was the site of two more on the same day on Thursday Unlike weekend gatherings, lately focused on the Trump administration Thursday's demonstrations were scheduled late in the day A long shadow cast over the courthouse lawn a welcome reprieve from the intensity of the late afternoon sun A 1971 Volkswagen van parks in front of the Benton County Courthouse surrounded by crowd of more than 225 people the second of two May Day protests in response to actions by the Trump administration these were also accompanied by a symphony of horns students and faculty from the Corvallis School District dressed in shades of red as part of a "National Day of Action," with those gathered to protest the Trump administration's moves to eliminate diversity That action is part of the push to dismantle the U.S including Thursday’s announcement the administration's efforts to cancel $1 billion grants for mental health support in K-12 education “Cuts are not necessary when we are already underfunded,” Stephanie Raleigh “We don’t even have enough support now for kids with disabilities and special needs.” stood with two of her peers from Bessie Coleman An anonymous protester holds up a large panel of cardboard with "Think while it is still legal" in bright pink while sitting on the steps of the Benton County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon Kira Mudd held a picket sign and spoke gently to her two young children who were getting a up-close lesson in what protesting is and how it can inspire reform and change The significance of the color red during May Day harks back to the 1500s when workers movements fought for the rights of labor forces including their demands for workers freedom and I think staying silent does the most harm,” Corvallis High School teacher Allie Luftig said as she stood among her fellow educators who let out a loud cheer in response to passing vehicles honking As the Corvallis schools DEI protest waned An original 1971 Volkswagen van painted white was parked nearby with messages like, “Fight Truth Decay” inscribed on the passenger side door and on the side panels. An American flag hung upside down, a sign of distress in the flag code was mounted on the roof and accompanied by owner and SURJ member Justin Soares holding his own sign up through the sunroof Corvallis Mayor Charles Maughan was there too One of several signs at Thursday's protest that cast aspersions on the efficacy of President Trump's second term “I’m grateful I was invited to come out tonight I think it is important the community sees their elected officials standing with them against this destructive administration,” he said county and local officials in attendance included Benton County Commissioner Gabe Shepherd Corvallis School Board member Sami Al-Abdrabbuh and state Rep Energies were high and mostly peaceful as the crowd reached its peak of about 225 attendees even as an occasional anti-protester revved an engine in opposition More Corvallis news Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter Email notifications are only sent once a day Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account As Corvallis High head baseball coach Eric Dazey puts it With only a few more weeks in the regular season and the postseason just around the corner teams like Corvallis and West Albany are staking their claim as competitors in 5A who made the state title game the last two seasons They lost a lot of seniors from last year’s squad and according to head coach Marty Johnston it took some time for the new guys to step in West Albany players celebrates a home run by Blake Linton The Bulldogs started Mid-Willamette Conference play 9-1 entering Monday's game “Coming into the season we knew we had a lot of potential but it took us a few games for guys to get comfortable in their roles comfortable with the situation,” Johnston said “And starting the season we played some pretty tough teams so it took a while to get comfortable.” but injuries have made it difficult there too Star pitcher Drew Rice has been banged up for much of the season Rylan Mathiesen and Jaden Fifhause have made much of the starts for West Albany (10-7 heading into Mnnday) and are a big reason why it has won eight games in a row “Two guys who threw a little bit for us last year but were not significant contributors,” Johnston said “They’re two more of the guys who had to step into that role.” Rice has been able to play shortstop and he’s been one of the team’s best hitters Blake Linton was another one of the key returners on offense but he got off to a slow start after coming off shoulder surgery following last season even hitting his first home run of the season Friday against Woodburn “I’ve had a few that were close but that felt good for sure.” Kane Damon and other returners for having trust in the new guys “They did a great job with their leadership doing their part and having trust that those guys would come along too,” Johnston said where the Bulldogs scored double digits in eight of the games they’ve played much of the bottom of the standings which is also 9-1 in league play (entering Monday) They’re not worried about needing to flip a switch when the games get tighter Act like we’re playing a team that’s better than what they are,” Linton said are the team the Bulldogs and everyone else is trying to catch in the Mid-Willamette Corvallis (15-4 entering Monday) won the first 10 games of league play including outscoring rival Crescent Valley 24-9 over the two games Wednesday and Friday “I think (confidence) is really high,” pitcher/infielder Roy Bannister said It’s a long way from when the Spartans lost to Hood River Valley 9-0 