Harvest Fest tops $1,000
The story: Marys River Grange moved its pie auction from Amazing Grange Day to its annual Harvest Fest, held Oct. 10 at the grange hall on Grange Hall Road. The festival also featured fresh-pressed cider, local vendors and a raffle, and last year’s event raised about $800 (“Pies take center stage at Marys River Grange Harvest Fest,” Oct. 8).
The latest: The festival raised just over $1,000, according to organizer Susan Stogsdill. Part of the money will go toward replacing the large heater in the grange hall’s basement, and members will decide at their next meeting where the rest goes. There was no head count, but Stogsdill said fewer shoppers came this year, and she pointed to Philomath Fire and Rescue’s open house the same day as tough competition. Vendors still made sales. The 11 vendors offered tole painting, flower arrangements, home decor, quilts, book and paper arts, and Ann Batten’s cement stepping stones. They liked having more space and the music the grange’s yoga instructor, Laura Coen, played all day from her setup. The pie auction offered 17 items, including a quiche, a loaf of soda bread and a box of cookies. A root beer float pie drew the most bids and the top price at $50. Cider sales were up, with some customers calling ahead to reserve half gallons. A drawing for a custom pet portrait was the most popular raffle prize, and other winners took home gift cards to various businesses. The grange is open to anyone, not just farmers, Stogsdill said, and it meets the first Wednesday of each month.
Open house nears 600
The story: Philomath Fire and Rescue and Strengthening Rural Families held their annual open house and health fair Oct. 10 at Station 201 on Main Street. The event featured fire engine rides, the first in-flight demonstration of the department’s drone, health screenings and sign-ups for home safety services. Organizer Rich Saalsaa said beforehand that he couldn’t remember the department ever getting a call during the open house (“Open house at fire station on Saturday to feature engine rides, drone demo and health screenings,” Oct. 7).
The latest: Just under 600 people attended, according to Saalsaa. He said the crowd had more kids than in past years with the longest lines at fire engine rides, water squirting and face painting. Visitors began arriving before the 11 a.m. start and kept coming until the last face painting finished at 2 p.m., even with competition from an Oregon State football game, Harvest Fest and other events. People showed strong interest in the drone, and the department hopes to expand the demonstrations next year. Restrictions on flying over people limit how much more it can do. Five residents signed up for defensible space surveys, and none signed up for smoke alarm installations. Recruits now in training helped with the dress-the-firefighter demonstration, and Saalsaa said at least one visitor is interested in applying as a volunteer. Vendors told organizers they consider it one of the best events to attend. The no-call streak held, and so did the weather — a heavy rainstorm arrived less than an hour after cleanup, and a call came in shortly after that. Saalsaa spent five weeks away on the Walk USA for Health Equity, and he credited Anna Goodlove of Strengthening Rural Families and Philomath Fire and Rescue office administrator Ashley Scott, along with the rest of the staff and volunteers, with keeping the event on track while he was gone. “This was the smoothest-run event in my 12 years of managing it,” he said. Planning for next year is already underway.
Gladstone forfeits Central game
The story: Philomath scored 30 points in the first quarter and beat Gladstone 51-24 in a Special District 2 game Oct. 8 at Gladstone. The Gladiators started the game with just 18 healthy players (“Philomath football rolls past Gladstone with 30-point first quarter,” Oct. 9).
The latest: Gladstone forfeited its district game this week against Central because it doesn’t have enough players available, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The Gladiators had fewer than 20 players for the Philomath game, and by mutual agreement the second half was played with 10-minute quarters and a running clock. Gladstone has had strong success in the sport in past years — making the playoffs each season from 2010-24 and winning the 4A state title in 2014.
