Applegater Summer 2019 1

Photo by Lisa E. Baldwin applegater.org

Celebrating SUMMER 2019 Applegate Valley Community Newsmagazine

Volume 12, No. 2 Serving Jackson and Josephine Counties — Circulation: 13,000 ~25~Years A giant among Long-time Applegate Valley Fire District officer to retire men lost to the BY SANDY SHAFFER Applegate Valley On April 8, 2019, with the death of Christopher Bratt, the Applegater board lost its longest-standing board member, the Applegater one of its staunchest supporters, and the Applegate one of its most outstanding citizens. Chris worked tirelessly, for decades, on behalf of environmental concerns in the Applegate. In his column in the Applegater, “Behind the Green Door,” he kept readers abreast of actions by the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service, never reluctant to state his own opinion, which was always “green.” He ended every column with some version of asking for the reader’s response, which he genuinely wanted. He never shied from a good strong political argument, but he let Brad Barnes (center) accepting 30-year award in 2017, with politics be politics and friendships be friendships. Captain Mike Kuntz (left) and Captain Greg Gilbert (right). Chris had used a pacemaker for a number of years. Photo: Applegate Valley Fire District. He died peacefully at home with loving family members 19. We dedicate this issue of the Applegater at his side. He was 88 years old. to Chris. His memory will live on in Brad Barnes, the Applegate Valley Fire District’s (AVFD’s) longest- An obituary, along with heartfelt tributes to Chris our hearts. serving employee, is planning to retire this November. At that time he from friends and associates, appears on page 2. Also see Applegater Board of Directors will have served our fire district for over 30 years as a firefighter. For Luke Ruediger’s opinion piece, honoring Chris, on page Photo: Tim Daw Photography See BRAD BARNES, page 21.

Hikers looking for a challenge should SAVE THE DATE! Summer recreation is abundant take on the Bolt Mountain Trail, a 3.2- mile multiuse trail that heads to the top of at Fish Hatchery Park Bolt Mountain with its 360-degree view of We're BY LISA E. BALDWIN the lower Applegate Valley. The trailhead is at the west end of the upper parking area at turning 25! Where the Applegate the north entrance (Wetherbee Road). The comes into its own as a trail is a steady climb and rated “Difficult” Join us as we celebrate mature river, making its final by the BLM. Bolt Mountain Trail is open the Applegater's westward run to the Rogue, to pedestrians, mountain bikers, and 25th anniversary Fish Hatchery Park, a hidden equestrians. Nothing motorized is allowed. gem of the lower Applegate, Fish Hatchery Park makes a great on Saturday, October 5. offers excellent opportunities summer outing for families. Picnic tables for swimming, fishing, hiking, are widely scattered under the trees on birding, picnicking, and both sides. The river moves slowly through soaking up the best of southern the park, past shady banks and a sandy 25 Years of Oregon. Situated on the lower beach. The swimming holes are hard to Applegate, midway between beat; Turtle Lane is a local legend. It is Murphy and Wilderville, here, near the mouth of Bull Creek, that, Storytelling the 177.8-acre nature park in 1863, a ferry service started hauling Special Storytelling Guests stretches along both sides of people and supplies across the Applegate. the river and has three points This old ferry landing is now perhaps the Live Music of access: the north entrance best public beach and swimming hole on Silent Auction, Raffle Items (1980 Wetherbee Drive), the the river. Hors d'oeuvres, Dinner, main south entrance (2416 The Applegate River runs through Fish Hatchery Park. The park takes its name from the fish Fish Hatchery Road), and the Photo: Lisa E. Baldwin. hatchery that operated from 1912 to 1936 and Dessert Turtle Lane entrance (260 on Jackson Creek at its confluence with the Wild River Pub (Publick House) Turtle Lane), also on the south bank at ago by park volunteers. The guide is also Applegate, the eastern park boundary. The the west end of the park. available online at co.josephine.or.us/ hatchery raised coho salmon and steelhead 533 NE F Street Hikers and birders will especially enjoy files/fish-hatchery-trail-guide[1].pdf. An trout. The lower Applegate still has a Grants Pass the trails at Fish Hatchery Park. The nature updated guide is in the works, but the decent winter steelhead run, which was 4 - 7 pm trail makes an easy, mostly level loop existing guide is full of good information particularly good this past March. through the natural habitat on the north about the flora and fauna, as well as the Only bank fishing is allowed on the Follow our Facebook page side of the river, starting at the west end river, the mountains, and the Applegate’s Applegate River. It is illegal to fish from for more details soon. of the lower parking area. The information history. The Nature Trail is open to any watercraft, so gone are the days of kiosk there is usually stocked with copies pedestrian traffic only, and canine walking grabbing a fishing rod and an inner tube of a trail guide put together several years partners must stay on leash. See FISH HATCHERY PARK, page 20.

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timber products, and sustainable OBITUARY forest management. Chris was predeceased by his parents, George and Wiltrud Bratt, and brothers Charles Christopher Bratt Jonathan, George, Tom, and Peter. He is survived by Joan Peterson, his wife and December 11, 1930 - April 8, 2019 partner since they met at Tomales High School some 50 years ago, and by his first BY LARRY FRANCIS wife, Nancy Wilkins, the mother of his three children. Folk singer, carpenter, activist, writer, Survivors also include his children poet, teacher, folk artist and collector, red Toni Winter (Terry), Josh Bratt (Wendie), diaper baby, family man, woodsman, and Nick Bratt (Beth); stepchildren builder, volunteer, investor, philanthropist, Gordon Smith (Malie) and Jenell environmentalist, humanist Smith; sister Susanna; cousins Michael Christopher Bratt (“Chris,” “Papa and Mandy; countless nieces and Chrissy”) was born at home on December nephews, including Greg, Nadya, Peter, 11, 1930, to Wiltrud Hildner Bratt and James, Kevin, Georgia, Karen, and Alexis; George Cleveland Bratt at the Columbus and many grandchildren, grandnieces, Apartments, 1492 Pacific Avenue, San grandnephews, and great-grandchildren Francisco. Chris passed away at his home as near as California and as far away in Applegate on April 8, 2019, surrounded as Norway. by family and friends. When I’m on my journey, don’t you weep Through all the tumult and the strife, I after me... hear that music ringing. I don’t want you to weep after me.” It sounds an echo in my soul; how can I —“When I’m on My Journey,” as sung by the keep from singing! Weavers —An old Quaker hymn, as adapted and sung Larry Francis by Pete Seeger [email protected] Chris loved to sing, knew hundreds if not thousands of songs, and sang them in his impassioned, clear tenor—in living rooms and kitchens, on picket lines and stages, at potlucks—wherever and Tributes to Chris whenever the spirit moved him. He sang lead for a semiprofessional folk group, the from friends Albion Trio, which played around the San Francisco Bay Area in the early ’60s. Chris and associates had wide-ranging, eclectic tastes in music and was influenced by Pete Seeger and the Diana Coogle Weavers as well as international folk dance Loss (Chris loved all line dancing, especially the When Chris Bratt died Kopachka Folk Dancers of Mill Valley), Applegate forests lost Puccini (especially La Bohème), Miriam a staunch defender. Makeba, and Paul Robeson. He picked Applegate gatherings lost up songs and sang them his whole life a fine folk musician. long—everything and anything from woodshop at Tomales High School in The Applegater lost YMCA camp songs to Ezio Pinza, Tom Tomales, California, where he met Joan a huge supporter Paxton, and Woody Guthrie. It’s only right Peterson, who was teaching English there. and the board to punctuate this story with lines from In 1976 Chris and Joan moved their picture of Chris in their big garden brings its longest-serving member some of his favorites. blended family to 160 acres on Thompson to mind another piece of a favorite song and “Behind the Green Door” columnist. If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the Creek Road in Applegate. that Chris and Joan often sang: The Grayback Salon lost morning, All must work, for work is good, Going to Oregon, where everything is a reader whose unique perspective I’d hammer in the evening, all over this and in work man finds brotherhood. green, connected the poems with carpentry land... —“Hey Zhankoye,” Jewish folksong as sung by Gonna have the best ol’ farm that you (his lifelong craft) —“If I Had a Hammer,” by Pete Seeger and the Weavers have ever seen.” and raised memories of a Lee Hays In Oregon, more carpentry jobs —“Times A Gettin’ Hard,” by Lee Hays as sung San Francisco childhood Chris had a hammer and knew how beckoned—large and small, volunteer and by the Weavers and amended from “California” to with socialist-minded parents. to use it. His dad was a carpenter, and not—including countless hours building “Oregon” by Chris and Joan Joan lost Chris helped him on odd jobs during the stages and a portable burrito booth and a When Chris, Joan, and their children a wonderful husband. Depression. During World War II, Chris remodel of the Headwaters Building on moved to their place on Thompson Creek And I lost went to work in a boatyard. Later, while 4th Street in Ashland. Chris was a tireless (“Forest Farm,” they called it), they also a friend I loved. a member of the carpenters union, Chris builder, figuratively and literally. He brought Chris’s parents, George and z helped build the tract homes in South built forts and the famous and dangerous Wiltrud (Beb). One night at dinnertime, Richard Goodnough San Francisco that Malvina Reynolds “rocking boat” for his kids, homes and a young woman they didn’t know came to From the moment I heard of the immortalized in her song “Little Boxes.” remodels for family and friends, tract the door and told them that the Bureau of passing of Chris Bratt, a song he loved Later he became a general contractor, homes like the “Little Boxes,” jungle gyms, Land Management was planning to spray came to mind: “When I am gone,” by founding Little Gem Construction (“a and innumerable smaller projects. large areas of the forest abutting their Phil Ochs. This song contains phrases like jewel of a job”) with partners Molly Chris knew that working together property. Beb overheard the conversation I won’t know the right from the wrong and Malouf and Jim Holland. In the early on a project builds community. In the and said, “Christopher, you should do you won’t find me singin’ on this song when 1960s, when the Ku Klux Klan was 1980s, putting his boundless energy, something about it.” He did do something I am gone, so I guess I’ll have to do it while burning churches in Mississippi, Chris teaching experience, and carpentry skills about it—and with a passion one Boise I’m here. Chris had a very strong sense of and Molly went there with the American to work, Chris organized a carpentry and Cascade vice president described as right and wrong and loved to sing about Friends Service Committee to help woodworking co-op, the Billy Mountain “relentless pressure, relentlessly applied.” workers’ rights, other cultures, harmony in congregations rebuild. In the late ’60s, Builders, which evolved over the years Besides organizing the Homestead the world, and many kinds of love. Chris and his partners in Little Gem into Cottage Green Construction, a Valley Improvement Club back in Won’t be asked do my share when I’m went to Delano, California, to build contracting partnership he formed with his Mill Valley days, in Oregon Chris gone, so I guess I’ll have to do it while I’m the Rodrigo Terrónez Memorial Clinic Richard Goodnough. Even through the helped found and/or served on boards here. Doing his share was what he tried for the United Farm Workers (UFW). last year of his life, Chris was in charge of numerous organizations, among them doing every day, whether in his work, with Chris’s politics and music were strongly of maintaining, improving, and repairing ACOTS (Applegate Citizens Opposed his family, or in his community. influenced by the United Brotherhood of Bratt Family Trust properties in San to Toxic Sprays), Northwest Coalition Can’t be singing louder than the guns Carpenters, UFW, Student Nonviolent Francisco and Grass Valley, California. for Alternatives to Pesticides, TREE when I’m gone, so I guess I’ll have to do it Coordinating Committee, American Chris’s passion for work was the prime (Thompson Creek Residents for Ecological while I’m here. Peace on a national level Friends Service Committee, and the Peace ingredient in bringing people together, Education), Headwaters/Geos Institute, or a community level was something that and Freedom Party. along with his rough and wry sense of Applegate Partnership and Watershed was very close to his heart. His bumper Back in the Bay Area in the early humor, exemplified by a favorite phrase Council, Applegater newsmagazine, and stickers read, “I am already against ’70s, the Little Gem partners got tired of of his, “What do you think this is—a Applegate Neighborhood Network. the next war” and “Think globally, act building ever fancier homes. A remodel country club?” In the office he built onto the locally.” During the time of the civil rights calling for a fifth bathroom was the last On their property in the Applegate, main house, Chris kept extensive files movement, he left paying work at home straw; Little Gem dissolved. Chris got his Chris and Joan had a big garden, pasture on forest management, herbicide- and and went to Mississippi to help rebuild a teaching credential from San Francisco for goats and horses, and sustainable pesticide-spraying, clear-cutting, small burnt-out church. State University and started teaching forestry for timber and firewood. The woodlands management, small-diameter See CHRIS BRATT TRIBUTES, page 17. Applegater Summer 2019 3 Applegaters pitch in The Applegate Open for animals rises again BY LAURA AHEARN BY SIMONA FINO

Look up to the sky over the next few months and you may see a wondrous sight—a human in flight! The Applegate Valley, particularly Woodrat Mountain, is a well-known world-class paragliding and hang gliding site, and in summer months our skies are often dotted with the colorful wings of those in flight. While it may be tempting to let your gaze go upward to view the paragliders while you’re driving down the highway, be safe Paraglider landing at LongSword Vineyard in 2018. Photo provided by Kate Vangeloff, LongSword. Students from Ruch Outdoor Community School visit the Jackson County animal shelter in and pull over so as not to cause February to kick off their project. Photo: Richard Jacquot. an accident. There is a perfect spot for you to do just that—LongSword will be on-site serving up home-cooked Applegate students, families, of ROCS students and purchase animal- Vineyard. Located at 8555 Highway barbecue. On the 22nd, Sweetgrass will nonprofits, and businesses are supporting themed merchandise and yummy treats. 238, about two miles outside of Ruch, keep everyone moving with their original Friends of the (Jackson County) Animal Bring your dogs (on leads) to run the LongSword will once again be hosting the roots music, and the Wok Star food truck Shelter (FOTAS) in several new and for-fun agility course and enter the headquarters of the national championship will be available for some delicious Asian exciting ways. Grrrreatest Canine Talent Show at 1 pm. paragliding event, the Applegate Open, tacos and stir-fry. Bring your friends and Applegaters are creative. During the Every pooch will win a prize—for best which will be held June 15 - 22 and is family (and maybe some camp chairs and spring semester, seventh-grade students sit, cutest costume, etc. One contestant expected to attract nearly 200 pilots, blankets) and watch the paragliders land at Ruch Outdoor Community School claims her border collie can tap dance! according to race organizer Dan Wells. before you! (ROCS) shared their artistic talents by Thank you, Ruch Hardware, Grange Paragliding competitions have been Have you ever thought about what painting ceramic tiles and rocks to donate Co-Op, and Dazey’s Hubbard’s Home held for the last 16 years at Woodrat it would be like to fly? Wonder what for sale at Deck the Paws Holiday Fair. Center, for supporting Doggy World. (See Mountain. This is the second year for the it feels like to soar like a bird with just the This new event will be held on December schedule below.) Applegate Open, which will bring more sound of the wind? Try a tandem flight! 7 from noon - 4 pm at Phoenix Plaza Applegaters are generous. Indigo pilots than ever. There’s just nothing like Sam Crocker of Sundog Paragliding Civic Center. Individuals and families can Grill, Applegate’s newest restaurant, has seeing all the pilots racing to the goal at School in Medford offers tandem bring their pets for portrait photos with donated a delicious dinner for two as LongSword and maneuvering to land in flights as well as instruction. He can be Santa Paws and Cat-Elf, and shoppers will part of the New Jacksonville+Applegate the meadow next to the vineyard. reached at 503-781-1795 or samwise19@ find a wide array of unique handcrafted Experience package to be auctioned at Come celebrate the beauty and hotmail.com. Sam is a member of gifts and décor. ROCS students are not Paws to Celebrate on June 21. This FOTAS exhilaration of flight with LongSword! the Rogue Valley Hang Gliding and only pioneers in the community-wide fundraiser will be held at the Bigham On two Saturdays, June 15 and Paragliding Association and competes in drive to create handicrafts but they also Knoll Ballroom in Jacksonville. Applegate June 22, LongSword will open from the Applegate Open. will be responsible for setting up and residents Josh and Kaylyn Kimball, owners 12 - 5 pm for two special paraglider- Whether you’re someone who wants to staffing their own table at the fair, with of the just-opened Kimball’s Artisan viewing parties. On the 15th, Danielle watch the action or someone who’s ready presentations on pollinator gardening and Wines in Jacksonville, have contributed Kelly and her band will bring fun, to jump off the mountain, we invite you bird identification. a gift certificate. The lucky winners will feel-good dance music in the form of to join in the thrill of flight! Teacher Jennifer Drane says, “Doing also enjoy lodging and wine tasting at our ’50s and ’60s soul and jazz covers, and Simona Fino service, like this FOTAS project, is vital to area’s newest bed-and-breakfast winery, the All Smoked Out BBQ food truck [email protected] help students have more empathy and feel Rellik Winery, and beverages and a crafty they are part of the community.” What do experience at Miners’ Bazaar. the students think? “This project is fun!” Several Applegate boutique wineries Student Corner: Environment Question “Cool.” “When I think about animals, I have donated their flagship wines for Our intrepid reporters tracked down four students at four schools to ask: think in color.” Paws to Celebrate. Here’s a shout-out to "What is the biggest problem facing the environment today and why?" If you would like to join the fun Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden, LongSword Here are their answers. of creating for the fair, come to Art for Vineyard, Troon Vineyard, Schmidt Animals at Miners’ Bazaar (235 East Family Vineyards, and Wooldridge Creek California Street, Jacksonville) on June Winery. Wine-drinking animal lovers will 30 from 11 am - 2 pm. Art and crafting truly have cause to celebrate! materials will be provided; a $5 donation Applegaters are adopting. Okay, to FOTAS is suggested. You can also join this isn’t a new way to help our animals, the FOTAS Elves group on Facebook. but here are the newest statistics on Call Laura Ahearn at 458-226-0600 for animals adopted through FOTAS by more information. residents of the greater Applegate area in Applegaters are inviting. June 8 is 2018: 58 dogs, 27 cats, and 6 rabbits and McKee Bridge Day, and this year McKee guinea pigs. Bridge Historical Society has invited Through the new Working Carlen Nielsen, ninth grade, Hidden Natalia Sahr, eighth grade, Applegate FOTAS to collaborate in a new event: Cats program, Applegate Valley has Valley High School. I believe the biggest School. Climate change. Human activity, Doggy World! Join us from 11 am - 3 pm the opportunity to help significantly problem with the environment today is the for example, burning fossil fuels and chopping increase in the number of animals becoming down forests, is leading to drastic effects on for informative talks about Dogs of Service more cats. endangered and going extinct due to many ecosystems around the world and the earth’s and the FOTAS Street Dog and Working Visit FOTAS at McKee Bridge Day to inhumane reasons, some of those being habitat temperature. In 12 years these changes will Cats programs. Applegater Dr. Jeffrey learn more. And bring your dogs for a fun loss and slaughtering. become irreversible, and this terrifies me. Judkins of Animalkind Holistic Veterinary run through the agility course and a prize Clinic will speak about particular health in the Grrrreatest Canine Talent Show. threats that our pets face in the Applegate Laura Ahearn Valley. You can see the inspiring creations [email protected]

