The Old Curmudgeon: New Building celebrates work of volunteers
I watched out my bedroom window as the old Oktoberfest Community Building was taken down, piece-by-piece.
The Old Curmudgeon: Thank you for Wurstfest
I am writing this column the day after Wurstfest. As a Mount Angel resident, I see a special meaning to Wurstfest, primarily as a local celebration of the good life we have here.
The Old Curmudgeon: Is information public or private is the question
I’m sure some of you know U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is in solitary confinement in a federal prison. Manning, 22, is allegedly accused of leaking classified material to the anti-secrecy organization, WikiLeaks.
The Old Curmudgeon: Cattle thieves and other criminals
I recently received a letter from a reader who thought I was picking on the rich. He may be right and I appreciate his letter. Perhaps, I do have a tainted view.
The Old Curmudgeon: Thankful for my readers
We are now well into the middle of our holiday season and what I have to say may better be left until the New Year. It is, however, the time to be thankful for all the blessings we have received.
The Old Curmudgeon: Return on investment
Our corporations have spoken. The results of our mid-term elections are known and never before in my memory has big money played such a factor in determining the direction our country is headed.
The Old Curmudgeon: A history lesson I have lived…
Well, our big celebration is over and I for one took in every happy moment this old body could stand. Viva Oktoberfest! Now we have November just around the corner. November brings elections for the state’s governor and legislature as well as local city councils.
The Old Curmudgeon: A thanks to the Good Samaritans
While today our thoughts are on the great festival Oktoberfest, I do not want to forget the good things that happened to me a couple of weekends ago. I had attended a family reunion and picnic in Silverton’s beautiful Coolidge & McClaine Park.
The Old Curmudgeon: Fundraisers and fun in Silverton, Mt. Angel
Well, it appears the donations are still flowing in and all of the fundraising events for Mount Angel’s new Community Building have been well attended. This is proof that it is a very popular project. I will never forget the turnout for the spaghetti feed put on by the Glockenspiel. On that Monday night love permeated the air and was felt by everyone.
The Old Curmudgeon: Wow! what a ride – Scootin’ on my scooter
Rejoice! Our new city administrator Susan Muir has arrived, settled in, is getting acquainted and has obviously been well-received by the staff she will be working with.
The Old Curmudgeon: ‘Do Re Mi’ dance puts smiles in the hearts of all
My friend Jerry Lauzon touted the value of the beer mugs we received with the $10 admission ticket to our very successful Wurstfest celebration. Admittedly these are handsome mugs, especially when filled, but the real value was the presentation of “Do Re Mi” from the Broadway musical The Sound of Music, by our own friends and neighbors, ages from 6 to don’t ask, don’t tell; students, housewives, fathers, all dancing their hearts out and sharing their happiness with all in the attendance.
The Old Curmudgeon: Rambling down life’s roads – now in the slow lane
I have gone to look for myself. If I return before I get back, keep me here. I’ve gone to look for myself because about a year ago I discovered I was getting to be an old man.
The Old Curmudgeon: It’s not the gift – but the fact I thought of it
It’s just a few days away from goody goody gift time. The Old Curmudgeon has a little different take on gift giving in that I really don’t give a darn what the gift receiver wants, nor do I worry whether it is the right size or color, neither am I concerned if they already have one and I’m certainly not worried about them wanting something else.
The Old Curmudgeon: Now, we’re talkin’ turkey
In a week or so we will be celebrating Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Day. Most workers will have the day off, and are thankful for that. To the many unemployed, it is just another day of wondering where their next turkey will be coming from.|
The Old Curmudgeon: The results are in, but who knows the score?
Well, here it is, the final word on what many of us here in Mt. Angel have been concerned with for months – what happened to our city manager?
The Old Curmudgeon: Mr. Interlocutor
While attending Gallatin County High School in Bozeman, Mont., I participated in the annual Elk’s Minstrel shows. The cast and workers for the show were the town’s business and professional men.
The Old Curmudgeon: It’s not the years in our life that count, it’s the life in our years
By Vern Holmquist To those who attended the surprise birthday party held in my honor at the Bavarian Haus in May, and the lady responsible for it, I thank you. Now be Frank (it seems I have heard that name mentioned in the Bavarian before), be truthful: was it really my birthday you were celebrating, or was it just another […]
The Old Curmudgeon: A tale of our two cities
By Vern Holmquist Just four miles apart with no barriers I am aware, yet I see quite a difference between Mt. Angel and Silverton. I will not judge which is the better. I just want to point out the difference. Mt Angel celebrates its Bavarian heritage with total focus. Silverton celebrates a multicultural world. Mt. Angel celebrates its Catholic founders. […]
The Old Curmudgeon: In the minds of two dreamers
By Vern Holmquist How come my dreams turn out to be realities for someone else? That’s life I guess, but in this case it is a pleasure to write about. For years, I have been attracted to a spot in downtown Silverton. The reason was clear to me but only recently clear to someone else. Every time I found myself […]
The Old Curmudgeon: Didn’t learn much …
By Vern Holmquist I went to the Mt. Angel City Council meeting on March 2. Yep, I sat through the whole thing. Didn’t learn much. Was warned I wouldn’t – of course, I can blame part of that on a hearing aid that does not distinguish between rattling papers and the muffled voices responding to the questions. I could make out […]
The Old Curmudgeon: An important inauguration
By Vern Holmquist In a couple of days we are to see the biggest change in our government we will probably witness in our lifetime (make that my lifetime). We are going to have a different road to travel. We have elected a different president, different in many ways, but we pray he is the right one for the very […]
The Old Curmudgeon: Dreaming up solutions
By Vern Holmquist I have a dream. Whoa! I wonder where I got that line? Anyway, I do have a dream, a dream for Mt. Angel. I dream of a train that will get me from The Oregon Garden to Portland. A commuter train, if you will. Everyone here seems to have a reason to go to Portland sometime, whether […]
Keeping hope in hard times
By Vern Holmquist While it will be 10 days or so before this goes to print, I must start with the events of the day, Election Day. I have never been more proud of our country. On Nov. 4, we made a great stride for humanity, we have grown-up, we have shown the world we are still a nation […]
The Old Curmudgeon: New things to see, do in town
By Vern Holmquist There’s something new and delightful in our town. Just across from the Glockenspiel and back of Spoletto’s Pizza is a little Mt. Angel shop displaying the art of local wood carvers. The skill and artistic quality will astound you. On display you will see carvings of very interesting characters, turned bowls of exotic woods, beautiful wall pieces, […]
The Old Curmudgeon: This job may be dangerous
By Vern Holmquist Recently, I have heard rumors of trouble and read accounts of some ridiculous things happening in Mt. Angel. I am not one of the town’s founding fathers – having only lived here for the past 11 years with very little happening during the first eight years. While Oktoberfest is a bright event, Mt. Angel was more like […]
Our Town on Facebook
