Our Town North: March 15, 2022

Business

Civics 101

Guerra’s bring Italian flair to Silverton kitchen – Page 11

Civic Center project to break ground soon – Page 5

Vol. 19 No. 6

COMMUNITY NEWS Serving Mt. Angel, Silverton and Scotts Mills

March 2022

s k n i j i h a m a r d o l e m ’ n i l t s u R

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Our Town P.O. Box 927 Mt. Angel, Or 97362

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Sports & Recreation

Fox wrestling takes 9th at state – Page 17

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Our Town Life

Contents

Why Go to Salem for Framing?

Civics 101

Old Wilco site plans in place........... 4 Civic Center project proceeds........ 5 Wastewater tests for COVID.......... 6 MASD goes mask-optional............ 7 Old mill site to be landscaped....... 7 Arts & Entertainment

Small Town Service. Small Town Prices.

Lisa Gerlits receives Oregon book honor for A Many Feathered Thing....8 Brush Creek Playhouse reopens with Rustlers of Red Rock....................... 9 Business

Bilingual preschool to begin....... 10 Italian-style cuisine at Guerra’s.... 11 From PCT hike to LMT practice.... 12

12

105 S. First St., Silverton

Open Tuesdays - Saturdays 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Passages............................. 15 Helping Hands

Community Roots moves 7-8th grades to Silverton Grange......... 16 Sports & Recreation

Update

Fox wrestlers 9th at State............17 Denny Bean Day at UOP............. 17

Mallorie’s Dairy fire reviewed..... 14

People Out Loud.............. 18 On the Cover

Cowpokes and gals will entertain theater-goers at the reopening Brush Creek Playhouse with the melodramatic western, Rustlers of Rust Rock (not a depiction of the play).

1941 PHOTOGRAPH FROM LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION, FSA/OWI COLLECTION, [LC-DIG-FSA-8C31587]

Above

503-873-6771

Tyler Patterson and Anna Koch, owners of Grand Rising Wellness.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

SILVERTON AREA SENIORS, INC. NEW DATE! NEW DATE! SAVE THE DATE!

‘Senior Follies’ June 17, 18 & 19 at Silverton High School Auditorium

Friday & Saturday show is at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 19 will be a Matinee at 2:00 p.m. and – in honor of Father’s Day – ALL Dads get in for half price!

Admission is $10 and for kids under 10 ONLY $5 Seeking Talented Seniors 50+ for performances and acts.

Solos, Duos, Trios, bands, dancers, instrumental, stand-up, readings, juggling, clowning around, jokes, comedians, hip-hoppers... all are welcome to participate.

Applications for Acts & Auditions are available at: Silverton Senior Center, ReVamp Thrift, Silverton Chamber of Commerce Office, Citizens Bank, Mt. Angel Community (Senior) Center AND on-line on the website silvertonseniorcenter.org.

Deadline for applications is April 15. Questions contact Cande Pressnall or Dodie Brockamp at 503-873-3093.

Applications can be emailed or directly mailed upon request.

Paula Mabry Editor & Publisher

Stephen Floyd Digital Editor & Reporter

Jim Kinghorn Advertising Director

Melissa Wagoner Reporter

Our Town

P.O. Box 927 Mount Angel, OR 97362 401 Oak St. Silverton, OR 97381 503-845-9499 ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com ourtownlive.com

Our Town Life

DeeDe Williams Office Manager

Sara Morgan Datebook Editor

Tavis Bettoli-Lotten

Designer & Copy Editor

Janet Patterson

Distribution

Our Town mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97362, 97375, 97381 zip codes. Subscriptions for outside this area are $48 annually.

www.silvertonseniorcenter.org

James Day

Sports Editor & Reporter

Steve Beckner Custom Design

The deadline for placing an ad in the April 1 issue is March 21 Thank you for spending time with Our Town.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

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March 2022 • 3

Civics 101

Tower’s shadow

Old Wilco property to be cleaned, cleared, sold

By Stephen Floyd

a supporter of his community, and a devoted Catholic.

Residents in Mount Angel will soon see cleanup activity at the site of the Old Wilco Building after fire investigators concluded the cause of the blaze that destroyed the structure last October could not be determined.

Businesses resettle Meanwhile, most of Bodkin’s former tenants have found new locations, though some moved out of Mount Angel.

Barbara Hettwer, sister of late property owner Bob Bodkin, said the initial stage of cleanup has begun with testing for potential asbestos and other hazardous chemicals. The next stages will include HazMat cleanup, then general cleanup, after which the empty lot will be put on the market.

Hiddenbed of Oregon, which sells Murphy beds and similar furniture, has relocated its showroom to 165 N. Main St. in Mount Angel, though there they no longer have space to manufacture beds as they had done before.

KP Harvest Time, which sells and distributes hazelnut shell mulch, relocated to The Dalles, while Timber Stoves, which manufactures wood-pellet porch heaters, is now based out of Brooks.

Hettwer said these stages may take a long time, but progress will be steady.

“We’re moving ahead as fast as we can,” she said. “It’s all little steps.”

Large fire, long investigation

Aftermath of the fire Mount Angel in October.

The Old Wilco Building, at 190 S. Main St., suddenly caught fire Oct. 9, 2021, prompting a four-alarm callout that saw more than 100 firefighters respond from agencies in Mount Angel, Silverton, Woodburn, Hubbard, Monitor, St. Paul and Marion County Fire District 1. No injuries were reported, however, the building was a total loss and four businesses on the property were displaced.

began in the tower, but they were unable to determine what caused the blaze.

An investigation into the fire took four months, during which time cleanup was not allowed in order to preserve the integrity of the site. Hettwer said investigators confirmed witness accounts that the fire

STEPHEN FLOYD

Proactive developer passes away While the investigation was underway, Bodkin made plans to build a mixed-use facility after cleanup, with commercial storefronts on the first floor and residential units above. He sent a letter to the Mount Angel City Council Jan. 5 asking their views on rezoning the property from industrial to mixed-use residential/commercial, with plans for a three-story, 45,000 square foot building.

However, Bodkin died suddenly Jan. 10 and control of the property passed to the Robert Bodkin Family Trust, of which Hettwer is co-trustee. She said, though Bodkin shared details of his plans to redevelop the site, neither herself nor the other trustee, Bodkin’s nephew, are property developers. Their intent is to sell the site after cleanup.

Bodkin was 74 when he died at his home outside Silverton. He had moved to the area from Southern California. He was remembered as a kind and generous man,

The Blackbird Granary, an antique mall featuring about 50 local vendors, has not been re-established. The business and its vendors suffered total losses, and most vendors were uninsured.

The Old Wilco Building was once the headquarters of the Wilco Farm Coop and an historic reminder of the area’s agricultural roots. It was sold to Bodkin in 2004, and he began renting parts of the multi-structure complex to businesses.

The original wood-frame warehouse was owned by Schmalt and Sons and served as a distribution point for agricultural, domestic and building supplies in the early part of the 20th Century.

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Our Town Life

Final steps

Silverton accepts bid for civic center construction

By James Day Silverton will break ground on its new civic center this spring, with opening tentatively set for summer 2023.

