Something To Do
Civics 101
Silverton High School spins new life into a classic fairytale – Page 4
Vol. 23 No. 21
Voting ends Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. Make sure your ballot counts– Page 6
COMMUNITY NEWS
Serving Silverton, Mount Angel & Scotts Mills
November 2026
Día de los Muertos – page 4
Our Town P.O. Box 927 Mt. Angel, Or 97362
POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND OR PERMIT NO. 854
Sports & Recreation
Silver Falls prepares new visitors center – page 20
971-216-1093
Community
You’re Invited!
OPEN HOUSE
tinaslandscape.com
tinaslandscape@gmail.com
HARDSCAPES Pavers Driveways Patios Retaining Walls Artificial Turf French Drain
AT SILVER CREEK FELLOWSHIP SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 1 PM - 5 PM RIBBON CUTTING AT 1 PM
IRRIGATION
CLEAN UPS
New Systems Sprinklers Drip Systems Spring Start-up Winterizing New Lawns
Natural Pruning Plant Removal Pressure Washing Barkdust Planting Fence Stain
Licensed • Insured • Bonded
LCB#9732
NEED A PLUMBER? YOU’RE ALL SET. • Full-service plumbing • Family owned
10% discount!
Fun For The Whole Family! SCF.TV
re
• Financing options • 1-year labor warranty
For new customers*, veterans, active-duty military and seniors. *Expires 10/31/26
503-964-4965
TOUR OUR NEW BUILDING • REFRESHMENTS • BOUNCY HOUSES Silver Creek Fellowship • 822 Industry Way, Silverton •
• On-time arrivals • Clear estimates
0+
6 AR! 5 SvT iews
Jason O’Jones
Owner/Journeyman Plumber
allsetplumbingllc@gmail.com
Licensed/Bonded/Insured • CCB 249452
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 Jordi Ramirez Morales. Jordi is being recognized for exemplifying the value; Respect.
Student of the Month FREE ESTIMATES. CALL TODAY! 503-444-8625 | JohnsWaterproofing.com
Jordi excels in both his school activities and socially. When others are in need of a helping hand, he is there to assist. He is truly a kind and caring person who is punctual and polite. Within the classroom, he is respectful of the learning environment, staying on task, and working to earn his A's. Read reviews from customers we have helped across the PNW
ORCCB# 15830 - WACCB# JOHNSWC018B8
2 • November 2026
ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Contents
4 Something To Do Cinderella at Silverton High ...................4 Día de los Muertos events ......................4 Sheltering Silverton fundraiser..............4 Civics 101 Candidates at the Grange...................... 5 Make sure your vote is counted............. 6 Four vie for commissioner seats ............ 6 Silverton addresses IT issues...................7 Looking Back Five vets share their experiences........... 8 Above
The cast of the upcoming staging of Cinderella at Silverton High School. MELISSA WAGONER
On the Cover
Dîa de los Muertos honors the spirits of family and friends who have passed on. ©THEMESS, 123RF.COM.
Something to Think About Hispanic Heritage conference inspires next generation of leaders.................. 10 Datebook.................................. 12 Your Health Preventing addiction in kids ............... 15 The Forum................................ 16 Passages................................... 18 Sports & Recreation Silver Falls’ new visitor center............. 20 Tackling the transfer issue................... 21 A Grin at the End............... 22 Marketplace......................... 23
P.O. Box 927 Mount Angel, OR 97362 401 Oak St. Silverton, OR 97381 503-845-9499 • ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com ourtownlive.com
Our Town mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97362, 97375, 97381 zip codes. Subscriptions for outside this area are $48 annually. The deadline for placing an ad in the Nov. 15 issue is Nov. 5. Paula Mabry Editor & Publisher Jerry Stevens Ad Director Sheldon Traver Advertising DeeDe Williams Office Manager James Day Sports Editor & Reporter Stephen Floyd Digital Editor & Reporter Bea Shapiro Designer & Copy Editor Melissa Wagoner Reporter Sara Morgan Datebook Editor Janet Patterson Distribution Steve Beckner Custom Design Thank you for spending time with Our Town. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Help keep Our Town going strong! Your tax-deductible donation will help us continue to deliver trusted, local news, sports and events to your community.
tinyurl.com/support-ourtown-news ourtownlive.com
November 2026 • 3
Something To Do
Cinderella SHS gives old tale new life and complexity By Melissa Wagoner
The story of Cinderella is one that has seen numerous revisions since the Brothers Grimm included it in their folktale collection in 1812. But when Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote a musical adaptation, first for television, then for the stage in 1957, the tale became something new.
Día de los Muertos events
“It’s not all sunshine and lollipops,” Spencer Schacher, a junior cast in the role of Prince Christopher, said. “There’s a lot more depth.”
Día de los Muertos in Belle Passi Cemetery: Nov. 1, 4 to 7 p.m., 997 Belle Passi Road, Woodburn. Luminaries available.
Featuring a full Broadway-style score, the play brings to life beloved figures like Cinderella, the Prince and the Fairy Godmother, as well as new characters like Jean-Michel. “He’s not in the original [Disney] movie, but he’s a poor revolutionary,” Marcy Sanchez – the SHS senior portraying him – said. “Most of the time he is trying to protest the corruption of the government. He also has a romantic interest in one of the stepsisters and later becomes the Prime Minister.” It’s a more complex story, to be sure, but the addition of side characters and political turmoil don’t detract from the magic and romance of the original story. “It’s still whimsical,” Schacher confirmed.
Día de los Muertos at Willamette University: Presented by student club, Alianza, Putnam University Center, Nov. 6, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Día de Muertos at McKay High School: Presented by Casa de la Cultura Tlanese, 2440 Lancaster Cinderella, played by Mary Fronza, and Prince Christopher, played by Spencer Schacher. MELISSA WAGONER
Concessions, including a selection of commemorative items, will be available before the show and at intermission.
The additions mean there is something for all ages to love. “Kids will enjoy it,” Sanchez said. “But I think a lot of adults will enjoy it because there is a lot more nuance.”
Nov. 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7 p.m.
The production opens Nov. 13 and runs through Nov. 22, with performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. The show promises to be a spectacle of singing, dancing, colorful costumes and over-thetop sets. It will also host an array of creative concessions including memorabilia for young princes and princesses and a “RoyalTea” – hosted by Let Them Eat Cake – both Sundays. “I really love this show,” Sanchez said. “There’s a big community aspect I think that’s really important.”
activities. Admission free.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Silverton High School auditorium, 1456 Pine St.
“There is this emphasis on kindness…” Mary Fronza – the senior cast as Cinderella – said. “It’s sending a good message… I think it’s important for the community to hear.”
Dr., Salem, Nov. 7, 12 to 7 p.m. Performances, family
Nov. 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets available at silvertonperformingarts.com/ calendar or at the door.
Cinderella’s “Royal-Tea”
Sheltering Silverton hosts fundraiser Nov. 8 Sheltering Silverton has scheduled its Kinship Dinner fundraising event for Sunday, Nov. 8, 4 to 7 p.m. at The Oregon Garden’s J. Frank Schmidt Pavilion. The event celebrates the 10th anniversary of the nonprofit.
A four-course high tea attended by a selection of the Cinderella cast.
Tickets cost $50 and are available at shelteringsilverton. org/events. Register by Nov. 3.
Let Them Eat Cake, 106 North First St. B
The evening includes a catered meal from Oso, wine and other beverages, live music, a silent auction and storytelling programming that will emphasize Sheltering Silverton’s efforts to address homelessness and poverty in Silverton.
Nov. 15 and 22 at 12 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 (with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the SHS Performing Arts Booster Club) and must be purchased in advance at silvertonperformingarts.com/calendar.
For information email sean@shelteringsilverton.org.
Personalized aesthetic treatments (Botox, fillers), vitamin B12 injections, and medically managed weight loss. We listen to your goals, respect your budget, and never recommend unnecessary treatments. Led by a board-certified family nurse practitioner, we focus on thoughtful care and natural looking results.
503-298-5311 theshinepractice.com 4 • November 2026
You Name It, We Frame It! Why go to Salem for framing?
105 S. First St., Silverton
503-873-6771
Open Tuesdays - Saturdays 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Civics 101
Election 2026 Candidates engage in constructive forum at Silverton Grange By James Day Candidates for Marion County commissioner and Oregon House District 18 participated in an informative public session on Oct. 15 at the Silverton Grange. But not all of the candidates were on hand. Colm Willis, the Republican incumbent for Position 2 on the county board, was not present and did not respond to outreach from the Grange about participation. Amanda Staehely, the Republican candidate in HD18, had a scheduling conflict, and Libertarian Patrick Marnell also was not on hand. Marnell also did not respond to Our Town requests for information about his candidacy. Those who were on hand, including Republican Position 1 Commissioner Kevin Cameron; Democrat Sara Duncan, his challenger; Democrat Maria Hinojos Pressey, who is challenging Willis; and Roy Kaufmann, an independent who is facing Staehely; discussed issues facing the county, state and nation. The tone was respectful and constructive
throughout, with the two commission challengers only rarely disagreeing with Cameron, a former state legislator who has been on the board since 2014. In his opening statement Cameron noted that the Oregon House was split 30-30 between Republicans and Democrats at one point during his tenure. “It taught me how to work across the aisle and move forward and solve problems,” Cameron said. “I represent all of the 350,000 people in Marion County, not just the ones that voted for me.” Duncan and Pressey, who have teamed up on campaign mailers, both have wideranging experience in government and nonprofits, currently working for PCUN, the Woodburn farmworkers union and social service organization. “I’m passionate about public health and public transportation,” Duncan said. “I know what’s going on with working people.” Pressey used her opening statement to
talk about her background and how her immigrant parents earned their U.S. citizenship in the 1980s.
the concept has paid dividends. “Health care, it’s all on our minds,” said Duncan.
“Our immigration system is broken,” she said. All of the candidates backed local control with regard to immigration and expressed resentment of federal efforts.
Kaufmann said he supported the “Health Care for All” initiative, describing Oregon as a “Goldilocks” state… “we’re not too big or too small. It would be easy to do here.”
Kaufmann opened by noting that “of my two opponents, neither one of them is here. I think that says a lot.” He worked in policy and communication roles with former Governor John Kitzhaber and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. Kaufmann said he “never has been more concerned about the direction of the country. Yet, I’m hopeful about what we’re doing in Oregon.”
Cameron said “I know a lot of people who are happy with their doctors, but they aren’t happy with their health insurance” and also backed universal health care. “We have to make it happen,” he said. Duncan and Pressey noted a strong interest in working on garbage and recycling issues, with Pressey proudly asserting that “I lead the cleanest fleet in Oregon,” referring to the buses run by Cherriots.
Issues raised during the forum included health care, garbage and recycling, homelessness, water, immigration, transportation, emergency management and whether Oregon needs a state bank, which is a key issue for Kaufmann.
Cameron voted in favor of allowing an Aurora waste pit to continue accepting trash, with Duncan noting that “farmers like it because they make money on it. I would try to undo it on my first day on the job.”
“We need economic resources here,” he said, citing North Dakota as a state where
Joe & Dana Giegerich $459,000 508 2nd St.,
Price Reduced
Silverton. Craftsmanstyle home on a large .22-acre lot. 3 bd, 2 ba, 1935 sqft. Upgraded kitchen, bathrooms. Tile and vintage wood floors, vinyl & wood fencing. MLS# 840718
SOLD!
$699,000 700 S. Water St., Silverton. *Investors* Historic Silverton 4-plex, large shop. Shows pride of ownership, close to park, library, pool. Great investment opportunity! MLS# 839387
Featured Listing! $255,000 Creek frontage on
3.99 acres. Bareland. Ideal for recreational use. Swimming hole. Seller will carry a contract. Off of Crooked Finger Rd., Scotts Mills. MLS#822303
IS FOR EVERY BODY
New listing! $368,000 5.88-acre Silverton Hills homesite, beautiful setting to build your home. Private location. Well & septic installed. Electrical service. Rocked access driveway. Pump house. Level home pad. Seasonal creek. Some mature timber. AR zoning. May be approved for ADU. MLS# 845134
Joe Giegerich Broker
SILVERTON 50+ CENTER • 115 WESTFIELD ST., SILVERTON
Jazzercise Silverton Oregon • 503-873-8210 • jazzercise.com/studio/or/silverton-50-center
Join us Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. for our 36th annual benefit workout for SACA! Admission $10 or 5 food items. Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
ourtownlive.com
503-931-7824
Dana Giegerich Broker
503-871-8546 6
email: JoeGiegerich01@gmail.com 216 E. Main St., Silverton • TheBellaCasaGroup.com Licensed in Oregon and serving you from offices in Silverton, Newberg & McMinnville
November 2026 • 5
Civics 101
Voters choose
Four candidates, two seats for Marion County commissioner By Stephen Floyd
projects in the Santiam Canyon. He also favors reducing development costs to encourage housing and business
Voters will decide two races for the Marion County Board of Commissioners during the Nov. 3 general election, with both Republican incumbents facing Democratic challengers.
growth.
