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$725,000 Located on Evergreen Golf Course in Mt. Angel! Rare find, 2313 Sqft on 2 acres. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667
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$1,585,000 Custom home in 6.81 Acres, 6577 sqft home with panoramic views, horse arena. Silverton. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#818779
$459,000 Mt. Angel, Near the Abbey and the Towers, single level, 1642sqft, built in 2016. Etta Hess 503-507-5786
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$545,000 Single level home with 11 ft ceilings, 3-car garage, 3 bedrooms plus a den. Wood Flooring and quality cabinetry. Pioneer Village, Silverton. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667
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$412,500 Looking for an urban homestead? 2 homes in one is a Cabin! 1.060 Acres in charming Scotts Mills. Donna Paradis, 503-851-0998
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$794,000 PENDING but taking back-up offers! Robin Kuhn 503-930-1896
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$445,900 Mt. Angel, well kept 3 bedroom, 2 bath in great neighborhood. 1 story home, 1476 sqft. Fenced backyard. Rosie Wilgus 503-409-8779
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Nominated as Realtor
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$529,900 Mt. Angel, 2 year old home with quality and tastful finishes, 3 car garage, 1664 sqft. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667
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$299,900 Woodburn Senior Estates, easy living near the golf course, hard wood floors, new roof in 2024, 1,080 sqft. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667
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Something to Do
Holiday active Excercise that’s good for mind, body, spirit, community
By Melissa Wagoner
When people think about the holidays they don’t necessarily think about exercise. But Kirsten Linthwaite – race director for the Robert Frost PTC’s annual Turkey Trot event – thinks maybe they should.
“It often feels overwhelming for a lot of people to add one more thing…” Linthwaite acknowledged, “but taking an hour or so… to get outside with a group of people just having a good time and getting yourself moving for a bit helps a ton with the stress (and family drama!) that often comes with holidays.”
Turkey Trot for Robert Frost
When Linthwaite was growing up, running a Turkey Trot race with her family was a Thanksgiving tradition. And so, when she discovered that her kids’ elementary school, Robert Frost, needed an annual fundraiser, she offered to create a local version.
“That means that I became the race
director of the event, and last year, added Veronica Brummell as my co-race director,” Linthwaite said.
Held Thanksgiving morning at 8:30 a.m. on the campus of Robert Frost, the Turkey Trot is a combination run/walk with both a 3K and 5K option.
“The event is not timed, so we really encourage people to come out and move around before we all sit down to a huge Thanksgiving Day meal,” Linthwaite said. “People can bring strollers and/or leashed dogs, and we encourage wearing a costume!”
The race is open to people of all ages and abilities, but pre-registration is advised.
“Last year, we were thrilled and surprised to have almost 400 participants,” Linthwaite recalled. “That was a [quadruple] increase from the previous year… this year, we would love to have 500 runners/walkers out there.”
They would also like to encourage those who do not want to run or walk, to be a
Now Offering Same Day CROWNS
Turkey Trot
Proceeds benefit Robert Frost’s Parent Teacher Committee
Robert Frost Elementary School 201 Westfield St., Silverton
Thanksgiving Day Nov. 28, 8:30 a.m.
5K or 3K run/walk options
Costumes encouraged Prize drawing held
All ages: $20
Family of four: $60
Registration or to volunteer: www.runsignup.com/Race/OR/ Silverton/SilvertonTurkeyTrot
Spectators can view the course at www.mapmyrun.com/routes/ view/6276382675
part of the cheering crowd, sign up as a volunteer or participate in the drawing.
“All the money goes to the Robert Frost Parent Teacher Club (PTC), which raises money to improve the school experience for students, teachers, and families,” Linthwaite said. “Last year, we funded field trips at every grade level. We have also purchased new tables, chairs, and desks for students, in addition to giving teachers money for supplies, snacks, etc. We also use the money to hold community events that are free and an opportunity for the community to connect, such as movie nights.”
So, whether you’re a runner, a walker or someone who just wants to support the school, the PTC hopes to see you on the course!
Jazzercise Benefit Class for SACA
Over the past 34 years Jazzercise Silverton has raised thousands of dollars and donated a whole lot of food to Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA) through its annual Jazzercise event held at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Jazzercise Benefit for SACA
Cash donations will be matched to benefit Silverton Area Community Aid.
Silverton Community Center gym 421 South Water St., Silverton
Thanksgiving Day Nov. 28, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
All ages: $5 or three food items
No registration required
Bring a mat or towel, a water bottle and two eight-pound weights – if you’d like an additional challenge
“This comes at a time when SACA can use an extra boost to meet the needs of our community after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Jazzercise instructor Andi Morgan said.
Accepting minimum donations of three food items or a $5 admission fee, Morgan is excited to announce that a generous donor will match this year’s cash contributions.
“Our hope is to raise a substantial money and food donation for SACA while getting a fun and effective workout,” Morgan said. “This is a way to truly do something for the community while doing something healthy for oneself. Burn some calories before the feast!”
Open to people of all ages and abilities with no pre-registration required, participants should be prepared for a one hour dance, cardio and strength training workout and are encouraged to bring a mat or towel, a water bottle and two eight-pound weights (if they would like to add an additional challenge).
Whether you are a Jazzercise regular, have always wanted to try a class or are somewhere in-between, this is a terrific
opportunity to raise some money, get some exercise and have some fun.
Fox-a-Thon for Tree of Giving
Silverton High School’s second-annual Fox-a-Thon isn’t just a race, it’s a holiday extravaganza with hot chocolate, apple cider, candy canes and a visit from Santa and his elves.
“All proceeds will fund Christmas presents for youth in our community who are in need,” Violet Ammon, Associated School Body’s Community Relations Officer, said of the event. It was created last year to boost the school’s annual Tree of Giving fundraiser.
Held on Saturday, Dec. 14, the Fox-a-Thon will include two races, a one-mile starting at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K kicking off at 9 a.m.
“Check-in will begin at 7:30…” Ammon said, listing registration fees as $10 for adults, $8 for children ages four to 13 and free for those under four. Costumes are encouraged.
Fox-a-Thon
Fundraiser for the annual Tree of Giving program benefitting children and students in need assistance during the holidays.
Silverton High School 1456 Pine St., Silverton
Saturday, Dec. 14
Registration: 7:30 - 8:15 a.m.
One mile and 5K run/walk options
1 mile race begins at 8:30 a.m.
5 K race begins at 9 a.m.
Adults: $10
Children 4-13: $8
Children three and under: Free
“There will be a prize for the best-dressed individual and the best-dressed team,” Ammon added.
Visit the high school and join the fun.
Peppermint Passports
By Melissa Wagoner
As members of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce began planning for the upcoming holiday season, one thing became clear.
“The Shop Hop had kind of lost its steam after 20 years,” chamber executive director Stacy Palmer explained.
But the need to incentivize shopping locally has not.
“It’s about reminding folks who is here,” Palmer said of the role the Shop Hop played. “Creating an awareness of what we have here is important.”
Which is how the Chamber’s newest promotion, the Peppermint Passport, came to be.
“It’s a digital platform, so you’ll do it on your phone,” Palmer said. “And it’s free to play.”
Offering a variety of peppermint-themed discounts from participating businesses
throughout Silverton, the Peppermint Passport will offer a fun way for both visitors and community members to try new products and services while they shop for holiday gifts.
“For those who don’t want to make a purchase, maybe they just want to look, there will be a Peppermint Passport Pin,” Palmer continued.
Similar to the Shop Hop’s design, the pin will allow shoppers to input a code, obtained from the proprietor of participating stores.
“If you check in at enough locations, you can come collect your free Peppermint Passport ornament,” Palmer said. “It’s a way for everyone to participate.”
All you need is a smartphone and the app, which participants can download at the Chamber of Commerce website anytime between the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29, and Dec. 31.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to
Local shopping campaign gets a new twist
inspire and keep people local,” Palmer said.
That includes the addition of a holiday lighting contest as well.
