Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

Bridging the Opportunity Gap

October 2019 Posted in Community, People, School | Comments Off

At its best, America is a nation where every individual has opportunities to get an education, find work, support oneself and their family, and be a contributing member of this great democratic society. By many measures, Oregon’s economy is booming. The ...

Jar of Awesome: An easy way to capture your family’s best memories

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Other, People | Comments Off

“Enjoy this time because it’ll be over before you know it,” is possibly the single most cruel sentence one can utter to a new parent, yet the compulsion to say it is hard to resist. I’ve said it – many times ...

Daunting details: Teachers’ union, district, continue discussions

October 2019 Posted in Community, People, School | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Contract negotiations between Silver Falls School District and the Silver Falls Education Association resumed Sept. 24 after the union, frustrated, walked out of the Aug. 5 bargaining session. More than 100 educators and community members turned out in red ...

Being present: Silverton Grange hosts Nonviolent workshop

October 2019 Posted in Briefs, Community, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand A general stress pervades our society – something nobody talks about. People consider so many subjects “out of bounds” and the fear of conflict or stress or awkwardness is preventing them from sharing their opinions. Nonviolent Communication (NVC), an upcoming ...

Into the forest: Camp LEAD – an out of classroom learning experience

October 2019 Posted in Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9478" align="alignleft" width="300"] A Camp LEAD group working at Silver Falls State Park. Amy Johnson[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner The importance of getting kids out of the classroom and involved in the natural world is something Special Education teacher Mike Johnson viewed ...

Small towns… Big hearts

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People | Comments Off

I love small towns. I’ve lived in several – in Oregon, Minnesota and Alaska. Unless I was forced to, I’d never live in a big city. But I’ve been at a loss to explain to other people just why I like ...

Moral fiction: Silverton author explores her own worlds of wonder

September 2019 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9429" align="alignleft" width="185"] Lisa Lowell[/caption] By Nancy Jennings Silverton is known for its majestic waterfalls and extensive artistic community. Among those artists is author Lisa Lowell. She was raised in a large family of creative, imaginative types. Her maternal grandmother wrote ...

Blue Star: Oregon Garden honors veterans with new memorial marker

September 2019 Posted in Community, Garden, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand The Oregon Garden is calling all veterans to the dedication of a Blue Star Memorial Marker being installed to honor the country’s veterans. The Garden is partnering with the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs to install the marker, ...

‘Long Time Gone’: Memories of Woodstock

September 2019 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9395" align="alignright" width="300"] Poppy Shell[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand The nation recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Woodstock and a Silverton resident with strong ties to that festival – who also appeared in the classic film of the concert – is now ...

Gun violence: Silverton family’s daughter killed in Salem shooting

September 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9389" align="alignright" width="261"] Jennifer Black Submitted Photo[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Gun violence hit close to home at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, when 40 year-old, Jennifer Black – daughter of Chris Mayou and Larry Black of Silverton – was fatally ...

Tactile feelings: Silverton Fine Arts Festival poster artist strives to put kids in touch with art

August 2019 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9364" align="alignleft" width="294"] Laura Koppes with her poster for the 2019 Silverton Fine Arts Festival, “Blue Basin.” Submitted Photo[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand The painting chosen to represent this year’s Silverton Fine Arts Festival was the result of an earth-shaking experience. Artist Laura ...

The right rhythm: Back to school routines can pose difficulties for kids

August 2019 Posted in People, School | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner “Some years are boohoo years and some years are woohoo years, and this is more of a boohoo year,” Christine Eubanks, mother of three – Cosette, 9, Eli, 12 and Sam, 15 – said of the upcoming school ...

Seeing double: Northwest twins to walk in Homer Davenport Parade

July 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9333" align="alignright" width="300"] Is it Lara Ghio Gaitan and Vicky Ghio-Lopez, or the other way around? They’re not telling. Submitted Photo[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Three years ago Lara Ghio Gaitan and her identical twin sister, Vicky Ghio-Lopez, attended the largest celebration ...

