small business – The Western Howl

Written by: Taylor Duff | Lifestyle Editor

Every winter, Oregon comes alive with holiday happiness and colorful activities that capture the enchantment of the season from all angles. Whether one is looking for a stunning light show, a cozy Christmas market or a festive parade, there’s something for everyone. From the twinkling of millions of lights at the Silverton Christmas Market to the distinct appeal of a floating Christmas Ship Parade, Oregon’s holiday festivities provide an abundance of opportunities to create memories with family and friends.

The Silverton Christmas Market: Nov. 21 – Dec. 31. This yearly event at Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton turns the grounds into a winter paradise with over 1.5 million lights. The market is themed like a German Christkindlmarkt and features traditional German delights such as bratwurst and lebkuchen, as well as homemade gifts and crafts from local sellers. Families may enjoy snow-free tubing, comfortable fire pits and picture opportunities with Santa.

Umpqua Festival of Lights in Roseburg: Nov. 24 – Jan. 1. This drive-through light festival at Roseburg’s River Forks Park has the world’s tallest Nutcracker statue, standing 41 feet tall. It also features millions of glittering lights and dynamic shows. Visitors may expect festive music, themed decorations and, on some nights, visits from Santa and local choirs.

Holidays in the Park, Lebanon: showcases Dec. 7 in Ralston Park. This community event features the annual Christmas tree lighting, carolers, festive decorations and family-friendly activities. The major feature is an illuminated Christmas parade that winds through downtown Lebanon, contributing to the small-town holiday atmosphere.

Tis the Season Christmas Bazaar: Nov. 22 – 23 in Woodburn, Oregon. A major holiday craft market with a variety of handcrafted products from local craftsmen, including seasonal decorations, jewelry and homemade foods. This bazaar is ideal for finding unique, handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list.

Christmas Arts and Crafts Event: Dec. 7, Rosedale Friends Church conducts an arts and crafts show to celebrate the holiday season. There will be cookie decorating, ornament making and snacks. All ages are welcome to attend this free event.

Unique World Christmas Pop-Up: Dec. 7 – 8. A themed pop-up that celebrates Christmas customs from throughout the world, with immersive exhibits from several nations. Each section features cultural characteristics, decor and, in some cases, delicacies unique to that nation, making this an enjoyable learning experience for people of any age.

Portland’s Christmas Fashion Show: Dec. 8th, Portland offers a holiday-themed runway event to highlight the ingenuity of local designers. Models wear festive attire suitable for holiday parties and gatherings, making this a fashionable way to start the season.

ZooLights: ZooLights are open Nov. 22 – Jan. 5. The Oregon Zoo’s annual ZooLights show includes millions of LED lights that illuminate the zoo’s paths and exhibits, converting the space into a brilliant display and providing a festive experience for families and friends alike.

Crafty Wonderland: Dec. 13 – 15. This Portland holiday market has over 200 artists exhibiting a diverse range of handcrafted products, including art prints, pottery, clothes and accessories. Crafty Wonderland, known for its quirky, indie ambiance, is a popular destination for unique gifts while also supporting the local artist community.

A Charlie Brown Christmas – Live: Dec. 21 and 22. This theatrical presentation of the popular Christmas special features memorable sequences with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. It’s a nostalgic, family-friendly event with live music, including the popular “Linus and Lucy” theme.

Holiday on Main: Dec. 7 – 8. Many small communities in Oregon celebrate with “Holiday on Main” festivities, which include tree lightings, seasonal business decorations and visits from Santa. It’s an opportunity to support local businesses while also experiencing the beauty of Oregon’s community-focused events.

Bend Christmas Parade: happening Dec. 7. This beautiful parade travels through downtown Bend, featuring floats, marching bands and local groups dressed in Christmas lights. The event often draws enormous audiences and concludes with Santa’s appearance, adding to the festive Christmas ambiance.

