With Start of School Watch for Kids on Bike and on Foot

Wednesday school starts, and that means lots of kids will be walking and biking to school.

Just as parents are teaching kids on bike or on foot to use the roadways and sidewalks safely, equally people in cars should take extra care to watch for other users of the road.

Later this fall the Bicycle Transportation Alliance will teach Bicycle Safety Education in several elementary schools. The City of Salem is also working on a Safe Routes to School Plan to make it easier for parents to make healthy, active transportation choices for their kids.

FlashAlert - SUN 5:41 am

Salem Fire Dept.: At 03:31 Salem Fire Department units were dispatched to a fully involved house fire at 3093 Center Street NE. This fire went to a second alarm. All occupants were reported out of the structure prior to SFD arrival. Crews were forced to take a defensive fire attack position due to ammunition going off inside the structure and the possibility of a loaded weapon inside the building. Overhead power lines were burned and fell causing an additional hazard. There were two separate smaller structures at the location, a small business at the front which was also well involved with fire and a small apartment which was moderately damaged from exposure to the fire. There are no reported injuries at this time. The fire will be under investigation and there are no damage estimates at this time.

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Free Intro to Smart Cycling Class this Saturday

Do you like to ride your bike at Minto, but wonder about taking it to the grocery store and navigating among cars?

On Saturday, September 4th, the Salem Bicycle Club and League Cycling Instructor Gary Obery will offer the third "Introduction to Smart Cycling" clinic. It's free!

Using the League of American Bicyclists curriculum, the ride will feature a 20 minute pre-ride presentation focusing on tips for riding safely on neighborhood and busy streets. You'll practice a few bicycle handling drills in the square before the ride.

Then out on the road! The ride course will take you through a variety of types of city streets and intersections. We'll stop periodically to talk about strategies to share the road, especially techniques to address auto drivers core concerns about bicyclists' predictability and visibility. You'll also learn techniques that address bicyclists concerns about auto drivers.

Together we can share the road!

Class meets on Saturday, September 4th from 10 am to 12 pm at the Wall of Water fountain on the south end of the Capitol Mall. The cherry tress provide pleasant shade for the outdoor class!

So come learn the tips and skills that can sometimes take time to acquire. Minimum age 12. Minors must be accompanied by a parent. Helmets required. Bright clothing or safety vests encouraged.

Contact Gary at oberyfamily [at] comcast.net if you have further questions.

September First Wednesday

SPECIALS AND EVENTS FOR FIRST WEDNESDAY!
Go Downtown Salem! (click here to read more)

COMMUNITY PEP RALLY
COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND WISH THEM A GREAT NEW SCHOOL YEAR!
Go Downtown, in partnership with Salem-Keizer Education Foundation will get the 2010-11 school year off with a rousing community pep rally featuring the Salem-Keizer high school bands, cheerleaders, student body presidents, and more! Superintendent Sandy Husk, and Executive Director of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, Krina Lemons will host an evening of celebration designed to let our communities' children know they are supported and celebrated as they enter the new school year.

The annual First Wednesday celebration will also be the culmination of a month long School Supply Drive. Last year, over 55,000 items were collected and then distributed to Salem-Keizer schools. This year all Salem-Keizer Starbucks, US Bank branches and 15 other locations are collecting paper, pencils, crayons and more
September 1 will also be the much anticipated drawing for the Brand new car donated by Capitol Auto Group in their support of encouraging Summer Reading. Reading logs have been distributed and collected all summer long, encouraging students and their families to read 25 minutes a day. Each log turned in is a chance to win the car. Scott and Carrie Casebeer of Capitol Auto Group will be on hand to reach into the hundreds of logs turned in and draw the lucky winner who will take home the car.

COOKE STATIONARY 75TH ANNIVERSARY
75 YEARS AND STILL COOKIN’
Stop by Cooke Stationary at 370 State Street and celebrate with refreshments, prizes, and much more.

LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy live music with John Pounds at the Equitable Plaza on High Street from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Sidewalk Rocks will perform on Liberty Street at 170 Liberty St.
Round House Blues Band will perform at Grand Vines.
Jae Richter singer songwriter will perform at 6 pm at The Arbor on State Street.
Open mic at Clockworks on Commercial St.
Reed Opera House will host live music by John Cuddy and Christy Jungling-piano and vocalist from 5:30 to 8:00.

ART WALK
Take a walk around downtown for numerous art exhibits.

Hi Salemites

Hi Salemites,

I've been enjoying some of the stories on here and should I stumble upon something that might interest the fine people of Salem, I'll certainly post it here.  For the meantime, I really have nothing interesting to say.

Cheers,
Mike Perron

PS.  This is kind of a test post.

September Community Connection Newsletter

The September issue of Community Connection has been posted on the web.  It includes information on neighborhood partnerships, sidewalks and sharrows, volunteer recognition, and Parks and Police news.

 

Here is the link:

http://www.cityofsalem.net/SalemNews/Community-Connections-Newsletter/Community%20Connections%20Newsletter/Volume1%20Issue%204.pdf

 

For past issues go to:

http://www.cityofsalem.net/SalemNews/Community-Connections-Newsletter/Pages/default.aspx

The Weekend

The Oregon State Fair has begun, with many things to do and see.  Here are a few:

~The KCBS Great American BBQ Tour is bringing their 30 foot trailer and many participants for a barbecue competition, August 27-29

~The Familyville Stage has a long list of fun entertainment planned, from acrobats to reptiles and even a hypnotist.

~The Artisan's Village also has a long list of things to see and do: wood carving, steampunk, folk music, glass blowing, ceramics, and much more.

~Days of the Dinosaurs will no doubt be a popular exhibit!

~Besides the usual hair raising rides, you'll find monster truck rides, trail pony rides and mechanical bull riding.

To check out their day event calendar, be sure to check out their website on the highlighted links above and here.  Remember--parking in the fair parking lot is now free with 9000 spots available.

Have a great time!