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Pentacle Theatre is thrilled to announce open auditions for " The Lost Virginity Tour," directed by Karen  McCarty. Auditions are on Saturday, February 21st at Pentacle Theatre's downtown office.  When: Saturday, February 21st - starting promptly at 1:00p.m.  Where: P entacle Theatre - Downtown Office  (197 Liberty St. SE) in downtown Salem.  The story:  Four women living in an Arizona retirement community, Happy Trails Senior Resort Living, meet weekly for  their Happy Trail

Every year since 2017, Salem Reads: One Book, One Community, a program through the Salem Public Library, has created a city-wide book club. Throughout the month of February, the library and other partners will host discussions and events, centered around the themes of this year’s book: Remarkably Bright Creatures , a novel by Shelby Van Pelt.  This year, for the first time since 2020, the author will be making an in-person appearance in Salem. Van Pelt will be present for two

Place of birth: Medford, OR How long on in West Salem: Since March 2024 If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the area: Transferred from Manager of Les Schwab in Fresno, CA to Manager of West Salem Les Schwab Movie/and or Musical: Anything Mel Brooks Actress and Actor: Jim Carrey             TV show: Ted Lasso Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People         Type of music: I listen to it all         Food: Classic Burger and Fries           

Winter greetings! It is that time of year that some put their golf clubs away, while others keep them active. Winter is a good time to reflect on your golf process and evaluate what worked well and what you want to work on for next year.  I recently took a position with Corban University as an Assistant Golf coach, focusing on golf instruction. Interacting with college students has been a great learning experience, and reinforces what I already know – but also reveals new thi

Seems like we’ve had a spurt of new French restaurants in the Salem area. My latest discovery is Clink! Located on the 2d floor of The Forge, Suite 230, 285 Liberty St. NE. It opened last fall and has taken its rightful place among the finest eateries in Salem. It is open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday from 4 p.m. through 7 p.m.  They do a fine brunch on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Reservations are recomme

Steve Anderson lives his life by the philosophy that one should be a good steward of the environment.   A Salem, Ore., native and Land Use Chair of the West Salem Neighborhood Association (WSNA) for the past 13 years, you could say that Steve Anderson is a household name. You could also say that you don’t have to look very hard to see that Anderson’s life has been shaped around identifying problems and solutions concerning the environment, and giving a voice to those who don’

Neighbors, Lights, and Life-Saving Plans We held our first general meeting of the year on January 10th at Roth’s Event Center in West Salem. With a great turnout of 47 people, the morning was filled with shared learning and neighborly support. One highlight was a "show-and-tell" from Mel Ito of Salemtowne, who shared some battery-powered task lights he discovered. These are practical tools that make a world of difference during a power outage, or if we’re called to work a nig

As I was standing at my kitchen sink, hand-washing and drying my dishes, I was thinking about my topic for this article. Kaity and I agreed that perhaps changes I have seen in my 84 years might be of interest or amusement to some of you West Salem residents. A sink full of soapy dishwater is one of those changes. I remember, as a teen, standing at the sink washing the dinner dishes with my brother beside me drying. Wonder of all wonders, we had a hand-held sprayer to do the r

Hormonal changes are a natural part of a woman’s life, but when key hormones decline or fall out of balance, the impact can be profound. From persistent fatigue and mood changes to sleep disruption and weight gain, hormone deficiencies often affect far more than many women realize. At Quali-T Hormone Optimization (Formerly Quali-T Men’s Health), we are proud to now offer female hormone replacement therapy (HRT) locally at our Eugene office, with virtual care available across

The treatment room is warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the gray sky outside the window looking out to Edgewater Avenue. Dany De Santis Mac, sitting at one end of a long, luxurious table, explains the concept behind Miss Dany’s Place. It’s easily understood that while this may be a business, for Dany it’s a labor of love. “I am very passionate about what I do,” Dany says, “and when you follow your passion, you're going to be good at it. My hands have been very blessed. I

