Our Town North: Oct. 1, 2020

Helping Hands

Something Fun

Healing through helping - volunteers recount wildfire stories – Page 6

Vol. 17 No. 19

Strong Silverton Rocks - an invitation for kids to explore – Page 13

COMMUNITY NEWS Serving Mt. Angel, Silverton, and Scotts Mills

October 2020

Sharing traditions – Día de los Muertos – Page 4

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

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Sports & Recreation

New mountain bike club forms – Page 20

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2 • October 2020

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Contents

6 Something To Celebrate Celebrating Día de los Muertos..............4 Something To Talk about Palace Theatre announces closing.........5

Helping Hands Stories from the wildfire crisis.............. 6

Datebook................................12 Something Fun

The Forum................................18

Dining Out...............................18 Passages..................................19 Sports & Recreation

New mountain biking club forms.........20 What ‘Season 1’ looks like now............21

Marketplace.......................21 A Grin At The End...........22

Strong Silvertons rocks....................... 13

a Slice of the Pie Our hopes and fears............................ 14

On the cover Sugar skulls, marigolds and pan de muerto (bread) mean it’s time for Día de los Muertos... it’s about life. © SURIEL RAMIREZ /123RF.COM

Family Matters Reset for a new ‘normal’..................... 16

above Mount Angel’s Magnolia Grill crew delivering food to frontline workers.

Story page 6. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Our Town

Paula Mabry Editor & Publisher

Steve Beckner Custom Design

Melissa Wagoner Reporter

Jim Kinghorn Advertising Director

DeeDe Williams Office Manager

Tavis Bettoli-Lotten

Datebook Editor

Jim Day

Katie Bassett

Copy Editor

Sports & more

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Sara Morgan

Greeter

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

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

The deadline for placing an ad in the Oct. 15 issue is Oct. 5.

Contributors Dixon Bledsoe • Nancy Jennings Steve Ritchie • Carl Sampson Brenna Wiegand Thank you for spending time with Our Town.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

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October 2020 • 3

Something to Celebrate

Día de los Muertos

Celebrating other traditions bridges cultural divide

By Melissa Wagoner

Borbon, a pastor with the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Silverton, recalled. Adding, “But we’re not worshipping death.”

Dora Sandoval grew up celebrating Día de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – an ancient holiday with roots in both the Aztec and Mayan cultures, which is still celebrated by the Latinx culture worldwide, including in the Mexican state of Michoacán, where Sandoval was born.

Rather, Día de los Muertos is a time for remembrance.

Which is why, to make the ofrenda more relatable to a non-Latinx congregation, Borbon uses that very word, even giving the ofrenda a new American name – the Remembrance Tower.

“I grew up with Día de los Muertos,” Sandoval said, “with the tradition that we go to the cemetery on Oct. 31 – which is All Hallows’ Eve – and we would take [the deceased’s] favorite foods and sit there and pray the Rosary.”

“People do not understand the meaning of the celebration,” he said. “It does not have anything to do with death, it’s the meaning of life. It’s a celebration of us, of our families, of our generations that we share. It has to do with thankfulness for those things that you were given by those people that passed away. It’s about family and the community.”

The tradition – which varies slightly by location and family – has several main components, the primary one being the ofrenda, an altar to the family’s departed loved ones.

“There’s a specific flower that we use – the yellow marigold,” explained Manuel Borbon, who grew up in Mexicali Mexico, near the Tijuana border. He added that it is the scent of the flower that makes it an important part of the ritual. “There’s a strong scent that it gives that was traditionally used in order that the spirits could smell that and they could find their way toward this shrine.”

Creating these kinds of understanding between the Latinx community and the Anglo-American community is, in fact, Borbon’s primary job as a Latin Mission Developer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In fact, it is precisely what brought Borbon and his wife, Laura Myrella, to Silverton in the first place.

Along with the flowers are a host of other items including the foods and drinks the departed liked best, water for rehydrating after the long trip home and traditional sweets such as pan de muerto (a sweet bread) and calaveras (sugar skulls).

An example of a family’s ofrenda – or altar – constructed every year for Día de los Muertos. CINDY ZAPATA

“The sugar skulls are a Mexican tradition,” Borbon noted.

Adding, “With those sugar skulls the understanding is that death is not scary it’s sweet. We understand it and we do not fear it. We taste it and it’s sweet.”

The annual construction of the ofrenda was a big part of Sandoval’s culture and of her family traditions growing up. When she moved to Oregon at the age of 10, all that changed.

“Everyone celebrated Halloween,” Sandoval said sadly.

Even Sandoval’s parents stopped celebrating, although for a different reason.

“I think it was more of ‘I don’t have time,’” she said.

“Because they were both working in nurseries 12 to 14 hours a day.”

But Sandoval never really enjoyed the American Halloween. When she started her own family, she jumped at the chance to reintroduce the holiday to her own children.

“I try to keep the tradition going,” Sandoval said. “Because people focus so much on Halloween, it loses the focus on what the tradition for Hispanics really is. I think so much of it is sales tactics. We don’t celebrate Halloween at all.”

Instead, beginning on Oct. 31, Sandoval and her family decorate the ofrenda, on which photographs of her father and her husband’s grandmother are prominently placed, not in remembrance of their deaths but as a celebration of their lives.

“When we started presenting this cultural celebration to the church there was this fear about putting up an altar,”

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“Let your mind flow and be open to a new celebration,” Sandoval suggested. “Do a little bit of research... it’s a beautiful celebration.”

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4 • October 2020

One way of the best ways to gain understanding is through learning about the lives and traditions of others – traditions like Día de los Muertos.

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“Learning the culture of a community is very important to developing that relationship,” Borbon stressed. “We invited the community to be a part of [Día de los Muertos]. But it wasn’t until that moment when people had the opportunity to share their memories and this vulnerable part of themselves, then they started to learn something about it and appreciate it. It is through intercultural activities that we can learn from people and understand the why.”

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“I am a person that is working to develop this space for Anglos and Latinos to come together in this place,” Borbon said. Which is where the sharing of customs like Día de los Muertos comes in.

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Curtains

Palace owners announce retirement; fate of historic theatre uncertain

“With great sadness we must announce our withdrawal from the Silverton entertainment scene.”

and all the ‘stuff’ that makes that oddly shaped building a movie theatre and magical community space...” Rasmussen listed. Adding, “It’s not only those ‘hard’ assets that make it a first-rate theatre – we’ve worked hard to make the Palace the best movie theatre in the valley – and don’t take my word for it, look at our repetitive ‘Best Of’ awards from the Statesman-Journal over the years. Our gift to Silverton.”

Those words were penned by Stu Rasmussen and Roger Paulson – owners of the Palace Theatre in Silverton – in a press release informing the public of the imminent closure of that beloved institution.

“Our lease on the Palace Theatre runs out Oct. 1 and we have been unable to reach a satisfactory arrangement with the property owner to continue the business or transition it to a new owner,” the press release stated.

“This has been a long time in the making.”

Beginning with a failed heating system in January, which took weeks to repair, the Palace Theatre has experienced one closure after another in quick succession: the coronavirus pandemic, the wildfires and, more recently, flooding in the snack area. “[It] must just be Mother Nature’s way of telling us ‘it’s time for you guys to retire,’” Rasmussen wrote.