The City Council selected Corp Inc. of Salem as the general contractor at its March 7 meeting. Corp Inc. turned in the winning bid of $14,750,000 to build the center, which will include a two-story civic center/police building as well as parking, a park and a plaza.

The building will be erected on the 2.7-acre site at the north end of the old Eugene Field School property, which backs up to A Street between North Water and North First. A park is planned for the south end of the property that abuts Park Street. A plaza and parking are scheduled to be constructed between the building and the park area.

The project is being designed by Mackenzie architecture, a design firm of Portland, and has an overall price of approximately $19 million.

Architectural rendering for the Silverton civic project.

The city plans to borrow $10 million to $12 million to pay for the project, with

City staff and the police currently are housed a few blocks away on South

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

‘Nom, Nom!’ Dining at Country Meadows Village

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We hear ALL THE TIME from our residents how living at Country Meadows Village makes their lives easier, especially not having to meal plan, grocery shop and cook. Moreover, our residents are eating well because our dining staff LOVE feeding our seniors.

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existing city resources expected to pay for the debt service.

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Executive Chef Slava Shypuk has an extensive background in European-style cooking that he calls “delicious and healthy at the same time.” Slava considers dietary restrictions and resident feedback to plan meals for the community.

JULIE NIGHTINGALE

“As a chef at Country Meadows Village, I don’t focus on making a menu Community Relations and ignoring other duties,” Slava explained. “I take opportunities to Director at Country learn every day because there is always something new to learn. This Meadows Village also doesn’t just mean cooking, because I have employees to oversee and it’s important to show them the passion within me to cook. I strive to set a great example to every cook and chef.”

Because of Slava’s mission, residents love the variety of meals and look forward to the daily specials, weekly catches, and unique salads.

“My favorite part of being executive chef at CMV is the ability to be creative and to create dishes that change every day. I love everything about being a chef at Country Meadows Village,” Slava said.

Stop by Country Meadows Village today where you too can appreciate Slava’s cooking philosophy and culinary talents.

Call for a tour! I’d love to meet you.

155 S. Evergreen Road, Woodburn 503-982-2221

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March 2022 • 5

Civics 101

TRACE

Silverton gets in on the ground floor of wastewater testing for COVID-19

By Melissa Wagoner Tyler Radniecki knows first-hand that there is a lot to be learned from studying the wastewater of cities. An Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University, he has spent years cataloging the microbes and pathogens found in sewer systems to, amongst other things, determine the spread of diseases in a community.

Which is why, when COVID-19 arrived in 2020 he suspected his expertise could be of service. Then, when the SARS-CoV-2 was finally detected for the first time in the wastewater of Australia, he knew he had to act.

“Once the study was published, a collaboration formed between myself, Professor Christine Kelly (Professor of Bioengineering at OSU) and Dr. Ken Williamson (Director of Research and Innovation at Clean Water Services in Washington County, Oregon) to see if we could track SARS-CoV-2 in Washington County’s wastewater,” Radniecki said of the initial project, which was funded by the National Science Foundation and which eventually became a part of a program at OSU known as TRACE. “The goal of TRACE was to use random door-to-door nasal swab testing to estimate the prevalence of COVID19 in a community,” Radniecki said, describing the study, which aims to provide ongoing information regarding where coronavirus is spreading so that public health leaders, health care providers and individuals can make informed decisions regarding policies and procedures that might curb the spread of the virus and reduce its impacts.

“We added a wastewater component to the TRACE project to help identify neighborhood-scale hot spots and monitor the virus concentrations over a period of weeks at the wastewater treatment plants to detect shifts in COVID-19 burdens,” Radniecki said. He explained that, over time, that wastewater component has proven to be an important and more accurate addition to the study.

Civic center Continued from page 5 Water Street in a building that is not deemed seismically safe.

In other highlights from the March 7 meeting: • Councilors approved the zone change required to add a new water treatment plant to its facility on the block which lies east of South Ames Street between East Main and Reserve. The new building will be at 907 Reserve on the site of a singlefamily home that has been demolished.

The zone change was required because the land is zoned for residential use. The new facility is rated at 4 million gallons per year and will meet city needs for the

6 • March 2022

“This is because wastewater data does not suffer from many of the biases that are known to exist in reported clinical cases, including testing fatigue, testing avoidance and of course the asymptomatic nature of COVID-19,” Radniecki said.

This increase in accurate tracing eventually led to yet another opportunity, one with the Oregon Health Authority, which expanded the wastewater testing statewide beginning in September 2020.

Sewer Surveillance Project • Participating wastewater treatment facilities filter 30 mL of wastewater, place the sample in a tube containing a stabilizing agent and mail it to OSU.

“Currently we have over 40 communities across the state participating in the program,” Radniecki said, quoting a number that includes the City of Silverton, a voluntary participant whose data dates back to October 2020.

• Once received by the lab, the virus is extracted off the filter and quantified using a PCR test.

The virus concentration is also determined and sequenced to determine what variants are present.

“To date the wastewater data has been most helpful in tracking the severity of COVID-19 in a community, whether it is getting better or worse over time and if variants of concern are present in the community,” Radniecki said, adding that the samples have also helped to track variants of the disease as they have made their way into the population.

• Results are reported to OHA weekly, emailed to participating facilities and posted to OHA’s Wastewater Dashboard, a link to which can be found on both the OHA homepage and the homepage for the Silver Falls School District as well.

“The results are emailed to each participating facility as well as posted to OHA’s Wastewater Dashboard,” Radniecki continued, listing the site, a link of which can be found on the Silver Falls School District’s home page at www.silverfallsschools.org.

And while the current numbers are trending down, as evidenced by the Wastewater Monitoring site, this sewer surveillance project is slated to continue until at least July 2023.

“As COVID-19 becomes more endemic, we expect wastewater surveillance to remain useful in detecting community outbreaks and flare-ups across the state,” Radniecki explained.

There are other uses for the technology as well. “[W]e have already expanded to monitoring influenza

next 20 years.

Key issues discussed during the public hearing were curbs and sidewalk infrastructure and landscaping. Councilors ultimately decided to put in sidewalks on three sides of the block and retain the arbor vitae landscape screening.

The project is expected to cost about $9.5 million, with the bulk of the funding coming from a loan from Business Oregon. The project will go out to bid and start construction this year with an expected construction timeline of 18 months.

• The city will apply for an Oregon Parks

state-wide,” Radniecki confirmed. “Additionally, we are gearing up to monitor cryptosporidium at select locations across the state.”

But none of these important health studies would be possible without the help of wastewater treatment employees throughout the state, a fact Radniecki is quick to acknowledge.

“We greatly appreciate their support and efforts on this project,” he said. “I would also like to say that this project is an excellent example of how a land grant institution such as OSU can respond to the needs of the state. I am honored and grateful to be able to play a role in Oregon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

and Recreation Grant of $465,000 that, if approved, would allow plans to move forward for an 80-acre park near The Oregon Garden. Adding a hiking trail, a parking lot and a picnic shelter to the Pettit Lake property would cost $775,000.

The city would use $310,000 in matching funds from parks system development charges to complete the funding.

The wooded property features a 20-acre lake. The trail would include a pedestrian bridge over Brush Creek.

The city applied for a similar grant in 2020 for the park project but was unsuccessful. During that cycle

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the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department received $12 million in requests but had just $4 million available for the grants.