on April 9 That loss now seems it may have benefitted the team “That Hood River (Valley) game served us,” Dazey said “They took to heart some things we learned about ourselves from that game.” The pitching was a big question entering the season and still a big question after nonlegaue play But they have answered some of those questions thus far in MWC play Andrew Street and Axel Prechel have all succeeded on the mound “I think they’re coming into their own,” Dazey said It’s really giving us a chance against good hitters.” Roy Bannister pitched 6⅓ innings in the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley last Wednesday The Spartans have found different ways to win games with high-scoring efforts against the Raiders and shutout wins against Silverton “They’re playing to a standard and they’re playing for each other," Dazey said The combination of those two things keeps them showing up every day ready to roll.” Bannister said that the team has “manifested big things,” but there’s an importance now of not looking too far ahead “That’s part of why our coaches are good coaches,” Bannister said “They always make sure that the only game we have on our mind is the next one Just solely focus on that and worry about the rest later.” Dazey said that wasn’t the performance of a team they wanted to be “I hope that we’re still a long way from the team we’d like to be,” Dazey said Dylan Jacobs covers Oregon State men's basketball “They say pole-vaulters are either super brave or crazy.” With the state track and field meet a month out here's who is positioning themselves to make a run As Eric Dazey and Chad Angel met for a quick photo op before their game on April 11 the friendship and respect each had for the another was r… Competitiveness has allowed him to succeed leading to two state tournament appearances vsOregon State High Performance Beavers Close High Performance With Javelin Sweep May 03 Crowds of almost 1,000 Corvallis community members protest DOGE and the Trump admin All 13 Oregon State University international students who had their records terminated by the Trump administration earlier this month Oregon State University students marched for an "Education Not Deportation" rally at campus on April 16 Last week, Odom had said seven of the 13 international students who had their records terminated on the government's student visa tracking system known as SEVIS were reinstated April 24 Odom said all international students had been reinstated as of Monday Odom previously said no student had been disenrolled due to their record termination A lawsuit filed last month by ACLU of Oregon and Innovation Law Lab on behalf of one of OSU's international students is still ongoing according to a statement from the graduate student's legal team shared with Mid-Valley Media last week Attorneys filed the lawsuit on behalf of Aaron Ortega Gonzalez a 32-year-old Mexican citizen and a wildlife and conservation scientist who is a PH.D the government terminated Ortega Gonzalez's record in SEVIS early last month providing only this explanation: "individual identified in criminal records check and/or had their VISA revoked." But the lawsuit says Ortega Gonzalez has never been convicted of a crime and that he's complied with the terms of his student visa In April, a federal judge in Eugene granted Ortega Gonzalez a 14-day pause on the termination of his status A similar decision was made on behalf of a Jane Doe enrolled at the University of Oregon who filed a separate but similar lawsuit Their attorneys are back in court on Monday Nationwide, the Trump administration had revoked visas or canceled legal status for more than 1,200 students at 187 colleges and universities and university systems since late March, according to a review by the Associated Press wrote a letter to  Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Secretary of State Marco Rubio and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons insisting they abandon the effort to cancel student visas “While we are relieved that ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations we now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws signed by a coalition of Democratic senators we understand that you are contemplating additional actions to end student status Any such changes must be consistent with applicable statutes including requirements for notice with respect to changes that would deprive a student of their status and ability to live and study in the United States and place them at risk of detention.” More Oregon State University news Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox A 45-year-old Corvallis man was taken into custody after more than an hour of police negotiations Authorities say Jason Leonard Corona was armed with knives and barricaded himself inside an apartment but was arrested without further incident once police negotiated his surrender Corvallis police responded to a domestic violence call in the 700 block of Northwest Third Street around 11:33 a.m A woman called 911 alleging she was assaulted by her ex-husband She was able to escape the apartment and call for help Officers arriving at the scene immediately took the victim to a waiting ambulance for medical evaluation and she was then taken to an area hospital for further treatment Corona was booked at the Benton County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault strangulation and violating a restraining order as well as three outstanding arrest warrants Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Corvallis Police Department Court records show Corona has a lengthy criminal history failure to appear and