May
FREE
2012 The
News for the Mid-Willamette Valley
May Loc Events C al alendar Page 2
Remembering ... the Reason For Memorial Day
Photo by Lee Perigo
Beautiful Silver Creek Falls.
Planning A Summer Staycation By Rod Porsche Albany Visitor’s Association Gas prices have been soaring this spring, shooting past $4.00 per gallon in Oregon just in time for the peak summer driving season. When it costs $100 or more to fill your tank, you might think twice about jumping in the car for an out of state vacation this summer. This is the year to enjoy an amazing staycation right here in Oregon. There’s so much to do and see, where do you start? It’s time to get to Silver Falls State Park. Just 35 miles northeast of Albany, Silver Falls offers 9,000 acres of spectacular scenery. Hike along The Trail of Ten Falls to enjoy ten breathtaking waterfalls, four of which you can actually walk behind the falls to feel the misty, crisp spray. The kids will love going for a swim in Silver Creek along a developed, but unsupervised swimming area. Tired from all the hiking and swimming? Tent or RV camping, rustic cabins or yurts are available for those wanting to get the most out of their staycation. Want to get away to the wine country? Don’t spend
big bucks on fuel traveling to California’s Napa Valley, discover Willamette Valley wineries and enjoy award-winning wine close to home! Did you know that Willamette Valley Vineyards was named 2011 Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits Magazine? Just 15 miles north of Albany, WVV offers a panoramic view from their newly updated observation tower. They also offer some great tasting wines along with a behind the scenes tours of the wine making process. Over 150 Willamette Valley wineries and tasting rooms will be open during the Memorial Day weekend. Linn County’s own Marks Ridge Winery will be offering great views to go along with their award-winning Pinot Noir. North Albany’s Springhill Cellars kicks off their 2012 season during the holiday weekend too. Whether it’s a day trip or a weekend getaway, just get there. See all that Oregon has to offer this summer — the coast, the cascades, crater lake, central Oregon, southern Oregon — see it all, one staycation at a time. Albany Visitors Association can help plan your adventure with maps, brochures and some great ideas. We’re at 250 Broadalbin St. SW in Historic Downtown Albany or at: www.albanyvisitors.com.
Photo by Oliver J. Anderson Photo by Gary Thurman
Histric Shimanek Covered Bridge in Linn County.
Willamette Valley Vineyards, south of Salem, provides a spectacular view.
By KAren Rogers To most people today, Memorial Day (May 28) is the official kick-start to the one-hundred days of summer that end on Labor Day. Historically, the actual purpose was to honor the war dead, both North and South, of the Civil War. In 1865 in the town of Waterloo, N.Y., a local druggist, Henry C. Welles, supported by a Union general, John B. Murray, gathered a group of veterans to form a committee to decorate the graves of the fallen with flowers. On May 5, 1866 the flags were lowered to halfstaff, mourning banners and swags of evergreen were put up and a parade marched to all three cemeteries, where memorial speeches were given. In 1868 the citizens of Waterloo, working with the Grand Army of the Republic who sponsored Decoration Day celebrations, moved the date to May 30. New York became the first state to legalize the holiday in 1873 and other states quickly followed. As years passed and other wars were fought, Memorial Day became a commemoration of all lives lost in military engagements. Governor Nelson Rockefeller formally proclaimed Waterloo as the official original site in 1966. Congress then passed a resolution and President Lyndon Johnson signed the papers on May 17, 1966. Today there are parades and a major car race. Barbecues and picnics are held by families. But we must remember the real reason for the day and pause to honor those who gave all to keep us free.