Kathy Cook Hunter Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

Arts, Culture & History December 1, 2009

Collecting memories: Tips for sharing, listening and learning during the holiday season

StoryCorps’ message is “Don’t wait.” The national oral-history project urges people to record true stories – memories, actually – of their favorite relatives, mentors, neighbors and friends, keeping history alive for future generations. It is all too common for those who remain behind to wonder after someone dies what life held for them, only to realize there’s no longer a way of knowing. Their curiosity will never be satisfied, because the only one who can answer is gone. Without written genealogies or written memoirs the stories vanish.

November 1, 2009

Justin Little: Remembering local youth murdered in Paris

Justin Little was “a wanderer,” his mother, Tanya Little, said. He loved to explore and often walked from his home in Silverton to Salem or to the Abbey in Mt. Angel. His wanderlust and interest in history led him to Paris in September.

Arts, Culture & History October 15, 2009

The man in the mural: World champion rodeo rider Doug Brown honored

He’s a man who, in his younger years, rode bodacious bulls and bucking broncs. He’s got a good sense of humor, too. Doug Brown, who lives in the Evergreen district outside of Silverton, was in fine form at the dedication ceremony Oct. 3 of Silverton’s newest mural.

October 1, 2009

Taking stock and stocking up: Pantry basics for saving money

Cooking from scratch and saving money while you’re at it requires forethought and a kitchen cupboard stocked with the makings of healthy meals. Here’s a list of basic dry and canned foods people often reach for when cooking at home. The list was made with a Twenty Something just starting his/her home in mind – or for anyone who’s decided to save money in the kitchen.

October 1, 2009

Silver Falls Nature Store: Log cabin setting attracts customers

You’ve heard of “new and improved?” It’s an apt description for the Nature Store at Silver Falls State Park. For years the store was hidden away inside South Lodge in a dark, somewhat gloomy, corner room near the café. But that’s all changed.

Other September 1, 2009

Rufus La Lone: Serving public by posting prognostications

Rufus La Lone is famous for his accuracy predicting the unpredictable moods of Mother Nature. The Silverton area resident keeps track of and predicts weather conditions in the Pacific Northwest and reports his findings on his Web site “The Weather Café.”

Community September 1, 2009

Renewable fashion: Back-to-school shoppers turn to recycle store

Reasonable prices, designer labels and creative and unusual clothing are a few of the factors causing The Clothes Garden in Silverton to see booming business, especially for back-to-school shopping.

Community July 30, 2009

Volkswalk: Exploring Silverton and Silver Falls State Park on foot

Haven’t you always planned to get out and really explore Silverton? But, like many plans, never did? Well, here’s your chance to cross that one off your bucket list of things you’d like to do before – oh, never mind, just do it!

Community July 30, 2009

Bed ‘n’ breakfast basics: Innkeepers connect visitors, community

Silverton – home to The Oregon Garden, gateway to Silver Falls, and a recent Budget Travel magazine Top 10 Pick for “Coolest Small Town” – has plenty of bed-and-breakfast innkeepers awaiting visitors.

Arts, Culture & History June 15, 2009

Jack Hande: Saving ‘Silverton Stories’ today for future generations

By Kathy Cook Hunter Jack Hande, who has carved airplanes since his boyhood, looks over one of his newest projects – replicas of Japanese warplanes from that era, which will hang from the ceiling in the renovated aircraft observation post outside the Silverton Country Historical Society’s museum in Silverton. They are examples of a Japanese Zero and a Japanese G4M, […]

Community June 15, 2009

Berry bash: Strawberry festival expands menu and returns for 55th year

By Kathy Cook Hunter On Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day – strawberry shortcake fans will observe a yearly tradition at Coolidge & McClaine Park in Silverton. Strawberry season doesn’t seem complete without attending the Strawberry Festival, where one can feast on strawberries, shortcake and ice cream. Since 1951, when the event began as a fundraiser for maintaining the Silverton […]

June 1, 2009

Berry time: Summer’s coming

Summer stretches out in front of us, and with it, a season’s worth of the berries for which our region is known. Strawberries, raspberries, marionberries, boysenberries (and similar varieties) and blueberries simply must be part of everyone’s diet, living in the Willamette Valley as we do. We are so fortunate to live here where we can enjoy them fresh.

Arts, Culture & History June 1, 2009

Summer comedy: Local playwright offers a peek behind the curtain

Summer Lightning, written and directed by Silverton resident Michael Smith, comes to the Brush Creek Playhouse stage for three weekends beginning June 11.

