Images Salem, OR: 2009-10

2009-10 | IMAGESOFSALEM.COM ®

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SALEM, OREGON

What’s s e Online

WELCOME TO PINOT COUNTRY Acclaimed wine industry continues to bear fruit

BUILDING A NEW IMAGE New construction changes the face of downtown

Video peek inside the Oregon State Capitol

It All Began Here Mission Mill Museum showcases Oregon’s origins

SPONSORED BY THE SALEM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

imagesofsalem.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

What’s On Online nl

®

MISSION MILL MUSEUM Enjoy a glimpse into the history of Salem and Oregon on this quick tour of Mission Mill Museum.

Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

SALEM , OREGON

CO NTE NT S

RELOCATION Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

FACTS & STATS Go online to learn even more about:

F E AT U R E S 4 IT ALL BEGAN HERE As Oregon celebrates its 150th birthday, the state’s heritage shines brightest in Salem.

6 WELCOME TO PINOT COUNTRY More than 200 wineries dot the green, rolling hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

• Schools • Health care

8 BUILDING A NEW IMAGE

• Utilities

Renovation and new construction projects are changing the face of downtown Salem.

• Parks • Taxes Images Salem is published annually

by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

D E PA R TM E NT S 2 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Salem culture 10 Biz Briefs

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Salem Area Chamber of Commerce 1110 Commercial St. N.E. • Salem, OR 97301 Phone: (503) 581-1466 • Fax: (503) 581-0972 E-mail: kyle@salemchamber.org www.salemchamber.org VISIT IMAGES SALEM ONLINE AT IMAGESOFSALEM.COM ©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member

12 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Salem 14 Health & Wellness 15 Arts & Culture 16 Education

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Custom Publishing Council

Member Salem Area Chamber of Commerce EDITOR LISA BATTLES ON THE COVER JASON LEE HOUSE PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD

SALEM

11 Chamber Report

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From Clark Gable to The Fab Four Something fresh and exciting always seems to be happening at the Historic Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem.

Built by art lover George Guthrie in 1926 and modeled to look like the castle in Shakespeare’s drama‚ Hamlet, the Elsinore was home to performances by the likes of Clark Gable, Edgar Bergen and the John Philip Sousa Band in its early days.

When the structure faced demolition in 1980, a citizens group mobilized to save it. They raised funds and launched a $3.2 million renovation project that took place from 2002 to 2004. Today, the building is used for more than 150 purposes.

The 2009 season included programming ranging from an elegant performance of Swan Lake by the Eugene Ballet to an upbeat rock concert by Beatles tribute band The Fab Four.

Legacy of Leisure We’re All Booked Up You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can judge a city by its library. By that measure, Salem scores high, thanks to the Salem Public Library.

The library, a department of the city, operates its Central Library at 585 Liberty St. in downtown Salem and its West Salem Branch on Glen Creek Road. Patrons may access more than 350,000 items, including print and audio books, DVDs and videos, music CDs and cassettes, and more.

In addition, library staff organizes hundreds of programs throughout the year for all ages and publishes a monthly newsletter to keep everyone up to date on current happenings.

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Pack your gym bags and grab your pool towels: Salem's newest recreational offering is set to welcome thousands of visitors in its first year of operation. The Kroc Community Center at 1865 Bill Frey Drive in northeast Salem is set to open by early fall 2009.

The construction of the center was made possible by a gift to The Salvation Army left in 2004 by McDonald's heiress Joan Kroc, combined with substantial funds raised in the community.

Visitors to the center will find swimming pools, a gym, library, dance/aerobics studio, an arts room, senior lounge and teen center.

SALEM

Almanac

Fast Facts Enjoy This Queen’s Majestic Views Step back in time and see the Willamette River from a new perspective aboard the Willamette Queen, an 87-foot, 86-ton twin-paddle sternwheeler that offers scenic cruises.

Sternwheeler Excursions Inc. Owner, Captain Richard Chesbrough, started the business as a retirement project in 1998.

Built in 1990 and designed as a scaleddown version of the former Mississippi and Yukon Territory riverboats, the paddle-wheeler includes such amenities as a full-service bar and solid oak dance floor.