Positions 1 and 2 are on the ballot, with incumbents Kevin Cameron and Colm Willis facing labor activists Sara Duncan and Maria Hinojos Pressey, respectively. Cameron and Willis have emphasized the importance of public safety, limited taxes, economic development and their records in office. Cameron was first elected in 2014 and Willis in 2018. Duncan and Hinojos Pressey place greater emphasis on health care, housing affordability and expanding access to county services. Both are employees of PCUN, Oregon’s farmworker union, with Duncan as a development manager and communications specialist, and Hinojos Pressey as deputy director. Republicans have maintained a decades-long hold on the county commission. The last Democrat elected to the board won in 1976, 50 years ago. In 2022 Cameron won with 60.64 percent of the vote, and Willis with 57.52 percent. Cameron, 70, of Detroit, previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2005 to 2014, including as House Republican Leader. He spent much of his career in the restaurant industry, including as CEO of Cafe Today. Cameron supports limiting taxes and fees, maintaining public safety services and continuing wildfire recovery
Duncan, 32, of Salem, previously worked in communications and recycling education. She serves as secretary of the Salem Area Mass Transit District board, also known as Cherriots. Duncan said her priorities include improving access to health care and mental health services, addressing the causes of homelessness and managing natural resources and utilities. She also supports greater representation for underserved communities. Willis, 40, of Stayton, previously worked as a small business attorney. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a law degree from Willamette University. Willis said his priorities include public safety, economic development and housing. He points to efforts to expand jail capacity, oppose tax increases and support wildfire recovery. Hinojos Pressey, 31, of Salem, previously worked as a domestic violence advocate. She serves as president of the Cherriots board and previously served on the SalemKeizer School Board. Hinojos Pressey wants to protect access to health care, expand mental health services, improve local infrastructure and make life more affordable for working families.
When and where to return your ballot If you haven’t returned your ballot for the Nov. 3 election, officials suggest using one of multiple drop-boxes throughout Marion County to ensure it is received on time. Though ballots in the mail can be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, they must also arrive within seven days. Election officials warn the average time to postmark and deliver a ballot is roughly five days, and this could be cutting it too close for many voters. Ballots can be returned by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 at the following locations: Silverton: An outdoor ballot drop box is located in the Lewis Street parking lot near S First Street. The box is available 24 hours a day through Election Day. Mt. Angel: An outdoor ballot drop box is located at the Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. It is available 24 hours a day through Election Day. Scotts Mills: There is no official ballot drop box in Scotts Mills. Residents may use the drop boxes in Silverton or Mt. Angel. Voters may also deliver ballots to the Marion County Elections Office, 555 Court St. NE, Suite 2130, Salem. The office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can check the status of their ballots at sos.oregon.gov/voting or contact Marion County Elections at 503-588-5041. – Stephen Floyd
Food & fun for everyone! FENCE, LANDSCAPE & HARDSCAPE INSTALLATION! BARK, ROCK & COMPOST AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP OR DELIVERY!
New food cart & updates coming this winter!
GATES | DECKS | PAVER PATIOS | RETAINING WALLS | PERGOLAS | SOD & MORE
Q uali ty w e hang our
hat on!
CALL OR TEXT TODAY!
971-370-0905
Visit bobfenceandlandscape.com, scan the code or email us at info@bobfenceandlandscape.com LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED LCB # 9681
6 • November 2026
FREE
ESTIMATES
You’re invited to Silverton’s backyard hangout! Four food carts, a bakery, plus heated, covered seating.
ourtownlive.com
311 N. Water St.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Facing IT issues
City buys software amid global shutdown By James Day Business, government and personal websites were taken down all over the world on Wednesday, Oct. 21. And in a note of irony, the Silverton City Council had scheduled a presentation from Brian Miles, the information technology manager with Woodburn, which has a contract to handle Silverton’s IT issues, for that very night. Websites around the globe went dark after a serious vulnerability was found in a computer language used to build much of the world wide web. IT managers scrambled to patch the critical weakness in PHP, a language used by almost 70% of websites. The vulnerability in the programming language, which became public on Oct. 20, sparked warnings from national security agencies in Washington and elsewhere about cybersecurity threats. Among the major systems affected by the outage were WordPress, Wikipedia, the Slack messaging software and much of Facebook. Miles noted the PHP outage and also discussed a cybersecurity software called ArcticWolf, which helps entities such as Woodburn and Silverton close the loop with 24/7 coverage. In the action portion of the meeting councilors unanimously approved transferring approximately $22,500 to contract for a pro-rated eight months of ArcticWolf service. City Manager Cory Misley said the city will budget for the full annual cost in the 2027-28 budget. In other highlights from the council session (all votes were unanimous unless noted): Public responds: During the public comment period, four speakers expressed concerns about road conditions/traffic safety, with one citing road conditions in the area around Smith, Central and Madison. Others cited traffic safety on Ike Mooney and Monitor and another urged action on speeding on Western between James and Silverton High School. Speaker Pat Crawford spoke out strongly against the Main Street plan, saying “I think what you are doing is crazy. This isn’t Portland, this is Silverton.” Main Street: Stacy Palmer, executive director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce, appeared via Zoom and briefed the council on plans the Chamber is working on to ease the challenges of the upcoming redevelopment of the Main Street block between First and Water streets.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
The “Worth the Detour” program that Palmer outlined will feature a partnership with the city and consistent communication with downtown businesses that will be affected by the work, which will include new trees and infrastructure, wider sidewalks and the undergrounding of utilities. “The construction will bring short-term challenges but also create opportunities,” Palmer said.
Silverton $584,900 Charming, beautifully updated 1921 bungalow. Tall ceilings, wood floors, updated kitchen. New roof and solar panels. Korinna Barcroft 503-851-1283 MLS#844616
Silverton $305,000 Priced to sell! Condo, 3 bed 2 bath, wood floors, granite, tall ceilings, main bedroom w/lrg walk-in closet. Linda Webb and Korinna Barcroft 503-851-1283 MLS#846371
Silverton $399,900 Charming 1920 bungalow with a view of downtown. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, hardwood floors and orignal details. Basement. Korinna Barcroft 503-851-1283 MLS#840171
Silverton $1,195,000 New construction in forested setting, 4.1 acres near Silver Falls, 2356 sqft., 42x42 shop. Light wood flooring, rock fireplace, incredible retreat property. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667 MLS#846412
Silverton $980,000 Timeless quality loaded with amenities, sauna, soaking tub, wall of windows, covered patios, 2-story entry, primary suite on main floor. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667 MLS#845650
Mt. Angel $404,900 What a buy! New LVP flooring, fresh paint and trim, clean a move-in ready, lots of extra space with a den and sunroom. Rosie Wilgus 503-409-8779 MLS#843398
Silverton $625,000 Newer construction located near Silverton High School, built in 2023, covered patio, lovely backyard, open floor plan. Korinna Barcroft 503-851-1283 MLS#844891
Silverton $1,250,000 Stunning! Reclaimed timbers and open beam interior, wrap around porch, 12’ ceilings, grand kitchen. Custom home by Riedman Construction. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667 MLS#842873
Silverton $949,000 Beautifully remodeled home with gorgeous farmhouse kitchen, 3 acres with sunset view, 49x60 shop, level usable ground and circular drive. Valerie Kofstad 503-871-1667 MLS#840763
Silverton $1,435,000 Upscale country estate 53.79 acres, over 3,000 sqft. home. Sunset views, pond, creek. Includes shop, barn, greenhouse and coop. RV pad with hook-ups. Korinna Barcroft 503-851-1283 MLS#843333
Mt. Angel $629,000 Saint Mary’s Avenue, solidly built home with remodeled kitchen, 1950’s charm, large backyard and a basement. Sheila Sitzman 303-885-0679 MLS#841363
Silverton $89,900 55+ community, near Silverton High School on Pine Street, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1344 sqft. Korinna Barcroft 503-851-1283 MLS#839213
Key concerns of businesses will be utility shutoffs, with restaurants in the block particularly interested in having to find additional freezer space. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year. A public session intended to provide information sharing with business and property owners on Main is set for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, at The Warren, 218 E. Main St. Jason Gottgetreu, community development director for the city, said the city is planning on holding monthly meetings until the project is completed. Sheltering Silverton: Councilors approved a grant extension for the group’s family shelter program. The $27,881 appropriation will come from the city’s affordable housing fund. This is year two of the program. Sheltering Silverton officials spoke during the Oct. 7 meeting and noted that in the first year 18 individuals who used the family shelter were successfully advanced to permanent housing and four more to transitional housing. The program features a small cottage that families can occupy for up to 30 days while finding permanent lodging. Advisory groups: The city has 25 volunteer positions available for city committees, commission, advisory groups and task forces. If interested go to silverton.or.us/bc/page/ annual-advisory-group-recruitment for more information. The recruitment period ends Nov. 16, with interviews scheduled for Nov. 18 through Dec. 4. The council will consider appointments at its Dec. 16 meeting, with terms beginning Jan. 6. Two new groups have been approved by the council, one to develop the city’s public art policy and another to examine downtown mobility, access and parking. Email contactus@ silverton.or.us or call 503-874-2221 for more information. Up next: The council next meets on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
All info current at time of publication. Prices and availability subject to change.
119 N. WATER ST., SILVERTON, OR
503-873-8600
harcourtssilverton.com ourtownlive.com
@harcourtssilverton November 2026 • 7
Looking Back
Shaped by service Five military veterans reflect on their experiences By Melissa Wagoner In observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Our Town sat down with five U.S. military veterans to talk about why they enlisted, what they experienced in the military, and how those experiences shaped the rest of their lives. We thank each one for their service and for sharing their stories. Jim Miller When Jim Miller was a junior at Silverton High School he joined the Navy Reserve.
grades [for college].”
“At the time the Vietnam War was underway and people my age either went to college or enlisted,” Miller said. “I didn’t have good enough
After boot camp , Miller was immediately shipped to Port Hueneme, California – home to the Seabees, the Navy construction battalion. “Upon completion of the... builder training I was assigned to Charlie Company of Mobile Construction Battalion Four,” Miller recalled. “The entire battalion was scheduled to deploy to Vietnam during January and February of 1967.” Meanwhile, Miller’s father, James Robert Miller Sr. – newly divorced and under the recruiting cap of 40 – decided he would join the Seabees as well. “...His reasoning was, ‘I’ll go and [my son] won’t have to.’ And my reasoning was, ‘I’ll go so [my dad] won’t have to.’” In the end, they both went. “...My father…enlisted as a Second-Class Petty Officer Equipment Operator,” Miller said. “I spent most of my first deployment in Vietnam assigned to a bridge building crew. We were tasked with the building of The Liberty Bridge... spanning the Tu Bon River southwest of Danang...” The two men spent the coming years in the same country, building similar structures, but they were often miles apart. “We were at opposite ends of South Vietnam, but I did get to visit him for a few weeks on in-country R and R,” Miller said. But travel could be dangerous, as Miller discovered when, on way to his father’s worksite in Can Tho in 1969, the jeep he was riding in was forced to turn back after coming upon a firefight. “The next day I went out with the convoy to resupply my father’s crew…” Miller recalled. “When we arrived at our destination, my dad walked by the passenger side of the truck I was riding in. I said, ‘Pretty rough night last night buddy?’” Not recognizing his son upon first glance, Miller’s father simply answered, “Yes, it was,” before walking away. “[S]uddenly he turned around, pulled me out of the truck and started hugging me,” Miller said. It was a moment that demonstrated the challenges of serving in Vietnam and the strength of their relationship. “[H]e was my best friend,” Miller said.
8 • November 2026
It was a closeness their time in the Seabees did not alter. If anything, it brought them closer, just as it did for many of the men who served with Miller and his father. “You’re in with a bunch of guys and everybody’s kind of lonely, so you bond…” Miller explained. “I talked to two of them yesterday.” It’s an experience that Miller, once his three tours were finished, missed. So he joined the police, first in homicide and robbery in California, then as an officer in Salem. “Everything bad one person can do to another person, I’ve seen,” Miller said. “But I’ve had a pretty adventurous life.” Despite the death of his father from cancer and his own battles with heart disease – both caused by exposure to Agent Orange – he does not regret his choices. “Everyone that goes to war, comes home a different person,” Miller said. “It takes real courage to go to a place where death can come at any time… [But I] bonded with some of the finest men I have ever known. Though our numbers are dwindling, I still have regular contact with the bridge crew of MCB 4.” Melanie Gherkin Despite disagreeing with – and previously protesting – the Vietnam War, in 1972 Melanie Gherkin joined what was then known as the Women’s Army Corps. “I wanted to be able to get the GI Bill for college…” she explained. “And my mom said, ‘You’re not going to change anything from the outside.’” Asked by the recruiting office what she would like to study, Gherkin chose computers. “I thought that was the wave of the future,” she recalled. Sent first to Fort McClellan in Alabama for basic training, Gherkin has fond memories of her time spent in the South. “My sergeant was a woman and she was a badass,” Gherkin said. “She was really good – firm, fair and funny.” Promoted for the first time during bootcamp, Gherkin was then sent to Fort Gordon in Georgia – the Army’s computer science school – for 10 weeks of education. “We used the computers for classified information,” Gherkin recalled. “So, we couldn’t take pens or pencils in. We had to memorize everything.” Upon finishing school, Gherkin was sent to Camp Zama – a communications base referred to as the “Pentagon of the East” – then to Tokyo. “I loved Japan,” she said. “It’s a beautiful country.” In 1974, after making sergeant, she was sent to the other Pentagon, in Washington D.C. And after that, Fort Lewis, Washington, where she finally got to practice infantry. “I was the only woman sergeant there…” Gherkin said.
