Our Town North: Jan. 1, 2023

Free Weekly Drop In Activities

Bridge: Mondays 10am

Poker: Mondays 12:30pm + Tuesdays, Jan. 3 & Jan. 17 (due to holidays)

Pinochle: Tuesdays / Fridays 12pm

Knit Wits: Wednesdays 10am

Open Art Studio: Wednesdays 1pm

Crafts: Thursdays 10am

Bingo: Thursdays 2pm 1 per card or 3/$2 ‘Sew What’ Quilting Group: Fridays 11am Ukulele Song Circle: Fridays 1pm

Ancestry Detective Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 10 a 10am

SASI Board Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 5pm. RSVP 503-873-3093. Public

Services & Advice

Diminishing options Strained medical practices present challenges

By Melissa Wagoner

When Kristen Storer received notice that her family’s primary care physician, Dr. Tim Peters, would be retiring early due to staffing shortages at his clinic, Northwest Family Medicine in Silverton, she was dismayed.

“I kind of panicked because they didn’t give very much notice,” Storer said.

Reliant on monthly prescriptions for her husband’s ADHD, Storer knew the family would need to find a new doctor fast, but when she began searching for a replacement in Silverton, she came up empty-handed.

“I put a notice on Silverton Connections asking for recommendations, but every person was filled up,” she said. “So, I called Woodburn and found one.”

Grateful to have found a doctor, Storer was nevertheless dismayed at both the drive now required to see her new doctor as well as the months it will be before she attends her first meet-and-greet appointment.

“I even called a few Keizer places, but they were full,” she said.

Storer is far from alone, a shortage of primary care providers has been noted across the area as Northwest Family Medicine – opened in 1991 – closes and the Family Medical Group of Silverton restructures under the umbrella Legacy Health.

“If you’re not affected then you know someone,” Janet Murphy, a patient of Dr. Rob Larson – a practitioner at Northwest Family Medicine prior to its closure – said. “I’ve seen news programs talking about this happening in other places, but you never think it’ll happen to you.”

Suffering from a vision impairment that makes it impossible for her to drive means continuing to see Dr. Larson –now a physician with Kaiser Permanente

in Keizer – impossible, a situation Murphy bemoans.

“He’s a really good doctor,” she said. “And he’s seen me through life and death care.”

Finding a new doctor wasn’t easy.

“All the doctors around here already had full caseloads,” she said.

Which means she had to take the nextbest thing, a doctor at Legacy Medical Group in Mount Angel.

“I haven’t met him, but I hear he’s a fine doctor,” Murphy said, admitting that at this point her doctor’s abilities are the least of her worries, instead getting to the clinic is what’s on her mind.

“I’ve lost my base of security,” she explained. “Because now I’ll have to depend on friends.”

That’s because the Legacy’s Care Van, which is available to transport patients like Murphy to the Legacy clinics in the region, currently only runs two days each week during limited hours.

“I’ve always made my life in Silverton, and this is the first real issue I’ve had,” Murphy said. She prides herself on her ability to navigate Silverton’s streets on foot.

Transportation is one of many potential problems the community is facing as the number of primary care physicians dips and the caseloads for those still practicing continues to fill.

“I’m worried,” Dr. Rodney Orr – a primary care physician for Family Medical Group of Silverton, who recently retired after 43 years – said. “Because it’s a bleak outlook.”

And he’s not just talking about the future for patients, but that of physicians as well.

“Primary care is a relationship business,” he explained. “But the system doesn’t make it easy for us to give personalized care.”

$99 New Patient Special

Cannot

310 E. Charles St. 503-845-2273 mtangeldental.com Mon-Thurs 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Dec. 31, 2022.

The former Family Medical Group of Silverton office now open under Legacy Medical Group –Silverton Family Medicine management. Pictured: Whitney Rumgay (Clinic Manager) and Christina Rosborough (Director Medical Group Primary Care for Legacy Health). COURTESY LEGACY HEALTH

That was a problem for Orr because the ability to provide that level of care was what brought him to primary care in the first place.

“It’s a real advantage over seeing someone cold in urgent care,” he explained. “A lot of [my patients] are like family members.”

But over the past several years the business-end of running two clinics – one in Silverton and one in Molalla –became more and more difficult.

“We couldn’t recruit any new providers,” Orr said. And they couldn’t keep the ones they did have on staff.

“At our office in Molalla we went from seeing 60 patients to 16 because we lost providers,” he said.

While some of those staffing issues centered around the COVID vaccine protocols that were put into place in 2021, these were only the tip of the iceberg. The primary reasons behind the

clinics’ struggles were far more complex.

“Primary care has been undercompensated for many years,” Orr began, listing hours of paperwork, fighting with insurance companies, significantly lower reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid patients and higher overhead costs as factors that made running a private clinic not only stressful but also cost-prohibitive.

It’s all part of what Orr refers to as a “cultural change.”

“Because the real breakdown is medical school, which doesn’t value primary care,” he explained.

Confronted with “the attitude that the people who can’t make it go into primary care,” as well as the significantly higher income rates of a specialist versus a primary care physician, fewer medical students are opting to make the choice to go into primary care, according to Orr.

He sees the entire medical school system as one in need of an overhaul.

“Why does a state whose population has increased 20 to 30 percent have a medical school whose population is the same?” he asked.

It’s a problem, which Orr doesn’t think will be remedied any time soon.

“I’m worried,” he admitted. “Because I have a daughter who wants to go into medicine.”

He’s also worried because he’s leaving primary care, a career about which he was passionate, at a time when the need for more doctors is higher than ever.

“I was ready,” he said of his decision to retire now. “But I’m going to miss the patients tremendously.”

It helps that the clinics themselves won’t be closing, but rather restructuring under the capable direction of his wife, fellow primary care physician, Dr. Shandra Greig, and

under the Legacy Health name.

“There is no denying that the last several years have taken a toll on all aspects of our health care system,” Greig said in a press release announcing the transition.

“When deciding to join Legacy Health, we thought long and hard about what was best for our patients and our staff. We view this partnership with Legacy as a way to deepen our relationship with the community and to give our patients and their families additional levels of health care options.”

While it’s undeniable that these care options are what the community desperately needs, the overarching problem – not enough local primary care physicians – and the myriad of issues that led to that problem remain unchanged.

“There’s a solution,” Orr said. “But it has to come from the top.”

WiseMind Educators team up to offer resilience education to kids, parents

By Melissa Wagoner

Jenifer Trivelli has always been interested in what makes people tick, especially kids.

“That led me to neuroscience,” Trivelli said. “And then, pairing that together with childhood development led me to counseling.”

Initially working as an elementary school counselor, Trivelli left that vocation when she became a mom.

“I wanted to start my own thing,” she recalled. And WiseMind Educational Services was born.

Working as a consultant for the past 12 years, Trivelli has taught parents, educators and professionals working with children how to help kids regulate their emotions. She has also authored two books – one a guidebook for children, the other a guide for teens – and become an expert in social emotional education.

“We offer evidence-based guidance for a new generation of parents and educators who sometimes feel lost on the journey

of raising today’s kids,” Trivelli wrote on the WiseMind website. “These folks want specific, targeted information and tools to support their children’s growth into happy, healthy, responsible, and connected adults.”