Doggy World Schedule June 8, 2019, McKee Bridge Picnic Area

Time Activity Presenter 11:30 am How to Walk a Dog Laura Ahearn, FOTAS volunteer 11:45 am FOTAS Working Cat Program Madeline Vance, FOTAS volunteer 12 noon Threats to Pets in Dr. Jeffrey Judkins, Animalkind the Applegate Holistic Veterinary Clinic 12:20 pm The Street Dog Program Bob Crowley, FOTAS volunteer Evan Leonard, sixth grade, Ruch Savanna Rogers, fifth grade, Williams 12:40 pm Dogs of Service Dahna Dow, RN, LCSW Outdoor Community School. I believe School. Car exhaust and the ozone layer. the biggest problem with the environment People should walk, bike, or use the AIRPod 1 pm Talent Show Janeen Sathre, MC today is logging. The reason is that so many 2.0 compressed air-powered car that uses fresh Following K9 Search and Rescue Eric Ronemus, Jackson County animals need healthy forest habitat [which is air instead of emitting poisonous exhaust. It talent show Search and Rescue K9 Team being destroyed by logging] to live and some of won’t completely cleanse the world, but it’s a 3 pm Breakdown and Cleanup them are endangered. step in the right direction. 4 Summer 2019 Applegater followed by several Roving Reporter complex maneuvers controlled by drive team members Applegate teen leads robotics using cellphones— all within strictly team in pursuit of championship controlled space and time constraints. This BY TOM CARSTENS year the robots must accurately retrieve One snowy January morning I team.” Participants are encouraged to and place a marker, walked into a St. Mary’s High School lab apply for college scholarships available then correctly select a bursting with teenagers. It was eerily quiet. through the program. randomly determined Everywhere I looked, young people were Applegater Margaux Quady was just target. Teams then poring over data, working on software, or 12 when she caught the “robot bug.” She’s control the robots to fine-tuning electrical components. And now a senior at St. Mary’s High School differentiate, collect, then, right out of an Isaac Asimov novel, and the Robotics Drive Coach for her and deposit two types I spied four crazy contraptions that looked 13-member team, “Trial N Terror” (TNT). of targets into discrete like aliens from outer space. Could these One of three teams from St. Mary’s, TNT bins. TNT named be the offspring of NASA’s famous Martian has been advancing in the regional robotic their robot “Tubby.” explorer, the indefatigable “Rover”? championships in which teams from all Tubby was over his Margaux Quady huddles with “Tubby.” Turns out, these were robots starring in over Oregon compete for the chance to go 42-pound weight limit Photo: Tom Carstens. an international tournament known as on to the world championship matches, so Margaux had to put “FIRST Tech Challenge.” held this year in Houston. him on an emergency diet, The goal of the competition, TNT has just completed its fifth meticulously trimming his which started in 1989, was to attract season. Twice the team has made it all metallic parts so he (she? it?) young people to science, technology, the way to the world championships. could compete. engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year, the team advanced to the state Margaux’s team is Through this program, kids from all competition, where they finished 11th coached by two Applegaters: over the world, working in two-team out of 208 teams in Oregon. In the state her dad, Herb Quady, a alliances, “are challenged to design, build, finals, the team took first place for Robot winemaker and vintner; program, and operate robots to compete Design and finished third for the coveted and Gary Conner, a in a head-to-head challenge.” According Control Award. The team has recently vintner and retired rocket to FIRST Tech Challenge, the idea been selected as an alternate for the world scientist (really—is this is to “practice engineering principles, championship. All in all, Trial N Terror fair?). The overall effort in while realizing the value of hard has the third highest tournament average southern Oregon is led by Tubby works furiously against the clock. work, innovation, and working as a in Oregon and the fourth highest score Kent Daughterman, a local Photo: Tom Carstens. for all matches played in cardiologist and founder of Oregon. Unbelievably, SOAR (Southern Oregon TNT has the 39th Area Robotics). highest tournament Margaux will graduate average in the world— from St. Mary’s this year. out of approximately She hopes to attend 5,800 teams! Rochester University, where The theme of the she expects the winters to competition changes be a tad cooler than the every year and is Applegate’s. She’s already governed by…wait fluent in Mandarin and for it…over 50 pages plans to major in mechanical of mind-bending engineering. She believes that regulations. Team- this combination of skills designed robots will be instantly marketable TNT Senior Drive Team members remotely manipulate must autonomously upon graduation. Tubby. From left to right: Gordon Daughterman, TNT coaches Herb Quady and Gary Conner perform a series of Tom Carstens Margaux Quady, and Calix Kim. Not pictured: Sam Schaffer. discuss strategies. Photo: Tom Carstens. preprogrammed tasks 541-846-1025 Photo: Tom Carstens.

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~ FINE PRINT ~ The Applegate Valley Community The Applegater needs your ongoing help! Newspaper, Inc. (AVCN) is a nonprofit In order to keep up with our expenses—printing and postage are the biggest costs—and be 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to able to continue mailing this newsmagazine free to every residence and business in the Applegate the publication of the Applegater Valley, we need and appreciate ongoing donations, large or small—every dollar matters. newsmagazine, which, we feel, reflects Mail your donation to Applegater Newsmagazine, PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530. the heart and soul of our community. Donations are also accepted online through PayPal at applegater.org and now at smile. Our Mission amazon.com (select Applegate Valley Community Newspaper as your charity of choice)! The Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, Inc., provides the many We are supported only by donations and advertising revenue. rural and diverse communities Thank you for your generosity. —The Applegater Board of Directors of the Applegate Watershed with a communications vehicle, the Applegater newsmagazine, free of charge to all A huge THANKS to the generous donors NEW INFO ON watershed residents. Our quarterly who recently contributed paper presents constructive, relevant, educational, and entertaining reports on to the Applegater. COMMUNITY a wide variety of subjects such as: n natural resources PATRON Jeffrey & Inger Bellamy, WEBSITE n ecology and other Greeley Wells, Jacksonville, OR Grants Pass, OR science information Zephyr Fund at Schwab Charitable, Jan Buur, Santa Barbara, CA Check out n historical and current events San Francisco, CA Carmen Cabler, Jacksonville, OR Applegate Valley Connect n community news and opinions SUSTAINER Harley Campbell, Grants Pass, OR AVCN encourages and publishes at applegateconnect.org. Tracy Lamblin, Jacksonville, OR Doug Clarke, Spring Creek, NV differing viewpoints and, through the New Feature: Applegater newsmagazine, acts as a CONTRIBUTOR Diana Coogle, Applegate, OR clearinghouse for this diverse community. Chris Bratt, Applegate, OR Diana Cooper, Jacksonville, OR Press Release We are dedicated to working together Tom & Kathy Carstens, Dennis & Barbara Crawford, Send your press release to the with community members to maintain Grants Pass, OR Williams, OR media using this free community and enhance the quality of life that is SUPPORTER Two O’clock Dan, Williams, OR website! unique to the Applegate Watershed. Anonymous, Jacksonville, OR (4) Pat Gordon, Jacksonville, OR Just select News and Stories / Acknowledgements Submit a Press Release The Applegater newsmagazine is Anonymous, McMinnville, OR Bonnie Grant, Medford, OR , choose published quarterly by the Applegate Anonymous, Williams, OR David Haynes, Grants Pass, OR from the list of media, and complete Valley Community Newspaper, Inc., and Steve Armitage, Ashland, OR John & Georgia Hoglund, the form. Easy and free. is funded by donations from our loyal Ken & Jan Chapman, Applegate, OR Jacksonville, OR readers and advertisements for local Nancy Coffin, Medford, OR Peggy Jennings, Jacksonville, OR businesses. Janis Fiske, Grants Pass, OR Bonnie Jones, Murphy, OR Special thanks to Diana Coogle, Marlene Hall, Jacksonville, OR James Krois, Williams, OR Haley May Peterson, Margaret Perrow della Santina, and Paul Tipton for copy Bob Hendrix, Grants Pass, OR Jean Mount, Grants Pass, OR editing; Lisa Baldwin, Diana Coogle, Gail Graham & Gary Herman, Walt & Joyce Schmidt, Carla David, Jeanette LeTourneux, and Ashland, OR Jacksonville, OR Paul Tipton for proofing; David Dobbs Ivan Lund, Jacksonville, OR Jeanette Stobie, Applegate, OR for bookkeeping; and Webmaster Joe John Mackenzie, Grants Pass, OR John & Joy Taylor, Lavine. Ramona Rausch, Jacksonville, OR Grants Pass, OR Angie Villarreal, Applegate, OR Board of Directors Patrick Raynor, Wilderville, OR Organizations can now seek Diana Coogle, Chair Don & Lori Sayer, Applegate, OR Alan & Cindy Voetsch, Ruch, OR volunteers—the Applegater had Cathy Rodgers, Vice Chair Lynn & Malcolm Towns, Rosemary Walker, Murphy, OR great success when looking for a Lisa Baldwin, Secretary Applegate, OR • • • Volunteer / David Dobbs, Treasurer Dr. Jim & Karen Vandelden, Help us ensure that we have the ongoing proofreader! Select Barbara Holiday support needed to publish the Applegater. Add Your Listing. Jeanette LeTourneux Grants Pass, OR Ted & Mary Warrick, All contributions are tax-deductible and Need help? There are guides Honorary: Chris Bratt, J.D. Rogers receive recognition in the Applegater. available for most sections of the Grants Pass, OR Patron $1,000+ Editorial Committee Larry & Julie Woodriff, website. 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Honorary: Chris Bratt, Anonymous, Gold Hill, OR Applegater and mail to: Comments are welcome from the Rauno Perttu PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530 Anonymous, Jacksonville, OR (2) Donors: We strive to ensure that our Applegate Valley community. This All articles, stories, opinions and Anonymous, Williams, OR (2) donor list is accurate. Please contact free site—a joint effort of the letters that appear in the Applegater Gayle Archuleta, Grants Pass, OR us if there are errors or omissions. Applegater Newsmagazine and A are the property and opinion of the Greater Applegate—is supported author and not necessarily that of the PERSONAL MAILING LABEL by The Ford Family Foundation and Applegater or AVCN. Editorial Calendar Community Systems LLC. PROTECTION OF Living away for a while? COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Friends and relatives in ISSUE DEADLINE Questions? Please email All materials submitted for publication faraway places? FALL (Sept - Nov)...... August 1 [email protected]. must pertain to the Applegate Valley, be Agriculture-Wine original (no press releases or reprinted The Applegater can be mailed WINTER (Dec - Feb)...... November 1 articles), and be the intellectual property anywhere in the US. Holiday-Arts of the author unless otherwise credited. SPRING (March - May)....February 1 Masthead photo credit All articles submitted to the Applegater Order a personal mailing label for Commerce-Community are subject to edit and publication at the Thanks to Lisa E. Baldwin for the One year: $14.99 (4 issues) SUMMER (June - Aug)....May 1 newsmagazine’s discretion and as space beautiful Fish Hatchery Park photo. Environment-Fire- allows. No more than one article per Two years: $24.99 (8 issues) Her article about the park’s recreation Recreation author per issue. When too many articles opportunities appears on page 1. are submitted to include in any one issue, Mail us a check or pay online some articles may be placed on our at www.applegater.org. website or held until the following issue. Letters to the editor must be 450 Inside the Gater words or less. Opinion pieces (see page Advertisers! 18 for more information) and articles Bird Explorer: The Raven...... 13 cannot exceed 700 words. Obituaries We can help you reach your are limited to 500 words and one photo. market. The Applegater is the only Book Review: The Overstory...... 20 PHOTO REQUIREMENTS newsmagazine covering the entire Cantrall Buckley Park News...... 10 All photos submitted must be high Applegate Valley. With a circulation of resolution (300 dpi) or “large format” Dirty Fingernails and All: Please pollinate me...... 9 (e.g., 30” x 40”). If you have questions, 13,000 and a readership of more than email [email protected]. 20,000, we cover Applegate, Jacksonville, Keeping it wild in the Wellington Wildlands for Chris Bratt...... 19 Photos submitted for the masthead Jerome Prairie, Murphy, Ruch, Wilderville, Motorcycle riders keep trails open...... 15 are on a volunteer basis. Credit is given Williams, Wonder, and areas of Grants Next Generation / School News...... 23 in the issue in which it appears, on our Pass and Medford. website, and on our Facebook page. Opinions / Letters to the Editor...... 18 - 19 All submissions for the next issue For more information, contact must be received at gater@applegater. Prescribed burning for a safer community...... 12 org by the deadline (see Editorial Ron Turpen @ 541-601-1867 or Calendar). [email protected] Starry Side: Summer thoughts...... 8

Applegater Newsmagazine What the hemp is going on?...... 11 PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530 Next deadline: August 1 6 Summer 2019 Applegater — Applegate Library — “A Universe of Stories” is the theme professional body artist and local of our Summer Reading Program (SRP) resident, Amber Bishop. this year. And, at the Applegate Library, • Mission: Possible! Friday, August 9, we have a “universe of programs, services, from 2 - 4 pm. Use your creativity, books, and more!” Check out all county- ingenuity, and critical-thinking skills to wide events at our website at jcls.org complete engineering challenges with a — Ruch Library — or pick up a copy of our event guide at ScienceWorks educator. Join us for “A Universe of Stories” at - 4:15 pm. Join in some out-of-this- the library. Summer finale Ruch Library this summer as we blast off world music fun: songs, games, and Upcoming programs and events Centennial Birthday Party and with our Summer Reading Program. We the chance to make space sounds with The library programs and events End of SRP Party. Tuesday, August 13, will have programs, prizes, incentives, and crazy instruments. encourage community engagement from 2 - 4 pm. This year marks the 100th activities for all ages. Read and receive free • Watercolor the Stars (ages 12 - 18). through learning and creating. We also Anniversary of Jackson County Library books! Study the night sky and complete Saturday, August 3, 1 - 3 pm. Learn welcome community members and Services, and you are invited to the library’s a Junior Astronomer’s Log to be eligible watercolor skills and take home an experienced instructors who want to birthday party! Join us to celebrate with to win a pair of binoculars. There will be original, space-inspired work of art. present at the library. cake and ice cream. We will also draw the something for everyone, including the Adventure deep into space, wonder • Applegate Fire Lookouts. Saturday, winners of our SRP baskets. highly anticipated “I Spy” window and about distant life, and sense the enormity June 1, from 2 - 4 pm with John Ongoing programs and events Guessing Jars. Or, just come and space out of the universe! This is a step-by-step McKelligott, ranger with the Siskiyou • Community drumming after hours. in our air-conditioned library! class, so please arrive on time. Mountains Ranger District. He Third Friday of the month (June 21, Our second annual How-To Festival • LEGO Builders, Architects, and will discuss two local fire lookouts, July 19, and August 16) from 6 - 7 will be held on September 21. Save the Engineers (age 4+). Build and display Dutchman Peak and Squaw Peak, which pm. Connect to Mother Earth through date! Check with library staff if you have your own creations any time during are on the National Historic Registry. a community drumming circle. No an interest in teaching a short class or want open hours this summer. Duplo bricks • Friends of the Applegate Library experience necessary. Some rattles and a sneak peek at the roster. available for younger kids. (FOAL) Book Sale. Friday, June 21, drums available; please bring your own Summer events Ongoing events from 2 - 6 pm, and Saturday, June 22, if you have them. • Space Origami (ages 8 - adult). • Questions about your iPhone, tablet, from 10 am - 2 pm. Lots of titles to • Storytime. Saturdays at 10:30 am. Thursday, June 12, 2 - 4 pm. Fold an computer, or e-reader? On Tuesdays choose from! Reminders origami star, spaceship, or asteroid from 10 am - 12:30 pm, tech wizard • Watercolor the Stars (ages 12 - 18). Jackson County library cards can during this drop-in program for all Laura Irwin will be at the library to Saturday, June 22, from 10 am - 12 be issued free to any Applegate School skill levels. help you. For an appointment, pm. Learn watercolor skills and take student with a signature of a parent or • Traveling Lantern Theater performs contact Laura at techsupport@jcls. home an original, space-inspired work guardian, regardless of what county the My Mother, the Astronaut (ages 4 - 12). org or [email protected]. of art. Adventure deep into space, student lives in. Tuesday, June 25, 10 - 11 am. Aquarius’s • Babies and Wobblers, an early literacy wonder about distant life, and sense the The Applegate Library has a telescope mom is an astronaut and today is “Take program for children 0 - 3, is held on enormity of the universe! This is a step- to check out, Wi-Fi hot spots, Kindles, your child to work day.” What will she Tuesdays at 10:15 am and promises to by-step class, so please arrive on time. DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs, books, experience during her day at NASA? be a rockin’ good time for both the littles • Kids’ Music Jam: Space Time (ages and magazines! Free! • Magic Star Wands with John Jackson and their parents. 6 - 12). Wednesday, June 26, from At jcls.org, you can find databases (age 5+). Tuesday, July 16, 11 am - noon. • Preschool Storytime is at 11:30 am 12:30 - 1:45 pm. Join in some out-of- galore. We are spotlighting the following Make an LED shooting-star wand! You and is followed by craft-making. We this-world music fun: songs, games, and this summer: create it, decorate it, and take it home. hope you can join us! the chance to make space sounds with • Tumblebook Library, which has over The best part is, it glows even after you • $5 Book Bag Sale offered by Friends crazy instruments. 1,100 titles for kids from kindergarten turn it off. Preregistration required. of Ruch Library every first Saturday in • Magic Star Wands. Tuesday, July 9, through sixth grade and includes • Centennial Birthday Party (all ages). Ruch Library’s Book Barn. Fill a grocery from 3 - 4 pm, with John Jackson. Make animated, talking picture books, Tuesday, July 16, 12:30 pm. This year bag with books! an LED shooting star wand! You create read-along chapter books, National marks the 100th anniversary of Jackson Ruch Library is located at 7919 it, you decorate it, and you take it home. Geographic videos, and more. County Library Services, and you are Highway 238 in Jacksonville (Ruch) and is The best part is it glows even after you • Brainfuse HelpNow and JobNow for invited to the library’s birthday party. open Tuesdays from 10 am - 5 pm, turn it off! Preregistration is required. help searching for jobs and new careers Join us to celebrate with birthday cake! Thursdays from 1 - 7 pm, and Saturdays • Magic Show. Saturday, July 20, from and improving grades in school and • Mission: Possible (all ages; under 10 from 11 am - 4 pm. 11 - 11:45 am. Prepare to be amazed college, including test preparation. with adult). Tuesday, July 23, 2 - 4 Friends of Ruch Library A-Frame and entertained by local magician • Gale Courses for those wanting to learn pm. Use your creativity, ingenuity, Bookstore hours are Tuesdays from noon Chris Shillito. new skills by professional, instructor- and critical-thinking skills to complete - 4 pm, Thursdays from 1 - 5 pm, and • Digging Dinos STEM Program. led courses that start each month on a engineering challenges with a Saturdays from noon - 4 pm. Wednesday, July 24, from 11 am - 12 variety of topics. ScienceWorks educator. For more information, contact branch pm. Go back in time to learn about • Lynda.com takes you to a site described • Kids’ Music Jam: Space Time manager Thalia Truesdell at 541-899-7438 dinosaurs with Bugs-R-Us Educational as “YouTube on steroids!” Take a variety (ages 6 - 12). Tuesday, July 30, 3 or [email protected]. Services. Explore real fossils, teeth, of learning and knowledge courses with claws, and imitation skin. Preregistration professional certifications. is required. The Applegate Library is located at • Space Origami. Wednesday, July 31, 18485 North Applegate Road and is open from 11 am - 1 pm. Fold an origami Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 - 6 pm and star, jet, spaceship, or asteroid during Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am this drop-in program for all skill levels. - 2 pm. For more information, contact • Face Painting. Friday, August 2, from manager Christine Grubb at 541-846- 2 - 4 pm. Get your face painted by 7346 or [email protected].

