Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

Witnessing an act of bravery

October 2021 Posted in Community, Other, People | Comments Off

We all have a different image of what it means to be a hero. For some, it is a flying, caped super-human; for others, an inspiring ancestor whose legacy has shaped the lives of their family. In recent months, our ...

A Slice of the Pie: Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters or a plumber?

October 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Other, People | Comments Off

I recently learned something rather astounding – if you ask for ghost stories, prepare for an onslaught. Houses, storefronts, restaurants, nursing homes – and apparently nearly every school in area – all come with a ghost story or two attached. ...

The Noble Fox – Location mixes with vision to serve up a new dining experience

October 2021 Posted in Business, Food & Drink, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner When Jeramie Mykisen and his step-father Jeffrey Tinkham learned that the Silverton Wine Bar was for sale they instantly jumped at the chance to make it their own. [caption id="attachment_10543" align="alignright" width="300"] Jeramie Mykisen and Jeffrey Tinkham flank Chef, ...

Live arts return – Albeit slowly, and with COVID-inspired caution

October 2021 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, Music, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner When the COVID-19 pandemic began, in the spring of 2020, the students at Silverton Ballet and Performing Arts Company were weeks away from the annual spring recital. The culmination of months – if not years – of practice ...

Not just coats – Winter wear collection keeps kids warm

October 2021 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner Right now, with schools finally back in session, many kids are spending more time outside for recess, PE and lunch, prompting teachers to send home reminders saying, “Don’t let your children forget their coats.” But what if there are ...

Volleyball standouts – Foxes in three-way battle for league title

October 2021 Posted in People, School, Sports | Comments Off

The Silverton High volleyball squad is locked in a three-way battle for the Mid-Willamette Valley Conference title – and state bragging rights as well. At Our Town’s presstime the Foxes were 11-4 overall, 9-2 in league and ranked No. 3 in ...

Skate Park update: Groundbreaking held for expansion

October 2021 Posted in Community, News, People, Sports | Comments Off

By James Day Backers of the expansion of the Judy Schmidt Memorial Skate Park held a groundbreaking Sept. 11 for the next phase of the project. Actually breaking ground given the dry summer proved to be a challenge, so organizer Sue Roessler ...

Modernly traditional – New Silverton practice provides pediatric care

October 2021 Posted in Business, Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10511" align="alignright" width="209"] Scott Hamblin[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10510" align="alignright" width="250"] Mark Helm[/caption] The recent closure of the Silverton branch of Childhood Health left Silverton families without a locally-based pediatric clinic – an situation Dr. Scott Hamblin and Dr. Mark Helm ...

Dialectical therapy – Individual, group, coaching, in-the-moment services

October 2021 Posted in Business, Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10504" align="alignright" width="217"] Dr. Andrew Weitzman[/caption] During his 20-year career as a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Andrew Weitzman learned a great deal. “Of those 20 years, my first seven were in community health in Vancouver, Washington,” Weitzman said of the ...

Soundscape – Shindig returns to delight town

October 2021 Posted in Community, Music, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner When Nicholas Alan Coffey moved to Silverton six years ago, the annual Sidewalk Shindig was one of his favorite events. “You can have fun for free, you can bring the whole family and you can hangout for free all ...

Early experience – Health Occupations class gives high schoolers insight into careers

October 2021 Posted in People, School | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10491" align="alignright" width="225"] Health Occupations student, America Blaser, Instructor Geralyn Sheets and former student Vanessa Meraz[/caption] Even in high school Vanessa Meraz knew she wanted to go into healthcare. “Growing up I was very close to my grandparents and ...

Return of the zombies: Dancers needed for Thriller in the Streets

October 2021 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner What says Halloween more than a flash-mob of zombies jerkily dancing to Michael Jackson’s classic song from 1982, Thriller? “It’s so cool,” Marta Hazekamp – owner of Revolutionary Dance and Movement Company in Silverton – said of the annual ...

Soccer hopefuls: Foxes’ squads set to begin league play

October 2021 Posted in People, School, Sports | Comments Off

Mid-Willamette Conference plays gets underway for the Silverton soccer squads this week, with both teams hoping to be contenders in the tough Class 5A league. The boys squad is 3-0-2 and ranked No. 4 in Class 5A. The girls are 1-2-1 ...

