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Above & On the Cover
Our neighbors share one-line love stories for Valentine’s Day. SUBMITTED
Above: Terrie & Dennis Meissner (in 1980). On the cover, left side: Melissa Weiser & Derek Evan.
Left column, top to bottom: Joshua North & Emorie Côté, Brian & Jeneen McEntire (1990s), and Julie & Jamie Gritton.
Middle column: Renee Bianchi & Celia Stapleton, Brenda & John Zajdel, Nikki & Ali Van Ryn, and Bretny & Andy Kraemer.
Right column: John & Sarah Leiterman, Dave & Anne Harris, Jean Elizabeth & Harold Wood, and Brianna Wolterman-Baker & Danielle Heinzman-Baker.
Town
Our Town mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97362, 97375, 97381 zip codes. Subscriptions for outside this area are $60 annually.
Deadline for ads or submissions for the Feb. 15 issue is Feb. 5.
Thank you for spending time with Our Town. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Jim Kinghorn Advertising Director
Paula Mabry Editor & Publisher
DeeDe Williams Office Manager
Steve Beckner Custom Design Tavis Bettoli-Lotten Designer & Copy Editor
James Day Sports Editor & Reporter
Janet Patterson Distribution
Melissa Wagoner Reporter
Stephen Floyd Digital Editor & Reporter
Sara Morgan Datebook Editor
Something Fun
One-line love stories
By Melissa Wagoner
Most people have a love story, maybe it’s about how they met their partner, their feelings for their child, their relationship with a grandchild, parent or grandparent, or the ceaseless devotion of a pet.
Whatever the circumstances, those strong emotions are often hard to put into words, but when Our Town asked readers to try, the results were a litany of sometimes funny, often touching and always heartwarming tales. Here are just a few.
Sabrina Conaway: “He told me he wanted to be the one sitting on the park bench holding hands with me when we are old.”
Emorie Côté: “He saw my strength as a beautiful and powerful thing.”
Julie Gritton: “He read The Canterbury Tales with me while we were dating – out loud in the original Middle English.”
Nancy Miller: “I was reading a book; he looked hot in his baseball pants; we both loved the ocean and poetry; together 35 years.”
Jean Elizabeth Wood: “As I got into his car on our second date I said, ‘This is it isn’t it?’ and he replied, ‘I knew it the moment I met you!’”
Bretny Kraemer: “He was the dusty farm boy who brought in berries from his family’s farm, I was waitressing at his grandparents’ restaurant, and we made lots of desserts with those berries!”
Jeneen McEntire: “You really can find everything at Walmart.”
Anna Maria Uselman: “We heard each other’s voice on the phone before we ever met in person and we both instantly got butterflies, I think our souls recognized each other.”
Kristie Hays Bullock: “My little boy was diagnosed with leukemia and Jon happened to be the ‘chemo pal’ volunteer that got assigned to him.”
Renee Bianchi: “I fell in love with her artwork before I ever met her.”
Heath Curtiss: “No one loves a lawyer quite like another lawyer!”
the ability to speak, to write, to read, he grabbed my palm and traced ‘I love you,’ that’s when I knew this man was my soul mate.”
Randy Crain: “I copied her answers in algebra at SHS, been married for 46 years.”
Angi Miller: “I rounded the corner into the living room and fell into the deep blue of his eyes.”
Dennis Meissner: “I invited my future wife to five hours of ‘Monty Python’... she stayed for all five... we were married about 6 months later.”
Anne Harris: “He found my ID in a nightclub and went looking for me… gave me my ID back and asked me to dance... the rest is history.”
Melissa Weiser: “He is a stern and stoic man who softens with me, elevating my feminine energy.”
Franki Steuwer: “When he had lost
Brenda Zajdel: “He held his hand out to me to help me off the train at Portland Union Station and it was instant love at first sight… 26 years later I still get butterflies when I see him.”
Alli Hamlin: “My brother’s best friend became my best friend and soulmate.”
Sarah Leiterman: “We met at a party where I put my phone number and birthday with an alarm in his calendar on his super cool sidekick phone and told him he better call me and tell me happy birthday when it goes off.”
Kristin Kreitzer: “First time we met, that hug was so powerful and fierce there are no words to explain.”
Neal and Sabrina Conway ALL SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Anna Maria Uselman and Caleb Uselman
Kristin Kreitzer and Genie Shadrin
Sarah and Heath Curtiss
.... Just in time for Valentine’s Day
Corrie Totland: “Laughter, we make jokes, and we cut each other up…”
Kendra BartelmezForster: “We only knew each other for a couple weeks when I got frozen in at his house during the last ice storm, for a week!”
Jennifer Hartley: “Married in 2015, mutual respect, trust and thoughtfulness keep our love bond strong.”
HP Flowers: “A walk in the park turned into six hours, we shared, we laughed, we cried, he moved a caterpillar off the trail and pet every dog that came our way, we fell in love.”
Dana Vafiades: “The best day of my life was the day I gave my husband my left kidney.”
Eric Hammond: “I knew I’d love you forever when you made licking my ear your thing – a love story about me and my dog Hank.”
Keilei Rodriguez: “He was the first boy I kissed in kindergarten, and the last boy I’ll kiss in life. ”
Nikki Van Ryn: “Souls connected through generations, best friends through different ages, my biggest love and strongest support, my Oma (grandmother).”
Hilary Dumitrescu: “I’m not sure if it was sneaking out for afternoon coffees, or strolling the farmer’s market after work, or the late nights spent trying to meet a deadline with our heads huddled together under the harsh cubicle lights, but somewhere along the line I fell so in love with his faintly foreign accent, intentional gentleness, and that tiny freckle on the back of his right ear that I had to take him home.”
Suellen Nida: “I was the role of ‘Madame,’ and he had the role of my ‘Employee’ in a murder mystery party at a dear friend’s house.”
Mary Coleman: “Sure, let’s drive to Mexico for spring break, and why not get married in Reno on our way home?”
Raeann Reese: “A blind date on Halloween to a haunted house [was the]
perfect opportunity to grab his hand around every corner…he still won’t admit that was his plan all along.”
Nadia Shaban-Rutkowski: “We had so much fun in college that we left with degrees, a baby and a promise to love each other that has lasted more than 16 years!”
Taylor Unger: “He was a boy in my hostel in Thailand who rode on the back of a moped in Bangkok rush hour traffic to tell me he had to see me again before I had to catch a flight.”
Abby Shetler: “In honor of the strong and amazing woman she was, we named our daughter after her.”
Dr. Daniel Côté, DC
Dr. Jennifer Martin, DC Licensed Massage therapists available 503-873-8099
Where the people are loved and the Word of God is preached. Located at Barlow & Monte Cristo Roads. Meet Pastor Tim Douglass and join us Find us on Facebook
Eric Hammond’s dog Hank
Val and Hilary Dumitrescu
Corrie and Rob Totland
Leslie Curry and her friend Abby Shetler
Joint ventures
By James Day
The Silverton City Council met in a joint
Jan. 13 at the high school library.
Items discussed by the two bodies included school resource officers, property at Mark Twain School, Safe Routes to School and homeless teens.
The school resource officer program dates to the 1997-98, school year Terry Murphy became the first SRO in Silverton, with a primary focus on Silverton High and thenMark Twain Junior High.
Funding for the program ceased in the 2010-11 school year but was restored for the 2015-16 year when J.J. Lamoreaux assumed the ro;e. The current SRO is Shawn Aljets.
Silverton Police Chief Todd Engstrom and Aljets were on hand, pitching the addition of a second resource officer. A key challenge, Engstrom said, is the unique city-rural composition of the Silver Falls
City, school district discuss school resource officers
district. A second SRO could perhaps focus on the rural schools with the in-town SRO working mainly at the high school and middle school. A second SRO, Engstrom said, also would help the police be more proactive in its schools coverage.
The school district currently pays 75% of Aljets’ salary, with the PD paying for her summer hours when she returns to regular duty. Engstrom’s suggestion was reviewed favorably by the board members, with the main stumbling block being finances.
“Aljets does a fantastic job,” said SFSD board member Josh Ort, a 2002 Silverton High grad. “It’s hard to put a price on the safety of students and staff. Teachers also need help in the classroom with security.”