giving false information to police More local crime and public safety news Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here With a combination of emotional vocal delivery Gallowglass has developed a style of contemporary Celtic folk that Irish Music Magazine calls "an inspired approach to the tradition." Zach Bauman (Irish Bouzouki) and David Pender Lofgren (Bodhrán) has become one of the Pacific Northwest's most celebrated Celtic music ensembles Gallowglass has shared the stage with Dervish establishing themselves as innovators among their peers and captivating audiences with their signature sound has garnered critical acclaim and is enjoying international radio play they are keeping their eyes on the horizon and have built a fire for all to gather around Corvallis fiddler Erika Nagamoto will join Gallowglass for this performance which is a fundraiser for the Corvallis Celtic Festival and the South Benton County Food Bank followed by an open Celtic session with Gallowglass at  9 p.m Tickets are $25, with $5 going to the South Benton County Food Bank. Tickets are available at the door or online Tickets are $25, with $5 going to the South Benton County Food Bank. Tickets are available at the door or online When Thyme Garden founders Rolfe and Janet Hagen teamed up with a local art gallery in Philomath Oregon in 1993  to create a celebration of "Art in the Garden," they had no idea the legacy they started would continue to grow as surely as the herbs in the beds "Our whole way of preparing for Mother’s Day was to set out a little bit of May wine and herbal appetizers and we had a few people," recounts Janet Hagen "After a couple years of it being fun but rather minor the ladies from The Wild Rose Art Gallery in Philomath brought their art out to our nursery and then the following year we invited the artists to come The partnership has resulted in a successful festival that is an annual tradition for hundreds of local families with some of the original kids now bringing their own kids or even grandchildren Second-generation owners Bethany Glanville and Emily Stimac who took over leadership of the company in 2023 and Stimac’s daughter Anika will have a face painting booth this year "There has never been a more important time to support the arts," said Stimac and insight art gives us is a crucial tool in functioning as a healthy society and advancing a quality way of life." Stimac and her sister Bethany are honored to keep the tradition of celebrating art going with the same enthusiasm as their parents Weather hasn’t always been cooperative after thinking they could come back from the pandemic shutdown there was so much rain the parking field flooded and the event was first postponed and then cancelled "I’m actually surprised that in 32 years there have only been two occasions where we couldn’t put on a great event," said Stimac "The pandemic and the crazy rain in 2021." "Through the years we have had special experiences," said Janet Hagen "Like the year that the weather was perfectly perfect until 1 hour before the festival was to end Everyone was tired and ready to be finished A group of First People came and as we visited them it began to change to thunder and lightning the festival quickly ended and we were done for the year." features more than 40 artists from around the region as well as music and dancing against the backdrop of the Thyme Garden’s 2-acre display gardens and rambling forest paths The event brings together artisans from all over Oregon There will be a variety of textile artists whose creations include beautiful robes and dresses made with reclaimed saris and other fabric hand-worked leather and upcycled patchwork couture photography and oil painters will all have their work on display The music lineup will feature a wide range of musical talents like acoustic guitar and vocals, bluegrass, marimbas and horns. Look for a complete lineup on www.ThymeGarden.com Food is available for purchase from 11 a.m in addition to the Thyme Garden’s food booth featuring the return of their famous delicious smoky pork and tempeh sandwiches and herbal side dishes Dough on the Go will be serving woodfired pizzas and on Sunday Wine and beer will also be available for purchase with complimentary samples of herbal appetizers and May Wine served as well - a highlight for many festival goers Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy Mother’s Day in Mother Nature The Thyme Garden is a nursery & herb garden nestled in the Coast Range Mountains of Oregon They are pleased to offer the Northwest’s largest collection of hops Their beautiful display gardens are open to visitors spring through summer For more information, please contact Emily Stimac at 541-487-8671 or by email Article courtesy the Thyme Garden. Featured Photo: The Thyme Garden by Reed Lane Photography. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter atOSU High Performance Cherotich, Thorsett Get Wins in Corvallis05/03/25 | Track and Field Ella Thorsett led a 1-2 Oregon finish in the 1500 meters. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. and Ashlinn Aguayo kicked things off on Friday in the 200-meters Dani led the charge by breaking her own program record Smith improved her PR and jumped up one spot on the program top ten to No A dozen Bulldogs raced in the 1500-meters.. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy Oregon State University has become one many colleges across the country targeted for visas revocations The Trump administration has revoked visas for some international students at Oregon State University comes as the administration has targeted international students at colleges across the country including students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests last year It also follows the termination of four international students' visas at the University of Oregon earlier this month university spokesperson Rob Odom said as of Thursday morning 13 students have had their records terminated in the federal immigration records database Odom also shared an email OSU sent on Wednesday informing OSU students about the latest development “While immigration records are terminated from time to time for different reasons the suddenness of these federal agency-initiated actions nationally has led us to review student immigration records even more frequently so that we can provide support to those impacted,” Odom said in the email He also said OSU was supporting legal action “To advocate for OSU students and in service to the university’s mission today OSU joined other universities on an amicus brief filed by the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration in support of a lawsuit brought by the American Association of University Professors and others to challenge federal actions impacting international students and educators including their speech and expression activities,” Odom said OSU has more than 2,500 international students It wasn’t immediately clear what led some OSU international students to lose their visas International students nationwide, including at Harvard and UCLA, have seen visas suddenly revoked and college officials have said the government has given little notice Some students have had ties to pro-Palestinian protests along with the University of Oregon and Portland State University At OSU, a student demonstration organized a monthlong encampment on the Memorial Union Quad in May Earlier on Thursday, NBC reported that a Department of Homeland Security task force is scouring the social media posts of 1.5 million international students for potential grounds to revoke their visas More OSU coverage program at OSU and began his studies last summer at the College of Agricultural Sciences "What doesn't bring us out here today?" said one Lawyers for a graduate student whose student visa was revoked then restored say they want to ensure their client gets a permanent injunction s… The news comes as the Trump administration has reversed course on revoking student visas amid legal challenges About 20 tents were set up on the morning of Wednesday May 15 at the Memorial Union quad at Oregon State University The president-elect wants to eliminate the U.S Department of Education — what that might mean for Oregon's special education students An OSU demonstrator says they plan to stay as long as necessary Sisters Jessie Lake and Molly Johnson share a folder full of letters to publishers and stories written by their late mother The duo are now searching for ways to get these stories published to help finish their mother's work Jessie Lake and Molly Johnson discuss the grief and joy in learning about their mother's life 20 years after her death The two find small moments that bring smiles when opening handwritten letters and notes Jessie Lake begins to thumb through a folder full of typewritten letters to publishers and stories written by her late mother Lake and sister Molly Johnson are searching for possible illustrators and publishers to finish what their mother started Jessie Lake and Molly Johnson share a folder full of typewritten letters to publishers and stories written by their late mother Jill Bartholomaus was strong and independent And she was someone whose approval mattered to those around her who recall their mother’s character as her manuscripts are spread across a table before them Bartholomaus also had a dream: She wanted to be a published children’s book author And 20 years after her untimely death by domestic violence the sisters are trying to make that dream a reality “It’s not very often that you get a chance to have something new when someone has been gone for so long grew up in Corvallis and died by domestic violence at the age of 46 who was killed in September 2005 at the age of 46 was an Oregon case worker raised in Corvallis graduating from Crescent Valley High School But she wanted to be closer to her sisters — two live in Corvallis and one lives in Portland — so she moved to Eugene Jill Bartholomaus graduates from Crescent Valley High School in 1977 she went to a movie with her mother and her mother’s best friend Bartholomaus and Dierkes had had some kind of disagreement where he sat behind Bartholomaus and whispered things into her ear until he got so mad that he dumped soda and popcorn all over her head before walking out Lake remembered finding his behavior “weird” — but she didn’t clock it as abuse until much with help from Johnson and from her therapist because the two sisters held their mother to such a high standard Admitting what happened to her was particularly hard Bartholomaus was killed in her Eugene home on Lake and Johnson’s birthday — they were born on the same day Dierkes and Bartholomaus were separated at the time and things had gotten “pretty nuts,” Johnson said and made copies of Johnson's key so he could get into their home Johnson was sleeping over at a friend’s house and Lake was sleeping with Bartholomaus in her bed — something she often did at that time Jill Bartholomaus poses with daughter Molly Johnson in 1999 it's all the milestones she's not there for," Johnson said so she left Bartholomaus’ bed and went to her own room Her mother had been shot by Dierkes multiple times and later passed away Dierkes returned to his own home and committed suicide that same morning “We