“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.”
 
Nate Conklin State Farm, La Grande’s leading State Farm agency, exemplifies that credo.  They have a high caliber team with 57 years of combined insurance experience.  Led by Nate, a La Grande native and graduate of Eastern Oregon University, the team includes licensed agents Luke Smith, Ken Brainerd and Anthony Leavens.  Tami Conklin is the office manager with Rikki Griffin as the office assistant.  They all work together to help serve their State Farm customers and the local community. 
 
State Farm is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary.  In that century, they have helped people rebuild neighborhoods, invested in communities, and supported education and safety initiates in communities throughout the country.
 
Nate and his outstanding team have carried out this approach through their support of local causes and initiatives, sponsoring many community activities and organizations, including AYSO Soccer, Altrusa Festival of Trees, Ducks Unlimited, and the annual Farmers Banquet.  In 2017, Nate moved the office to Downtown La Grande and is now a supporter of La Grande Main Street.
 
Nate Conklin State Farm’s mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams and their goal is to keep carrying out this mission with even more excellence, as well as being of service to the La Grande community.
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With their dedication and commitment, the Nate Conklin State Farm team will have no trouble meeting that goal!

Founded by Beverly Calder in 1997, BELLA Mercantile is poised to celebrate 25 years in Baker City and 12 years in La Grande, and it remains NE Oregon’s destination for providing an incredible shopping experience as a “farmer’s market every day of the week” along with extraordinary customer service.  Starting out in Baker City as a wine shop, BELLA Mercantile has evolved to be so much more, offering kitchen gadgets, cookware, bakeware, linen, and even cards and socks!

BELLA Mercantile is proud to feature great Oregon products from every region of the state, including locally produced and organic garlic, fruits, veggies, nuts, honey, various jams and preserves, and other condiments, as well as locally produced grass-feed beef, local free-range chickens and local grass-fed lamb.
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The wine, however, is still a prominent feature. With selections from almost 2,000 producers, there is something for every budget and palate, and a knowledgeable and caring staff to help each customer find the perfect bottle.  This attention to detail and boosting local products are a part of the guiding mission of BELLA as it has grown and flourished in NE Oregon.

Along with being “the best little kitchen, wine, chocolate, and good food store that you never thought you’d find” (to quote their advert), BELLA Mercantile supports the region in many ways.  In addition to small contributions, they have a “365 Community Grant fund.  Ms. Calder and her employees pick 20 projects each year that directly benefit women and children in Baker, Union and Wallowa Counties and donate $365 to each. BELLA is also the sponsor of the Baker City Cycling Classic.
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Staying true to her mission, Ms. Calder and BELLA Mercantile have guaranteed a bright and delicious future in NE Oregon.

Spring is almost here and it is the perfect time to begin new adventures.  La Grande Main Street is looking for volunteers for its Design Committee.  The Design Committee supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.  This includes creating an inviting inclusive atmosphere, celebrating La Grande’s historic character, and fostering accessible people-centric public spaces.
 
Are you a creative soul possessed of a far-reaching vision of what you see as La Grande’s future ambiance?  Then the Design Committee would be the ideal place to utilize your talents and expertise to shape the future of your community.
 
Do you think this might be a good fit?  Call Taylor Scroggins, Executive Director, at 541-963-1223 or text Volunteer to 541-975-4591.
 

As one of La Grande’s heritage merchants, Fitzgerald Flowers has an almost 80-year history of providing outstanding flowers and gifts for discerning customers in La Grande and the greater Union County area.  Founded in 1944 by Pat and Helen Fitzgerald, the shop is currently owned by their daughter, Julie Bodfish.
 
Outside of the entrance to Fitzgerald Flowers is a sign with Helen Fitzgerald’s motto, “Treat your customers as friends and your staff as family.”
 