In other highlights:
Mark Twain: The City also proposed a possible land swap/sale involving the oak woodland at the north end of the Mark Twain School site. Sustainable Silverton officials, led by Councilor Eric Hammond, already have planted seedlings in the area, which includes the largest oak tree in
Timothy L Yount
Silverton outside of The Oregon Garden. City Manager Cory Misley said that one of the key drivers for the city is a desire to add to its open space in that quadrant of town. The city already owns a narrow strip of former railroad property that connects the Mark Twain site with Second Street near The Home Place restaurant.
This was the first discussion between the city and the district on the issue. No one discouraged the idea, but no offers are on the table.
“I don’t see a use for [the property] by the school district,” said SFSD board member Owen Von Flue, “and I’m not opposed to looking at it.”
Safe Routes to School: Councilors and board members also discussed the state program that offers grants to help pay for infrastructure intended to make it easier for kids to get to school. Councilors and board members offered a wide range of possibilities for improvement, including James Street (near the high school and at C Street near the railroads track)
and Westfield Street near Robert Frost School but until the City can score one of the grants or find other resources any improvements are stuck in neutral.
Homeless Teens: The two bodies discussed the challenge of school-aged homelessness, which is difficult to solve because a combination of state rules and funding issues make admitting teens at Sheltering Silverton a non-starter. Current work, particularly that of the district’s Sequoia Falls Academy, was praised, but both bodies had more questions than solutions at this point.
Mayor Chats: Jason Freilinger has begun holding regular community coffee chats at the new Stage 207, 207 E Main St. When Freilinger retired from Maps Credit Union in August 2024 he said he planned to use some of his free time to hold community conversations. His first one was Jan. 23. Upcoming chats are set for Thursday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m.
work session with the Silver Falls School District Board on
Arts & Entertainment
Newsies on SHS stage
Singing, dancing, high-energy performance
By Melissa Wagoner
When it came time for Silverton High School choir director Kimberly Skondin and band director Erik Nelson to choose the school’s biennial musical the choice was easy.
“We have such a large senior class of performing arts students and a lot of boys – specifically boys that can dance,” Skondin said. “I thought, let’s cast a musical that shows boys can sing and dance, too.”
The show she chose is Newsies, a play based on the New York City newsboy strike of 1899.
“It’s a beautiful story about children bonding together,” SHS theater director Sarah Schmidt said.
“And if you know this class,” Skondin interjected, “they love to protest…”
Starring senior Jack White as “Jack Kelly,” an artistic rebel, the play tells the story of a rag-tag team of homeless newsboy orphans – including Jack’s best friend “Crutchie” (played by Christian Hawley) – as they attempt to take down the city’s most popular newspaper, The World.
“There are no small parts,” Skondin said of the dynamic show. “And some of the ensemble characters are on the stage even more [than the leads].”
And there are no easy parts either. Nearly every character is responsible for not only learning their lines, but a litany of songs and dance choreography as well.
“It’s a continuous piece of movement,” Schmidt pointed out, “which makes it more challenging for the actors.”
Newsies, a Musical
Silverton High School Auditorium
1456 Pine St.
Feb. 15, 20, 21 and 22, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m.
Admission: $10 adults, $5 students
Thankfully, several of those actors, cast in their role days before the holiday break began, came to the first rehearsal with their lines memorized.
“That makes it easier to direct and work with emotional content,” Schmidt said.
And for the choreographer, Crystal Cram, to choreograph the dance scenes.
“It’s really dance heavy,” she said. “It’s an athletic event. So, there’s a lot of energy they have to come with.”
Newsies opens Saturday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. and runs for two consecutive weekends. This show is not to be missed, according to Skondin. “We have some fabulous, very talented, hard-working kids. So, it’s an awesome show.”
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The cast of Newsies. COURTESY MAKAYLA CHASE
Something to Think About Homeless seniors Resources haven’t
By Melissa Wagoner
It is widely understood that the population of homeless people in Oregon is growing. But what is less publicized is who these people are and how they came to be living on the streets.
The answer to those questions – which might be surprising to many – is that an increasing number of the unhoused are seniors. Nearly one quarter of those surveyed for the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance’s Point-in-Time Count in 2023 were identified as seniors, and that their circumstances are a result of a complicated mixture of economic and cultural changes.
“As far as economics, Social Security has not been able to keep pace with the economy,” Sarah White, Sheltering Silverton founder and executive director, said. “Right now, a lot of the seniors we work with are earning $900 a month.
“Even in subsidized housing that’s a struggle… People are being priced out of the housing market, housing for low-income seniors is inadequate… and, sadly, families are either not able or unwilling to double up as much as they used to be.”
It’s a set of circumstances that has already led to a growing number of seniors living on the streets. That number is likely to rise as the population of people aged 65 and over increases in the coming years – unless something is done to curb the progression.
“[R]eally broadly speaking, we don’t do a great job by our seniors to begin with,” said Davey Schaupp. In March 2024 he began work on a documentary called No Place to Grow Old (NPTGO), with his friend and founder of Humans for Housing, Michael Larson. “They’re not someone who we pay attention to and not someone who gets a
pedestal. I don’t know if there is a more unheard population than seniors.”
It’s a challenge that Larson, also a documentary-maker, thought a well-made video production, one that explored the humanity behind homelessness, could alleviate. So, he called on Schaupp for help.
“He believes in the power of story…”
Schaupp said, “as the power for and catalyst of change. Because our heart has a say in how we live our lives.”
It was with these goals in mind that Larson and Schaupp produced NPTGO during a rainy March in Portland.
“It was definitely a big challenge…”
Schaupp said. And it wasn’t just the weather that made things difficult, it was finding three participants willing to share their very personal stories on camera, then hoping the finished documentary honored that bravery.
“How do you represent a population that doesn’t have a lot of power…?” Schaupp asked. “How do I say the truth about this situation…? That was hard. I really felt the weight of that.
“There are so many ideas about what these people are. How do I say the truth?”
kept pace for an aging population
No Place to Grow Old
A documentary about the growing number of homeless seniors.
Thursday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m. Silver Falls Library, 410 S. Water St. Free; $5 suggested donation www.noplacetogrowold.com
Left: Herbert sharing his story during the recording of No Place to Grow Old in Portland COURTESY OF DAVEY SCHAUPP
The answer, Schaupp discovered, came in the use of a recording technique that enabled each subject to look directly into the camera.
“People have done stories around homelessness in manipulative ways for so long,” Schaupp said. “They had every reason not to trust me. But they really showed up with so much heart. It really comes across.”
The documentary opens with Bronwyn, a talented poet, unhoused for eight years. Next comes Herbert, who is stably housed and working hard to stay that way. Then there’s Jerry, struggling to find housing.
“[Herbert] talks about losing his housing decades before to a predatory loan,” Schaupp said. So, he knows what the future might bring, especially with rising costs that have meant the $1,700 he has coming in, “just isn’t enough anymore.”
“I’m a filmmaker and not a promoter,” Schaupp said, “but I do think in a world where we are given so much data and so many statistics and so many narratives, to listen to some of the most vulnerable voices in your community or state is important. To not reduce it to action steps or items but give time to stories, especially to the seniors in our community.”
That’s how Christy Davis, director of Silver Falls Library District, feels as well.
“This year marks my 30th working in public libraries and I have to say that while I see more and more younger people experiencing homelessness, I also have noticed a segment of the unhoused aging right along with me…” she said, adding, “I feel heightened concern when I see older patrons who are experiencing homelessness because of their increasing vulnerability to just about everything.”
When she discovered NPTGO she decided to offer a free screening 6:30 p.m. Feb.6 for anyone interested in learning more about how homelessness is affecting the Silverton community.
“We’ll do a brief introduction, show the film and then have a discussion after,” Sheltering Silverton’s White said. “We can tell plenty of stories about the situations that we are absorbing at the shelter that really belong in completely different systems like elder care.” They also can offer suggestions for ways people can help.
“I hope we get creative too about solutions,” she said. “I hope they come away with, first and foremost, compassion, a desire to suspend judgment around homelessness a little bit more.”
That’s how Schaupp feels as well.
