QUALITY WORK AND LOYAL CUSTOMERS have helped beautician Gay Zander stay in business through more than one economic recession during the past 50 years. Elvamae Lewis, 98, of La Grande has been going to Gay for her hair care for the past 20 years. TRISH YERGES photo

Gay Zander of La Grande knows what it takes for a small business to survive through all economic climates.

This month she marks her 50th year operating as a beautician and now under the assumed business name of The Mode Beauty Salon.

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Owner of Island City ceramic supply store teaches soldier blinded during combat operations how to work with clay 

Keith Johnson, current owner of Anderson’s Shoe and Leather Goods, says the shoe repair business picked up after the start of the recession. Johnson estimates he spends 50 percent of his time at the shop doing repair work. BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH / The Observer

While many shoe repair shops are fading away, La Grande man stays devoted to line of work that’s been in his family for more than 100 years

SHELTER FROM THE STORM Executive Director Darilynn Parry Brown forks over a symbolic $1 to Greg Colozzi of Legacy Ford, payment for a Ford Windstar van Shelter will use to transport clients and get volunteer advocates to training sessions.

It’s true that a dollar doesn’t buy much these days, but then, there’s always an exception to the rule.

Shelter from the Storm, Union County’s domestic violence crisis service, made a heck of a buy recently, scoring a victory in the never-ending battle to keep road-worthy, service-ready vehicles on the road.

Jason Pellerin and his wife Megan Pointer-Pellerin recently opened the Peanut Gallery, a video rental store, on Jefferson Avenue downtown. BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH / The Observer

Pair opens movie rental store on Jefferson Avenue

Seven La Grande Rotarians, including Robert Carter, Clare Espinola, Dr. Lynn Harris, Dr. Michael Jaeger, Beth Stewart, Dale Basso and Michael Moeller, listen as Al Jubitz, well-known philanthropist and Rotarian from Portland, cites them for their generosity and commitment to Rotary programs. Jubitz presented the seven with prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship awards. BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH / The Observer

Seven local Rotarians were singled out for high praise recently as they were recognized with Paul Harris Fellowship awards for contributions to Rotary philanthropy.

The Union County Art and Culture Center, in the old Carnegie Library building at 1006 Penn Avenue, looks forward to a busy autumn. PHIL BULLOCK / The Observer

Center seeks to expand local art and cultural scene

Oregon Cattlemen's Association President Bill Hoyt visited with local cattle producers at Saturday’s Wallowa County Stockgrowers’ annual meeting at the fairgrounds in Enterprise. KATY NESBITT / The Observer

ENTERPRISE — The Wallowa County Stockgrowers celebrated another year Saturday with a rodeo, dinner, dance and an early breakfast meeting at the fairgrounds in Enterprise.

JADEN BALES, A 4-H AMBASSADOR and FBLA chapter president at Imbler High School, learned plenty about local culture during his trip to Mongolia. Bales was one of about 30 students from across the western United States who took part in the goodwill tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Submitted photo

Teen learns about culture, shares ideas about land reclamation, sustainable environmental practices