Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

Looking back, looking forward: Five stories of goals and breakthroughs

January 2020 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner There is a reason why setting New Year’s resolutions is a popular activity. As a new calendar year begins, it can feel essential to lay the groundwork for the days ahead, filling the squares with trips to the ...

Handshakes, blockbusters and popcorn: Hollywood agent reflects on career aimed at bringing uplifting stories to the screen

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

[caption id="attachment_9605" align="alignright" width="274"] Frank Wuliger with the writer/director of Harriet Kasi Lemmons; Deborah Martin Chase, producer; and Daniela Taplan Lundberg, producer in Washington D.C. Submitted Photo[/caption] By Dixon Bledsoe In many ways, Frank Wuliger’s career as a Hollywood agent is like ...

Dandelion dreams: New shop fulfills mother’s long-held wish

November 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9547" align="alignleft" width="238"] Sarah Sampson with husband, Derek, and daughters, Ginger and Piper. Courtesy of Annie Smith photography[/caption] By Nancy Jennings Sarah Sampson, owner of The Wild Dandelion in Silverton, welcomes customers with a sassy “Open” sign on her door saying: ...

Avery takes helm at Legacy Silverton

November 2019 Posted in News, People, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9507" align="alignright" width="225"] Jonathan Avery, MHSA Submitted Photo[/caption] Jonathan Avery, MHSA, is now Legacy Health’s president for the Willamette Valley Region. His responsibilities include leadership of medical centers at Legacy Silverton and Legacy Meridian Park in Tualatin. Legacy’s announcement said the ...

November Briefs

November 2019 Posted in Community, News, Other, People | Comments Off

Jazzercise Thanksgiving benefit celebrates 30th year Silverton Jazzercise will hold its 30th Thanksgiving morning benefit class for Silverton Area Community Aid on Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m. at the Silverton Community Center, 421 S. Water St., Silverton. Admission is $5 ...

The hiker’s quest: Learning what’s important from the Pacific Crest Trail

November 2019 Posted in People, Travel, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9506" align="alignleft" width="189"] Anna Koch on the marker at the end of her journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. Submitted Photos[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner “In a heartbeat,” is Anna Koch’s instant reply when asked if she would once again hike the Pacific ...

The perfect match: Historical piano meets historical house

November 2019 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9512" align="alignright" width="300"] Tasha Huebner playing the piano from the 1890s that she moved into her home, also built in 1890. Melissa Wagoner[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Historical objects really speak to Tasha Huebner. So, when she came across a listing for ...

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 ...

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