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In their own words SFSD candidates focus on fiscal accountability
By Stephen Floyd
Six candidates are running for three seats on the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board in the May 20 election, and Our Town reached out to learn their positions on district issues.
Below are excerpts of candidate replies, full answers are available at ourtownlive. com.
Ballots are scheduled to be mailed out April 30 and should be returned by mail or ballot box by May 20.
What motivated you to run for the Board?
Zone 2
David Helman: “I would like to give back to my community… [after] the school district went through a tumultuous time last year.”
Sarah Dalisky: “I have a strong understanding of how the education system works, and I want to use my knowledge to support our students.”
Zone 4
Wally Lierman: “I value our community and have a strong desire to provide some leadership to the school district.”
Kellie King Strawn: “I am passionate about all students in our district, including my own, having… opportunities to explore their interests and learn critical work and life skills.”
Zone 5
Nicole Grill: “I have a strong desire to serve my community, and education is where I feel most called to contribute.”
Daniel Côté: “[To] help bring back the positive, supportive, academic environment we have been accustomed to in the past.”
What specific goals do you have if elected?
Zone 2
David Helman: “To develop overall goals with respect to safety… to help develop a directory of various places where we can find important data points… to advocate for rural schools.”
Sarah Dalisky: “To rebuild trust in our school district by having strong communication, transparency in decision making, and working to bring all voices to the table, hold the district leaders accountable… and ensuring all decisions are made in the best interest of our students.”
Zone 4
Wally Lierman: “High expectations and educational excellence need to be visible throughout the entire district with a focus on the district’s mission of academic growth. Silver Falls needs to return to being a sought after and high performing district in the state of Oregon.”
Kellie King Strawn: “I want our community to trust the school board and school district leadership, so we can work together effectively to meet the needs of all of our students.”
Zone 5
Nicole Grill: “Work withthe board to establish a balanced budget. Be open to feedback and provide the community with insights… Review district policies and engage community members… Explore options for rehiring or hiring staff… Develop a plan of action for facility upgrades.”
Daniel Côté: “My top priority will be students and teachers, at the same time establishing a transparent fiscal responsibility. I will prioritize core competencies, electives that fulfill the needs and likes of all students, as well as extracurricular activities.”
What issues should voters pay attention to the most this election?
Zone 2
David Helman: “School board candidates should explain to voters their views on why the [budget] crisis occurred and should have clear plans on how to prevent a similar crisis from occurring in the future.”
Sarah Dalisky: “While SFSD was hit hard by the cuts this school year, there are still harder times to come. Coupled with aging buildings and the uncertainty in federal funding, it means tough decisions are going to have to be made.”
Zone 4
Wally Lierman: “Decisions regarding finances need to be prioritized with clear
Candidate Forum April 30
The Silverton Grange is hosting a forum for candidates running for the Silver Falls School District Board.
Community members are invited to attend Wednesday, April 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) at the Grange Hall, 201 Division St., Silverton.
Candidates will be given time to summarize their backgrounds and platforms, and will then take moderator and audience questions. All six candidates have confirmed they plan to attend.
For additional information, call 971-267-9364 or email SilvertonGrange@gmail.com.
objectives… We need to make this a district where parents are excited to enroll their children.”
Kellie King Strawn: “Voters should be most concerned with how candidates talk about the district moving forward, as we continue to recover from a financial crisis.”
Zone 5
Nicole Grill: “Our district faces many important challenges, but in my circles, the budget and facilities are the most frequently discussed.”
Daniel Côté: “Choose the candidates that will focus on doing the job they are elected for, overseeing, directing the policies, and creating a positive, outstanding learning environment.”
David Helman
Sarah Dalisky
Nicole Grill
Daniel Côté
Wally Lierman
Kellie King Strawn
Tree code Silverton back to drawing board
By James Day
Silverton will have to try again on a proposed tree code. Efforts to codify the new approach failed at a public hearing at the council April 2 meeting. Key goals of the project were to preserve Silverton’s tree canopy, especially during the development stage, and to make sure the ordinance conforms with the “clear and objective” standards required by state law.
A lengthy amount of work by city staff, the Planning Commission and the city’s emergency management committee dating back to Dec. 27, 2022 has gone into the tree code effort. Despite the eight meetings at which it had been discussed, councilors and Mayor Jason Freilinger were virtually unanimous in their conclusion it needed more work. Issues raised by councilors and building community members who spoke during public comment were that it was too complicated and would lead to higher costs.
Speaking against the code were local developers Gene Oster and Owen Von Flue as well as Mike Erdmann, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Marion &
Polk Counties. No word on when the tree code might be brought back for review.
Other city council meeting news:
Business Retention and Expansion:
Charlie Johann, the city’s Resource Assistance for Rural Environments employee, presented his findings on an economic development survey on business retention and expansion. Johann surveyed traded sector businesses, industries that sell their goods and services to customers outside of the region where they are located.
Johann was able to interview nine of the 36 traded sector firms in town. Challenges included the fear on the part of companies that they would be giving away proprietary information and that they were not inclined to speak freely with a city employee who will be gone by August. Two of the key issues identified for businesses were limited space in town for growth and workforce shortages.
Silverton 50+ Center: Councilors approved a transfer funds resolution for “unforeseen expenditures” that included the repairs to the Silverton 50-plus Center where a flooding problem led to it being closed for eight
months. The city, which owns the building, spent approximately $388,000 for repairs.
Eureka Development: Councilors approved a contract between the city and Garden Grove, LLC for pedestrian infrastructure at the site along Eureka Avenue adjacent to The Oregon Garden. Sidewalks will be constructed on the Garden side of Eureka down to the water tower. Sidewalks also will be built on one side of the winding Garden road that leads from the entrance on Main Street to the upper parking lots. Garden Grove is planning a 32-unit apartment complex and nine duplexes on the Eureka site. The city will pay $40,000 for the sidewalks, with the developer adding $150,000 and a systems development charge credit providing an additional $445,000.
Pettit Lake Trail: The city is applying for an $800,000 Oregon State Parks grant to help pay for the proposed trail system at Pettit Lake just southwest of town along the Cascade Highway. Jason Gottgetreu, community development director, said the competition for grants is much fiercer this year.
Mt. Angel College dorms may become public housing
Marion County is looking to partner with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to potentially re-develop the former campus of Mt. Angel College into affordable public housing.
During an April 3 meeting of the Marion County Housing Authority (MCHA) Board, officials discussed multiple development options including repurposing existing buildings and new construction.
The eight-acre property along South Main Street is owned by CCS and has been on the market since 2023. An offer to buy the facility by Father Bernard Youth Center fell through in early 2024.
Jason Icenbice, MCHA executive director, said the county could potentially form a limited partnership with CCS in which both parties have an equal stake. The limited partnership would purchase the property and the county would oversee development and management of site housing.
Funding for the purchase could potentially come from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and from grants for preserving historic buildings.
The property was the location of Mt. Angel College (initially Mt. Angel Academy) from 1888 until 1973, and Colegio Cesar Chavez until 1983. The campus has three dorm buildings–Bernard Hall, Casa Adele and Marmion Hall–and three outbuildings.
Icenbice said Casa Adele was recently renovated into 10 units of single-family housing and the county would renovate Bernard Hall to match.
He said Marmion Hall, which has 40 available units, could be re-developed as single-unit senior housing similar to Edelweiss Village, another county property in downtown Mt. Angel.
County Commissioner Colm Willis said Edelweiss Village has been a success and that a similar development at Marmion Hall would be good for the county.
The county has also looked at the possibility of constructing 23 new townhome units and a 57-unit multi-family apartment complex, said Icenbice. He said they would not need to tear down any of the dorms to accommodate new construction, and that one of the county’s goals is to preserve the existing, historic buildings.
Icenbice said the project could be built out in stages, dependent in part on when funding becomes available. He told Our Town the development is “very early in the planning process.” He said the county still needs to finalize an agreement with CCS, in addition to making zoning changes and working out a property tax agreement with the City of Mt. Angel.