“There’s no theme,” Palmer said. “But they need to be up by First Friday [Dec. 6] because that’s when we have so many people downtown.”
The contest is open to all of Silverton’s business owners.
“Just give us a shoutout if you’re participating” – the winner will receive 20 passes to the Silverton Christmas Market at The Oregon Garden Resort.
“All of this… the decorating, the Peppermint Passport… it’s all about creating every awareness that what we have here is important,” Palmer said.
“And that it’s important to support our businesses – retail and restaurants, and service providers as well.”
• The winning display will be awarded 20 passes to the Silverton Christmas Market.
• To participate contact the Silverton Chamber of Commerce, 503-873-5615
Timely tips for taking holiday photos
By Melissa Wagoner
A professional photographer for17 years, Annie Smith knows there is real value in regularly having family photos taken – but she also knows it can be difficult.
“It’s hard to get everyone together,” she said. “But I hear all the time people wish they had taken more photos when their kids were younger.”
Which is why she encourages people to take advantage of the holiday season, when gatherings of family and friends are more common.
“Get those photos!” Smith said. “Even if it’s just with a tripod. Life is short, and not everyone will be there next year.”
And the photos and the people in them don’t have to be perfect.
“Those missing teeth photos and all the different stages… it’s so precious,” Smith pointed out. “And time goes by so fast.”
It’s not just the kids who need to be photographed, she said, make sure to get the adults in the shot and those designated family photographers as well.
“Some people prefer to take the pictures because they don’t like how they look,” Smith said. “But when your children grow up, you’re not going to be there.”
Mom’s Night Out: Photography Class
“How to take better photos of your kids.”
Annie Smith Photography Studio 203 Oak St., Silverton Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 to 8 p.m.
Cost – $50
www.anniesmithphotography.com/momclass
Once the photos are taken, it’s important to do more than just scroll through them on your phone or post them on social media.
“Print them,” Smith urged. “Because there’s a chemical reaction that happens within the brain with printed photos and our kids are missing out.”
And the holidays are the perfect time to remedy that.
“Get professional prints, canvases or albums,” Smith suggested. “And while I am a big supporter of everyone getting family portraits, it’s OK if you want to take pictures on your own. You love your kids, so they’ll be beautiful no matter what.”
Just take those photos!
“And then put the camera away,” Smith said. And simply enjoy the day.
COURTESY ANNIE SMITH
Your Health
Saying ‘no’ is OK Planning ahead can reduce holiday stress
By Melissa Wagoner
For many people, the holidays are a mixed bag of emotions.
“It can be joyful,” licensed professional Counselor Jennifer Ungarwulff, owner of Mother Heart Counseling in Silverton, said.
“But that’s not everyone’s experience. The stress of prepping for the holidays, cleaning, cooking, having people over on top of what we’re already doing –especially parents who are working – and we’re supposed to find time and money. It’s not easy at all.”
Added to that, difficult family relationships, left unaddressed, can trigger previously established dynamics.
“And we may not feel safe emotionally to process what comes up,” Ungarwulff said. “But we can only shove things down for so long.”
That’s why Ungarwulff suggests taking a proactive approach to the holiday season.
“You get to have a conversation with yourself and ask – what would it look like to do less or let go of the things that feel obligatory and embrace the meaningful?” she said. “To be able to be assertive?”
It’s not easy, Ungarwulff said, especially when separations, divorce, shared custody and loss are a part of life.
“So, make space for it,” she said. “Create space. Because when we’re not fighting against ourselves and our experience, we don’t have to pretend something is different.” Or that we are not grieving.
In fact, embracing grief – by adding a new remembrance ritual or spending more time with those who are still here –can sometimes create space for joy amidst the pain.
“But it’s difficult,” Ungarwulff admitted.
“Most people don’t have enough space in life. But if we don’t make space for grief and stress, it comes out in arguments with kids or with spouses and you’ll get sick.”
Then it becomes necessary to ask for support.
“[W]hether that’s to friends, spouses, professionals, church,” Ungarwulff said.
“We’re told it’s weak to ask for help, but I like the idea it’s actually more courageous to ask for help, to express vulnerability.”
And take care of yourself.
“I think people think about self-care as getting a manicure or pedicure,” Ungarwulff said. “But for me, it’s finding what feeds you, nourishes you and brings you rest.”
Such routines can include journaling, walking in nature or a mindfulness practice that includes checking in with yourself and asking – how am I feeling? What am I needing?
“If you gift yourself the time to connect with yourself there’s something healing,” Ungarwulff said, acknowledging that finding that time during a busy holiday season, when so many activities feel obligatory, can feel impossible.
“Saying no, is really hard for many people,” she pointed out. “But we cannot do everything and when we try to, we become balls of stress and anxiety. Something has to give.”
That’s why planning for the holidays now, checking in with yourself and your loved ones about what aspects of the holidays are important, is imperative to a better holiday season.
“Remember the point,” Ungarwulff suggested. “Find the meaning and center that. And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect.”
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0.45 ac. Beautiful Santiam River frontage. Fisherman’s Paradise. 1 bd., 1 ba. 39 ft. trailer and bunk house. 10x12 shop, & 10x10 Bldg on slab. 40474 Shoreline Dr., Lyons. MLS#814406
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Rosemary Way lots: 601, 605 & 611 MLS#810425; 615, 619 & 623 MLS#810404. Builder, Developer! Located in Monitor Road Estates. These lots will require wetland remediation. Buyer must have a development plan.
$299,000 Creek frontage on 3.99 acres. Bareland, not a home site. Ideal for recreational use. Seller will carry a contract. Off of Crooked Finger Rd., Scotts Mills. MLS#822303
Something to Think About
Gone but not forgotten
By Melissa Wagoner
In 1973 Jose Romero was working toward achieving a doctorate in political science at the University of Oregon while, at the same time, teaching Chicano Studies at Lane Community College. He received a call that would change his life.
The call was from Celedonio “Sonny” Montes, a former migrant farmworker from South Texas, who had been recently hired at Mount Angel College as the Director of Ethnic Affairs and “minority recruiter,” tasked with engaging a new demographic of students – seasonal farm workers – in the hopes of staving off financial ruin.
“Like a lot of small colleges, they had started losing enrollment and so they were looking in their own backyard,” Romero remembered. “They thought there was a possibility of recruiting these kids and staying afloat.”
But Montes knew he needed more help and so he looked to Romero for reinforcement.
“They wanted to get as many committed people as they could, credibility wise,” Romero said. “I had a post baccalaureate scholarship… but I thought, a year’s break won’t hurt… I just wanted to get out of the ivory tower and do something I was already in support of.”
And so, he took the leap, joining Montes as a member of staff and assisting in the creation of an entirely new school, one that they hoped would rise out of the ashes of Mount Angel College –which had suffered, not only from low enrollment, but also a million dollar debt to the Department of Education.
Looking back at Colegio Cesar Chavez
this rural farm community. And Cesar Chavez meant a lot of things. We thought he was a hero and a role model. But to others it might have meant creating a farm workers union or… I don’t know what.”
But, despite the issues, during the five years Romero worked at the college – eventually rising to the position of Registrar of Admissions alongside Montes, who was the Director of Academic Affairs – the Colegio thrived.
“By 1978 we had done it,” Romero said. “Our kids were eligible for loans and we settled with HUD.”
The Colegio was a college ahead of its time. But that didn’t mean it was immune from problems. In 1978, just as Romero was leaving the Colegio to pursue other opportunities, those troubles came to a head.
wouldn’t be admitted to another college or university.”
In fact, according to Romero, at the time of the Colegio’s founding, in December 1973, there were only 645 “Chicano” students attending institutions of higher education in Oregon.
“And there were very few staff, mentors, people who were embedded with our language and tradition,” Romero added.
“Things were different then.”
Which was why the Colegio – “the first accredited four-year Chicano/Latino college in the United States,”– was nothing short of groundbreaking.
“It was unique,” Romero said humbly, “pretty ahead of its time.”
But those accolades didn’t come easily.