The Palace Theatre closed following the impact of COVID-19 and the recent wildfires and storm surges. JIM KINGHORN

And so, after working at the theatre since the mid-1960s, Rasmussen and Paulson are planning to retire.

“Roger and I are both over 70, we both have health issues and we really don’t need the ongoing stress and aggravation anymore,” the press release said.

“It was fun while it lasted but recently the

fun has rapidly evaporated.”

But that doesn’t mean the decision was an easy one.

“We are walking away from our substantial financial investment in our furniture, fixtures and equipment – the projectors, sound equipment, screen, the Palace’s legendary and beloved popcorn machine,

Once the doors close, that gift does not end.

Rasmussen and Paulson have decided not to dismantle the infrastructure. Instead they plan to leave everything as-is in the hopes that the theatre’s days are not entirely over.

On social media last week there was talk of a owners taking over Oct. 1. Our Town was unable to confirm that by press time.

“Please keep that in mind, if the theatre should reopen under new ownership or new management,” Rasmussen urged, “we could have removed everything and left an empty shell but chose not to out of our love and respect for all of you. Thanks for the memories and your patronage all these years – it will be a sad parting.”

Stay Connected...

The City will provide information here each month on important topics. Upcoming agenda items are subject to change and meetings subject to rescheduling or cancellation due to the COVID-19 Emergency.

Please check the website for remote participation options.

Holly Augustus 503-689-4910

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City Leaders Want You to Know Fire Updates and Recovery: Many resources are available for those affected by the wildfires. Please visit wildfire.oregon.gov for comprehensive information for both situational awareness and recovery. This includes FEMA Disaster Assistance which can be reached at 1-800-621-3362 (1-800-462-7585 TTY and 1-800-621-3362 711 or Video Relay); online registration is also available at DisasterAssistance.gov.

City Updates Re: COVID-19: Please visit the City’s website for the latest updates on City services and facilities. Staff are available even when facilities may be closed or have limited

Check our Facebook Page for Fall Updates Jazzercise Silverton Oregon 503-873-8210 FB: OurTown.SMASM

access to the public. Appointments are encouraged. For all staff contact information, visit www.silverton.or.us/directory.

COVID-19 Resource Line Available Countywide: Are you looking for assistance with a COVID-19 related issue? Marion County is available to help over the phone 7 days a week from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. – 503-576-4602.

Civic Center Project Updates: Staff continue to meet with the City’s contracted architecture firm on a weekly basis. Stay informed on what’s next at www.silverton.or.us/AgendaCenter.

Get caught up on all project milestones to date at www.silverton.or.us/EugeneField.

Oct. 20: Environmental Management Oct. 5: City Council Meeting at 6 p.m.

Committee at 3 p.m.

Oct. 12: Records Management Day – Oct. 22: Civic Center Equity and Inclusion City Hall Closed to Public All Day Task Force at 6 p.m.

Oct. 13: Planning Commission at 7 p.m.

Oct. 19: City Council Work Session at 6 p.m. Oct. 28: Homeless/Housing Task Force at 6 p.m.

Be Informed: complete details on these topics

are located on the City’s website: www.silverton.or.us

Have a Voice: attend City meetings For times: www.silverton.or.us/government

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October 2020 • 5

Helping Hands

Banding together

Reflecting on community in wildfires’ wake

By Melissa Wagoner

in this time of COVID.”

“Helping is easy. Being on the receiving end is difficult.”

But while Kuenzi is proud of what volunteers accomplished, the real heroes, he is quick to point out, are the firefighters themselves.

Sheila Zervas Nielsen, a teacher at Silverton High School and resident of Gates, knows what she is talking about.

“I would really like to give props to the Silverton Fire Department,” he said.

“They did an amazing job.”

She, along with her husband Steve, also a Silver Falls School District employee, and their three sons, evacuated from their home on Sept. 7 escaping wildfires whipped up by a once-in-a-century windstorm that was racing through the Santiam Canyon. Then they began the process of volunteering wherever they could in order to save the homes of others.

Whatever way possible “We’re not really firemen,” Jesse Rodriguez, owner of Jesse Rodriguez Construction in Silverton, said of the effort he and four of his employees put in to help fight the fires in Scotts Mills.

“I was born and raised up there and I’ve got a lot of friends and family that live up there,” Rodriguez said. He had evacuated from his own home in Lyons. “And there was just a lot of social media stuff that the fire was here and the fire was there and I kind of wanted to see it for myself.”

“A motto we’ve had in life has been, ‘when we are helping others we heal,’” Nielsen said. “Many people in our lives have set that example and it’s what makes life go by a little easier for us.”

During September’s wildfires countless individuals, businesses and organizations stepped forward, often putting their own hardships aside, to help their friends, neighbors and community.

The sheer volume makes a comprehensive list next to impossible, but here are a few stories to remind us of the many.

Evacuation at Drakes Crossing Julie Brown, her husband, Paul, and their sons, Jared and Lucas, have been volunteering with the Drakes Crossing Fire Department in some capacity for more than 25 years. So, when the Beachie Creek Fire made its way to the southeast corner of the Silver Falls State Park, they were ready to lend a hand. But first they had to evacuate their home in the Silverton hills and help Brown’s parents evacuate from their house on Grade Road as well.

“We threw stuff in my car and Paul’s pickup and headed out,” Julie Brown recalled. “The orange glow when we opened the garage door was eerie and scary. The entire tree line was illuminated.”

Evacuations complete, the Browns drove straight to the Drakes Crossing Fire Station. It was 6 a.m. and already an estimated 25 police cruisers lined the road, ready to help with area evacuations.

“I stayed back, running the command board, phones, radio communication, documenting resources,” Brown said.

“People were calling to let us know they

6 • October 2020

And so, he joined the effort, driving tanker trucks of water that were emptied onto the roads.

Portions of Silver Falls State Park were burned in the Beachie Creek Fire.

had (dozers, water sources, equipment, etc.)... That is what I did (‘command assistant’) for seven days. For 18 to 20 hours a day.”

While Brown manned the phone, the rest of her family headed out to fight the fires.

“I was so busy, I barely had time to think about our home, and my parents’ home where we all grew up,” Brown recalled.

“In retrospect, that is a blessing.”

Her father is especially vulnerable due to his struggles with pancreatic cancer.

Another blessing was the community support that absolutely flooded into the Drakes Crossing station in the form of phone calls, food, drinks and even massages.

“I was turning people down because we literally had too much food and a tiny old fridge,” Brown divulged. Adding, “I’m telling you – all the generosity of our fellow human beings was one of the most emotional things I’ve experienced.”

Both the Browns’ home and Julie’s parents’ home survived the fires.

JASON WAGONER

An expanding commitment “Our part in [fighting the fires] is we had equipment and guys – dozers and excavators and water trucks,” Kerry Kuenzi, an owner of K&E Excavating in Silverton since 1998, said humbly. “It started out as we wanted to help our own, and then it blossomed from there.”

With the majority of its employeevolunteers having evacuated their own homes, K&E worked for days to create fire lines around properties in the Scotts Mills area.

“I’m from Silverton but we have a lot of people from Scotts Mills,” Kuenzi explained. “It’s been a huge undertaking but I’m really proud of our group.”

And he’s not just proud of the K&E group but of the entire community, including other contractors, who came out to lend a hand wherever it was needed.

“So many friends and neighbors that asked what they could do,” Kuenzi said.

