Mount Hood

The Donut Bar provides another cheap food option for students

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

The Donut Bar is a sweet-treat food truck located at 191 Monmouth Ave. N, just a ways away from the annex of food trucks across from City Hall. It’s a relatively new addition to the plethora of food trucks located in Monmouth, having only opened on Sept. 21.

It’s owned and operated by Eric Brown, who decided to start selling in Monmouth due to his church, Limitless Ministries, and family being located here. The Donut Bar’s target customers are the Western students.

Initially, the idea to sell doughnuts at a food truck was to help with funding the church he attends. The actual decision to start the food truck was based on Brown impulsively buying a trailer he had seen while on a trip to the coast.

The Donut Bar’s menu consists of many featured flavors to try, such as the maple bacon doughnut, the Reese’s doughnut, and a create-your-own doughnut option. The truck’s options are not limited to what is posted on the menu, and customers can inquire about other available flavors.

“We are a full kitchen so we can make (a lot) of things,” Brown said. “(There’s not) really a secret menu but there’s things that are not on our window menu.”

For first time customers, Brown recommends trying the Caramel Apple Pie doughnut or any option with peanut butter as a flavor. He claims their signature doughnut is the Apple Fritter with maple bacon and peanut butter.

The Donut Bar’s menu also rotates seasonally, which gives customers various new flavors to try. Currently, the truck has many fall flavors like the Pumpkin Pie doughnut.

Brown doesn’t plan to stop at the food truck, however, and plans to open a full doughnut shop in Monmouth. 

“My father owned 2 (doughnut) shops growing up,” Brown said, “I’ve always wanted to do this.”

The Donut Bar is open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5:30–10:30 p.m. on Saturdays. They can be found on Facebook by searching “The Donut Bar”.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Brittany Figueroa

WolfStore sells backpacks to help families in need

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

The WolfStore at Western has recently obtained new stock from the brand Adventurist Backpack Co. Adventurist Backpack Co. is co-owned and founded by the wife/husband duo Matilda Sandstroem and Kelly Belknap.

Sandstroem and Belknap have teamed up with Western to sell their minimalist backpacks on campus in an effort to raise awareness about students and families in need. For every backpack purchased, 25 meals are provided to families in need through their partnership with Feeding America.

Their story began while backpacking around the world in 2017. After witnessing many families struggling with hunger, the pair decided they wanted to take action.

“Wanting to do what we could to help, we prepared meals each morning and filled up our backpacks, handing the meals out to anyone in need throughout the day,” they stated on their website. Adventurist Backpack Co. was founded upon their return to the U.S. They were able to fill up their backpacks with 25 meals each, hence why 25 meals are provided to families in need with each purchase of a backpack.

The backpacks have a minimalist design, and are made with high-quality all-weather materials, along with minimalist elements from Sweden — Sandstroem’s home country.

Belknap and Sandstroem, after successfully integrating their backpacks into Urban Outfitters, have begun partnering with other universities around the country by selling their backpacks in campus stores.

“We partner with university hunger programs in order to donate a percentage of net profits from each backpack sale to help provide “meal swipes” so that food insecure students are able to eat at the dining halls on campus and also have access to a mobile food pantry, or to local food banks,” Belknap said.

Adventurist Backpack Co. has a goal of providing over 250,000 meals by the end of their third business year. Nearly 100,000 meals have been provided to families in need across the world since the business began in 2017.

“We aim to be at the forefront of brands using business to do something larger than just provide a great product or service, but to help change the world for the better through entrepreneurship,” said Belknap.

More information on Belknap and Sandstroem’s story can be found in the WolfStore and on their website http://www.adventuristbackpacks.com. They can also be found on Instagram at the handle @adventuristbackpacks, and can be reached at hello@adventuristbackpacks.com for any questions.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@mail.wou.edu

Spooky DIYs for Halloween

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Looking for cheap and fun ways to decorate for Halloween this year? Try out these DIYs to get prepped for the spooky season.

 

Witch’s Potions

Make some witch’s potions to set on a windowsill, at the front door or just miscellaneously around the house. Start by taking any old, preferably glass bottles lying around, such as a wine, cider or seltzer bottle. Fill the bottle with some sort of liquid — water dyed a different and/or unnatural color, juice, or something carbonated to give the potion a bubble-bubble-toil-and-trouble look. 

Take the witch’s potions up a notch by adding in various “ingredients”. Add in gummy worms to give an impression of living things being included, or some substance such as ketchup to thicken the liquid, increasing the murkiness and mystery.

