ARTICLES

Last winter, the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce launched an exciting tradition — a magical community skating experience! The Glide + Gather Skating Rink is returning this year with an expanded celebration to bring the joy of the season to all ages!  The 2024 Glide + Gather was an incredible success, drawing more families and visitors than the organizers ever imagined. This year, the skating experience will be held at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, which offers plenty of

Lake Oswego Lions Club and VisionEnvoy Club Branch, with more than 76 years of service from the heart, are as committed as ever to sustaining our impact in the community. We will continue to be a dynamic force for good. One example is our Winter Clothing Drive – 2025!  “Our hearts are full of gratitude for this wonderful opportunity!” said Winter Clothing Drive  Chairperson, Lion Diane Mead. “As we have done before, the Lake Oswego Lions Club and VisionEnvoy Club Branch are c

December marks the time when the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce begins planning one of its most anticipated events of the year — Lake Oswego Chamber Honors: the community’s annual awards celebration honoring the people and businesses whose efforts help make Lake Oswego a thriving, connected, and caring community. Behind the scenes, an Awards Committee convenes in September to identify those who go “above and beyond” in service to others. These recognitions shine a light on i

When the snow begins to fall, it’s usually not long before snowmen start appearing in people’s yards. Whether it’s a towering figure with a carrot nose and coal eyes or a lopsided creation shaped by a child’s enthusiasm, snowmen have long embodied the playfulness and wonder of winter. Across generations and continents, they emerge wherever snowfall meets human imagination — a fleeting art-form molded from nature itself. But how did this whimsical figure become such an endurin

This may have happened to you. You’re driving north on Highway 47 toward Banks, and reach Greenville, where you see a sign “Kansas City, 2 miles.”  Maybe you’ve been to another “Kansas City,” like the barbecue capital of the world in Missouri, so you’re intrigued. At that moment, someone in the car alerts you that they “need to go potty,” so like any compassionate driver, you make a quick left and follow the sign to Kansas City, hoping a store or gas station will reveal itsel

Do you struggle with addiction? Or circumstances from past addictions or their destructive influences? Provoking Hope, serving the Greater Willamette Valley, is a diverse nonprofit organization offering Addiction and Recovery Wrap-around Services and Resources. Designed to assist individuals striving to have a better life, Provoking Hope focuses on four basic support programs: Prevention, Intervention, Facilitation, and Reduction. Through these programs, Provoking Hope mentor

Meet Camille Schectman, or “de Camille,” a painter from West Linn, Oregon, who has developed an entirely new approach to creating meaningful art for her clients. Through guided breathwork meditations on Zoom, she conducts the Manifestation Art Experience (M.A.X.), a process designed to help you attract the life of your dreams through art. Camille uses her wisdom, creativity, and ability to connect with others to create personalized paintings that uplift and inspire her client

Allie Yacina is an exciting young artist whose creativity bridges the gap between the traditional and the digital, the intuitive and the intentional. With a background spanning fine art, graphic design, and brand development, she brings both precision and passion to every project she touches. Her work is a study in color and space, balanced yet bold, thoughtful yet full of life. Much like her art, Allie radiates warmth and clarity, approaching each new challenge with a blend

Auld Lang Syne, roughly translated from Scottish, means “for old time’s sake,” which means to reminisce on old friendships and good times, while bidding farewell to the past year to welcome the new one. In a similar way, each new year we bid farewell to ourselves.  Marriage Story (2021)   A strikingly intelligent and focused character study of a man and wife in a marriage that falls apart, it’s as beautiful as it is bittersweet. Charlie (Adam Driver) is a well-known theatre d

Briefly tell us about your business   We are Olga and Ashton Courson, the husband-and-wife team behind Signature Surfaces PDX, a woman- and minority-owned flooring company based in Canby. We specialize in concrete polishing, epoxy coatings, and surface restoration for both residential and commercial spaces. While our business is new, we bring years of experience.  Share your story We started Signature Surfaces PDX because we wanted to build something together that combined ou