• Councilors approved a $265,000 contract to K&E Paving of Salem that will pay for this summer’s street overlay project. The city will be performing a grind and overlay and replace the top three inches of surface on four blocks in the downtown area as well as improve sidewalks and add ADA ramps. The four blocks are Lewis from Water to First, First from Lewis to Jersey, Jersey from First to Second and Second from Jersey to Main.

Our Town Life

MASD going mask-optional March 14

By Stephen Floyd The Mt. Angel School District plans to go mask-optional March 14 after state regulators changed a deadline the district expected to fall at the end of the month.

Oregon lifted its mandate on masks in public school buildings March 12, however MASD had made plans to carefully craft policy changes up to the state’s original deadline of March 31.

Despite being caught off guard, the district used guidance from state regulators and local community feedback to shift away from stricter COVID-19 precautions, though some safety measures remain.

Superintendent Rachel Stucky said, each person’s choice should be respected.

“We’re spending a lot of time talking about respect and tolerance of other individuals and their choices,” said Stucky. “It’s one’s own personal business why they might choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask.”

The Oregon Health Authority announced last month it would lift the statewide mask mandate for schools March 31 as infections and hospitalizations for COVID-19 declined. Districts began crafting plans to transition away from the mandate, with the burden for COVID-19 policies and enforcement falling on district boards.

While neighboring boards at the Silver Falls and North Santiam school districts were eager to go mask-optional, Stucky encouraged her board to take a more measured approach.

During the board’s Feb. 14 meeting, Stucky said the district would need all the six weeks

before the deadline to carefully consider important factors such as community and faculty input, guidance from OHA and the Oregon Department of Education, and the impacts of losing such resources as test-tostay. When the state announced Feb. 28 the new deadline was March 12, Stucky said she was surprised, but prepared to take action.

In 2015 during high flows of Silver Creek the old wall from an abandoned mill was damaged and the city closed the area. In the summer of 2015 the city demolished the remaining wall and other damaged structures and stabilized the slope.

In 2018 the city completed a new design for the area that featured decorative concrete and fencing and a retaining wall, but the low bid was

Our Town Life

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A survey of the community had been conducted by that time and revealed 90 percent of respondents favored going maskoptional, and 85 percent of respondents in a teacher survey agreed. With these results in hand, and recommendations from the state, district administrators began crafting policies to respond to the lifting of the mandate.

As of March 14, masks will be “encouraged and welcomed, but are optional,” said Stucky in a March 9 letter to district residents.

Other guidelines included: Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate at home for five days from the start of symptoms or from the day they test positive.

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Those exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to remain home but are not required to quarantine.

COVID-19 testing will be available to students and staff who show signs of illness.

“The pandemic really removed a certain aspect of joy from the educational experience and I’m really looking forward to recapturing that in the students and the staff and the families that we really haven’t seen in two years,” Stucky said.

Creekside overlook project moves forward The city of Silverton was accepting bids through March 3 for the “overlook” project, which will repair a washed-out section of pathway along Silver Creek near the library.

NEW LISTINGS!

$45,000 more than the city estimate of $69,000 so the city decided not to move forward with the project, said city engineer Bart Stepp.

The project has been re-designed and will include a lawn, groundcover plantings, drainage improvements, a concrete masonry block wall and chain link fencing and carry a budget of approximately $30,000.

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$375,000 UNDER CONTRACT! Delightful home down a private and quite driveway! 3bd/2ba ~ 1140 SF ~ large fully fenced and landscaped backyard ~ detached 3 bay garage ~ .61 AC ~Molalla ~ Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#785639

$299,500 BUILDERS ALERT! Spectacular Cannon Views! 3bd/2ba ~ 1536 SF Well Maintained ~RV Parking~.83 AC~Silverton Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#788409

LAND & LOTS

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City general funds will pay for the project.

119 N. WATER ST., SILVERTON, OR

No date was available on when it might be completed.

– James Day

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@harcourtselite March 2022 • 7

Arts & Entertainment

Recognition

Local author wins prestigious Oregon Spirit Book Award

By Melissa Wagoner

along with numerous lessons in life.

When author Lisa Gerlits learned that her book, A Many Feathered Thing, had been named a 2022 Oregon Spirit Book Award (OSBA) winner under the category of Best Debut Book, she almost didn’t believe it.

“It’s complex and thoughtful and well written,” Johnson wrote in a review of the book for the site, Goodreads. “A very good read.”

And one for everyone, not just the eight to 12-year-olds for whom it was written, and not just for those who have an interest in art.

“It’s unexpected because it’s two years after the publication date,” Gerlits said.

“I thought my husband was joking.”

“Because there’s a lot going on in the book,” Gerlits pointed out. Admitting that one of the things she has found most surprising has been the number of ways readers have found to interpret the story.

But it was no joke and the cover of Gerlits’ books now displays the golden OSBA seal to prove it.

“Now I can call myself an award-winning author,” Gerlits said. Explaining that, awards like the OSBA often provide a much-needed boost to first-time novelists and to their books as well.

And that’s precisely what the award’s creators – the Oregon Council of Teachers of English (OCTE) – a Portland-based nonprofit whose goal is the improvement of English language instruction in schools – had in mind.

“English teachers love books and getting books into kids’ hands,” Karen Johnson, Co-chair of the OSBA Committee, explained. “An award given by English teachers helps teachers know the best new books, and it’s an honor to the authors to be recognized by ‘experts,’ for their excellence.”

And for their hard work which, in Gerlits’ case, was over a decade.

“From the time I started writing to the time I got with Capstone [Editions, her publisher] was ten years,” Gerlits recalled.

“Then from the time I sold it, it was two and a half years until the publication date.

And that’s totally normal.”

But that doesn’t mean the wait has been an easy one. A writer from an early age, Gerlits is no stranger to the successes and failures of creative life.

“I started writing picture books when my first child was picture book age,” Gerlits, a mother of three, said. “I joined a critique group and wrote a number of picture books. But none of them sold. I got lots of experience getting passed on.”

She also discovered she was in the wrong genre.

Author Lisa Gerlits.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

“I realized I’m a very long-winded person,” she laughed, “and perhaps the short form of a picture book was not for me.”

Then inspiration struck from the most unlikely of places.

“I was teaching art and theater to eight to 12-year-olds and I just love that age,” Gerlits said. Admitting that, if she could, she herself would return to that stage in life. “And that’s when I knew; that’s my age group.”

And so, for her first novel Gerlits chose an 11-year-old protagonist, Clarity Kartoffel, who – though she is cursed with a name that, in German, means potato, a younger sibling who receives much of her parents’ attention and a fear of public speaking that stems from a hearing disability – still does not feel that she has suffered enough hardship to be a true artist, which is her dream.

Thankfully, an unlucky accident brings Clarity the mentor she’s always desired,

“But I’m glad if people take different things away from it,” she continued. “I feel like books should operate on multiple levels so it’s enjoyable for everyone who picks it up.”

Available for purchase nearly anywhere books are sold, A Many Feathered Thing can also be found at Books N Time in Silverton, which is Gerlits’ preferred choice.

“And I’m happy to sign copies,” she added.

