Our Town North: June 15, 2023

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

$339,000

2 acres buildable homesite, views! Approved for standard septic. Water well installed. 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

$525,000 Dual living, log home, 3bd. 2 ba. & MFG home with 3bd. 1.5 ba., on 1.06 ac parcel, sm. wood shop/ garden shed. 215 Fourth St., Scotts Mills MLS#804645

$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

Clarification

While it comes too late to impact the election, the views of Silver Falls School District board candidate Jo Tucker on guns in the schools were mischaracterized in the May 15, 2023 edition. Tucker said she “supports School Resource Officers because THEY are trained and are there to support and protect our students and staff. I do not think that teachers or students need to carry at school.”

Our Town regrets any misunderstanding our story may have caused.

Hawaiian Luau

Saturday, July 22 from 4-7 p.m.

Silverton Senior Center,115 Westfield St. Indoors & Outdoors.

$25 Adults & $20 Senior Center Members. $12.50 kiddos over 10.

Kiddos under 10 are FREE!!

Hawaiian Dinner • Ukulele Music

Gift Basket Raffles • 50/50 Drawing & Kids

Games-Very Family Friendly

Hawaiian Attire Encouraged!

Tickets available at Silverton Senior Center with cash, check or card.

Deadline to buy tickets is July 14, 2023.

Tickets on sale NOW!

Volunteer Meeting for Luau Help is Monday, June 19 at 5 pm at Senior Center.

‘Senior Follies’

Saturday ONLY!!! June 17 at 7:00 p.m. Silverton High School Auditorium,1456 Pine St. General admission $15, in-advance or at door. $5 for children under 12.

Tickets available at Silverton Senior Center by cash, check or card... AND at Silverton Chamber Office & Citizens Bank.

STAMP CAMP

Card Making Class Friday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m.

SINGLES ONLY LUNCH OUT Monday, June 19 at 12 p.m. at Ixtapa. All SINGLE Seniors 50+ are invited. Order off the menu & pay separately.

Just a reminder... that donations of $100 can provide membership dues for two seniors 50+ on fixed incomes, or $100 can pay for programs & classes for 15+ members!

www.silvertonseniorcenter.org

Bound SFSD board weighs school needs, voter approval

The Silver Falls School District Board is expected review the recommendations of its Bond Advisory Committee and vote on the scope and timing for a potential capital improvement bond June 20.

The committee discussed $138 million in district needs in order to improve all local schools plus rebuild Silverton Middle School. The middle school is currently housed in a single story wing of the former high school and in modular units. Any final figure for the bond proposal, which ultimately will have to go before the voters, requires board authorization.

If the board decides to pursue a bond it will also need to set the timing for the measure: should it appear on a May or November ballot.

At its June 12 workshop the board was scheduled to discuss the finalized recommendation from the Bond Advisory Committee. The committee’s final meeting was May 30. The group began work last September, exploring needs, costs, and conducting community outreach.

A series of 10 community listening sessions were held at schools throughout the district from February through April. Administrators, committee members and consultants described the maintenacne challenges and safety needs.

The district estimated $63 million is necessary to address

deferred maintenance and safety renovations at all schools. Building a new middle school was estimated at $75 million.

When asked why the middle school could not simply be renovated, administrators said the estimated cost to do so would be at least $68 million. They said the systems in the 84-year-old building have reached the end of their useful lifecycles.

When the bond for the completion of the second phase of the new high school was passed in 2006, seismic and safety concerns about the two-story section of the old building were stressed.

Feedback from the listening sessions was taken into account when the committee compiled its final recommendation. District officials would not confirm details of the committee’s submission prior to the June 12 board workshop, which was after the Our Town press deadline.

If the board approves putting a bond on the ballot, it will be the first measure in nine years. A $24.9 million bond was rejected by 55.7 percent of the voters in 2014. A similar measure for $36.9 million in 2013 was rejected by 56.4 percent of the voters.

Administrators have said they hope the broad scope of the current proposal, which impacts all schools districtwide, will help encourage support.

Superintendent Scott Drue has said every effort necessary should be made to “pass the bond at all costs.”

Parade, festivities set to celebrate July 4th in Mt. Angel

There’s still time to register to be part of the Mt. Angel 4th of July parade. This year’s theme is America the Beautiful.

Ribbons for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded for Best Float, Most Patriotic, Best Kids Entry and Best Classic Car. Kids can enter free, for all others pre-registration is $20 until the June 28 deadline. Day of the parade registration is $25, and must be completed by 10 a.m. Entry forms are at www.mtangelchamber.com. Parade rolls from the high school at 11 a.m. That evening there will be prefireworks entertainment provided by the Marion County Citizens Band and Giggles the Clown will be making balloon animals for the children at the Mt. Angel Middle School ball fields from 8 to 10 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk.

See

• SILVER FALLS

SILVERTON – 2BR, 1BA duplex, single garage, back deck, new carpet, fresh paint. Water/sewer/garbage included. NO PETS & NO SMOKING $1,595/mo

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. Private backyard w/landscape maintenance included. Tenant pays all utilities. NO PETS & NO SMOKING $1,695mo

Following the SFSD board’s June 12 workshop a story on the Bond Advisory Committee’s recommendations will be available online.

• MARION COUNTY APPOINTS A NEW SHERIFF

Sheriff Joe Kast retires June 30. The county board of commissioners has names a replacement.

By Stephen Floyd

First step Mount Angel buys land for new City Hall

By Stephen Floyd

The City of Mount Angel has agreed to purchase an undeveloped lot for a new City Hall and officials are optimistic the project could be finished without asking voters for a bond.

The city has agreed to pay $240,000 for a quarter-acre lot at 295 W. Marquam St. currently owned by Mount Angel Bible Church.

The funds will come from $300,000 set aside last year for City Hall replacement. An additional $100,000 is budgeted for this line item in the fiscal year starting July 1. City Manager Mark Daniel said once the sale is closed, the next step will be to develop plans for the property. Officials have discussed a two-story building with the police department on the first floor and city administration on the second floor.

“We’re all very excited about moving ahead with that project as soon as possible,” Daniel told Our Town

The current City Hall, located on North Garfield Street, was built in 1929 and Daniel said critical systems such as HVAC are failing, while the building is also not seismically-sound. There is also a lack of space with no rooms big enough for community events or even City Council meetings, which are held across the street at Mt.

Angel Public Library.

Daniel said a new City Hall would ideally include common areas like conference rooms and event spaces. He said there will be many opportunities for public input to ensure the building is a resource for the community.

“It’s not my house, it’s their house,” said Daniel.

The total cost of the project will be unclear until plans are developed, and this figure may still change closer to breaking ground as construction costs continue to fluctuate. Daniel said, according to his rough calculations, he believes the city could afford to take out a loan and make payments from current revenue sources rather than go out for a bond.

The empty lot on Marquam Street purchased by the City of Mount Angel. STEPHEN FLOYD

New purpose? Developer eyeing former Mt. Angel Wilco property

By Stephen Floyd

A Woodburn developer has expressed interest in building shops and apartments at the former Wilco tower in Mount Angel, though no plans are official.

Ivan Ivanov, owner of Double I Construction, submitted a site plan last month for a 28-unit apartment complex at 190 S. Main St.

City Administrative Services Director Colby Kemp said Ivanov proposed constructing four three-story buildings with commercial space on the first floor and apartments above. The proposal would not require zoning variances, said Kemp. Ivanov would need to apply for site design review by the Planning Commission to move forward.

Kemp also said utilities would need to be upgraded for multi-family units.

This comes more than a year-and-a-half after one of the city’s most iconic buildings burned down at the site Oct. 9, 2021. The historic structure, dating back to the early 1900s, was recognizable by its towering silo and was the headquarters of Wilco Farm

Coop from 1967 to 2004.

At the time of the fire, four businesses were located on the grounds. Then-owner Bob Bodkin was prepared to rebuild with a mixed-use facility similar to that proposed by Ivanov, but he died unexpectedly on Jan. 10, 2022.

Control of the property passed to the Robert Bodkin Family Trust and trustees decided to clean the property and sell it. Kemp said Ivanov is in talks to purchase the land.

Ivanov is not the first developer to inquire about the property, said Kemp. The city has held meetings with two other prospective builders. He said both developments would have required zoning changes and they did not move forward with site plans.

Kemp said it is “a good sign” Ivanov submited site plans because it means the city’s development requirements were not dealbreakers. He emphasized plans remain preliminary. No application has been received from Ivanov for a site design review.

Dutch guests attend Mt. Angel’s Memorial Day

Mt. Angel welcomed some special guests for its annual Memorial Day remembrance at Calvary Cemetery and the American Legion Hall.

