Our Town North: May 1, 2023

$799,000

Investors, 64.41 acres, 3 adjoining homesites, 2 @ 5 acres, 1 @ 54 acres. Kingston-Lyons Dr., Stayton. MLS#788228

Renovated, single level home, 4 bd, 2ba, 2437 sq ft, on 1.02 acres. Mt Hood Views! 16826 Butteville Rd. NE, Woodburn. MLS#791368

$645,000

3.85 acres. Prestige Estate property, path of progress potential. 835 Grouse St. NE, Silverton. Sellers will consider carrying a contract.

MLS#770597

$699,000

Beautiful renovated Craftsman Home, 4 bd, 2 ba. 1900 sq ft. on 1.30 acres. Outstanding Valley Views! Cell tower income included. 14448 Evans Valley Rd. NE, Silverton. MLS#792811

$595,000

120.50 Acres, Recreation or Timber land, Reprod Timber, road system, Ideal for RV/ Campsite. Maple Grove, Molalla. MLS#802319

$649,000

Renovated & updated Craftsman Home, 4 bed, 2 ba. 2784 sq. ft. 30x40 shop, Custom fence & gates. 295 Cleveland St., Mount Angel. MLS#793598

Price Reduced $339,000

2 acres buildable homesite, views! Approved for standard septic & well. 7685 Dovich Ln SE, Turner. MLS#778883

$285,000

3.080 acres, private building site in city limits, maybe dividable. SW exposure. Standard Ave., Brownsville. MLS#777782

$535,000

3 bed, 1 ba. vintage home, on 4.41 acres. farm bldg. Dividable & buildable. On the edge of Silverton. 15056 Quall Rd., Silverton. MLS#799863

$127,500

Buildable residential lot, 7650 sq. ft. City water and sewer available. Property has iconic water tower located on it. 617 Keene Ave. Silverton. MLS#802507

SILVERTON – Unique layout in this 2BR, 2BA plus loft. 1BR and bath are in a separate wing from the main house. Spacious kitchen, library, fenced in courtyard, detached double garage. Nice landscaping. $2,100/mo

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

The deadline for placing an ad in the May 15 issue is May 5. Thank you for spending time with Our Town. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

On the Cover

The pirate ship is launched by the volunteers who built it along with a representative from the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, and Oregon Garden Director of Operations, Delen Kitchen (brown jacket).

Have a home to rent? Call us!

SILVERTON AREA SENIORS, INC.

MAY 2023 PROGRAMS

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT BASKET PRIZE DRAWING is going on NOW! Tickets on sale NOW until May 13. $1 ticket or $5/6. Have to see ‘em to believe ‘em. Open to all ages not just seniors. Tickets on sale at the Silverton Senior Center at 115 Westfield St. and downtown on First Friday. Mention seeing this publication and get two free tickets. Gift Baskets make GREAT Mother’s Day Gifts!

SPRING TEA IN HONOR OF MOTHER’S DAY is Saturday, May 13 from 2-4pm. $20 tickets featuring Fantastic Finger Foods (Gluten Free if requested in advance), Harp Music by Tyger Bailey and Fashion Show by Chic Skape.

MAY IS NATIONAL ELDER LAW MONTH TOO! In recognition of and in the spirit of Elder Law Month, Attorney Philip T. Kelley of Kelley & Kelley and in cooperation with the Silverton Senior Center, will provide at no cost, up to 30 minutes of consultation regarding Elder Law preplanning, crisis planning, and estate planning. Thursdays May 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 1:30-4:00pm by appointment only. Call 503-873-3093 for appointments.

Community Breakfast for FREE Saturday, May 6 from 8-11am. ALL ages welcome. Donations accepted.

Single Seniors 50+ ONLY Lunch Main Street Bistro – upstairs (elevator avail.) Wednesday, May 10 at 12pm. Order off menu, pay separately.

Stamp Camp –Card Making Friday, May 19 at 6:30pm, $10.

Bingo Thursday, May 25 at Methodist Church upstairs.

Senior Center is Closed Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day

Exercise, Dance, Movement

Yoga with Kathleen Tues 9:30am. $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers

Simple Qigong Set to Music: Senior Center: 9:45am, Tues/Thur, $8 (first class free)

Low Impact Exercise Class: 9:30 am Mon / Wed / Fri

Free for members / $5 for nonmembers (donations gladly accepted)

Optimal Health Class: Wednesdays, 10am.

SILVERTON – Very clean 2BR, 2.5BA condo in Silverton’s Hawthorne Village. Single garage, new range and dishwasher, refrigerator, washer and dryer. New carpet, fresh paint. Landscape maintenance included. Tenant pays all utilities. NO PETS & NO SMOKING please $1,850/mo

SILVERTON – Nice 2BR, 2BA duplex in Hawthorne Village. Kitchen appliances, attached dbl garage, landscape maintenance included. Lots of trees, parklike setting and walking paths. NO PETS & NO SMOKING please $1,850/mo

Vivian Caldwell 50 3-873-7069 Property Manager yourhomepm@gmail.com www.yourhomepm.com

Weekly Drop In Activities

Coffee & Conversation: Mondays 10am

Bridge: Mondays 10am

Poker: Mondays 12:30pm / Fridays 9:30am

Ukulele Song Circle: Fri 1pm

Pinochle: Tuesdays / Fridays 12pm

Knit Wits: Wednesdays 10am

Open Art Studio: 1st & 3rd

Wednesdays 1pm with Theresa Sharrar

Bingo: Thursdays 2pm $1 / 2 cards

Dominoes: Fridays 1pm

Once a Month

Garden Club Meeting: Tuesday, May 2 at 2pm

Dine Out Club: Pub 210 East in Mt. Angel. Thursday, May 4 at 6pm.

All seniors invited! Order off menu, pay independently Call 503-873-3093 by 5 pm to carpool.

Monthly Member Birthday Party: Friday, May 5 at 10am

SASI Board Meeting: Tuesday, May 9 at 5pm. RSVP 503-873-3093. Public welcome.

Ancestry Detective Meeting: Tuesday, May 9 at 10am

Work Session with the Board Tuesday, May 23 at 5pm. Public welcome.

Silverton-Mt. Angel Women’s Connection Luncheon

Thursday, May 18 at 1pm $10, RSVP required.

Services & Advice

Reflexologist Thursdays, by appt. only • Elder Law Appointments Thursdays at 1:30pm

ASL American Sign Language Class: May 4 & 18 for $20

Veterans Service Office Representative: Thursday, May 11. 9am. Walk-ins welcome.

Estate Planning: Monday, May 15 at 5:30pm with SSJ&H Law Firm

United Healthcare Rep: Thursday, May 18 at 1pm

Saturday Night Fever Dance May 6 at 6pm. $5. All ages welcome. silvertonseniorcenter.org

By Stephen Floyd

Teachers won their class size targets and administrators kept their management flexibility in a tentative contract approved April 18 between The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) and Silver Falls Education Association (SFEA).

The tentative contract was the result of a year of bargaining that saw the parties split on issues of class size, teacher pay, grievances and similar issues. The proposal was finalized at 12:30 a.m. April 18 after a 15-hour mediation session that began the day before.

SFEA members and the SFSD Board must still vote to ratify the contract. The union was expected to consider the matter by late April, while the board could consider the proposal during its next business meeting May 8.

If approved, the contract would be retroactive to the start of this school year, including pay increases, and would expire in 2025.

If a tentative agreement had not been reached, both parties would have been required to accept or reject final proposals April 23. If offers were rejected, the union would have been able to strike.

The proposed contract requires the district to publish class size targets before each school year, and defines a process to address class size challenges.

The targets themselves are defined in a separate memorandum that can be adjusted without re-opening the contract though a committee of teachers and administrators.

Though specific class sizes did not appear in the tentative contract, SFSD said on Facebook the proposal was “the contract our members deserve.”

“Thank you so much to our members and the community for your outpouring of support through the whole process!” said the union.

Shortly afterward negotiations concluded, Assistant Superintendent Dan Busch sent an email to all district staff announcing the decision and thanking those involved.

“Thank you for the hard work and late hours to see this work through,” said Busch.

The tentative agreement said principals and union representatives would work together before each school year to identify potential class size problems based on projected enrollment and staffing. A Class Size Committee would also be created with two union representatives and two appointees of the superintendent to discuss potential class size issues and recommend solutions.

Teachers whose classes exceeded these targets as of Oct. 1 could explore solutions with their principal. Solutions

included reassignment of students, restructuring of classrooms, addition to teaching aides, or additional substitute days for teachers to complete out-ofclassroom work.

If these potential solutions do not satisfy the problem, a teacher may appeal to the Class Size Committee and must specify why the remedy did not meet their needs. If the committee decides the solution was inadequate, the teacher would receive a 1.5 percent pay increase, to be paid out of a $30,000 annual pool. Pay increases would end if the pool ran out.

In anticipation of the tentative contract being ratified, SFSD and SFEA entered into a memorandum of agreement, defining class size targets starting the 20232024 school year. These targets include:

• 22 students per class in kindergarten.

• 24 students per class in 1st and 2nd grades.

• 26 students per class in 3rd through 5th grades.

• 28 students per class for 6th through 8th grades in selfcontained classrooms.

• 180 student contacts per day for most 6th through 12th grade teachers with departmentalized classrooms.

• Between 40 and 60 students assigned to service specialists.

• 350 students assigned to counselors.

The memorandum said the Class Size Committee would meet March 15, 2024, to review these targets and consider any necessary changes. The agreement would expire July 1, 2025, unless otherwise renewed.

Also in the tentative contract was a 5.8 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the current school year, to be paid retroactively upon the date of ratification. Pay increases would be staggered the next two years, with 1.25 percent COLA the first half of the 2023-2024 school year and again in the second half, then a 1.5 percent COLA the first half of the 2024-2025 school year and again in the second half.

For grievances, parties agreed to a proposal where a grievant would submit a written complaint to a principal or appropriate administrator and a decision would be rendered within ten days. The decision could be appealed to the superintendent, then the School Board, and finally to an arbiter.