later found out it was the girl's birthday,” a Eugene Police Department spokesperson said in a 2005 Register-Guard article “She lost her mother and her father on the same day.” Bartholomaus’ memorial gathering took place in Avery Park in Corvallis Lake described healing from their mother’s death as a “very interesting” process for the sisters She got married less than a year after the murder Those seven years raising her sister were “busy and distracting,” Lake said “We were always at basketball and water polo and having sleepovers,” she said being raised by someone who’d also been raised by her mother “We didn’t really have a mother-daughter relationship,” she said “I feel like it was more of a very respectful sister relationship.” Even now that Johnson is fully grown — as well as married and at the time of her interview with Mid-Valley Media pregnant with her second child — what happened in 2005 continues to impact the sisters’ lives on a daily basis and always is evolving into something else,” Lake said Bartholomaus’ personal items were kept in a storage unit for years Lake found a manila envelope tucked away with bathroom towels Inside it were manuscripts for eight children’s stories The stories included tales of a bear named BaRare and a rabbit named RaBabbit as well as a story about a little girl named Jessie and her magic carpet The story includes Jessie eating a bran muffin on her birthday including Bartholomaus' divorce from Lake’s father and numerous moves within Oregon “She didn’t let go of this dream,” Johnson said “It was obviously still something that she wanted to pursue.” Based on the timeline laid out within the manila envelope Lake presumes that life got too busy for Bartholomaus after her divorce and life as a single mom forced her to table her ambitions Lake and Johnson didn’t do anything about the manuscripts and letters But their existence provided a window into Bartholomaus’ heart and mind that they hadn’t didn't know Bartholomaus was always writing on the roof of his home growing up he said that it would be his dream for the girls to publish his daughter’s stories Lake and Johnson are at a point in their lives where this is an endeavor they can actually pursue “Through therapy and breaking down old ways of thinking and accepting anxiety and trauma and all the things it’s felt a little bit healing to kind of connect with her in a more real way,” Lake said Johnson gifted Lake with a painted portrait of their mother for Christmas Jill Bartholomaus poses with daughter Jessie Lake around 1989 One of Bartholomaus' manuscripts is about a girl named Jessie and her magic carpet ride “It literally took my breath away when I opened it but it still looked exactly like her,” Lake said Lake and Johnson are making decisions about illustrations and publishing as neither of them have any experience in the industry They’ve launched a GoFundMe to help fund the editing illustrating and publishing of Bartholomaus’ work They’re hoping their process and their mother’s story also will help raise awareness for domestic violence and domestic violence survivors — a demographic they once weren’t even aware that they were a part of “We were in this middle ground where we really were part of this group but we didn’t have any of these resources,” Johnson said “We didn’t have any of that knowledge that I think some people do She and Lake want to shine a light on people who exist in that space and need support To honor the 20-year anniversary of their mother’s death this September, Lake and Johnson also are planning to put on an event and will donate the proceeds to Corvallis’ Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV) along with a portion of the proceeds from Bartholomaus’ books Data show that women experience unique causes of housing instability and challenges when experiencing homelessness according to a survey conducted by Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism team domestic violence and other types of violence play a large role in their experiences Lake and Johnson can see the ways that this project will matter in their lives — and the lives of their children But this is a way for her to still be in our homes and for our kids to get to know her in some way.” Three days after speaking with Mid-Valley Media Johnson gave birth to a baby girl at Salem Hospital — in the same hospital her mother was born 66 years ago “There’s so little left of her,” Johnson said “It would be nice to have more of her back.” Ella Hutcherson is a University of Oregon graduate who hails originally from the Southern Oregon coast. She covers Corvallis and Benton County and can be reached at ella.hutcherson@lee.net. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Some new details came out at the April 23 sentencing, including what she was doing when she struck the victim and how she reacted afterward. The suspect is not cooperating, according to the latest information. Here are the impacts of expected budget cuts. Energies were high and mostly peaceful as the crowd reached its peak of about 225 attendees, even as an occasional anti-protester revved an en… A woman called 911 alleging she was assaulted by her ex-husband, who also attempted to kill her. Sisters Jessie Lake and Molly Johnson share a folder full of letters to publishers and stories written by their late mother. The duo are now searching for ways to get these stories published to help finish their mother's work. Sisters, Jessie Lake and Molly Johnson discuss the grief and joy in learning about their mother's life 20 years after her death. The two find small moments that bring smiles when opening handwritten letters and notes. Jessie Lake begins to thumb through a folder full of typewritten letters to publishers and stories written by her late mother. Lake and sister Molly Johnson are searching for possible illustrators and publishers to finish what their mother started. Jill Bartholomaus, pictured above, grew up in Corvallis and died by domestic violence at the age of 46. Jill Bartholomaus poses with daughter Jessie Lake around 1989. One of Bartholomaus' manuscripts is about a girl named Jessie and her magic carpet ride. Jill Bartholomaus poses with daughter Molly Johnson in 1999. "More than anything, it's all the milestones she's not there for," Johnson said. "All the births, the graduations, my wedding, Jessie's wedding ... any big moment she's not there for, that brings up a lot."  