Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

Bright spots: News may be grim, but goodness – and giggles – abound

April 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

The World is back at it again. Brexit is a “Mess-ix.” Iran is in the head-lines for nefarious purposes as President Trump declares the “Revolutionary Guard” a terrorist organization (he is correct), and two popular Hollywood families are skewered in ...

Trojans start fast: Baseball, softball teams also battling weather

April 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, School, Sports | Comments Off

The Kennedy baseball team is off to a 9-1 start and is 3-0 in Special District 2 play. The Trojans, who won three of four games in a tournament in Redding, California, are ranked No. 4 in Class 2A-1A by the ...

Tax cocktail blues: That sinking feeling when your money is siphoned

April 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

As it was approaching the Most Important Day of the Year for the federal government – Tax Day – I thought I’d take a few minutes and do my duty as a citizen-taxpayer and calculate what I owe to Uncle Sam. ...

Spring standouts: Kennedy, Silverton boast top track and field talent

April 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, School, Sports | Comments Off

The Kennedy High girls track and field squad has finished in the top 10 at state for the past eight seasons. This year’s squad looks primed to keep the streak alive. “We have potential state champions, great experience with seven four-year ...

Legacy Silverton Medical Center receives $50,000 gift from Roth family

April 2019 Posted in Business, Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off

Michael Roth, president of Roth’s Fresh Markets, recently presented a transformational gift of $50,000 to the Silverton Health Foundation board of trustees to support the Campus Enhancement Project at Legacy Silverton Medical Center. “The Roth Family’s incredible generosity will help us ...

Is that the moon? … and other things you can’t unsee

March 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

Spring is about to spring and The Man’s thoughts turn to sunshine, warmer days and what the heck is going on in local businesses... So-o-o-o-o, here we go... Ratchet Brewing of Salem is adding a second location – in Silverton, ...

Mount Angel Abbey: Chamber salutes 137 years of Distinguished Service

March 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, Food & Drink | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9054" align="alignleft" width="300"] Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, above right, conducted the church service at last year’s Saint Benedict Festival. Nearly 1,000 people visited the Abbey in early July for an afternoon of prayer, music and a buffet picnic lunch with ...

Aspire higher: Let graciousness and civility be your guide

March 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

Two of my favorite words regarding social media decorum are “Graciousness” and “Civility.” For those who use social media, especially Facebook, are unfamiliar with those words and do not have access to a dictionary, here are their definitions, courtesy of ...

Please explain: At the risk of losing what we mean to say

February 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off

Maybe it’s just me, but the English language seems to be fading into a mash-up of emojis, slang, jargon and gibberish. It breaks my heart when I read some “writing.” It’s nonsensical, pointless, lacking in organization and inexact. Most writers appear to ...

Brave flights: ‘Flying Tiger’ pilot turns 100, folks rewarded for passions

February 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off

“It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced.” – Tom Brokaw, author, The Greatest Generation Mr. Brokaw, meet Captain Art Gregg. Really. You need to meet him. He turns 100 on Feb. 16. You will like him. You ...

Put your life in order: Make a list, cross it off

January 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

I like big lists and I cannot lie. Or something like that. With apologies to rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot, I really do like keeping lists, reading lists, and following lists. I’m one of those guys who will sit down with the ...

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

January 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

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? ...

Wrestling standouts: Foxes have strong core, tough competition

January 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

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 ...

Public workshop on Eugene Field site scheduled for Jan. 31

January 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

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 ...

Shining jewels: More than just pocket change

January 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

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 ...

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

December 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

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, ...

The value of money: Get on board and save

December 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

I read an article the other day about a radical new financial movement. It’s called Financially Independent, Retire Early, or FIRE for short. These are millennials who live frugally so they can retire early. They do it by saving money. What ...

Shouldn’t be this hard: But then again, I’m not that bright . . .

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off

With all the great fall weather we’ve been having it doesn’t seem possible that it’s almost Christmas...The Oregon Garden will be lit by a new record 1 million lights, Silverton and Mt. Angel shoppers will be Shop Hopping for the ...

Count your blessings: And avoid the stores Thanksgiving Day

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off

A traditionalist by nature, I am not one to treat Thanksgiving like a quick bus stop in a sleepy, one-horse town enroute to the Big City green and red lights. Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas and look forward ...

The best holiday: Family, friends… and wine!

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

I like Thanksgiving a lot, because it coincides with the best holiday of the year. For want of a better name, I’ll call it Winotopia. The day after Thanksgiving, we rent a big van and load up any leftover relatives, friends, ...

Silverton growth predates current council: Guest Opinion

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

Watching social media conversations about our Mayoral and City Council elections is interesting. I hear many Stu (Rasmussen) supporters claim voting for him is about controlling the growth in Silverton. Our current mayor and council were not in office when it was ...

Don’t give up on Eugene Field: Guest Opinion

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

Please consider this “Chapter 2,” following my letter in the [Oct. 1] issue of Our Town, in which I stated that I would be still and listen, and also that I was convinced that our elected representatives were listening. Well, neither is ...

Cross country stars: JFK’s Lopez, Foxes’ Stutzman run to district titles

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Sports | Comments Off

Kennedy High senior Alejandra Lopez won the Special District 2 girls cross country championship Oct. 25 at Cheadle Lake Park in Lebanon. Lopez ran the 5,000 meters in 18:52.3, 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Jessica Neal of Central Linn. The Trojans also ...

House District 18 needs a change: Guest Opinion

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

As a House District 18 resident, I encourage folks from Aurora to Silverton to vote for Barry Shapiro,“for a change!” Don’t get me wrong. I like the incumbent, Rep. Rick Lewis. I have met with him on several occasions. He is ...

Showdown win: Next: Foxes face Parkrose

November 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Sports | Comments Off

By James Day ALBANY – The Silverton High football ran up a 17-0 first-half lead Friday night against West Albany, then used grit and determination to hold on for a 17-14 Special District 3 win amid light to moderate rain at ...

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