmed and trees pruned, and maybe mow the lawn once a month during that time," says Chuck.
I asked Chuck if he had anything to say about advertising in the South Coast Shopper. He replied, "Due to getting phone calls every day because of the Shopper, I feel that's it's made my business what it is today. I put an ad in the Shopper for 12 weeks, and didn't hear anything for a week, but when the phone rang that first call paid for my ad. Now I have 35 accounts, and I just scheduled my ad for another 12 weeks. The Shopper is great!"
Clausen Oysters
Photo Caption: Lilli Clausen poses next to a photograph of her late husband, Max.
Clausen Oysters, located on Haynes Inlet in North Bend, is owned primarily by Lilli Clausen, born Lilli Kirschbaum in Volhynia, in the northwest corner of Ukraine. During the Russian invasion, her family ended up in West Germany during "The Great Terror" a massive ethnic cleansing operation led by the Soviets. Many years and miles later, she and her husband Max started their oyster business on the mud flats of Coos Bay in 1983. Today it is the largest oyster growing operation in Oregon, with 635 acres of oysters seeded on land leased from Coos County.
I spoke with Lilli one afternoon about her life and the business she and her husband owned together until his death in 2014. "Thirty years and I still have this accent," mused Lilli. "I was a teacher with a Master's Degree in health education. I couldn't get a full-time teaching job, and when I married Max, who was a pilot in the Air force, then a dairyman, and then worked on a local oyster farm, we decided to go into business for ourselves. Max knew all the technical stuff…I didn't know a thing about oysters!"
I asked Lilli why they chose Coos Bay to start their oyster farm. "Coos Bay is one of the very best places in the whole United States to grow oysters; we're only four miles in from the ocean, and we can grow a 5"-6" oyster in three years. When we bought this place, there was no pier or dock available, and the place had all sorts of equipment lying around. Then we had to invest in oyster seed, which is very expensive. Oysters don't naturally grow here because it's too cold, but that's what makes this a great place to farm them, because we've never had a problem with people getting sick from vibrio parahaemeliticus, a bacteria that multiplies in warmer water. Our water is too cold for the bacteria to grow."
By the way, oysters are safe to eat, even if the shell is open, as long as the temperature in storage has not exceeded 40 degrees F. So Clausens has safe, fresh oysters available year-round. They are under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Water samples are taken on a regular basis to check on any possible hazard to the safety of oysters.
It takes three years for oysters to mature, and it was a great challenge for the Clausens to obtain good seed. "Our first harvest in 1984 netted $12,000 and that's what it took to build the wooden barge!," said Lilli. "It really took about 10 years to begin making a profit. But this business is never boring! You do the best you can, but it's a farming life, there are good years and bad. For instance, we had a 75% death loss from the wreck of the New Carissa."
Clausens takes great pride in their Kumamoto specialty half-shell oysters, which are extra small and very tasty. They have six or seven different sizes of oysters, which are shipped all over the United States, even to places like the Gulf Coast and Texas, where sometimes the weather gets too hot for safe oyster harvest there. Clausens have shipped their oysters as far away as Vancouver, BC, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
As I was talking to Lilli, the workers were getting ready for the busy Memorial Day weekend. "We try to be as helpful as we can to consumer concerns," said Lilli. "We were the first company in the area to separate out all the oysters. We shuck, clean and have them totally ready for consumption. And one of the best ways to cook them is to microwave them, right in the shell! When I get home after work the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time cooking my dinner, so I just pop a half dozen or so small oysters in the microwave and in three minutes I have dinner. I have no problem eating a dozen Kumamotos, raw or cooked!"
Some of the local restaurants that serve Clausen Oysters are the Blue Heron Bistro and the Coach House, which prepares the shellfish a variety of different ways, from grilled to Cajun. But if you just want to try a free oyster sample, "We give free samples to people who come in. We have tried very hard to make things as easy as possible for people to enjoy our oysters," said Lilli.
I could tell how popular Clausen's storefront was, as several people came in and bought oysters while I was speaking to Lilli. And she made sure I had a bag of a dozen or so extra-smalls before I left, which I microwaved that night...delicious!
If you're thinking about grilling, frying, microwaving or baking some delicious silverpoint oysters, stop in to Clausens at 66234 N. Bay Drive in North Bend. They're open to the public 8 am -5 pm Monday through Saturday. Or call them at 541-756-3600. And, Lilli reminds customers, "Bring a cooler, we don't let anybody leave here without ice!"
Coastal High Ways
Photo Caption: Joe Polder stands behind the counter of Coastal High Ways in North Bend.
Published in the April 13, 2017 edition
There's a new dispensary on the Southern Oregon Coast called Coastal High Ways, located at 2233 Broadway Avenue in North Bend. Owned by Joe Polder, who, along with his parents and sister, have been running the business since February 16, 2017, Coastal High Ways stands out from other dispensaries because it caters almost exclusively to recreational customers.
"Although we're recreational sales, OLCC requires us to provide marijuana products to patients," said Joe. "So both recreational and medical patients shop here, and so far everyone seems to be pretty happy with that."
"With current federal laws in place, Coastal High Ways is a cash-only store. Anyone age 21 and older can enter, and they need to show valid identification. "So far, the age group we see the most of is actually seniors," Joe remarked. "The median age of our customers is probably around 55. People wander in, check out our products, and then buy something."
Right now Coastal High Ways sells edibles, vape pens, glassware, pipes and other accessories.
"We don't have vaporizers yet," said Joe, "but we are going to offer more store merchandise soon. We currently carry about 12 different strains, and I'm always reaching out to local growers. All our product strains are grown in Southern Oregon."
I asked Joe if he uses the term "cannabarista" to refer to those sales people in a dispensary. "We use the term 'bud tender" here," he replied. "They have to be really knowledgeable about the products we're offering, because a lot of people are interested in learning more about the plant product and getting informed about the industry."
Joe said that advertising in the South Coast Shopper was "just nice, quick and easy. I've worked with some questionable advertising people in the past with my other company, but those at the Shopper are good to work with."
Originally from Reedsport, Joe says that he would like to open more stores up and down the coast. When asked why he chose the North Bend area, Joe said, "Brookings has eight dispensaries, and there are stores from Astoria to California, but I really like it here. It's all about customer service. I have people coming back in the store just to say hi."
Coastal High Ways is open seven days a week, 10am-7pm Sunday-Wednesday, and 10am-10pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Their phone number is 541-808-2278, and you can find them on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Leafly, Weedmaps and Snapchat.
I asked Joe if there was anything else he'd like to say. "Just that we're open, we're here, and we're moving along!" he replied.
Coastal Paper and Supply
Photo Caption: Johanna Dillard, owner of Coastal Paper and Supply in North Bend, now in its 20th year selling cleaning supplies and paper products.
Published in the October 16, 2014 edition
Johanna Dillard owns Coastal Paper and Supply, located at 1809 McPherson Street in North Bend. On October 1, they celebrated their 19th anniversary, but Joanna says, "I've been in this business for 34 years. At first I worked for a family-owned store and then I bought them out. Now I have 10 full time employees!"
Coastal Paper and Supply sells cleaning supplies and commercial paper products. "We cater to the homeowner, and if they call and ask about products, we'll give them a recommendation. You can go anywhere and pick up a cleaning product, but we'll tell you just how to use it. We actually give people solutions, not just sell products."
But this company also sells to businesses. "I've got three and a half full-time sales people who go out and call on businesses and sell them paper, cleaning supplies, building maintenance supplies, first aid kits, laundry supplies, whatever they need for their business. But I really want to stress that we also sell to the public; anybody can come in. There's nothing quite like this in the area, and that's what I really want the public to know: our great products and prices are available to them."
Coastal Paper and Supply has their own delivery fleet that covers from Lincoln City down to the California border, and from Creswell to Glendale: basically all of southwestern Oregon. "Our biggest sellers are our toilet paper and pet odor control solutions," said Johanna. "Those are the things that I always advertise in the South Coast Shopper, because everybody reads it. In fact, I've been advertising in the Shopper even before I owned this business, back when I worked for the people I eventually bought out."
When Johanna isn't busy in the store, she's very active in the community. She's the current president of the North Bend Downtown Association, has been Chamber president twice, is on the board of the North Bend Community Scholarship Fund, and is on the City of North Bend Budget Committee.
What's the future hold for this company? "We are continuing to grow and we have added employees and salespeople," said Johanna. "We're pretty excited about the new things going on business-wise on the South Coast. We're ready for more business and hope that the local people realize how really competitive we are with stores in bigger towns. If you do the math, our paper products are cheaper than buying at a wholesale club store, and you don't have to drive two hours to get them! We have a 12,000 square foot warehouse, and nine times out of ten, we have something in stock that our customers are looking for."
If you're looking for the very best in cleaning and paper supplies, give Coastal Paper and Supply a call at 541-756-6770. They're open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be glad to show you just how competitively priced their products are and save you time and money buying locally!
Coldstream Construction
Photo Caption: Michelle and Chris Caldera of Coldstream Construction in Coos Bay.
Published in the May 7, 2015 edition
Chris Caldera is a general contractor who along with his wife Michelle owns Coldstream Construction, named after the road that he grew up on in Sumner, outside of Coos Bay. Nowadays his company is located in a home office in Coos Bay, where they're open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.
No stranger to the construction business, Chris has been doing it for 25 years, and has owned his own company since 1990. "My great-uncle and grandfather started in construction in the late 1960's," said Chris. "And I grew up working with my family on the weekends since I was 12 years old."
Coldstream Construction specializes in drywall. "I put up the sheetrock, texture, tape, do ceilings, walls, repair work, cracks, etc," says Chris.
"But Chris also does everything in building from A to Z," said Michelle. "For example, we recently went to a house in Myrtle Point to remove a beehive from inside the living room walls. The owner wanted the bees removed, and not exterminated, and since Chris is a hobbyist beekeeper, he was the ideal person to take on the job. We were able to safely remove the bees, repair the wall, and re-home the beehive to our own bee yard. The homeowner is happy, the bees are happy, and we are thrilled to add another hive to our yard. Bees are so important to our ecology!"
"I build from the ground up," added Chris. "I also do roofing; basically everything except the electrical and plumbing. Nowadays people are more interested in remodeling their existing homes, and 90% of my calls are for that. People are being careful with their money and improving what they already have."
"I think the interesting thing about Chris is how much experience he has for how young he is," said Michelle. "He's been doing this kind of work all his life, starting with his family."
Chris continued, "We started out just doing sheetrock, and then in the 2,000's we went to building spec homes, which I loved doing, but the economy bottomed out. Spec homes are where you buy the lot, you build the house, and speculate that you're going to sell it for a profit. But the recession killed all that. We all got bit in those times, but things have picked up since then. Of course, it could still get better!"
"Chris often will get a call to come fix what somebody else started and can't finish," said Michelle. "And then the customer is amazed at how fast he is, and what kind of quality he produces. They wind up having him stay and give him a list of other stuff they need done, and he winds up being at their place for another two weeks. He's got a really good reputation in this area. Most of his business is by referral and he'll end up being on the same street for a month; people really appreciate him."
Although the Calderas haven't been advertising with the Shopper for very long, "we're going to stay with it," said Michelle. "When you read the Shopper, the ads you see stay in the back of your mind, and then you suddenly remember seeing them when you need them. That's a good feeling. And DeEsta in the front office is just great and has been so helpful!"
So what does the future hold for Coldstream Construction? "The sky's the limit," said Chris. "We're here, and we want to work."
"One thing I want to add is that as a consumer I appreciate the work ethic that my husband has," said Michelle. "He's out there on the job working hard, not taking a long lunch break. There's an element in him that makes women comfortable having him in their home, and he gets lots of referrals from women, especially. I always joke that all these ladies like him and they even feed him lunch while he's on a job!"
Chris added, "It's usually the women that are the ones putting the honey-do lists together. I have a good design eye and will help pick colors and give advice to my customers on what they should and shouldn't do. I really care about how things look and that's part of my reputation."
If you're in the market for a reputable contractor, give Coldstream Construction a call at 541-290-7480. "You can't find anyone who's going to care more about the finished job than Chris," said Michelle.
College Works Painting
Photo Caption: Jeff Veysey of College Works Painting.
Jeff Veysey has a lot on his plate these days. A native of Myrtle Point, Oregon, Jeff lives half the week in Corvallis, attending college to study geography and cartography. He travels home to Myrtle Point on weekends to work. "The most impressive thing I've learned while working for College Works Painting is Time Management skills," says Jeff. "I work 30 hours a week, plus attend OSU working towards my Bachelor's Degree. I knew sleeping in and loafing around, working part-time minimum wage jobs was not going to get me to where I want to go with my life."
At a very mature 19 years of age, Jeff is now 3rd top manager in the program. He works two 12 hour days on Saturday and Sunday, and another 8 through the course of the week. He stays busy delegating jobs for which he does all the estimates.
Jeff also oversees the jobs that his teams work, and troubleshoots any problems, communicates with the customers to assure their satisfaction and progress with the work.
"My goal is to become a district manager for the company," says Jeff. "My present success and continued success is mostly due to managing my time to do all that I need to do. Three factors are important to be considered for a position with College Works Painting. A good work ethic, personality, and an excellent attitude. Being able to interact with a customer is key to securing the job." Jeff's satisfaction also comes from staying busy.
If you would be interested in having Jeff come by to give a free house painting estimate, please call him at 541-260-1092.
For more information about College Works Painting, please call 1-888-450-9645.
Coos Bay Winter Market - An Indoor Farmer's Market!
Photo Caption: Enjoy produce, coffee, crafts, and more at the indoor Coos Bay Winter Market inside the Pony Village Mall in North Bend.
Published in the February 8, 2018 edition
Most people are familiar with Coos Bay's wonderful summer Farmers' Market, but in the winter the Market has moved indoors for a great shopping experience. Come to the Coos Bay Winter Market to find things like fresh produce, bread, eggs, meat, other consumables and crafts!
The Winter Market has moved from the Coos Bay History Museum to inside the Pony Village Mall because it allows more room for vendors and great shopping for everything you need. "We've got vendors from Coos, Douglas, and Lane counties," says Mike, manager of the Coos Bay Winter Market. The market has produce like kale, carrots, onions, turnips, leeks, potatoes, and lots of other items like coffee, baked goods, including gluten-free products, sprouted greens, and various craft items.
The Coos Bay Winter Market is on Wednesdays through April from 10:00am to 2:00pm. To see a list of what's currently available visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoosBayWinterMarket . If you have any questions, contact Mike at 541-679-0952.
Coos Head Food Co-Op
Photo Caption: Coos Head Food Co-op has moved to 353 S. 2nd Street in Coos Bay. Their grand opening will be this weekend Fri-Sun.
Way back in 1978, Deb Krough moved to our area and started volunteering at a food co-op. She eventually had logged so many volunteer hours that she was asked if she'd like to get paid for what she was doing, and became a part-time cashier. Fast forward 38 years later, and you'll find Deb managing Coos Head Food Co-op, now located at 353 South 2nd Street in Coos Bay.
"This co-op first started in 1971," said Deb, "and was located, I think, on Marion Street in North Bend. We actually had three different locations in North Bend for a short time. But Since 1977, when two of its members co-signed a loan for the property, it's been located on Sherman Avenue. We recently moved to Coos Bay, and haven't even had our grand opening yet, but it's been busy!"
Now Coos Head Food Co-op has 15 employees and boasts a much larger store with ample parking. "We knew several years ago that our location on Sherman in North Bend was difficult for people to find parking. So we set up a committee of dedicated members and they eventually located a spot that has a great downtown feel; you can walk or bike to it, and it's in an appropriate neighborhood with good synergy. All the customers and staff are so happy with our new location!"
Coos Head Food Co-op is different from other grocery chains, Deb explained "We are a member-owned Cooperative. We have household shares and anyone can invest in a share, each member gets to vote. Generally speaking, people who enjoy or support community and personal ownership gravitate towards a cooperative entity. It's equally owned and is based on a person's participation as a shareholder; how much money they spend at the co-op each year determines how much of a patronage dividend may be owed to them if profits allow. The more you spend, the more you get back at the end of the year."
Deb continued, "the 1970's and 80's were a time that co-ops needed to rethink their business model. Though the intention of co-ops is to not make a profit, it is a key responsibility to ensure the fiscal strength to remain in business for the owners. And we have more flexibility to buy local goods and work directly with local vendors for fresh products like meats (all grass-fed beef, pork that's fed without any corn, soy or alfalfa, etc.). We can provide a product that is guaranteed to be GMO-free. We have buffalo, rabbit, local poultry and eggs. Our local seasonal produce comes from Valley Flora in Langlois."
The board at Coos Head Food Co-op listens to what their owners want, and they respond to those requests while keeping in mind that changes must be for the good of everyone involved. "We get a lot of customer requests that range from a need to buy gluten-free products, or products that won't aggravate their allergies. Some people just come in here to buy pet food! We really do have something for everyone," said Deb.
October is National Co-Op month, and to celebrate, Coos Head Food Co-Op will be having a grand opening, with lots of free samples, on October 21, 22, and 23, so come in and experience the Co-op for yourself. Visit their Facebook page for details.
Coos Head Food Store is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Or give them a call at 541-756-7264.
"We had a traveler come through a couple of years ago who said he always tried to shop at co-ops," said Deb. "After shopping here, and seeing the wide variety we had, he commented that 'It says a lot about a community that supports a Co-op.' That says a lot about our community."
Crown Point Trading
Photo Caption: Jerry Smith is a NRA Certified instructor, teaching at Crown Point Trading in the Empire District of Coos Bay.
Jerry Smith has been the chief instructor at Crown Point Trading, located in the Empire district of Coos Bay, for many years. His wife, Jane Mitten, handles all the paperwork, and Jerry, who is retired from his 25 year career in security and public safety, teaches all the classes.
Jerry is an NRA Certified Instructor with certifications in home firearms safety, pistol first steps, basic pistol, basic rifle, "Refuse to be a Victim" training, personal protection in the home and is an NRA Range Safety Officer. He is also a Certified Firearms Instructor for the State of Utah and a USCCA (United States Concealed Carry Association) Affiliate Instructor.
The company offers classes that enable people to apply for the State of Oregon Concealed handgun License or the State of Utah Concealed Firearms Permit, or both.
Jerry explained that " Many people want the Utah certification because they travel around the country and especially Oregonians who travel to Washington State. The state of Washington honors Utah's permit, but they do not honor Oregon's license. If you have both Oregon and Utah permits, as an Oregon resident, you're good in about 33 states to carry a concealed weapon. The Oregon and Utah classes each take about four hours if taken separately. We also offer a combined class for both that runs about six hours. The combined classes are usually held between 8 am and 2 pm on Saturdays but accommodations can be made for other times and days of the week."
The separate classes are usually held Saturday morning from 9 am to 1 pm, and there are classes available during weeknights. "If I have a class scheduled (and I can comfortably handle up to 10 people in the classroom) and only one person signs up, I still run the class," said Jerry. " We offer free range time for anyone who has taken one of our classes as well as several classes that include range time in the training. We also have women-only classes working with a female instructor in Coquille. We use the Myrtle Point Sportsmens' Club as our shooting range."
Jerry continued, "We teach firearm and handgun familiarity, where students will handle, load and unload various type of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students will learn firearm safety and defensive shooting techniques but also situational awareness...being aware of your surroundings, and how to keep from needing to use your weapon in the first place. Although we can't teach every state's laws on the use of deadly force there is a common thread that runs through most states laws and we teach those as well. I also talk about what effects a violent encounter has on the human body like tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, false memories, adrenaline dumps...physical and psychological effects of a traumatic incident. I hope to at least get people thinking about all the aspects of self defense."
If you've been thinking about taking a concealed weapons class, call Jerry at 541-888-5590. " We get a lot of people sign up for classes when there's an ugly shooting incident in the country. If that's what it takes for people to come to the class, I just as soon not be so busy," said Jerry.
Dave's Christmas Trees
Photo Caption: David Hannah, of Dave's Christmas Trees, embodies the joy of the Christmas season in work he loves to do.
Published in the November 29, 2012 edition
Dave's Christmas Trees is an area icon if there ever was one. Owner David Hannah was born and raised in Coos Bay/North Bend, and started working in the Christmas tree business 35 years ago as a 7th grader. "After school, I'd take the bus from Millicoma Junior High to Marshfield High, and then walk down to the Electric Hospital, where my uncle ran the tree lot. I took over the business right out of high school, changed the name to Dave's Christmas Trees, and moved the lot here to Farr's." Dave also has a tree lot at Pony Village Mall, as well as a small U-Cut farm out toward Sumner.
The folks at Dave's Christmas Trees want to make sure people have a good experience while looking for their perfect tree. They have Christmas coloring books for the kids, as well reindeer and snowmen antenna toppers. There is a large tent to gather under if it is raining, and they'll loan you an umbrella if you need one. They offer trees of all types, shapes and sizes, but if you can't find what you are looking for, don't give up! "Sometimes people come in looking for something specific, so we'll go to the farm and try to find that for them," Dave told me. Once a tree is picked out, Dave's takes it from there. They will take it out back to shake the excess needles from it, and give it a fresh cut so the tree can drink more water. They will bale your tree if needed, put the stand on it, and load it in your vehicle, so basically all you have to do is take it home and set it up. Finally, taking awesome customer service to a whole new level, if you have a problem getting around, Dave's will deliver a tree to you, for a very reasonable price. "Sometimes we'll even take two out and let people pick which one they want," he told me.
'Smell the Difference' has been their motto for years. Dave said, "We get a few trees in about every two days, so that they're constantly fresh, and you really can smell that freshness." Dave gets the bulk of his Christmas trees from a farmer in Camas Valley, whom he has been dealing with for over 35 years. "Our customers know that as late as December 16th or so, they can come in and get a tree that was only cut a day or two before, instead of a tree that has been sitting around since Thanksgiving." Dave shared a trick with me to prolong that lovely scent. "On the trunk of fir trees, you'll find little bumps of pitch pockets. Take a knife and pop a few of those, and you'll bring out more of that smell."
Another thing people like about Dave's Tree's is their unique method of snow flocking, developed by long time employee Steve Croy. "One year Steve said "Hey, I want to flock my own tree!" and I said fine, because I was busy. Well instead of just spraying the tree, he got up on a ladder and flocked straight down so it looked like it actually snowed on the tree! I said, "Holy Cow, that is cool!'" As we were moving the tree to the spot to dry it, some customers saw it and wanted their tree flocked the same way. So, that is how this new thing was created. Now, that's just the way we do it, and Steve owns that part of the business."
Knowing how much Christmas trees mean to people, Dave's Trees has answered the call of our school districts and service agencies to help provide a Christmas tree to families in need, and also donates trees to Shore Acres for its annual Holiday Lights Display.
"I love doing this work," he continued. "It's fast paced, and it all happens in a 2-3 week period. We all work long hours making it happen. This is a good community, and we have been blessed in a way that we naturally love making people happy."
Visit Dave's Christmas Trees at Farr's in Coos Bay, or in North Bend at Pony Village Mall. For information on the U-Cut, Contact Dave at (541) 888-2806.
Designs by Carolyn
Photo Caption: Carolyn Demetz is a civic-minded woman embodies the spirit of a mutually supportive community with her "Designs by Carolyn" line of jewelry, and in volunteering.
Carolyn Demetz is a lifelong native of the Coos Bay area. She grew up in Sumner, attended Marshfield High School and then went to SWOCC to take classes in accounting, which is her first area of expertise. She was enjoying her work as a bookkeeper for several businesses around town when she was struck by Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, during the mid 80's.
"I've had lots of trial and tribulations because of my MS," Carolyn shared with me. "In the late 90's, I lost my vision and got on SSI. I tried to keep working, but the stress of holding down a full time job exacerbated the MS, and my doctor didn't want me to go back to work."
Carolyn, along with her husband Keith, became involved in lapidary years ago as a way to do something enjoyable together. "I've always dabbled in jewelry and had fun," she said. For years, Carolyn made jewelry with faceted rock and cabochon for friends and family as a hobby. "When Keith retired, we started going to different rock shows to sell, and I got really serious about doing jewelry. I started placing my jewelry in several locations around town, but due to my health, I was unable to maintain that, especially since I was not supposed to be driving." Over the years her MS has leveled out, and although it will not worsen for Carolyn, it still causes pain and keeps her up at night. "When I can't sleep, I get up and work on my jewelry. It takes my mind off of the pain, and is like therapy for me."
A very community-minded person, Carolyn was determined to find ways to contribute to the success of the community in spite of her challenged health. She began volunteering her bookkeeping services part-time to businesses for free. "Without people helping people, a lot of small businesses go under. One reason they go under is because they don't have a good accountant. Donating my time is how I play a part in the success of my community."
In this way, Carolyn began keeping the books for Outdoor-In, and has worked out a mutually beneficial relationship with owners Gina and Mark Daily. Carolyn's jewelry is displayed exclusively at the popular family play area. "Having my jewelry in one place is a good trade off for me, because I don't have to run all over creation to make sure my jewelry is stocked." This is also perfect fit for a lady who makes jewelry not for a profit, but to do something nice for people. Carolyn now purchases gorgeous lamp-work pieces made with Murano glass, which she assembles into necklaces and earrings. She uses inexpensive but durable materials in order to keep the prices down. All of her jewelry sells for $2.99, and she keeps the prices low for a reason. "This area is depressed economically. If a kid wants to get Mommy or Grandma a pretty necklace, $2.99 is an easy stretch. I have it already set in a little gold box. They don't even have to wrap it, they can just stick a little bow on it and it's ready." Carolyn is able to keep her prices low because she doesn't have the overhead that established store-fronts have to deal with, and this benefit is generously passed on to the community.
Gina Daily tells me Carolyn is just a naturally giving person. "We have two boys, and whenever they are involved in fund raising for the school, they know Carolyn will help them out. She is a co-chair for the Fun Festival, and is very civic-minded. The Girl Scouts love her!"