“That was pretty cool. It was cool to see everybody together, even competitors out there together. It’s pretty great when you see everybody pulling together, especially

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“It was an amazing effort by all of the locals,” he said. “It’s kind of nice to see. If it weren’t for the locals up there... they saved quite a few houses. It was quite a deal.”

Rodriguez’s home is still standing.

Help from the region When evacuation notices began popping up all over the Willamette Valley, Turney Excavating, based in Keizer, didn’t hesitate. “[The] Turney bosses had an all-handson-deck approach and started sending their rigs and manpower to places that needed them – from Silverton and surrounding areas all the way up the canyon and surrounding communities,” recalled Sheila Nielsen. Her sons, Eli and Levi, both work for the company.

“One of the owners told one of our boys that ‘normal’ work will be there later.

This was the most important work they could be doing. Helping people evacuate and the start of saving homes and property as much as possible,” she said.

So that’s what they did.

Working with local firefighters and canyon residents, they put out fires and saved as much property as they could – even while the fate of their own Gates home was unknown.

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“All of my boys have played organized sports for a long time, they understand what it means to be part of a team, to have people you protect – a ‘band of brothers’ mentality,” Nielsen explained.

“They felt the same with all the people they were working with... They would really like their company to be recognized and then all the community members and volunteers that stepped in to save homes and their communities.”

The Nielsen’s home – though damaged by smoke and fire – is still standing.

Feeding the workers Elizabeth Ipox, co-owner of Burger Time in Mount Angel, saw a Facebook post about firefighters needing food. She knew what she had to do.

“I wanted to help,” Ipox stated. “I knew I couldn’t go fight the fires but I knew I could help feed people. So, I reached out to Stephanie Baker, who was organizing meals for all the firefighters, got a couple of workers together and took care of

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feeding a couple of crews.”

For two days Ipox and her employees kept members of the local fire districts fed. Then, they branched out, including the staff of the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center as well.

“We feel for everyone that’s hard at work through COVID and this fire season,” Ipox said. “It’s the least we can do.”

“We wanted to do whatever we could but felt so helpless,” recalled Lindsay Allen, whose partner, Raul Santana, owns Magnolia Grill, also in Mount Angel.

Then they decided to play to their strength: “People need to eat!”

The duo began turning out burritos and fresh salsa, figuring that these would be a portable option for firefighters on the go.

“At a time like this we feel everyone has something to contribute and food was our outlet,” Allen said. “We were able to feed folks between Lyons and Gates, civilian workers as well as National Guard working up there... We have gotten hot

dinners to them as well. We have also been able to provide dinners to people that have been evacuated and are without homes right now. It feels like the least we can do at a time like this.”

Fridays have ended up being the one day of the week we all look forward to.”

Getting the word out

“[O]nly one of us got the evacuation order,” Slavin said. “If it wasn’t for Colleen, we would have never known that we needed to get out.”

When the COVID-19 quarantine began, Kristen Slavin – who has lived on Crooked Finger Road for three years – met her neighbors for the first time.

“We all have our own pieces of heaven up here in Scotts Mills, Slavin said. “We would all go to work and come home and stay home. Not really venturing out and meeting people. But one day, the first day of (COVID) quarantine, a little dog wandered onto our property.”

That little dog, belonging to a neighbor, got them all talking and thinking – what if we all got together and socialized?

“Ever since then, we meet every Friday night,” Slavin said. “It is a time when we can talk about how hard our weeks were, and how we were surviving COVID.

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Then the wildfires hit and the group – which is playfully named the Quarantini – took on a whole new meaning.

Word went out to the entire group and everyone got away safely. But the story didn’t end there.

“None of our husbands or sons were firefighters or had a lot of training,” Slavin said. “Each of them saw a need for more hands on the fire and didn’t hesitate to jump in and help (like so many in our community have). They were driven to help cut fire lines and put out the hot spots both in the immediate areas near our houses, as well as those around other homes down the hill and across the canyon. None of them were willing to lose their lands or their community without a fight.”

October 2020 • 7

Helping Hands “In the face of tragedy, the best in us almost always shows up – thanks to everyone who has been working to make this happen.” – Kyle Palmer Those who weren’t on the fire lines stayed connected.

animal owners all over the place.

“In the face of tragedy, the best in us almost always shows up – thanks to everyone who has been working to make this happen,” Palmer said.

“Every time one of us would run up the hill we would let each other know,” Slavin recalled. “Any time we were wondering where a husband was, who was fighting the fire, we would ask ‘Does anyone have eyes on...?’ We knew no matter what, one of us had information and eyes on our homes or family.”

To find out more go to www.redcross.org

Caring for other creatures

Kyle Palmer posted on Facebook. He toured the fairgrounds Sept. 12.

Christine Guenther and her daughter Elsie Brown are horse people – it’s both their livelihood and their life. And so, when the call went out on Sept. 8 that animals in the hills surrounding Silverton needed to be evacuated, Christine and Elsie didn’t hesitate to help – even when helping meant sleeping in the barn aisles at the Oregon State Fairgrounds for six days straight.

“People and vehicles were everywhere, as were every kind of animal. Donations are streaming in, and County officials singled out Wilco for their constant flow of feed.

Volunteers were everywhere. I recognized many, many names of Silverton area

“We wanted to help in any way we could,” said Christine, who evacuated her home outside of Silverton on Sept. 8. “I am not a firefighter or a first responder, but this – taking in horses – was something I could easily do.”

Now they’re back to Friday night gatherings. “[W]e see each other as family and a community with unbreakable bonds,” Slavin said.

None of the Quarantini group lost their homes.

Organized and ready A Red Cross evacuation site, the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem provided safe harbor for both people and animals during the wildfires.

“I think so many people want to volunteer, they just don’t know where or how,” Erica Rumpca, a Silverton High

8 • October 2020

Volunteers assist animal owners in the Oregon State Fairgrounds stables.

grad, real estate agent, and volunteer with the Red Cross, speculated. “But the fairgrounds has a SignUpGenius. And if you have a food handler’s permit you can sign up to hand out meals.”

“I can’t say enough for what the County and the Fair Board have accomplished there in just a few days,” Silverton Mayor,

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October 2020 • 9

Helping Hands “[M]y heart was deeply touched by the overwhelming sense of community and Silverton’s ability to help each other.” – Christine Guenther With 21 horses – and one unnamed and unclaimed donkey – under their care, Christine and Elsie fed, watered and cleaned stalls. Most importantly, they kept watch over the animals when their owners could not. It was the caring attitude of the other volunteers that most touched Christine’s heart.

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“The organizers of this animal evacuation site – Danielle Bethell, Corri Falardeau and Matt Lawyer (from the Keizer Chamber of Commerce) and their team of volunteers at the fairgrounds,” Christine wrote in a Facebook post, “I can’t even begin to tell you what a difference they have made for us. Evacuating horses is not easy and they have surrounded us every step of the way – meeting physical and emotional needs sometimes before we can even express them.

“The fairgrounds is being run with the expertise of the finest organizers – there isn’t a moment of disorganization here. I cannot even fathom all of the details. There are 300-plus horses here – many without owners and these horses are being fed, watered and having their stalls cleaned all by this newly formed team of volunteers... I cannot begin to express what a blessing Danielle Bethell, the many volunteers from the Keizer Chamber of Commerce and the dozens upon dozens of others who are behind the scenes making all of this possible.”

Guenther’s home is still standing.

