​Established in 2018 by a group of six experienced realtors in Union County, Blue Summit Realty Group serves Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties.  These realtors are all well connected and established in the community and they are a team of the highest producers in the region with decades of proven experience.
 
Blue Summit Realty Group’s stated mission is to provide their clients with the best and most comprehensive real estate services available in Eastern Oregon.  They are full-time realtors who are energized and determined to help their clients achieve their dreams of home ownership.  They are competent, organized, and confidential in their dealings with each client. The realtors of Blue Summit also take pride in and look to serve the community through volunteerism and sponsorships.
 
On offer at Blue Summit is a wide range of services from comprehensive market analysis and listing and buying agencies for all types of real property to staging assistance, and much more.  The Blue Summit team is expert in all areas of real estate, including homes, land, commercial, farms, and ranches.
 
Ever innovative and creative, Blue Summit’s goal is to help each and every client achieve their dream of home ownership.  Toward that end, they are completely networked in the community with relationships that assist their clients.  They are on top of the latest technology in order to facilitate seamless and professional transactions.  Most importantly, the realtors at Blue Summit Realty Group are honest and confidential and will handle their clients’ real estate business with care and consideration.
 
Given Blue Summit Realty Group’s motivation, connectedness, professionalism, and ethics, they will continue to deliver the ultimate in real estate sales and service in Eastern Oregon for many years to come.

​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we will introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play.
 
This week we continue our introductions with Bethany Barker, co-chair of the Crazy Days Committee.  She has also helped out on the Design Committee and the Promotions Committee in the past.
 

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Bethany was born in El Salvador and was adopted when she was two years old.  She grew up in Summerville and moved to La Grande when she was nine.  After graduating from high school, Bethany traveled around, gathering new experiences.  She moved back to La Grande ten years ago and started a housekeeping business.
 
Bethany decided she wanted to become more involved in her community and, lucky for LGMSD, she chose us! The thing she likes most about her involvement is seeing other people become as excited as she is about new changes in La Grande.
 
Bethany has a two-year-old son, Solomon.  She has always been interested in traveling to new places and is looking forward to sharing this with her son.  Her most avid hobby is photography.  She and Solomon are also pet parents to a little dog, Otis.
 
 

​Not only do Benchwarmers Pub and Grill and Longbranch Bar and Eats share a proximate location on Depot Street, they also share an owner in Matt Scarfo.  Both eateries are La Grande institutions and each has its own unique character and ambience.
 
Benchwarmers has the historical distinction of being the second-longest running bar in the Pacific Northwest.  They are currently looking to add it to La Grande’s historical landmarks to be part of LGMSD vision of Downtown.  Longbranch Bar and Eats has been around since the early 1920s and is newly renovated to update its facilities and design. 
 
Known for having great food and service at a reasonable price, Benchwarmers Pub and Grill also has Oregon lottery machines and a full-service bar with a celebrated happy hour.  They have full-screen TVs for sports events and 20 beers on tap, as well as being available for events catering.  Benchwarmers is open from 11 AM with closing being variable, depending on customer flow.
 
Longbranch Bar and Eats is known for its home-style cooking, along with the most reasonably-priced food and drinks in town.  They also have a full range of Oregon Lottery offerings, including Keno, Powerball, and Megabucks.  In addition, Longbranch also features a juke box with a full selection of tunes, free popcorn, and a dart board.  They are open from 7 AM to 2:30 AM seven days a week.
 
Both of these establishments have a storied place in La Grande history and the memories of patrons going back decades.  As the world and La Grande have changed, Benchwarmers and Longbranch have evolved to reflect the zeitgeist of the times.  Community is important to each--from celebrating a Mountie victory at Benchwarmers with friends and family to meeting up at Longbranch to get a wake-up cup of bar coffee and a very early breakfast at 1 AM after cramming for an exam.  Throughout the years, they both have claimed a place in the heart of Downtown and the folks who visit.
 