In turn, Carolyn is a big supporter of the Outdoor-In. "This place is the best thing since cream cheese, especially for Grandparents who babysit. You're old, and no matter how nice it is, you don't want to sit outside and get blown away by that cold wind! So, bring the kids in here where they can have fun, while you sit down with a nice cup of coffee."
Carolyn loves being a Grandma, and she adores her husband, Keith. She works to support the community she loves, proving profit cannot always be measurred in dollars and cents. The world can sure use a lot more Grandma's like Carolyn.
To check out Designs by Carolyn, stop by the Outdoor-In, located at 305 S 4th Street, Coos Bay.
Dirty Work Heating
There are many unsung heroes in our business community. One of these heroes is Dirty Work Heating.
A family-owned and-operated business for 15 years, Rich and Luann McCormack, and their partner Charles Pendleton, provide a unique service for all phases, from beginning to end, for wood, pellet, or gas stoves. "There is always a demand for flexible gas-tight piping and fitting. Fixing problems that are difficult to diagnose is our specialty, with safety our number one concern for your home or business" says Rich.
Need your chimney sealed and repaired? Do you need your gutters cleaned? How about a dump run? These are just a few of the unique services provided by Dirty Work Heating. Count on Dirty Work Heating to make sure your chimneys are clean and safe before you start the season. A clean chimney not only means a safe stove, but a more efficient stove as well.
Their newest product available for customers is the Jotul wood stove. It is made of plate steel, loads from front or top, and is 85% efficient! Want more good news? Dirty Work Heating will soon be servicing the Florence area.
Bonded and Licensed, you can feel confident about professional, quality work.
Don't put that task off any longer. Is it time for a new hearth? Need a new tilepad built? No matter what your heating needs, or how dirty the job is, Dirty Work Heating is here to serve.
Call Luann for an appointment for a free estimate today at 541-751-9004. Located in North Bend at 1987 Sherman Ave. Business Hours are 9-5 M-F, Sat. 10-3 CCB#136846.
Diversified Marine and Equipment Sales
Photo Caption: Diversified Marine Equipment Sales in Florence is your one-stop destination for everything from boats and trailers to used autos and RVs.
Published in the April 9, 2015 edition
Jim and Bonnie Johnston are the owners of Diversified Marine and Equipment Sales, located at 2530 Highway 101 in Florence, and the word "diversified" in their business name is a meaningful one. The Johnstons don't limit their sales to just marine equipment, but are also a marine repair, service, sales and consignment center, with a "few" other things to offer like Pacific metal buildings, quality woodcraft sheds, RV, trailer and vehicle sales and consignments, complete detail service on RVs, cars, trucks and boats...the list seems to go on and on!
Jim is a veteran who has owned and operated his business with his wife Bonnie since 1989. And other than the part-time employee who does yard maintenance, the couple runs the business by themselves. "I do sales, advertising, you name it," says Jim. "We're a small family/veteran operation here."
I asked Jim how he and Bonnie wound up in Florence. "I was in the car business for many years," says Jim. "I worked for the Kendall Ford Company in Eugene in the 1960's and also for various car dealers in management over the years. I was actually the general manager for Lounsbury Ford in Coquille way back when, and even worked many years ago for Vollstedt Volkswagon in Coos Bay!"
In 1985 Jim was leasing his own inventory when he got into open and enclosed trailer sales (utility and cargo). He and Bonnie had owned a second home in Florence since 1983, and in 1992 they moved there permanently. "Florence is a nice town to live in: we've got good shopping here and as you drive through town you can see how clean and well-kept it is. The climate is great, we're only an hour from Eugene, and we think it's a good centrally-located place on the Oregon coast to live in and do business," said Jim.
As the company name implies, Diversified Marine and Equipment Sales does full service boat and marine repair on new and used boats. They also sell used boats and motors. "I actually had a company with the same name in Eugene since 1989 that we sold in 2006, so when we moved here, I just kept the name and here we are still operating," said Jim.
When the Johnstons first moved to Florence, they opened up a trailer sales operation, but that quickly expanded into trailer consignments and rentals, boat, motor and trailer repair service, plus used boat, RV, vehicle and equipment sales. They eventually branched out into selling Pacific metal steel buildings and quality woodcraft sheds, and doing sales, rentals and consignments of dump trucks, backhoes, bucket trucks and other heavy equipment. "I have a satellite operation at Bayshore Automotive in Coos Bay where they sell trailers for me, too," said Jim. "I think that other for one person in Newport, I'm pretty much the only trailer sales operation of any size on the Oregon coast."
Jim wanted Shopper readers to know they do their own in-house financing, with special financing for veterans. They also take trade-ins and will buy used vehicles. Their trailer rentals are for open or enclosed trailers from 18 to 24 feet, which will move "pretty much an entire household, if you need to," says Jim.
The Johnstons are also very involved with the community of Florence. "We loan our trailers to needy organizations like the Boys and Girls Club or Habitat for Humanity," said Jim. "We try to be a good neighbor in the business community and give back what the community has given us. We love living in Florence!"
Diversified Marine and Equipment Sales is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and in the summer they expand their hours to Saturdays from 9 to 5.
I asked Jim what the future holds for his company, and he replied, "we've gone through some very tough times since 2008...those were the toughest years since I've been in business. We've seen a lot of operations close, but our doors are still open...that tells us we have the ability to survive. We see the economy really turning around and business has improved dramatically. Right now we're selling trailers and boats from Washington to California, so we have a really good outlook for the future!"
If you're looking for a store that has marine repair, service, sales, consignments and much, much more, call Diversified Marine and Equipment Sales at 541-997-4505 and find out how you can get a "whale of a deal"!
Dragon Clock & Camera
Photo Caption: Cliff Lint, owner of Dragon Clock and Camera, shows some inner workings of a clock currently at his shop.
Published in the September 17, 2015 edition
I visited with Cliff Lint, owner of Dragon Clock and Camera, located at 836 11th Street SW in Bandon. Cliff works out of his garage, which houses an impressive collection of clocks and cameras in all shapes, sizes, styles and ages. I asked Cliff how he got started in the clockmaking business. He replied, "When my wife and I first got married, I wanted a clock for the fireplace mantle, so I found an old one at a yard sale, played around with it and got it working, and I realized I should probably know how to take care of the thing. So I got certified as a clockmaker through the American Watchmakers/Clockmakers Institute, and got into this business full-time for a number of years.
Cliff's shop is stocked with everything he needs for repairing clocks. "I know how to use a jeweler's lathe, how to hand-make small parts like screws, click springs, etc.," said Cliff. "In my shop I have three lathes, a wheel cutting engine, a pinion cutting machine, a vertical milling machine...so I can make most of the parts, re-bush plates, put new bearings in, replace wheel teeth on the gears...whatever is necessary."
Not only does Cliff repair clocks, which is his main emphasis, but he also sells them. "On occasion I pick up old clocks, repair them, and resell them, but mostly I'm in the clock repair business. Right now I've got some cuckoo clocks, a banjo clock, some other odds and ends for sale. I've got a floor clock in my personal collection that was made in England around 1790."
The typical person brings in everything from pocket watches to floor clocks to Cliff's shop for repair. "I service anything that's got wheels and gears in it," he said. "I just came back from a service call in Port Orford where they had a grandfather clock that was less than 20 years old that needed repair, so it's not just older items that I'm repairing. But I've also repaired some clocks that date back to the 1700's and 1800's."
I asked Cliff if he has seen any difference in the quality of workmanship throughout the years. "It's a whole different genre today," he replied. "So much of the stuff being made now is all molded plastic, battery-operated, pretty much throw-away stuff. Some of the older battery clocks (less than 10 years), stop working, but the clock itself is in a nice case that fits someone's decor...those little battery movements, when they go bad, there's nothing you can do with them. So I give them new parts, and the customer basically gets a new clock, and keeps the look they like. I do a lot of retrofits on newer products."
Cliff sees people coming in frustrated with trying to find someone just to change their watch battery. "I've got the case-opening tools, and I carry a good supply of watch batteries," he said. "Just give me a jingle and let me know you're coming, and I'll change your watch battery out, no problem."
I asked Cliff about the camera repair work he does. He replied, "Back in the day, when they made real cameras...the digital stuff they're making today, quite a bit of it, when it goes bad, you heave it, there's nothing else you can do. Number one, you can't get parts, and they're not even designed to be taken apart because they're made out of plastic. Once in a while somebody will be at the beach and they'll drop their point-and-shoot camera in the sand and it'll jam up the mechanisms. Sometimes I can get it apart and save the camera, but most of those plastic parts, when they break or jam, they're done. But I do still get an occasional good-quality camera for repair."
Cliff was enthusiastic when I asked him about advertising in the South Coast Shopper. "I get results from the Shopper! I think about 95% of calls that I get from people are because of that paper. Your coverage area is great and I get a lot of business because of the ads that I've placed. I'm really happy advertising in the Shopper," he said.
Don't put off getting that clock or good quality camera repaired! Cliff works in the afternoon from about 12:30 to 4 pm, and any day of the week is fine as long as you call ahead at 541-404-4488. He's originally from northern California, but has been living in Bandon for about 11 years, and loves it. "I enjoy what I do, and I'm happy to be here doing it," said Cliff.
Elizabeth's Alterations
Photo Caption: Elizabeth's Alterations does all facets of clothing alterations for both men and women.
Published in the July 28, 2016 edition
For the past nine years this September, Liz Ehlin has been the owner of Elizabeth's Alterations, located in Suite 213, upstairs in the Pony Village Mall, 1611 Virginia Avenue in North Bend. Liz has a partner she's been working with since starting the business who works out of her home. "When I don't have time to do an alteration myself, or I'm too busy in the store, I hand projects over to her," says Liz.
I asked Liz how she got started in the alterations business. "Well, I've been sewing since I was in junior high," she replied. "That was when I had my first sewing class, but I had some prior experience. I continued sewing through high school. I had my two small children at home, and I first began doing alterations there. When my youngest was in first grade I opened this shop in the mall, and that way I was only here when my children were in school."
Elizabeth's Alterations provides a variety of services. She does all facets of alterations for both men and women, such as hemming, repair work, putting zippers in, lots of wedding gown and bridesmaid's alterations, even cushion replacement. "One of the projects we worked on last year was altering a wedding gown so that it had a peacock look. We're used to challenging projects like lacework, making wedding gown bigger or smaller, etc. I also do lots of work for the Coast Guard like sewing patches on and other uniform alterations," said Liz.
Liz says she has a lot of repeat customers, so that speaks favorably for her quality of work. "I really see a variety of projects coming through my door," said Liz. "Right now we're in the wedding season, so there are a lot of gowns coming in. I also do men's suit alterations like shortening sleeves, taking in suits or letting them out, and hemming slacks. I even hem designer jeans and do original hems that require specific stitching so they don't lose the integrity of the original garment."
I asked Liz how her South Coast Shopper ads are working for her. "I just decided to take out my ad for another six weeks," she replied. "I feel like consistency is key to advertising. Sometimes I'm so busy I don't get to ask people where they saw my ad, but I'm seeing a lot of new faces, and people have told me they've seen my ad in the Shopper, so that makes me really happy."
Liz said that as far as future plans go, she's going to be expanding to start carrying garment bags and boxes for wedding gowns. "We're also going to be including ironing, steaming and pressing services here. And I'd like to let people know that we do home deliveries and home measuring for people who have mobility difficulties."
"I'd like to make people aware that I really try to do my best to accommodate my customer's needs because they're coming in and paying me for a service and I want to be able to do the best I can," continued Liz. "If I feel that I can't perform the work a potential customer wants, I will refer them to someone else."
Elizabeth's Alterations is the only on-site shop that does strictly clothing alterations in the local area. They're open from 10 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday, with extended hours available. Their phone number is 541-290-0623.
Liz finished with, "I would just like to say that I'm available and I do my best to make people happy. The best part of my job is meeting new people and being able to help them out with their clothing needs."
Englund Marine Supply
Photo Caption:Inside Englund Marine has diversified their inventory to more accomodate the recreational boater.
Published in the August 21, 2014 edition
"Quality merchandise and great service" — that's the pledge that Axel Englund made when he started his store in Astoria in 1944. Since then, the business has expanded to seven retail locations on the west coast: West Port WA, Ilwaco, WA, Astoria (their main office), Newport, Charleston, Crescent City, CA, and Eureka, CA.
I spoke with Mark Fleck, Store Manager for Englund Marine in Charleston, about the family-owned business that he works for. Mark started out in the Charleston store when he was in high school, working during the summers. He then transferred to Crescent City in 1986 and stayed there through 1994, when he took over as the store manager in Charleston. His brother manages the Newport location, one cousin is president of the company now, and another cousin heads up their raft repacking facility.
When I asked Mark to describe a typical day at the store, he replied, "part of the beauty of this job is that every day is different, every week is different, and every month is different. Nothing is ever the same. Our commercial fisheries are kind of our 'meat and potatoes' because they're open year round, whereas our recreational fisheries tend to be more seasonal through the summer. Over many years we've diversified our inventory to more accommodate the recreational boater."
Mark continued, "a big part of what we do is wire rope rigging and cable, not necessarily at the Charleston store but at the company as a whole. We do rope splicing, and make hydraulic hoses of all types. We carry all kinds of foul weather clothing and boots. We also stock clothing sizes to 5X and boot sizes to 15. In addition, we have a life raft repacking station in Warrenton (close to Astoria). All commercial fishing vessels are required to have their life raft service annually. We unpack them and repack to make sure they're safe We're fully licensed and our repackers are certified for each brand of life raft we pack."
Englund Marine's industrial department carries a range of supplies from drills and routers to welding supplies and fittings. Their knowledgeable staff has the know-how to get anglers started and equipped with all the items they need. They also have the hottest new gear for tuna fishing to clam digging.
When I asked Mark what he sees in the future for the company, he replied, "I'm a 'glass is half full' kind of person so I always stay on the positive side. We've had a tremendously healthy ocean for the last several years, so we've been able to benefit from strong stocks. There's been an increase in the shrimp harvest, crab is more cyclical and fluctuates more, but our overall value on crab has been way up. We're seeing an upswing in our salmon fishing, really healthy bottom fish, and tuna's been strong."
Mark finished with "What is most fun about this job is our customer base. We have the hardest-working family-owned and operated businesses (boats). We have a great rapport and relationship with our customers and we work hard to keep their business."
Englund Marine is open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday-Friday, and 7:30 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday during the summer. They close at 3:00 pm on Saturdays during the winter. They're located at 91146 Cape Arago Highway in Charleston. Give them a call at 541-888-6623 and get started on your way to enjoying the bounty of our beautiful Pacific Ocean!
Fat Cat Antiques and Books
Photo Caption: Coro and Sandy, owners of Fat Cat Antiques and Books, welcome people to come in and browse their many interesting items.
Coro Dyanne and Sandy Smith are partners who own Fat Cat Antiques and Books, located at 2005 Sherman Avenue in North Bend. The building itself was built in 1905, as a photo Coro showed me attested to.
"We've been doing this kind of business for a long time. I had three booths in this mall before we had our own store. We decided that maybe we should open our own place, so we opened Pacific Antiques just down the street in the Odd Fellows building. Then the owners of Fat Cat Antiques wanted to retire, so we decided to take over this location, which is actually a mall with 16 vendors."
You can imagine what a huge assortment of collectable items there are with 16 vendors in the large building. "We've got a pretty big selection of quality used books," said Coro, "and one section near the front of the store houses books that are all over 100 years old."
The vendors themselves offer a wide range of collectables: one dealer mostly has nautical items, scrimshaw, arrowheads, and the like, while others offer lots of fishing stuff. There's Native American art, Fenton glassware, Spode china, vintage clothing and hats, linens, quilts, crocheted items, and of course lots of jewelry. The previous owner's collection includes higher-end antique toys. Still other vendors feature dolls, knives, stained glass, fire engines, and old cameras.
"We also have the furniture annex next door, where we sell all kinds of furniture, not just antiques," said Coro. "And we've been doing estate sales for 25 years as part of our business."
I asked Coro how her Shopper ads have been working for them. "I've had people say they've seen our ads in the Shopper. We've kept our ads running every week since we first opened four years ago. It's one of the better places to advertise, I think. I have always advertised our estate sales in the Shopper. The rates are reasonable, and a lot of people read the Shopper. It's an interesting paper that I read cover to cover."
"We took over this business a year ago, and we've made a lot of changes...in fact the last ad I put in the Shopper said 'come in and see all the changes.' The previous owners had owned it for 18 years."
So what does the future hold for Coro and Sandy? "I'm working double shifts right now because my partner Sandy is recovering from open-heart surgery, but we both hope to continue doing this as long as we can. I love this area and this is the longest I've ever lived in one spot in my life. This is the Old Town part of North Bend and we need to get more events happening down here. I think it's a very good idea that the city is going to be lowering the speed limit to make this area safer for pedestrians."
Fat Cat Antiques and Books is open every day but Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Make it a point to visit this mall that is neatly filled with a huge variety of collectables and antiques, where browsing is always welcome.
First Call Resolution
Photo Caption: First Call Resolution has 1,200 employees, with around 250 working full-time in Coos Bay.
I spoke with Katheryn Carnahan, who is the Chief Operating Officer for First Call Resolution, a call center located at 161 Anderson Avenue in Coos Bay. Katheryn works out of the Eugene office, and has been with the company for five years. They had their first call center open in January of 2012.
First Call Resolution has 1,200 employees, with around 250 working full-time in Coos Bay. They work round the clock, seven days a week, but the majority of their employees work regular business hours.
I asked Katheryn what kind of company First Call Resolution is. "We do customer service support for companies who want a U.S.-based outsourcer," said Katheryn. "Many of our clients are interesting start-up companies out of the Silicon Valley and the San Francisco area. They're looking for high quality customer service support. We answer phone calls, provide social media support and send emails. We have about 50 clients across our five call centers located in Veneta, Roseburg, and Grants Pass."
When I asked Katheryn to describe the benefits that First Call Resolution offers its employees, she replied, "I think the most important thing about us is we have a great culture; we are a very fun place to work. We have interesting companies we work for. Our mission is, when someone walks through the door, we like to say it's the best part of their day. Our atmosphere is very positive, and there's a sense of community, a sense of fun. Most of our positions are full time and we offer medical and dental benefits, holiday time, vacation time, and we also have a profit-sharing program where we share the profits of the company with all of the employees."
So what's the potential for advancement at First Call Resolution? "There's really strong potential," said Katheryn. "We're one of the fastest growing privately-held companies in Oregon. Most of our recruiting for leadership and management positions is done from within, so there's great potential for advancement."
What does this company foresee for the future? "We continue to grow at a very healthy rate, so we will keep expanding by adding more call centers in Oregon. We're committed to Oregon and also to smaller call centers versus mega-centers. We'll just continue to grow and expand as business dictates," Katheryn explained.
I asked Katheryn what she wanted Shopper readers to know about her company. "I think sometimes when people think about call centers they think of a highly-regimented, stressful environment," she replied. "Our people tell us that this is the best job they've ever had. It's fun and they feel their supervisors really care about them and their success. It's an incredibly supportive environment."
Katheryn continued, "We've just expanded our physical workplace by 10,000 square feet, so we'll be hiring about 100 people over the next six months; this is a great time to apply! Give us a call at 541-229-8576 or visit our web page at www.gofcr.com. In 2014 we were voted one of the top workplaces in Oregon and that was the third year in a row that we were so designated by the Oregonian newspaper. We're committed to our community in Oregon!"
For the Love of Dogs Doggie Day Camp & Boarding
Photo Caption: Jamie Comer with some of her day camp dogs.
It's been a long day at the office, and you're looking forward to going home and relaxing, when you remember that there's a Labrador at home who's been waiting all day to get some exercise. Sound familiar? Well, take heart, because there's a new service in town that just might be the answer to your prayers.
Jamie Comer is the owner of For the Love of Dogs Doggie Day Camp and Boarding, located at 2705 Kinney Road in Coos Bay. She's been open since August 6, 2016, and her facility provides care for dogs during the day as well as overnight.
I asked Jamie how she came to open this much-needed service. "I have a bachelor's degree in organismal biology (the study of structure, function, ecology and evolution at the level of the organism) and an associate's degree in respiratory therapy," Jamie replied. "I was living in Portland, and accepted a position at a sleep lab in Coos Bay. When I moved here with my dog, I lived in a motel for two weeks. The first day of work I went to check on her and was told she couldn't stay at the motel alone, so after that I had to keep her in my car while I was at work. The sleep lab was sold to a larger company, and several months after that some people were laid off."
Jamie continued, "I had entered the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Challenge, and a panel of judges reviewed my business plan to open a dog day camp. My plan won the challenge, and here I am!"
So now you can find Jamie at her doggie day camp seven days a week: Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5 pm. "I also do overnight boarding, and there's somebody here at the facility at all times, even during the evenings," said Jamie. "I can take up to 15 dogs at the day camp."
Jamie described her facility. "The dogs get to run around in a big room with rubber flooring and socialize with other dogs," she replied. "They play, they take naps, they go outside on a leash. I encourage my dog owners to provide their own dog food, but if they choose not to, I provide all natural grain-free food and treats. I have mesh beds that are easily sterilized for the dogs to sleep on during the day, and they sleep in wire kennels at night. Owners bring the dogs' own bedding and toys for night-time stays."
What about behavior problems and fighting between Jamie's charges? "I haven't had any problems with fighting," said Jamie. "When the dogs first come in they're given a temperament test because they have to be able to get along in order to be incorporated into the day camp group."
I asked Jamie what the best part of her job was. "Playing with dogs all day!" she replied. "Plus the people who bring their dogs here really love them and want them to be socialized. They're really excited that there's a place in our community that they can drop off their dogs, either full-time or just if they need to run errands. I charge by the hour, the half day and the full day. I'm located near the hospital, where employees sometimes have long work shifts. What's great about this business is that when the owners get off work, they're tired, but their dog is, too!"
Jamie said she decided to advertise her doggie day camp in the South Coast Shopper because she had heard it was less cost-prohibitive than other means of advertising. "Advertising in the Shopper is very affordable, and I've gotten new clients because of my ad," she said.
So what does the future hold for this busy business? "I want to get my yard fenced as soon as I can," said Jamie. "And I've got other ideas, too. I'd like to get have a mobile groomer and veterinarian that can stop by here on certain days so that pets can get their shots, health checks, and go home smelling and looking great!"
If you find yourself not knowing what to do with Fido while you're away from home, or if you just want to give your pet some fun play time, give For the Love of Dogs Doggie Day Camp and Boarding a call at 541-808-3108.
"This is a service that I really could have used when I first moved here," said Jamie. "I get a lot of positive comments from my clients, and I'm happy knowing that I'm providing a fun, safe place for dogs!"
Generations Tax and Wealth Management
Photo Caption: Brittany Cooper (left), and Nicki Chiesa Miles (right) of Generations Tax and Wealth Management aim to help you with your finances.
A year ago this month, Generations Tax and Wealth Management opened a new office in North Bend, located at 2040 Public Square Court (Suite C). Their location at 531 Spruce Street in Myrtle Point was expanding, and they felt that the bay area would be a good place to open a new branch.
I spoke with Nicki Miles, Investment Advisor Representative*, and also a partner/owner in the business owned by her parents, Richard and Barbara Chiesa.
"This company actually started after my dad moved here from Michigan and took a teaching position at Myrtle Point High School," said Nicki. "Then in 1976 he purchased a small
bookkeeping and tax preparation company, and in 1989 he decided to add financial planning to that existing business. From there it's grown to a company that has five other employees besides my parents and myself."
I asked Nicki who their clientele is mostly made up of. "I would say mostly people from around this county who have small businesses… family businesses," she replied. "The group includes loggers, farmers, contractors, truckers, cutters, factory workers, commercial fishermen/women, doctors, lawyers, teachers, members of the clergy, restaurant owners, insurance sales people, clerks, small business owners… and everything in between!"
Generations Tax and Wealth Management also offers retirement planning for individuals and small business owners. "That's our specialty, really," said Nicki. "Retirement & Legacy planning, college planning, etc. And I think that what sets us apart is that we are tax professionals as well as financial planners. We take a holistic approach and help people understand the tax consequences of their financial decisions."
"The best part of my job is serving people… helping them really grow and manage their wealth," she added. "And the most difficult part is assessing what each person's individual needs are. Everyone has a different idea of what's important. It's always rewarding to help them identify what those things are, and to help them work towards their financial goals."
I asked Nicki how advertising with the South Coast Shopper has been going. "Well, we started advertising with you when we opened our North Bend branch," she replied. "I know that we've attracted clients because of our ad, and our sales rep, Dick Besser has been really great to work with, very accommodating and never pushy. I pick up the Shopper and I like what I see."
So now that Generations Tax and Wealth Management has two branches open, what are their future plans? "The future is to continue to reach out to our clients and to be more accessible to them. It's also to be able to provide our great service to a new population of people," Nicki replied.
If you're in need of a tax preparer or financial consultant, give Generations Tax and Wealth Management a call at their North Bend office at 541-808-9290, or their Myrtle Point office at 541-572-4080. Both branches are open Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5pm, 8:30am-12:30pm Friday and they are closed for lunch between 12:30-1:30pm.
"We offer a very individualized and complete financial service," Nicki finished. "We are different than most other tax preparers and/or financial service firms because we provide both services. We are very well prepared to handle the entire financial picture."
*Securities offered through HD Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member SIPC, Advisory services offered through HD Vest Advisory ServicesSM, 6333 N. State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, TX 75038, 972-870-6000. Generations Tax & Wealth Management, LLC is not a registered broker/dealer or registered investment advisory firm.
George's Towing Service
Photo Caption: George Mckeeman offers RV towing for local and long distance towing.
George Mckeeman, originally from London, met his wife Marie in California 20 years ago. In 1998, the couple decided to start a new chapter and make the Pacific Northwest their home."I traveled the world beginning at the age of 14 and I continued to travel until I was 28 with nothing but a knap sack.I was always gathering things and then giving them away but now I hardly give anything away. I keep everything," George laughed. I could tell by the abundance of different things on his property that George was definitely a jack of many trades. "In 1972 I began buying and selling Ocean Cargo Containers," George explained. Marie spends the bulk of her time heavily involved in the Pacific Cove Humane Society in Coos Bay.
