Our Town North: Dec. 1, 2025

Thank you, Our Town supporters

Six months ago we reached out and let our readers know Our Town needs your help to continue its work building community. The response has been heart-warming.

To all those who have contributed to the Our Town fund through the Oregon Public Information Partnership 501c3, thank you. To our advertisers, thank you. To those who offer words of encouragement and support, thank you. It’s a three-legged stool – each part is important for balance.

Our Town, Our Town - Santiam, and The Canyon Weekly – all our publications – raised roughly $14,000.

Those funds go directly to keeping reporters focused on local stories and providing them with the tools they need to expand the papers’ reach and relevance as the way readers access news changes.

Our mission is to provide context and information so readers can connect with their community. Some stories are fun, others important, a few even potentially lifealtering – all have a role Our Town I’ve said it before, and it’s still true: asking is hard. There are a variety of needs and good

causes in our world today. Our Town reports on many of them. And that’s one reason why we must ask. Having a resource like Our Town slip away is not an option that’s good for the community.

If you believe having a free and easlily accessible source of community information and civic affairs is important – that the work that Our Town does matters – that reliable local news is important, please consider putting Our Town on your year-end giving list. Or, consider signing up for a 2026 monthly gift to help us budget and plan.

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– Paula Mabry

Something fun Little library Bringing books, whimsy to neighborhoods

By Melissa Wagoner

There’s a new Little Free Library in the Mill Town area of Silverton. Named the Curious Crow – Book and Curio Exchange by its creator, Melissa MacCoumber. It’s aimed at providing high quality children’s books alongside a little bit of whimsy.

“I hope that the combination builds some excitement and joy for reading,” MacCoumber, a nurse, licensed early childhood teacher and enthusiastic advocate for early literacy, said.

“[Reading] is such an important skill for life. You have to be able to read to access so many things… and I’ve seen that in my life.”

That’s because growing up, MacCoumber’s father was functionally illiterate and so, when it came time for her to learn to read, although she struggled, her mother and her grandmother made sure she didn’t give up.

“[They] were adamant we learn…” MacCoumber said, recalling the love for literature they infused into her at an early age.

It’s an affection she now tries to pass on through her work with the nonprofit Reach Out and Read, an organization partnering with pediatricians to provide early literacy guidance to caregivers.

“We provide books for doctors to give out at birth to age five medical exams,” MacCoumber explained. “We have a site here at Rainbow Pediatrics that kicked off one-and-a-half years ago.”

Through that work MacCoumber learned of another way to spread the joy of reading

The Curious Crow –Book and Curio Exchange

Located in Silverton on North Second Street between Lincoln & Jefferson Streets

Books and curios for young readers in both Spanish and English

Information about early literacy resources

One of over 20 Little Free Libraries funded through a literacy mini grant received by the Marion and Polk Early Learning Hub.

to kids – through the construction of Little Free Libraries. Construction is funded by a literacy mini grant received by the Marion and Polk Early Learning Hub – a similar early literacy nonprofit working alongside Reach Out and Read.

“I go to all of [the Early Learning Hub’s]

monthly meetings and we information share…” MacCoumber said. “They shared they had this grant.”

It was an offer MacCoumber – who has long dreamed of building and maintaining her own Little Library – could not turn down.

“I have all these books that make their way to me,” she said. “And there’s a bus stop near my house.”

But building the structure proved daunting.

“I joked I was ‘Bob the Builder’,” MacCoumber said. “I had pieces all over the house.”

In the end, however, it all came together –the library, the books and even information about early learning resources available in the Silverton area, all in both Spanish and English.

“In the part of town we live in there are a lot of families that speak Spanish,” MacCoumber said. “I see a lot of those families walking back and forth. I hope now they have something to look forward to.”

Borrowing books from a Little Free Library

MELISSA WAGONER

Dog bath Statues get maintenance

By James Day

Both Bobbie the dog statutes have disappeared. But have no fear, folks at the Silverton Mural Society plan to have them back on the job soon.

Bobbie, also known as Bobbie the Wonder Dog, features prominently in one of Silverton’s most famous stories.

Separated from his owners traveling in Wolcott, Indiana in August of 1923, Bobbie headed west, crossing the Continental Divide in winter and finally arrived back in Silverton in February of 1924, becoming forever after a symbol of the town.

Silverton has two Bobbies. One usually is parked in front of his doghouse on South Water Street near Silver Creek. The second Bobbie anchors the entrance to the Palace.

Jon Guy, board president of the Silverton Mural Society, which manages the Bobbies, told Our Town that the Bobbies were getting a bit of a sprucing up. Palace

Bobbie “was in pretty bad shape,” Guy said, noting that the issues stemmed both from general wear and vandalism. “He’s got big cracks around his neck and his paws were gone.”

Also back in the shop is doghouse Bobbie, although Guy said that statue was not nearly as damaged as the Palace version.

Both statues should be back on the job of representing the Bobbie story to Silverton residents and visitors soon, hopefully by the end of November, Guy said.

Thomas Baham, owner of the Palace, said he has received lots of comments on the missing Bobbie.

“A lot of people are not happy, but I was told they took it to fix it and repaint it.” he told Our Town. “It’s been gone for over a month. It’s funny how much he is missed.”

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Our Town mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97362, 97375, 97381 zip codes. Subscriptions for outside this area are $60 annually.

Bobbie the Dog. TAVIS BETTOLI-LOTTEN

ICE City aims to clarify position on enforcement

By James Day

The City of Silverton has waded into the murky waters of the federal immigration enforcement.

First, city officials posted on Nov. 12 a press release that identified city policy on the situation. The release noted that recent federal immigration activity in the region has raised “understandable concern” among members of the community.

“We want to take this opportunity to reaffirm the City of Silverton’s position and provide clarity on how the Silverton Police Department approaches this issue,” the release said.

It noted that Oregon law prohibits state and local law enforcement or public agencies from participating, directly or indirectly, in immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant while also making it clear that immigration enforcement “falls under federal jurisdiction.”

Silverton Police Chief Todd Engstrom, as well as city staff, Mayor Jason Freilinger and the City Council, discussed the matter during the staff communications portion of the Nov. 19 City Council session.

Engstrom emphasized that the SPD “will look and verify but not intervene if a call (on immigration) comes in. We’ll go look. It’s happening. It’s happening in Woodburn a lot and it’s only 12 miles away.”

Freilinger, concerned about the potential for individuals to impersonate Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, asked Engstrom if he or his officers will be asking the ICE officials for identification.

“That’s a good question,” Engstrom said, while also noting that “in a chaotic situation (ICE) could tell me, politely or not politely, to get out of their way.”

Engstrom added that “the big problem areas are Washington County and Woodburn. It’s a shifting landscape. They get in and get out quickly. It’s a hard topic and we might as well talk about it.”

Woodburn, meanwhile, has declared a local state of emergency because of the immigration enforcement issue. The Woodburn City Council acted on the declaration at a special meeting on Nov. 21.

According to a Woodburn release, “the City has heard from community members and partners about the widespread fear amongst residents, leading to a measured decline in workforce participation, attendance in schools, and those willing to report crime. The current crisis also further strains local food banks and other non-profit service providers.”

The release noted that the Woodburn community is 63% Latino and cited the same state law on federal assistance as that discussed in the Silverton memo.

The Woodburn action includes an allocation of up to $30,000 “to help mitigate the impact federal immigration enforcement is having on families and businesses, as well as access to food, housing, and mental health services.”

In other city of Silverton updates:

Community grants: At the Nov. 19 session the council unanimously approved a plan to spend $30,000 on a community grants program. The goal is to replace the funding that used to stem from the Mayor’s Ball fundraiser and tourism promotion grants. Information on how to apply will become available early next year.

Water project award: The city has received an American Public Works Association award for its work on the pump intake project at Silver Creek. This is the second such award for the $5 million project. Brad Jensen, the city’s water quality supervisor, noted that the city is working to reduce the noise of the new pumps. A plan to place a building around the pumps should be ready for review in January.

Water storage: The city has received a $300,000 grant from Business Oregon to help it pay for the planning and design of an aquifer storage and recovery system to give the city greater water capacity. It has been drilling test wells in recent months near the Silverton 50+ Center.

Economic development: The council heard a presentation from SEDCOR, the economic development nonprofit that serves Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. It is considering spending $25,000 to $30,000 per year on an economic development partnership via a contract with SEDCOR.

Leaves: Silverton residents looking to drop off leaves can do so 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until bins are full) Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Public Works compound, 830 McClaine St. Leaves must be dumped into bins, bags must be disposed of.

Oregon

schools: what went wrong?

An Oregon Jourrnalism Project

Oregon’s K-12 spending ranks 15th in the nation, however the state is 50th in reading and 49th in math when adjusted for demographics, and ranks among the lowest in regular attendance.

The Oregon Journalism Project (OJP) has started a new series asking why so many tax dollars are doing so little for Oregon students, and why lawmakers seemingly shrug at the problem.

Two initial articles in the series feature interviews with educators and policy advocates on the topics of reading standards and chronic absenteeism.

OJP’s full articles are available at ourtownlive.com, and future articles in the series will be published there as well. Readers are also encouraged to take OJP’s survey (bit.ly/ ojpeducation) and describe the successes and failures they have experienced with the Oregon public education system.