And that’s what WiseMind continues to offer, albeit on a relatively small scale and largely to those who can afford the private consultation fees.

“But other people need services too,” Trivelli pointed out.

Which is why, three years ago, when she met Shea Watkins – a former K-12 educator turned mindfulness and movement guru and owner of Rooted Resilience – she jumped at the chance to try something new.

“Shea’s focus is bringing in nature elements and creative elements and my bridge is the neuroscience,” Trivelli said of the partnership. “It’s having that balance that everything doesn’t need to be data-driven and explained.”

Working together this past summer the duo provided a series of retreats for kids that taught skills like autonomy, using nature as a co-regulator and mindful awareness while at the same time allowing them to take part in art, games and journaling – often at no-cost to parents thanks to a series of grants.

“It [filled] a happy place in our hearts to offer that,” Trivelli said.

But the number of children the camps could serve was still relatively small. So, it was with an immense amount of joy that they created another program, one that will provide social-emotional education directly to students inside classrooms.

“We’re excited to be invited to that conversation and to be where the kids are,” Trivelli said.

Currently serving students of all ages across the entire Salem-Keizer School District as well as in the Community Roots School in Silverton, the eight-week series of classes will teach students about the connection between emotions and the

body and offer them concrete methods of self-regulation.

“Our mission is [to provide] these tools for every kid who wants them,” Trivelli said.

And that’s not all, the pair also aims to work with parents – especially moms.

“We’re hoping to start impacting our community,” Trivelli explained. “And I can’t think of a more important way to impact the community than through the moms.”

Jenifer Trivelli

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Shea Watkins

WiseMind Educational Services

wisemindservices.com

Retreats for Moms

Jan. 14, April 8, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. 209 West C St., Silverton Registration: $165.

Retreat Weekend for Moms

May 20 and 21 Confluence Arts Center, Scotts Mills. Registration: $49

Rooted Resilience

Coming soon: Summer 2023 Kids Retreats www.rootedresilience.co

practices through gentle movement.

“We appreciate the whole spectrum, from introvert to extrovert…” Trivelli said, describing their target audience as, “moms who need space to come home to themselves in community” and “who know they need to carve time for themselves but don’t know how to.”

It’s a retreat for moms but it will benefit the entire family – children included, Watkins predicted.

“I think of it like Russian nesting dolls, or these ever-widening circles,” Watkins described. “It’s healing to be together and then bring that back to your family.”

Because just as “you can’t have a stressed educator in a stressed system teaching self-regulation,” a stressed parent is less effective at teaching self-regulation as well.

the sharing of stories and learn functional self-care

“We each have a nervous system and our community creates a nervous system,” Trivelli explained. “We’re hoping to impact the collective nervous system and create space.”

$275-$500 Office Space

Lease! 119 N. Water St., Silverton Private & Secure individual spaces located upstairs in historic down town building~Monthly rent ranges from $275-$500 ~ Different sized offices~ One could be used for multiple. Korinna Barcroft 503-873-8600 or 503-851-1283

steelhead

By James Day

The Pudding River Watershed Council and a plethora of partners have completed a $500,000 project aimed at improving the survival rate of endangered steelhead on Abiqua Creek.

The key piece of the puzzle was placing 12 “engineered log jams” on the creek on land owned by Weyerhaeuser, which also contributed the logs and boulders for the effort. Project officials hope the new obstructions will help the fish navigate their annual return in early 2023.

To get to the Abiqua Creek spawning grounds the fish travel upstream about 175 miles after leaving the Pacific Ocean in the mouth of the Columbia. The fish then travel up the Willamette, the Molalla and the Pudding before arriving in the Abiqua.

“Engineered log jams mimic the natural disturbance process,” said Anna Rankin, co-director of the watershed council. “Using logs and boulders, geomorphologists design structures that

How to Help

Project places log jams in Abiqua Creek

The Pudding River Watershed Council is seeking volunteers for steelhead spawning surveys in Butte Creek from February through May 2023. Interested individuals can email kurt@puddingriverwatershed. org to receive information about training and surveys.

create deep pools, provide high flow refuge, serve as shelter from predation, and shade the searing summer sun. All these elements are needed to support multiple life stages of steelhead throughout different seasons of the year.”

The genesis of the project goes back to a 2014 assessment of the distribution of steelhead in Abiqua Creek, said Rankin, who noted that the current project is step four of five phases.

The second step was stakeholder engagement with large-acreage timberland owners. Third was the

alternatives analysis and conceptual design with cost estimate. Fourth, was the Abiqua Creek log jams project. Fifth, is a repeat of the assessment in 2023 and continuing to monitor the Abiqua large wood site for five years.

Helping out along the way have been:

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, $165,400 in cash;

• Marion Soil and Water Conservation District,, $12,500 in cash;

• Weyerhaeuser Company $26,000, in-kind materials;

• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, $5,000 in-kind technical assistance;

• Pudding River Watershed Council volunteers, $3,500 in-kind technical assistance;

• City of Woodburn $3,000, in-kind technical assistance;

• Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District,  $3,000 in-kind technical assistance.

“Each phase of the project took time to engage partners and secure funding,” Rankin said in noting the challenges project officials faced.

Rankin offered special praise for the contribution of Weyerhaeuser, the Seattle-based forest products company which owns 12.4 million acres of timber in the U.S. and manages another 14 million in Canada.

“Weyerhaeuser’s contribution is far beyond the financial,” Rankin said. “They volunteered their land for restoration activities. That is priceless and is at the core of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. Without private landowner participation, habitat restoration in the Pudding River Watershed would be extremely limited.”

Weyerhaeuser contributed 77 cut logs and roughly 200 2-by-3 foot boulders for the project. The log jams were placed about ten miles southeast of Silverton on property owned by Weyerhaeuser.

“Abiqua Creek is loved by so many

people,” Rankin said. “Yes, the goal is to get these fish off the Endangered Species Act list, but large wood projects aren’t just about the fish – it’s the whole food web: birds, bugs, mushrooms, etc. As a source of hope and inspiration, the steelhead and coho that return every year are a reminder

of strength and resilience.

“Both economically and ecologically, the Abiqua keeps on giving. She’s a workhorse worth protecting. It takes everybody doing their individual part to keep the stream and her benefits flowing.”

Kurt Berning of the Pudding River Watershed Council is shown at one of the engineered log jams on Abiqua Creek that has been placed to improve steelhead fish passage.

PUDDING RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL

Timothy L Yount

Financial Advisor

313 N. Water St.

Silverton, OR 97381 503-873-2454

Daniel Hailey

Financial Advisor

108 N. First St., Suite 101

Silverton, OR 97381 503-874-6162

Councilor Pfau

By Stephen Floyd

Mount Angel City Council candidate Joseph Pfau may have been first runner up during the Nov. 8 election, but he will join the council nonetheless after being appointed to the position left vacant by Mayor Pete Wall.

Pfau was appointed during the council’s regular meeting Dec. 5 and is scheduled to be sworn in Jan. 3, 2023, along with incumbent councilors Matt Donohue, Ray Eder and Tony Astorga, who claimed the three seats open during the election.