Described as a backstage comedy, the two-hour play portrays actors preparing to go on stage as they apply makeup and put on costumes. They’re doing a Greek tragedy, Phaedra, the story of a woman who is cursed by the gods to fall in love with her stepson. The play is presented within the play, similar to the well-known comedy Noises Off.

Community May 15, 2009

Silver Falls clean-up: Volunteers needed

By Kathy Cook Hunter Silver Falls State Park needs a little spring cleaning before tourists visit it this summer. Volunteers are encouraged to lend a helping hand on May 16 as a part of Take Care of Oregon Day, an event to celebrate Oregon’s 150th birthday. Vicki Sink, Cascades District interpretive coordinator, is overseeing this project, which will be carried […]

Arts, Culture & History May 15, 2009

World War II relic: Observation post sited at museum

By Kathy Cook Hunter Outside the Silverton Country Historical Society museum sits a small, white structure, its many windows indicating what it once was – an aircraft observation post dating to 1942. Recently placed on South Water Street and renovated, it is a constant reminder to newcomers and old-timers alike of a different, less technological time in our history. […]

Arts, Culture & History April 15, 2009

Ancestry detectives: Searching for clues hidden in the family tree

By Kathy Cook Hunter Ever wondered where your ancestors came from, what they looked like and what they did for a living? Tracing your genealogy may be a way to solve the mystery. A year ago, the Silver Falls Library in Silverton offered a class called “Genealogy 101,” and from it sprang a club, “Ancestry Detectives.” Lynn Williams of Silverton, […]

Other April 1, 2009

Settling a debt: Dentist evolves from angry teen to giving adult

The moment Dr. Michael Kim and his wife, Lina, first saw Silverton they knew this was it, the town they wanted to call home. As they drove in on Highway 213 that day, “the view from Oak Street looking down the hill was gorgeous – something clicked,” he said.

Other April 1, 2009

Swing into spring: Women’s golf association welcomes new members

Fired up and eager to begin official play, Evergreen Women’s Golf Association will open its season at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at Evergreen Golf Club, a nine-hole course near Mt. Angel. With “Share the Game” as this year’s theme, new members are invited to a free round of golf that day.

Other March 24, 2009

Kelly Roach: Barista’s memory makes her a stand-out

By Kathy Cook Hunter Kelly Roach, 18, is no stranger to the espresso business. A near lifelong resident of Silverton, she learned the trade at the Kick Start espresso stand when her mother, Rhona Roach, owned it. “That’s where I learned how to memorize what people drink,” the Silverton High School graduate said. Nowadays, with a dancer’s grace she darts […]

Other March 4, 2009

Impact of prejudice: Family’s WWII experiences featured in book talk

The internment camp experiences of a Japanese-American family from Hood River will be the topic Tuesday, March 17, 7 p.m. at Silver Falls Library. Joan Yasui Emerson will share her family’s stories that are featured in the 2009 Oregon Reads selection Stubborn Twig, by Lauren Kessler.

Other February 12, 2009

Dora Palmquist: When something needs to be done, she’s there doing it

Get Dora Palmquist in the Silverton Senior Center’s kitchen and she tolerates no distractions from the task at hand as she fills bags for Meals-On-Wheels. She orders everyone out of her way so she can be sure every bag is perfect. Hands on her hips, Palmquist unabashedly admits, “I figure I’m old enough to tell them what to do.”

Other December 15, 2008

Band of brothers: Siblings share ideals and chose service in the military

By Kathy Cook Hunter In late November, John and Julia Grant of Silverton celebrated a son’s marriage along with the reunion of their three sons, each one smartly attired in a dress military uniform and dedicated to patriotic service to his country. Spencer Grant, 20, home from the U.S. Marine Corps, was marrying Jessica Lucht, formerly of Molalla, at […]

December 15, 2008

Spirit of giving: Bakery owner keeps doors open thanks to friends

By Kathy Cook Hunter Molly Ainsley has been between a rock and a hard place regarding her business, Rolling Hills Bakery. Noticing a decline in sales at the bakery due to the poor economy, Ainsley had to decide how to stay in operation. “Ever since the stock market went down people stopped coming in, or the business was very […]

Other December 1, 2008

Steve Kay: New community development director plans for Silverton’s needs

Silverton Community Development Director Steve Kay has been on the job at city hall for one month, but he’s not new to the community. Kay has served on the Silverton Planning Commission for two years, lives in Silverton and participates in community events with his wife, Nicole.