New chapter – Sheltering Silverton regroups following founder’s accident

September 2021 Posted in Community, News, Other, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10467" align="alignright" width="300"] Rob and Trish Ambrose, along with newly hired, Hannah Paysinger, make up Sheltering Silverton's new case management team[/caption] When Sarah White created, and later became the director of, Sheltering Silverton – a resource center advocating ...

Oktoberfest 2021: Planning a big festival during the age of COVID-19

September 2021 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, Food & Drink, Music, People, Travel, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_10457" align="alignright" width="300"] Much of the Mount Angel Oktoberfest can be enjoyed out of doors along the village streets, or in tents.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10456" align="alignright" width="300"] The familiar Oktoberfest venues will be up and running for the 2021 festival, some ...

Kids Polka Party – Beloved O’fest entertainer adds new event for 2021

September 2021 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, Food & Drink, Music, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10453" align="alignright" width="300"] The Astorga Family[/caption] “The Mount Angel Oktoberfest has always been a family-friendly, multi-generational festival,” Tecie Zollner Astorga said. And she should know, a member of the popular Oktoberfest band, Z Musikmakers, she has performed on stage ...

Paper master: Borland Gallery features scissor artist, author Jim Bornzin

September 2021 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand [caption id="attachment_10447" align="alignright" width="230"] Jim Bornzin[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10446" align="alignright" width="247"] Swallowtail on Pink & White[/caption] Silverton Arts Association is featuring the work of local artist Jim Bornzin, whose show, “Amazing Scissorcuts,” runs Sept. 10-26 at the Borland Gallery. Bornzin became fascinated ...

A Slice of the Pie: A little messy, but… Getting kids into the kitchen well worth the effort

September 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Food & Drink, People | Comments Off

Sarah DeSantis has been cooking with her son, Oliver, since he was a toddler. “I grew up with home cooked meals and want my kids to learn to cook and eat in the same way,” DeSantis said when asked what inspired ...

Fast start: Openers show promise

September 2021 Posted in Community, People, School, Sports | Comments Off

Will Silverton High senior quarterback Jordan McCarty explode for nearly 400 yards of total offense every Friday? Who knows, but it should be a fun ride. McCarty threw for 322 yards and one touchdown and scrambled for 66 more yards and ...

Waiting game: Hope for a match

September 2021 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner Yard signs are pretty common but the one in Glen Hammer’s yard isn’t. It reads: “I need a kidney. Can you help?” It’s blunt and to the point because Hammer – at 72 and suffering from late-stage polycystic kidney ...

Through the flames: Silverton nurse recalls 2020 ordeal in canyon blaze

August 2021 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10416" align="alignright" width="225"] Silver Falls State Park -- courtesy of Jason Wagoner[/caption] When Holly Perez and her 16-year-old son, Sam, decided to get away for a couple of nights over Labor Day in 2020, they planned to do ...

Dialing in: Silverton’s Wind Phone provides place to release grief, trauma

August 2021 Posted in Community, Other, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10400" align="alignright" width="225"] Mike Ashland with the current incarnation of the Wind Phone booth[/caption] Mike Ashland has witnessed a lot of grief during his career as a pastor and the founder of the Church of the Moment, a ...

Grit and Grace: New apothecary brings herbs, herbal teachings

August 2021 Posted in Business, Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner [caption id="attachment_10396" align="alignright" width="252"] Amanda Baird of Grit and Grace Apothecary[/caption] Few things make a parent feel more anxious than watching a child’s late-night struggle for breath, a situation Amanda Baird – whose son, Jacob, was born three and ...

Legacy Silverton Medical Center professionals support vaccination

August 2021 Posted in Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off

Your local medical community would like to publicly announce our support for vaccination against COVID-19. We have all received the vaccine and encouraged all of our eligible family members to be vaccinated. The available vaccines are safe, rigorously studied, well ...

Falls café reopens – Under new management

August 2021 Posted in Business, Community, Food & Drink, Outdoor Life, People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner Char Hawkins has been managing snack bars for 23 years but her newest venture, the South Falls Café, located inside the South Falls Lodge at Silver Falls State Park, surpasses all the rest – especially when it comes ...

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