Pfau told Our Town he looks forward to serving with fellow officials and adding his input to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives within City Hall.

“I think it’ll be a very positive and professional working relationship once we get into it,” he said.

According to final results published Dec. 5 by the Marion County Clerk’s Office, Donohue had 777 votes, Eder had 757 votes, Astorga had 543 votes and Pfau had 512 votes, followed by Justin Roney with 417 votes and Mary Franklin with 371 votes. The gap between Astorga, Pfau and Roney was too close to call on election night, and Astorga did not emerge as a likely winner until an election update two weeks later.

After ranking among the runners up, Pfau said he still saw an opportunity to serve if appointed to Wall’s former position, which becomes vacant when Wall begins his term as mayor in January. He ran unopposed for office Nov. 8. Wall, the former council president, was appointed Sept. 6 to fill the remaining term of late Mayor Don Fleck, who died suddenly in June.

Council fills vacant position

Pfau was one of two applicants who sought to fill Wall’s seat, the other being local farmer and longtime resident Russel Hogue. Pfau’s application reflected sentiments he expressed on the campaign trail: that he believed in the city’s potential for economic growth and community development, and his 18 years of experience in public infrastructure would be an asset to the city. He has 10 years as a project manager for the State of Oregon.

The City Council pressed both candidates Dec. 5 with questions regarding their reasons for wanting to serve, their familiarity with budget documents and public disclosure laws, and areas where the city could improve. Ultimately the coundil voted to appoint Pfau.

Pfau said he does not expect to “jump in like a bull in a China shop” once he takes office, but instead to learn the dynamics of fellow officials and department heads.

“Like any good manager, you show up and you listen and try to figure out what’s going on first before you dive into it,” he said.

Pfau said he anticipates playing a role in water quality projects and long-term infrastructure planning, as well as more immediate goals like sidewalks and ADA accessibility improvements. More than anything, Pfau said he looks forward to playing a more central role in his community alongside wife Andrea Pfau, who serves on the Mt. Angel School District Board. He added he hopes residents feel comfortable approaching him with concerns.

“I look forward to serving on the council and doing what I can to both maintain and improve this town, and really working with everybody at the table,” he said.

By Stephen Floyd

The City of Mount Angel has begun the installation of radio-read water meters that could cut the work hours needed to take meter readings by a one full-time position.

The city has allocated $300,000 from federal COVID-19 relief funds for the project, and anticipates having all meters within the city upgraded before the end of 2024.

The new meters allow public works employees to collect meter readings remotely rather than walking up to visually inspect each meter. City Manager Mark Daniel said, when the upgrade is complete, this would save an estimated 1,920 hours of labor each year, or roughly 37 hours per week.

“It will save our public works folks a whole week where they can focus on other things,” he said.

Daniel said meters are being replaced as time allows, and

one route that employees walk every month has already been completed. Daniel said the Public Works Department has been doing “a phenomenal job” with this and other infrastructure projects before the city, including recent overlay projects on Franklin, Monroe and John streets aimed at reducing the number of gravel roads in town, and the installation of ADA-compliant ramps to sidewalks.

The city continues moving forward with other large-scale projects, such as potentially relocating City Hall and the Police Department. Daniel, who also serves as police chief, said while this remains on the horizon, there are not yet firm details to share publicly.

Daniel said all this progress is thanks in no small part to the dedicated efforts of city employees.

“We’re doing great work,” he said. “I’m very proud of the job everybody does.”

Costs rising Silverton council agrees on new spending for civic center

By James Day

The City of Silverton has agreed to spend an additional $350,000 on “contract administration” costs for the civic center project.

The Dec. 19 City Council session included a Zoom meeting with project/design consultants from Mackenzie and Compass Project Solutions. The consultants have spent just more than $250,000 in contract administration costs to date and recognized that they were certain to pass the $350,000 that they were authorized to spend on such costs, which include submittal packages, substitution requests, furniture support services, artist coordination, consultant review, proposal requests, additional site visits, quality assurance and quality control.

Quality assurance and quality control were the top expenses incurred, totaling more than $91,000 of that $250,000 in spending.

Mackenzie and Compass Project have been spending $46,324 monthly in construction administration costs but vowed to limit the expense to $35,000 moving forward.

Despite the additional appropriation, city officials said the project still is “tracking under” its overall estimated cost of $19,453,320.

The project also is more than 50 days behind schedule.

The civic center originally was set to open Aug. 1, 2023. The new target date is Sept. 25.

“I’m concerned about the increases, although I appreciate that we have design team members monitoring the progress,” said councilor and mayor-elect Jason Freilinger. “That said, I really don’t want to see you back here in three months with more requests.”

In other highlights from the meeting, Councilors-elect Eric Hammond, April Newton and Marie Traeger participated with the rest of the council and outgoing Mayor Kyle Palmer in a discussion of current city issues on what was the final meeting of 2022. The new council and Mayor Freilinger will be sworn in Jan. 9.

Traeger asked how elected officials are expected to handle concerns received from members of the public.

Palmer, who has been involved in elected city politics since 2004, noted that concerns tend to break down into issues that can be handled by staff, issues that must be addressed by the council and community issues.

Palmer also said that “you will get some really negative stuff sent to you and about you and I look forward to watching what the council will do and follow up with some thoughtful comments… in writing.”

Outgoing councilors Dana Smith, Jim Sears and Crystal Neideigh were asked to note issues and projects that remained undone as their terms ended. Water issues, the fate of the property at the south end of the civic center parcel, bike paths and sidewalk and pedestrian connectivity between the current city borders and new developments that are coming in on the fringes were among the items mentioned.

Councilors also discussed a 20-page memo of changes and revisions to the city’s street parking and right-of-way ordinance prepared by Sears and Silverton Police Chief Jim Anglemier. The discussion has been proceeding since Sears first raised concerns at the June 20 meeting. A key challenge cited by Sears was how long vehicles, particularly RVs, should remain on the streets. The discussion will be continued by the new council in January.

Construction work on the new Silverton civic center. JAMES DAY

Frequent Addresses

Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. Silverton High, 1456 Pine St., Silverton Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield 50 & older. 503-873-3093

Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 NE Industrial Way, Silverton Silver Falls Library, 410 S Water St.

Weekly Events

Monday

SACA Food Pantry, 9 a.m. - noon, SACA, 421 S Water St., Silverton. Repeats Thursdays. 503-873-3446, silvertonareacommunityaid.org

Senior Exercise Class, 9:30 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. First class is free. Free for members; $5 for non-members. Repeats Wednesday, Friday.

Bridge, 10 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. Mt. Angel Community & Senior Center Store, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 195 E Charles St. Repeats Tuesday - Saturday. Volunteers needed. 503-845-6998

Silverton Meals on Wheels, 11:30 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. Dine in or delivery available. $3 donation suggested. Monday - Friday. RSVP to Carol, 503-873-6906. Mt. Angel Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m. Delivery only. $3 donation suggested. Repeats Thursdays. Ginger, 503-845-9464. Poker, noon, Silverton Senior Center. No poker 1/2, 1/16. Rescheduled to 1/3, 1/17.

