Mount Hood

Snag some well-loved literature in your area

Local little libraries make a big impact on communities

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Sunny days are best enjoyed with a lounge chair and a captivating book, but sometimes it feels impossible to find the “right” book to start reading. With local little libraries, it’s easy to explore new titles provided by the community. These libraries can be made by families, bought online or provided by organizations, and they offer a convenient and interactive way to get involved in the community by having others take or donate well-loved books. Here are just a few little libraries in the area, out of the many that are in Oregon: 

Monmouth 

  • MaMere’s Guest House ⏤ 212 Knox St. N. This little library is a replica of the historic house and is crafted entirely from LEGO’s. It’s complete with LEGO flowers, a miniature library and a black cat that roams the property. 
  • Monmouth Montessori School ⏤ 1140 East Main St. This library is for anyone to enjoy, take a short walk to discover the big blue butterfly on the back of the library — with this cute design, it’s hard to miss.

Salem and Keizer

  • American Antique Hardware ⏤ 2983 D St. NE. This red and blue library is bigger than others since it’s in a larger neighborhood and a busier location. Supported by the surrounding seven homes in the area, they have all come together to offer books for all ages in English and Spanish. 
  • Oneil Library ⏤ 7426 Oneil Road NE. This royal blue library was built in 2019 by Donovan Karnes for his Eagle Scout Project, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 7067. 
  • Little Free Library ⏤ 5908 Legacy St. SE. Smaller and tucked away, these wooden navy blue walls hold a selection of children’s books and adult literature.

Eugene 

  • Anthony and Jodie St. Clair’s ⏤ 1260 Beebe Lane. This blue and purple library was gifted to Anthony and Jodie St. Clair by Nancy Nathanson and the River Road Community Organization. Now, they pass on their love for reading by sharing their colorful library with the community. 
  • Treetops Little Free Library ⏤ 3049 Deerbrush Way. Parked in the shade from the trees in Southwest Eugene, this library is made from rich, dark wood that will immediately catch the eye. Snag a book to add some excitement to the day.  
  • Cole Family Library ⏤ 553 North Bertelsen Road. This is the second library made by the Cole family, and they’re back and better than ever. With the adorable addition of a flower doorknob, small flower beds and windows, anyone in the neighborhood can enjoy their labor of love. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Get your green thumb ready for Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day with these events across Oregon

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Strap on some shoes, grab some water and spend time outside this Earth Day, on April 22. While it’s always a good idea to reduce, reuse and recycle year-round, Earth Day aims to bring awareness to environmental concerns worldwide. The day can be celebrated with environmental activism, like picking up litter or cleaning up parks, dams and beaches. If plans are still up in the air, consider checking out these local Earth Day themed events happening across Oregon:

  • “Earth Day Succulent”: hosted by Student Engagement. April 22, 12 to 2 p.m. Located at The Grove on the Western’s campus, Monmouth, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Block Release & Oregon Truffle Party”: hosted by Coeur de Terre Winery. April 24, 1 to 3 p.m. Located at the Coeur De Terre Winery, 21000 SW Eagle Point Rd., McMinnville, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Volunteer Crew”: hosted by the Hoyt Arboretum. April 22, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Located at the Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Event”: hosted by Washington Square. April 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at 9585 SW Washington Square Rd., Portland, OR. 
  • “Kindness Farm Earth Day Celebration”: hosted by Kindness Farms. April 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at 7101 SE 127th Ave., Portland, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Spring Planting with SOLVE & Hillsboro Downtown Partnership”: April 22, 12 to 4 p.m. Located at 409 E. Main St., Hillsboro, OR. 
  • “MHCC Beaver Creek Earth Day Cleanup”: hosted by Mt. Hood Community College. April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at 26000 SE Stark St., Gresham, OR. 
  • “Earth Day of Service”: hosted by the University of Oregon. April 24, 1 to 4 p.m. Located at 1585 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, OR. In-person and virtual options. 
  • “Earth Day Virtual Guided Hike”: hosted by the City of Keizer. April 22 through 30, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Located at the Keizer Rapids Park, 1900 Chemawa Rd. N., Keizer, OR. In-person, virtually guided. 
  • “Culture Club at Hilyard Community Center”: hosted by the Hilyard Community Center. April 24, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Located at 25080 Hilyard St., Eugene, OR. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

New events from Independence, Portland, Eugene and more

Enjoy quality time with these virtual and in-person events 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌

As February begins, it can be fun to plan events to attend with family or individually for people to enjoy and explore. Some events have gone virtual ⏤ which makes it even easier to enjoy with family or friends ⏤ or going to in-person events alone while social distancing and taking the necessary precautions can add some variety to the day. Either way, everyone needs some new things to do this year, and it is important to still be engaged and social for mental and emotional health. 

Virtual and in-person events can be a way to find new friends and folks with similar interests, or it can be a way to get out of the old comfort zone. Life gets busy and it’s not always easy to know what the latest happenings in and around town are, so here are some recommended events to look into:

  1. Teen/Adult DIY – Valentine Flowers: Feb 5. Virtual event. Independence, OR. ci.independence.or.us/library/page/teenadult-diy-valentine-flowers 
  2. Kid Craft Fun – Valentine Cards: Feb 8. Virtual event. Independence, OR. ci.independence.or.us/library/page/kid-craft-fun-valentine-cards 
  3. Virtual Storytime with Miss Jo: Each Wednesday — Feb. 10, 17 and 24. Virtual event. Independence, OR. ci.independence.or.us/library/page/virtual-storytime-miss-jo-35 
  4. Holiday Show at River Gallery: Feb. 4 through March 5. River Gallery 184 S. Main St., Independence, OR. rivergalleryart.com 
  5. Spark of Love Virtual Auction: Feb. 5 through 10. Supports the Salem Fire Foundation. Virtual event. salemfirefoundation.org/spark-of-love-virtual-auction
  6. Something’s Brewing: a global look at tea and coffee customs: Jan. 6 through March 5. Pringle Park Plaza, 390 Liberty St. SE, Salem, OR. salemmulticultural.org/gallery-exhibit/somethings-brewing-a-global-look-at-tea-and-coffee-customs 
  7. First Friday Artists Receptions: Feb. 5, 7 to 9 p.m. Lunaria Gallery 113 N Water St., Silverton, OR. lunariagallery.com  
  8. Portland’s Seafood and Wine Festival: Feb. 5 through 6. Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR. pdxseafoodandwinefestival.com/ 
  9. Portland Jazz Festival: Feb. 18 through 27. Virtual and in-person options. Portland, OR. pdxjazz.com  
  10. Chinese New Year Celebration: Feb. 12 through 28. Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett St., Portland, OR. rove.me/to/portland/chinese-new-year 
  11. Cascade Festival of African Films: Feb. 5 through March 10. Virtual event. Portland, OR. africanfilmfestival.org/ 
  12. Eugene’s Virtual Boat & Sportsmen’s Show: Feb. 5 through 11; March 12 through 31. Virtual event. Eugene, OR. exposureshows.com/our-shows/eugene.htm

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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