ourtownlive.com
Veterans Day Observances Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1:45 to 3:15 p.m. Silverton Middle School Gym, 714 Schlador St. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. Mt. Angel Towers, 1 Towers Lane “A lot of the men challenged me, but a lot of the women challenged me too.” Looking back, Gherkin recalls stories of camaraderie – soldiers helping each other to achieve a common goal - but she remembers difficult encounters, too. “The military is like life,” she said. “You have to play the game.” Discharged in 1976, Gherkin went on to explore a variety of careers, ultimately becoming a caregiver (after her mother suffered a stroke) in a convalescent home. In 2018, Gherkin lost everything but her car when her home in Paradise, California, burned to the ground. “My brother’s been living [in Scotts Mills] for 50 years…” Gherkin said. “When his wife died, he said, come up and move in with me.” Once there, she joined the American Legion in Mount Angel where she found camaraderie with fellow veterans. “You’re always a soldier,” Gherkin said of the choice. “We feel very patriotic about our community.” James Dale Guy Dale Guy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on April 23, 1954 – the moment he was old enough. “[M]y mom wouldn’t sign the papers until I was 18,” he recalled. “That’s because the Korean War was going on.” Guy was initially sent to Camp Pendleton in California for basic training and radio school. “Then they put me on a ship with the Navy for two years…” he said. “We left San Diego on a Sunday morning, and I was seasick until I got to Okinawa 21 days later.” A member of a Marine detachment of 10 tasked with breaking Russian code, Guy sailed from the North Pole to the Philippines. “If you’re a Marine on a Navy ship you’ve got good duty,” Guy remembered. “And the food was good too.” Upon returning stateside, Guy was sent to the Naval station at Corry Beach where he served as Sergeant of the Guard until he was discharged in 1958. “It’s kind of hard to adjust to civilian life,” he admitted. Thankfully, his job at the Jantzen Knitting Mills in Portland, was still available. So he returned to the life he once lived.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
PUBLIC NOTICE But he looks back fondly on his time in the Marines and is happy to have served the country he loves. “The benefits I get from that are unbelievable,” he said. “They take care of all my medical bills and prescriptions. God bless America.” William Gragg Bill Gragg received his business degree from Oregon State University on the very same day he received his draft notice for the Vietnam War. “It was a real present,” Gragg noted wryly. “The government is always looking out for me.” The grandson of a rifle coach for the National Guard, Gragg wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, and attempted to enlist in the National Guard but they were full. So he set his sights on the Air Force. “I thought if you go into the Air Force you didn’t have to go to Vietnam. You just flew over it. I was so wrong.” The choice made, Gragg was sent to basic training in the fall of 1972, an experience he does not recall fondly. “I remember one night… I was in near tears because I couldn’t imagine how I would survive,” Gragg remembered. “But then I thought, if five million people do it, I can do it. And that got me through.” Gragg was sent to Denver where, owing to his business degree, he received training in military supply. Then he was asked where he would like to go next. “I just wanted to get back home [to Silverton],” Gragg admitted. Instead, he was sent to McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. “What a mistake.” Regardless of his feelings, Gragg did well there but he never stopped worrying that one day he would be sent to Vietnam. “I tried everything I could to get out of [McChord],” he said. He was successful, getting transferred to Altus Training Base in Oklahoma where he spent another two years. “It was an easy job, but fun,” he remembered. “It didn’t take a lot of brains.” Discharged after four years of service, Gragg headed home, where he took over John’s Men’s Shop on West Main Street. But he never forgot what the Air Force taught him. “My first real lesson was loving my fellow Americans regardless of the color of their skin,” he said. “You figured out, you don’t look at the color of their skin, you look in their heart… I’m proud to be a service person. It was a huge honor. I have no regrets.” Roger Rasmussen In 1964 Roger Rasmussen was an unemployed college dropout with the draft board breathing down his neck. “So, I went to Portland to the recruitment office,” Rasmussen
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
said, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. “I had some language experience, so they said, you can go to language school in Monterey.” But first they sent him to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for basic training. “Then I found out… they didn’t need anyone in language school,” he remembered. Instead, they sent him to Virginia to become a mechanic. “My mechanical skills were zero. They still are.” Then Rasmussen learned he was headed for Vietnam. “This guy told me to kiss my ass goodbye,” Rasmussen said, recalling his fear as he boarded the plane. Then a flight attendant let him know, “You’re not going to Vietnam, you’re going to Hawaii.” She was correct. The plane delivered Rasmussen to the Helemono Military Reservation, a top-secret communications base on the island of Oahu. He spent the next three years in Hawaii, but even from a distance, the Vietnam War had a deep and lasting effect. “I spent time at Tripler [Army Medical Center in Hawaii],” Rasmussen remembered. “I was in there for three months because of an accident I was in.” Providing care primarily for soldiers injured in Vietnam, the staff at Tripler, according to Rasmussen, took great care to separate the gravely injured soldiers coming from the front lines from the rest of the population. “My opinion is they hid them so the rest of us wouldn’t see them,” Rasmussen said. “And the only reason I found out was Marine Private [Rodriguez] – he’d lost both his legs and his genitals – was in there where I was.” “I got concerned about the way people were being treated and being forgotten…” he said, tearing up. “It impacted me a lot… I’ve always wondered what happened to him.” Recovered from his own injury, Rasmussen was eventually sent to Two Rock Military Base in California where he completed his four years of service. Using his GI Bill to earn a degree from Oregon State University, he became a CPA. “It was OK,” Rasmussen said. “But I didn’t see my family for months a year because I was the chief financial officer for a law firm.” Upon retiring, Rasmussen decided to finally pursue a vocation he genuinely enjoys – research. “One of the things my wife and I have done is genealogy. So, I contacted the State Police and asked if they needed volunteers,” Rasmussen said. “They said, ‘We’re working on a fallen trooper memorial’.”
DirectLink is a quality communications service provider that provides basic and enhanced telephony services at reasonable rates within its service territory. Basic Services are offered at the following rates: Monthly Measured Service Charge for Dial Tone on Copper Measured Residential Service ...........................$16.00 Measured Business Service...............................$15.20 Federal Subscriber Line Charge - Single Line ....$6.50 Federal Subscriber Line Charge - Multi Line .....$9.20 Service Charge for Extended Area Service (EAS) Calls on Copper Measured EAS ......................................................$.07 Residential Flat Rate EAS .................$9.00 per month Business Flat Rate EAS ...................$15.20 per month Monthly Service Charge for Dial Tone on Fiber Optic Flat Residential Service ....................................$10.00 Flat Business Service ........................................$25.00 Federal Subscriber Line Charge - Single Line ....... NA Federal Subscriber Line Charge - Multi Line ........ NA Service Charge for Extended Area Service (EAS) Calls on Fiber Optic ..............................All Included Business Access Recovery Charge for Copper Service .................................................. $3.00 per line Basic services are offered to all consumers in the DirectLink service area at the rates, terms and conditions specified in the DirectLink tariff. Directory Assistance: Local and national directory assistance calls are $.75 per local call and $.95 per national call. Touch Tone Service: Touch Tone Service is provided as part of the local service rate. Emergency 911 Services: Surcharges for 911 are assessed according to government policy. Suicide Prevention 988 Services: Surcharges for 988 are assessed according to government policy. Residential Service Protection Fund (RSPF): Surcharges for RSPF are assessed according to government policy. Financial Assistance: Low income individuals may be eligible for Federal and State telephone assistance programs which include discounts from the above basic local service charges. If you have any questions regarding these services, please contact DirectLink at 503.845.2291, or visit our Member Services Team at 155 North Garfield Street in Mt. Angel.
That project kicked off what eventually became a 12-year position as the historian for the State Police. But Rasmussen has never fully left his service behind, nor has he forgotten the men and women who served with him. “For every person you had on the front lines,” he said, “you had 10 people behind the lines supporting them.” He is proud to have been one of those people.
ourtownlive.com
503.845.2291 | www.DirectLink.coop Notice 11-01-26
November 2026 • 9
Something to Think About
Finding community, inspiration
Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast and Summit opens eyes to leadership opportunities By Melissa Wagoner
“I know as a daughter of immigrants, I grew up embracing my gratitude by taking the chances I know someone else might not have…” Campos said. “I think I do this not only because of my parents, but I hope I can inspire the Latino community to keep on proving that sí se puede, it can be done.”
When Diane Campos joined Las Aguilas – a cultural awareness club at Silverton High School – she wanted to serve the community. “We help out with ELD [English Language Development] night at Robert Frost and Butte Creek,” she said.
It’s this attitude of determination and resilience combined with a dedication to demanding work that Dr. Bordas said makes Latinos, like Campos, especially suited to leadership roles.
But, more than that, she wanted to be around SHS students who share her cultural heritage. “In a community like Silverton you don’t see as much of the Latin community together in one place,” she said. “I don’t see a lot of Hispanic people in the same place at the same time. [Las Aguilas] is nice because we all share that culture.” She had a similar feeling when she arrived at the Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast and Summit (HHMBS) in Salem on Sept. 15. “Attending the conference definitely gave me that similar feeling, especially because everyone at the summit had their own leadership positions, whether it was within their own small organizations or part of something bigger like our school districts…” Campos said. “Seeing everyone at the conference was… inspiring to see who I could be in the future.” Sponsored by PODER – a Latino leadership network established by Anthony Veliz in Woodburn in 2022 – the theme of this year’s conference was “Built on Hope. Carried Forward by Community.” It was a message Campos identified with most when Melinda Avila – founder of OYEN Wellness Center in Woodburn in 2020 – took to the stage during the community awards ceremony. “OYEN was built specifically for people who were struggling mentally during COVID,” Campos said. Explaining that what stood out to her most about Avila’s story was, when it became clear there was a need for Latino-directed mental health interventions beyond the crisis created by the pandemic, OYEN expanded their services. “[T]hey realized that most people in the Latino community had similar struggles because of their family backgrounds,” Campos said. “From there the company continued to grow every year because of that community.” It’s a need that Campos understands. “Listening to Melinda talk about OYEN and its purpose honestly seemed so relatable for most if not all firstgeneration Latinos including myself,” she confirmed. “It makes me glad that these issues are being recognized and
10 • November 2026
Dr. Juana Bordas, keynote speaker for the Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast and Summit. COURTESY OF JOHNNY BARBA
something is actually being done about it.” Currently senior, Campos plans to attend college next year with the hopes of one day becoming a mental health provider. And so, learning that one of OYEN’s missions is the support of female, bilingual, bicultural providers was personally impactful. “Melinda’s presentation… gives me more of an idea of what I could be putting my time into in the future…” Campos said, “it makes me feel kind of excited that something like this is in place as I am stepping into this area of study and that I can participate in an organization like this in the future.” And perhaps even take on a leadership role, something Campos – a member of SHS’s Associated Student Body (ASB), a section leader in her choir and president of Las Aguilas – does naturally and which she feels is an important way to honor her heritage.
“Latinos have what leaders love, which is resilience,” Dr. Bordas said. “And we love to work because work is the way we contribute… We have the right stuff for leadership in the 21st century.” And change, according to Campos, is coming. “[W]e’ve seen a rise in not just Latino leaders, but leaders from other cultures…putting their foot down and making sure their voices are heard as well,” Campos said. “I think a pretty popular one at the moment is New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani.” One reason for the change, according to Dr. Bordas, is an increase in young Latino voters. “Whether you are Latino or not, we are going through a huge generational shift,” Dr. Bordas said. “And we’re becoming a multicultural nation because young people want a multicultural world.” While it is difficult to imagine with the current anti-immigration sentiments still at play, Campos believes the future will be bright. “I think that now more than ever, the younger generations are suffering through what older generations put in place,” she explained. Adding, “Though it might have worked in the past… things need to be established to work with younger generations, not against.”
“I think following my roots means Melinda Avila, founder of OYEN Wellness Center in Woodburn, speaking at summit. to continue my education in COURTESY OF JOHNNY BARBA psychology and potentially help my That’s why Campos has taken on own community by joining or even creating my own so many leadership roles at SHS and why she plans to organization like OYEN,” she said. go into a field where she can be of service. She wants to Making the most of opportunities like these is something HHMBS keynote speaker, Dr. Juana Bordas – author and founder of the National Hispana Leadership Institute – spoke about in her address titled, “Lead with Purpose.” And it’s a topic, Campos, strongly identifies with.
ourtownlive.com
have an influence in her community, both now and in the future. “I think us Latinos have a shared understanding that leaving a legacy is not necessarily just to have our name on the achievement,” she said, “but to help future leaders…”
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Curious about Medicare Advantage plans? I can help you:
Tim, the Insurance Man
Explore options Review plans Answer questions Please call or email me with questions:
503-949-1648
timothyjohnkelleysr@gmail.com
Tim Kelley
Exclusive local team previews, predictions and profiles. Sign up for free at tinyurl.com/thelocalscore
ourtownlive.com/ourtown
Kick off the playoffs!
Catch up with more local news, sports and events
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
Thankful for our clients! Delivering thoughtful guidance, strong negotiation and results you can trust. Licensed in Oregon, serving clients in the Willamette Valley and beyond.