Because she knows how inspiring meeting a successful writer can be to those who are just starting out. And to them she recommends, “Figure out what you like and what you think is good writing.

Read… and write a lot. And don’t be afraid to write a lot of bad stuff or to throw it out and change it. Make it something you’re happy with. Because if you keep working on that you will come up with something you’re really proud of.”

And one day it may just win awards.

SHARE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH US AND WE WILL SHARE THEM WITH THE TOWN! • WEDDING • ANNIVERSARIES • PASSINGS

8 • March 2022

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Our Town Life

Rustlers of Red Rock

Brush Creek Playhouse reopens after two years

By Melissa Wagoner

Rustlers of Red Rock

It’s been two years since the last performance of Brush Creek Playhouse, The True Tale of the Sleeping Beauty, was shut down mid-season due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By D. Chapelle Brush Creek Playhouse Corner of Brush Creek Drive and Silverton Road

Since then, the iconic red building – built in 1895 as a school house on the corner of Brush Creek Drive and Silverton Road – has sat empty, awaiting the day when health restrictions would once again allow an audience to fill its seats.

“Last year we were going to do something and then [Delta] hit and I said, I can’t in good conscience, expose anybody,” Norman Gouveia, a member of Brush Creek since 1984, recalled. “Then the show I was going to do, I couldn’t do because I couldn’t get enough cast members.”

That show, a 1920s mystery called The Bat, has since been moved to the fall season of 2022, and a lighter, more melodramatic piece has taken its place – Rustlers of Red Rock by D. Chapelle.

“It’s just an absolute hoot. We want people to boo and hiss,” Gouveia, the director of the show, said. Audience participation is encouraged during this kind of show. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Set on the fictional, Circle D Wagons Ranch, the story centers around ranch owner, Blossum White (Simone Stewart) and her mother, Lily White (Elizabeth Newman) who set out to save their ranch with the help of faithful ranch-hand, Quiet Harry (Ron Drake) and bold hero, Steve Dashing (Nick Hittle) from the villain, Black Bart Bushwacker (Matt Savino).

“Melodramas are a real fun way to introduce live theater – you get to overemote and really get into it,” Gouveia said, describing the dual purpose of this production – familiarizing three new actors with Brush Creek Playhouse, and reacquainting the surrounding community with the theater.

“These are the kinds of shows you want,” he continued. “They show the audience what theater can do because the actors and the audience have a good time.”

And Gouveia should know. A veteran director, he has overseen melodramas for the Brush Creek Playhouse for more than 20 years – a mere slice of his 57-year

Our Town Life

March 18 thru April 3 Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

Sunday matinées at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $10 adults and $8 seniors over 60, children under 12 and students with ID Ticket sales: Books N Time in Silverton and at the door www.brushcreekplayhouse.com Simone Stewart, left, as heroine Lily White; and Matt Savino as the villain, Black Bart Bushwacker.

COURTESY NORMAN GOUVEIA

history with the theater.

“If anybody had told me I’d still be doing this 50 years ago, I’d say they were crazy,” he laughed. “But it’s like anything else, you’ve got to really want to do this.”

And he does. At 76 he’s still going strong, but he also recognizes that won’t always be the case.

“It’s urgent that we attract new directors,” he said, listing set and costume designers, lighting technicians and actors as potential positions for community volunteers.

“The theater needs an infusion of young blood.”

For the time being Gouveia isn’t thinking about any of that, instead he is prepaing to open the doors to the season’s first audience on March 18 – an occasion many worried might never come.

“We’ve had cast members from previous

shows call and say, ‘are we still here?’” he said. “So, we have to let the community know, we’re still here.”

That’s what he hopes Rustlers of Red Rock – a show appropriate for all ages – will do.

“Come out to the show,” he urged.

Listing the production runs March 18 through April 3 with performances on both Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. as well as a Sunday matinée at 2 p.m. “Because the quality of what we do here – I’d match it against anybody in the Valley.”

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March 2022 • 9

Business

Bilingüe / bilingual

Spanish-English preschool opening in Silverton

By Melissa Wagoner

she took what could have been viewed as a set-back and made it a way forward by going back to school.

When Lara Ghio Gaitan and her husband, Matt, traveled with their two children to Panama in 2017, it was their goal to immerse their children in a different culture and to encourage them to become more fluent in Spanish. But what they didn’t expect was that Gaitan would learn something as well – that teaching was her calling.

“I took the preschool program at Chemeketa,” Gaitan said. “Then I took five months to remodel everything.”

The space Gaitan is referring to is next door to her parents’ business – Somos Hispanas Unidas, on the corner of B and First streets in Silverton. There she was able to create a cozy, multi-room preschool environment with a fenced-in playground area and a separate entrance.

“I realized what an impact one person can have on a kid who needs a mentor,” she said, recalling how the time she spent volunteering as an English teacher in Panama’s schools influenced her to consider a new career.

Upon returning to her hometown of Silverton and discovering how limited the Spanish language education options are for preschool and elementary aged students, she knew what she had to do.

“There are no Spanish preschools here for having such a high number of native Spanish speakers,” she said. “And I thought, how is there no Spanish here?”

Lara Ghio Gaitan.

MELISSA WAGONER

So, starting in 2018 Gaitan set about solving that problem, first through two Spanish-immersion summer camps, then with an after-school Spanish language program.

“But in 2020 I had to shut down everything,” Gaitan said, recalling how

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“I won’t translate everything because then the kids wait for the English,” she added.

“Instead, it’ll be a lot of repetition and a lot of music.”

Opening in September 2022 the program will run 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. Solecitos Bilingual Preschool – as Gaitan has coined the school – will serve a maximum of eight children between the ages of three and five.

“It’s a small setting, so it’s very homey with one-on-one interactions,” Gaitan said. She listed benefits the preschool will offer including supporting cognitive development through bilingual learning, advanced cultural appreciation and even greater job opportunities in the future.

“It’s an investment,” Gaitan said.

Her long-term goal is to one day open an entire Spanish-based academy.

It will rely on parent participation as well.

But for now, she’s taking it one day at a time and accepting applications for Solecitos’ first preschool class. She can be reached at 503-910-9765 or laraghi@ gmail.com.

“Parents will have to be willing to also

“I’m just excited,” she said.

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“It’ll be 80 percent Spanish,” Gaitan said of the curriculum she developed. It will be Spanish immersion integrated with the Reggio Emilia philosophy of teaching through creative thinking and play.

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Our Town Life

Bonding over food

Guerra’s offers Italian dining in Silverton

By Melissa Wagoner Greg and Fran Guerra’s dream has long been to open an Italian restaurant.

Which is why, in the winter of 2019, they purchased a building in the heart of downtown Silverton to make that dream a reality.

“Things were going good,” Greg’s daughter, Dani, said. The family was elated when the papers were signed. “And then March 2020 came and we were like, ‘Wow!’” The doors hadn’t been opened to a single customer before Guerra’s – the restaurant – was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was a lot of waiting and hoping things would get better,” Dani said of those early days.

The staff at Guerra’s Restaurant: bartender Teshia Scalf, owner Dani Guerra, Head Chef Christy Smith, bar manager Lindsey Miller and service manager Liz Hernandez. MELISSA WAGONER

“I really like the support we’ve gotten from the community,” Dani said. “I’ve never helped run a restaurant so it’s been good to learn and grow.”