Focusing on the financial Credit unions are founded on one core principle – people helping people, according to Kim Hanson, Executive Director of the Maps Community Foundation.

And so, when the wildfires raged through the midWillamette Valley where more than 70,000 Maps Credit Union customers live and work, Maps executives knew they had to help.

“We needed to respond quickly to provide support to our Maps staff, members and community – both to meet immediate basic needs and relieve financial stress, and to design a response that also addressed the longer-term recovery and rebuilding efforts,” Hanson explained.

What developed was a many-pronged relief effort including a Member Assistance Program, offering emergency loans, skipped payments, loan deferrals on a case-by-case basis, waived fees and other financial support.

They reached out personally to nearly 1,200 Maps members who live up the Santiam Canyon or in Scotts Mills to determine who was impacted directly by the fires.

The goal was to offer a range of support, from assistance with immediate basic needs to connections to community resources via the Maps Community Foundation.

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There were “teams of employees working nights and weekends to make these calls,” Hanson said.

services or goodwill with those who want to lend a hand.

Clothing requests, wheelchair needs and sometimes a place to stay for the night, are all listed on the site.

Howard tries her best to match volunteers to needs.

Even so, Maps couldn’t do it alone. “[W]e are accepting donations from members who were not impacted but wish to help our neighbors in need,” Hanson said. “One hundred percent of donations will go to assisting other Maps members with immediate needs today and in the coming months as they work to rebuild their lives. Every dollar donated for ‘Members helping Members’ will be matched by an additional dollar from the Maps Community Foundation, up to $50,000.”

“Most of what we’re doing is connecting people to walk through this together,” she said. www.facebook.com/adoptafamilyoregon

A shared sense of community

In the meantime, Maps has also placed employee donation boxes at each branch, contributed financially to the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley and the Santiam Service Integration Team, and delivered food and drinks to the Stayton and Sublimity Fire Districts.

A sign of support.

“This is our community and home for the majority of our staff and members,” Hanson stressed. “We will give-back as much as we can to help those impacted.”

Resources beyond dollars “It’s grassroots – homegrown,” Kristin Howard, creator of Adopt-A-Family Oregon, explained. The organization is not a non-profit and does not take in money of any kind.

“We didn’t do any of this for recognition,” Lindsay Allen of Magnolia Grill said. “We feel so many people are doing so much more. Many businesses have jumped in with both feet to help.”

MELISSA WAGONER

“We started it years ago during Hurricane Katrina,” she recalled. “We hooked up people who wanted to help.”

This time – with the crisis is in her own backyard -Howard, a Keizer resident, has launched the helpers’ platform once again.

“We, as a team, can mobilize help,” she said. “It’s hands across the country holding people together.”

Solely based on Facebook, Adopt-A-Family Oregon matches those who need help in the form of goods,

Time and again, those interviewed for this story interrupted their own tales to mention those who they felt had done more. “[M]y heart was deeply touched by the overwhelming sense of community and Silverton’s ability to help each other,” Christine Guenther said.

“Volunteers and other helpers worked alongside the fire fighters, first responders and construction workers.

Collectively, we all did what we could do and together our town did something truly remarkable.”

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Thanksgiving is almost two months away, but why wait? We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the many men and women who worked tirelessly for us during the major fires of 2020. Whether you were the law enforcement officers knocking on doors warning people to evacuate, the line crews repairing power lines to prevent more fires, the incredible firefighters on the very front lines or volunteers helping victims.

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October 2020 • 11

datebook Datebook Submission Information Get your events and fundraisers published in Our Town. If your ongoing event was postponed because of COVID19 and is starting up again, please send a new listing. If you are meeting by Zoom or virtually, send those, too. Send your releases to datebook@mtangelpub.com.

Or drop them off at 401 Oak St., Silverton.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

City Meetings

Minutes and agendas for all city-related meetings and information on how to participate in/view the meetings are available on each city’s website.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Weekly Events Monday

SACA Food Pantry, 9 a.m. - noon,

Saturday

FoxToberfest

Silverton Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. -

1 p.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St. Fresh produce, plants, flowers. Last Day is Oct. 10. 503-873-5615, silvertonfarmersmarket.com Silverton Winter Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Friends Church, 229 Eureka Ave. Begins Oct. 17. Local produce, eggs, meats, artisan crafts. Free admission.

Oregon Crafters Market, 11 a.m. 6 p.m., 215 N Water St., Silverton. Seasonal weekend outdoor market with locally handcrafted items, unique art, food, live music, entertainers, festivities. Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. oregoncraftersmarket.com Saturday Lunch, Noon - 1:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second St., Silverton. Free. To-go lunch only. 503-8732635, trinitysilverton.org

SACA, 421 S Water St., Silverton.

Repeats 4 - 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.

- noon 9 a.m. - noon. 503-873-3446, silvertonareacommunityaid.org

Silverton Country Historical Society Museum, 1 - 4 p.m., 428 S Water St. Repeats

Repeats Tuesday - Thursday, Saturday.

503-845-6998 Mt. Angel Food Pantry, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mt. Angel Community Center, 195 E Charles St. 503-845-6998 Silverton Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m.

Delivery only. $3 donation suggested.

Monday - Friday. To schedule delivery, call Carol, 503-873-6906.

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

Delivery only. $3 donation suggested.

Repeats Thursdays. To schedule a delivery, call Ginger, 503-845-9464.

Mt. Angel Senior Center Drawing

Tuesday

Grab n go meals for children 1 - 18. Silverton High, 1456 Pine St., 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Monday - Friday. Robert Frost Elementary, 201 Westfield St., Silverton, 11 a.m. - noon, Monday - Friday. silverfallsschool.org.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Mt. Angel Community & Senior Center Store, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 195 E Charles St.

Silver Angels Foot Care, Silverton Senior

Center, 115 Westfield. 50 and older.

Repeats Wednesday. Appt: 503-201-6461 Serenity Al-Anon Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Zoom meeting. Repeats 10 a.m. Saturdays.

For Zoom link: Barbara K, 503-269-0952.

Wednesday

Mission Benedict Food Pantry, 1 - 3:45

p.m., St. Joseph Shelter, 925 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Repeats Friday. 503-845-2468 Mission of Hope Food Pantry, 2 - 4 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 Industry Way, Silverton. Repeats 9 - 11 a.m. Saturday.

503-873-7353 Daniel Plan Journey Video Series, 6:30 8 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship Church, 822 NE Industrial Way, Silverton.

In-person or online at scf.tv/daniel.plan.

Free. Open to public. Sheila, 503-409-4498

Thursday

Mediation & Shared Dialog, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

All spiritual traditions welcome.

Request invitation for virtual gathering: compassionatepresence@yahoo.com.

12 • October 2020

Saturday and Sunday through Veteran’s Day. 503-873-7070 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Notices

Drawings for four theme baskets: German, spa, wine, baby. Drawing is Oct. 3. Tickets $1 each or six for $5. Tickets at Mt. Angel Senior Center, 195 E Charles St.; Der Garten Public House, 185 E Charles St., Mt. Angel. Do not need to be present to win. 503-845-6998

Mt. Angel Free Meals

Grab n go meals for children 1 - 18. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, St. Mary’s Public School, 590 E College St., Mt. Angel. masd91.org.