George's most recent endeavor began 5 years ago when he started his RV towing business.
"Moving RV's is a great service," George explains. George is fully insured and licensed by the state and federal authorities for 48 states. "I have never damaged an RV or been involved in an accident," he says. "The only place I advertise my company is with the Shopper and it works great for business," George says. Are you looking for a reliable mover to relocate your RV? You can contact George at (541) 404-3336.
Gib's RV Superstore
Photo Caption: Bob, Lisa, and Ray - owners of Gib's RV.
Gib's RV Superstore is celebrating their 57th birthday! They originally started as a manufactured home dealer in North Bend and then in 1956 they moved to their Coos Bay location. They are built on 9 acres of land and are stocked full of new and used truck campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, toy haulers, and fifth wheels, and they also rent out RV's. Not only do they deal in retail but they are also a full service repair shop. You can bet that your RV will always receive the best care by their master craftsmen. Gib's will service everything from roofs and appliances, to slide-outs and awnings.
Lisa Larkin, Ray Larkin and Bob Shultz are officially the new owners of Gib's RV. The previous owner, Bill Leslie, was the matchmaker for this trio and after many meetings together the trio decided to merge together and buy the business. Bob, a native of Coos Bay, has worked in sales his entire life and has worked with Gib's for 6 years as the sales manager. Ray and Lisa are new to Gib's and relocated here from Elmira, Oregon.
Each person brings their own unique set of skills to the table. With Lisa's experience in finance, Ray's experience with repairs, and Bob's experience with sales, it seemed like the perfect combination for continuing Gib's success as the leading RV dealer here on the Oregon Coast.
Lisa came from the wholesale auto auction industry and managed a large auction for over 20 years. The RV industry has always been something that has interested her because she loves the people. "Buying an RV is a heart decision, not a have-to decision," she says. Her husband Ray worked for 35 years at Morse Brothers and has been retired for 7 years.
The locally owned company employs 19 people. "All of the same people work here, we just added a couple of people," Bob said with a big smile on his face, referring to Lisa and Ray. After spending a bit of time with these three wonderful folks there is no doubt in my mind that Gib's RV will be successful for many more years to come. They seem to get along great and really know what they are talking about.
Would you like the chance to win a vintage 1971 Aristocrat Travel Trailer? They are giving one away! If you're 18 years or older come on down to Gib's and sign up before their October 10th drawing! It will be the perfect opportunity to meet the new owners and see what they can do to help you with your any or all of your RV needs! You can also go to www.GibsRV.com for extremely well done online virtual tours of some of the many RV's that Gib's has to offer. Gib's is located at 1845 Ocean Blvd in Coos Bay. You can reach them at (541) 888-3424.
Gib's RV Superstore Has A New Sales Manager
Photo Caption: Gib's RV New Sales Manager Anthony Ashley.
Published in the March 2, 2016 edition
Anthony Ashley has been in Coos Bay since January of 2017, and already he's managing a sales staff at Gib's RV Superstore, located at 1845 Ocean Boulevard. As the new Sales Manager for the dealership, he's responsible for overseeing the sales staff and their training needs, customer relations, final sales approval, pricing, inventory…the list goes on.
Although Anthony is new at Gibs, he's no stranger to the world of sales. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Oregon in 1996 with a double
major in marketing and management, Anthony worked for Sherman Brothers Heavy Trucking in Harrisburg, then was Sales Manager at Brasher's Northwest Auto Auction in Eugene for over nine years, worked in Portland at Courtesy Ford for three years, and at Johnson RV for over a year as their lead buyer.
I asked Anthony what the best part of his job was. "That's easy," he replied, "It's working with customers, for sure. It's absolutely wonderful dealing with people who are buying something that they'll really enjoy. Some of them have waited their whole lives to buy that big RV and become snowbirds. Others are at that stage where they are introducing their kids to the joys of camping."
On the flip side, what's the most difficult part of Anthony's job? "Well, probably having to manage the difference in volume between the summer and winter months!"
I asked Anthony if he was seeing any specific trends in the business. "I believe that since the crash in 2008-2009 the banks have slowly been relaxing a bit. It is much easier to get an RV loan today than it was even a year ago."
"Without a doubt, RVs are changing so that they can be pulled by smaller and smaller vehicles," Anthony continued. "These RVs are getting lighter and are just made better. There's constantly new technology that's producing better insulation, stronger and lighter axles, etc. You can now pull some of the fifth wheels with a half-ton truck, and that's never been possible before."
Anything else that Anthony sees changing in the construction of RV's? "From little things like countertop heights, larger refrigerators, dinettes that are more friendly for sitting down and playing board games, to aluminum frames and improved suspensions, the quality of materials have improved," he stated.
So why is Gib's different than other RV dealers? "It's family owned and operated," Anthony replied, "and they just care about people… from the moment a customer walks in the door until they leave, there's no high pressure. We take the time to figure out what our customers want, and we're less concerned about selling somebody the most expensive RV than we are about selling them the RV is right for them and their needs."
Gib's RV Superstore is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm. Their hours will be extended during the summer months. Give them a call at 541-888-3424 and find out how you can be on your way to owning an RV that can take you away from it all!
Grocery Outlet
Photo Caption: Joe Bollig and Pat Backman cheerfully show off some of the products sold at Coos Bay's Grocery Outlet.
Pat Backman and Joe Bollig have worked together for 26 years. They joke that people just assume they're married, even though each one has a wonderful spouse. Pat is the owner of Grocery Outlet in Coos Bay, and Joe is the General Manager. Since January 1988, they have been the faces behind the scene at one of our area's most successful grocery stores, located at 1385 Newmark Avenue in Coos Bay.
When Grocery Outlet first opened its doors in Coos Bay, it carried mostly canned and dry goods, always at affordable prices. Since then, however, it has transformed itself into a store where you can find people from a gourmet cook to a mother with her four children shopping there.
Look over in Aisle 1, where a senior lady is buying vitamin supplements at amazing prices. In Aisle 4, that same mother with the kids is letting them pick out breakfast cereal, and they each get to choose one, because even though they are brand-name products, they're at a fraction of the price other stores charge. Over in Aisle 5, a local doctor is loading up his cart with fine wines at rock-bottom prices for the dinner party he's hosting. The gourmet chef in the next aisle over is carefully choosing which imported olive oil he'll use for his next sauce. And a young twosome is picking out organic produce, then buying an organic frozen pizza. Do I have to remind you that you're in Grocery Outlet in Coos Bay, Oregon?
When asked to describe what their niche was in our community, Joe replied, "Well, I think we're just affordable shopping. I think we're the cheapest overall in town." Pat added more: "We offer really good customer service and take care of our customers. We have progressed over the years; evolved, I guess, from when we first opened and we had a lot of frozen goods and dried groceries, but we have added fresh produce, dairy, and meats. If you look at the evolution that has taken place in this store, I am quite impressed with where we have come. When I started in this business, we were all totally canned food."
Joe explains, "I think that our store helps a lot of companies with their overproduced products. We take everything they have, and by doing that over the years, the companies have sold us a lot of their new stuff, and a lot of things that aren't even available in our area."
Grocery Outlet is a west coast company, and its stores are all independently owned and operated, in Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada and Idaho. The stores are often found in smaller towns, and Pat says, "One of the things that I feel we've always tried to do is work with our community." Adds Joe, "We have a lot of food banks that buy from us every month, or even twice a month. One of the reasons they do that is they just call us with what they need, and we'll put the food all together on a pallet, shrink-wrap it, load it into their truck…we do all the work for them."
One of the great things about this store is that each week, shoppers can enter the amount they've saved on groceries into a drawing and if they win, they'll get that amount in groceries. Drawings are held the second and fourth Monday of every month. The individual whose name is drawn has their name posted for two weeks, and has that time to claim their winnings. A few weeks ago, they had a $321 winner, and since 2002, Grocery Outlet has given away over $12,400!
Wednesday morning from 8-12 am, Grocery Outlet provides free coffee and cookies for everyone. Pat says they have had the same people show up every Wednesday for years! She says, "I think a lot of people don't know truly what we have, as far as what types of items, and I think that people still see us as the "dented can store." We have a 100% money back guarantee on all our products. We're selling items that many people have never seen before, because we are buying from back East, for instance, and we often see people stop in our store and say, 'Hey, I haven't seen this stuff since I was a kid!'"
Log on to www.groceryoutlet.com/coosbay-or for specials, coupons, sales, and to sign up for their e-blast to receive emails about upcoming bargains. They also have a Facebook page where people can get more information. They are open seven days a week, Monday – Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm, and Sunday 9 am to 7 pm. Make this amazing store first on your shopping list and become part of the Grocery Outlet family…you'll be glad you did!
Hedge Hog Lawn Service
Photo Caption: Hedge Hog Lawn Service provides trimming, pruning, storm cleanup and more.
Jeremy Boyd, a native to the Pacific Northwest, started his lawn business 8 years ago. Before he started his company he was working at 7-11. "Before leaving, I lined up a few lawn service customers and started on my journey as an entrepreneur. Believe in yourself and you can do anything," Jeremy explains.
Jeremy grew up in the country with his grandparents. They had chickens, pigs, rabbits, turkeys, and cows. "I always helped in the yard, performing a wide variety of tasks. I have always loved working outside," Jeremy says. His neighbor Don Grey was incredibly inspiring to him while he was growing up. Don made a living farming and fixing up properties. Jeremy remembers spending countless hours as a child admiring Don's work ethic. "He never stopped working until he died at 98 years old," Jeremy explains. Even as a young child, Jeremy knew that he wanted to work outdoors just like Don. "I love what I do and it keeps me fit," Jeremy says.
"I mow lawns, trim hedges and bushes, rototill, prune fruit trees, build decorative retaining walls, use pavers, and clear brush. I like the wide variety of tasks that I perform because it keeps me from getting burned out on just one thing," Jeremy explains. Jeremy puts his heart into everything he does. "I look at things in an artistic way. Before I begin trimming a hedge I think, how does it want to be trimmed, and I just go with the flow," Jeremy says passionately. Jeremy prides himself on providing customers with a good job well done. "My work sets me aside from others. I clean up everything and I pay close attention to detail," he assures.
At some point, he plans on migrating toward yarn sculpture. "I would love to make artwork out of bushes and plants. I know I can do it with a little practice," he says. When Jeremy isn't working hard at his 9-5, he loves jogging, martial arts, and spending time outdoors with the love of his life Annette. I could tell from speaking with Jeremy that he was a special kind of fella. It isn't very common in this day and age to meet someone as young as Jeremy with so much ingrained work ethic, passion, and tenacity.
"Another perk to my job is that I meet all kinds of interesting people. I love listening to their stories," he says with a big smile on his face.
Are you looking for a hardworking guy to take care of all your lawn service needs? Jeremy is available for work 7 days a week. You can reach him at (541) 260-6512.
HiLine Homes
Photo Caption: HiLine Homes will construct a stick-built custom home for an average $60 a square foot.
HiLine Homes has been in business for six years and has showrooms in Salem, Medford, Roseburg and Redmond, Oregon. I spoke with one of the owners, Jeremy Alderman, who along with his business partner Chris Brunette, employs about 18 people at the four showroom locations.
I was surprised to learn that HiLine Homes builds stick-built homes, not manufactured or modular homes. They have over 30 floorplans, with sizes ranging from 900 to 3800 square feet. What was also surprising was that these homes cost an average of $60 per square foot, which is an amazing price when you consider that for 2014 the average square footage price in Eugene is $165!
"We can keep our prices low because we build over 100 houses a year in western Oregon," says Jeremy. "This year alone we plan to build 300 houses in Oregon and Washington."
Jeremy says that the guaranteed build-time for their homes (from pouring the foundation to substantial completion of the home) is 140 days, and if they go over that time, the customer receives $100 per day for each day over the build-time. Most "on-your-lot" and many other custom home builders will raise your price if material or labor costs go up. HiLine will never raise your price as long as construction begins within 90 days from the order date. Once they start construction, your price is locked in and will never be increased, guaranteed!
When I asked Jeremy who typically buys one of these custom homes, he replied that it varies from fist-time owners to people looking to downsize. "We actually sell a lot of homes to people who are replacing their old manufactured or modular home," he says. HiLine has a list of subcontractors they use if a customer needs their old home torn down.
HiLine has been a regular Shopper advertiser for many years. "The paper gives us really pretty good coverage in an area that's hard to market to," says Jeremy. "We want people to know that we consider ourselves an on-your-lot builder, and we're the largest one in the Pacific Northwest. We let people customize our floor plans. If you want the master bedroom wall moved out two feet, that's fine. We really try to make it practical for our customers by being flexible. If someone needs a deck or garage built for their new home, we'll build it. The standard siding we use is hardy plank, our roofs are limited lifetime asphalt shingles, and we blow in blanket insulation, which is above and beyond the industry standard."
If you're in the market for a custom home at an extremely affordable price, visit their website at hilinehomes.com. Request a catalog where you can choose one of the many plans available. Or go to one of their showrooms in Salem, Medford, Roseburg and Redmond, which are open Monday through Saturday 9-5. All you need is the land, and you can be on your way to having the home of your dreams!
Photo Caption: In the market for a quality vehicle? Let the friendly, no-pressure salespeople at Honda World find the one you've been looking for.
I spoke with Dan Messner, Sales Manager for Honda World, located at 1350 Ocean Blvd. NW in Coos Bay. Dan started by saying that the dealership has been here since 1983, and he's been Sales Manager since 1997. "We have four salespeople and all of them have been with us for a long time. We retain our employees because they're happy working here so they stay with us, and when people come back here they always see the same friendly faces. That means a lot to our customers. They tell us they like coming here and seeing their salesperson still working here, or the shop person that they're used to talking to is still in the service department. That's one of the nice things about doing business here: you have people that have longevity. We try and make sure customers are happy with us and their purchases are enjoyable, and that's important, because we want them to come back," said Dan.
Dan said Honda World's service department is always busy! They have a good reputation and a qualified team of technicians that have been here a long time. The prices charged in the service department are very competitive. Even their lube, oil and filter service costs about the same as a quick oil change place, but here you always get a complete vacuum of your car's interior and a thorough car wash with your oil change. And they're open Saturdays!
I asked Dan what makes a vehicle Honda Certified. He explained that Certified Honda vehicles have to meet certain criteria. If a car has had any issues with it prior to being certified, Honda's Service Department will do a very thorough inspection of the vehicle both inside and out, and once all the criteria have been met that go into a certified vehicle, the car will come with a warranty that's very extensive: it's a year warranty on anything that breaks, and then it continues seven years from when it was sold to 100,000 miles on the engine, transmission and powertrain.
I told Dan about something that happened in my own family that shows what a great car dealership Honda World is. Our daughter graduated college and moved to the Seattle area and we bought her a car from Honda World. After owning it for a year, she took it in for an oil change, and the company told her she needed some extra work done on the vehicle. Knowing little about cars at the time, she had the work done, but felt like she might be getting taken advantage of. So she called the head mechanic at Honda World, saying we had bought the car there, and told him what they had done to it in Seattle. The Honda mechanic said he actually remembered working on her car, and the work done on it in Seattle wasn't necessary. Armed with this information, she returned to the oil change store and got her money back for the unnecessary work! Dan smiled and said, "It shows that we keep records of what we do."
Dan stressed that "We keep a very low-key approach here and retain our customers for a long time. We are on top of all the new innovations that Honda's come up with. Our Civics, Accords and CRV's all come standard with back-up cameras. Honda is way ahead of the curve on the latest safety equipment.
Honda World is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 6 pm, and from 12 to 5 pm on Sundays, which is nice for people who are busy during the week. "They can shop at their leisure and we're still capable of getting all the financing done and business taken care of," says Dan.
So if you're in the market for a quality vehicle, stop by and see the friendly, no-pressure salespeople at Honda World, or give them a call at 541-888-5588 and see just how enjoyable your car-buying experience can be! www.hondaworld.com
Humboldt Motorsports in Lakeside Expands
Photo Caption: Humboldt Motorsports, located in Lakeside, has expanded their business and now has storage and can help you build metal buildings.
Roger Kirkpatrick is the owner of Humboldt Motorsports, part of a chain of stores which offer automotive customizing, motorcycle repair, automotive parts and accessories. They're located at 72343 Hwy. 101 in the city of Lakeside on Highway 101 next to T'ree Acres. In March of 2016 the Shopper ran an article about the company's Grand Opening and the excitement surrounding their new location.
I spoke with Roger the other day about some exciting developments that have occurred at his shop in Lakeside. "We now have 10 acres and we've added 5000 sq. ft. of shop space," Roger said. "There's been a big influx of customers coming from our larger shops in California and New York, and we've had people shipping us items from Canada, Washington and the Portland area to our Lakeside location. These customers are wanting to have us build custom side-by-sides, quads, and off-road trucks."
Something else that's new at Humboldt Motorsports is their Pacific Metal Buildings dealership. They've been the number one dealer in California for these buildings, which meet all of the Oregon state standards and are fully engineered. "SWOCC has purchased some of these buildings already," said Roger. "We get calls for three to four buildings a week. They range from 12 x 20 feet to 30 x 100 and are full metal. In our California location we've actually sold them up to 1,000 feet long. Humboldt Motorsports is the only place selling buildings like this in the area. These buildings come fully engineered for the State and County standards. Licensed contractors put them up, for either residential or commercial use, very quickly."
"In addition, we've put up two large shop buildings here in Lakeside," Roger continued. "These buildings are heated and secure facilities. So now our customers can store their vehicles here, we'll service them, and then the customers come back and ride them. My goal is to provide storage for the locals who do not have it, as well as for vacationers. It can be a pain to bring quads, bikes, and side-by-sides back and forth from home to the dunes up here. Nobody around here has ever offered that before. We have a big clientele from Canada and Washington who want to ride the dunes. So we're expanding into the custom truck market and currently have two major off-road truck builds being built in our shop."
Humboldt Motorsports of Lakeside has also expanded into a trailer dealership, selling Hallmark, PJ and Featherlite trailers, enclosed box and utility trailers. "We're keeping about a quarter million in inventory here for our customers," said Roger. "And we've got lots more to pull from our other stores. I sold three trailers here just today." Humboldt Motorsports also has financing available for the trailers.
I asked Roger if there are other services that Humboldt Motorsports in Lakeside will be offering. "Later this year we're going to be getting a Dyno for motor performance and tuning for motorcycles, ATV, UTV and cars/trucks" he replied. "We'll also have a full machine shop in place starting March for UTV, ATV and dirt bikes. The storage facility is available to everybody already. You ride it, if you break it, we fix it and store it."
Humboldt Motorsports has five employees that are certified technicians for Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris, Can Am, are ASE certified, with Dyno jet performance school training. They'll provide parts and service for your motorcycle, ATV, or side-by-side off-road truck. "We've partnered up with Coos Bay Speedway and the new owner Drake," said Roger, "and we are introducing the first side-by-side class for the dirt circle."
If you're looking for quality, experienced sales and service for your auto, motorcycle or ATV, or utility trailer, looking to buy a metal storage building for home or commercial use, or needing storage space for your toys, give Humboldt Motorsports a call at 541-759-1255. They're open Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm. You can find them online at Humboldt Motorsports on Facebook or www.humboldtmotorsports.com .
Indigenous Adventures
Photo Caption: Cooper Hedgecock with his catch of the day.
I spoke with Cooper Hedgecock, owner of Indigenous Adventures, a fishing charter company operating out of Coos Bay. Cooper has been running guide trips in Oregon for three years, but has many years of experience fishing in Alaska.
"I ran fishing trips in Alaska for years," said Cooper. "I started fishing at age 12, worked as a deckhand, a dockhand, and up the chain of command. At age 18 I got my captain's license and started running a charter boat, which I did for 17 seasons. I came back to Coos Bay because this is my home town, and hey, we've got a heck of a fishery here!"
Indigenous Adventures operates year-round, depending on the available fish. "Once I get a call from a client, I figure out a date and what we'll be fishing for," said Cooper. "I'll fish for smallmouth bass on the Umpqua River from June until the middle of August, but once the salmon start running I switch over to that fishing."
Being the sole proprietor and fisherman at his company keeps Cooper busy. "Lately I've been taking lots of out-of-state folks fishing, but my clientele really varies," he explained. "I definitely take a lot of women fishing, but also retired people, father and son trips, you name it. It's a real mixed bag of people who want to go fishing…it's a sport that everyone can do!"
Indigenous Adventures is solely a river and bay fishing enterprise; they don't go out into the ocean. "We have lots of rivers right here that I fish from," said Cooper. "I go up the Coos River for salmon, but I'll also fish the Allegany, Umpqua, Coquille, Elk and Sixes rivers. Right now I'm trolling for chinook in the Coos River and the bay. As the season goes on, in late September I'll fish the upper rivers with roe (eggs)."
A fishing trip usually takes about eight hours, but Cooper will stay out later if fishing is slow that day. "It really varies with each trip," he said. "I have no problem staying out later so that my clients can catch some fish. I also have no problem referring them to other fishermen if my schedule is too full."
When you go on a fishing excursion with Indigenous Adventures, you don't have to worry about cleaning your catch or bringing your own gear. "I can even give you recipes for your catch," said Cooper. "I'll let you know what to wear for the trip, what the licensing requirements are, what personal supplies to take…and I always provide all the gear, bait, equipment, etc."
Cooper said that he offers both drift and jet boat guided fishing trips, with either fly fishing or conventional rod and reel, and will take clients from beginners to advanced anglers. "I often get last-minute calls from people who have come out to the coast and want to add to the Oregon experience," said Cooper.
If you're looking for a fishing adventure on one of our beautiful rivers or in the bay, give Indigenous Adventures a call at 541-537-0256.
"The best part of my job is meeting new people and introducing them to the great fishing we have on the southern Oregon coast," Cooper finished.
Jeff Krall, Century 21
Photo Caption: Jeff Krall, Realtor for Century 21, is a lifelong resident of the Myrtle Point area. When not working, he likes nothing better than to kayak on the Rogue River during the summer.
Jeff Krall is a Century 21 realtor ready to help you buy or sell a home in the Coos County area. "With only 4 full time salespeople, the Century 21 Team in Myrtle Point is consistently awarded the highest per person productivity award in the Pacific Northwest," Jeff told me. Jeff is currently the highest ranked Century 21 broker in Oregon, and has been consistently in the top 5 volume producers for several years . "We're in Myrtle Point, but we serve all of Coos County," he continued. " Anywhere you see a South Coast Shopper, we service that area." Jeff had been the general of Coos Bay Nissan for many years when his father, John Krall, convinced him to join the team in 1994.
Jeff was born and raised in this area and has called it home for most of his adult life, sans time spent in the Navy and Marine Corps. "This is my home. I am a lifetime Coos County resident and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I like the weather, I like the people. It's a beautiful place to live," he said.
Matching a buyer to a seller is a multi-pronged process that begins with figuring out what you want, securing the means to get it, and then finding what you are looking for. "You just start asking questions. Tell me what your dreams are, and then tell me what your budget is," says Jeff. "We take that and search for what's available. We try to track down what somebody is really interested in, regardless where it is, and try to fit their dreams into what's in the market today."
Jeff says he really enjoys his work. A lot of people Jeff works with are first time buyers, and he does his best to look out for them while simultaneously working with the sellers to get their property sold. "Part of my job is to figure out ways to fix problems. Bottom line is the seller wants their house sold, and the buyer wants to move in their new home, and I need to facilitate that the best way I can. I know what type of loan people are working with, so I know the house has to be in a certain type of condition to qualify. We are proactive in taking care of any issues in order to make it happen, rather than wait for an appraiser to tell us at the last minute."
Also, one does not have to be rich to purchase a home. Many times, you can buy your own home with mortgage payments comparable to what you'd pay in rent. "If you've got a solid income, there is probably a loan product out there that will fit your needs," Jeff says. Jeff advises people to speak to a reputable, well established realtor for a number of reasons, not the least being that they have tons of information about the many programs available to help you become a home owner. Jeff, who is a Veteran himself, is especially skilled at working with Veterans to help them secure their own home. He also encourages people do their research, and to get pre-approved with a mortgage broker prior to looking at houses, because then you know exactly what you can afford and you know what your payments will be, so you're not likely to under-buy or try to over-buy.
Jeff shared some good advice for the seller. If you've got a house on the market, you need to clean and de-clutter your home. If there's something you're not using every day, then pack it up and put it in the garage. Clean out your closets so they are not overflowing. Doing these two things help a home look bigger. If you can afford it, paint the interior in white or very neutral tones, so the potential buyer can get beyond seeing it as your house, and can more easily envision it as their own. Putting your home on the market means that you never really know when a potential buyer is going to come by to look at your property, so it is important to keep your home as clean and clutter free as possible. "It's hard as a seller because every day you're getting it ready for a potential buyer, but the one day you don't make the bed or put the dishes away, that's the day the realtor calls and tells you "Hey I got a buyer interested in your place and we'll be there in 20 minutes!" and you're like, OH NO!" Jeff lightheartedly shared. "It's tough, but that's what happens. You want your house to be sold, so be prepared for it."
You can reach Jeff Krall at Century 21 in Myrtle Point, located at 714 Ash Street in Myrtle Point. The phone number is 541-572-2121, and you can email him at jeffbkrall@frontier.com.
Jim's RV Service
Jim Birdsell has been in the RV service business for 25 years. He's located in Lakeside, but he's a mobile RV service business and travels to his customers when they need him. Jim started out washing RVs 29 years ago in Roseburg.
"I offer three services: RV service and repair, which includes RV rubber and fiberglass roof repair and replacement, vent replaceent and repair, vent cover installation, window and vent or seam calking, decal removal and resealing," said Jim. "If there's a leak we'll stop it! We use Dicor® products only."
"The second thing that I offfer is RV washing and hand waxing. I use RoofGuard® from Dicor®, and I can also condition the rubber on your tipouts. I'm also licensed and insured," said Jim.