The boat is operated from Riverfront Park and offers a variety of excursions, all offering majestic views of the river. Lunch, gourmet dinner and brunch cruises are available, as well as one-hour excursion cruises. Reservations are required.

Salem At A Glance Salem POPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE) Salem: 152,239, Keizer: 35,027 Marion County: 311,304 Polk County: 73,296 Seattle

LOCATION Salem, the capital of Oregon, is in the northwest portion of the state, midway between Portland and Eugene on Interstate 5. Salem is the county seat of Marion County, but a small portion of the city also is located in Polk County.

BEGINNINGS Missionaries arrived in the community in 1834 and plotted the land in the early 1840s. They named their new town Salem, an Anglicized form of the Hebrew word shalom, which means peace.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Salem Area Chamber of Commerce 1110 Commercial St. N.E. Salem, OR 97301 Phone: (503) 581-1466 Fax: (503) 581-0972 www.salemchamber.org

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What’s Online e Visit imagesofsalem.com for a virtual tour, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

Q Spirit Mountain Casino just west of Salem is the biggest gaming site in the Northwest and just added another 135,396 square feet of space.

Q The Salem area booms with blooms, thanks to several large-scale commercial operations such as Cooley’s Gardens, Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, Adelman Peony Gardens and Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

Q The original McGrath’s Fish House opened in Salem in 1980 and now has locations in six states.

Q Busick Court Restaurant has long been a favorite staple on the local dining scene. Its Banana-Nut Stuffed French Toast has been highlighted by celebrity chef Rachael Ray. Q Looking for top names in designer fashion? Look no further than downtown Salem, which boasts an array of specialty boutique shops such as Meringue, Bittersweet and Le Shoe Boutique.

Q The Willamette River is one of the few rivers in the world that flows from south to north.

I M AG E S O F S A L E M . C O M

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It All

Began

Here

MISSION MILL MUSEUM SHOWCASES SALEM’S KEY ROLE IN OREGON’S ORIGINS

STORY BY CAROL COWAN

TODD BENNETT

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s Oregon celebrates its 150th birthday this year, the state’s heritage shines brightest in Salem, where the foundation was laid for its modern successes in agriculture, industry and education.

Residents have a rich resource in exploring that history at Mission Mill Museum, which both interprets and preserves the history of the Willamette Valley and the evolution of the state’s textile industry.

“Cultural institutions are the caretakers of an area’s heritage,” says Peter Booth, the museum’s executive director.

“A community’s present health depends on a strong understanding of its past.”

Mission Mill Museum takes great care to safeguard Salem’s heritage and connect the community to its past with buildings, exhibits and year-round programming that tell two central stories: that of Jason Lee and his Methodist mission to Oregon in 1834; and the history of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, which was a working wool production facility from 1889 to 1962 and has been designated an American Treasure by the U.S. National Park Service.

Jason Lee’s Methodist Mission was the first successful American settlement in the Willamette Valley. Built in the 1840s and 1850s, the Jason Lee House, Parsonage, John D. Boon House and Pleasant Grove Church stand on the museum’s five-acre grounds.

“These are wonderful, restored buildings. The Lee House and Parsonage are the oldest wooden buildings that we know SALEM

TODD BENNETT

BRIAN M C CORD

of in the state of Oregon,” Booth says.

Lee and his band of settlers are credited with introducing formal education, major agriculture and industry to the area. Furthermore, when he returned to the East Coast, Lee’s enthusiasm for his new home contributed to “Oregon Fever” – the growing desire to claim the territory for the United States that ultimately led settlers to forge the Oregon Trail.

The centerpiece of the Mission Mill Museum grounds is the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, which is complete with the original water-powered turbine and equipment used to produce wool until 1962, when the mill shut down and Kay’s descendants locked the doors and left it as a sort of time capsule.

“This Industrial Revolution-era mill is unbelievably well-preserved. It stands as an important example of industrial history in the American West,” Booth says. “We also focus on individuals and stories that helped build the Willamette Valley.”

In 2009 and 2010, that effort includes a major exhibit honoring Oregon’s sesquicentennial, called Facing Statehood. It educates people about this area’s critical role in the state’s formation.