Jo Kikken and sister-in-law Thecia Kikken came to Mt. Angel from the Margraten, Netherlands, where the Kikken family has adopted the grave of Army Lt. Charles F. Wagner, a Mt. Angel resident and B-17 pilot who died on mission over Staphorst, Netherlands, on March 6, 1944.

The Kikkens, including Jo’s late wife Ine, have honored Lt. Wagner’s memory with graveside flowers on his birth, death, and US and Dutch holidays. Wagner is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. Also participating in the observance were Lt. Wagner’s niece, Patricia Uffelman, and her husband John, of Portland.

The Calvary Cemetery service also featured an F-16 flyover from the Oregon Air National Guard, a reading of the Names of the Fallen, a POW/MIA Remembrance and music by the Marion County Citizens Band. About 350 people attended, said Jim Kosel, adjutant of American Legion Post 89.

The American Legion Hall hosted a reception following the cemetery rites. The Uffelman family was presented with a picture of Mt. Angel residents serving in World War II, and Patricia recognized two of her uncles in the photo, Kosel said.

A view of plans for a 28-unit apartment complex on the former Wilco site, wedged between South Main Street and Highway 214. SUBMITTED IMAGE

Patricia Uffelman of Portland, who accompanied the Dutch guests, received a photo of Mt. Angel men who served in WWII. She recognized two of her uncles in the picture.. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Silverton City Council Process begins for affordable housing

By James Day

The City of Silverton is getting into the affordable housing business. Officials have identified a seven-acre parcel of city-owned land west of the Silverton Senior Center for the project. The issue was discussed at the June 5 City Council session, although final decisions are months or perhaps years away.

The city might start by developing just a two-acre chunk of the property, although they noted that wetlands issues on the acreage, whether two acres or the full seven, must be resolved prior to development. The city plans to initiate a “request for qualifications” process to create a short list of potential development partners. Jason Gottgetreu, city community development director, said a land trust approach to the property ownership might make the project easier for developers to pencil out.

Mayor Jason Freilinger attached a sense of urgency to the project, saying that if the city doesn’t address housing issues the state might impose solutions of its own.

DEQ Fine: The city has resolved its water quality case with the state Department of Environmental Quality. The DEQ on Feb. 7 issued a $42,130 fine for discharges into Silver Creek that exceeded the city’s permitted levels of ammonia 32 times and for total suspended solids 24 times between May 2021 and August 2022.

The city appealed the fine, agreeing that the violations occurred but saying that it involved errors by an employee who is no longer with the city. Officials also asked that the fines be reduced. They have altered water treatment plant procedures to make it less likely that further illegal discharges can occur and noted that no further violations had been discovered since August.

The DEQ and the city reached an agreement that reduced the fine to $35,660. A total of $28,528 must be spent on a DEQ-approved environmental project, the remaining $7,132 due to be paid to the state. The city also has added water quality oversight to the city’s Environmental Management and UrbanTree Committee, chaired by Councilor Eric Hammond.

City Manager: The city has hired the MidValley Council to Governments to head its search for a new city manager. The new administrator will replace Ron Chandler, who left May 12 to move to Utah.

Finance Director Kathleen Zaragoza is serving in Chandler’s role on a pro tem basis.

Scott Dodson of the Mid-Valley COG briefed the council on the process. He gave councilors “homework” to help him learn what the city is seeking. Councilors will discuss their views at a June 26 work session.

Silverton pays the COG approximately $6,000 per year for services that are part of its general membership. The city manager search will cost another $13,300.

RV Park: Efforts by a developer to place a recreational vehicle park on Mill Street just north of Mark Twain school have been rejected by the Silverton Community Development Department. Gottgetreu said the proposal did not meet all applicable Silverton development code review criteria and standards. The proposed use, he said, did not meet the definition of a retail sales and service, entertainment-oriented, recreation vehicle park.

“The applicant submitted a letter stating the proposed development was a residential area for affordable housing with indefinite land leases which is not allowed in an industrial zone,” Gottgetreu said. The applicant, he said, also failed to meet minimum standards for street improvements, buffering and screening, pedestrian circulation, bicycle parking, utility location and sizing, and access requirements.

No appeal of the city decision was filed, which means the matter is closed for now.

Parking: In the continuing larger discussion of downtown parking challenges amid the smaller discussion of how to develop the south end of the Civic Center block, the Silverton business community has come down in favor of more parking. The Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter to the council advocating a combination of parking and green space for the second half of the old Eugene Field School property.

No timeline has been set for resolving the parking question. The use of the south end of the lot has been the subject of a series of community sessions, with some participants suggesting the entire parcel be limited to park use or perhaps splash pads. Others, like the Chamber, have asked for a more mixed approach. Still others have noted the possibility of using the city-owned property north of the new building as part of the parking/park discussion.

Buy • Sell • Auction • Rentals

$1,499,900 Beautifully Custom-built!

Home boasts beautiful finishes w/Sunset & Sunrise views from decks~3bd/3.5 ba~ 3558 SF~ 2 AC~ Single level home w/bonus room above the garage~ 10' ceiling & 8' Walnut doors on main~ 16' kitchen island~ Two wood fireplaces~ Living room opens up to elegant outdoor room~ Oversized 3 car garage~ RV hookup w/electrical & sewer clean out~ Well drilled at 60 gals/per min. ~ Seller can supply shop plans~ New asphalt driveway in Nov 2022~ Silverton~ Robin Kuhn 503-930-1896 MLS#801214

$785,000 Single Level 3bd/3ba~ 1671 SF~ 1.6 AC~ 50x30 3 bay shop w/bathroom, concrete floors & electricity 3rd bay could be an ADU~ Shop lean to supports room for 30’ RV w/ dump & electrical~ Cottage w/kitchen & heat~ Manicured landscape fully irrigated~ Silverton~ Donna Paradis 503-851-0998

MLS#802136

$679,900 4bd/2.5ba~ 2043 SF~ 4.78 AC~ Private & quiet acreage in high demand Victor Point area~ Bonus room downstairs~ 4 stall barn~ Fenced & cross fenced~ Mostly level acreage has plenty of trees & room for all your animals! Sublimity~ Robin Kuhn 503-930-1896 MLS#801384

$325,000 270 Special Rec Acres~ Own your own private sanctuary on the edge of E. Willamette Valley~ Suitable for: Wildlife refuge, private hunting, personal enjoyment~Could be Oregons biggest private dog park! Enjoy hiking, picnicking, hunting, dry camping or let your animal run~ Lots of wildlife & water fowl to enjoy! Scio~ Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#801829

$649,000 Built in 2020 5bds/2.5 ba~ 2472 SF two-story home~ Home has stylish details & custom touches throughout~Kitchen boasts Quartz counters, white tile backsplash, pantry, island w/views to the backyard~ Gas fireplace~Soaking tub~ 3 car garage~ Gravel RV pad~ Fenced & gated backyard~ Silverton Valerie Boen 503-871-1667 MLS#803035

$269,900 5bd/2ba~ 1512 SF~1998 Palm Harbor Manufactured home on owned land~ No space fee~In quiet cul-de-sac ~ Good commuter area w/ I-5 within a few miles~ Spacious floor plan~ Covered carport holds 2 cars w/street parking available~ Great value for 5 bedrooms! Keizer~ Donna Paradis 503-851-0998

MLS#801833

$199,900 NEW LISTING! Buildable single family lot in small desirable subdivision~ Don’t miss your opportunity to build in this great neighborhood~ There are only 9 lots within this cul-de-sac turnaround~ Only two lots left to be built! Silverton~ Valerie Boen 503-871-1667 MLS#805298

FOR RENT! $2,500 in Silverton!

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FOR RENT! $2,700 in Silverton!

Charming home in great neighborhood~ 3bd/2.5ba~ 1475 SF ~ Availble now~ Two story home built in 2015~Includes appliances~ Gas fireplace~ Use of community park & picnic area by lake~ No smoking~ No pets~ Move in requires first & last months rent & sec dep of $2700~ Owner pays HOA dues~ App fee $35/ per applicant 18 yrs & older.

Contact Donna Rash 503-871-0490

Teen Art Show Silverton galleries team up to honor this year’s winners

By Melissa Wagoner

This year the Silverton Arts Association’s annual “Teen Art Show” featured 105 pieces of art from students at Evergreen, Bethany, Community Roots, Silverton Middle School, Silverton High School and Sequoia Falls Academy.

“It’s a long-standing tradition,” Silverton Arts Association Board (SAA) Member and gallery curator, Megan Smith, said of the show, which ran from May 5 to 21.

