By Carl Sampson The other day I was eavesdropping on a conversation about capitalism. The gist of it was that capitalism is bad and some people have too much money, while others don’t have enough. Furthermore, according to this discussion, rich people are not nice enough or generous enough. As Deion Sanders, my new favorite college football coach, would say, that’s a […]
Please join the Silver Falls School Board in supporting a bright future for our kids! As volunteer School Board Members, we know schools build stronger communities, which is why this November’s Bond is so important for the future of our Silver Falls communities. Our community has always come together to invest in education. Better schools help build a stronger community, […]
I am so excited that our school district has the opportunity to make an investment in our schools! After a few years of hearing about extra difficult times for students and staff, we can gift them a promise of comfort and safety. In November, we get to vote to make a sound investment in our future. This bond will help […]
Dear Editor, The proposed $142 million ($75M new; $63M rural; $4M contingency) expense of demolishing the entire Schlador Campus and construction of a new insufficient sized, extravagant school, is neglecting students, district owners and common sense. Once remediated, Schlador may hold 1,000 students, compared to 450 new. This disregards the soon-demand for an expansion of the new high school; another […]
Dear Editor: We are three moms in the Silver Falls School District. As we are getting our kids – 10 between us – ready for school this fall, chief on our “School Supplies List” is a big YES for the Silver Falls School District Bond on the November 2023 ballot! Like many families in our district, we send our beloved […]
It’s going to be a long election season. Already, the folks on unsocial media are stretching, bending and breaking the truth about various candidates. How is a responsible voter to navigate all of the untruths? My best suggestion is to delete Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and all of the other apps. I feel dumber every time I look at them, […]
I recently turned 70 and got the best birthday present ever – a new lease on life. What I had self-diagnosed as industrial-strength heartburn turned out to be something else entirely. Only the persistence of my doctor led to the correct diagnosis. While I noticed the heartburn came and went, depending on whether I was walking uphill, she saw the […]
I’m no expert when it comes to packing. I’ve had my share of mishaps: inadvertently packing my husband’s donation pile instead of his clothes, driving five hours into the middle of nowhere only to discover the kids have no shoes – twice. I’ve forgotten underwear, brought winter coats to hot places and summer clothes to cold. I’ve weathered diaper blowouts, […]
I am sitting here staring at the pinwheel of death. It’s not my death, but the end of my trusty computer’s useful life. Like me, everything it does these days is slow. Switching applications is a process. In the old days, it would sprint from one task to another, happily keeping up as I bashed my way through our taxes or […]
I am writing this as Mother’s Day quickly approaches. As you are reading this Mother’s Day 2023 has passed. The brunches have been served, the cards admired and the flowers adored. Truthfully, one day is not sufficient in celebrating our moms. Motherhood is not restricted to biology. It is also displayed in that teacher who looked at you side eyed […]
I love comedy. There is nothing like a good, old-fashioned belly laugh to make my day. I watch movies, comedians, improv – you name it – to get a daily dose of the giggles. There’s one comedy group, however, that stands out from all of the rest. It’s also the biggest. With 535 members, it’s always up to some madcap […]
I’m going to be honest, there are a few words I’m still learning to spell, like “hallelujah” and “bourgeois.” Yup, spellcheck just corrected them both. There are also things I’m still learning how to do, like bake bread – my baguettes all turn out flat. So, why then, when I picture the mountain of things my kids still have to learn, […]
I’m standing in my home office. It is buried in pink insulation – the aftermath of one more home improvement project gone wrong. I should explain. My wife and I had a bright idea. Our house is 60 years old, so we thought it would make sense to put more insulation in the attic. Save on heating bills and all […]
Walking along the path that winds through the grounds of Mount Angel Abbey one day, Father Ephrem Martinez noticed a family enjoying a picnic under the trees and thought how much more welcoming the space could be if the grounds – much of which were overgrown with blackberries – were cleaned up. “Everybody tries to keep their house nice for […]
A vision of a diverse faith community finding common ground came to life on Jan. 15. Approximately 170 people of faith from around the Silverton area gathered with common goals: to be able to join together in worship and celebration, and to push the goal of paying all of Oregon’s secured secondary medical debt. Donna Rue and John Dallum worked […]
About 20 years ago I was ensconced in my La-Z-Boy trying to figure out some stuff. The immediate topic at hand was how to make television better. No, I wasn’t thinking about what shows folks would watch; I was thinking about when they could watch them. “Wouldn’t it be great to be able to go on the internet and pick […]
When I walked into my great grandmother’s house for the last time I was submerged by memories. The matriarch of our family, hers was the home in which we all gathered for holidays, after funerals and every day in between. The house was small, simple and welcoming. There wasn’t a piece of furniture or a knick-knack we kids couldn’t touch, […]
One thing that’s been on my bucket list since before I had a bucket is learning how to fly. I think it’s in my DNA. Growing up, I spent most of my time on Air Force bases. My dad was in the Air Force 23 years. When I graduated from the University of Alaska, I was broke. I mean penniless. […]
This is a bittersweet moment. After 42 years of writing professionally, new ideas are as rare as a polite campaign season. I’ve been called a Pollyanna for writing a lot of positive stories. But my mantra is simple when asked, “Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?” For me, it is always half-full, and I am grateful for the glass. When […]
Suddenly, we were 18 again. It was as though H.G. Wells had swooped us up in a time machine and transported us to a town just outside of Philadelphia in 1971. Though the mustaches and bald spots were plentiful and the gaits a bit slower, the room filled with members of the Conestoga High School Class of 1971 was vibrating […]
Susan Bielenberg wrote to Our Town expressing her concern about the October 2022 cover photo (Vol. 19 No. 19) featuring my painting of Margaret Sanger, one of the women represented in my October exhibit at Lunaria Gallery, “Portraits of Inspiring Women in the Classical Style.” I’m very glad Susan wrote. She is correct to object to Margaret Sanger’s involvement in […]
On a number of occasions acknowledgment has been given to “Firsts.” The first Black Supreme Court justice, the first Black QB in the NFL, the first Black president. While many have celebrated these firsts, others have condemned these as “making things about a race.” My position is that these firsts are cause for celebration; an acknowledgment of positive change. When […]
Jason Freilinger is, without a doubt, my choice to be Silverton’s next mayor. As well as being part of the downtown business community and multiple service groups, Jason has been actively serving on city committees, task forces, planning commission and council for more than a decade. He’s been a humble, thoughtful voice on a variety of issues including: • effective […]
Our Town Editor, If you weren’t aware, the cover of your Oct. 1, 2022 Our Town features a painting of Margaret Sanger, who is a racist and in favor of eugenics. She is the founder of Planned Parenthood. A large Planned Parenthood clinic even removed Margaret Sanger’s name from their clinic title, due to her racist and eugenic beliefs. In 2016, […]
I’m not a fan of most holidays. I know what you’re thinking – this guy’s crazy. Who wouldn’t appreciate time off work to spend with loved ones? But hear me out. By and large, holidays are stress-inducing budget busters, and the reasons behind them often get lost in clouds of fireworks and barbecue smoke. To add to the “fun,” […]
