mohead

While Obama is doing he can to stimulate the economy  a social phenomenon in Salem, Oregon called the Culture Shock Community Project has it’s own stimulus package designed to bring people together affordably.

Culture Shock Community is a 501C Non Profit Organization, hosting family oriented events throughout the Willamette Valley.

A pumpkin carving event was enjoyed by everyone, at the Willamette Art Center on Oregon State Fairgrounds on October 26th. The pumpkin carving event is one of 13 nights of family events held nightly in the Willamette Valley. For upcoming events check on the Culture Shock Community event website.

After Halloween, another event was created to lend a green way to return pumkins to the land:

Below in a video, community enthusiasm is shared by three local youth about destroying their pumpkins after Halloween.

Community partner Fordyce Farms helped host the the event, “Pumpkin Smash and Kill” on is a part of The 13 Nights of Halloween, as organized by The Culture Community Project, dedicated to low cost life enrichment programs for all.

I don’t agree with an article regarding the Portland housing market.  It suggested that Portland housing markets are less viable than others. It is published here.

My reasons  why:

Portland is retaining it’s value is because it is a city that is on the cutting edge of being a green city, heavy investment in public transportation and really does have more water friendly weather than Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix or Detroit.  Portland has less pollution, less overbuilding, and increased demand from people moving north from California.

I can’t help but laught at this every time.  Tim Conway keeps such a straight face, and Harvey Korman can’t keep from laughing during this Carol Burnett Show ad lib;

Don Sellway  has been a barber for forty years.  For 16 of them he’s had a barber shop in the rural community of Silverton, Oregon at 201 Oak Street.
“If I believe the customer is on rough times,”said Sellway, “on fixed income or out of work, the price is 7 dollars. It’s as simple as that. That’s not true for everybody, you gotta remember the average home in Silverton goes for $400,000, so if you pull up in a fancy car our standard rate applies.”

Street parking in Silverton is still also a terrific value. One penny still gives you twelve minutes in a downtown Silverton parking meter.

Miles Booher, 8 plays famous the bluegrass tune, RedWing for his on stage performance.

The Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Association had alot going on in Salem, Oregon this Friday and Saturday.  Event organizer and  association chairman Lew Holt greeted me at the door. The event was held at the Building 6 Auditorium in at Chemeketa Community College.

Just off stage was the designated warm up room  filled with fiddlers and guitar players of all ages. A wide range of beginners to top champions were playing to each other in the warm up room.  The  1990 Weiser Grand Champion,  Rudi Booher of Yoncalla was on hand to spend time with his son.  His eight year old son Miles  Booher competed in the Pee Wee division for the first time.

Living on a farm in Yoncalla, The Boohers are long time readers of the Capital Press and raise goats and chickens on their farm.

The Booher farm is also host to Booher Music Camp every July.  Acoustic musicians come from all over to Oregon once a year to camp out, make new friend and music classes.

Age 10, Gabriel Alan Moses Baltzelli has as melodic a name as his fiddle performance performance. Home schooled in Portland, Gabriel is backed up by a guitar player prior in order to warm up for his onstage performance.

Fiddling is more than an education, its a great pastime. Many of the youth who attend such music events are home schooled, and as a result have time that publicly school might not for musical training.

An accomplished fiddler at age 8, Isaaiah Baltzeli has been playing since age 3. Issaaiah won the "Twin twin" competition for fiddle playing where fiddles harmonize with each other.

Isaaiah Balzeli (8) and her older brother Gabriel  from Portland are “forever thankful” to have their lessons provided by by a grant offered from the Old Time Fiddlers Association. Issaaiah won the Twin twin competition for fiddle playing where fiddles harmonize with each other.

Instructors, parents and organizers chill out playing Old Time favorites.

Its purpose is to bring opportunities for the native peoples of Oregon’s Willamette Valley to celebrate their cultural traditions. Master of ceremonies Bob Tom set the tempo of the event performances.

GRAND ENTRY:  A Pow wow begins with all the performers lining up by dance style and age. They then enter the arena accompanied by the Host Drum.

Sponsors of the even were:
The Willamette University Native American Enlightenment Association,
Associated Students of Willamette Univeristy and the Willamette University Office of Multicultural Affairs.