Canby’s own Matt Stutes of Cornerstone Wealth Management was nominated for the 2026 NAPA (National Association of Plan Advisors) Top Retirement Plan Advisors Under 40 award. This national honor – NAPA 40 Under 40 “Aces” – highlights rising leaders in the retirement plan industry. Nominations come from NAPA firm partners and are vetted by a panel of senior advisor experts, along with a broker-check review.   Matt received the nomination for his work with providers on current r

Today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day stands as one of the most widely recognized commemorative holidays in the United States, honoring not only a man, but an entire chapter of American history defined by struggle, courage, and moral clarity. The path to establishing this holiday was anything but smooth. Decades of public pressure, political battles, and cultural shifts occurred before the country formally designated a day to honor King’s legacy. A deeper appreciation of this hol

Every January people around the world pull out journals, planners, and fresh ambitions with the intention of improvement for the new year. Whether the goal is fitness, saving money, traveling more, or even relaxing a bit more, making New Year’s resolutions has become a familiar ritual of hope. But the practice is far older than modern gyms, phone apps, or the self-help culture. In fact, its roots stretch back thousands of years. One of the earliest known “new year” traditions

It’s the perfect season to curl up with a good book, and lucky for us, the best place to find your next favorite read is located right in downtown Canby! The Book Nook is more than just a bookstore — it’s a community hub with a positive impact that extends far beyond its brick-and-mortar walls.  Confessed book nerd Megan Waterman had been selling vintage and antique books in a section of another store before a cross-country trip with her family gave her the indie bookstore bu

In the heart of downtown Canby, Wildwood Acupuncture occupies a familiar site on NW 2nd Ave., which was once home to Parsons Pharmacy, and, more recently, the Book Nook. Bringing new life to the space, Wildwood Acupuncture is committed to helping individuals feel better, move easier, and manage the stress of everyday life through acupuncture and the practice of holistic Eastern medicine.   Patients who visit Wildwood Acupuncture frequently come seeking relief from pain: chron

The City of Woodburn has launched a heartfelt storytelling project that spotlights their business community. “An American Dream,” which includes an introductory trailer and six-part video series. It highlights Woodburn’s local entrepreneurs and the journeys that brought them to this unique and vibrant city. “All of our lives are an echo of the past, reflecting those who came before us and paving the way for others to follow.” – An American Dream    Created by the City of Wood

Pride & Prejudice , CHS Theatre-style, was a side-splitting success! Canby audiences loved seeing the theatre students' unique, comedic spin on this beloved Jane Austen story. Many in attendance had read the novel or seen one of the movie versions and sometimes, as CHS Theatre Director Sullivan Mackintosh pointed out, “It can be hard to live up to people's expectations.” The cast and crew, however, delighted audiences and had them laughing in their seats with this joyful adap

Wilsonville boys’ basketball — a pillar of Class 5A hoops and among the most esteemed programs the state has to offer. Over the last decade, this team has sent more than 10 athletes to pursue collegiate careers across the nation, yet with no college commitments as of the start of the season, questions arise as to where this team fits in the broader chapter of Wilsonville basketball. As longtime standouts Cole Hammack and Drake Devin head off to Eastern Oregon, this team is le

Strolling through a lavender field feels like walking straight into a daydream, and here in the Willamette Valley, where lavender plants thrive, visiting U-cut farms is a treasured summer tradition. Located in Wilsonville, on Ladd Hill, overlooking the valley, Thistle & Bloom Lavender Farm is preparing for its third season of inviting the community to a purple paradise featuring U-cut bouquets, golden hour picnics among the bloomscape, and more!  Sheena and Garrett Rupp knew

This continuing article series explores the rich history woven through cities across Oregon, highlighting the people, places, and stories that shaped each city. From well-known landmarks to forgotten local lore, each article uncovers a new piece of the past. Stay tuned for more chapters in Oregon’s unfolding story. Just past Hillsboro, on the western edge of the Portland Metro area, is Forest Grove, a compact small town of just over 26,000 people, with a downtown of stately b