“Facing Statehood reflects on the events, people and political intrigue leading up to Oregon becoming the 33rd state in the Union. It begins with a look at the Kalapuya people and what the land looked like under their stewardship.

Next, it examines the changes that came with the Europeans and Americans – the missionaries, explorers, trappers and farmers,” he says.

The exhibit continues with an exploration of how those diverse groups influenced the political landscape of the territory, as well as the disputes, machinations and agreements that led to Oregon’s statehood.

“The exhibit ends by asking viewers to offer their own hopes and dreams for Oregon’s future,” Booth adds.

Visit www.missionmill.org for more information about exhibits and programs.

TODD BENNETT

What’s s e Online

Enjoy a glimpse inside the Mission Mill Museum at imagesofsalem.com.

Left: Spindles at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Above: Jason Lee’s Methodist Mission and the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill are the main components of the Mission Mill Museum, where interpreters convey these two historically significant stories.

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Welcome to Pinot Country ACCLAIMED WINE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO BEAR FRUIT

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STORY BY CAROL COWAN

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ore than 200 wineries dot the green, rolling hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the long, broad valley that follows the Willamette River from Portland to Eugene, shielded from Pacific storms by the Coast Range to the west and bound by the Cascades to the east. This is pinot noir country, and Salem is at the heart of it. The region’s soil, rich with volcanic ash and ocean-bed nutrients, combined with a climate of cool, wet winters and warm, sunny summers make it a premier site for growing the grapes that go into the region’s worldrenowned wines.

Pinot noir grapes account for 58 percent of the varieties grown in Oregon, says Al MacDonald, vineyard management instructor for the Northwest Viticulture Center at Chemeketa Community College in Salem.

“Other suitable varieties include pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and pinot blanc,” MacDonald says.

The region’s wine-production prowess has been heralded in national media from the Chicago Tribune to the Los Angeles Times, and the accolades just keep pouring in.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently named Willamette Valley Vineyards one of America’s great pinot noir producers; Wine Spectator ran a feature in January 2009 highlighting the diversity of the region’s pinot noir vintages and noting that the Willamette Valley produces top-quality pinot noir wines; and Yahoo! Travel recommended the Willamette Valley wine country as one of only two U.S destinations on its 10 Top Hot Spots of 2009 list. Often hailed as the next Napa Valley, the area has a flourishing wine industry.

“Oregon’s wine industry has been growing 10 percent to 15 percent over the last several years,” MacDonald says.

In fact, the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service reports that, in 2008, 1,570 new acres of grapes were planted

Often hailed as the next Napa Valley, the area has a flourishing wine industry. in Oregon, and the state saw a net growth of 25 wineries.

Marion and Polk counties produce about 25 percent of Oregon wines, MacDonald adds.

“There is still a lot of room to expand, and there are a lot of good sites left to develop,” he continues. “I know in our classes here, we get new people in all the time who’ve just bought land and are converting it to vineyards, and they’re wanting to know how to go about growing grapes.”

Chemeketa’s Northwest Viticulture Center stands ready to help them. The center is home to the college’s vineyard management and winemaking program and features a working vineyard and winery, as well as classrooms and lab facilities. Options for students range from a wine appreciation class to associate degrees in vineyard management, vineyard operations and winemaking.

Most local vineyards and wineries are small, family-owned operations that are passionate about preserving the area’s quality of life and practicing good stewardship of the land.

Their success has been driven by growing demand for Oregon wines from the country’s best restaurants, as well as the increasing popularity of wine tourism. Area wineries offer tastings, tours and several annual festivals for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the local wine experience.

Ankeny Vineyard Winery, known for its pinot noir, overlooks the scenic Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

STAFF PHOTO

Salem Area Wine on the Web ANKENY VINEYARD WINERY www.ankenyvineyard.com

MYSTIC WINES www.mysticwine.com

WHISTLING DOG CELLARS www.whistlingdogcellars.com

ARCANE CELLARS www.arcanecellars.com

REDHAWK WINERY www.redhawkwine.com

WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com

BETHEL HEIGHTS VINEYARD www.bethelheights.com

ST. INNOCENT, LTD. www.stinnocentwine.com

WITNESS TREE VINEYARD www.witnesstreevineyard.com

BRYN MAWR VINEYARDS www.brynmawrvineyards.com

THE COST VINEYARD www.thecostvineyard.com

CUBANISIMO VINEYARDS www.cubanisimovineyards.com

WANDERING AENGUS CIDERWORKS www.wanderingaengus.com

For more information, visit www.oregonwine.org and www.willamettewines.com.