Christmas Ship Parade: daily Dec. 5 – 20. Portland has a unique custom in which brilliantly adorned boats cruise down the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, creating a sight of lights on the water. The Christmas Ship Parade may be seen from a variety of waterfront locations across the city, with good viewing points attracting joyous crowds.

Mt. Hood Christmas Train: will last from late November till early January. This magnificent train trip takes guests on a picturesque excursion through the snow-covered vistas of Mt. Hood. On board, children may see Santa, sing holiday songs and enjoy seasonal treats, making it an ideal family excursion.

Oregon’s holiday festivities provide seasonal happiness for everyone, from crowded markets and bright light displays to comfortable train excursions and small-town parades. Whether searching for artisan products, going on a snowy adventure or admiring the dazzling lights, these gatherings brighten the season. Gather with loved ones, sip some cocoa and immerse oneself in Oregon’s Christmas enchantment to make memories and enjoy the season’s pleasure.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Independence Cinema showings begin April 9

Independence Cinema reopening after COVID closures

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

In February, movie theaters in Oregon were permitted to reopen under the official Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. However, some movie theaters such as the Independence Cinema delayed their reopening, citing concerns for the new strains of COVID-19 and wanting more viable movies to showcase in the theaters.

“The hardest thing on a small business so devastated by these closures would be to reopen only to have to close down again,” said Independence Cinema in a Feb. 23 Facebook post. “We did it this fall, and we could not repeat that scenario and survive.”

However, on March 10 the local theater announced that it would be reopening its doors on April 9.

“This was a very careful decision,” said a March 10 Facebook post, “with lots of planning, waiting and watching. We feel confident that everyone is ready to safely enjoy family entertainment again.”

The current plans for reopening entail operating daily with limited showtimes and adhering to industry-wide safety standards called CinemaSafe. Under these guidelines, all theaters are expected to require staff and patrons to wear masks, social distance audience members, increase ventilation where possible, provide hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content, disinfect the auditorium between showings, train staff on COVID-19 symptoms, make online tickets available for patrons and minimize cash transactions. In each state, theater capacity size varies depending on state governments mandates; in Oregon, it is contingent on a county’s COVID risk level.

As of March 26, Polk County Health officials reported the county qualified for the moderate risk level by having a 2% positivity rate and 72.3 cases per 100,000 people over the course of 14 days. As a result, Independence Cinema will have a maximum capacity of 50%.

At this time, the theater does not have an official schedule for their showings, but according to their Instagram page, they plan to open with “Voyagers,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Nobody,” “Chaos Walking,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Tom & Jerry.”

To ensure patron safety, the theater is implementing an RSVP system that can be done either online at www.independencecinema8.com or in person at the ticket counter located outside the theater.

If patrons are not comfortable with watching movies in person, the theater is still offering to-go concessions.

For further information or questions, visit their Facebook page @independencecinema8 or their Instagram @indycinema.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

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Brilliant nearby Black-owned businesses to support

Shop local at these five Black establishments

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

As the COVID-19 pandemic carries on, supporting small and local businesses continues to be more important than ever. In the spirit of supporting local shops and in recognition of Black History Month, here are a variety of local Black-owned businesses near Western.

Creative Credit & Auto Sales: 4045 State St., Salem. Tyrone Jones started Creative Credit & Auto Sales car dealership to help customers buy and lease cars even without great credit. Check out their selection online at creativecreditautosales.com, or visit them on site where they also have a mechanic shop.

Flourish Spices and African Food: 1555 Hawthorne St. NE, Salem. Olajumoke Elkanah opened this African whole foods store and restaurant after noticing a need in Salem for food from her heritage. Flourish offers shipping of their African food products through their website, flourishafricanmart.com; check out their catering and cooking class services as well.

Jojo’s Soul Food & Memphis BBQ: 4106 State St., Salem. This food truck from owner Ricky “Jojo” Tufuku brings the taste of traditional southern foods to Oregon. Find their mouth watering menu on their Facebook page, @Jojo’s Soul Food & Memphis BBQ.