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

Peaceful Heart Kitan Meditation, 4 p.m., Silverton Senior Center.

Free Dinner, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Pickup only. Open to all. 503-873-5446

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

Tuesday

Silver Angels Foot Care, 8:30 - 2 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. Appointments required. Repeats Wednesdays. 503-201-6461

Scotts Mills Food Boxes, 9 - 11 a.m., Scotts Mills Community Center, 298 Fourth St. Residents in Scotts Mills/Butte Creek/Monitor rural areas are welcome. Food donations welcome. Niki Barber, 503-873-5059

Simple Qigong, 9:45 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. $8/session after first free class. 10-class ticket $70. Adults only. Repeats Thursday.

Community Helpers Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Age 2 - 5. Participate in songs, activities, stories with a special guest reader. 503-845-6401

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

Pinochle, noon, Silverton Senior Center. Tune Tours, 2 - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Theater & Stu.dio, 220 E Charles St. Live music and entertainment specifically designed for music lovers and seniors, but all are welcome. $10. In association with Abiqua Studios & Tune Tours. Repeats Thursdays. Jon, 323-449-1183

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

Serenity Al-Anon Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Virtual Zoom meeting. Repeats 10 a.m. Saturdays. For Zoom link, call Barbara K, 503-269-0952. Cub Scout Pack 485, 6:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Boys and girls in kindergarten - fifth grade. Deb Hilterbrand, 971-337-5925, silvertonpack485@gmail.com

Mediation & Shared Dialog, 7 - 8:30 p.m. All spiritual traditions welcome. Request invitation for virtual gathering by emailing compassionatepresence@yahoo.com. 971-218-6641

Wednesday

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

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

Knit Wits, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Senior Center. Open to knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, quilters.

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

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

Open Art Studio, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. Bring arts projects to work on and share.

Line Dancing, 1 - 2 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. No registration required. Free; donations accepted for instructor. Open to all. Sheila, 503-409-4498

Silver Chips Woodcarving Sessions, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St., Silverton. $2 a week. All skill levels. 503-873-4512

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

Daniel Plan Journey Video Series, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship Church. Lifestyle program based on Biblical principals and the five essentials of Faith, Food, Focus, Fitness and Friends. In-person or online at scf.tv/daniel.plan. Free. Open to public. Sheila, 503-4094498, shegrl50@hotmail.com Thursday

Community Coffee, 7 - 9 a.m., Scotts Mills Community Center, 298 Fourth St. Free. Yoga, 9 a.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Open to all. Sheila, 503-409-4498

Open Art Studio, 10 a.m., Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. 503-873-2480

Crafting for Seniors, 10 a.m., Silverton Senior Center. Different project every Thursday.

Bingo, 2 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. $1/ card, $2/3 cards.

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

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

Silvertones Community Singers, 10:30 a.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 Main St., Silverton. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome. Tomi, 503-873-2033 “Sew What” Quilting Group, 11 a.m.3 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. Ukulele Song Circle, 1 p.m., Silverton Senior Center.

Tune Tours, 7 - 9 p.m., Mt. Angel Theater & Stu.dio, 220 E Charles St. Live music and entertainment specifically designed for music lovers and seniors, but all are welcome. $10. In association with Abiqua Studios & Tune Tours. Jon, 323-449-1183 Saturday Open Art Studio, 9 a.m., Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. 503-873-2480

After-Season Indoor Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Friends Church, 229 Eureka Ave. Local produce, eggs, meats, artisan crafts. Free admission.

Saturday Free Lunch, noon - 1:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second St., Silverton. Open to all. 503-939-3459 Sunday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Day

Tuesday, Jan. 3

Stories & STEAM

3:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Listen to a story, join in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Art project, snacks. Today: Celebrate J.R.R. Tolkein’s birthday. Jan. 10: Experiment with slime. Jan. 17: Make a mini golf course. Jan. 24: Make bookmarks using hieroglyphics. Jan. 31: STEM exhibit. Age 6 - 12. Free. 503-845-6401

Drawing Group

6 p.m., Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Open to all. Repeats Jan. 17. 503-873-2480

Mt. Angel City Council

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

Wednesday, Jan. 4

Caregiver Connection

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

STEM Girls

3:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Become a Bird Scout Citizen Scientist. Explore feathers, flights and features that make birds unique. Use tools and technology to identify local species and help scientists track changes in bird distribution and abundance across the globe. Every session includes hands-on activities and active research. Snacks provided. Free. Grades 58. Repeats Jan. 18. 503-845-6401

Scotts Mills City Council

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

Thursday, Jan. 5

Silverton Kiwanis Club

7 a.m., Main St. Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. Bi-monthly meeting of Silverton Kiwanis Club. New members welcome.

Repeats Jan. 19.

2010 Word Basics

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn to create text-based documents using Microsoft Word, as well as how to complete simple actions like saving, opening, printing documents. Owning a computer is not required. Adults only. Space is limited; registration required. 503-845-6401

Dragon Escape Room

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Join in a Dragon-themed escape room. Snacks provided. Free. Grades 6 - 12. 503-845-6401

Artist Critique Group

7 p.m., Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Open to all. 503-873-2480

Friday, Jan. 6

Lunaria First Friday 7 - 9 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Main floor gallery presents “Home is Where the HeART Is,” featuring area artists sharing the idea of home in all types of media. Loft gallery is “Out of the Vault,” treasures from the vaults of Lunaria artists studios. Free. Open to public. 503-873-7734

First Friday in Silverton 7 – 9 p.m. Explore the historic downtown, eat, shop, browse galleries, boutiques. 503-873-5615, silvertonchamber.org

Saturday, Jan. 7

Let’s Dance 6 - 9 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. Start the new year by dancing to the music of the ‘70s and ‘80s. All ages welcome. $5. Light refreshments, door prizes. 503-873-3093

Monday, Jan. 9

Daughters of the American Revolution 10 a.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 SE Fern Ridge Road. Guest speaker Lynn Daue presents “History of Hulihe’e Palace Museum.” The museum is operated and maintained by Daughters of Hawaii. Refreshments served. Open to all. Linda, 503-689-6991

Mt. Angel School District 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 7 p.m., Silverton High. Open to public. 503-873-5303, silverfallsschools.org

Silverton City Council 7 p.m., Silverton Community Center. New mayor and councilors will be sworn in. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Ancestry Detectives

10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Senior Center. Help plan the future by bringing genealogy topics of interest. Bring a successful genealogy project to share “how to” with the group. Meeting also available on Zoom. Kathy, 503508-4251, ancestrydetectives.org/schedule

Dementia Care Conversations

3 - 4 p.m. Zoom. Free group for unpaid caregivers providing support to a loved one living with dementia. The focus is to provide dementia care information, training and resources to family caregivers. Offered by Family Caregiver Support Program at NorthWest Senior and Disability Services. To request a referral to the group, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 503-304-3420. Repeats Jan. 24.