Owing to the caliber of the work entered, the five judges had a difficult time choosing this year’s first, second and third place winners, only unanimously agreeing on one prize – the “Best in Show Award”.

“It was incredibly difficult,” SAA Resident Artist and Teen Art Show judge John Friedrick confirmed. “I had no idea we have such talented young artists in our city. It was a really enjoyable challenge to examine so many beautiful works and weigh them against each other. I tried to consider both technical skill and boldness of subject matter. Who not only delivered a refined piece but also showed me something unexpected in the process?”

Unexpected outcomes were in fact numerous amongst the winners, as many were surprised to see a ribbon attached to their work when they attended the gallery opening,.

“I definitely felt very proud when I first saw it displayed, and that feeling only amplified with the awards,” Eli Haugen, a senior at Silverton High School, said. His ceramic piece “Vessel” was awarded both first place in his age group as well as “Best in Show”.

“I think it mostly motivated me to dive further into my craft and hopefully, display better pieces in the future,” Haugen added. His goal is to one day have a successful career in pottery. He is well on his way, having recently secured an internship with Lee Jacobson, an artist whose work he admired in Silverton’s Lunaria Gallery.

“Right now, Lee is helping me explore my options moving forward, and teaching me new techniques,” Haugen explained. “It’s such a privilege to be able to talk to someone so knowledgeable.”

That kind of mentorship and encouragement is why the Teen Art Show was created.

“It’s just a small way we can provide affirmation to younger artists,” SAA Board President, resident artist and Teen Art Show judge, Jonathan Case confirmed. “It can be hard starting out in any creative medium, with long stretches between any positive feedback. To make anything of quality takes time and passion – so the effort of these students should be celebrated.”

It’s an opinion the artists of Lunaria Gallery – whose cooperative artists regularly offer internships – share, and one reason why, upon learning of this year’s show, the members offered to exhibit three of the winning artists during Lunaria’s June gallery show.

“Lunaria Gallery and Silverton Arts Association actively cooperate in supporting their mutual commitment to art and art education in Silverton…” Lunaria representative Anne BarberShams said. “The art they sent to SAA was quite stunning.”

Moving on to Lunaria were two wall pieces – a painting titled, “Open Wide,” by junior Darby Ullan, and a pen and ink, titled, “Timeless,” by eighth grade SMS student Claudia Rankin, as well as Haugen’s ceramic piece. Lunaria is providing these budding artists a chance to have their art viewed by hundreds of spectators over the entire month of June.

“I was really nervous about mine because I hadn’t done people before,” Rankin said of her award-winning portrait, now displayed on Lunaria’s wall. “It was out of my comfort zone.”

It’s a feeling Rankin shares with many of this year’s artists. Several of whom referred to the process of creating as a learning experience.

“With mine, I never used conte crayon with charcoal,” seventh grade SMS student Annabel Nankman said. “But I loved it right away. I think maybe you could see I had fun with it and loved doing it… I was really proud to see how far I’ve come.”

For Nankman – and many of the other teen artists as well – the Teen Art Show was about competition and about experience.

Silverton Arts Association’s Teen Art Show Winners

Seventh Grade: Annabel Nankman

Eighth Grade: Claudia Rankin (also showing at Lunaria)

Ninth Grade: Mia-Claire Mykisen

Tenth Grade: Ashley Schurter

Eleventh Grade: Darby Ullan

Twelfth Grade: Kierstin Mossman

People’s Choice Award: Darby Ullan (also showing at Lunaria)

Best in Show: Eli Haugen (also showing at Lunaria)

“I wouldn’t care if there was a prize,” Nankman continued. “Just other people seeing my art was enough for me.”

“It was pretty cool to see your art in the community,” Nolan Thelen, a seventh grader at SMS, echoed.

That was exactly what the creators of the Teen Show were hoping to hear.

“It gives you hope,” Case said. “There’s so many talented kids out there, and it was great to connect with them and feel their excitement about being featured in the show. It’s a win-win for our arts community.”

Editor’s Note: Melissa Wagoner is the current Vice President of the Silverton Arts Association board of directors.

Opening night of the Silverton Arts Association’s Teen Art Show. MEGAN SMITH

Ninth-grader Mia-Claire Mykisen and her firstplace winning tribute to Vincent Van Gogh. MEGAN SMITH

Second-place eighth-grader Isla Kofron. MEGAN SMITH

Eleventh-grader Darby Ullan with her firstplace piece, “Open Wide.” MEGAN SMITH

Confluence Scotts Mills arts space enters second season

By Melissa Wagoner

A dedicated space to dance and create is something Brianna Taylor has wanted for a long time. But living the life of a professional dancer, first in San Francisco and then in New York, meant finding that space – much less paying for it – was just out of reach.

“Dance takes space,” she pointed out. “So, a studio is like gold.”

That’s why, when her parents, Marcia and Steve Taylor, suggested she turn a no longer needed storage barn into a top-ofthe-line dance space, she jumped at the chance.

“Just to have a space to dream and create,” Taylor said, recalling the pull the space had on her from the very start. “An enclosed space, with a dance floor… away from the city… what a dream.”

But it wasn’t as simple as just saying yes, because the barn was located almost 3,000 miles from where Taylor was living with her partner, fellow artist Andre Ignacio Dimapilis.

“I was supportive,” Dimapilis said of his reaction to leaving his home state of Florida to take up residence in Taylor’s home state of Oregon.

Besides, Dimapilis knew they weren’t leaving for good. A professor of dance at both the University of Florida and Florida State College of Jacksonville, Taylor had become as tied to the state as Dimapilis was, which meant the couple would need to spend their winters down south.

“We’re learning how to do it,” Dimapilis said of the journey, which the couple recently made in their tiny Prius with their canine companion, Bootz.

“It works for us,” Dimapilis said. Opening its doors to clients for the first time during the summer of 2022, Confluence Arts Center has become not only a dance studio for Taylor but a space for the community to experience the healing arts of yoga, Thai bodywork, Reiki and sound therapy.

During that initial summer the couple also held a series of locally sourced GrateFULL Dinners, a Summer Reset Retreat and hosted the first wedding –their own.

“We’d love to have a handful of weddings here,” Taylor said of the couple’s plans for the space, which include more classes, retreats, concerts, movie nights, performances, festivals, dinners and wine tasting events.

“We want this to be a place that’s accessible,” Taylor explained. “It’s a dream to have structures people can stay in.”

In the meantime, the Confluence Arts Center is boasting a full summer of events including yoga every Wednesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. and a Summer Solstice Day Retreat on June 24 and 25.

“And we’re having a one-year anniversary celebration… we’re planning to have a Filipino dinner June 17,” Taylor said, describing the event, which will be a tribute to Dimapilis’ Filipinx-American heritage. “We’ll be selling tickets on our website.”

Also on the website, www. confluenceartscenter.org, is a comprehensive list of all the center’s upcoming events as well as a link for rental information and a bio of the current artists in residence – Zimbabwean dancer Rujeko Dumbutshena and movement-based artist Melanie Greene.

“It’s very exciting,” Taylor said. “We’d love for other artists or yoga teachers or instructors who want to use a space like this to use it. Because I think this place is really special. It was created with a lot of heart between my family and the community. There’s a lot of intention and gratitude… It’s a blessing.”

Andre Ignacio Dimapilis and Brianna Taylor, owners of Confluence Arts Center in Scotts Mills. MELISSA WAGONER

Firefighting veteran Grambusch retiring as Silverton assistant chief

By James Day

Silverton native Ed Grambusch grew up wanting to be an air traffic controller. He tried work of a similar vein as a 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher. But once he hooked on as a volunteer with the Silverton Fire District, the career search was over.

Grambusch continued his 9-1-1 work as he worked his way into a career as a firefighter. Now, 33 years after he first served as a volunteer, he is retiring as assistant fire chief.

“I was young, full of energy and wanted to do it all,” Grambusch said. “It sounded fun and it is. We love the adrenaline. I don’t know a firefighter who is not an adrenaline junkie. But the real fun is the satisfaction of serving the community and keeping it safe.”

The SFD cover 106 square miles, with five stations – Station 1 in Silverton, Station 2 at Victor Point, Station 3 on the Abiqua, Station 4 in Scotts Mills and Station 5 in the Crooked Finger area. There are only eight career firefighters, with the bulk of the duty handled by volunteers.

“In the middle of the night when you see

that rig going down the road… that’s the volunteers,” he said.

Grambusch was asked about what has changed in his 33 years.

“A lot is different,” he said. “Regulations

have increased drastically, safety concerns, training issues. All have increased exponentially. And the equipment we wear is so much better it’s almost dangerous.”