Silver Falls Free Meals

Friday, Oct. 2 Lunaria October Exhibit

Noon - 5 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Main floor features “We Are Open” with new artwork from Bob Androvich and Rebekah Rigsby. Loft features artwork by Ginger Hinkel. Exhibits open noon - 5 p.m. Wednesday - Sunday through Oct. 31. 503-873-7734, lunariagallery.com

Virtual Lunch with Dodie

Noon. Today: Silver Angels Foot Care. Oct. 9: Aging and Disability Resource Connection.

Oct. 16: Resource Guide by Silverton Senior Center with Rose Hope. Oct. 23: Aging in the Willamette Valley with John Hughes. Oct. 30: Meals on Wheels Program with Carol Sheldon. For Zoom information, call 503-873-3093. Sponsored by Silverton Senior Center.

Monday, Oct. 12

Noon - 7 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Food pod in conjunction with Oktoberfest. Repeats Oct. 3 - 4. oktoberfest.org

Mt. Angel School District

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

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center, 421 S Water St. Agenda available. Open to public.

503-873-5303, silverfallsschools.org

First Friday in Silverton

Saturday, Oct. 3 First Friday with SWCD

9 a.m. Marion Soil & Water Conservation District hosts Zoom meeting “Knotweed & Water Primrose Mania” with Jenny Meisel, Marion SWCD native and invasive plant specialist. Participants must register at www.eventbrite.com/e/first-fridayregistration-113403047568

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest

4 - 10 p.m. Eat, Drink, Polka! Zuhaus Edition with virtual entertainment tonight, German, local craft beer and Oktoberfest sausage available for purchase, food booths, souvenirs. For a complete list of entertainment, ways to donate to non-profits that usually have booths, visit oktoberfest.org.

Monday, Oct. 5 Silverton City Council

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center, 421 S Water St.. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us

Mt. Angel City Council

7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library, 290 Charles St. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us

Tuesday, Oct. 6 Caregiver Connection

1 - 2:30 p.m. Offered through conference call by contacting Julie Mendez at 503304-3432, julie.mendez@nwsds.org for instructions on how to participate. For caregivers 60 or older or caregivers 55 or older caring for an adult 18 years or older living with a disability. Today’s topic is caregiver anxiety and depression.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 Scotts Mills City Council

7 p.m., Scotts Mills City Hall, 265 Fourth St. Open to public. 503-8735435, scottsmills.org

Saturday, Oct. 10 Monthy Book Talk

9:30 a.m. - noon, Queen of Angels Monastery, 840 S Main St., Mount Angel.

Discuss William Faulkner’s The Reivers. The meeting may be moved to a virtual format.

Contact Sr. Dorothy Jean, 503-845-2556, benedictinefoundation@gmail.com, to join.

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6:30 p.m., District Office, 730 E Marquam St., Mt. Angel. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-845-2345, masd91.org

Silver Falls School District

Tuesday, Oct. 13 Ancestry Detectives

10 a.m., Zoom. Kathy Valdez presents her Blurb books. Contact David Stewart, jdstew@frontier.com, for details.

Ancestrydetectives.org

Silverton Planning Commission

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center, 421 S Water St. Open to public. silverton.us.or

Wednesday, Oct. 14 Gardening Seminar

10 a.m. via Zoom. Gardening with Dale Small presented by Silverton Senior Center.

For Zoom information, call 503-873-3093

Tuesday, Oct. 20 Silver Falls Library Book Club

7 - 8:30 p.m., Zoom. This month: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin. A Zoom invite will be sent out a week or so before the meeting. Call 503-897-8796 to visit silverfallslibrary.org/book-club to sign up.

Saturday, Oct. 24 Halloween Scavenger Hunt

10 a.m. via Zoom. Participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt at home.

Sponsored by Silverton Senior Center. For Zoom information, call 503-873-3093

Monday, Oct. 26 Vigil for Peace

2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, social justice issues.

Open to all. 503-873-5307

Saturday, Oct. 31 Halloween Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza

1 - 3 p.m., Mount Angel Towers, 1 Towers Lane. Drive-through trick-ortreating. Children can come dress up and show off their costumes, eventhough they have to remain in their vehicles.

Residents will hand out candy, masked and gloved.

503-845-7211

Trunk-or-Treat

3 - 5 p.m., downtown Silverton. A drive-through trickor-treating event. Sponsored by Silverton Chamber of Commerce and Ticor Title.

503-873-5615, silvertonchamber.org

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Strong Silverton inspires kids to explore

By Melissa Wagoner The start of the school year looks pretty different this year. An ongoing pandemic, distance learning and recent wildfires have made going back to school, for many families, feel less like a rite of passage and more like a burden.

But Strong Silverton – a group promoting community connection and respectful discourse – hopes to change all that through a new event they are calling Strong Silverton Rocks.

“We’re buying 50 rocks from local rock painters and having them put ‘Strong Silverton’ on the backs of them...” group founder, Mayor Kyle Palmer, explained.

“From Oct. 3 through Halloween, kids can find them and redeem them (one per person) at the Chamber (of Commerce) office or Graystone Lounge. We will have 50 prizes for the finders to select from.”

The objective of the month-long event is to encourage kids – eighth grade

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“We’ll also use the event to remind people about our mission,” Mayor Palmer added, “which is to connect neighbors and reinforce positive activities and discussions that build relationships rather than destroy them.”

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October 2020 • 13

A Slice of the Pie

Fears and hopes

Even a crazy, overwhelming time offers bright spots

“I look at Facebook and the news every day and I try not to get upset by what is happening in our country. But I am scared. I wonder if that is everyone.”

This post, written by a friend of mine and heartbreaking in its honesty, really made me think – is it everyone? After all, as we are so often reminded, these are unprecedented times and so many systems appear to be broken that it’s easy to feel that repairing them all might be out of the question.

I don’t have a solution to the many problems our society now faces – how to end the pandemic, create social justice and overhaul our education system. And I don’t know how to end the fear that these looming issues create.

But I do have a suggestion, it comes courtesy of my friend. She proposed, “[M]aybe if everyone just admits they are scared too it could comfort us that we are not alone.”

So, with that in mind, I asked people: what do you fear most right now?

a world so divided and full of hate... How will this economy and national state of mind impact his future?” “[S]ome days I despair of ever having Americans be willing to endure inconvenience of masks and social distancing long enough to let us get it under control, so we can open again.”

Our fears: “[T]otal civil unrest... I don’t want to live in lawlessness with roaming gangs that take advantage of the weak.”

“I’m being induced on Monday and am afraid for the physical, social, and emotional health of my son as we raise him in this world... With an increase in COVID and a decrease in respect and common sense, I fear one of his grandparents, aunts or uncles, cousins, or even a parent will die before he knows them. Worse yet, I’m afraid he’ll contract it himself and be killed before he has had a chance to live or be so heavily impacted by it, he will never know what it means to be healthy. I’m also afraid to raise him in

“I feel so much sadness and lost faith in our fellow citizens. I worry for our future.”

“Travel feels scary...”

“That I’ll be accosted or yelled at for protecting myself in a mask.” “[I]t is a shame that our national leaders are so influential in the dissemination of fake news... I really think our democracy is threatened.” “[G]etting sick or losing someone close to me. I’m also very afraid of the divide in America.”

“I know truly intelligent people on both sides of the chasm who have allowed emotion to hijack rational thought and research.”

“I fear the division created between people now, between families, will last for years.”

“I fear we’ll be driven out of our hometown due to the drastically rising home prices.”