“[I]t really breaks my heart as much as it did at the beginning that we live in a country where our elders are growing old outside,” he said. “We are the wealthiest nation and yet our elders are the fastest growing population [of homeless]. We can’t hide behind that.”
Frequent Addresses
Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 NE Industrial Way, Silverton. Silver Falls Library, 410 S Water St. Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Silverton Community Center/Council Chambers, 410 N Water St. Weekly Events
Monday
Silverton 50+ Center, 115 Westfield St. Seniors 50 and older. Events. 503-8733093, silvertonseniors.org
Mt. Angel Community & Senior Center Store, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 195 E Charles St. Repeats Tuesday - Saturday. Volunteers needed. 503-845-6998 Meals on Wheels Lunch, 11:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. $3 suggested donation. Reservations: 503-873-6906. Repeats Tuesdays and Thursdays. Silverton Recovery AA, noon - 1 p.m., 302 N Water St. Seven days a week. Open Acoustic Jam, 1 - 2:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Bring instruments. Scotts Mills Food Boxes, 4 - 6 p.m., Scotts Mills Community Center, 298 Fourth St. Residents in Scotts Mills/ Butte Creek/Monitor rural areas welcome. Niki Barber, 503-873-5059
Free Monday Dinner, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Indoor, sit-down dinner. To-go meals available. All welcome. Free. 503-873-5446, oakstchurch@ gmail.com
Boy Scouts Troop 485, 7 - 8:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Dave Tacker, 760644-3147, dave.tacker@gmail.com
Tuesday
Bible Study, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton First Christian Church, 402 N First St. All welcome. 503-873-6620 APPY Hour, noon - 1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Technical assistance for electronic devices. Free. 971-370-5040 Silverton Mainstay, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St. Community space and activities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Repeats Thursdays. silvertonmainstay.org Explorer’s Lab, 4 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Listen to a story about dental health, , join in a project. Snacks. Ages 5-12. Free. 971-370-5040
Cub Scout Pack 485, 6:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Boys and girls in K-fifth grade. Elisha Kirsch, 503-507-6087
Silverton Business Group, 8 a.m., Silver Falls Brewery, 207 Jersey St., Silverton. Networking hosted by Silverton Chamber of Commerce. All welcome. silvertonchamber.org
Quilters Group, 9 a.m. - noon, Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second Ave., Silverton. trinitysilverton@gmail.com
Mission Benedict Food Pantry, 1 - 4 p.m., St. Joseph Shelter, 925 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Repeats Friday. 503-873-7645
Silver Chips Woodcarving Sessions, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. All skill levels. 503-873-7645
Mission of Hope Food Pantry, 2 - 4 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. 503-873-7353
Thursday
Community Coffee, 7 - 9 a.m., Scotts Mills Community Center, 298 Fourth St. Free. Yoga, 9 a.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Open to all. Sheila, 503-409-4498
Thursday Painters, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Arts Association. Join other artists for open studio time. All kinds of art forms are welcome. Free. 503-873-2480
TOPS (Take Pounds Off Sensibly), 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St., Silverton. Weight loss with continued support. All welcome. 503-501-9824
Friday
Toastmaster Club, 7:30 a.m., Zoom. Increase your listening skills, speaking, thinking and evaluating. Zoom link: tmcommunicators@gmail.com.
Mt. Angel Model Railroad, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Depot, 90 W College St., Mt. Angel. Lionel (O-gauge), HO-gauge, N-gauge model layouts on display. All ages. Free. Silvertones Community Singers, 10:30 a.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 Main St., Silverton. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome. Tomi, 503-873-2033
Saturday
Silverton Winter Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. silvertonfarmersmarket.com
Sunshine Fitness, 10 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Light exercising with Moving to the Word: Strength and Flexibility Workout.. Teens & adults. Free. No class Feb. 15. 971-370-5040
Saturday Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 10 a.m., Zoom. For families and friends of alcoholics. Zoom link: Janet.h.salem23@gmail.com
The Art of Mindfulness, 2 p.m. Borland Gallery, 303 Coolidge St., Silverton. Connecting mind, heart, and body. Listen, meditate, contemplate, share thoughts. 971-218-6641
Creciendo Juntos/Growing Together Storytime, 3 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Únase a nosotros para leer libros sobre muñecos de nieve y osos polares. Join us to read books about snowmen and polar bears. Free. No class Feb. 15, 22. 971-370-5040
Just for Today Al-Anon Family Group, 6:30 p.m., Silverton Coffee Club, 302 N Water St. For families and friends of alcoholics.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Native Innovation Exhibit
9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Explore how Oregon’s first innovators, scientists and engineers used creativity and problem solving to thrive for thousands of years. Pick up a new Native Innovation take-home packet each week. Runs through Feb. 22. All ages. 971-370-5040
Mt. Angel Chamber’s Volksfest
11 a.m. - midnight, Festhalle, 500 NE Wilco Hwy., Mt. Angel. Live music, dancing, Volkswalks, Gigglebritches, Mt. Angel Sausage Co.’s sausage eating contest, NW Dubs Cruise-In and more. Family-friendly. Admission is $15/person; those under 21 are free. Repeats 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Feb. 2. Tickets at mtangelvolksfest.com.
Bingo & Game Night
2 - 5 p.m., Scotts Mills Grange, 299 Fourth St. Bingo, board and card games, chili dinner. Prizes, special surprises for Bingo champs and game masters. $10/person or $30/families. Admission includes all games and dinner.
Sunday, Feb. 2
Five Rhythms of Dance
11 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Let loose with this ecstatic dance class led by Shea. Fee is set by instructor. Aslo Feb. 16. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org
Monday, Feb. 3
Daughters of American Revolution
10 a.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 Fern Ridge Road. Guest speaker DAR State Regent. All welcome. Refreshments served. 503-508-8246
Silverton City Council
7 p.m., Council Chambers. Open to public. Agenda available. Work session at 6 p.m. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Tuesday, Feb. 4
Valentine Pickup
9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Pick up your Valentine from the library. While supplies last through Feb. 15. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040
Agricultural Safety Seminar
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Festhalle, 500 NE Wilco Road, Mt. Angel. Topics include navigating OSHA’s top citations, co-existing with agricultural chemicals, cold stress safety on the farm, emergency first aid on the farm. Free, but registration is required by visiting http://cvent. me/59Kwbq. saif.com/agseminars
Mt. Angel American Legion
6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, 740 E College St., Mt. Angel. All veterans are welcome. Masks optional. Jim, 503-845-6119
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Caregiver Connection
1 - 2:30 p.m., Zoom. Free educational support group for unpaid family caregivers caring for a loved one 60 or older, or caring for a person living with dementia. For Zoom invite contact Julie, 503-304-3432; julie.mendez@nwsds.org.
Valentine’s Day Card Making
1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create Valentine’s Day cards using rubber stamps and decorative paper. Adults. Free. Repeats 6 p.m. Feb. 6. 971-370-5040
Evening Farmers Market
3:30 - 6:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Find fresh produce and handmade items. Repeats Feb. 19. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org
Heart Wreath Craft
6:30 - 8 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Signup to make a rosebud heart wreath from book pages. Free. 503-873-8796
Scotts Mills City Council
7 p.m., Scotts Mills City Hall, 265 Fourth St. Open to public. 503-873-5435
Thursday, Feb. 6
Cancer Support Group
11 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. All welcome. Free. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org
Silverton Kiwanis Club Meeting
Noon, Main St. Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. Visitors welcome. Repeats Feb. 20. silvertonkiwanis.org
Red Cross Blood Drive
1 - 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. For appointments visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-3767.
Google Maps Class
1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn how to maximize the use of Google Maps. Adults. Space is limited. Pre-registration required: 971-370-5040
No Place to Grow Old Screening
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Documentary about the growing number of homeless seniors. Free; $5 suggested donation. 503-873-8796
Critique Night
7 - 8:30 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. Bring work for discussion amongst other artists in the community. 503-873-2480
Friday, Feb. 7
Women’s Coffee Club
9 - 10 a.m., Piknik Vintage Tea House, 106 N First St., Silverton. Join the Launch Mid Valley’s women’s coffee club for startups and entrepreneurs. Network, learn, grow. Free. RSVP: www.launchmidvalley.org.
Lunaria Artists Reception
6 - 8 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Meet the showcased artists for February. Main Floor Gallery is “Jeweled Skies,” beaded jewelry with charms by Chelsea Goin and paintings by Carolyn Johnson Bell. Loft Gallery is paintings by Jeremy Kranz. Shows are open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily through March 2. 503-873-7734
Saturday, Feb. 8
Heartfelt Hub
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 Division St. Handmade and homemade crafts from local artisans, bakers, crafters and makers. Free admission.
Emergency Preparedness Meeting
1 - 4 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Review ice storm/wildfire strategy notes, communication strategies, mapping your neighborhood. Sponsored by Sustainable Silverton. sustainablesilverton.org
Monday, Feb. 10
Mt. Angel School District
6:30 p.m., District Office, 730 E Marquam St., Mt. Angel. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-845-2345, masd91.org
Silver Falls School District
7 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Open to public. silverfallsschools.org
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Ancestry Detectives
10 a.m., Silver Falls Library. Doug Crosby presents “A Journey to England, 2024,” a travel, genealogy and historical adventure. All welcome. ancestrydetectives.org
Sewing Guild of America
11 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Sewing Guild of America Silverton Chapter meeting. Open to all. 503-873-3093
Ukulele Play and Sing-Alongs
6 - 7:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. The first 30 minutes is beginner’s ukulele lesson followed by play and sing-along time for all skill levels. Music provided; bring your ukulele. 503-873-8796
Silverton Planning Commission
7 p.m., Council Chambers. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-874-2207
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Hooked in a Flash
Noon - 1 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Learn to crochet. $20; pre-registration required by calling 503-873-3093.
Silverton Goal Setting
7 p.m., Council Chambers. Silverton City Council meets to set goals for 2025-26. Open to public. 503-873-5321
Italian Conversations
6 - 7:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Come practice your Italian with Craig Bazzi and Carlo Antinucci. All levels welcome. Free. Repeats Feb. 26. 503-873-8796
Thursday, Feb. 13
Women’s Connection
Noon, Luncheon, Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N. 2nd St., Silverton. Featuring Piknik tea shop in Silverton and speaker Judy Glenney, physical education teacher. Cathy: 503-9992291 for reservations.
Chocolate Dipping Fun
1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Make chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels. Adults & teens. Pre-registration required:971-370-5040. Also at 6 p.m.
Silverton Public Works Advisory
5:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Silverton Public Works Advisory Board provides guidance and recommendations to officials on infrastructure projects, maintenance and policy decisions. Agenda available. 503-873-5321
Simple Printmaking
6:30 - 8 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Class will create line drawings which can then be embellished with color. Drawing experience helpful but not necessary. Registration required. 503-873-8796
Friday, Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day
Family Movie
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Enjoy The Wild Robot with fresh-popped popcorn. Free. 971-370-5040
All-Ages Game Night
6 - 9 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 Division St. Bring games! Adult must accompany children under 13. All ages welcome. Free. 971-267-9364, silvertongrange@gmail.com
Saturday, Feb. 15
Flea Market
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. Free admission. 503-873-4567
Newsies, Musical at SHS
7 p.m. Silverton High School Auditorium, 1456 Pine St. The story of a rag-tag team of homeless newsboys in 1899. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students. Also 2 p.m. Feb. 16 and 7 p.m. Feb. 20, 21, 22.
Sunday, Feb. 16
Chamber Music Concert
3 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N 2nd St., Silverton. Aage Nielsen, bass clarinet, and Betsy Goy, cello, perform works from centuries of music. Free will donation. Info: christophermw@ wavecable.com
Monday, Feb. 17
Presidents’ Day
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Homeschool Art Class
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. At Easel Art offers art class for homeschooled kids. $20. Affordable Housing Strategies
5:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Silverton’s Affordable Housing Strategies Project Task Force develops and recommends policies and initiatives to improve access to affordable housing. Open to public. 5503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Silver Falls Book Club
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Discuss These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett. All welcome. 503-873-8796
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Dementia Care Conversations
1 - 2 p.m. Zoom. Free group for unpaid caregivers providing support to a loved one living with dementia. The focus is to provide dementia care information, training and resources to family caregivers. To register, contact group facilitator Julie Mendez, 503304-3432 or julie.mendez@nwsds.org.
Mt. Angel Library Advisory
6:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. The Advisory Board exists to advise, recommend and advocate for the library. Open to public. 971-370-5040
Thursday, Feb. 20
Mt. Angel Book Club
1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Copies at Circulation Desk. All welcome. 971-370-5040
Silver Falls Writers Group
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Writers share works in progress. All welcome. Ron, 503-873-8796
Mt. Angel Planning Commission
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291
Friday, Feb. 21
LEGO Lab
3 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Build an original creation to display in the library. All ages. 971-370-5040
Saturday, Feb. 22
Winter Bash
3 - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Middle School, 460 E Marquam St. Crafts, food and fun. Grades 6-8. Free. Sponsored by Mt. Angel Public Library. 971-370-5040
Sunday, Feb. 23
Pancake Breakfast
7 a.m. - noon, Scotts Mill Community Center, 298 Fourth St. $5/person. 503-873-5435, scottsmills.org
Main Street Redevelopment
5:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Silverton’s Main Street Redevelopment and Downtown Plaza Park Task Force focuses on revitalizing the Main Street, enhancing the downtown Plaza Park. Open to public. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Monday, Feb. 24
Vigil for Peace
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, social justice issues on all levels of society including a focus on issues of current concern. Open to all. 503-873-5307
Silverton City Council
7 p.m., Council Chambers. Open to public. Agenda available. Work session at 6:30 p.m. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Mt. Angel Park Tree Board
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us
Tuesday, Feb. 25
The Joy of Watercolor
1 - 3:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Step by step instruction painting a scene of iconic Haystack Rock. $35; includes all materials. Pre-registration is required by calling 503-873-3093
PFLAG Silverton
7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Everyone welcome. Under 18 must have parent/guardian. Christy, 541-786-1613, silvertonpflag@gmail.com
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Family Caregiver Class
1:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Learn tools on how to help loved ones, and yourself, when they refuse help. Free; registration required. 503-873-3093
Thursday, Feb. 27
TAB/Book Club
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss the book Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. Copies available at Circulation Desk. Afterward, we’ll meet for our monthly Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting. Snacks provided. Grades 6-12. 971-370-5040
Writers Workshop
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Chat with fellow writers and get feedback. Bring up to three pages of your work. Fun writing with prompts. Adults & teens. Free. 971370-5040
Friday, Feb. 28
Teen Cooking Lab
4 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn how to make egg drop soup. Free. 971-370-5040
Teen Hangout
5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Murder mystery Murder at the Movie Theater. Free. 971-370-5040
Legalism & Lawlessness in the Church
There are two major errors that plague the Christian faith. They are Legalism and Lawlessness. the truth concerning salvation by grace. Legalism is when people mistakenly think they have to be “good enough” in order to be saved, or to maintain their salvation. Legalists try to put God in their debt by keeping His laws. They are saying in their hearts, “Okay God, I obeyed you, so now you have to reward me.” Legalism leads to selfrighteousness (if you are good at it), but it leads to discouragement when you are not. It dishonors Christ by failing to rest in the sufficiency of what He has done for us. Lawlessness, on the other hand, is when people presume upon the grace of God, treating God’s forgiveness as if it were a license to keep on sinning. They wrongly think that since they have been saved by grace, they can continue living in their sins as if sin no longer matters to God. That is simply not true. Lawlessness dishonors God, but it is also destructive to the sinner. Christ died to set us free, not only from the punishment our sins deserve, but also from the harms our sins do to ourselves and others.
sing in the old hymn, Amazing Grace, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. T’was blind but now I see.”
Judge has ruled in our favor. There is nothing more for us to say or do in the Courtroom Scene of God’s justice. Our chains are removed. Our guilt has been paid in full by Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. We are now free to go. But free
#2. The Family Room Scene
Courtroom Scene we are ushered Family Room Scene. With all charges against us having been dropped, we have now been “born-again” as a “child of God.” We are no longer “dead in our trespasses and sins.” We have “passed from death into life” by receiving a “new heart” and a “new spirit” (Ezek. 36:25- 27). We’ve been adopted into God’s eternal family and so a whole new set of passages of Scripture now apply to us.