“We busted our buns to prepare the self-study for accreditation,” Romero said. “It was a massive document.
More than 1,000 students would eventually take part in the Colegio Cesar Chavez. An estimated 87 percent of them Latino students, many migrant farmworkers who, until enrolling in classes at the Colegio, were unable to earn a GED, let alone a college degree.
“And they learned that they could go to a post-secondary institution,” Romero said, recalling the high number of students who, after attending the Colegio, went on to earn teaching degrees at either Oregon State or Western Oregon University. “It’s something they hadn’t even thought of in the past.”
“In the fall of ’78/’79 they were going to get grants. There were funds they could apply for to help train staff and with coursework. There was financial eligibility for staff and students… the base was there,” Romero recalled. “But there was dissension amongst the staff and from the community. There was a new president and board and a new direction. It all hinged on a solid financial base. But the funding wasn’t enough. In the end that was the excuse the Association for Accreditation used.”
They named the new school Colegio Cesar Chavez, after the labor leader, civil rights activist and founder of the national Farm Workers Association, in the hopes that he would serve as a role model for their students.
“The name was an inspiration because [Chavez] was doing a lot for farm workers,” Romero said. Adding, “A lot of our students were farm workers who
But these things were things that needed to be done if we were looking to be viable. And we had to get out from the issues we were having with HUD [US Department of Housing and Urban Development] and HEW [US Department of Health, Education & Welfare].”
And then there was the complicating challenge of community distrust.
“Mount Angel was a little leery,” Romero recalled. “Of all places to have a college,
Taught by a mix of adjunct faculty and volunteers from the community, students at the Colegio received a bilingual education in the core studies as well as cross cultural education and Chicano studies.
“Most classes were at night because [students] worked in the day,” Romero said. “And the classes were small. We had between 65 and 75 students. Half lived in dorms. Half commuted from nearby communities.”
And around 45 didn’t live in the Mount Angel area at all. Rather, they were a part of the first ever off-campus education program, “El Colegio Sin Paredes,” or “The College Without Walls.”
“We were pioneers at that,” Romero recalled. “We had students in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.”
Operating through phone calls and visits, El Colegio Sin Paredes afforded these students the ability to learn from home.
“Then we reviewed their portfolio quarterly for credits,” Romero said.
Stripped of its accreditation, in 1983 the Colegio closed its doors. But its legacy continues to this day through the work of Romero – who had a career in education for the next 30 years, advocated for civil rights for 55 years, founded the annual Cesar Chavez Leadership Conference and led the fight to change Portland’s 39th Avenue to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard in 2009. And it also continues through the accomplishments of the many students, staff and family members affiliated with the school.
“When I say the legacy lives on, I’m not kidding,” Romero said. Listing PODER, Oregon’s Latino Leadership Network and PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste), the main union for farmworkers in Oregon as two of the most well-known organizations directly influenced by the Colegio.
It’s an influence he hopes will continue, perhaps even through the rebirth of the Colegio itself.
“[Colegio] Cesar Chavez 2.0,” he laughed. “Wouldn’t it be great? 50 years ago it started in Oregon. Wouldn’t it be great if 55 or 56 years later it returned, maybe not to Mount Angel, but to Oregon or the Northwest. It would just be something I would be happy about. I hope they do.”
This is the first in a three-part series that explores the history of the Colegio Cesar Chavez, its legacy, and its influence on the future of education in Oregon.
Colegio Cesar Chavez was located where St. Joseph’s Family Shelter is currently located on S. Main Street in Mount Angel. These images appeared in the 1978 bilingual promotional booklet for the Colegio.
Discussion in the Colegio library.
IMAGES COURTESY NATALIA FERNÁNDEZ, CURATOR OF THE OREGON MULTICULTURAL ARCHIVES AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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with Device Agreement are forfeited. Out of stock phones are not eligible. Offer not valid with prior purchases,
or
Helping Hands
All around the world Filling shoeboxes with Christmas cheer
By Melissa Wagoner
Thirty years ago the humanitarian aid organization, Samaritan’s Purse, began soliciting shoeboxes filled with gifts for children from churches around the country, then shipping them to war-torn Bosnia as a part of Operation Christmas Child.
“Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected over 220 million shoeboxes and distributed them all over the world in over 170 countries and territories,” volunteer Serrena Westerfield explained. “Collection begins every year in the third week of November, this year it is Nov. 18 - 25… at Silver Creek Fellowship.”
Accepting average-sized shoeboxes that have been packed with a variety of items including hygiene products, school supplies and a “wow item” – either a special toy or clothes – the estimated 18,000 Operation Christmas Child volunteers ensure that each box is labeled with the gender and age of child it’s meant for and that all items will make it safely through customs
before shipping them off to one of the millions of children receiving a box each year.
“Anyone can participate in packing shoeboxes,” Westerfield said. “If you are someone that feels you cannot fill a shoebox with numerous items, you can send one item… For instance, you have a passion to make sure kids have school supplies then bring in a box of school supplies… Possibly you are a knitter, and you love making hats or headbands then you can donate them.”
Any level of participation helps, including cash donations, which can be made on the Samaritan’s Purse website.
“I have volunteered for Operation Christmas Child since 2019,” Westerfield said.
“Last year, I received emails from some children’s parents expressing their gratitude for all the wonderful items that their child received… One young child was hospitalized with pneumonia just after receiving his shoebox. While sleeping in
the hospital, he was snuggled up with his beanie teddy bear. Imagine the impact in our world if every shoebox a person packs made a difference in a child’s life. I like to think we are changing the world with one shoebox at a time.”
To assist Operation Christmas Child
Regular-sized shoeboxes filled with hygiene products (no liquids), school supplies, toys and clothing appropriate for one child can be dropped off at Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 Industrial Way NE, Silverton
• Nov. 18, 20, 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Nov. 19 and 21, 3 to 6 p.m.
• Nov. 24, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Nov. 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For information or to make a cash donation visit: www.samaritanspurse.org/ what-we-do/operationchristmas-child
The Elizabeth Ashley Hoke Memorial Trust is hosting a free Thanksgiving meal for the entire community on Thursday, Nov. 28.
The homestyle dinner will be served 1 - 3 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N. Church St., Silverton. Everyone is welcome to attend.
This is the eighth year of the event, which was created to extend the spirit and legacy of Elizabeth Hoke, the Silverton High School valedictorian who died in a car accident on her way to college in 2017. Elizabeth’s goals were said to be to “live gratefully” and “give back more.”
The trust was founded by her parents, Anthony and Kristan Hoke, and friends, to honor her memory. It provides scholarships, school supplies and the Thanksgiving community meal.
A volunteer with Operation Christmas Child. COURTESY SERRENA WESTERFIELD
Arts & Entertainment
Comedic timing Brush Creek Playhouse performs two Christmas romps
By Melissa Wagoner
If you are looking for a way to get into the Christmas spirit and have a few laughs, the Brush Creek Playhouse performance of A Nice Family Christmas might be just the thing.
“It’s silly and fun,” director Russell Olivera Jr. said. “It’s about a newspaper reporter who comes home for Christmas…[to] a family full of dysfunction and secrets.”
Opening Nov. 15, the play will run for two weekends and is appropriate for ages 12 and up, due to mature content.
“By the end of the show you learn all of the family’s secrets,” Olivera said. “But you also realize the magic of Christmas.”
Returning to theater after a 30-year hiatus, A Nice Family Christmas is the fifth play Olivera has directed or co-directed since joining Brush Creek Playhouse in November 2023. He also joined the board of directors, taking over marketing and publicity, while also helping to design sets
The cast of the Brush Creek Playhouse’s A Nice Family Christmas
and direct shows.
“I picked a great time to come in,” Olivera said. “Because next year is the 50th anniversary and we’re doing 10 shows and four showcases.”
Including another holiday-themed
production Olivera is calling, Miscast –Christmas Wishes.