SSC Board Meeting

5 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. Open to public. 503-873-3093

Ukulele Play and Sing-Alongs

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

SAA Board Meeting

6 p.m., Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Open to all. 503-873-2480

Silverton Planning Commission

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-874-2207, silverton.us.or

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Bullet Journaling 101

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn a new way to express yourself and organize your life with bullet journaling. All supplies provided. Adults only. Free. 503-845-6401

STEM Boys

3:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Become a Bird Scout Citizen Scientist. Explore feathers, flights and features that make birds unique. Use tools and technology to identify local species and help scientists track changes in bird distribution and abundance across the globe. Every session includes hands-on activities and active research. Snacks provided. Free. Grades 5 - 8. Repeats Jan. 25. 503-845-6401

Thursday, Jan. 12

Silverton-Mt. Angel Women’s Connection

1 p.m., Silverton Senior Center. Lunch served. RSVP to 503-999-2291.

Eric Carle Art Reveal

3:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Grand reveal of the new Eric Carle-themed artwork for the Children’s Area, created by local children. Enjoy games, crafts and treats themed after The Very Hungry Caterpillar. All ages. Free. 503-845-6401

Zenith Women’s Club

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

Friday, Jan. 13

LEGO Lab

3 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Build an original creations out of LEGOs to display in the library. Free. All ages. Repeats Jan. 27. 503-845-6401

Saturday, Jan. 14

Mt. Angel Library Advisory Board

6:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Board meets to advise, recommend, advocate for the library. All welcome. 503-845-6401

Monday, Jan. 16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MLK Observance Vigil

2:30 p.m., Town Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People For Peace honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and make his message relevant to today’s peace and social justice challenges. Vigil features signs with quotes from Dr. King’s speeches. Open to all. 503-873-5307, robertjsisk@yahoo.com.

MLK Observance Potluck 6 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 Division St. Keynote speaker is Joe Autry, local columnist, on the Silverton Area Community Aid board, and food security activist with the free community meal program, “We All Dine in Silverton!” Sponsored by Silverton Grange and Silverton People for Peace. Bring a potluck dish to share. Face masks are strongly encouraged. Donations are welcome and will be split between the Grange and SACA. 503-873-5307, silvertongrange.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Silver Falls Book Club

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Discuss Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Open to all adults. Free. 503-873-8796

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Red Cross Blood Drive

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

Thursday, Jan. 19

Book Club for Adults

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss 1984 by George Orwell. Copies available at the library. Free. 503-845-6401

Teen Library Advisory Board

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Help collaborate with library on programs, collections, games. Snacks. All teens welcome. 503-845-6401

Silver Falls Writers’ Group

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

Friday, Jan. 20

Virtual Reality

3 - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Book a 30-minute time slot to experience a virtual reality program. A signed release must be on record. Teens & adults. Free. RSVP: 503-845-6401

Monday, Jan. 23

Silverton City Council Work Session

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

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Business

Resource Fairs

5 - 8 p.m. Brooks Chemeketa Campus Business owners and entrepreneurs invited to meet business support providers who can help with starting or growing a business.  Free, bi-lingual, family friendly, and refreshments are provided. Repeats Jan. 31, 2023 9 a.m. - noon, Woodburn Chemeketa Campus Inforomation: Cayla Catino, 458-215-8396 ext. 7026 or |ccatino@rdiinc.org

Planning Commission Work Session

7 p.m., Silverton Community Center. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-874-2207, silverton.us.or

Wednesday,

Valentine Cards

Jan. 25

1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create handmade Valentine cards using rubber stamps, decorative paper. All supplies provided. Adults only. Free. 503-845-6401

Retiring Joyfully Workshop

5:30 p.m., 301 E Main St., Silverton. Get more clarity and purpose to retirement. Free. Contact AnnetteJensen@ RetireJoyfully.com.

Scotts Mills Historical Society

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

Virtual

Film Discussion

7 p.m. Zoom. Watch the movies Milk and The Times of Harvey Milk and join in a discussion to compare and contrast the two. Copies of the movies are available at the reference desk at Silver Falls Library for checkout. For Zoom link, call Ron Drake, 503873-8796.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Red Cross Blood Drive

Noon - 5 p.m., Apostolic Christian Church, 4700 NE Howell Prairie Road, Silverton. Appointments needed by visiting redcrossblood.org.

Family Movie Night

6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Watch Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (PG). Hot popcorn served. Free. All ages. 503-845-6401

Writing Workshop

6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Local author Donna Hues facilitates workshop to explore the fundamentals of writing. Bring up to three pages of writing and receive feedback. Teens, adults. Free. 503-845-6401

© HOPSCOTCH1 / 123RF.COM

20th MLK Observance

When the COVID-19 pandemic shutgown his Silverton restaurant in 2020, rather than feel sorry for himself, Joel Autry saw the opportunity for community service, an ethic modeled by his parents.

He opened his heart and pantry up to local residents hurt financially by the economic slowdown or folks who had relied on Silverton’s weekly community dinner, also closed by the pandemic.

More than two years later, Autry, community dinner coordinator Cherry Arbuckle Hoffman and a dozen “extremely dedicated” volunteers continue to provide free, wholesome and tasty meals weekly to those in need with “We All Dine in Silverton!”

Due to his concern over food insecurity Autry also serves on the board of Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA).

Autry will give the keynote address, “Building Community Through Service and Sensitivity,” for the 20th Annual Silverton MLK Observance, Monday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at Silverton Grange, 201

Division St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The annual event features a community potluck, sing-a-long and readings honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Southern cuisine dishes he was fond of have become popular event staples. Facemasks are strongly encouraged; donations welcome and will be split between SACA and the Grange. For more event information call 503-873-5307 or visit silvertongrange.org.

A recent column by Autry (in the Nov. 15 edition of Our Town) spotlighted “firsts” –minorities assuming significant leadership positions in politics and society. It was an indication, he wrote, that our culture is changing for the better. To anyone who might complain he is “just talking about race,” Autry bluntly states he is. With racial issues, it is very important, he says, to ask people to consider points of view

Joel Autry to give keynote

different from their own, especially those from people of color, and with gender equity issues, other minorities as well (Autry served on the Portland-based Equity Foundation which funded local LGBTQ initiatives).

Without “hitting people over the head” but through candid observations, Autry hopes to promote the environment he remembers in his fourth grade class growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“We were different people coming together with our differences, learning how to get along with each other,” he recalled. That atmosphere of tolerance, respect and affection between classmates created a life-long bond with his fourth grade fellow students and teacher, Mr. Rhuter.

“He made all students feel important and cherished each relationship,” Autry said.

“We all Dine in Silverton!” also allows

Autry to build community through the sharing of food.

Great home-cooked meals that bonded his family inspired Autry to co-own the Silver Grille restaurant for a time, and later open the Silverton Wine Bar and Bistro. Like his mother, he wanted to make good food the centerpiece for socializing.

“Mother was an excellent cook. Meals were always a time for community and socializing,” Autry recalls. He treasured his role welcoming people into his restaurants and socializing with them.

Though now working full time in another sector, Autry makes time to do the community meal’s menu planning and shopping. He is grateful to individual donors and Mt. Angel Sausage Co. for funding the program. By keeping the kitchen open to those in need – and opening minds through his columns –Autry hopes he is doing his part so no one feels denied a seat at the community table.

Joel Autry. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Christmas tree vandalism investigated

By James Day

The Silverton Police Department is investigating vandalism that occurred to the Christmas tree that is lit every December in Town Square Park.