Specifically except from this process were grievances regarding the dismissal or contract termination of teacher, which would be resolved with existing state policy.

SFSD introduces class size dashboard

By Stephen Floyd

The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has published a new Class Size Dashboard to increase transparency regarding teacher workloads.

The dashboard went live April 11 and the district expects to update classroom figures weekly.

Assistant Superintendent Dan Busch told the SFSD Board April 10 the dashboard was in direct response to recent union negotiations where class size figured heavily. He said many questions were raised about actual class size numbers and the dashboard is intended to provide up-to-date answers.

SFSD spokesperson Derek McElfresh told Our Town it was “no small task” compiling classroom data into searchable tables. He said the district hopes the effort will benefit parents and district stakeholders.

“We hope the community finds it informative,” said McElfresh.

The dashboard allows users to view class size figures by grade range and by specific schools. Also displayed are teacher names and the grades they teach.

The largest classes came in at 32 students: Devin Brady’s fourth grade class at Butte Creek Elementary, and Emma

Milstead’s sixth/seventh grade split class at Scotts Mills Elementary.

The school with the highest percentage of large classes was Bethany Charter School, whose four split classrooms for first through eighth grades had between 29 and 31 students.

For teachers who are not assigned specific classes and instead have students assigned at different periods, student contacts could range well into the 200s per day. Teachers with the highest student contacts tended to be in physical education, such as Daniel Lever with 244 contacts, Erik Cross with 230 contacts and Craig Porter with 209 contacts at Silverton High School. Silverton Middle School PE teacher Mary Hayden had 175 contacts, while K-8 PE teacher Allison Highland had 181 contacts.

Some extracurricular teachers also had high student workloads, such as K-8 music teacher Nikita Williams with 207 contacts and high school art teacher Jody Mandish with 181 contacts.

The dashboard can be accessed at lookerstudio.google. com/s/no47VM-7gOU.

I highly recommend Whitney and Mike Ulven! We used them to sell one home and purchase another. At no point did we feel pressured into purchasing or making an offer on a home we weren’t 100% in love with. They were very open and honest, really listened, and took the time to help us find our forever home!

—Brenda Z

Have Whitney and Mike Ulven of Silverton Realty lead you on your journey home!

COME and SEE!

We, at Marquam United Methodist Church would like to invite all who would enjoy worshipping in a country setting, to come visit (right next door to the Markum Inn).

All are welcome.

Simple worship and fellowship are important to us. Come and see!

Pastor Michele Holloway

Worship & Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Fellowship time following worship.

Budget balancing

Silverton works funding plan amid staff shakeup

By James Day

The City of Silverton began work on its 2023-24 budget amid a staff shakeup that has the City Council initiating a search for a new city manager.

Ron Chandler, who took over the top administrative post in Silverton in May of 2021, is leaving effective May 12 and relocating to Utah.

In an April 12 letter to the City Council and Mayor Jason Freilinger, Chandler tendered his resignation and advised the council “after careful consideration, my wife and I have decided to move closer to our children and grandchildren so we can become a greater part of their lives. It has been the greatest pleasure serving in and being a part of the City of Silverton. We have enjoyed it immensely and thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve.”

Chandler did not respond to requests from Our Town for thoughts on his tenure in Silverton.

At a special meeting April 17, the council unanimously named Finance Director Kathleen Zaragoza the city manager pro-tem and directed Zaragoza and city staff to work with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments on recruiting a replacement for Chandler. The process is expected to take up to six months.

Zaragoza joined the city as finance director in October of 2003 and was elevated to deputy city manager/finance director in December of 2020. She has served many times as “interim” city manager on occasions when the city manager has been absent.

“It is an honor to be appointed as the pro-tem city manager and to know that the City Council has confidence in my abilities to handle issues that arise until a new city manager can be hired,” Zaragoza told Our Town in an email statement.

Chandler delivered the city’s budget message at the April 20 session of the Budget Committee, but Zaragoza and city department heads will take the spending plan the rest of the way. The city plans to spend approximately $74 million, with city employee ranks scheduled to remain at approximately 54 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs).

During the public comment period of the Budget Committee session the 14-member committee, which consists of Freilinger and the six councilors and seven citizen members, heard three funding requests from The Oregon Garden.

The Garden is seeking $2,500 to pay for fireworks at a July 3 event, $5,000 in hotel tax funds for a “Music on the Lawn” series of concerts and up to $25,000 in other funds to pay for a pedestrian path that would parallel the road up to the resort from the Schmidt Pavilion. Garden officials say the path is an important safety issue for customers and resort guests.

Councilors unanimously approved the fireworks request

but still can choose to address the other two during the rest of the budget process. The committee was scheduled to continue its review of the budget at a April 25 session that occurred after Our Town’s presstime. The committee can hold further sessions if necessary to complete its work on the spending plan.

The City Council is tentatively scheduled to approve the 2023-24 budget at its June 26 meeting, a session in which councilors also are scheduled to review the budget for the city’s Urban Renewal Agency (URA).

At the April 20 Budget Committee session, Chandler and Zaragoza also briefed the city’s URA Budget Committee, which consists of the same 14 members as the Budget Committee, on the budget for urban renewal projects.

The city plans to spend approximately $2.35 million on urban renewal, with $300,000 headed to an as yet undefined downtown improvement project. The URA committee received a request for funding from the Silverton Arts Association, which is seeking city assistance with heating and ventilation (HVAC) and roofing problems at the art center in Coolidge McClaine Park. The city owns the building, which lies in the city’s urban renewal district. The city charges the association $1 per year in rent.

The URA committee approved the 2023-24 budget without acting on the Silverton Arts Association request. However, Zaragoza said the group is welcome to work through the URA’s advisory committee to get its request back before the URA budget panel.

Silverton City Manager Ron Chandler, left, delivers the city’s budget message at the April 20 session of the city’s Budget Committee. At right is Kathleen Zaragoza, who will take over as interim successor to Chandler. The city’s top administrator  is leaving the city May 12.

Q&A Silver Falls School District candidates share their priorities

By Stephen Floyd

Eight candidates are running for four seats on the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board this May, with a variety of priorities for each contender.

Our Town asked each candidate about their goals and what they believe is most important in this election. Below are excerpts from their replies. Their full answers are available at ourtownlive.com.

Ballots for the Primary Election are scheduled to arrive May 2 and should be returned no later than 8 p.m. May 16.

Question: What specific goals do you have as a school board member?

Zone 1

Jo Tucker: “I believe that we need to make our teaching staff a priority, they are the people that educate and support our students every day.”

Philip Wiesner: “I want to be a member of a board that questions, listens, guides, and is a positive influence on our schools for the benefit of our community.”

Zone 3

Derrick Foxworth Jr.: “I think it is paramount that we take a renewed focus on ensuring our young people are meeting grade level standards.”

Dixon Bledsoe: “My goals are to help bring the administration, staff, and Board together after a particularly grueling bargaining period and in advance of

a particularly grueling bond measure discussion.”

Zone 6

Eliza Torlyn: “No matter their background or skill level, I hope to see students graduate with a plan to tackle their adult lives with enthusiasm and hope.”

Joshua Ort: “Restoring the relationship between the district office and the teachers. Enhancing the social, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our children.

Ensuring the physical safety of our children. Spread love. Model decency and kindness, even in disagreement.”

Zone 7

Tom Buchholz: “Pass a school construction bond so our buildings are well taken care of and continue to serve our students and their communities for many more years. Focus in K-3 reading.”

Jesse Smith: “My primary goal as a School Board member is to help the district deliver the best education possible

with the resources it has available.”

Question: What issues do you believe voters should be particularly aware of this election?

Zone 1

Jo Tucker: “Everyone with a student who attends in person classes goes to school in one of our buildings, so the bond and preventative maintenance planning essentially affects everyone.”

Philip Wiesner: “We need to continue towards excellence and we can only move forward by effective communication and valuing all stakeholders involved in our kids’ education.”

Zone 3

Derrick Foxworth Jr.: “I think the top three issues this election is focusing on education, educators, and facilities. Education, educators, and facilities all support the overall goal of imparting knowledge to our kids.”

Dixon Bledsoe: “Mending bridges between administrators and staff (licensed and classified), regaining trust among all parties, and getting a well-thought out bond passed.”

Zone 6

Eliza Torlyn: “School board elections are non partisan. Our school board directors should reflect the broad community that our schools support.”

Silver Falls School District candidates. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Top row: Dixon Bledsoe, Tom Buchholz, Derrick Foxworth Jr., and Josh Ort. Second row: Jesse Smith, Eliza Torlyn, Jo Tucker, and Phil Wiesner.

Public engagement Candidates chime in on guns, school safety

By James Day

The eight candidates for positions on the Silver Falls School District Board participated in a lively and informative two-hour forum April 23 at the Silverton Grange Hall.

On hand were Zone 7 incumbent Tom Buchholz and his opponent, Jesse Smith as well as Zone 1 candidates Phil Wiesner and Jo Tucker, Zone 3 candidates Derrick Foxworth and Dixon Bledsoe and Zone 6 candidates Eliza Torlyn and Joshua Ort. Janet Allanach (Zone 1), Lori McLoughlin (Zone 3) and Jonathan Edmonds (Zone 6) chose not to seek re-election. Board chair Jennifer Traeger (Zone 4) and Owen Von Flue (Zone 2) and Aaron Koch (Zone 5) do not face the voters again until 2025.

Grange questioners Cayla Catino and Elyce Brown posed a wide range of questions for the candidates, including budgets, state funding, communications, trust and the culture of the board and the district. But the issue that seemed

to resonate the most was a discussion of guns and school safety.

Emblematic of the challenge of the issue, in which school shootings continue to plague U.S. schools on a national basis, is that many of the candidates seemed unsure of what the district policy was.  Incumbent Buchholz provided the answer, noting that a 4-3 board vote that he supported prohibits students and

teachers from carrying weapons but others with concealed carry permits are allowed to carry weapons on district property. Buchholz said he thought long and hard about his vote, with the key to his backing of the policy being research that showed that there is a minuscule crime

Q&A Continued from page 7

Joshua Ort: “One issue I believe voters should be particularly aware of this election is mental health, with a specific focus on our children.”