Tammie Sakai
503-602-9999
Tammiesakai@gmail.com
For sale $799,000 810 Chadwick St., Silverton. Modern luxuries and classic charm! 1921 remodeled 3BD, 2BA home features chef’s kitchen with enormous island, 4 ft. dual fuel cooktop/double oven, high-end appliances. Plumbing, electrical, roof and siding all new in 2018. Three-car garage with roll-up doors on both ends, perfect for projects or outdoor entertaining. Contact Tammie. wwvmls#841277
DiNae Fitzke
503-949-5309
DiNae@thebellacasagroup.com
Reduced! Huge price reduction! $600,000 990 Taylor St., Mt. Angel. 4BD/1.5BA 1917 Craftsman on .47-acre dividable lot. Beautifully preserved/updated home with hardwood floors, leaded glass built-ins, classic architectural details. New wood stove, remodeled kitchen, waterproofed basement with tons of storage, and solar panels for emergency backup. Contact DiNae. WWVMLS#844122
/SilvertonRealtor
/DiNaeFitzkeRealtor
@SilvertonRealtor
@DiNae_bellacasa
Licensed Insurance Agent Serving Silverton & surrounding areas
Calling the number above will direct you to a Licensed Insurance Agent. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the government or federal Medicare program.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
ourtownlive.com
November 2026 • 11
datebook Frequent Addresses
Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. 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 4 - 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. Dave Tacker, 760-644-3147, dave.tacker@gmail.com
Tuesday
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+. $3 suggested donation. 503-845-9464 APPY Hour, noon - 1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Drop in for technical assistance for electronic devices. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040 Silverton Mainstay, 1 - 4 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 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 Junior Explorers, 3 p.m., Mt. Angel Public. Ages 5-12. Free. 971-370-5040 Cub Scout Pack 485, 6:30 p.m., Silverton First Christian Church, 402 N First St. Boys and girls in grades K-5. 503-507-6087
12 • November 2026
Growing Awareness, Nurturing Compassion, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Zoom. Secular presentation promoting mindfulness. No experience needed. Invite: compassionatepresence@yahoo.com.
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. silvertonchamber.org Family Storytime & Indoor Playtime, 10:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Ages 2 - 5 w/adult. Free. 971-370-5040 Silver Chips Woodcarving Sessions, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton Arts Association. All skill levels. 503-873-7645 Mission of Hope Food Pantry, 2 - 4 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Fresh produce, protein options, dry goods. 503-873-7353 After School Homework Group, 3 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Work on homework with friends and classmates with a staff member available to answer questions. Free. 971-370-5040
Thursday
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, more. Ages 0-4. Free. Repeats Friday. 503-873-8706 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. Members free. Non-members $5. All welcome. 503-873-3093 Stand for Democracy, 2 - 4 p.m., Main Street Bridge, Silverton. Advocate to protect and strengthen American democracy, call attention to issues that threaten it and encourage getting out the vote. Open to all. Signs welcome. robertjsisk@yahoo.com, 503-560-5307 Crochet Club, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Learn to crochet. All supplies provided. Free. 503-873-8706 AA Meeting, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second Ave., Silverton.
Saturday
Saturday Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 10 a.m., Zoom. For families and friends of alcoholics. Zoom link: Janet.h.salem23@gmail.com
Silverton Winter Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. silvertonfarmersmarket.com Sunshine Fitness, 10 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Light exercising with follow-along video. Signed waiver required. Free. 971-370-5040 Indoor Winter Market, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wavra Farms, 7882 SE Jordan Road, Salem. wavrafarms.com Silverton Country Historical Museum, 1 - 4 p.m., 428 S Water St. Repeats Sunday. Open to public. 503-873-7070. Art of Mindfulness Meditation, 2 - 3:30 p.m. Silverton Arts Center. No experience needed. Dave Steinberg, 971-218-6641 Hora del cuento bilingüe/Bilingual Storytime (Familias/Families), 4 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. ¡Leamos libros del autor Eric Carle durante todo el mes! / Let’s read fun books by Eric Carle! Not occurring 11/28 / No se ocuro el 28 de noviembre. 971-370-5040
Monday, Nov. 2 DAR Chapter Meeting
10 a.m., Stayton Fire Station, 1988 W Ida St. Daughters of the American Revolution Abigail Scott Duniway Chapter meeting. All welcome. Free. 503-689-0991
Mt. Angel City Council
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Mt. Angel American Legion
6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, 740 E College St., Mt. Angel. All veterans are welcome. Masks optional. Jim, 503-845-6119
Wednesday, Nov. 4 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, Nov. 5 Book Turkey Craft
1 & 6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Fold your way to a book-bound turkey. Adults & teens. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton Kiwanis Club
Noon, for new location email silvertonkiwanisclub@gmail.com. New members welcome. Repeats Nov. 19.
Silverton Lions Club
7 p.m., Silverton Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St. New members welcome. Repeats Nov. 19. Dagmar, 971-720-3811
Friday, Nov. 6 Family Movie Night
4:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Watch Home Alone. Free popcorn. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040
ourtownlive.com
Local Author Event
6 - 8 p.m., Atlas Bookshop, 214 S Water St., Silverton. Local author Kate Hamberger Yakis reads and signs her memoir Dances with Fire. All ages. Free. atlasbookshop.com
Lunaria Opening Reception
6 - 8 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Meet November’s artists. Main Floor Gallery: “It Starts with the Tree,” artwork by Mary Goodson and sculpture by Deborah Unger. Loft Gallery: “Just Looking Around,” digital imaging paintings. Free. 503-873-7734
Saturday, Nov. 7 Sip & Shop
Noon - 4 p.m., The Farm on Golden Hill, 11506 Kaufman Road, Silverton. Festive afternoon filled with family-friendly activities, treats, drinks. Free admission. Repeats Nov. 8. thefarmongoldenhill.com
Sunday, Nov. 8 2026 Kinship Dinner
4 - 7 p.m., The Oregon Garden, 879 W Main St., Silverton. Catered meal, wine and beverages, silent auction, live music and programming that highlights Sheltering Silverton’s effort to address homelessness and poverty in Silverton. $50/person. Benefits Sheltering Silverton. Tickets at shelteringsilverton.org/events.
Monday, Nov. 9 Mt. Angel School District
6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Public School, 590 E College St., Mt. Angel. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-845-2345, masd91.org
Silver Falls School District
7 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-873-5303, silverfallsschools.org
Tuesday, Nov. 10 Red Cross Blood Drive
8:15 a.m. - 2 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Appointments: redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767
Ancestry Detectives
10 a.m. - noon, Silver Falls Library. Learn how to use land and courthouse records. All welcome. Free. Linda B., 503-551-9028
Dementia Caregiver Support
1 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Support group provides a safe space to learn practical tools, new resources and make connections. Free. 503-873-3093
Book Talk Book Club
7 p.m., Atlas Bookshop, 214 S Water St., Silverton. Discuss Brawler by Lauren Groff. Copies at Atlas for 10 percent off. Adults. RSVP: atlasbookshopsilverton.com/events
Wednesday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day Thursday, Nov. 12 Cancer Support Group
11 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. For those affected by cancer or those who are adjacent to those affected by cancer. All ages. Free. Repeats Nov. 19. 503-873-3093
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Women’s Connection Luncheon
Noon, Silverton Assembly of God, 437 N James St. Featuring Mt. Angel Mercantile, a boutique featuring unique home decor, vintage treasures and more. Speaker is John Lemkuhl who shares his White House experiences in his Army days. $12 for lunch. Call Stacey, 503-680-3786, for reservations.
TAB/Book Club
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss Light and Air by Minday Nichols Wendell. Then meet for Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Pizza. Free. Ages 12-18. 971-370-5040
Mt. Angel Writing Group
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Warm up followed by fun challenge with fellow writers. Adults & teens. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton Zenith Women’s Club
6 p.m., Silverton First Baptist Church, 229 Westfield St. Refreshments and fellowship followed by a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Becky, 971-600-4713
Potluck Trivia Night
7 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Bring your favorite dish to share. Play solo or form a team of up to five adults to win prizes. Families welcome. Free. 971-370-5040
Friday, Nov. 13 Chess Club
3 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Play chess with friends. New to the game or played for years, all are welcome. Free. 971-370-5040
Saturday, Nov. 14 Holiday Happiness Bazaar
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 Division St. Unique selection of handmade and homemade gifts from local artisans, bakers, crafters and makers. Repeats 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Nov. 15. rgembree@gmail.com
Wreath Making
Noon - 2 p.m., The Hive, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Wreaths are $45 each. Register online at thehivesilverton.org. Limited spots available. 503-930-5722
History Talk
Sunday, Nov. 15
Silverton Christmas Market
String Quartet Concert
3 p.m., St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Violinists Mark Babson and Stephanie Barth, violist Karen Vincent and cellist Tommi Leinonen play world premieres of String Quartets Nos. 20, 21 and 22 by Silverton composer Christopher Wicks. Free-will donations encouraged. Open to public.
Monday, Nov. 16 Vigil for Peace
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, social justice issues on all levels of society. Open to all. 503-560-5773
Tuesday, Nov. 17 Silver Falls Library Book Club
7 - 8:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Discuss The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. All welcome. 503-897-8796
Wednesday, Nov. 18 Watercolors & Cooking Lab
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create a work of art and enjoy homemade popcorn balls. Ages 12-18. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton City Council
6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. 503-873-5321
Holiday Tree Ornament
6:30 - 8 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Help decorate the library’s holiday tree by making two ornaments. Adults & older teens. Sign up by calling 503-873-8796
Thursday, Nov. 19 Mt. Angel Book Club
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Silver Falls Writers Group
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Share what you are working on or listen to others’ writings. Free. Ron, 503-873-8796
3 - 4:30 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Learn the story of the founding of Sisters of St. Mary in Oregon from their origins to establishing their first convent in Sublimity. Presented by St. Boniface Community Archives and Museum. Light refreshments. Free. 503-769-8860, brownhouse.org
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. 503-845-9291
4 - 9:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Festhalle, 500 Wilco Hwy. Annual Silverton & Mt. Angel FFA alumni silent and live auction. Dinner included. $40/person. Tickets at http://tinyurl.com/M4E2SFUD.
Friday, Nov. 20
FFA Alumni Auction
Veterans Day Dinner
4 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. Cocktail hour followed by veteran programming at 5 p.m. Dinner served at 6 p.m. Veterans are free. Others are $20. Reservation deadline is Nov. 11. To RSVP, call 503-873-4567 or visit https://forms.gle/oy29wc5xexs17pwk8. Open to nonmembers.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
5 - 9 p.m., Oregon Garden Resort, 895 W Main St., Silverton. Explore authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Visit Santa, enjoy live music, the biergarten, cozy up to a wood-burning fire pit. Take a ride down the snowless tubing hill or skate at the ice skating rink. No tickets at the door. All admission, snowless tubing and ice skating tickets must be purchased online in advance. Ticket sales end at 3 p.m. daily. Vendors are cashless; bring a debit or credit card for purchases. Tickets at silvertonchristmasmarket.com. Runs through Dec. 31. Closed Nov. 23-24, 26, 30 and Dec. 1, 7-8.
Saturday, Nov. 21 Scotts Mill Craft Fair
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Scotts Mill Grange, 299 Fourth St. Do some holiday shopping while supported the Grange.
Monday, Nov. 23
Pay What You Can Thanksgiving
OSO Silverton-sponsored Thanksgiving meal. Dinner includes turkey, gravy, stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and veggies. Today is last day to order for pickup Nov. 25 or 26. To order, email ososilverton@gmail.com.
Tuesday, Nov. 24 PFLAG Silverton
7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Everyone welcome. Under 18 must have parent/guardian. 541-786-1613, silvertonpflag@gmail.com
Wednesday, Nov. 25 Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Mt. Angel Planning Commission
10:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Celebrate Thanksgiving with Charlie Brown. Ages 0-5. Free. 971-370-5040
New Romantics Book Club
Thursday, Nov. 26 Thanksgiving
7 p.m., Atlas Bookshop, 214 S Water St., Silverton. Discuss The Ever King by LJ Andrews. Pick up a copy at Atlas for 10 percent off. Adults. RSVP: atlasbookshopsilverton.com/events.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Silverton First Baptist Church, 229 Westfield St. For appointments, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Tabletop Gaming Club
3 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Join a team of heroes to explore a world of magic and mystery using D&D. Pre-made characters available. No experience required. Adults & teens. 971-370-5040
Turkey Trot
8:30 a.m., Robert Frost Elementary, 201 Westfield St., Silverton. Brand-new 5K course and separate 1-mile fun run/walk. Costumes are encouraged. Strollers and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Each participant will receive a ticket to win a prize donated by one of Silverton’s local businesses. $10 adults, $5 students age 6-18. Free for kids 0-5 with paid adult. All proceeds benefit Robert Frost PTC. Sign up at runsignup.com/race/or/ silverton/PTCsilvertonturkeytrot or the day of the race (add $5).
ourtownlive.com
Jazzercise Benefit Workout
9 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. 1-hour dance cardio and strength training workout benefiting Silverton Area Community Aid. $10 or five food items. All ages; participants under 12 need an adult present. No preregistration required. Andi, 503-873-8210
Free Thanksgiving Dinner
1 - 3 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. Free Thanksgiving dinner. No reservations needed. Sponsored by Elizabeth Hoke Memorial Trust.
Friday, Nov. 27 Coats for Kids
9 - 11 a.m., Catholic Community Services, 806 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Free coats to all families in need. Sponsored by Mt. Angel Knights of Columbus. 503-845-2245
For the Love of Christmas
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., 3800 S Liberty Road, Salem. More than 40 local vendors. Free admission. Repeats Nov. 28-29. Hosted by For the Love of Pete. fortheloveofpeterentals.com
Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. For appointments, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Magic at the Mill
5:30 - 8 p.m., Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 SE Mill St., Salem. Thousands of twinkling lights, living history demonstrations, museum tours, Santa visits, children’s activities, vendor marketplace, live performances and more. $17 adults. $14 seniors 65+, $12 youth ages 6-17. Kids 3 and under are free. Continues through Nov. 30. Tickets at willametteheritage.org.