The family worried that the restaurant might never open. “But we had awesome people who stuck with us.”

Until now the Guerras have been largely involved in the construction industry as the owners and operators of the hotel renovation company, NCM Inc.

Which is why, when it did finally open, in July of 2021 the event was all the sweeter.

“But my parents… they love getting together and bonding over food,” Dani said. “And

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because my dad is Italian, we love making non-traditional Italian food at home.”

Now they’re sharing that food with others, with the help of their head chef, Christy Smith.

“It’s Americanized and a lot of what you’d make at home,” Smith said of the cuisine, which includes crowd favorites like pan seared halibut, salmon with risotto, a house Caesar salad and a classic crème brûlée.

Open Wednesday through Sunday, with a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. each day, the Guerras are excited to welcome the Silverton community in for a taste of their dream.

“I’m excited to see what this spring holds,” Smith said.

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“We started with a basic idea and then made it our own,” Dani added.

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March 2022 • 11

Business

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“We met right at the halfway point,” Koch said. Describing the moment she met her future partner, Tyler Patterson, 971-273-8219 503-949-5309 at a resupply spot known as “trail magic” where – in her words – “more than trail magic happened.” “[We] hiked on from there knowing [we] were meant to be without having spoken a word of it,” the couple wrote.

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www.TheBellaCasaGroup.com Koch had been attending nursing school in Bend, but she had begun having

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Admitting that she was initially wary of the idea, something about it was also appealing.

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Our Town Life

Adventure on Pacific Crest Trail leads to new business in Silverton Grand Rising Wellness Licensed massage therapy and bodywork 417 N. Water St., Silverton 503-902-9093 GrandRisingWellnessLMT@ gmail.com www.grandrisingwellness.com

“They went above and beyond,” Koch said of the school’s top-notch training program. “Every professor loves their job and passes that on.”

Anna Koch and Tyler Patterson met on the Pacific Crest Trail, and are now running their own massage therapy office in Silverton. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

And so, with a new, mutual goal in mind and their time on the trail behind them, Koch and Patterson enrolled in a seven-

month, intensive program at the Sage School of Massage and Aesthetics in Bend.

Receiving training in the “holistic spirit of healing,” including rigor therapy – a deep tissue massage that claims to help return frozen muscle fiber to a resting state – the couple became equipped to help clients treat ailments like tennis and golfer’s elbow, frozen shoulder and chronic headaches. But they are quick

to note that even those not currently suffering from acute pain can benefit.

“Every body deserves a massage,” Koch said. “Massage helps the immune system.

It lowers stress and improves your general sense of wellbeing.”

Located on the south side of the Zebra Print building in downtown Silverton, Grand Rising Wellness opened its doors on Jan. 7 to appointments seven days a week, including nights and weekends.

“We have a really nice space here,” Patterson said, referring to the expansive room, which has been designed to provide massage and a small number of locally sourced, sustainably made, personal care products.

“We want to aid people in achieving what their highest level of wellness looks like,” Koch said.

To which Patterson added, “And who doesn’t like a massage?”

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March 2022 • 13

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Update

CCB #14854

Barn fire at Mallorie’s site still being reviewed Fire agencies and law enforcement still are investigating a barn fire at the site of the old Mallorie’s Dairy west of Silverton on Hazelgreen Road.

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The fire, which was called in at 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 26, reportedly burned close to 1,500 tons of wheat straw.

Deputies at the scene, along with fire investigators from the Oregon State Police and Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Investigators believe the fire is suspicious in nature, although the cause and origin of the fire have not yet been determined.

The blaze attracted crews and apparatus from a wide range of mid-valley agencies, including the Silverton Fire District, the Silverton Police, the Mt. Angel Fire District, Marion County Fire District #1, Woodburn Fire District, Drakes Crossing Fire District, Stayton Fire District, Sublimity Fire District, Hubbard Fire District, Aurora Fire District, Woodburn Ambulance, Monitor Fire District, Metcom 911, Marion County Public Works and

Beth Marie Marcum

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Those with tips for investigators should forward them to Marion County Deputy Nate Morse at nmorse@co.marion.or.us or by texting TIPMCSO and your tip to 847411.

July 20, 1961 – Jan. 30, 2022

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She attended Silverton elementary schools and just before her 16th birthday, she had a swimming accident that broke her neck, and she was paralyzed from the neck down. She graduated from Silverton High School and graduated from Chemeketa Community College while in her wheelchair.

Beth loved people, all kinds and ages of people, young and old. She worked the evening shift for the Women’s Crisis Center in Salem until it closed. She was a gifted counselor and friend to those lucky enough to be in her world.

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Her companion and devoted mate was Phil Landon for over 20 years and he is still living in their home.

Beth’s father, Bob Marcum, died three years ago and her brother, John, died in August 2014. Her mother Tootie lives in the house they shared in Silverton. Beth has a brother, Scott Marcum (Teeny, Wade, Molly, Jena).

Because she spent so much time in bed, her world of friends were on her tablet. You kept in touch and gave her life great meaning.

Now she is free of all the pain – she has her hands and fingers – she can walk and run – and play her beloved game of baseball with her dad in Heaven.

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Our Town Life

Passages

Gerald ‘Steve’ Cumins

Trudy Deloris Foss

Aug. 9, 1943 – Feb. 11, 2022 Gerald Steven Cumins passed away peacefully in Mount Angel, Oregon on Feb. 11, 2022 at the age of 78.

Steve was born in Altadena, California at St. Luke’s Hospital on Aug. 9, 1943 to Robert Howard and Aleise Rose Cumins. He was raised and went to school in Arcadia, California. He proudly served in the United States Navy from July 25, 1961 through Aug. 7, 1964 aboard the USS Jason.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Howard and Aleise Rose Cumins; and by his sons, Robert Steven Cumins and Gerald Benton Cumins. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Cumins; two brothers, Robert Michael Cumins and Jeffery Bruce Cumins; two sisters, Susan Ann Newell and Julie Aleise Rogers; son, Ronald Lee Cumins; and stepdaughter, Ronda Jean Varney.

family.

Steve was a part of “Find a Grave” on the Internet.

He would walk through the cemetery taking pictures (names, dates, etc.). There were many times when people were very happy to find someone in their family from many years past thanks to his efforts. He continued searching for background relatives within his own

He worked for a savings and loan in Hemet, California from 1976 to 1999.

He was Chief Appraiser Manager VP in charge of the department and of various appraisers, and construction loans. Steve also taught classes in real estate at the local college.

A graveside ceremony will be held in his honor on March 25, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Valley View Cemetery. All are welcome.

Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel - Silverton.

In Memory Of …

Trudy Foss

March 6, 1949 — Feb. 26, 2022

Gerald Bochsler

April 11, 1942 — Feb. 26, 2022

James Gabriel

April 24, 1939 — Feb. 27, 2022

Rick Druby

Aug. 24, 1985 — Feb. 28, 2022

Always honoring your request for traditional fire cremation, eco-friendly aqua cremation, celebration of life and funeral services involving earth burial.