Zone 7

Tom Buchholz: “(Kids) are suffering from broken families and too much screen time. Read books with little kids

rate among individuals with concealed weapon permits.

Foxworth, a Portland Police Bureau lieutenant, who has job-related experience with active shooter training, said “my advice for our community members is to follow the weapons policy. With that said any gun seen on campus is likely to cause alarm and invoke a law enforcement response even if carried in a lawful manner.”

Foxworth also said “creating a robust school safety plan must go beyond the polarizing issue of guns alone.”

Bledsoe, who praised opponent Foxworth’s expertise on the issue, described himself as a long-time Second

so they can teach themselves for the rest of their lives. We need resilient kids.”

Jesse Smith: “One of our most cherished core values is freedom. That includes both freedom of speech, and freedom of inquiry. And in our current political environment, those freedoms are under attack from both sides.”

For more info: www.silvertonchamber.org/paws or... Silverton Paws

Silverton Grange hosted a School District candidates forum on April 23. JAMES DAY

Amendment backer and hunter who still owns guns. But he added that the Secondnd Amendment “needs some bumper guards and I’m really torn on this.”

Tucker, who admitted that she did not know that the concealed carry policy was in place, noted that if you have guns in the schools “it’s better if those individuals are well-trained.” She also said that it is a better scenario for a teacher to have a gun in the classroom than for an 18-year-old to have one.

Wisener was blunt, saying “I can’t see a good reason to have a gun on campus.”

Smith added the context of the 1993 Brady Bill, which Congress passed as a result of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan that seriously injured his press secretary, James Brady. Smith said that the expiration of some pieces of the legislation have led to more shootings.

Ort noted the challenge of having just one school resource officer, an issue Tucker raised as well.

“And what if that SRO is sick?” Ort asked.

Ort also noted that there is nothing that would prevent a student carrying a gun from walking onto a campus and into a school building.

“This is a tough one,” he said, shaking his head. “God forbid that it should ever happen here.”

See What You’ve Been Missing

Pirate ship docks at the Children’s Garden

By Melissa Wagoner

On April 15 The Oregon Garden’s newest exhibit was “christened with children and laughter,” according to Director of Operations Delen Kitchen. She oversaw the addition of the first twostory pirate ship to ever to sail into the Children’s Garden.

Schedule Your Annual Exam Today

Dixon Bledsoe

for Silver Falls School District Board (Zone 3)

My Favorite Quote: “No Man Stands So Tall As When He Stoops to Help a Child.” (attributed to Abraham Lincoln)

My Promise: To put kids first. To spend taxpayer/grant funds wisely. To be respectful to everyone. To listen carefully, think critically, decide intelligently. To put politics last.

My Style: Collaborative problem-solver. Compromise where possible.

My Qualifications: Education • Community Service

A Lifetime Working with Kids

• Ethics

• Honesty

My Belief: SCHOOL BOARDS ARE NON-PARTISAN. THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.

PAID BY DIXON BLEDSOE

“The plans were drawn in 2018,” she said, pulling out the original drawing created by volunteer Rick Galbraith. He, along with fellow volunteer Rich Meganck –produced the idea for the ship.

“They both have been volunteering for a very long time and they both have a construction background,” Kitchen said. “So, at that point it was up to us to fundraise for the project.”

Initially granted $4,000 by the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, and another $1,000 by Mount Angel Oktoberfest, the project appeared to be off and running, but then a series of untimely events becalmed the project.

“First we had to put it off because we could only do it in the winter,” Kitchen said. “Then there was the 2020 pandemic and a management change.”

Finally, in the fall of 2022, Kitchen decided something needed to be done.

“I had been sitting on this money and the volunteers were still really passionate,” she said.

So she put wind in the sails for the crew of seven dedicated volunteers and gave permission to begin construction.

“It’s entirely volunteer-built,” Kitchen said. “They put in over 550 hours, all told. Our staff helped, but if you talked to them, they would say it was largely volunteer done.”

Built almost entirely of reclaimed materials, the ship itself is crafted from boards salvaged from garden sheds and a decommissioned bridge, the cannons are chunks of water pipe and the anchor is a pair of shovels, making the pirate ship, not only a play structure, but an educational model as well.

“The Natural Resources Education Program uses this area,” Kitchen said, describing the plan to erect signage that will explain the ship’s unique construction in the hopes of inspiring others to reclaim and reuse.

It’s just one of the many projects Kitchen and the Garden’s staff are currently implementing in the hopes of attracting new visitors.

“Our goal is to draw people from all of Oregon and from the Silverton area as well,” Kitchen said. “And to get the next generation interested in gardening.”

Which is why, as with the pirate ship, several other new additions are geared toward welcoming families with kids.

“We’re adding story times once a month,” Kitchen said. There’s also the addition of pollinator shaped garden beds and the return of the July Third Celebration as well.

It’s exciting to Kitchen, who has worked at the Garden for the past eight years, to see so many new projects on the horizon.

“We’ve been in recovery phase,” she said. “This is the first year we’re shifting into growth.”

Terri Vasché, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.

Matthew Lampa, O.D., F.A.A.O. Shon Reed, O.D.

The Oregon Garden’s new pirate ship in the Children’s Garden. MELISSSA WAGONER

Where the people are loved and the Word of God is preached.

Located

Meet

S

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$825,000 Single Level 3bd/3ba~ 1671 SF~ 1.6 AC~ Well designed & maintained home on South Abiqua~ Storage area above garage~ 50x30 3 bay shop w/bathroom, concrete floors + electricity~ 3rd bay could be an ADU~ Shop lean to supports room for 30' RV w/ RV dump & electrical~ Cute cottage w/kitchen & heat~ Manicured landscaping w/berries & raised garden beds~ Landscape is fully irrigated~ Silverton~ Donna Paradis~ 503-851-0998 MLS#802136

$679,900 4bd/2.5ba~ 2043 SF

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$659,900 Contemporary style home built in 2020~ 5bd/2.5ba~ 2472 SF~ Quartz counters in Kitchen~ Pantry~ Gas fireplace~Two bedrooms are vaulted~3 car garage~ Gravel RV pad~ Fenced & gated backyard~ Silverton~ Valerie Boen~ 503-871-1667 MLS#803035

$365,000 Pending in 5 days on the market! 2bd/2.4ba~ 1408

Mindy has a strong desire to bring the best to everything she does. She goes above and beyond to ensure her clients have the highest level of attentiveness and feel very well taken care of from beginning to end. Mindy’s business is built on communication, transparency and honesty. Whether you are buying, selling or need a home evaluation, she is happy to help! She would love the opportunity to help you sell or find your new home.

512-650-5114

Auction is now an Option!

FOR LEASE

$599,900 Original home w/ADU on 0.56 AC on the edge of town! Main Home is 3bd/1.5ba~ 1819 SF~ ADU is 2bd/1ba~ 691 SF~ Main home has vaulted living w/beam accents~ Concrete patio separating the units~ Mt Angel~ Valerie Boen~ 503-871-1667

$600/mo. Lower Level Suite for Lease! 609 Welch St, Silverton~ Private lower suite consisting of waiting area, reception room, treatment room & half bath~ Elevator access First, Last & security dep required~Silverton Contact: Donna Rash 503-871-0490

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MLS#803819

MLS#803438 Local Owner Brokers Licensed in Oregon Office lic. #201207657

$269,900 1998 Palm Harbor Manufactured Home~ 5bd/2ba~ 1512 SF~ Located on quiet cul-de-sac~ No Space fee land is owned! Spacious floor plan~ 3 of the 5 rooms are currently rented to long term tenants that would like to stay~Home being sold as-is~ Keizer~ Donna Paradis~ 503-851-0998 MLS#801833

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119 N. WATER ST., SILVERTON 503-873-8600 harcourtssilverton.com

Have you seen the tiny tomato plants in the garden stores? They are a tempting impulse buy for folks longing for sunshine and the taste of fresh home-grown tomatoes, especially plant addicts. But nights are still cold. They have no chance of survival. Anyone who can’t resist is going to have to nurture and care for them, and for the next couple of weeks.

Tomato plants have a low temperature threshold of 50 degree F, which means they won’t continue to develop unless they are kept warm. Keep these baby plants at room temperatures of 65 - 80 degrees F in a sunny window or under lights. Without warmth and light, they will just sit, and will probably be stunted for life. If they are eventually planted after being subjected to cold, wet cloudy conditions they will probably never thrive, or may even rot before summer.

Not only do the plants need to be warm, they also have to be potted up to bigger pots at least two times to have good

root systems. When the roots reach the boundaries of the little pot then the plant needs more soil (and a little fertilizer) to provide nutrition and support for growth. Each time the plant is replanted it should be buried a little deeper. Take off the lower leaves and fill the pot up to the next lower leaves. Tomatoes have adventurous stems – roots will develop along the buried stem, creating a stronger plant that will grow and produce better. Someone asked, “Can’t you just put them into a gallon pot right away?”

This will not allow as much root development as burying multiple times.

Provide plenty of water but avoid soggy soil that can cause rot. And while you’re caring for the plants, don’t forget to pet them daily. Be the wind! Wind in the garden gets the plants to respond with stronger stems.

No wind in the house? Use your hand to stroke the tops of the plants and get the stems to thicken up for your attention. Stronger stems, along with better roots, send nutrition to the leaves.

If the small plants develop flower buds it’s probably because a fertilizer high in potassium (the middle number on the fertilizer label) stimulated them.

There is little chance those buds will get pollinated and develop into fruit, so just clip them off until planting time.

The effort to make fruit just pulls energy from the plant before it is mature enough to finish the job.

It looks like we’ll have to wait – maybe

until June – to plant tomatoes outside. The soil temperature should be at least 60 degrees F, and at the very least, night temperatures should be 50 degrees F or more. Anything less could cause the plant to hold back, be stunted, or just rot. When selecting tomato seeds or plants, look for those with the shortest days to maturity.

