Mount Hood

Nearby haunted houses inspired by Halloween

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Halloween is just a couple weeks away, and the spookiness theme is appearing all around town. Some like to get into the spirit by giving themselves a few good scares. Horror movies might do the trick, but they’re not the same as interactive experiences. Fortunately, there are plenty of places nearby to do just that. Here are some of nearby haunted houses for full immersion into the Halloween season.

 

The Fear PDX

Portland is home to The Fear, whose website calls itself “Portland’s largest Halloween event.” Admission to The Fear’s locations gets visitors four haunted houses for the price of one. This location is currently open every Friday and Saturday until November 3rd as well as a few weekdays. Hours vary by day, but for a complete listing, visit fearpdx.com

Address: 12301 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97230

 

Fearlandia

Located in Tigard, Fearlandia is split into two main sections: TJ’s backyard and Into the Darkness. It also has a date night package option for pre-purchased tickets. This haunted attraction is open from 7-11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, but will be open on Oct. 31 as well.

Address: 16255 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd, Tigard, OR 97224

 

The Nightmare Factory

Located in Salem on the campus of the Oregon School for the Deaf, the Nightmare Factory was once featured on an episode of “Extreme Makeover”. This interactive haunt has options for group discounts as well. The Factory is open Fridays, Saturdays, and most days the week of Halloween.

Address: 999 Locust Street NE, Salem, OR 97301

 

The Frightuary

Found in the Eugene fairgrounds, The Frightuary is a three part attraction that includes exhibits and actors. Visitors can enter Thursdays through Saturdays as well as the Oct. 30-31.

Address: 796 W 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97402

Note: some attractions warn that those with heart problems or who are prone to seizures should not enter. Students should make sure they are safely enjoying the haunted attractions.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Independence’s new restaurant Valkyrie Wine Tavern review

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Downtown Independence has seen a number of recent changes. One of these is the addition of the Valkyrie Wine Tavern on Main Street. The tavern is still somewhat under construction, but is now functional and open for business. Curious as to whether this new location could be a potential hangout for students, I headed there for dinner last week to get a sense of the place.

The interior of the tavern is certainly unique. For the moment, sitting placements are somewhat sparse. The bar takes up the main focus of the room, expanding about halfway out into the room lengthwise. Past the bar is more available seating for a sit down evening.

As for the decor, the theme is that there isn’t really one. Among the more noticeable features are a half stuffed bison attached to the chimney of the small fireplace and a fake suit of armor against the wall. On display as well are some of the restaurant’s wine collection. Once adjusted to, the overall effect is not terrible for those that don’t mind a somewhat eclectic and laid-back environment.

The menu is fairly small, but still allows for a decent variety with options. It’s split into sides, small dishes and larger dishes. I went with a friend, so we each ordered something different and sampled both meals. I ordered the Muffaletta sandwich, which came with a side of salt and vinegar chips, and my friend ordered the steak, which came sides of salad and fries. We also got a side of smoked butter and bread.

My dinner, consisting mainly of Italian meats, was fairly enjoyable — as my friend pointed out, “it’s hard to go wrong with a sandwich”. The steak, however, was well seasoned and paired nicely with the salad. I did thoroughly enjoy the smoked butter and bread, which was both tasty and well presented.

While the tavern is currently only open in the afternoons and evenings (visitors should note that Google does not give the correct hours), the owner, Savannah Pearce, told me that they will consider opening hours up to brunch.

For students interested in a new dining spot with character, the Valkyrie Wine Tavern is a good consideration. However, the restaurant does have a no minors policy, so it’s a location best enjoyed by students who can legally enjoy one of the many wine options the tavern offers as well as the food.

Overall Rating: I would recommend this restaurant

Address: 301 S Main St, Independence

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

An interview with an international exchange student

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Western is home to students from all over the world. Some of them come through international exchange programs, and came into Fall Term only having studied America in textbooks. They face the challenge of studying in a foreign language in a place many of them have never been to. During their time here, they will hopefully get to know more Western students and share some of their culture in return.