Jill Bartholomaus graduates from Crescent Valley High School in 1977. Sisters, Jessie Lake and Molly Johnson share a folder full of typewritten letters to publishers and stories written by their late mother. The duo are now searching for ways to get these stories published to help finish their mother's work. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Beavers Back in Corvallis to Host OSU High Performance Meet April 30 Thanks for visiting The annual Corvallis Spring Garden Festival is free and open to the public The festival will feature vendors offering a wide variety of items for sale will be available for purchase from two local bakeries Frozen treats from Go Giddy Pops will also be available The event will also feature live performances by local musicians The 2025 Spring Garden Festival is sponsored by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition For questions or to volunteer for this year’s event please contact Festival Coordinator Serena Kapuler at serenakapuler@gmail.com This event is part of the 16th Annual Natural Areas Celebration Week This event is part of the 16th Annual Natural Areas Celebration Week and we believe the wellbeing of our community’s children is best served by Sami Al-Abdrabbuh being reelected to the Corvallis School Board Al-Abdrabbuh takes a studied and resolute approach to challenges and works tirelessly to develop connections that can meaningfully help get things done in the community His state and federal relationships mean he is more able to advocate for our district in a funding and legislative environment that we see as increasingly uncertain He has served as a president of the Oregon School Boards Association and is now serving as a Director for the National School Boards Association Al-Abdrabbuh is what an education nerd looks like probably many reasons his peers keep putting him into key leadership positions Tina Kotek recently appointed him to the Fair Dismissals Appeals Board All of this has translated into millions in state and federal funding for Corvallis Schools Al-Abdrabbuh helped win federal Medicaid dollars to pay for mental health services for the district’s students He lobbied for millions in Student Success Act dollars and has successfully fought proposals for those funds not to be deducted from State School Fund totals He has lobbied successfully for early literacy dollars and Measure 98 funds When it comes to opportunities for children Al-Abdrabbuh is someone that shows up and means it like anyone that pushes for what they believe in Al-Abdrabbuh has two worthy opponents in this race Charlotte Willer grew up in Corvallis schools and is a local real estate broker She is running as public school enrollments continue to slide and she presents data that area private school attendances are increasing at the same time She believes a loss of parent confidence in the School District is behind that juxtaposition In the debate we co-hosted with City Club of Corvallis Willer specifically pointed to a sense shared by many parents that the district is teaching to the lowest common denominator She worries the district isn’t adequately breaking students into smaller groups with specific needs Many parents hold that view – that the district doesn’t offer adequate help for students needing enhanced support to come to the average She worries that cutting programs to make the budget work doesn’t serve students and may ultimately backfire fiscally if those cuts motivate more families to leave the district She believes there are other ways to save dollars Willer also expressed frustration with districtwide reading scores she’s also expressed concerns about math scores Christopher Blacker shares those views and offered direct answers for how he believes the district should address some of these challenges He also added some direct concerns about the district’s performance teaching math given the view that Corvallis is an engineering town He expressed the idea the district would save enough money closing Mountain View and Kathryn Jones Harrison elementary schools to both keep more teachers and reduce class sizes – and to maintain special interest programs like art and music at prior levels He points to the experiences of the Bethel School District in Eugene as a positive example of rightsizing for a declining enrollment Blacker whose background is in mathematics and information technology frequently cited statistics and administrative decisions that he sees as demonstrative of a district falling short and failing to anticipate Willer often shared dialogue she has had with parents and teachers while debating and quite effectively presented their and her lived experiences and frustrations with the district Both Willer and Blacker have or have had students at district schools All three candidates can be fairly described as progressive Al-Abdrabbuh often cites