 

Floating Ghost

Create a spooky ghost to hang from the ceiling using simple household items. Take a round object like a tennis ball to use as a head, then gather some spare cloth thats cut into a square — length of cloth may vary depending on desired decoration size. Glue the tennis ball to the center of the cloth and attach thread to the top once dried.

Googly eyes can be glued on to add a cuter spooky feel. Variations of the tennis ball could be a balloon, a stress ball or other ball. Cloth can be from old sheets, clothes or various fabrics.

 

Witch’s Spellbooks

Utilize old books that are no longer in use by transforming them into witch’s spellbooks. Head to a used bookstore and pick up some tattered books – or just use older books lying around the house. Cover the book in shabby cloth by either gluing or taping it on. Alternatively, painting the book also works, the goal is just to hide the cover.

Wear down the pages by dampening with water, or coffee to stain the pages to age the book further. Take a lighter or match to the edge of the pages – if the cover is paperback, this works too – to add to the wear and tear.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo Cora McClain (Witch’s Potion)

Photos by Caity Healy (Floating Ghost and Witch’s Spellbook)

Lonney’s Hawaiian food truck review

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Lonney’s Lunch Wagon is a food truck located at 152 Main St W in Monmouth. Opening at the tail end of 2018, Lonney’s serves Hawaiian-Asian style cuisine that comes in both smaller and larger sizes.

Lonney’s initially started out with owners Donney Ito and Leon Abrew selling lunch plates out of their houses as a way to earn money while attending Western. Eventually the two expanded and thought it would be a good idea to start a food truck business in town.

“(The) love and support we got from everyone here was too hard to leave,” the two explained over Instagram. Ito and Abrew wanted to provide a solid food option for the people in Monmouth and for the Western football team that supported the pair from the beginning.

The idea to sell Hawaiian food came from the fact that Abrew and Ito are both from Hawaii. However, according to Lonney’s, “We actually only have one ‘Hawaiian’ dish, (which) is our Kalua pig.” 

Their menu consists of many different mixtures of Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, and some Fillipino dishes, but just stick with the label “Hawaiian food” for simplicity.

The menu rotates every other day, with chicken, beef and pork options available daily, and seafood available on Saturdays. Lonney’s does not have a secret menu, but allows their customers to customise their meals with different sauce options they have for the day. If the Loco Moco is on the menu, any dish on the menu can become a “moco,” meaning that they will add over-easy eggs and gravy to your plate.

Abrew and Ito say their signature dishes are the Hurricane Katsu or Hurricane Chicken. Both dishes are drizzled with a mild spicy mayo, a sweet sushi sauce and are sprinkled with furikake on top. However, the dishes they recommend to first-time customers are the Loco Moco or Bulgogi.

“(We) recommend the Loco Moco or Bulgogi because so many people order the Hurricane every time that they don’t get a chance to try (them),” the two explained over Instagram. “Loco Moco is probably the most underrated plate that we have.”

The Loco Moco is homemade Hawaiian style hamburger patties with an over-easy egg and brown beef gravy, and the Bulgogi is homemade Korean teri-marinated beef.

Along with food, Lonney’s sells pop sockets and, in the past, t-shirts. They’re currently in the process of bringing more t-shirts in.

Lonney’s also advertises for customers to “leave their mark” on the back of their wagon by putting a sticker on it that represents home. 

When asked if they wanted to add anything else, Ito and Abrew had this to say.

“Thank you so much to EVERYONE for supporting us and welcoming us with open arms. There’s a lot of sacrifices we make to be able to run this business, but getting to provide good people with good food makes it all worth it.”

Lonney’s Lunch Wagon can be found on Instagram with the handle @lonneyslunchwagon and on Facebook. The business is open Monday–Friday from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., and on Saturday from 12 p.m.–3 p.m. Occasionally, Lonney’s holds “drunchies” hours, which usually occur from 11 pm–1:30 am. 

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Hannah Greene

Save the pumpkin seeds: My go-to festive recipe

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Instead of tossing the seeds after gutting a pumpkin, turn them into a festive, tasty snack for the fall season.

 

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Start to finish: 25-30 minutes

Servings: 1 ½ cups

 

1 ½ cups of pumpkin seeds

2 teaspoons fine sea salt (and more for serving)

2 teaspoons of olive oil, coconut oil or nut oil (such as walnut)

2 teaspoons of favorite spice blend (such as curry powder, harissa and chili powder)

 

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Fill a medium saucepan with about 2 cups of water and season with 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil.

    Scoop seeds from a pumpkin while water is boiling. Add the pumpkin seeds to a bowl filled with cold water and swish them around until the seeds float and are mostly clean.