With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play
 
This week, we continue our introductions with Renee Meckel, a member of the Outreach Committee.
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​Born in Oregon and raised in Kamiah, Idaho, Renee graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master’s of Art in Elementary Education.  She enlisted in the active-duty Army while attending college at the University of Idaho, serving at Fort Hood, Texas and in Darmstadt, Germany.  After five years of active duty, Renee decided to go back to school full time and joined the National Guard in Arizona.  After spending some time in the civilian workforce and not finding job fulfillment, she returned to school to study elementary education.  She also decided to rejoin the military as an officer in the National Guard, which led her to Oregon to complete officer candidate school.  Renee was commissioned in August of 2013 and in 2019, she was offered a job in La Grande at the local armory.  Most recently, Renee was assigned to be the instructor of military science for the ROTC program at Eastern Oregon University.
 
Renee became involved with LGMSD at the suggestion of several friends who are part of various committees at LGMSD.  They encouraged her to join and she is now a member of the Outreach Committee. Renee enjoys the people that she has met so far and appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with them to make La Grande a great place to live and support the community.
 
Renee enjoys hiking, paddle-boarding, skiing, running, kayaking, and spending time with family and friends, as well as volunteering in her community.  She is married with two adult children.  She and her husband are also the proud pet parents of two energetic dogs that keep them on their toes!  They both enjoy the great outdoors and a good meal at the end of the day!
 
 

​Ziply Fiber provides fiber internet and networking services for home and business customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.  Founded in 2020 after acquiring the Northwest operations of Frontier Communications, Ziply Fiber is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington and has about 1400 employees.  Ziply Fiber is a subsidiary of WaveDivision Capital, a private investment company, which is also based in Kirkland, WA.
 
The stated mission of the company is to deliver the best possible internet and online experiences to their customers and communities.  Ziply’s mission is guided by its “values of customer obsession, accountability, integrity, innovation, and teamwork.”  It is, as well, also driven by the vision of closing the digital divide and bringing the next-generation fiber network to the Pacific Northwest.
 
Ziply Fiber offers fiber internet and phone services for its residential customers, business fiber internet and Ziply Fiber voice services for small businesses, and a variety of internet, networking, and voice solutions for enterprise customers.  Ziply Fiber offers internet plans that have speeds up to 10 Gig, as well as streaming TV, phone, and whole home WiFi services.  They are currently expanding their fiber network to reach more than 80% of its service area by 2024.
 
Going forward, Ziply Fiber’s goals include expanding its fiber network beyond the existing footprint it acquired from Frontier Communications by expanding to areas surrounding current service areas, as well as bringing service to areas that have not been developed in the past.  This involves covering a total of one million locations with fiber in the small cities and towns that make up Ziply Fiber’s footprint in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana by 2024.
 
Ziply Fiber aims to close the digital divide and bring the next-generation fiber network to the Pacific Northwest and nearby regions.  This will bring untold benefits to our town and the entire region now and in the future.

​What a fun, action-packed Saturday!  The Farmer’s Market was bustling and the weather was perfect for wandering.  Friend of LGMSD (volunteer) Lauren had her booth, The Big Coffee Shop, up and running, so that was the first place I gravitated toward.  The coffee was bright and bold, and just hit the spot.  I had been meaning to visit one of our new partners, K. Voelz Wine, at the Tuesday Farmer’s Market, but just kept missing it.  However, the wine gods were watching out for me and there she was!  I am a bit of a low-level wine snob and, although I never expect it, I am always delighted when I can detect layers of essences in a glass of wine.  Well, the sample of Chardonnay delivered, so I immediately plunked down my money and, after surveying the rest of the offerings, I headed over to The Marketplace Fresh Foods to score some breakfast.
 
At The Market Place Fresh Foods, I grabbed a breakfast burrito (yum) and headed back to the office to drop off the wine, enjoy my coffee and burrito, and pick up my bag of knives and scissors to next visit Cook Memorial Library’s Community Room for the Repair Café to partake of their sharpening services. There were also folks repairing clothing and backpacks and small electrical appliances.  Leah and Dave, with an assist from Donna, made quick work of my collection and I headed back to the office to stash the knives and plot out my next moves.

​Touch-A-Truck was starting to assemble along Adams and I took this opportunity to pop into a few shops to augment my summer wardrobe with some very specific items (summer pants and belt).  Lucy’s Boutique had some lovely things and I was so tempted, but I had to restrain myself early, because I had a strict list of what I needed.  Real Deals, my next stop, has some delightful clothes and shoes as well, but again, my wardrobe plan did not allow for whimsical deviations.  Fitzgerald Flowers also sells some clothing items, as does BELLA Mercantile, mostly incredible socks.  Rosewood Cottage offers incredible purses, but I had just sprung for a purse to last a lifetime a month ago. 
 