Due to their outside perspective, I was curious as to what Western and Monmouth look like from the standpoint of an exchange student. To answer this, I had a chat with Krystal Wang, a foreign exchange student from Shanghai, China. She arrived here in early September, just before Fall Term started, and is a senior business major.

My first questions had to do with first impressions. I asked what she had noticed early into her visit here.

“The homework,” she told me. According to her, the workload for students here is heavier than she is used to, and Chinese students are not assigned as much outside of the classroom. She also mentioned that the Western campus was big compared to her campus back in China, a detail I found interesting as it is considered relatively small here.

I then asked what Wang missed most so far from her hometown.

“Chinese food. I like hamburgers, but other things I am not very accustomed to.”

When I asked what she liked about Monmouth so far, she commented that, “I like the sunshine, and the air is cleaner here,” adding that “In my town, the industry makes the air less clean.”

As an Oregonian, I was not used to people saying they liked our state for the sunshine. However, it was a nice reminder to enjoy some things I take for granted, like our relatively mild weather and fresh air.

Another similar reminder came with her answer to my next question of what surprised her about our country.

“Maybe the atmosphere in the classroom…[There is] more freedom. We can voice our opinions. Where I’m from, we mostly just listen to what the teacher says.”

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Interview with the Student Health and Counseling Center

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Students have many helpful resources on campus for a variety of needs. One such resource is the newly opened Student Health and Counseling Center. The center offers certain health services free to students taking at least six credits. These services include counseling and mental health assistance. To get an idea of student health patterns from the perspective of a staff member, I sat down with Assistant Director of Wellness Education Craig Wimmer and Wellness Educator Pam Medzegian of the SHCC about the most common causes of student visits and what we can learn from these experiences.

In response to the question of advice the SHCC wants students to know, the answer is first and foremost that students should not hesitate or feel embarassed to make an appointment or come in. The staff is there to help solve problems and help educate about preventative care. Wimmer also notes that students should make an effort to be health conscious even when healthy.

“If we’re talking about traditional students, they’re in a pretty good place in their lives in terms of their overall health. They’re not thinking about chronic long term things. So I think this is a point in their lives where they start to learn why these things are important.” said Wimmer.

I asked whether there was any advice they had that for students that might be helpful in saving them a trip to the clinic. Instead, I got somewhat different, but more helpful advice.

“It’s not necessary to wait until you have a problem; until you’re sick or you’re having a mental health crisis,” he told me. Wimmer and Medzegian’s focus at the SHCC is preventative health, meaning they’re there to help students avoid having preventable health issues.  They explain that it’s better to visit for something minor and avoid having a bigger problem surface later, even if it just means stopping by to pick up a free cold kit.

Students can also make appointments for 30 minutes in the new R&R room, which includes a massage chair, space to meditate, a range of music or sounds to choose from and a full spectrum light to help clients with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Staff like these two also have outreach events such as ones that involve alcohol education and, most recently, free flu immunizations on campus.

“In general, I think society tends to treat mental health better, and that gives us access to students needing support,” Wimmer said in response to the number of counseling clients, which has a seen a sharp upturn this year. The good news is that this means many students are taking full advantage of the resources available to them and are taking the time to invest in mental health.

College is a time of learning to take care of oneself and direct their own lives. This includes taking time to invest in self-care and health, both physical and mental. When flu season hits, or anxiety starts to kick in, the SHCC staff is there to help see students through the challenge.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Cheesecake recipe

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Making a nice meal instead of going out usually comes with the satisfaction of having put a lot of effort into the result as well as the comfortable, familiar atmosphere. But why stop at dinner? There are plenty of dessert recipes to accompany a nice night in either alone or with guests. For those who really want to impress said guests, or just enjoy trying something new, this recipe offers a unique option for a homemade dessert. On top of that, it’s surprisingly simple.