– Stephen Floyd
SPD investigating rash of burglaries
Silverton Police Department is seeking suspect information following multiple recent burglaries at the Paradise Village subdivision on the north end of town.
According to an SPD press release, 15 burglaries occurred between April 5 and 6 at the new development on N. James Street between Jefferson and Hobart Road.
The suspect(s) targeted vacant homes and allegedly gained entry through windows. Police said multiple victims suffered property damage and theft of items inside.
Police are investigating these incidents as alleged second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree theft. The charges indicate at least $100 in stolen items and at least $1,000 in property damage.
Police are asking residents nearby to review home security footage for possible leads. Call the nonemergency line at 503-873-5326.
Something To Think About
Pedestrian safety
By Melissa Wagoner
On Nov.21, 2023, Amanda Bratcher’s 14-year-old son Noah was walking his bike across C Street near James Street in Silverton when he was struck by a car. The driver, upon seeing the stopped traffic, decided to change lanes and speed past, clipping Noah in the process.
“The driver did not stop, but slowed down and yelled ‘Are you OK?’ and then sped off,” Bratcher said, recounting the story Noah later told her. “Thankfully Dr. Jess Miller was at the Taco Bell and saw what happened and came to Noah to check him over and to call us to let us know what had happened and that he would stay with Noah until we got there.”
While Noah was relatively unharmed physically – with only a few scrapes on his palms and his knees – his new bike did not fare as well, nor did his faith in the safety of biking and walking in his hometown.
“Noah was afraid to walk or ride a bike after that and to this day, I feel uneasy approaching that intersection…” Bratcher said. “I have seen other similar stories on the Silverton [Connections Facebook] page at that very intersection and others were not so lucky and got really hurt. Silverton is a destination and full of walkers and kids and this [makes] a lot of people feel unsafe.”
It’s an issue that is on the minds of many, including the man who witnessed Noah’s accident, Jess Miller who, at the time, was the Chairperson for Silverton’s Transportation Advisory Committee.
“It’s a horribly designed intersection,” Miller said of the accident. “You can’t see around the cars, so you might think the car is turning…”
A military veteran, Miller witnessed a culture of walking and biking unlike anything he has experienced in this country when he was stationed in Germany.
“The infrastructure encouraged people’s behavior,” he said of the pedestrian and bike friendly streets. “Every day I either road or walked.”
And he still does, riding his bicycle to work in Mount Angel even though the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure are not on par with those he experienced in Germany. Which is why he joined the Transportation Advisory Committee four years ago, campaigning for a city-wide speed limit reduction (on roads not overseen by the county or state) to 20 miles per hour and the addition of orange crossing flags to several intersections.
“I think the flags are helping and hope to see us add more of those,” councilmember April Newton said. Adding that, in addition to recommendations from the transportation advisory committee, the council has “identified some areas we really need to focus on and are working toward designs for improvements.”
The council recently engaged Westech Engineering and DKS Associates – engineering and planning firms offering transportation planning and design services – to conduct a study of the most “troublesome” intersections in Silverton. “[T]he findings from that study will give us ideas for how
Top of mind for many, but unheeded by too many
to improve crosswalk safety,” Newton said prior to the presentation of the completed document April 2.
The study focused on ten intersections located throughout the city. It looked at the average bicycle and pedestrian crossings, the amount of vehicular traffic and its speed and the traffic accidents reported between 2018 and 2022.
The goal was “to evaluate pedestrian-related traffic crashes in the City of Silverton and identify low-cost safety improvements at key locations,” authors of the study stated.
The evaluation ranked the crossings on the volume of vehicles traveling through the intersection, their average speed, if there are schools or other locations that generate high pedestrian traffic nearby and whether the area is “located in a high or medium high social equity disparity location.”
The results listed three intersections of top tier concern: McClaine Street and Westfield Street/C Street, Westfield Street and Center Street, and the crosswalk near C Street and James Street – where Noah’s accident occurred.
Recommendations included the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons to alert drivers when a pedestrian is crossing, more street lighting and curb extensions.
“The entire council is concerned with, and committed to, the safety of our crosswalks and doing what we can to make walking throughout town safer…” Newton said. “The walkability of a community is critical for the safety of children and families, but also for the health and wellbeing of everyone. The ability to safely walk anywhere in town connects people with each other, with the outdoors, with our local businesses, it’s a vital ingredient to a livable community.”
It’s a sentiment Mayor Jason Freilinger echoed. “I’m really focused – and most of us are – in enhancing the walkability of downtown. We need people to not be tripping on sidewalks, we have sidewalks that are warped and bubbled and old coal grates.”
It’s with this mixture of safety and aesthetic in mind that the City Council initiated the “Main Street Redevelopment
and Downtown Plaza Park Project,” which – though it is still in the early planning phase – would encompass the redevelopment of Main Street and the development of a downtown Plaza Park.
“This will be a major project paid for mostly by Urban Renewal Agency funds that will fully replace and update this section of downtown and both intersections,” Freilinger said. “Intersection Safety is a big driver of this project and a top priority. The complex survey and design plans will be happening through 2025. We project that construction will take place starting and ending in 2026.”
But what about those intersections and sidewalks outside of downtown?
“I would personally like to really assess those connectivity gaps. It would be great to get to that point,” Silverton City Manager Cory Misley said, referring to areas in town lacking sidewalks or where the sidewalks do not connect.
And then there are the intersections that lack a formal crossing. The issue with many of these is they are under the authority of ODOT or Marion County. Making changes is a multi-step process.
“[W]e are working to build our relationships with the state and county for the streets that they have jurisdiction over,” Newton said. “We are working collaboratively with them now to see if there are projects they will allow us to do if we put up the funding and do the work. ... Cory Misley, and Mayor Freilinger in building relationships with them. I am currently serving a term on the Mid-Willamette Valley Area Commission on Transportation and ... I have been able to bring grant opportunities back into our community and build on our relationships with ODOT.”
Meanwhile community members continue to struggle with issues like incomplete sidewalks and a lack of designated crossings in areas that see a high rate of pedestrian use.
“To get to the sidewalk on Peach Street there is no crosswalk,” Greg Vanderwall – who, prior to his involvement in a pedestrian related traffic accident, walked nearly four miles six days a week in Silverton. “You can walk right up to the fog line and cars won’t stop.”
That lack of courtesy by drivers toward pedestrians concerns Vanderwall far more than any infrastructure deficiencies.
“People don’t stop at stop signs, and they run lights, which is illegal in Oregon,” Vanderwall said. “They hit a yellow going 25 miles per hour.”
And then there is the added danger of bicycles and scooters on the sidewalk, issues he thinks might be improved with more police presence.
“There’s the old adage that says, laws that are not enforced people don’t obey,” he said. He is calling on everyone operating a vehicle – both motorized and nonmotorized – to do their part in making Silverton a safe place to walk.
“My biggest concern is that cars are not stopping at implied or actual crossings,” he said. “It used to be people looked out for each other… now people are in such a hurry.”
Silverton is a heavily walked and biked community.
MELISSA WAGONER
Welcome...
We are proud to welcome these exceptional brokers to Harcourts Silverton. Michael Kemry is a Principal Broker and owned and operated Four Rivers Realty Group out of Keizer. They have joined forces with Harcourts Silverton to offer a few more tools to their clients.