Saturday, Nov. 28 Sip & Santa
1 - 6 p.m., The Farm on Golden Hill, 11506 Kaufman Road, Silverton. Celebrate the magic of the season with a festive afternoon filled with family-friendly activities, holiday treats, seasonal drinks and Christmas cheer. Santa visits 2 - 5 p.m., with professional photos sessions available by ticket. Admission and children’s activities are free. Food and festive beverages will be available for purchase. thefarmongoldenhill.com ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Datebook Submission Information
To get your events and fundraisers published in Our Town, send your releases – including date, time, location, activity, cost, contact information – to datebook@ mtangelpub.com. Or drop them off at 401 Oak St., Silverton.
November 2026 • 13
Paid Advertisement
Vote “Yes” For Western Civilization!
O
ashamed of the very things that made us exceptional. We felt embarrassed that our achievements set us apart from the rest of the world. Our prosperity somehow became a source of guilt. We no longer believed we deserved and had earned our greatness. …
n October 7, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made an important speech at The Pnyx, the hillside in Athens, Greece, where, as early as 507 BC, the Athenians would gather for their popular assemblies. The Pnyx is one of the most important sites in the making of our democratic republic, and so it is an appropriate setting for the Secretary’s remarks concerning the decline and revival of Western Civilization. Since Secretary Rubio’s comments received little attention in the legacy news media, I felt it my duty to bring a few of his key points to the attention of my readers. I have been forced to edit his speech down for the sake of space. The entire speech can be found on YouTube. This speech may, in the eyes of future generations, be recognized as one of the most important speeches in modern history, not only for Western Civilization but ultimately for the entire world. The lights of truth, beauty, liberty, prosperity, and justice are being extinguished in our day by foolishness. If we fail to respond quickly, a new Dark Age will ensue. SECRETARY RUBIO: “…For thousands of years, the civilization that built what stands behind me [i.e., the ancient Acropolis of Athens, upon which stands the Parthenon] has captivated the imagination of the Western world. Generations of our statesmen, artists, and philosophers have looked to it with wonder and they’ve looked to it with awe. … “Here, in Athens, we found the first full realization of all the essential traits that would come to define the West… “This was the foundation of the Western mind: our math, our science, our medicine. Our philosophy, ethics, and religion. It paved the way for the gospel of Jesus Christ to find fertile soil in Europe and flourish into the empire of Christendom. It was the foundation of the riches of Christian theology – of Augustine and Aquinas and the whole tradition of natural law. It gave birth to a civilization marked not just by a common culture, it was marked by a common anthropology – a common view of man and his place in the universe. Its descendants would share not just the idea of a natural order, but a distinctive understanding of virtue; of destiny and fate; of truth, goodness, and beauty; of a code that dictates how men ought to live; of objective standards and ideals to strive towards. For the Greeks of antiquity, the pursuit of excellence was the very principle of man’s existence. They organized all of civic life around contest, ambition, competition: in philosophy
By Gregg Harris
Gregg Harris, Tea
ching Pastor at
GraciousCross.o
rg
and poetry, in sculpture and drama, in athletics and art, in war and statecraft. The classical Greek city was an arena for great men to test and prove themselves, to hone their potential through perpetual struggle – to be the best, the strongest, the most beautiful, straining to inch ever closer to perfection. “Now I know that to modern ears, what I just described, this way of life, may sound odd; it may even sound cruel. The ideal of many ideologies in our time has, frankly, become a world of perfect safety, devoid of risk or failure, with neither the glory of victory nor the shame of defeat. Too often these days, we build downwards. We design our standards to ensure no one will lose; we preoccupy ourselves more with the comfort of the worst than the potential of the best. We hold the most exceptional things among us hostage to the average, the ordinary, the mediocre. “The men who made the Parthenon, they built upwards. They held that the highest and most noble aspiration in life was to surpass all others, to strive to be the best in all things. The ancient Greek city-states were filled with intense passion and rivalry and faction and conflict. But from that constant struggle for distinction came the great flowering of art and philosophy and political and intellectual energy that would transform a collective of Mediterranean cities into the birthplace of the greatest civilization in the world. The thumos, as the ancient Greeks called it – the fire of passion, strength, courage, pride – is the heart of great civilization. And without it, nations lose their will to fight, the will to strive, the will to survive. “Today, too much of the West has forgotten this quality. Over time, we in the West came to feel
“And with every passing year, we seemed to outsource more of our sovereignty, transferring our decisions to global bureaucracies far beyond the reach of our control…. And now, today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Because the next decade and the decisions we make will write the story of the next century. The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world or resigns itself to a future of atrophy and servitude and decline. We will either choose to act now or lose the choice to act at all…. “These are the qualities that would shape the Western moral imagination. From the Christian martyr who refused to betray his faith to the
“This was the foundation of the
Western mind: our math, our science, our medicine. Our philosophy, ethics, and religion. It paved the way for the gospel of Jesus Christ to find fertile soil in Europe and flourish into the empire of Christendom.” — Marco Rubio, Athen, Greece, 2026
patriot who gave his life for his country; from Saint Thomas More to the Battle of the Alamo, running through the immortal closing words of the Declaration of Independence of the United States which says, “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” “It is from the Greeks that the West inherited its sense of duty – an unbreakable loyalty to one’s code, one’s cause, one’s country. The heroes of the West are those who choose to remain faithful to their duty precisely when it is most difficult and painful to do so: the man who is bound by his word, the soldier who will not abandon his post, the proverbial captain, who goes down with his ship…. “And all of us – not just Americans, but Europeans and our friends across the West – must relearn the lessons our forefathers took from this place and from its history. It shows us that ours is the inheritance of great heroes, and that we should be intensely proud of where we come from. We should marvel at what our
forefathers carved out of this countryside. The story of our civilization is the greatest story ever known to man. And it began here, with the first men and women of the West. From them we can rediscover the virtues, the courage, and the strength to confront the dangers that we face in our time. Thank you.” Vote Wisely on Tues., November 3 GREGG HARRIS: We have an important election coming up this Tuesday, November 3, in which we get to choose which direction we want our nation to go. At the moment, we are paying the price of eliminating the threat of Iran ever acquiring nuclear weapons. The costs of doing so are real. But in this difficulty, let us not be so foolish as to heed the siren song of organized envy (known as communism), which strives to destroy all the good that Western Civilization has accomplished. Let us support those political and economic principles that are in fact working best everywhere, and reject utopian ideas that have never actually worked anywhere. Let us conserve the best of what our forefathers understood and believed—that every human life is precious, that liberty is not a license to sin, and that merit is the only path by which to truly rise. By our votes, we are creating the world we will all have to live in together. The Gospel Concerning Jesus Christ So, in what way has Western Civilization been refined by Christianity? The answer is found in the gospel. Jesus Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. He lived the perfect life of obedience to God that we were all supposed to live but have not. Then, He died the death that our sins deserve. But in order to prove that He is who He said He was and that His plan to rescue us actually works, He rose from the dead. Jesus is Lord, and as Lord He commands us all to love one another. Christianity did not simply build upon Greek ideals of excellence. It transformed the very meaning of that greatness by making humble service to others to be its highest expression. So, believe this good news. Humbly confess your own sins to God and ask Him to forgive you on the basis of what Jesus has done for you. Believe, and you will be born again (John 3:1-21). Then, knowing that you already have eternal life in Christ, begin to take real risks in doing good. Live boldly for the glory of God and for the good of others. That will benefit your family, your neighbors, and your nation. And in doing so, strive not just to do your best, but rather, like the Greeks and Romans of antiquity, strive to be the best at all that you do. Got questions? Please call 971-370-0967.
The v iews ex pressed by th is adve r ti s e r do no t ne ce s s ar i ly re pre s e nt t h e vi ew s o f O u r Tow n o r i t s s t a f f. 14 • November 2026
ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Your Health
Preventing addiction By Melissa Wagoner
During the 25 years Dr. Jill Pearson worked as a pediatrician she developed a passion for what she refers to as “upstream prevention” by providing support and education to parents and caregivers around the topics of healthy brain development and the effect early childhood experiences have on lifelong health. “In the first years of life, a child’s brain forms faster than at any other time…” Dr. Pearson wrote in a brochure about her pediatric consulting practice, PathWays. “These connections are shaped by relationships, responsive caregiving, and everyday moments of connection. Warm, predictable interactions – talking, reading, playing, comforting and responding – build the brain’s foundation for learning, emotional regulation, and resilience. “Growing evidence shows that these early experiences don’t just influence childhood, they shape lifelong health, coping skills, and the capacity to thrive, even in the face of adversity.” And so, it was more than a little concerning when Dr. Pearson began witnessing opioidaddicted mothers giving birth to opioidaddicted babies. “But I leaned into my trauma-informed training,” Dr. Pearson said, recalling her belief that alienating the mother would only further harm the baby. “I would say, ‘Congratulations!’ Then I would refer to that baby by name for the rest of the consultation,” she recalled. Explaining that, for many drug-addicted women, this was the first time they were treated in a way that did not invoke shame. “They felt cared about,” she confirmed. That was important because, “We had the chance to change the trajectory of that mom and baby’s life.” Then fentanyl became more prevalent and Dr. Pearson’s previously helpful tactics no longer had the same effect. “Fentanyl made the trauma 100 times worse,” she said. “The pull of fentanyl addiction meant they just delivered and left.” Not only that, but Dr. Pearson began hearing stories about adolescent fentanyl use, including overdoses. Suddenly “upstream prevention” began to take on a new meaning. It was no longer only about supporting parents through the early childhood stages of brain growth and
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Marketing, access and lack of information can lead to addiction in kids. ©CARBALLO / 123RF.COM
connection. Dr. Pearson was concerned about young children accidentally gaining access to their parents’ recreational drugs – some of which look and taste like candy – and adolescents starting down a path of addiction thanks to increased marketing, ease of access and a lack of information about long term health consequences. “I felt so passionate about this topic that I stepped away from the bedside…” Dr. Pearson said. “I wondered, how can we be better informed?” The mission she undertook was not so different from the one she committed to in her pediatric practice – to support and educate those who care for children. But this time she was working on a broader scale. In 2025 she became an independent contractor assisting with Marion County’s Substance Use Prevention Campaign, a certified trainer for the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and a certified HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) Facilitator. In this capacity she began to spread awareness of current substance use trends. “Prevention has so many faces,” Dr. Pearson explained. The primary one, according to Dr. Pearson, is knowledge. Which is why she suggests all parents, caregivers, teachers and coaches educate themselves about the substances being marketed to kids today. “I want to make kids and parents smarter,” Dr. Pearson said. “Because there is an industry marketing to the next generation of addiction.” Potent THC gummies, Smart Vapes and Kratom are just a few of the products on Dr. Pearson’s list of concerns. “Kratom I can buy in any gas station,”
One doctor’s mission Dr. Pearson said. “They look like FiveHour Energy bottles but it’s 100 percent addictive… It works on the opioid receptors in the brain… The community needs to know this is in our stores.” And that kids are accessing it.
Students lead Nov. 10 blood drive at SHS The Silverton High chapter of HOSA, a club consisting of future health professionals, is teaming up with the American Red Cross for a blood drive
Similarly, vaping products – though the legal purchasing age in Oregon is 21 – are being used by much younger kids and at an astonishing rate.
on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“Pediatricians ask, ‘Do you sleep with your vape pen,’” she said. “And they do.”
Silverton HOSA officials noted that
Because today’s Smart Vapes can do anything a cellphone can do, including provide computer games that enhance the addictive properties of the vaporized nicotine or THC.
blood donation.