I asked Jim how long he's been advertising with the Shopper. "Oh gosh, I've been placing ads in the Shopper since its offices were located on Virginia Avenue in North Bend. Shopper ads help me get new clients, but most of my business comes from repeat customers."
And then there's the third service that Jim's RV offers: a pressure washing service! Jim says, "I'll wash almost anything! I'll wash your house-driveway-wood-vinyl-concrete fence, deck or dock!"
Right now Jim's work is dependent on the weather, because when it's pouring out there he's not able to work. So his days and hours are flexible seven days a week.
Servicing a RV is not something most people know how to do, nor do they have the equipment and materials to do it, so if you find yourself in that situation, give Jim's RV Service a call at 541-759-2942. You'll be on your way to getting what you need done, and saving money doing it!
Joe Holdmann, The Gun Guy
Photo Caption: Joe Holdmann is a certified gun instrustor and his basic advice is that anybody who handles a hun would benefit from attending a concealed carry class, even those who have had a permit for years, because the laws are constantly changing.
On any night of the week, you can find Joe Holdmann teaching a concealed carry class in the Pony Village Mall, downstairs behind the Los Dos Amigos restaurant. The five-hour classes focus on gun safety, basic understanding of the law, and how to not make one of the many mistakes that will charge you with a Class A misdemeanor or a felony for improper use of a firearm.
"There are many mistakes that people make when they own a gun," said Joe. "If you carry a firearm without a permit, if you point a gun at somebody without justification (assault with a deadly weapon), if you take a shot at somebody (attempted murder)…all these actions can wind up with you in prison."
I asked Joe to define when it was appropriate to use a firearm for self-defense.
"That's a slippery slope," replied Joe. "There are so many variables in every situation that you have to be really careful…what will the jury consider a prudent man would have done in the same situation? You don't need a concealed carry permit to have a loaded gun in your home, but you do need one if you're walking down the street or traveling with a gun."
"One of my biggest challenges in the class is to make people understand when it comes to gun laws, they're probably doing something that is illegal when they own a gun," Joe continued. "Last night in a class of 14 people, I had eight who had actually committed a felony associated with their firearm, and they didn't even know it. Everyone has their own opinion about what is legal or not, but the cold, harsh reality is that if you do what you think is legal with a gun, you'll probably get charged with a serious crime."
Joe said that his basic advice is that anybody who handles a gun would benefit from attending a concealed carry class, even those who have had a permit for years, because the laws are constantly changing.
"I offer to make people legal to carry a firearm in 40 states," said Joe. "There are ten states that don't allow non-resident Oregonians in their state to carry a concealed weapon at all. But you need to keep current on your instruction, because many states are in a constant process of changing their laws."
Although there are other gun instructors in the area, Joe said that there's a huge difference between his classes and others.
"There are 127,000 certified gun instructors in USA," said Joe. "In 2011 the National Rifle Association (NRA) ranked me as the number one instructor/recruiter in the USA. In 2012 I was ranked as number two. To the best of my knowledge, no other instructor in Oregon has made the top 10. I'm also one of 1,500 instructors certified to train other instructors. I shoot about 1,000 rounds a week and have shot over three million rounds in my lifetime. There are lots of instructors who have only shot several thousand rounds. And I have done over 1,000 of these classes in my career."
There is no shooting involved in the concealed carry classes that Joe teaches, but he also teaches nine different skill levels of live fire classes at the gun range.
"The concealed carry classes I teach aren't really all that much about guns themselves," Joe explained. "I am trying to get my students to avoid a tragedy. People make mistakes when they own a gun, and then they paid high attorney fees, they could go to prison, they could cripple or kill themselves or others, and if they're not prepared when someone shows aggression, they could get hurt or killed. I have a lot of people who are very arrogant because they happen to own guns, but hunting is very different than defending yourself or if you're in a criminal situation."
I asked Joe how he got started teaching concealed carry classes.
"I've been instructing in the use of firearms since I was in the Army at age 18," he replied. "Then ten years ago my wife was attending a concealed carry class and she came home just disgusted by the instructor, said it was a waste of her time, and that I could do a much better job.
That was ten years ago, and I thought that when I started that in a year I would have taught everybody who wanted a class in this county, but here I am ten years later still busier than I can believe."
Joe donates the concealed carry class fees to the NRA, USO and disabled veterans, and he says that he's seeing an increase in the number of seniors taking the class.
"My new clientele has reached the point where 80 or 90% of it comes referrals," said Joe. "I like to keep my ad in the South Coast Shopper so that I can complete with instructors who advertise on the internet, which I don't do. After every class I usually have a whole bunch of people who come up to me and shake my hand, saying it's the best class they've ever taken, and that I've opened their eyes to information they've never considered before."
Joe said that the the biggest thing he wants people to be aware of when signing up for a concealed carry class is that it's not going to be anything like they will expect.
"I guarantee that you'll be surprised if you take my class," he said.
If you're interested in taking a concealed carry class, give Joe a call at 541-290-2498.
"There's an awful lot of complacency in this country when it comes to owning a gun," said Joe. "There's a lot of anti-gun movements out there, and popular opinion seems to be shifting away from owning guns. I want people to be aware that we could lose our gun rights very easily."
Jürgens Jewelers
Photo Caption: Jürgen Pooch with wife Carmen, owners of Jürgen's Jewelers, pictured here with their employees Karl, Stan, Maricela, and Nancy.
Jürgens Jewelers (Pronunciation: Ur-gens) is a jewelry store where unique jewelry is designed and created on site by well trained and talented people living in our community. In addition to jewelry repairs, cleaning, and ring resizing, Jürgens is also valued for heirloom jewelry restorations, taking pride in making something old become new again.
Master goldsmith and jewelry designer Jürgen Pooch began his training almost 60 years ago in Germany. Carmen Pooch, wife of Jürgen and general manager of the store, says "A master goldsmith means you are able to take a piece of paper, design something on it, and then turn it into reality. Here in the showroom, we help people with redesigning jewelry pieces they already have, but if there's something the customer would like something that is totally unique, that's when Jürgen steps in. He can make that happen from scratch."
Carmen showed me some of Jürgen's designs and handiwork, which is stunning and precise. Jürgen learned hand engraving when he was 14, and is one of the few left in the world who can still do it. "He is a perfectionist," Carmen said. "He trains people to produce the type and quality of work he liked to see." That Jürgen is a perfectionist is simply to say he learned his trade well and insists on quality craftsmanship at all levels, with no shortcuts taken either in materials used nor craft work. He has seen repair work done on gold rings where lead solder was used- and lead is the worst thing that could ever happen to gold. That's not the kind of thing you'll find at Jürgens Jewelers.
"People share their stories with us," Carmen shared as we looked through a binder showing examples of Jürgen's work. "A lady came in with the wedding band of her husband who had passed away. She wanted it redesigned into a pendant, but kept whole." Jürgen made a gorgeous pendant for the lady keeping the ring whole but twisting and looping it in such a way that you'd not realize it used to be a ring unless you were told. A Mother had a necklace made from the military insignia pins of her son who had fallen in service. "People lose their loved ones, and they want to wear these pieces. It's a way to keep their memory close all the time. There's something magical about precious metals." A person came in with a treasured ring in which the stone had cracked. Unable to repair the stone, Jürgen instead picked up the leaf design of the ring and placed a hand-engraved leaf over the crack in the stone, creating a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry the lady was proud to wear. Jürgen has made a pendant from an abalone seashell a client wanted to preserve, custom making a gold bezel frame to hold it. He even made a pendant for someone using a plain old rock that was special to the person.
Jürgens Jewelers also makes and sells top quality class rings to schools across the nation. Here, we are very lucky that our students do not have to order their class ring cold from a catalog or the internet. With Jürgens, you get to meet face-to-face the people who are designing your ring; thus, you become part of the experience of creating it. That way you can ensure it is made like you want it the first time. This is a fun and personal way to support a local business.
Jürgen's shop now uses state of the art equipment and modern technology for some of their work, such as a 3-d printer used to create molds, but he still has all his old equipment stored downstairs. The machines are mechanical and hand powered, and there are some he built himself. He has considered setting up a museum one day. "I have a hard time letting go of old equipment. Growing up, I learned to not waste anything, because we never had anything to waste. You never know what is going to happen, and I can always go back to this."
When not working, Jürgen likes to spend time composing and writing music, while Carmen is an avid gardener. Times have been tough economically for many businesses, but Jürgens is one of those that have managed to stay strong. Jürgen and Carmen are very honored that people have the confidence in them to preserve their heirlooms or to carefully repair a broken piece of treasure, as well as the talent and creativity to design something entirely new. "We first and foremost serve the community," said Jürgen, "and we do it right the first time. It is what kept us in the business."
Jürgens is located at 1911 Newmark St, in North Bend, and their store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-4pm. Give them a call at (541) 751-0111, or visit the website is designmyjewelry.com.
Ken Ware Super Store
Photo Caption: Ken Ware and John Newsum of Ken Ware Superstore, a popular GM dealership that is very involved with the community.
Ken Ware Super Store has provided the central Oregon coastal with new Chevrolets, Cadillacs, Buicks, GMCs, and used cars since 1984. Owner Ken Ware came to the coast from the Salem area because GM was looking to put a dealer here, and Ken was looking for his own dealership. "It was a good opportunity," he said. "It's a nice area here." This was Ken's first venture and has been very successful, as you can see. Ken says Chevrolet has always been his favorite car. "Growing up, most kids wanted a Chevy. They have always been the most desirable, most stylish."
Ken's stepson, John Newsum, Minority Owner and Vice President of the company, has been around the business since he was 10 years old. He played football in college, and was a working cowboy for a time. He had spent years working in other dealerships all around Oregon when Ken called him in 1998, saying he'd like to have him here. "I was so glad to get back to my community," he shared. "Whenever I was away, I'd get homesick for that fresh, full-of-oxygen air you get at the coast. My wife Lisa and I are raising two boys in North Bend, and all the family is here- grandparents, aunts, uncles."
Ken Ware Super Store is most definitely a strong community player. They lend a supporting hand to causes which are far too many to list here, but one that we talked about is the North Bend Independent Baseball League, of which the dealership is a major sponsor, along with Thomas and Sons. They are currently collaborating with other businesses to revamp all four of the baseball fields in North Bend. "We're going to rebuild the mounds and plates, and put down some Turface, which absorbs water and gives a better playing field," said John. "It's a community effort; a lot of local help, too, and donated time and energy."
When I arrived at the GM dealership, I noticed right away there was some construction going on. A chunk of turf was removed from the front, and men wearing hard hats were up on the roof. Ken informed me the store is just starting a major remodel, at the behest of the central office. The overall design of the store will be updated, with new flooring, a remodeled customer service area, and a totally revamped showroom. Via working with Tom E Gayewski Construction, the people at Ken Ware are very proud to be able to use local sub-contractors for almost every job. "Supporting our community is very important to us, because our community has done such a great job supporting us the past 29 years," John said.
What's the newest thing in GM automobiles these days? I would have to say OnStar, a vehicle-contained security, communications, and diagnostics system. Now being built into more than 30 GM models, OnStar has many useful features, such as Automatic Crash Response, Navigation, Roadside Assistance and Hands-Free Calling. OnStar can help you find your lost car in a vast parking lot. Not only that, in case you locked your keys inside, OnStar can unlock the car for you as well. Also there are the hybrid electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt, a plug-in range-extended electric vehicle with an on-board gasoline generator that charges itself as it goes. The battery can power the car for about 40 miles before the generator kicks in, providing electricity to the motor and participate in driving the car. Many vehicles these days are super good on gas mileage, too. John told me their best selling car is the Chevy Cruze, a non-hybrid car that gets 42mpg highway, is classy and loaded with features.
I was curious what these guys do when they aren't working at the dealership. While Ken first insisted he was too old to have fun, he later conceded he likes to travel with his wife as much as he can, and that he also enjoys playing golf. John says he and his wife keep busy with their two boys, a 2nd grader and a 6th grader, and that they enjoy a lot of fishing, crabbing, and being outdoors. "This is a great place to raise kids," he tells me. "Almost any day of the year you can go outside. You might need a rainjacket but you're not going to freeze." The family is also involved very much with sporting events at Marshfield and North Bend high schools. "We have a big group of friends with a lot of kids, so we're always following some sporting event. My wife and I graduated from Marshfield the same year, but now we're raising kids in North Bend, so we're Pirates and Bulldogs. That keeps us pretty busy going back and forth between sporting events."
Why not stop in and take a test drive? Visit Ken Ware Super Store at 1595 Newmark Street (right down the street from Boynton Park) to see a whole lot of beautiful new and used vehicles, and to meet the people who are proud to stand behind our community in anyway they can. You can also visit the website, www.kenware.net / , or give them a call at 541-756-1181.
LNL Lumber Outlet
Photo Caption: Randall Shelman standing among a few of the unique lawn ornaments they make at LNL Lumber Outlet. The warehouse is stocked full of nearly any wood you can imagine.
Published in the February 7, 2013
LNL Lumber Outlet in Coos Bay provides all kinds of quality lumber at wholesale prices. They sell many exotic and local hardwoods, plywood, pressure treated lumber and beams, cabinet making materials, lattice, and so much more. You can easily spend an hour or two just browsing the warehouse, enjoying the scent of cut wood and making your own discoveries.
While manager Randall Shelman was raised in Grants Pass, he spent a lot of time visiting our beautiful coast, riding the dunes and enjoying the nature of the sea. After high school, he left Oregon for Utah in order to attend college, and he spent some years working in construction, followed by disaster restoration. However, Randall longed to be close to the ocean he loved, so he bought a sailboat and moved into Coos Bay last year. He is very happy here, and he enjoys his work at LNL Lumber. "I've got a good variety of things to do- working with people, working with lumber, and working with computers," he said.
Before the Eric Luckman family bought the business many years ago, LNL Lumber was called Ply Land. Randall says the owner was "quite the artist" when it came to creating custom plywood. Following the trends of the times, the Luckmans realized there was interest in a broader range of products, and that people were looking for decent, affordable lumber. Hence, manufacturing ceased to be, and LNL Lumber became a one-stop shop for good lumber at great prices, giving folks plenty of opportunity to save money on their wood-working ventures.
"There's a lot of demand for shop grade and seconds," Randall told me, "especially when the economy is tough. People are doing their own projects, and making their own repairs." Some people use a higher grade of lumber than what they actually need for home projects, so LNL Lumber maintains a good source for all grades of material. Using 2x4's as an example, Randall explains. "Grade One would be something like a truss grade, with minimum knots in it and almost no wane. Grade Two is the standard construction grade. It will have a little bit of wane in it, and any knots are tight knots. Number Three has a lot more wane and a few more knots, so it generally is not used in construction. But, it's still a really usable 2x4 for a pump-house or a dog house, as fence board, or for repairs where you don't need that top grade piece." The same is true of plywood. "We've got shop grade plywood in here that we sell to a lot of cabinet builders. Maybe there's a blemish on one side, but you can turn that side to the wall anyhow. It doesn't really cost them anything in product outcome and it saves them a lot of money." LNL Lumber also sells bargain priced doors. "We've got doors in here from different suppliers, "Randall continues. "Maybe they had a mis-order or overstock, or a door has a little scratch on it, but is still super usable. You can save a ton of money using something like that!" Randall enjoys helping people plan their projects, and LNL Lumber will cut your lumber according to your specifications.
Randall meets a lot of interesting people who buy wood for different reasons, from professional contractors to people working on small home projects or local theaters building stage props. Many woodworkers build beautiful cabinets and hardwood furniture made from wood they purchased at LNL Lumber, as do makers of little jewelry boxes that are sold up an down the coast. In addition to nearly every lumber imaginable, they sell T1-11 exterior siding, ASD metal roofing, nails, screws, and other accessories. They also have some awesome burls of redwood, cedar, walnut and maple. "These can be made into coffee tables, bars, shelves, or whatever. I love seeing what people put together," Randall shares. They stock locally built, unfinished cabinets made of quality Poplar hardwood, and furniture made from spent rubber trees grown in Maylasia. Randall told me there was a time when rubber trees were simply burned when they matured and stopped producing rubber. Once it was discovered the mature trees produced a quality hardwood, they began making them into lumber, thus creating far less waste.
As an aside, LNL Lumber also makes and sell all sorts of concrete lawn ornaments ready for painting. Among them all, I saw magestic lions, footprints, bunnies, dragons, and miniature Roman-style columns. "We got the molds from a local gentleman, and we pour them out back, "said Randall. "It gives us something to do with all the broken bags of concrete when we have a little bit of downtime."
LNL Lumber Outlet gets as many of their products as possible from local sources, and they believe in the community. "We're at the Home Show every year, and we make contributions to the Home Builders Association. We try to help people get back on their feet in the construction market, and to move forward, because this is so critical for the U.S. Economy. The construction market is one of those core things that affects everybody."
Check out LNL Lumber Outlet, located at 93789 Carlisle Ave, Coos Bay. You can also visit the website, lnl-lumberoutlet.net/, or call 541-269-7071 for more information.
Local Little Caesars Pizza Now Under New Franchise Ownership
Photo Caption: The two local Little Caesars franchises are now owned & operated by Matt & Tina Briggs.
Looking for an inexpensive, yet delicious meal for the whole family? Stop in at Little Caesars.
Matt & Tina Briggs, franchise owners of the Coos Bay & North Bend Little Caesars, moved here after retiring from the United States Air Force after 20 years of service. Before settling in Oregon, they often visited family here and fell in love with the area. The couple has a wonderful daughter, Hannah. They purchased the locations from Jerry & Kim Briggs (Matt's dad and stepmom), who now enjoy retirement.
Little Caesars recently launched the ExtraMostBestest. It is a large round 14" pizza with extra cheese & the most pepperoni at the nation's best price. Available for a limited time, enjoy the ExtraMostBestest with a cheese stuffed crust! These delicious pizzas & Wings, Crazy Bread & Italian Cheese Bread are available Hot-N-Ready.
Little Caesars has mobile app & online ordering capabilities. Download & order from the app or online at www.littlecaesars.com
Open 10:30am-9:30pm Monday–Saturday & 11:30am-9:30pm Sunday. 789 S. Broadway, Coos Bay, (541) 266-9595. 2233 Newmark, North Bend, (541) 756-5656.
Luke Simpson, Farrier
Photo Caption: Luke Simpson and Coleton, one of his four boys.
Published in the July 3, 2013 edition
Luke Simpson, is a farrier, and for those readers who don't know what that is, it's someone who is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves, if necessary. A farrier combines some blacksmith's skills (fabricating, adapting, and adjusting metal shoes) with some veterinarian's skills (knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the lower limb) to care for horses' feet. And Luke has been doing this for 22 years.
How often do horses need their hooves worked on? Every 6-8 weeks a horse will need attention, just like the length of time for people's fingernails to grow out appreciably. Luke moved here from the Tri-Cities area in Eastern Washington just over two months ago, having grown up on a cattle ranch in Pendleton, where his family has ranched for seven generations.
Right now Luke is working hard to build up a client list. He's on the job five days a weeLukLuk, and his hours depend on what works for his clients. "Some people want me to start early if it's hot out and they want to beat the heat, and then in the winter I start later in the day. It really just depends on the weather."
Luke has to be flexible in his working life, and when I asked him how his family handles that, he replied, "They're used to it. My wife is very busy, being the manager for two banks in Coos Bay and Coquille, and we have four boys, aged 8 to 17. They've been around horses all their lives. My wife does barrel racing, and she comes from a longtime ranching family, too. She's the one that keeps me organized!"
When I asked Luke how his Shopper classified ads have been working, he replied, "I've gotten quite a few calls from my Shopper ads, and I've been advertising for about two months, just a little longer than I've been here."
How dangerous is working with a wide range of different horses for a living? "I've been kicked, I've been drug, I've been bitten. I was kicked twice just this morning. It's part of the job."
Luke stated that he is a Certified Journeyman Farrier with the American Farrier Association, "but 90% of being a good horse shoer is experience," he said. "There are a lot of farriers out there that aren't certified, but they're still really good at what they do."
If you're a horse owner looking for an experienced and knowledgeable farrier, give Luke Simpson a call at 541-290-6662. He summed our interview up with, "It's important that I keep myself healthy, because I plan to be doing this for a long time!"
Marsh Meadows Lawn Care
Photo Caption: Robin Marsh (left) and one of his workers pose in front of his Marsh Meadows work van.
Marsh Meadows Lawn Care, owned by Robin and Michelle Marsh, is a licensed local lawn service company started in July of 2013, serving Coos Bay/North Bend and surrounding areas.
"We have kept Marsh Meadows a small business so we can serve our customers on a more personal level, with greater detailed attention to the job," says Robin. "What we hear from some of our customers is that their previous lawn care company wasn't reliable and sometimes didn't show up at all. Marsh Meadows Lawn Care thrives on being honest, fair, and reliable."
Marsh Meadows provides their customers with needed information and ideas on how to make and keep their lawns looking their best. They offer free, in-person estimates and always recommend that their potential customers get other estimates for comparison if they so desire. They do recommend, however, that people seek out a reputable, licensed lawn care service for their own safety and dependability.
Although Marsh Meadows stays busy with their current client list, they are accepting new accounts for residential and commercial lawn care maintenance. Their services include mowing, trimming, weeding, edging, pruning, garden and flower bed tilling and brush clearing, as well as other lawn services as needed. "Our business continues to grow as our customers spread the word about the attention to detail and spirit of excellence we strive for here at Marsh Meadows," said Robin.
When I asked Robin how his Shopper ads were working, he replied, "Our Shopper ads are bringing in a considerable amount of business for us. I try to ask our customers how they found out about Marsh Meadows Lawn Care, and a lot of them will say 'We saw you in the Shopper!'"
Feel free to give Marsh Meadows a call at 541-888-9525 or 541-217-8465 for a free, personal estimate on any lawn care needs you may have. "We would love to have your business, and perhaps create a lasting lawn care relationship!" concluded Robin.
Meat Cutting Room
Photo Caption: Melody Storts mixes wonderfully aromatic spices into some ground meat. The Storts are likable, down-home people who love their work.
The Meat Cutting Room is a family-owned meat processing plant located in Coquille, Oregon, which also offers custom made meat products for sale to the public. Owners Jerry and Melody Storts, who were both raised in the area, got started in the meat business over 40 years ago. "We both started under George Graham and Richard Rose," he told me, "...two of the best meat cutters that I've ever known, and they'd still be good, but they're long gone past us. We just kept working at it, bought our own plant and run it for years. Then we had a plant at Lee Valley for 14 years when this one became available. So we moved back here and we've been doing good. The people love it, and I love the people."
Jerry explained the meat processing business to me. "Well, we cater to the farmers real heavy. The kill truck goes up and kills the animals at the farmer's place- cows, hogs, or sheep. Farmers are our main supporters." After the animal is butchered, it is brought to the Meat Cutting Room where it is stored and hung in the coolers until it is ready to be processed. "We do an awful lot of wild game, too," Jerry continued. "The hunters around here are pretty good hunters, let me tell you what! I can't count how many head a year we do, between all the deer, elk, antelope, and bear." I actually hadn't considered bear, but Jerry tells me that bear meat is great to work with, and makes great pepper sticks and sausage. "Their meat is soft like pork, so it accepts the seasonings real easy. We use our own recipes, and we keep the preservatives down in everything we make. We make tons of smoked meats each year and that is our mainstay- hams, bacon, jerky, pepper-stick, summer sausage, and hot dogs."
Jerry and Melody met on the rodeo circuit, and in fact the rodeo still plays a big part in their family life to this day. Their son and son-in-law, Sam Storts and John Houston, run S & J Bucking Bulls, which is well known throughout the rodeo circuit and appreciated locally for the entertaining show they put on at the Coos County Fair each year. Jerry and his wife still participate, along with their daughter, Stacy Houston, and daughter-in-law Jennifer Storts. Even his grandchildren are involved. I spoke with 8 year old granddaughter Allison Storts, who is already an award winning cowgirl. "I do a lot of junior rodeos," she happily shared, "and I go to Barrel Club. My mom is a cowgirl and my dad is a cowboy. We have a lot of bucking bulls, and I'm going to start my own herd." Another granddaughter of Jerry's is also an avid rodeo fan. I asked Harli Houston, age 4, if she wanted to be a cowgirl one day. "I'm a cowgirl already!" she exclaimed. "I've got two horses. I like going to the rodeo, watching the bulls, and playing in the dirt."
Jerry enjoys his work and he feels this is the main reason their custom made products are so popular. "It's the love of doing it. It's like a good chef is one who likes to cook. It goes hand in hand. I mix all the spices, and I still enjoy cutting meat at my age. The good Lord has blessed me that I can still do it at 67 years old. A lot of guys can't." Either the older I get, the younger old people look, or the meat cutting and rodeo life must keep a person looking spry, because I'd of never guessed Jerry is as old as he says. I told him this and he laughed in reply, "Well, when you came in, I was sitting over there in that chair, and I was telling my Granddaughter Harli it was the King's Chair. She told me I was too old to be a king, so we'd just have to call it the Old Man's Chair from now on. Thanks, kid!"
When you walk into the store, the first thing you actually see are beautifully made wood products, such as tables, picture frames, and shelves for sale. These are locally created by Elaine and Butch Bryson of Circle Bar EB Creations. There are also some finely crafted handmade knives offered for sale, too. Barnyard toys are over in a corner for the kids to play with while their parents shop and chat it up with Jerry and Melody. The store is simple and honest, like the people. Plus it smells great, because there really isn't much that smells better than smoked meat, and the smoker runs 7 days a week. Jerry and Melody gifted me with the best pepper sticks and summer sausage I've ever eaten, and I'm looking forward to payday when I can go back and by some meat to stock my freezer with.
The Meat Cutting Room is located at 10120 Highway 42, in Coquille, OR 97423. Stop by for a visit, or call them at (541) 396-1353.