Williams branch library stop by your nearest branch to make a families thanks to our sponsors. In total, in Josephine County, Welch Investment weekly storytime one-on-one appointment with your own 11,886 books have been delivered to Group, LLC, Josephine County Library Families are invited to the Williams personal Tech Coach or drop in to the children in our community! Foundation, and Oregon Community branch of Josephine Community Library Williams branch from 11 am - 1 pm on To register your child at no cost: (1) Foundation. for a storytime and craft session every Fridays for individual help with your stop by your nearest library branch in For more information about Dolly Friday from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in a safe and technology questions. Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, or Parton’s Imagination Library, contact fun environment. Each week children For more information, contact Williams Wolf Creek and fill out a paper registration partnership manager Rebecca Stoltz will hear themed stories about topics like branch manager Ellie Avis at 541-846- form, or (2) visit josephinelibrary.org/get- at 541-476-0571 ext. 108 or rstoltz@ dinosaurs, space, holidays, or animals. 7020 or [email protected]. involved/imagination-library and fill out josephinelibrary.org. Williams Community Williams branch of Josephine Community the online registration form. For more information about the library Garden Club Library District is located at 20695 Sponsors for this program include district, contact Brandace Rojo at 541- Children of all ages and their families Williams Highway and is open Tuesdays, AllCare Health, the four Rotary Clubs 476-0571 or [email protected]. are invited to join the Garden Club at the Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 1 - 6 pm Williams branch every Wednesday from and Fridays from 11 am - 4 pm. 2 - 3 pm. Come plant seeds and plants, Dolly Parton’s Visit the A-Frame Bookstore The Book Barn learn about worms and pollinators, and Imagination Library Now open the Upper Applegate Road enjoy being out in the sunshine. It’s been one year since the four Rotary @ Ruch Library A-Frame first Saturday of To register and for more information, Clubs in Josephine County teamed Ruch each month Used books from $1 to $1.50 contact Williams branch manager up with Josephine Community Library Library Ellie Avis at 541-846-7020 or eavis@ District to bring the Dolly Parton’s Tuesdays 12 - 4 $5 Bag Sale josephinelibrary.org. Imagination Library to local families. Thursdays 1 - 5 12 - 4 pm Improve your computer skills Since its launch in May 2018, 1,562 Saturdays 12 - 4 Need help using the internet? Have children, ages birth to five who live in Managed by Friends of Highway 238 Located next to the questions about your new phone or Josephine County, are receiving books in Ruch Library. Join us! 8 miles from Jacksonville A-Frame Bookstore tablet? Library volunteers can help. Call or the mail each month at no cost to their Applegater Summer 2019 7 NONPROFIT NEWS AND UPDATES — A Greater Applegate — — McKee Bridge Historical Society — AGA offers mini-grants for to meet requests for no more than $250. community building As the name suggests, these funds are A Greater Applegate (AGA) is pleased intended to meet more urgent needs for to announce the launch of two new mini- materials and supplies, transportation, and grant opportunities—Momentum Grants technical support to ensure the success and Fast Grants—for groups helping of a community-building activity. We to build community in the Applegate envision these grants being of greater Valley. The new grant program is made interest to volunteer efforts that need possible by funding through a Capacity a little funding to bring an activity for Connection, Visioning, and Action together. Fast Grant decisions will grant from The Ford Family Foundation. be made throughout the year by AGA Momentum Grants. Grants of up to at the monthly board meeting following $2,500 will be awarded for Applegate the request. Valley projects and programs aligned Neither of these grants is available for with A Greater Applegate’s mission to personal or family needs, and successful “build community by sustaining and requests must demonstrate the ability to enhancing local connections that promote contribute to building community in the the environmental, economic, and social Applegate Valley. For more information, vitality of the Applegate Valley.” By fostering go to the AGA website or email info@ new ideas and engaging organizations and agreaterapplegate.org. groups working to benefit the Applegate Nonprofit and Valley, AGA hopes to create a stronger, business networks more connected, and more vital Applegate In the last two issues of the Applegater, Valley community. Momentum Grant we announced the Nonprofit Network This drawing of McKee Bridge, created by McKee family descendant Evelyn Williams, applications are available on our website and our intention to launch a Business will decorate water bottles sold at McKee Bridge Day on June 8. (agreaterapplegate.org) and will be Network. The Nonprofit Network is accepted until the September 1 deadline. well under way—our next quarterly Don’t miss McKee Bridge Day Tractor Association Branch 141. Vendors, While the maximum grant award is event is scheduled for June 10 at This year’s gathering for McKee Bridge artists, and nonprofits will have booths to $2,500, smaller requests are encouraged Red Lily Vineyards from 4 to 6 pm. Day on Saturday, June 8, will feature all the visit, and crafters and historical displays to ensure broader disbursement of limited This program will be more informal than usual activities, but also something new: will be out on the bridge. There’s also a funds. Momentum Grants will be awarded recent events to give nonprofit leaders Doggy World, in coordination with the bake sale and a 50-50 raffle, so you might on October 15. a chance to network with each other and Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS). go home richer for spending the day at Momentum grantees will be required share ideas about how to strengthen See the article on page 3 by Laura Ahearn the bridge. to include A Greater Applegate in their local nonprofits and the community for more information about Doggy World, The historical society’s traveling community outreach or in publicity about we serve. We also have begun planning and bring your favorite doggy friend to museum will be displaying the McKee their funded project or program. Examples a Storytelling Workshop for nonprofits join in on the fun. Bridge Quilt, and we still have Centennial might be using the AGA logo in a three- and a nonprofit community event in As is traditional, the Applegate Lions t-shirts available in all sizes, as well as hats dimensional project or a brief description the fall. If you are not yet part of the Club will be selling barbecued tri-tip and cups. New this year are water bottles of AGA’s Momentum Grant program in network and want to be, please contact sandwiches and hot dogs. Those, along decorated with McKee Bridge artwork press releases. Press releases should be sent us at [email protected]. with salads and root-beer floats from (see photo) by McKee family descendant to [email protected] for review Businesses in the Applegate should McKee Bridge Historical Society, should Evelyn Williams. before release to the public. expect a letter from us in the coming satisfy your appetite while you listen to Don’t miss this fun, family-friendly AGA recently initiated the Momentum month inviting them to participate in the foot-stompin’ music by the Old-time event, or you, and your dog, may be very Grant program with a $2,500 contribution start of the Business Network. We will Fiddlers from noon till 2 pm. Also check sad. We’d like to try to avoid that. to Ruch Outdoor Community School be seeking their ideas for topics, when out customized cars and trucks, displayed Contact me for more information. (ROCS) to renovate the community track to meet, and how to best support by the Stray Cats Car Club, and a working Paul Tipton • 541-846-7501 and playfield and create a space for the the diverse Applegate Valley business display of antique gas and steam engines Chair, McKee Bridge Historical Society whole community to gather in a healthy community. We have heard strong support from the Early Day Gas Engine and [email protected] environment. The ROCS Momentum for shared marketing and branding, Grant supports one of the three priorities more local events, and a map of Applegate developed in the Applegate Valley businesses like the one appearing regularly Community Vitality Roadmap process: in the Jacksonville Review. We are excited Sweet corn at Pacifica create sustainable, intergenerational, to pursue these and other ideas. If BY JONATHAN SPERO hands-on learning opportunities for youth. you want to join in the planning, please The other two Roadmap priorities are (1) email [email protected]. You may not know that a back corner create a common Applegate Valley identity And if you want to become part of of Pacifica is being used to develop new that embodies the Applegate quality of life, A Greater Applegate, please let me know. open-source, open-pollinated, organic In early August a crew of corn tasters and (2) provide a system to support and We are actively recruiting board members sweet corn varieties, and the first of these will be in the field choosing the plants grow Applegate Valley businesses. AGA for this growing organization and welcome is now on the market. with the sweetest ears. You, too, can be will address both of these priorities over contributions from more Applegaters! Tuxana corn, developed from an a corn taster. Being a corn taster involves the coming months. Seth Kaplan Anasazi mother corn crossed with a sugar- sampling a great many raw ears of corn Fast Grants. Fast Grants are available Chair, A Greater Applegate enhanced (SE) pollen provider, has had six in the field and selecting the sweetest on an ongoing basis throughout the year [email protected] generations of selection on Pacifica lands. ones. Pay is in corn to take home. Tasting Tuxana is a white corn with large ears and involves a shift of two-and-a-half or three Nonprofit organizations in the Applegate Valley are welcome to submit news and 16 to 18 rows of large kernels. It is rich hours. If you would like to be a corn taster, event information to the Applegater. Email [email protected]. and creamy and only moderately sweet. contact [email protected]. It is pledged to open source and is now Thank you to Pacifica for providing for sale at Siskiyou Seeds in Williams and a place where tomorrow’s new vegetable DON'T MISS ONLINE ARTICLES! Restoration Seeds in Talent. crops can be created. If you wish to donate VISIT APPLEGATER.ORG. In 2019, Zanadoo f8 (eighth generation) to this project, make the donation to • Chris Bratt tributes in full will be growing on the Pacifica field. This Pacifica (pacificagarden.org) for making • Stories on the Land excerpt one is selected for sweetness, and we hope this crop-breeding space available. it will be the sweetest open-pollinated SE Jonathan Spero • Vaccine opinion piece corn line out there. [email protected] 8 Summer 2019 Applegater

THE STARRY SIDE Summer thoughts BY GREELEY WELLS Spring and its floods are over. Summer Egyptian astrologer got in trouble with his You might wonder why summer turning of the and its warmth are coming. Clear king. To redeem himself, he renamed these solstice is not the hottest day of the year. ship. It’s like night skies await. So get out there, get stars after the queen’s beautiful hair. (The The answer is a phenomenon called “the the lag of the Greeley Wells comfortable, and look up. king was happy, and the astrologer got off lag of the seasons.” It’s like a huge ship seasons. It’s the Directly overhead in June you’ll see free!) Tail or locks, it’s an attractive, dim changing course: the pilot throws the lag between our actions and their effects. Bootes (pronounced bo-OH-teez) the group of stars. The darker your sky, the wheel over to the desired side, but, as on Meanwhile, the earth is steadily Herdsman, marked by the very bright better it looks. the Titanic, almost nothing happens. Even warming, and it makes sense to minimize star Arcturus. (Look for the Big Dipper Each night these constellations move when the ship starts to change course, the our carbon footprint now. If we do, and setting in the northwest and “follow the slightly west. To measure that movement, change is minute at first and very slowly if scientists’ predictions turn out to be arc” of its handle to find Arcturus.) East extend your fist at arm’s length at the same gains with time. With the lag of the right, we’ll save humanity and life on this of Bootes is Hercules, roughly shaped like time and place each night. Every night the seasons, the land, water, and air have to beautiful planet. an hourglass: two trapezoids, one large and sky progresses about one fist west, so these soak in the heat for a while to warm up. So Even if predictions turn out to be one smaller. Between Bootes and Hercules constellations will end up in the same place it’ll be months later—in August—before wrong, no harm done. We’ll have a is an obvious, beautiful “C” shape called at this time next year. we see the hottest days. cooler earth, and we’ll have cleaner night Corona Borealis, the crown. Summer solstice A similar thing happens when we try skies for seeing and appreciating our Look to the northwest of this group June 21 is summer solstice, the longest to address climate change. It’s such a huge stars and planets. And that’s not a bad to find the subtle constellation Coma day and shortest night of the year. The sun worldwide thing, it will take years, dare thing. Hmm…seems like a no-brainer. Berenices. Then look a little farther west is the farthest south on the eastern and I say decades, for our mitigating actions Happy dark, clear, warm nights! to find Leo the Lion. Coma Berenices used western horizon lines and at its highest to truly affect it. It’s like the lag between Greeley Wells to be the end of Leo’s tail until an ancient- point in the sky all day. turning a ship’s wheel and the actual [email protected] Photo: Stellarium (stellarium.org). Of Note Mercury is in the sunset until 10:30 pm in June and July. By August he is almost invisible. Venus rises in the east in June at about 4:30 am for a brief morning view. In July she rises at approximately 5 am (good luck!), and in August she’s invisible in the sun. Mars sets about 10:30 pm in June and 9:45 pm in July. Jupiter is perfectly visible after 8 pm in June and after 6 pm in July. By August Jupiter is still visible in the late evening, setting about 1 am. Saturn rises about 10:20 pm in June; in July and August Saturn rises around sunset and stays up almost all night. Meteor showers July 27 - 30. Look for Delta Aquariids meteors before dawn, 15 to 20 meteors per hour in a dark sky. August 12 - 13. Look for Perseid meteors late evening to dawn. Although the peak of this shower will be marred by the brilliant waxing gibbous moon, it will probably still be one of the greatest showers of the year. (Stand in the shadow of a tree or building to block out the moonlight.) Applegater Summer 2019 9 DIRTY FINGERNAILS AND ALL Please pollinate me BY SIOUX ROGERS

