Here's the Kickstarter for Salem . . . a cheesemaker's factory in Independence!

These are great people with a great product.  Let's help them get re-established so they can continue to supply awesome cheese for us in Salem (go to Lifesource or Cascade Baking Co. to find it if you haven't tried it).

The Mrs. and I met at the University of Wisconsin
(state motto: "Come and Freeze in the Land of Cheese"), so we tend to feel like we know good cheese. And anyone who looks at me immediately can tell that I still have a thing for great cheese.

And the Full Circle Creamery cheese is EXTRAORDINARY.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/633809969/full-circle-creamery-builds-independence-creamery

Choice opportunity tomorrow, 2/23, at Saturday Public Market on Rural St.

My very talented neighbor Marnie has a booth at Salem Public Market tomorrow.  She sent me some pictures of her stuff, which I have also seen at the old city hall in Keizer, and it's terrific.  I lost the pictures, but still wanted to alert you to the opportunity.

 Marnie and Dave at the Market

This Saturday, Feb 23, from 8 am until 2 pm, come to the Saturday Public Market and see Marnie and Dave Jeffers.  Marnie will demonstrate her techniques for making small clay figures and animals. Just in time for Easter, you will find a variety of ceramics, including heart pocket vases and pendants, decorative containers, colorful stars, bird ornaments, miniature clay bunnies and ducks, handmade note cards and small watercolors for sale at reasonable prices. 

The Saturday Public Market is located in South Salem, on Rural St. between 12th and 13th  in a barn red building. It’s open every Saturday year round and features all kinds of crafts, produce, treats and specialty food items.

I guess Marnie's husband Dave will be there too, bless his heart.

Once and future history of Oregon

One of the greatest gems in this area is Geercrest Farm, a sesquicentennial farm on Sunnyview Road in the Waldo Hills between Salem and Silverton, where GeerCrest Farm and Historical Society is making great headway in preserving and bringing this irreplaceable treasure into the future, providing a place where the future pioneers of Post-Carbon Oregon can reskill and learn how the last generations thrived in the era before fossil fuel farming took over.

Upcoming Events:

"Annotated Cartoons By Davenport"
Book Release Party - Saturday, August 25 – 6:00 pm

The Davenport Project and GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society are pleased to announce a special Book Release Party to celebrate the publication of “The Annotated Cartoons by Davenport.”

This event, set for Saturday, August 25, at 6:00 pm is to honor the many backers of our recent “Kickstarter” Fund Raising campaign, that made the publication possible. Folks who donated $25 or more during the Kickstarter Campaign are the honored guests of the evening. Others may attend for $30 per person. Please do RSVP to the farm via phoneat 503-873-3406 or Email.

During the evening, light refreshments, beer and wine will be available. Gus Frederick, the book’s researcher and compiler will be on hand to autograph copies, which will be available for purchase for $15, a 25% discount off of the cover price of $20, for this event only. Additionally, a short presentation by Frederick will provide some historical context to Davenport, the Gilded Age and how reprographics technology enabled a local country boy from Silverton, Oregon to become the highest paid cartoonist in the world.

In 1898, Homer Davenport published Cartoons By Davenport, a collection of over 80 cartoons which originally appeared in William Randolph Hearst’s New York Evening Journal. It was a large format work, with hardbound cover and an introduction by Senator John J. Ingalls, (R-Kansas).

Over 100 years later, Davenport historian Gus Frederick researched, compiled and reprinted a fully annotated edition of this historic work. The faces and the issues behind Davenport’s witty, satiric caricatures were teased out in a cartoon-by-cartoon commentary.

This revised, expanded edition will number just under 200 pages, and measure slightly over 8 by 10 inches. “Annotated Cartoons by Davenport” will be the first publication of The Liberal University Press, based out of Silverton, Oregon.

Be There! Loucks Auditorium, Tuesday July 17, 6:30 pm

Photovoltaic system (Photo credit: Wikipedia)With the compressive economic contraction accelerating and financial prospects very uncertain from here out, NOW is the time to jump if you have good solar potential (unobstructed southern exposure is best) on your property.