Merritt Office Assistance
Merritt Office Assistance is a new business providing professional secretarial and bookkeeping services. Just a few of the services offered are typing, proofreading, editing, legal and general transcription, bookkeeping, and Notary Public services. "If you are needing anything else, just ask" says Dana Merritt, the owner of Merritt Office Assistance.
Dana is a familiar face around here. Born and raised in Coos Bay, Dana has over 35 years of experience as a legal assistant in our area. In fact, she worked for attorney Jerry Lesan for 23 years before his retirement last year. Dana always kept a home-based secretarial/bookkeeping business in the back of her mind and now has the opportunity to operate just such a business. Dana has years of experience in the field of law but she can perform any type of secretarial services. She enjoys typing and producing professional documents. Her commitment is seeing jobs through to completion with the highest standards of professionalism. Dana's business is not an 8 to 5 business and she will work however it takes to meet her clients' needs.
Naturally, in the environment of law offices, you need someone you can trust. As reflected in the decades of experience in the legal field, confidentiality is another hallmark of Dana's work. Professionalism is another. Dana is known for meeting deadlines and producing stellar work. She offers a quick turnaround on projects, is flexible in scheduling, and is happy to pick-up and deliver as needed. In addition, business can be conducted entirely online. Dana is available to small businesses, individuals, for one-time projects, or to those understaffed due to illness, vacation, or overflow work. Arrangements may be short term or ongoing.
How do you know if Merritt Office Assistance is right for your secretarial needs? As an independent contractor, Dana works from her home and has all the equipment she needs to get it done which saves you the trouble of having to maintain extra office space or purchase computers and other equipment. You only pay for each job as you need it with no overhead costs. You will not have the headache of dealing with payroll taxes nor expensive employee benefits. Your complete office support without the overhead!
Perhaps you are an individual who could use some help building a resume or writing a business letter to a prospective employer. Maybe you need some letters written or forms filled out. Or, lets say you are a writer who would like your manuscript proofread, edited, and professionally typed before you submit it to publishing agencies, or a college student who would like the same service for a term paper. These are all examples of a one time or occasional need for a secretary who can handle this work for you.
Whether you need an assistant full-time or part-time, you are billed only for actual hours worked and Dana would appreciate an opportunity to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of her services.
If you would like to learn more about Merritt Office Assistance, give Dana a call at 541-404-4837 or visit her website at merrittofficeassistance.com .
Milk-E-Way Feed & Trucking
Photo Caption: Owner of Milk-E-Way Feed, Dave Scolari, with daughter Julia in the temporary store. Milk-E-Way remains open for business!
Dave Scolari had just graduated from Coquille High School in 1974 when he started Milk-E-Way Feed & Trucking in Coquille, Oregon. Joined by his wife, Kaarina, 17 years later, the couple have worked hard for decades, turning this family-owned business into a Coquille community icon. Next year, in fact, Milk-E-Way will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. Ranchers, farmers, and pet owners have come to rely on Milk-E-Way for feed and animal supplies, coupled with a broad range of products and services designed to meet the needs of the Coquille farming community.
The community recently had an opportunity to show the Scolari's just how much they are appreciated. Last month, a portion of Milk-E-Way caught on fire. Many retail items and clothing were completely destroyed, the offices were wiped out, and precious family mementos went up in flames. "We're open 7 days a week, so this is pretty much our day-to-day life," explained Dave. "We spend more time here than we actually do at home, so over the years we kept a lot of our family pictures and keepsakes at the store." Now, along with thousands of dollars in lost stock, many of those tangible memories are gone forever.
Still, though, Dave considers themselves lucky. "We are very thankful nobody was hurt. Most of this stuff can be replaced. And people in the community have been awesome. Kaarina and I can't say enough about the community support." Acts of kindness included meals brought to the family the first couple of weeks to help them through the roughest spots, donations from the community, and the pledging of help to clean up when they are ready. "This has been a tough month, " continued Dave, "but we will come out of it stronger and better than ever before, thanks to this community."
Through it all, Milk-E-Way has remained open for business. In fact, they were still in business the next day after the fire, even as the firetrucks were still there. They can get merchandise on order very quickly, thanks to the vendors who have worked well with Milk-E-Way during this trying time, giving their orders first priority. "I can get an order in by 4 in the afternoon and have merchandise in the first thing the next morning," says Dave. "That is how good our vendors have been." They still have a barn full of feed and other animal supplies, live chicks and other fowl, and everything you would ever need to build any kind of a fence.
They also have a trucking business of which Dave is the sole driver. He hauls feed and hay for the store, and is very proud to have recently started hauling fresh milk to the new Face Rock Creamery in Bandon.
Not ones to slow down for much of anything, the Scolari's have set up interim offices, and have converted a 40ft moving van into a temporary store. Already a third of the inventory they lost is back in stock. Items you can find, or order, include Wrangler jeans, Western-themed framed prints, toy animals, Painted Ponies gift-ware, Montana jewelry, Muck boots, and everything imaginable for horses. "If we don't have something sitting right on the shelf, we can get it in couple of days or less," Dave assured me.
Dave and Kaarina are lifelong locals. "I grew up right up the hill from where the store is at, and Kaarina grew up in Coos Bay. I've haven't made it more than 100 yards from where I was born!" Dave told me, laughing. You cannot blame someone for sticking around such a supportive community. The couple have two daughters who also help out in the store whenever they are available- Julia, who is a student at Oregon State, and Joyce, who will be a Senior at Coquille High School next year.
Milk-E-Way Feed & Trucking is located at 54261 Fairview Rd, in Coquille. They are open 7 days a week from 8am until 6pm. Give them a call at (541) 396-2836, or visit the website, www.milkeway.com, for more information. Dave also encourages people to like them on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/milkewayfeed, where updates regarding the reconstruction are posted.
Miller's at the Cove
Photo Caption: You'll find something for everyone at Millers At the Cove Sports Bar in Charleston, Oregon.
Millers at the Cove is a sports bar that lets the light shine in. Located at 63346 Boat Basin Road in Charleston, it's in Oyster Cove Square. I spoke with Scott Miller, manager of this trendy eatery, on a sunny afternoon that indeed had the sun shining through the many windows. It has an open, airy and very friendly feel to it, with smiling employees and many satisfied customers.
Millers at the Cove opened on December 17 of 2010, a little over three years ago. Says Scott, "We employ eight people now, and I never thought I'd have that many employees!" But with a full bar, beer, wine, and of course outstanding food, it's no wonder the place is always busy.
I asked Scott what he saw as his specialty here at the Cove. "Food-wise, our specialty has got to be the fish tacos. We always have cod tacos, and right now we have a special on halibut ones. We occasionally offer snapper tacos, and of course if there's fresh tuna or salmon available, we'll offer that as a special. We get all our seafood right down the road at Bandon Pacific Seafood, so you know it's fresh. Actually, that's even where we get the meat for our fantastic hand-pattied beef burgers," he said.
Looking over the menu, Scott observed, "We try and have something for people from five to 80 years old. Although we strive to be a sports bar, it's a kid-friendly place. There's a menu for kids and seniors, or those with smaller appetites." There are even gluten-free options.
Scott came to our area from the Midwest, where he owned a restaurant and two bars, located just outside of Denver. He's been in this business for 21 years, so he knows what he's doing, and it shows. But he says, "Before I came here, I had never done anything with seafood. I learned a lot about the local ocean foods and we now combine my Midwest menu with a West Coast one."
So here you can find beef, bean, chicken or pork burritos, and lots of sandwiches like pork tenderloin, French dip, deli sandwiches or a meatball sub. And don't forget their famous green chili, which Scott says they sell a lot of. There are sirloin steaks and chicken strips, and if you want a seafood sandwich, try the mouth-watering Dungeness crab or bay shrimp melt. There are seafood platters and baskets, clam chowder, salads, and even an oyster burger. Did I mention dessert? They have that, too! All in all, a great combination and variety of delicious food can always be found here.
As for his beer selection, Millers has 7 microbrews on tap, with 6 micros in bottles. They always have one rotating beer, and hopefully will expand to two. Scott says that they want to start serving some local microbrews at the Cove, and he loves the local items we are so lucky to have.
Millers at the Cove is open seven days a week, starting at 11 am. The restaurant closes at 9 pm but the bar stays open until 10 pm. Their phone number is 541-808-2404, so don't be shy about calling Scott and learning more about this outstanding addition to the Charleston restaurant scene.
Myrtle Grove Naturals, LLC
Photo Caption: Amy Ligons owner of Myrtle Grove Naturals, LLC.
Published in the November 9, 2017 edition
Doug & Amy Ligons are the owners of Myrtle Grove Naturals, LLC, located at 647 8th Street, Suite C, in Myrtle Point. Amy can be found working six days a week at their store, which opened four months ago as of November, 2017.
I asked Amy to describe what products can be found at Myrtle Grove Naturals. "We carry bulk spices and loose leaf teas, gluten-free, paleo and vegan-friendly food products, a wide variety of vitamins and supplements, local seasonal produce and daily lunch items," Amy replied. "We offer variety of salads and wraps, and when the weather turns colder, we will be offering hot soups."
Sounds delicious, but there's more! "We make our hummus and salsa in-house," explained Amy. "And all our salad dressings are also house-made. We have fresh juice and blends made to order, and non-GMO products. Each week we try and expand our inventory, and we're looking forward to be able to provide organic meat, dairy products and baked goods in the future."
When Eden Valley Naturals closed in neighboring Coquille, Myrtle Point and the surrounding areas lost an integral asset within the community. Myrtle Grove Naturals was created to "fill the void," according to Amy. "My husband and I were born and raised in Myrtle Point, but we moved away for about four years. He is a transmission lineman and is away for long periods, so I hold down the fort here with our two children."
In addition to the above-mentioned products, Amy said her store carries essential oils and homeopathic remedies. Their food products include nuts, grains, and plant-based proteins.
"We have a really wide variety of customers who frequent our store," said Amy. "People are looking to eat better and live healthier lives, and we're doing our best to help them do that! We like being of service to our small town. It's gratifying knowing we are helping our neighbors by providing a more natural alternative and items that are tailored to their specific dietary needs. Cultivating relationships with our customers is key to building a better business for our community."
I asked Amy why she decided to advertise in the South Coast Shopper. "We liked that the Shopper reaches a wide range of customers up and down the Oregon coast," she replied. "We're the only natural food store within a 35 mile radius, with the closest ones in either Coos Bay or Winston. Myrtle Point has only one grocery store, and we felt the community would be supportive of a natural alternative that provides options not currently available locally."
In addition to food and vitamin products, Myrtle Grove Naturals has made a home for several local artisans, like wood art, paintings, hand-painted signs, and homemade cards. All their products can be viewed online on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Myrtle-Grove-Naturals-LLC .
Future plans for the store include providing clothing options, bulk nuts, dried fruits and flours. The goal is to build inventory to suit the needs of Myrtle Point and the surrounding communities. "We want this place to be filled with what the community members need," said Amy.
If you're in the market for some quality organic food products, supplements, or maybe just a healthy, delicious lunch, stop by Myrtle Grove Naturals. They're open Monday from 12pm to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and closed Sundays. Their phone number is 541-559-0647.
"We really want our store to be of use to Myrtle Point, and we're building our inventory to suit the needs of our neighbors," said Amy.
Oasis Potable Water Delivery
Photo Caption: Dave Webb owns Oasis Potable Water Delivery, serving Coos County.
Dave Webb came out of a six-year retirement two months ago to start a business called Oasis Potable Water Delivery in Coos County. "I got tired of sitting around and wanted to do something more with my time," said Dave. "I had already purchased a flatbed truck last year, and I've always delivered water to my place because we have a big garden...cypress and redwood trees...and we go through a lot of water. I got tired of packing 425-gallon tanks of water in my pick-up, so I just bought a 1,600 gallon tank and put it on my flatbed truck."
"More and more, with the water table dropping due to the dry weather we've been having, I've been filling people's water tanks," said Dave. "Those spring-fed tanks are starting to dry up. From what I've read, the weather pattern is supposed to change this winter. I remember back in school, looking forward to summer, but knowing that it would be raining...that's not the case here anymore."
Dave related his experience delivering water to a customer recently: "These people lived south of town and had no city water, no well, and no spring-fed water source. They relied on rainfall only, and had collecting tanks distributed throughout their property. I had never encountered that situation before. Needless to say, with this weather, they were out of water!"
I asked Dave where most of his clients are located. "Most of my deliveries are out in the country," he replied. "I've had calls from as far away as Brookings, but I've decided to only go that far away if it's an emergency. I deliver water in Coos County, but most of my customers live south of town: Myrtle Point, Fairview, and Powers. Today I'm actually delivering water north of town, in Hauser."
Dave said he's delivering water seven days a week this summer, "As long as it's not 5 pm and somebody wants me to come out that evening," he said. "But if it's an emergency, I will."
Dave used to drive truck before his 30-plus year career as a longshoreman. Now that he's retired, he has the time to pursue a career that lets him meet new people on a regular basis, something that he enjoys. His wife, Jennifer, manages the company's finances from home.
I asked Dave if advertising in the Shopper had helped get his new business off the ground. "It definitely has. It's the only place I advertise except handing out business cards. And I had one person call me that had seen my ad online."
If you find yourself in need of water delivery during this long, hot, dry summer, give Oasis Potable Water Delivery a call at 541-260-2887.
Dave was born and raised here, and says, "Basically, what I like doing is helping people in need. Some of these people are really living out in the sticks, and what do you do if you don't have water?"
Oregon West Management
Photo Caption: The Southridge apartments are one of the four complexes managed by Oregon West Management.
Jake Frazier is the manager for Oregon West Management, which manages four apartment complexes (Westridge, Southridge, Inland Village, and Alderwood) in the Coos Bay/North Bend area. The units vary from 1, 2 and 3 bedroom floor plans, fully equipped with kitchen appliances, and feature carpeted living and bedrooms.
Jake's office itself is located at 350 S. 8th in Coos Bay, with open hours of 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. When you walk in the door, however, the face you'll see first belongs to Maria, the leasing agent.
I asked Jake how he started with Oregon West Management. "Eight years ago I was hired as the maintenance technician for Southridge and Westridge apartments in Coos Bay," he replied. "I was in that position for about four years, and then the management position opened up. I asked to be considered for it, had an interview, and I got the job."
So just what does an apartment manager do? Jake replied, "I basically make all the decisions here locally. I'm the go-between with the corporate office in Eugene and the tenants here. We've got roughly 200 units that I manage, so there are a lot of details involved in this job. A big part of my job is overseeing the day-to-day operations for all four facilities, scheduling contractors, and coordinating with the three maintenance technicians employed here."
You'll find Oregon West Management apartments not only in the Coos Bay/North Bend area, but also in Federal Way, Washington, Molalla, Oegon, and Redding and Bakersfield, California.
I asked Jake how long he's been advertising with the Shopper. "As long as I've worked here," he said. "I believe we have the nicest apartments in town, and I have people lined up waiting to rent them."
Jake said he's a pretty private guy, but did tell me that when he's not at work, he's home enjoying time with his wife and three-and-a-half year old son. "I used to have more hobbies," said Jake, "but that all changed when my son was born. Now he keeps me very busy!"
Oregon West Apartments are surrounded by the outstanding beauty of the Southern Oregon Coast, and all their locations provide convenient access to shopping, dining, services and area attractions, as well as quick access to Highway 101 and nearby coastal communities. Their mission is to provide everyone with caring customer service and responsive maintenance. If you're in the market for a new apartment, give Jake or Maria a call at 541-269-1912 and get started on your way to living in a nice and well-maintained apartment! www.oregonwestmanagement.com
Oregon Wine Cellars, Etc.
Photo Caption: Tamara Landrum has been the owner and sole proprietor of Oregon Wine Cellars since 1993.
Tamara Landrum has been the owner and sole proprietor of Oregon Wine Cellars since 1993. She hails from Stuttgart, West Germany, and came to the United States in 1971. When her husband decided to retire from the Air Force in 1986, they moved to Coos Bay and she has never looked back.
"I love Coos Bay very much," says Tamara. "I love living near the ocean, breathing the wonderful ocean air…I can't live without it!"
I asked Tamara to describe what customers find when they walk in her shop.
"We specialize in Oregon wines and other products like local jams and jellies," replied Tamara. "We have wine ranging from sweet to dry, red and white, dessert and ice wines. Our wines come from Oregon, California, Italy, Spain…our Champagnes like Dom Pérignon come from France."
Many people don't know that there's a big difference between sparkling wine and Champagne. For a bottle of sparkling wine to be labeled "Champagne", it has to be made in Champagne, France and produced using the méthode champenoise. If that bottle is produced using the exact same method, anywhere else, it must carry a different name, such as "sparkling wine").
"We also are very happy to place special wine orders if customers cannot find what they're looking for here," Tamara continued. "All our wines are up-line wines that are hard to find…we only deal in the best of products here."
Local wineries often will conduct tastings of their products at Oregon Wine Cellars. Customers who have participated in the Coos Bay Downtown Wine Walk are familiar with visiting Tamara's shop for samples of local wines. But Tamara has recently opted out of the Wine Walk to focus more on her health.
"I was the one who first suggested the idea of a Wine Walk back in 2007," said Tamara. "We would get over 600 people coming in the shop over a two-hour period. For many years my shop was one of the main stops on the tour, but I've decided to scale things back a little for now."
I asked Tamara which wines were most popular in her store. "That's undoubtedly the Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines," she replied. "But ice wines are coming up in popularity, although they're very expensive for authentic ice wines. These wines are made from grapes that sit on the vine until the end of the growing season and beyond…you have to have that first frost and the grapes must freeze on the vine, then be harvested immediately the next day. These wines have full, intense flavors, and are usually white wines. They're very unique items that cost $60 and more per half-bottle for the true ice wines. This is because very little juice is produced after the grape has frozen."
In addition to their regular wine selection, Oregon Wine Cellars, Etc. also carries organic wines with no sulfites added. "When wine ferments, it naturally produces sulfites," said Tamara, "but when sulfites are added, these chemicals are not very good for people in general. Some folks develop allergies from the wine…some get very red faces after drinking wine that has added sulfites."
Tamara also gladly puts together gift baskets for customers, and these can include various wines and Sea Mist local jams and jellies, as well as selections from her large inventory of glassware ranging from all shapes of wineglasses, beer glasses and cognac glasses. Oregon Wine Cellars, Ect. also carries beer, mostly microbrews and some 100% German beers (which can only contain four ingredients). Water, barley, malt, and hops according to the purity law of 1516.
Don't know much about wines, but need some expert recommendations? Look no further than Oregon Wine Cellars, Ect. "I have a nice amount of people who come in on a regular basis and ask my opinion of wines. I have never failed with my recommendations! People come back later very happy with the wines they purchased here," said Tamara. "I love meeting new people, talking to tourists, recommending dining and sightseeing in our area. It gives me joy and pleasure to talk to people…I even provide them with a map of local wineries."
If you're in the market for some fine wines, make sure to stop at Oregon Wine Cellars, Ect., located at 155 S. Broadway in Coos Bay. They're open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm, and their phone number is 541-267-0300.
I asked Tamara what makes her store different than other wine shops. "It's personal service, knowledge, and happiness," she was quick to reply. "I sell love in my store!"
Pahl's Family Dentistry
Photo Caption: Dr. Herman and Dr. Brent Pahls, father and son dental team at Pahl's Family Dentistry in Coquille.
Published in the January 8, 2015 edition
Let Our Family Serve Yours"
In an area with so many options for dental providers, there is a lovely, small-town dental practice in Coquille. First off, the word "family" in the business name is very appropriate because the doctors are father and son!
Dr. Herman Pahls graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 1977 and began his Coquille dental practice in 1982. Dr. Herman was a lifelong Oregon resident, but his busy Portland upbringing was not what he was seeking when he had a family of his own. He and his wife, Karen, wanted a smaller, close-knit community—and they instantly fell in love with Coquille, the surrounding dunes and hiking, as well as beaches and other fun activities.
Dr. Brent Pahls, the oldest of two children, graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 2007. Having always enjoyed a close relationship with his father, he realized early on that his career goals would include the pursuit of dentistry, as well as the hope to one day work side by side with his father. This became a reality in 2007, when Dr. Brent moved back to Coquille with his wife and newborn daughter.
Dr. Herman and Dr. Brent have a calling for dentistry: their true passion lies in giving back to others. Both doctors have participated on dental mission trips, "Mission of Mercy" events, as well as the office being the only location to provide much-needed dentistry at no charge for "Donated Dental Day" through Ready to Smile for the past 3 years.
While a generous spirit is an admirable quality in a person, what about their dentistry? What services do they provide? Was the office clean and inviting? The warm atmosphere provided by the furniture and décor was equally matched by friendly, capable staff. The office services include cleanings, fillings, extractions, teeth whitening, crowns, bridges, partials, dentures and dental implants. There is also nitrous oxide and sedation available for patients with dental anxiety. And let's not forget that the staff are highly trained and love working with patients of all ages—from the young toddler to the loving grandparents. Every generation is welcome.
The doctors and team at Pahls Family Dentistry have made it their mission to meet and exceed the expectations of every patient in their care. Known for their patience and understanding, as well as their gentle touch when they work, patients at Pahls Family Dentistry have been raving about the excellent care they have received.
The office accepts most insurance plans, offers payment plans as well as discounts for cashing paying patients. Free Dental Implant and Professional 2nd Opinion consults are also available. Call today at 541-396-2242. Specials are available monthly, and from both Dr. Herman and Dr. Brent, "Let Our Family Serve Yours."
Perry's Electric & Plumbing Supply
Photo Caption: Perry's Electric & Plumbing Supply has everything for your plumbing and electrical needs. If they don't have what you need in stock, ask them about special orders.
Buying local and being involved in the community is something that Glenn and Cari Martin are very passionate about. The couple relocated to the area from Newberg, Oregon a few years ago and are very happy they did! They enjoy living on the coast and being part of such a close knit community.
When I walked into the building to interview the happy couple, I couldn't help but notice the positive environment and smiling faces of the store's employees.
Perry's Electric has been a fixture in our community for 50 years and it wasn't until 2010 that the previous owners decided to retire, liquidate, and shut the business down. Glenn and Cari decided to lease the building, fill it back up and open under Perry's Supply Plumbing and Electric and in April of 2011 they had their official opening. Perry's currently employs 12 locals. Some of them are past employees from the previous owner's store and they have also hired several new employees as well.
"We love it here and plan on doing this until it isn't fun anymore or we die, whichever one comes first," Glenn chuckled. I got the feeling right away that these two were genuinely nice people and truly have wonderful customer service skills. Since they opened in 2011, Glenn has only been working half days because he is still recuperating from some brutal back surgeries that didn't go very well. However, he is getting better and is finally gradually able to put in the long work hours that he intended when they bought the business. "I planned on working 16 hours a day but things didn't exactly go as planned," he said. Now Glenn is spending more time there, which means more time to bring in more updated designer items.
The pair seemed to have very positive attitudes and it was apparent that they were "glass half full" kind of people. "We want our business to be more of a family business than just a store," Cari says. The couple also have 3 grown children who have worked at the store and Glenn says that when they are finished with school, have worked somewhere else for 2 years, they can come back and work for them, but not until then. "We want them to experience the real world first," Cari explains.
Their plan is to continue growing as a company and to get more and more new inventory. They have everything plumbing and electric related and stress that they are not afraid of special orders! "Our employees are what make the company. The products are all the same but the difference is the employees and the service you receive from them," Glen says. "Our employees are knowledgeable and this saves our customers the hassle of having to call someone else." It was apparent that they want their customers to walk out with a good feeling and experience. If their employees don't know the answer to something they will go the extra step to look it up for you. Perry's guarantees the best price in this market area. If you see a price within 100 miles radius somewhere else that's cheaper, they will match it! They are located at 3133 Broadway Street in North Bend. You can also reach them at (541) 756-2051.
Phil's Lock and Key
Photo Caption: Erin Brown, Terry Brown, Mike Brown of Phil's Lock & Key at their new location, 1165 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay.
I spoke with Terry Brown, who with her husband, Mike and daughter Erin, run Phil's Lock and Key, which has recently relocated to 1165 Newmark Avenue in the "Y" Plaza in Empire. When their landlord decided to do something else with the place they had at 884 South Broadway in Coos Bay, the Browns found it was time to find a new location for their business.
Although "Phil" hasn't owned this business for many years, the Browns decided to keep the name when they purchased it. "In 2005, we were out here on vacation and ran into the owners of Phil's Lock and Key, and my husband Mike said he would love to own a business in this beautiful place. Then current owner, John, said that his business was for sale, so in April of 2006 we signed the papers," said Terry. "We were doing locksmith work in Custer, South Dakota, and jumped at the chance to move here! I had lived in Hood River, and have sisters in Medford, so it was just a logical decision to move here."
Although the Brown's business is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, they are on-call 24/7 for emergency service. "We are the AAA providers for lockouts in the south-western coastal area," said Terry. "If you lock your keys in your car, if you lose your keys, if you lock yourself out of your house, we're the ones to call. We will go and do re-keys of house locks in cases of emergency, to keep you safe, at any time. Realtors will refer people to us to rekey houses for their clients who have just purchased a new home, so they don't have to worry about people being able to get in their house."
I asked Terry to list the services available at Phil's Lock and Key. "Well, lockouts are one of the main things we do, but we also re-key houses, which means that we change your existing locks to function with a different key," she replied. "We also do master key systems, lock installations, safe opening, repair, combination change and sales, keys cut by code, and of course, we copy keys."
So are there any lockout situations that stand out from the others? "Yes," Terry laughed. "Mike went on a call down at the Charleston docks, where people were crabbing and had dropped their keys in the water. He went to the car and unlocked it, and when the customer pulled the crab pots out of the water, there were the keys, right in the pot!"
I asked Terry why they decided to advertise in the South Coast Shopper. "We hadn't advertised for several years, and I know how widely-read the Shopper is, so we thought it would be a really good place to start advertising. As a thank you to our customers, we wrote the ad so that if you come in and mention you saw our ad in the Shopper, you buy a key and get one free." she said.