Grambusch noted that helmets have advanced so much firefighters no longer get the old sensation when things are getting “too hot.”

The types of calls also have changed. In the 1990s firefighters would be dispatched to help people under the influence of alcohol “now we administering narcolan for fentanyl overdoses.”

Traffic crashes, he said, aren’t nearly as dangerous to drivers and passengers as in the past. “We’re seeing fewer fatals because of advanced technology (in cars and trucks),” he said.

Fuels have changed. There is more synthetic material and less natural wood.

“Also, it’s a much more toxic atmosphere,” he said. “I always put on a breathing apparatus.”

The Silverton Fire District and its partners

faced the challenge of a lifetime on Labor Day weekend in 2020. When the weather turned hotter and the wind kicked up, Grambusch recalls looking at his son and saying “this is spooky, this is scary. This is fire weather, and it’s not good.”

Grambusch spent a week up in the Santiam Canyon, mainly in the North Fork area. “That was really bad. I’ve never seen such devastation,” he said.

The Beachie Creek and Lionshead fires scorched 400,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,500 structures and virtually leveled Detroit and Gates. Five people were killed.

And it was a close call for Silverton firefighters and others trying to keep the fire from taking out Silverton and Molalla. A heroic fight took place on the ridges northeast of town in a lesser-known fire battle that was immortalized in a lengthy piece in The Atlantic Grambusch, who definitely skews toward the glass being half full, also saw inspiring signs amid the destruction.

“It was extremely stressful and it kept going and on,” he said. “But those big fires brought us together as a community. Everybody was out helping and doing what they could. I live here. It made me feel proud to be a community member.”

Grambusch officially retires at the end of the month, although he said he plans to stay on for a couple of months to assist with administrative matters. He and his wife will be moving to a five-acre spread in Idaho where he can rest, relax, enjoy the great outdoors… and look for a job.

“Maybe I can catch on at a hardware store,” he said. “I have to get a job to stay busy and I love talking to people.”

Retiring Silverton Fire district assistant chief Ed Grambusch. JAMES DAY

The next step How students navigate life after high school

By Brenna Wiegand

When the seniors at Silverton High School in Silverton, presented their post-graduation plans to underclassmen, it was obvious that career paths are all over the map. Some students will go from high school to work while others pursue a trade. In many cases, students decide that their goals will require attending a two- or four-year college.

“There are no clear advantages or disadvantages for any of the post-high school options,” Kristie Hays, school counselor for Silverton High School’s Class of 2023, said. “Traditionally, it was assumed that people with a college education had more opportunities for career growth and income; however, the trend right now would indicate that there are ample opportunities for students who enter work right away, especially in the trades.

“Career Technical industries have a huge need for skilled workers and often pay very well, have opportunities for promotion and sometimes even pay for continuing education,” Hays said. “Each path offers something different based on the skills and abilities of each individual student.”

An increasing number of students are planning to start at a community college versus a university. The new Oregon Promise state grant helps cover tuition costs at

any Oregon community college, offering free tuition to anyone with a 3.5-plus grade point average regardless of financial need.

As the SHS Class of 2025 Counselor, Kevin Ortega helps get students thinking about after-graduation paths early on.

“As a general rule, some sort of education or training beyond high school is a wise investment,” Ortega said. “Whether that is a trade like cosmetology, culinary arts, plumbing, or a professional field requiring a degree, more education means more financial stability.

“My promise to each student is that I will follow their lead when it comes to post-high school education, training and careers, and assist them in finding the best fit for each individual,” he said. “At the same time I give students things to think about that may challenge their current thoughts.

“Whether it is a trade school, community college or a university, the process is complicated,” Ortega said. “That is why we guide students through their Extended Application project, hold events such as FAFSA Night and Scholarship Night and develop online websites to assist in the process.”

School-to-Work

Chloe Little plans to take a “gap year” now that she has her diploma from Silverton High School.

“I’m considering assisting with special needs kids, but right now I just need a total break from schooling and to take some time for myself,” Little said. “It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

“I was so lost about what I wanted to do and I really just wanted to heal from all the hard work I had to do for years and just be myself for a little bit.”

School counselor Hays was a major support.

“She makes me feel like I’m her own kid and she’s just so amazing,” Little said.

Soon after her decision, Little started applying for jobs and was thrilled to be hired at Serenity Home and Spa in Silverton. It is her first real job.

To help solidify her career path, Little, who has volunteered in special ed classes since the fifth grade, may take a job in the school district as an aide this fall.

“I love those kids so much and I really admire them,” Little said. “I would love to be working with them in the future.”

Trade School

Though he graduated from Silverton High School in 2003, Jay Schiedler remembers parts of it like it was yesterday.

“My mom told me I had to go to school after I graduated,” Schiedler said. “I was in auto shop and the guy from UTI (Universal Technical Institute) came and talked about their program.

“I invited him to our house to tell us more about it and he talked me into their HVAC program because there’s a low enrollment rate so there will be a high demand people in the future; it’s better pay and cleaner work than automotive and the program is only 11 months long,” Schiedler said. “I did not want to go to school for four years.”

He headed to Phoenix, Arizona, entering the program “blind” and found he loved it. After earning his associate’s degree, Schiedler worked in the field for about ten years before starting his own business.

“I was doing [work] in refrigeration at Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis until I got so bored that I asked my boss if it was OK to start a residential HVAC business and he said, ‘Sure, as long as you aren’t competing with us,’ and I started Impact Heating in 2015.

“The first two years were really slow,” he said. “We were only installing one to three systems a week and I just used temp labor until I got enough work to hire someone full time.”

Now, Schiedler has two full-time employees and there are three vans on the road.

“I love owning a business and being able to have control,” he said. “When I go out and quote jobs I let people know I’m the owner and that I can control the pricing to what they can afford.”

Community College

Jared Breitbach, Silverton High School ‘23 graduate, will enter Chemeketa Community College’s Fire Suppression Program this fall.

Breitbach appreciates the school’s proximity, reasonable tuition and excellent reputation for its emergency services program that includes one of the most modern training facilities on the West Coast.

Attending a community college also qualifies Breitbach for the Oregon Promise grant which will help pay for two years of any community college in Oregon.

“I began taking steps toward this career my freshman year when I started taking the protective services classes,” Breitbach said. “I didn’t think it was a career I would be interested in, but when I took the high school’s firefighting classes as a junior I realized it was something I wanted to pursue.”

Gaven Stetson will also be attending Chemeketa

Chloe Little SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jay Schiedler SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jared Breitbach SUBMITTED PHOTO

Community College where he hopes to find his own career path.

“If I find a career path that I am really passionate about, I’ll transfer to a four-year university,” Stetson said. “I have interests in mind and some ideas, but I would love to see and/or participate in other career fields before making a final decision.”

Stetson appreciates the support he has received from his teachers and counselors throughout his high school career.

“They’ve helped me academically, opened up career options to me and have been super supportive and

encouraging throughout this whole process,” Stetson said. “They all want me to succeed and have been there whenever I need them.”

Upon graduating from Silverton High School in 2022, Ryan Redman-Brown entered Chemeketa Community College’s Fire Science program, but prior to that he completed Silverton Fire District’s academy.

“I dedicated myself to firefighting during basketball and classes while still in high school,” RedmanBrown said. “It was probably the busiest and most tiring time I’ve had, but it was all worth it because I had an upper hand when testing to get into the Chemeketa program.”

Redman-Brown has been around firefighting his whole life.

“My father, a volunteer at Silverton, was a big reason I joined the fire service,” he said. “I liked seeing him serve the community and save people on possibly their worst day.”

Silverton Fire District provides room and board and a small stipend so long as he keeps his grades up.

Four-Year University

This fall, Katherine Howe will enter the University of Kansas as a mechanical engineering student.

“I knew early on I would be an engineer,” the Silverton High School senior said. “Both my parents are engineers and that path interested me.”

Her biggest struggle was choosing which field of engineering to pursue. She spent a lot of time learning about her parents’ jobs and exploring her interests.

“I found cars to be my favorite, which led me to mechanical engineering,” Howe said. “My school counselors worked hard to get me into the classes that would best prepare me, including acquiring the math skills I will need to succeed.

“I also had to consider what I wanted from the place where I’d be living,” she said. “I ultimately decided that Kansas University was the right place; really friendly and accepting, no deal-breaking legislation, great scholarship packages and affordable housing.”

Howe made many sacrifices her first few years of high school to ensure that her senior year could be dedicated to preparing for college.

“I made the decision to forego a social life in exchange for fulfilling my ambition and I will likely do the same in college,” she said.