Principal Broker
503-851-2914
$799,000 Love a creek view? 212' Abiqua Creek Frontage, one level home,1920 sqft and a separate shop w/ full bath. Silverton. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998
MLS#824419
MLS#825174
$1,399,000 Secluded country living with remodeled, beautiful interior. 27.7 Acres, located between Silverton and Salem, forest and river views. 2658 sqft, 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, possiblity for dual living. Listed by Jackson Sherwood 971-343-2475
$654,000 New Construction, one story w/ covered patio. Modern finishes, 1821 sqft, 3 bed, 2 bath, custom tile shower in master. Silverton. David Leikem 503-991-0293
MLS#824435
$380,000 Inspired by Italian style farmhouses, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, home in small town of Scio. Formal dining space, picture windows and large detached garage. Alexis Mastenbroek 541-974-0999
MLS#826090
$462,000 Great room w/ wall of windows, vaulted ceilings, custom cabinetry, hardwood floors. 3 bed, 2 bath, 1632 sqft. Mt. Angel. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#823570
$345,000 Quiet setting and open floor plan, single level 1512 sqft home with 2 living rooms, 3 bed 2 bath, built in 1999. Silverton. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667 MLS#826719
$795,000 One-of-a-kind custom home in Mt. Angel, great location near schools. 2,968 sqft built in 2001 with ammenities galore. Media room, extra large garage, extra covered parking, hardwood floors, large master suite. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998
MLS#826550
$409,900 Charming opportunity in Silverton, potential awaits with 2 outbuildings, one is a bonus room or office. 4 bed, 2 bath, 1512 sqft with charming features. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667 MLS#824615
$134,900 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1296 sqft built in 1995, located in Briarwood Estates, MFH home in a park (no land included). Keizer. Michael Kemry 503-851-2914
MLS#825849
$175,000 Commercial Zoned Lot in Aumsville. .25 Acre, corner of Main and 9th Street. Michael Kemry 503-851-2914 MLS#825946
Something to Do
Earth Day Free celebration at The Garden
The Oregon Garden’s annual Earth Day celebration, sponsored by Leafguard, returns on Saturday, April 19. This free, family-friendly event will be held indoors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.
You are invited to join in for a day of fun and educational activities for all ages. Interactive exhibits and educational booths will inspire environmental awareness and action. Enjoy up-close animal encounters with Brad’s World Reptiles and Caesar the No-Drama Llama, and unleash your creativity with an Earth Day keepsake painting craft.
The experience is free and open to the public. While at the garden, take some time to explore, take a tram tour or browse the gift shop and nursery.
The day features:
• Interactive Activities & Exhibits
• Educational Exhibits with hands-on demonstrations.
• Eco-Friendly Vendors: shop locally made,
sustainable products
• Expert Advice & Consultation with Energy Trust of Oregon Workshop, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn about funding and resources available for energy-related home repairs and projects, as well as practical ways to reduce your energy costs.
• PGE Ride & Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Experience the future of driving with PGE’s electric vehicle test drives. Learn about charging options, rebates, rewards, and how you can save money by switching to an electric vehicle.
• Family Activities including face-painting, animal encounters, and education experiences that promote sustainability and environmental awareness.
• Food & Refreshments: Enjoy snacks from environmentally friendly food and beverage purveyors.
On-site parking is $10. Complimentary park and walk lots also available. This event is pet-friendly. For more information, visit www.oregongarden.org/.
Ditch fast fashion – repair,reuse
By Melissa Wagoner
When fiber artist Celia Stapelton discovered April 26 is “Mend in Public Day” she knew she wanted to get involved.
The event was created by the advocacy group, Fashion Revolution, to protest disposable fashion by encouraging people to repair and reuse previously worn clothing rather than replacing it.
Mend in Public Day
Immanuel Lutheran Church 303 N. Church St., Silverton
Saturday, April 26
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Bring sewing supplies as well as worn or torn clothing for repair or embellishment.
“I saw a video on [Instagram] and decided Silverton was ripe for such an event,” she said. he reacshed out to friend and Silverton Farmers Market board member Vivienne Frankel for help.
“[She] suggested we could do it at the regular time and place of the market,” Stapelton recalled. “They are promoting community space free every Saturday.”
Aligned with the worldwide event, Silverton’s Mend in Public Day will take place on Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Winter Market in the Immanuel Lutheran Church 303 N. Church Street.
“People should bring mending supplies for their project – scraps of fabric, needles, scissors, thread – we will provide three tables, at least two prosewists, and an ironing station,” Stapelton said. “Jeans and jackets are fun to play with – patches and embroidery. Make something new out of something old or mend a sock.”
Silverton Country Museum now open
Do you seek an activity for you and the family, something educational and fun, this year?
Silverton Country Historical Society recently opened its history museum on Saturdays and Sundays to area residents and visitors. Perhaps you aren’t even aware Silverton has a museum. The museum is there on South Water Street, and has been for 50 years.
The Silverton Country Museum is in the historical residence next to Silver Falls Library. Its rooms are set up to display items people have donated personally or that heirs have donated. All of the items must be relevant to Silverton, or they’re not accepted by the curator.
The museum has, for example, files of family photos of yesteryear, early phone books useful in researching a name or address, military uniforms from the past, a room of children’s toys, clothing and furniture, pictures and information about medical doctors who made Silverton their home, and furniture from years ago,
Helping Hands
YMCA hosting fundraiser on May 1
The Silver Falls YMCA is hosting its second Silver Falls YMCA Soiree fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 at the Farm on Golden Hill, 11506 Kaufman Road NE.
The event aims, said Suzie Johnson, the YMCA’s engagement coordinator, to “raise essential funds to support the growing programs and services at the Silver Falls Family YMCA, and to provide scholarships to those in need.”
including a huge spinning wheel.
The museum at 428 S. Water St. is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, or by prearranged appointment. The office is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations are welcome when you sign in as a visitor, and children are welcome. Contact SCHS at 503-873-7070, email, silvertonmuseum@live.com or www.silvertonmuseum.org/.
Tickets cost $75 for an individual or $500 for a table of eight. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks are provided.
For more information contact johnson via email at sjohnson@ theyonline.org or call 503-873-6456.
Portrait of Homer Davenport’s favorite childhood dog, Duffy, retrieved from the old covered bridge on Main Street, on display in the Silvercon Country Museum. TOM COVE
By Melissa Wagoner
Ulises Salazar has been cutting hair since he was a student at Silverton High School.
“I used to do my friends’ hair… and my little brothers’. I played football and all my teammates said, ‘Cut my hair,’” Salazar remembered. “Eventually I started getting better.”
And he began seeing his hobby as a potential career.
In 2020 he enrolled at Johnny Mathew’s Hairdressing Training School in Salem.
“I wasn’t nervous, in that I could cut hair,” Salazar said. “But after you graduate, what do you do now?”
The answer, it seemed, was to move back home where he had the support of his family and the community.
“My family has owned Ixtapa since I was a kid… I got to know a lot of
Silver Creek Barbershop
107 S. First St., Silverton
Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For appointments, Google Silver Creek Barbershop call 971-443-0148, or drop-in
people and got a lot of support…” Salazar said. “It’s been a goal to have a business in this town.”
Which is why, when Primo Barbershop came up for sale, he jumped at the chance, reopening it as Silver Creek Barbershop last October.
“It’s been a learning experience,” he admitted. “But so far, it’s been good. Having this new place and promoting it has been a hit. We had the pleasure of opening during the holiday season and, even on slow days, we’ve been getting people walking in.”
It’s what Salazar hoped would happen when he began redesigning the space
ahead of the change in ownership.
“I wanted to make this a place you want to hang out,” he said, indicating the large television hung on one wall and the comfortable couch along another.
Currently employing two additional barbers, Franky Villalobos and Stephen Smith, Salazar hopes Silver Creek Barbershop is a place where people of all ages and hair types can get the cut or hot towel shave they want.
“The biggest thing is evolving our skillset,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve been doing this a bit longer than the guys here, so I take care of my own clients, but I also like to help these guys if they have questions. Even I am still learning. And we want to be good at what we do.”
Ulises Salazar, owner of Silver Creek Barber Shop MELISSA WAGONER
A puffin story Silverton author releases children’s book about conservation
By Melissa Wagoner
Shelly Monte is a botanical artist, a writer and a conservationist. She’s also a retired librarian and art instructor who, in the past year, combined all those talents to create the illustrated children’s book, Puffin and the Amazing Rescue. A story about a puffin caught in a net, a little girl lost at sea and their realization that the world is a much better place when everyone works together.
“This is a call to conservation…” Monte, who has spent her life studying the natural world, said.