    Add the cleaned seeds to the boiling salted water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and pull away any remaining pumpkin attached to the seeds.

    Scatter the seeds onto clean dishcloths and pat them very dry. Mound the dried seeds onto the prepared baking sheet. Add the oil and any spices on top then toss until well coated. Spread the seeds into one layer. Bake, stirring the seeds at least once until fragrant and golden around the edges, 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of the seeds.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Alternative Break information

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Looking for a way to spend spring break for this year? Check out the Service Learning and Career Development’s Alternative Break program.

Alternative Break is a project that gets students out and helping different communities ⏤ both global and/or local ⏤ through different volunteer and community organizations. According to the program’s mission statement, “(it) connects students with transformative hands-on experiences.”

The program is designed to help students grow personally and professionally, while giving them hands-on experiential learning, which involves using reflections on what a person has learned before, during and after participating in an event or activity.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to go out and do good somewhere else,” stated Jennifer Hansen, the career development coordinator at the SLCD. “(Many) students come back from them and go ‘That was life changing’ and … I would definitely agree with that statement.”

Applications to sign up for the Alternative Break program during spring break 2020 open on Oct. 7 and can be found on the Western website. Type “Alternative Break” into the search bar for quick access. Grad profiles of students who had previously signed up and participated in the program can be found with more information on the site. According to Samantha Dunaway, a previous attendee from 2017, “It was a one of a kind experience. It helped me understand and explore an entirely new culture while giving me the tools to help at-risk youth in the community of La Carpio, Costa Rica.”

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Sam Dunaway

Deals available to Western students

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

College is a wonderful but financially painful time for many students. When all of the bills are released and the bank accounts become borderline empty, it’s nice to be able to go to a location that gives students a little break. Maybe a discount?

Two locations in Monmouth and the neighboring town Independence offer students a deal at their places. The Tap Station in Independence offers a dollar discount to Western students who have their school ID, while Main Street Ice Cream Parlor has a double punch card deal.

The Tap Station is located at 87 S Main Street in Independence, the establishment being an old gas station turned restaurant and bar. Wednesday is known as “Western Wednesdays,” which involves an all-day happy hour with $1 off of the final tab if students come in with their Western ID. 

The deal applies to not only drinks at the bar, but also works with non-alcoholic beverages for underage students as well. The “Western Wednesday” deal also applies to cowboys. Students of all ages are welcome in the establishment, and the folks running the Tap Station hope to see more students come to grab a bite or drink.

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor is also located off of Main Street but in Monmouth ⏤ 109 Main Street E, within walking distance of campus. The business offers a punch card program, and gives two stamps for the price of one on Mondays. This is applicable to Western students and others from surrounding universities. Once the punch card is full, the holder gets their ice cream for free and the option to start the cycle over again. This offer was made for students to get a benefit for being at the ice cream parlor⏤ along with a chance to get free ice cream quicker.

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor also offers other deals for those that follow their Instagram page.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

WOU-Hoo: Getting pumped for Homecoming

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

This year’s homecoming game is readily approaching, and with it comes Homecoming week, filled with fun events and activities for students to participate in every day.

The Kickoff Carnival is filled with fun games and prizes to win, including this year’s Homecoming t-shirts. At this time, students have an opportunity to take part in the “Paint the Wolf” event, a tradition that has gone on for years, as another way to leave their mark.

Students can get pumped up with the “Paint the Town Red” event, which involves partnering with local participating businesses to make Monmouth more festive for the week.

The decorating continues with various offices being wildly decorated around campus. While checking those out, students will have a chance to win prizes if they show their spirit by decking out in Western gear.

The hoedown allows students to fully participate in this year’s theme – Wild Wild Western. Students have a chance again to get a free t-shirt and have a fun time at the themed dance.

The Bonfire Pep Rally gathers Western’s students around to chat and have a good time before the “W” burns, a tradition that happens the night before the Homecoming game that most students enjoy being a part of.

The energy continues right before the Homecoming game with the All Student Tailgate, where students get pumped up and spirited before entering the stadium. 

Get prepped for the big game throughout the week by attending events and gaining prizes. Students can get ready for the game by decking out in Wolf gear from the WolfStore ⏤ take advantage of the 30-70% off sale. If students choose to really go all out and paint their faces, be sure to use paint that can go on skin.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo by Paul F. Davis

Overview of new food trucks in Monmouth

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

College is often a major transition for students. You’re suddenly living on your own, paying your own bills, and, on top of all of this, you have to pay for your own food. It takes a lot of mental energy to figure out what to eat each and every day ⏤ energy that could be better spent studying or ignoring your homework ⏤ because let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Although Western provides a dining hall on campus, Monmouth itself is filled with many other food establishments within minimal walking distance from campus.