“Miscast is a twisted Broadway cabaret. We do things to surprise people. We put a twist on a song or create vignettes,” Olivera said. “And so, for ‘Christmas Wishes’ we are doing a lot of Christmas
Brush Creek Playhouse Holiday Performances
11535 Silverton Road NE, Silverton For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.brushcreekplayhouse.com/
A Nice Family Christmas, a comedy by Phil Olson
• Ages 12 and older
• Nov. 15, 16, 22 & 23 at 7 p.m.
• Nov. 17 & 24 at 2 and 5 p.m.
Miscast – Christmas Wishes, a twisted cabaret. All ages.
• Dec. 19, 20 & 21 at 7 p.m.
• Dec. 21 & 22 at 2 p.m.
music, but a few other songs, too.” Performances will take place from Dec. 19 to 22 and are appropriate for all ages.
“For people who have family in town, this is a perfect thing to take them to,” Olivera said. “Everyone is really talented.”
. COURTESY HOLLY JAYNES
CHAMPION LEVEL
CHAMPION LEVEL
Citizens Bank • Côté Chiropractic
Results Brakeman wins Scotts Mills mayor’s race
Mayor Paul Brakeman has been returned to office by voters in Scotts Mills, according to returns from the Marion County Elections office.
Accordinh to the latest results, Brakeman received 65.19% of the votes in besting Jason Axness, 32.8%, for the the seat for the second consecutive election.
Three council seats also were up for grabs, with Jay Jackson, Aage Wurdinger and Shawna Axness winning unopposed. Jackson was the leading vote-getter with 35.67%.
Silverton: Mayor Jason Freilinger easily was re-elected to a second two year term. He ran unopposed and received 96.57% of the vote.
College Board placed the measure on the ballot via a unanimous vote on June 26.
Marion County Sheriff: Nick Hunter, who was appointed earlier this year by the county commissioners to head the Marion County office, was easily retained. Hunter had 63% of the votes to 37% for Stacy Rejaian, a deputy in Hunter’s department.
Legislature: Republican Rick Lewis was elected to another term in the Oregon House in District 18, which includes Silverton, Mount Angel and Scotts Mills. The former Silverton police chief and mayor received 71.1% of the votes to 28.8% for Democrat Karyssa Dow.
State Sen. Fred Girod also was re-elected, downing Mike Ashland in the District 9 race. Girod drew 69.41% of the voters to 30.47% for Ashland.
Citizens Bank • Côté Chiropractic • Discover Worship
Discover Worship • Edward Jones –
Edward Jones - Brynie Robinson • Flyin High Hat Co • Hi-School Pharmacy
Brynie Robinson • Flyin High Hat Co
Hi-School Pharmacy • Jeffrey G Jackson, CPA
Jeffrey G Jackson, CPA • Ron & Jane Jones • Our Town Magazine
Incumbent councilors Elvi Cuellar Sutton and Matt Gaitan were elected to four-year terms, along with former Mayor Kyle Palmer. All three ran unopposed. Sutton joined the seven-person council after the 2020 election. Gaitan was appointed in January 2023, after Freilinger vacated a council seat to assume the mayoral role. Palmer was a councilor in two stints between 2005 and 2017 and served as mayor from 2017 to 2022. He replaces Jess Miller, who chose not to seek a second term. Palmer was the leading vote-getter with 38.5% of the vote.
Marion Soil & Water: Incumbent Peggy Hart defeated Tony Shepherd by a 61.3% to 38.1% margin in the battle for the conservation district’s at-large director No. 1 slot. Angela Plowhead ran unopposed in Zone 4.
Andy & Diane Ulven Foundation • Water Street Inn • Wild Dandelion
Pacific Stair Corporation • The Palace Theatre
Roberts, Ring & Fischer
• Roth’s Fresh Markets
Silver Falls Terrariums • State Farm
FRIEND LEVEL
Andy & Diane Ulven Foundation
Water Street Inn • The Wild Dandelion
Abiqua Rentals • Clem Butsch General Insurance
Country Financial - Brent Satern • Curbside Italian Kitchen • Fin and Fowl
Mount Angel: Joseph Pfau is the new mayor, earning 94.51% of the vote while running without opposition. He replaces Mayor Pete Wall, who chose not to seek another term. David Hoffer, Shelley Otte and Jack Belleque ran unopposed for the three open council seats. Hoffer was the leading vote-getter with 34.19%.
The board has seven members, five of whom represent specific zones. Two board members are elected at-large by the entire county. Mount Angel is in Zone 2, while Silverton is in Zone 3 and Scotts Mills is in Zone 5. No candidates filed to run in zones 1 and 2. At-large No. 2 and zones 3 and 5 will go before the voters in 2026.
Food drive donations needed
Cabinetry • Golden Valley Farms Goschie Farms • Hartley Insurance
FRIEND LEVEL
Abiqua Rentals • Clem Butsch General Insurance
MAPS Credit Union • NAPA Auto Parts • Patrick Doyle, Attorney
Peoples Taphouse • Silver Creek Lanes • Silver Falls Family Dental
Country Financial – Brent Satern
Curbside Italian Kitchen • Fin and Fowl
Mount Angel voters also passed Measure 24-505, which prohibits psilocybin-related businesses within the city limits. The measure passed with nearly 68% of the vote.
Silverton Eye Care • Silverton Family Dentistry • The Home Place Restaurant Mountain Houses • Umpqua Bank • Wilco • Willamette Valley Bank
G & J Cabinetry
• Golden Valley Farms
Goschie Farms • Hartley Insurance
The Home Place Restaurant
MAPS Credit Union • NAPA Auto Parts
Patrick Doyle, Attorney • Peoples Taphouse
Allen Chiropractic & Wellness Center • AmeriTitle
Silver Creek Lanes • Silver Falls Family Dental
Silverton Eye Care • Silverton Family Dentistry
Edward Adams House Bed & Breakfast • Grant Company • IOKA Farms
Kelley • Kuz LLC • Larsen Flynn Insurance • Les Schwab • Mini Storall
Tiny Mountain Houses • Umpqua Bank • Wilco
Angel Dental • Oregon Garden Foundation • Oregon Garden Resort
Willamette Valley Bank
Chemeketa Community College: The college’s attempt to finance upgrades and remodeling through a bond measure has failed. Measure 24-507 was trailing by a 56% to 44% margin. It would have generated $140 million in improvements paid for by district taxpayers. The bond, had it been approved, would have replaced an expiring $92 million bond and used the same tax rate of 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a home valued at $400,000, the property owner would pay $108 per year, or about 30 cents per day. The Chemeketa Community
Rustic Melt • Schurter Trucking • Silver Creek Animal Clinic
Creek Auto Body
and Frame
Allen Chiropractic & Wellness Center • AmeriTitle
Edward Adams House Bed & Breakfast
Silverton Ballet
Silverton Elks #2210
Grant Company • IOKA Farms • Kelley & Kelley • Kuz LLC
Larsen Flynn Insurance • Les Schwab Mini Storall
The McClaine House
Oregon Garden Foundation
• Mt. Angel Dental
• Oregon Garden Resort
Ort Chiropractic Clinic Pill Box
• Potters Automotive Pratum Co-op • The Red Bench
Rustic Melt • Schurter Trucking • Silver Creek Animal Clinic
Silver Creek Auto Body
Silver Spur RV Park
Silverton Elks #2210
• Silver Creek Chimney Sweep
• Silverton Art and Frame
• Silverton Realty
• Silverton Ballet
• Somewhere In Time
Township Health • Unger Funeral Chapel
• Village Print Shop
Willamette Valley Caregivers • Willamette Valley Pie Co.
Withers Lumber Co. • Wolf Construction & Restoration
Catholic Community Sservices and Mission Benedict are looking for help with the Holiday Food Drive. Mission Benedict is collecting food for families in need in the area.
Most needed items are canned vegetables, fruit, meats and soup; packets of gravy, Jello, pudding, rice, beans, flour or cereal; boxes of stuffing or cornbread mix; and peanut butter and juice.