Remember when your mother or father Since bees If you were a are not particular Sioux Rogers sat you down for “that” talk about the mess around with black-and-white either about whom birds and bees? They were really talking at least 110 food ruffed lemur in they “date.” They about pollination, right? People, animals, crops, which feed Madagascar, you will dance with a dainty goldenrod insects, plants—all living things need to a variety of living might be helping or mamba with a magnolia (ucanr. be “pollinated” to continue the species. beings—including pollinate over 130 edu/sites/PollenNation/Meet_ When we think of pollinators for you—bees are different plant The_Pollinators). plants, we usually think of bees first, but considered to be species. These Which pollinator is on the graveyard there are actually many other pollinators the most diligent cute mammals shift? Bats are on duty! They are extremely such as insects, birds, mammals, and, yes, and important of are known as “the necessary, not only for eating pounds of even wind and rain. Pollinators transfer all the accidental world’s largest night-flying insects but for pollinating pollen from a stamen, the male portion pollinators. pollinators” due over 300 different types of fruits and of a flower, to a pistil, the egg-holding, Bees and to their symbiotic night-blooming flowers. They are partial Lemurs are the world’s largest pollinators female part. It is this process that starts butterflies both relationship with to strong-smelling white flowers such as (audubon.org/magazine). the production of seeds. like brightly the traveler’s tree. the night-blooming cereus. A pollinator—a bee, for example—is colored plants with They feed on the Why do bats “work” at night? Since not purposely doing a good deed to a flat landing field. palm-type flowers, they are nearly blind, they use echolocation the flower and certainly is not in love. However, bright forcing the blooms to navigate and find food in the dark. Pollinators are self-serving and kiss the colors in bee talk open to access the Nighttime’s lighter air traffic and fewer flower only to collect nectar for their food. do not include nectar, in the process predators mean a higher bat survival rate. Love has nothing to do with pollinating. red, as bees can’t getting a dusting Just to make these night flights tempting, Pollination is an accidental gift to the plant see red. It is the of pollen from the night-blooming flowers often have the from the pollinator. For the plant, though, hummingbird who plant (indefenseof same alluring and romantic fragrance as pollination is all about saving its DNA for is partial to reds, plants.com). the daytime Casa Blanca lily. the survival of its own species. Pollination plus oranges and Beetles, often Moths are another night-shift is a symbiotic relationship between the whites. Butterflies maligned, make up pollinator. They have the same landing pollinator and the plant. like a multitude of the largest group requirements as the butterflies: a flat How does a pollinator choose whom colors such as white, of pollinators— landing field. The sphinx moth is quite to mess around with? Is it just random— pink, purple, red, mainly because interesting in that, being small with a long whoever is handy? Or is it species specific? yellow, and orange. there are so many snout, it resembles a hummingbird. The A sphinx moth hums as it hovers Just as evolution is not exactly random but Bees and of them! Roughly sphinx moth actually makes a humming (discoverlife.org). rather functional, so is pollination. Form butterflies are counting, there are sound as it hovers mid-air. follows function. Pollinators are attracted particularly at least 240,000 Now I’m pondering: are we all just a to smells, colors, shapes, sweetness, or attracted to really sweet or very minty known flowering plants on this planet. pollination accident? stink of the nectar. The shape of what is to aromas. Hummingbirds are partial to Of those, 88 percent are pollinated by Dirty fingernails and all, be pollinated evolves with the pollinator. tubular-shaped flowers because of the beetles. Beetles are not fussy eaters—they Sioux Rogers Which came first? The hummingbird’s abundance of nectar pools in the tubular like flavors and smells ranging from spicy [email protected] long beak or the tubular flower? bottom, reachable with its beak. and sweet to ghastly fermented. Beetles 541-890-9876

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This year the Sugarloaf Community Association (SCA), which supports seven vibrant acres of community land in downtown Williams, is celebrating Springing forward at the park our 20th anniversary. Founded by folks seeking a sanctuary for grassroots BY JANIS MOHR-TIPTON education for their children, the SCA has always been a center for both This spring, shooting star wildflowers education and recreation. Previously have made thick magenta-colored home to several generations of students, carpets in many places in the park the land now houses a Waldorf-inspired and campground. While these brilliant kindergarten, an outdoor after-school flowers have been busy blooming, metal program for young children, and a sculptor Cheryl Garcia has been busy newly opened Resource Center. The SCA garden is tended by children who attend in her shop creating the Shooting Star SCA has several playgrounds, a the Forever Flowering Kindergarten there. sculpture, the next in the “Art in the Park” playing field and track, a community Photo: Jessie Casey. series for our park. garden, and an outdoor amphitheater While you are waiting for the Shooting for events—including the recent Earth educational materials, including books, Star sculpture, look for the metal bird Day Celebration, marking the first zines, games, arts and crafts supplies, sculptures that Cheryl and her crew have Williams Farmers’ Market of the year. computers, and more. The center is also already installed—the acorn woodpecker During Earth Day cleanup, Lydia Shockey The Monday-afternoon market, open available to host classes, meetings, and near the entrance, the northern flicker clears weeds and dead debris from 4 - 6:30 pm through October, brings events. For more information, to book an and three red-breasted nuthatches in the with the help of Finn and Lyra. the community together, and the land event, or to find out about how you can picnic areas just beyond the monarch Photo: Janis Mohr-Tipton. provides an expansive green setting where get involved with this exciting new project, garden in the upper level, and, in the lower kids love to run and play while adults shop, visit sugarloafcenter.org. picnic area, the pileated woodpecker on a mingle, and support our local farmers and SCA has received grants to provide pine tree by the drive-through road and artisans. The land is open to the public low-cost or free preschool at the Williams violet-green swallows in flight. At the 12- during daytime hours, excluding the upper Elementary School and also supports an foot high Mock Orange sculpture, look classroom area while classes are in session. after-school Strings Music Program for toward the river for the belted kingfisher Our most active programs on the land community children there. Both programs taking flight near the volleyball space at at the moment are the Forever Flowering are in high demand, with SCA volunteers the north end. Children’s Garden, with the Friends of administering them. The winter and spring rains have the Forest after-school program, and the We are also excitedly preparing for been good for the recovery of many new Resource Center. Here are a few notes our 20th Anniversary Celebration, which plants and shrubs. Ponderosa pines that from the directors of those programs. will be held outdoors on the SCA land on succumbed to the drought have been The Forever Flowering Children’s Saturday, June 22, from 4 - 10 pm. Games removed in all the picnic areas to reduce Garden offers a Waldorf kindergarten and activities for children and adults begin the hazard to visitors of falling dead limbs. curriculum that is inspired with a nature- at 4 pm, with live music, dinner, and Now new plants and shrubs are being based approach for ages four to seven. drinks available from 5 - 7 pm. This will be added with the help of Ruch Outdoor Daily and seasonal rhythms are created followed by a lively live auction and more Community School students, community with circle movement, free play, gardening, fun live music and dancing, with drinks volunteers, and A Greater Applegate’s Park wholesome handmade snacks, nature and treats available. The silent auction will Enhancement Program team, thanks to an crafting, forest exploration, earth skills, be an opportunity for amazing scores! SCA Oregon Community Foundation grant Young girl trying out the newly installed watercolor painting, storytelling, puppetry, is an inspiring haven in our community, to restore more native, drought-tolerant, interactive sundial in Cantrall Buckley Park. woodworking, early handwork arts, and and everyone is invited to join the party! and pollinator varieties. Steve Lambert, Photo: Janis Mohr-Tipton. much more. For more information, We are especially calling on all past board Jackson County Parks manager, is pleased contact lead teacher, Misti, at misti. members, teachers, students, and many to see more restoration of the habitat with I want to thank you for all the wonderful [email protected] or 707-921-9694. volunteers to join us in celebrating all we plants that can survive in the changing compliments about the new features in The Sugarloaf Resource Center, an have created together. Let’s see what we environment and attract pollinators. the park—the art sculptures, the new all-ages space for culture and learning, can do with the next 20 years! Our new park hosts, Pam and Bill, are plantings—and how good the park looks welcomes public visitors to SCA land For more information about very busy helping to add color to the park in general. It is a wonderful example on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 - Sugarloaf Community Association, go to with landscaping at the restroom in Area of the partnership of our community’s 6:30 pm and Sundays from 1:30 - 6:30 sugarloafcommunityassociation.org or visit A with the help of Deb, our park ranger. generous donors and willing volunteers pm. The resource center provides a [email protected]. Stop to say hello when you are visiting. working alongside the Jackson County cozy environment for self-directed and Jenny Van Winkle They are friendly folks who are adding a Parks management. social learning and hosts a collection of [email protected] lot of cheeriness to the park experience. We all love it when the park looks Ron, who stays in the park throughout the so good, and we are a part of making year, is always busy working on improving that happen. it and cleaning it up. Give him a hello, too, Janis Mohr-Tipton and thank him for his ongoing dedication 541-846-7501 to making this park look nice. [email protected]

Debbie Tollefson Don Tollefson Principal Broker Principal Broker Owner Owner 541-973-9184 541-973-9185 Why choose us over other realtors? 1. Custom personalized service We adjust our service to your needs. 2. Consistent continuous communication 3. Newest marketing system Manaport tours and drone shots. 4. Extensive internet presence We syndicate to over 50 websites. 5. We focus on quality, not volume Our clients say they really appreciate our professionalism. Applegater Summer 2019 11 What the hemp is going on? BY RICHARD ROSEBERG, PHD The relationship between humans 1. Industrial hemp for fiber and and the Cannabis sativa plant is long seed. Industrial hemp is federally defined and complex, and the current situation as Cannabis sativa that has less than 0.3 in Oregon and other states continues to percent by weight of the delta-9 THC evolve quickly. Oregon has been ahead of compound (the compound that causes the most other states in its efforts to legalize psychoactive “high”). cannabis for medicinal and recreational OSU will be growing and studying purposes, but Oregon State University industrial hemp at research stations like (OSU) has been unable to conduct SOREC in 2019. OSU faculty will be A Rogue Valley field with a hemp crop near harvest time in the fall of 2018. research or provide public outreach due able to collect and answer questions Photo: Richard Roseberg. to the crop’s illegality in all forms under related to industrial hemp only if a farmer federal law until recently. confirms that he or she has registered with For 2019, SOREC The 2018 federal Farm Bill the Oregon Department of Agriculture is cooperating on a decriminalized industrial hemp (ODA) as a hemp grower. statewide agronomy production, but OSU Research and 2. Hemp for other purposes. Some field trial focusing Extension efforts are limited until the farmers are growing hemp (low THC) exclusively on industrial US Department of Agriculture provides in order to extract other cannabinoids hemp. To avoid any regulatory guidelines—which may take or terpenes. The legality of this approach possible conflict up to a year. Many people have asked what is still a gray area in federal law. Because with neighboring OSU will be doing to support this segment production and extraction of such growers, we plan to of agriculture in the meantime, especially compounds was not included as a protected destroy our crop at here in southern Oregon, including aspect in the 2018 Farm Bill, OSU will not an immature stage, the Applegate Valley, where growing be answering questions related to this type before male flowers conditions are nearly ideal for this species. of crop but will instead refer farmers to and pollen develop. Within the limits of the new Farm the ODA. We are also cooperating Bill, OSU is now in the process of 3 and 4. Marijuana licensed for with others across the developing and conducting a number of medicinal or recreational use. Marijuana state in collecting and research and educational outreach efforts, is federally defined as Cannabis sativa that responding to questions Female hemp flower after harvest and drying. Photo: Richard Roseberg. and the Southern Oregon Research and has more than 0.3 percent by weight of we can answer, as well Extension Center (SOREC) is keenly the delta-9 THC compound. OSU will as publishing current involved in these developments. Despite not answer questions or advise medical or and new information on hemp as it Regardless of what type of crop a the excitement around this crop, and recreational marijuana growers. OSU will becomes available. person is growing, we will continue despite OSU’s desire to be as supportive as refer all questions to the Oregon Health We hope that future rule changes to provide general farm advice and possible to our state’s agricultural industry Authority (medical) or the Oregon Liquor and legislation will allow us to work identification services, such as weed and and communities, the current status of Control Commission (recreational). more fully on more aspects of this insect identification, or answer generic federal laws and regulations affect what 5. Unlicensed hemp or marijuana. crop species, but for now we will be questions about irrigation water use, we can legally say and do. We’ve listed OSU will not answer questions or limited strictly to what is allowed under generic pesticide use rules, etc. below the five primary types of cannabis advise unlicensed hemp or marijuana federal law, which means we will not be Richard Roseberg, PhD growers. Refer to each group below to see growers. OSU will refer all questions or consulting or testing any aspects of post- Director, OSU Southern Oregon how OSU-SOREC may interact with the complaints about such growers to local harvest extract processing, purification or Research and Extension Center growers in each category. law enforcement. product formulation. [email protected] 12 Summer 2019 Applegater Happy Birthday, ATA! BY DAVID CALAHAN

Happy Birthday! The Applegate Trails The gently rolling trail leading out from Association is eight years old! the existing trailhead at the Sterling Creek Like some people, rather than receive end runs through open mountain meadows gifts we prefer to give a gift in celebration. and chaparral, offering spectacular views of Our gift is to the community. What is it? Ruch and the Applegate shortly after you It is a new trailhead at the west end of the leave the parking area. East Applegate Ridge Trail (the ART). ART Phase II Located on Highway 238 between Phase II of the ART is still in the Longanecker Road and Forest Creek planning stages. Check out the proposed Road, 400 feet uphill from the highway, route on our website at applegatetrails. the trailhead has a gravel parking area org. This part of the trail will link the for 12 vehicles, a picnic table, and an East ART to both the Jacksonville informational kiosk. Thanks to a Travel Forest Park and Humbug Creek via Oregon grant, trail users will no longer the Wellington Wildlands (see need to park their cars on the opposite side savewildlands.org). Since the ART is Trailhead construction was completed in mid-May, except for the asphalt approach of the highway and then run a gauntlet of almost entirely on public lands managed off Highway 238. Pictured, left to right, Duane Mallams, ATA volunteer, and Roarke Ball speeding vehicles to access the trail. by BLM, everything we do requires a on his backhoe with celebratory balloons. Photo: David Calahan. The 5.5-mile East ART, completed in paperwork process—and patience! 2017, quickly became extremely popular Applegaters—on one of your trips into National Trails Day Hope to see you at 9 am that Saturday and may exceed 5,000 visitors per year. town, we invite you to stop and check out The same attire will also suffice for morning or on the trail sometime. That estimate would not include all the the new trailhead. Better yet, bring sturdy helping us maintain the trails at Cantrall David Calahan canine visitors, since they rarely register shoes, layered clothing, water, and a hat Buckley Park on June 1, which is National [email protected] at the kiosk. and go for a hike. Trails Day. Applegate Trails Association

severity fire regime, with an average of to facilitate the use of this important tool Prescribed burning for eight years between fires, according to on private land in our community. Our tree-ring studies. This means our landscape group is helping interested landowners a safer community experienced frequent fires that primarily develop burn plans, find grant funding burned at a low intensity mixed with for prescribed burning and the initial BY AARON KRIKAVA some medium-to-high severity burning. mechanical fuel reduction, develop work The Miller Complex in 2017 was a good cooperatives among neighbors, and Wildfire, and how to example of this, burning with 66 percent provide the crucial insurance coverage for protect ourselves from low, 27 percent medium, and only 7 this vitally important work. We are also its destructive effects, is percent high severity. interested in training a local workforce of one of the hottest topics This frequent return of fire to our qualified individuals to carry out this work in our communities right landscape allowed only a small amount in our community on an ongoing basis. now. The intense fires and of new growth to accumulate, so when If you are interested in the use of resulting smoke we’ve all fire did come through, it burned at a prescribed fire on your property or would witnessed over the last lower intensity. If fire is excluded from like to get involved on the ground to learn few years are problems landscapes like ours (as has happened since how to use this important tool, contact me that need to be addressed the advent of modern fire-suppression at [email protected]. If you would like to ■ HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE with meaningful practices approximately 50 - 70 years learn more about prescribed fire and how Continued from page 1 solutions. It may seem ago), the accumulation of fuel leads it is used, go to applegatepartnershipwc. counterintuitive, but one to devastatingly severe wildfires when org/programs for links to articles, research of the most important fire finally does reenter the landscape. papers, and videos. ways to mitigate the Prescribed burning is a vital tool to Together we can use prescribed burning impact of wildfire in our keep fuel loads at a safe level, so when to protect our community and reduce the communities is the use 2018 prescribed fire training exchange (TREX) in the Applegate. fire does return, its effects are moderate impact of wildfires. of more fire, specifically Photo: Jon Bailey, The Nature Conservancy. and manageable. Aaron Krikava controlled or prescribed Recognizing the importance of Board Member, Applegate Partnership burning on both private and public lands. the spread of a fire. Federal agencies also prescribed burning, the Applegate and Watershed Council The Applegate Partnership is working to use prescribed burning on public lands Partnership is working with local partners [email protected] put this vital tool back in our toolbox. as the preferred tool to maintain safe fuel Controlled burning is the careful levels after mechanical fuel reduction has application of fire to the landscape been performed. during ideal environmental conditions of Planning documents at the federal, Grant received for temperature, humidity, fuel moisture, and regional, and local levels recognize the wind speed and direction in order to safely importance of increased prescribed burning Williams multimodal path consume the fine fuels (less than three to manage wildfire risk. Unfortunately, the inches in diameter) that primarily carry use of controlled burning on private lands BY BRYAN HUNTER wildfire. This use of fire goes far back into in the western United States has been We got a grant! In collaboration with Josephine County Planning and Williams human history and continues today with relatively limited due to the complexity Elementary School, we’re receiving a $65,000 grant from a state program called Safe Routes modern fire-management practices. It was of planning, permits, and liability. At the to Schools, as well as matching funds from Josephine County. That’s a total of around a primary tool used by native cultures for Applegate Partnership, we’re working to $130,000 to construct a multimodal path, about four-tenths of a mile long, from thousands of years to reduce fuel loads, overcome those hurdles and get useful fire Williams Elementary School to Williams General Store and the post office. improve forage for game animals, and back on the ground. Now comes the fun part: meeting with Josephine County Public Works officials and provide many other ecological benefits. Our region is often described as a “fire- engineers and Three Rivers School District staff to implement the project. Ideally, our Currently, wildland firefighters rely adapted” ecosystem, meaning the flora and working committee would like a path on the northwest side of Williams Highway, on heavily on controlled burning in the fauna of our area have evolved to withstand the far side of the ditch, to accommodate two-way traffic of walkers, bikers, wheelchairs, form of “backfiring” operations to remove the effects of our historic fire regime and and horses. unburned fuel between control lines quickly bounce back to a healthy state. The county may see it differently, though, due to “challenges” of getting children and the advancing flame front. In this Research shows that southwest Oregon across the street at the crosswalk and path maintenance issues. To address those concerns, way it is often fire, not water, that stops has had a high frequency/low-to-mixed- our volunteer group has offered to maintain the path if the county builds it. And with effective signage and road striping, we feel the crosswalk can be made safe. Josephine County Public Works, county engineers, and representatives from Three Rivers School District have already met, and we’ve heard about the challenge of the project and the potential reworking of this grant toward widening the road and restriping, but without a path. Our committee will join those groups at a second meeting being scheduled, so we’re patiently waiting to weigh in on the project. This four-tenth-mile-long path, phase one of our path throughout Williams, appears to be near construction. We plan additional portions to make local car-free travel safe and pleasant. If you have ideas and comments, please contact me. Bryan Hunter • 541-846-9443 Bike-Pedestrian Path Working Committee [email protected] Applegater Summer 2019 13

BIRD EXPLORER

The Raven food, such as roadkills or large mammal the nesting carcasses, is available. songbirds there, BY PETER J. THIEMANN In old Norse mythology Ravens appear as Ravens are as mystical birds transcending natural known to raid the The Raven is a very boundaries. Odin, one of the principal songbirds’ nests. charismatic species and Norse gods, had a pair of Ravens, described So it is Peter J. Thiemann may be the most successful as very intelligent. Their existence in important bird on the planet. these tales of the far north illustrates not to encourage the Raven species Common in the West, it the success of this species to live in to overpopulate our environments can be found in cities, the almost any environment. However, by controlling garbage stored outside country, and wild places Ravens have now become rare in Europe. and reducing litter on our roadways from the Mexican border Here in the Applegate Valley, Ravens and in city parking lots. Birds thrive best to the arctic. In places are everywhere. I have a pair nesting when living on natural food sources, like Yellowstone National in a large Douglas fir tree on my land. During and that includes the beautiful black Park, Ravens sometimes courtship they have been performing Common Raven. gather on carrion in large spectacular aerial displays; now they are Peter J. Thiemann numbers, alerting bears, often patrolling their home territory. With [email protected] wolves, coyotes, and foxes all the Raven activity in the air over my Photo courtesy of peterjthiemann that easily obtainable land, I am somewhat concerned about flickr photo stream.