“I fear the long-term mental stress today’s world is putting on our kids. I worry about the lost opportunities...” “[W]ill I ever hug my grandkids again? This social distancing thing is just not the same.”

“Afraid for my children... Afraid for the forced unemployment of single parents who have to choose between their children’s education and a roof over their heads. Afraid for division in our communities... Afraid that I can’t be pro-police without being called a racist, and pro-Black lives for equality without believing in a movement.”

“I’m scared the kids not going back to school... will lead to further depression and social anxiety...”

“Not knowing when the pandemic will end, not really knowing potential long

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lasting effects of the COVID virus...

Not knowing how we will recover economically.”

heck out of me. I have never seen so much cruelty and willful ignorance masquerading as ‘toughness’ in my own country.”

“I’m afraid that my family won’t get to meet our baby when he is born in November. I’m afraid of massive economic collapse and not being able to provide or be provided for and being without healthcare. I’m afraid that our government is going to turn into a dictatorship. I’m afraid that Oregon is on the cusp of massive death due to coronavirus and that three months from now, when we all know someone close to us that has died, people will see it was mostly preventable. I’m afraid of permanent division and severed bridges between groups of people because of the unwillingness to see things another way. I’m afraid of [my husband] going back to school to teach... and getting sick and dying, or having long term health complications, or not being able to be present for the birth of our first baby, or the first little bit of his life, due to COVID.”

“I fear that we will never put an end to racism and that our kids still won’t see in their lifetime a world with true equality for all people.”

“My fellow Americans are scaring the

“Once upon a time, I had a nebulous fear of dying alone... It feels neither nebulous nor far-fetched now.”

“I fear Oregon being shut down again...

Think of how this has impacted those who were close to retirement who can no longer retire, those of us who will have to work many more years if we will ever be able to retire, the elderly who have locked themselves away, and are missing out on life’s precious moments... some of them delaying care for ailments out of fear, sometimes waiting until it’s too late for treatment and recovery (fear can be a silent killer, a factor many don’t discuss).”

“I am very concerned for the world my precious grandbabes will be living in as adults. There is so much political unrest

and such a grave divide between parties...

I also am fearful of this virus and the impact on our world, even if we find a vaccine, do we have the right to force folks to take it, no... Most of all I am sad about the racist issues in our town, state and USA. We all are people, with hearts.

What is going on?”

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“My dad had a racquetball size tumor removed from the center of his brain weeks ago and he’s doing awesome... So listening to one of his stories I’ve heard a thousand times brings me joy again.”

“[T]he hate and vileness I see on Silverton FB pages and in real life. The absence of compromise or understanding that multiple points of view can exist.”

“Through adversity comes hope and growth... Something in this country is off balance and people are starting to fight back and stand up for their freedoms.

That’s hope and that’s joy.”

And then, because I couldn’t leave it there, I asked – what gives you hope?

Our hopes: “I have hope that people will learn from this.” “[M]y first child/daughter [is] on the way...

I look forward to the things she will show me and teach me. She gives me hope that beautiful things are still in the works...”

“[S]cience. Not always optimistic, but always realistic. Blended with an abiding faith in humanity’s ability to rise to a challenge...” “[T]he scientists that I know who are working around the clock to find us a treatment and vaccine for COVID... My hope is also in the medical professionals who are finding more and more ways to keep people alive.”

“I believe people are good and with assistance from others can overcome hate and anger.”

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October 2020 • 15

Family Matters

Finding a new normal

By Melissa Wagoner “We can’t expect normal. It’s unrealistic,” explained Jennifer Ungarwulff, a therapist and owner of Mother Heart Counseling in Silverton.

What Ungarwulff was specifically referring to is an increased pressure on parents during the current pandemic to perform both the usual parenting roles – cooking, cleaning and caring for children – as well as additional ones – often at-home education as well as working from home.

“I think the hardest thing is that it adds things onto plates that were already overflowing,” Ungarwulff said. “Because teaching is a full-time job. So, it’s another full-time job. And for people who struggle with perfectionism, it causes a lot of anxiety.”

The pandemic has thrown parents another curveball: increased isolation and loneliness – two emotions many stay-at-home parents, especially those of newborns, may have already been coping with.

... is growing

“Not having access to social support – playdates, library storytimes – that break up isolation, that means your stuck with yourself and all your worries and anxieties,” Ungarwulff said. “I think it’s really hard on new moms. They don’t get to have the visitors they would normally have. And they don’t have the usual support of a good friend or family member. Being disconnected from grandparents is really hard.”

Ungarwulff said for many parents, these unique difficulties are sending the message that they are on their own.

“It puts a lot of pressure on the couples to be everything right now,” she said. “But there are good coping practices.”

First and foremost, acknowledgment of one’s own feelings – both the positive and the negative.

“There’s err on both sides,” she stated.

“There are the people who just focus on the good things and the people that get stuck in the hard stuff. But we really can’t get away with not acknowledging our

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16 • October 2020

Time to recognize emotions, ease expectations feelings for the long-term. It’s not good.

When you don’t acknowledge your own pain, you can get overwhelmed.”

Simply the recognition of emotions such as grief, Ungarwulff stated, can be helpful.

“It could be grief like, ‘I wanted my kid in this certain school and now I’m teaching them,’” she noted. “It’s really time to take space and notice.”

Audry Van Houweling, a board-certified family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and owner of She Soars Psychiatry in Silverton, agreed.

“The pandemic of COVID has meant adjustments for nearly everyone to varying degrees. As they say, we are in the ‘same storm, but certainly have different boats...’ For some, the unprecedented situation, COVID, has meant rapid and life altering changes with little time to process or prepare. Consequently, for many, there is a lot of grieving... grieving of hopes unrealized, financial security, relationships, support networks, and safety to name a few. Grieving is not

linear and people can bounce through the ‘stages’ of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and finding meaning.”

It can also mean, for some, focusing on the needs of others – children, spouses even community members – while neglecting their own.

“Certain personalities will focus exclusively on taking care of other people as a way of avoiding their feelings,” Ungarwulff said.

In which case she recommended, “Try to pause and practice checking in with yourself every day, and practice self-care.”

But self-care right now can be difficult.

Lack of childcare, the closure of fitness centers and an increase in responsibilities can make taking time for oneself feel nearly impossible.

“If you’re somebody that used to go to the gym, it’s hard,” Ungarwulff said. “But we can do walks, we can take bike rides.”

And implementation of these healthy

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habits is especially important right now, according to Ungarwulff who said, “We don’t know how long this is going to last, so building in healthy practices is key.

You have to start valuing your health.”

While establishing – or reestablishing – these physical health practices is certainly important, establishing good mental health practices is, too. And that goes for children as well.

“The insight and awareness among children is certainly going to vary per age and level of understanding,” Van Houweling said.

“Parents taking time to have emotional ‘check-ins’ with children, letting children know it is OK to feel upset or sad, having awareness of what children are seeing and hearing, promoting kindness and gratitude, and avoiding language that blames others can all help facilitate a more resilient home environment.”

Because, it all comes back to the real importance of acknowledging feelings in a safe way, and making space for children to do the same.