As soon as Main Street comes into view, it’s surrounded by assorted restaurants with small businesses sprinkled in between buildings. There are quick bites like Yang’s or Koyote’s, or sit-down restaurants such as Yeasty Beasty and Sing Fey’s. However, Main Street isn’t the only area where incredible food can be found.

This year has provided an influx of food trucks, both new and not. Currently, there are a few that are parked across from City Hall all day and night with a few more in different areas throughout town. They provide an easy food option that is full of diverse dishes and, best of all, it’s affordable.

Most provide their locations for the day or week across various social media platforms, so customers always know where exactly to flock to for some great food for even greater prices. The food trucks have their individual hours posted on websites and social platforms along with their menus.

Across from the Academic Programs Support Center off-campus, an annex will be opening up where more food trucks can group.

I plan to go to the various food trucks located here in this lovely little town and provide a more in-depth review of each of them. Each week will provide an opportunity to learn about the food they have at their establishments, what the staff recommends, links on where to find them, and even some background information on each of them. Be sure to check out next week’s issue for an overview of Tucky’s and its southern style food.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

SOLVE your summer volunteering problem

Cora McClain | Copy Editor

Now that summer has rolled around and class is out, a good bit of relaxation is in order. However, if the extra time might be a bit too boring, then give volunteering a try. From the local library to the community garden, there’s bound to be a plethora of opportunities for volunteering. But if you’re looking to do something a bit bigger than shelving books, perhaps cleaning up your local environment is more up your alley.

It’s easy to say that the earth has a few problems — trying to solve those problems is a bit more challenging. Luckily, there is an organization that makes solving these problems a little easier.

SOLVE is a volunteering opportunity organization that is dedicated to “taking care of Oregon.” On their website, solveoregon.org, there is a simple search engine that allows anyone to search for local volunteer opportunities in beach, city-wide and creek clean-ups as well as invasive plant removal and native tree and shrub planting. The easy-to-use platform also gives you the date and location of the event, and even a contact for the organizer of the event to answer any questions. Often, the volunteers are provided with gloves, safety vests, trash bags and even lunch on-site.

So, if you decide that you want to take an afternoon to help out the environment, try SOLVE and see if there are any clean ups in your area. If not, any interested person could also organize a clean-up through SOLVE’s site. Visit solveoregon.org/create-your-own-event to learn more.

 

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Photo by Cora McClain

Four variations on classic s’mores

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Summer isn’t truly complete without a few s’mores. This classic treat is easy to make, delicious, and is often associated with great memories made around campfires. However, sometimes even old favorites can use a new and interesting twist. Here are a few different ways to mix up your s’mores this summer.

 

The mixed berry s’more: I’m a believer that chocolate and berries go great together, so why not throw a few into some s’mores? You know, in case you need something that screams “summer” even louder than this campfire tradition.

 

The peanut butter s’more: Most of us know someone who’s a sucker for peanut butter and chocolate, and if you don’t, that person may be you. If so, this simple twist of spreading a good chunky peanut butter on the graham crackers is one you might enjoy.

 

The cookie sandwich s’more: Whether your favorite cookie is Oreo or chocolate chip, swapping the classic graham crackers with even more sugary goodness is one way to make your s’mores unique.

 

The s’more “cobbler”: Weather not cooperating? Having trouble finding a suitable place for a campfire? Fortunately, this alternative version of s’mores can be done with an oven by layering graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows in a lasagna or pie pan and heating until the marshmallows are toasty and melted.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

Showcase: Graduation caps

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

 

Michelle Soutar, BS in Communications: “The names on my cap represent people that have always supported me and held me up during my last few terms. Like most things in college I hadn’t intended to put flowers but a mistake ended up working out for me with the flower cover up. The Comm saying is mostly because it’s my major. Thanks Pinterest! Let’s go out glittering y’all!”

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

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Stephanie Franco, BS in Business: My cap is a reference to me finishing my degree in Business, and made it glitter to help me stand out in the crowd at graduation.

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

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Sara Powszok, BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: “I chose to decorate my cap this way because I seriously couldn’t have survived this chapter of my life without the support of my parents. They are truly my best friends and my number one fans. I am eternally grateful for them.”

Photo courtesy of Sara Powszok

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Preston Moore, BS in Interdisciplinary Studies: “I chose this for my grad cap because of all the crazy adventures I have gone on at my time here at Western. All the steps taken and new friends made are innumerable. Also, I love ‘Harry Potter’ — #GriffindorRules.”