In the Family Room Scene God is now our Heavenly Father rather than our Judge. Jesus is now our older Brother and Lord. This is where so many new Christians get things
By Gregg Harris
created in Christ Jesus for good works.” This passage speaks clearly to the Family Room Scene where God has “prepared good works for us to do.” Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us God will discipline us as His children when we disobey Him. But He will NEVER disown us!
So, if we, as believers in Christ, mistakenly apply Eph. 2:10 to our Court Room Scene, we would be committing the error of thinking our “good works” somehow add support to our justification before God. They don’t! When we do that, we are swerving into the ditch of Legalism, thinking we can only keep our salvation by being “good enough.”
Stay on the Road!
So, there is a ditch on both sides of the road of Christianity: Legalism and Lawlessness Both are wrong. The road itself is living joyfully under the reign of our Lord, Jesus Christ. That is our new life in God’s family Got questions? Please call or text me at 971-370-0967. If we meet, I’ll buy your coffee.
of Christianity!
Both Legalism & Lawlessness Are Distortions
Both of these errors are wrong, but they are wrong for opposite reasons. They are like two ditches on either side of a road. The road itself is living joyfully under the reign of our living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. On this road we get to obey, not in order to be saved, but because, by His grace, through our faith in Him, we are already saved. We can rest from all our efforts to earn His favor because, by His mercy, we already have His favor. The sad thing is that when we obsess too much over staying out of one ditch or the other, we swerve into the ditch on the other side of the road.The Legalist can become Lawless and the Lawless one can become Legalistic.
What is God’s Solution?
This dilemma is resolved by what the Apostle Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy. “Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV). Now “rightly dividing” God’s Word may sound a bit audacious, but the Bible requires us to correctly apply the right passages to the right situations at any given point in our lives— before and after salvation.
Two Major Divides
God’s Word, the Bible, never changes. But thankfully we do change. We don’t have to remain in our sinful way of life forever. As we
As we experience God’s amazing grace it transforms us. Though we are all “lost” at one point, we can be “found.” Having been spiritually “blind” in the past, we can eventually “see.” For that reason, not every passage of Scripture can rightfully apply to us at the same time. As we pass from unbelief to faith, different verses will apply to us in very different scenarios that I call “scenes.”
#1.
wrong. This Family-Room Scene is where the twin errors of Legalism and Lawlessness are most likely to show up. By getting confused about which Bible verses now apply to us, we can easily end up in one ditch or the other.
The Courtroom Scene
God is the God of Justice. He must punish all those who have rebelled against His will. In the Courtroom Scene of His justice, we find ourselves on trial. Nothing we have done in the hope of being “good enough” to earn God’s favor will stand up in His Courtroom. We are guilty as charged and have only our own death to offer as payment for our sin. We would be doomed, if it were not for Jesus. But Jesus Christ, our great Savior and Attorney, addresses the Judge. “Your Honor, if it please the Court, I have already paid this sinner’s debt. I shed my own blood on the cross for this scoundrel. And as You know, I had no debt of My own to pay. So, I have agreed to have my death applied to his account. He has put his faith in Me to be his Savior, and so, according to Our Plan of Salvation, he now belongs to Me.”
There is silence in the courtroom as the angels lean in to hear God’s verdict. “Case dismissed!” the Judge cries out. And so, the
To “Rightly Divide the Word of Truth” We Must Know Our Bible.
When Paul wrote, “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), he probably had legalism and lawlessness in mind because a different set of Bible verses apply in the Family Room. For example, if we apply the famous Courtroom Scene passage about having been “saved by grace through faith” and “not of works lest anyone boast” (Eph. 2:8-9) to our new life in the Family Room, we can mistakenly think we no longer have any responsibility to do what we know pleases God. That would be the ditch of Lawlessness. That passage applies ONLY to our justification by faith alone in the Courtroom Scene of God’s justice. It does NOT exempt us from living to please our Heavenly Father as a member of His loving Family. God has plans for us as His children.
In fact, we read in the very next verse, in Eph. 2:10, that “we are His workmanship,
Christian Men! Join us every week for our Noble Men’s Breakfast at The Home Place.
N First St, Silverton, OR 97381 Thurs. mornings from 7 to 8:30 AM For info go to NobleMenOfOregon.org Join us as we seek to have an impact on our community for Christ.
Are You Looking for a Good Church? Consider visiting Gracious Cross Reformed Church. We gather on Sunday mornings at 10:00am in northeast Salem. Gregg Harris, the author of this article, is our teaching pastor. To learn more and listen to sermons, go online to www.graciouscross.org.
Gregg Harris, “Pastor, GraciousCross.org”
By James Day
Picture this. It’s the Silverton High Talent Show in the spring of 2024. Among the participants were Max Mulick and his sister Gemma. Max was on piano while Gemma sang a Lauren Daigle song. At first, all did not go well.
The grand piano was too big to lift onto the stage in the gym. So they put it on the floor in front of the stage, right between two huge speakers. Max and Gemma couldn’t hear themselves think.
Then, a bunch of balloons nearby popped. The noises interferred with the rhythm of the performers so much that they slowed almost to a crawl.
Then, they rallied. They got back in sync and finished the song with the crowd roaring behind them, as much for the pair’s resiliency as their musical chops.
Max and Gemma won the top prize at the show, and it was a moment of high symbolism for Max. Earlier in his high school career Max suffered from anxiety, had trouble completing tasks and was “scared to perform in front of people.”
Older brother Cohen helped convince him to start coming out for sports and, Max says, “I took a leap of faith and told myself I would never quit. And I stuck with that. I just pushed through it.
People kept motivating me and it sparked the engine.”
Mulick, now a senior, is a three-sport athlete for the Foxes, with a resume that includes Skills USA certifications and firefighting training as well as church and community service work.
Mulick was introduced by Athletic Director Andy Jones as the Future First Citizen at the annual Silverton Chamber of Commerce First Citizen event on Jan. 25 at the Festhalle in Mount Angel.
“I’m honored that people recognized what I have done in the community and to make myself a better person,” Mulick told Our Town in an interview before the banquet.
“I was so surprised when I received the email that I was nominated. I thought I saw an opportunity to put myself out there and show what’s possible.”
$939,000
Classic farmhouse in the woods. 40.74 acres. Pasture, timber. Borders BLM. 24x48 shop on slab. 24x36 Equipment Bldg. Seller financing available! 20739 Hazelnut Ridge Rd. NE, Scotts Mills. MLS#823491
THE MAX MULICK FILE
Age: 17
Hometown: Silverton (attended Eugene Field, Robert Frost, Silverton Middle School and Silverton High)
Family: Parents Molly and Dan, siblings Cohen, Gemma, Miles and Bella.
Mulick said he is 95% sure that he will join the Coast Guard after graduation, although he thinks a likely career might come in law enforcement.
“The Coast Guard is like the police on the water,” Mulick said. “I love that idea. And there is also the community aspect. It’s an opportunity to get to know people and build connections. You are helping someone at perhaps the worst possible time.
“You’re at work six, seven or eight hours a day. If you are spending that much time away from family, why not do something good that will help out the community?”
Editor’s note: Mulick’s profile was published after our other pre-First Citizen banquet coverage on Jan. 15 because the award recipient had not been publicly announced by our deadline.
$160,000 Immaculate home, 2 bd, 2b. wood flooring, granite countertops in the kitchen, relaxing, private backyard. Buyers must be approved by community park management. 3450 Hidden View Ln. NE, Salem. MLS#823285
$949,000 10.41 acres in the Silverton Hills on Powers Creek. Custom home with 5bd, 3 ba, 3218 sq. ft.
$475,000 4.650 acres zoned EFU. Ideal for agriculture development. High traffic location. Seller financing available. Monitor Rd., Silverton. MLS#820110
Price Reduced! $389,000 0.45 ac. Beautiful Santiam River frontage. Fisherman’s Paradise. 1 bd., 1 ba. 39 ft. trailer and bunk house. 10x12 shop, & 10x10 Bldg on slab. 40474 Shoreline Dr., Lyons. MLS#814406
$300,000 Rosemary Way lots: 601, 605 & 611 MLS#810425; 615, 619 & 623 MLS#810404. Builder, Developer! Located in Monitor Road Estates. These lots will require wetland remediation. Buyer must have a development plan.
$299,000 Creek frontage on 3.99 acres. Bareland. Ideal for recreational use. Seller will carry a contract. Off of Crooked Finger Rd., Scotts Mills. MLS#822303
Under Contract
Max Mulick at the Silverton Chamber of Commerce First Citizen Banquet at the Festhalle in Mount Angel on Jan. 25. Mulick, a Silverton High senior, was honored as Future First Citizen. JAMES DAY
David Joseph Kraemer
Aug. 3, 1939 – Jan. 5, 2025
Heaven called to Dave Kraemer on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 while vacationing with his wife in the Hawaiian Islands.
David (Dave) Joseph Kraemer was born Aug. 3, 1939 to Anthony and Clara (Fessler) Kraemer of Mount Angel, Oregon. Dave and his seven siblings grew up on the family farm in Mount Angel. There was no such thing as a lazy day on the farm, but Dave had such fond memories of the shenanigans with his brothers, cousins, and friends around Mount Angel. Dave attended St. Mary’s Public School and graduated in 1957 from Mt. Angel Preparatory School.
Passages
Dawna Lee ‘Dee’ Peters
Dawna Lee ‘Dee’ Peters passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 13, 2025, after a five-year battle with ALS.
Dawna is survived by her twin sister, Janna Peters; her father, Virgil Peters; and siblings, Tim Peters, Jerilee Avery, and Mark Peters.
During her academic endeavors, Dawna blossomed both spiritually and as an individual and even had an opportunity to serve with her church community in Nova Scotia.
Dave married Joanne (Pirkl) on Jan. 27, 1968 at St. James Church in Molalla, Oregon. Directly after their wedding, Dave & Joanne moved to McMinnville, and bought their lifelong business, Kraemer’s Garden Center and raised their family. The business started as a small produce market and is still thriving today some 57 years later in the same location operated by their son (Karl Kraemer) and his family. Dave was a very meticulous business person, never using a computer but preferring to use his ledger books instead. He was a founding member of the NNBA (Northwest Nursery Buyers Association) back in 1983. Today this association consists of about 125 independently owned family garden centers across the Pacific Northwest. A true entrepreneur and an amazing business man.
Throughout 56 years of marriage Dave and Joanne shared a deep love for their Catholic faith and have been members of St. James Catholic Church in McMinnville for their entire marriage. Dave was also a long time Knights of Columbus member here. They both enjoyed travel to all 50 states, as well traveling to many overseas destinations including their last European trip in 2022 to Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany with Father Zani. In Germany they saw the Passion show that is held once every ten years. During the past few years, Dave & Joanne’s travels were closer to home and they enjoyed the warm sunshine in their Arizona home and an annual trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
Dave enjoyed hunting with his sons and brothers on numerous trips throughout Oregon, Canada and Alaska. In the great outdoors, Dave’s pride and joy would be the property he owned & tended since his kids were very young – family and friends know this as “High Heaven.” A place where we could all gather for picnics, fish in the stocked pond, or play in the water. Dave especially loved to gather here with his grandkids and prided in driving them around the property to point out his handy work.
Dave is survived by his loving wife, Joanne, of 56 years (just shy of 57 years); brother, Alan Kraemer; sister, Shirley Petersen; four children and their spouses: Diane (Curt) Shenk, Lynn (Randy) Reeves, Bert (Kristy) Kraemer, Karl (Kim) Kraemer; along with eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Clara Kraemer; sisters, Virgene Stafford, Sr. Eileen Kraemer, Lorayne Zimmerman and Joyce Basl; and brother, Harold Kraemer.
A life well lived! Services will be held Friday, Jan. 31 at St. James Catholic Church in McMinnville, beginning with the Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. James Catholic School, McMinnville, Oregon.
Dawna and Janna, were born to native Amis parents in a midwife home close to Mennonite Christian Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan. They were nurtured and cared for several months at the hospital, after which they were placed in a Christian orphanage. The two were adopted at seven months old by Virgil and Jennie Peters who returned with them to Mount Angel, Oregon. Dawna and Janna had the opportunity to visit Taiwan and learn about their heritage during their youth.
In early adolescence, Dawna was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and, despite the challenges that the diagnosis brought, her friends and family were proud of the grace and strength with which she weathered every obstacle she faced. Dawna went on to graduate from high school and attend Ecola Bible College (Cannon Beach, Oregon) and Columbia Bible School (British Columbia, Canada).
Upon settling into her career, Dawna worked in the Dietary Department of the Benedictine Nursing Home for 18 years. She made many connections during this time and was loved by the residents for her commitment and compassion.
While Dawna ultimately had to leave her full-time work as her disability progressed, she remained active as a homemaker and was very close with her family. Her seven nieces and nephews remember her fondly as a committed writer of poetry and prose, an empathetic friend, and a joyful presence in their lives. Dawna had a strong faith in spite of her physical challenges and will be remembered for her empathy for others and her faith.
All who knew her are invited to celebrate Dawna’s life. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 1st at Calvary Mennonite Church, 6711 S. Lone Elder Road, Aurora, Oregon. Arrangments by Unger Funeral Chapel, Mount Angel.
Gregory Samuel Wackerle April 4, 1949 –
Jan. 8,
2025
Gregory Samuel Wackerle, 75, of Silverton, Oregon passed away on Jan. 8, 2025. He was born on April 4, 1949 to Samuel and Lorraine (Heitzig) Wackerle in Bay City, Michigan.
Greg is survived by his wife, Carol; son, Michael Wackerle of Arkansas; daughter, Vachele Wackerle of Arkansas; brother, Tom (Kim) Wackerle of Prescott, Arizona; two granddaughters, Kyanna and Lily; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Vonda; brother, Alan Wackerle; sister, Renee Strawn; and infant brother, Scott.
Greg graduated from T.L. Handy High School in Bay City in 1967. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years from 1970 to 1974 and was stationed in Japan.
Greg moved to Oregon in 1997 and then married the love of his life, Carol Jean Dietrich on Jan. 31, 1999. Greg enjoyed his career as a brick layer until his
retirement in 2011.
In retirement he took pleasure in gardening, doing projects around his house, driving tractors for a local grass seed farm, and camp hosting with his wife in their RV trailer.
Greg gave his life to his faith in 1994 and was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church. His faith was evident in the way he loved and cared about people. Greg never met a stranger and loved to visit with people. He had a special heart for children and always included the youth in his prayers. Greg will be missed for his sense of humor, his servant heart, and the love that those around him always felt.
A visitation was held on Jan. 15 at the Apostolic Christian Church Fellowship Center. The funeral was on Jan. 16 at the Apostolic Christian Church with the burial at the Pratum Cemetery. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Marvin ‘Mick’ Dack
Marvin ‘Mick’ Dack, age 70, of Oregon City, Oregon was found in his home on Jan. 2, 2025 having passed away from a heart attack.
Feb. 3, 1954 – Jan. 2, 2025
Mick was born Feb. 3, 1954 in Portland, Oregon, the son of Marvin Dack, Sr. and Betty Jane White.
Mick was an entrepreneur, artisan, botanist, and nature enthusiast. He found solace in being in the woods. He loved people, plants and poetry. He was known in his community for his knowledge of plant species, making beautiful walking sticks, and writing poetry.
Mick owned and ran a floral business, Dack’s Flora and Fauna. He also did landscaping and was a chef at the Portland Hilton.
Mick especially loved writing poetry and would write poems spontaneously for those he cared about. He also loved drawing the Mt. Hood wilderness, which
Mary Hilda Wurdinger
Mary Hilda Wurdinger, 87, of Woodburn, Oregon, passed away on Jan. 14, 2025, after battling dementia and heart complications. She was surrounded by the love of her family.
