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Crop insurance: George Harris specializes in offering farmers security

September 2010 Posted in Business, People | No Comments »

By Kathy Cook Hunter For those people jokingly called “out standing in their fields” – the crop-growing farmers of Oregon – George Harris is an important fellow to know and do business with. A Silverton resident, Harris specializes in selling crop insurance, ...

Terri Vasché: Celebration focuses on 30-year career making vision better

July 2010 Posted in Business, People | No Comments »

By Kristine Thomas Growing up in Oregon City, Terri Vasché never realized there were things girls weren't supposed to do so she went ahead and did them. She was the first girl at Oregon City High School to be excused from taking ...

Cautious optimism: Banker predicts 18 more months of ‘local’ recession

July 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Kathy Cook Hunter Oregon banker Bill Humphreys remains optimistic as he faces what he considers a continuing recession in this state. “Here’s why I have come to this conclusion: Every recession has ended – name one that hasn’t ended,” Humphreys said. ...

Dogged determination: When the going gets tough, teens start their own business

July 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Dixon Bledsoe Inspiration and innovation – and perhaps a little desperation – have turned one group of Silverton teens into business entrepreneurs. The team has opened The Dog House at 206 S. Water St., – the old attendant’s station next to ...

Taking chances: Snyder finds rewards in risks – in retail and on the road

July 2010 Posted in Business, People | No Comments »

By Kathy Cook Hunter You might say Donna Snyder likes to paint the town red. Snyder, owner and manager of The Red Bench, an antiques and collectibles mecca in downtown Silverton, didn’t waste any time adding a large touch of red ...

Local focus: Brewery and winery raise a toast to their community

May 2010 Posted in Business, Other | No Comments »

By Linda Whitmore During an extended Memorial Day weekend, a local winery and a local brewery will debut their new Tap Room. And “local” is their byword. Chris Deckelmann, co-owner of Vitis Ridge winery with his wife, Sharon; and partners Bruce and ...

Many hands: Community support makes new thrift shop tick

April 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Linda Whitmore The image of hands giving a lift to someone reaching for help, or hands clasped in warm greeting, both seem appropriate for the new Helping Hands Thrift Store in Silverton. The shop at 301 E. Main St., provides a ...

Alternative solutions: Acupuncturist makes Silverton connections

April 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Brenna Wiegand Andrea Fisk recently began practicing at Eng Acupuncture and she loves it. She practices independently in Portland as Singing Bird Acupuncture, but was eager to fill a part-time position in a small town. “I grew up on a sustenance ...

Rumbling repercussions: Measure 67’s impact stirs emotions

April 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Jay Shenai Mike Grant doesn’t mince his words when asked about his thoughts on Measure 67. “Cowardly, deceptive and foolish,” said Grant, owner and founder of The Grant Company, a design-build commercial contractor in Mount Angel. Months after the special election in ...

Friends of Silver Falls: Volunteers staff shop, tend park and events

April 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Mary Owen Last September, Silverton store owner Tricia Sorgen closed Silver Creek Statuary and became administrator of the Friends of Silver Falls. It’s a role she relishes, she said. “Over the years I have worked and volunteered for various non-profit organizations ...

SortaSausage: Necessity is mother of invention, hard work is key to success

March 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Linda Whitmore There are two slogans that apply to Molly Ainsley: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” and “Think globally, act locally.” Ainsley, owner and operator of Rolling Hills Bakery and Café in Silverton, had launched her business ...

Something’s brewing: Seven Brides expands distribution, bottles, announces move to larger facility

March 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Linda Whitmore April 2008: Five Silverton men announce plans to launch Seven Brides Brewing Co. The brewery has a few pieces of repurposed equipment, housed in a partners’ home workshop. April 2009: Seven Brides’ owners announce they will be moving soon ...

Kept in stitches: Fans circle around to keep The Purl District going

February 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Kristine Thomas Celia Stapleton makes brandishing two, three, four or even five knitting needles look as effortless as talking, which she does quite a bit of while knitting with friends and customers at her shop, The Purl District, a yarn ...