Solar is a very smart investment here on the 45th parallel, and the competing options for your investment funds are looking pretty scary these days indeed. Sure, solar isn't a get-rich-quick scheme -- after all, it may take 7-10 years to get your money back. But that's an extremely safe, sure 10% - 7% return on investment that also does good for your community and planet at the same time. There are few if any such great investment options available to average folks these days.

If you haven't explored solar for your property yet, make time to go hear Rob talk tomorrow at Loucks Auditorium, next to the Salem Public Library on Liberty St.

Solarize Salem and Solarize Mid-Valley

Time to capture free energy from the sun during the third year of Solarize Salem. And this year it will be even more pocketbook-friendly because we’re bringing you the lowest install price in the country, again. You can join the sixty homeowners that have installed more than 186 kW of solar pv over the past two years, now for the low price of $4.15 per watt installed. Unable to buy? Learn about the 20-year SunRun lease program that requires a one-time payment that you can take as a tax credit.

Our first workshop occurs 6:30, Tuesday, July 17 at Loucks Auditorium, where we’ll hear about the benefits renewable energy and solar water heating from Energy Trust’s Rob DelMar. You’ll also have a chance to meet our contractors form Benton Electric and Sunlight Solar, who will be offering their services in our expanded service area that includes Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Benton and Linn counties.

Memorial

h/t Sam Smith

YAY! Salem Saturday Market opens tomorrow!!

Zero Waste Policy (Photo credit: heidigoseek)And there's a nice volunteer opportunity for you to help make it even nicer, while getting to know some very nice people behind the scenes:

It's farmers market season again! And that means the award-winning Zero Waste Zone project will be up and running again. We believe the public is more in tune with composting and recycling at the market with two years of volunteers helping at the Zero Waste stations. But it doesn't hurt to have a few volunteers at the start of the season as a reminder.

Anyone interested in volunteering at a Zero Waste station tomorrow? Just let me know the time, and I will put you on the schedule. You can check in with Tina Miller, the market manager, at the start of your shift. Just let her know which station you'd like to be at.

Thank you for all of your work! Without wonderful volunteers, this project would not be the success that it is!

Best,
Beth
--
Zero Waste Zone Project
Friends of Salem Saturday Market
(503) 877-FSSM (3776) --
friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org -- salemsaturdaymarket.com
ZeroWaste@FriendsOfSalemSaturdayMarket.org
Winner of 2 "Recycler of the Year" awards for 2011!
Association of Oregon Recyclers ~ Mid-Willamette Valley Green Awards

Most excellent

A LOVESalem local cool stuff correspondent sends:

If I'm emailing you it's because I think you might be interested in this local coffee roaster either because it's local, because it's sustainable, or because it's tasty. :) It gets delivered by bicycle to your house once a week on the day it's roasted. Not sure coffee gets more fresh than that! Matt and I have tried it and think it's delicious and have signed up.

Here's the promo video (which is cool even if you hate coffee) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTJso63fRM



And the website with more details - www.steelbridgecoffee.com

Thanks, and if you know someone else who might be interested in Salem, feel free to forward this on!

Food Co-op Meeting at Grand Theatre, 7:30 pm, February 21

This is a meeting to explore a great idea to fill a big gap in Salem. Lots of good potential here. a very dynamic core group of organizers bodes well. See you there!

Shameless commerce division on a sweet Groupon deal: Up to 53% Off Frozen Pies

These are really, really good pies from a local Salem company that uses locally grown fruit. Just got my five-pie punchcard for $28. Hard to top that.

If you sign up and buy it these by clicking through the link below, you might earn me some Groupon credit, which will earn you my undying appreciation, or maybe a slice of pie.

Punch Card for Two or Five Frozen Pies at Willamette Valley Fruit Company (Up to 53% Off)

http://www.groupon.com/deals/willamette-valley-fruit-company-1?utm_campaign=UserReferral&utm_medium=email&utm_source=uu3531303

One Fair World -- a Salem gem

Attention Nativity Lovers

 

We are starting a Nativity Club at One Fair World.  In mid-October we will hold a special showing of our nativities after regular store hours.  If you would like an invitation to this event, please e-mail, call, or sign up in the store.  You will also receive a free nativity ornament with the purchase of two nativity sets. 