Host plants for this A tale of two tigers swallowtail are mainly buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), snowbrush BY LINDA KAPPEN (Ceanothus velutinus), and other mountain shrubs. Western Tiger Swallowtail thistle, phlox, and many other native Males perch in trees on the The Western Tiger Swallowtail species of plants. Males will mud-puddle lookout for females. Females lay (Papilio rutulus) is in the butterfly family to gather important nutrients. eggs singly on the host plant’s Papilionidae. It is a large butterfly with a I have fond memories of a time a friend leaves. This species will produce wingspread of up to 3.5 inches. and I tried to outsmart this species of one generation. The pupae ThePapilio rutulus is bright yellow with swallowtail while trying to net some for hibernate over winter months. a broad black border, black tiger stripes observation. They were so fast we tried Adults will nectar on flowers on its wings, and two large tails. With its driving ahead of them as they flew down of yerba santa, Columbia lily, Western Tiger Swallowtail wings open it displays metallic blue spots the roads. Then we would stop, jump out chokecherry, penstemons, with orange crescents on the margin above of the car, and try to net them as they flew and many other native the tails. past us. Although it was challenging and plants. They will use garden This butterfly can be seen, gliding fun and might have worked a time or two, favorites such as zinnias and and flying swiftly, on roadways next to it wasn’t a practice we kept doing. sweet Williams, and they creeks and rivers from mid-April through Enjoy these beauties this summer even will visit sprinklers for September. During this time it is fun to on a shady creek road! waterdrops. Males will mud- walk on country roads that follow creeks Pale Tiger Swallowtail puddle, often with other species in wooded areas and watch the males The Pale Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio of swallowtails. patrol up and down the corridors looking eurymedon) is also in the Papilionidae Once while scouting in the for females, who fly higher in the wooded family of butterflies. It is a large butterfly Kalmiopsis Wilderness for a canopies. Some favorite habitats are flower with a wingspread of up to three inches. route for the Siskiyou Field gardens, parks, and canyons. Its range It is very white to creamy white with Institute butterfly class, I saw is western North America, from British black stripes and a broad black border a Pale Tiger Swallowtail on a Columbia to Baja California and east to with blue and red-orange caudal (near the ceanothus plant next to the road. New Mexico and Colorado. tail) markings. It stayed there only briefly, but Pale Tiger Swallowtail In southern Oregon two or more The Pale Tiger Swallowtail can be long enough for me to walk broods per season are possible. Host seen in flight from mid-April to October, almost right up to it to get a plants are broad-leaved trees such as big- with the peak of its flight period April look. That was when I discovered why it Note: If you would like to learn more leaf maples, willows, aspens, and black through July. It frequents open woodlands, was allowing me to approach for a couple about our region’s butterflies and moths, cottonwoods. Females lay eggs singly on foothills, chaparral, streamsides, ocean of seconds: she was laying an egg. Siskiyou Field Institute is offering a course, host plants. The caterpillars feed on the habitats, canyons, or any other spot with Pale Tiger Swallowtails are wonderful Introduction to Butterflies and Moths leaves. The pupae overwinter and emerge flowering shrubs and plants from sea level butterflies. Though they are large, their of the Siskiyous, on June 14 - 16. For in the spring. to higher mountains. Its range is from flight is graceful and strong. more information, call 541-597-8530 or Adults seek nectar from blackberries, British Columbia to Baja California and Linda Kappen visit thesfi.org. sweet William, rhododendron, native mountain regions to New Mexico. [email protected] Photos by Linda Kappen.

Let our advertisers know that you saw their ad in the Applegater. 14 Summer 2019 Applegater Pacifica 2.0 BY GERI LITTLEJOHN

On April 20, Pacifica: A Garden in field trips, Oregon’s outdoor school, and the Siskiyous celebrated 20 (20!) years summer camps. Our Arts Guild activities as a nonprofit. To acknowledge this major have ebbed and flowed over the years, but milestone, the board decided, during the board holds strongly to the dream of a retreat in December, to hold a Celebration vibrant arts programming and community Day highlighting Pacifica’s varied aspects. studio spaces. At the retreat our board also recognized Like many nonprofits that start that Pacifica might not be able to exist as small endeavors begun by passionate for another 20 years, let alone thrive, people, Pacifica is so busy doing what without making some significant changes. we do (maintaining the large property We decided to use the celebration to and many buildings on the land and kick off a year-long process of deep offering hands-on natural science education listening, dynamic strategic planning, to regional schools), we find that we Pacifica photo by Julia, West Forty Images, 2014. collaborating with other local nonprofits, have grown in size and scope without and shifting to a membership-based having grown sufficient supporting updating our website to make it easier coincides with our ribbon cutting for the organization that focuses as much on the infrastructure. As a result, we are for you to learn about the good community newly completed Blue Sky solar array. community aspect of our mission as on undercapitalized and understaffed. work we do, the interesting expanded A planning committee is currently the arts, nature, and education. So, now we turn to you, our opportunities we will be offering, and the working on a new annual Harvest Faire. We are calling this process of community, with the desire to engage our options for involvement. Be sure to save the dates, October 19-20. strengthening our infrastructure and collective resources and talents to refine We also imagine an online Welcome to Pacifica 2.0! refining and refocusing our mission, “The and strengthen how we fulfill our arts- membership platform to make Geri Littlejohn Birthing of Pacifica 2.0.” As we honor our nature-education-community mission. it easy to join, enroll in classes, and [email protected] history of programming and stewardship, (When we say “community,” we include purchase event tickets online (with we begin setting our sights on realizing the the whole Applegate Valley.) Where we membership discounts). potential of what Pacifica can truly become direct our energies will be a combination Building on the success of our 20th Save the dates! over the next 20 years. of the passions and energies of the board Celebration Day with hikes, classes, and • June 16: Pacifica Day/Solar Pacifica was originally established when as well as our community’s perceived and demonstrations, Pacifica will begin offering circumstances made it possible to purchase expressed needs and interests. bimonthly Pacifica Days. These Sunday Celebration Steve Miller’s 420-plus acre property, move Seeking new volunteers events will offer numerous opportunities • August 11: Pacifica Day ForestFarm Nursery onto the back of the We are currently seeking new to enjoy this gem of a property, try your • October 19 - 20: First Annual Harvest property, and convene an all-volunteer active members, energetic volunteers, hand at an art or craft, be a part of a work Faire featuring local food, local music, board to focus members’ passions around enthusiastic board members, and email party, help with tending and expanding local arts, and local nonprofits. plants, nature, and the arts via community addresses for our newsletter. If you have the gardens, and enjoy local food, music, offerings and educational programs. Every nonprofit management skills, IT expertise, and a day of community. There will For more information, email info@ spring our Caterpillar program entertains event-planning experience, or other skills be opportunities to meet with board pacificagarden.org or visit pacificagarden. and educates thousands of students in nine you are willing to offer, please let us know! members, learn more about Pacifica, and org or Facebook Pacifica: a garden in school districts. Additionally, our property Heading into our 21st year as a participate in listening sessions. The first the Siskiyous. hosts thousands of students on-site for nonprofit, Pacifica needs help with Pacifica Day is scheduled for June 16 and

was intended to introduce kids to fun The program has been Go fly a kite! and interesting activities. By welcoming funded entirely by deposit bottle collection drives and BY LAIRD FUNK any child, Williams student or not, it also introduces new families to our local donations. No school money “Go fly a kite!” That was the direction school, the center of many Williams is involved. The latest drive given to participants of the Williams activities. The second part seems to be by the Williams Viability School springtime after-school activities working: the school’s enrollment has Committee netted over $150! program—even though there were no kites. increased since the program began. During my visit on But Greg Cox, the activities volunteer, The group has tackled a different March 10, students were and his wife, Jessica, a Williams School project each term. Once it was leather busy assembling kites from Participants in the after-school “Go Fly a Kite” program volunteer and substitute, knew that was working, where students made wallets, components they had made at at Williams School. Photo: Laird Funk. not a problem but an opportunity—an purses, and even a knife scabbard. Another earlier meetings. That day was opportunity to learn, build, and play. All time it was establishing a seed-saver meeting number five, with the sixth they needed to do was help the kids make group to teach kids where food comes and final day to be the actual flying their own kites, something none of them from and how to save seeds for future day. In previous meetings students had had ever done before! crops. Then they designed and built cut and assembled the skins for the Begun in winter 2016, the after-school accurate scale-model houses with working kites and had cut sticks to size for the program, coordinated by Amber Guient, electric lights. bracing. Greg incorporated a recycling lesson by using plastic covers from building materials in the kite skins. Another time students made kite- string spools from recycled PVC pipe pplegate iver odge Students learned how to construct a kite under the A R L and wound them with the flying line. direction of Greg Cox (right). Photo: Laird Funk. & estaurant As the kids gathered to assemble R their creations, Greg, Jessica, Kayla and share with those whose kites were stranded other parent volunteers circulated from at home. group to group and assisted with some of Because many kids had never flown a the more troublesome tasks, like holding kite, it took a while for them to learn just the sticks in place while the builder tied how much flying line to unreel to start and them into position. Within 30 minutes how fast and in which direction to run. those who had finished their kites were The latter ultimately made little difference trying them out, even though it was a very because, in spite of the day being the calm afternoon. By the end of my visit, the most beautiful in months, the wind was kids had assembled most of the kites, and somewhere else—not at Williams School. anticipation of next week’s flying day was That they could not get their kites raising their spirits. to show their full potential seemed to On March 18, the group gathered matter little to the kite kids. What seemed Lodge open 7 days a week at the school, and Greg made an effort important to them and the adults was that Restaurant open Tues. - Thurs. 3 - 9 pm, Fri. - Sun. 3 - 10 pm to take care of a few last details to the group was having a great time playing Happy Hour Tues. - Sun. 3 - 5 pm with get everybody’s kite airworthy. together, with a kite or not. Do you need a Unfortunately, one of the first things kite to have fun running with your friends? discounts on well drinks and appetizers noticeable was that about half of the kids No, sometimes just the fun of running Live Music on the deck on Sun. 3 - 10 pm had taken their kites home and (surprise!) with friends is enough. Available for Retreats , Weddings, and Family Reunions many of them had forgotten to bring We do not know what the next activity them back to the school for fly day! But will be, but, judging from the kids, the Lodge 541-846-6690 • Restaurant 541-846-6082 while some kids were disappointed, others important thing is to learn, build, and Retreats 541-660-0244 • Weddings & Special Events 541-200-9882 were happy to run around the track with have fun together! 15100 Highway 238, Applegate, Oregon any kite, and many kids were happy to Laird Funk • [email protected] Applegater Summer 2019 15 Pacifica in pictures BY PEG PRAG

It’s hard to believe, but Pacifica Native Plant Society of Oregon is holding just celebrated its 20th Anniversary! their state meeting at Pacifica. We celebrated with a full day of free Pacifica is excited to be starting its classes, hikes, and demonstrations on art, second season of Outdoor School with nature, horses, wildcrafting, dogs, plants, fifth- and sixth-graders staying for three and history. All were great, and we days and two nights of outdoor study and thank the teachers for sharing their time fun. Vanessa Redding and Shauna Sorce and knowledge. and their incredible team have developed Pacifica will soon have an efficient a terrific curriculum, including special array of solar panels—installed by Kirpal campfire activities and night hikes. Pacifica Khalsa of Oregon Solarworks—with the hosts 250 to 300 children at its Outdoor essential and appreciated help of a Blue School and 4 - 5,000 at Caterpillar and Sky grant from Pacific Power. There will field trips. be a ribbon cutting on June 16 at 2 pm. Pacifica was thrilled to share an Come celebrate with us! Alternative energy Americorps Team with the Williams is important in so many ways, e.g., our Community Forest Project earlier in the electricity bill will be going down! year. With the help of Rodger Miller, The restrooms that Pacifica has needed volunteer extraordinaire, one of the things and worked toward for so many years are the team did at Pacifica was fix and create finally under way. Being constructed by the Bumblebee, a hay-wagon trailer fixed local contractor Richard Cassidy, they will up for field trips and events. hopefully be completed by July, when the Peg Prag • [email protected]

Top photo: Josephine County Historical Society member Leta Niederhauser playing Martha Messinger (Pacifica’s original homesteader) with the real Joyce Messinger (Martha’s great-granddaughter) and her granddaughters. Photo: Peg Prag. Middle photo: Blue Sky solar under construction. Photo: Ray Prag. Outdoor school campfire at Pacifica. Bumblebee hay wagon for field trips Bottom photo: Restroom under construction. Photo: Peg Prag. and events. Photo: Ray Prag. Photo: Ray Prag.

In 2017 portions of all kinds, including nonmotorized. The Motorcycle riders of the Cook and USFS relies more and more on user groups Green Trail were to help keep up with trail-maintenance exposed to wildfire, needs all across the forest. And in turn, keep trails open which weakened the those groups have started to work closely roots of many trees, together, combining both their people BY CHUCK STEAHLY causing unusual power and their skill sets. We look forward amounts of trail to continuing our partnership with the The Motorcycle Riders Association damage and fallen trees. In June 2018, MRA and support their work with other (MRA) has been helping the US Forest MRA teamed up with Southern Oregon partner organizations to maintain trails.” Service (USFS) maintain trails in the Trail Alliance (SOTA) to hold a work The MRA was created in 1965 to Applegate for over 25 years. A number of party to reopen Cook and Green, with a promote the responsible use of off- trails in the mountains around Applegate combined effort of nearly 100 man-hours road motorcycles and ATVs. We are a Lake are multiuse, open to motorcycles to get the popular trail usable again. nonprofit, family-oriented club centered (not ATVs) and happily shared with Without groups like MRA and SOTA, in Jacksonville and serving all of southwest nonmotorized users since they were built some trails would become unusable to the Oregon. MRA partners with the US decades ago. Many are old mining and fire average hiker or mountain biker. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land lookout supply trails that are now used Donna Mickley, district ranger for Management to help maintain trails. for recreation. MRA does the majority of the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District, We own about 1,000 acres next to the fallen tree removal, brush clearing, and says, “The MRA has been a longstanding, Jacksonville Woodlands and work with the drainage repair on all of these shared trails. reliable partner in our efforts to accomplish City of Jacksonville to offer a wide range Some of these trails are popular with much-needed trail maintenance in the of recreation opportunities, motorized and hikers and mountain bikers as well as Applegate Valley and has assisted with trails nonmotorized, to the public. motorcyclists, such as the Stein Butte Chuck Steahly • [email protected] Trail, Boundary Trail, Little Grayback, Felled trees were removed on the Summit Lake, and Cook and Green Trail. Cook and Green Trail in 2018. Motorcycles carry chainsaws to trouble spots. Other more remote or difficult trails, such as New London, Carlton Pasture, and Charlie Buck, have light hiker use but offer the challenge that motorcycle riders with advanced ability enjoy. Motorcycles are a great way to access trails while carrying tools, such as chainsaws, McLeods (large rakehoes), handsaws, and pruners. Being able to reach trouble spots quickly makes maintenance much more efficient than on foot. 16 Summer 2019 Applegater GRAPE TALK New “A-team” wineries in the Applegate