Photo by Caity Healy

 

Become the greatest gift-giver

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

There are many great things to look forward to after graduation: the celebrations, the feeling of accomplishment, the relief of being done with school and of course, the gifts. They often come from well-meaning friends and family, but they also can often be a hit or miss. If you’re worried you’ll shoot for a hit but get a miss with your grad gift, here’s a list of ideas to start with.

 

Money: An easy first answer that any grad will appreciate is a little financial relief, regardless of their tastes. Even if it’s a minimal amount, it can still buy a little extra caffeine and the grad will definitely appreciate it.

Vacation: Graduation and finals tend to take everyone’s energy and focus, so arranging and paying for some stress relief will help take the graduation load off. Hopefully, they will return energized and ready to face the post-graduation world.

A collection of memories: Whether in the form of framed photos or customized decor, putting together a compilation of memories from the grad’s years at Western will be sure to be a hit for a nostalgic graduate.

New laptop: Senior’s laptops have been through years of all-nighters, coffee spills, built up files and hours of streaming that wear down the battery life. Send your graduate into the world prepared to do all these things over again, but with a fresh start for their new careers.

Portfolio or business card holder: A few simple gifts at the cheaper end, professional portfolios, business card holders or planners are gifts to show your support for your graduate’s endeavours.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Paul F. Davis

Alumni: Life after graduation

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Javan Mngrezzo, Class of 2017:

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What did you study at Western?

I was born in California. We moved around a lot, so I wouldn’t say I’m from a specific spot, just overall California. Then we moved to Oregon when I was 16 and I went to Corvallis High School for a bit… (Then) I went to Western. When I first got there, I was actually a mathematics and dance double major, but I ended up being a dance major and a social science minor with a concentration in sociology.

 

What did it feel like to finally graduate?

It definitely felt good … I was determined to do the four year track in three years, so it was pretty stressful. I took upward of 20 credits each term and then had a lot of other school activities … I was President of the dance program for half the year and then I was also involved with Rainbow Dance Theater … so yeah, it was a lot, but it felt good that I accomplished my goal of finishing in three years.

 

How has life been since you graduated? Was it what you were expecting?

It’s almost been better … it’s almost more rare nowadays to have people move right into their field of focus after they graduate; I feel like there’s often lots of times people work jobs that don’t necessarily depend on their degree so it’s nice for me to be utilizing my degree every day and really enjoying what I do … I’m currently working at BodyVox, a professional dance company here in Portland.

 

What’s one of your best memories from Western?

So many. I would say my best memory from Western was being an RA at Heritage Hall and having that responsibility of being that first point of contact for first year students, which is something I had a lot of passion doing. I was an RA my sophomore year and a Plus+ Team member my junior year … I kind of miss having those leadership roles … my residents all went on to great things so I miss that sense of community and leadership there.

 

How do you feel your time at Western prepared you for the “real world?” What lessons do you feel you took away?

I kind of stayed strictly in the world of dance … and started dancing when I got to Western — that was the first time I’d been dancing, and now for me to be at a company that has more of a level of prestige … it was really nice having Rainbow as that stepping stone or springboard into something bigger.

 

Do you still keep in touch with your friends from Western?

I still keep in touch … probably the senior class this year are the last people I know really well, just because it’s been that long, I definitely still have a few friends there.

 

Do you ever miss being a student?

Yes and no. I definitely miss that daily challenge to keep learning, because I do love learning, but out in the real world, it’s harder for you to pick something and start doing research when there’s not a paper due or that kind of structure. But, I do miss that learning aspect.

 

Any advice for graduating seniors of this year?

Don’t be afraid to fail. You can’t succeed if you don’t take a risk, especially in dance or any field in the arts; money is going out and it’s harder to get settled in your niche in any world once you graduate. So, I would say persevere past the point of what’s easy and don’t become complacent. Return for bigger and better things.

 

Photo courtesy of Javan Mngrezzo

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Mickey Hiller, Class of 1979:

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What did you study at Western?

I grew up in Corvallis, so I was a big Beaver fan growing up. I really wanted to go to OSU, so I went for one year and I hated every minute of it. The classes were just so big. So I transferred to Linn Benton Community College for a few years, which was nicer because there were smaller classes and more closer interactions with everyone. At one point I mentioned to a friend that I didn’t think I would play football again — I played football in high school — and he told me to go talk to the coach at Western, which was still the Oregon College of Education at the time. So I ended up going up there to play football, and I loved every minute. My major was physical education and health education.

