Photo Gallery: New mural depicts Steamup

May 2013 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Photo Gallery | Comments Off

[gallery=32] The Silverton Mural Society installed its latest mural on April 25. It was created by Silverton artist Tonya Smithburg and commemorates the Harvey Mikkelson Steam Engine Festival – a precursor to the Great Oregon Steam-up in Brooks – that was held ...

Jazzing it up: Wine and Jazz series opens

May 2013 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3431" align="alignright" width="227"] Mark Simon and his trio perform June 1 as part of the Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival Series.[/caption] By Don Murtha The Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival will launch a series of concerts beginning  May 4 and continuing ...

Free music festival April 20 in Silverton

April 2013 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Don Murtha The Marion County Citizens Band hosts the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Band Festival, featuring five area community bands on Saturday, April 20 at Silverton High School’s auditorium, 1456 Pine St. “We encourage the public to come and enjoy the performances ...

The Barbie Lady: What she does with the iconic doll is not child’s play

April 2013 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas and Vern Holmquist LaVonne Salleé doesn’t mind being called the “Barbie Lady.” Or when people stare at her van decorated with Barbies, buttons and flare. She credits the 54-year-old plastic fashion icon for capturing her attention and inspiring her ...

Library centennial poster winner selected

February 2013 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3101" align="alignright" width="190"] The Silver Falls LIbrary centennial poster by Breanna Drew[/caption] By Kathy Cook Hunter Mark Twain Middle School eighth-grader Breeanna Drew, 13, created the winning poster for Silver Falls Library’s centennial. Assigning the poster to her advanced art students, Mark ...

Check it out: Services evolve with public needs, library prepares for centennial

December 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2933" align="alignright" width="300"] Public computers are part of the offerings at the Silver Falls Public Library, along with books, movies, music and other resources.[/caption] By Kathy Cook Hunter With the right card in your wallet you are entitled to read the ...

Stitches bloom: Garden hosts quilt show

December 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2935" align="alignright" width="300"] Stitches in Bloom at The Oregon Garden. Photo by Joanne Traeger.[/caption] Quilting demonstrations, lectures, quilt-related vendors and a tearoom with lunch fare will all be part of the sixth annual Stitches in Bloom Quilt Show Jan. 25 ...

Monsters on a mission: Artist says books open doors to conversations

December 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2867" align="alignright" width="231"] Kristin Aalbue with her children’s books at the Silverton Santa Mouse Bazaar on Dec. 1.[/caption] By Kristine Thomas  Silverton resident Kristin Aalbue was devastated. She contemplated quitting. But giving up would mean Zigfeeld and the misfit monsters of Silverville ...

Resurrecting the douçaine: Mount Angel Abbey concert introduces an old sound to a new century

December 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2800" align="alignright" width="213"] Brother Niels Nielsen[/caption] By Jo Garcia-Cobb On feast days at the Mount Angel Abbey Church, one can hear the sound of a “mystery” wind instrument once silenced for nearly 500 years. “What was that?” churchgoers have asked, wondering what ...

Falls festival: Folks keep coming back for songs, stories around lodge fireplace

December 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2795" align="alignright" width="203"] Carolers at Silver Falls State Park Christmas Festival[/caption] By Mary Owen Santa’s coming to Silver Falls State Park, and he’s bringing with him a lot of good cheer! “This is geared to the kids,” said Lou Nelson, with Friends ...

Realities of war: Lillian Marshall recounts days after World War II

November 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2752" align="alignright" width="224"] Lillian Marshall[/caption] By Don Murtha Mount Angel resident Lillian Marshall, 91,  understands how war can leave a country in ruins and the efforts it takes to rebuild it. Marshall served as a secretary in the U.S. Army after World ...

The best ever: Memories of family Thanksgivings

November 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

By Margaret Inoue I love the memory of how my mother would say, “WELL, this has been the BEST Thanksgiving, EVER.” Maybe, that year, as happened most years, my older brothers would have teased my older sister and she would have burst ...