BY DEBBIE TOLLEFSON Debbie Tollefson After changing hands and renovating, Reggie and Debbie’s success with their wall, which displays information two new “A-team” wineries opened their wines includes a Best in Class at the 2018 about hempcrete as well as the steps doors in the Applegate. San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition to build with hempcrete, now stands Apricity Vineyard, on the former for their 2014 Syrah and recognition as a testament to their passion for location of the Crow and Bear Winery, in 2019 by the San Francisco Chronicle utilizing renewable products in all opened a new tasting room in the Jerome for both the 2016 Tempranillo (Double aspects of their vineyard. They have Prairie area. Augustino Estate and Vineyard Gold) and their 2014 Pinot Noir (Gold). incorporated reused and repurposed has refurbished its vineyard and remodeled The 2018 Oregon Wine Experience materials throughout the tasting the tasting room at the former Bridgeview awarded their 2014 Pinot Noir a Gold, room, including mushroom board, Winery on North Applegate Road. and the New Orleans International Wine barnwood, brick, and steel. Augustino Estate and Vineyard Competition in 2018 gave Augustino’s Apricity owners, Laloni Cook When I talked with Augustino’s owners, 2016 Tempranillo a Double Gold. and Noah Lowry, have created the Reggie Boltz and Debbie Spencer, in their Debbie and Reggie have lots of fun only tasting room in the northwest Apricity tasting room. Photo provided by Apricity. tasting room in March, they told me they ideas for their North Applegate tasting Applegate Valley appellation. Laloni started growing grapes at their ranch in room, including wine-tasting rides in a and Noah are growing their grapes O’Brien, in southern Josephine County, in draft-horse wagon along the Applegate 100 percent chemical free with an 2001. They have a great tasting-room tree River and some special events for their emphasis on microbiological health. house on Brown Road in O’Brien. growing wine club. They are certified by CNG (Certified Both the vines and the tasting room Apricity Vineyard Naturally Grown), a certification at 16995 North Applegate Road needed The other “A-team” winery I visited organization with even stricter some TLC when Reggie and Debbie took this spring was Apricity, located at the standards than USDA organic over in 2017. The newly remodeled tasting western end of the Applegate Valley. certification. Their grapes are crafted room has a fun “wine mine” room (wine This new boutique vineyard and tasting at Pallet Wine Company by vintner cellar) for private events and dinners, and room is striving to use sustainable Linda Donovan at southern Oregon’s the remodeled tasting room is spacious practices in all aspects of farming and first LIVE certified production and comfortable. construction. The original design for facility, located in Medford. The current tasting-room flight features the tasting room called for building (LIVE is a certification that aims a variety of wines from Augustino’s many with hempcrete, but Josephine County to preserve human and natural acres of grapes, including 2017 Rosé (a Building Safety Department’s hurdles for resources in the wine industry in syrah and malbec blend), 2017 Pinot building with hemp, historically the most the Pacific Northwest.) The wines Augustino wine mine. Photo provided by Augustino. Grigio, 2016 Chardonnay, 2015 Pinot renewable resource available, became Apricity produces are petite syrah, Noir, 2016 Syrah, and 2015 Cabernet insurmountable. The original vision tempranillo, primitivo, chardonnay, syrah mailing list for special events, wine club Sauvignon. The tasting room also serves has dwindled to the only commercially noir, and viognier. The Apricity winery and offerings, and tasting-room hours. food, with an expanded menu for the interactive hempcrete learning wall that the tasting room are located at 5719 Jerome Debbie Tollefson summer months. owners know of in Oregon. This beautiful Prairie Road, Grants Pass. Get on their [email protected]

GRID TIED SOLAR ELECTRIC OFF GRID SOLAR ELECTRIC SOLAR ELECTRIC HOT WATER 541.299.0402 SOLAR LICENSE # 025LRT CCB#204937 www.oregonsolarworks.com Applegater Summer 2019 17 probably ever seen Hit the high country on the in one place. There are spectacular views of the conical-shaped O’Brien Creek Trail Mt. McLaughlin to BY EVELYN ROETHER the east. At the second Greetings fellow hikers! It’s time to • Elevation gain: Upper O’Brien Creek junction, the hit the high country, following spring as Trail to Boundary Trail—1,560 feet; Boundary Trail heads it moves up in elevation. Right out our Upper O’Brien Creek Trail to Big south (left) through backyard lies the Kangaroo Roadless Area, Sugarloaf Peak—2,079 feet. the meadow, around a 20,370-acre chunk of de facto wilderness. Directions the flanks of Grayback You have to climb to get there, but there Take Highway 238 to the town of Mountain. To reach are several trails that take you up to its Applegate. Go south on Thompson Creek Windy Gap, Grayback ridgeline, and the O’Brien Creek Trail is Road for 11.9 miles until the pavement Mountain, or Big one of them. It’s also a good place to look ends at a four-way intersection. Take a Sugarloaf Peak, turn at the resilience of landscapes subjected to hard right turn onto Road 1005. After right, following the fire, in this case the Miller Complex fire 2.3 miles you will see the Lower O’Brien country. Whether or not you make it to trail through 0.7 mile of forest that was that blew through in 2017. Creek trailhead on the left. To reach the the ridgeline, this is a beautiful route that somewhat charred by the Miller Complex The following is a brief description Upper O’Brien Creek Trail, keep driving takes you through magnificent old-growth fire in 2017. Notice that many of the big of the trail. For the full version and a for another 1.7 miles until the increasingly forests as well as wildflower-rich high- trees were burned at the base but are still description of 19 other trails in our rough road ends at the trailhead. Note: mountain meadows. alive and thriving. neighborhood, pick up a copy of Hiking The last 0.7 mile requires a high-clearance The Upper O’Brien Creek Trail begins After about a mile, once you get out Trails of the Lower Applegate, now available four-wheel-drive vehicle. at the end of the drivable part of the road. of the trees to the open ridgeline saddle, at many local retail outlets and the This trail has an upper and a lower From the parking area, follow the old you can (1) turn left (south) and scramble Williams Farmers’ Market. trailhead; both begin on Road 1005. If roadbed for 0.3 mile, at which point it your way up the rocky slopes another steep O’Brien Creek Trail #900 you do not have a high-clearance four- turns into a steep single-track trail. A steep half mile or so to the summit of Grayback • Accessible June - November wheel-drive vehicle, you might want to ascent takes you through an old-growth Mountain, the highest peak in Josephine • Difficulty: Upper O’Brien Creek Trail— park at the lower trailhead and follow forest, crossing tributaries of O’Brien County (7,048 feet), or (2) keep following difficult; Lower O’Brien Creek Trail— it up along O’Brien Creek. The Lower Creek in a couple of places. After 1.3 miles, the Boundary Trail up along the ridge to moderate. O’Brien Creek Trail climbs along the north shortly after the second creek crossing, the the north (right) for another 0.2 mile • Distance: Lower O’Brien Creek Trail side of O’Brien Creek for one mile up a trail forks at an old sign. towards Windy Gap and Big Sugarloaf to Upper O’Brien Creek Trail—2 miles moderately steep slope before joining up To continue up to the Boundary Trail Peak (6,679 feet). round trip; Upper O’Brien Creek Trail with the Upper O’Brien Creek Trail at its (1.2 miles farther), stay right. Here, in Take it all in and return the way you to Boundary Trail—4.6 miles round trailhead parking area. midsummer, you will find yourself standing came. Happy hiking! trip; Upper O’Brien Creek Trail to Big The Upper O’Brien Creek Trail in a classic high-country meadow with Evelyn Roether Sugarloaf Peak—6.8 miles round trip. provides great access to the Siskiyou high more varieties of wildflowers than you’ve [email protected]

■ CHRIS BRATT TRIBUTES the beans. I’ve also watched him fully in rise of the grassroots environmental environmental organization. Headwaters Continued from page 2 his element holding elected officials’ and movement in Oregon, lending countless was at the apex of the “jobs versus Can’t add my name into the fight when agencies’ feet to the fire over destructive hours as a volunteer board member owls” conflict that had raged among I’m gone, so I guess I’ll have to do it while I’m forest policies. And I’ve seen him warmly and early president. He set the tone environmentalists, the timber industry, here. When it came to the environment, greet a wide range of fellow activists at the and provided leadership and credibility, and the federal land-management agencies Chris was like a bulldog on a pants leg. forest conference. It seemed that Chris speaking truth to power, challenging over the previous decade. He believed that our national forests are knew everyone and everyone loved him. BLM forest management decisions, and Chris was the chair of the Headwaters a treasure belonging to all Americans and Chris served on the board of developing a grassroots infrastructure board and represented TREE (Thompson need to be protected at all cost. Our forests Headwaters and then Geos Institute for network. A vigorous debater, Chris also Creek Residents for Ecological Education). should not be allowed to be ravaged by a three decades, during which time he listened to others’ viewpoints intently and I was vice chair and represented NAWPA few for temporary financial gains. He also could always be counted on to bring a thoughtfully, earning respect by all for his (the North Applegate Watershed fought for clean air and water, hoping to refreshing perspective to challenging deliberate and considered, rather than Protection Association). Chris was an save the planet from irreversible damage. deliberations. As Headwaters morphed dogmatic, responses and positions. outspoken and successful advocate to Another fight that he was passionate into the Geos Institute and we shifted As Headwaters’ attorney during those stop aerial application of chemicals on about was workers’ rights. During the our focus, Chris showed a flexibility and early years, I spent a great deal of time forestlands managed by BLM and USFS times of farmworker rights struggles, he willingness to take risks that were critical with Chris strategizing and conferencing, in southwest Oregon. again left paying work to help build a to our being able to step with confidence networking, driving to federal court in Chris and I joined logger Jim Neal community center for the farmworkers of into that new territory as an organization. Eugene and Portland, and exploring to create the Applegate Partnership, the Central Valley in California. He also led the effort that resulted in Geos BLM timber sale sites on the ground. He a collaborative, grassroots response All the pleasures of love will not be mine Institute buying its building in 2012, engaged people with his warmth, laughter, to the constant conflict and litigation when I’m gone...so I guess I’ll have to do it which set us on a path to greater financial positivity, humility, and sheer humanity, that swirled around our communities while I’m here. And love he did. He loved sustainability. He was unfailingly generous both in and out of the office. He seemed between the tree huggers and the his family, his friends, his country, this on all fronts. to take active interest in all things artistic tree cutters. planet we all call home, and his beautiful Chris inspired courage and called and political and had a vast knowledge and In 1992 the board of the Applegate home on Thompson Creek. forward the best selves of those around curiosity about many subjects. Southern Partnership included community Chris Bratt will be missed by many. him. I am a better person for having Oregon was lucky to have him. environmental organizations, loggers, The most important lesson he taught me known him all these years. z scientists, the Sierra Club, and the is that to pay it forward is the finest way to Many in the movement are speaking J.D. Rogers BLM. John Lloyd, an attorney from the pay it back. I will miss singing, working, about Chris as a fierce warrior for the I knew Chris Bratt for over two and Department of Justice (DOJ) informed traveling, playing, drinking wine, and forests. That’s true. Chris had a way of a half decades. He was a man of strong Chris and me that the partnership was arguing with him. I know that he worked parking himself in front of someone opinions and actions. While we were in violation of the Federal Advisory hard to “do it while he was here.” until they found their moral compass, involved in many organizations, the Committee Act (FACA). The DOJ z and he could be more than assertive when Applegater was where I had my most said we were unduly influencing the Tonya Graham the moment called for it. In addition, interactions with him. federal government. When our agency Executive Director, Geos Institute Chris showed me and many others From the start of the Applegater 25 years representatives transitioned from board Chris was one of the first people I met how to be both the fierce warrior and ago, Chris stood as one of its strongest to advisory positions, the FACA issue when I arrived at Headwaters’ office in the caring fellow human being—the defenders and supporters. For the 19 years went away. the basement of the Ashland Armory in person deeply connected to the land and that I was the editor of the paper, he was Chris and I spent many hours together the summer of 1991. I had volunteered to their community. the person I could turn to if there was an seeking solutions to the “sticky wicket” to hang posters for events, and Chris When I walk into my office each day, issue that I needed to bounce ideas off of environmental issues in our valley. Chris’s was serving on the board. In spite of the I have the privilege of walking past the or if I just needed a helping hand. He was strong-willed and outspoken approach difficult and often combative nature of the cabinets and shelves Chris built for us. always there when needed. challenged us all. At one of our early board work, Chris was consistently positive and He built those cabinets with love like he Chris had a great sense of humor and meetings, when Dwayne Cross was absent, kind. His warm welcome made me feel did everything else in his life. And those a wonderful smile; he loved to sing and Chris exhibited his integrity by resisting immediately at home and necessary to the hands are not only on all of our past play his guitar at get-togethers. I will board action on an issue without having movement, even though my contribution accomplishments but also on our future truly miss him as a friend, neighbor, and the timber representative at the table. Chris was minor in comparison to the work ones because of the seeds he sowed in so community activist. and I didn’t agree on every issue. In fact, others were doing. many of us during his time walking this z on one occasion we had to seek assistance I recall meeting him at daybreak for beautiful earth. Jack Shipley from an outside facilitator to settle our many years in the parking lot of Lithia z Chris Bratt and I came together some differences. Even though we didn’t always Park in Ashland as we set up the Fourth of Chuck Levin, Headwaters attorney 30-plus years ago in the mid-1980s agree, we remained the best of friends. July burrito booth and he took his position By 1986 when I joined Headwaters, when we were both on the board of I will miss Chris’s strong environmental next to Jim Ince and Chris Fowler stirring Chris was already instrumental in the directors of Headwaters, an Ashland-based See CHRIS BRATT TRIBUTES, page 24. 18 Summer 2019 Applegater Happy 100th to Thompson OPINION UPDATE Creek Irrigation Association! When a problem BY BARBARA CHASTEEN A living link to the early history becomes an opportunity of the Siskiyous and the Applegate BY LISA E. BALDWIN River Valley. The Thompson Creek Irrigation I appreciate readers’ positive responses Contacts in the hemp world are needed, Association (TCIA) was established to my opinion piece in the Spring 2019 though, especially someone interested in officially on May 19, 1919, when Applegater, about using hemp in bioplastics! figuring out how to start manufacturing Secretary Charles Herbert Elmore II At present, I am reaching out to US hemp bioplastics locally. signed the first shares. The original Representatives and local people well- Please let me know if you have contacts membership included 12 local positioned to help. I am also thinking of in the hemp industry and/or would like to ranchers. Some of their names— ways to encourage businesses to pursue assist in my efforts to involve the Applegate Beckner, Bingham, Darneille, bioplastic replacements for plastic items in using hemp for bioplastics. Elmore, Hogan, Houston, Johnston, like grocery bags, straws, take-out boxes, Thank you. Knutzen, Mee, Miller, Oster, and and other single-use plastics that are Lisa E. Baldwin Teski—still live on in the landscape, ruining the planet. [email protected] maps, and history of the valley. But TCIA’s roots go back 60 years earlier to the first gold miners and ranchers of the Applegate Valley. The system had its beginnings in •••BIZbits••• the 1860s when John O’Brien, an immigrant from Ireland, came to Cricket Hill Winery opened a tasting room at the historic 1862 McCully House Inn. the upper Applegate to farm and Duane and Kathy Bowman, Cricket Hill founders who are influenced by the French mine for gold. To support his gold- Weir located on the O’Brien ditch. The concrete work wines of Bordeaux, have specialized in growing grand cru grapes here in the Applegate mining activities, he had Chinese dates back to the 1930s. Photo: David Dobbs. since 1991. For those discerning wine enthusiasts with a love of Bordeaux-style wines laborers build a 13-mile diversion commingled with a rich local history, this tasting room offers something special. Located ditch from Sturgis Creek and O’Brien owners pay a yearly assessment based on at 240 East California Street, Jacksonville. Summer hours are Thursday through Sunday, Creek into Carberry Creek, which flows the number of shares, tied to the age and 12 - 6 pm. 541-899-8264. into the upper Applegate River. In the late acreage of a particular property’s rights. • • • 1800s, O’Brien sold his ditch to a group TCIA is responsible only for delivering E Street Cyclery is a new bike shop in Grants Pass, owned and operated by master of ranchers, who redirected the ditch over water to the stream itself. Ditches are mechanic Mark Acosta. In addition to offering service and repair on all kinds of the low divide from Carberry to augment maintained by the local landowners who bicycles, Acosta’s shop specializes in recumbent bicycles and is an official dealer of the flow of water in Thompson Creek (see hold water rights to the stream. TerraTrikes, with several different models in stock and available for test rides. Open note below). TCIA works with the local Oregon Monday through Thursday, 10 am - 4:30 pm, and by appointment. Stop by the shop One hundred years later the network Resources Department watermaster at 317 NW E Street, Grants Pass. Call 541-226-9415, message on Facebook, or email of irrigation ditches in the ten-mile-long and the Oregon Department of Fish Mark at [email protected]. Thompson Creek Valley is still served by and Wildlife, helping to protect the • • • Thompson Creek with added water from anadromous (sea-going) fish that breed in Idyllwild Studio. New Williams residents Noel and Ann, a couple with more Miller Lake, Sturgis Creek, and O’Brien the stream: coho and chinook (Oregon’s than 30 years of combined experience in web and graphic design and photography, Creek. Sturgis Creek flows out of Miller state fish), salmon, steelhead, and the announce their services to their new community. They specialize in serving a niche Lake, a natural lake augmented by a dam native cutthroat trout. While it coordinates market of small businesses, especially farmers, healers, and nonprofits, and are invested permitted by the US Forest Service later in with the US Forest Service and other state in our community’s growth and success. They offer a free one-hour consultation for TCIA’s history. The lake lies on the ridge and federal agencies, the Thompson Creek all interested clients as a good way to get to know each other better. Learn more at between Little Craggy Peak and Steve system is maintained by local volunteers. idyllwildstudio.com or drop them a note by email at [email protected]. Peak. O’Brien Creek rushes down the Today as you rush up and down • • • mountainside just to the north. Thompson Creek’s valley on a wide asphalt Indigo Grill owners Ray and Tara Moeves invite everyone to check out their interesting Over the decades, most of the original road, crossing the stream on cement-and- menu and remodeled space at Indigo Grill. The new restaurant (in the space formerly ranches have been broken into smaller steel bridges and driving past grazing occupied by the Honeysuckle Café, which moved to Medford) is getting rave reviews parcels, and today there are about 300 livestock, hay fields, orchards, vineyards, for great service, a vibrant atmosphere, and outstanding food. Live music on weekends homes in the valley. The community spirit and vegetable and flower gardens, give a is another big hit. Open Wednesday and Thursday 10 am - 10 pm, Friday 10 am - that began in the 1800s has continued thought to the decades when life moved midnight, Saturday 8 am - midnight, and Sunday 8 am - 8 pm. Closed Monday and through the years as neighbors pitch in to more slowly. Even into the 1950s covered Tuesday. Check out reviews on Facebook. 7360 Highway 238, Ruch. 541-702-2320. keep the organization running. bridges spanned the stream, while ranchers • • • Charles Herbert Elmore’s descendants, and their horses plowed and hayed the Kimball’s Artisan Wines, a new wine shop and tasting room in Jacksonville, still working the family ranches dating back fields, herded livestock, dredged the opened April 16. Owners Josh and Kaylyn Kimball of Applegate offer a wide selection to 1903, have continued through the years ditches, and traveled the trails. They of curated wines, mostly from Oregon, California, and France, including some rare to be a mainstay of TCIA. Family members depended on each other to get through varieties. The Kimballs seek to complement the local wineries’ tasting rooms, not serve on the board of directors and work the years. A lot has changed in the past compete with them. Now open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am - 6 pm. 120 South behind the scenes communicating with century and a half, but a tradition remains 3rd Street, Jacksonville. 541-954-4715. TCIA members, maintaining relationships of people of the valley helping each other • • • with government agencies, continuing to for the good of the community. Salon 238 owner Sandy Reynolds is excited to welcome Beth Henderson, the new protect the dam that slightly elevates Miller Check out the next Applegater for nail technician. Starting June 6, Beth will offer excellent quality gel and acrylic nails Lake for extra storage, and maintaining the stories of modern days in the TCIA, and nail art. New clients receive 10 percent off their first appointment. Call to schedule historic Sturgis-O’Brien ditch. including the Beaver-TCIA Partnership, yours at 541-899-7660. 7390 Highway 238, Ruch. Keeping history alive, the association’s the Bigelow Slide, and other adventures. • • • secretaries from the start have preserved Barbara Chasteen Wilderville Store. Owner Laura Tracy is excited to present another summer concert records of meeting minutes, contracts, grant [email protected] series for 2019. The bands and performance dates are not yet confirmed, but four proposals, projects, and correspondence, Note: See They Settled in Applegate concerts are planned: the first in mid-July, two more in August, and one in September. though a few years are missing due to losses Country: Frontier Days Along the Lower All concerts will be held in the outdoor Slate Creek venue behind the store. A small in home fires. Applegate River in Southern Oregon, Olga cover charge of $4 or $5 per person supports the local musicians. Food and beverages Unlike other irrigation systems in Weydemeyer Johnson (1978), and Ruch will be for sale. Laura also plans several movie nights, “Movies Under the Stars,” on a the Rogue River watershed, TCIA is and the Upper Applegate Valley, John and big screen outdoors. These events are free. 7845 Old Redwood Highway, Wilderville. not an irrigation district but an Oregon Marguerite Black (1989). These and other BizBits highlights businesses new to the area, holding special events, or offering new products. If you are a corporation. Water rights are expressed local historical resources are available in the business owner, let us know when you move into the area or to a different location, hold a special event, expand as shares in the association. Property Applegate Library. your business, or mark a milestone. Email [email protected]. Applegater Summer 2019 19 OPINION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Climate change? Keeping it wild in the Those of us who recall a time when fallout shelters were a thriving business in America might question Alan Journet (Applegater Spring 2019) when he pontificates Wellington Wildlands about the dangers of climate change. We might, in fact, look back and ask the age old question, qui bono or “who benefits?” for Chris Bratt There’s usually a beneficiary at the driving end of a politically motivated meme— especially one that’s promoted as fact, with dire consequences if a frightened public BY LUKE RUEDIGER doesn’t react in the appropriate manner. For instance, there was the questionable reality of yellow-cake uranium that drove the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the rumor of a I intended to write an article in memory The BLM has proposed its first timber malicious videotape that prompted a spontaneous uprising in Benghazi prior to the of Chris Bratt, highlighting all he has done sale in the Applegate Valley under the 2012 election. Back in the 1970s there were dire warnings of a coming ice age. Maybe for the environment in the Applegate. I 2016 RMP. The “planning area” for this the most insidious false narrative of all was the fabricated tale of the Gulf of Tonkin quickly realized that 700 words is far too timber sale—known as the Middle incident during the Vietnam War, a Johnson-era falsehood that resulted in the loss of few to describe the major contributions Chris Applegate Timber Sale—extends from tens of thousands of American servicemen. made. While pondering what to write, I Bishop Creek across the Middle Applegate And now there’s climate change, a phenomenon that’s been ongoing since planet wondered, “What might Chris say?” After Watershed to Slagle Creek, including the Earth was formed, including in the Applegate Valley. some thought, I came to the conclusion that Wellington Wildlands. But there are still backyards all across the nation with unused fallout shelters. Iran Chris would say, “Stick to the issues, protect Applegate Neighborhood Network is gradually taking over Iraq and would in a minute if US troops were pulled out. The our environment, and save Wellington (ANN) has been working hard to protect truth about Benghazi became apparent shortly after the 2012 election, and, thankfully, Wildlands.” So instead of writing this article the Wellington Wildlands for many years. the ice age of the 70s never materialized. It’s just a faint memory now in the minds of about Chris Bratt, I decided to write it in With the help of Applegate residents and those who still recall it. Memories of the brave souls who were lost to perverted political his honor and in defense of the Applegate expert filmmakers Ed Keller and Greeley ambitions in Vietnam, however, will be with the American public forever. wildlands he loved. Wells, we created a short film titled Purveyors of climate change, though, insist it’s a real cause for concern, and they Currently, the most threatened Saving Wellington. The film highlights say it is being caused by people. If true, one would think the obvious answer would be wildland in the Applegate Watershed is the Wellington Wildlands and explores fewer people. And even more pressing than human numbers would be the thousands the Wellington Wildlands, a 7,527-acre the controversy surrounding the Middle of migrants from underdeveloped countries who force their way into industrialized roadless area located on Bureau of Land Applegate Timber Sale. The film has nations each year to become super-consumers—and by extension, super polluters. Management (BLM) land west of Ruch. been well received and was recently Knowing that, one might reasonably conclude that climate change promoters would The roadless area includes portions of featured at the Ashland Independent be tripping all over each other in order to support President Trump’s efforts to stop the China Gulch, Long Gulch, and Balls Film Festival. influx of migrants at America’s southern border. Branch of Humbug Creek. It is also the Chris Bratt proposed that we show But they’re not doing that. central feature of the proposed Center this film to the BLM, which we did in In fact, some of the folks who profess to worry about climate change are Applegate Ridge Trail as it traverses April, just two days after Chris passed simultaneously engaged in the process of assisting migrants in their quest to become the slopes of the Applegate Valley from away. We also handed BLM a petition super-polluters. All of which induces many of us to suspect that climate change might Jacksonville to Grants Pass. Although not to save Wellington Wildlands with over be political after all. And that takes us back to our original question—qui bono? remote, the area is wild and spectacular. 400 signatures, including those of many Robert Bennett, Grants Pass It is a wilderness in our backyard and Applegate residents. • • • represents one of the most accessible ANN is asking the BLM to exclude Fond memories of Chris Bratt wildlands in our region. this important wildland from the Middle It’s hard to write this today thinking that Christopher Bratt isn’t going to be here The BLM identified and inventoried Applegate Timber Sale planning area. to add his commentary as he so often did. After being on the Applegater board with roadless areas in western Oregon for their BLM has refused, telling us they lack Chris for seven years, I can only say what we all think—what a loss to the Applegate 2016 Resource Management Plan (RMP). the discretion to do so. Apparently, BLM Valley and to the many causes in our area. Chris not only volunteered on many boards In the Draft Environmental Impact land managers feel that community and committees over the years, but he also put his money where his mouth was and Statement, the BLM identified 5,711 acres concerns and input cannot be addressed financially supported many nonprofits. He tirelessly worked for the Applegater for years of roadless habitat surrounding Wellington under the 2016 RMP, which emphasizes before and after I was on the board. He was always available to talk through any situation Butte as a Lands With Wilderness timber production over all other resource that was developing. He was a wonderful advocate for rural communities and a logical Characteristics (LWC). The area met values. This leaves the Wellington and clear thinker for what he considered as right and just. He will be missed. Not all requirements for LWC protection, Wildlands vulnerable to road construction everyone always agreed with Christopher (and vice versa), but he was always willing to including intact, unroaded habitat, the and commercial logging. These impacts listen and to be courteous and a real gentleman to whoever was expressing an opinion. potential for primitive forms of recreation, could forever degrade the wilderness While words can never fully express how much someone means, language and the and adequate size—it is 711 acres beyond qualities of the area and preclude the area written word can still provide comfort, hope, and even inspiration. Chris loved the the 5,000-acre threshold. (Citizens have from future protections. Applegater and was a force for keeping it going for many years. Let’s never forget him identified an additional 1,816 acres not Wellington Wildlands is far more and his wonderful and generous spirit. Our hearts go out to his family. acknowledged by the BLM.) valuable to this community as a wilderness Paula Strickland Rissler, Jacksonville Much of the area is colonized by to explore and enjoy than it is for timber beautiful oak woodland, dense chaparral, production. It is the backdrop to our valley OPINION PIECES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR sweeping grasslands, and scattered stands and many of our local wineries. The scenic Opinion pieces and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the author, of conifer forest, including old-growth and recreational values far outweigh the not that of the Applegater or the Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, stands in the Balls Branch of Humbug area’s marginal timber values. Our local Creek and Long Gulch. Although it economy has moved on from the days of Inc. As a community-based newsmagazine, we receive diverse opinions on supports only scattered timber on arid, boom-and-bust logging; unfortunately, different topics. We honor these opinions, but object to personal attacks and relatively unproductive slopes, the BLM has the BLM has not moved forward with us reserve the right to edit accordingly. Opinion pieces and letters to the editor identified some potentially merchantable and demands to live in the past. Despite must pertain to and mention the Applegate Watershed. We encourage timber within the Wellington Wildlands. immense public support for Wellington authors to include verifiable facts to back up their arguments. Singularly focused on timber production, Wildlands, the BLM may log off our Opinion pieces are limited to 700 words; letters are limited to 450 the BLM chose to exclude the forested natural legacy. words. Submissions will be edited for grammar and length. Opinion pieces acreage from the larger LWC proposal. By In memory of Chris Bratt, we cannot must include publishable contact information (phone number and/or email doing so, the BLM reduced the inventoried let the BLM log the Wellington Wildlands. must portion of the Wellington Wildlands We love you, Chris, and we love address). All letters be signed, with a full street address or PO Box and to below the 5,000-acre threshold for our wildlands. phone number. protection, thus eliminating LWC status Save Wellington Wildlands! Anonymous letters and opinion pieces, reprinted articles, press releases, for this important wildland and allocating Luke Ruediger and political campaign articles will not be published. Individual letters and the area as “Harvest Land Base.” [email protected] opinion pieces may or may not be published. Email opinion pieces and letters to the editor to [email protected] or mail to Applegater, Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, Inc., PO Box 14, Classified Advertising Jacksonville, OR 97530. Aikido @ Williams Grange Learn the Martial Art of Peace. Three age groups. Call 707-508-5052 or email wellspringai.com. Place a classified ad! $12 for three lines of text (approximately 110 characters and spaces). Advance payment required online at www.applegater.org. Contact: Ron Turpen at [email protected] or 541-601-1867.

