 Drive down Knight Road in Elmira and you will see a sign by a wooded drive announcing that you have arrived at Klassic Tails Inn. At the end of this drive in a sunny clearing is a place where dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and even a bearded dragon have a home away from home when their people have to be away. Owned by Jim and Michelle Sodeman, the Klassic Tails Inn was not something they ever imagined doing, but life is that way sometimes. What starts out as a way to earn extra money turns into a previously unexpected opportunity. Michelle Sodeman had worked for the Klassic Tails Inn under previous owner Ada Curtis after she and Jim returned to Veneta with their three children from Roseburg where Jim worked for Frito Lay until taking a job with Kellogg Snacks that required much less separation from the family. Jesse wound up asking Jim and Michelle if they would assume stewardship of the kennel in a year’s time, which they agreed to, but this was bumped up to six months when she was diagnosed with cancer and needed to be able to heal. The Sodeman’s threw themselves into their new venture with Jim continuing to work at Kellogg Snacks until it became apparent that working at both places was just too much. Now, he and Michelle spend their days working to make their furry and feathered guests as comfortable as possible so while their owners’ vacation they can vacation, too. The first step in having a pet stay at Klassic Tails is an evaluation to see how a dog does when it is separated from its owner and how best to make the transition. This is done in a courtyard where they are away from other guests and not distracted by barking or other behaviors. After this step comes check-in where the name and number of the guest’s vet is given, behavior issues are discussed and any medication the animal is on is made known. Owners can bring their pet’s food with them, which 75-80% opt to do, but food is also provided. The Sodeman’s are trained to medicate and give injections and when at capacity, the inn can house 42 dogs. Typically, bookings are made for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with many dogs going home on Monday. Tours are offered during business hours, but the Sodeman’s try to steer people to Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when they are less busy. The inn itself is actually comprised of three buildings. The smaller of the two dog boarding buildings also houses the office and is typically reserved for dogs weighing 40 pounds or less. In here, these house spots as they are called, offer less intimidation for a smaller dog and a more home-like feel. The office door is left open to allow the dogs to hear the sounds as it helps them settle as some are unable to do so unless someone is checking on them and offering reassurance. The larger dogs are housed in the kennel building that is equipped with a grooming room and bathtub as well as turn-out spaces where the dogs are put for 45 minutes to an hour to relieve themselves. All fencing around these small yards is six feet high with perimeter fencing being eight feet high to ensure that nobody accidentally gets out. For more extended time outdoors there is a half-acre fenced play yard where guests can run and play along wooded paths unleashed for their enrichment, something Jim implemented in 2010. During this time, he is known to toss a ball or a frisbee for a rousing game of fetch, which is typically met with great enthusiasm. Dogs are also taken on walks in increments of a mile, two miles, and for those who are older or have issues, a gentle walk. Because they are on lead, this is the only time dogs from different households are blended. Walks are done before 9 a.m. and dogs are chosen by size, pace, and temperament. Safety is top of the line and those walking the dogs must wear reflective vests and no earbuds or radios are allowed. Over in the smallest of the three buildings is where the cats and smaller animals are housed. There are six cattery suites that all have windows and individual bedding. One suite has a windowed door for guests who are unable to get up on a perch. Classical music plays softly as it helps to settle the cats down. Typically, cats stay at the inn for 5-7 days. For an extra fee, the inn offers a shuttle service that includes pick-up and delivery, and the Sodeman’s will also take a person to the airport if need be. “I feel gifted to live where I work,” Jim says as he waxes poetic about running the inn. Then, with hearty laughter he adds, “It’s a great commute.” The Sodeman’s try to have the inn undergo one major improvement each year and past years have seen the installation of tile on the floors and walls, epoxy floors in the kennels, heating and air conditioning. Jim also tries to engage on the inn’s website and Facebook page every day and takes great pride in offering outstanding customer service. “We offer a Disneyland experience and Les Schwab service,” he simply states. Over the years, the Sodeman’s three children Matthew, Brontae and Reid have all taken an active role in helping out at the inn though more recently it has been Reid who has been his father’s right-hand man. He, Jim, and Michelle, along with a couple of staff members spend their days making sure their guests are comfortable, happy, and are in a clean, safe environment while their owners are away. It’s more a passion than a job for them and it shows in how Jim knows all the guests’ names and greets them warmly as he walks past their kennels, and it shows in all that is done to ensure the best experience possible for those that come to stay. For their part, the guests appear to be just as happy to see him. It may not have been a part of the Sodeman’s plans to own a kennel, but for them and the guests both, it’s pretty close to perfect.  Pre, a Whippet named for runner Steve Prefontaine poses by a retired fire hydrant in one of the turnout yards.  Kodiak sings a welcome during a tour of the kennel.
