A colorized rendition of a photograph taken by Arthur Allen of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker at a nest in Louisiana’s Singer Tract, 1935. (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) After almost eight decades without a confirmed sighting in the U. S. the federal government declared the ivory-billed woodpecker “extinct” last September. The ivory-billed[Read More…]
Tag: LOCAL COLUMN
COLUMN: Older Oregonians working more as cost of living outpaces Social Security
The share of older Oregonians working has increased over the past two decades. (Graph by Pamela Ferrara/Special to Salem Reporter) The Oregon economy is currently experiencing the tightest labor market on record, with seven unemployed job seekers for every ten openings. Employers looking to fill job vacancies should take note[Read More…]
COLUMN: No-premium Medicare Advantage not always best option
When he turned 65 five years ago, the Salem resident enrolled in Medicare and in a Medicare supplement (Medigap) Plan F insurance policy. He was happy with both except for the rising Medigap premiums. He made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor to see if[Read More…]
COLUMN: Get to know local birds – the bushtit and wrentit
A wrentit in flight (Harry Fuller/Special to Salem Reporter) Recently an interested observer emailed me a question about two small birds found here in the Willamette Valley. Their names make it sound like they are related. Her question: What is difference between the bushtit and the wrentit? I am colorblind so I[Read More…]
COLUMN: What Medicare covers if you’re sick or injured on a cruise
It isn’t often that one can make $25 a minute, but it appears this Medicare beneficiary did. He has Medigap supplemental insurance for medical and a separate insurance plan for prescription drugs. During recent open enrollment he made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor to[Read More…]
COLUMN: Hospitality industry lags as Salem employment recovers to pre-pandemic levels
Salem unemployment trends through November 2021 (Pamela Ferrara/Special to Salem Reporter) The Salem area unemployment rate inched down to 4.1 percent in November, falling for the sixth month in a row. This translates into 8,700 people unemployed in Marion and Polk counties, which make up the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.[Read More…]
COLUMN: Breeding season begins, with owls, hawks leading the way
A mated pair of red-shouldered hawks, taking the sun and relaxing together. (Courtesy/Karl Schneck) Adult birds are already pairing for the 2022 breeding season. If great horned owls are nearby, a couple may be heard at night calling back and forth, dueting. The male has lower pitch. These owls may[Read More…]
SALEM HISTORY: The first outdoor Christmas tree in Oregon
The tall tree on the lawn at the Marion County Courthouse is strung with Christmas lights by the Cherrians in 1913. (Salem Public Library/Ben Maxwell collection) Salem’s first outdoor Christmas tree was set up on the lawn of the Marion County Courthouse in December 1913 and was reported to be[Read More…]
COLUMN: Feathery togetherness helps birds survive winter
A brown pelican feeding frenzy (Courtesy/Albert Ryckman) Many birds flock. There are loners, but when you see wild birds, it is often the numbers, the group, the crowd, that impress you. Now, some parts of the Willamette Valley are a winter bed-and-breakfast for thousands of cackling geese. Local ponds and[Read More…]
COLUMN: Salem has recovered jobs faster than Oregon, U.S.
Employment trends by industry in Salem, Oregon and the U.S. (Pamela Ferrara/Special to Salem Reporter) As we head into the December holidays, there’s good news and not so good news for the Salem economy. There were 4,000 fewer jobs in the Salem area in October 2021 than in February 2020,[Read More…]