Future plans for Phil's Lock and Key include expanding to offer transponder key copies. You know those car keys with a computer chip in them that can cost up to $300 to replace? Well, the machine to make them costs $7,000, so the Browns are saving for that right now.
If you need a new key, or you've locked yourself out of your house or car, give Phil's Lock and Key a call at 541-269-5285. "We just want to keep doing what we're doing, always improving where we can," said Terry. "Mostly we want to say, 'come see us!'".
Photo Caption: The Porter Family: left to right, Eric, Darin, Nian and Stan have owned Porters RV since 1966.
I spoke with Darin Porter of Porters RV, who have been in business since 1966 when Stan and Nian Porter founded the dealership and own it to this day. It's a true family business where Darin runs the sales department and his brother Eric runs the parts and service department. "The key is not just family but a whole bunch of good employees, many of whom have been employed at Porters for a long time" said Darin. "Our 17 employees exhibit dedication, professionalism and they enjoy a great place to work."
Porters is open 8 am to 6 pm in summer, and 8 am to 5 pm in the winter, six days a week. Saturdays they close at 5 pm. Even in the winter they stay busy doing both sales (people want to escape the rain) and parts and service.
Darin explained, "We're really lucky here because we are in a smaller area and because of the longevity of the dealership, we've been able to hand-select the brands and models that we carry, so as a result we literally have the top-selling brands in the nation, along with several others to compliment them. The main thing for us is to find a product that gives good value to the consumer but also carries tremendous quality."
I asked Darin whether he thought the American consumer was changing the type of recreational vehicle they buy. He responded, "We still have a segment of society that buys the traditional RV, requiring a large pickup to tow it. But we're definitely seeing the expansion of the crossover type RVs, pulled by smaller sport utility vehicles. As a result of the towing capacity of those vehicles, we're seeing the industry have to adapt and make trailers lighter. 'Light' used to mean poor quality back in the 80's, but now lightweight means superb quality, but engineered to weigh less. This has created a revolution in the RV industry because these materials are even stronger than before, while being towable by almost any vehicle. We have several crossover trailers like the R-Pod which weighs less than 3,000 pounds."
Porters RV has a full parts and service department where customers can buy literally any part or accessory for their RV. "Our service department is made up of employees with years and years of experience. We stock a tremendous amount of the most commonly-needed parts so that our customers can get back on the road quickly. All our technicians are either Certified or Master Certified, and our service manager has been here for 24 years. We make sure that people are happy when they buy their RV and remain happy after the sale," says Darin.
Most of their the RVs sold at Porters come from the Northwest. Jayco products are made in Idaho, Springdale and Cougar travel trailers come from Pendleton, Oregon and Surveyors come from Dallas, Oregon.
Darin says the future of the RV business looks bright. " Our business depends on several things, one of them being demographics. With Baby Boomers retiring, the RV market is getting larger and larger. We're seeing more and more retirees enjoying the RV lifestyle. People love it and there's no better way to travel, in my opinion. Interest rates have remained low and the economy is improving. This business will always be cyclical, but overall there is an upward trend in RV sales."
I asked Darin how he liked using the South Coast Shopper to advertise his product. He replied, "Advertising with the Shopper has been great—we've always had good service with them. Advertising is all about one thing: results. The biggest way that I know the Shopper works is because I routinely get people walking in here carrying our ad and they say 'I want to see this unit.'"
Darin concluded, "We can always talk about our successes, but really, it's because of the customers that have supported us over the years. We're very thankful for their business."
So if you're looking for a quality recreational vehicle with reliable service after the sale, stop by Porters RV, located at 971 S. Broadway in Coos Bay. Or give them a call at 541-269-5121 and get started on your way to enjoying the fabulous RV lifestyle! www.portersrv.com
Porter's R.V.s Undergoes Expansion
Photo Caption: Porter's R.V.s begins construction to expand its award-winning Parts and Service Department.
Porter's R.V.s is under construction to expand its award-winning Parts and Service Department. Construction will be occurring this winter and is planned to be finished before the Spring.
According to Porter's R.V.s, "We are adding a great new layout for our customers in our service and parts department, which will include expanded services and exciting new products! We have always been centered on customer service. It is very important to us that we give our customer base the highest level of service, and to do that, we must grow as our customer base grows. We are very excited about this addition for our customers."
Porter's R.V.s is open regular hours during construction; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and they invite you in to have a cup of coffee, browse RV's and see the construction as it takes shape!
Porter's R.V.s offers a full selection of best-selling RV brands as well as Certified Pre-Owned R.V.s. They also offer RVDA Certified RV Repair and Service and one of the largest selections of RV Parts and Accessories in the region. Porter's R.V.s 971 S. Broadway, Coos Bay, OR. 97420. Phone: 541-269-5121, Toll Free: 1-800-746-2366. www.portersrv.com
Power Women's Fitness Center
Photo Caption: Sierra Kerlee owner of Power Women's Fitness Center for over a year now.
For nine years, Sierra Kerlee could be found working at EZ Thai, a great restaurant in Coos Bay. Flash forward to today, and she's proudly celebrating being the owner of Power Women's Fitness Center for over a year now.
I asked Sierra how many employees work at Power Women's Fitness Center. "We actually use a volunteer program here" Sierra replied, "which is really nice, being a small business. I have some people who volunteer a few hours a week to get their dues paid for. It's a win-win situation… they bring fresh minds and perspectives, I save money, and it helps this gym be more connected to the community."
Sierra has lived in Coos Bay most of her life, graduating from Marshfield High School in 2008. "My inspiration for starting this gym is rooted in sports, mostly basketball, which I played while in high school," said Sierra. "I attended SWOCC, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in physical education, while taking on being a mom, wife and manager at EZ Thai. I eventually obtained my personal trainer certification. And I've always wanted to own my own gym, so here I am!"
The southern Oregon coastal community has given Sierra a lot of much-appreciated support in her endeavors. "This community has been great to work in," said Sierra. "We try to stay involved…we're on the Wine Walk, we do lots of events like donating money for every new membership in October to support breast cancer, we have monthly games to promote local businesses…our new members get gift certificates and other little goodies from local business when they join…and we always give free tours of our facility to anyone who is interested."
Although Power Women's Fitness Center is a women-only gym, Sierra says men also visit to see if her facility is a good place for their wives or daughters to attend. "It's good to get men in here to see our place, see that it's safe for their wives and daughters to work out and get fit," Sierra explained.
"We try and integrate the social interaction of belonging to a gym with physical exercise," said Sierra. "It's important for us to get to personally know each of our members. I let them test our fitness equipment, do demonstrations for them, etc. We have circuit equipment ranging from strength to cardio training, free weights, balls, a steam room, shower facilities, and a dressing room, where there is a clothing exchange. The members can bring clothing, nonperishable food items and toiletries for the local ARK project (At Risk Kids and families).
How about classes at Power Women's Fitness Center? "One of more popular classes is a belly-fit class, which is a belly dance-inspired cardio class. It burns calories and is a lot of fun!" Sierra replied. "We also have yoga classes on Wednesdays, which my mom teaches. This is really a family-run business. The yoga class caters to mostly seniors; it's comprised of chair and floor yoga, which alternate every other week. And we're always on the lookout for instructors who are certified in Zumba, aerobics or cardio classes."
I asked Sierra to describe her typical customer. "We get a lot of women who want to work out in a less competitive, more relaxed place," Sierra replied. "We welcome women of all ages, but I would say that more than half my clients are seniors. But we get a lot of younger women, too. All my customers are very respectful and mindful of the other clients. I really try to make this place a good experience for people, and it must work, because they keep coming back!"
As for future plans for Power Women's Fitness, starting in the winter term of 2017 they will be taking interns pursuing a career in business, physical education, and/or administrative services. "This will bring additional support and cohesiveness within the community," said Sierra.
Sierra says that she enjoys advertising her gym in the South Coast Shopper because "They have very reasonable rates, and great overall exposure…everybody reads the Shopper - it's free – which makes it very accessible."
Power Women's Fitness Center is a place where women can work out, get more in tune with their health and physical wellness, and feel better about themselves. "I like to think that I'm helping both our community and the women in it thrive," said Sierra. "We need to work together for the health of both our community and ourselves."
Sierra's gym is located at 383 Anderson Avenue in Coos Bay. They're open Monday – Friday from 6am to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 3pm, and closed Sundays. On Monday nights their belly-fit class is held from 7-8pm. Their phone number is 541-267-1628.
"I believe that being healthy shouldn't have to be expensive," Sierra finished. "My gym is a positive outlet, and I like to keep things inexpensive. This place is a good way to stay healthy when it's raining cats and dogs outside, and it won't break your budget!"
Q's Sharpening Shop
Photo Caption: Quentin Roesner is a local sharpener specializing in sharpening tools or knives for forestry workers, sawmills, contractors, woodworkers, homeowners, and more.
About a year and a half ago, Quentin Roesner was sitting in a local auto shop waiting for his windshield to be repaired, when he picked up a copy of the South Coast Shopper and started reading it. He had recently retired after 32 years in the forestry business, and he saw an announcement that the owner of Duane Ole's Sharpening Service was retiring.
"If I hadn't seen that notice, I probably wouldn't be the owner of Q's Sharpening Shop in Myrtle Point," said Quentin. "I have a lot of experience working in the sawmill and forestry industry, and this was the perfect opportunity for me to keep busy in my retirement. I probably get about a third or more of my business advertising in the Shopper."
Located at 53092 Stringtown Road in Myrtle Point, Q's Sharpening Shop is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5 pm. I spoke with Quentin about his background and how he wound up living and working in Myrtle Point.
"I grew up in a small town in Montana, where there were five sawmills," he replied, "and after graduating from high school, I gravitated to toward working in one of them. I worked around big machines with big saws for about five years and then decided to go to college and get a degree in Forestry and work on the timber end of it. I worked as a forester in the woods in Montana, Idaho and Oregon in logging, forestry and Silviculture, moving to Oregon in 2005. All told, I worked in the timber industry for 32 years. I thought retirement was great, but I found myself getting kind of restless. My wife is younger than me and has a few years before she can retire, so starting a sharpening business was a great opportunity to keep myself busy."
I asked Quentin what services he offers at his shop.
"I sharpen carbide or steel blades, planer knives, saws, lawn and garden tools, axes, cutlery, anything that needs a sharp edge to it," he replied. "I do commercial work for the local craftsman, woodworkers and contractors with saw blades, planer knives and router bits. I just recently did some work for one of the local sawmills… they brought in their 24" sawblades for cutting lumber. Homeowners who need to maintain equipment like pruning shears, machetes, loppers, wood chisels, scissors, table saws, hand planes, cutlery or axes use my services. I sharpen saw chains for chainsaws for people working in the woods. If you have a gas-operated hedge trimmer and your cutter bars get dull, it will cost close to $200 to replace them, but I can sharpen them for about 1/6 of that price, so don't buy new, come to me!"
All these sharpening services require specialized equipment, and Quentin explained that he has "12 different grinders, either set up with abrasive wheels or some sort of sanding disc or belt. They're all designed to grind and polish the old dull edge to a shiny new factory edge."
Although Q's Sharpening Shop is located in Myrtle Point, Quentin told me that he has two drop-off locations for the convenience of his customers. The first one is at Six Nail's Woodworking at 160 E. Ingersoll, Coos Bay, across from Farr's True Value Hardware, and the second one is in Myrtle Point at Hometown Hardware. And of course customers can always drop off their items at his shop.
I asked Quentin to describe a typical customer needing sharpening work.
"Right now the lion's share of my customers are craftsman, people who are making small woodcrafts in their garage and selling at craft shows and farmers markets," he replied. "That's the best part of this job; I get to do a variety of different things on different products that come in. And I really enjoy meeting the people, finding out what they're working on and their needs and what I can do to improve or maintain their tools."
Quentin said that even when his wife does retire, he plans to keep his sharpening shop open. "There's a real need for this service in our area…the closest sharpening services are in Medford and Eugene. Duane Oles started this business when he was 60, and retired at 78. So in the future if I'm still able to do the work and if the customers still need me, I'll stick around."
In today's throw-away environment, Quentin wants people to know that when they have dull tools or knives, they don't need to get new ones, and that what he does is at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
"I can do tools in a matter of days or even same day service," he explained. "And I can restore your tools or knives to as-good or better-than-new condition."
If you're in need of superior sharpening services, give Q's Sharpening Shop a call at 541-260-1692. Although Quentin does sharpen a large variety of items, he indicated that he would "probably turn down ice skates, but you never know!"
Raya Ziegler Real Estate Adds A Personal Touch
Photo Caption: Raya Ziegler offers the upstairs of her home for out-of-town clients to stay during their house-hunting trip to the Oregon coast.
I have been noticing the transformation of the large blue Victorian house located at 983 Central Avenue in Coos Bay. The flowers are all in bloom and the home itself has been gradually updated to its gorgeous present condition. The owner says she's in her element wearing a nail apron and working a hammer. But this isn't a private residence: it's the office of Raya Ziegler Real Estate, owned by Raya Ziegler, an Oregon real estate broker who works alongside Lisa Sanders, a broker herself. They've been in this location for three years, where they have a boutique-style approach focusing on the person, the lifestyle and the experience.
"A person will sell or buy property, on average, three times during their life," says Raya. "We understand it's a very stressful time, and we want to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Our highly and specially trained brokers are always willing to make necessary decisions and changes to each individual's needs. In a boutique firm like ours, we use all the cutting edge tools in technology and social media to best market and service our clients."
And do they ever make it easy for their out-of-town clients! The entire upstairs of the large home is like a vacation rental, complete with bedroom, living room, huge bath, and kitchen. Clients stay there as long as they need while looking for a new home. The yard is fenced and pets and children are welcome. There's no need to spend money at a hotel while you're searching for the perfect home. "We don't want our clients to just buy a home...we want them to buy THE home that they really want," says Raya.
"The ads we run in the South Coast Shopper are working great," she adds. "We were looking for a niche to market to people who were currently renting, and felt they didn't make enough money to buy a house. Because we also help clients find suitable financing, (which is out there, believe me) we eliminate a lot of their stress in the process," Raya stated.
Give Raya and Lisa a call at 541-269-5379 and find out how easy buying or selling a home can be. "We continue to learn how we can make things more enjoyable for our clients," Raya finished.
rayaziegler.com
Rental Owners Association of Southwestern Oregon
Photo Caption: Joyce Edwards and Laurie Moore invite landlords to give them a call and see what the Rental Owners Association of Southwestern Oregon can do for you!
Laurie Moore, President of the Rental Owners Association of Southwestern Oregon (ROA) and Joyce Edwards, affiliate and past newsletter writer, are devoted to growing this very essential service provided to landlords and property management companies in our area. Laurie has been affiliated with the organization for over 2 years and Joyce has been heavily involved since 1984. Recently, the association has undergone many changes and they are continuing to strive to meet the needs of their current 200 members.
In 1978, the home builders association and landlords began meeting at the City Hall. The home builders wanted their own association and then in 1980, Hans Louvring and Ed Carlson, began the formation of what is now Rental Owners Association of Southwestern Oregon. The first officers of the association were elected in 1981 and it has continued to grow ever since.
This essential association was created for landlords to stay up to date on current landlord-tenant policies and procedures but the services that are offered to them as a member have since expanded into much more. Members of the association are invited to attend regular seminars where they can stay updated on landlord-tenant policies and procedures and have access to appropriate forms. The speakers from these seminars are a compilation of judges, accountants, fair housing information, and landlord 101. As a paid member of the organization you are entitled to 1 free hour with Attorney David Tilton, and recently they have created an automated help line that can answer your questions day or night. Members pay a annual dues according to the amount of properties they own. Not only is the fee extremely affordable but the valuable information you will receive is priceless.
Many times landlords are unaware of a change in a law and end up paying the consequences financially through fines. ROA is part of an umbrella organization and is made up of 14 member associations across the state of Oregon. You can visit www.roa-swo.com/ for more information. Each year, state representatives are elected from each division and they attend legislative meetings and then inform the board and other club members of the changes that may have been made or will be made regarding policy. During the monthly meeting, landlords are able to ask questions during the question and answer portion of the meeting. Some of the classes that are offered by the ROHA can also be used as credit toward ones real estate license. If you would like to find how to get involved you can call Laurie at (541) 670-8857.
Photo Caption: Matt Young and Steve Lander of Restore Appliances will have their Grand Opening on Monday, April 13.
I met with two very nice gentlemen from Roseburg, Steve Lander and Matt Young, who have just opened Restore Appliances, located at 862 S. Broadway (in the old Minuteman Press building). And true to their business name… they have a variety of nice-looking stoves, refrigerators, laundry sets and freezers on their floor!
This is actually an outlet store that is connected to the original store in Roseburg. "We have all major appliances here, just like in our Roseburg store," said Steve. "And we're open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday and 11 am to 4 pm on Saturdays." The store itself had a "soft" opening on Monday, April 6, and will have an official grand opening the next week, on Monday, April 13.
Steve says that although they will be doing limited diagnosis and repair, "we're mostly just going to be selling good quality used appliances. We'll take appliances in on trade as well, provided they're in resalable condition, working or not, and credit can be applied toward quality working appliances."
The two men wanted to express gratitude to the community for the invitation to join the Bay Area. "We've made the move to the outlet store in response to community requests for a quality used appliance store," said Matt. "We're finding people really excited about the prospect of being able to buy a quality used appliance for their home."
There was still construction going on in the store when I visited the duo, and it was obvious they were doing their best to get the place ready for business, even though the showroom floor was full of attractive appliances. "Our goal is to be up and running as soon as possible," said Steve. "This area is going to be growing and we want to fulfill a need to the community."
If you're in the market for a gently used kitchen or laundry appliance, give Restore Appliances a call at 541-808-3443, where all their appliances include a 90 day warranty! Better yet, come to their grand opening on Monday, April 13. Matt is going to be in the showroom full-time, and he'd be only too happy to show you how you can have that appliance you've always wanted, and at a reasonable price!
Reboot Tech - Computer & Tech Services
Reboot Tech has a new store in the Newmark Plaza in North Bend.
Reboot Tech recently expanded to North Bend. Over the last year the Myrtle Point location saw the growth and need for a second location. However, they are by no means new to the computer and technology fields. Owners Travis Tabor and Mollie McAuley have a combined 35 years of industry experience. Reboot Tech assists all levels of individual and business tech needs. They specialize in custom, affordable solutions whether that be building a computer from scratch or making improvements to an existing PC. Technology is a part of everyday life and Reboot understands the importance of buying and maintaining reliable equipment. They have two well stocked retail spaces and if you are in need of something they don't have they do custom orders.
They are located at 1936 Newmark Street in North Bend and 621 Spruce St Suite A in Myrtle Point. Both stores are open 9:00-5:00 Monday through Friday and 10:00-1:00 on Saturdays. They are also available to make on site visits to your home or business.
S'Nipped
Photo Caption: Vet tech Rich, veterinarian Dr. Allen, and vet assistant Brandon of S'Nipped.
S/Nipped was founded by four volunteers in 2010, as a way offering a better tomorrow for cats and dogs. They are a 501(3)c nonprofit organization, providing affordable spay and neuter services to South Coast dogs and cats.
I spoke with Judy Coleman, who is the office manager at S/Nipped, located at 132 N. Wasson Street in Coos Bay. Judy told me that S/Nipped offers "Low-cost spay and neuter for cats and dogs. S/Nipped is open Monday through Thursday. We also have a low cost vaccine clinic offering vaccinations, nail trimming, microchipping, and flea treatments, and this is held usually the third Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm, except October's vaccine clinic is the 4th Sunday this year."
S/Nipped also works with all the local animal shelters and rescue operations on the South Coast. "We work with Pacific Cove Humane Society, Kohl's Cat House, Friends of Coos County Animals…all the local shelters. Northwest Rescue brings animals here at times, we have a humane society from Crescent City that we work with, and one from Port Orford, as well," said Judy.
I asked Judy how many people work at S/Nipped, and she told me that they have one veterinarian and four employees, and anywhere from one to four volunteers at any one time. "Our clinic is essential in reducing the overpopulation of dogs and cats," said Judy. "We help save lives by preventing unwanted litters, and having animals wind up in shelters or euthanized because they don't have a home."
So what service does S/Nipped provide that's the most popular? "That's our spay and neuter clinic," said Judy. "Everyone can use our clinic. We like to make it affordable so people can care for their pets. However, we are not a full service vet. We give dog and cat vaccines and flea treatments, both over-the-counter ones like Frontline and Advantage, and prescription-based ones like Revolution and NexGard." S/Nipped provided rescue services for dogs and cats, helping them get adopted, but as of 2014 they only focus on spay and neuter and their monthly vaccine clinic.
I asked Judy how advertising in the South Coast Shopper has been going. "It's great! Being a nonprofit we have to use our money wisely, and we always try to get our upcoming clinics and major events in the paper so people can know when to bring in their animals," she replied.
If you find yourself in need of getting a pet spayed, neutered, or just updated on vaccines, and you want to save some money, give S/Nipped a call at 541-808-2377, or visit their website, snippedinfo.com. And consider giving some of your time to this valuable organization. "We're always looking for people that are interested in volunteering and helping with surgeries during the week," said Judy. "We have both adult and youth volunteers, and opportunities for them include things like fundraising, helping in the clinic with surgical recovery, maintenance, humane education, special events and much more!"
SeaCoast Land and Home Services
Photo Caption: David Boyer opened SeaCoast Land and Home Services in Coos Bay in January of 2015.
David Boyer is the owner of SeaCoast Land and Home Services, a landscaping, maintenance and construction company in Coos Bay. His company is dedicated to creating beautiful spaces, inside and outside the home. "We strive to create places that people feel are both functional and beautiful," said David. "I enjoy integrating living areas outside the home: patios, decks, gazebos, courtyards, walkways, fences, that hold the space together more, and invite people to spend more time in Oregon's nature. Wind and natural elements are so strong here that it is essential to create little micro-climates through fencing or hedges that allow people to be outside more comfortably."
New to the area, David, his wife and 8 month old son have settled in. "Before coming here, I ran a landscaping company in Mount Shasta in northern California for seven years," said David. "Then I got into construction for another seven years, and in January we moved to the southern Oregon coast and started a contracting business doing both landscaping and construction."
So what prompted David to make the move from northern California to southern Oregon? "To start, there is a mindset here that we appreciate and we have good friends here that we have been visiting for years. Through these visits we have developed a respect and wonder for the unique natural elements along the coast. All of this combined was, and is, in line with our next steps in life," he replied.
If you're looking for interior work done, SeaCoast Land and Home Services does all elements of remodeling: tile work, hardwood floors, sheetrock, etc. "We have been doing a little bit of everything inside and outside the home," said David. "In the moment, we are doing a lot of decks and retaining walls."
Not only does SeaCoast Land and Home Services create beautiful outdoor spaces, they maintain them. "We try and bring out the uniqueness of each garden, so we spend a bit more time doing the little things that maximize what each garden has to offer," said David. "We don't only maintain what's there, but constantly work to improve it."
David feels lucky to have met Liza Ehle, owner of By-The-Sea Gardens, soon after coming here, at a gardening seminar in Coos Bay. "Liza is a very respected landscape designer and has intimate knowledge of what will grow where in this diverse county. She's a great teacher and has helped me transition to the salt and wind — two elements that play a major role here," said David.
David told me that he began advertising in the Shopper because "The readership is really large; you see the papers everywhere. It's a great way to meet people that are going to pick up the paper every week. The Shopper gives you great visibility, and it's working well for us."
SeaCoast Land and Home Services operates Monday-Saturday. Their phone number is 541-888-6757. When I asked David what he sees for the future, he replied, "I think this area has a lot of potential. There is no quick fix to the economic situation here, but if enough people with initiative get creative in their economic endeavors, we will produce a higher quality of life for everyone. I look forward to becoming part of what I hope will be a growing body of individuals with real interest in this unique community's future. Though we are new to the area, I feel like I'm meeting old friends."
Sheri Edwards & Jenny Forbes - Prudential Seaboard Real Estate
Photo Caption: Sheri Edwards and Jenny Forbes make the perfect team at Prudential Seaboard Properties in Coquille!
Sheri Edwards and Jenny Forbes were both born and raised in Coquille, and that's where they've settled with their families because according to Jenny, "it's a good fit for us. Between us we have seven children ranging in age from middle schoolers to college age, and they keep us busy!"
But these two ladies aren't just busy raising kids. They also work as a team out of the Coquille Office of Prudential Seaboard Properties, located at 16 Highway 42. Both ladies are brokers, and received their broker's licenses almost eight years ago.
"We both got our broker's licenses in 2006, when the real estate market was at its absolute low," says Jenny. "From there it's just gradually improved and now it's the best we've ever seen it! Prices have stabilized and the low range offers have stopped coming in. Sellers are pricing things close to market value and their homes are going for pretty much the asking price."
When I asked what their office hours were, Jenny replied, "24 hours a day, seven days a week! We're always on call for our clients. With two of us here, we can be on call all the time to help people. Our customers become part of our family and friends, so we really work hard for them and take a lot of pride in the relationships we build. Our official office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5 pm."
Sheri added, "we want people to know we're hard-working and will always look out for their best interest."
As for future plans, both ladies said they hoped the market continues to be good but they know that sometimes it's volatile. "We're going to to stay right here in Coquille, although we travel and show houses anywhere. We have a listing right now in Christmas Valley and are working on an offer on the Elk River, so we actually cover the state of Oregon, and road trips are always fun!"
I asked the ladies how their Shopper ads are working for them. "We like it, it's another way that the sellers get to see their property advertised," Jenny replied.
So if you're in the real estate market, give these friendly ladies a call at 541-396-5532 and be on your way to a successful buying or selling experience!
Shinglehouse Sawmill
Photo Caption: Randy and Terry Kuehn of Shinglehouse Sawmill in Coos Bay.