While we wait, EC1333 Grow Your Own Tomatoes and Tomatillos can be read or downloaded at https://catalog. extension. oregonstate.edu. Search “tomatoes” and find publications on tomato diseases, canning and recipes.

EC 1333 includes lists of varieties developed and recommended for our area, including information maturity times. For visual or auditory learners, there are Master Gardener videos on growing tomatoes available at https:// clackamascountymastergardeners.org. There are recent webinar recording links and University handouts and videos.

If you neglected properly cleaning and storing your garden tools last year, it’s not too late. Halt corrosion, dry, splintery handles and dullness by taking a little time to care for these faithful gardening friends.

Remove all soil from metal surfaces: after a stream of water from the hose, remove small soil particles and rust spots with sandpaper, steel wool... whatever is called for.

Check all nuts, bolts and screws to be sure they are tight and in top working order. Replace worn or rusty ones.

Sharpen the cutting edges of hoes, shovels, pruners, etc., with a file, stone or grinding wheel

Wipe all metal parts with an oily rag to help protect from dust and rust and lubricate moving parts.

Wash and dry wooden handles; use a wire brush and sand well (preventing slivers) before painting with raw linseed oil (or what’s on hand: motor oil, lamp oil or cooking oil). Let it sit overnight; keep applying until it feels oily then wipe dry. Some prefer treating them with an exterior varnish. Replace weak and broken handles.

Try to store your tools off the floor, preferably on a rack or hanging by nails. You can fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand

and oil to dip tools in after each use.

Consider putting an identification mark on all tool handles, brightly colored in case you misplace it in your own garden.

Gather hoses and nozzles for cleaning and repair; don’t forget new washers.

Make sure the lawnmower is tuned up and ready to go.

Free “Terrarium Spa” for maintenance.

• Best selection of glass in the U.S.A.

• 8 terrarium planting classes each week.

• Up to 15 students per class (BYOW!)

• BOGO registration if you mention ad.

Drop by or call 503-926-1388 to book your class today!

Silver Falls Terrariums

403 South Water Street

Silverton, Oregon

www.SilverFallsTerrariums.com

Publisher PAULA MABRY Advertising MAGGIE PATE • BRENT SMITH

Custom Ad Design DAN THORP

Copy Editor TAVIS BETTOLI-LOTTEN

PLAN & PREPARE

Prepare and prime irrigation system for summer.

Place pheromone traps in apple trees to detect presence of codling moth. Plan a control program of sprays, baits, or predators if found.

If needed, fertilize rhododendrons and azaleas with acid-type fertilizer. If established and healthy, their nutrient needs should be minimal. Remove spent blossoms.

PLANT

Plant dahlias, gladioli, and tuberous begonias in mid-May.

Plant chrysanthemums for fall color. When selecting new roses, choose plants labeled for resistance to diseases. Fertilize roses and control rose diseases such as mildew with a registered fungicide.

Plant most vegetables now; check with local gardeners. Use a soil thermometer to help you know when to plant vegetables. Wait until the soil is

consistently above 70 degrees F to plant tomatoes, squash, melons, peppers and eggplant.

Prevent root maggots when planting cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale), by covering with row covers or screens, or by applying appropriate insecticides.

PUT PESTS OUT

Manage weeds while small and actively growing with light cultivation or herbicides. Once the weed has gone to bud, herbicides are less effective.

Trap moles and gophers as new mounds appear.

Leaf-rolling worms may affect apples and blueberries. Prune off and destroy affected leaves.

Monitor aphids on strawberries and ornamentals. If present, control options include washing off with water, hand removal, or using registered insecticides labeled for the problem plant. Follow all label directions. Promoting natural enemies (predators and parasitoids

that eat or kill insects) is a longer-term solution for insect control in gardens.

Spittlebugs may appear on ornamental plants as foam on stems. In most cases, they don’t require management. If desired, wash off with water or use insecticidal soap as a contact spray. Read and follow label directions.

Control cabbageworms in cabbage and cauliflower, 12-spotted cucumber beetle in beans and lettuce, maggot in radishes. Control can involve hand removal, placing barrier screen over newly planted rows, or spraying or dusting with registered pesticides, labeled for use on the problem plant. Read and follow label directions when using insecticides.

Tiny holes in foliage and shiny, black beetles on tomato, beets, radishes, and potato indicate flea beetle attack. Treat with Neem, Bt-s, or use nematodes for larvae. Read and follow label directions when using insecticides.

Monitor rhododendrons, azaleas, primroses and other broadleaf ornamentals for adult root weevils. Look

for fresh evidence of feeding (notching at leaf edges). Try sticky trap products on plant trunks to trap adult weevils. Protect against damaging the bark by applying the sticky material on a 4-inch wide band of poly sheeting or burlap wrapped around the trunk. Mark plants now and supply beneficial nematodes when soil temps are above 55 degrees F. If root weevils are a consistent problem, consider removing plants and choosing weevil-resistant varieties.

Control slugs with bait or traps and by removing or mowing vegetation near garden plots.

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

Recommendations in this calendar are applicable to Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

By Gregg Harris

Don’t you just love all the wonderful plants we have available to us today?

It hasn’t always been like this. In the 1820s there was a 95% failure rate whenever you tried to transport a live plant across the ocean. Salt spray, temperature and lack of light in the hold of the ship would cause nine out of ten attempts to end in failure. That is, until the discovery of the terrarium in 1829.

Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward of London, England was given the pupae of a moth to hatch.

This particular moth went through its metamorphosis under ground. So, Dr. Ward placed moist soil in the bottom of a large jar, nestled his pupae into the soil, and then, because he was concerned it might hatch while he was away, he put the lid on the jar.

When Dr. Ward placed the lid on his jar that day he changed history.

In fact, he shifted the geopolitical balance of power among nations. Trillions of dollars changed hands and millions of lives were saved, all within just a few decades and all because he put the lid on the jar.

Ward had accidentally created a terrarium. When he came back to check on his moth a few weeks later, he discovered little ferns growing out of the soil. If it had just been a weed or a few blades of grass, he would not have thought much about it, but it happened to be the very ferns that he had been trying to cultivate for several years, unsuccessfully. He decided to watch and see how long the ferns could grown inside the closed jar and they

During those four years he got an idea. He thought, “If I can keep my ferns growing so happily in nothing but a jar, maybe I could design and build a glass cargo case for

transporting live plants across the oceans.” That is what he did. His invention became know as the Wardian Case Terrarium. It worked so well that anyone could transport any plant from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world without losing any at all.

Today we enjoy a vast array of agricultural, medicinal, landscape and houseplants without much thought as to how they all got here. But it all happened because one man put a lid on a jar.

Gregg Harris the owner of Silver Falls Terrariums in Silverton, Oregon. www.silverfallsterrariums.com

A 19th Century print of a terrarium. EL BAROCCO/ ADOBE STOCK 253380099

Welding room Private donors fund vocational workspace for Kennedy

By James Day

Kennedy High School in Mount Angel will have a new welding room in the fall, courtesy of a private fundraising campaign led by the Mt. Angel Community Foundation.

The project, which broke ground on April 26, is not related to the facilities bond that Mt. Angel School District voters will be voting on in the May 16 election. For the welding facility, no district funds will be involved beyond teacher salaries and upkeep once the building goes up and is turned over to the district.

“I’m real excited about it,” Super-intendent Rachel Stucky told Our Town. “The welding room is really important and it’s a strong reflection of our community. Projects like this help set our community apart. It’s not unusual for it to happen in Mount Angel. This is a community that supports its schools by donating time and funding. This is who we are.”

The project began amid a resurgence in student interest in welding at Kennedy.

With that came the challenge of having enough space. The school’s wood shop facility is not compatible with welding work because of fire and safety issues.

John Gooley, vice president of the Mt. Angel Community Foundation board, said the group has raised almost $90,000 for the project, with another $25,000 representing in-kind donations of labor and materials.

Key fundraising participants in the drive, Gooley said, were the Michael Roth Fund, the William Annen Family Foundation, the Bob Fessler Family Foundation, Withers Lumber and Oktoberfest.

Also involved have been the Grant Company (general contracting and design), Lucky Construction (framing), K&E Excavating (site work), Troy Eberle of Eberle Concrete and RiverBend Materials and Tom Riedman of Riedman Home Construction (siding and roofing) as well as Northside Electric, Western Drywall, Jet Sprinklers, Dan Wilgus of

Wilgus LLC (heating), Taylor Metal, Hobbs Painting, Frank Lumber and IWP Lumber. Nick Harville of the Salem Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) provided expertise and trouble-shooting.

The welding room will be named for Gem Equipment, which has a Mount Angel plant. Gem contributed $25,000.

“I am so honored to be able to help our high school to make this all come together,” Gooley said, “and so thankful for all the money and friends who stepped up and contributed on anything that was asked of them. What makes this project so special is we did all this ourselves and didn’t need one dime from the district.”

Gooley and the foundation do not intend to stop here. They continue to fundraise for a second phase of the project, which includes some high-tech equipment – a plasma cutter, an inverter welder and a hydraulic metal shear – that could cost an additional $30,000.

The welding program also will be

designed with some built-in selfsufficiency. Students in the program will use their classroom skills to craft small items that will be sold at an Oktoberfest booth, perhaps as soon as the 2024 festival, with the proceeds going to welding shop materials purchases.

The Mt. Angel Community Foundation already has funds in place for vocational scholarships that could place Kennedy welding students at a trade school or perhaps Chemeketa Community College.

“We’re going to retain these kids,” Gooley said, “and if they want to learn more they can go to Chemeketa. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Superintendent Stucky agreed.

“Not everyone chooses to be collegebound,” she said of the classic four-year track through a college or university.

“We need to meet these vocational needs. Adding the welding room helps, but we want to expand to other areas of career exploration and meet the needs of kids where they are at.”

