Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

Culture of volunteerism: Oktoberfest receives President’s Award

March 2019 Posted in Community, Food & Drink, Music & Band | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9065" align="alignright" width="300"] Image by Jim Kinghorn[/caption] By Daniele Keating Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce Past President Pete Wall selected Oktoberfest to receive the 2018 President’s Award for its tremendous community accomplishments and charitable contributions. Inaugurated in 2014, the President’s Award recognizes ...

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 ...

Post #89: Mt. Angel American Legion presented with Special Service award

March 2019 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner Although the Mt. Angel American Legion Post #89 was founded back in 1934, many of the 26 names on the original charter and the 28 names on the memorial, dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for ...

Junior First Citizen: Nick Suing honored for involvement, leadership

March 2019 Posted in Community | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9058" align="alignleft" width="195"] Mount Angel Junior First Citizen Nick Suing. Steve Ritchie[/caption] By Steve Ritchie Oktoberfest is what really opened Nick Suing’s eyes to the value of community service. Helping out year after year at the festival with family and friends ...

Mr. Mayor: Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce names Andy Otte 2018 First Citizen

March 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9026" align="alignright" width="269"] Mayor Andy Otte[/caption] By Steve Ritchie Mount Angel 2018 First Citizen Andy Otte described his full daily schedule with a succinct sentence: “It’s nonstop.” Otte has served as mayor of Mount Angel since 2013. He is also a volunteer ...

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 ...

In the elements: Silverton hiker rescued after two days in Columbia Gorge

February 2019 Posted in Community, Sports, Travel, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9028" align="alignright" width="225"] Leslie Drapiza. Submitted Photo[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner “Since this has happened I’ve had these moments where I’m like, ‘Am I really alive?’” avid outdoorswoman Leslie Drapiza of Silverton said during a recent retelling of the harrowing rescue that ...

Traveling with kids: Adventure for the whole family

February 2019 Posted in Community, People, Travel | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9031" align="alignleft" width="225"] Guy Rodrigue and Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser took their son Sullivan to Santiago, Spain.Submitted Photos[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner It took Lisa Gerlits a number of years to find the joy in traveling with children. The mother of three – Alexander, ...

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 ...

Aqua Foxes shine: Silverton sends record group to state swim meet

February 2019 Posted in Community, Sports | Comments Off

The Silverton High swimming squads turned in a record-shattering performance at the Mid-Willamette Conference district meet Feb. 8 at Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis. The Aqua Foxes finished second in the boys competition and third in the girls and will be ...

Comfort food: Chef Raul Santana

February 2019 Posted in Community, Food & Drink | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9000" align="alignleft" width="168"] Raul Santana opened Magnolia Grill in Mount Angel in December. Brenna Wiegand[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Raul Santana first found work in the berry fields after migrating to the U.S. in 2000. The 16-year-old, brought by an uncle, taught ...

Volksfest: New name, fresh look

February 2019 Posted in Community, Food & Drink | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9004" align="alignright" width="210"] Photo by Jim Kinghorn[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Volksfest – or a festival of the people in German – is an apt name for the annual wintertime sausage-themed extravaganza that takes place in Mount Angel. “There’s a plethora of entertainment ...

May I have the definition? Grown-up Spelling Bee benefits Dolly Parton Literacy Program book giveaway

February 2019 Posted in Business, Community | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8999" align="alignleft" width="255"] Silverton Kiwanis Bee Committee Co-Chairs, Lisa Santana and Christy Davis. Nancy Jennings[/caption] By Nancy Jennings What does Dolly Parton and a spelling bee have in common? For the answer, look no further than Silverton’s Kiwanis Club – which ...

Silvertowne: Adding to the story

January 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

I read the article about Silvertowne with great interest because that is my home. I would like to thank Our Town for shining a light on our situation here. While it did touch on some of the concerns, there is ...

Future First Citizen: Alyssa Khieu seeks to serve a global community

January 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8968" align="alignleft" width="240"] Alyssa Khieu, 2018 Future First Citizen Submitted Photo[/caption] “Her commitment to quietly helping others was obvious,” Mayor Kyle Palmer said in announcing Alyssa Khieu as the Future First Citizen for 2018 from Silverton High School. He went ...

Business of the Year: Bledsoe Santana Team Realty builds relationships

January 2019 Posted in Business, Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8971" align="alignright" width="275"] Dixon Bledsoe and Lisa Santana, founders of Bledsoe Santana Team Realty. Jim Kinghorn[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Being Realtors provides Dixon Bledsoe and Lisa Santana a unique approach to community service that enables them to not only join forces ...

Distinguished service: Sarah White sees those served as brothers, sisters

January 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8970" align="alignleft" width="291"] Sarah White, Executive Director & Case Manager, Silverton Sheltering Services.Brenna Wiegand[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Though greatly honored, Sarah White is a little embarrassed at receiving Silverton’s Distinguished Service award for 2018. “I’m really grateful; I feel it is a ...

Lifetime Achievement: Elmer Valkenaar has played many roles

January 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8967" align="alignright" width="217"] Elmer ‘St. Elmo’ Valkenaar is the recipient of the Judy Schmidt Lifetime Achievement award.Jim Kinghorn[/caption] By Steve Ritchie Every town could use a dedicated civic leader and tireless volunteer like the late Judy Schmidt. Or like Elmer Valkenaar. Known ...

First Citizens: Stacy and Kevin Palmer team up, help out

January 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8966" align="alignleft" width="300"] Kevin and Stacy Palmer 2018 First Citizens award recipients. Melissa Wagoner[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner This time of year, Stacy Palmer – Executive Director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce – can often be found, balloons in hand, making ...

I, robotics: Students earn awards

January 2019 Posted in Community, School | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8942" align="alignright" width="300"] Mt. Angel Middle School VEX IQ Robotics at the recent competition. Melissa Wagoner[/caption] 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 ...

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

January 2019 Posted in Community, Sports, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8941" align="alignleft" width="300"] Poppy and David Shell initiated the pickleball games at the Silverton Community Center.Nancy Jennings[/caption] 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 ...

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

January 2019 Posted in Community | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8943" align="alignright" width="296"] 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[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Neighboring Silver Falls and Mt. Angel school districts received exceptional ...

Shelaswau Bushnell Crier to give keynote at King observance

January 2019 Posted in Community, Food & Drink | Comments Off

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 ...

Storytelling: Duo uses video to record memories for posterity

January 2019 Posted in Business, Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8940" align="alignright" width="300"] Michael Turner and Zach Esperanza,owners of Pass It On Productions.Melissa Wagoner[/caption] 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 ...

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

January 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8939" align="alignleft" width="273"] 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[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Proud parents, Maria Rios Najar and ...

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