I interviewed Terry Kuehn, owner of Shinglehouse Sawmill, located at 63624 Wrecking Road in Coos Bay. Terry and his brother Randy have been operating the business for 27 years. "I got out of the logging business because I got tired of getting up at 3:00 am and driving two hours just to get to the work site, and things in the logging industry were starting to slow down. Weyerhauser had just closed and Randy was available, so I thought it was time to start my own business," said Terry.
At Shinglehouse Sawmill they custom saw everything to order. Says Terry, "I've got a contractor down in Truckee California that I've been cutting for for about 15 years, and we just cut another fir order last week. Today we're cutting Myrtlewood to fill an order for a fellow in John Day, Oregon."
Although Shinglehouse mostly deals in red cedar for its siding and fencing boards, "we'll custom cut anything. Right now we've got some really rare American chestnut and English elm. Our woods comes mostly from private individuals. The tree service guys need their wood hauled away so they can clean up their work area, so I'll come with my truck and take it. That wood winds up as firewood chunks. Sometimes we're dealing with logs that are 5 feet in diameter...those take a lot of hard work to get rid of if I don't haul them away."
There's a third brother involved in the Shinglehouse Sawmill. Ron Keuhn is retired, but has "a little firewood business," says Terry. "He takes care of the stuff that I don't use from the tree service guys. He sells mixed firewood from repeat customers and has been doing that for about 15 years now. But it's just Randy and I that run the sawmill."
I asked Terry what he sells the most of. "There's a big demand right now for 1" boards for raised garden beds. People are really getting back into gardening and growing their own vegetables, and the red cedar we carry holds up great in this moist environment, whereas fir and spruce will rot away a lot faster."
Randy said their Shopper ads really help because people drive by Shinglehouse Road every day and don't realize that there are two businesses farther down on Wrecking Road (the sawmill and the auto wrecking business). Advertising in the Shopper makes customers aware of what's out there.
When asked about what he'd like Shopper readers to know about his business, Terry replied, "We'll saw just about anything and if we don't have the wood, we'll find it. We get business mostly from private people. Say a landowner takes down a few trees and there's not enough wood there to hire a big log truck to come and get it. I'll come in with my little truck and haul it off. I pay him if it's red cedar or Myrtlewood, and we sell a lot of Myrtlewood to private carvers in the area. There's even a man who makes boxes out of Myrtlewood that hold the flags that are presented to soldiers when they return home."
Shinglehouse Sawmill cuts lots of wood siding, and they can exactly match the siding on your house if you need to replace it. They're open 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, and are gone from noon to 1 pm for lunch. "We just do basically small orders to the general public, and no order is too small," finished Terry. Give them a call at 541-294-3835 or 541-267-3320 and find out how easy it is to dispose of those big trees you've recently cut down!
Sixes Grange #856 Marketplace
Photo Caption: The Sixes Grange was originally built in 1936 as part of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry.
I spoke with Ron Leitch, president of the Sixes Grange #856, a nonprofit organization located at 44556 Highway 101 in Sixes, Oregon. The Sixes Grange was originally built in 1936 as part of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, better known as the Grange, which was created in 1867. Granges were established after the Civil War to unify farmers and be a social organization providing educational and recreational opportunities for them. They evolved into a major political force to protect small farming communities. The Grange was actually the first national organization in the country where women had full membership and could be leaders. And like back in 1867, the Sixes Grange prides itself on its philosophy that all who enter are equal.
The grange sat idle for a number of years before it was brought back to life in 2005. To make sure it would stay open this time, its members incorporated a marketplace into it, and it's now open 7 days a week from 9 am to 4 pm. Wednesday nights they have bingo and a potluck, and as many as 80 people show up from the surrounding community. "We have about 12 people running the Grange," said Ron. "Ten of us are Grange members, and each one works a certain number of days a month for their vendor space. Ten percent of sales goes back to the Grange, and that money then goes to the community to support various causes like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, foreign exchange students, Head Start, and so on. We've donated well over $8,500 in the last five years, keeping the money right here in the community."
So what's inside this big white building alongside Hwy. 101? "We have homemade jellies made by a Grange member, local raw honey, vintage collectibles and antiques, resale items, crocheted items by Grange members, agate jewelry, driftwood art, fossils, petrified wood, sea findings like floats and starfish...and everything is either found or made locally," said Ron. "We also have a huge selection of beads that are very reasonably priced and draw people from all over. And we are a Lortone dealer and sell their rock tumblers and grit to go along with the rocks and agates we sell. Our biggest sellers are honey, vintage stuff, beads and driftwood. My wife and I do the driftwood, keeping the shape the way nature carved it. I burnish the driftwood with an elk antler, bringing out the finish. It's very unusual in that way."
When I asked Ron how his Shopper ads are working, he replied, "When we put the ad in about our Lortone rock tumblers and grit, it really made people who have driven by the Grange for years stop in and take a look."
Ron wanted to stress that the Sixes Grange Marketplace is proud of the fact that everybody is treated equally. "When the Granges were first started, all that was required for membership was that the person be 14 years old. This place is here to support the community and to protect the little guy. We put on free Thanksgiving and St. Patrick's Day dinners every year, have a Halloween party for all ages, and our building is handicapped accessible."
So the next time your cruising along Hwy 101 between Langlois and Port Orford, take the time to stop at the Sixes Grange Marketplace, or call them at 541-332-0394. They're carrying on a 147-year tradition of equality and community support, and you might just find the perfect item you've been looking for.
South Coast Cleaning Services
Photo Caption: South Coast Cleaning Services provides basic housecleaning, kitchen and bath cleaning, dusting, mopping and vacuuming.
I spoke with Katie Forrester, owner of South Coast Cleaning Services, which has been open since November of 2014. Katie is no stranger to running a business in Coos County; she's owned Harmony Home Care, an in-home care agency employing from 35-40 people, for 10 years. Harmony Home Care provides personal care, some housecleaning, meal preparation, rides to appointments and shopping, laundry services, bill paying and medication reminders for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory people. They have a registered nurse on staff, bill insurance companies, and no contract is required.
Personal care is what Harmony Home Care is all about, but "We get a lot of people calling up who think we also clean houses at Harmony Home Care, and I don't want to send my trained caregivers to do housekeeping, so I decided to start my own housekeeping business: South Coast Cleaning Services," said Katie. "We do residential and commercial cleaning, providing both maids and janitors. Our office is in the Harmony Home Care office at 682 West Anderson in Coos Bay, on the corner of 7th and Anderson in the Anderson Plaza building."
South Coast Cleaning Services provides basic housecleaning, kitchen and bath cleaning, dusting, mopping and vacuuming. More extensive cleaning such as appliances, windows and carpets are billed at an additional charge. "Everybody's situation is different, so we meet with customers for a free consultation and find out their needs. There's no contract involved, and our employees at both my businesses are screened, trained, have had a criminal background check and are covered under our insurance, including workman's compensation,"said Katie. "We have a two hour minimum per job, and we'll be happy to give people quotes based on what they need our services for."
I asked Katie what she would like the Shopper readers to know about her business ventures. "As a dedicated member of our community, I strive to provide the best service, and hire the most qualified, dependable employees, that I can. I start people at a wage that's higher than the competition, give Christmas and birthday bonuses, and I try to be really good to my employees because I want them to stay with me, and I want my clients to be satisfied. I have an excellent reputation in Coos County, and will gladly give potential clients a list of referrals."
So if you're looking for a reputable cleaning service that's available weekends, holidays, or during whatever hours you need, give South Coast Cleaning Services a call at 541-290-8211. Or stop by their office and meet Lonni, the assistant manager, Peggy the staff coordinator, or Cathy, their bookkeeper. They're members of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary and are involved in our community, with a proven track record of amazing service!
South Coast Saw and Garden
Photo Caption: Co-owners Sheri Woolcock and Curt Coffman are the owners of South Coast Saw and Garden in Coos Bay.
Sheri Woolcock and Curt Coffman own South Coast Saw and Garden, located at 1120 South Broadway in Coos Bay. They purchased the business in October of 1981 and are open Monday to Friday 9 am - 6 pm, and Saturday 9 am - 4 pm. "Our shop started out as the Saw Shop n 1965. It was located across from where Ace Hardware is now on Hwy. 101, but it burned down...now you just see pilings in its place. I had been working there since 1973, and in 1981 Sheri and I bought it from the original owners, " said Curt.
Sheri explained, "This is basically a retail sales company that deals mainly with Stihl products and accessories, and then we've also got Prison Blues clothing and accessories for loggers and the cutting industry. We service both commercial businesses and private individuals. We have commercial landscapers that we deal with...they seem to be increasing in our area. There's also a lot of independent cutters and loggers that we do business with, or just somebody who wants to do work around their own home."
I asked Sheri if her shop services other brands of equipment besides Stihl. "Because there is just Curt doing the mechanic work in the back, we normally service just Stihl products, makers of the number one chainsaw in the world. We stay very busy here in the spring and summer!"
"We deal with many commercial loggers and cutters, so we focus on workers' clothing. Prison Blues jeans are very heavy, wear really well, and are very nicely priced. It was something we added to our line about 20 years ago and it really took off and does very well for us," said Sheri.
I noticed that the shop carries a lot of safety equipment. "We have a line of inside and outside chaps, helmets, and eye and ear protection. The chaps are lined with Kevlar, and when the chainsaw hits it, it just fuzzes up and binds the saw to a halt...it's amazing!" said Sheri.
"Curt and I have been in the business for almost 35 years. This industry changes according to new regulations all the time. We've seen a considerable change in the last 10 to 15 years in the Stihl products, mostly as a result of EPA regulations. They've had to cut down on emissions while still trying to keep the product strong and light enough to do the job."
I asked Sheri how their Shopper ads were working for them. "Oh gosh, we've had Shopper ads in for longer than I can remember! I would have to say these ads work really well for us, better than any other advertising we've used."
So if you're looking for the best chain saws available today, stop in at South Coast Saw and Garden, or give them a call at 541-269-5805. Curt summed things up with "We've had customers that have been with us for 30 years, and we certainly appreciate that kind of loyalty! "
South Western Oregon Preppers: Self Reliance in Tough Times - A Conversation with SWOP
Photo Caption: Avery Horton, Tony Chatman, and Kim Doty-Singh of South Western Oregon Preppers, a group dedicated to common sense approaches in disaster planning.
Are you prepared for the unexpected in your life? How much can you depend on yourself to take care of your needs and that of your family should your circumstances change? What do you have for back-up, not only for disasters, but for the simply unexpected things that come up in everyday life?
Consider a few scenarios. Suppose you suddenly were unable to work, either due to being laid off or perhaps you have an accident that lays you up for a few months. Do you have enough food, household items, and a little bit of money put away to cushion yourself for a couple of months, at least?
Imagine that you're traveling with a small child for some distance. Beyond putting gasoline in your vehicle, what else have you done to prepare for the unexpected? Do you have a spare tire and the tools and know-how to change a flat? Did you pack a bag for emergencies large and small, containing such items as a change of clothes and diapers if needed? Do you have some wet wipes, something for them to munch on, some toiletry items, and a first aid kit? Suppose your car breaks down in an area where there is no cell phone coverage. Do you have blankets to stay warm, and a flashlight and batteries, to get you through the night (or longer) until you can be located and helped?
Consider our climate and weather here. Frequent storms often leave us with no electricity, sometimes for days at a time. If the power is out for any length of time, do you panic because there is no food in the house to eat, and no way to cook if there was? Do you have enough water? Do you have a way to stay warm? Is your first aid and medicine kit stocked?
What about a longer term situation, such as the very likely scenario of a major earthquake and/or tsunami to hit our area? Without a doubt, we know that we are overdue for a major earthquake/tsunami event on the Oregon coast. It is a fact that the Cascadia Subduction Zone could rupture at any minute, and leave us without utilities, food deliveries to grocery stores, fuel and other services for weeks to possibly months or more. Fire crews, police, and emergency medical responders will naturally try to help, but they likely be overwhelmed and will have a hard time reaching everybody all at once. Travel and communication may be difficult or impossible. What do you do?
It was in considering these sorts of circumstances that lead to the creation of the South West Oregon Preppers, or SWOP. SWOP is one of several "Prepper" groups in the area, all of which encourage people to be prepared for the unexpected in a myriad of ways. I spoke with SWOP founders Tony Chatman and Avery Horton, as well as active participant Kim Doty-Singh, about this group and what they hope to learn and accomplish.
"We're a group of people who get together to exchange ideas and information about how to be self reliant in general, and how to prepare for disasters," explained Tony. "That's basically what a prepper is. There's some "Doomsday Preppers" that think the world is going to end, and those groups get a lot of attention from the media, but that's not us. We just want to be self sufficient as possible, and share what we learn with others. Then if something does happen, you don't have to be part of the problem; you can be part of the solution."
How does one get started in prepping? "You don't need to spend a lot of money," Kim told me. "I tell people when introducing them to prepping when you're grocery shopping, if something is on sale, grab extra and put some away. Grab a jug or two of water every shopping trip.Every little bit counts, and you can start small. The important thing is to start now." Tony continued. "People can start with food, but then they might ask, "Well, okay, I have food, but what if I have no power? How can I cook it?" Indeed, what do you do? What if you have to leave your house suddenly- what should you have ready to take with you, in order to encourage your well-being and survival?
This is where prepper groups like SWOP comes in very handy. South Western Oregon Preppers is open to conversation and the exchange of knowledge and ideas at anytime. "Our group is a bottom up organization. We're all equal," says Avery. "So if somebody comes to a meeting with some knowledge to share, they can share it. If they've got a question, they can ask it." On their Facebook page, there are many conversations and videos regarding subjects such as fire-starting, gardening basics, first aid tips, disaster scenarios, and more. They also hold monthly meetings up and down the coast that are geared for people to learn as well as teach what they know about self reliance and sustainability. There is never any charge to attend or participate in any of the meetings. Classes they have held so far have covered how to "bug out", and what items everybody should have on hand to be prepared. This Saturday, March 23, at 12pm, SWOP will be sponsoring a OSU class on how to safely put up food for storage. This class will be held in the Coos Bay Fire Hall. Also, they are combining efforts with the Oregon Preppers and other local prepping groups to hold a camp-out this August, where they'll be demonstrations on a number of survivor and life skills, such as shelter and lean-to building, self defense and martial arts, first aid and more.
If you'd like to learn more about South Western Oregon Preppers, you can contact Tony Chatman at 541 551 0361, or find them on Facebook as South Western Oregon Preppers.
Tai Chi for Better Balance
Photo Caption: Melissa Sperry is a registered nurse who teaches Tai Chi to many students on the South Coast.
Melissa Sperry, MSN, is a busy lady! She works full-time on the staff of Southwestern Oregon Community College as a nursing educator, on call for the Home Health Department of Bay Area Hospital, and in her spare time coordinates and teaches Tai Chi for Better Balance, with grants provided through the Area Agency on Aging.
I spoke with Melissa about her classes, learning that she's been a nurse for about 18 years, and has worked in all areas of health care including community health, home health, and hospital management.
"About six years ago," said Melissa, "I participated in an instructor training class in Tai Chi for Better Balance. I liked the class so much that I felt it was important to keep it going. This is a part of Tai Chi that is specifically designed to teach eight forms that are adapted for balance and to improve strength. It was first developed by the Research Institute in Eugene, Oregon, has been endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and the Area Agency on Aging, and is currently the gold standard for strengthening and fall reduction for seniors. I've been teaching it for six years now."
Classes in Tai Chi for Better Balance are widespread in the Portland and Eugene areas, but Melissa has concentrated on introducing them to the southern Oregon coast. "There are multiple classes," she said. "I've got one in Lakeside, four in Coos Bay, three in North Bend, and one in Coquille, Bandon and Powers. But I'm not doing this all alone: I've got about 12 certified instructors helping me."
So who can benefit from these Tai Chi classes? "Everybody," Melissa replied. "I've even had some children participating in the class, and they've loved it! But the age group actually includes people in their 30's to late 90's."
Aging and reduction of balance goes hand in hand, but muscle strength also decreases with age. Health problems, medications, etc., can affect your balance, as can vision and hearing problems. The most important thing is to remain active and keep using our muscles.
"Walking is fantastic," said Melissa, "But people need to feel comfortable doing it. A fall will take away your confidence; fear of getting hurt or breaking something also does this. My program is so easy it can be started from a sitting position, then gradually move to a standing one."
Tai Chi for Better Balance classes last 12 weeks, and cover just 8 forms. Each class is tailored for the group that's taking it. For instance, Melissa has some students that have been with her since she started teaching six years ago, so their class will move along more quickly. "We do warm-ups, stretching, and cool-down," said Melissa. "We want our students' muscles to have a chance to warm-up and get ready to move, and then get a good cool-down. The class typically lasts from 45 minutes to one hour."
I asked Melissa if there were any future plans for these classes. "We want to keep these classes going," she replied. "We're seeing so much improvement in our students in regards to their balance and confidence, but they're also reporting decreased joint pain, less pain in their lower backs, and just a general sense of well-being. These classes are doing more than just improving balance and strength, and people that take them keep coming back, so our retention rate is really good."
"I'm also hoping to expand the area these Tai Chi classes are offered in," Melissa continued. "We started two brand new classes in August, and we'd like to include more communities, especially farther south into Curry County. And I'd also like people to know that we have a grant available that covers the cost of these classes if you're aged 60 or older, or disabled. There are other options available, too; I try to work with people so they can always afford to take one of these classes, because we're seeing a 55-60% improvement in balance after just 12 weeks."
If you're interested in improving your overall balance and strength, give Melissa a call at 850-207-1469. "I would love to see more people taking advantage of this wonderful program," she said.
The Critical Thinking Co.
Photo Caption: Michael Baker, President of The Critical Thinking Co., says the more students think about what they are learning, the more students understand what they are learning.
The Critical Thinking Company is a long standing, well respected business that produces educational books and software for Preschool through High School students. They are committed to developing products that strengthen children's critical thinking skills, in order to achieve better grades, higher test scores, and success in life. The curriculum they developed has won over 100 national awards.
The business has roots going back to 1958 in Birmingham, MI, then later on to California. Now the company has offices in California and Oregon. Michael's father, John Baker, started the company by publishing math books under the name Midwest Publications. Michael's mom was a teacher, and Michael, who has a major in Philosophy, explained to me that he naturally gravitated toward what he knew when he entered the family business. He brought The Critical Thinking Co. to North Bend eight years ago. "The Santa Cruz/Monterey area was getting way too crowded," Michael explains. "Elizabeth and I have three boys, and we wanted to raise them in a small town close to the ocean. We chose North Bend because it's a nice area and the people are pleasant and hardworking, with good values."
Located at 1991 Sherman Avenue, North Bend, the office is in the grand old ballroom of the historic Odd Fellows building, built circa 1923. "We thought it was a beautiful old building that needed some TLC, so my wife and I bought it to house our Oregon office, and to restore it," Michael said. So far, they have repainted the building, fixed a lot of plumbing and electrical issues, installed a new gas boiler, replaced some windows, repaired the roof, and improved the security, making the building safer for residents and bringing back some of its former glory from days gone by.
Graphic artists, software developers, education specialists, writers, and editors are employed in the North Bend office, developing the software curriculum and producing the books and catalog. "School teachers use our materials in classrooms, and we do a lot of business with home-schooling groups, too, as well as church organizations who are involved in education," Michael tells me. The people of The Critical Thinking Co. believe in what they do, and they have happily donated some books and software to local educators. Also, they practice "Critical Giving," following a "One to Many" model in which with every purchase, two or more products are donated at no charge to children in need via non-profit organizations such as Kids Wish Network, Kids In Need Foundation, Gifts In Kind International, First Book, and many others.
Authors of the material include college professors as well as classroom teachers. A lot of thought goes into developing the curriculum for each subject and grade level. "We look at the education standards for each grade and subject. We've got to teach those standards and concepts, but we want to do it in a way that leads the student to analyze the subject a bit deeper," Michael explains. "It's a proven fact in education that the more exposure a student has to critical thinking, the more likely they'll transfer that skill to other areas of their lives."
Take the math "story problems" as an example. In the traditional story problem, every fact you are given is relevant, so you accept what you are told without thinking about it, and get to figuring out the math. In the Critical Thinking approach, all elements of the story might not be relevant to solving the math problem. The student has to figure out what which parts of the story are applicable to the problem at hand, and this develops deductive and inferential reasoning skills. "We define critical thinking as the identification and evaluation of evidence to guide decision making," says Michael. "When we use critical thinking, we look for evidence and then evaluate all the available evidence to help us make the right decision."
A quote attributed to Michael found on the website sums it up well: "If we teach children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless."
The website, which offers this material at very affordable prices, has demos to try out at no charge. The material is bright, intelligent, fun and easy to use. There are also many good articles related to learning and cognitive health. Visit www.criticalthinking.com if you'd like to check it out. You can also call 1-800-458-4849 for more information.
Photo Caption: Tia and Stan Steinhoff, owners of Devil's Kitchen Restaurant in Coquille, OR. They'll treat you right at this family-based, homestyle restaurant.
The Devil's Kitchen, located in West Coquille, OR, is the first restaurant owned by husband and wife team Stan and Tia Steinhoff. June 1st will mark the five year anniversary of Devil's Kitchen, and it's been a busy five years for the couple.
"We used to entertain and barbeque for friends and neighbors, and they were always telling me I should buy a restaurant," said Stan, who also works at Roseburg Forest Products. "Then, this place just kind of fell in our laps, so I did. Boy, what a lot of work!" They did some renovating, spruced the place with bright red seating and a coat of fresh paint, and changed the name to Devil's Kitchen. "The high school students line the counter here at lunchtime, so we renamed it after the Coquille Red Devils." Overall, Devil's Kitchen décor maintained the cool vintage memorabilia that the restaurant was known for when it was Joe's Place.
Stan and Tia grew up in Coquille, and it becomes clear when talking with them that they love the people and want to feed them well. It would be quite an understatement to say the food portions are merely "large" at Devil's Kitchen. A more fitting description describing the mountain of food on your plate might be "Humongous", "Gargantuan", "Colossal", or perhaps "Elephantine".
"People really go for the Breakfast Burrito, which weighs 3lbs," Tia told me. "And our skillet dishes," added Stan. "In 5 years, nobody has ever been able to finish one." The Man Burger is so big, one practically needs a wagon to wheel it out to the customers, and they make the highest stacked Club sandwiches you'll find anywhere. Even the salads are such a tremendous affair that Stan says he can never finish one himself.
"Almost everybody leaves with a box," Stan continued. "We try to give a bargain because food prices have shot through the roof. Yeah, we could make more profit if our portions were smaller, but we try to give everybody their moneys worth."
Stan is a true cook from the heart who says he never writes anything down, so he can't share his recipes unless somebody wants to watch him cook and try to get the recipe that way. He makes his own sauces and all the soups. They make homemade biscuits from scratch at Devil's Kitchen, and they barbeque beef roasts for their Philly sandwiches and other menu items. "This is really fun, the barbequing aspect of it," Stan shared. "Hopefully this summer we'll get started doing some on-site barbeque weekends. We might do ribs, tri-tip, maybe some chicken."
The restaurant is open from 7am until 2pm, 7 days a week. The couple do not take days off from the eatery. Tia, who has waitressed at the restaurant since before she and Stan bought it, says working all the time is just a way of life, and being with the customers is like being with family. The couple stay busy raising two boys, Kayden, age 1 1/2, and 3 year old Keagan, whose job is to be adorable and charm the patrons. "Keagan is like a little mascot around here for the coffee drinkers!" said Tia. "They bring him cookies and hot chocolate. He'll sing to them, and dance."
It will be interesting to watch this little restaurant grow alongside the family over the years. If you want to check out Devil's Kitchen, you'll find it at 750 W Central Blvd. in Coquille. Make sure to bring a good appetite!
The Lipstick Lounge
Photo Caption: Krisha Rasmussen of The Lipstick Lounge carries a wide variety of colors for her customers to choose from.
Krisha Rasmussen relocated from Exeter, California to Coos Bay six weeks ago, and she's since then opened The Lipstick Lounge, where she sells all-natural cosmetics. Krisha's mom had always dreamed of living in Coos Bay, so they decided to make the move when she retired. "I wanted her dream to come true, so I moved here with her," said Krisha.
"I actually work from home right now," said Krisha, "but I also do home parties at either my house or yours. And of course people can just call me up and place an order."
I asked Krisha to describe the products she sells. "Lipstick is our main 'wow' factor," she replied, "because this product stays on for up to 18 hours. It's waterproof, smear-proof, smudge-proof, and kiss-proof! These products are all gluten-free, and there's no animal testing involved."
One of the great things about the lipstick that Krisha sells is you can create your own color palette by combining shades. Your customized look will last even longer and your lips will stay moist and plump with a moisturizing gloss that is added to the lipstick. It comes in a wide variety of shades and textures. "I have over 70 colors to choose from, and the color possibilities are pretty much endless," said Krisha.
Krisha says she was never really a big makeup person before discovering Senegence, which is the brand of product she sells. "I never wore lipstick because it just didn't stay on," she recalled. "Then I saw this product on Facebook, tried it, and liked it so much I decided to become a distributor. I haven't had an unhappy customer yet!"
If you're looking for more than just lipstick, Krisha also sells a line of skin care products such as mascara, eyeshadow and foundation. "These other products are also all-natural, waterproof, smudge-proof, just like the lipstick," said Krisha.
I asked Krisha how advertising with the South Coast Shopper was going. "I actually had no real clue about how to go about advertising," she replied, "but DeEsta has been just wonderful at helping me out!"
If you're interested in this great make-up line, give Krisha a call at 702-461-5190. Check out her Facebook page, "The Lipstick Lounge by Krisha". "I'm open whenever you need to place an order or get information about this wonderful product!" she said.
There's Help For Disability Claims — You Don't Have To Do It Alone
Published in the August 8, 2012 edition
It is challenging enough living with any kind of disability. More often than not, a person with a disability feels more overwhelmed emotionally and physically than the average person.
When trying to obtain disability benefits from Social Security their laws and regulations can be very confusing. All of Social Security's different paths and levels confuse and often frustrate the average disabled person.