We will keep a record at the store, so you can purchase these sets at different times.  Our handmade nativities from around the world feature unusual materials (olive wood, recycled paper, ceramics, cloth, capiz shell, wheat straw) and interesting figures. 

Salem's best pizza, Church St. Pizza, now offers delivery!

Church St. Pizza now delivers! Due to customer inquiries, we have decided to offer delivery service during all business hours. Please note that our weekly specials on Tuesday and Saturday apply only to dine in and take out and not delivery. Thank you to our customers for your continued support! Tuesday thru Friday 11 AM - 2 PM lunch 5 PM - 8 PM dinner Saturday      11 AM - 8 PM Fall pizzas are coming soon including the new and improved potato and bacon as well as some tasty new additions! Church St. Pizza, 324 Church St. N.E. Salem, Oregon 97301 (503) 363-4638

Plan a visit on First Wednesday, April 6 and meet the new store manager

One Fair World, Salem's best shop for unique gifts, sadly said goodbye to past manager Linda Bruce and welcomed a new manager just the other day, a woman with deep retail experience who is well poised to continue and build on Linda's work to make this Salem treasure a thriving concern for years to come.

Retail's a tough business, especially in tough times, but One Fair World offers truly exceptional items, all certified fair-trade goods, which means that you not only get great goods for your money, but you can feel good about what your money is doing in the world.

Come meet the new manager, check out the expanded clearance area, enjoy a tasty treat, and get ready to greet spring at this wonderful shop.

The new Sustainable Valentine's Day: August 14!

Image by Getty Images via @daylifePlan ahead now: tell your sweetie that, henceforth, you won't be pitching woo with those air-freighted hothouse flowers in February, but you'll deliver a much more loving gift under the sun on August 14, when the flowers around Salem are so mind-bogglingly beautiful that you'll wonder why you ever settled for the imports.

It's time to say a firm no! to fossil-fuel-flowers, the kinds grown in South America and shipped via jet airplane up to northern markets in the dead of winter.

Let's start a new kind of peace movement right here in the city named for peace, a movement about stopping the war against climate stability, a movement about making peace with the beautiful and bountiful place we live by acting carefully to protect it against our excesses and outmoded habits. Instead of just keepin' on the old ways, let's be smart, and time-shift Valentine's Day six months, to August, when there is a glorious abundance of gorgeous flowers throughout the Willamette Valley, and a real dearth of holiday celebrations.

Support local farms and growers with your dollars, keep your money circulating around you and enriching your own community, instead of sending it on an airplane to fly straight into the pockets of the oil companies and Wall St.

Jump on this: A nice little pasta at a nice little local place

Willamette Noodle Company Too is offering a nice discount through Groupon -- $16 to use for pasta dishes and drinks for $8 (maximum of three).

Try the three-cheese mac & cheese with the vegetables mixed in -- ymmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Holiday shopping, done.

For locals, especially those enjoying the fabulous "Movie a Week" habit at Salem Cinema:

Cinebucks are back starting tomorrow, "Black Friday," and running to New Year's: Get $30 Cinebucks for great movies and tasty treats at Salem Cinema or High Street Cinema for only $25.

In their own words:

You can buy an entire year's worth of great movie entertainment for a lot less.

Our special annual holiday savings offer is back!

Beginning Friday and running through the end of December, you can purchase $30 worth of our CineBucks for only $25, $60 worth for only $50, $90 worth for only $75, $120 worth for only $100!

Pick some up for friends, co-workers, teachers and relatives . . . and even pocket a few for yourself! CineBucks come in $5 increments and work just like cash at our box office or concession stand.

Outstanding gifts for loved ones far away -- no shipping costs, no needless junk, always fits right.

Today also offers us a chance to be thankful for the many fine locally owned businesses that we enjoy.

I'm thankful for these places because their owners live and work here, care for our concerns, and plan to stay in the community. These are the people who, when they say, "business community," you don't feel like vomiting.

And it's not just the wonderful Salem Cinema, but it's also places like Bike Peddler and Santiam Bicycle, Cooke Stationery, Cascade Baking Company, Saffron Supply Company (so old school there's no website!), LifeSource Natural Foods, One Fair World, Clydes Lock and Key (also old school), Church Street Pizza, La Margarita Express, Willamette Noodle Company, Marco Polo . . .