In an article published Nov. 13, OJP shared an interview with education policy expert Christine Pitts, president and CEO of Portland-based nonprofit Open School Inc.

Pitts said current reading standards are outdated and it is no longer enough to hand a child a book and expect them to absorb the written word as they would spoken language. She said children need to be shown the basics like sound patterns and how to decode words, and that the state should be equipping teachers to understand and implement these standards.

An article published Nov. 19 highlighted Oregon’s continuing struggle with chronic absenteeism since the COVID-19 pandemic. One in three Oregon students missed significant class time last year.

Sarah Pope, executive director of Stand for Children Oregon, told OJP Oregon discontinued truancy officers in 2021 without a backup plan and needs to find an effective alternative. The state also announced Nov. 18 it was cutting funds for Every Day Matters, a program that provides attendance support resources to school districts.

Drift Creek dam

By Stephen Floyd

The Oregon Water Resources Commission (OWRC) is set to discuss next steps on whether or not to approve an irrigation dam on Drift Creek, outside Silverton, during its regular meeting in December. This follows an Aug. 7 Oregon Supreme Court decision undoing the commission’s prior rejection of the dam and directing OWRC to use additional criteria when evaluating the proposal.

An executive session is scheduled for Dec. 11 for OWRC to discuss legal options and next steps. The commission can either issue a new decision or remand the matter back to the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) for additional review.

At issue is an application by East Valley Water District (EVWD), headquartered in Mount Angel, to build a 70-foot-tall dam on Drift Creek that would create a reservoir covering 384 acres.

The district was formed in 2002 to address water shortages on 36,000 acres of agricultural land owned by district members. EVWD is made of more than 50 farming families located between Silverton and Woodburn, and between the Pudding River and the Cascade Mountain foothills.

Neighbors challenge reservoir

In 2013 the district filed a water storage application with OWRD for the dam and reservoir, and in 2014 received tentative approval. The application was then opposed by farmers whose land would be inundated by the reservoir, as well as the nonprofit WaterWatch of Oregon.

The affected farmers, led by resident Joel Rue, and WaterWatch argued the reservoir would negatively impact the spawning of cutthroat trout and other fish species.

The neighboring farmers also took issue with

the district’s plan to use eminent domain to take possession of the portions of their land inundated by the reservoir. While this process would involve fair monetary compensation, the farmers said they could not be compensated for the impact of losing land that had been in their families for generations.

Our Town reached out to Rue for comment. He said the position of himself and his neighbors has not changed and “our concerns are the same as they were 20 years ago.”

Rue said the matter is now between the district and OWRC and “ultimately the decision will be settled without our input.”

In June of 2018 a hearing was held before an administrative law judge to consider arguments against the dam. In February of 2019 the judge recommended the application be approved with minor modifications, and later that year the director of OWRD issued a final order approving the dam.

Opponents appealed to OWRC and in November of 2019 the commission reversed the final order and denied the application. EVWD appealed this decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals, who affirmed ORWC’s denial in November of 2023. The matter was then sent to the supreme court.

Before the Supreme Court

The high court’s decision hinged on a state law that outlines seven “public interest factors” to be used when weighing the merits of a water storage application. These include whether or not enough water is available, economic impact, control measures such as sanitation and drainage, and broad public benefit.

When rejecting the application in 2019, OWRC cited only one of the seven factors, specifically that the dam would infringe on an existing water right.

The supreme court did not dispute this finding, but

said OWRC failed to adequately consider the other six factors in its decision.

“The commission’s final order reflects an erroneous interpretation of law and, accordingly, the Court of Appeals erred in affirming that order,” read the majority opinion written by Justice Roger DeHoog.

In the dissenting opinion, Justice Stephen Bushong said OWRC’s consideration of the other six factors was “implicit” even if they were not specifically mentioned in the order. He said, when the commission’s final order is read in its entirety, it is clear the commission followed the law.

The path forward

Our Town reached out to EVWD attorney Kirk Maag, with Stole Rives, to learn what the district expects after the supreme court’s ruling. Maag said he sees a path toward the application being approved because, during its 2019 review, OWRC took no issue with the other six public interest factors.

“EVWD’s proposed use of water is clearly in the public interest,” said Maag. “...We’re glad the Supreme Court required the Commission to carefully consider the public interest beyond the narrow and truncated review reflected in the Commission’s prior order.”

He said OWRD and the administrative law judge both found the application fulfilled all seven factors and that OWRC accepted these as findings of fact, less the factor related to water rights.

Maag said the proposed dam and reservoir are the result of “a multi-generational effort by area farmers” and that new water storage is vital to address scarcity in the lowlands.

If the water storage application is approved, EVWD would have 10 years to construct the dam.

Expanding options

By Melissa Wagoner

Stephanie Tullar’s journey into medicine was a winding one. Starting off as a paramedic, then working as an emergency room nurse, Tullar finally found her calling when she became a nurse practitioner working in integrative medicine within the direct primary care model (DPC).

“I wanted to do the family care I wish I had gotten as a mom bringing my kids to the pediatrician…” Tullar said of the decision. She see is as an opportunity to practice family care in an unhurried, relaxed environment and in a way that treats the whole person.

It was a goal that initially brought her to True Health DPC in Silverton where she became acquainted with the DPC model of healthcare for the first time.

“[T]hat was the first DPC I’d worked at,” Tullar said. “Before, I’d worked at insurance-based practices.”

She quickly became a convert, seeing the

A new healthcare model in Mount Angel

DPC model – which charges patients a monthly membership fee in exchange for unlimited primary care services and a more patient-friendly schedule – as the answer to many people’s frustration with the current insurance-based system.

“It’s bringing it back to the family doctor in your community, doing house calls when needed,” Tullar described. “And I fit really well in that role.”

As a mother of four, she craved a bit more flexibility in her schedule, and a shorter commute to her Mount Angel home. So in May she opened her own practice, Mt. Angel Family Health, located inside the Mt. Angel Wellness Center downtown.

“I didn’t plan on being a business owner, but something kept nudging me along…” Tullar said. “And working in this space was a natural draw.”

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As an integrative medicine practitioner, Tullar seeks the root causes of illnesses, often finding solutions that require the additional care of other integrative health practitioners.

“Now, I can say, ‘You need a chiropractor,’ and I don’t send them out in the wild, I can take them down the hall and introduce them to a chiropractor I know,” Tullar said. “It’s really awesome having this space and all of our knowledge.”

For those who have only utilized healthcare through their insurance, the membership model can take some getting used to. Which is why Tullar offers a complimentary “meet-and-greet” appointment to prospective patients.

“The meet-and-greets are the best,” she said, listing questions about paying for prescription medications and lab work as two of the most common concerns.

“For a lot of medications, [patients] are paying dollars here,” Tullar said, describing the DPC model’s ability to cut out the intermediary and pass that savings on to

Mt. Angel Family Health

Direct primary care for the family Mt. Angel Wellness Center 690 N. Main St.

Complimentary “meet and greet”: 503-662-9339

www.mtangelfamilyhealth.com

patients. “But if my patients have outside insurance I will send [prescriptions] to an outside pharmacy. I also do labs here and a $1,000 panel you would get at Quest, here is $100. Also, I know the price ahead of time so we can talk about that. Imaging and x-rays are also a reasonable price. Or, if you have insurance you can try to use it.”

“Ten to 20 years ago it was called concierge medicine and was really only for the elite,” Tullar said. “But the more of us that do this, the more people can get to us that really need us…I think it’ll just keep exploding.”

Stephanie Tullar SUBMITTED PHOTO

for the Soul

Nativity scenes

By Melissa Wagoner

When Bonnie-Jean Brown was a pre-teen, she became fascinated with nativity scenes.

“One of the aspects that draws me to nativities is their depiction of a universal story that is shared across multiple faiths…” Brown explained.

“Nativities are crafted in a wide range of artistic mediums, styles, and cultural interpretations… The nativity is a treasured tradition, summoning memories of family history and customs. Certain nativities are cherished heirlooms that have been passed down through the generations. Holding a figure in one’s hands can instantly evoke memories.”

Brown received nativities as gifts and donations, she found them in thrift stores and brought them home from her travels. During the holiday season she began sharing some of her favorites, setting up displays in churches, all the while feeling dismayed that so many would remain unseen.

“It was disheartening to see these nativities relegated to storage…” Brown said. “I

Sharing a beloved collection

struggled to find a solution.”

After attending an exhibit in Portland, she had the idea to display her full collection –which now numbered more than 300 – at Silverton United Methodist Church, where she has been a member since 2017.

“This endeavor is a true labor of love, with numerous hours devoted to getting things

ready for those looking to hear the story,” Brown said. The exhibition will open for on Dec. 5, 5 to 8:30 p.m., then every Sunday in December from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“I am deeply committed to sharing my nativity collection with the community,” Brown said. “As someone who has strong ties to Silverton, where I was raised, this nativity display is a sincere expression of

Nativity Collection

Silverton United Methodist Church

203 W. Main St., Chapel Room

Dec. 5, 5 to 8:30 pm

December Sundays 11 am to 1 pm

gratitude to my community for its enduring impact on my life. This nativity display is a gift to everyone, a thank you to my community for fostering who I am.”