Chief Jim Anglemier told Our Town “the police department is aware of it and actively conducting an investigation. At this point, no arrest has been made of those person(s) responsible.”

The vandals painted graffiti on the base of the tree and lights were unplugged and cords were either thrown up into the tree or disconnected in several places around the park, said Stacy Palmer, executive director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the event.

“The tree vandalism was more annoying than costly,” Palmer said. “However, we will have to re-paint the panels at the bottom of the tree because they were tagged with graffiti and it will need to be covered up.”  Palmer said the chamber likely will put on some sort of fundraiser to pay for the damage as well as some upgrades planned for the tree.

“We need to refurbish the star at the top of the tree that is not working and to purchase more lights,” Palmer said.

“The tree grows 3-5 feet per year and that means we need an additional 3-5 feet on every strand of lights that goes up on the tree. We’re also looking at potentially adding cameras and building a stronger base to house the electrical elements.”

Mayor Kyle Palmer took to Facebook to express his “disappointment” at the vandalism.

“The Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce and a group of volunteers has braved crappy weather for years to put on an amazing night that ends with a special visitor and the magic he brings to light the tree,” the mayor wrote. “One doesn’t have to celebrate Christmas to feel that there’s something more going on in Town Square Park – something that reminds us how important traditions are to a small town.”

Mayor Palmer and Chief Anglemier both encouraged residents with information about the vandalism to come forward.

Detective Chandler Miranda is handling the case and is reachable at 503-873-5326.

DUII chase caught on camera

A Silverton man is facing DUII and multiple other charges after a police chase caught on camera ended with the suspect allegedly crashing into a local resident’s front yard.

Michael James Imel, 36, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 7, after officers with the Silverton Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

Imel allegedly fled in his vehicle and drove recklessly through the city. According to doorbell camera footage shared by SPD on Facebook, Imel’s car allegedly struck two police vehicles before driving into the front yard of a nearby residence.

Imel allegedly attempted to flee on foot, but was taken into custody. SPD said on Facebook that “thankfully nobody was seriously injured.”

Imel was charged in Marion County

Circuit Court with DUII, second-degree assault, reckless driving, resisting arrest, second-degree criminal mischief, refusal to take a test for intoxicants, and two counts each of attempt to elude and assault of a public safety officer. If convicted, he faces at least 70 months in prison due to the Measure 11 status of the second-degree assault charge.

As of press time, he remained in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail. He was due back in court for arraignment Dec. 22 before Judge Natasha Zimmerman.

Imel was previously convicted of DUII in 2019 after accepting a plea agreement in Jackson County Circuit Court. He completed a DUII diversion program in 2020, resulting in his conviction being dismissed.

– Stephen Floyd

Happy New Year Happy New Year

Finding joy Despite challenges

“Enter the New Year with Joy” presented by Susan Black will be the first workshop of the new year at the Benedictine Sisters Queen of Angels Monastery. On Jan. 7 the workshop will run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Chapter Room. The $55 fee includes lunch and supplies and scholarships are available. Many challenges exist in individual and personal circumstances, and within families, communities, the state, country and world. The day will focus on how women and men of faith can enter 2023 with joy and thus know God’s presence.

Participants will reflect on St. Paul’s urging to “rejoice always”. Is it right and correct to live joyfully, given the “signs of the times”?

Through discussion, reflection, art and writing experiences, prayer, music, other activities and quiet time, participants will learn how to increase their ability to live in God-given joy – and gain confidence in the power of individual personal joy to transform everything.  As St. Mother Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create

Enter the New Year with Joy

Presented by Susan Black

Jan. 7, 2023, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Benedictine Sisters Queen of Angels Monastery Chapter Room

840 S. Main St., Mt. Angel

$55, includes lunch and supplies. Scholarships available. 503-845-2556

many ripples.”

Presenter Susan Black is an oblate, an artist and a writer. To learn more go to the website www.BlackStarStudio.me

Participants should bring with them a small object of joy– for example, a memento, a photograph, a keepsake, a souvenir. To register, call Benedictine Sisters, 503 8452556 or send a check payable to Benedictine Sisters, Attention: Sister Dorothy Jean, 840 S. Main St., Mt. Angel, OR 97362, three days before the retreat.

Science teacher offers eco-trip to Belize

By Melissa Wagoner

“Opening the world through education,” is the mission of the educational travel company, EF Tours, but it’s also the mission of Stacie Harker – an avid traveler and science teacher at Butte Creek Elementary.

“I think international travel is so important,” Harker said. “To get insight on American culture by seeing other cultures… to see culturally that this isn’t the only way to do it… and to see different ecosystems and biomes.”

Which is why this summer she will be teaming up with EF Tours to offer a group of SHS students the opportunity of a lifetime – an ecotour of Belize.

“We’ll be doing science on the trip,” Harker said, describing how this tour differs from other education-based travel options. “We’ll go to [Port Honduras] marine reserve, and we’ll observe a manatee population.”

Students will also take part in a reforestation project that will help support biodiversity, stabilize riverbanks, and

Eight Day Ecotour

• Dates: July 19-26, 2023

• Cost: $4,404, all-expenses included

• Registration: www.eftours.com/2530849td

improve water quality, visit a sustainable farm to learn more about climate friendly farming practices, engage in Mayan culture in a local village and take a zipline through the rainforest canopy.

“There are all kinds of cool things,” Harker said. “And everything’s included so it takes a lot of the work out.”

Enrollment is available to both current and incoming SHS students on the EF Educational Tours website (see box), along with further information including the estimated cost – $4,404 for eight days of travel – and a detailed itinerary.

“I’m really excited about going,” Harker said. “I think it’ll be so fun to see their interest spiked. There’s joy in that.”

Ruth Bernadette (Studley) Cock

On the morning of Nov. 26, 2022, Ruth Cock passed away at the age of 80. She joins her other half of 51 years, John Cock, after seven years widowed. Her memories live on through her daughter,Terri; son, J.R. (Amy); her grandchildren, Mandie (Jordan), Austin (Olivia), Brad (Maddie), Madison, Tessa, Emily, and Jennifer; her great grandchildren, Amiyah, Kaydence, Willow and Khloe; and by all that crossed her path.

Ruth was born on Feb. 21, 1942, to William and Cecile (Gerard) Studley. The family lived in Long Beach, California and included her brother, William Studley Jr. After graduating from Newport Harbor High, Ruth went to Louisiana State University to get her Bachelor’s Degree in home economics. She returned to California and began working in a nursing home where one of the residents introduced her to her to John Cock. They married on

Sept. 7, 1963.

On their anniversary in 1979, they arrived in Silverton and settled into their new home. Ruth was a very active member in the Silverton community, working with Meals on Wheels, Silverton Senior Center, Little League, Kiwanis Club, Safety Town, Senior Center Thrift Store, Mural Society, and more. She enjoyed volunteering, organizing events, leading trips for seniors, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events with John.