(Note -- all mentions above unsolicited and unpaid.)

From Salem to Harpers

Now that's marketing. The famous "Index" feature in the November 2010 Harper's magazine has this as the first entry:

Date that Tea Party Bookshop of Salem, Oregon, changed its name to Tigress Books: 8/24/10

Alas, Tigress Books has decamped to Monmouth and we're the worse for it. Best wishes to JoAnne there.

Another look at a local gem and "A Movie a Week" reminder

As a proud film host sponsor through my job (see logo), went to the Salem Film Festival today* with my bride and the crazy neighbor -- saw an excellent trio of short films all connected by the theme of aging and approaching the end of life. Just another day for the Salem Cinema, bringing lil' ol' Salem, Oregon some of the finest films in the world, for peanuts.

(*still going all week -- see you at "Winnebago Man" tomorrow night and "Living Downstream" Thursday night!)

As Salem Cinema owner Loretta Miles quoted some film-maker or other as once saying, "Nobody ever made a movie and said 'Damn, that's going to look great on the small screen.'" And that's exactly right -- TV and DVDs and streaming videos to HD are still nowhere close to the cinematic experience of sitting in a dark, quiet room with other film lovers, all knowing that you're sharing an experience of wonder and discovery together.

Got me to thinking that I wished I had saved all my Salem Cinema tickets since I started going -- but then I realized that Loretta archives all the showings on the website. So here is all the movies I've enjoyed at the Salem Cinema so far. With your help -- your regular attendance at Salem Cinema -- we'll be able to do this again in a year and for many years after that, keeping track of our unbelievable luck to have Salem Cinema and Salem Film Festival bringing us these gifts. (Looking through these archives is amazing -- there are SO many great movies that I missed! My punishment will be having to watch them on DVD, a pale imitation of the real movie experience.)

[Asterisks are my personal rating only, from * (meh) to * * * * *(speechless)]

Young@Heart United States. 2008. Documentary. * * * *

The Counterfeiters Austria/Germany. 2007. * * *

Son of Rambow UK. 2008. * * * *

Then She Found Me United States. 2008. * * *

The Fall United States/India. 2008. * * *

Religulous United States. 2008. * *

Slumdog Millionaire UK. * * * * *

I've Loved You So Long France. * * * *

The Class France. * *

The Great Buck Howard United States. * * * *

The Brothers Bloom United States. 2009. * * *

Goodbye Solo United States. 2009. * * * *

Sugar United States. 2009. * * *

Food, Inc. United States. 2009. Documentary. * * *

Sita Sings The Blues United States. 2009. Animated. * * * * *
(rating is on the big screen --- * * * on a TV)

In the Loop UK. 2009. * * * * *

The Ghost Writer UK. 2010. * * * *

A Town Called Panic France. 2009. Animated. * *

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Sweden. 2010. * * * *

Solitary Man United States. 2010. * * *

Cyrus United States. 2010. * * * *

The Secret in Their Eyes Argentina. * * * * *

Ondine Ireland. 2010. * * * *

I Am Love Italy. 2010. *

Mid-August Lunch Italy. 2010. * * *

The Girl Who Played With Fire Sweden. 2010. * * * *

Get Low United States. 2010. * * * *

Winter's Bone United States. 2010. * * * * *

Micmacs France. 2010. * * * * *

The Tillman Story United States. 2010. Documentary. * * * *

How about you? What is the best film you've seen at Salem Cinema?

Most Fervent Unsolicited Plug yet: SunWize

Today we signed a deal with SunWize to put 4338 watts of solar panels on the south-facing roof here at LOVESalem HQ. Gross cost $5.48/watt; net installed cost after Energy Trust of Oregon rebates and federal and state tax credits = $1.29/watt, The (conservative) estimate is that the system will provide for 85% of our electric power on an annual basis. I actually expect better because 2009-10 usage included use of two powered devices that we're done with.