The Faris family later moved from McMinnville to Central Oregon where Trudy graduated in 1967 from Sisters High School as Valedictorian. After high school she married Mike Carroll. They moved to Crescent City, California where she enjoyed being a homemaker and raising their children, Kimberly Dawn Carroll and Christopher Lee Carroll.

Trudy later married Michael Holiman where she continued as a loving mother as they added two children, Bryan Scott Holiman and Tyra Lynn (Holiman) Huckins. As the children grew older she found more free time and enjoyed finding work outside the home. She first worked at the local radio station, KCRE. The family then moved to Coquille, Oregon where she spent years with the Coos County Parks Department and greatly enjoyed her work. Trudy along with her children helped design the County Parks logo which also became the logo for Coos County and is still used today and is on road signs welcoming visitors into Coos County.

Always inspiring, Trudy returned to college and earned her degree and became a Registered Nurse. She greatly loved caring for and giving compassionate care to others. She worked in many nursing positions but her favorite was as a hospice nurse, providing comfort and care for those at the end of life.

Later in life, Trudy’s journey led her to a nursing position in Burns, Oregon where she met and married Bradley Weldon Foss who she spent 25 years with. Brad’s children, Robert Foss, Brandon Foss and Nikki Hess, joined the family. Trudy and Brad spent many years traveling for work and fun. They traveled all over the US while Brad worked as a directional driller for communications companies. Eventually they landed in Keno, Oregon where Trudy loved living among the large pine trees similar to her childhood in Central Oregon. Later they moved to Silverton, Oregon where they truly found their home and made many, many life long and eternally lasting friendships.

Trudy was always a loving mother tending to her children’s needs. She studied God’s word and spent many hours in prayer. She took great pleasure in being a light in this world. She did this in many ways, however the spirit led her, but most recently she took great pleasure in passing out to anyone, and everyone, a small card with scripture on it as an encouragement. Trudy was always prepared to share the Gospel, the Good News of Salvation.

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With great sadness, Brad passed in November 2021. Just a few short months later Trudy was diagnosed with cancer that was widespread. From diagnosis to her entrance into Heaven was a quick 13 days. While she had pain, Jesus spared her from great suffering and it was with great anticipation and joy she entered into her eternal reward. As her days came to an end, she pictured herself running into Jesus’ arms and that is exactly what she did, she ran and leaped into the loving and waiting arms of the One True Savior, Jesus Christ.

Her parents, Archie Faris and Kathleen (Kolaroff) Bowers, preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were brothers Sage Faris and Richard Bowers; and her loving husband, Bradley Weldon Foss.

Trudy is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Dawn Carroll; son, Christopher Lee Carroll and his wife, Kristy; son, Bryan Scott Holiman and his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Tyra Lynn Huckins and her husband, Scott; sisters, Ginger DeMaris, Leta Faris, Lillian Collins, Patty Emerson and her husband Bob, Bobbi Page and her husband Charlie; and her brother, Joe Faris and his wife, Lisa.

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Trudy Deloris Foss, 72, of Silverton, Oregon spent her final days at home surrounded by her family and loved ones. Trudy was born in McMinnville, Oregon on March 6, 1949 to parents Archie Faris and Kathleen (Kolaroff) Bowers. Trudy died on Feb. 26, 2022. Her passing was very peaceful as she had full confidence in her salvation through Jesus Christ.

Trudy had many hobbies through the years from horses (she loved trail riding), gardening, remodeling homes and collecting rocks. Anyone that has helped Trudy move over the years can attest to the buckets of rocks she enjoyed collecting. Trudy enjoyed being a go-getter and loved to jump in and help whenever and wherever she could.

See full obituaries at www.ungerfuneralchapel.com

190 Railroad Ave. • Mt. Angel 503-845-2592

March 6, 1949 – Feb. 26, 2022

Also surviving Trudy are her many grandchildren, Andrew Carroll, DJ Sams, Austin Carroll, Kayla Lanier, Celia Green, Elijah Holiman, Wyatt Sanders, Levi Sanders and Kylee Sanders as well as numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

229 Mill St. • Silverton 503-873-5141

A gathering in memory of Trudy will be held on Saturday, March 26, 1 p.m. at Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 Industry Way NE, Silverton, Oregon. All are welcome to attend.

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March 2022 • 15

Helping Hands

Growth spurt

Community Roots 7th, 8th grades moving to Grange Hall

By Stephen Floyd

Grange programs such as the community garden, located on-site. Steveson said students will help with upkeep and maintenance and assist with community members who use the garden, many of whom are Spanish-speaking.

Community Roots School plans to move its middle school into the Silverton Grange building as part of a partnership to meet the program’s unique requirements.

A move-in date is not yet finalized, but school administrators are planning for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

“[Students will] broaden our language and cross-cultural connection through mutual passion of caring for the land,” she said.

Middle school instructor Bridgett Steveson said partnering with the Grange will help support the agriculture-based curriculum her students begin using after elementary school.

Other Grange programs such as their seed exchange, and different fundraisers during the year, will be opportunities for students to apply what they learn.

“Bigger kids have bigger needs, and if we’re going to have a land-based program we need a campus that can cater to that,” she said.

Long-awaited move Community Roots School, a Montessori charter school in Silverton, has been seeking a long-term facility for 7th and 8th graders after 2016 when it began leasing space from Silverton Friends Church, on Eureka Avenue.

Steveson said there is not only a developmental gap between adolescents and elementary schoolers, but a significant difference in their educational needs.

The Montessori curriculum incorporates agriculture-centered learning in 7th and 8th grades, and the plan after moving into the church was to find a separate facility for older students.

Silverton Grange.

“Their goal as a Grange aligned pretty well with ours as a school,” she said.

STEPHEN FLOYD

They initially tried to partner with GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society, just south of Silverton, which offered hands-on education in a homestead environment.

But before plans could be finalized, the farm ceased its educational program in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then last year Steveson saw a Facebook post about the Grange potentially making its building available to a homeschool co-op. The arrangement fell through because of internet limitations at the building, so Community Roots School reached out to explore options.

Help with upgrades The school has since been working with the Grange and Marion County to bring the building up to standards needed for

a school program. The Grange even received a grant for renovations including upgrades to utilities and internet.

School Administrator Christen Kelly said they are continuing to jump through regulatory hoops, but the biggest barriers such as a conditional use permit have been crossed. If progress remains steady, they expect to move into the building by September.

“As far as I know, I don’t think there’s another program like it at all in the Silver Falls School District and the Silverton area,” she said.

Working with the land Once in the building, students can apply their agriculture curriculum through

A ‘vibrant’ part of the community Though the middle school will meet fulltime at the Grange building, it will still be available for other activities outside of school hours. Stevenson said she hopes this partnership will help highlight the Grange’s role in Silverton and help the middle school “truly, fully come into its own and become a part of the community.”

Kelly said she expects the partnership will support students in “a holistic and vibrant way.”

“We’re the only Montessori school here in Silverton and having this partnership is really going to be beneficial to the students as they get older,” she said.

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Our Town Life

Sports & Recreation

Strong showing

Silverton wrestlers take 9th at state

The Silverton High wrestling squad had three wrestlers place and two more score points in an impressive performance at the Feb. 26 Class 5A state meet in Redmond.