Mary was born on May 11, 1937, in Granville, Iwoa to Greg and Melinda Schemmel. When she was seven months old her family moved to Silverton, Oregon, where she grew up. She graduated from Mt. Angel Academy in 1955 and later earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 1993, from Marylhurst University, exemplifying her dedication to lifelong learning, her love for reading and the arts.
was a very important part of his life. He was a founding member of Poets on the Hood, a grassroots poetry organization.
Mick was a member of The Hilltop Church in Oregon City and Oregon International Church in West Lynn.
Mick is survived by two daughters, Kate Sparks and Abigail Dack (of Silverton); his wife, Violet Mashingaidze; sister, Kris Dack; brother-in-law Gregg Ramona; niece, Elizabeth Huddleston; and nephews Brett and Ryan Ramona.
Preceding Mick in death were his brother, Bradley Dack; sister, Valery Ramona; and parents, Betty Jane White and Marvin Dack Sr.
He was an important member of the Father’s Heart Street Ministry and donations will go to support this nonprofit organization which helps people who are struggling.
May 11, 1937 – Jan. 14, 2025
Mary was deeply committed to her faith and community. She was a long-time member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Silverton, and actively participated in regional organizations, including the National Farmers Organization and Marion County Livestock Association. She spent countless hours reviewing foster and child abuse cases as part of the Marion County Citizens Review Board.
Marvin Dack Jr. Feb. 3, 1954 Jan. 1, 2025
Diane Vandenberg Sept. 15, 1952 Jan. 4, 2025
Joseph Ortega Aug. 15, 1937 Jan. 4, 2025
Ilah Agar May 17, 1928 Jan. 5, 2025
Heather Larson Jan. 17, 1967 Jan. 6, 2025
Gregory Wackerle April 4, 1949 Jan. 8, 2025
David Glenn Duncan June 1, 1950 Jan. 10, 2025
Joann Pinkham Sept. 26, 1935 Jan. 12, 2025
Dawna Peters Nov. 12, 1970 Jan. 13, 2025
Mary Wurdinger May 11, 1937 Jan. 14, 2025
Mary Kelly Aug. 1, 1938 — Jan. 14, 2025
Your local funeral chapels serving Mt. Angel since 1919 & Silverton since 1924. Always available at your time of need
In November of 1956, Mary married Howard Wurdinger. Together, they purchased a 20-acre farm in Woodburn, where they raised their 10 children. Mary and Howard shared 59 wonderful years of marriage before his passing in 2016. She was devoted to her family and worked tirelessly as the bookkeeper for their hog farm while raising their children.
Mary was an avid gardener who found joy in hybridizing daffodils, primroses, and all aspects of gardening. She loved sewing clothes for her daughters, quilting, crocheting, and embroidering. Her creativity and love for nature were evident in everything she did.
Mary is survived by her children, Anthony (Karen) Wurdinger, Walter Wurdinger, Jeff (Marlene) Wurdinger, Cindy (Steven) Wurdinger-Ancell, Melinda (Edward) Kintz, Gretchen (Stephen) Gaydos, Sid (Angela) Wurdinger, Amy (Cam) Ferschweiler, and Heidi (Michael) Williams; her 27 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Alice Engelman and Shirley Fogerty; and her brother, Greg Schemmel.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Wurdinger; her son, Howard Jr. (Gloria) Wurdinger; and her grandchild, Matthew Wurdinger.
A Rosary was held on Jan. 20 followed by Catholic Funeral Mass on Jan. 21 at St. Paul Catholic Church, with interment at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
SILVER FALLS FAMILY YMCA
Change is afoot in Oregon high school football. And more change.
Silverton, which was moved into a district with Class 5A power Wilsonville last fall, is moving back to the Mid-Willamette Conference for this fall, according to final recommendations from an Oregon Schools Activities Association committee. The panel met five times between November and late January. The OSAA’s executive board still must sign off on the changes at its Feb. 3 meeting.
If the changes stand, the Foxes will play in a seven-team MWC that also includes Central, Corvallis, Dallas, Lebanon, South Albany and West Albany. Central played with the Foxes in the same Special District 2 with Wilsvonville a year ago. Off and on MWC participant Woodburn, also in SD2 in 2024, moves back down to Class 4A, as does another long-time MWC participant, Crescent Valley.
So what is driving all this change? Much of it stems from schools petitioning to move down, particularly from Class 6A. That creates district logjams that must be sorted out. Wilsonville remains in SD2 for 2025, along with Aloha, Canby, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, McKay and McNary. Everyone except Wilsonville in that group formerly was in Class 6A. And note that 5A now includes two of the big schools in Salem, McKay and McNary. North Salem also served a stint at Class 5A before moving back up. This is McNary’s first trip to Class 5A.
Also frustrating (yes, this is frustrating because it ruins league histories and interrupts long-time rivalries) is the fact that three of the five Class 5A districts would have an odd number of teams. Why is this important? It means that schools will be scrambling for nonleague opponents late in the season because a seven-team league automatically leaves out someone every Friday once league play begins.
Swimming: Silverton’s swim team, the AquaFoxes, have an experienced corps of state meet veterans and are turning in another fine season in dual meets. The boys, who were 10th at the Class 5A state meet a year ago, are 5-2 in duals, with the girls, 12th at state in 2024, riding at 6-1.
Coach Lucky Rogers has eight swimmers back from state participation a year ago, boys Nolan Horner, Carter Daniel,
individual events and relays at state.
Rogers reports that Horner has already broken his 50-yard free school record this year, while Hollis has already surpassed his times from last year in the 100 fly and 500 free. Freshmen Colin Ross in the fly and back and Madi Sword in the fly and back have been strong contributors both in individual events and relays.
Turnout is at about 56 for the AquaFoxes, who are known for outscoring opponents using their depth and relay success. Rogers thinks the girls could wind up in a battle for second at the Feb. 13-14 district meet in Albany, while the boys are picked for third behind state powers Crescent Valley, No. 2 a year ago, and defending 5A champions West Albany.
“We just keep doing what we do and hope that it is good enough,” Rogers told Our Town. “We are working hard and trying to get all these relays to state.”
Officials needed: The Oregon Athletic Officials Association (OAOA) and the OSAA are recruiting officials for the high school spring sports seasons. There is an immediate need for umpires in baseball and softball.
Becoming a high school official has several benefits, OAOA and OSAA officials said, including staying involved in athletics, maintaining good physical condition, and earning money, on average $80 for each game officiated.
“Oregon has an urgent need for officials in all sports,” OAOA executive director Jack Folliard said. “Officials provide valuable service to high schools and students, make a positive impact in the community and build relationships.”
Those interested should visit www.newofficials.org/.
Joey Walker and Brody Hollis and girls
Breeza Rodriguez, Cordelia Bay, Kailea Buckley and Khylee Howell. All swam in
New digs Silver Falls moves forward on visitor center
By James Day
Silver Falls State Park has received the OK to move forward with the final phase of its new visitors center project in the North Gateway section of the park.
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission has authorized $3 million to finish the project. State general obligation bonds are paying for the work at Silver Falls as well as work at seven other state parks. The total pricetag for the work is $50 million.
Chris Gilliand, park manager at Silver Falls, told Our Town that the new authorization “refers specifically to the work around the new North Gateway Visitor Center, including the parking lot, utilities, fire prevention and suppression systems, landscaping, and visitor wayfinding improvements.”
The new visitor center will include a grand entry lobby, interpretive elements,
a cafe, a dining area, a secondary lobby and a covered patio. The building also will contain a large conference room for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the public as well as a staff break room, offices and a basement storage facility.
Gilliand added that final construction for both the visitor center as well as an adjacent new campground is planned to begin in late 2025, with completion expected by late 2026.
The visitor center and campground are part of a broader set of improvements that Silver Falls is making to attract visitors to other sections of the park besides the popular South Falls day-use area. Park officials have added a new parking lot and pay station at the North Canyon Trailhead, which features a new ADAaccessible trail and links to North Falls and the Canyon Trail. In addition to the other upgrades the North Canyon’s nature play
area also has reopened.
The parks commission also has signed off on Silver Falls taking interim control of the overnight and conference facilities at Smith Creek Village, formerly known as the Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center. The park’s contract with a concessionaire has expired and park officials will operate the facility, Gilliand said, “while we select a new concessionaire. The commission’s approval will enable OPRD to manage payments for the Smith Creek facilities during this transitional period.”