“They do all the things,” Dr. Pearson said, noting that the combination is especially harmful to adolescent brains. “The beautiful thing about the adolescent brain is it’s wired for dopamine…” she explained. That’s why teens are especially susceptible to substance abuse and addiction. “And the prefrontal cortex is not developed in teens, so they don’t have that rational brain.” And so, it’s up to parents and caregivers to provide the information that will help adolescents make good decisions. “Early communication is important… We have to start talking to kids at 10 to 12,” Dr. Pearson said. “They need to know what’s out there and what it does to you… My favorite message to teens is, don’t be duped by an industry that’s trying to harm you.” For more information about PathWays visit pathways-pediatric-consulting.com. OR CCB #67422
The blood drive is set for the high school from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.
up to three lives can be saved by one
“It’s not a scary process and it helps the community a lot,” said Gretchen Huebsch, president of the Silverton HOA chapter. Here are some tips on who can participate and how: Age: You have to be 17 or older, with 16-year-olds eligible with parental consent. Preparation: Drink lots of water. No alcohol or caffeine. Eat breakfast that morning, get plenty of sleep the night before and make sure you aren’t feeling sick. Bring: Your ID and wear a shortsleeved shirt. Timing: The whole process takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Sign up at tinyurl.com/yrt3h6d5. – James Day
Commercial & Residential Services Family Owned
New Installs Doors • Openers Preventative Maintenance Lubricate / Door Adjustments
Repair Services Broken Springs • Cables Off Replace Damaged Sections & Product
Serving throughout the Willamette Valley HMOverheadDoors.com 503-829-8814 txt. 503-444-0522
ourtownlive.com
November 2026 • 15
The Forum
SFSD Board of Directors: School district children need you now As members of the Silver Falls School Board, our highest responsibility is ensuring that every student in our district has access to a safe, secure, and modern learning environment where they can thrive. After extensive longrange facilities planning, rigorous facility condition assessments, and invaluable input from over 30 community members, parents, and educators; a plan forward was brought to our board. This plan is laid out in Measure 24-528 which is unanimously endorsed by our board and is on the Nov. 3 ballot. Our district’s capital facility challenges can no longer be addressed through routine maintenance and temporary patches. Key parts of the almost 90-yearold Silverton Middle School campus are currently unusable, forcing students into portable classrooms for core instruction. In our rural communities, students attend
facilities built between 1928 and 1947 that require significant accessibility and structural upgrades. Under Oregon law, general obligation bonds are the only mechanism available to school districts to fund major capital construction. Measure 24-528 offers our community a fiscally responsible, forward-looking plan to: Maintain our current tax rate: Because our previous bond obligation is retiring, this measure is structured to maintain our existing bond tax rate of approximately $1.88 per $1,000 of assessed value – resulting in no rate increase for local taxpayers. Maximize state investment: Voter approval unlocks an additional $10.2 million in state matching funds through the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) program, bringing total capital investment across our schools to approximately $97 million without
additional local tax burden. Reconstruct Silverton middle school: Replace failing infrastructure with a secure, 21st-century middle school campus combining both new construction and modernization of sound existing structures. Preserve our rural K-8 model: Build a modern, unified rural K-8 facility serving students from Central Howell, Evergreen, and Pratum. This project preserves our community’s valued rural educational model while reducing ongoing operating and maintenance overhead across aging individual sites. Protect districtwide assets: Address high-priority repairs, safety upgrades, and essential building system replacements at school facilities across the entire district. Investing in our schools protects property values, strengthens our community, and
demonstrates our shared commitment to our children’s future. Measure 24-528 is a balanced, essential step toward safe and functional schools. We urge our neighbors and community members throughout the Silver Falls School District to join us in voting YES on Measure 24-528 this November, for both our present and future students. Silver Falls School District Board of Directors, Phil Wiesner - Zone 1 (Board Chair) Sarah Dalisky - Zone 2 Derrick Foxworth - Zone 3 Wally Lierman - Zone 4 (Board Vice Chair) Daniel Cote - Zone 5 Josh Ort - Zone 6 Gene Cannon - Zone 7
Yes for upgrades, no on the bond
Vote yes for kids now and in the future
I would vote for the school bond but there are some very trying questions that need to be answered
With three students attending Silver Falls School District public schools, I’m getting quite an education on what funding the state of Oregon provides for schools and all the many restrictions on how it can be utilized. I was surprised to learn that the state does not allow this funding to be used for capital projects. Bonds are the only method for building improvements. This is intended to ensure communities have a voice in how their schools are run, but to me it feels very limiting. I am continually shocked when we travel and see modern schools with full program capacity. My children sense that their schools made up of modulars and trailers are not functioning on the same level as schools with actual
First, why destroy so much of the middle school? Remodel by adding a new roof and upgrading the infrastructure. This would be way more economical. The exterior is a beautiful durable brick with a wonderful history. I have worked on remodeling many schools during my construction career and they have all turned out great and saved a lot of money. The parents, students and teachers were all very happy with the results. I know we need new schools like Howell Prairie in a better location. Again, you would ask a loan officer for a mortgage for a house with NO plans on a
piece of land you have not secured? That would be totally absurd. The board needs to be more transparent and fiscally responsible. Open ended requests is NOT being responsible. Why has the district sent me four different flyers about this bond? That has cost the district a lot of money! I have been in business for over 45 years and this is NOT the responsible way to conduct transactions. Please go back to the drawing board and make your requests based on sound practices. NO open ended requests, please. John Russ, Scotts Mills
classrooms and hallways. Current and future generations of SFSD youth deserve strong schools that will enable them to learn in modern, efficient and safe environments, and prepare them to be productive, capable adults ready for a career or post high school education. A bond gives this community a choice in creating a powerful future for SFSD students. Without a bond, I worry our SFSD schools are vulnerable to closures due to being perpetually unable to meet basic safety standards. Please vote YES on the school bond to keep the future of SFSD schools in our community’s hands. Meredith MacDonald, Scotts Mills
Beautifying your outdoor spaces for over 28 years!
• Weekly landscape maintenance • Landscape lighting • Seasonal trimming, prunings & cleanups • All phases of landscape • Irrigation repair & installation experts construction & renovations Call us today! Russell Postma:
503-881-1402
postmaslandscape.com 16 • November 2026
LCB #7928
ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Rural kids deserve an equitable education As longtime residents and the parents of children attending our local schools, including Central Howell and Silverton High School, we see firsthand how desperately our district needs this investment. While our students and teachers do incredible work every day, they are doing it in buildings that are rapidly wearing out. Like many of my neighbors, we were deeply frustrated by the past administration’s financial mismanagement, which created a massive budget deficit and eroded community trust. However, punishing our students for the mistakes of past leadership will not fix our classrooms. Under the guidance of our new administration led by Superintendent Kim Kellison, the district has completely reformed its financial oversight, added strict procurement rules, and successfully balanced the budget. They have done the hard work to correct past wrongs and earn back our trust. The conditions at our rural campuses make it clear that our students cannot wait any longer. Voting YES on Silver Falls School District Measure 24-528 is our opportunity to build a brand new, modern rural K–8 school to consolidate and serve Evergreen, Pratum, and Central Howell families. This new school will transform rural education in our district. Instead of learning in outdated, cramped spaces, our rural kids will finally have access to modern science
labs, dedicated technology spaces, and proper athletic facilities that match what town-based students receive. It ensures our rural children get an equitable, 21st-century education that prepares them seamlessly for the transition to Silverton High. If this bond fails, the consequences for our schools will be severe. The district’s old bond debt is about to expire, meaning we have a rare window to address these emergencies without raising our current tax rate. If we vote no, that opportunity is gone. The district will be forced to siphon millions from its newly balanced general operating budget just to keep up with emergency roof patches and failing systems. Worse, if the decaying facilities at Silverton Middle School or our rural campuses deteriorate to the point of decommissioning, hundreds of our students will face massive displacement, overcrowded classrooms, and fewer academic resources. We cannot let the failures of the past compromise our children’s safety and education today. A vote for Measure 24-528 is a vote to protect our property values, support our hardworking teachers, and provide our children with the safe, stable learning environments they deserve – all at zero net tax increase to our community. Let’s look forward, choose our kids over past political frustrations, and vote YES on Measure 24-528. Pete & Natalie Bushey, Central Howell
Nightly Live Music • Su-Th, 7-10pm | F-Sa, 8-11pm Daily Happy Hour • 2-4pm November 2026 11/1 Lisa James Country, Folk Americana 11/16 11/2 James F. Wright Acoustic/Songwriter 11/17 11/3 Don Mitchell Classic Rock, Country, Blues & Jazz 11/18 11/4 Dave and Peggy Country 11/19 11/5 Jobe Woosley & Co. Folk-Americana 11/20 11/21 11/6 Melts In Your Mouth Acoustic Classic Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz 11/22 Rough Riders 11/7 11/23 11/8 Malderine Singer/Songwriter & Rock 11/24 Barrie Dempsey Folk/Americana 11/9 11/25 11/10 Billy D Roots Based Rock (Classic & Blues) 11/26 11/11 Bernie Sims Classic Rock & Pop 11/27 11/12 Harlan Rivers Duo Country 11/28 11/13 Jess n Josh Acoustic Country 11/14 M&M Classic Rock, Blues, Country 11/29 11/15 Chihuahua Desert Country/ Americana 11/30
895 W. Main St., Silverton
Jess n Josh Acoustic Country Don Mitchell Classic Rock, Country, Blues & Jazz Chasing Ebenezer Folk Next of Kin Acoustic Country Rudolf Korv Americana Local Brew Classic Rock Cover Band Sig Paulson Americana Aram Arslanian Folk Rock & Classic Rock Austin Sweeny Country KFM Classic Country & Light Rock No Live Music: Thanksgiving Day
BlackSmith Neighbors Americana Ellen Whyte & Garry Meziere Duo Blues
Nate and Josh Country Deni Hermann 60s-80s Folk Rock
Music schedule is subject to change. Visit OregonGardenResort.com for current schedule.
Quality Dental Care in a Friendly Environment
Status quo does not support kids Our choice is clear: 1. Vote to provide for long needed improvements in facilities, save administrative and maintenance costs, and provide for a uniform educational program (K-8) for ALL kids, or, 2. Continue the status quo and force the board and administration to make difficult budget and facility decisions that are NOT the best for our students. A bit of history may help reinforce the second choice as being BAD. My time line may not be precise, but the results are accurate, I think. After the high school was finished in 2008 (those bonds being paid in full in 2027), the board submitted a bond to replace Eugene Field and also do repair work at Schlador Street. It failed. Subsequently, Eugene
Field was demolished, Mark Twain and Robert Frost were made K-5 schools and grades 6-8 were moved to the current middle school. That is our current state, especially unsatisfactory for the middle school. A failed bond means continued use of a terrible middle school facility and, in my opinion, the closure of Evergreen with subsequent changes in attendance boundaries. It is also likely that such a state will endure for a few more years. The choice is abundantly clear for me. I will continue to support my grandkids and all other current and future students in our school district. Ray Kaser, Silverton Former SHS teacher, former Silverton Elementary School District board member
C o m p l e t e Dental Servi ces
Fillin gs • Cro w n s • Ro o t C a n a ls Im pla n ts • E x t ra c t io n s • Bo t o x ™ In v is a lig n ™
Submissions Welcomed Letters to the editor can be directed to ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com or mailed to Editor, Our Town, P.O. Box 927, Mount Angel, OR 97362. It is recommended submissions be limited to fewer than 500 words. Our Town reserves the right to edit for clarity and space.
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
ourtownlive.com
New patients welcome Matthew B. Chase, D.M.D.
Nathan C. Braxmeyer, D.M.D.
303 N. First • Silverton 503-873-8614
November 2026 • 17
Now Offering Same Day CROWNS
Passages
Mary Ann Gasper July 4, 1930 – Oct. 12, 2026 Mary Anna Gasper, age 96, passed away at home in Silverton, Oregon, on Oct. 12, 2026. She was surrounded by loved ones.
We accept – and are in-network to – most insurance companies.
$ 99 New Patient Special
Mary was born to Anton and Anna (Zimmerman) Pfeifer in Hays, Kansas, one of 14 children. Her family moved to Silverton when she was a teenager. A few years later she met the love of her life, Michael Gasper, and they married in 1951. They raised eight children and were married for almost 66 years until Michael’s death in 2017. Mary was a wonderful homemaker, wife and mother. She enjoyed family gatherings and caring for others. She had a great sense of humor and was very talented. An accomplished cook, baker, and seamstress, she enjoyed embroidery, quilting, cake decorating, doll making and many other arts.
Includes comprehensive exam and full mouth x-rays. Cannot be combined with other offers. Limit one per customer. Does not include/apply towards an adult/child cleaning, periodontal maintenance, periodontal scaling/root planing. Expires: Dec. 31, 2026.
Visit our website or call to schedule your appointment. 503-845-2273 mtangeldental.com 310 E. Charles St. Mon-Thurs 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mary enrolled in beauty school in the late 1970s and was a hair stylist for several years.
Dentures • Partials • Crowns • Bridges • Fillings • Root Canals Implants • Invisalign/Clear Aligners • Extractions Botox • Fillers • Cosmetic
Mary was preceded in death by her husband
Michael, son James, and 12 siblings. She is survived by her children Ray Gasper, Steve Gasper (Terri), Michelle Bassett (Neville), Dan Gasper (Jenelle), Paul Gasper, Chris Gasper, Caroline Christiansen (Chris), six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, as well as her sister, Alice Weissenfels of Silverton. Mary lived at Davenport Place in Silverton the last 10 years of her life. She enjoyed many friendships there, including with the staff, who pour out love, compassion and professionalism to those who live there as well as their families.. Her family is grateful for the great care they provided Mary over the years. They also extend thanks to the staffs at Serenity Hospice and Unger Funeral Chapel for their support. A funeral mass will be on Friday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Silverton. A reception will follow. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
For updates on news, sports and events visit our website: ourtownlive.com/ourtown
In Memory Of …
Charlene Lorraine Haury Almina Joyce Laitinen Mary Anna Gasper Leonard Mathew Rothenberger Juana “Juanita” C. Allen Ronald Charles Annen Diane Elizabeth Hill
May 18, 1938 - Oct. 6, 2026 Nov. 4, 1940 - Oct. 10, 2026 July. 4, 1930 - Oct. 12, 2026 Jan. 22, 1934 - Oct. 15, 2026 Aug. 10, 1932 - Oct. 17, 2026 July 5, 1958 - Oct. 16, 2026 Dec. 27, 1936 - Oct. 20, 2026
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.
Your local funeral chapels serving Mt. Angel since 1919 & Silverton since 1924. Always available at your time of need
190 Railroad Ave. • Mt. Angel 229 Mill St. • Silverton www.ungerfuneralchapel.com 503-845-2592 503-873-5141 18 • November 2026
ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Marjorie Nell Dicks Aug.4, 1930 – Aug. 15, 2026
Carl Allan Barber June 6, 1948 – Oct. 14, 2026 Carl Allan Barber, age 78, passed away peacefully on Oct. 14 in Mount Angel, Oregon. He was born June 6, 1948, in Silverton to Charles and Lila Barber. He attended Scotts Mills Middle School and Silverton High, and worked at the Woodburn Auction. He shared 50 wonderful years of marriage
with his beloved wife, Linda; along with two children, Daryl (Amanda) and Lila (Scott), and grandson Marcus. Carl is survived by siblings Rob, Bill, Fred, Wayne, and Leona, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Albert, Richard, Kenneth, and Mike, and sisters Nellie, Betty, and Genevieve.