The Foxes finished ninth in the team race with 63 points. Silverton was third among Mid-Willamette Conference teams (behind champion Crescent Valley and No. 5 Dallas). At the district meet the Foxes finished sixth.

“Our kids that qualified performed at a high level,” coach Jared Wilson told Our Town. “All of our kids performed at or above their seed at state, which is a pretty cool thing and means your team is scoring more points than most (not us) expected.”

Leading the way for the Foxes were Jacob Moore (120) and Brash Henderson (220), both of whom took third. Steven Powell advanced to the semifinals at 160 and eventually finished fifth, while Bo Zurcher (126) and Joshua Jones (138) each won a match.

Oscar Marks (145) also participated.

“I thought the kids competed hard, and their effort was tremendous,” Wilson said. “I was really proud of how each one of them battled. Being able to sneak in the top 10 as a team is great. We want to continue to work to build a consistent program, and it is good to see we are making progress.”

Kennedy, meanwhile, participated in the class 2A-1A meet at Culver. The Trojans finished 20th with 23 points, led by Adam Reyes, who finished third at 113.

Briggs Snell and Julio Reyes also won matches. Trojans 113-pounder Alex Geschwill, meanwhile, won one match in the girls competition, which also was held at Culver.

Basketball: Silverton’s boys and girls squads still were playing in the Class 5A state tournaments in Corvallis at Our Town presstime. The two squads, both of which won Mid-Willamette Conference titles, dominated the all-league teams.

Boys coach Jamie McCarty, who led the Foxes to a 16-0 league record, was named coach of the year. Jordan McCarty, Neil Efimov and Ryan Redman-Brown were named to the first team, with Joey Haugen and Austin Ratliff earning honorable mention.

Foxes girls coach Tal Wold also was

Our Town Life

University of Portland to honor Silverton alum Denny Bean, a former University of Portland baseball pitching standout who served as city attorney for Silverton for 25 years, will be honored Saturday, April 10 at a Portland baseball game.

named coach of the year. Silverton finished 14-2 in league play, one game ahead of Crescent Valley and Corvallis.

Kyleigh Brown and Paige Traeger were named to the all-MWC first team, with Lilly Horner and Lily Hayashida receiving honorable mention.

Kennedy, meanwhile, finished the season 20-8 and advanced to the Class 2A tournament in Pendleton. The Trojans and Western Christian were 13-3 in Tri-River play, trailing only 16-0 Salem Academy in what Kennedy coach Karl Schmidtman called “the toughest league in the state.”

All three teams advanced to Pendleton, with Western Christian ultimately outdueling Academy 54-53 in double overtime in the title game. Kennedy fell to Western Christian in a hard-fought 46-43 quarterfinal before bowing out with a 62-56 loss to Bonanza in consolation play the next morning.

“Unfortunately, the tournament did not go how we had hoped,” Schmidtman said, “but I am proud of the way our boys competed against Western Christian in our opening round game. It was a tight game that came right down to the wire, but unfortunately we came up a bit short.

On the second day, we couldn’t quite get clicking the way we normally do and lost a close one to Bonanza.”

Riley Cantu scored 34 points in the two games and was named second team all-tournament. Earlier, Cantu was named player of the year in the TriRiver. Stephan Salinas was a secondteam choice, Brett Boen made the 3rd team and Ethan Kleinschmit received honorable mention.

Bean, a Mount Angel native, died Dec. 12 at the age of 79.

Bean’s grandson, Fletcher Moxness, 11, will throw out the first picture at the 1 p.m. April 10 contest between the Pilots and San Diego at Joe Etzel Field on the UP campus.

Bean, who also coached Little League in the Silverton area, graduated from UP with a business degree in 1964.

He received his law degree from Willamette University and practiced law for 50 years.

Denny Bean is shown during his playing days with the University of Portland. The baseball program will honor Bean at its April 10 game. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Linn County Fair & Expo Center in Albany. The Foxes scored 515 points and trailed only Canby (715) in the 10-team competition. Silverton will participate in district meets in March and April at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem before moving on to the May 12-15 state meet in Redmond.

Silverton won six individual events and also took part in two team wins during the competition. Samantha Griffin led the way with wins in barrels, individual flags and steer daubing. Morgan Cuff won in showmanship and hunt seat equitation and Alexis Ditchen took home first in figure 8.

Ditchen and Griffin were first in twoman birangle and team sorting.

“Overall, I am very proud of this group of players and despite graduating some great players and leaders for our program I think we are set up nicely to make another run next season with our returning players,” Schmidtman said.

Other individuals that finished in the top 5 included Sydney Rogosin (3rd, dressage), Cuff (3rd in working rancher; 3rd in individual flags), Hannah Russel (4th, western horsemanship), Sidney King (4th, working rancher; 3rd steer daubing), Ditchen (5th, barrels; 5th pole bending), Daniel Velasco (3rd, figure 8; 4th steer daubing).

Equestrian: Silverton’s girls squad took second in the first North Valley district equestrian competition at the

Other teams nailing down top 5 spots included Russel, Griffin, Ditchen and Cuff (4th in team versatility and

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The family welcomes anyone who knew and loved Denny to come to the game and help celebrate.

– James Day 2nd in Canadian flag race), Talus Miller Abigail Anderson, Charlise Sperle and Velasco (4th in Canadian flag race), Cuff and Russel (5th in two-man birangle and King and Cuff (2nd in team sorting).

Softball: An “over the line” softball program for those 60 and over starts up again April 5 at the old high school softball field on James Street. This is the sixth year for the program.

Play is every Tuesday at 10 a.m., with teams put together among those who show up each week. No bases are run and teams pitch to their own batters.

Bring your own glove, with bats and balls provided.

The program is loosely structured and players are not expected to show up every week. Those interested in participating should call Darrel Thomas at 503-580-5446.

Spring: A new high school season is upon us. The spring sports of golf, tennis, track and field, baseball and softball started practicing Feb. 28, with March 14 the first date for games or meets.

Follow me on Twitter @jameshday

March 2022 • 17

People Out Loud

Mouse ears

A Disney adventure proves the power of branding – ca-chink!

I used to think the number one branded company in the world involved Golden Arches or a Swoosh. No more. Not even a close race, like Usain Bolt versus me in the 100 meters. Disney is so far out in front the rest of the pack has been lapped. Twice.

Having just spent five days in Disneyland and its sister, California Adventures, it became clear to me that this happy place juggernaut has no equal. When it comes to genius marketing and branding, “Imagineering” and engineering, and ways to make money, Mickey wins hands down.

The costume/decoration for a child in a wheelchair, available at several stores, was touching.

It costs a lot of money just to get in, yet the lines are long and the laughter contagious and comes in every known language. My heart hurts for the ones who can’t pull it off financially.

and a good form of exercise as your hands are constantly in action taking out dangerous bots. The “IncrediCoaster” is like nothing I have ever experienced. Like a bullet, we raced down the track only to come to an extremely high ascent then deep dive.

The wicked corners made me wonder if a large man like me would be the one finally causing nuts and bolts to snap, sending me and my seatmates careening into the Haunted Mansion. A loop-de-loop was such a tight circle and so fast my life passed before me in a nano-second.