 

What did it feel like to finally graduate?

After graduating, it was rather uneventful. I didn’t go to the graduation, I just got my diploma and had a party with some of my friends. But I did feel like ‘What do I do now?’ Luckily, I happened to be living in Corvallis, down the street from the high school, and I was walking down there one day and happened to see a football practice. So I went up and asked ‘Need any help?,’ which is how I ended up there for five years, helping the football team, and eventually got into substitute teaching.

 

How do you feel Western helped prepare you for the “real world?” What lessons did you take away?

The professors, especially one in particular Dr. Hein, were on my case every day. It was awesome; they just kept pushing me to do better …They taught me how to treat people … and how to interact with kids. I’ll never forget my coach, Coach Kelly … a guy just out of the prison came up to me in the gym and handed me some pills, and he said ‘Take these pills, you’ll get stronger and bigger.’ So I took them into Coach Kelly’s office and said ‘This guy gave me these pills…’ and he told me, ‘Throw them out. They’re steroids.’ I’ve never forgotten it … I would have gone for it, I would have taken them if he hadn’t said that. It’s really stuck with me and I keep bringing it up when I talk about him. He didn’t care about me being bigger or stronger, he was more interested in me as a person.

 

Do you still keep in touch with some of your friends from Western?

Somewhat, yeah … With Facebook, I know a lot of people don’t like it but I’ve gotten in touch with a few people I haven’t seen in years through it.

 

What is one of your favorite memories from Western?

Playing football was great, the friends I made and the fun we had … I can’t think of just one … I have nothing bad to say (about Western) — everything good.

 

Any advice for this year’s graduating class?

Think back on your time here and enjoy every minute of it … Just find a job you love — doesn’t have to be the exact thing you were going for.

 

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

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Keary Niarkos, Class of 2011:

Where are you from? When did you go to Western, and what was your major?

I am from Vancouver, WA and attended WOU in the fall of 2008 and graduated in the spring of 2011. I graduated with a BA in American Sign Language Studies.  

 

What did it feel like to finally graduate?

For me it was a mixed feeling. I was thrilled to be done with school and proud of what I had accomplished but didn’t necessarily have much figured out and being on my own after the security of college was intimidating.

 

What has your life been like since graduating? Is it what you were expecting or were there surprises?

Life has been good. I had a serious relationship that began in high school and we both attended WOU together and about a year after graduating we got married. We are about to celebrate seven happy years of marriage. I wanted to do something with American Sign Language but not sure what. I took a job interpreting (which was not my plan) and that ended up being a wonderful experience and that led me to teaching ASL. I have now been teaching for six years and while it can be a challenge, I genuinely love my job. So some things were surprising and others feel into place quite naturally.

 

How do you feel Western helped prepare you for the “real world”?

I know that I would not have been able to do the jobs that I have done had I not attended WOU and studied ASL there. So careerwise, I needed the education. I would say that the personal interactions and experiences of talking with people from such different walks of life was invaluable for shaping me into the person I am. I think we are often so sheltered in high school but in college you are forced to reach out and work with others and that was a huge benefit for me.

 

Do you still keep in contact with your friends from Western, and do you ever miss being a student?

I have some people that I stay in contact with and some that have even been co-workers. I miss the pace of being a student and I miss the fun environment. I don’t miss the workload but honestly as a teacher the workload hasn’t changed much. I would say that while the stress is immense as a student with all the homework/presentations there is a sense of security that is always there and that goes away as you enter adulthood and your career.

Do you have any advice for graduating seniors?

Remain open-minded. You can’t see where things will lead you and you never know what experiences you need to go through to get you, truly, where you need to go. That doesn’t mean be reckless and jump into everything, but be willing to meet people, take jobs, join organizations that might not have been in the plan because you will learn more of what you really want.

Focus on what matters. At the end of the day, you will not care if you finished that one project at work — you will care about the people in your life. Often, we don’t focus on what is most important until we lose it. Sometimes the best thing you can do is have that conversation that seems pointless, but could mean all the difference in the long run.

 

Photo courtesy of Keary Niarkos

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Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Transitioning to Monmouth from a big city

Suzana Carroll | Freelancer

The move from a big city to Monmouth is definitely a culture shock — there is not a Starbucks on every corner, no mall a short drive away, and there definitely is not as large of a variety of food. So, coming from a big city can be very difficult. I had severe homesickness and craved being home with a lot to do around me, but I had to stick with Monmouth and do my own searching for things that made me feel close to home and kept me occupied. Have no fear; Monmouth has pieces of the big city life in its small city surroundings.