Some of the nativity scenes on display at Silverton United Methodist Church. MELISSA WAGONER

By Melissa Wagoner

New spin on a classic tale

Doug Ousterhout’s favorite Christmas story has been Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol since he played the part of Jacob Marley in his high school’s production. Now he’s bringing Marley’s character, along with more than 30 others, back to the stage for a one-man interpretation of the beloved tale.

“I have had this idea of the one-man

A Christmas Carol

A one-man show at two venues:

Ollie’s Wine and Whiskey Bar

207 E. Main St., Silverton

Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.

Tickets include three themed cocktails (or mocktails): a Scrooge Sour, The

show for a long time,” Ousterhout said.

But as the theater director for Silverton High School for 34 years, he had to wait until his retirement in 2024 to begin working on the project in earnest.

“It has been a joy to write and rehearse a show,” he said. “I have especially enjoyed giving each character their own personality. My favorite is still Jacob Marley.”

Ghost of Christmas Past and a Tiny Tim Toddy. Must be over 21 to attend. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com/.

Mt. Angel Theater Studio

220 E. Charles St.

Saturday, Dec.13, at 7 p.m.

Do you or someone you know need help affording gifts for the holidays? Join us the annual

Suggested $5 donation to cover costs. All ages welcome.

for by the Andrew Ulven Trust

COURTESY OF DOUG OUSTERHOUT

Frequent Addresses

Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 NE Industrial Way, Silverton. Silver Falls Library, 410 S Water St. Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Silverton Council Chambers, 410 N Water St. Silverton 50+ Center, 115 Westfield St. Weekly Events

Monday

Silverton 50+ Center, 115 Westfield St. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org

SACA Food Pantry, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., SACA, 1030 N First St., Silverton. Repeats 3 - 6 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. - noon Thursday. 503-873-3446, silvertonareacommunityaid.org

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

Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Congregate dining. Delivery available Monday-Friday. $3 suggested donation. Age 60 and older. Make reservations three days in advance. Congregate dining repeats Tuesday and Thursday. Connie, 503-873-6906

Silverton Recovery AA, noon - 1 p.m., SACA, 1030 N First St., Suite B, Silverton. Seven days a week.

Free Monday Dinner, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Sit down or take to go. All welcome. Free. 503-873-5446, oakstchurch@gmail.com

Boy Scouts Troop 7485, 7 - 8:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Scoutmaster Dave Tacker, 760-644-3147, dave.tacker@gmail.com Tuesday

Qigong, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. All welcome. Free for members. $5 non-members. 503-873-3093 Bible Study, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton First Christian Church, 402 N First St. All welcome. 503-873-6620

Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Community Center, 195 E Charles St. Congregate dining and delivery available Tuesdays & Thursdays. Age 60 and older. $3 suggested donation. Ginger, 503-845-9464

Silverton Mainstay, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St. Community space and activities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Repeats Thursday. silvertonmainstay.org Chair Yoga, 2 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. All welcome. $12 drop-in. 503-873-3093

Mission Benedict Food Pantry, 1 - 4 p.m., 870 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Fresh produce, protein options, dry goods. Repeats 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday, 1 - 3 p.m. Thursday & Friday. 503-385-3231

Yoga + Sip with Suzanne, 6 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. $10/members. $12/nonmembers. Post-class optional wine social $5/glass. All welcome. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org

Cub Scout Pack 485, 6:30 p.m., Silverton First Christian, 402 N First St. Boys and girls in grades K-5. Elisha Kirsch, 503-507-6087 Growing Awareness, Nurturing Compassion, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Zoom. Secular presentation promoting mindfulness. No experience needed. Invite: compassionatepresence@yahoo.com. 971-218-6641

Wednesday

Silverton Business Group, 8 a.m., Silver Falls Brewery, 207 Jersey St., Silverton. Networking meeting of 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

Boogie Woogie Wednesdays, 10 - 10:40 a.m., Silver Falls Library. Come dance. Ages 0-4. Free. 503-873-8706

Family Storytime & Indoor Playtime, 10:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Ages 2 - 5 w/ adult. Free. 971-370-5040

Open Studio Painting, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Open to all. Free. 503-873-3093 Silver Chips Woodcarving Sessions, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. All skill levels. 503-873-7645

Line Dancing with Jan, 2 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Intermediate/advanced. Members free; $5 non-members. 503-873-3093

Mission of Hope Food Pantry, 2 - 4 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Fresh product, protein options, dry goods. 503-873-7353

Line Dancing with Jan, 3 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Beginners. Members free; $5 non-members. 503-873-3093

Crochet Club, 3 - 4 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Learn to crochet. All supplies provided. Free. Repeats 4 - 5:30 p.m. Friday. 503-873-8706

Thursday

Yoga for All Levels, 8:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. $10/member. $12/non-member. All welcome. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org Yoga, 9 a.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Open to all. Sheila, 503-409-4498

Thursday Painters, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Arts Association. Join other artists for open studio time. All kinds of art forms welcome. Free. 503-873-2480

Baby Birds Storytime, 11 a.m., Silver Falls Library. Stories, music, bubbles and more. Ages 0-4. Free. Repeats Friday. 503-873-8706

Mahjong, 1 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Play Mahjong. Free. All welcome. 503-873-3093

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

Friday

Mt. Angel Model Railroad, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Depot, 90 W College St., Mt. Angel. Lionel (O-gauge), HO-gauge, N-gauge model layouts on display. All ages welcome. Free.

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

Pinochle, noon - 4 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Free pinochle games. All welcome. 503-873-3093

Silverton Ukulele Network, 1 - 2:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Song circle. Free. All welcome. 503-873-3093

Saturday

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Scotts Mills Food Boxes

9 - 11 a.m., Scotts Mills Community Center, 298 Fourth St. Families can sign up to receive a Christmas food box. 503-873-5435

Silverton Winter Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. Local produce, eggs, meats, artisan crafts. Free admission. silvertonfarmersmarket.com

Indoor Winter Market, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wavra Farms, 7882 SE Jordan St., Salem. Baked goods, produce, beef, jams, jewelry, crafts, pottery, plants and more. Free admission. wavrafarms.com

Saturday Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 10 a.m., Zoom. For families and friends of alcoholics. Zoom link: Janet.h.salem23@gmail.com

The Art of Mindfulness, 2 p.m. Silverton Arts Association. Connecting mind, heart, and body. Listen, meditate, contemplate, share thoughts. 971-218-6641

Monday, Dec. 1

Christmas Storybook Land

10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Linn County Fairgrounds, 3700 E Knox Butte Road, Albany. Indoor and outdoor drive-through experience. Relive your favorite childhood nursery rhymes, fairy tales and family movies in a magical forest. Repeats 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and 4 - 8 p.m. Monday - Friday through Dec. 23. Free; donations of non-perishable food items accepted. christmasstorybookland.org

Magic of Lights

5:30 - 9 p.m., Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 NE 17th St., Salem. A unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience brings to life your favorite holiday scenes and characters. Repeats 5:30 - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 5:30 - 10 p.m. Friday - Sunday through Jan. 3, 2026. Buy tickets online for $25.88 (fees included) per standard vehicle. magicoflights.com

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

Silverton Public Works Advisory 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Public Works Advisory Board provides guidance and recommendation to city officials on infrastructure projects, maintenance and policy decision related to public works. Open to public. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us

Mt. Angel American Legion

6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, 740 E College St., Mt. Angel. All veterans welcome. Jim, 503-845-6119

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Silverton Christmas Market

5 - 9 p.m., Oregon Garden Resort, 895 W Main St., Silverton. Explore the authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Santa, live music, woodburning fire pit. Take a ride down the snow-less tubing hill. Biergarten presented by Western Beverage. No tickets at door. Admission and snow-less tubing tickets must be purchased online in advance. Sales end at 3 p.m. daily. Cashless vendors; bring a debit or credit card for purchases. Tickets: silvertonchristmasmarket.com. Thru Dec. 31. Closed Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 24-25. Holiday Party

6 - 8 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Live entertainment, holiday trivia and potluck dinner. All are welcome. 503-769-3093

Silverton City Council

6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us

Scotts Mills City Council

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

Thursday, Dec. 4

Silverton Kiwanis Club

Noon, Main St. Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. New members welcome. Repeats Dec. 18. silvertonkiwanis.org

Craft Day

1 & 6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create an angel from recycled books. Teens and adults. Free. 971-370-5040

Silverton Lions Club

7 p.m., Silverton Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St. New members welcome. Repeats Dec. 18. Dagmar, 971-720-3811, silvertonlionsclub.com

Friday, Dec. 5

Town & Country Christmas Bazaar

10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Linn County Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road, Albany. 200 artists. Free light display Nov. 29 - Dec. 21: 10 a.m.8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 5 - 8 p.m. MondayFriday. Admission $1. Kids 13 and under free. Repeats 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Dec. 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Dec. 7. lcfairexpo.com/ChristmasBazaar