Because the tufted puffin – a species native to Oregon, Washington and California and the subject of Monte’s book – is disappearing at an alarming rate, according to the Bird Alliance of Oregon. Upon counting the population in the state in 2021, the alliance found only 553 birds were left, 40 percent of them in Tillamook County, where the book takes place.
“Nobody even knew we had a puffin…”
Monte said of her choice to highlight this particular threatened species. “And it was really a wonderful character to work with.”
Her book – a mixture of fiction, nonfiction, narrative and science writing –offers readers an illustrated story alongside a list of facts, a short dictionary of science terms and even a game demonstrating the breadth of the puffin species.
Puffin and the Amazing Rescue
An illustrated children’s book by Silverton author, Shelly Monte
Author visit, Silverton presentation Silver Falls Library, 410 S. Water St. Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Silverton book signing event Books N Time, 210 N Water St. Friday, May 2, 5 to 7 p.m.
Online sales at BookBaby, Barnes & Noble and Amazon
“It took me over a year, and I cannot begin to tell you how many revisions,” Monte said of the process, which was unlike anything she has done before.
“When you’re a botanical artist you have a specimen to look at,” Monte said. “But when you’re writing a children’s book it all has to come out of your head.”
That’s why introducing Lucy, the book’s
human protagonist, took Monte several pages. Initially the reader sees only the back of the child’s head, then her profile and finally her entire face.
“It was really fun,” Monte laughed. “But it was a steep learning curve.”
Published by Wild Wonder Press, Puffin and the Amazing Rescue is for sale online as well as at a book signing event on Friday, May 2 from at Books N Time in Silverton.
“For me the conservation isn’t only of our animals, it’s of the spirit of our children because when you feel a part of nature you feel whole,” Monte said. Another book event, an “author visit and presentation,” will take place on Saturday, April 19 at Silver Falls Library, giving community members the opportunity to learn more about the tufted puffin and the process of publishing a book.
“I hope… the kids know I am there for them…to answer their questions…” Monte said.
“I hope to conserve the good feelings of kids and nature.”
Shelly Monte, author of Puffin and the Amazing Rescue SUBMITTED PHOTO
Mental help Silverton-based doctor opens psilocybin therapy center in Salem
By Melissa Wagoner
Dr. Leslie Drapiza spent 17 years working in primary care and obstetrics in Salem, Woodburn and in her hometown of Silverton. But in 2022, disillusioned by her own inability to provide the level of care – especially mental health care – that she thought her patients – many of whom were low-income – deserved, she decided she needed to make a change.
“My experience in primary care in having patients with mental health issues –generalized anxiety, medication resistant depression, PTSD – was they were doing all the things… but it became, ‘Here’s a referral to a therapist and a prescription,’” she said. It was a cycle that simply wasn’t successful.
“There were patients who had been working on mental health for 10 years.”
Then Drapiza learned of a friend and colleague who had begun offering psychedelic assisted therapy.
“He started offering ketamine therapy in his practice,” Drapiza said. “So, I started doing my own research…”
What she discovered surprised her. Studies have begun showing that, particularly for people suffering with treatment-resistant mental health conditions like chronic depression or PTSD, the outcome of psychedelic assisted therapy was very promising.
“It’s just the beginning,” Drapiza said, of the therapy, which involves much more than a simple ketamine or mushroom dose. “It does still require a lot of self-work.”
Gather Service Center
A psilocybin facilitation and integration center
780 Commercial St. SE, Suite 200, Salem
www.gatherpsilocybinservices.com
Medicinal Innovations, LLC
The private practice of Leslie Drapiza, MD, offers ketamine treatment and integration
www.medicinalinnovations.com
In other words, it is not necessarily a faster or easier treatment for mental health issues than antidepressants. Instead, the increased effectiveness may lie in the dissimilar effect psychedelics have on the brain.
“Typically, antidepressants decrease the stress response,” Drapiza explained. “They make it so you can get through your day.”
While psychedelics “increase the [brain’s] adaptability and potential for change.”
This has been especially noteworthy, Drapiza said, in the use of psychedelics to treat the symptoms of PTSD.
“In PTSD you’re stuck in a rut of stress response,” she said. “Psychedelics increase neuroplasticity.”
Intrigued by her research, Drapiza decided to train in ketamine assisted psychotherapy
Pettit set to return from ISS on 70th birthday
Astronaut and Silverton native Don Pettit is scheduled to return to Earth on April 20 – his 70th birthday – following a seven-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
According to mission data published by spacefacts.de, Pettit and the rest of the Soyuz MS-26 crew are scheduled to return at a yet-to-be-specified time.
At age 69, Pettit was already the oldest astronaut to join a long-term space mission when he left for the ISS on Sept. 11, 2024. If he returns as scheduled, Pettit would set a new record of 70 years old.
Dr. Leslie Drapiza, a practitioner at Gather, a community psilocybin facilitation and integration center in Salem. MELISSA
through the Polaris Insight Center and in psilocybin facilitation through InnerTrek – both facilities based in California, which offer online lectures, small group intensives, practicum and experiential learning.
“Then it was figuring out how to do this work,” Drapiza said.
That turned out to be tricky because, while psilocybin therapy has been legal in Oregon since the drug was decriminalized in November 2020, opening a center (the FDA discourages the use of the word “clinic”) that utilizes a federally controlled substance remains a challenge.
“I was previously exploring options to open a center with a friend,” Drapiza said, describing the astronomical costs of the endeavor. “Meanwhile she was Googling [psilocybin centers in Salem].”
Eventually she found one, The Psilocybin Center on State Street.
– Gather Service Center on Commercial Street – in January 2025.
“We decorated each room to be inspired by an element,” Drapiza said of the center, which offers clients a choice of 10 psilocybin facilitators.
“Our process right now is, people go through the website,” Drapiza said. Then an initial phone call determines if psilocybin is a good fit, both according to the client’s needs and health history.
“When I’m in the facilitator role I’m not allowed to be a medical doctor…” Drapiza said. But that doesn’t mean she leaves her medical training behind. “I know what can work and what interacts.”
Next Drapiza matches the client with a facilitator.
“We have both men and women,” she said. “It’s very non-directed and client forward.” Then the client works with the facilitator to prepare for a dosing session. This includes reading and signing the Client Bill of Rights and Informed Consent and attending a preparation meeting.
“It’s everything from choosing music to what to do if something happens,” Drapiza said. Finally the client attends a dosing session, which takes place at the center and lasts between two and six hours.
“We have to trust that it will bring up whatever needs to be brought up,” Drapiza said. “And if expectations aren’t met, we have to work through that.”
He would also become the second astronaut in their 70s on an orbital space mission after John Glenn spent nine days aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery at age 77 in 1998.
Pettit is currently on his fourth space flight. If he returns as scheduled he will have spent more than 590 total days in space.
He was born in Silverton in 1955 to Virgil and Ethyl Pettit, and joined NASA in 1996 as a mission specialist with a background in chemical engineering and fluid dynamics.
– Stephen Floyd
“It’s a wonderful wife and husband team,” Drapiza said, describing the work Sammy Kahuk and Dina Odeh are currently doing, especially with military veterans suffering from PTSD.
“[Sammy] has been working with Vet Life… doing hero doses for veterans,” Drapiza said, describing this desire to make the treatment accessible to as many people as possible, as one of the primary components of The Psilocybin Center that drew her.
“We don’t want to be treatment only for those who can afford it.”
Initially joining the team of practitioners on Center Street, Drapiza eventually helped Kahuk and Odeh open a second center
Which is where the post-dosing integration session and the follow up integrations come in.
“It’s how to use these insights for change and transformation,” Drapiza said, reiterating the importance of the client’s involvement in the whole psychedelic therapy process.
“It’s a tool,” she said. “It’s not a quick fix.”
So far, at least for Drapiza, the process has been rewarding and fulfilling.
“It definitely feels like a calling in the way that OB felt like a calling,” she confirmed. “It has given me hope in a way I have not had in years. This has restored my hope.”