3/50 Project: Chamber sharpens the focus on the benefits of shopping locally with February contest

February 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Steve Ritchie Think for a minute about your three favorite local businesses and what our community would be like without them. Can you imagine Silverton without Stone Buddha, Lunaria or the Palace Theatre? Would you be upset if you couldn’t shop ...

Gym dandy: Mike Thompson’s Silverton Fitness honored as Business of the Year

February 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Jay Shenai The sign still hangs at 222 High St. in downtown Silverton, a two-level standalone commercial building with fatigued blue paint. The sign reads: “Nautilus of Silverton: Health and Fitness Club.” Another sign, “For Lease,” hangs on one of ...

At the helm: Oregon Garden Resort manager blends events, tourism, town

January 2010 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Jay Shenai For Christine Bradbury, an event planner by trade, planning the perfect event is an obsession, but she’s got a pretty demanding client coming up. Engaged to be married later this year, the 34-year-old Dayton native will come face-to-face with ...

Choices narrow: School board to select superintendent from within

October 2009 Posted in Business, News, School | No Comments »

By Kristine Thomas For more information about the candidates, click for interviews with Andy Bellando and Linda Myers. The Silver Falls School District board will review the candidates in executive session Nov. 9. Either Andy Bellando or Linda Myers will be the ...

Silver Falls Nature Store: Log cabin setting attracts customers

October 2009 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Kathy Cook Hunter You’ve heard of “new and improved?” It’s an apt description for the Nature Store at Silver Falls State Park. For years the store was hidden away inside South Lodge in a dark, somewhat gloomy, corner room near ...

Entrepreneurs: Women start businesses despite tough economy

July 2009 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Linda Whitmore Three women are defying cautionary warnings of negative economic conditions and jumping headlong into new endeavors in Mt. Angel and Silverton. Two of the entrepreneurs bring years of business experience and one is fulfilling a dream. The Green Store Michelle ...

Answering the call: Silverton native steps into local veterinary practice

June 2009 Posted in Business, People | No Comments »

By Brenna Wiegand Abiqua Animal Clinic 805 Oak St., Silverton 503-873-3691 Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-noon The bittersweet call came on Easter. Although he’d spoken before with 30-year Silverton veterinarian Phil Andrews about helping out at Abiqua Animal Clinic, Brian Dietrich was shocked to ...

Schmitz Timber Co.: Honors for outstanding management

June 2009 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Jan Jackson For information on Schmitz Timber Management, Inc., call 503-845-6816. For information about Associated Oregon Loggers, contact Jim Geisinger at P.O. Box 12339, Salem, Ore., 97309, call 503-364-1330 or visit oregonloggers.org. When Norb and Katherine Schmitz started their logging company 49 years ago, it was a simple operation. Today, ...

Vitis Ridge collects food for SACA

May 2009 Posted in Business, Community | No Comments »

When packing a picnic lunch or snacks for your visit to Vitis Ridge winery in Silverton, make sure to bring along some canned or non-perishable food too. Throughout May, the owners of Vitis Ridge are holding a food drive to benefit ...

New banks: Silver Falls closure heats up market

May 2009 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Kristine Thomas The closure of Silver Falls Bank has resulted in three financial institutions opening in Silverton with a fourth pondering the move. Citizens Bank opened Feb. 23 in the location of the former Silver Falls Bank, after the Oregon Department ...

What recession?: Business owners decide it’s time to expand

May 2009 Posted in Business | No Comments »

By Linda Whitmore There’s a recession out there – some say it’s the worst since the Great Depression – but you’d never know it when talking to several business owners who recently either expanded or opened new enterprises in Silverton and ...

Clearing the air: Bars, bowling alleys adjust to ‘no smoking’ regulation

January 2009 Posted in Business | No Comments »

  By Kathy Cook Hunter To some people, it’s a bummer. To others, it’s a benefit. “It” is the Oregon Indoor Clean-Air Act, known as the smoke-free workplace law.  All indoor workplaces are now required to post a decal at doorways and employee ...