Christkindlmarkt & Hazelnut Festival

4 - 8 p.m., Mt. Angel Festhalle, 500 Wilco Hwy. Local hazelnut products, brews, wines, artisan craft vendors. Repeats 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Dec. 6 and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Dec. 7. Free admission. Proceeds benefit Maureen Ernst Memorial Scholarship Fund, Mt. Angel Fourth of July parade and fireworks show, and fountain. hazelnutfest.com

Willamette Pie Co. Ladies Night

4 - 8 p.m., Willamette Valley Pie Co., 2994 NE 82nd Ave., Salem. Pie samples, baked potato truck, local vendors, Christmas decor. Free admission. 503-362-8857, wvpie.com

Family Movie Night

4:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Watch Frosty’s Winter Wonderland with free popcorn. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040

Lunaria Opening Reception

6 - 8 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Lunaria artists’ “Merry and Bright Holiday.” Items include ceramics, jewelry, baskets, garments, fused glass, weaving, paintings, prints and holiday cards. Refreshments served. Open to all. 503-8737734, lunariagallery.com

Silverton Children’s Choir Performs

6 p.m., Coolidge McClaine Park, Silverton. Silverton Children’s Choir sings at the Lantern Parade. Free. Sarah Weitzman, 503-201-4337

Silverton Tree Lighting

6 - 7:30 p.m., Town Square Park, Silverton. Celebrate the season with music, hot cocoa, and a special appearance by Santa to light the community tree at 7 p.m. Rain or shine. Swag Making, Nativity Display

6 - 8 p.m. Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 West Main St. Across from tree lighting. Nativity displays, swag and ornament making, plus sale of handmade boxes with King Hazelnuts inside. After the tree lighting Santa will be inside for visits. More than 300 nativities from around the world, will be on display 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday in December. 503-873-6517

Living Nativity

6:15 - 7:30 p.m., Columbia Bank, 315 E Main St., Silverton. Experience a Living Nativity during Silverton’s Christmas tree lighting festivities. Offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Brush Creek Playhouse Presents

7 p.m., Brush Creek Playhouse, 11535 NE Silverton Road, Silverton. Best Always, Marilyn Monroe directed by Russell Olivera Jr. Repeats 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 12-13, 2 p.m. Dec. 7 & 14. Tickets at brushcreekplayhouse.org.

Saturday, Dec. 6

Toastmasters International

7 - 8 a.m. Toastmasters International Mid-Day Club meets virtually to deliver and evaluate prepared and impromptu speeches in an effort to improve as speakers and leaders. Meetings stream at https://tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday and https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9239283290. Agenda for role sign up is at https://4139. toastmastersclubs.org. Repeats 7 - 8 a.m. Dec. 20; 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Dec. 9 & 23. 855-402-8255, jsamuel12@comcast.net

Silverton Leaf Disposal Day

9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Silverton City Shops, 830 McClaine St. Bring leaves only for free disposal. No limbs, brush or other debris. 503-874-2206

Santa Mouse Bazaar

9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Locally-crafted gifts and baked goods. Free admission.

Pancakes with the Grinch

9 a.m. - noon, Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 NE 17th St., Salem. Join Bridges Oregon for a jolly morning of fluffy pancakes, festive fun and a visit from everyone’s favorite grump – the Grinch. Silent auction, 50/50 drawing. Spanish and ASL interpreters. Free parking. Free admission; donations support Bridges Oregon programs. 971-202-1500

Wreath Making Workshop

Noon - 3 p.m., The Community Roots School, 229 Eureka Ave., Silverton. All welcome. $20 suggested donation. Hosted by The Community Roots School Parent Teacher Organization. 503-874-4107

Artisans of the Monastery

1 - 3:30 p.m., Queen of Angels Monastery, 840 Main St., Mt. Angel. Art exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Oblates program. Features works by Benedictine Sisters and Oblates. Free admission. ccswv.org/merriment

Merriment at the Monastery

2 p.m., - 4 p.m., Queen of Angels Monastery, 840 Main St., Mt. Angel. Enjoy photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa and cookies, gingerbread village display, special art exhibit featuring art from the Benedictine Sisters and Oblates of Mount Angel. All ages. Free; donations of nonperishable food items encouraged to support Mission Benedict Food Pantry. Hosted by Catholic Community Services Oregon. ccswv.org/merriment

Sounds of the Season

4 p.m., Queen of Angels Monastery, 840 Main St., Mt. Angel. Harp and pipe organ concert features harpist Maureen Briare and pipe organist Dr. Paul Lemme. Tickets: ccswv.org/ merriment. $20 suggested donation.

Mt. Angel Tree Lighting

4 - 8 p.m., downtown Mt. Angel. Cookie decorating, elf workshop, letters to the North Pole, holiday letters to the Towers, fires and hot cocoa. Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Pictures with Santa at 5:30 p.m. All ages. Free. discovermtangel.org

Sunday, Dec. 7

Holiday Cookie Exchange

1 - 4 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 NE Division St. Bring 1-2 dozen of your favorite holiday treats and bring home the same size assortment. Stay to shop for gifts from local vendors and connect with Silverton Food Co-op while sipping warm beverages and enjoying holiday music. Hosted by Silverton Grange and Silverton Food Co-op.

Scotts Mill Tree Lighting

6 p.m., Scotts Mills City Park, 330 First St. Annual tree lighting. Dinner available for donation to the park. 503-873-5435

Monday, Dec. 8

Mt. Angel School District

6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Public School, 590 E College St., Mt. Angel. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-845-2345, masd91.org

Silver Falls School District

7 p.m., Silverton High. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5303, silverfallsschools.org

Tuesday, Dec. 9

Craft Day

1 & 6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create a winter scene with embroidery. Teens and adults. Free. 971-370-5040

Ukulele Play and Sing-Alongs

6 - 7:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. First 30 minutes is beginner’s ukulele lesson followed by play and sing-along time for all skill levels. Music is provided but bring your ukulele. 503-873-8796

Silverton Planning Commission

7 p.m., Council Chambers. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-874-2207

Wednesday, Dec. 10

Friends of the Library

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Friends is a non-profit organization that supports the library and its programs. All adults welcome. 971-370-5040

Teen Cooking Lab

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn how to make Christmas-themed cake pops. Ages 12-18. Free; limit 1 per person. 971-370-5040

Teen Hangout

5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Ugly sweater night with games. Ages 12-18. Free. 971-370-5040

Thursday, Dec. 11

Winter Book Nook

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Peruse books to buy from Atlas Bookshop and Books-n-Time, participate in free book exchange and talk books with book lovers. Free admission. lindedelman@yahoo.com

Cancer Support Group

11 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. All are welcome. Free. 503-873-3093

Women’s Connection Luncheon

Noon, Marquam United Methodist Church, 36971 Hwy. 213, Mt. Angel. Mini concert by Chet Hanson, Sounds of the Season. Betty Heagy talks about “The Free Gift.” Lunch is $12; reservations necessary by calling Stacey, 503-680-3786

Santa’s Coming to Town

Noon - 3 p.m., 302 N Water St., Silverton. Join Santa for crafts, treats and holiday wishes. Free. Repeats noon - 3 p.m. Dec. 12 & 20, 3 - 6 p.m. Dec. 13-14. silvertonchamber.org

Red Cross Blood Drive

12:30 - 6 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. For appointments visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Mt. Angel Writing Group

6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Stretch your writing wings in a supportive environment with time for exploration, illumination and idea exchange. Teens & adults. Free. 971-370-5040

Friday, Dec. 12

LEGO Lab

3 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Build a creation to display in the library. All ages. Free. Repeats Dec. 19. 971-370-5040

Salem Holiday Market

5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 NE 17th St., Salem. Handmade items, door prizes, kids activities, live music. Free entry. $10/parking. Repeats 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Dec. 13, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Dec. 14. salemcommunitymarkets.com

Salem Folklore Holiday Concert

6:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5090 NE Center St., Salem. Festive folk music and poetry, snacks, tea and hot cider. $20 in advance at Eventbrite. com or $25 at the door. Youth under 12 are free. Benefits 1st Thursday Contra Dances. salemfolklore@gmail.com

Saturday, Dec. 13

Holiday Festival at Silver Falls

10 a.m. – 4 p.m., South Falls Lodge, Silver Falls State Park, 2004 Silver Falls Hwy., Sublimity. Celebration of winter season. Free activities include wreath making, building bird nest boxes, guided walks, paper bird crafts, discovery tables. $10 per vehicle day use fee. Repeats Dec. 14. Friendsofsilverfalls.net

Silverton Holiday Concert

3 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. Silverton Children’s Choir and Silver Creek Singers perform a holiday concert. Free admission. All ages. Sarah Weitzman, 503-201-4337

Sunday, Dec. 14

Community Carol Service

6:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Bible Church, 210 Monroe St. Special guests are Dawna Stutzman and Georgene Rice. All welcome. Free. mtangelbible.org

Tuesday, Dec. 16

Jane Austen’s 250 Birthday

6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Celebrate Austen’s birthday with a viewing of Sense & Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. Period clothing welcome but not required. Decorate a regency fan. Door prizes, birthday cake, drinks provided. Bring your favorite movie munchies to share. Adults only. Free. 971-370-5040

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Parkinson’s Disease Support

Noon, Silverton 50+ Center. All are welcome. Free. 503-873-3093

Silverton City Council

6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us

Silver Falls Writers Group

6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Share your work and listen to what others are writing. Free. Ron Drake, 503-873-8796 Silverton Zenith Women’s Club

7 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. All women are invited to learn more about the club and how it supports the community. Christmas Tree of Giving are located at Wilco, Roth’s, Silver Creek Fellowship and Immanuel Lutheran Church. Meet and greet starts at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 18

TAB/Book Club

4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Afterward, meet for Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting. Snacks. Free. Ages 12-18. 971-370-5040

Mt. Angel book club for adults

Friday, Dec. 19

Red Cross Blood Drive

Noon - 5 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. For appointments visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Saturday, Dec. 20

6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss a Terry Pratchett short story (provided) and share current books of choice. Adults only. Free. 971370-5040

Mt. Angel Planning Commission

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

Santa at the Library

2 - 4 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Photo with Santa, decorate cookies, make an ornament and other crafts, and play reindeer games. Hot cocoa, All ages. Free. 971-370-5040

Christmas Concert

1 p.m. Saint Paul Catholic Church, 1410 Pine St., Silverton Ad Lucem invites everyone to join in for “A Voice Cries Out”, its 14th annual Christmas Concert and Carol Sing. Free; donations gratefully accepted.