HONEYWOOD INC. www.honeywoodwinery.com

WEST SALEM WINE STORE www.westsidewinestore.com

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Business

Building a

New

Image

RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION RAPIDLY CHANGE THE FACE OF DOWNTOWN

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SALEM

STORY BY JOE MORRIS

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alem is making fresh first impressions thanks to a sea of modern renovation, reuse and new-construction projects located primarily in its downtown core.

It hasn’t happened by accident, says Mayor Janet Taylor, who points to both the city’s adherence to a study commissioned by the Urban Land Institute in 2006 and to careful planning as critical to the city’s ability to buck current national trends.

“We’ve been very aggressive in using urban renewal funds to stimulate projects on property the city owned,” Taylor says.

“What we’ve done in the last four or five years is encourage private investors to partner with us to build developments on those sites, as well as purchase other properties and renovate or reuse those also. And most of the developers are local, which is a huge boon for us.”

While several developments are still in the planning stages, the advance numbers are impressive: In early 2008 there were 50 residential units downtown, with another 140 or so under construction. Now there are at least 400 more in the works, and the office/retail sector is posting similar strong figures.

Much of this is due to the city’s economic improvement district, which was enacted in 2008 to boost the downtown area’s fortunes. Much of the success, however, also is due to strong oversight from city officials and other stakeholders.

“We had some real thoughts for what needed to be done, and we wanted to make sure we got a good mix of choices,” Taylor says. “That meant everything from various housing prices for the residential components to different types of retail and entertainment in the shops. That mix is important, because that’s what keeps it healthy.”

Among the newcomers to Salem’s skyline are: WaterPlace on Liberty South near the Vern Miller Civic Center and

“This is really going to set Salem off as a place that’s different and unique.”

Grounds, a six-story office complex that is aiming for LEED Gold certification for its environmentally friendly construction; The Meridian, a six-story medical and professional office complex with luxury condominiums on its top floors at the corner of Mission and Commercial streets; and Salmon Run, a three-story, office/residential project just south of Pringle Parkade.

The largest of the emerging players is the Boise Cascade development, named for the former paper-converting plant that sat for decades on the 13-acre downtown site. Private developers plan to convert the property into a mix of housing, office, residential and retail areas, as well as restore some green space, says Tim Gerling, project manager.

“All told, it’s going to take four to seven years for the entire project to be completed, and a lot of that will depend on the economy,” Gerling says. “But people will see the demolition activity immediately, and then construction on the south end after that, so there will be something to see right away. This is really going to set Salem off as a place that’s different and unique. A real signature development like this will help the overall picture and go a long way toward helping Salem feel like it’s finally grown up.”

An artist’s rendering of the new WaterPlace Left: 295 Church St., a new condominium development

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PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

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Business

Biz Briefs BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE SALEM’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Scorecard BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$2,017,417 Retail sales ($1,000)

$14,140 Retail sales per capita

$232,605 Accommodations and food service sales ($1,000)

10,812 Total number of firms

U.S. BANK LADD AND BUSH OFFICE Biz: bank Buzz: This downtown location isn’t your typical bank branch. The building once housed the Ladd & Bush Salem Branch of the United States Bank of Portland – Salem’s first financial institution.

There is an array of old bank equipment displayed, including a century-old safe. www.usbank.com

TICO’S COFFEE ROASTING CO. Biz: small-batch coffee roasting company Buzz: This family-owned Stayton business buys coffee beans from some of the finest plantations in the world to produce premium, micro-roasted coffees. Tico’s is known for providing the freshest products possible to its customers, roasting the beans as soon as an order is placed and then shipping the order within 24 hours. www.ticoscoffee.com

GERRY FRANK’S KONDITOREI Biz: bakery and restaurant Buzz: Over 25-plus years, this Kearney Street business has provided a cozy environment for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is best known throughout the region for its delectable desserts – especially cakes. Honor the founders and try Gerry’s Chocolate or Barney’s Blackout. www.gerryfrankskonditorei.com