WAGONER
Robotics whizzes head to World Championships
By James Day
Representatives of two robotics clubs produced strong results this spring and will be sending participants to the prestigious VEX Robotics World Championships from May 6-14 in Dallas, Texas. Twenty-thousand teams started the season, only 375 advanced to Dallas. ThinkRobots Club
This club, sponsored by Marion County 4-H and consisting of young engineers from the Molalla and Silverton areas, participated in both the elementary school state event in Sandy on Feb. 22 and in the March 15 middle school state competition in Klamath Falls.
The two ThinkRobots elementary school teams both came home with trophies. Griffin Westenskow, Sapphire Tonkin, Dominick Abbatoye and Gavin Rowden received the Judges Award. Ezra Vegh, Jim Zitzelberger, Logan Sullivan and Oliver Johnsonreceived the Create Award.
Aiden Adams of the middle school team was the big winner for the club. Adams, a seventh-grader, won the Design Award that advanced him to the World event in Dallas. The club is engaged in fundraising to help with the costs of the trip. Go to https://
gofund.me/21c487f4
The club also will be accepting new ThinkRobots members beginning this summer. Check out the club Facebook page @Marion Co 4-H ThinkRobots Club Public Page or contact parent volunteer Heidi Adams at Heidi.k.adams3@gmail. com for more information.
Thunderbolts Robotics Club
Robot Club
Derek Schaefer and Zane Davis have teamed up again on another winning performance. The partners came home with two big awards from the state meet in March and have advanced to May’s international meet in Dallas, Texas. Schaefer, 14, a Butte Creek Elementary School student and Davis, also 14, who attends Silverton Middle School, took home the Excellence Award and the Innovate Award. The boys were challenged to create, build and code a robot. This is the fourth year at Worlds for Schaefer and the third for Davis. The club is raising funds for the world trip. To assist go to https:// gofund.me/471db2c2, or by emailing Stacey Richardson at staceyr8849@gmail.com
Local chess players shine, advance to state
The chess club teams from Community Roots School and the Silverton Community Chess Club both advanced players to the upcoming state tournament.
Participating at a regional tournament at Tallmadge Middle School for Community Roots were sixth-grader Wendell Voss, fifth-graders Hattie Daffern, Grayson Huebsch, Jack Fenteman Bladen and Deklan Pozos, fourth-graders Jackson Mandall and Ramona Bahrke, third-grader Holden Huebsch and first-grader Abe Hughey
The team qualified for state by finishing second overall, with individuals Pozos, Hughey, Mandall and Holden Huebsch advancing as well.
Participating for the Silverton Community Chess Club were fifth-
grader Amos Yarzak, fourth-graders Alissa Keeton and Grayson Hassler and third-graders Gretl Yarzak and Auden Wanstall. Amos Yarzak qualified for state.
This is the first year of competition for the Silverton club, which narrowly missed sending its team to Hillsboro. This is the third year for the CRS program, which qualified for state last year.
The teams are coached by Michael McQueen and Jeff Kowalczyk. The state tournament is April 26-27 at South Meadow Middle School. McQueen noted that Abe Hughey has developed into an excellent tournament player. He lead the CRS to state a year ago and was one of the top scorers in this year’s regionals, winning four of five matches.
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Aiden Adams SUBMITTED PHOTO
Thunderbolts
members Derek Schaefer, left, and Zane Davis
Passages
Janice Eleanor Wickline July 20, 1937
Janice Eleanor Wickline passed away on the evening of March 10, 2025 in Salem, Oregon. She was 87 years old. The cause of death was heart failure.
Janice was born in West Linn, Oregon to Lyle Roscoe Moles and Elaine Jeanette Moles (Priester) on July 20, 1937. She was raised in the community once commonly known as Willamette, surrounded by family on both sides. She graduated West Linn High School in 1955.
Janice married Walter Scott Wickline on June 4, 1955 in West Linn. They remained together until Walter’s passing in Silverton, Oregon on March 16, 2000. The couple met on Halloween when Walt was 17 and Janice was 14.
Following her marriage Janice drove from Oregon to San Diego, California in their 1951 Chevrolet to be with her new husband. At that time Walter was enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
Janice and Walter made a home in the Willamette Valley following Walter’s honorable discharge. In the mid-1960s they had a home built in Beaver Creek, Oregon. Family members moved to Silverton, Oregon for retirement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Janice was immediately smitten with the city and its residents and plethora of small businesses. From that point Janice was able to orchestrate her family’s relocation in 1972. She called Silverton
Virginia McKim
– March 10, 2025
home until the end of her days. Silverton was always a comfortable place for her.
Janice worked at a lunch counter in downtown Oregon City, for the Oregon City School District, the J.C. Penney store in Silverton, and for 28 years NORPAC in Silverton and Salem. She retired at age 65.
After Walter’s passing, Janice lived alone until 2006. Along with her friend and companion Jack Cook she made several automobile trips across the USA.
Surviving family members include her daughter, Mary Pinkham and her husband Mike of Baler City, Oregon; son, Scott Wickline and daughter-in-law Mona (Dettwyler) of Oregon City, Oregon; brother, Gilbert Moles and wife Deb of Mapleton, Oregon; youngest brother, Ken Moles of Portland, Oregon; grandson, Eddie Wickline and his wife Jenn of Homer City, Pennsylvania; grandson, Dale Wickline of Oregon City; greatgrandchildren, Mason and Wyatt of Homer City and Ezra of Oregon City.
Preceding Janice were her parents, Lyle and Elaine; husband, Walter; companion Jack Cook; son, Lyle Edward Wickline, and her eldest brother, Donald Moles.
Funeral arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel in Silverton. No services will be held. Remembrances may be made to local food banks or Sheltering Silverton.
June 25, 1927 – Jan. 26, 2025
Except for one year spent in New York and another in Mexico, Virginia Tuggle McKim was a Westerner. She was born in Oakland, California, to Jack and Florence Johnson Tuggle in 1927. She went to kindergarten in Fresno, California, then spent her growing up years in Silverton, Oregon. She attended Oregon State College and in 1950 graduated from University of Washington.
Her degree in advertising and public relations led to jobs as a copywriter in Seattle, San Francisco, and New York City. She worked for The Seattle Times, Wells Fargo Bank and Batten Barton, Durstine and Osborn. For one year she had her own small advertising agency.
In 1955 she married Bob McKim and moved to the San Francisco Peninsula where she lived in Palo Alto, Stanford and Los Altos. She is survived by children, Melisa Positeri and Melina StaalMcKim; and her grandchildren, Jessica Onstott and Ryan Staal. One child, Julie, died in 1969 and her son, John McKim, died in 2021.
While on her husband’s sabbatical in San Miguel de Allende, she earned a master’s degree in creative writing in 1970. In the 1970s and 1980s, she taught workshops in meditation and journal writing and became a real estate agent.
In the 1990s, she started writing a book about her mother called One Woman’s Life. That book was published in 2008. Also in the ’90s, she divorced and created her own home in Los Altos. A book of poetry called I Am That and two books of memoirs, Growing Up In Silverton and Pieces of Time were published in 2009 with the help of her companion, Jim Biggerstaff who predeceased Virginia. She continued writing various aspects of her memoirs, learning how to use her Apple computer and caring for the roses and rhododendrons in her garden. She died peacefully of old age, in her own home. She was surrounded by her loving family, friends and caregivers, gazing out at her sun drenched yard. Arrangements for a Celebration of Life and interment in her family plot in Silverton are pending.
Carol Ann Hansen
Oct. 21, 1951 – Feb. 9, 2025
Carol was born Oct. 21, 1952 in Silverton Oregon to Otto and Edith Stadeli. She peacefully passed away Feb. 9, 2025 at her home in Salem, Oregon at the age of 72.
A private viewing and funeral were held on Feb. 13 and she was laid to rest at the German Apostolic Christian Church cemetery. She called the last four weeks of her life, “the happiest weeks of her life”.
