A murmur of confusion runs through the gathering of theater students — why is there a picture of cheese grater in this PowerPoint?  “Alright, who’s the punster?” Hannah Costa-Baker, the West Salem High School (WSHS) costume director, asks with a smile.  On stage in the West Salem High auditorium, a gaggle of Advanced Technical Theater students are gearing up for their biggest “straight play” yet: The Great Gatsby. They’re buzzing with excitement and nerves: in small groups, t

The West Salem Urban Renewal Agency, guided by the recommendations of the volunteer Redevelopment Advisory Board, has been on a mission to improve the West Salem area’s public spaces, building infrastructure and access to housing since 2001.  At their March 4 meeting, the West Salem Redevelopment Advisory Board (WSRAB) had an agenda that included public comment, updates from the City Council on projects relevant to the board, and a presentation about proposed improvements to

It is officially Spring in the Willamette Valley, even though it might not feel like it yet.  Like most of us in this part of the state, now is the time of year where we emerge from the darkness of winter and ease back outside. Lucky for us, West Salem boasts plenty of parks to visit when those sunny days make their appearance. Or perhaps you are the parkgoer bundled up in rain gear and boots. Whichever adventure you choose, there’s a park to match it.  Below is a list of whe

I’ve been thinking about “stuff” quite a bit lately. Seems like a somewhat trivial topic for philosophical contemplation. Nevertheless, if one goes a bit deeper than just a casual reference to my stuff or your stuff, I have found value, meaning, symbolism, angst, joy, maybe even obsessive/compulsive attachment to “stuff.” The word is so important it takes over two inches in my New World Dictionary  (yes, I still have a dictionary). It is both a noun and a verb. One could stuf

Roy Long had never stepped foot in a food cart pod as of a few years ago. Now, he’s the owner of Checkpoint 221, West Salem’s first and only food cart pod. Long first discovered the joy of the food cart pod while living in Portland and working for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. As a father of four, he saw how the open seating spaces and many choices made the experience particularly family-friendly.  “Everybody gets what they want, and the kids can run around,” Lon

Yes, that’s right, you – wait, didn’t we just do this? Didn’t we just talk about how an ice storm or heavy wind can isolate a neighborhood? Didn’t we discuss how, in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster, when professional first responders might be stretched to their limits, the best people to help are those already there: you, me, and our neighbors? Well, yes. Yes, we did. But the reason we are talking about it again is that the need for a resilient community never tak

Warmer, drier weather invites more bicyclists to pedal throughout West Salem for transportation and recreation. It also increases the chance of mishaps between bikes and cars. Local police say that both riders and drivers can safely share the road by looking out for each other. “Often problems are created by a lack of courtesy,” says Salem Police Sgt. Jonathan Hardy. “People often drive or ride with a sense of entitlement, and this type of behavior leads to conflict with othe

On Saturday, June 6, Acres of Hope Youth Ranch will host its 6th Annual Barn Party Fundraiser, an evening dedicated to celebrating hope, healing, and the youth and families served through the program. This event invites the community to visit the ranch, connect with supporters, and hear how Acres of Hope is working to positively impact the lives of adolescents in our community. Acres of Hope Youth Ranch operates with a mission to share HOPE: healing, opportunity, purpose, and

These days, the average American spends about four years at a job before they move on. It’s become common for people to keep an eye on their professional horizon. That makes Robin Green’s history an increasingly unique jewel. This month, she’s celebrating 25 years working for ACE Hardware. Long-term careers like Green’s are becoming less common in the modern workforce. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median employee tenure across the country sits a

Most West Salem residents have been there, creeping along in a slow yet persistent parade of cars and trucks along Wallace Road. Each vehicle is among tens of thousands that move on this primary road each day. For commuters heading northwest toward McMinnville, Newberg, and Yamhill County, it’s a delay both coming and going to work. For West Salem residents, it’s an orderly constant that ebbs and flows based on the time of day. Kevin Hottmann understands. As Salem’s traffic e

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

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

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

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

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 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