You can score adorable boutique finds at The Find on Main Street, a small business that opened in 2013 and is dedicated to bringing Monmouth cute fashion as well as home decorations, such as hanging signs and candles. When you are shopped out, you can hop over to Java Crew for a good latte, tea, or any way you like caffeine. While Java Crew might not have the big city bustle, it is the perfect place to dive into your new book, or catch up on some old homework you have been procrastinating.

Big cities have a lot of food choices, while Monmouth’s choices are a little limited. However, it is not impossible to find good eats around town. There is a Subway and Papa Murphy’s that taste the same as they do at home, Koyotes, a local, quick, affordable Mexican restaurant, and even a Hawaiian food cart, Lonney’s Lunch Wagon. The different food variation really helps with being able to try different foods like one would in a city setting without having to go far for them.

Night life in a city is one of the perks of being in a big town, but Monmouth has a night life of its own, as well. Of course, there’s the Main Street Pub & Eatery on Thursday nights, and while it is not a big city bar, there are always people you know, a fun time, and a safe environment. For those that are not partiers, but want to enjoy a cocktail, Crush Wine Bar on Main Street is the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a quality cocktail.

With summer coming up, the thought of spending the vacation in a small town can seem underwhelming to big city people, but fortunately we have some events to keep boredom away. Main Street Park and Riverview Park host regular concerts, and Independence also has movie nights in the park during the summer.

While Monmouth is not a big city, and it definitely is hard to adjust from a big city life, there are slivers of a large city within Monmouth’s walls, which does make it a lot easier to adjust.

 

Contact the author at scarroll15@wou.edu

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

How to make gluten-free vegan protein smoothie popsicles

Morgan Taylor | Freelancer

This simple sweet treat is sure to be the perfect snack for after a workout, or just to cool down. All you need is a blender, some popsicle molds, which can be purchased at your local grocery store or Amazon, and freezer to whip up these delicious popsicles. While they are full of protein, they are also gluten-free and vegan. You can’t go wrong with this refreshing treat.

 

STRAWBERRY PROTEIN PACKED POPSICLES

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Freezer Time: At least 5 hours

Servings: 10 Popsicles

Ingredients:

3 cups of frozen strawberries

1 banana

1 1/2 cups of almond milk

3/4 cup of juice of your choosing (I used strawberry apple)

2 scoops of Vanilla Orgain Protein Powder (or any other vegan/gluten-free brand)

½ pound of fresh strawberries

Instructions:

Add frozen strawberries, banana, and the almond milk to the blender.

Blend until frozen strawberries are chopped up.

Add protein powder and juice.

Blend until smooth.

Slice fresh strawberries and line the inside of the popsicle molds.

Pour in protein smoothie and place in freezer.

Freeze for at least five hours.

Enjoy.

 

Contact the author at mrtaylor14@wou.edu

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

The value of clothing, the pros of thrifting

Karlene Curtin | Staff Writer

Oregon is home to some of the finest thrift stores in the U.S. and has some of the best clothing finds that are far  cheaper than corporate clothing stores. By thrift shopping, one is encouraging recycling thus creating a cleaner environment.

Planet Aid, a website that encourages different ways of recycling says, “Nearly 100% of clothing is recyclable.” The clothing that is thrown away goes into landfills otherwise known as textile waste.

Harmony, a website that gives information about different waste solution says, “The U.S. EPA estimates that textile waste occupies nearly 5% of all landfill space. While the EPA estimates that the textile recycling industry recycles approximately 3.8 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste (PCTW) each year, this only accounts for approximately 15% of all PCTW, leaving 85% in our landfills.”

Also according to Harmony, the average American throws away 70 pounds of clothing annually and textiles take approximately 25 to 50 years to biodegrade. These numbers add up per person, and landfills are now overflowing with clothing that could have been donated to thrift stores — perhaps, the problem could have been prevented by buying secondhand in the first place. By secondhand shopping, or maybe giving clothing away to family and friends, it encourages recycling and also saves money in the long run. When one donates to thrift stores, they are preventing clothing from going into landfills; by shopping at one, it is also likely to save a consumer at least 50% of what they’d usually spend on clothing.

There are many Thrift Stores in the area, such as  Fashion Sense & Home Store and Robins Roost Resale Store which are both located in Independence. By thrift shopping, I have not only saved money but have found different approaches to my style — I love finding old band t-shirts and other vintage clothing. My style becomes more one of a kind without breaking the bank. It is worth donating and checking out local thrift stores to not only save money but the environmental as well.