Carol was an avid baker, enjoyed sewing and gardening, and loved spending time with her grandchildren and family. She loved her family and her grandchildren dearly and she was much loved and will be missed.
Carol is survived by her husband, Timothy Hansen; her seven children, Joshua (Tresa) Hansen, Julie Hansen, Derek (Ilene) Hansen, Ashley (Jacob) Mueller, Kalie Hansen, Kenton Hansen, and Mieli Hansen; as well as 19 grandchildren and her 10 siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith Stadeli and Otto Stadeli.
Margaret Bourbannais
M ar ch 30, 19 2 6 – March 29, 2025
Margaret Ann Bourbannais, known to many as Marge, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025, at the age of 98. Born in Silverton, Oregon, on May 30, 1926, to Kenneth and Tirzah Warnock, she attended Silver Cliff Grade School and graduated from Silverton High School Class of 1944.
Marge was a mother to two children, Kenny and Kathy, and she later found joy in the roles of grandmother and great-grandmother. She had a strong work ethic, beginning her career with Meier & Frank in Salem, Oregon. After pursuing further education in medical administration, she worked for Dr. Davies in Silverton for many years. Marge later became the proud owner-operator of the Silverton Liquor Store until her retirement.
In her free time, Marge loved to travel and was an avid sports fan, especially enjoying bowling with local leagues, golfing at Mount Angel and Eagle Crest, and being a lifelong Portland Trail Blazers season ticket holder. She formed deep friendships through these passions, leaving a lasting impact on those around her.
Marge is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Dave) Withycombe of Ripon, California; her grandchildren, Scott (Kathryn) Withycombe and their children George and Henry, Brett (Katie) Withycombe and their children Lucas and Sophia, Kyle (Stephany) Withycombe and their child Rose and Kari Martin and her children Brenden and Dylan. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Frances Brownell; and her son, Kenneth Puckett. Marge will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.
Family and friends of Marge are respectfully invited to attend a graveside service at Lewis Cemetery on Drift Creek Road, Silverton on Friday, April 11 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Marge’s name be made to Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton, California 95204. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel, Silverton.
Gertie Lucy Klein
Gertie (Gertrud) Lucy Klein (Feldheiser) passed away on Nov. 11, 2024 in Boise, Idaho.
She was born Jan. 15, 1938 in Weselberg, Germany and spent her youth on the family farm and enjoyed life with her siblings and the farm’s animals in the small town. As a young adult, she pursued an education in nursing before working on an Air Force base, where she met and became friends with many Americans stationed there temporarily.
time outside of work with her grandkids and friends.
She was an avid gardener and loved being outside tending to her plants. She also enjoyed the beach and went on many trips there, either alone, with friends, or with family. It seemed she was able to make friends wherever she went, and she could be the life of the party.
well as eight great-grandchildren. It was incredibly special to her that all of her grandchildren were able to visit her while she was in Boise, and that she was able to meet all of her great-grandchildren before her passing. A celebration of life will be planned for later this year.
Malecai Sloan-Ramsey
Donald J. Wavra
Feb. 7, 1940 – March 31, 2025
Born on Feb. 7, 1940, Donald Wavra passed away peacefully on March 31, 2025 in Silverton, Oregon.
In 1970 she decided to follow her sister to the United States to start a new life and took her two young daughters with her to Kansas. In 1972 she made a trip to Mount Angel to visit a family she had become friends with on the Air Force base, and loved the town so much that she decided to stay.
She worked hard to provide a life for her two daughters, and among the best jobs she had were her jobs at Hillcrest and MacLaren as a cook. Medical issues forced an early retirement for her, but she enjoyed spending much of her
If you met her, you probably heard many stories about her adventures in life. Every year she looked forward to Oktoberfest in Mount Angel, where she could really feel a sense of home as German language and culture was celebrated.
As her health faded in her later years, she moved to Boise, Idaho where her daughter, Christine, was able to be her caretaker until her passing. She was preceded in death by her brother, Klaus. She is survived by her sister, Elisabeth; her daughters, Maria (Randy) Geck, and Christine Klein; three grandchildren, Amanda (Kris) Larson, Corey (Kiersten) Geck, and Leah (Brian) FitzPatrick, as
In Memory Of
Sandra Fetsch Feb. 6, 1945 March 25, 2025
John “Jack” Hande May 16, 1931 March 27, 2025
Harold Roth Feb. 8, 1925 March 30, 2025
Donald Wavra Feb. 7, 1940 March 31, 2025
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.
Dec. 19, 1996 – Feb. 1, 2025
Malecai Sloan-Ramsey, 28, of Redmond, Oregon, passed away in February 2025.
Born Dec. 19, 1996, he spent most of his childhood and young adulthood in Silverton. His grandparents who raised him during that time still live in Silverton.
Despite life’s challenges, Malecai was a kind and loving soul, family members say. He is survived by his two young sons, mother, father, sisters and grandparents.
Don was predeceased by his son, Chad; his father and mother, Joe and Henrietta Wavra; his sister, Jeanette (Mapes); and his brothers, George and Tim. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Julie; his son, Shane (Nanae); and his granddaughter, Yayoi. He also leaves behind are his brothers, Charles, Fred, Frank and Randy.
A mass will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mount Angel, Oregon on Tuesday, April 22 with a rosary at 10:30 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Mount Angel immediately after the mass. There will be a luncheon at the Parish Center after the burial.
The family asks that you remember Don in your prayers. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Debbie Caldwell Ringo
May 24, 1952 – March 19, 2025
Debbie Caldwell Ringo, 72, of Silverton, passed away on March 19, 2025. Raised in Whittier, California, Debbie spent most of her life in southern California. In her youth, she loved horses, nature, and riding around with her best friend, Ora, on a bike that they found in the trash and named Crudney.
As an adult, Debbie raised three children and devoted much of her time to volunteer work, especially with LGBTQ and AIDS-focused organizations. In her downtime, she loved to sew, knit, and see arthouse films. At 65, Debbie terrified her children by deciding to live and travel full-time in an RV. She set off in “the Jambo,” her Jamboree RV, and spent the next several years traveling the western United States, making friends everywhere she went.
After settling in Silverton, Debbie became a volunteer at Silver Falls State Park, where she continued to volunteer until just a few weeks before her death. Debbie is survived by her three children, Allegra, Mila, and Sofia, and by the many members of her chosen family. She will be remembered for her compassion, her sense of humor, and her love of adventure.
A celebration of life will take place in California at a to-be-determined date. For details, please message @allegraringo on Instagram. If you’d like to honor Debbie’s memory, please consider making a donation to Friends of Silver Falls.
Dance & drill standouts
The Silverton dance and drill team came away from the OSAA state championships with a pair of trophies. The Foxes’ traditional team took second and the jazz group finished third.
Perennial power Valley Catholic took both competitions in the 5A-4A-3A-2A1A category, scoring 89.81 to Silverton’s 82.47 in traditional. Valley Catholic totaled 89.44 points to run away in jazz. Astoria was second at 79.50 and the Foxes were third (78.64).
“They did amazing,” coach Alex Reese told Our Town. “All year they performed so well. They got first at every single competition with their traditional routine prior to state, and got all firsts and one third with their jazz routine prior to state. It was our most successful competition season ever and there were no bobbles or mistakes during the state performances. We have a very passionate and dedicated group this season.
“[Valley Catholic] is a very talented team that is hard to beat and has been champions for many years, plus dance has always been so subjective and you never know what the judges will think, so considering all things we are thrilled just to take home trophies.”
Valley Catholic has won 13 state titles in a wide range of categories since 2010.