In Memory Of

Roger Seifer

Ann Ebner

Lloyd Severson

Gaynel Beckwith

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

Nov. 11, 1941 — April 5, 2023

March 21, 1944 — April 11, 2023

Sept. 20, 1931 — April 12, 2023

Jan. 20, 1943 — April 16, 2023

We offer pre planning alternatives to control costs. Make your wishes known and we will do our best to relieve family distress.

See full obituaries at www.ungerfuneralchapel.com

Lloyd Leslie Severson passed away on April 12, 2023. Lloyd was born on Sept. 20, 1931 in Williston, North Dakota to Clarence and Hilda Severson.

After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he returned to Williston and married his sweetheart Charlotte Vizina on New Year’s Eve 1952.

On Nov. 17, 1953, Lloyd was working as a crane operator when a tragic accident occurred while lifting an above-ground fuel tank. Lloyd valiantly tried to move the crane out of the way, and nearly did, but he lost his left arm and leg.

After the accident, Charlotte and Lloyd fell in love with Silverton, Oregon while visiting his aunt. They purchased a home on Hazelgreen Road where they both lived for the rest of their lives, running a small farm.

Lloyd held several jobs in Oregon. He worked at Halton Tractor for over 20 years as the Parts and Service Manager until his retirement. He was also a member of the Silverton Elks, becoming the Exalted Ruler from 1987-88.

Lloyd is survived by two daughters, Charlene Schuh and Diane Pease (Loren); five grandchildren, Jerred Schuh (Melody), Lindsay Schuh, Laura Pease Walters (Chris), Brian Pease (Nicole), and Jordan Pease (Devan); and four great grandchildren, Wyatt and Hudson Walters, and Madilyn and Hailey Pease. Lloyd was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte. Lloyd’s Memorial Service was held on April 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Silverton. Arrangments made by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

MAY IS NATIONAL ELDER LAW MONTH

In recognition of and in the spirit of Elder Law Month, Silverton Elder Law Attorney PHILIP T. KELLEY, of KELLEY  KELLEY, in cooperation with the Silverton Senior Center, will provide at no cost, up to 30 minutes of consultation regarding Elder Law preplanning, crisis planning and estate planning.

WHERE: Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield Street, Silverton

WHEN: Thursday, May 4, 11, 18 and 25, beginning 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

To secure your time, contact the Silverton Senior Center at (503) 873-3093

Repentance & Forgiveness

The Orchard Hill Boys caught me standing in line to ride the roller coaster at the Miamisburg Shopping Center. It was a Friday night. I should have known better than to be out in public. I knew that this gang of angry rednecks were still looking to beat me up again.

Why? Well, I was a hippie in a redneck town. It was 1967. They suspected me, correctly, of being a pot-smoking communist and a traitor to the cause of the war in Viet Nam.

But I was also something of a “chick magnet.” At age 15 I was writing love songs and poetry that their redneck girlfriends dug, and so, boy-friend jealousy was also part of the mix. They hated me, and this gang of violent teenage bullies ruled the school, the mall, and the streets of our small town. But on this particular night, I was going to really take a beating. There were three of them against one of me. Two of them swayed back and forth with fists up, bobbing and weaving back and forth to keep me distracted while the third guy came up behind me and hit me in the side of my head with a tire iron! I went flying in a cartwheel and crumpled to the pavement as they hightailed it away into the crowd. I stumbled away with my hand on the side of my head. I could have died.

That’s when I decided to run away from home, not to get away from my family, but to get away from the Orchard Hill Boys. I hitchhiked out of town the next day with my guitar and a few dollars. I swore I would come back someday and make those rednecks pay.

Give Me Justice!

There’s a funny thing about “justice.” It seems that everyone has this deep sense of right and wrong inside of them that cries out for punishment of all the evil doers around us. We want everyone else to pay up for whatever wrong they have done. It only seems fair. We nurse our vigilante fantasies about stepping up like some comic book hero to beat the bad guys to a pulp. Whether it’s a bully in school, an abusive parent, or a perverted uncle, we crave revenge.

But have you noticed that no one wants to pay up for their own evil deeds. It’s as though what’s “fair” and “just” is only about me getting the good things I believe I deserve, rather than others getting the good life they think they deserve. I deserve to be happy because I mean well, (for the most part). I’m only unkind when other people are unkind to me (for the most part). But those people, they don’t deserve to be happy after what they’ve done to me. They deserve to suffer.

Humble Yourself

Part of what it means to be a Christian is to humble yourself before your Creator and admit that you don’t deserve any more good than anyone else. Beyond that, it’s admitting that you deserve God’s judgement for all the evil things you have done, and also for all the good things that you should have done but haven’t. It’s pleading “Guilty as charged.”

forgiveness is granted, by grace alone, just by believing that Jesus paid for it all with His own death on the cross, the only thing left for us to do is to show our love and thankfulness to God by the way we love and forgive others. That includes even those Orchard Hill Boys who hurt me so badly.

By Gregg Harris

“But,” you might ask. “how can I be sure it worked?” We can be sure that God accepted Jesus’ payment for our sins because God raised Him from the dead after 3 days in the grave. Easter is the day we celebrate that historic event. It is all the proof we need. Believing this is how I get to let go of my anger toward others. God will take care of those rednecks, either by forgiving them, (just as He forgave me), or by making them pay for their sins on the Day of God’s Judgement.

they did to me was not only wrong, it was

“No matter how comfortable a religion may be, it can never take the place of being forgiven for your sins. Only Christianity can provide that. The only way to be forgiven for your sins is by trusting in Jesus. He is your only way to get into heaven. Whatever else you may believe, please don’t miss out on Jesus.”

So, when you hear a Christian say he has been “saved,” this is what he’s supposed to be talking about. Being saved is not about avoiding all the hard things that happen in this life. Christians go through many of the same difficulties as others. Rather, it’s about being saved from the God’s judgement after you die. There are many religions in the world. They are mainly about mankind looking for God. Christianity is unique. It is about God looking for us, not us looking for God. He is seeking to save those who are lost. In spite of our sins, He seeks us out and saves us through faith in what Jesus has done for us.

To be a Christian is to stop being like the selfrighteous guy in Luke 18:9-14 in the Bible who was patting himself on the back for not being like the scuzzball tax collector beside him who was beating himself up with grief and pleading with God to be merciful.

Jesus said the humble tax collector was forgiven while the self-righteous guy was still on the hook for his sins. No repentance.

Jesus did not come to save those who think they are so good they don’t need to be forgiven for anything. Religious folks who think God owes them something for being so good are going to be disappointed. No one is good enough to earn their way into God’s favor. No one. Not me. Not even you.

Jesus came to rescue those of us who admit we are so guilty that we don’t deserve anything but God’s punishment. He came to pay for all the ways we have defied God and disobeyed Him. The only thing we can bring to the process of our salvation is the sin that God so graciously forgives. Sin is the violation of God’s law. And so, when that

illegal. Forgiving others frees me from my bitterness. But as a deterrent they should still go to jail. Our courts are not supposed to forgive criminals. They are supposed to administer justice toward criminals. But in so far as my own heart is concerned, I get to forgive them. Are they my enemies? Then I get to love them, pray for them and do good toward them. In doing so I get to be like my Father in Heaven. He sends His sunshine and His rain on everyone. Forgiving also gets me out of God’s way so that He has a clearer shot at either saving those guys, or judging them. “‘Vengeance is Mine!,’ says the the Lord. ‘I will repay.’” So I leave that to God.

The Judge of All The Earth

Just to be clear. No one is going to get away with anything in God’s Creation. Every individual sinner will either pay for his or her own sins by dying both a physical death and then a spiritual death, (which is total separation from the presence of God forever), or Jesus will pay their debt in full by applying His own sacrifice on the cross to their account. Either way, someone is going to pay. So, who will pay for your sins?

No matter how comfortable a religion may be, it can never take the place of being forgiven for your sins. Only Christianity can provide that. The only way to be forgiven for your sins is by trusting in Jesus. He is your only way to get into heaven. Whatever else you may believe, please don’t miss out on Jesus. Talk to Him right now. He will guide you into whatever comes next. So, that’s it for now. Drop by Silver Falls Terrariums, any time from 11am to 5pm, Wed.-Sat. and we can discuss whatever you want to talk about.

A Note to My Fellow Believers: These articles are an investment in the biblical literacy and evangelism of our community. Please pray for me as I write them. Pray for all those who read them. And If you would like to support me in publishing them, please call me at 503-926-1388. Thank you.

Men’s Breakfast

Every Thursday, 5:30am to 7am at Noble Inn, 409 S. Water St, Silverton, OR

Join me for Breakfast, Prayer, Bible Study, Swapping Stories & a Weekly Challenge. Please RSVP by text: 503-926-1388. www.NobleInn.org/articles.

Gregg Harris, “The Terrarium Guy”

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, 421 S Water St.

Weekly Events

Monday

Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield St. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniorcenter.org

SACA Food Pantry, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., SACA, 421 S Water St., Silverton. Repeats 4 - 7 pm

Tuesday, 9 am - noon Thursday 503-8733446, silvertonareacommunityaid.org

Silverton Meals on Wheels, 11:30 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. Dine in or delivery.

$3 donation suggested. Monday - Friday.

RSVP to Carol, 503-873-6906.

Mt. Angel Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m.

Delivery only. $3 donation suggested.

Repeats Thursdays. Ginger, 503-845-9464.

Silverton Recovery AA, noon - 1 p.m., 302 N Water St. Seven days a week.

Free Monday Dinner, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton.

Indoor, sit-down dinner or to-go. All welcome. Free. 503-873-5446

Boy Scouts Troop 485, St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Scoutmaster Dave Tacker, 760-644-3147, dave.tacker@gmail.com

Tuesday

Scotts Mills Food Boxes, 9 - 11 a.m., Scotts Mills Community Center, 298 Fourth St. Niki, 503-873-5059

Simple Qigong, 9:45 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. $8/session after first free class.