I called a bunch of SunWize customers to check them out and every single one really raved about SunWize and the performance they've attained on their systems. Given the upcoming budget issues at both the state and federal level making continuation of these incentives more doubtful every day, this would be a good time to look into solar if you've got the right spot -- contact Matthew Henderson (503.881.7346) and he'll come out and check out your solar resource potential and system possibilities with no pressure.

See, this is why we can't have nice things (the good news/bad news version)

A capital city without an independent general interest bookstore might as well be a bunch of mud shacks. Image via WikipediaOK, the good news is that we get a reminder of how important it is to support our local businesses like Salem Cinema, Cascade Baking Company, Saffron Hardware (so old school that they don't even have a website), Cooke Stationery, etc.

The bad news is that we get this reminder the hard way, through the exit of one of those key building blocks of community, the local independent bookstore:

Tigress Books is on the Move!

Big news! The shop will be moving to Monmouth by the end of the month!

I have accepted a great offer to relocate the shop, and to work with some really fabulous people, right in the heart of Monmouth, between the university and the downtown. The Monmouth business community has been very welcoming, and I feel confident that this will be a good move. I will continue to be a general interest bookstore, with new and selected used books, plus an eclectic array of gifts.

The shop will be located in the carriage house adjacent to MaMere's Bed & Breakfast , one of the most charming places to stay in the Willamette Valley. I'll also be partnering with Marissa Mayer, an acupuncurist and healer, with the intention of developing a healing center, having an active schedule of workshops and retreats. This was part of my original vision for the shop here in Salem, and it looks like that dream will come true - just shifted 16 miles west.

I have had a great time in Salem, but the local and national economies have not been kind. I would love to maintain a presence here in Salem, but the current finances do not allow that. However, I am open to miracles and creative problem solving, so if anyone wishes to offer help or ideas, contact me privately.

On a practical note, yes there WILL be a Moving Sale, starting this weekend, and running through the last day here, which is most likely going to be September 25th. Everything will be 20% off, with a good number of items either marked down or at a deeper discount. It's an excellent time to do a little early Christmas shopping!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me in the past, and who supports me in the present. Everyone is invited to visit and shop in Monmouth - we would LOVE to see you!

Namaste,

JoAnne Kohler
Tigress Books

Move Date:
We will be out of the Salem location by 9/25, and in our new location on or around October 1st. More info as it becomes available!
New Address: Tigress Books, 220 Knox St, Monmouth, OR 97361
Until the move: 420 Ferry St SE, Salem, OR 97301, 503-990-6471
Also see us at Merchant Works Public Market, 170 Main St W, Monmouth

Silverton, ho!

Image via WikipediaLOVESalem normally doesn't look too far afield for fun but we do have a soft spot for Silverton, home of the amazing and wonderful Oregon Garden. And now there's a special locavore breakfast coming up, with pancakes and even options for us non-carnivores! Yum.

So, Saturday after tomorrow (August 28) we'll be having breakfast in Silverton at the Grange and then enjoying the Oregon Garden, one of the best things around Salem that isn't in Salem. Then a stop at Willamette Fruit Company's lovely newish store on the way home to round out the perfect "Last Saturday of Summer."

Silverton Grange 50 Mile Breakfast

Aug 28, 2010 -- 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Produced by Silverton People for Peace

Once again, the Silverton Grange is hosting our “localvore” Breakfast. Originally our breakfast featured foods made from scratch with ingredients grown or produced within 100 miles of Silverton. This year we have decided to shrink our reach and to focus on those items within a 50 mile radius. The event is intended to encourage people to consume foods from their local area. There is a $7 suggested donation. Everyone is welcome.

The menu will include buckwheat pancakes, Silverton's own vegan SortaSausage, vegetable frittata, fresh fruit, fruit compotes, sausage, and beverages.

Information and resources will be available at the event to show people the benefits of eating local food and where they can buy local products.

Founded in 1867, the Grange is the nation’s oldest farm organization. The Silverton Grange Hall is located at 201 Division Street, off of South Water Street, in Silverton. For more information about the event or the Silverton Grange, visit us on the Web.

Whoops, almost forgot! Later that day will also be the KMUZ benefit gourmet dinner with high-class acoustic music from Austin, Texas! Shaping up to be an amazing day!