Silverton High School seniors spread out in the gym to share their Extended Application Presentations with underclassmen. The projects are a compilation of four years of activities related to choosing and pursuing a career path. BRENNA WIEGAND

Gaven Stetson SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ryan Redman-Brown SUBMITTED PHOTO

Katherine Howe SUBMITTED PHOTO

guiding

By Melissa Wagoner

Autumn Kuenzi has battled depression and anxiety her entire life, but when her first child was born eight years ago, that battle raged at a whole new level.

“I got postpartum depression and anxiety,” Kuenzi recalled. “And I just couldn’t sit with it. So, I made the decision to take control of it.”

Which meant, along with seeking professional help, Kuenzi also went back to her roots and reexamined what brought her joy during childhood.

“I grew up in Detroit and so I was raised around the mountains,” Kuenzi said, recalling long, idyllic days spent moving her body outside. “But I lost touch with [the outdoors] when I was a teenager and in my early twenties.”

Intrigued, Kuenzi decided to hit the trails, first with one child and then with two.

“It was something I could plan, something to consume my mind,” Kuenzi said.

“I did a couple of hikes a month.”

Things were going well until, in September 2020, Kuenzi’s childhood home in Detroit burned to the ground.

“My whole world burned,” Kuenzi stated, “my wilderness, my family home. And I thought, I can either let this break me or make me stronger, but I need to make something beautiful because that’s how fires work.”

Uncertain where to begin, Kuenzi approached the therapist she had been seeing for ideas.

“She said, I could see you as a life coach,” Kuenzi said. “And so, from there I played around with the idea and thought, how can I make this more me?”

The answer, she eventually decided, was to become a certified Nature Guide and Wellness Coach, combining both her belief in the healing power of nature and the intrinsic strengths her therapist alluded to.

“I want to work with moms and other women who are struggling,” Kuenzi said of her target audience, which quickly

Take Care with Autumn

Life and wellness coaching, adult and child nature sessions and individual and group hiking coordination. takecarewithautumn.com

Pack Event: a free exploration of baby carriers and backpacks, June 22, 10 a.m. to noon, CoolidgeMcClaine Park, Silverton

July Summer Camp: nature activities and yoga, July 10-14, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Smith Creek Village, Silver Falls State Park, ages 5-12, tuition $100

grew to include kids as well.

Coined, “Take Care with Autumn,” Kuenzi’s venture offers both life and wellness coaching, nature activities for adults and kids and hiking opportunities for individuals and groups on an ongoing basis. Then, each summer, she kicks things up a notch with the addition of day camps and, this summer, her first ever

Pack Event for moms who would like to explore child carriers, backpacks and stroller options.

“My friend came up with it because she’s had like five carriers,” Kuenzi said, describing the event, which will be held June 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at Coolidge -McClaine Park in Silverton.

“I would also like to share tips on where you can go and what to take,” Keunzi said. And I was thinking it might be a good way for new moms to find their hiking buddy.”

Because, along with the fresh air and exercise hiking provides, it can also be an avenue for the creation of friendships, a benefit Kuenzi has recognized through her own membership in the organization, Women Who Explore.

“It’s an amazing way to meet moms,” she pointed out. “You’re putting yourself out there with support. You don’t feel as vulnerable so you can make those connections. It’s a good way to realize you’re not alone.”

Demystifying surrogacy

By Melissa Wagoner

After Melissa Farmer’s fourth daughter was born and her family was nearing completion, her thoughts turned to something she had been contemplating for some time –surrogacy.

“I have wonderful pregnancies,” she said of the impetus for the idea. “And I get pregnant easily.”

She is also aware that not everyone does.

“There are so many people who don’t,” she confirmed. “And gifting is my love language. It’s a very cool thing to be able to do.”

That’s how, five years ago, she became pregnant with her first surrogate baby after her very first attempt at in vitro, despite the odds being only 60 percent in her favor.

“I’m what’s known as a unicorn,” Farmer, who is currently on her third and final surrogate pregnancy, laughed. “I’ve had every transfer take.”

In fact, the entire surrogacy process, from start to finish, has been relatively easy for Farmer, who is now looking for a way to continue giving back to those facing infertility – only in a new way.

“The goal is to guide and support surrogates throughout

the entire journey, from learning if it’s right for them, to resources, to postpartum,” Farmer said of her new venture, which she coined Silver Falls Surrogacy. “And also, to help intended parents.”

Because surrogacy is complicated.

“There are very large contracts,” Farmer pointed out. “Because there’s a lot to consider and the legal ramifications are huge. Even when it’s a friend or family member it’s important to make sure you’re following all the steps.”

In most cases surrogates and intended parents are matched by a surrogacy agency through a process not unlike organ donation. Potential surrogates initially undergo psychological tests, background checks and a series of health examinations.

“There are so many considerations,” Farmer said. “Lifestyle, medical, family support – you may not even realize why you don’t qualify. One of the big ones is not being on financial assistance.”

But even after a surrogate is approved, it can still take up to 18 months to find a match.

“You all have to agree on a lot of the same points,” Farmer explained. “They try to find a match based on

Why Go to Salem for Framing?

preferences and personality. And you get to decide. They outline every little thing.”

For example, one of the couples Farmer carried for requested she abstain from eating beef or pork in observance of their family’s heritage. While another asked that she be willing to pump breastmilk for a period of time directly following the birth. While Farmer viewed

Melissa Farmer, Director of Silver Falls Surrogacy. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Silver Falls Surrogacy hopes to help more couples struggling with infertility

both as reasonable requests, another surrogate may not have agreed. Which is why the initial contract is crucial.

“Communication can be hard,” Farmer acknowledged. “But I love supporting [surrogates] through it all.”

In fact, even before officially opening Silver Falls Surrogacy, Farmer had already aided 25 women in navigating their own surrogacies.

“I don’t think people know, what are their choices?” she said. “And I don’t think a lot of surrogates get support postpartum.”

It’s an issue Farmer is hoping to remedy as a consultant, providing surrogates with referrals to vetted professionals; as an advocate, acting as an intermediary between the surrogate and service providers; or as a full-service case manager, coordinating all of the necessary procedures before and during and after the pregnancy as well as offering postpartum care.

“I’ve done years of research,” Farmer said of the qualifications that make her suited to her new role. “And I would love to have a chat with surrogates or families.”

For more information visit www.silverfallssurrogacy.com.

Surrogacy myths debunked by experience

By Melissa Farmer, Director of Silver Falls Surrogacy

Myth: You don’t need a contract to be a surrogate for a friend or family member.

“Even if it’s a friend or family member you need to make sure you’re following all the steps.”

Myth: It’s hard to give up the baby.

“It’s not giving up my baby. This is 100 percent their baby. I’m excited to give them their baby. It truly is extreme babysitting.”

Myth: Surrogacy is more expensive than adoption.

“Adoption and surrogacy cost about the same.”

Myth: Surrogates are in it for the money.

“When taken into consideration – the time, the gravity of the situation and the toll it takes – the compensation is not enough. Most surrogates do it because they love being pregnant and they

love helping people.”

Myth: The surrogate might decide to keep the baby.

“That’s a weird story people have latched onto.”

Myth: Intended moms are women who don’t want to carry their own baby.

“Most of the time it’s infertility or maybe they went through cancer… there are so many reasons.”

Myth: Surrogates only want the money and don’t take care of the baby.

“Those aren’t real stories… You need to trust your surrogate.”

Myth: Once the baby is born the surrogates never hear from the family again.

“I do occasionally have contact with them and love getting pictures and updates from them.”

May Buchheit May 26, 1935 – May 22, 2023

May Dorothy Wasson was born in North Dakota. She moved to Silverton, Oregon with her family when she was in third grade.

She met Robert (Bob) Buchheit on her last day of eighth grade. They married when she was a senior in high school, three days before she turned 18. They had been married for 70 years. They raised six children. May worked for Wilco Farmers for over 50 years. She loved to read, go to the casino, and most especially spend time with family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; daughter, Lynette Martin (Larry); son,

Gene Fetters

Steve (Kris); son, Kevin (Lisa); daughter, Marci; son, Marty (Ruth); son, Brent (Vicki); step-son, Jim (Bethanie); step-son, Jerry Glesmann (Sonya); 19 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. The funeral mass was celebrated on May 31 at St. Paul Church in Silverton.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson’s Disease Research and Education Institute. The website is: parkinsonsdisease researcheducationinstitute.org

Arrangements made by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

Dec. 30, 1932 – May 28, 2023

Gene Loyd Fetters was the son of Enos and Clara Fetters, born on Dec. 30, 1932 in Black Hills, South Dakota. He is survived by his wife, Violet Fay Fetters; siblings, Wayne Fetters and Wanda Frank; children, Catherine Schar, Sheri (Dean) Chitwood, and Steven Gene (April) Fetters; ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild; arrangements made by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

In Memory Of …

Mary Magdalene Wolfe

Rodney Kjos

Rosella McKay

Rosella Mary (Gooley)

McKay was born to Fred and Mary (Butsch) Gooley in Mount Angel, Oregon. She married Joe McKay in 1949 and moved to St. Paul, Oregon where they raised 12 children. Rosella was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, and her two sons, Dan and John.

Aug. 24, 1928 – May 25, 2023

quiet and generous loving heart. She treasured all her friendships new and old and the extra special care she received at Mount Angel Towers. Rosella’s faith was a priority in her life, reciting the rosary daily. She died peacefully surrounded by her children.

Oct. 23, 1932 — May 14, 2023

July 14, 1937 — May 14, 2023

May Buchheit May 26, 1935 — May 22, 2023

Dianne Kohlmeyer March 13, 1937 — May 25, 2023

Rosella McKay Aug. 24, 1928 — May 25, 2023

Gene Fetters Dec. 30, 1932 — May 28, 2023

Roger Hass Dec. 24, 1957 — May 30, 2023

Edward Drescher July 4, 1931 — June 1, 2023

See full obituaries at www.ungerfuneralchapel.com

She is survived by ten children: Tom (Susie), Jim (Terry), Kathy (Tom), Joan (Angelo), Ruth (Ruben), Grace (Jerry), Jeannie (Phil), Mary (Jeff), Skye (Grey), Rosemary (Dave). She also enjoyed her 27 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild with another on the way.

Rosella touched many lives with her

Rosary will take place at Wednesday, June 21 at 10:00 a.m., with Mass to follow at 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul.

Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel – Mount Angel. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary Foundation, P.O. Box 497, Saint Benedict, OR 97373.

Kay Jury April 21, 1957 – May 14, 2023

Kay Lynnette (Ramseyer) Jury, age 66, passed away after her brave fight with cancer on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 14, 2023 in her home of 23 years in Turner, Oregon.

Kay was born on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1957 to David C. (Bud) Ramseyer and Donna May Krug (Liechty) Ramseyer in Silverton, Oregon. Kay thrived anywhere she could share her kindness with people and animals. She leaves a legacy of unconditional love that is unmeasurable.

Kay married her loving husband, Ken Jury, on March 4, 1978 surrounded by friends and family. They were blessed and overjoyed with the birth of their son, Jacob Jury, on March 29, 1990. Both shared the honor of caring for her in her battle with cancer and being with her to the end.

Her legacy of love survives through her husband, son, siblings: Kathie (Ramseyer) Haddon and husband, Richard; Richard Ramseyer and wife, Linda; Robert Ramseyer and wife, Karen; her motherin-law, Del Jury; and Ken’s three siblings: Athena, Ben and Bev. She also leaves cousins, nieces and nephews she shared her joy and love with, as well as those who she considered family. She was preceded in death by her parents and step-father, Howard Liechty.

Kay was raised in the Willamette Valley farm country with her parents and siblings. She was known for her

involvement in Silverton High School where she was recognized as a leader through her success in track and field, student clubs and organizations, cheerleading, etc. Her love of animals is shown through her awards and accolades in 4-H showing sheep at the Marion County and Oregon State level. Her greatest passion was horses, she loved riding with friends and family on the many Willamette Valley trails and on the Oregon Coast beaches. With or without a horse, she loved the beach and loved to visit the beach.

Kay’s heart was to serve and did that beautifully by working in customer service her entire life. She was known for her beautiful smile and remembering those she served. Customers would wait in a longer line to see her when she was a bank teller in Mount Angel, Oregon and on Market Street in Salem, Oregon. She “adopted” dozens of kids at the Robert High School and then greeted and visited with people at Paddington Pizza as a bartender. She retired in 2019, then Kay enjoyed working on their property, riding horses with friends, caring for her mother and the ease of visiting the many people she enjoyed.

Arrangements made by Unger Funeral Chapel-Silverton.

Edward Drescher July 4, 1931 – June 1, 2023

Edward Anthony Drescher, 91, of Monitor, Oregon passed away June 1, 2023. Ed was born in Monitor to John and Theresa Drescher on July 4, 1931.

Ed served in the US Army & the Army Reserves until his discharge in 1961. He spent his life in Monitor working to continue the legacy of Drescher Farms.

He married Ruth Gamble on Feb. 20, 1960 and lived on the family farm in Monitor until the day of his death.

Ed was a caring husband, father, and grandfather who raised cane berries and row crops with the help of his wife and sons during the early years of their marriage.

Ed served 40 years on the Monitor Fire Department (1957-1998) as a firefighter, captain, and assistant chief, along with serving on other boards and committees in the area.

Charlotte Adele Schwab Schmidt

He was an avid elk and deer hunter and an outstanding fisherman who enjoyed the outdoors while being surrounded by good friends and relatives.

Ed was preceded in death by his siblings, Justine, Dorothy, Lawrence, Hub, John, Ann, Irene, Rita; his wife, Ruth; and his daughter, Rhonda. He is survived by his children, Ray (Karey), John, Gene, and Stephen; siblings, Clara, Fred and Margie; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren (and one on the way).

Rosary was held June 8 and Mass on June 9, both at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mount Angel.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or to the Mt. Angel Knights of Columbus.

Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel –Mount Angel.

Dianne Kohlmeyer March 23, 1937 – May 25, 2023

Dianne Theresia Kohlmeyer, beloved wife, mother and grandmother has passed away at the age of 86, with her husband of 59 years by her side.

Dianne was born on March 23, 1937, to parents Carol Kinnen and Ida Freiert Kinnen in Wadena, Minnesota. Her siblings, Leatrice Pugatch (Nathan) and Norman Enke, preceded her in death.

Dianne married her husband, Gary, on Jan. 11, 1964. They moved from Oakland, California in 1969 to Silverton, Oregon, to raise their family. Dianne had three children, Lizabeth Davis (who preceded her in death), Mark Kohlmeyer and Cindy Vaughn (Ken). She has three grandchildren, Kalie Austin (Cole), Kylie Vaughn and Chance Kohlmeyer, along with one great granddaughter Elsie Austin.

Dianne loved and cared deeply for her

family and friends and always made everyone around her feel special.

She worked at T-Mart/ Tiffany’s drug store for over 20 years. She enjoyed working outside and planting flowers. Her backyard became a safe haven for many wildlife, including two deer, who she named Luke and Leia that would visit her regularly. In her final days she enjoyed being surrounded by her family, listening to music, and being read to by her husband.

Dianne requested a private service for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Green Acres Farm Sanctuary or your local Humane Society to honor her love for animals.

Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

Submissions Welcomed: Our Town appreciates the opportuity to share life’s Passages with our readers. If there is a birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary, college graduation or obituary of a local resident you’d like to share, please send it to ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com

Sept. 6, 1929 – May 22, 2023

Charlotte Adele Schwab Schmidt, 93, of Portland, Oregon and Palm Desert, California peacefully passed away on May 22, 2023.

Charlotte’s life celebration will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 575 E. College St., Mount Angel, Oregon on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. The Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m., with a funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Father Ralph Recker OSB. An event not to be missed will follow in St. Mary’s Hall and around Mount Angel. For those in the area, we will also meet the next day at the Weingarten for a memorable first day of Oktoberfest get-together.

Charlotte has given her time, love, and tenderness to many things over her life, and in death, it’s no different. She has donated her remains and will be helping medical students learn through handson experience in the classrooms of Loma Linda University (www.medicine.llu.edu). As Charlotte’s earthly body continues to help the next generation of medical students, her soul finds rest within the loving arms of her husband, Norm, and with the family members who have gone before her: parents, Paul Schwab and Eleanor Fischer Schwab; siblings, Marlene Irma Schwab Hoy and Lois Eleanor Schwab Tracy; and many Schwab and Schmidt relatives and dear friends.

Charlotte was born on Friday, Sept. 6, 1929 in the hospital of Silverton, Oregon, a few miles from her home in Mount Angel. Her childhood residence was four blocks from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and she lived close to many Schwab family members. Her grandfather, Fred Schwab, was the first mayor of Mount Angel. Her father, Paul, worked at his father’s business, The Fred Schwab Commission Company, a grain and hops wholesaler. Her mother, Eleanor Fisher Schwab, was a bright candle who befriended everyone.

Charlotte lost her father when she was 12 years old. Being the oldest of the siblings, it fell to her to help with the other children. Once they moved to Salem, Oregon she was: student, babysitter, laundry/dry cleaner worker, strawberry picker (for one day), teenager, errand runner, soda fountain worker, prom organizer volunteer, classmate, cousin, friend, sister, and daughter. In 1947, she graduated with her high school diploma from Sacred Heart Academy in Salem.

Education has always been an essential part of Charlotte’s life. Her family and the Catholic community of her childhood helped her focus her goals toward nursing. In 1947 she started the nurse’s training program at Providence Hospital in Portland, Oregon. She entered the three-year program to become a registered nurse. Throughout her training, she did several rotations in Oregon hospitals: OB/GYN, Pediatrics and Well Baby Care, and Psychiatry. And as we all know, her favorite part was the babies. She graduated with her registered nurse’s pin, cap, and cape in August 1950 and got a job at Salem General Hospital.

Charlotte met Norman Albert Schmidt through mutual friends, and Norm immediately knew they would marry. The day they met, he dropped Charlotte off on her residence floor at Providence Hospital and asked what her last name was. She told him, and he laughed. “What a name, Charlotte Schwab,” he said. “Well, your name isn’t any better,” she told him. Then as he held the elevator door open, he looked at her and said, “I’m going to marry you.” Charlotte retorted with, “You’re crazy; I am not getting married to anyone.” And he smiled at her as the doors closed.

Charlotte and Norm were married in Salem on July 14, 1951. After 64 loving years as husband and wife, Charlotte’s soulmate died in 2015. Their legacy of faith, family, and deep love for each other continues in their ten children, 26 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Charlotte is survived by her brother, Ronald Edward Schwab (Myrna); multiple cousins; and her children, Ric (Lynette), LuAnn, Frank (Tina), Jacob, Ellen (Fred), Carolyn (Brian), Donna (Jeff), Amy (Mark), Sarah (Noel), and Martha (Matt); grandchildren, Nicholas (Kate), Jenna, Tara (Fred), Sam (Isabel), Tim, Rosa (TJ), Mary (Daniel), Erin (Jonathan), Kaitlyn (Nick), Sean, Joshua (Virginia), Chris, Rachael (Adam), Jeremiah (Heather), Elizabeth, Kathryn, Amanda (Evan), Joel (Shauna), Hannah, Adam (Sarah), Adele (Josh), Nathan (Shelley), Angelina, Gabe, Paul (Hailey), and Danica; great-grandchildren, Ada, Julian, Molly, Mateo, Clara, Abigail, Evelyn, Eliana, Aurora, Charlotte, Gwenova, Coralee, Aniya, Ivy, Mayla, and Henry. And, since Charlotte touched so many souls with her kindness and love, all readers of this are one of her children. She embodied tenderness and compassion, and everything she did brought love to everyone around her. She would make each person feel like they are a part of the family.

In 2018, Charlotte Schwab Schmidt wrote and published her memoir, Love is a Family: Memoir of a Lifetime. It is a compilation of inspirational stories that begins with her parents’ background, their marriage, and Charlotte’s birth. She tells of her life from childhood through adulthood, with the birth of her ten children and the many adventures the family engaged in. Towards the end, she reflects on her time with her loving husband and says, “We are best friends. We deeply love each other. We share a common religion and viewpoint of life. We agree with how we should live and how to enjoy life. We didn’t try to influence or control each other. We respected each other’s individual freedoms, viewpoints, and feelings. And we were eager to share life’s experiences with one another” (page 283). Their 64-year marriage gave them multiple experiences to share, and this final adventure brings them together forever.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www. jdrf.org). Charlotte’s loving family wishes to thank you for your contributions. Charlotte and her family’s legacy lives on in educators, nurses, doctors, and more. Her smile will live on for generations to come.

Coronation time JFK boys end sterling session with repeat baseball title

31-0.

We should have seen this coming. The team that coach Kevin Moffat sent out in last June 3’s title game vs. Umpqua Valley Christian featured senior Riley Cantu and eight juniors.

Returning this year were Charlie Beyer, Luke Beyer, Brian Beyer, Ethan Kleinschmit, Andrew Cuff, Owen Bruner, Brett Boen and Matt Hopkins. Sophomore Brody Kleinschmit took over at second base

to complete the 2023 lineup.

And it was an exquisitely balanced squad.

The Trojans could hit, run, field, throw, bunt and pitch. They drew walks. They took the extra base. They played with exuberance. The bottom of the lineup often did more damage than the top.

And the run goes back farther than last year’s title team.

school year for Kennedy boys teams, with Joe Panuke’s football team taking second in Class 3A in the fall and Karl Schmidtman’s squad finishing third in 2A basketball.

“There was a lot of carryover,” said Cuff, one of eight athletes who played on all three teams.

“We’ve been in a lot of championship moments. That kept our nerves down and kept us under control.”

All eight of those kids have graduated, which means others around the state will be looking for dropoffs come next school year, in baseball as well as the other two sports. Don’t count on it.

Running every First Friday and every Saturday and Sunday all summer.

Consider that Kennedy finished second in 2019, nobody played in 2020 because of COVID and JFK took second to Glide in the “unofficial” 2021 tournament. That’s domination.

The baseball title ended a remarkable

“We’ll be young, sure, and no one will be expecting much from us,” Moffatt said.

“But, you know, our JV team was 20-4.”

The Kennedy High baseball team, with coach Kevin Moffatt at center holding the trophy, is shown after completing a perfect 31-0 season on June 3 with a 10-0 victory against Blanchet Catholic in the

OSAA Class 2A-1A title game at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. SUBMITTED PHOTO

State champs Mucken wins long jump, places in 3 other events for SHS

By James Day

Silverton High’s Steeley Mucken scored in 4 events on May 26-27 to lead the Foxes to a tie for 5th in the OSAA Class 5A track and field meet at Hayward Field in Eugene. Mucken won the long jump and took 5th in the 100, and 6th in the 200 and the javelin to help Silverton score 39 team points, tied with Canby for the fifth spot behind champion Summit (118.5).

Joel Rush took third in the pole vault and Josef Dettwyler was 4th and Jonathan DuVal was 8th in the high jump for the Foxes. JD Arthur (6th, 800) and Sam Schaffers (6th, shot put) and Elijah Willis (8th, javelin) also scored.

The Silverton girls team, led by Kirsten Kuenzi, scored 15 points to tie for 15th place with Lebanon, Springfield and North Eugene. Summit also won the girls meet with 99 points.

Kuenzi took 4th in the 200, 7th in the 200 and the long jump and ran the anchor leg on the Foxes’ 4x100 relay squad that finished

4th. Also on the relay were Sicily Becerra, Lexi Enzenberger and Brooklyn Schurter Madison Stackpole finished 8th in the shot put.

Kennedy, meanwhile, scored 12 points in the Class 2A boys meet, while the Trojans girls scored 10,. Both teams finished in 21st place.

Scoring for the boys were Cole Vogel (5th, 110 hurdles) and JeremiahTraeger (6th, 110 hurdles), Isaac Berning (8th, javelin) and Johnathan Kintz (8th, 3,000) while the 4x400 relay squad of Dakota Heard, Griffin Kilbourne, Elijah Traeger and Javier Rodriguez finished 6th.

On the girls side Tia Allen of JFK was 5th in the discus, Yulia Chavez Cortes was 7th in the 3,000 and the 4x400 relay squad of Precious Ifenuk, Briar Hachenberg, Alyse Williams and Haley Kline took 5th.

Baseball: Two-time state Class 2A-1A champion Kennedy dominated the all-state and all-Special District 2 selections after finishing 31-0 and routing Blanchet 10-0 in the state title game.

Ethan Kleinschmit was named player of the year in Class 2A-1A, while coach Kevin Moffatt took home coaching honors. Kleinschmit was a pitcher on the first-team, where he was joined by catcher Charlie Beyer and third baseman Andrew Cuff Shortstop Luke Beyer, centerfielder Brett Boen and rightfielder Owen Bruner were named to the second team, while Brian Beyer was selected third-team utility player.

The all-district team included Moffatt as the top coach and Kleinschmit as both pitcher and player of the year. Kleinschmit was a first-team pitcher. Joining him on the first team were Charlie Beyer, Cuff, Luke Beyer, Boen, Bruner, Brian Beyer and utility player Brody Kleinschmit. First baseman Matt Hopkins was a second-teamer and outfielder Nick Cuff earned honorable mention.

In the Mid-Willamette Conference Carson Waples of Silverton was selected as a firstteam pitcher, with infielder Cade Wynn on the second team. Sawyer Enderle and Brash Henderson earned honorable mention for the Foxes, who finished 10-16

overall and 8-10 in league play.

Softball: Silverton, which finished 17-8 overall and 11-5 in MWC play, earned 6 slots on the all-league team. Kate Kofstad was a first-team outfielder, while the pitcher and catcher battery of McKenzie Peterson and Braezen Henderson were placed on the second team. Morgan Stadeli, Hannah Houts and Paisley Rains of the Foxes received honorable mention.

Choir: The Silverton choir took third in the OSAA championships May 5 at the LaSells Stewart Center at Oregon State University. The Silverton team, under the direction of Kimberly Skondin, earned 290 points and trailed only champion Canby (344) and runner-up McKay (329).

“Concert choir had stellar growth this year,” said Skondin. “I would say the group at the end of the year was almost unrecognizable to the group at the start of the year. The kids chose to dig in and work extremely hard every day (in class and in their own time) to be at least 1% better every day. They often exceeded that 1%. I am so proud of them.”

Volunteering

Last summer I did something that I previously thought my schedule would have never allowed – I spent 15 hours volunteering at my daughter’s theater camp.

This statement may sound ordinary to some, especially those who already make time to volunteer on a regular basis, but for others – one out of four Americans, according to the Stanford Center on Longevity – finding 15 hours in a week to spend on something other than work or parenting can feel beyond impossible.

It’s not that I don’t want to volunteer. I am very aware of how important volunteerism is and how good it can feel. I grew up attending the community Grange with my grandparents, 4-H meetings with my peers and a myriad of school clubs and activities with my classmates. But somewhere along the line things got… complicated. I got a job, I bought a house, I had three kids and money became synonymous with time. Suffice to say, if someone had asked me to volunteer 15 hours of my week two

Where to start?

To this I say, I believe you! As a journalist who meets with the heads of nonprofits on the regular basis I often hear tales of just how hard-pressed those groups are to find “new blood.”

• To be a part of a community.

• To have fun.

years ago, I would have said no. So, why did I do it?

The short answer is, I had to. To attend the camp 15 hours of volunteer time by a parent is required – and for good reason. While making volunteerism mandatory can feel like a callous way to obtain volunteers, in some instances it might be the only way to truly obtain the workforce necessary to keep a volunteer-based organization afloat.

At this point you may be saying to yourself; my organization gets the word out that we need volunteers. In fact, we’re shouting it from the proverbial rooftops all the time.

But why is it hard? Ninety percent of Americans say they just don’t know where to start. I did a little research and found out that, in many cases potential volunteers are looking for these things:

• Organization – No one wants to show up to a workday only to discover there’s no one in charge, there are no tools or the work-site isn’t prepared.

• To know exactly what the mission of an organization is.

• Precise expectations.

• Opportunities that can be done at home or with children.

• To have their skill sets put to good use.

• To be approached for help in-person.

• For the organization to be responsive and flexible to their individual needs.

It’s a long list but it’s an important one and, upon looking at it, I can honestly say that my recent volunteer opportunity ticked every one of those boxes, especially – and most importantly – the last two. Because not only was the environment a fun one – with high energy and snacks –it made every single person there feel like a part of a community.

Which may be why, to my surprise, I’m already looking forward to this summer. Not, this time, because I have to but because I want to. Because I can see what an important organization it is, how it helps an enormous group of kids find their place in the world. Because I already know exactly what I’ll be doing, what my place is and how I can help. But most of all because I feel like it’s my community now too. And, let’s face it, it’s a whole lot of fun.

“I highly recommend Whitney & Mike Ulven! They worked tirelessly with us for over a year and helped us find the perfect home. They are so knowledgeable, efficient and organized that we never had to worry about a thing. Whitney & Mike made the whole buying process seamless. We would certainly use them again and recommend them to all our friends.” —Amy

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

Whitney & Mike Ulven cell: 503-705-6118

GENERAL

FREE COMMUNITY

BREAKFAST, pancakes, sausage, egge, etc. at the Marquam Methodist Church in downtown Marquam on Hwy 213 on June 17 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. Everybody’s welcome.

NEED A NEW FENCE?

Now booking for Spring and Summer. Support your Local Small Business/Contractor. Free Estimates-Butte Creek Buildings, LLC. CCB # 238486. 503-932-5110

65th ANNUAL ST. JAMES

CHICKEN BBQ Tuesday, July 4. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 301 Frances St., Molalla. ½ Chicken $9. Chicken Dinners: $14 dine-in and to-go available 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dinner includes ½ chicken, coleslaw, baked potato, roll, dessert. Cash, check, credit. Call or text Call or text 503-260-6470 with any questions.

HELP WANTED

PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT

Unger Funeral Chapel, 229 Mill Street Silverton, OR 97381. We are looking for a part-time Office Assistant. We are a family-owned funeral home in Silverton and 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

NOTICES

MEMORIAL NOTICE honoring Leslie (Radha) Louise Fournier (Aug. 4, 1961 – Jan. 16, 2023).

Saturday, July 15, 1:30 p.m.

Friend’s Church, 229 Eureka Ave., Silverton. Please feel free to share an experience or memory about Leslie.

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

GOT STUFF U WANT GONE?

From yard debris to scrap metal. From garage sale leftovers to rental clear outs. We repurpose, recycle, reuse or donate what we can. Call and find out what we can do for you. $20 minimum. Keith 503-502-3462

JESSE’S LAWN SERVICE & HANDYMAN Pruning, edging, trimming, blackberry cleaning, gutter cleaning, arborvitae, moss treatment, yard clean-up, stump grinding, powerwashing, haulaway. 503-871-786

Internet

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Mobile

Add Xfinity Mobile on America’s most reliable 5G network to your Internet and save hundreds a year on your wireless bill. Savings compared to weighted average of top 3 carriers based on optimized pricing. Xfinity Internet required. Reduced speeds after 20 GB of usage/line. Actual savings vary.

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#T2771 HOME WITH SHOP & BARN $620,000

Mini farm 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)

#T2777 EQUESTRIAN/ HOBBY PROPERTY $829,000 Restorations and updates to this turn of the century farmhouse. Original doors, millwork, and fir floors. Kitchen & Bath remodeled. Bath has claw foot tub and tiled shower. Natural gas for range, F/A, & water heater. Covered 50x50 riding space, 6 stalls w/ matts and water, 4) 40x40 paddocks, good hay storage, tackroom, 50' round pen. Farm ground leased for grass seed. Lots of original character and charm in the 1910 2-story home. Full basement not included in sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#804139)

#T2761 GREAT OPPORTUNITY 1.66 Acres. Salem. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $199,000 (WVMLS#800102)

#T2771 HOME WITH SHOP & BARN 4 BR, 2.5 BA 2320 sqft. 1.4 Acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $620,000 (WVMLS#802934)

NEW! – #T2782 SILVERTON ACREAGE ESTATE 4

BR, 2.5 BA 3837 sqft 2.08 Acres Call Michael at ext. 314

$1,349,000 (WVMLS#805574)

#T2775

Wonderful park-like setting off Woodland Dr, this rural setting is impeccably maintained, 30 X 40 feet shop, 2 bays with a storage loft, plus 8 x 12 garden shed, firepit, paved driveway, metal roof, leaf guard gutters, newer windows, flooring and paint inside and out. This home is move in ready in a highly desired area. Hooked up to city water, with a previous well still on the property. Ready for the new owner to move right in! Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS# 805144)

#T2782 SILVERTON ACREAGE ESTATE $1,349,000

This 2+ acre property is 5 min from downtown Silverton. Custom built home was built in 2003 w/ a major remodel in 2021. Great attention to detail. Rustic open beam vaulted ceilings, wood fireplace, granite counter tops, 100 year old reclaimed plank flooring, stain grade millwork, etc.etc. Triple bay shop 40x80sqft, 2-horse stalls, hay storage, & full bath. Additional 24x36 Storage shop. Call for a full list of amenities. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#805574) 503.873.3545

#T2751 50+ ACRE

FARM 3 BR, 1 BA 1624 sqft Call Michael at ext. 314 $849,000 (WVMLS#798210)

#T2768 WONDERFUL NEW CONSTRUCTION

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

$468,800 (WVMLS#802044)

#T2769 55+ PARK

2 BR, 2 BA 1410 sqft

Call Kirsten at ext. 326

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#T2771 HOME WITH SHOP & BARN 4 BR, 2.5 BA 2320 sqft Call Michael at ext. 314

$620,000 (WVMLS#802934)

#T2772 SINGLE LEVEL HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1799

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#T2774 SILVER CREEK FRONTAGE 1 BR, 1 BA

672 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $399,900 (WVMLS#803547)

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

#T2781 RURAL SETTING $770,000