Monday, Dec. 22

Mt. Angel Park Tree Board

7 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Open to the public. 503-845-9291, ci.mtangel.or.us

Tuesday, Dec. 23

PFLAG Silverton

7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Everyone welcome. Under 18 must have parent/guardian. Christy, 541786-1613, silvertonpflag@gmail.com

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve

Thursday, Dec. 25

Christmas Day

Friday, Dec. 26

Christmas Movie Marathon

11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. All day movie marathon. Popcorn provided. Free. All ages. 971-370-5040

Monday, Dec. 29

Vigil for Peace

2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, and social justice issues on all levels of society. Open to all. 503-873-5307

Wednesday, Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve

Noon Year’s Eve

11 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Ring in the new year 12 hours early. Snacks and celebration. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040

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 Lupita Beccea. Lupita is being recognized for exemplifying the value; to thrive.

Lupita began her journey in high school, carrying many obstacles on her shoulders, including learning English. Over the years, she has worked incredibly hard, staying late to study, as well as uplifting others who face similar challenges. Her level of compassion is inspiring and refreshing to see.

By Melissa Wagoner

Cares

This year the annual Santa Cares “free” shopping event will be held at Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA), 1030 N. First St.

“[W]e are happy to share our space for this free community event,” SACA Executive Director Sarah DeSantis said. “Our new facility is meant to be a hub for social services and events that support and benefit our community. So, this seemed

like a perfect partnership.”

Donations of new and gently used gifting items – like toys, games, children’s books, sporting equipment, coats, gloves, purses and a limited amount of clothing – will be accepted on Dec. 12, 12 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “Shopping” hours will be open to the community on Dec. 13, 12 to 4 p.m.

For more information or to volunteer email  santacaressilverton@gmail.com.

Youngsters help build playhouse

By Melissa Wagoner

Sam Madge has been building things his entire life. So, when he became a father, he wanted to share that passion, not just with his son but also with his son’s classmates at the newly opened Tender Roots Preschool in Silverton.

“I saw a need and opportunity to serve my close community in a special kind of way,” Madge said. The project he presented to teachers Teri Therkelsen and Carol Jooste was a small cob playhouse located on the school’s playground. “Cob is an ancient earthen building practice that originates in Europe,” Madge said. Stomping wet clay, sand and straw creates a mixture that can then by stacked into surprisingly sturdy walls. “I especially like it because of its environmental and social impact, and potential for use [in] high performance build enclosures.”

$579,000 Location, location! Built in 2000, 4 bd, 2.5 ba, 1920 sq. ft. on .21 size lot. Quiet cul de sac. Open floor plan, master on main, newer laminate floors. Unfinished bonus room, large utility room, 10x16’ storage shed. Close to the park/ pool and downtown. 704 Cliff Ct., Silverton. MLS#834874

$746,000

West Salem home with panoramic views of the Cascades and Willamette Valley! Private location. Built in 2002, 2024 sq. ft. 3bd, 2.5 ba on .88 lot. Open floor plan. 32x15’ bonus room. Stainless steel appliances. Nicely upgraded. Fenced backyard w/deck. 73047 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem. MLS# 835201

Under Contract 6 LOTS $600,000 TOTAL Rosemary Way lots: 601, 605 & 611 MLS#810425; 615, 619 & 623 MLS#810404. Builder, developer! Monitor Road Estates. Lots will require wetland remediation. Buyer must have a development plan.

$255,000 Creek frontage on 3.99 acres. Bareland. Ideal for recreational use. Swimming hole. Campsite. Seller will carry a contract. Off of Crooked Finger Rd., Scotts Mills. MLS#822303

It’s that kind of building – using healthy and sustainable materials in an unusual way – that makes Madge’s company, Second Nature Construction, unique.

“I think what differentiates us amongst our many talented local colleagues…” Madge said, “[is] our openness to try new things, and our eagerness to work with and for a diverse community of people.”

In this case, a group of discerning threeto five-year-olds.

“I thought cob would be a fun material because it’s a tactile, easy and safe way to introduce our little ones to building shelter and can have a magical whimsical quality…” Madge said.

“My hope is that we’ve planted a seed in these kids’ hearts and minds. It can be an empowering feeling to create something so substantial with your hands, especially when it’s done with your best friends!”

$929,000 10.41 acres in the Silverton

Many hands, big and small, make light work building Silverton’s first cob playhouse. MELISSA WAGONER

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A Christmas Story for Children

Little Cynthia loved Christmas. She loved it! But what she really loved about Christmas was all the wonderful Christmas gifts she expected to get each year. She loved Christmas presents so much she couldn’t stop thinking about them. What might she get this year? It was always such a great surprise. What could it be?

Her mother and father had been very busy, sneaking their purchases into the house through the garage, and then back into the big walk-in closet in their master bedroom. There, Cynthia knew, she would find a growing treasure trove of Christmas presents yet to be wrapped.

“Wouldn’t it be great to peek inside that closet?” she thought to herself, “And what harm would that do?” The temptation grew in her mind until she couldn’t think about anything else.

And so, she decided she would wait until her father was at work, and her mother was out shopping, to slip into the bedroom and open that wonderful closet door. When the moment arrived she made her way there and reached out to grasp the doorknob. She turned it slowly when suddenly a voice spoke out from behind her.

“What are you doing, Cynthia?”

It was her older brother Caleb, standing there with an incriminating look in his eyes. “Nothing!” Cynthia said, taking her hand quickly off the doorknob. “It doesn’t look like nothing.” He said. “You’re trying to peek at the Christmas presents, and I’m going to tell Mom and Dad as soon as they get home.”

“No!” cried Cynthia. “Don’t tell them. I didn’t get to see hardly anything. Please don’t tell.” But Caleb just smirked at her. “I’m gonna tell. I’m gonna tell,” he said in that annoying way that makes anyone angry. Her face turned as red as her hair as she grabbed the closest thing near her off the chest of drawers and threw it at Caleb as hard as she could. Before she knew what she had done the bottle of perfume struck Caleb in the head, breaking skin beside his eye and sending a trickle of blood down his cheek.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry,” she cried. “I’m so sorry!” Caleb held his hand over his bleeding eye and scowled at her with the other. “Look at what you’ve done, you brat!” he snapped. “You are in sooo much trouble now.” And he was right. When Cynthia’s mother came home, she was immediately informed by Caleb. His eye had stopped bleeding and, thank God, the injury was only on the side and not on his eye itself. Cynthia sat crying in the corner of the family room, sobbing about how it was just an accident, and how she didn’t mean to hurt Caleb, and how he made her so mad, and how it wasn’t any of his business what she was doing in the bedroom.

After tending to Caleb’s wound, Mother sat down beside Cynthia. “Sweetheart,” she said softly,

By Gregg Harris

faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ That’s in 1 John 1:9. But I don’t see how God, or you, or especially Caleb, can ever forgive me.” Cynthia said, her voice still trembling. “I feel terrible.”

“Yes, it is hard to believe, especially when we need to believe it most. But you see, when Jesus was born on Christmas Day, it was so that He could save us from the punishment we deserve because of our sins. Later, three days before Easter Sunday, when Jesus died in our place on the cross, it was to pay for our sins. Not just for the ones we committed before we knew Him, but for all the sins we will ever commit in the present, and in the future. Jesus paid for them all. And to prove it worked, God raised Jesus from the dead. That is the greatest gift anyone can ever receive: salvation — the forgiveness of our sins.”

“I think I understand that,” Cynthia said, “but why would it be ‘just’ for God to forgive me when I don’t really deserve it?”

“What you did was wrong. Don’t try to make excuses. You were wrong. You were angry. What you did was terrible. You could have put Caleb’s eye out. He could have been permanently blinded in that eye. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Cynthia said through her tears. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to.”

“You didn’t mean to do as much harm as you did, Cynthia, but you did mean to hurt Caleb in order to stop him from getting you in trouble. Do you know what the Bible calls that kind of thing?”

“It’s called sin.” Cynthia whispered.