Here is the 16-person Silverton varsity roster and the team’s seven alternates:
Varsity: seniors, Jack Hurley, Paisley Rains and Hailey Vinogradoff; juniors, Abby Brown, Annabel Brueckner, Marissa Schacher and Brookyln Yates; sophomores, Savanna Cole, Lilian Knudsen, Maddy Tavernier; freshmen: Juliet Briggs, Jorie Emmert,
Alternates: sophomore, Gretchen Huebsch; freshmen, Madeline Bratton, Grace Cox, Angelina Gifford, Sierra Guyer, Liliana Johnson and Olivia Scott
The Foxes also shined in the individual awards. Hurley, Paisley Rains and Vinogradoff made the all state team. Hurley received a dance scholarship and Vinogradoff finished fourth in the Class 5A drill down. Coach Reese was assisted by Emily Sword and Stella Harrison
Basketball transferring: I cover seven schools for three papers, Our Town: Silverton/Mt. Angel, Our Town: Santiam and The Canyon Weekly. The schools are: Silverton, Kennedy, Stayton, Regis, Cascade, Scio and Santiam. I covered one state tournament this season, the Class 5A at Linfield. Here is how transferring affected what I saw this season:
• Hadley Craig (Central to Silverton): The Foxes wound up third at state. Craig scored 51 points and led the tournament in rebounding. Would they have finished that high without Craig. It’s unlikely.
• Anthony Best (Cascade to Sprague): Sprague wound up fourth in 6A, its best finish ever. Cascade was third in 4A. Would the Cougars have won the 4A title with Best? It’s possible.
• Clara Persons (Regis to Salem Academy):
Foxes pick up pair of trophies at state
Regis did not make the playoffs, and Salem Academy won the Class 2A title behind 42 points, ten three-pointers and eight steals by Persons.
• Taylor Young (South Medford to Crater): The Comets won the 5A title in overtime against South Albany. Young scored 86 points in the tournament. No analysis necessary here.
• Payton Starwalt (Crescent Valley to West Albany): West advanced to the 5A quarterfinals before falling to Silverton, and Starwalt made the all-tournament team. Do the Bulldogs advance that far without her? It’s unlikely.
• Breeci Hampton (Cascade to Stayton): Hampton drains 11 3-pointers in the state tournament and Stayton wins the title. Cascade finishes fifth. Might the outcomes have been different without Hampton’s move? Maybe.
I realize that transfers are a complex and sometimes overheated issue and that there are numerous legitimate reasons why athletes switch schools. A family move/disruption, a course of study, a desire to play for a certain coach or with friends. That’s all fair. By highlighting the significance of transfers in just one year within the limited pond in which I work … that tells me that either this is an outlier of a season or something more serious is going on. Any thoughts out there? Happy to publish responses in a future column.
Boys Volleyball: The Foxes, in just their second year as a program, traveled to Austin, Texas for a prestigious national tournament in March. Silverton wound up with a tough draw, facing the No. 1 team from California, the No. 2 squad from Utah and the No. 4 unit from Missouri in pool play. The Foxes went
0-3, but coach Benson Short said the team “worked hard and grew as a team while battling against the very best in the country.” Silverton also worked hard just to get to Texas, raising more than $15,000 from Silverton-area residents and businesses so the team could make the trip. Foxes senior Elisha Short was named to the all-tournament team and junior libero Aden Bradford was singled out for his defensive play, At Our Town presstime Silverton was 1-1 in Special District 5, which includes Cascade, Santiam Christian/West Albany/South Albany, South Salem, McKay, West Salem, McNary and Sprague/North Salem. Alumni watch, Ethan Kleinschmit: The former Kennedy standout is 5-1 with a 3.14 earned run average and 49 strikeouts for Oregon State, which is 22-7 and ranked eighth in ESPN’s college baseball rankings. Kleinschmit has been solid in the Sunday starter role after transferring to Corvallis from Linn-Benton Community College. The Beavers are playing an independent schedule this season because of the demise of the Pac-12 but still seem likely to advance to the 64-team field for the College World Series.
Football stats crew needed: The Silverton High School football program is looking for volunteers to join the team as statisticians. No prior experience is needed – just a love for the game and a willingness to learn. This is your chance to have the best seat in the house on Friday nights, be part of the action, and contribute to the team’s success. Volunteers must be available Friday nights in the fall beginning Aug. 29 and willing to travel with the team. Interested parties should contact coach Dan Lever at lever_dan@silverfalls.k12.or.us.
Brrrrrrrrr! Start your morning with a dunk in Silver Creek
By James Day
Are you interested in a quick dunk into 40to 45-degree water every now and then to get the body moving in the morning? If you are, there is a group of sturdy Silverton souls ready to welcome you.
Lewis Bradshaw, a physician’s assistant with Legacy Medical Group/Silverton Family Medicine, has organized a group that meets at 6 a.m. at Silver Creek. Right now they are dunking near the bridge to the swimming pool. At other times they go in at the Salamander Island area.
“I started in 2019 as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone and change my routine,” Bradshaw told Our Town. “I was in the thick of PA school and morale was really low. Once a week quickly turned into three times and then became part of the daily routine. I now try to go at least twice a week. I’m six years into this thing now and my body gets angry with me when I skip days.
“Studies show that relationships are fortified and grow in depth when adversity
Dan Wilgus Owner
CCB#186393
is experienced together,” Bradshaw said.
“The cold water crew shares a special bond simply because we have a unique and difficult shared experience.
“Sometimes in the creek we connect on a more intentional level in order to distract ourselves from the cold. Other times we sit in silence with our eyes closed and [focus] on the sound of the water, birds, wind, rain and so on. But no matter what, we have a unique respect for the others in the group simply because we conquered a difficult task together.”
The dunking season usually lasts from October to Memorial Day, with 36 degrees the lowest temperature they have dunked in. Some members move from the creek to the swimming pool for a morning swim. Bradshaw and his 11-year-old son “like to go before the sun and build a small fire to warm up after we sit in the creek together.”
Booties and gloves are recommended, Bradshasw said. Almost everyone wears 2mm neoprene booties and gloves simply because “there is no benefit to having painful fingers and toes for hours after a
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sit in the creek.” The entire process takes about 20 minutes.
“We show up and wait a couple minutes for stragglers then spend a few more minutes complaining and psyching ourselves into taking off our warm beanies, jackets, socks, etc... The average time in the creek is between four and 12 minutes.”
The group meets again at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22. The group has a couple of weekly set times as well as a text thread for spontaneous sessions. To get involved contact Bradshaw via his band’s Instagram account @movetheneedleband or by email at lewisbradshaw5@gmail.com.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about cold water therapy negatively impacting a pre-existing health condition, Bradshaw advises. “If I am your healthcare provider, you can contact me through the regular channels.”
The list of benefits is long and broad, Bradshaw said.
“I recommend everyone take some time to do some reading about cold water therapy,” he said. “To me, time in the water is like pushing a reset button. It helps with muscle soreness and joint pain, hormone regulation, gives the immune system a boost, shakes off cognitive cobwebs, improves sleep quality, and erases any hint of feeling sleepy. The dose of energy, dopamine, and motivation isn’t bad either.”
Lewis Bradshaw (on right with beard) and some of his pals enjoy an early-morning dunking in Silver Creek. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Kicking off summer
Spring cleaning is a term that’s been around since… well, since people started living in enclosed places that could really use a good airing out after the long winter. And while I may not always prescribe to the full top to bottom scrub-down that many people think of when they hear the words, I do like to tackle as many areas as I can before the weather gets so nice that I simply must head outdoors leaving the rest for the fall.
Here is a list of those cleaning projects I aspire to, in the hope that you, too, can use the change in seasons as the motivation you need to get your home in tip-top shape.
Open those windows: As soon as the temperature outside gets close to the one inside, I throw open the windows and let the sunshine and fresh air blow through. There is simply nothing like it.
One room at a time: Whenever I am cleaning, I try to stick to this rule, otherwise I struggle to remember what I’ve accomplished and what I have yet to do.
Top down: This chore is a sure way to
make the house feel dirtier before it gets cleaner. So, dust first, vacuum and mop later.
Vacuum everything, even the edges: Get out those seldom used attachments – the pointy tool, the one with the brush and the one that looks like a tinier version of the main machine – and do the furniture, the edges, the ceiling, the bathroom’s exhaust fan, the window tracks, underneath the refrigerator and behind the TV.