Disclaimer. The Applegater reserves the right to edit, categorize, revise, or refuse any classified advertisement. In addition, Applegater has the right to terminate any ad at any time for any reason. Parties posting ads are responsible for the accuracy and content of their ads. Applegater will not be liable for any damages arising out of errors or omissions. 20 Summer 2019 Applegater BOOK REVIEW

Poetry Corner The two of the novel’s main characters Overstory committed to saving Richard Powers the ancient tree At Orcas Island (2018) Paperback by Chris Bratt (2009) from being logged. now available. Powers mesmerized me. When I What I see when coming to rest Out in the kayaks, persons I know In The Overstory, Richard Powers finished, I went at the edge of the sound carefully drop crab pots seems at first to be immediately back to is exactly what I came to see splashing paddles in pristine seas writing short stories page one…well, not about immigrant immediately. I went families branching into the kitchen with family cottaged along and being comfortable in my own across the North to make a cup of the shore. beliefs and yours American continent, tea, then sipped it I let me be me and you be you I see no need for promises each planting while gazing at the while in the sun-reflected waters trees from their enormous ponderosa homeland. Specific pines rising to except to Mother Nature herself trees represent unimaginable we deck the narrow handrails who calls on us the character of heights right in my with low tide remains. to hear the sound’s individual families. own backyard. These are powerful Here in the Mother Nature has left us to drift stories that would have made a great Applegate we know trees. Most of us creative spirit of the first peoples book even if each had remained a work have read books in virtually every genre— after wood, rock, and shell and sustain the bounty in itself. But then, as generations sprout informational as well as inspirational—to until we find our limit of this striking landscape. forth, individuals connect like roots prepare our minds and spirits to care underground, like branches overhead, and for this magnificent environment. Local in this limitless environment. the individual stories become one story, an authors have written the histories of overstory. Their stories become a history our people and our rich forests. Richard of the earth and especially of our nation Powers, too, is writing our own Overstory, from the perspective of trees. including recognizable Oregon settings. The design of the book is the same What he adds is his genius for language as that of the trees: roots, trunk, crown, and an intricate construction of story seeds. Each tree—each arriving family— itself through which the very meaning of expands its roots in American soil. The our lives and the very life of earth itself destiny of the nation and of earth itself flow unendingly. depends upon experiencing and nurturing Powers summarizes, “We need to stop this living connection. being visitors here. We need to live where Questions arise. Do we wonder about we live, to become indigenous again. … our connection to earth? Does our wonder If we could see green, we’d see a thing that rise from deeper than our life here on this keeps getting more interesting the closer good ground in this amazing place? Is we get. If we could see what green was the wonder that we are this earth? Is our doing, we’d never be lonely or bored. If we origin the same as the origin of the tree? could understand green, we’d learn how to What is life worth? It is just such questions grow all the food we need in layers three that the trees ask. And their response? “A deep, on a third of the ground we need chorus of living wood sings to the woman: right now, with plants that protect one If your mind were only a slightly greener another from pests and stress. If we knew thing, we’d drown you in meaning. The what green wanted, we wouldn’t have to pine she leans against says: Listen. There’s choose between the earth’s interest and something you need to hear.” ours. They’d be the same.” A quarter of the way through the novel, After reading The OverstoryI believed I couldn’t stop reading. Curled up in my his words, one-hundred percent deep and big leather chair, I was conscious only of a thousand branches high. the swaying branches of a redwood on the Christin Lore Weber Lost Coast of California where I sat with [email protected]

■ FISH HATCHERY PARK Continued from page 1 to float and fish the Applegate. Floating, though, is allowed, and a popular Tahiti- raft run is from Fish Hatchery Park to Whitehorse Park on the Rogue at the confluence with the Applegate. Sarah Garceau, director of Josephine County Parks, is enthusiastic about improvements and plans for more at Fish Hatchery. Most recently, an ADA- compliant toilet facility was added to In 2000, Josephine County Parks partnered ( 5 4 1 ) 7 0 2 - 2 6 6 5 Fish Hatchery-North. On September 28, with the Bureau of Land Management and Josephine County Parks will celebrate the Applegate Watershed Restoration Project National Public Lands Day with a to plant a “Global ReLeaf Forest” 157 West California St. volunteer event at Fish Hatchery Park- in Fish Hatchery Park. Turtle Lane. Reorganizing department Jacksonville,Oregon 97530 personnel and the budget has cleared donations, and grants. Volunteers who the way for all three sections of the park donate eight hours to a park project to remain open year-round, putting an can receive an annual parking pass. If end to the annual seasonal closure of interested, complete the online application Fish Hatchery-South and Turtle Lane, a on the Parks Department website at definite park improvement. josephinecountyparks.com. “We are reviving our volunteer Enjoy all the recreation offered by Fish programs,” Sarah added, noting that Hatchery Park this summer! Josephine County Parks is entirely self- Lisa E. Baldwin funded by day-use and camping fees, [email protected] DON'T MISS ONLINE ARTICLES! VISIT APPLEGATER.ORG. • Chris Bratt tributes in full r e b e l h e a r t b o o k s . c o m r e b e l h e a r t b o o k s 1 5 7 @ g m a i l . c o m • Stories on the Land excerpt • Vaccine opinion piece Applegater Summer 2019 21

were those with a plant Managing your land composition of more than 70 percent native plants. for biodiversity Although this research was for chickadees on the BY SUZIE SAVOIE East Coast, the same is probably true for many Many of us are lucky to own property responsibilities that we can no longer bird species in our region that borders publicly owned Bureau of ignore,” says entomologist Douglas as well. Land Management or US Forest Service Tallamy. The research of Dr. Tallamy, an The US Natural land. In many areas that land still has entomology professor at the University of Resources Conservation intact or healthy native-plant communities Delaware and author of Bringing Nature Service also advises a plant that support an abundance and diversity Home (Timber Press, 2009), has shown composition in yards of native pollinators, birds, and wildlife. that nonnative ornamental plants support that’s at least 75 percent Many of our privately owned properties 29 times less biodiversity than native Plant native plants on your land to increase biodiversity and native. By incorporating also benefit from having relatively intact ornamental plants. Currently, however, benefits of pollinators and wildlife. Photo: Suzie Savoie. native plants into your habitat. However, around our homes, 80 percent of the plants in our suburban landscape you are gardens, farms, and developments, in landscapes in the US are nonnative. This is moths as introduced plants. Native woody creating a sanctuary that benefits wildlife many cases that habitat has been degraded, a problem because 90 percent of the insects plants, specifically, used as ornamentals in and biodiversity. altered, or eliminated. that eat plants can develop and reproduce gardens support 14 times as many species Planting native plants in degraded Through the use of native plants, only on the plants with which they share as introduced ornamental plants. Plants habitat in undeveloped areas of your landowners can restore or increase the an evolutionary history. and animals that have evolved together land increases biodiversity and benefits biodiversity on their land to compensate Here are some examples: Monarch depend upon each other for survival, pollinators and wildlife. Native potted for the habitat loss caused by homesite butterfly caterpillars eat and develop on whereas many cultivated and hybridized nursery plants grown from locally sourced or farm development. The Applegate is native milkweed; Clodius parnassian plants sold in nurseries may lack essential native seeds can be planted in appropriate rich in biodiversity, partly because it is butterfly caterpillars eat and develop on nutrients and provide inadequate access areas in the fall for the best establishment. located in the Siskiyou Mountains, one native bleeding hearts; buckwheat blue to pollen and nectar, or they are not used Locally sourced native seeds can also of the most botanically diverse regions butterfly caterpillars eat and develop on as larval host plants. They are essentially be sown into burn pile areas, disturbed of North America, but also because of native buckwheat; red admiral butterfly useless to native insects and wildlife. sites, and areas with sparse vegetation the large amount of publicly owned land caterpillars eat and develop on stinging The use of native plants in landscaping in the fall and winter to increase species that has not been altered and developed nettles; snowberry checkerspot butterfly is essential to ensure breeding birds richness and diversity. in the same way that private land has. caterpillars eat and develop on native have enough insect prey to eat. Because Native wildflowers and shrubs are Eighty-six percent of the United States is snowberry plants—and the list goes on. caterpillars are so reliant on native plants beautiful! Reestablishing native plants in privately owned, and 45 percent of Oregon Without the native plants that insects to reproduce, caterpillars tell us a lot about an area currently dominated by nonnative is privately owned. As private landowners need to reproduce, the food web for the health of an ecosystem. Researchers grasses or invasive species will beautify there is a lot we can do to manage for native species is diminished or destroyed. have found that a single breeding pair of your land and leave an ecologically biodiversity to support intact native-plant Tallamy’s research demonstrates that Carolina chickadees must catch 7,500 beneficial legacy for the future. communities and wildlife habitat. native plants (annuals, perennials, and caterpillars to rear one clutch of young and Suzie Savoie “Landscaping in this crowded world woody species) support, in general, three that the only yards able to produce enough Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds carries both moral and ecological times as many species of butterflies and chickadees to sustain a stable population [email protected]