“And do you remember what God tells us to do when we sin?” Her mother asked.

“I remember a Bible memory verse that Nana taught me. It says ‘If we confess our sins, God is

“That is a very good question,” Mother said, “and the answer is the very reason we call it ‘Good News.’ You see, it would now be unjust for God the Father to refuse to forgive you when you confess your sin, because Jesus has already paid for it.”

“Does that mean I’m not going to get punished for what I did?” Cynthia asked.

“Because Jesus has already paid for it?”

“No, Sweetheart.” Mother smiled. “Moms and dads still have to discipline their children. God’s forgiveness settles the debt we owe to God, but it doesn’t cancel our obligations toward others. You’ll need to go to Caleb and ask for his forgiveness. When someone commits a crime, they can be forgiven by God if they repent of their sin and trust in what Jesus did for them on the cross, but they may still have to go to jail. Their debt to society will still need to be paid.”

“What will happen when Dad gets home?” Cynthia wondered. “Will I get a spanking?”

“Well, you know the routine.‘Three harmless swats without anger, and then a big long hug.’

That’s the way your father and I deal with your misbehavior. We’ll let him decide what he thinks is best. But I do know that your father loves you, and I love you, and most of all, God loves you.

Caleb may take a little longer to decide what he thinks. You dinged him pretty hard.”

They both laughed at this, but then Caleb chimed in, “I still love you too, Cynthia.” He’d been listening in the hallway. He wiped a tear from his cheek and said, “You’ve got a pretty good pitching arm there, little sister.”

They all laughed and had a group-hug.

“Well,” Cynthia announced, “My best Christmas gifts are not in the closet after all. They’re in my faith in Jesus, and in my family’s love.”

Later that evening Cynthia’s father did come home. After he heard what happened, she got her “three harmless swats without anger” with the rice paddle Dad used to give spankings. Then she got her “big long hug” from the man she knew loved her with all his heart. At the dinner table everyone went on as though nothing had happened, because Cynthia’s repentance, and God’s forgiveness, were both very real.

So ends my Christmas story for children. I hope it has helped you understand a little bit better how God’s forgiveness actually works when we repent and put our trust in Jesus Christ.

To learn more, or to offer feedback, please call or text me at 971-370-0967. I’d love to meet you.

Gregg Harris, Teaching Pastor at GraciousCross.org

Suicide prevention Channeling grief into saving lives

By Melissa Wagoner

Tamela Unrein never imagined she would lose a child to suicide.

“We’re a very average family…” Tamela –a mother of three – pointed out, “parents who are married, a big family and friends.”

And because she raised her children in Mt. Angel – where her husband Darin grew up – her kids spent their childhoods surrounded by a supportive community where everyone knew their names –including Tamela’s oldest son, Matthew.

“He worked at the gas station…” Tamela said. “And he danced at Oktoberfest… He lit up the room… he was everyone’s friend.”

He had a close relationship with his family, many of whom were his coworkers at Pacific Stair Corporation, a familyowned business where he and his uncle, Todd Gardner, developed a special bond.

“There was a group of us who had motorcycles,” Todd recalled. “Matt wanted to get into that. So we got him into the motorcycle life. He really loved his HarleyDavidson.”

A gifted fabricator and an avid motorcyclist, 27-year-old Matthew appeared, to those who loved and knew him, to be thriving. Which is why, on July 12, 2017, when Tamela and her husband Darin learned their son had taken his own life, they were stunned.

It was devastation that could have silenced them. After all, Tamela grew up at a time when talking about suicide was frowned upon. But in the wake of her son’s death, she decided to forge a different path. She shared Matthew’s story with anyone who would listen and raised money for suicide awareness and prevention through the Matthew Unrein Memorial Foundation.

“It’s a club I never wanted to be a member of,” Tamela said. “But if I have to be in the club, I want to do something beneficial.”

It’s with that goal in mind that Todd and Tamela created the annual Ride for Matt fundraiser, a memorial ride led by Todd that is followed by a barbecue, auction and raffle, organized by Tamela, at the Vanderbeck Farm in Mt. Angel.

“The money we raise we keep local,” Tamela said. Previous contributions have gone to the Mid Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Recovery

Outreach Community Center, Trillium Family Services and Northwest Battle Buddies – which provides specially trained dogs to veterans suffering with PTSD and suicidal ideation – and other organizations supported by the $198,000 the foundation has raised thus far.

In September the foundation’s board decided to honor two new recipients, the Mt. Angel School District (where Matthew and his siblings attended) and the Silver Falls School District (where Tamela’s son-in-law, Joseph Traeger, is an assistant principal). Both received $30,000 checks.

“We’ve always had the conversation, as a foundation, of what can we do for schools?” Joseph said, recalling the excitement he witnessed when the student body of Silverton High School learned about the gift.

“[W]e presented it to them in an assembly, and they just blew the roof off,” he laughed. “Now the kids are poised to get involved.”

Which is precisely what Joseph was hoping would happen as he prepares to roll out an advertising campaign for the nation’s 988 Lifeline – a number that instantly connects those facing mental health issues or experiencing suicidal ideation with a counselor.

“I wonder, if 988 had been around and Matt knew about it, would he have used it, or could his friends and family have known

Matthew Unrein Memorial Foundation

For more information about the foundation, to donate, to attend the annual Motorcycle Memorial Ride or to view a list of suicide prevention resources visit  www.rideformatt.com/.

For immediate, free and confidential access to mental health support for emotional distress, drug or alcohol problems, or suicide ideation call or text 988.

he was struggling?” Joseph said. It’s a question he cannot know the answer to, and one he hopes no other family will ever have to ask. It’s also the reason he views a district-wide 988 education program as one of the most impactful ways the SFSD could spend the gifted funds.

“[A]bout one in four students know what 988 is. But if you ask, ‘Do you know what 911 is?’ that’s 100 percent,” Joseph pointed out. “So, I started thinking about what we could do… And I thought, we have 1,200 kids here, could we make them a walking billboard, have them design [a shirt] so it’s cool enough they’ll wear it? That’s the direction we’re going in.”

It’s a campaign Joseph hopes will support services already in place, including WiseMind Educational Services – grantfunded emotion coaching – and the 10 other mental health providers working within the schools. He knows that, while $30,000 might sound like a lot, it’s nowhere near the amount that would be necessary to fund full-time mental health support for 1,200 students.

“We’re talking millions of dollars in the system,” he pointed out. “To tackle that issue I think it is going to take some major legislative movement.”

Or, in a district the size of the MASD, a $30,000 grant dedicated to mental health.

“For us, $30,000 when our counseling budget is $700…” It makes a substantial difference, district Special Services

Director Erica Gordon said. “And this is amazing timing.”

That’s because most of the students in the MASD will be heavily impacted by federal funding cuts to the Oregon Health Plan and Medicaid.

“I’ve already secured [three] contracts with different health care providers so they can provide no-cost direct mental health care… They’ll see people within 24 to 48 hours and they speak Spanish,” Erica said. “That’s been our number one [priority], to meet kids where they are and reduce barriers. We haven’t had this in a couple of years, and it shows.”

Also in the works, the MASD plans to provide suicide prevention education courses led by middle school health educator Krissy Kukar, who taught Matthew when he was a student.

“She would like to be a part of something to honor Matthew…” Erica said. “So, we’re getting a sense of: what are our needs?”

And can the MASD go about preventing what happened to Matthew and his family from happening to anyone else?

It’s a question Tamela asks herself every day.

“Even though life dealt us a severe blow, your choice is your choice,” she said.

“And I choose empathy and being strong… Because sometimes you just need to know someone cares. If we don’t talk about it, we can’t make a difference.”

All ages join in for the barbecue that is part of the annual Ride for Matt. COURTESY OF RYAN SHEA

Standoff Scotts Mills man arrested

By Stephen Floyd

A Scotts Mills man wanted on multiple outstanding warrants has been arrested following a lengthy standoff with authorities.

Darren Lee Lake, 40, was arrested the morning of Nov. 14 at his home on the 300 block of 2nd Street following a standoff that began the night before.

According to a news release from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, deputies approached Lake’s residence around 10 p.m. Nov. 13 regarding outstanding warrants. Lake has multiple open cases in Marion and Clackamas counties for charges including vandalism, disorderly conduct, stalking, hit-and-run and attempted assault.

The release said Lake “refused to come out or surrender,” and deputies called in a SWAT team and negotiators. For the next several hours Lake “refused to cooperate and would not engage in negotiations.... With no progress, SWAT entered the residence, and Lake was taken into custody with assistance from a K-9 unit,” according to the release.

He was treated for injuries, then booked into

the Marion County Jail.

Lake appeared in Marion County Circuit Court Nov. 17 and was ordered held on $55,000 bail. As of press time he remained lodged in the Marion County Jail.

Lake’s outstanding cases date to 2020 when he allegedly harassed his neighbor, her boyfriend and her infant daughter that May. According to police, Lake was offended that the boyfriend was building a fence along his property line and allegedly blared loud sirens and discharged a fire extinguisher at the victims and threatened to kill them. In January of 2023 he allegedly damaged the property of a local man, causing more than $500 in damage. In March of 2024 Lake allegedly began stalking a local woman and in one instance allegedly struck her vehicle with his while she was still inside. That August he also allegedly intentionally struck a vehicle occupied by a local man and kept driving.