S.L.A.B. Biz: handcrafted soap company Buzz: For locally made lather, residents follow their noses into S.L.A.B., located in downtown Salem’s historic Reed Opera House. The simple shop contains row upon row of hand-cut soaps in fragrances such as Peppermint Oatmeal, Awapuhi Seaberry and Bay Rum & Lime. www.slabsoap.com

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

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Business | Chamber Report

That’s a Lot of Candles SALEM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY

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he number 125 is a big part of what the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce is doing in 2009.

The chamber is celebrating its 125th anniversary throughout all of 2009, with that achievement being trumpeted front and center in all correspondence with its membership. And to truly mark the occasion, a blow-out event will take place in August at Riverfront Park, with all chamber members and their families invited to attend.

Salem Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Mike McLaran says the organization has much to be proud of in its history, including establishing itself as a well-respected leadership organization in the community.

“We help make things happen, such as getting behind the recent effort to have a conference center built in Salem,” he says. “We have also backed efforts to secure investments for the infrastructure of the area, from streets and bridges to community colleges and our local school district. The chamber has a long history, and many impressive

The Salem chamber is an all-volunteer organization that is not supported by any tax dollars. Its revenue comes solely from membership dues along with any projects and programs it organizes.

McLaran adds that the chamber staff enjoys having fun, and even put together a video akin to “The Office” television show, with that video appearing on the chamber’s www.salemchamber.org Web site.

“We like to say that our chamber has fun in addition to getting things done,” McLaran says. “The chamber is serious about our mission and the services we provide, but we don’t take ourselves as individuals too seriously. We truly enjoy what we do, which is a big reason why this chamber accomplishes so much.”

– Kevin Litwin

TODD BENNETT

individuals have served in leadership positions to make a lot of great things happen around here.”

Like any chamber, its key role continues to be helping member businesses, even in challenging times.

“Ultimately, the quality of life in any city is dependent upon a strong economic foundation that starts with people opening businesses, expanding those businesses and providing jobs for citizens,” McLaran says. “The chamber also helps those businesses contribute back to the city in a variety of ways, which can include supporting youth programs, aiding senior citizens and supporting nonprofits. That ‘giving back’ is what really makes a community special, and our chamber is happy to help champion such efforts.”

The chamber celebrates its 125th anniversary throughout 2009.

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Where the Governor Works OREGON STATE CAPITOL HOUSES GOVERNMENT WHILE SHOWCASING HISTORY

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he Oregon State Capitol houses the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state and treasurer – and much more.

The building that was dedicated in 1938 is actually the third in Oregon’s history to house the state government.

The other two capitols both were destroyed by fire, with one burning in 1855 and the other in 1935.

Even though the current building is 71 years old, it is the fourth-newest capitol in the United States. It is also the only one in the country that was constructed in the Art Deco style.

The current structure expanded in 1977 and is graced with four colorful murals surrounding the interior rotunda. The paintings depict events in Oregon’s history, including Capt.

Robert Gray arriving at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1792, and Lewis and Clark on their way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805.

The other two murals feature the first women to cross the continent by covered wagon and the first wagon train migration to Oregon in 1843.

The four paintings are examples of Depression-period art and were painted

by Oregon natives Barry Faulkner and Frank Schwarz.

There are several other murals in the capitol building, including one that showcases Chinook salmon and wheat to represent the state’s fishing and agriculture industries.

The current building also is admired for its overall construction, with much of the interior and exterior made of marble. In addition, the grounds outside the capitol contain fountains, sculptures and flora, including the Douglas fir state tree and the Oregon grape state flower.

The Oregon State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

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STAFF PHOTO

Oregon’s State Capitol is the only one in the nation that was constructed in the Art Deco style.

What’s s e Online

Take a quick video tour of the capitol at imagesofsalem.com.

SALEM

Portfolio

It’s Good To Have Connections lans have been in the works for several years to connect Salem’s three largest parks – Wallace Marine Park‚ Riverfront Park and Minto-Brown Island Park – in order to create one long‚ linked outdoor recreation treasure. Now, those plans are steadily coming to fruition.