By the time I did all of this store wandering, the various vehicles for Touch-A-Truck had assembled, as had a large group of young folks clambering about all of the big rigs, city maintenance vehicles, and various law enforcement, ambulance and fire-fighting equipment.  They were all having such a great time!  I found myself in front of Community Kindness and popped in.  There I located the casual black trousers and orange belt I was looking for to round out what I already owned.  I had earlier acquired a scone from Le Bebe Cakes, so I took my loot back to the office to stash and finished off the coffee and scone.
 
I had a few more merchants to check out for accessories and a few trucks to touch.  So, refreshed from my repast, I headed out again.  Bout Time Boutique, right across from the street from the office, was my first stop.  They have a section for local creators—The Teal Cactus, Katie Martin Custom Designs, and Rough Rustic. I took a look at my cash situation and noted that I had spent the bulk of it on food and wine (typical). Reyna took pity on me and gifted me with an adorable Katie Martin bag with a Shetland cow on it.  That just made my day!
 
While searching out a truck I wanted to interact with, I checked out a few more stores for next time.  Aguilera’s Amazing Aromas had a table out on Adams and I found a scent that was just divine.  I visited Community Merchants, Blue Mountain Outfitters, and Royal Clothiers.  Community Merchants offers a goodly selection of locally made products and Royal Clothiers has a lovely selection of gently used clothes for everyone.  At Blue Mountain Outfitters, you can find everything you need to be a well kitted-out outdoor adventurer.
 

​I decided that the vehicle I wanted to spend some time with was a La Grande Police Department SUV.  I’ve watched enough police procedurals to be curious as to how a modern police car actually functioned.  I waited patiently in line as small children tentatively made their way to the front seat.  When my turn arrived, I hopped in and surveyed the amazing array of computers, peppering the officer with questions—Where are the spike strips? How do you run a plate?   I got to flash the lights and run the siren.  What fun and about as close to a police car as I want to get!  I received my souvenir badge and pencil and headed back to the office to call it a day.
 
My takeaway from the day:  La Grande has an amazing array of places to shop, eat, and amuse oneself. There are incredible craftspeople offering up beautiful creations. There are many apparel offerings to fit every budget and taste. Food lovers can graze through restaurants, bakeries, and shops, as well as the Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This summer is full of events for everyone to enjoy.  Next up--Crazy Days on July 14th and 15th, with even more fun, including sidewalk sales, vendors, kids’ activities, and a car show! 

​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play
 
This week, we continue our introductions with Carolyn Dooley, a member of the Shop Local Subcommittee and Crazy Days Committee.

Carolyn Dooley, a member of the Shop Local Subcommittee and Crazy Days Committee, was born in New York and raised in Colorado, where she attended a private Amish school.  After being in the newspaper industry for approximately 17 years, she branched out into logistics, where she fell in love with the challenge of getting products from Point A to Point B, even when things seemed impossible. 

Carolyn and her husband, Rob, currently own Rob’s Speedy Delivery and Let ‘R Wrap.  Rob’s Speedy Delivery embodies Carolyn’s fulfilling the challenge of moving products, and her desire to make things happen for each client.

When Carolyn moved to the area in 2011, she wanted to be involved with the community and LGMSD was a great way for her to do that.  She left for a bit to focus on her businesses, but recently came back to serve on the Shop Local subcommittee because she loves being a part of LGMSD.  Carolyn enjoys seeing see businesses thrive and thinks the people she interacts with through LGMSD are “amazing.”  She thinks that every aspect of LGMSD helps our community to succeed.
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Carolyn enjoys cars, fine wine, and good food.  She and her husband, Rob, adore spending time and playing with their dogs, Perry, Benzy, Blaze, Baby Willow, Scout, and Yoda. Their fur babies (see picture) are their world.  They also try to take advantage of all of the great things Eastern Oregon has to offer and love being part of this community.