Parental tips and resources for coping during COVID-19 Courtesy of Mother Heart Counseling

• Ask for help

• Limit news intake

• Cultivate calm – prayer, yoga, meditation or reading

• Get fresh air and move your body every day • Find comfort – in speaking with loved ones, music, a bath, a movie, or a meal • Manage expectations – extend this grace to others as well • Set boundaries “If you have compassion for yourself, it increases your compassion for other people,” Ungarwulff said. With many families spending an increased amount of time together, that kind of modeling is key.

“The really important thing is, if and when your child shares that they’re struggling, the parent does not talk them out of it,” she said. “Instead create a safe space for them to express, inviting them to share.”

• Cultivate connection – with yourself, loved ones, pets or the earth • Help if/when you can – donate to a food bank, reach out virtually to those who are isolated, chalk positive affirmations on the sidewalk or thank an essential worker While parenting is always a big responsibility, it can feel much weightier now, leading many parents to scramble for control over perceived failures. But both Van Houweling and Ungarwulff suggest a different approach. “[For] parents, letting go a bit of preCOVID expectations, both for themselves and their children, in specific regard to productivity and benchmarks of success allows for flexibility and grace when

continuing to maintain rigid standards is likely to be counterproductive,” Van Houweling said. “[Instead,] allowing space for emotional expression and not being too quick to judge emotional responses among family members provides more ease to process and cope with emotional tolls.”

“Lower your expectations,” Ungarwulff added. “Is everybody OK? Are they healthy? Are they learning enough?”

There are still positive aspects of life, even in this time of “new normal,” according to Van Houweling, who said, “There have been silver linings for some families who are enjoying more opportunity for quality time. For some children who were struggling with social and academic stress pre-COVID, mental health concerns may have actually improved in the absence of these stressors.”

“Acknowledge the tough things while finding gratitude,” Ungarwulff said. “Like, it’s nice to spend time with our kids. There are good things that come out of it.”

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HOURS Tues-Fri 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-2pm October 2020 • 17

The Forum

Davenport Place met challenge during emergency I’d like to commend Tammy O’Rourke and the staff of Davenport Place – Assisted Living, for their heroic work during the fires.

Working with multiple personalities, idiosyncrasies and health issues of the elderly, they did an amazing feat.

They evacuated the facility and took all residents to safety at a hotel in Vancouver.

Work in an assisted living facility is challenging. These folks often get little or no appreciation for the daily care they give.

Thank you Tammy and each staff member who gave so unselfishly in a time of great stress. I have called the Enlivant company to make sure they understand the nature of their excellent work. I trust they will, at least, commend them for it.

We are very grateful that there is a local home that is willing and able to meet the needs of our elderly both

Gratefully, Phil & Amy Mullins

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Passages

Donald Lee Laycock Sr. Don Laycock was born in Knoxville, Tennessee into a large family. He had two sisters and five brothers and was the second youngest child in the family.

Don finished school at 8th grade and hitchhiked to Michigan, hoping to land a job with the auto industry. Then he headed south to Florida for a time and attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army even though he was underage.

When that failed, Don decided to hitchhike to California but eventually ended up back in Tennessee. Once he turned 18 he enlisted in the army.

After serving his country for three years he traveled from Detroit, Michigan to Miami, Florida and eventually worked his way to California.

American Legion Post 89

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Dec. 30, 1933 – Sept. 5, 2020

It was there that he met the love of his life, Edel Fulsang, whom he married in 1957. Don and Edel had two children together – Donald Jr. and Vivian.

They adopted a son, David, in 1965.

Don enjoyed a long career working as a lineman and facilities engineer for the Contel phone company where he found not only employment but a wonderful close-knit group of co-workers who became like extended family. The job took Don and his family to California, Washington, Alaska, Jamaica and eventually to Silverton, Oregon, which became their home.

Don and Edel shared a very close marriage and had many adventures together. They were both active in

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Eastern Star and the Masons. They owned and ran an antique store which became a secondary income and social outlet. They often traveled across America and Canada together to work antique shows and visit friends they’d met on the antique show circuit. They traveled together to Hong Kong, and then to Guam to visit Don Jr., who was serving in the U.S. Navy, and to Japan to visit David who was serving in the Marines.

Total 200 Tickets.

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For community health and safety the Turkey Shoot is canceled.

Don was a very charming, outgoing man. He was thoughtful, intelligent, and kind. He made friends easily and it could honestly be said that he never met a stranger. He had a larger than life personality and will be greatly missed.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Edel and their daughter Vivian. He is survived by his son David (Candice), Donald Jr. (Myrna), his favorite granddaughter Jonie (John), and greatgrandchildren Jonathan and Arabella.

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October 2020 • 19

Sports & Recreation

Meet the Sasquatches

Mountain biking team starts off in top gear

By Melissa Wagoner Finding people to coach kids’ sports can be tricky, which is why Terrance Hawley was so surprised when, upon starting a brand-new mountain biking team – Silver Falls Mtb – the volunteer coaches showed up in droves.

“We had so many coaches,” Terrance laughed. Noting that his team has a whopping 13 coaches for only seven riders.

“But our coaching staff is awesome,” Cindy Hawley, Terrance’s wife and coaching assistant, enthused. “It’s a really neat group of adults and kids.”

And their daughter, 15-year-old Trillian, agrees.

“You get really close with the coaches, which doesn’t usually happen,” she noted.

“And because the team is really small, the community among us is really tight. That makes me really happy.”

That team spirit, no matter the level and no matter the experience, is what the Hawleys think makes mountain biking such an approachable sport.

“We have a huge range of skills,” Terrance said. “We have a kid that’s an expert BMXer at state and then we have kids that it’s their first time.”

Teammates riding trails in Silver Falls State Park with Silver Falls Mtb head coach Terrance Hawley (above). MELISSA WAGONER

are already planning for next fall, when things will hopefully be a little more normal. That planning includes team sign-ups – which will be held in the spring – and fundraising – which, in a sport with entrance fees well over $200 and expensive equipment – is a very big deal.

“It’s a place for everybody,” Cindy agreed.

“Everybody’s welcome.”

Even those who find competitive sports intimidating. Because mountain biking, unlike many team sports, is largely based on personal performance.

“It’s a bit like swimming in that you have a tight team but you compete individually,” Terrance described. Adding that, similar to swim meets, “Typically there are races set up with mass starts in an age group.”

“We’re a nonprofit currently sponsored by Fall Line, Skyline Construction Services and Cascade Financial,” Terrance said.

“They really made a lot of this happen.

The finances to get this started is tough.”

Of course, this is not a typical year and, as such, large groups of riders – and spectators as well – are currently out of the question.

“This year they were going to do time trials,” Terrance noted. “But it was hard to keep everyone distanced and apart.

And, if there was a race here, [at Silver Falls State Park] it would fill up five or six parking lots. So, this year they’re going to do challenges.”

And so, while the coaches wait to find out what those challenges will be, the

20 • October 2020

Silver Falls Mtb team – better known as the Sasquatches – have developed their own time trial competition.

“We’ve been preparing our kids to do one loop around the Newt Loop,” Terrance said of the course – a 2.2-mile trail designed specifically for mountain biking at Silver Falls State Park.

“We did awards for the three top improvements,” Cindy added. “That’s our little built-in competition. And when we’re doing the time thing, [the Newt Loop] becomes the Sasquatch Loop.”

While the Sasquatches were enjoying the 2020 season, despite the lack of organized competitions, both Terrance and Cindy

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“So, if anybody wants to be a sponsor, email silverfallsmtb@gmail.com,” Cindy said. Adding that one of Silver Falls Mtb’s goals is to eventually sponsor bikes and bike maintenance for kids who cannot afford the cost of getting into the sport.