In 2008, the city secured a $1 million federal grant to convert the old Union Street railroad bridge into a bicycle and pedestrian pathway, with that bridge connecting Riverfront Park downtown with Wallace Marine Park in west Salem. Reconstruction of the bridge to accom modate pedestrian traffic was completed in early 2009, thereby saving the historic structure that was originally built in 1912 to span the Willamette River.

Besides the Union Street bridge, community leaders also are seeking funding for another pedestrian bridge that would allow Riverfront Park to connect with Minto-Brown Island Park.

The overall vision is to connect the three large parks, thereby linking a total of 1‚036 acres of park land as well as 16 miles of trails that are adjacent to the river.

That ultimate linking would allow residents and visitors to walk‚ jog, bike or skate through some of the most scenic parts of Salem, all without having to cross or use a city street. It is all part of an overall 26-mile greenway project that will encourage parks to be used even more by pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized users.

It is no secret that Salem and the entire state are environmentally conscious, so the eventual connection between the three popular individual parks will further encourage the use of alternative transportation modes. It also trumpets healthy forms of exercise for both local and out-of-town visitors to the city. – Stories by Kevin Litwin SALEM

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The recently restored Union Street Railroad Bridge links Wallace Marine Park and Riverfront Park, which soon will link to Minto-Brown Island Park.

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Indulge your taste buds in Salem’s finest steakhouse, the Willamette Valley Grill & Lounge.

We feature the finest cuts of steak, fresh, locally grown produce and an innovative wine selection from local vineyards – a truly Northwest experience!

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Health & Wellness

Tower of Strength SALEM HOSPITAL BUILDS SEVEN-FLOOR ADDITION

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t’s out with the old, in with the new at Salem Hospital. On May 15, 2009, the long-standing medical center opened a brand new, seven-story patient care tower on its existing Winter Street campus. The $285 million building addition is part of an overall plan that will replace the existing hospital building that was constructed in 1953. “The expected life of a hospital building is about 50 years, because as the building gets older and new technology is discovered, the new technology is brought in but the old hospital rooms get smaller and more crowded,� says Julie Howard, Salem Hospital spokesperson. “That was the whole reason why we wanted to build this critical care tower. We wanted our most technology-intensive services located there.�

For now, the old hospital building will be remodeled, and services that are less technical will remain there. “Our goal is to eventually keep adding to the new patient tower, then move out of the old building once overall construction to the new facility is complete,� Howard says. “The old building has served the community well over the years, but advancements in medicine made it vital to modernize our patient facilities – and now we have.�

The new tower features an all-new emergency department and an imaging center on the first floor, while the second floor is devoted to surgery. The third and fourth floors are earmarked for support services and priority labs, while the top three floors are devoted entirely to inpatient care. “The fifth floor itself is solely for

cardiovascular patients,� Howard says. “HealthGrades has just rated Salem Hospital No. 1 in the entire state of Oregon for overall heart services and heart surgery. A nice point about the fifth floor is that cardiovascular patients can stay in their same room during the entire recovery process. Most hospital cardiovascular rooms are either for critical care or intensive care patients, but the patients at Salem Hospital remain in the same room no matter what their condition. We just simply remove equipment as the patient gets better.�

The building has sky bridges that connect it with other buildings on the hospital campus. Other amenities include a satellite pharmacy, meditation room, respiration therapy area and a neurosurgery center. “Salem Hospital still has the same amount of overall patient beds [454], but we have gained more critical care beds that we’ve needed for quite a long time,� Howard says. – Kevin Litwin

Capital Manor Salem’s only nationally accredited continuing care retirement community

1955 Dallas Hwy. NW Salem s 4OLL FREE WWW CAPITALMANOR COM

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SALEM

Arts & Culture

Art from the Ground Up HALLIE FORD MUSEUM OF ART THRIVES AT HISTORIC WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY

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he Hallie Ford Museum of Art is a relative newcomer at historic Willamette University in Salem, but it has already had a major impact on the arts scene in its first 11 years of existence.

John Olbrantz, the art museum’s first and only director, came on board in June 1998, a few months before the facility opened in October.