Lake faces up to five years in prison on the highest counts. As of press time he had yet to enter a plea to the charges.

DA defends interrogation of former ER doc

Prosecutors are defending interrogation methods used in the case of a former local ER doctor accused of killing a man in a hit-and-run incident. The defendant claimed his rights were violated.

On Nov. 19, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office filed a response to a motion to suppress evidence in the matter of State vs. Kenneth Kolarsky in Marion County Circuit Court.

Kolarsky, 58, of Portland, is accused of striking pedestrian Nicolas Hernandez Mendoza, 44, of Woodburn, in a crosswalk and leaving the man for dead on Dec. 26, 2024.

According to court records, the impact broke Mendoza’s neck and pelvis and caused serious internal injuries. He later died at Salem Hospital during surgery.

The collision allegedly occurred while Kolarsky was on his way to Legacy Silverton Hospital. His employment has since been terminated.

Kolarsky is charged with failure to perform duties of driver to seriously

injured persons. He faces up to 10 years in prison and/or up to a $250,000 fine. Kolasrky was not charged with homicide because police did not find that the collision was intentional.

On July 15, Kolarsky filed a motion to suppress evidence through attorney Ryan Anfuso, claiming he was never read his Miranda rights before being interrogated and having his phone seized. Anfuso argued any evidence resulting from the interrogation could not be used to convict his client.

In the Nov. 19 response, prosecutors said Miranda rights are only required in Oregon when a subject is being interrogated while detained. They said, though Kolarsky was being formally questioned, he was free to leave at any time and that police stopped asking questions when he invoked his right to an attorney.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 24, 2026, before Judge Courland Geyer.

– Stephen Floyd

Susan Keiko Sasano

Susan (Susu) Keiko Sasano, 67, of Woodburn, Oregon, succumbed to cancer on Nov. 17, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Susu was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and graduated from Farrington High School in 1976. She moved to Oregon to attend Oregon State University, earning her Master of Education/Adaptive Physical Education in 1985. Susu worked as an educator/coach with an emphasis on youth sports. Susu’s focus was not on winning but on sportsmanship, responsibility, accountability and respect. These traits are how she carried herself in life.

Dec. 1, 1958 – Nov. 17, 2025

Aloha Spirit stayed with her. Over the years she returned to Hawaii on multiple occasions to see the Aunties, Uncles, childhood friends and Farrington classmates.

Susu was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Harriet Sasano and sister Sandra “Sachi” Nakano. She leaves behind a large and meaningful group of friends, loved ones, and “adopted” families. Those families include but are not limited to; Emerson/ Iverson, Keller/Hogue, and Veysey/Elmore, two nephews; Sean Nakano, San Francisco, and Chad Nakano, Minneapolis.

The single best word to describe Susu would be “joy.” She exuded joy wherever she went and shared that joy with whomever was fortunate to cross her path. She had an amazing knack of recalling names, faces, birthdays, anniversaries and any other special occasion. Though never expecting anything in return, she often showed up with a pastry or thoughtful gift. Her best gift, however, was simply her presence. Although she left Hawaii, her

A celebration of life will be held in the Spring at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm on May 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. Aloha attire strongly encouraged. Financial contributions can be made to: Sacred Heart School at shstl.org/. All proceeds will benefit youth athletics and the physical education department at Sacred Heart Catholic school in Gervais.

Unger Funeral Home, Silverton, is handling final arrangements.

In Memory Of

Richard Edward Talent

Oct. 5, 1947 - Nov. 4, 2025

Virgina Diane Morgan Aug. 7, 1945 - Nov. 6, 2025

Marie Helen Burch March 20, 1941 - Nov. 8, 2025

Patrica J. Hogan July 17, 1930 - Nov. 8, 2025

Daryl John Kuschnick April 4, 1969 - Nov. 9, 2025

Jonathon Dee Wertz Oct. 26, 1950 - Nov. 13, 2025

Aileen Clemmer Dec. 8, 1933 - Nov. 17, 2025

Always honoring your request for traditional, eco-friendly or aqua cremation, celebration of life, and services involving earth burial. We also offer pre-planning alternatives to control costs.

&

Thank you to the ten community members

Harcourts Silverton adopts a family every Christmas. This is in partnership with the Elizabeth Ashley Hoke Foundation.

Silverton $550,000 Webb Lake Silverton. Must sell, bring all offers! Fresh landscaping, corner lot, loaded with amenities. Angela DeSantis 503- 851-9286 MLS#833135

Mt. Angel $649,000 Big price reduction! European styling, 2968 sqft, 2 blocks from schools. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#833557

Silverton $1,400,000

Experience the good life! Exquisite, elegant home on Abiqua Creek, a canvas for art and wine collections. Full apt. with privacy from the main home. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#831851

Silverton $799,000

Picturesque views of the reservoir. Wall of windows, unique master suite with loft, shop, 2.6 acres. Rosie Wilgus 503-409-8779 MLS#830610

Silverton $655,000

Elegant Victorian style home on .61acre lot. 10-foot ceilings, stained glass windows. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#828366

Consistent contenders

Kennedy proves football mettle with a quarterfinal bid

The Kennedy High football program continues to perform at a high level. Head coach Joe Panuke won a Class 2A title in 2018 and has had four other appearances in the state finals. He hit the 100-win mark with a 17-14 win against Gervais on Oct. 17 and he is 102-30 in his 12 years in Mount Angel. He has won 10 or more games six times and only lost more than 3 games once, in 2017.

Panuke served six years under the legendary Randy Traeger before taking over for Traeger for the 2014 season. Panuke is a perfect 12-for-12 in terms of making the playoffs.

This year’s Trojans finished 7-3 overall and 5-1 in Class 3A’s Special District I, second behind Banks. JFK lost to Banks during the league season and also fell to the Braves by a 29-0 count on Nov. 14 in the quarterfinals.

It’s worth noting that the entire Kennedy defensive backfield, Rich, Kline, Handran and Ifenuk received all-league mention.

Girls soccer: Silverton repeated as Mid-Willamette Conference champions with an 8-0-1 record and finished 13-2-2 overall after falling 3-1 against Summit in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

The Wolves lost 19-17 on the game’s final play against longtime rival Central Washington on Nov. 15. McCarty, a 6-1 junior, passed for 1,521 yards and 12 TDs, while also rushing for 507 yards and six more scores.

Alumni watch, Jackson Pfeifer: The former Foxes running back was third in rushing for Linfield University with 190 yards. The versatile junior also caught 20 passes for another 187 yards. His rushing high was 49 yards against Pacific and he hauled in 7 passes for 93 yards against Whitworth. The Wildcats finished 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the Northwest Conference.

Kennedy claimed 17 spots on the all-star team for Special District I. Colby Rich (wide receiver and defensive back) and Creo Walker (offensive and defensive line) were both two-way first-teamers. Also on the first team were defensive back Landon Kline and linebacker Jaden Traeger, who also finished second in the defensive player of the year voting.

On the second team were QB Brody Panuke, Traeger at running back, offensive lineman Jayce Hansen, defensive lineman Sam Astorga and defensive back Stephen Handran. Receiving honorable mention were Kline and Handran at wide receiver, Hansen at linebacker, Reggie Ifenuk at DB, Kole Graves (OL) and Grant Bruner (TE).

Sports Datebook

Thursday, Dec. 4

Girls Basketball

7 p.m. Silverton vs Cascade

Tuesday, Dec. 9

Swimming

4 p.m. Silverton vs Corvallis

Girls Basketball

5:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Oakland

Boys Basketball

7 p.m. Kennedy vs Oakland

Named to the first team all-conference list were Marley Wertz, Allie Mansur and Lillian Miller Braelyn Walter, Madisyn Walter and Alexa Elias were placed on the second team, while Marin Weaver and Addy Zurbrugg received honorable mention. Co-coaches Don Holland and Eric Lay are 27-3-3 overall and 17-0-1 in conference during their two years leading the program.

Volleyball: Silverton placed four athletes on the all-Mid-Willamette Conference team. Setter Ryle McMillan and Brielle Goode made the second team, while  outside hitters Kylie Kjäll and Anna Curtiss received honorable mention. The Foxes advanced to the first round of the Class 5A playoffs before falling to Summit of Bend. The squad finished 9-11.

Alumni watch, Jordan McCarty: The former Foxes QB led Western Oregon to an 8-3 record this season and within one play of a Lone Star Conference title.

Thursday, Dec. 11

Girls Basketball

7 p.m. Silverton vs Springfield

Friday, Dec. 12

Boys Basketball

6 p.m. Kennedy vs Faith Bible/ Life Christian

Saturday, Dec. 13

Girls Basketball

4:30 p.m. Silverton vs Redmond

Boys Basketball

6 p.m. Silverton vs Redmond

Monday, Dec. 15

Girls Basketball

5:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Santiam Christian

Boys Basketball

7 p.m. Kennedy vs Santiam Christian

Tuesday, Dec. 16 Swimming

4 p.m. Silverton vs West Albany

Alumni watch, Emily Hyde and Catherine Hyde: Emily, a member of the Silverton High Class of 2021, played soccer at Linfield for two years before transferring to Southern Oregon. Her junior year was marred by an ACL injury, but she returned for her senior year to help lead the Raiders to a second-place finish in the Cascade Conference with a 10-1-1 mark. Hyde has 4 goals and 4 assists for Southern, which still was alive in the NAIA playoffs at Our Town presstime.