Ronald Charles Annen July 5, 1958 – Oct. 16, 2026 Ron Annen was the second child born to parents Norbert and Phyllis Annen of Silverton, Oregon, and was raised on his parent’s farm. He attended Monitor grade school and graduated from Silverton High, where he excelled in academics and sports. In 1989 he married Nancy Wilmes and welcomed her son Josh. In 1991, a son Jeff was born, and son Jeremy in 1994. They all played sports and Ron watched, filmed, and never missed a game for 13 years. His pride ran deep in the St. Paul community where he took great care of the football field and continued work with
the St. Paul Rodeo, all while working for Marion Ag Service for 21 years. He was involved in the St. Paul Rodeo, Sublimity Harvest Festival, Silverton Elks, Jaycees, and Molalla Buckeroo. Ron is survived by siblings Rob (Candy), Greg (Shelli), Nancy (Dennis), Carol (Bo), Chris (Mark), children Josh (Katie), Jeff (Kayla), Jeremy (Bailey), fiancée Gayla and grandchild Landree. He is preceded in death by his parents Norbert and Phyllis, niece Courtney, and grandsons Dawson and Grady. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Life looks good from here. Senior living homes with beautiful views.
Grandview in Mount Angel is an independent 55+ community. Right now, we have several units for lease with various floor plans: • Single-story individual homes • One- and two-bedroom floor plans
Call today for a tour!
1050 Linden Street 503-845-2222 • grandviewma.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
After 96 years and 11 days, Marjorie Dicks had had enough. Food had lost its flavor, flowers their fragrance. Most importantly, 10 years without her best friend and husband, James D. Dicks, was too much. She passed peacefully Aug. 15, 2026. She was born in San Augustine County, Texas, Aug. 4,1930 to the Millers, Jay Rue and Emily. A late-life “surprise,” as she told it, she brought a blush to her mother’s cheek and a twinkle to her father’s eye. At birth, she had three grown siblings, Doug, Pauline and B.V. Her brother, Espen, affectionately known as “Boots,” was 12. Marjorie started life in Broaddus, in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Her early memories included playing behind the woodstove with paper dolls cut from catalogs. There she was warm, secure and out from under foot. She was playing outside, though, when a strange car pulled up and a man spoke to her mother. It was the Great Depression. Her father had lost his telephone company, now the house. She didn’t know the word foreclosure, only that her mother cried and cried and cried. The family moved to the Norwood property at the four corners, where Texas State Highway 103 intersects Highway 147. They rebuilt their lives on the farm outside San Augustine. Emily was part of the James and Lula Norwood family, descendants of early Texas settlers who farmed and built grist, syrup and sawmills, a store, cotton gin, school, church and cemetery. People of gumption and grit. The rest of Marjorie’s growing-up years were spent across the road from her grandparents. After graduating from San Augustine High, and with the passing of her parents, “Marge” moved to Houston to work. There she met Billy Roy Mabry. A whirlwind romance and marriage lasted four years and produced a daughter, Paula. Disagreements led to divorce. She packed a 1955 Chevy, plopped Paula in the front seat, and headed out to California and her sister. As matron of honor in a San Jose, California wedding she met Jim Dicks, the best man. A former Navy aviator, he was an engineer for the California Department
ourtownlive.com
of Transportation. She was a bank teller. On weekends he’d make the four-hour trip from Redding to San Jose to sail the sky in a glider – and drop by. Marge and Jim courted, considered, and on July 6,1963 wed. The long courtship led to a union that lasted until he died of cancer on June 13, 2016, in Roseville, California. Together they worked, planned, invested and raised Paula. They shared joy in gardening, apple season, Christmas, and playing cards with the neighbors, where Marge served up her lick-the-plate-clean berry crisp. In later years she won awards for her decorating skills. They rarely vacationed, only once going back to the Piney Woods to see her people. Jim flew the three of them in a Cessna four-seater. Marge, afraid of flying, steeled herself, but recalled the trip fondly. Upon retirement Jim got her back in the air – this time a commercial jet to Hawaii. They loved the islands, returning several times. The pair never lived in Silverton, but visited often to see Paula, her husband James Day, and grandchildren, Matt and Hal. Marge’s last trip was to Seattle, July 4, 2026, to see Matt, his wife Maggie Mertens, and great grandchildren Howard and Lawrence. Then she was ready for her journey to rejoin Jim. Their years of work and commitment to family provided Our Town with a small but vital bridge over the turbulent economic times of the Great Recession and the home for Our Town offices on Oak Street. Their urns will be placed together in the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California on Nov. 30, 2026. At his request, Jim has waited for her. A native Californian, he wanted to return home. And she wanted to be with him.
November 2026 • 19
Sports & Recreation
Silver Falls New visitors center taking shape By James Day By this time next year Silver Falls State Park will be closing in on completing its construction of a new visitors center at the north end of the park. Oregon State Parks is teaming up with the Friends of Silver Falls, with the support group aiming to raise $520,000 to finish off the funding for the $8.9 million project. The biggest financing piece is nearly $8 million in state funds. Silver Falls Park Manager Jason Wagoner, a 20-year employee at the park, said they hope to open the new visitors center by January of 2028. Wagoner, Chelsea Sims, executive director of the Friends of Silver Falls and Ann Kitchel, the group’s board president, and Our Town participated in a recent tour of the site. The visitor center property, which consists of 80 acres, sits across Highway 214 from the turnoff for the North Canyon Trailhead. A four-way intersection is planned, similar to the one a few miles down the road that offers visitors a right turn to the South Falls day-use area or a left turn to the cabins and other overnight facilities. Wagoner and park officials are hoping that the new center will be a first stopping point for park visitors and that it will help balance out park usage and limit parking challenges at South Falls. “We’re hoping visitors will drive to the visitors center to get all the information and permits they need and find out where to hike,” Wagoner said. “We hope they come in and feel comfortable getting their information here, get a cup of coffee and then go have the experience they want.” Volunteers will man the visitor center and offer maps and other information. A small cafe will be in the building as well as a second Friends of Silver Falls nature store, joining the one that currently sits between the South Falls Lodge and South Falls. “Operating a second store,” Kitchel said, “will affect our level of staffing. We will need to recruit additional volunteers and we will be making those decisions next year.” The center will include approximately 40 parking spaces and visitors can buy their parking permits, which then are usable
The new Silver Falls State Park visitors center. JAMES DAY
How to help
Those interested in assisting the Friends of Silver Falls with fundraising for the new visitors center should contact executive director Chelsea Sims at chelsea@friendsofsilverfalls.org. no matter where they wind up in the park. Park officials still hope to add a campground on the old DeSantis property, but that project is on hold amid state parks funding challenges. The first floor of the building will be used for visitors, with the information area, the nature store, the cafe and a room that will be available for group rental. The second floor will be used for office space. The basement, which was full of water when the state took ownership, will be used for storage. Wagoner said that the project managers did not have to do much tearing down to adapt what was intended to be the DeSantis family vacation home into its park use. The sale of the DeSantis property to the state included an additional 120 acres along the northern boundary of the park which had been a commercial Christmas tree farm “but is now just a forest,” said Wagoner. He added that the state has no current plans to develop the property or add it to the Silver Falls perimeter. The parcel lies just north of where the Maple Ridge Trail connects with the Canyon Trail near the North and South branches of Silver Creek.
Guy Greider holding the outstanding service award from the Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Counties. Also pictured, from left, Jim Trett; Tim Sinatra, CEO of the Marion and Polk YMCA; and Rory McManbus, the Y’s board president. SUBMITTED
Silverton man wins YMCA volunteer award By James Day Guy Greider of Silverton has received the Outstanding Service Award from the Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Counties. Greider volunteers at the Silver Falls branch, but the award covers the entire regional YMCA operation. The honor, said Suzie Johnson, head of community and donor engagement in Silverton, recognizes board members, volunteers, and organizations that have demonstrated continued support and dedication to the YMCA mission. “Guy’s award was for his efforts to the whole association,” said Johnson. “He certainly supports us well in Silverton.” Guy serves as chair of the Camp Committee, Johnson said, “and his dedication, generosity, and leadership have created meaningful opportunities for children and families through both Silver Creek Residential Camp and Camp Greider Day Camp. “He also carries forward the legacy of his father, Carl Greider, whose service, and commitment made a lasting impact on our YMCA. We were grateful to recognize Guy for the time, talent, and resources he continues to give and for the difference he makes for young people and families in our community.”
Trailer Service & Repair Wiring • Axles • Brakes • Bearings • Welding
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY!
503-932-8274
bighornfab23@gmail.com UTILITY • DUMP • CARGO • HORSE • TRAVEL TRAILER • BOAT 20 • November 2026
BIGHORN-FAB.COM ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
‘Transfer portal’ Stayton-Cascade moves show issue remains top of mind The transfer issue refuses to go away. I wrote about it last spring, particularly after experiencing a series of girls basketball tournaments in which transfers played an outsized role in who took home the bigger trophies. The OSAA, which has created a task force on the issue, has started a second school year of meetings on the topic.
Aguero came over from McKay last season and helped lead the Foxes to a Class 5A title.
programs. It’s hard for me to find the space to describe how bad an idea I think this is.
I realize there are numerous legitimate reasons why athletes switch schools. A family move, a course of study, a desire to play for a certain coach or with friends. That’s all fair. I also think that rules for athletes should mirror those that might involve drama, AP courses or music.
Thoughts? Happy to publish responses in a future column.
But the issue really hit home for me over the summer when it became known that three standout players for Stayton, QB Madden Hughes, RB Wyatt Kerrigan and two-way standout Travis Conklin, had moved over to the Eagles’ arch-rivals, Cascade (another Eagle, lineman Mark Lowery joined Silverton). The rivalry between Stayton and the Cougars is one of the best in the valley, with the basketball doubleheaders a super-heated blast to cover. Everyone knows each other. They have been competing against each other for decades. Moving just six or so miles across the farm fields is personal in a way that, say, Quenton Lake moving from North Salem to Silverton to quarterback the Foxes, is not. And it got even more personal when Stayton, citing a lack of healthy players, forfeited its Oct. 16 game at Cascade.
But the subject keeps burbling up, which tells me that, instead of the region working through an outlier year, something more serious is going on.
In fairness, Silverton has benefited from the high school “transfer portal.” QB Chase Dominguez and WR Gavin
Translated, that means a two-tiered playoff system in which teams that take a lot of transfers only play against similar
Last summer the OSAA unveiled a new online transfer form that schools are required to use for any new student wanting to participate. In addition, basketball coaches in Class 6A and 5A are recommending a two-year pilot program for 5A and 6A basketball only “establishing a community-based eligibility standard based on a team’s number of transfers for OSAA state championship postseason play, alongside a proposed non-championship postseason pathway for teams that fall outside that standard.”
Remodeling, repair TC Home Service, LLC and construction OR CCB 256307 Bonded and Insured
No job too small!
Handyman & Small Bath & kitchen • Appliances • Decks Trim & siding • Roof & gutter Remodeling Service
Soccer club update: On Jan. 1, Creighton Helms will be taking over as director of the Silver Falls Soccer Club, which has been in town since 1996. Helms replaces Matt Plummer at the helm. The organization serves more than 350 players in Silverton, Mount Angel and surrounding communities. Helms wanted to “thank Matt for his years of service and then allow me to invite the community to share their thoughts and feedback. I’d like to grow the SFSC footprint in our community, and hearing from parents, coaches, athletes, and community feels like a great place to start.” Interested in participating or have a comment for Helms? Email him at creighton.helms@gmail.com. The Local Score: I hope folks have been checking out our new sports newsletter. It’s fun to put together and I think it solves an Our Town challenge. Because we publish just twice a month, much of our sports content is only online. This includes game stories, previews and more from Silverton, Kennedy, Santiam, Scio, Stayton, Cascade and Regis. With the playoffs coming up, this is prime time for sports updates. Sign up and every Thursday we’ll email you the latest sports news. Go to tinyurl.com/thelocalscore. It’s free.
Catch all the big plays.
Right in your inbox.
Dr. Daniel Côté, DC Dr. Jennifer Martin, DC
Photo: Becki Little
3D printing & CAD design Plasma cutting 60x60” No job• too small! Metal CNC parts design & machining BATH AND KITCHEN REMODELS
HOMETodd: & APPLIANCE REPAIRS Call orMOST text DECK DESIGN, REPAIR & CONSTRUCTION
Licensed Massage therapists available
503-873-8099
503-409-6563
EXTERIOR TRIM AND SIDING REPAIR ROOF AND GUTTER REPAIRS 3D PRINTING AND CAD DESIGN PLASMA CUTTING 60”X60” METAL CNC PARTS DESIGN & MACHINING AND MUCH MORE OR CCB 256307 • Bonded & insured Todd 503-409-6563 call/text OR SCAN QR CODE ABOVE ↑ www.tchomeservice.com/contact todd@tchomeservice.com
tchomeservice.com todd@tchomeservice.com
BROOKS 2BR, 2BA country home, 2-story w/basement. Completely renovated, large detached garage. $2500/mo KEIZER 4BR, 3BA, 2-story, fenced yard, double garage. $2995/mo
Sign up for free at tinyurl.comthelocalscore
SILVERTON 3BR, 2BA, 2-story. Single detached garage, large fenced yard. $2800/mo
Have a home to rent? Call us! We specialize in Residential Properties.