10-classes $70. Adults. Repeats Thursday. Community Helpers Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Age 2 - 5. 503-845-6401

Indoor Playtime, 11 a.m. - noon, Mt. Angel Public Library. Age 2-5. 503-845-6401

Stories & STEAM, 3:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Ages 6-12. 503-845-6401

SACA Food Pantry, 4 - 7 p.m., SACA, 421 S Water St., Silverton. 503-873-3446, silvertonareacommunityaid.org

Serenity Al-Anon Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Zoom. Repeats 10 a.m. Saturdays. For Zoom link, call Barbara K, 503-269-0952.

Cub Scout Pack 485, 6:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Boys and girls in K - 5th grade. Deb Hilterbrand, 971-337-5925, silvertonpack485@gmail.com

Growing Awareness, Nurturing Compassion, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Zoom. Secular presentation promoting mindfulness. Invitation: compassionatepresence@ yahoo.com. 971-218-6641

Wednesday

Silverton Business Group, 8 a.m., Silver Falls Brewery, 207 Jersey St., Silverton. Networking meeting of the Silverton business community hosted by Silverton Chamber of Commerce. Everyone welcome. silvertonchamber.org

Quilters Group, 9 a.m. - noon, Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second Ave., Silverton. trinitysilverton@gmail.com

APPY Hour, noon - 1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Technical assistance for electronic devices. All ages. Free. 503-845-6401

Mission Benedict Food Pantry, 1 - 4 p.m., St. Joseph Shelter, 925 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Repeats Friday. 503-845-2468

Line Dancing - Intermediate, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Free; donations accepted. Open to all. Sheila, 503-409-4498

Silver Chips Woodcarving Sessions, 1 - 3 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. All skill levels. 503-873-4512

Mission of Hope Food Pantry, 2 - 4 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. 503-873-7353

Daniel Plan Journey Video Series, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship Church. Lifestyle program based on Biblical principals. In-person or online at scf.tv/daniel.plan. Free. Open to public. Sheila, 503-409-4498

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

Open Art Studio, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. 503-873-2480

Baby Birds Storytime, 11 a.m., Silver Falls Library. Ages 0 - 4. Free. 503-873-5173

TOPS (Take Pounds Off Sensibly), 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St., Silverton. Weight loss with support, encouragement. Monthly dues $4. All welcome. David, 503-501-9824

Peace Education Program, 6:30 p.m. Little Leaf Café, 111 N. Water St., Silverton. Non-religious, non-political. Free. 503-873-8215

Friday

Toastmaster Club, 7:30 a.m., Zoom. Increase your listening skills, speaking, thinking and evaluating. Contact tmcommunicators@ gmail.com for Zoom link.

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

Open Art Studio, 9 a.m., Silverton Arts Association. 503-873-2480

After-Season Indoor Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Friends Church, 229 Eureka Ave. Ends May 6.

Silverton Farmers Market, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 W Main. Begins May 23. 503-873-5615

Oregon Crafters Market, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., 215 N Water St., Silverton. Local crafters, artists, live music, food and spirits. Repeats noon - 5 p.m. First Friday session 6 - 9 p.m. oregoncraftersmarket.com

Saturday Free Lunch, noon - 1:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second St., Silverton. Open to all. 503-939-3459

Silverton Country History Museum, 1 - 4 p.m., 428 S Water St. Free. Repeats Sundays. 503-873-7070

Peaceful Heart Meditation, 2 - 3 p.m., Silverton Community Center. Yoga breathing, kirtan, yoga philosophy. All welcome. peacefulheartkirtan@gmail.com

Monday, May 1

Daughters of the American Revolution

10 a.m., Stayton UMC, 1450 SE Fern Ridge Road. Show and tell of member’s Patriots. All welcome. 503-689-6991

Silverton City Council

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center Council Chambers. Open to public. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us

Mt. Angel City Council

7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us

Tuesday, May 2

Drawing Group

6 - 7:30 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. Bring materials or use some of associations. Everyone welcome. Repeats May 16. 503-873-2480, silvertonarts.org

Mt. Angel American Legion

6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, 740 E College St., Mt. Angel. All veterans welcome. Masks optional. Jim, 503-845-6119

Wednesday, May 3

Caregiver Connection

1 - 2 p.m., Zoom. Free educational support group for unpaid family caregivers caring for a loved one 60 years of age or older, or caring for a person living with dementia. Zoom invite, register: 503-304-3432

Scotts Mills City Council/Budget Meeting

7 p.m., Scotts Mills City Hall, 265 Fourth St. Open to public. 503-873-5435

Thursday, May 4

Silverton Kiwanis Club

7 a.m., Main St. Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. Bi-monthly meeting. New members welcome. Repeats May 18.

Basic Computer Maintenance

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Tips, tricks for improving your computer’s performance through maintenance tasks. Space is limited; pre-register at 503-845-6401.

Family Science Night

6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Get moving as you discover how ancient animals made their way through Oregon history. Presented by Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Free. 503-845-6401

Hospice Q&A

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Learn what hospice is, when you should think about it and how to help neighbors who are on hospice. Free. All welcome. 503-873-8796 Mt. Angel Budget Committee

7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us

Critique Night

7 - 8:30 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. Bring work for discussion, critique amongst other artists. 503-873-2480, silvertonarts.org

Friday, May 5

Cinco de Mayo

Silverton FFA Plant Sale

2 - 4 p.m., Silverton High Greenhouse, 1456 Pine St. Plant sale benefitting Silverton FFA. Repeats 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. May 6.

Flywheels First Friday

5 - 8:30 p.m., downtown Silverton. Silverton Flywheels welcomes hot rods, street rods, trucks and customs to downtown Silverton for its monthly First Friday.

Teen Art Show

6:30 - 9 p.m., Borland Gallery, 303 Coolidge St., Silverton. Curated artwork from local students in grades 7-12. Juried show. 503-873-2480, silvertonarts.org

First Friday in Silverton

7 – 9 p.m. Explore the historic downtown, have dinner, shop, browse galleries, boutiques. silvertonchamber.org

Lunaria First Friday

7 - 9 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Opening reception for Main Floor Gallery, “Plein Air Palooz,” paintings by Margaret Plumb. Loft Gallery features “Art of Fact: A Matter of Perspective,” artwork by Dan Pillars. Exhibits runs 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily until May 29. 503-873-7734

Saturday, May 6

Community Breakfast

8 - 11 a.m., Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield. All ages. Free; donations welcome. 503-873-3093

Scotts Mills Community Work Day

8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Scotts Mills School, 805 First St. Help prepare the school’s garden and greenhouse. RSVP: 503-873-4394, sloan_amanda@silverfalls.k12.or.us.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

10 a.m. - 1 p.m., The Oregon Garden, 879 W Main St., Silverton. Learn ways to make preparations to increase the survivability of your home. Free. Jennifer, 503-801-4979

Free Comic Book Day

Noon - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Stop by to pick out free comic book. 503-8456401

World Labyrinth Day

1 p.m., Queen of Angels Monastery, 840 S Main St., Mt. Angel. 20-minute Silent Peace Walk. All welcome. To register, call Sr. Beyer at 503-845-2556.

Dance Party

6 p.m., Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield. Join the Saturday Night Fever dance party. All ages. $5. 503-873-3093

Sunday, May 7

St. Joseph the Worker Dinner

5 p.m., St. Mary Parish Center, 575 E College St., Mt. Angel. Fundraising dinner benefitting St. Joseph Family Shelter, Mission Benedict, Casa Adele. $50. Tickets at ccswv.org

Monday, May 8

Mt. Angel School District

6:30 p.m., District Office, 730 E Marquam St., Mt. Angel. Open to public. masd91.org

Silver Falls School District

7 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Open to public. 503-873-5303, silverfallsschools.org

Tuesday, May 9

Ancestry Detectives

10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield. “Potentiating Your DNA Results,” talk on strategies to place DNA matches in your tree. All welcome. In person or Zoom. Info: adsteering@ancestrydetectives.org.

Ukulele Play and Sing-Alongs

6 - 7:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Gather to play and sing with ukuleles. Free. All ages. Music is provided. 503-873-8796

Silverton Planning Commission

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center Council Chambers. Open to public. 503-874-2207

Wednesday, May 10

Luminaria Candle Shades

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Make a simple candle shade using pressed flowers. Adults. Free. 503-845-6401

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club

6:30 p.m. Zoom. Discuss Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters. For Zoom invite, call Ron, Silver Falls Library, 503-873-8796

Thursday, May 11

Art Day

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn art techniques, make art for a Community Art Show. Supplies provided. 503-845-6401

Mahjong

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Video presentation on history of Mahjong and its influence on American culture. Learn to play. Free. All welcome. 503-873-8796

Mt. Angel Budget Committee

7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us

Zenith Women’s Club

7 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. Women discuss ways to fund, implement projects to benefit Silverton community. All welcome. Barbara, 801-414-3875

Friday, May 12

LEGO Lab

3 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Build creations out of LEGOs to display. All ages. Repeats May 26. 503-845-6401

Tune Tours

6 - 8 p.m., Mt. Angel Theater & Stu. dio, 220 E Charles St. Live music and entertainment. $10. jondeshler.com

The Next Friday

5 - 8 p.m., Mt. Angel. Businesses in Mt. Angel stay open with extra vendors, goodies, information, sales and more. discovermtangel@gmail.com

Saturday, May 13

Birding & Wildlife Festival

10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Silver Falls State Park, 20024 SE Silver Falls Hwy., Sublimity. Guided birding, wildflower walks, educational tables, live raptor presentations, native plant and wildflower sale. $5 parking fee. Repeats May 14.