Catherine, a 2023 grad and AquaFoxes swimming standout, is in her third year of competing at the University of Idaho. She took third in the 100 butterfly in the Vandals’ recent dual meet against Colorado State.

Alumni watch, Emmett Limbird: The former Silverton boys soccer player started in all 13 of Chemeketa’s matches, scoring one goal. The Storm finished 3-7-3.    Got a news tip? Email me at james.d@mtangelpub.com Follow me on X (Twitter) @jameshday and Our Town on Facebook.

Thursday, Dec. 18

Girls Basketball

5:30 p.m. Kennedy vs Gervais

Boys Basketball

7 p.m. Kennedy vs Gervais

Friday, Dec. 19

Swimming

4 p.m. Silverton vs Blanchet Catholic & Salem Academy

Girls Basketball

7 p.m. Silverton vs Clackamas

Saturday, Dec. 20

Boys Basketball

Silverton Boys Basketball Tournament

Sunday, Dec. 21

Boys Basketball

Silverton Boys Basketball Tournament

Monday, Dec. 22

Boys Basketball

Silverton Boys Basketball Tournament

Kennedy coach Joe Panuke JAMES DAY

A year of wins

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time for me to catalog all of my accomplishments during 2025. Being my first full year of retirement, it was filled with thrills of all kinds.

I already mentioned becoming a grandfather, but I have to confess that I had approximately zero to do with that. As such, I like taking credit where none is due – kind of like a politician.

But there’s a lot more that I got done this year.

For example, I started another book, which will soon join my two other books on the New York Times Least Seller List. I have come to terms with the fact that people don’t want to read books about farming in Minnesota and post-war Alaska. I also assume they won’t want to read about drug-running commercial fishermen either. I suppose it’s their loss.

Then there was the marathon I didn’t run. Actually, I watched one of our sons run it. Look, I’m old and have a bad heart, so running 26 miles at a clip isn’t going to happen. But I did show up at the end to watch the runners finish their race. Many looked like they were finishing a Sunday morning jog, but most were a little wobbly and just followed my old philosophy of

“complete, not compete.”

Also on my list of accomplishments was starting an online store selling autographed photos of TV and movie stars. I am constantly amazed at what folks will buy. For example, an autographed photo of actors from any of the three million Star Trek shows and sequels sells like cold beer on a hot summer day. But photos of other movie and TV stars, not so much. Lauren Bacall, Jimmy Stewart – photos of these stars and others like them rarely generate even a bid.

However, my greatest accomplishment was something that many people thought to be impossible. It involved teaching our cat, code name Heidi, to roll over. I spent

Quality Dental Care in a Friendly Environment

many hours coaching, cajoling, pleading and pestering her to get her to roll over, all to no avail.

It’s not that Heidi was unable to roll on her back. She will happily do it whenever she wants. The key was to convince her that she wanted to.

She quickly figured out that when I paid attention to her was her cue to leave the room. This put us at a standoff of sorts. When I wasn’t paying attention, she would roll over. Whenever I looked her way she would run out of the room.

The breakthrough came the other day. I was sitting on the stairs putting my shoes on, and Heidi saw that I was distracted. She laid on the rug just as I saw her. I pulled the rug out from under her and hollered “Roll over!” She rolled right off it and ran out of the room.

I’m no expert at training animals. I gave up training service dogs because it became obvious that they were smarter than me and three of our kids.

But in this case, I’m going to take the win and add it to my annual list of accomplishments. As for next year, the only thing I know is 2025 will be hard to top.

Carl Sampson is a retired writer and editor.

GENERAL

MT. ANGEL SENIOR CENTER

is a non-profit consignment store for artisans over 50, a community center, home to Meals on Wheels, and serves as a food bank. Volunteers welcome! 195 E Charles St. 503-845-6998 or mtangelcommunity@gmail.com

PASTOR CHUCK BALDWIN

Liberty Fellowship, Kalispell, Montana satellite group Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Kristen, 503-990-4584

HELP WANTED

HOUSE CLEANING 20/hr. Computer tech help wanted 20/hr 503-383-4398

FOR SALE

FOR SALE: TELESCOPE –

FirstLight N 130mm white tube Newtonian 2-speed focuser. $250. 503-769-3677.

RENTALS

ROOM FOR RENT: $650/mo. Scotts Mills. 503-383-4398

SERVICES

GOT STUFF YOU WANT GONE?

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

MAGIC CARPET CLEANING & MORE Since 1992. Carpet & upholstery cleaning at its best. Free estimates. Residential & commercial. Located in Silverton. Call Harold at 503-391-7406

SOUNDS GOOD STUDIO Bands, artists, personal karaoke CDs, books, restoring picture slides, and VHS to DVD. Old cassettes, records, reel-to-reel & 8-track cassettes restored to CD. Call Harold 503-391-7406.

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. International Certification Curriculum available upon request. Call Harold 503-391-7406

JESSE’S LAWN SERVICE & HANDYMAN Pruning, edging, trimming, blackberry cleaning, gutter cleaning, arborvitae, moss treatment, yard clean-up, stump grinding, powerwashing, haul-away. 503-871-7869

LOST & FOUND

LOST WALKING CANE Light wood, thick black shoelace on handle. Silv/MA area. Reward. 541-417-1289 2010 Linden St., Mt. Angel

#T2909 STUNNING HOME $570,000 3BR, 2BA home offers an open floor plan designed for both comfort and entertaining. The kitchen features granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, pantry, plenty of workspace. The spacious primary suite includes a walk-in closet and full bath, while all bedrooms are generously sized. Enjoy gatherings in the great room with a cozy gas fireplace, hosting dinner in the formal dining or step outside to the pergola-covered patio for relaxing, or side patio around a fire. Call Becky at ext. 313 (WVMLS#834250)

#T2914 NEW TO MARKET $579,500

Great condition on this 3BR, 2BA, 1841sqft home built in 1999. Additional room could be 4th bedroom. The home has an open floor plan with a new deck and is located on a quiet / low traffic street. Open and bright livingroom w/ gas fireplace. Oak hardwood flooring, double ovens, large bedroom suite, landscaped, fully fenced. View NW towards Valley and Abbey Hill. Recent upgrades include; roof, HVAC, Govee exterior lighting system and water heater. Located on the east side of Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#835171)

#T2877 BUILD YOUR OWN 3 BR, 1 BA 1080 sqft, 9.47 acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $400,000 (WVMLS#830242)

#T2894 SILVERTON ACREAGE ESTATE 4 BR, 3.5 BA 3804 sqft, 3.02 acres. Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 $895,000 (WVMLS#830085)

#T2895 PRIVATE LOCATION 3 BR, 3.5 BA 2566 sqft 1.52 acres Silverton. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $916,700 (WVMLS#829660)

#T2910 SCOTTS MILLS ONCE IN A LIFETIME 2 BR, 3.5 BA 4253 sqft

9.36 Acres Call Chuck at ext. 325 $1,825,000 (WVMLS#834432) #T2911 MONMOUTH HORSE LOVERS DREAM 3 BR, 1.5 BA 1832 sqft 5 Acres Call Becky at ext. 313 $795,000 (WVMLS#834926)

#T2905 TWO-ACRE SITE $249,900

Check out this beautiful two-acre site, only 15 minutes from Silverton, to enjoy a country lifestyle! Trees and varied topography offer several options for homesites with views. Property has gone through administrative review with Marion County Planning Department and received approval for a standard septic system. Buyer to perform their own due diligence with respect to allowable uses and any land use restrictions. Call Chuck at ext. 325 (WVMLS#832686)

BA 2264 sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 $589,000 (WVMLS#830000) #T2900 CUSTOM BUILT HOME 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1908 sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 or Jason at ext. 302 $585,000 (WVMLS#831873)

#T2909 STUNNING HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 1736 sqft. Call Becky at ext. 313 $570,000 (WVMLS#834250)

NEW — #T2913 SILVERTON WONDERFUL DOUBLE WIDE 3 BR, 2 BA 1620 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $147,420 (WVMLS#835044)

NEW — #T2914 SILVERTON NEW TO THE MARKET3 BR, 2 BA 1841 sqft Call Michael at ext. 314 $579,500 (WVMLS#835171)

#T2913 WONDERFUL DOUBLE WIDE

$147,420 Double wide in Silverton Senior Mobile Estates 55+ park, well cared for, $623 park rent for garbage, sewer, water, community center and road maintenance. 3 bedroom, 2 bath with open floor plan, many updates; bathrooms, kitchen have been redone and home is ready to move into. Great senior living community, easy to maintain lot, nice outdoor seating area on covered porch. Easy to view. Contingent on Park approval. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS# 835044)

COUNTRY LIVING 3 BR, 3 BA 2792 sqft. Call Kirsten at ext. 326 $760,000 (WVMLS#831900)

BROKERS ARE LICENSED IN OREGON

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