Saving steelhead – Project places log jams in Abiqua Creek

December 2022 Posted in Business, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Saving steelhead – Project places log jams in Abiqua Creek

[caption id="attachment_12270" align="alignright" width="390"] Kurt Berning of the Pudding River Watershed Council is shown at one of the engineered log jams on Abiqua Creek that has been placed to improve steelhead fish passage.[/caption] By James Day The Pudding River Watershed Council and ...

Take a hike – Jan. 1 offers free opportunity at Silver Falls

December 2022 Posted in Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Take a hike – Jan. 1 offers free opportunity at Silver Falls

The annual guided first day of the year hikes will be held at Silver Falls State Park and nearly 20 other parks Jan. 1. [caption id="attachment_12211" align="alignright" width="324"] Silver Falls State Park is one of the 20 state parks hosting free guided ...

Fire recovery – Marion County commission plans vote on $24 million park plan

December 2022 Posted in Business, News, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Fire recovery – Marion County commission plans vote on $24 million park plan

By James Day The Marion County Parks Commission plans a January vote on a proposal to restore and update county parks damaged by the 2020 wildfires. County officials have been working with consultants Walker Macy and EcoNorthwest on the plan to address ...

Water witches – Who needs a broom when you can paddle your own canoe?

October 2022 Posted in Community, Events & Holidays, For Kids, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Water witches – Who needs a broom when you can paddle your own canoe?

By Melissa Wagoner Witches young and old met at dusk on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Silverton Reservoir and held the inaugural Silverton Witch Paddle. Taking to the water rather than the skies on all manner of crafts, from stand-up paddle ...

Bike friendly – Local riders talk about Oregon’s opportunities, adventures

July 2022 Posted in Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Bike friendly – Local riders talk about Oregon’s opportunities, adventures

By Melissa Wagoner   This spring the League of American Bicyclists ranked the state of Oregon as the second most bicycle friendly state in the nation – number one on the West Coast. But what do Willamette Valley cyclists think? A panel ...

New heights – Business offers tree climbing at Silver Falls State Park

June 2022 Posted in Business, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on New heights – Business offers tree climbing at Silver Falls State Park

By James Day At Silver Falls State Park you can spend a lot of time looking down. Down the trail, down the canyon, down the creek and definitely, down at the waterfall. But what happens if you look up and keep looking ...

Little Monarchs – Silverton author’s unusual book tour includes family

June 2022 Posted in Arts, Outdoor Life, People | Comments Off on Little Monarchs – Silverton author’s unusual book tour includes family

By Melissa Wagoner When award-winning writer Jonathan Case was writing his latest graphic novel, Little Monarchs, he already knew its promotion would be different than just about any book he’d ever written. [caption id="attachment_11589" align="alignright" width="354"] Author and artist Jonathan Case on ...

Old-world goodies – Silverton Hills farm raises, preserves chestnut trees

June 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Old-world goodies – Silverton Hills farm raises, preserves chestnut trees

By Brenna Wiegand Paul’la Allen used to accompany her husband Jack to the cemeteries where he conducted graveside services. [caption id="attachment_11581" align="alignright" width="335"] Paul’la Allen in her chestnut orchard atop the Silverton Hills. She and her husband, Jack, founded Shadow Mountain Ranch ...

Free Fish Day – Kids invited to drop a line in at reservoir

May 2022 Posted in Community, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Free Fish Day – Kids invited to drop a line in at reservoir

For the first time since 2019, kids are being invited out to Silverton Reservoir to take part in a free fishing day with a little assistance. [caption id="attachment_11486" align="alignright" width="237"] A young angler with his catch at the 2006 event.[/caption] The event, ...

New momentum – Runners club celebrates 40th anniversary

May 2022 Posted in Events & Holidays, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on New momentum – Runners club celebrates 40th anniversary

By James Day The Silverton Runners Club is turning 40, and organizers are planning some new events to boost participation in the club, which works to support running programs in Silverton and Mount Angel. The club, which was organized in 1982 by ...

Carrying through – Pacific Crest Trail hiker’s story preserved in new anthology

April 2022 Posted in Outdoor Life, People | Comments Off on Carrying through – Pacific Crest Trail hiker’s story preserved in new anthology

By Melissa Wagoner When Silvertonian Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser packed her bag for the 152-day hike from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail in 2012, she weighed everything – her sleeping bag, her pots and pans, even her toothbrush – parting with anything ...

Your Garden – Herbs

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Your Garden – Herbs

Need a flavor boost in your cooking without adding salt? Try growing favorite herbs in your garden, a porch container or in a sunny window. Many herbs, like rosemary and thyme, are perennials that will thrive in our “Mediterranean” climate. ...

OSU Gardener’s May Chores

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on OSU Gardener’s May Chores

Oregon State University Extension Service encourages sustainable gardening practices. Always identify and monitor problems before acting. First, consider cultural controls; then physical, biological and chemical controls (which include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, organic and synthetic pesticides). Always consider ...

All-abilities park plan moves forward

April 2022 Posted in Community, For Kids, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on All-abilities park plan moves forward

By James Day  A Silverton Rotary proposal to build an “all-abilities” playground in Old Mill Park near the Silverton Community Pool has won the approval of the City Council. Councilors at their April 4 meeting approved the site after hearing a report ...

Removing Lawns – The how and the why

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Removing Lawns – The how and the why

By Melissa Wagoner A lush, green lawn looks beautiful, feels fabulous under foot and can serve a real purpose as the backdrop for picnics, sporting events or just lounging in the sun. But it can also have some real drawbacks.  “An irrigated, ...

Geocaching – An inexpensive, family-friendly hobby for all ages

February 2022 Posted in Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Geocaching – An inexpensive, family-friendly hobby for all ages

[caption id="attachment_11129" align="alignright" width="370"] Denise and Carina Leland enjoy sharing geocaching adventures.[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner If you like puzzles, being outside and exploring places you’ve never been then the hobby of geocaching might just be for you. “I like to describe it as a world-wide ...