■ BRAD BARNES I usually have our Continued from page 1 scanner on at home to 22 years of those years he was the logistics- be aware of activities maintenance officer! around the valley. I’ve I would hazard a guess that most noticed that Brad comes Applegate residents have not had the across as very calm, pleasure of meeting Brad, since most almost unflappable. He of his workdays are based around the said he taught himself maintenance and repair of the district’s to do this because it’s 28 vehicles and engines and seven fire important to be “calm stations. However, because Brad also and collected” for the serves the district as an emergency medical patient. He also feels it technician (EMT), a National Fire indicates leadership and Protection Association firefighter, and an control of the situation. Fire engine renovated by Brad Barnes, former Chief Fillis, In retirement, Brad Barnes will spend more time engine boss at the rank of division chief, I asked Brad about and Terry Riley in 2006. fishing and restoring old cars. he does frequently go on emergency calls. his most frightening Brad, along with his wife, Colleen, call. He described and their four children, moved to the fighting an interior structure fire, saying He described how the weather plays an Happier thoughts were needed, so I Applegate Valley in the late 1980s. it’s an eerie feeling being inside a building integral part in any wildland fire; it can asked about retirement plans. What will Shortly after, Brad happened to notice a with flames all around. It’s hard to differ from one part of a fire to another, Brad and Colleen be doing next year? “Volunteers Wanted” sign in front of the breathe, the visibility is low, and you and it can change quickly. (I’m thinking Brad plans to find more time for hunting AVFD headquarters. A trained mechanic, have to yell to communicate with your maybe there’s a bit of scientist here?!) and fishing, both fresh and saltwater. (I Brad decided to volunteer his mechanical partner. He said the new SCBAs (self- Brad also noted that he feels our forgot to ask who does the cooking of skills to help the district. Then-chief contained breathing apparatuses) really constituents are super savvy and “dialed- said bounties.) Brad also spends a lot of Ron Yarborough said he’d rather train help with communications as well as in” to their responsibilities as landowners his downtime restoring old cars. A 1955 Brad as a volunteer firefighter. Excited at safe breathing. He was quick to say that by providing safe driveways and bridges, Dodge Royal Lancer is his next project. the prospect of serving his community, saving a home or any structure from fire and, of course, by continuing to do their And, of course, there are the Brad attended the very first Rogue Valley is extremely satisfying and rewarding, fuel-reduction chores each year. (So let’s grandchildren to visit! Brad’s extremely Firefighter Academy in 1988! especially being able to help save a family’s keep it up—firefightersdo notice and will proud of his grandson, who contracts as a Over the years Brad has seen a lot of valued possessions. go the extra mile for us!) wildland firefighter during the summers. changes in our fire district. A total of Brad also shared how rewarding it feels I asked Brad what his most unexpected Sandy Shaffer seven stations now dot the valley to meet to help an elderly person who has slipped surprise was as a firefighter—something [email protected] constituents’ needs. (The closer the station and fallen in the bathroom, on the stairs, that he hadn’t expected to feel. His Note: Watch for my article in the and fire engines, the faster firefighters can etc. And delivering babies? I asked. Oddly response: having to perform CPR on a next issue (fall) of the Applegater. I will get to our homes!) And the district now enough, he has not delivered a baby on a friend, realizing that the outcome might discuss the logistics-maintenance officer’s has seven paid staff members, along with call in all of these 30 years! not be what he was hoping for. He said duties and tasks and include some cool dozens of volunteers, to respond to our Brad told me that he really likes the it’s still difficult for him, even after all pictures. You might be surprised...and emergencies across the valley. challenges of fighting wildland forest fires. these years. possibly interested?

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We to celebrate Earth Day. have also been enjoying the scoreboard The school is unique in its donated by Evergreen Federal Bank. commitment and approach In March, fabric artist Corbin Brashear to holistic environmental gave felting classes to all our students, who education, and students Cathy Rodgers discussed climate change effects on Antarctica District science fair participants. created wonderful little fuzzy creatures. are actively engaged in a with 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students at Ruch School. Artist Jeremy Criswell spent several days All photos by Linda Kappen. hands-on program. helping students design and create tiles The core curriculum focuses on 4,000 scientists conducting research. to complete our mosaic mural wall. The sustainability, which is incorporated in During the cold, dark winter months, newest addition to the wall is a river with all aspects of the academic and experiential fewer than 1,000 scientists remain. numerous plant and animal residents. learning environment. The impact The implications of global warming at The Applegate School community is on students is reflected in thoughtful the far reaches of the planet and here in our deeply grateful to both artists, Corbin and discussions about environmental challenges community formed the basis for most of Jeremy, for their dedication and for being facing our planet and community. Students the students’ discussions. In a questionnaire an inspiration to the students. Rotary Students of the Year offered practical recommendations and students shared their opinions on the most Mrs. Hirschmugl’s K-1 students Rachel Peterson and Joseph Sahr. suggested actions we can take to help significant environmental challenges and worked on a class garden in April. Working protect earth’s vital ecosystems. offered suggestions on how to help protect with volunteer and retired Ruch teacher Earth Day activities for sixth-, seventh-, our environment. Ida Lawrence, students planted spinach, and eighth-grade students began with my Students cited greenhouse gas lettuce, kale, peas, broccoli, carrots, presentation about Antarctica and climate emissions, pollution, deforestation, and strawberries, pansies, and sweet peas. In change. (I recently returned from my loss of habitat as their top areas of concern. class, students learned about the seed-to- third trip there.) Antarctica is the coldest, Locally, the students overwhelmingly plant life cycle and the parts of a plant and driest, and windiest continent on earth, expressed concerns about forest fires studied what plants grow above ground holding 90 percent of the world’s glaciers and their impact on air quality. Students and which ones grow below ground. and over 70 percent of the world’s fresh were equally as articulate about steps Second and third graders in Mrs. water supply. It is on this amazing, pristine that could be taken to help protect the Halsted’s class were busy with state Second-grader Hunter Morrison won rock- and ice-covered landmass, over environment. Mireille Caldera suggested testing. But they also enjoyed a field trip third place in the spelling bee. 8,000 miles from the beautiful Applegate forming volunteer groups to pick up trash to North Mountain Park Nature Center in wonders of nature related to this area. watershed, that evidence of climate change and reminded everyone to recycle more. Ashland, where they explored “Animals of Eighth-grade students previewed high is readily visible. Brooke Nix suggested using solar power the Rogue Valley” as part of their science school at Hidden Valley High School for Students enjoyed a slide show of and reusable shopping bags. She also unit. To complete their day, they stopped a morning and attended an evening open humpback whales feeding, leopard seals thought more should be done to develop for lunch and bowling. K-3 students house there with their parents. hunting, fur seals playing, and inquisitive eco-friendly products. Grace Vinyard- visited Applegate Library to learn about Community volunteers enjoyed a tea penguins marching on the ice and Bakke advocated using less plastic and the summer reading program, then toured in May. Middle-school students, under swimming in frigid waters. I described conserving water. Jaden Leonard wanted Applegate Fire District’s Station 1. Diana West’s supervision, baked goodies, Antarctica as a remote, raw wilderness people to stop throwing cigarettes out Nine fourth- and fifth-graders from and leadership team members served at teeming with wildlife, an ice-covered car windows because they can cause Mr. Scull’s class entered the district science the tea. Two volunteers, Sharon and Vince continent that offers magnificent vistas of devastating fires. fair. Tate Burton, Emily Hall, and Lydia Vidlak, received the Jasmine Williams turquoise reflections in the ice, steely gray Students also shared examples of Kurth won participant ribbons. Jordan Service Award for their commitment and waters, icebergs of all shapes and sizes, and what they personally do to help protect Wise O’Driscoll brought home a silver volunteer service to Applegate School. a silence broken only by the thunderous the environment. Nikolaus Hemming ribbon. Mattix Embury received second Fourth- and fifth-graders explored the sounds of glaciers calving and humpback composts. Cira Peters rides her bike. place and a gold ribbon. Hamza DiBiasi, High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, whales surfacing to take a breath. Evan Wallman likes to volunteer and Elos Cookson, David Cross, and Titus from May 29 - 31, and eighth-graders Students were fascinated about the tries to reduce consumption of natural Vidlak all won first place and gold ribbons visited Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, reasons that Antarctica, one and a half resources. Olivia Wertich helps pick up in their various categories. Congratulations Washington, on May 30 - 31. times larger than the US, is so special. It’s trash alongside roadways. to these budding scientists. Upcoming events include track- the one continent that no country owns. Rounding out Earth Day, students Fifth-grader Joseph Sahr and eighth- and-field day on June 6, eighth-grade The 1959 Antarctic Treaty dedicated planted a new garden at the school. grader Rachel Peterson won the Rotary graduation and dance on June 10, and Fun the waters and land south of 60 degrees Along the Applegate River they planted Students of the Year awards for Applegate Day on June 12, the last day of school. From latitude solely to peace and scientific ponderosa pine and willow tree starts, School. Second-grader Hunter Morrison June 17 - 22, Applegate and Williams research. Today there are 48 countries and donated by the Applegate Partnership and won third place in the district spelling bee, Schools will cosponsor “Critter Camp” 66 scientific research stations conducting Watershed Council and Rooted in Hope. competing against mostly third graders. for prospective kindergartners. This event research on climate change, the ozone, The day was a great reminder that each In May school staff welcomed incoming helps prepare new students for their school endangered species, aquatic habitats, and of us can make a difference in protecting kindergartners at the Kinder Launch and experience in September, focusing on the other topics essential to the health of our our environment. sixth-graders participated in outdoor social aspect of school, not the academics. planet. During the peak summer months, Cathy Rodgers education at Pacifica, exploring the Jean Hall • [email protected] from November to March, there are almost [email protected]

and Industry, for an overnight stay in Williams School is bustling! Portland. Fourth- and fifth-grade classes Williams Elementary School has been On April 30, 21 students participated in visited Crater Lake and North Mountain bustling with activities from statewide Play It Forward, this year’s strings concert Park in Ashland. To welcome incoming testing to field trips, assemblies, and award in the school gymnasium. This concert kindergarten students, the school held ceremonies to honor students. showcases students who are learning the “Kickoff to Kindergarten” to familiarize Two fifth-graders received special honors violin and guitar, recognizing their efforts students and their families with the this spring. In March, the Grants Pass and progress in music. Special thanks to skills needed by the time school starts. Rotary Club honored Kimberly Musack as Jessie Casey and Amber Guient with the Families received a free kit containing Rotary Student of the Year from Williams Sugarloaf Community Association for age-appropriate materials—like floor School. During a Rotary luncheon, organizing staffing and classes. Additional puzzles, colorful wooden shapes, blocks, Kimberly presented her prepared speech thanks to Principal Steven Fuller and magnetic letters and numbers, etc.—to Savanna Rogers holding her and received her award. In April, Savanna Mindi Gallegos for the use of the school use at home. Another May event was the spelling bee trophy. Rogers represented Williams School at facility and instruments and their expert annual Volunteer Tea to recognize and the district-wide spelling bee and won advice and partnership support. The thank family members and community third place. Congratulations, Kimberly school is also grateful for the Cow Creek friends who take time to volunteer at and Savanna! Tribe Grant, which, in addition to revenue our school. During March and April, students from these annual concerts, makes the June events will include saying had the opportunity to visit White Oak Williams Strings Program possible. goodbye to fifth-grade students and, Farm and Education Center in Williams, Music teachers Willie Warwick and along with Applegate School, holding a which serves students and communities in Barbara Torbert deserve special thanks for week-long “Critter Camp” for incoming Jackson and Josephine counties. During sharing their joy and talent and for their kindergartners. All Williams Elementary student visits, the program staff helped commitment to teach and inspire the next students will enjoy jet-boat rides and lunch children develop connections between generation of Williams musicians. at the OK Corral on June 5. their food, their local ecosystem, and In May, fifth-grade students visited Jean Hall Ayda Hayden and Stella Cox shared agricultural heritage. OMSI, the Oregon Museum for Science [email protected] holding baby goats at White Oak Farm. 24 Summer 2019 Applegater ■ CHRIS BRATT TRIBUTES Continued from page 17 Look who’s reading the Gater! convictions and his caring nature. Our Take us with you on your next trip. Then send your favorite “Reading the Gater” photo to community is diminished by his absence. [email protected] or mail to Applegater, PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Thank you, Chris, for all your efforts to Photos will appear as space allows. preserve and maintain the unique and very special ecosystems within the Applegate watershed, specifically, and the Klamath Siskiyou region, in general. z Paul Tipton It is difficult to fit so large a life into a few words. To know Chris Bratt (also known as “Chrissy” and “Tobalito”) you need to have experienced his loving, though uncompromising presence. His beliefs were based solidly on facts and grounded in his commitment to make the world a better place for all, eschewing governmental and political “mumbo jumbo.” Working together as co-chairs of Applegate Citizens Opposed to Toxic Sprays in the early 1980s, inspired by the imminent threat of helicopter spraying of herbicides on BLM land near homes and the Applegate School (and Chris’s mother Beb’s admonishment that “you should do something about that”), we appealed clear- cut timber sales that were being justified by the falsehood that the use of herbicides would somehow miraculously allow regeneration of trees within five years. Those appeals were only the beginning, but they led to a ban on herbicide use on federal lands in the West and helped create a movement toward better forestry practices and agency accountability. Photos, top row, left to right: —Diana Potts finds herself in the Sahara Desert, three hours off-road Chris’s involvement in forestry and —Tom and Kathy Carstens, while in Petra, Jordan, read up on required from Tamegroute, Morocco, with only the Gater to guide her way home. environmental issues dominated the last camel-riding lessons found on the Gater’s camelid pages. —Diana Coogle and a naked woman in the Hirschhorn Sculpture 40 years of his life, though he was no —Moose the Cat responds to classified ads in theApplegater for expert Garden in Washington, DC, discuss a perplexing article about copy slacker in championing just causes in mouse-hunting within one mile from his Thompson Creek home. editing in the Applegater. his earlier years. Part of his legacy lies —Mike and Cindy Phelps study the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Photos, bottom row, left to right: in successful organizations like Geos Provence, France, in the Gater’s extensive international wine section. —Mike Kohn reads the Gater’s detailed information about the curious Institute and the Northwest Coalition for —Larry and Bobbie Winters take classes found in the Applegater on Chihuly sculpture at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Alternatives to Pesticides, where he served how to chill with the penguins on the Falkland Islands. —Kathy Kliewer and Jody Hill, in Campo, CA, study the Pacific Crest in many board positions and which will Photos, middle row, left to right: Trail map in the Applegater before hiking the 109.5-mile Section A. carry his work forward for the benefit of —Tom Schwarz and Joy LaSpina browse the latest Gater for the top —Cathy Rodgers and daughter Jenny Emick search for their times in future generations. ten temples to visit in Bangkok, Thailand. the Applegater after running yet another half marathon on Antarctica. A master woodworker, he also leaves —Jack and Marcella Lynch, in Sydney, Australia, check the Applegater —Dave Weber, at home in Eugene, checks out the mountain-climbing a legacy of beautiful homes, remodels, for directions to Tasmania and New Zealand, their next stops. reviews in the Gater before deciding on his next conquest. additions, and creative projects where his fine work will be obvious for many years Greeley Wells community, craft and good deeds, poetry community and friendship. The pair of to come. As I contemplate this loss of Christopher and meaningful commitments. Your you make a model for us all. I’m so glad This man was generous, joyful, loving, Bratt, I am moved by and awakened to kindness and heart, your intelligence and you are still in our lives. And as it’s hard to encouraging, prone to sing you a song who he was. I had no reason, I guess, creativity, that pool of light you showed imagine this world without Christopher, or give you a kiss and a hug. He was to think of this when he was still here. around you are a wonderful example for I’m so glad you are still in it, helping to father, brother, mentor, and friend to Somehow this missing is bringing him us all to bathe in. I am so grateful for your shine his and your own lights. me and many others. His love will into focus for me. being in my life in such a wholesome way. continue to permeate the Earth. He liked Oh Chris, my elder, my example, my Jona (his wife), you are always there, too, Some tributes have been shortened to sing, “When I’m on my journey, don’t prototype of how to be and how to do. at his side, always joyful and supportive. due to space constraints. See full Thank you for being in my life. You led And you, too, are so creative and full of you weep after me.” That will be difficult tributes online at applegater.org. to hold to. such a wonderful life, full of family and life, for family and poetry and joy with

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