Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a new $1.36M vote could reshape Salem housing.

Make time for Bingo Blast! on the Salem Patch calendar

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Wednesday September 16th Patch AM
Wednesday September 16th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up Salem! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a new $1.36M vote could reshape Salem housing.
  • Will shuttles and reservations change your next Opal Creek visit?
  • What Salem residents are demanding before data centers get a green light.

Also on today's calendar: Caught Dead Handed (Grateful Dead tribute) @ Elysium Botanicals and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between black eyed peas and chick peas? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Sunny and warmer, with a high of 80 and low of 51 degrees.
  • Thursday: Sunny, temps: high: 82, low: 52.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and nice, with a high of 77 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Salem City Council approves additional $1.36M for affordable housing (statesmanjournal.com) — Salem City Council has approved another $1.36 million from the city's infrastructure bond to support the Casa Loma affordable housing project in southeast Salem, bringing total city backing to $4.36 million. The 279-unit development, aimed at households at 60% of area median income, is slated to break ground in early 2027 and could significantly expand options for local families struggling to find stable, affordable rentals.
   

2. Shuttle bus to Opal Creek? Agencies look at new ideas for reopening (statesmanjournal.com) — Agencies meeting in Salem are asking residents how the North Fork–Opal Creek corridor east of town should reopen in 2027, floating ideas like shuttle buses, timed-entry reservations, and a unified recreation pass. Salem-area visitors are encouraged to weigh in through surveys as officials craft proposals that will shape future swimming, hiking, and camping access after the 2020 fires.
   

3. First of 3 Salem town halls held to gather community input on data centers (kptv.com) — Salem residents packed the first of three town halls to weigh in on how potential data centers could affect local water use, noise, jobs, and electricity before a proposal reaches city council in December. Many attendees voiced strong environmental and community-impact concerns, and two more meetings are scheduled for October 6 and October 20 for additional public input.
   

4. Oregon Parks Staff to Move into ODOT Headquarters (portlandobserver.com) — State workers in Salem will see changes this fall as Oregon Parks and Recreation Department moves its headquarters into ODOT's building on Salem's Capitol Mall. The 10-year lease helps ODOT cut costs by consolidating office space while saving Parks about $250,000 per budget cycle and keeping more state jobs centered near the Capitol.
   

5. Oregon Tech Salem Dental Hygiene Students Provide Care to More Than 650 Patients During Jamaica Service Trip (oit.edu) — Dental hygiene students from Oregon Tech's Salem program, based at Chemeketa Community College, recently traveled to Jamaica and provided free care to more than 650 patients. The international externship gave Salem students intensive hands-on experience, cultural exposure, and a chance to collaborate with peers from the Klamath Falls campus while representing their local clinic and training program.
   

📸 Around Salem

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Salem

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Thursday September 17
  • Bingo Blast! →
    B&G Bingo, 1266 Lancaster Drive Southeast, Salem

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Salem Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Salem PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Eleazar, a cat who went missing in Salem, OR, has been safely reunited with their family after 4 hours, 54 minutes. Message from Owner: "Please help… (Nextdoor Campbell Drive)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    A cat who went missing in Salem, OR, has been safely reunited with their family after 3 hours, 47 minutes. Message from Finder: "This kitty is so… (Nextdoor Kale-Hayesville)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Accounts Payable Clerk in Salem. Apply here.
  • MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Cafeteria Assistant Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $12-$22/Hr in Salem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.

Ok Salem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Black eyed peas can sing us a song but chick peas can only hummus one. (Thank you Bev H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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