Student Arnav Mohindra speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new addition at South Salem High School in 2021. Mohindra is the only Salem student to win a National Merit finalist scholarship from the Class of 2022 (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) When Arnav Mohindra got a…

Dancers Sharon Mendiola Albor, left, Jackie Pererez and Jessica Perez with Casa de Cultura Tlanese get ready to dance “La Bruja” at the 2022 World Beat Festival (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Casa de la Cultura Tlanese is a family affair. The nonprofit cultural center…

Patrick Bush holds a bottle of his Highsaw Cellar 2020 Pinot Noir (Courtesy/Jennifer Bush) After the 2020 wildfire season, Patrick and Jennifer Bush ended up with more wine than they could hope to drink. Patrick was working at a local winery as part of his…

Jaimie Hall conducts an advanced band rehearsal at Straub Middle School on Wednesday, May 25. Hall was named the district’s 2022 music teacher of the year (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) West Salem High School is known for its decorated school band – which recently took home…

Skip Frank speaks at the memorial service for his uncle Gerry Frank, held Thursday, May 19 at the Salem Convention Center (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When Gerry Frank moved to Salem in 1955 to open the newest branch of his family’s Portland-based Meier & Frank Department…

Cindel Mikesell, left, with her cat Natty, are living in a microshelter at the home of Lisa Arana and Brenda Chandler, right, in south Salem (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Brenda Chandler and Lisa Arana are used to opening their home to strangers. The south Salem couple…

Dave Johnson will by honored April 29 at the Mid-Valley Literacy Center’s annual gala (Submitted photo) For two-time decathlon Olympian and Salem resident Dave Johnson, it’s no exaggeration to say that education changed the entire trajectory of his life. Johnson had moved from Montana to…