“Even now we have kids with bikes that are not quite right,” she admitted. “And [sponsors] would get a lot of gratitude for helping get kids on bikes.”

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New approaches

Unusual fall continues for sports teams So it’s Oct. 1. If things had gone the way they were supposed to this column would be chock full of updates on Silverton and Kennedy football playing league games and a report on the annual Silver FallsOktoberfest Invitational cross country meet, which brings hundreds of runners into one of my favorite forests.

And the irony is that even if we had NOT had COVID-19 the cross country meet would have been flushed because of the fires. Well, unless you think that the virus led to the fires… a level of cosmic disruption beyond the pay grade of your humble sports columnist.

And even though the Pac-12 and Big Ten are joining other top conferences in restoring football this fall, Oregon School Activities Association Executive Director Peter Weber told Our Town the association is not reconsidering its plan to hold off on “official” sanctioned practices and games until Dec. 28.

Thus, we are left with the oddity of Season 1, kind of an off-the-grid open season for teams and schools to try things... as long as they don’t run afoul of state orders, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education.

Here is a quick look at the plans for the local schools...

Silverton football: Fourth-year coach Josh Craig says the Foxes will start in the middle of October with weights once a week and practice once a week.

The program used a similar approach to summer workouts. Football won’t begin in earnest until February, according to the current OSAA calendar.

Kennedy cross country: Veteran coach Steve Ritchie was able to get in six optional practices in July but earlier plans for Season 1 workouts fell victim to the fires. On Sept. 21, the Mt. Angel School Board OK’d a return to sports workouts at the school, perhaps as early as Sept. 28 (after Our Town’s presstime).

Ritchie calls it a mini-season, and it will consist of practices only, no meets or organized transportation.

“Pretty strict protocol we have to follow,” he said. “I’m aware of several private schools that never stopped practicing until the smoke. And schools in some areas are doing competitions this fall in different

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sports. A tremendous amount of variation.”

Silverton basketball: The Foxes’ boys squad is embarking on those competitions Ritchie spoke of. Coach Jamie McCarty said that after some early workouts he plans to take the squad to weekend tournaments in October and November, including a trip to Boise.

“We missed all summer so we have a lot of ground to make up,” McCarty said.

“This will give our seniors a chance to lead and help get our team where we need to go for the season.”

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McCarty also noted that OSAA’s Season 2, which includes basketball, only allows for 14 games. Which means you have to be ready to rumble right away.

Foxes’ girls coach Tal Wold is taking a lower-key approach. He is planning one-hour workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“The emphasis will be on skill development and enjoying being in the gym with teammates,” Wold said. “We have been working hard to stay connected with our girls. Google meets where we talked basketball, had guest speakers, played games, and just tried having fun.

It’s been super-important to us to stay connected, see the girls laugh, and have some sort of normalcy for them.”

Hoops camp: Wold and the Lady Foxes are hosting a training camp for players in fifth through eighth grade every Monday in October.

Camp starts Oct. 5, with 5th-6th graders at 6:30 p.m. and 7th-8th graders at 7:30 p.m.

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Camp costs $5 for each of the four sessions. The program will emphasize basketball fundamentals and skills while using both the main gym and the auxiliary gym at Silverton High.

Email coach Wold at wold_tal@silverfalls. k12.or.us for more information.

Follow me on Twitter.com @jameshday

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A Grin at the End

Heroism

The true spirit of Oregonians

It began on a recent Monday afternoon.

A day that had begun with bright blue skies and happy chatter among house guests was transformed. First the wind started. Not a breeze, it was the kind of wind that knocked around the furniture on our back deck and sent planters flying.

Then the sky turned, first gray, then to yellow and finally a dark orange that refused to let the sun through as the smoke piled into the area.

In the dark, red and blue lights lit up the smoke that shrouded Highway 22. One after another, fire trucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles raced eastward, chased by the sound of their sirens, disappearing into the black unknown.

Through the night a realization settled in: the thousands of people who lived up the Santiam Canyon were caught in a fiery nightmare. The violent wind not only knocked out power – fallen electrical lines set fires up and down the canyon and even torched the firefighters’ headquarters.

repeated around Oregon, California and Washington state.

As we packed up Tuesday to evacuate our home amid flickering lights, we knew one thing: we knew the strength of character of Oregonians was unique.

Worse, the wind fanned the 500-acre Beachie Creek Fire near Jawbone Flats into more than 180,000 acres in a few days.

People raced for their lives as the fires closed in on the highway, creating – in some places – a tunnel of flames. Unable to leave, others sought refuge in the waters of the North Santiam River until rescuers could arrive.

Tuesday, the outlook was dire as much of the canyon burned, but it only got worse.

The wind that had created the inferno started to push the flames northwest, ripping through the forests and heading toward another fire to join forces and continue the path of destruction.

The scene was apocalyptic, and was being

Disaster is not new to Oregon.

Windstorms, check... the 1962 Columbus Day windstorm. Forest fires, check... like the Tillamook Burns that started in 1933 and leveled 355,000 acres before they ended in 1951.

But the combination of wind and fire caught us all in awe. The power and fury of fire spiraling through the crowns of trees and leveling house after house was unmatched. “It was like a locomotive,” one survivor said of the fire.

Except this locomotive doubled in size every hour.

Up the canyon and around the state, we are still grieving over the losses of life and property. Some of the fires are subsiding – thank God – and others are

Rapidly tires when reading

Exaggerated head movements while reading

Tilts head or covers one eye when reading

And I believe this about my friends and neighbors, acquaintances and total strangers who share this great state: I believe: You. Are. Heroes.

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

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22 • October 2020

I believe that, and I believe that Oregonians will prevail through the pain, the suffering, the losses. I believe that by the time the last ember is extinguished Oregonians will have met the test.

• Pruning • Clean-up • Maintenance

Would you checkmark any of these for your child?

They may have a learning related vision problem.

Shon Reed, O.D.

They say a hero is someone who runs into a burning building when others are running out. They say that adversity only makes you stronger.

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

But the character and spirit of Oregonians is not dimmed. In fact, it glows brighter than ever. It is a spirit of resilience, of caring, of strength and community.

The first responders, volunteers, those who have donated money, clothes and caring – all have stepped forward in this time of need.

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Loses place and skips lines when reading

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October 2020 • 23

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(WVMLS#766171)

#T2622 GREAT STARTER HOME $319,900 Great Starter Home in Silverton!!

Built in 1924 this home provides 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1342 sq.ft. of living space, and a large fenced backyard! The property also includes a single detached garage and a covered front porch where one can enjoy the evening sunsets or say hi to neighbors walking by. Call Chuck at ext. 325 (WVMLS#768886)

SALEM/KEIZER SOLD! – #T2612 QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD 3 BR, 2 BA 1536 sqft. Keizer.

Call Whitney at ext. 320, Mike at ext.

312 $329,850 (WVMLS#766386) #T2619 SINGLE LEVEL HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1523 sqft. Keizer. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $356,000 (WVMLS#768156)

#T2620 GREAT KEIZER LOCATION 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1716 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $347,700 (WVMLS#768160)

For rental properties call Micha or Sarah at 503-873-1425 or check our website

BROKERS ARE LICENSED IN OREGON

24 • October 2020

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