A key goal of the interim plan is to maintain the facility for existing reservation holders, OPRD officials said. Smith Creek Village consists of 13 cabins and four group overnight lodges as well as an outdoor event space and historic buildings and meeting areas built by the federal Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
The North Gateway visitor center at Silver Falls State Park under construction. OREGON STATE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
The inflation game
I’m not cheap. OK, maybe I’m a little on the tight side, but definitely not cheap.
Maybe.
It’s just that I’m one of those oddballs who likes to get what he pays for. Take concert tickets. When I was in high school a few years ago, I went to two or three concerts a month. The first one I ever went to featured Gladys Knight and the Pips and The Temptations. It was a great concert. The cost of a ticket was $8. Because we lived in Philadelphia there were always concerts downtown, at the sports arena and local colleges and other places, including a coffee house in Bryn Mawr called the Main Point. It had a $4 cover charge. From Jimi Hendrix to Jethro Tull, they all showed up. The best concert I ever went to was Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, the Allman Brothers Band, Santana and Chicago. The price of a ticket was $8. I know what you’re thinking. Those
were prehistoric times. Considering inflation over the years, that $8 ticket in 1968 would cost $72 today.
Which brings me to Taylor Swift. First, let me stipulate that I think she’s great.
Her music isn’t my style, but that’s OK. She could sing “Babalu” and play the bongo drums and I wouldn’t care.
It’s just that I think she is taking advantage of her audience. The average price of a ticket for her concerts was $1,088 and the top price was $3,071.
No wonder she’s a billionaire.
She’s not alone in taking her fans to the cleaners. According to the Loudwire website, between 2017 and 2021, tickets
to a Bruce Springsteen concert averaged $508, and Lady Gaga concert tickets averaged $337. For those who wanted something a little more edgy, Metallica tickets averaged $229. Prices varied according to the city and venue.
Which leaves me with one inescapable conclusion: Yikes!
One of the reasons I like music today is I was able to go to concerts as a teen. I’d save the money I made washing dishes at the Woolworth’s luncheonette and working as a janitor during the summer and go to concerts with friends.
A good time was had by all.
I wonder if entertainers today are erecting a wall between them and their fans. Obviously, many fans are coughing up huge piles of cash to go to their concerts. And I don’t begrudge any musician making money from their hard work and talent.
But I would have a hard time arguing that Taylor Swift is 12,400% better
than Jimi Hendrix or Chicago were in 1968, as the comparative values of their tickets imply.
The only thing that’s for sure is times have changed. When I was a teen, the minimum wage was $1.60. A slice of pizza cost 15 cents. A soda pop was a dime. A gallon of gas was 34 cents.
So is it greed that makes things more expensive these days? I suppose it depends on your definition of the “G” word. Is being a smart business person the same as being greedy? Moreover, what, exactly, is a “fair” profit?
As they say, these are questions for the ages. All I know is I’d never spend $1,000 for a concert ticket – unless The Rolling Stones put on a private concert in my living room and Mick Jagger personally gave me singing lessons.
Carl Sampson is a freelance editor and writer. He lives in Stayton.
GENERAL
SILVERTON ELKS FLEA
MARKET Saturday, Feb. 15.
From 9 am to 3pm.
CPR, FIRST AID, AED CLASS at the Silver falls Library on 2-22-25 from 10:30 to 2:30pm. Cost is $55.00 per person Call or text 541-626-8433
PASTOR CHUCK BALDWIN
Liberty Fellowship, Kalispell, Montana satellite group Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Call Kristen, 503-990-4584
YOUR RIGHT TO SELF
DEFENSE Saturdays, age 10-12 at 5 p.m.; age 13 & up at 6:15; Security & Correctional Officers at 7:30. Private lessons available. International certification
curriculum available on request. Call Harold 503-391-7406
SERVICES
SOUNDS GOOD STUDIO
Bands, artists, personal karaoke CDs, books, restoring VHS video to DVD. Old Cassettes, reel-to-reel & 8-track cassettes restored to CD. Call Harold 503-391-7406.
MAGIC CARPET CLEANING & MORE Since 1992. Carpet & upholstery cleaning at its best. Free estimates. Residential & commercial. Located in Silverton. Call Harold at 503-391-7406
HANDYMAN & HOME REPAIR SERVICE
Installation and repair of fencing, decks,doors, gutter cleaning, moss removal, power washing, yard debris removal. CCB# 206637 Call Ryan 503-881-3802
GOT STUFF YOU WANT GONE? From yard debris to scrap metal-From garage sale left overs to rental clear outs. We repurpose, recycle, reuse, or donate what we can. Call and find out what we can do for you. $20 Minimum. Call Keith 503-502-3462
To advertise call 503-845-9499
Integrity • Respect
Since 1974, John's has aimed to embody five core values; pride, integrity, respect, loyalty, and the ability to thrive. This month we would like to highlight local Mount Angel High School Student Grace Traeger Grace is being recognized for exemplifying the value; to thrive. She embodies this value by thriving both in and out of school. She is a three sport athlete, and challenges herself with AP classes, which she keeps great grades in. Outside of school, she is holding down a job and active within her community. Peers say she is caring and a delight to be around.
#T2858 BACKYARD RETREAT
$578,000 Step into your own private retreat.
This beautiful 3-bedroom 2.5 bath home is located on a dead-end street on the south end of town. The open downstairs floor plan leads to a large peaceful backyard, ready for hosting or for just relaxing around the fire or soaking in the hot tub. Upstairs rooms are spacious with plenty of storage. Extra parking along the house for all your toys! Moments from downtown, city parks, library, restaurants and so much more. Call Becky at ext. 313 (WVMLS#824125)
#T2856 CORNER LOT $513,700
Mt. Angel orner lot in a quiet neighborhood, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, single level home w/ 2034 sqft, living room w/ wood burning fireplace, dining area open to a remodeled kitchen, triple pane windows. Potential for dual living, addl. living room, w/ a kitchenette off the living room, newer free standing gas stove, plus a single car garage that has been converted to storage. Carport for parking. Covered patio area, private backyard and workstation area and wood storage. Oversized lot and room for RV parking. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#823593)
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
#T2856 CORNER LOT 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2034 sqft. Mt. Angel Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $513,700 (WVMLS#823593)
BARELAND/LOTS
#T2841 OVER 100FT OF ABIQUA FRONTAGE 1.35 Acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314
$475,000 (WVMLS#820496)
#T2816 2 BUILDABLE LOTS .45 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322
$99,900 (WVMLS#814998)
#T2827 GREAT OPPORTUNITY 1.66 Acres. Salem. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312
$194,000 (WVMLS#817231)
#T2832 BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME 2.93 Acres. Silverton. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $399,000 (WVMLS#817735)
#T2848 PERFECT CREEK FRONTAGE 1.76 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $418,300 (WVMLS#821913)
#T2853 RARE BUILDING SITE .49 Acres Call Chuck at ext. 325 $150,000 (WVMLS#822413)
#T2841 OVER 100FT OF ABIQUA FRONTAGE $475,000 Owner just removed underbrush. Level build site. Mature trees along creek. Surveyed in 2023. Only a 10 min drive to Silverton. New well produces an amazing 80 gallons per minutes when drilled. Driveway permit finalized with Marion County. Septic Site approved with Marion County. Power and phone at the street. Ready for you to submit your home plans for a permit and start building. Ask about references for local Home Designers and General Contractors. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#820496)
#T2859 FANTASTIC LOCATION
$698,700 Fantastic location, close to town, great hobby farm, single level home with many nice updates. Separate space for all your hobbies, large 540 Sqft heated hobby space ready for all your project needs. Plus shop/barn with a 2 stalls and a tack room, fully fenced pasture area and cross fenced. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#824492)
$698,700 (WVMLS#824492)
#T2838 HOME ON THE HILL 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2112 sqft 7.12 Acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $749,900 (WVMLS#819011)
#T2849 WONDERFUL SINGLE LEVEL 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1842 sqft 1.74 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $698,700 (WVMLS#821912)