A ‘Wendy house’: Enchanting playhouse built as fundraiser for ASAP

July 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9330" align="alignleft" width="243"] Mailey Peterson looks on as Bailey and Lil’ Dawg enjoy the spacious playhouse front porch Brenna Wiegand[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Hard to believe half a dozen years have passed since the middle school after-school program began. At the time, ...

Pirouette: Globetrotting ballet dancer thankful for her Silverton roots

July 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People, School | Comments Off

She is a dynamic woman, a wonderful ballerina who has danced in galas on Broadway and across the world. Smart as a whip, charismatic as all get out, planning to major in biological science. Her work ethic is impeccable. Her ...

Unlocking origins: Adoptees advocate for more resources

July 2019 Posted in Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner Laura Antonson and Tyler Boland have two fundamental things in common; they both love plants – Antonson is a Landscape Design Architect and Boland is the Horticulture Manager at the Oregon Garden – and they are both adopted ...

‘Teach-In’: Silverton minister holds peaceful rally to demonstrate public process

July 2019 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9282" align="alignright" width="199"] Reverand Michael Carlson[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Reverend Michael Carlson is not a politician, nor is he particularly politically-minded. What he is, is a citizen concerned about the welfare of his country and the citizens who reside in it. “Personally, ...

Motivated to succeed: Morales brothers flourish with hard work

June 2019 Posted in Community, People, School | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9250" align="alignright" width="300"] Luis and Eduardo Morales. Melissa Wagoner[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner While other sixth graders were just trying to make it through middle school, Luis Morales was already planning for college. And not just getting into college, but getting into ...

Space to transition: St. Edward’s breaks ground for tiny shelter homes

June 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9252" align="alignleft" width="300"] Vicar Shana McCauley, Reverend Neysa Ellgren Shepley, and Sarah White break ground at St. Edward’s Church. MELISSA WAGONER[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Gloria’s path to homelessness began last December – on her birthday – when the woman who employed ...

Time for play: Parenting coaches offer summer tips for enjoying the break

June 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9253" align="alignleft" width="211"] Vienna Sheldon and a friend, berry picking. Summer Sheldon[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Summer in Oregon is fantastic for so many reasons but one of the biggest can be the additional time many parents get to spend connecting with ...

Out of tune: Silver Falls School District at odds with Silverton Friends of Music

June 2019 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People, School | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Silverton Friends of Music presented a 41-page status report “Music in Silver Falls School District” to the Silver Falls School District Board at its May 13 meeting. The nonprofit, formed three years ago to promote music instruction in area ...

Fulfilling legacy: Lions Club’s community projects celebrate centennial

May 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

By Nancy Jennings To fulfill its Lions Club International “Centennial Community Legacy Projects” in 2017, and commemorate the service organization’s 100th year of its founding, Silverton’s chapter has completed two community projects – Silverton’s Reservoir fishing area has been renovated, ...

Fit to frame: Cutest Kids photo contest revived

April 2019 Posted in Business, Community, People, Photo Gallery | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9162" align="alignright" width="225"] Annie Smith’s studio will host the first Cutest Kids Contest in several years on First Friday. Kids photos courtesy Annie Smith Photography. Smith portrait by Melissa Wagoner[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner With digital photos piling up on home computers ...

Their chosen paths…It’s National Nurses Week May 6 -12

April 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner National Nurses Week is a time devoted to recognizing nurses for the role they play in health care. Celebrated May 6 - 12, it encompasses the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing and an inspiration ...

In these halls: Students become ambassadors to State Capital

April 2019 Posted in Community, People, School | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner The students in the Community Roots School’s Adolescent Program got a behind-the-scenes look at the Oregon State Capital when they visited on Feb. 25 as Ambassadors for Oregon Montessori Education Day. “Not every kid gets to go to the ...

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