Community Art Swap

Noon - 2 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Craft materials in good condition to prepare for Community Art Show accepted. 503-845-6401

Spring Tea

2 - 4 p.m., Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield. Celebrate Mother’s Day with finger foods, harp music, fashion show by Chic Skape. $20. 503-873-3093

Sunday, May 14

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day Breakfast

7 a.m. - noon, Silverton Fire Department, 819 Rail Way. Pancakes, ham, eggs, drinks. Moms eat free. Adults $10, children 5-12 $5, families $25. Children 4 and under are free. 503-873-5328

Scotts Mills Historical Museum

1 - 5 p.m., 210 Grandview Ave. Open for browsing. smahsmuseum@gmail.com

Tuesday, May 16

Mindfulness and Soothing Crafts

5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Mindfulness, meditation, soothing art techniques. Teens & adults. Free. 503-845-6401

Silver Falls Book Club

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Choose from Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman, The Language of Butterflies by Wendy Williams, The Butterfly’s Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe. All welcome. 503-873-8796

Wednesday, May 17

Lunch & Learn

11:30 a.m., Main Street Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. Business professionals connect with fellow business profes-sionals. Lunch is off the menu. RSVP is encouraged to save a seat. Sponsored by Silverton Chamber of Commerce. 503-873-5615

Crafting Calm

3:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Make mindfulness jars, cover journals with washi tape, concoct anti-stress-scented putty. Grades 5-12. Free. 503-845-6401

Mt. Angel Library Board

6:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-6401

Thursday, May 18

Book Discussion for Adults

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict. Copies are available at the Circulation desk. Adults. 503-845-6401

Irish Traditional Music

5:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Join in the Irish traditional music slow session. All levels welcome. Bring instrument. Free. 503-845-6401

Fingerstyle Guitar

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Dorian Michael performs the fingerstyle guitar, blues. Free. All welcome. 503-873-8796 Silver Falls Writers’ Group

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Writers share what they have been working on and listen to see what others are writing. Ron Drake, 503-873-8796.

Mt. Angel Planning Commission

7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291

Friday, May 19

Red Cross Blood Drive

8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Appointments needed by visiting redcrossblood.org.

Virtual Reality

2 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Book a 30-minute session to experience a virtual reality program. Signed release must be on record. 503-845-6401

Mt. Angel Maifest

3 - 11 p.m., Festhalle, 500 NE Wilco Hwy., Mt. Angel. Spring beer festival with a German twist. Repeats 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. May 20, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. May 21. Tickets and a schedule of events at mtangelmaifest.org.

Saturday, May 20

Armed Forces Day

9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Angels’ Garage, 120 N Main St., Mt. Angel. Military vehicle display, weather permitting. 503-845-6119

Silverton Pet Parade

10 a.m., Coolidge McClaine Park, 300 Coolidge St., Silverton. Bring pets to walk downtown, sponsored by Silverton Kiwanis Club. Staging starts at 9:30 a.m. silvertonkiwanis.org

Paws in the Park

10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Coolidge McClaine Park, 300 Coolidge St. Pet fair with vendors, food, entertainment. Bring pets for parade, stay for fair. All pets welcome. silvertonchamber.org

Sunday, May 21

Herbs for the Whole Family

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 NE Division St. Herbal healing for common ailments. $50. elderspiritherbals.com.

Tuesday, May 23

Silverton Planning Commission

6 p.m., Silverton Community Center Council Chambers. Work session. Open to public. 503-874-2207, silverton.us.or

Wednesday, May 24

Beaded Bookmarks

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create a unique bookmark using a large collection of beads. Adults. Free. 503-845-6401

Virtual Film Discussion

7 p.m. Zoom. Watch Pulp Fiction on Kanopy, discuss movie. Ron, 503-873-8796

Scotts Mill Historical Society

7 p.m., Scotts Mills Museum, 210 Grandview Ave. Open to all. 503-871-9803

Thursday, May 25

Sensory Playday

10:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Babies, toddlers sensory play with hands-on activities. Free. 503-845-6401

Teen Advisory Board

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Teens, 12-18, help collaborate with the library on programs, collections, games. 503-845-6401

Teen Book Club

5:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz. Free. Ages 12-18. 503-845-6401

Writers Group

6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Chat with a group of fellow writers. Bring up to three pages of work to read and get feedback on. Adults & teens. Free. 503-845-6401

Friday, May 26

Red Cross Blood Drive

Noon - 5 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. For appointments, call Carolyn at 514-619-7878 or visit redcross.org.

Monday, May 29

Memorial Day

Memorial Day Service

9:30 a.m., Calvary Cemetery, 1015 N Main St., Mt. Angel. All veterans welcome to join in the Veterans’ March and Presentation of Colors. Patriotic music. Mass. POW/MIA remembrance. Reading names of fallen. Placement of memorial wreath. Three volley salute. Taps. Bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, service is at St. Mary Church, Mt. Angel. Hosted by Mt. Angel American Legion Post 89.

Vigil for Peace

2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, social justice on all levels of society. Open to all. 503-873-5307

Silver Falls birding, wildflower event set

By James Day

The annual Mother’s Day Birding and Wildflower Festival is set for Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14 at Silver Falls State Park.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and is scheduled to coincide with World Migratory Bird Day.

Silver Falls State Park officials said in a press release that the event includes guided birding and wildflower hikes, a wildflower show, live raptor presentations, a native plant sale and educational presentations and discovery tables.

The birding guide this year is a woodpecker expert so visitors are likely to spot a few of that family of birds in addition to frequent Silver Falls visitors such as Wilson’s warblers, Pacific wrens, varied thrushes and American dippers.

“It’s a great time of year to visit because the migratory birds should be here in

force,” said Silver Falls Park Ranger Matt Palmquist.

At the flora end of the spectrum, the park will be filled with trilliums, bleeding hearts, violets and some calypso orchids. The wildflower show features at least 100 species of flowers on display as well.

All activities take place in the South Falls day-use area, with the exception of some 7:30 a.m. birding walks. The schedule will be posted on the state parks website after Our Town’s presstime at https://stateparks.oregon. gov/index.cfm?do=things-to-do. event&eventId=48590

All activities are free, but a $5 daily parking permit or an Oregon State Parks annual parking permit is required to park at Silver Falls State Park.

Serving my hometown of Mt. Angel and surrounding areas.

Broker licensed in Oregon

A look at a display of wildflowers from a previous Silver Falls Birding & Wildflower Festival. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mount Angel mayor endorses school bond

Dear Mount Angel Citizens:

As your Mayor, I would like to share my thoughts on the upcoming bond election for the Mt. Angel School District. I have reviewed the projects that would be funded by the proceeds of the bond sale. They are very necessary improvements that will greatly improve the safety, security and school environments for our students. Passing this measure will allow our community to receive $4 million in additional matching funds from the State of Oregon to add to the overall value of the projects.

In addition to my city duties, I have been a member of the School District Budget Committee for several years. The District’s budgets are very tight and we work hard each year developing the budget to spend your tax dollars wisely and provide the best possible educational

experience for our children. There are no additional dollars available to make the necessary improvements this bond sale will accomplish.

I’m proud of our community and all the things we are able to accomplish with our rich history of working together and volunteering to make Mount Angel as great as it can be. I know from my contacts with city leaders and elected officials throughout the state that the most successful communities have good public services and great schools. I think all us can contribute to our community in that spirit by supporting and voting yes for this bond measure.

Thank you all in advance for supporting our community, schools and this bond measure.

Pete Wall, Mayor

www.ourtownlive.com

Weather toughened

The Silverton and Kennedy track and field programs have battled through weather adversity this spring and seem primed to make strong runs in the second half of the season.

“We are pleased with our very young team,” said Erik Cross, who is in his 26th year leading the Foxes, including a state Class 5A boys team title a year ago. “Over a third are 9th graders and with 45 seniors graduating last year, we were concerned about leadership, but some juniors and seniors have stepped into that role nicely. We’re ready to have some drier, warmer weather after last year’s very wet, cold season and more than a few days of miserable conditions in March and the first part of April.”

Key boys include Steeley Mucken, whose 10.97 100 leads Class 5A. Just the second Foxes sprinter to break 11 seconds, he also is No. 4 in the 200 and No. 3 in the javelin. Joel Rush, second in the state in the pole vault in 2022, has worked through his current pole and is hoping to go to another level with a larger one.

JFK, Silverton track getting in gear

vault or high jump or throw the discus in this weather.”

Among the girls Kirsten Kuenzi leads with her 100 and 200 times, 13.03 and 27.16, respectively. She also anchors a league-leading 4x100 relay team and has a long jump mark of 16-0.25. Madison Stackpole continues to improve and hone her skills in the shot put and discus and Lauren Ortega has made a huge improvement already from last year, setting personal bests in the 1,500 and 800.

Kennedy coach Steve Ritchie is in his 26th season and told Our Town “this year has been a little tough on all of us – the rain, the cold and especially the cold wind we have nearly every day at the track. We have a pretty young team and it has hampered our practices. Tough to pole

Small Group Strength Training

Ritchie sees a lot of room for growth on this year’s squad. Sophomore discus thrower Tia Allen has been throwing 100 to 120 consistently in practice. The boys 4x4 relay was 6th at state last year and they are hoping for better this year. Their time will drop, Ritchie says, when the weather warms up. Junior distance runner Johnathan Kintz who has never done track before “is still figuring out a lot of stuff.” His 800 time of 2:14.27 ranks 13th in Class 2A.

Softball: Veteran Foxes coach Ralph Cortez keeps building contenders, but the squad keeps running up against MidWillamette Conference power Dallas. The Foxes went to Dallas on Monday, April 24 and fell 3-0 to the Dragons, with Clara Woolsey’s two-run homer the key blow. The loss, the first of the league season for the Foxes, dropped No. 3 Silverton to 5-1 in league play. Dallas, which also includes players from Perrydale, is 7-0.

Dallas has won its past 12 against Silverton, including a Class 5A quarterfinal last year and a semifinal in 2017. The Foxes last beat the Dragons on May 13, 2016. The two squads play again on the final day of the league season on May 15.

Kennedy, meanwhile, is 6-2 overall and 5-0 in Special District 2 of Class 2A-1A. The Trojans and No. 2 Blanchet are the lone league unbeatens. The Trojans and Cavaliers don’t tangle until May 13 and May 16.

Baseball: Defending Class 2A-1A state champion Kennedy is 16-0 overall, 7-0 in Special District 2 and has outscored opponents 152-17. St. Paul is the lone other unbeaten in the league. The Trojans and the No. 3 Buckaroos play a 3-game series May 8, 10 and 12.