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 When the building that housed Hack’s and Yukon Jack’s came up for sale, Hernan Torres saw an opportunity. He wanted someone in town to own whatever went in there and he decided that someone should be himself. The son of Luis Torres, owner of Ixtapa, he had plenty of experience in the restaurant business and he had a vision for what this new business could be and how it could serve the community. Nine months after its grand opening, the Long Tom Bar and Grill is thriving, and Torres is pleased. A lot of hard work went into this passion project including a good cleaning, painting the exterior of the building, replacing the floors, adding a wall to divide the bar portion from the restaurant portion, and the addition of more TV’s and another pool table. Torres has also reintroduced live bands and karaoke, something the previous owner of the building had done away with. Now, every Friday a different live band plays, with most of them being local, and the genres run from country to rock to blues. Saturday nights are for karaoke and Wednesday nights are set aside for country line dancing, which has proven popular. Torres states that his objective is to offer a safe environment for people to mingle and enjoy themselves and he also wanted to create a family type of atmosphere. He aims to keep the restaurant “rustic, country,” and makes sure that people behave themselves. When his help is needed, Torres will fill in everywhere, a work ethic he learned at Ixtapa. “A good owner will learn to do it all,” he plainly states while seated in a booth off to the side of the bar. Torres has gotten lucky with his staff, many of whom are locals, and he strives to take care of them as much as he takes care of the business. “I love a family-oriented business,” he says. “I want people to see it not as work, but as a good place to come.” While the bar serves the usual fried fare, the restaurant offers patrons rib-eye, New York and T-bone steaks, different pastas, flat breads such as pizza which is made in-house, and, of course, there is the very popular Taco Tuesdays, which features chicken and ground beef. For dessert, one can order cinnamon roll cheesecake or lave cake, which are made in-house, or New York cheesecake. Torres offers a special every day and tries to get people to interact with the restaurant’s website and Facebook page to see what the special is. Those in the bar can eat the same meals offered in the restaurant and there are eleven taps, draft beers and rare bourbons. While he has no plans to expand at this time as he would rather focus on the restaurant’s initial success, Torres will be applying next month to have video lottery machines installed and will be adding a projector to show programs on the wall. Torres hopes that the Long Tom Bar and Grill will be around a good long time and he hopes also to be able to serve in the community doing charitable work of some sort, perhaps kids sports, and community events. For now, however, he is content to bask in the glow of a job well done and an establishment well received. He has accomplished what he set out to do and everything else is a bonus. With the hard work he unafraid to do and the work ethic instilled at Ixtapa, he should see his dream of the Long Tom Bar and Grill being around for a long time become a reality.    It’s been impossible not to notice the work taking place next to the skate park and many have wondered what is being built. There has also been curiosity about the work being done behind the Service Center and next to the railroad tracks, though to a lesser extent. Both projects are a result of the city’s response to residents’ requests. The Bark and Whistle Dog Park, which will be nestled on approximately 1.7 acres, will eventually call the space between the Service Center and the railroad tracks home. Upon completion, it will include fencing separating the large dog area from where the small dogs will be able to run, a drinking fountain/dog watering station, and an ADA accessible concrete walkway and entrance. Several blocks south, four regulation size pickleball courts are being built at Territorial Park. The idea for these and the dog park came from public input received in the course of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan process and a parks community survey. Residents of Veneta requested these two amenities more than anything else, according to Matt Laird, Veneta Community Development Director, and the city was able to receive a $75,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to help finance the Pickleball courts construction. The city waits, meanwhile, to learn the fate of a grant for the dog park and its formation. Overseen by Public Works Director Kyle Schauer, the Pickleball courts are expected to open this autumn, while the dog park is expected to start welcoming canine guests and their owner’s next spring.  |
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