At her request, Ruth’s grandchildren are planning a celebration of life to be held noon, Feb. 21, 2023 at the Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton. It would have been her 81st birthday. All who knew Ruth are welcome to attend and share memories. The family asks in lieu of flowers, bring any photos you have to display at the event. Arrangements made by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

Paul Edward Dieker

Oct. 7, 1931 – Dec. 12, 2022

Paul Edward Dieker was born in Fleming, Colorado, Oct. 7, 1931 to Albert and Anna (Berg) Dieker.He passed away at his residence in Silverton, Oregon on Dec. 12, 2022. He was 91.

The family moved to Oregon in 1938, settling in the Mount Angel area. He graduated from Mount Angel Prep in 1950. He was on active in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, then transferred to the Army Reserve to complete his obligation.

In June 1956, he married Claudette Kinder. They were married for 66 years.

Paul worked for IBM for 35 years. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and golf.    He was a Knights of Columbus member

and fourth degree and started the council on Knights of Columbus on Whidbey Island, Washington.

Paul is survived by his wife, Claudette; children, David and Theresa; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brothers, Ralph and Lenard and sister Ruth Ann. He was preceded in death by sons, Brian and Douglas; daughter, Clair; brothers, Edwin and Harold; sisters, Helen, Dorothy, Freancist and Sister Albert, OSB.

Recitation of the Rosary was be held Dec. 19 at St. Paul Catholic Church, Silverton, followed by Mass of Christian Burial and reception. A private burial was held at Calvary Cemetery, Mount Angel.

Submissions welcomed: If there is a birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary, college graduation or obituary of a local resident you’d like to share, please send it to ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com.

We at Silver Falls Yard Care would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support of our family business during 2022. Whether you used our services, gave recommendations to family and loved ones, or just gave us a smile, thumbs up, or a word of encouragement we are thankful for you all. We have made it through another challenging year as a community and I am so grateful. May you all have a blessed holiday season and a fruitful 2023!

Dr. Daniel Côté, DC Dr. Jennifer Martin, DC

Licensed Massage therapists available 503-873-8099

James ‘Jim’ Perry

James (Jim) Perry, 82, passed away on Nov. 18, 2022.  He was born in Los Angeles, California to Helen Louise Houle and Raymond Carl Perry. He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Jeanne Perry Rofelty and Wanda Perry Sundborg.

He was a loving husband to Carol Porter Perry for almost 58 years, and she survives him. He is also survived by his children, Diana Schimschok (Brian), Bob Rofelty (Julie), Arlene Rofelty, and Jim Ghiglieri (Meg); grandchildren, Brian (Jenn), Angie, Elana, Daniel, Gwin, Ben, Heidi and Emily, and his bonus granddaughter Hannah; as well as his great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two long-time friends he considered his bonus sons, Mark Crouse and David Potter. He is preceded in death by many good friends.

Jim spent his first 18 years living at Lake Tahoe (Stateline), and then enlisted in

the Air Force, serving for four years. In 1966, Jim moved his family to Silverton, Oregon.

Jim was an entrepreneur who started and owned many businesses over the years, including building canopies and campers back in the 1970s, paving and excavating work, and selling landscape materials, to name a few. He didn’t believe in sitting around when there was work to be done, and he always had a to-do list in his head. He enjoyed having his grandkids as apprentices.

He loved fishing, hunting, leather work, rock hounding and traveling with his wife.  In his late 70s he fulfilled a longtime dream by purchasing a sawmill.

At his request, Jim will be laid to rest in a private service. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude’s Hospital or the Silverton Elks Lodge are suggested. Serving the family, North Santiam Funeral Service, Stayton.

Ewings remembered in Mount Angel

By Stephen Floyd

Mount Angel is mourning the loss of residents Tom and Virginia Ewing after police reported they died in a murdersuicide at the end of November.

According to the Mt. Angel Police Department, Thomas Esson Ewing, 77, and Virginia Rae Ewing, 71, were found deceased Nov. 27 at their home on the 600 Block of St. Mary’s Ave.

Assisted by the County District Attorney’s Office and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, on Dec. 12 police announced both individuals died from gunshot wounds. They listed cause of Virginia Ewing’s death as homicide and Tom Ewing’s death as suicide, naming Tom Ewing as the shooter.

No additional details have been released by authorities.

The Ewings were remembered during a celebration of life Dec. 4 at Tiny’s Tavern organized by friends and shared on Facebook by the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce, of which Tom Ewing was a former board member. On Facebook

the chamber described Tom Ewing as a longtime community supporter and volunteer, and said he and Virginia Ewing “will be dearly missed.”

In addition to community engagement, Tom Ewing was a former chief administrative law judge of the State of Oregon, a position he took after a career as an appellate attorney. He also wrote the novel Jerusalem Falls!, a story of the First Crusade told from the perspective of a Christian monk, among other historical publications.

Before moving into town the Ewings lived on the farm just outside Mount Angel where Tom Ewing’s family had lived for more than 160 years. In a 2009 interview with Our Town, he said his ancestors endured a harrowing journey across the Oregon Trail and an unsuccessful bid in the California Gold Rush before settling on the farm. He said the spot reminded his great-grandfather, Alexander Esson, of his native Scotland.

The Ewings leave three sons, Zan, Ross and Nathan.

In Memory Of

Ruth Cock

Feb. 21, 1942 — Nov. 26, 2022

Kandi Anderson Nov. 10, 1958 — Nov. 27, 2022

Hayley Bourne Jan. 10, 1993 — Dec. 6, 2022

Jeffrey Norwood Sept. 7, 1967 — Dec. 11, 2022

JoAnne “Jodi” Wavra May 25, 1947 — Dec. 12, 2022

Paul Dieker Oct. 7, 1931 — Dec. 12, 2022

Bernard Palmer Dec. 20, 1958 — Dec. 12, 2022

See full obituaries at www.ungerfuneralchapel.com

Winter Happenings

Hoops newcomers

Foxes debut under coaches Ogle, Allen

In this year of change for Silverton athletics, fall saw new football coach Dan Lever, new volleyball coach Reilly Rosecrans and new girls soccer coach Renee Cantrell all succeed in their roles. All three teams made the playoffs, with football and volleyball advancing to the state quarterfinals. Now, we’re about to see what happens with hoops. The Foxes have new coaches there, too. Tal Wold (girls) has been replaced with Alyssa Ogle and Jamie McCarty (boys) with Tyler Allen Expectations are perhaps higher on campus with hoops, mainly because of the success Wold and McCarty have had. They combined for 10 Mid-Willamette Conference titles and made annual appearances at Gill Coliseum for the Class 5A tournament. Wold won a state title in 2016 and his teams also finished second, third and sixth. McCarty’s team finished second last March, while also taking a third and a fourth. In addition, his predecessor, Steve Roth, coached Silverton to the 2015 boys title. McCarty lost one league game in his tenure.

Allen lost his league opener to Woodburn on Dec. 13, but it’s unfair to demand that he win out in Mid-Willamette Conference games for the next 5 years. Last year’s Foxes, who lost by 4 to Wilsonville in the 5A final, were seniordominated. The coach is new and the team is new, too.