Mop: Then, while you still have the bucket out, grab some old towels and do the edges, the baseboards, wipe down the door frames, the doors and the cupboards. Wash the windows (and the screens): This can be a real hassle, but the difference
will make you smile.
Deep clean the refrigerator: Try to schedule this one for right before you go grocery shopping so there are less items to remove, then take everything out, wipe down the surfaces, drawers and shelves and put everything back in. Make sure you toss anything that has expired or gone bad.
Purge: This is a task my youngest daughter – a self-described “tidier” – has taught me a lot about. So, I’m channeling her on this one. First take everything out of the drawer, cupboard or area (never a whole room) you want to declutter. Put everything into two piles: one for things you use all the time and one for things you rarely (or never) use. Then, using the aforementioned rating system, decide what to donate, throw away, or neatly put back in place. Keep only what fits easily – no cramming or precarious stacking, which defeats the purpose.
Other methods that have worked well in our house:
• Turning all the hangers in my closet
backward at the start of every season so I can easily see what I never wear.
• Giving my kids a large box that they must fill with donated items by the end of the day.
• When purchasing new items or when receiving gifts, follow the “one in, one out” rule.
Outside: Now that the inside is clean – or mostly so – I usually can’t wait to move outside, wiping down the patio furniture, sweeping off the deck and stairs and removing all the moss that has accumulated during the winter. Then, moving on to our vehicles, I kick off the summer travel season by detailing the inside and washing the outside of each one.
It’s a list that can feel overwhelming when I pull it up on my phone each year but, because it helps me prepare for a busy summer, I know that if I can make it through to the end, having a clean house, an outdoor space ready for entertaining and vehicles ready to travel will be worth every effort.
GENERAL
PASTOR CHUCK BALDWIN
Liberty Fellowship, Kalispell, Montana satellite group Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Call Kristen, 503-990-4584
HOMES FOR SALE
MOBILE TINY HOUSE
FOR SALE Viewable in lot: Washington and Miller in Stayton. Towable with pickup truck. Many storage spaces. Good for another 30 years. Take a look. Call if interested, 707-494-7666.
SERVICES
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.
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.
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
YOUR RIGHT TO SELF
DEFENSE Saturdays, age 10-12 at 5:00. Ages 13 and up, 6:15. Security and Correctional Officers, 7:30. Private lessons available. Intn’l Certification Curriculum available upon request. Harold, 503-391-7406
This is your lucky number! All Set Plumbing is standing by at 503-964-4965. Jason is ready to fix your plumbing.
MAGIC CARPET CLEANING & MORE Since 1992. Carpet & upholstery cleaning at its best. Free estimates. Residential & commercial. Located in Silverton. Harold, 503-391-7406
WANTED
LOOKING for a Commercial Building in Silverton or Dallas Downtown. Two or three story building. I would also be interested in a warehouse. I will be in Oregon to look at potential properties this summer. Plan to move in the Fall. ONLY SERIOUS SELLERS. I AM A SERIOUS BUYER. Duke, 505.429.1523. email kd@ dukerg.com
NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
A public meeting of the Budget Committee of Silver Falls Library District, Marion County, Oregon will be held on April 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. This will be a hybrid meeting hosted through Zoom (Meeting ID# 839 8805 1811) and at the Library Program Room, 410 S. Water St, Silverton. The agenda will include the FY 26 budget message and public comment. A copy of the budget document may be obtained on or after April 16 at the Library during open hours or on the website www.silverfallslibrary.org.
Please call 503-873-5770 or email (shigby@silverfallslibrary.org) at least 48 hours prior to the session if you require accommodations to fully participate in this meeting.
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Mt. Angel Fire District, Marion, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, will be held at Mt. Angel Fire District, 300 Monroe St, Mt. Angel, OR 97362. The meeting will take place on May 15, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comments from the public on the budget.
This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.
A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 1, 2025, at 300 Monroe St., Mt. Angel, OR 97362, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Budget Committee meeting information will be posted on the Mt. Angel Fire District website: www.mtangelfire.org.
Pride • Integrity • Respect • Loyalty • Thrive
Since 1974, John's has aimed to embody five core values; pride, integrity, respect, loyalty, and the ability to thrive. This month we would like to highlight local Mount Angel High School Student Mariajose Lezama Mariajose is being recognized for exemplifying the value; respect.
She embodies this value by treating her peers, and her teachers with the utmost respect. Those around her know that she will be great at everything she does since she puts her mind to each and every task. She has been a great asset to the local FFA team, and is always up for a challenge.
#T2871 ENJOY SILVER CREEK
$589,800 Enjoy your setting on Silver Creek with a deck overlooking the creek. Oversized lot with extra driveway parking, detached storage/garden shed. Living room and dining area open to the kitchen, plus a family room upstairs with gas fireplace in the family room and kitchenette, possible due living. Newer paint and carpet throughout the home. This home is a 4 bedroom, plus an office. Master on the main w/ access to the deck overlooking the creek, plus office. Upstairs is 3 bedrooms. 2 laundry facilities. Call Meredith at ext. 324 or Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#826578)
#T2868 CREEK FRONTAGE
$1,449,000 WATCH ABIQUA CREEK RUN BY FROM INSIDE YOUR HOME! This 1.48 acre property sits along the year round Abiqua Creek just 5 miles east of downtown Silverton. Quiet rural setting of upper-end homes with acreage. Rock wall and rock stairs accesses nice swimming hole. Entire home, garage, and property remodeled in 2024 w/ custom everything. Balcony bedroom suite on 2nd level overlooking creek. A large walk-in closet, kitchenette, amazing bath with heated floors, and large steam shower. Request list of amenities. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#826489)
#T2860 FURNISHED BEACH HOUSE 2 BR, 1 BA 832 sqft. Lincoln City. Call Kirsten at ext. 326 $420,000 (WVMLS#824660)
#T2856 CORNER LOT 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2034 sqft. Mt. Angel Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $494,000 (WVMLS#823593)
COUNTRY/ACREAGE
#T2859 FANTASTIC LOCATION 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1590 sqft 1.8 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $689,500 (WVMLS#824492)
#T2838 HOME ON THE HILL 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2112 sqft 7.12 Acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $729,900 (WVMLS#819011)
#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)
#T2866 HOME, ACREAGE & OFFICE SPACE 3 BR, 3 BA 2252 sqft 6.68 Acres Call Chuck at ext. 325. Silverton. $799,000 (WVMLS#826058)
#T2868 CREEK FRONTAGE 2 BR, 2 BA 2029 sqft 1.48 Acres Call Michael at ext. 314 $1,449,000 (WVMLS#826489)
#T2862 SILVER CLIFF ESTATES $359,000 Open floor plan with formal living and family room, vaulted ceilings, nice amenities. Lots of storage in this home, you will love this layout. Newer decks, partially fenced yard, attached carport with storage shed for extra storage. This home is ready for the new owner! Come view today! HOA is $85 a month. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#825158)
COMMERCIAL
#T2864 MULTI-USE BUILDING 3862 sqft. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 or Michael at ext. 314 $650,000 (WVMLS#825970)
BARELAND/LOTS
#T2816 2 BUILDABLE LOTS .45 Acres. Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $99,900 (WVMLS#814998)
#T2827 GREAT OPPORTUNITY 1.66 Acres. Salem. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $194,000 (WVMLS#817231)
#T2869 BUILDABLE LOT 1.35 Acres Call Michael at ext. 314 $450,000 (WVMLS#826488)
#T2864 MULTI-USE BUILDING $650,000
What a great opportunity to own a multi-use building steps away from the downtown core. Completely remodeled commercial building, currently used as a Cross Fit Gym and a retail space. 3862 sqft that can be utilized for one tenant or potential for additional tenants. 5 large bay doors, plus several access doors to this space. Open floor plan, plus separate office space in the retail area. 2 separate half bathrooms that can be used in both spaces. Every square inch of this building has been improved! Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 or Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#825970)