Chamber musician rocks Silver Creek: Mel Wildberger finds inspiration and relief in rocks and water

October 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand [caption id="attachment_2548" align="alignright" width="258"] Mel Wildberger creates artwork using rocks in Silver Creek.[/caption] Late July, and Mel Wildberger’s apartment was stifling. “…I thought, ‘I’ve got to have a place to cool down other than McDonald’s,’ so I went down to ...

Harvest, Halloween happenings: Fun for the whole family

October 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_2641" align="alignright" width="300"] A family of scarecrows haunt the grounds of The Oregon Garden.[/caption] Scarecrows are sprouting  and fun fall activities are happening at The Oregon Garden throughout the month of October. Family Harvest Days are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ...

Rollin’ with the oldies: Show biz paves way for great senior moments

October 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Other | Comments Off

By Kathy Cook Hunter[singlepic=321,320,240,,right] Be on the lookout for them at the Silverton Sidewalk Shindig, they’ll be dressed in flowery shirts, playing their hearts out and making you laugh. Undoubtedly you’ll find yourself humming along, too, to music you may have ...

Greatest challenge: Greatest reward – Center Stage presents Evita

October 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand[singlepic=320,320,240,,right] A cameo appearance by former Silverton Mayor Ken Hector is reason enough to go see Evita. But for those rehearsing hard toward the musical’s Oct. 5 opening that’s just icing on a splendid cake. Evita is Center Stage Production’s biggest ...

The magic of music: Composer Christopher Wicks finds and shares the music of Saint Thèrése’s poetry

September 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand[singlepic=313,320,240,,right] Enchanted by the poetry of a 19th century nun, Christopher M. Wicks thought he heard music. Wicks – composer, organist and lifelong Silverton resident – began translating into English the poems of Saint Thèrése of Lisieux, a French Carmelite ...

‘Angst to Zen’: Delana Bettoli’s art history goes on display

September 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Delana Bettoli’s 40-year art career spanned the country, frolicked across art mediums – and punched up the red of the carpet ushering in The British Invasion. For her September show at Lunaria Gallery, Bettoli has put together a complete ...

Behind the scenes: Local artists open for September studio tours

September 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Silverton’s art scene has gained sufficient momentum to be included in this year’s Visual Artist Studio Tour (VAST). This self-guided glimpse into the private studios and methods of local artists is a project of Artists in Action (AiA) and has ...

Wheels ‘n’ pendulums: Bill Rickerson designs and builds clocks

August 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | 2 Comments »

By Brenna Wiegand What happens when you mix the mind of a mechanical engineer with its penchant for problem-solving, exotic hardwoods from all over the world, an interest in woodworking and an eye for beauty as well as precision? You get Bill ...

Artful opportunities: Silverton Arts Association has created avenues for artistic exploration since 1967

August 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas For Ann Altman, the Silverton Arts Association provides “little pockets of opportunities.” For Julie Huisman, art has opened a world of creativity, allowing her to push aside her inhibitions and express herself through her pottery while meeting wonderful friends. For ...

Silverton’s farm: GeerCrest finds new ways to embrace tradition

August 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas The seemingly never-ending paperwork to complete for grants, a conditional use permit, policies and other projects didn’t cause her to hesitate. She wasn’t deterred by the need to raise money or the amount of work needed to be ...

Batter up! – Rare Homer Davenport cartoons on display

August 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Don Murtha Although Homer Davenport is known by most as a world famous cartoonist who poked fun at the high and the mighty in public life, he was more than a political caricaturist. Among his talents, interests, passions and intellectual pursuits, ...

Stargazing: Silver Falls event changes location

August 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

Silver Falls State Park and the Friends of Silver Falls invite community members to enjoy stargazing at the eighth annual Star Party on Saturday, Aug. 11, 9 p.m. to midnight at the main parking lot of the day use area. ...

The past as playground: Echoes in Time teaches early survival skills

August 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand “Do we have to come in?” is heard nightly around town as children want to linger in the magic of a summer night. For Dale Coleman, the answer is no. He encourages children – whether they are 8 or ...
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