By Brenna Wiegand A recent donation from Silverton Health Foundation may spell fewer colds and flus for Silverton’s school kids this winter. “We’ve had a special relationship with the school district for as long as I can remember,” Sarah Brewer, former president of Legacy Silverton Medical Center said. “We employ the school nurses and deploy them into the school district. […]
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 to support the teachers’ union Sept. 24. Negotiations officially began May 15; the last contract expired in July. […]
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 course at Silverton Grange, is a tool to build confidence about the possible good outcome, says instructor […]
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, part of a program started by National Garden Clubs, Inc. at the close of World War II with […]
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 part of a new book. Poppy Shell’s experiences at Woodstock are chronicled in Pilgrims of Woodstock a new book about the festival in Bethel, […]
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 Koppes of Tigard painted “Blue Basin” after a visit to the Painted Hills in Central Oregon. “I’d seen all kinds of pictures of it and it just looked too perfect,” she said. “On my way there I […]
By Brenna Wiegand Silverton’s beautifully done and scrupulously maintained murals are drawing attention, both at home and abroad. For the first time, Silverton Mural Society is exhibiting at the Silverton Fine Arts Festival Aug. 17-18. “It is really nice of them to invite us,” Vince Till, mural society vice president said. “We’re going to set up some brick and concrete […]
By Brenna Wiegand Silver Falls School District Super-intendent Andy Bellando retired July 1 after a 34-year career in education, the last 31 in Silverton. Coincidentally, he and wife Rhonda just celebrated their 34th anniversary and now Bellando, 57, looks forward to more time with family and other pursuits. Since he was hired in 1985 to teach agriculture, natural resources and […]
By Brenna Wiegand The road to law and order in Silverton’s early years proved long and bumpy. Its first residents, in search of timber and water power, began a small settlement they called Silverton in 1854 which they incorporated in 1885. By 1894, the population was nearly 900. The young town was a trading and banking center and one of […]
By Brenna Wiegand Grievances filed in February 2018 by Silver Falls Education Association on behalf of a Silverton High School English teacher were resolved as of the school board’s June 10 meeting. The matter surfaced in September 2017 when the grading protocol for the college English course Writing 121/122, taught by Ben Hynes-Stone and colleague Travis Woodside, was brought into […]
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 schools, hired Minnesota-based consultant Dr. John Benham, author of Music Advocacy: Moving from Survival to Vision (www.save-music.org) to […]
By Brenna Wiegand Four people vie for two positions on the Silverton Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors in the May 21 Election. Stacy Palmer and Tara Von Flue are competing for Position 1, and incumbent Warren (Rick) Jackson runs against Robert Mengucci for Position 5. The new board members will serve four-year terms that commence July 1, 2019. […]
By Brenna Wiegand Being home with a houseful of kids can be a lonely business. Those who’ve discovered Silverton Indoor Park have found a remedy and an effective way to improve their kids’ lives. However, with membership down the group fears they’ll be unable to open next fall. Although their host, Silverton’s United Methodist Church, charges a nominal rent, they […]
By Brenna Wiegand Six candidates are running for four open seats on the Silver Falls School District School Board of Directors in the May 21 election. These include Janet Allanach and Leslie Martin running for the Zone 1 seat; unopposed candidates Laurie McLaughlin for Zone 3, and incumbent Jonathan Edmonds for Zone 6; and Dawn Tacker vs. incumbent Tom Buchholz […]
By Brenna Wiegand Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce will honor Mount Angel Abbey with its 2018 Distinguished Service award at this year’s First Citizens Banquet. The Abbey has been entrenched in its surrounding community since 1882, co-settlers with the townspeople. “It’s a beautiful idea; we are all very touched by it,” Abbot Jeremy Driscoll said. “It’s a lovely honor because […]
By Brenna Wiegand Raul Santana first found work in the berry fields after migrating to the U.S. in 2000. The 16-year-old, brought by an uncle, taught himself English and completed his GED in pursuit of The American Dream. It was his love of learning that got him there. “The rest of my family is still in Mexico City and I […]
By Brenna Wiegand The Silverton Poetry Festival has grown in scope and popularity over the past two decades, a reflection of the growth of the art form throughout the region. “If they’re not in the scene, people don’t realize how much poetry is happening in the area,” Silverton poet and festival co-founder Steve Slemenda said. “The Willamette Valley is rich […]
By Brenna Wiegand Though greatly honored, Sarah White is a little embarrassed at receiving Silverton’s Distinguished Service award for 2018. “I’m really grateful; I feel it is a collective work and a collective award and I just happen to be the person whose name is on it,” White said. White was part of a core group that formed Silverton Sheltering […]
By Brenna Wiegand Neighboring Silver Falls and Mt. Angel school districts received exceptional rankings in Niche.com’s 2019 Best School Districts in Oregon. Out of 198 school districts in Oregon, Silver Falls ranked 7th and Mt. Angel 19th by the Pittsburgh-based data, ranking and review site for K-12 schools, colleges and neighborhoods around the country. “You look at what goes into […]
By Brenna Wiegand Frustrated in their dealings with management, in July some Silvertowne I and II apartment residents formed a tenants association, looking to increase their effectiveness in dealing with Integrated Supports for Living, the nonprofit organization that took over the affordable housing complexes in Silverton four years ago. The tenants’ grievances included unfair eviction notices, unsafe conditions, insufficient response […]
By Brenna Wiegand Though he had a bowling scholarship, Andrew Zwicker pursued software engineering which led him right back to bowling. What he’s done since has changed his life and is putting a new spin on the sport worldwide. Andrew’s parents Ryan and Tawnya Zwicker bought Silver Creek Lanes bowling alley in Silverton 12 years ago; Andrew has bowled since […]
By Brenna Wiegand A couple years ago Jim Toler of GeerCrest Farm outside of Silverton approached Oregon Travel Information Council about adding the farm’s historic fruit orchard to its list of Heritage Trees. Oregon Travel Information Council is a semi-independent state agency whose projects include the blue highway logo signs directing motorists to gas, food and other services at exits […]
By Brenna Wiegand The brewery’s brewing, the taproom ready and the building has been blessed. Situated on pastoral sloping land below Mount Angel Abbey, Benedictine Brewery was borne of a priest’s passion for beermaking and the real need for a steady stream of revenue to support its existing works. In the process a third reason surfaced that is unique to […]
By Brenna Wiegand The kids pour in from school, grab snacks and do their homework. Then they congregate for dinner and announcements before splitting off to favorite activities – all before their parents get home. Five years ago, a band of Silverton pastors, concerned for kids hanging around town after school with seemingly little to do, decided to do something. […]
By Brenna Wiegand It took just one winter for Silverton Warming Shelter volunteers to realize Silverton’s got a homelessness crisis. The past two years they’ve provided a place for people to stay in freezing weather. However, once it gets above 34 degrees, the shelter closes, leaving little settling-in time and even less for workers to connect with the people and […]
