Katie's Blog

Animal House has exotic fresh and saltwater fish, birds, and reptiles at it's location in Corvallis. One day a beloved pet parrot owned by a local Corvallis woman began having seizures. Unable to afford the vet bills, she was heartbroken and left hopeless. Sobbing, she stopped by the Animal House in Corvallis hoping to get some sort of help. There she found Dale Stepnicka, who comforted her and offered step-by-step instructions for what she could do. With a little bit of hope restored, she went home ready to do what she could with the new advice. Weeks later, Stepnicka was greeted by the familiar face of the women, but with a smile replacing her tears. In her hands was a bucket of assorted candy for Stepnicka. Her gratitude ran for miles; her parrot was healthy again thanks to the advice of the owner of Animal House. But she didn’t need to thank him. This is, of course, what makes it all worth it to him. Dale Stepnicka raises exotic birds like this one named Scarlet.

On the corner of Main and 15th street in Philomath, you may have noticed a new white building with a roof lined with yellow lights. It’s easy to miss while driving through town, but once you enter it’s a place you’ll surely remember. Walking in you're greeted with glass cases filled with monster-size cookies in an assortment of flavors and walls covered in rural decor such as timber and even deer heads. Briere Marshall greets visitors with a smile while cleaning tables or preparing coffee for customers. She and her mom Molly Marshall run Timber Towne Coffee together. “The people here are so sweet!” said Margaret Bruton, a frequent customer at Timber Towne Coffee. This is Briere Marshall's first time running a business after graduating from OSU in 2016. For the Marshalls, mornings start bright and early in the kitchen. Items such as biscuits, muffins, and even giant cinnamon rolls known as “lumberjack rolls” are some of the customers’ favorite freshly baked in-hou