Among the racks of donated clothes at Helping Hands Resources, Laura Crofoot has tears in her eyes.  She’s talking about how the organization, dedicated to providing clothing, housewares, and other supplies to unhoused people, low-income families, and anyone else in need, tries to never turn people away empty handed.  She’s seen volunteers take the jacket off their back to make sure a client can stay warm. “Every day, someone says, ‘I love you,’” Crofoot said.  Helping Hands

The West Salem High School Education Foundation is looking for volunteers.  WSHSEF board members support the foundation’s work in fundraising, conducting meetings, and supporting the school’s booster clubs, which include Choir, Orchestra, Athletics, Academics, and the Grad Party. Each booster club also has volunteers who support fundraising and event planning.  The foundation is currently seeking applications for a board president and treasurer. The president is the organizat

Pentacle Theatre is pleased to announce the continued offering of its live captioning services through an ongoing partnership with Cue Captions, a locally founded company dedicated to  making live theater accessible to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing audiences. This partnership reflects Pentacle Theatre’s commitment to ensuring that all members of the community can experience the magic of live performance without barriers. Cue Captions was founded by Ben Cavaletto, a professional in

For more than three decades, Capital Manor has been a cornerstone of senior living in West Salem, offering far more than retirement and memory care services. Under the leadership of David Lewis, Capital Manor has grown into a vibrant, close-knit community known for its warmth, laughter, and deeply rooted sense of connection. Capital Manor is a long-term living and memory care facility that has served residents for over 30 years. A proud 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a team of near

Most people have a general understanding of dental implants, but a few misconceptions still linger. Today we’ll briefly review what a dental implant actually is and discuss the key factors that influence its long-term success. What many people call an “implant” is a three-part system . 1. The implant: The implant is surgically placed into the jawbone and functions as an artificial tooth root. It is made of titanium and has threads on its surface that interact directly with th

Here is a summary of many of the biggest changes in our taxes, although not all are represented. You can read more here: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions   1. Raising the Standard Deduction- an increase of $1,000 for single filers to make it $15,750 for single filers and a $2,000 increase for married filing jointly which makes $31,500 for them. 2. Limitation on Itemized Deductions-  limits itemized deduction at 35% for those at 37% rate. 3.  Adop

In the era of TikTok doctors, YouTube “biohackers,” and fitness influencers built like they were handcrafted by Zeus, testosterone has become one of the most myth-filled topics in men’s health. A quick scroll online can leave men confused, worried, or with expectations that belong in a Marvel movie. As a local men’s health provider in Eugene and Salem, I spend a lot of time helping men sort fact from fiction. Here are some of the biggest testosterone myths circulating online

Place of birth: Portland Oregon How long in West Salem: Although I grew up and currently live in Amity, I worked in West Salem for Judy Vivier, CPA since 2007, where we started West Salem Tax. I moved away for a bit, then moved back and bought West Salem Tax from Judy. I love West Salem: it has a small town feel, but is part of a big city. Profession: CPA Other prior professions: CFO, controller, longshoreman, farmer, truck driver, stay at home mom. Favorites: Movie/and o

Salem Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office collaborated in late November in a joint mission to address retail theft in West Salem.  “There was a discussion going on about theft in the area, especially theft with the businesses along the Wallace Marine Park area,” said SPD Chief Trevor Womack. “And so [PCSO] Sheriff Mark Garton and I talked and we decided to do a joint mission to have an increased presence to try to prevent crime.” The stint, which was targeted a

In the world of content creation, Matty Tingles is a household name.  Known primarily for his YouTube Channel filming ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) videos, Matty, whose last name isn’t actually Tingles, but Almendinger, jumped on the podcast scene three years ago.  “I had all the equipment for it, and I was like, let’s just try it,” Matty said. “It’s been really fun to see it grow and see it take on its own life, separate from all of my other channels.” Already