Donations can be dropped off at Mission Benedict, 925 S. Main St., Mount Angel, Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drop-off deadline for the drive is Dec. 9.
Strong bonds Inspiring new welders with creativity
By Melissa Wagoner
When it comes time for 11-year-old Nora Piper to create a new welding project she simply looks through the pile of pipes, bolts, car headlights, wrenches and even hip replacement parts to find inspiration.
“[I’ve made] different sizes of yard art some big some small some in the middle,” she said describing the series of natureinspired items she created after enrolling in a kids welding class last year “and I’m not sure why I picked those projects I just saw what I had and something comes to mind so I make it.”
It’s the kind of creativity that instructor Beth Lau relishes.
“I believe it is important for children to understand they are capable of making, creating, building, and reimagining the world around them,” Lau explained. She began teaching the class two and a half years ago, after her own children expressed an interest.
“Steel is the skeleton of infrastructure and goes unnoticed by most. So, using steel to make unique art, or structural pieces, helps them to acknowledge more of what’s around them.”
It’s also a useful skill.
“I’ve worked on projects as big as the elephant enclosures at the Oregon Zoo, the staircases and landings at the new Medford hospital, and the entryway staircase to the new Eugene High School,” Lau said of her own career.
But she’s worked on small projects, too –making gifts and mending things. In fact, that’s how she got her start.
“I used to rebuild old Mopar vehicles with friends,” she recalled. “We always
Kids Welding Classes
W.E.L.D. Space
Welcoming Everyone to Learn and Discover 522 W. Main St., Silverton Ages four and older. $15 per half hour class and $25 per hour class. Financial aid available.
For more information or to register email weldspace66@gmail.com, call 971-666-0579 or follow the group, “W.E.L.D. Space” on Facebook.
trial class or attend an open house… on the last Saturday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m.,” she said.
needed something welded and didn’t know anyone who could. So, in 2016 I went to Chemeketa for their welding program…”
And now she’s sharing that knowledge with a new generation of welders.
“I teach students four years old and up,” she said, describing the class she holds
in her W.E.L.D Space – which stands for “welcoming everyone to learn and discover.” She said its appropriate for everyone – including those with “varying abilities and diagnosis” and access to funds.
“I would encourage anyone who may be interested in taking classes, to schedule a
And Piper – who plans to continue her welding career, perhaps adding trees and leaves to her repertoire – encourages that, too.
“I think that people would really like it and it’s for all ages so no matter your age you should give it a try!” she said.
11-year-old Nora Piper posing with welding instructor, Beth Lau, and the yard ornament she created in Lau’s W.E.L.D. Space. Nora’s art took first place and Best of Show in the Youth Division of the Marion County Fair. KELLY PIPER
One of the many creations made by kids learning to weld in Beth Lau’s W.E.L.D. Space. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Hierarchical world view proves troubling
I write to respond to Gregg Harris’ paid advertisements in Our Town. Although the ads are totally acceptable as free speech, they express beliefs and opinions that distress me. Gregg Harris’ opinions are expressed as assertions of truth, a truth with which I do not agree. If we do not balance that content of a full page in our small newspaper with different views, Our Town disproportionately prints one point of view.
GUEST OPINION
Mr. Harris and the Noble Men state the mission of their ads and Free Movies is to convert people to Christianity. As a Christian and a woman, twice baptized, I cannot agree with the version of Christianity they preach.
Mr. Harris’ quotes the Bible as the authoritative word of God. Yet we know that the Bible is a collection and compilation of texts from many different ancient sources, chosen or left out by synods which were organized to officially include approved texts, some lost, some recently discovered, some contradictory, the oldest in cuneiform-like alphabets, copied and recopied by scribes, in languages with grammar, concepts, and vocabulary that have sometimes been poorly translated into modern English.
However, it is the world view implied in Mr. Harris’ Christianity that I cannot accept, having experienced it in my visits to many Christian churches. It is a Kingdom hierarchical world view that allocates power and rights to certain groups and limits power and rights to
other groups. It is expressed in the Old Testament era when kingdoms fought for power. In the New Testament this view is asserted using Bible verses about “I am the Way,” that are cited to declare there is only one true way to Salvation from sin. Humans born before the arrival of Jesus are doomed, even though they were created by an allmighty God. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Christians in Name Only (like RINOS), gays, lesbians, and on and on, can never be part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The hierarchical world view is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, in which the believer is commanded to love the creator, self, and neighbor. The Samaritan, the Woman at the Well, the outcast and scorned are embraced. Jesus asks his followers to care for the least among us. Leaders are instructed to be as servants. This view is expressed by Christians and churches that work for social justice, create housing and shelter for those in need regardless of religion, protect those who are vulnerable, and give voice to those who are not in power. Jesus’ command to love your neighbor includes neighbors who don’t look like me, vote like me, pray like me, love like me.
A friend told me Martin Luther King, Jr. said loving does not always mean liking. I do not like Gregg Harris as he reveals himself in his faith outreach. I do believe he is sincere.
Anne Barber-Shams Silverton
A path of compassion brings healing
I support the limitations the Our Town publication has put on Forum submissions. But I wonder if those same limitations apply to articles and ads? It seems to me that they are just as applicable and in accordance with the U.S. Constitution which protects free speech while allowing limitations on certain categories of speech.
In perusing the internet, I found an article describing the difficulties a couple had in maintaining a loving inclusive relationship with their son because he chose a different lifestyle. The son was homosexual, and the parents were dedicated conservative Christians. It is inspiring to read how this family found guidance and advice that helped them understand what true love is. This brought back happiness and closeness to their family. The guidance was found in their Bible and the advice from friends and trusted clergy.
This story raises some questions in my mind. When we encounter someone whose lifestyle and circumstances don’t coincide with what we think of as acceptable, how are we to react? Are we going to raise our flag of superiority, condemn,
criticize, and suppress them? The story illustrates the suffering that may be created by taking such a stance. Or, are we going to strive to understand what has brought them to their present state and offer them compassion, equanimity and, yes, even acceptance? Afterall, something may happen to someone we love or even to ourselves that puts them or us in a circumstance we previously would have considered objectionable. How are we to react? Do we put this person out of our life? If the action happened to us, are we to go into seclusion, withdraw from society, or make ourself physically ill with depression? Do we criticize and condemn? I hope the answer to these questions is no.
We can bring happiness and freedom to ourselves and others if we grow our capacity to offer compassion, equanimity, and acceptance. The transformation may take a lot of effort, time, and even help from others, but this transformative path has been found and traveled for centuries.
Thank you for your patience and consideration.
Sincerely, David Steinberg Silverton
Signed letters to the editor (fewer than 350 words) can be sent to ourtown.life@ mtangelpub.com or mailed to Editor, Our Town, P.O. Box 927, Mount Angel, OR 97362. Our Town reserves the right to edit for clarity or space.
City, county, offer no solutions for tenants without functioning heating systems
On or about July 18, 2024, at Pacific Crest Apartments a series of renovation-related labors commenced... Many are still ongoing to the continued, demonstrable, inconveniences to its residents.
The various projects initially were focused on the first five four-unit buildings. One of the associated undertakings very soon resulted in the permanent removal of the wall heaters in each apartment’s living room. Those implements provided the sole source of heat there. The remaining identical type devices, in the kitchen and each of the bedrooms, have remained intact.
Early on, management announced a plan to provide an alternative avenue of heat. However, the intention was to install in December, at the earliest.
Doubtless owing to vocal tenant complaints, recently management accelerated the timeline to solve the problem.
This writer assumed the above-described circumstance surely
must constitute a violation of some code. Consequently, emails were sent to members of Silverton city government, certain city employees, and also a Marion County agency.
Two elected people chose to reply, with one indicating empathy for the plight of the tenants. A solitary employee responded. Two different answers were tendered by representatives of separate county agencies, both issued by unnamed sources.
Regarding the responses, three principal factors are evident. First, no such germane codes exist in Silverton. Second, among some city officials is what might be characterized as a governmental overreach philosophy, that Silverton should not be involved in such matters. A laissez faire approach to governance, if you will. Third, Marion County agencies have no jurisdictional authority in Silverton.
The message for renters in Silverton who might experience habitation conflicts with landlords? Don’t look to this city for help.
P.S. This last week ... electrical personnel came to each pertinent unit and turned on the provided remote control solely for the purpose of determining that the cooling function worked properly. It does.
But no attempt to ascertain the obvious need that the heating function of the mini-split works as well now that cold weather has arrived. Problem. Neither in my apartment, as well as in the adjacent neighbors’ ones, do the min-splits produce any heat!...
Whether that finding applies to all of the other units installed to date, who knows.
Regardless, the now several months in duration circumstance persists that so many Pacific Crest residents ... still have no installed, functioning heat source in their living rooms.
Greg Marlowe Silverton
Marvin G. Brown
Oct. 25, 1938 – Oct. 15, 2024
Marvin G. Brown passed away Oct. 15, 2024. He was born to Hugh Gordan Brown and Ester Amelia (Kreger) Brown on Oct. 25, 1938 in Albany, Oregon, making him a third generation Oregonian. He was proud of his heritage and taught his family to be proud of their history and the value of hard work through sharing his life story and the stories of his family.
Marvin farmed with his father from childhood until the age of 25, was a member of the National Guard for nine years, was a logger for 22 years for Crown Zellerback, worked for Goschie’s Farm, and finished his career at Woodburn School District.
On June 12, 1965, he married Pamela A. Ross and together they welcomed Tanya K. (Brown) Stutzman (1967) and Troy M. Brown (1969) into the world. Family and
Nan Sears
friends were the focus in his life. He taught them that friends can be made anywhere you go.
After 51 years of marriage, two children, welcoming their spouses, five grandchildren, blessing people with his woodworking, and keeping his Drake Road property incredibly well maintained, Marvin lost his first wife to cancer.
He was fortunate to meet Gloria Schneider. They remarried in November 2019, adding to his family her three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Marvin lived the remaining years of his life as he lived the previous ones, exemplifying his faith, hard work, determination and love for his family.
Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Dec. 31, 1941 – Oct. 13, 2024
Nan Sears, beloved ‘Aunt Nanner” passed away on Oct. 13, 2024.
Nan, known for her vivid red lipstick, lived a colorful and interesting life that included a professional career with the State of Oregon, Legislative Counsel and many endeavors to help others whenever she could.
Her favorite holiday was Halloween because she loved passing out candy to the
Penny Stewart
trick or treaters with her witches hat on.
She is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews and was blessed with many friends who helped make her life better.
A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in the reception area from 1-3 p.m.
Donations can be made in her honor to Trinity Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Nov. 19, 1959 – Oct. 25, 2024
Penny Marie Stewart, 64, passed away on Oct. 25, 2024, after a courageous yearlong battle with cancer. Born on Nov. 19, 1959, in Silverton, Oregon, to Gilbert and Dorothy Jensen, Penny was the sixth of seven siblings.
Penny’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was being Nana to Rebekah, Jennah, Emilie, Heath, Drake, Chase, Bentley, and Aspen. She cherished her role as a mother to her three children, Melanie Huebsch (Jared), Kimberly Mills (Dwayne), and Jeremy Young (Ashley). She married the love of her life, Kelly Stewart, on Aug. 16, 2014, creating a partnership filled with love and adventure.
Known for her strong work ethic, Penny was a dedicated worker who took pride in everything she did. She also loved the outdoors, finding joy in camping, riding quads, and going on scenic drives. Traveling, especially to Maui, Hawaii, brought her great happiness, and her green
Richard R. Ballweber
Richard R. Ballweber, born on April 28, 1936, passed away on Oct.14, 2024.
Richard attended Oregon schools, grade school in Mount Angel, high school in Woodburn. Known for his charismatic personality, he was voted Cheer King by his peers, an early testament of his outgoing personality.
After graduating from Woodburn High School, Richard pursued a Geology degree at Oregon State University. He then served as a pilot in the Army. A cherished family memory is of him landing a small plane in the fields of the family farm in Monitor, highlighting his adventurous spirit.
After the military, Richard worked for the Forest Service in southern Oregon and gave flying lessons. He also continued flying search and rescue missions as a member of the Civil Air Patrol.
He later returned to Portland, Oregon where he applied his geology skills to help design foundations for dams and buildings, including downtown Portland’s iconic US Bank Tower.
April 28, 1936 – Oct. 14, 2024
Richard spent most of his adulthood in Portland’s Kenton neighborhood, where he was beloved by his neighbors.
A dedicated member of the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, he remained active in community service after retirement, contributing to the church garden and food bank.
Richard spent his last years at Mount Angel Towers creating more lasting friendships, enjoying social activities, and attending daily mass.
He is survived by his son, Jeff (Lora) Ballweber; sisters, Florence Fleskes and Jeanne (Gary) Jackson; brothers, James “Chip”(Lucy) Ballweber and Patrick (Jilda) Ballweber.
Richard was preceded in death by parents, James and Catherine; brothers, Arnold and Donald. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all whose lives he touched.
A funeral mass was held Nov. 1 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mount Angel. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
In Memory Of
Caleb Koehler Sept. 15, 2001 — Oct. 21, 2024
Penny Stewart Nov. 19, 1959 — Oct. 25, 2024
thumb shone through in her beautiful garden filled with dahlias and hibiscus.
Penny fondly remembered her early years attending Silverton schools, where she enjoyed her time in Brownies and made life-long friends she kept in touch with. She cherished the memories created during girls’ trips with her co-workers.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Dorothy Jensen; her brother, Gary; and her sister, Helen. Penny is survived by her husband, Kelly; her children, Melanie, Kimberly, and Jeremy; her grandchildren; her brothers, Gaile, Gordy, Mark, and David; and many cousins.
A celebration of Penny’s life will be held on her birthday, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N. Second St., Silverton, followed by a reception at her brother David’s home. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Always honoring your request for traditional fire cremation, eco-friendly aqua cremation, celebration of life and funeral services involving earth burial.
We offer pre planning alternatives to control costs. Make your wishes known and we will do our best to relieve family distress.
Your local funeral chapels serving Mt. Angel since 1919 & Silverton since 1924.
Always available at your time of need
www.ungerfuneralchapel.com
Sports & Recreation
Soccer champs First season for girls co-coaches results in league title
Silverton High put on a glittering display of total soccer during its standout 2024 season, leading Class 5A in most goals scored and fewest goals allowed. The Foxes, under first-year co-coaches Don Holland and Eric Lay, ran the table in the Mid-Willamette Conference, outscoring opponents 41-0 in the 9-0 rampage.
The league title was the first since 1990 for Silverton, which took the sixth seed into the Class 5A playoffs. The Foxes opened with a 2-1 home win against Mountain View of Bend before falling 3-0 to No. 3 Caldera of Bend in the quarterfinals.
“The Caldera game was a bit of a rough go,” Lay told Our Town He and Holland have been fixtures as Silverton-area club coaches before taking over the high school program. “Our team seemed to be in a bit of a funk, with the long trip, and early game schedule [it was a 3 p.m. start]. We just had trouble finding our rhythm. Caldera had three nice shots and capitalized on all of them. They were locked in on our strikers, but we still managed to get plenty of shots off. The girls fought hard till the bitter end. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our day.”
Mansur and senior goalkeeper Ella Lulich earned first-team all-league mentions, while junior midfielders Alexa Elias and Maddie Walter, sophomore midfielder Braelyn Walter and sophomore forward Lilli Miller were named to the second team.
Caldera’s Zadie Boyd opened the scoring in the 21st minute, Shae McCarl scored in the opening minute of the second half and Kylee Jerome converted on a free kick, 18 minutes later.
Sophomore striker Marley Wertz was named player of the year in the MidWillamette for the Foxes, while Holland and Lay were named the top coaches. Senior defender Kai Buckley, junior forward Allie
Junior midfielder Adelaide Lord and sophomore forward Marin Weaver received honorable mention.
My count shows eight of the 10 Foxes all-leaguers will be back next season.
“It is really hard, knowing some of them won’t be returning,” Lay said. “We spent all this time bonding and building this team. The seniors will be greatly missed. Thankfully, this community has a wealth of solid soccer players, and we plan to come back even stronger next season.
“We have a really solid core group that will be returning and we will continue to build off of this year. This season we lit the fire, next season we will carry the torch.”
Silverton girls soccer has made the 5A playoffs in 11 consecutive seasons (not counting the 2020 COVID year). The Foxes advanced to the 2016 finals before losing on penalty kicks to La Salle Prep and the Caldera match marked the third quarterfinals trip during the 11-year streak.
Meanwhile, the Silverton boys team finished 4-10-1 overall and 2-6-1 in the Mid-Willamette Conference. Sawyer Stewart was named the league’s first-team goalkeeper, defender Christian Gragart was named to the second team and midfielders Santiago Najera and Michael Doyle received honorable mention.
Cross Country: Silverton cross country took both of its teams to the Class 5A state championships on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Lane Community College in Eugene. The Foxes took ninth place in both competitions, with JD Arthur (24th in 16:16.0) the top finisher for the boys and Natlia Vazquez-Trejo (44th, 20:46.2) for the girls.
The previous week, on Nov. 1, the Foxes finished third in both competitions at the Mid-Willamette Conference meet at the Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth. Vazquez-Trejo was 11th to lead the Foxes at district, while Arthur finished fifth for the boys. Silverton showed its depth by taking second in the boys junior varsity competition and third in girls JV.
Kennedy, meanwhile, finished sixth in the girls competition at the Class 3A-2A1A district meet at Cheadle Lake Park in Lebanon. Yulissa Chavez-Cortes was 10th in 20:51.03 for Kennedy, while freshman Bohden Sowa was 10th for the Trojans boys in the 2A-1A district meet. The Trojans boys did not place in the team race.
Volleyball: Silverton finished tied for fourth in the Mid-Willamette Conference with a 9-5 record and advanced to the Class 5A playoffs, where the No. 11 Foxes fell to No. 6 Wilsonville 3-1 in the first round.
Silverton, which was 13-9 overall, placed middle blocker Ella Haury, setter Rylee McMillan and defensive specialist Helen Schmitz on the all-Mid-Willamette
Conference second team. Outside hitter Haley Davis and right side/opposite Dini Schultz received honorable mention.
Kennedy, meanwhile, finished 5-14 overall and 4-10 in the Tri-River Conference. Grace Traeger of the Trojans was a second-team all-star, with Ari Iven and Tia Allen earning honorable mention.
Alumni Watch: Jordan McCarty was seven for 10 passing for Western Oregon in the Wolves’ Lone Star Conference showdown on Nov. 9 at McArthur Field in Monmouth against Angelo State. McCarty passed for 101 yards for the Wolves, who lost 38-16 to drop to 6-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference. WOU closes the season Saturday, Nov. 16 at Central Washington. McCarty has passed for 663 yards and four touchdowns and is second on the team in rushing with 316 yards and five scores. He has not thrown an interception in his 102 attempts.
Linfield University, meanwhile, improved to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the Northwest Conference with a 38-10 win at Maxwell Field in McMinnville on Nov.9 against Pacific Lutheran. Former Foxes standout Jackson Pfeifer rushed for 11 yards and caught four passes for 27 more. Pfeifer, a sophomore, is second on the Wildcats in rushing with 286 yards and is sixth on the receiving list with 28 catches for 298 yards. Linfield closes the regular season Nov. 16 at Whitworth (9-0 overall, 6-0 NWC) in Spokane, Washington. The winner takes home the Northwest Conference title. The Pirates are ranked 16th in the D3.com poll, with Linfield one slot back at 17th.
Meanwhile, Austin Ratliff, the former twoway star from Silverton, has participated on special teams in seven games for Oregon State, which is 4-5 this season. Vivian Caldwell 50 3-873-7069
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Don Holland.
Eric Lay. JAMES DAY
Friendship trails Silverton hikers featured in movie Nov. 20 at Palace
By James Day
A pair of Silverton-area long-haul hikers are going to share their latest adventure with the public.
Shane Otteson, a civil engineer with Marion County, and Joel Sloan, the head painter at Silver Creek Auto Body, hiked more than 200 miles on the grueling John Muir Trail earlier this year and they have just recently completed a documentary on the hike, An Adventure Amongst Friends
The 85-minute movie will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. at Silverton’s Palace Theatre. The screening is free, but moviegoers are requested to bring a canned food item for donation to a local food bank.
Sloan, of Scotts Mills, and Otteson, of Silverton, both are Silverton High graduates. They completed shorter hikes together at Glacier National Park and Yosemite National Park before Otteson tagged along for 100 miles during Sloan’s 455-mile hike of the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
The John Muir Trail runs from Mt.
Whitney to Mt. Yosemite along the spine of the Sierra Nevada.
Otteson, 42, and Sloan were brainstorming ideas for an outing for Sloan’s 40th birthday in September and decided to tackle the Muir. They did a practice hike on the 40-mile Timberline Trail, which circles Mount Hood. But that outing was marred when Otteson had to abandon the hike because of heat stroke.
“We kind of got into survival mode and ended up staying an unplanned night out
there,” Otteson told Our Town. “I haven’t made a film on that hike yet and may someday. Needless to say, that knocked our confidence down a bit. But in the end, it was a great learning experience and we learned what not to do for the (Muir). It ultimately helped us finish this much longer and both physically and mentally challenging hike.”
The 17-day Muir hike involved elevation changes of more than 41,000 feet. Twelve days in, at Mammoth Lakes on the east side of the Sierras, they got a break from the trail when Joel’s parents “met us at Mammoth Lakes to resupply us and provide some good eats, drinks, showers, clean laundry and a nice place to stay. Needless to say, it was a huge moral boost for us after spending 12 days in the wilderness.”
There is a tradition in the through-hiking fraternity that trail denizens MUST have a nickname. Sloan, who took on the hike despite an ankle injury he suffered while training, was Ibuprofman for his consumption of anti-inflammatories. Ottesen was Electrolyte for his obsession with rehydrating in hopes of preventing
more heat stroke.
Ottenson did most of the recording with a 4K GoPro, although Sloan handled some end of the day and mountain passes segments. Ottesen did all of the editing and Sloan is waiting for the premiere for his first viewing of the finished product.
“We definitely are not filmmakers, but I have found it to be a fun hobby,” said Ottesen.
“We’re just hikers/outdoors enthusiasts that decided to film our biggest adventure to date. We just wanted a film to memorialize the hike and something to show our families and friends. We talked about doing a premiere and having a bunch of friends and family come watch it at our house, but as I finished editing the film I thought this came together well and I’m pretty proud of it.
“I asked, ‘what if we could get the Palace Theatre to show it?’ So on a whim, I asked Thomas [Baham] at the Palace and he agreed. So nice to have a local theater that would be willing to show our little film.”
Shane Otteson, left, and Joel Sloan at Forester Pass, at 13,200 feet near Mt. Whitney on the John Muir Trail. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Holiday dreaming A cozy getaway on glossy paper
Holiday magazines are my favorite. I love thumbing through pages of decked halls and themed Christmas trees. I like the recipes that claim to make the perfect pumpkin pie or the juiciest turkey. I even like pretending I can afford something off the gift lists labeled, “for the mom who longs to open something other than a bathrobe” or “for the dad who does not want another tie.”
Don’t get me wrong, I like magazines during other times of the year as well. They are great on the beach or as a companion on a long flight. But that’s mindless reading (as in, “nice kitchen” or “that recipe looks delicious, but no one other than a professional chef can actually make it in under 30 minutes”). Holiday magazines, on the other hand, I read them like a wannabe Christmas scholar.
Every year when October rolls around I suddenly become far more interested in my home’s décor, having thoughts
like, “What if I too had a throw blanket that matched our Christmas stockings?” or, “this place really could use a bit more glitter.” I scrutinize the photos of billion dollar homes where a team of decorators spent hours creating the perfect Christmas scene and I don’t bat an eye because… it’s Christmas and even I – someone who eschews knick-knacks 11 months of the year – feel the urge to pour cotton balls over all the windowsills in the hopes that it looks like snow.
And then there are the recipes. This is where I think holiday magazines truly shine. Every year I am amazed… no, I’m truly inspired by the sheer number
of ways one can cook a turkey – brining, stuffing, spatchcocking, rubbing, braising, poaching, barbecuing – it’s a real Cordon Bleu education. And it doesn’t end there because every turkey needs sides: mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes and potatoes au gratin –just to give you a taste of what’s to come. Because there is also stuffing – or dressing if you like – along with cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls… the list goes on and on and I haven’t even made it to dessert, a selection of pies, cakes, cookies and candy in every imaginable flavor.
I move through the recipe section tornado-style, tearing out pages like an editor gone mad, stacking recipes beside me until there’s almost nothing left…
And then I reach the gift lists. Holiday shopping for everyone – your mom, your sister, your uncle Charlie, your great aunt Rose, your dog named Fifi. I find
most of it ridiculous, things I would never actually buy, but concealed inside a holiday magazine… I suddenly see the appeal. After all, the whole thing is one big, grown-up version of the Christmas catalogues I loved as a child.
Maybe that’s why I love them so much. They take me back to afternoons spent dreaming about what the holiday season might bring. Not so different from pouring over a travel brochure while I dream of a future vacation, holiday magazines allow me to envision the weeks to come – the cotton ball snow, the nostalgic family recipes, the gifts under the tree and my family all around – just thinking about it gives me a little thrill.
And so, while Halloween is barely behind me and December is a few weeks away, I’m already indulging in my favorite fall hobby – tucked under a blanket, tea nearby, listening to carols no one else can hear and dreaming of the perfect turkey.
GENERAL
PASTOR CHUCK
BALDWIN Liberty Fellowship, Kalispell, Montana satellite group Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Call Kristen, 503-990-4584
MT. ANGEL SENIOR
CENTER is a non-profit consignment store for artisans over 50, a community center, home to Meals on Wheels, and serves as a food bank. Volunteers welcome! 195 E Charles St. 503-845-6998 or mtangelcommunity@ gmail.com
YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE Saturdays, age 10-12 at 5:00; age 13 & up 6:15; security & correctional officers 7:30. Private Lessons available. International certification curriculum available on request. Call Harold 503-391-7406. A Magic Carpet Cleaning & More Service.
HELP WANTED
HOUSEKEEPER WANTED
$20 an hour. Some errands as well. Home in Lyons. 503-383-4398.
SERVICES
SOUNDS GOOD STUDIO
Bands, artists, personal karaoke CDs, books, restoring VHS video to DVD, old cassettes, reel-to-reel & 8-track cassettes restored to CD. Call Harold 503-391-7406. A Magic Carpet Cleaning & More Service.
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.
MAGIC CARPET CLEANING & MORE
Since 1992. Carpet & upholstery cleaning at its best. Free estimates. Residential & commercial. Located in Silverton. Call Harold at 503-391-7406.
GOT STUFF YOU WANT GONE? From yard debris to scrap metal-From garage sale left overs to rental clear outs. We repurpose, recycle, reuse, or donate what we can. Call and find out what we can do for you. $20 Minimum. Call Keith, 503-502-3462.
WANTED
LOOKING to PURCHASE a Commercial Building in downtown Silverton or surrounding towns. Two Story or three. Serious buyer looks for a serious seller only. Duke, 505-429-1523
#T2854 SILVER CREEK FRONTAGE $599,900
Classic 1950’s home with Silver Creek Frontage, sit out on your deck enjoying the serene Silver Creek, 3 bedroom home with 2 bath, plus a 460 sqft possible ADU. So many nice updates, plus a full daylight basement that opens to a back yard that fronts on Silver Creek. So many possibilities in this private back yard, with mature trees, previously set up with a pool. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#822615)
#T2834
DON’T MISS OUT
$2,150,000 Don’t Miss Out!
Rare Opportunity: Stunning River Front Estate! Experience the perfect blend of luxury living and privacy in this exquisite country property offering a lifestyle of comfort and convenience! Includes 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 3701sqft of living space, a great room adorned with elegant finishes, a magnificent stone fireplace, and panoramic views leading to a covered patio, sauna, and salt water pool on 2.8 acres. Call Chuck at ext. 325 (WVMLS#817967)
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
#T2840 NORTH FORK PROPERTY 3 BR, 1 BA 1941 sqft. Lyons. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $348,700 (WVMLS#820296)
SOLD! – #T2817 GREAT LOCATION 2 BR, 2 BA 990 sqft. Independence. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $447,800 (WVMLS#815114)
SOLD! – #T2819 FIVE SEPARATE UNITS 6 BR, 5 BA 3172 sqft. Salem. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $750,000 (WVMLS#815616)
#T2844 SINGLE LEVEL 3 BR, 2 BA 1320 sqft. Molalla. Call Michael at ext. 314 $425,000 (WVMLS#820704)
BARELAND/LOTS
#T2841 OVER 100FT OF ABIQUA FRONTAGE 1.35 Acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $475,000 (WVMLS#820496)
#T2816 2 BUILDABLE LOTS .45
Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $109,900 (WVMLS#814998)
#T2827 GREAT OPPORTUNITY
1.66 Acres. Salem. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $194,000 (WVMLS#817231)
#T2832 BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME 2.93 Acres. Silverton. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $399,000 (WVMLS#817735)
#T2848 PERFECT CREEK FRONTAGE 1.76 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $418,300 (WVMLS#821913) #T2853 RARE BUILDING SITE .49 Acres Call Chuck at ext. 325 $150,000 (WVMLS#822413)
#T2847
PRIVATE RETREAT
$585,000 Step into your own private retreat. This beautiful 3-bedroom 2.5 bath home is located on a dead-end street on the south end of town. The open downstairs floor plan leads to a large peaceful backyard, ready for hosting or for just relaxing around the fire or soaking in the hot tub. Upstairs rooms are spacious with plenty of storage. Extra parking along the house for all your toys! Moments from downtown, city parks, library, restaurants and so much more. Call Becky at ext. 313 (WVMLS#821377)
#T2843 LEASE OPPORTUNITY
$3,374/Month
(WVMLS#817252)
SOLD! – #T2833 – MOVE-IN READY 4 BR, 2.5 BA 2112 sqft Call Michael at ext. 314 $654,900 (WVMLS#818145) #T2828 – BEAUTIFUL HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1546 sqft Call Chuck at ext. 325 $539,900 (WVMLS#816834) #T2847 – PRIVATE RETREAT 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1936 sqft Call Becky at ext. 313 $585,000 (WVMLS#821377)
NEW! – #T2854 SILVER CREEK FRONTAGE 3 BR, 3 BA 2596 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $599,900 (WVMLS#822615)
COUNTRY/ACREAGE
#T2834 STUNNING RIVER FRONT ESTATE 6 BR, 4 BA 4297 sqft 2.8 Acres. Silverton. Call Chuck at ext. 325 $2,150,000 (WVMLS#817967)
#T2838 HOME ON THE HILL 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2112 sqft 7.12 Acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $749,900 (WVMLS#819011)
Located in core of downtown Mt. Angel. Street level of the Glockenspiel Building. Hometown to Oregon’s largest Oktoberfest. Previously leased by Columbia Bank. Alley access to drive-up window. 2410 square feet. Water/Sewer included with lease. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#821146) BROKERS ARE LICENSED IN OREGON
#T2849 WONDERFUL SINGLE LEVEL 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1842 sqft 1.74 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $698,700 (WVMLS#821912)
#T2851 LOVELY HOME ON CREEK 3 BR, 2 BA 2448 sqft 1.18 Acres Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $834,700 (WVMLS#822222)