“My best advice I can give my team is we can’t progress forward if we are always looking back,” Allen told Our Town “The talented teams before us did an amazing job establishing their legacy at Silverton and making this town’s brand of basketball what it is today. We must respect the groundwork provided for us, but now it’s time to build our own team.  They have all the potential in the world to make this a strong, competitive season, but it is going to take hard work and finding an identity. Our potential must be our foundation, not our ceiling.  If we get to that point, this will be a really fun year.”

Expected to be key contributors for the Foxes are seniors Evan Good and Tyler Mansur and sophomore Brody Kuenzi.

It’s a 10-team Mid-Willamette this season with the addition of Woodburn.

That means an 18-game double-roundrobin pressure cooker of an MWC campaign that Allen welcomes.

“I’m excited for it,” said Allen, who teaches physical education and health at the Oregon Youth Authority’s MacLaren facility in Woodburn. “Regardless of the league size, every team will play 24-25 games in a season. Every game matters when it comes to power ranking and playoff seeding, but league games tend to bring a heightened competitiveness and buzz in the gym. I’m excited to get things started.”

The Foxes are 2-5 overall and 0-1 in league play in the early going. Silverton went 1-3 in the always-challenging Capitol City Classic, with its lone win coming against Regis. The Foxes also played another hard-fought game with Wilsonville in a rematch of the 2022 5A title contest. The Wildcats won this version 51-42.

Ogle has a couple of advantages over Allen as she starts year one with the girls. First, she coached with Wold for the past four seasons, and second, she has a strong returning corps of players, led by allleague guard Kyleigh Brown

“Every day we are coming out and working hard to improve,” said Ogle, who teaches social studies at the high school.  “Our goal is to leave every practice and game getting a little bit better as we go, and I feel good about that with our team. We have some seniors that have stepped up and provided some great leadership along with our juniors. We are excited to get some key pieces back from injury and see how they will contribute to our team.

“With our new kids to the team and our returners we really feel good about the opportunities we have and know that hard work can get us to where we want to be. We have a great league with some very tough teams so every night will be a battle. It’s always a challenge adding more league teams especially with the talent

in our league so we are excited about the opportunity to get better every game.” In addition to Brown, Ogle has veterans Kirsten Kuenzi, Hannah Bashor and Justina Semerikov on hand as well as talented sophomore Brooklyn Pfeifer

Silverton is 4-2 at Our Town’s presstime, with the highlight a 3-0 run through the girls bracket of the Capitol City Classic. The Foxes took down three Class 6A teams along the way, downing South Salem 50-43, Willamette 40-34 and Oregon City 60-51, The Foxes face another big Mid-Willamette Conference test just after the new year, hosting  No.4 Lebanon, (5-1) on Monday, Jan. 2. The Mid-Willamette currently dominates the Class 5A rankings, with South Albany (7-1) at No. 1, defending state champion Crescent Valley (4-1) at No. 3, Corvallis (3-1) at No. 6, the Foxes at No. 9 and 4-3 Central at No. 10.

Got a news tip? Email me at james.d@mtangelpub.com Follow me on Twitter @jameshday and Our Town on Facebook.

Monday, Jan. 2 Girls Basketball

7 p.m. Silverton vs Lebanon

Thursday, Jan. 5 Boys Basketball

7 p.m. Silverton vs Central Friday, Jan. 6 Girls Basketball 5:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Colton Boys Basketball 7 p.m. Kennedy vs Colton Monday, Jan. 9 Boys Basketball 7 p.m. Silverton vs South Albany

7:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Regis Thursday, Jan. 12 Girls Basketball

6 p.m. Kennedy vs Regis

7 p.m. Silverton vs West Albany Monday, Jan. 16 Boys Basketball 7 p.m. Silverton vs Corvallis Wednesday, Jan. 18 Wrestling 6 p.m. Silverton vs Woodburn

Thursday, Jan. 19 Wrestling TBD Special District East Meet @ Kennedy Girls Basketball 7 p.m Silverton vs Crescent Valley Friday, Jan. 20 Boys Basketball 7 p.m. Kennedy vs Delphian Thursday, Jan. 26 Boys Basketball 5:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Salem Academy

Girls Basketball 7 p.m. Kennedy vs Salem Academy 7 p.m. Silverton vs Dallas

Looking

Friday, Jan. 27 Wrestling

TBD Silverton Duals Monday, Jan. 30 Boys Basketball 5:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Santiam Girls Basketball 7 p.m. Kennedy vs Santiam

a new primary care provider?

Stacy M. Brueckner, DO Monica Henderson, FNP Joel S. Roberts, FNP

One thing that’s been on my bucket list since before I had a bucket is learning how to fly.

I think it’s in my DNA. Growing up, I spent most of my time on Air Force bases. My dad was in the Air Force 23 years.

When I graduated from the University of Alaska, I was broke. I mean penniless. I gave myself until the Friday after graduation to get a job as a newspaper reporter. If I didn’t have a job by then, I was going to enlist in the Air Force.

At noon on Friday, I got a call from the editor of The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner offering me a job. It ruined my life.

Instead of enlisting and going to flight school and streaking at the speed of sound across the sky, I became a reporter. As it turned out, I was a lucky reporter. Things just seemed to happen when I was around. My second week on the job, I was heading for an assignment – I think it was to cover a chamber of commerce meeting – and saw a dead body floating down the Chena River.

I told the editor: “The bad news is I didn’t cover the chamber meeting. The good news is I got a story about a murder.”

I moved to Wrangell, a tiny fishing and timber town in Southeast Alaska. The employees at one of the sawmills had gone on strike, and the town’s economy went down the tubes. I decided to go to one of the union meetings. The door of the meeting hall was unlocked, so I went in.

Everyone stared at me.

“What the [censored] are you doing here?” one of the guys said.

“I just want to tell people what’s going on,” I said.

“Well, why don’t you just get the hell out of here instead?” he said.

Then another member piped up. “Wait a minute. Don’t we want people to know what we’re doing, and why?” he said. A few of the others nodded their heads.

I wrote a story about the union and what the sawmill, which was owned by a Japanese conglomerate, were haggling over. It was a one-of-a-kind.

One morning before dawn, I was going to work at an Anchorage newspaper and I saw a glow on the horizon coming from the direction of the airport. I decided to take a detour on the way into town to see what was going on.

When I got to the airport, everything was shut down. I found a couple of guys from the Federal Aviation Administration who told me that a DC-8 with a load of cattle – yes, cattle – bound for Japan had crashed on takeoff. They gave me a ride out to the crash site. I phoned in details of the story to another reporter, and we had it on the front page by 11 a.m.

I was working in Juneau in 1980 when a cruise ship caught fire in the Gulf of Alaska. It had 525 passengers on board. A reporter who was heading out for an early fishing trip had caught the chatter on the Coast Guard radio. He called me and went to the Coast Guard search-andrescue center, our photographer chartered a plane to get pictures of what was to become the largest air-sea rescue in Coast Guard history, and I headed to the office with other reporters, who wrote stories about the history of shipwrecks in Alaska and the history of the ship.

We printed an “Extra” before the end of the day.

Yep, journalism ruined my life. And I still don’t know how to fly.

Carl Sampson is a freelance writer and editor. In the past 45 years, he has worked for The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, The Wrangell Sentinel, The Anchorage Times, The Juneau Empire, among other newspapers in Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon.

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