Over the years, Fitzgerald Flowers’ mission has centered on a commitment to their customers by offering superior quality and creativity, along with value, affordability, and professionalism.  Integral to fulfilling this mission is the dedicated and caring staff. No matter the occasion, be it a wedding or funeral, Fitzgerald’s staff will go the extra mile to provide the most exquisite flowers and courteous service.  They also carry a variety of unique gifts, such as stuffed animals, scented candles, silk arrangements, and gourmet and fruit baskets, as well as dish gardens, green plants, and blooming plants.
 
That dedication to excellence has been guaranteed for the future with assistant manager Maddie Ford entering into a partnership with Julie that makes Maddie a part owner.  In five years, Julie will likely retire, making Maddie a full partner.  Maddie, who is also a professional photographer, often photographs the weddings whose floral arrangements she has designed.
 
With Maddie’s pledge to follow Helen Fitzgerald’s motto, Fitzgerald’s Flowers should continue to bloom for many years to come.
 

​Ten Depot Street has been serving up classic fine dining, drinks and music since 1987.  Sandy Sorrels, owner of Ten Depot Street, had already been operating Mamacita’s in La Grande for five years when, through a series of unusual events, The Woodshed, one of only three bar and dinner venues in the local area, came up for purchase.  She was able to purchase the restaurant equipment in a bankruptcy sale and the VFW, who owned the building, were more than happy to have a new tenant.  Thus, Ten Depot Street was born.
 
The pandemic has changed Ten Depot Street from a hub of fine dining, conviviality and great music to a three-day-a-week takeout venue.  The same fine food is offered, the Blue Plate Special is on the menu, and there is a special Sunday Dinner menu.  There are also special holiday menus (think Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day), just as in the Before Times.
 
Adapting early on to the prevailing conditions, Sandy outfitted the bakery in the back of the restaurant to be a drive-up and had an attractive mural painted.  Her mission has always been to serve good fresh food to the community for reasonable prices, and she has upheld that mission through these extraordinary times.
 
Sandy’s overarching goal is to reopen the bar and dining room in a way that would allow Ten Depot Street to offer their premier dining and entertainment experiences and survive as a viable business. With her inherent adaptability and the quality of the food she proffers, the only things keeping her from fulfilling her goals are the pandemic and how each person approaches it.
 

It’s a new year and the perfect time to become engaged with your community. La Grande Main Street is looking for volunteers for its Organization Committee.  The Organization Committee is tasked with creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for enhancing and growing La Grande’s Downtown for now and into the future.  This committee also coordinates board recruitment and elections, as well as the annual meeting.
 
If you are adept at creating cooperative networks across disparate groups, the Organization Committee would be the perfect spot for you.  This is a chance for you to use your talents and expertise for the greater good and help organize fundraising events and campaigns and recruit volunteers for events and committees. 
 
Think this might be a good fit?  Call Taylor Scroggins, Executive Director, at 541-963-1223 or text Volunteer to 541-975-4591.

​Founded by Scott Fletcher in 1993, Scott’s Heating and Air Conditioning has been the gold standard for HVAC services in Eastern Oregon for almost 30 years. Their mission is to provide reliable and quality comfort for the residents and businesses of Eastern Oregon. Their company ethos is constructed around the values of honesty, professionalism, and dependability.
 
Though their business philosophy is rooted in these traditional values, their knowledge and products are based in the future.  They employ the latest technology and the most up-to-date and innovative solutions and equipment for every job they do, from working on a residential system to a large commercial project.  They have gained many certifications and ratings showcasing their proficiency due to their commitment to their craft.
 
Scott’s goal is to offer the ideal product for each customer to fit their needs and space.  From building from the ground up to remodeling, they will provide an estimate based on room-to-room calculations to come up with the best plan for each customer’s particular needs. With their vast arsenal of experience, skill, and knowledge of HVAC, they can handle any existing system---natural gas, propane, or electric—and come up with the optimum plan for each customer’s unique situation.
 
The folks at Scott’s Heating and Air Conditioning look forward to keeping the citizens of La Grande and the surrounding communities cozy and comfortable by continuing to carry out their mission of providing reliable and quality HVAC services for the residents and businesses of Eastern Oregon.