Contact author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

Tattoos found on campus

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Natalie Dean: I chose this tattoo because my cat, Penny, is nearly 14 years old and I know I won’t have her forever, so having a piece of her means a lot. I got rosemary sprigs for my grandmother, Rosemary, as well as my May birth flowers (Hawthorns). I also got sunflowers because I grow them in the summer — I wanted things that brings me joy.

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

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Lucia Breeden: My sister and I wanted sister tattoos, but we eventually thought it’d be great to involve our mom. So after a long time convincing her that’d it’s be fun, she agreed. Mine says “little sister,” my sister’s is “big sister” and my mom’s is “mama.”

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

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Madison Gaylin: For my sunflower, it was inspired by my grandma singing “You are my sunshine” song to me growing up. For other one, I found the quote in my junior year of high school and it’s just stuck with me and made me have a constant reminder – if I’m not trying my hardest how am I going to know what I can handle?

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

Why pets are great companions

Karlene Curtin | Staff Writer

When I first met Clover, a short hair tabby cat, it was love at first meow. Taking him home for the first time was exciting and also nerve-wracking. Adopting a cat is a lot of work, much more than what people often anticipate. There’s litter box training, grooming, feeding, vet bills and then trying to teach kitty the rules of the home.

After a year with Clover my stress levels have lowered significantly. He has become a major part of my life. He knew when I was having a rough day or if I was not feeling myself and would bring me one of his toys in hopes that it would make me happier. Then, he’d sit next to me and let me pet him.

Bringing Clover home has impacted how I deal with stress significantly. Playing with him, petting him or simply watching his sassy antics brought me joy. Many other college students, like myself, deal with stress and have expressed their furry companion being major stress reliever in their lives.

Jaclyn Spani, an education major and soon to be graduate from Western Oregon, discussed how her cat, Scout, has helped her cope with stress while attending college.

Upon asking why she wanted to get a cat in the first place, her answer was clear.

“I’ve always had a cat in my life,” Spani explained. “I found Scout because one of my dad’s friends was just going to give her up to the Humane Society since he couldn’t take Scout with him. So I took her instead.”

She also added that she wanted to get a cat because, “they’re also just so smart but independent. I knew I wouldn’t have the time that caring for a dog requires, even though they’re great, so a cat was the perfect way to go.” Since having her cat, Spani explained that it has helped her significantly when it comes to coping with stress.

“My cat has been so helpful when dealing with the stress of college. Even just knowing that she’s at home waiting for me can turn days around,” said Spani. “She is so sensitive to what I need and is always around when I’m not feeling well, (or when I’m feeling) stressed or have headaches. She’ll come up and lay on the bed with me and just purr to try and help me feel better. Knowing that there’s something at home waiting for you to play and love is so relaxing.”

Although adopting a pet is a lot of work, it can be worth it when coming home to a perfect companion.

According to the American Institute of Stress, just about any type of pet has been proven to increase their human companion’s health. Caring for an animal can act as a buffer to social isolation and other stressors that negatively impact mental health. Fortunately, this fact allows mental health professionals to certify pets as Emotional Support Animals that can overcome some housing barriers students face. College isn’t easy, but a furry (or scaly, or feathery) friend can make it a little easier.

 

Contact author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

Cocktail Corner with Mikaela: Mango Tango

Mikaela Wong | Staff Writer

When it comes to alcohol, most everyone wants a drink that “tastes good” — but what exactly does that mean? For many, it means having a drink that doesn’t taste overwhelmingly like alcohol, but still enough to know that there’s some there. Similarly, a lot of people prefer fruity, citrus-based drinks that mask the taste of alcohol, but don’t know many drinks that fit that description.

The Mango Tango is a drink specially created at the Main St. Pub & Eatery and is a crowd-pleaser when it comes to strength and taste combination. It’s a great, refreshing drink that is easy to enjoy and has an easy name to remember. This week on Cocktail Corner, we’ll teach you exactly what goes into, and how to make one on your own. Remember — please drink responsibly and only drink alcohol if you are over 21 years old.

 

MANGO TANGO

Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 lime wedge, muddled

1 lemon wedge, muddled

1 ounce guava rum

1 ounce mango rum

1 ounce triple sec liqueur

2.5 ounces sweet & sour mix

2.5 ounces cranberry juice

Ice to fill one 16 ounce pint glass

Instructions:

Muddle lime and lemon at bottom of pint glass. Fill glass with ice.

Combine guava rum, mango rum, and triple sec liqueur in glass.

Fill the rest of glass with equal parts sweet & sour and cranberry juice

 

Contact the author at mwong16@wou.edu

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

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