 

HOMEMADE CHEESECAKE

Start to finish: 1 hour

Servings: One standard pie pan

Crust:

1 ½ crushed graham crackers

¼ cup confectioners sugar

5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter, melted

⅛ tablespoon salt

Filling:

2 cups cream cheese

2 eggs

⅔ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix together the crust ingredients. Using the crust mixture, take the pie and and spread the mixture on the bottom and sides evenly.

Make the filling by mixing the cream cheese (at room temperature) with the sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth again. Pour the filling into the pie pan on top of the crust.

Place the cheesecake in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove and let sit. The filling may not look fully settled at first. After letting sit, refrigerate until it’s ready to serve.

Serve plain or with desired toppings.

(Recipe from kingarthurflour.com)

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Where to get student discounts

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

It’s a well known fact that college can be expensive. Many students face the challenge of being financially conscious and responsible, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to treat themselves every so often. Fortunately, the rest of the world has become aware of the modern student’s situation and have created student discounts to take full advantage of, both online and in the real world.

Many well-known websites and commonly used apps offer student discounts. Amazon Prime, which includes two day shipping on a vast number of items as well as a streaming service, offers a unique experience for students. For most users, they can expect a one month free trial and then a charge $99.99 yearly. For students, however, there is instead a six month free trial and then a yearly charge of $49.99. The Amazon Prime membership is useful for students who wish to rent textbooks to save some money, as the website offers textbook rentals that arrive in only a few days.

Spotify, a popular site and app for streaming music, now offers a combined discount on Spotify Premium and Hulu. Students have the exclusive opportunity to pay only 99 cents for the first three months and then only $4.99 after that.

Most discounts that can be found in the real world allow for students to enjoy their recreational time. For example, Cinema 8 in Independence offers discounts for both matinee and evening showings. Students wishing to see a matinee pay only $7.50 and only $9 for an evening showing.

AMF Firebird Lanes in Salem doesn’t have a daily discount, but does have College Night. This means that on Thursdays students get unlimited bowling for only seven dollars as well as other discounts on the menu.

College life can be rough on the wallet. It’s not uncommon to find students worrying about current or future finances. However, discounts are reminders that it’s still possible to enjoy life as a student without breaking the bank.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Low time commitment extracurricular activities

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Being a student in itself is very time consuming for most, but many college students are also forced to juggle assignments, work and social life, as well as some other commitments like extracurriculars. Working students know the struggle of trying to piece together a schedule that stills allows basic necessities like eating and sleeping.

While certain extracurriculars and school involvement activities look tempting, it can be hard to find a slot in the calendar to fit them in when life is constantly busy. For the student dedicated to both academic and financial success, here are some extracurricular activities that won’t make too big of a dent in that already limited time supply.

 

Intramural Sports

Those who have seen recent articles of the sports section may already know some about intramural sports. Essentially, they are more casual teams than the club sports, and anyone can join. More information can be found at Western’s website.

 

Peer Tutoring

For students with a 3.0 GPA or higher, there’s the option to become a peer tutor and help other students understand their course material. According to Western’s website, tutors can typically expect two to six hours of tutoring appointments to be booked per week. An upside to becoming a peer tutor is that students have the option of volunteering or being in a paid position. For more information, go to wou.edu/advising/tutoring.

 

Conversation Partners

This is one of the least time consuming activities that will also help another Western student. By signing up for conversation partners, you agree to meet with a foreign exchange student once a week for a minimum of an hour. All that’s required is having a casual conversation with the other student, as this will help improve their conversational English skills. Conversation partnering is ideal for students who like schedule flexibility and are interested in learning about other cultures. If interested, contact the program managers at cp@mail.wou.edu

 

SAB activities

Western’s Student Activities Board regularly organizes events for students to enjoy. For those who are interested in casual, fun activities to get into the school spirit, it’s easy to find a calendar of events on Western’s website or on the bulletin boards in the WUC. These have the benefit of not being mandatory and easy to work around a schedule.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

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