Remarkably, the once incredible imagination and engineering genius behind the “Indiana Jones” ride, or shall we say “experience”, is now old hat. The new interactive “Spiderman” is contemporary, exhilarating,

Seeing this resort through the eyes of my five-year-old and two-year-old granddaughters was magical and a lifetime memory. To experience the “Teacups” and “Dumbo” rides with them was a thing of

March 2022

joy. Another side benefit? Having no living tissue left in my feet from all the walking.

sprinted across the two parks in record time and made it to a plethora of rides.

Some observations. That place is expensive, so many people bringing their children into the “happiest place on earth” brought in snacks from home and bypassed “Goofy’s Kitchen” buffet at $60 a whack. It also costs extra money to get into the “lightening lane” and bypass long wait lines. It is also extra to get into “Web Slingers”, the Spiderman show and “Galaxy’s Edge”, the Star Wars offering. Ca-Chink.

My daughter shepherded us and her two darlings across the monstrous theme parks like a fast-footed Sherpa Guide with a twokid stroller and backpack. Never broke a sweat. And it was so beautiful that while she got her share of fun and rides, her focus was on making those two little girls experience as much as Disney had to offer, age-appropriately. Likewise, my wife was incredible with the two-year-old, who loves her Mommy, Daddy, and “Papa” dearly, but they turn into chopped liver when Grandma Honey is within 50 paces. She carried her around for what must have been about 3,000 miles. Never complained, despite a once broken shoulder, always interacting with the two little girls, and making sure this trip would be etched into their heads forever.

It is fun for the children to see the “Characters”. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Snow White... But always from a distance, as two “handlers” kept space between the littles who were born to hug and the stars, who were anxious to avoid Omicron, which is not a ride but a pest.

My son-in-law is awesome at technology, and that is the name of the game at Mickeyville. There are apps for everything, including how long the wait time is for rides.

He is a master of the apps, so even though my wife and I were asked to have “slow moving vehicle” signs on our backsides, we

It was a memorable trip. The branding stands out, because everywhere we went, including the plane flying to and from Anaheim, there were those darn ears. And those ears are fluent in every language on earth.

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FOR SALE Champion Generator. New, never used.

Model # 2010047500W. Remote control. Can be warranted. Paid $1,100, asking $850, OBO. Call Joan: 503-897-2155, Lyons.

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AVON IS IN SILVERTON! Call Arlene for a book or to place an order.

Online shopping available: youravon.com/ arlenecaballero 503-720-5416

FREE BREAKFAST Pancakes-Sausage-Eggs at the Marquam Methodist Church. Saturday, March 19, 7:30-9:30am. Inside seating available.

HELP WANTED CUSTODIAL AND COACHING POSITIONS Please visit: www.masd91.org to apply.

SERVICES 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 VISIONS CLEANING Invision coming home to a clean sanitized home! Let Visions House Cleaning wearing gloves and masks do the hard work. $75-$100. Excellent

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Email at landrider007@ gmail.com GOT STUFF U WANT GONE? From yard debris to scrap metal. From garage sale leftovers 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. Keith 503-502-3462 JESSE’S LAWN SERVICE & HANDYMAN Pruning, edging, trimming, blackberry cleaning, gutter cleaning, arborvitae, moss treatment, yard clean-up, haul-away. 503-871-7869

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March 2022 • 19

Kirsten Barnes Broker 873-3545 ext. 326

Meredith Wertz Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 324

Mike Ulven Broker 503-873-3545 ext. 312

Whitney Ulven Broker, GRI 503-873-3545 ext. 320

Ryan Wertz Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 322

WWW.SILVERTONREALTY.COM

Mason Branstetter Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 303

Micha Christman Office Manager 873-1425

Chuck White Broker 873-3545 ext. 325

#T2719 INVESTOR OPPORTUNITY $489,000 Opportunity for investors, potential for development, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath home sitting on 1.52 acres, partially in the city limits, partial in UGB. Hooked up to city water, sewer. Come put your touches on this home or make room for more homes. Lots of potential for the next owner. Buyer to do their due diligence. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#788578)

level home in a desirable area, private entry into this home, oversized lot with garden area and back deck for all your entertaining needs. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath home with single car garage and workstation area. Hardwood floors, newer paint inside and out, newer roof.

Designated office area off the dining room. Plus wonderful reading alcove off the living room. This home is ready to move into! Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#789185)

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#T2711 CUSTOM HOME 4 BR, 2.5 BA 3111 sqft Call Chuck at ext. 325 $759,900

#T2718 MANY UPDATES 4 BR, 2 BA 2403 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $496,600 (WVMLS#788318)

NEW! – #T2721 MID-CENTURY HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1434 sqft Call Meredith at ext.

324, Ryan at ext. 322 $418,700 (WVMLS#789185)

#T2717 GREAT LOCATION 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2437 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $589,000 (WVMLS#788288)

NEW! – #T2713 CHARMING FARMHOUSE 4 BR, 1 BA 1416 sqft Call Becky at ext. 313 $545,000 (WVMLS#787746)

#T2714 2-STORY HOME 4 BR, 2.5 BA 2606 sqft Call Kirsten at ext. 326 $589,900

NEW! – #T2720 CLASSIC SILVERTON HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1411 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $474,250 (WVMLS#788838)

(WVMLS#787289)

#T2708 HARD TO FIND 3 BR, 2 BA 1414 sqft Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $421,000 (WVMLS#787036) #T2712 WELL KEPT DOUBLE WIDE 2 BR, 1 BA 960 sqft Call Meredith at ext.

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(WVMLS#788746)

#T2713 CHARMING FARMHOUE $545,000 Charming farmhouse on the

Michael Schmidt Principal Broker GRI 873-3545 ext. 314

Sarah Graves Office Manager 873-3545 ext. 300

#T2720 CLASSIC SILVERTON HOME $474,250 Classic Silverton home

things to love about this property! Call

with many original features, original trim with wood floors throughout, many updates to this charmer, plus additional 864 square feet in the basement that is finished that isn’t accounted for in the total square feet, room for everyone. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath home with so much more potential! Oversized lot with detached garage, room for your RV and all the extras. Back yard is set up with fire pit, chicken coop, fully fenced, and much more!

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outskirts of Silverton. All the best parts of country living with all the amenities of being near town. This beautiful 1901 house is waiting for its new owner to put the finishing touches on it to make it their own. Manageable acreage with a 3-stall barn with hay storage is just right for your horses, livestock or your next 4h project. There are too many

NEW! – #T2719 INVESTOR OPPORTUNITY 3 BR, 2 BA 1164 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $489,000 (WVMLS#788578)

(WVMLS#788838)

COUNTRY/ACREAGE #T2710 2.14 ACRES 3 BR, 2 BA 1188 sqft 1.82 Acres Call Chuck at ext. 325 $399,900 (WVMLS#787367)

BARELAND/LOTS #T2646 HWY 213 FRONTAGE .30 Acres Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $149,500 (WVMLS#773635)

SCOTTS MILLS #T2707 MOVER 3+ BR, 2 BA 1782 sqft Call Becky at ext. 313 $40,000 (WVMLS#786505)

BROKERS ARE LICENSED IN OREGON

20 • March 2022

Becky Craig Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 313

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Rentals available in Silverton and Surrounding Areas.

For Rental Info Call Micha at 503-873-1425 or Check Our Website.

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