Dr. Larry Hart of Walterville, Oregon knows all too well how frustrating, time consuming, and tedious it is to qualify for and win disability benefits from Social Security. Having fought for and obtained benefits for family members as well as being handicapped himself, Dr. Hart has first hand experience with disability issues.
An Oregon native of 74 years young, Dr. Hart has been working with disability claimants for 24 years. With his doctorate work in Industrial and Organization psychology, he brings additional expertise to help claimants win their benefits. "I just want to provide each disabled person with the optimum support needed to obtain the largest benefits at the earliest date possible." With Dr. Hart's education and experience, his claimants are given the best chance of being allowed their benefits.
Dr. Hart is a champion for Disability Allowance Advocates. Dr. Hart and his associates work to get the highest percentage of allowances for their claimants. Dr. Hart and those associates are very successful non-attorney disability experts. There is no charge for their services until a claimant wins their claim, and then it is only 20% of all back benefits. Dr. Hart and his associates will work with claimants whether they are just starting, been denied, or need help with a hearing.
Dr. Hart and his associates use their medical and psychological expertise to further develop individual disability claims into winners. The claimants can do everything by phone, fax, or email except the hearing, which is done in person with Dr. Hart or one of his associates representing and standing beside each claimant at the hearing.
If you think your are disabled and would like to pursue getting disability benefits, please call Larry or Max for a free phone disability evaluation. Call toll free 1-877-736-4909.
Tony's RV Service and Repair
Photo Caption: The staff at Tony's RV Service and Repair (left to right) Xavier Alexander, Cory George and Tony Alexander.
Published in the February 11, 2016 edition
Tony Alexander is the new owner of an RV service and repair center which bears his name, located at 250 East Lockhart Avenue in Coos Bay. After being in the RV service and repair business for 23 years, he's opening his own shop, where he and two other technicians perform all aspects of RV restoration, appliance repair, body work, scheduled warranty maintenance, RV pre-inspections and insurance work.
I asked Tony why he decided to take the plunge and open his own business. "This area needs a stand-alone service facility that can handle every aspect of RV repair," replied Tony. "That's what we do: I'm a certified RV technician, a certified service manager, and a certified service writer."
For the past nine years, Tony was the service manager and parts specialist at a local RV dealer. "I can track down a part for your RV even if it's from the 1960's," said Tony. "After being in this business for so long, I have a lot of resources and knowledge to make sure my customers get what they need."
To celebrate his new shop, Tony's RV Service and Repair is having a Grand Opening on Tuesday, February 16 at 11 am, with some impressive specials. There's an RV wash for $ 20; wheel bearing pack at $65 per axle, pre-trip inspection for $125, leak finder seal tech 430-R for $95, RV safety inspection --- smoke alarm, LP alarm, Co2 alarm, LP tanks, coach batteries, and LP Systems -- for $40, A/E or Care Free of Colorado, slide room topper fabric replacements and awning fabric replacements.
And to advertise all these specials, Tony chose the South Coast Shopper. "It's got an 18,000 circulation and it gets great response…I've been advertising with them for years!" said Tony.
What's most important for potential customers to know, is that "We're a professional RV service and repair shop. I've been doing this for 23 years my technicians and I know what we're doing. We'll work on anything from a diesel pusher highline coach to a tent trailer. We see different trends in RV purchases; people are buying smaller trailers and fixing older units. So we upgrade and restore units, perform custom cabinet work…basically we can customize any RV. We also sell RV supplies and accessories, and I want our customers to feel confident that they're dealing with someone who is certified with the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association."
Be sure and stop by Tony's RV Service and Repair during their Grand Opening on February 16. Their normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays by appointment. Call them at 541-267-1664 and put your RV in the hands of certified, experienced technicians. View their services online at www.tonysrvrepair.com
Torex ATV Rentals
Photo Caption: Avery Duman of Torex ATV Rentals.
Avery Duman is the owner of Torex ARV Rentals, located four miles south of Florence, on the same property as Sand Dunes Frontier.
I spoke to Avery about his business, which he's owned since October of 2006, and which has between eight and ten employees.
"We have single quads for rent," said Avery, "and two, four and six seat side-by-side utility terrain vehicles. We're centrally located in the middle of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area and easy to find. Our customers enjoy riding some of the biggest dunes and catch the most breathtaking views along the Oregon Coast. And we're the only ATV rental company in Florence!"
I asked Avery what he recommends that people bring or wear when considering renting an ATV.
"I usually tell people to wear closed toe shoes, long-sleeved shirts…we provide helmets and goggles, and it's not necessary to wear gloves or bandanas, but some people might want to," Avery replied. "And prior experience isn't necessary; we have both a beginner's and expert's course."
What about safety precautions? "We provide safety tutorials, go over vehicle operation with all customers, and we make sure everyone is as comfortable with the riding experience as possible," said Avery. "We can accommodate anywhere from 25-35 people riding the dunes at once, so don't be afraid to bring a group out to enjoy the dunes. We've had people from all over the world experience this, everywhere from Europe, Asia…we get a lot of Canadian tourists here."
I asked Avery what the best part of owning Torex ATV Rentals was, and he replied, "Making people smile, I guess, making everyone happy. We really do our best to accommodate folks and make sure they get the best outdoor Oregon experience possible. Right now things are slowing down because school is back in session. Our busiest time is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but we're open all year long, rain or shine!"
Torex ATV Rentals has a half-hour minimum ride, but their normal trip lasts about two hours.
"I would recommend coming in the morning, before the wind picks up," Avery said. "And we tend to have less people coming then, so we can spend a bit more time with each customer. We get people anywhere from three years old and up. There's no minimum age to drive a single seat ATV, but we ask that customers be 21 or older to drive a side-by-side, or at least have an adult accompany anyone under 18."
Avery said that Torex ATV Rentals advertises in the South Coast Shopper because, "the more the merrier, I guess! We've had responses from our ads so they're working."
As for future plans, Avery says they plan on expanding their courses every year, continuing to make the dune riding experience the best they can for their customers.
"We've also done some updating on our website (torexatvrentals.com ) and have a Facebook and Instagram page. And customers can now make reservations online," Avery finished.
So if you're looking for a true Oregon coast adventure, give Torex ATV Rentals a call at 541-997-5363. They're open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week!
Tye Dye Tattoo
There's a new tattoo artist in Reedsport! Cindy Harry, owner and tattoo artist of Tye Dye Tattoo is pictured here working on a customer.
Cindy Harry opened Tye Dye Tattoo, located at 1898 Winchester Avenue, #1 in Reedsport on March 3 of 2017. She moved to live in Winchester Bay in November of 2016, coming from Salem, where she worked for three years at Hot Rod Betties Tattoo Shop and School.
"I'm not your average tattoo artist," said Cindy. "As my business cards say, it's a whole new tattoo experience that you'll get with me. I spent 25 years in the retail convenience store/gas station business before deciding to go on to a new career. I've always been an artist and oil painter, and was interested in tattooing, so I went to tattoo school later in life than most people do. I was trained right at Hot Rod Betties because they're a licensed tattoo school, and now I am a licensed tattoo teacher myself. Sometimes a person can be intimidated by the typical tattoo shop. No one will be intimidated by coming in to my shop. It's bright and open, small and cozy, and I play country or oldies on the radio. As said above, 'it's a whole new tattoo experience."
I asked Cindy to describe what she does in her shop.
"Basically it's just tattooing; I'm not licensed to do piercings; that is a whole different school course. I work with custom art that people bring in…photos, etc. If someone doesn't have their own artwork, then I set up a consultation and I'll find out what kind of ideas they have, sort of pick their brain. Once I get a firm idea of what they want, I go with it. It's really important to pin down exactly what customers want in a tattoo, and they can get lots of ideas from the photos I have of my work in my shop, or they can visit Cindy Harry Tye Dye Tattoo on my Facebook page. I don't charge for creating new artwork, either; that's included in my prices."
Cindy said that right now she's "just trying to build my clientele and a satisfied customer is going to tell someone else about my work. I've tattooed everyone from housewives to doctors to 18 year olds on their birthdays. Oregon law states that you have to be 18 years old or more to get a tattoo. In years past, parents could sign for tattoos for their children under 18, but you can't do that anymore."
Cindy says that the best part of her job is "meeting people from all walks of life and being able to put what they want into art on their skin. I want to continue giving art to people, stay here and increase my clientele. I've done art all my life and to me, tattooing is just a different way of painting."
I asked Cindy why she decided to advertise in the Shopper.
"Ever since we came here, the South Coast Shopper is something we picked up every week. We even found a good contractor that poured the foundation for our shop from reading the Shopper! Years ago I worked at a little Shopper called the Tell & Sell in Sweet Home. Everybody read it, and it's still going strong. It's a very popular paper, just like the Shopper!"
Tye Dye Tattoo is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7pm, and other days by appointment. Their phone number is 541-619-4192 or 541-361-6666.
"I really want to meet the people here in Reedsport," said Cindy. So stop in, look at my album, and talk to me! I've had people say they'll be back because this is such a friendly place!"
Umpqua Valley Kennels LLC
Photo Caption: Umpqua Valley Kennels LLC, located in Drain, Oregon, breeds French Bulldogs, FrenchBo, and Chihuahuas.
Mary and Vic Kasser, owners of Umpqua Valley Kennels LLC, met on an online dating site. When the pair began corresponding, Vic was living in Medford and Mary was living in Douglas county. Not only did they have a lot in common but they also shared the love of dogs and decided to go into business together. "You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince," Mary chuckled. "I am the creative hippy and Vic is the ex-military, scheduling type," she laughs.
The couple invested in property together and in 2007 they started their kennel business then 4 years ago they began breeding dogs. "Vic takes care of the grounds and handles medication administration to the dogs. I take care of the marketing and advertising side of things," Mary explains.
At Umpqua Valley Kennels, they raise family friendly Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, and FrenchBo puppies and offer puppy/dog ownership education and lifestyle assistance to families. They are permitted for 50 breeding adult dogs.Their Chihuahua, French Bulldogs and FrenchBo puppies are given a wonderful start in life that provides them with the love, socialization, and training they need to become ideal pets. The Kassers also believe that nutrition is an essential component of raising healthy, well mannered dogs. For this reason, all of their dogs are fed foods that are free of wheat, corn, and glutens and are optimized for canine nutrition. All of the dogs under their care receive regular exercise, play, and affection.
They have recently added two 24/7 live puppy cams! When you place a deposit on a new puppy, you can now log in and see how they are being cared for in real time! "We want potential buyers to understand that this is not a puppy mill.There is no mystery about how we do things here. We are heavy into education and strive for longevity and success for the puppies," Mary says.The couple are more than happy to provide references to potenial buyers, in fact they insist. Their references include not only people that have purchased puppies from them but also their Veterinary and County Licensing information. "Checking references is a key element whenever someone is considering making a purchase from a breeder," says Mary.
They have a wonderful website where you will find a virtual tour of their clean, spacious and well-kept kennel and state of the art nursery. "The economy has been hard on us. This business is similar to farming and the market isn't always the same. This isn't just a hobby, we put everything we have into this, we are professionals and we truly love what we do," Mary says. Mary and Vic welcome visitors 7 days a week, by appointment, from 10am to 3pm. They are available by phone 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm. They are located at 139 Umpqua Valley Ln. in Drain. You can reach them by calling (541) 459-5951 and you can also visit their easily navigated website at www.frenchbulldog-puppies.net.
Photo Caption: Bill and Carole Hastings, owners of Wagon Wheel Grocery in Hauser, wish to thank the community for their support and friendship over the past 30 years.
The people of Wagon Wheel Grocery, a charming, old-fashioned store in Hauser, are gearing up to celebrate its 30th anniversary on December 18th. Owners Bill and Carole Hastings maintain the store as a joyous hub of the community.
Bill had dreamed of having his own business since he was a young boy, telling his mother he wanted a grocery store like the one down the street from his home. After high school, Bill worked in the Colorado and Wyoming oil fields for 10 years, and that's when he met Carole, a teacher in Head Start at the time. Looking to start a business and live close to the ocean, the Hastings visited the Oregon coast to check out the store that was for sale in Hauser. They knew immediately this was the right place to be. Three months later, they, with their 5 year old son Carl, moved to Hauser and opened the store. "Today, I'd do the same thing all over again. I've enjoyed it so much," said Bill.
The Hastings find frequent opportunity to show love for their customers. "You get a free candy bar if it's your birthday!" Bill said. "And of course, coffee is always free on the holidays." They've held an anniversary event every 5 years since the store opened, where customers get to draw tickets for prizes. Carole, who also runs a home daycare, shared a great story about a 3 year old boy who won the turkey one year. "It was a 20lb turkey, and no way would he let anybody help him get it to the car!" she told me, laughing. The 30th Anniversary will be a big event the whole community plays a part in. "Every customer who comes in can have a free coffee, or a pop. We'll have cookies, too, and everybody wins a door prize," Carole said.
The Hastings are good to their workers, too. Bill said, "We really appreciate our employees. They are like family, always there to pitch in to help, even if they aren't working that day." The employees have a lot of appreciation for the Hastings in return. Norene Helliwell, who has worked at the store for over 20 years, said, "It's the best job I've ever had. Bill and Carole are awesome to work for. They take you in as part of their family when you're working with them." Employee Julie Hudson told me, "Bill and Carole are wonderful, genuine people, and they really do care for us, and are very accommodating to our needs. And, they are involved with the community. Customers feel like this is home." As longtime customer Rudy Sherych heartily affirmed, "The way they treat all the customers, and their employees, is something you don't see a lot of anymore. This is the kind of home-town business that takes care of the neighborhood."
Bill and Carole were really into the Boy Scouts and school sports when Carl was growing up, and for years they were cast members of the 'Sunny Hill Hillbillies' at the Sunny Hill School. Bill was a volunteer firefighter for the Hauser Rural Fire Department for 25 years, and is currently on the Board of Directors, while Carole is a member of the Hauser Rural Fire Department Association. They are still active in any community project they can take part in, and each year, they happily donate food and toys to help local families have a good Christmas. Many of the children Carole cared for over the years have grown up, and frequently come back to visit with her, and to give her a hug.
Their business is truly a give and recieve relationship. "Store hours are officially 5am till 9pm, but I'm usually here at 3:30 in the morning because I have loggers who come in for coffee," Bill told me. Carole said, "We cater to our neighbors. People come just to hang out and visit. This is just a community area, a meeting place."
It looks like the Wagon Wheel is here to stay. Bill said, "We've got no plans to retire. I figure if we're still having fun, why retire?" I asked the couple what advice they have for folks just starting out. "Like I tell all the kids, first get the most out of school that you can. Set a goal, because if you've got a goal, you can do it. You'll hit some spots sometimes that might set you back, but if you have a goal in mind, you can always get back to it." Carole added, "And, do what you love. We love what we are doing, and we're looking forward to the next 30 years!"
Walt's Pourhouse
Photo Caption: Natalie Speidel, owner of Walt's Pourhouse, poses next to her father Walt's business sign.
Natalie Speidel is the owner of Walt's Pourhouse, which has been open six years in Coos Bay. It's located at 1880 N. 7th Street in Coos Bay, right behind Coos Bay Toyota. She has roughly 13 employees, and they're open from 3:00 pm to 2:30 am, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 am to 2:30 am Saturdays and Sundays. On weekends they serve breakfast until 1:00 pm-ish.
I spoke to Natalie about the different crowds that come into Walt's each night. She sees older people come in at 5 pm and have dinner until about 8 pm, then again at about 11 pm the younger people come in who want to stay out later. Walt's serves dinner until 10 pm, and she must be doing something right, because this place is always packed!
Natalie is the sole owner of this establishment. She says, "I always wanted to own a bar, but my whole life my dad told me that I would send him back to the poorhouse (he grew up very poor in North Dakota). And I really wanted to name the bar after him, because he was such an incredible guy and I missed him so very much after he died in 2001."
"I moved here in 2002, and got a bartending job at the Coney Station", continuesNatalie. "I don't know why they hired me, because I didn't have any experience whatsoever. After that, I worked at Bandon Dunes, and the whole time I was planning on owning my own bar. I'm so glad I got the experience working at those places…what would have happened if I had just tried to open my own place without it?"
Natalie continued, "I looked at several places before deciding on this one, but this had a kitchen, and my goal was to have really, really good food at my bar. I always told myself I would never, ever compromise the quality of my food. I am constantly evolving when it comes to bringing new things in or trying different types of food. And our patio is open all the time, where on Sunday mornings our customers enjoy their breakfast and mimosas in the beautiful sunshine."
Walt's Pourhouse also offers TV, pool, and shuffleboard, and they've added new seasonal drink and dessert menus. "My kitchen staff is pretty fantastic," says Natalie. "It's crazy the stuff they accomplish in that tiny kitchen. And I really do owe the success of this bar to the amazing customers and regulars we have. This community is so supporting of local business, it's really cool. We have been so fortunate in that regard."
When I asked Natalie how her Shopper ads were working, she really got excited. "The South Coast Shopper is the only paper we have ever advertised in. It's true! We've tried other papers, radio, and the Shopper has always come through for us. We saw the results right away with our ads. When we first started serving breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays, I really didn't think we'd get much business, but because of our ad on the Shopper Saver page, we've seen a lot of increase on those days. People read the Shopper, and I love it! It appeals to all ages.
If you're looking for food far above the usual pub scene, come down to Walt's Pourhouse. The beer is great, the people friendly, and the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome. I know…I just had a burger with my family there tonight, and as usual, it was awesome!
Westside Auto Sales
Polaris Simones has owned and operated Westside Auto Sales for 23 years. Stop by and see his inventory!
In the market for a good used vehicle? Then look no further than Westside Auto Sales, conveniently located at 2895 Ocean Boulevard in Coos Bay. For 23 years, Polaris Simones has owned Westside Auto Sales, and you'll find him there six days a week, still very much involved in its operation.
"I worked for other car lots during my career, and then in 1993 I opened up one of my own," said Polaris. "Each day I'm at the lot overseeing operations, keeping the best cars available for sale, and making sure they're serviced and ready for their new owners. We only have one employee, so it's a very small operation that I'm happy to be very involved with."
I asked Polaris what the best part of his day was at Westside Auto Sales. "I like what I do," he replied simply. "I like meeting the people who are shopping for a car, the thrill of the adventure of maybe selling a car (or not). Every day is new and different, and it's never boring!"
But there must be challenges in owning your own car dealership, and Polaris said he's not an exception in that case. "It's difficult sometimes to find nice cars with low mileage that are sellable," he said. "I spend a lot of time looking for vehicles that I think are going to make somebody happy. I don't do a lot of online buying, and I buy cars one at a time to try and get the best deal for my money, and for my customers, too. Some of these cars I buy from individuals, and I have a new car dealership that I make buys from, and then there's always a chance to find a great deal at an auction."
With today's economy, many people are looking to save thousands of dollars by buying used vehicles rather than new. "Yes, we stay really busy here," said Polaris. "But that's due in a large part to the fact that we get a lot of repeat customers. It's the people that have bought a car here in the past that come back for another one. I guess we must be doing something right."
I asked Polaris what he sees for the future of the Southern Oregon Coast. "I think it's going to really grow in the next five years," he replied. "I'm seeing more industry and companies coming here and I think the future is bright for our area. And I love it here…the climate, the people, the slower pace of life…I just wouldn't want to live anywhere else."
The South Coast Shopper has been running ads for Westside Auto Sales for a long time, in fact, they're one of our longest-running advertisers. According to Polaris, "I bought my first ad with the Shopper in the early 1980's, from Luke Parrish, who at that time was walking around town selling ads for his new paper. I'm still advertising with them, because if something isn't broken, then don't fix it."
Westside Auto Sales is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, and from 11am to 4pm on Saturday. Their phone number is 541-267-6384.
Polaris finished with, "I like doing what I do, and it's something I'll continue to do and enjoy…serving the people of the Southern Oregon Coast. It's a community I'm proud to be a part of."
Wilbur Auctions and Winston Now N Then Antique Mall
Wilbur Auctions and Winston's Now N Then Antique Mall are owned and operated by Larry and Tracy Hill, who met 16 years ago at an auction they were each attending. They started Wilbur Auction about the same time they were married. Larry will tell you he's been doing auctions for 29 years, but if you get him talking, you'll soon find out he's been a picker his whole life, having learned the art from his Dad. "My Dad is half Ute Indian, and he'd been doing it since he was a kid," Larry shares. "He ran across the business as a boy collecting old bottles to sell from dumps outside of Provo, Utah. I was 8 years old when I started wheeling and dealing with my Dad, who was dealing in antiques and Indian artifacts by then."
Most people contact an auctioneer at pivotal times in their lives, such as a death in the family. When relatives pass way, sometimes an estate is left behind with several outbuildings that families stored stuff for generations. It can be overwhelming just to think about the chore of having to sort through it all, and sometimes people are tempted to just throw it all out. Larry encourages people to have somebody come and look at their stuff before they decide to toss it because you really just never know. "And whatever you do, don't throw away anything like old user manuals and stuff like that. Some of those are collectable, and you can make money," he shared. Larry offers free estimates, and does not charge an hourly rate, nor does he deal with buyer's premiums. Larry instead goes "old-school", taking a flat 30% of whatever the total sale is. "Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose," he says. "But almost every time you do an auction, there is a runaway item that brings more than you thought it was worth."
In the course of the conversation, I mentioned I was a fan of some of the "picker" reality shows we see on TV. Larry me told me those shows are an inaccurate portrayal of the picker life. "Most of the TV programs are staged. The people I know that are pickers and all, they don't go out to a place and pick two or three items and then leave to never come back. They always go back and repeat what they are doing. I'd rather go out and buy everything than buy one or two items."
Larry explained how his auctions differ from most estate sales. "Estate sales go in and pick out what they want to sell, and there is always stuff left over. With an auction house, we come in and scoop everything up. We sell what we can and dispose of the rest. I can always go back through and find more sell-able stuff. You never know what you will find." For instance, once Larry found a left-behind box of paper mache pumpkins from the 1920's-1930's era that brought in $240. Auctions are quicker, too, over in a day or two. Also, you will probably make more money if you have your stuff auctioned than if you sell it yourself, Larry revealed. "Auctions reach out to people who collect, and at auctions, people usually get wound up in the moment and will pay more than what they usually would. That's just how it is."
10 years after starting the auction house, Larry and Tracy opened up Winston's Now and Then Antique Mall, which is in a huge 13,000 sf of space featuring 60 vendors whose variety of merchandise aptly reflects the wide range of personalities in Douglas county. They have a vendor who specializes in candlesticks, and another in milk jugs. There is horse tack and saddle to be bought, as well as furniture. You can pick up all sorts of jewelry, as well as guns and ammo. There are dishes, glassware, artwork. If you can dream it up, you can probably find it at Winston's Now and Then Antique Mall.
I have always loved the sound of an auctioneer and was stoked when Larry demonstrated his ability. Auctioneer chanting is an art-form that auctioneers actually go to school to learn the mechanics of. The auction chant is a rhythmic repetition of numbers and slurring "filler words" spoken by an auctioneer in the process of conducting an auction. Once an auctioneer becomes experienced in the auction profession, the auctioneer's chant develops in a style and character unique to each auctioneer, in regards to unique filler words and the individuals rhythm in delivering the chant.
Winston Now N Then Antique Mall is open 7 days a week, and is located at 124 Douglas Blvd, off of Hwy 42, in Winston, OR. You can find then on Facebook as well. Wilbur Auctions are held Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 5pm, with preview time starting at 12:00 noon . They on-site auction is located at 8005 OLD HIGHWAY 99 N. They have both theater seating and bleacher seating. Larry also does in-house auctions, which are listed as they occur on the website, wilburauction.com, or posted in the South Coast Shopper. You can contact Larry at 541-430-2639.
World Pawn Exchange
Photo Caption: Father and son co-owners Richard and Steve Sinatra in one of the very full back rooms at World Pawn Exchange.
I walked into World Pawn Exchange, located at 1980 Sherman Avenue in North Bend, and found the co-owner, Richard Sinatra, standing behind one of the many counters full of merchandise. This is an organized (but very full) store where you can find anything for sale from computers to musical instruments to guns and jewelry. I was amazed at the variety of jewelry alone. There's literally no room to spare and the display cases were all full of an amazing assortment of valuables.
Richard Sinatra co-owns the store with his son Steve. They've been in business since 2008, and employ five people. I asked Richard what he sells the most of, and he replied that it would be a combination of firearms, jewelry, electronics and video games.
I asked Richard to explain the process of pawning an item. "We do loans on equity of an item that you own. So we would value your item, and then loan you a percentage of its value. The loan is for 60 days, with a 30 day grace period. You can redo the loan over and over again. Generally you are loaned 50% of your item's worth. Retail jewelry values are really inflated, so we would have to bring the value down to actual value. My son Steve is accredited through the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) to evaluate gemstones, but we've all had experience evaluating jewelry."
World Pawn Exchange is a member of the Oregon Pawnbrokers Association, and abides by their rules and regulations. They offer the consumer a quick, convenient and confidential way to borrow money. A short-term cash need can be met with no credit check or legal consequences if the loan is not repaid. Pawn loans do not cause people to overextend credit or go into bankruptcy. Oregon state law sets the interest at 3%. They also charge a set-up fee of 10%, and a storage fee.
Richard wants people to know that there are a lot of shady-looking pawnshops. "But our shop is very clean and organized. You can get a great deal on items here, and if you need a loan, it's a good way to tide you over to your next paycheck. It's certainly more affordable than a payday loan place," he said.
There are certain rules when pawning an item. For instance, you cannot pawn a firearm for somebody else, even your husband or wife. The pawn shop will ask if you are the owner, and when you come to pick up your firearm, they will then do a background check to make sure you can legally own it.
Richard says, "We'll treat you well as a customer and give you a good deal on your merchandise, whether you're pawning it or buying something."
World Pawn Exchange is open 10 am -5:30 pm Monday through Saturday, and they can be reached at 541-756-2789. It's a friendly place where you might just find that amazing deal you've been looking for!