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Wednesday March 26, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 13

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Dallas to Doll club’s spring show most popular since COVID try again for grant to pay for pickleball court project By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

The city of Dallas is hoping the second time’s the charm in acquiring state funds to pay the bulk of development costs to construct new pickleball courts. On March 17, the City Council unanimously approved for staff to apply for an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Local Government Grant Program grant for the construction of 10 new pickleball courts at Dallas City Park with accompanying parking spaces. The updated estimated total project cost is approximately $1.75 million, about $1 million more than the first application last year.. Staff is seeking grant funding in the amount of $1.06 million. The Dallas Pickleball Club has committed to donating $10,000 towards the project. The remainder of the project costs ($697,390) will be paid from Parks System Development Charges (SDCs). City manager Brian Latta said there was some chatter over the previous weekend on the topic that needed clarification. First, he said the pickleball courts are not at the mill site. At its March 18, 2024, meeting, the City Council approved the construction of 10 new pickleball courts at Dallas City Park at the northeast entrance of Levens Street on Brandvold Avenue, where the old outdoor swimming pool used to be located. The plan included construction of new parking spaces on the north side of Brandvold Drive. At the same meeting, the council also approved applying for an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Local Government Grant which would cover 60% of the construction costs of the courts and parking spaces. Lattas said staff believes they did not receive the grant because at that time the city already had two outstanding projects - replacement of the Japanese Garden pedestrian bridge and restoration of the Japanese Garden - that were being funded through this same grant program. See COURT, page A3

A communicable bug is spreading through Vickie Getchell’s family. She and her granddaughter Samantha Harris traveled north from Eugene Saturday to the Polk County Fairgrounds in search of a cure. It was their second trip together to the Wagon Wheel Dollers Club’s 42nd Annual Doll Spring Show. “My first time, my grandma and I went, it was just us. Winning a raffle and coming home with a doll. And now, we found an awesome bargain. These dolls go for a pretty penny (a native American), we got for $20,” Harris said, holding up her collectible find. “I’m kind of new to the whole doll collecting thing,” Harris added, admitting her collection now totals two. “I have a lot of dolls, probably a few too many,” Getchell admitted. “And now this is my great granddaughter’s first doll,” pointing to a Raggedy Anne Lakota was playing with from the baby stroller. The Wagon Wheel Dollers Club, based out of Salem, has been attracting amateur and veteran collectors alike for 42 years. However, the spring show may be their last at Polk County. Club president Verni Knight said the fall show is moving to Linn County Fairgrounds. “We’ve been here almost 40 years, but we have to move to save a little money,” Knight said. “We’re going to see how it goes this fall and decide what to do after that.” In the meantime, with spring in the air, so too are the doll collectors. Their spring show attracted 55 vendors setting up 94 tables, which is a better turnout than last years’ shows. “Fall was one of the best shows we’ve had since COVID started,” Knight said. “This show is one table

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

(Top) Avalon Fladwood looks to purchase matching clothes for a Josephina American Girl Doll, held by her husband, Preston, at the Wagon Wheel Dollers Club’s 42nd Annual Doll Spring Show March 22. (Bottom) A Carmen Miranda doll waits to be purchased at Woodburn vendor Marci Carvallio’s table. more than what we had for fall. So we’re doing good.” She chalks up the resurgence to “people are just finally tired of not getting to do what they want to do. You know, they want to go out and enjoy themselves.” The Wagon Wheel Dollers doll shows feature a little bit of everything. “That’s the nice part. We’ve got antiques, collectibles, modern dolls, play dolls, all different sizes. Just a

little bit of everything, because not everybody collects the same stuff. We’ve got people who sell doll clothes, and wigs, and sometimes doll parts, if you want to build your own doll.” Knight said the average person would probably be surprised how many people are still interested in dolls and still collecting. Her own

collection, at one point tallied on her computer before it crashed, numbers over 5,000. “And I’ve bought several collections since then. I happened into a couple estates this last year,” Knight said. “I’ve got more dolls than I’ve got room for. Time to bring some to sell.” Many of the vendors tend to end up being shoppers themselves as they take breaks tending their own booths to explore other displays. Avalon Fladwood, took a break helping her grandmother sell dolls, hauling husband Preston along to help carry the purchases, in this case, a Josephina American Girl Doll. Avalon admits she’s been collecting dolls since she was born. “My grandma gave me my first doll. Every doll I’ve owned since then has been inspired by her. She’s a dollmaker, of course,” Avalon said. While the size of her collection over the years has ebbed and flowed (it currently stands at about 50), she still has all the dolls her grandmother has given her. Avalon said she doesn’t miss an opportunity to come to the Wagon Wheel Dollers Club show every year. “It’s fantastic. I come almost every time to support my grandma, walk around and support other vendors, too,” Avalon said. “This is the busiest we’ve seen it in a while,” Preston said, adding he does not have a collection of his own, leaving the shopping all up to his wife while he provides the support. In addition to the spring and fall shows, the Wagon Wheel Dollers Club meets the third Saturday of each month at a member’s home. For more information, contact the club at wagonwheeldollers@gmail. com.

Luna’s Cafe offers bright bakery, coffee combo By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

After 27 years with the Central School District as a reading specialist, Adela Ortiz retired, deciding she was ready to do something else. With no background in the service industry, no experience as a waitress and having never run a cafe, or anything to do with food for that matter, naturally she opened Luna’s Cafe in November. “I went into this blindfolded, pretty much,” Ortiz admitted. She found the perfect location with the former Rick’s Place on Main Street in Monmouth. “I originally wanted to do a bakery/coffee shop,” Ortiz said. “But then my friend said, ‘You’re not

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Adela Ortiz, owner of Luna’s Cafe in Monmouth, stands before a large painting donated by one of her customers. going to make ends meet with just muffins and coffee.’”

So, she offered daily specials of soups and sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and other light food, like biscuits and gravy and quiches. She relied upon all original recipes, some from friends, some from family. “Ones that I like to eat are the ones I decided to go with. The ones that my kids enjoy, that my family enjoys,” said Ortiz, who is originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, and has lived in the U.S. for 38 years. “That’s what I narrowed it down to.” The cafe is named after her grandmother Luna, her dad’s mom. “One thing she did was gorditas. Stuffed tortillas. She made a lot of them. I ate a lot of them growing up,” Ortiz said.

On her own menu, burritos, so far, are the most popular, as she can make them all day long. “People will order them at 6 in the afternoon,” Ortiz said. “And of course the cookies.” Another popular item diners are discovering is the spiced café de olla. “It’s something we grew up with when we were little. I remember being 5 or 6 years old and grandma making a pot. It literally means coffee from a pot,” Ortiz explained. “She would boil some cinnamon, add sugar to it, and we’d eat it with a little sweet bread and that was a treat for us. When I lived in Mexico, See LUNA’S, page A3

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