“I was presented with this sort of blank canvas to have fun with,” Olbrantz says. “I’d been the first director of the Bellevue [Wash.] Art Museum and was director of the San Jose [Calif.]

Museum of Art and worked in Bellingham [Wash.]. After having been at it for 20-plus years, I was intrigued by the whole notion of establishing a university museum of art from the ground up.

“Colleagues had always told me, ‘You belong in a university museum of art,’ ” Olbrantz adds. “I came down and applied, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s been a great fit for me.”

Methodist missionaries founded Willamette University in 1842, the first university in the western United States.

Throughout its storied history, the university has collected artworks donated by benefactors and also had Native American baskets gifted to the missionaries who founded Willamette in the 19th century. However, there was no central venue to display the items.

Two years before the museum opened, the US West Communications building in Salem went on the market, and Willamette supporter Hallie Ford donated funds to help

purchase the building and turn it into the museum named for her. Maribeth Collins, another key Willamette backer, funded the director’s position held by Olbrantz.

Olbrantz says he’s been gratified by the strong support of donors.

“I was really surprised at the generosity of so many of our donors willing to step up to the plate and help underwrite exhibitions, to help provide gifts to endow positions and exhibition funds, and acquisitions. It’s been great,” he says.

The two-story museum has a series of galleries, plus a main-floor lobby for receptions. The basement has recently been finished and houses collection vaults, a matting and framing shop, workroom, carpentry shop, and offices.

Another recent addition is 45 reflector panels by the late artist Richard C. Elliott of Washington State that were installed on second-floor windows.

A possible addition of uplighting outside the museum would illuminate the reflectors so the building “will look like a jewel box,” Olbrantz says.

Key exhibitions in 2009 include Rapids and Pools, by Washington State artist Robert McCauley; Requiem, an exhibit of photographs by photojournalists who lost their lives in Indochina from the 1950s through the fall of Saigon in 1975; Loud Bones, an exhibit by Seattle artist Nancy Worden, who creates narrative jewelry, plus an exhibition of Roman mosaics.

“We have some exciting projects coming up,” Olbrantz says.

– Anne Gillem

Permanent collection works in the Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s Mark and Janeth Sponenburgh Gallery

SALEM

PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

I M AG E S O F S A L E M . C O M

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Education

Colleges Serve the Curve RESIDENTS SEEKING HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE AN ARRAY OF PROGRAM CHOICES

“We’re involved in the community at a lot of levels,” says Cheryl Roberts, president. “We have a unique mission, which is really to be the nexus of higher education. We were originated to provide access, opportunity and equity for those folks who want to go on for a four-year degree, for those who just want a two-year degree and for those who want to come, or come back, for a particular skill.”

The school helps existing workers learn skills for career advancement while also preparing the next generation of professionals for the workforce.

“On our campus they can take the kinds of courses and classes that are well received in our industries, and we also help the businesses find and train

their people. That really is the community college’s niche in higher education,” Roberts says.

As an example of how this works well, Roberts points to the fall 2008 decision by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. to build a new factory for the production of solar ingots and wafers used to produce solar photovoltaic cells. The college worked with the company to develop ways they would train new employees to craft and develop the cells, she says.

The college is opening the new Chemeketa Center for Business & Industry in fall 2009. It will house the college’s workforce and business development programs and serve as a strong bridge to the business sector.

– Joe Morris

TODD BENNETT

W

ant to brush up on your European history while knocking out that welding training course? Chances are you can do both, maybe even on the same campus, at one of the dozens of colleges and universities in and around Salem.

Four-year and two-year institutions provide an array of classes including job-training and certificate program work. There’s also a strong connection to the area’s public-school system, allowing rising juniors and seniors to get early college credits.

Best of all, the sheer number of institutions guarantees that area residents are spoiled with choices. There’s Willamette University, which has approximately 1,800 students and 760 graduate students in its law, business and teaching programs; Corban College & Graduate School, an independent Christian college with more than 50 majors and programs of study; Western Oregon University, a comprehensive, public library arts college in nearby Monmouth; and Portland State University, which has about 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in its various degree programs.

In the middle of it all is Chemeketa Community College.

Chemeketa Community College is one of many options for college here.

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