Pets Unleashed: 488 E Ellendale Ave. Suite 2, Dallas. This pet supply and grooming store is Dallas’s first, opened by Jayden Jones. They offer professional and self service grooming, and they are fully stocked with toys, food, accessories and even small animals. Find them on Facebook @Pets Unleashed.

Q’s Corner Barbershop: 651 High St. NE, Salem. Two businesses live at Quandary Robinson’s Salem shop: Robinson’s barber shop for children and adults alike, and Earl “Drako” Drake’s soul radio station, KSOS. Follow their Facebook page @Q’s Corner Barber Shop.

Dirty Radish: Willamette Valley. Chevonne Ball offers exclusive wine tours, tastings and seminars throughout the Willamette Valley with her travel company, Dirty Radish. The company plans to take clients on trips to France as well beginning in the spring of 2022. Check out their website dirtyradish.com for more information.

Epilogue Kitchen: 130 High St. SE, Salem. Open Friday through Sunday, Epilogue Kitchen offers an array of comfort food as well as cocktails to go. Epilogue Kitchen also provides numerous resources for anti-racism actions, including offering book rentals. Check out their website epilogue-kitchen.square.site to order.

Sanders Styles: 2195 Hyacinth St. SE #194, Salem. Christiane Sanders does more than style hair at her salon; Sanders Styles sells beauty products on site and offers classes for both adults and children. Their website sandersstyles.weebly.com shares their services and pricings.

So Cheesy: 865 Marion St. NE, Salem Saturday Market. Owner Gary Cooper takes customers back to childhood with his food truck’s decadent grilled cheese sandwiches. Find their full menu on their website socheesy.guru, and follow their Facebook page @So Cheesy for hours and location updates.

Uncle Troy’s BBQ: 440 State St., Salem. Located in the Fork Forty Food Hall, Troy Campbell’s shop offers classic barbecue taste. Visit their website uncletroysbbq.com for their full menu and online ordering option.

Know anymore local Black-owned businesses? Comment them below and help us highlight them.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Seven alternative stores to replace Amazon

Places to shop other than amazon.com

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Amazon.com has taken over the online shopping marketplace and changed the game with its massive variety of products and delivery as fast as same-day. However, many are looking to find alternatives to this e-commerce giant for alleged reasons including tax evasion and unethical treatment of employees. Luckily, there are numerous options out there that can replace Amazon; check out these places next time shopping needs to be done.

A Good Company: A Good Company focuses on conscious consumerism and makes sustainable products that will last a long time. They sell stationery, kitchenware, personal care supplies and more.

EarthHero: EarthHero sources a wide variety of products — from clothes to health and beauty to pet supplies — from sustainable businesses. They strive to treat the planet kindly while still providing the ease and convenience of online shopping.

Hoopla: Hoopla is a great source for free books, movies, TV shows and more through a local library. Simply input a library card number and enjoy a variety of content.

Made Trade: Made Trade offers a value-based way to shop for homegoods, clothing and accessories. Choose a value to search by — like sustainable products, vegan products or people of color-owned — and explore high-quality items.

WeBuyBlack: The self-proclaimed “Black Amazon,” WeBuyBlack is a directory for independent Black-owned businesses. They offer a great array of products including everyday essentials, clothing and home decor.

Shop direct: It’s no doubt that Amazon offers a great selection of products upon searching, so use Amazon as a search directory, then go to the supplier’s website and directly purchase from them.

Shop local: Small businesses have especially struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic, so consider supporting nearby shops. Some may have online shops or offer curbside pickup, or remove the need for shipping entirely by masking up and shopping in person.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.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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Oregon holiday festivities

Independence Cinema showings begin April 9

Brilliant nearby Black-owned businesses to support

Seven alternative stores to replace Amazon

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