​Les Schwab Tire Centers’ history goes deep in Oregon.  Founded in 1952 by Les Schwab with a single store in Prineville, Oregon when he bought OK Rubber Welders, the corporate headquarters were moved to Bend in 2008. Les Schwab Tire Centers employs over 7000 people in nine Western states and there are stores in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
 
A vision of bringing together service, value, and convenience for their customers has always been Les Schwab Tire Centers’ mission since its time as a single tire store in Central Oregon.  This mission also involves, at its core, a company culture of partnership, giving people more for their money, and rewarding employees for their expertise and hard work.  This earns peoples’ trust and thus everyone benefits. An essential tenant of the Les Schwab Tire Center’s mission is being involved in their local communities, supporting such local organizations and events that build character, help those in need, and promote vibrant and healthy communities.
 
Along with tires and wheels, both general and commercial, Les Schwab also sells a variety of other auto parts and auto-related services, including brakes, shocks and struts, tire chains, and batteries, as well as performing safety checks and alignments. 
 
With Les Schwab’s death in May of 2007, ownership remained within the family.  However, in September of 2020, CEO Jack Cuniff announced that the company would be sold to a San Francisco investment fund.  The sale, to Meritage Group LP, was finalized in November of 2020.
 
However, Les Schwab’s vision remains at the center of the company’s culture.  Their goal is to carry on with and expand upon this with living strong values, growing great kids, and making this possible with local community involvement.
 
With their rich history and their commitment to remain true to the values and vision of Les Schwab and his family, Les Schwab Tire Centers will continue to prosper and add value to the communities they serve.

With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play.
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This week, we continue our introductions with Jeremy Robertson, member of the Economic Vitality Committee.

Jeremy Robertson, Economic Vitality Committee member, was born in Northern California and raised in John Day.  He graduated from Grant Union High School and then earned a business degree from Eastern Oregon University.  He is now five years into his career at the Oregon Employment Department, currently serving as a business services representative for Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties.

While working with Josh Annas and Mary Ann Miesner at WorkSource Oregon, Jeremy was referred to connect with Timothy Bishop and the Economic Vitality Committee.  When asked about what he likes most about working with LGMSD, he replied, “I love building relationships and supporting business owners in our community”.
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Jeremy delights in spending time with his wife, Marne, his daughter, Tullia, and his son, Teagon.  They all love exploring new activities and locations in our area and further afield.  Jeremy also enjoys pop culture from movies, music, pro wrestling, video games, and comic books.  Notably, he also revels in dropping epic dad jokes for all to chuckle or cringe at, depending on the mood of the room! 

                  
Established in 2011, Raul’s Taqueria, with the addition of the Cantina in 2021, serves up fresh and authentic Mexican food with excellent service in a friendly atmosphere.  Raul’s is truly a family enterprise, with the current part-owner and manager, Arturo Escamilla, being the son-in-law of the original Raul, who also runs Cinco de Mayo.  Arturo has had years of experience in the food service industry, starting as a cook and waiter, culminating with managing a restaurant in the Tri-Cities area, until being called back to La Grande to help with the family restaurants.
 
Arturo’s vision for Raul’s encompasses not only serving the highest quality authentic Mexican food at the best value, but also providing a welcoming inclusive atmosphere where customers feel at home.  Expanding on that, Arturo has a deep commitment to his community.  Not only is Raul’s involved in civic organizations and events, but Arturo also runs a “Students in Need” program that provides school supplies to less-advantaged students in our area.
 
Raul’s menu is wide-ranging, from the traditional to the more adventurous (Oregon burrito) and the Cantina offers a broad selection of cocktails and beers.  From tacos, burritos and quesadillas to huaraches, sopas and flautes de pollo, Raul’s serves up the full spectrum of Mexican food with eight different meat choices to customize your selections. In the Cantina, the choices are seemingly endless, with a dazzling array of specialty cocktails made with a broad choice of liquors from standard to top shelf, as well as a dizzying collection of beers, bottled and on tap, including local breweries.
 
Going forward, Arturo states that his primary goal for Raul’s is to provide the best customer experience ever, where people feel at home and welcome, keeping everything affordable.  He also wants to continue to hire young workers from the area to give them work and life experience to enhance their futures.
 
With Raul’s deep commitment to quality, affordability, and community, their motto, “Together is Better at Raul’s,” is spot on and will guide the family’s endeavors into the future.