Silverton, meanwhile, is 6-11 overall and 4-5 in the Mid-Willamette. The Foxes are tied with Central for 6th and need to get into the top 4 to guarantee a Class 5A playoff berth.

Foxes tennis squads in top form

By Naiya Brown

The Silverton High girls and boys tennis teams are enjoying undefeated dual match seasons to date and showing positive momentum, both coaches said.

“It’s been good,” said long-time girls coach Shawn Pool. “We have a very strong team, especially in the doubles, but our singles team is very good as well. We are returning our doubles that took fifth in state last year and hoping for improvement on that.”

Lindsey Gardner and Paige Davisson took home the fifth place medals last season, and they form the No. 1 doubles team on this year’s squad. The top singles players are No. 1 Audrey Gardner and No. 2 Millie Leikem. The No. 2 doubles team consists of Melia Taylor and Leialoha Taylor.

Pool is a 16-year coaching veteran at Silverton, where he has coached volleyball and basketball as well as tennis.

Van Khieu, the Foxes’ boys coach, served eight years as Pool’s assistant with the girls program before taking over as the boys coach three years ago.

“My goals and expectations for all my players is to enjoy playing tennis and at the same time with a goal in trying to reach the

state championships in May,” Khieu said. For the boys, the top singles players are No. 1 Owen Rogers, No. 2 Erik Hayter, No. 3 Jesus Camas, and No. 4 Levi Lawson. The top doubles teams are Jesse Mallorie and Kenny Pyper, and Barrett Teeney and Brandon Metzger

The boys squad added nine new players this season, all with promising ability, Khieu said. Among the top newcomers are the undefeated doubles team of Brody Kuenzi and Tristan Keopadapsy and singles players Evan Good and Jesus Escalona.

“We will continue to play our best tennis as a team to put ourselves in a strong position for districts in May,” Khieu said. The district meet is May 10-12 at the Timberhill Tennis Club in Corvallis. The state meet is May 19-20 at the West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club in Portland and the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton.

Editor’s note: Brown, a junior at Silverton High/Sequoia Falls, is working with Our Town this spring with support from the Oregon Youth Development Division Future Ready Grant program.

Monday, May 1

Baseball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Willamina

Tuesday, May 2

Monday, May 8

Baseball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs St. Paul

5 p.m. Silverton vs McKay

Tuesday, May 9

Softball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Santiam

Wednesday, May 10

Boys Tennis

4 p.m. Silverton vs Dallas

Thursday, May 4

Softball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Regis

Friday, May 5

Track & Field

2:30 p.m. Garden City

Relays, Silverton

Baseball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Willamina

5 p.m. Silverton vs Crescent Valley

Softball

5 p.m. Silverton vs West Albany

Softball

5 p.m. Silverton vs Crescent Valley

Friday, May 12

Track & Field

2 p.m. MWC JV

Championships, Silverton

3:30 p.m. Kennedy

Invitational, Mt. Angel

Baseball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs St. Paul

Softball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Western Christian

Saturday, May 13 Softball

Noon Kennedy vs Salem

Academy/Willamette Valley Christian

Monday, May 15 Baseball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Umpqua Valley Christian

5 p.m. Silverton vs Dallas Softball

5 p.m. Silverton vs Dallas/Perrydale

Wednesday, May 17

Softball

5 p.m. Silverton vs West Linn

Thursday, May 18 Baseball

4:30 p.m. Kennedy vs South Umpqua Softball

4:30 p.m. Kenendy vs Scio

I love comedy. There is nothing like a good, old-fashioned belly laugh to make my day. I watch movies, comedians, improv – you name it – to get a daily dose of the giggles.

There’s one comedy group, however, that stands out from all of the rest. It’s also the biggest. With 535 members, it’s always up to some madcap shenanigans.

Of course, I am referring to Congress.

Lately, they have been on a roll. They want to clamp down on TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media company that seems to specialize in videos of random garbage, ranging from ads for household cleaners to clips from old TV shows.

Pretty amazing stuff.

But the junk TikTok shows isn’t the problem, according to our contingent of congressional cut-ups. The problem is that TikTok someday will give everything it learned about me and you to the Chinese government.

So, let me tell you what they will find out

about me. I like airplanes, and astronomy. And goofy videos – particularly those about Congress.

That’s about it. Yet the folks in Congress – Democrats and Republicans – seem to believe that TikTok can be weaponized and turn me and everyone else against the good old U.S. of A.

A note to the Chinese. Don’t even try. The folks in Congress have beat you to it. For example, Congress and the administration have told anyone with a federal government-issued cell phone to delete TikTok.

Wait just a minute. Do you mean to tell me that my tax dollars have been going toward buying cell phones for federal

employees so they can watch TikTok? So it’s OK for them to watch Facebook on the taxpayers’ dime? And Instagram and Twitter?

If Congress was serious, it would order all social media to be blocked from government phones.

After all, outfits like Facebook have been collecting – and selling – personal information to anyone with a checkbook, and posting ads from the Russians and God knows who else. If you have enough money, they will even dedicate a special team to promote your propaganda.

The great irony about social media is that Congress allowed it to become the slurry of half-truths and personal attacks it is today. Congress exempted Facebook and all of the other platforms from liability for the content they publish.

Anywhere else in the world, publishers are held responsible for content, but not Facebook and the others.  Congress created the problems it now complains about, but won’t fix them.

Oh, members will huff and puff, and issue press releases but in the end they will do approximately nothing meaningful. That’s what makes them all so funny. The billionaires that own Facebook, Twitter and the other social media platforms are laughing at them. They know they can stroke a campaign check to this congressional committee chairman or that member of Congress and any problems will go away. They are anxious to get rid of TikTok because it is a successful competitor. No doubt Congress will find a way to take care of its patrons in the Silicon Valley.

Yes, these are hilarious times on Capitol Hill in Washington. With all of the real problems facing us – including the runaway inflation that Congress created by spraying down the economy with trillions of borrowed dollars – they are worrying about TikTok.

It’s too funny!

Carl Sampson is a freelance writer and editor. He lives in Stayton.

GENERAL LOOKING FOR SILVERTON

HIGH 1971 CLASSMATE I’m looking for John Withers from the Scotts Mills area, going to SUHS from 1968 to 1970.

I am Catherine Wyatt from Silverton. I was a grade behind John. We dated my freshman year. I go by ‘Raven Wyatt’ on Facebook. If anyone knows his whereabouts, please contact me on Facebook.

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

HOUSECLEANING JOBS

WANTED Dependable. Many references. 503-873-6401

GOT STUFF U WANT GONE?

From yard debris to scrap metalFrom 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, stump grinding, powerwashing, haul-away. 503-871-7869

WANTED

PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT WANTED We are looking for a part-time Office Assistant. We are a family-owned funeral home in Silverton and

Place your ad in Marketplace 503-845-9499

Mt. Angel. This position represents the company with the public by telephone and in person and must be courteous and professional. You must be reliable, a team player, be able to multi-task and have knowledge with Microsoft Word and be able to pay attention to detail. Schedule would be Monday, Thursday and Saturday working 20 hours a week. If you think you would be a perfect fit, please e-mail your resume to info@ ungerfuneralchapel.com

ROOFER WANTED For house in Mount Angel. Single story. 17-year-old roof. Submit bids by June 1, 2023. Call 503-845-9452 for more information.

To advertise call 503-845-9499

Mini farm on the edge of Silverton just minutes SE of Silverton. This one story home is 4BR, 2.5BA, w/ 2320 sqft. Major permitted remodel occurred in 2015. Solid surface flooring, vaulted ceilings in LV Rm. & BR. Attached one car carport. 33 x 30 Shop. Barn & Greenhouse. Whole property is fenced and cross fenced for animals. Deer fencing around garden and orchard. Peaceful setting for hobby farm. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#802934)

Located close to downtown and downtown amenities, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath with one bedroom on the main. Kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Open floor plan with modern amenities. Nicely landscaped with private backyard. This home is ready to move into, located on a dead-end street and won’t last long! Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. (WVMLS#802044)

#T2773 SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY $598,700

So much opportunity to shine, wonderful rural setting, with detached shop with an office, hot tub room, additional unfinished bathroom. ADU attached to the shop that is permitted and not fully completed. Private setting, territorial views, sits off the road with plenty of room for pasture. Single level home, with 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Ready for you to update. Easy access to Hwy 22. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#803517)

FARM 3 BR, 1 BA 1624

sqft Call Michael at ext. 314 $849,000 (WVMLS#798210)

#T2766 UNDER CONSTRUCTION

4 BR, 3.5 BA 3275 sqft

Call Michael at ext. 314

$715,000 (WVMLS#801697)

#T2768 WONDERFUL NEW CONSTRUCTION

3 BR, 2.5 BA 1350 sqft

Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322

$468,800 (WVMLS#802044)

2 BR, 2 BA 1410 sqft

Call Kirsten at ext. 326

$140,000 (WVMLS#802068)

NEW! – #T2771 HOME WITH SHOP & BARN

4 BR, 2.5 BA 2320 sqft

Call Michael at ext. 314

$620,000 (WVMLS#802934)

NEW! – #T2772 SINGLE LEVEL HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1799 sqft Call Chuck at ext. 325 $514,900 (WVMLS#803171)

Chuck White Broker 873-3545 ext. 325

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

Kirsten Barnes Broker 873-3545 ext. 326

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

Mike Ulven Broker 503-873-3545 ext. 312 WWW.SILVERTONREALTY.COM

Meredith Wertz Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 324

Ryan Wertz Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 322

Sarah Sanders Property Manager 873-3545 ext. 311

Micha Christman Office Manager 873-1425

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

Michael Schmidt Principal Broker GRI 873-3545 ext. 314

Tayler Whitaker Secretary 873-3545 ext. 300

Jason Marshall Broker 873-3545 ext 302

#T2751 50+ ACRE

#T2769 55+ PARK

#T2771 HOME WITH SHOP & BARN $620,000

#T2768 WONDERFUL NEW CONSTRUCTION $468,800