Vivian Caldwell 503-873-7069 Property Manager
yourhomepm@gmail.com
www.yourhomepm.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
ourtownlive.com
November 2026 • 21
A Grin at the End
Campaign pain Candidates have lost touch with constituents November is a time of thanksgiving, and one thing for which I am particularly grateful is the end of Oregon’s election season. Registered voters must get their ballots in by Nov. 3. For me, the gubernatorial campaigns were particularly tiresome. Candidates peppered the public with ads brimming with hyperbole and attacking each other over perceived shortcomings. What I was looking for from the incumbent, Tina Kotek, was specific evidence that she had been effective in solving at least some of the many problems facing the state. Similarly, I was looking for evidence that the challenger, Christine Drazan, had been effective in working with both parties during her time in the legislature and that she had a viable game plan for the next four years. Instead of fussing at each other, I would have preferred that they talk about their accomplishments and aspirations.
In short, the campaigns amounted to a $23 million-plus advertising spending spree. That’s a lot of money to spend to get a state job paying $98,600 a year. The thing I miss in Oregon’s version of politics is the personal touch. I used to live on a small farm near a town in Minnesota that was about half the size of Stayton. During the seven years I lived there, I personally talked with the governor at the time, Arne Carlson, twice. He was walking down Main Street visiting with regular people. I was a nobody, yet he took time to visit – a very un-Oregon thing to do. In Oregon, I suppose I’d have to run Nike or Intel or wave my checkbook before a
Michael M. Bliss, DMD, PC General Dentistry Implant Restoration Cosmetic Dentistry
Proudly serving our community for over ten years.
governor would spend any time with me.
state and talking with people.
I also lived in Alaska for 20 years. Jay Hammond, the governor for much of that time, had a Christmas open house each year when everyone was invited to his mansion for cookies and punch. Everyone. I don’t see that happening in Oregon anytime soon.
He also invented the Golden Fleece Award, which spotlighted projects that wasted taxpayers’ money. I’d sure like to see that resurrected.
During my 50-year career in journalism, I hired a lot of people. While resumes were helpful in winnowing down the field of candidates, I found the best way to get a “read” on someone was to talk with him or her in person. As voters, most of us are not allowed to look candidates in the eye and ask questions. One of the few politicians I admire is William Proxmire, who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate for 32 years. During his last two campaigns, he never accepted any campaign contributions. His main campaign expense was returning unsolicited contributions. His main mode of campaigning was walking across his
BUTTE CREEK COMPUTER SERVICE REPAIR Ii VIRUS REMOVAL UC
Commercial / Residential
Still providing remote technical support to your computer, call...
503-877-3130
BUTTECREEKCOMPUTERREPAIR@GMAIL.COM
BUTTECREEKCOMPUTER.COM
A famous political philosopher, Napoleon Dynamite, once promised constituents in the film named after him that “All of your wildest dreams will come true” if his friend was elected class president at their high school. My wildest dream is this: I want a governor, whoever it is, to think about all Oregonians, from Ontario to Astoria, and Enterprise to Ashland, before she opens her mouth. A good governor needs to understand that she is working for all Oregonians, not just those who live in her backyard and donate the most money to her campaign. Carl Sampson is a writer and editor. He lives in Stayton. He latest book is due out later this month.
Gentle Pet Sitting At my home or yours
503-647-4373
gentlepetsitting25@gmail.com Located in Mt. Angel Licensed, insured & bonded Follow us on Facebook! / Gentle Pet Sitting
Family friendly and always welcoming new patients.
306 E. Main St. Silverton 503.873.6118 silvertondentist.com 22 • November 2026
ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
Place your ad in Marketplace 503-845-9499
GENERAL
Tired of THE AD? Month after month the full page PAID ADVERTISEMENT invades our mailboxes. Visit tiredofgreggharris.com 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
SERVICES
AVEFENIX CLEANING SERVICE We clean houses and all kinds of offices. Free estimates, 20 years’ experience. Email avefenixcleaningservicesllc@gmail. com, or call 503-779-9244 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 & VHS video to DVD. Old Cassettes, Records, Reel to Reel & 8 Track Cassettes restored to CD. Call Harold 503-391-7406. A Magic Carpet Cleaning & More Service 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 HANDYMAN & HOME REPAIR SERVICE Installation and repair of fencing, decks, doors, gutter cleaning, moss removal, power washing, yard debris removal. CCB# 206637 Call Ryan 503-881-3802 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
RENTALS
RENT EVENT SPACE AT THE SILVERTON GRANGE HALL 291 Division St, Silverton. Affordable hourly, half day, full day rates. Family gatherings, classes, yoga, dances, meetings, baptisms, weddings and more! Fully equipped kitchen, plenty of parking. Hall seats up to 70. Call Silverton Grange, 503-516-5722
EVENTS
CAROL J. SMITH’S BIRTHDAY Carol’s Tax Service owner Carol J. Smith will celebrate her 90th birthday on Nov. 21 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 745 W. Main St. An open house will be held 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate. SILVERTON ELKS FLEA MARKET Nov. 14 and 28. Located: Silverton Elks Lodge 300 High Street Call: Lori 503-931-4517 for vendor details.
NOVEMBER 2026
SILVER FALLS FAMILY YMCA
Wellness classes at the Y@
Yoga
Several classes to choose from
To advertise call 503-845-9499
Lewis St.
Pilates Morning and evening classes
Line Dancing Wednesdays at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Bone, Build & Balance At our partner Anytime Fitness
Move & Groove
Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Scan the code for class schedules or go to tinyurl.com/56rs9ses
Family Activities on Sundays! Your Agricultural Supply Solution
Make Sundays family time at the Y starting in November! From 2:15 - 3 p.m., explore a variety of wellness classes for all ages, from yoga to line dancing, then stick around from 3 - 6 p.m. for family games, fun, and time together.
Hydraulic Fittings, Hoses & Adapters Hydraulic Pumps, Valves, Motors & Cylinders PTO Drivelines, Spray Plumbing Parts & Controls Stainless Steel Fittings • Seals
Supplying Products From: Unverferth Manufacturing • Banjo Pipe Fitting • TeeJet Technologies • Pentair Hypro-Shurflo • Ace Pumps Braber Equipment • Couplamatic Systems, Inc. • Honda Engines
4730 Brush Creek Dr. NE, Silverton • Kobie 971-446-0041 or Dusty 503-383-5264 WurdingerManufacturing.com • Monday-Friday 7am-5pm • Saturday 8am-2pm
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM
503-873-6456 • theYonline.org
ourtownlive.com
November 2026 • 23
Kirsten Barnes Broker 873-3545 ext. 326
Whitney Ulven Broker, GRI 503-873-3545 ext. 320
Mike Ulven Broker 503-873-3545 ext. 312
Meredith Wertz Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 324
Ryan Wertz Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 322
Chuck White Broker 873-3545 ext. 325
#T2963 BEAUTIFUL SETTING $699,800 Above the Abiqua Creek, two-bedroom, two-bath, completely remodeled single-level home. Many nice features, wood trim throughout, open layout, with granite countertops. This home has been meticulously maintained, professionally landscaped to enjoy this serene setting. New patio to enjoy the creek setting. Large shop with one large bay and workshop space for all your hobbies. Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#845035)
WWW.SILVERTONREALTY.COM
#T2957 PRICED TO SELL! $439,900 Charming classic Silverton home in an ideal location, just minutes from downtown shops, dining, and parks. The main-level primary bedroom is complemented by two upstairs bedrooms, with new flooring throughout the main level and tasteful updates that enhance its character. Private backyard oasis, perfect for relaxing or entertaining, and a welcoming front patio for your morning coffee. Don’t miss this chance to own a charming home in the heart of Silverton. Call Becky at ext. 313 (WVMLS#843950)
Mason Branstetter Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 303
Becky Craig Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 313
Michael Schmidt Principal Broker GRI 873-3545 ext. 314
Micha Christman Office Manager 873-1425
Sarah Sanders Property Manager 873-3545 ext. 311
Tayler Whitaker Secretary 873-3545 ext. 300
#T2968 MOVE-IN READY $105,000 Completely renovated and move-in ready this 784 sqft., 2-bedroom, 1-bath home in Stardust Village (55+) features an open living/kitchen area with a newly updated interior, new stainless steel appliances, and new Hisense mini-split (August) and includes 10-year warranty. Private entry, unique two-car garage/ workshop or storage space, carport + parking pad. On the westside of Silverton, avoiding downtown traffic. Call Kirsten at ext. 326 (WVMLS#845840)
#T2959 CUSTOM UPGRADES GALORE $1,180,000 Just 5 mins. east of Salem. Quiet rural setting of acreage homes. Extensive remodeling and upgrades done since 2017. All systems have been worked on from well, septic, to shop heating. Basement remodel created a wonderful indoor entertaining space. Wine cellar. Outdoor living space built in 2019 includes a red brick fireplace, BBQ and fridge. Catch a view of the sunsets from this enormous, covered patio. Small barn for chickens or animals. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#844214)
C O U N T RY / A C R E A G E
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
#T2967 GREAT LOCATION 3 BR, 2 BA, 1304 sqft. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $394,700 (WVMLS#845692)
#T2963 SILVERTON BEAUTIFUL SETTING 2 BR, 2 BA 1275 sqft., 1.55 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $699,800 (WVMLS#845035)
#T2959 SALEM CUSTOM UPDATES GALORE 3 BR, 3 BA 3117 sqft., 2 acres. Call Michael at ext. 314 $1,180,000 (WVMLS#844214)
#T2968 SILVERTON MOVE-IN READY 2 BR, 1 BA, 784 sqft. Call Kirsten at ext. 326 $105,100 (WVMLS#XXXXX)
#T2969 SILVERTON BEST OF COUNTRY LIVING 4 BR, 2 BA, 1809 sqft, Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $475,000 (WVMLS#846238)
#T2956 SALEM GATED 55+ COMMUNITY 2 BR, 2 BA, 1512 sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 $125,000 (WVMLS#843961)
T2958 SILVERTON OVER 2000’ CREEK FRONTAGE 3 BR, 3 BA, 2006 sqft., 7.78 acres. Call Michael at ext. 314 $749,000 (WVMLS#844393)
#T2949 CLASSIC 1920’s MULINO HOME 2 BR, 2 BA, 2468 sqft., 2 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $744,900
S I LV E R TO N
#T2965 CHARMING 1915 CRAFTSMAN 4 BR, 1 BA, 1683 sqft. Call Meredith ext. 324, Ryan ext. 322 $464,700 (WVMLS#845225) #T2966 AFFORDABLE HOME 3 BR, 2.5 BA, 1548 sqft. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $412,700 (WVMLS#845506) SOLD — #T2960 SILVERTON 6.54 ACRES IN CITY LIMIT 6.54 acres bare land. Call Chuck at ext. 325 $499,900 (WVMLS#8444464) #T2955 SILVERTON SINGLE-LEVEL HOME 3 BR, 2 BA, 1441 sqft. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $449,800 (WVMLS#843724) SILVERTON T2957 CLASSIC SILVERTON HOME 3 BR, 1 BA, 1340 sqft. Call Becky at ext. 313 $439,900 (WVMLS#843950) SOLD — #T2935 CHARMING 1990’s HOME 3 BR, 2 BA, 1540 sqft. Call Chuck at ext. 325 $504,900 (WVMLS#839889)
SOLD — #T2940 WHAT A VIEW! 5 BR, 3.5 BA 3804 sqft., 3.02 acres. Call Michael at ext. 314 $799,000 (WVMLS#841014) #T2949 MULINO CLASSIC 1920’s HOME 2 BR, 2 BA 2468 sqft., 2 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $744,900 (WVMLS#842586) #T2953 SILVERTON NESTLED IN THE FOOTHILLS 3 BR, 2 BA, 2126 sqft., 6.32 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $674,700
(WVMLS#843369)
#T2946 SILVERTON SO MUCH CHARACTER! 3 BR, 2 BA, 2352 sqft., 6.03 acres. Meredith ext. 324, Ryan ext. 322 $858,000 (WVMLS#842027)
COMMERCIAL
SOLD — #T2933 CHARMING SILVERTON HOME 2+BR, 2 BA, 2087 sqft. Call Becky at ext. 313 $499,000 (WVMLS#838925)
#T2876 THREE COMMERCIAL UNITS 9,500 sqft. Mt. Angel. Call Michael at ext. 314 $700,000 (WVMLS#829897)
#T2943 BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED 55+ HOME 2 BR, 2 BA, 1152 sqft. Call Becky at ext. 313 $158,000 (WVMLS#841456)
#T2918 MT. ANGEL RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE 2410 sqft, $1.10/sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 $2651/mo (WVMLS#836050)
503.873.3545 24 • November 2026
(WVMLS#842586)
#T2931 PRATUM EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS 3 BR, 3 BA, 2792 sqft., 1.09 acres. Call Kirsten at ext. 326 $645,000 (WVMLS#838134) #T2937 CONTEMPORARY 1975 HOME 4 BR, 4 BA, 3463 sqft, .29 acres. Call Chuck at ext. 325 $669,900 (WVMLS#840104) SOLD — #T2944 MT. ANGEL MOVE-IN READY 2 BR, 1 BA, 912 sqft. Call Kirsten at ext. 326 $370,000 (WVMLS#841464)
FOR RENTALS: RENTALS Call Micha or Sarah at 503-873-1425 or visit SilvertonRealty.com
BROKERS ARE LICENSED IN OREGON
303 Oak St. • Silverton ourtownlive.com
Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM