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Manner your mind: Let’s start the year off with some perspective

Traditional column. New year. New goals. New resolutions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cut down on sweets. Uh, huh. That’s history with the five pieces of Moonstruck Chocolate I sucked down last night like a hungry Dyson vacuum cleaner. Lose 30 pounds? Toast – see previous chocolate malady. Quit engaging others on politics? Oh, my. That went out the door Jan. 1, at 12:01 a.m. I gave some sage advice to a friend – “If you tell someone water is wet and they disagree, run. Really fast.” Don’t engage. Talking politics with a goal of converting them to your style of thinking is like trying to teach a pig to sing, according to Robert Heinlein. “It will waste your time, and it annoys the pig.”  Read more... (539 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

I, robotics: Students earn awards

Mt. Angel Middle School VEX IQ Robotics at the recent competition. Melissa Wagoner

By Melissa Wagoner

Robotics isn’t just a fun, extracurricular activity for kids; it also prepares them for a career in the growing tech industry, according to Stacy Boost, a head coach of Mt. Angel Middle School’s VEX IQ Robotics program.

“There is such a push for our tech jobs, businesses and corporations to have the employee base to reflect the community base,” Boost explained. “We are in need of a more diverse group of people in such great positions. We are raising just that here at Mt. Angel Middle School.”  Read more... (645 words, 1 image, estimated 2:35 mins reading time)

Wrestling standouts: Foxes have strong core, tough competition

The Silverton High wrestling team features some solid veterans who likely will be major players during district and state competition.

“We have some upperclassman who have been stepping up and consistently winning,” coach Keegan Davis told Our Town. “Matthew Guenther has been having a great deal of success on the mat and in the practice room. Nathan Kuenzi has also been having a lot of success in competitions, demonstrating to the team what hard work can accomplish. Kaden Kuenzi recently won two major tournaments, Rose City and the Gut Check beating a 3-time national champ in the finals.”  Read more... (972 words, 1 image, estimated 3:53 mins reading time)

Public workshop on Eugene Field site scheduled for Jan. 31

The City of Silverton is conducting an outreach and planning effort to determine the potential future uses of the Eugene Field site in downtown Silverton.

Consultants plan to lead an interactive community discussion, eliciting community input on such topics as community values, existing physical conditions, redevelopment issues and future vision for the Eugene Field site and design.

Everyone interested is welcome to attend the next workshop, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31,  6 p.m. at Silverton High School in the cafeteria, 1456 Pine St.

Ready, set, pickleball! Multi-generational sport free through Jan. 31

Poppy and David Shell initiated the pickleball games at the Silverton Community Center.
Nancy Jennings

By Nancy Jennings

A fun way to beat the winter doldrums can be found at Silverton’s YMCA. “Pickleball,” a sport with an odd name and originating from the Pacific Northwest, has found its way from larger cities to Oregon’s Garden City.

Think of it as a kinder, gentler tennis game. Introduced on Dec. 27 at the Community Center, the paddle sport combines elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton – and uses a badminton-sized court and modified tennis net.  Read more... (740 words, 1 image, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)

Good marks: Silver Falls, Mt. Angel rank high in Best School District results

Kindergartner Silas Kuenzi, left, and first grader Kyler Nuttman of Evergreen School dissect a squid in their science studies last fall.
Courtesy Silver Falls School District

By Brenna Wiegand

Neighboring Silver Falls and Mt. Angel school districts received exceptional rankings in Niche.com’s 2019 Best School Districts in Oregon.

Out of 198 school districts in Oregon, Silver Falls ranked 7th and Mt. Angel 19th by the Pittsburgh-based data, ranking and review site for K-12 schools, colleges and neighborhoods around the country.  Read more... (837 words, 1 image, estimated 3:21 mins reading time)

Shelaswau Bushnell Crier to give keynote at King observance

Shelaswau Bushnell Crier will give the keynote address following a community potluck in celebration of Dr, Martin Luther King Day at the Silverton Grange on Monday, Jan. 21.

Co-sponsored by Silverton People For Peace and the Silverton Grange, the event is open to all. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck at 6, S201 S. Division, off of S. Water.

Lawyer, former law professor and middle school math teacher, and community activist, Crier has always been passionate about education. That passion took her to Rice University and to Yale Law School. At Yale, Crier says, the students were more about “How can we change the world?” Crier serves as vice-president of the Salem-Keizer NCAAP, and on state advisory committees.  Read more... (236 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

Storytelling: Duo uses video to record memories for posterity

Michael Turner and Zach Esperanza,
owners of Pass It On Productions.
Melissa Wagoner

By Melissa Wagoner

Zach Esperanza has witnessed a lot of goodbyes during his tenure as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, most of them involving distraught family members unwilling to let their loved one go – a situation he wishes he could remedy.

So when Esperanza’s own grandmother, Shirley Irvin, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2018 he knew he wanted their imminent and final farewell to be a peaceful and memorable one.  Read more... (767 words, 1 image, estimated 3:04 mins reading time)

Fresh faces: Meet Legacy Silverton’s first boy, girl born in 2019

Maria Rios Najar and Osualdo Rios Diaz with their new son, Adriel Rios Najar, the first baby boy born in 2019 on Jan. 1 at Legacy Silverton. Melissa Wagoner

By Melissa Wagoner

Proud parents, Maria Rios Najar and Osualdo Rios Diaz, exude excitement as they peer down into the tiny face of their new son, Adriel, who made his appearance on New Year’s Day at 5:07 p.m. – the first baby boy born at Legacy Silverton Medical Center in 2019

“We have been waiting for him a lot of years,” Najar said. “It’s a miracle. How can something so beautiful be ours?”  Read more... (438 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Nothing’s easy: Silvertowne tenants, management struggle with processes

By Brenna Wiegand

Frustrated in their dealings with management, in July some Silvertowne I and II apartment residents formed a tenants association, looking to increase their effectiveness in dealing with Integrated Supports for Living, the nonprofit organization that took over the affordable housing complexes in Silverton four years ago.

The tenants’ grievances included unfair eviction notices, unsafe conditions, insufficient response to requests and harassment.

“Up until two years ago, this was for me a very happy place,” Lynn Hancock, 82, said. Then she received an eviction notice for not paying rent. Hancock said after the onsite manager found her check in a stack of mail she got another eviction notice saying she’d paid the wrong amount, which proved not to be the case.  Read more... (1872 words, estimated 7:29 mins reading time)

Shining jewels: More than just pocket change

It was 16 cents, but what it meant to me was worth a lot more.

I was at the convenience store the other day, buying a pint – of 2 percent milk, that is. I buy milk almost every day to have with lunch.

When the cashier asked for $1.39 I came up short. I was sure I had the exact change but when I pawed through my pockets I came up 16 cents short.

Before I could reach into my wallet to grab out a dollar bill, a man standing behind me reached forward with his own dollar. “Take it out of this,” he said.  Read more... (564 words, 1 image, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Swimmers dive in: Aqua Foxes look to build on successes

The Silverton High swim program, 85 athletes strong, is off to another strong start. Both squads are 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Mid-Willamette Conference encounters.

“Overall I am happy with how we are doing,” said coach Lucky Rogers. “We returned a lot of girls that are on pace to do even better this year. We lost Jason Orr, our best swimmer in every event on the boys side to graduation, but the boys have been working very hard and will be quite the surprise by the district meet.”  Read more... (1223 words, 1 image, estimated 4:54 mins reading time)

Clutch Bowling: Local tech innovator’s program sparks international interest

Andrew Zwicker Brenna WiEgand

By Brenna Wiegand

Though he had a bowling scholarship, Andrew Zwicker pursued software engineering which led him right back to bowling. What he’s done since has changed his life and is putting a new spin on the sport worldwide.

Andrew’s parents Ryan and Tawnya Zwicker bought Silver Creek Lanes bowling alley in Silverton 12 years ago; Andrew has bowled since he was five. He’s coached Silverton High School’s team and Saturday morning junior league for several years.

Out of high school the 26-year-old took a job with NW Remarketing, a leading reseller of Information Technology
and equipment.  Read more... (883 words, 1 image, estimated 3:32 mins reading time)

In search of…Silverton rentals are hard to come by

By Melissa Wagoner

Finding a place to rent in Silverton right now is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, according to Becky Craig, a Property Manager at Silverton Realty.

“It is nuts,” she said. “I cannot believe how expensive rental prices are right now. Not only are they increasing in price but the number of units we manage is decreasing.”

Silverton Realty manages close to 250 single-family and multi-family dwellings, giving Craig, who has been a property manager for four years, a unique insight into the state of the current rental market.  Read more... (811 words, 1 image, estimated 3:15 mins reading time)

50-year span: Senior center broadens programs to serve wide-ranging interests

By Melissa Wagoner

“Our goal is to be the hub of all things senior and to be all things social,” Silverton Senior Center Executive Director Dodie Brockamp said. With nearly 1,000 visitors to the Center every year, she has a big job on her hands.

“What I look at are the seven dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and occupational),” Brockamp explained. “I look at that as I’m thinking of program ideas. Then I look at trying things three different ways. By the third time you usually realize – is it going to work or not going to work?”  Read more... (444 words, 2 images, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Dennis ‘Denny’ Paul Martin: April 4, 1939 – Dec. 7, 2018

Dennis “Denny” Paul Martin died of cancer at home in Silverton on Dec. 7, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.

Dennis was born on April 4, 1939 in Omaha, Nebraska to Everett Martin and Clara Paulson Martin. His parents, sister and brother preceded him in death. He grew up in Hawthorne, California where he met Colleen Grogan. They married on March 6, 1965 and moved to Silverton in 1978.

Dennis owned D.P. Martin Trucking, an air and ground delivery service, from 1968 until 1985.

Later he owned Martin Dispatch, and then was an owner-operator truck driver.  Read more... (220 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)

In the moment: Kind, grateful service Jan. 6

Beginning Jan. 6 the Church of the Moment will begin weekly Sunday 10 a.m. “services” in the Live Local space at 107 N. Water St., Silverton.

In meetings with couples for weddings and families for funerals, Mike Ashland has heard a growing number of people confess that they “once belonged” to a church or religion but have “fallen away.” Where in the past they were married and buried by the pastor of their church, today, there is no congregation, no church, no minister for them to turn to easily.  Read more... (379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Hope for the New Year: What’s yours?

By Melissa Wagoner

The beginning of a new year is often viewed as a clean slate, a time of fresh beginnings that brings hope to those who need it. Although most people use the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions as a way of setting personal goals, New Year’s hopes often extend beyond that to include families, the community, the country and even the world. And so, as we begin this new year of 2019, here are a few hopes from our neighbors for a better world, loving communities, happy families, healthy bodies and maybe just a new pair of ice skates.  Read more... (880 words, estimated 3:31 mins reading time)

50-year span: Senior center broadens programs to serve wide-ranging interests

By Melissa Wagoner

“Our goal is to be the hub of all things senior and to be all things social,” Silverton Senior Center Executive Director Dodie Brockamp said. With nearly 1,000 visitors to the Center every year, she has a big job on her hands.

“What I look at are the seven dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and occupational),” Brockamp explained. “I look at that as I’m thinking of program ideas. Then I look at trying things three different ways. By the third time you usually realize – is it going to work or not going to work?”  Read more... (442 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Timbered timbre: Amphitheater proposed for Coolidge McClaine Park

A design for the amphitheater proposed for Coolidge McClaine Park in Silverton. Submitted Image

When a group of six friends started talking about building an amphitheater in Silverton’s Coolidge McClaine Park, they didn’t know such a structure was included in the city’s Parks Master Plan. They just saw a need.

When they took their concept to the City Council Nov. 5, it was met with an enthusiastic response.

As team member Jim DeSantis imagines it, the estimated $78,650 timber frame structure would be built during a 10-day workshop where community members could learn timber framing. He hopes to involve high school shop students, as well.  Read more... (702 words, 1 image, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)

I’m not going to sing it…But you know the song

I saw a wonderful post on Facebook last week, paraphrased, “Don’t criticize someone’s choices if you don’t know what their other choices were.” It made me think a lot, especially as Christmas is approaching.

It seems we are on a roll, but not in a good way. Instead of saying quietly in our cars, “I was at the intersection first. It’s not your turn!” we choose to offer our angry faces or less-than-friendly hand gestures. What if we choose differently? What if we show them a courteous hand gesture and a smile, letting them go first? Our chocolate caramel hazelnut macchiato can wait for those three seconds we lost. And another thought – maybe those other drivers are rushing to get antibiotics for their baby, and chose to drive a little bit more assertively? What is wrong with, when faced with a choice, we choose to be kind and a bit more patient?  Read more... (648 words, 1 image, estimated 2:36 mins reading time)

3,000 trees: Watershed council enables planting

OSU Extension Marion County 4-H Youth Enviro Squad Volunteers. Submitted Photo

The Pudding River Watershed Council worked with landowners to plant 3,000 trees in the watershed area during 2018. The cedar, pine, fir and willow seedlings were  donated by Weyerhaeuser and PRT USA.

The watershed council is a nonprofit organization focused on improving water quality and wildlife habitat around the area including Silverton and Mount Angel.

In the spring the council received the seedlings and with empty plastic pots donated by Agri-Plas and the help of Kraemer’s Nursery and K J Farms, they were nurtured over the summer. Then the council distributed free, one-gallon potted trees to community groups, individuals, and the cities of Silverton and Molalla.  Read more... (209 words, 1 image, estimated 50 secs reading time)

Hoops update: Silverton, Kennedy hoping for basketball glory

The Silverton and Kennedy basketball programs are coming off sterling seasons. The girls and boys programs at both schools finished in the top four in the state, with the Trojans’ girls squad taking home their second Class 2A title in three years.

The Trojans lost seven seniors off of that championship team, but they have started fast, opening 5-0 and earning the early No. 1 ranking in Class 2A.

“We have always prided ourselves on improving all season and to hang our hats on defense,” coach Peter Hall told Our Town. Peter shares coaching duties with his wife, Kerry. “So far this group has played very good defense, made some mistakes, but has improved in some way every game.”  Read more... (777 words, 1 image, estimated 3:06 mins reading time)

Miracle in the mist: A December Sunday at Lone Pine

by Robert McGowan

There are many spots in the Silverton-Mount Angel area that have colloquial names. All probably have some historical significance. Some represent a community or area like Drakes Crossing or Bethany. Others are more localized like Rocky Four Corners. Lone Pine is one of the localized ones and represents the intersection of Highway 213 and Mt. Angel-Scotts Mills Road. I am guessing at one time it was marked by a single tall tree; probably not a big mental leap on my part.  Read more... (2135 words, estimated 8:32 mins reading time)

Natural beauty: 19-year-old entrepreneur thriving

Antonina Kuznetsov with her dog Ava-Jade. Submitted Photo

By Nancy Jennings

In 2014, Antonina Kuznetsov was a 15-year-old living in the small city of Fosston, Minnesota, on a mission – to become an entrepreneur. After taking the necessary steps, she secured a business license and made her dream come true – all before getting her driver’s license.

Now 19, the Monitor resident and founder of “Antonina’s Naturals,” an all-natural skin care line, values authenticity above all else. She recalled the incident that propelled her launch into the skin care business.  Read more... (610 words, 1 image, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)