the lived experiences of students in the district and what their experience means for them after they graduate he spoke directly to students not because they vote but because he believed it was the right thing to do albeit less clearly than would be desirable spoke more to the experiences of students needing the most help Al-Abdrabbuh may be a little overly policy wonkish in a debate and he’s exactly what the Board needs heading into this next term The district finds itself in a frustrating time Funding from the state is based on enrollment and the precipitous declines absolutely mean impacts to our local district’s budget Corvallis Schools started the decade with 6,668 students and they are projected to end the decade with 5,140 in a district that is accustomed to a certain level of programs it would be impossible to avoid cuts that hurt and frustrate everyone concerned Voters in our fair burgh generally blunt that pain consistently approving locally optional taxes to help the district pay for some extras Corvallisites have generously given to the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation a private nonprofit that works to fund programs the district couldn’t otherwise afford we hope folks continue supporting those voluntary taxes and giving to the Foundation and even increasing their generosity if they can But fewer students will mean fewer dollars There will be district downsizing no matter what Some blame Corvallis’ housing costs for driving away would-be enrollees But even if we build affordable housing that attracts families to Corvallis and that won’t address the larger realities and that’s even more the case in Corvallis It’s no secret that district staff and volunteers are already weighing school closures – and from what we can gather they will be issuing recommendations in either late summer or early fall This is Corvallis – we anticipate a robust public comment process we believe Al-Abdrabbuh’s challengers make salient points concerning academic rigor District students should be achieving better reading and math scores We also believe they should be getting a deeper civics education should be driving the district’s top administrators to do better We see the challengers delivering hard truths that the district needs to act on we agree the Board should be more activist than they’ve been in our experience watching how bodies like the Board work we don’t think that any one freshman member can make that happen Change like that comes from community pressure on the whole of the Board we think Al-Abdrabbuh offers the best opportunity for it to stick He doesn’t always appear to be moving quickly over time his list of accomplishments has become longer than most If you would like to view the School Board candidates debate Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com something Benton County is highlighting with its announcement of a new crisis center set to open this summer The center is located on the corner of NW 4th Street and Van Buren Avenue in Corvallis The center will be a walk-in facility for people in crisis with some services available this spring to all ages there are still resources available - including 9-8-8 for the National Suicide Hotline For more information on the Benton County Crisis Center, visit here 2025 - Food trucks are expanding in Corvallis thanks to a newly adopted ordinance that updates the City of Corvallis Mobile Food Unit (MFU) regulations The City Council took action on January 21 to adopt a package of updates to the City’s existing food truck laws following an extensive update process led by the Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Office in partnership with the Corvallis Fire Department City of Corvallis Community Development Department The new regulations expand the area where food trucks can operate these businesses were confined to the downtown area food trucks will be eligible to operate in several different commercial mixed-use zones as well as on the campus of Oregon State University The new regulations also pave the way for food truck pods (defined as 5 or more food trucks operating in close proximity and sharing some infrastructure resources) to be located in different areas of Corvallis The complete application form is available on the City website: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/ds/page/mfu-mobile-food-unit View the Community Development Calendar fourth-year environmental science student Ava Olson has had to balance serving on the Corvallis City Council with all her other duties including coursework in the College of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; volunteering with Sunrise Corvallis and WestM; her campus job at PRAx; and “I’ve always been very involved in politics if you’re looking for people who are going to be around for two years and have the skills I know I have the skillset that’s needed,” said Olson “Out of all the things in my life that have changed as I’ve gotten older being on City Council would not be one that would make 10-year-old me go which includes most of the OSU Corvallis campus along with the College Hill neighborhood to the northwest Because much of its constituency are students who tend to be registered to vote outside of Corvallis Ward 4 traditionally sees low election engagement Olson ran as part of a slate of candidates from Sunrise Corvallis the local chapter of the grassroots political group that advocates for climate action and other progressive causes She has been involved in activism and mutual aid work with Sunrise for several years but the group ran into barriers getting policies moved through local government so they decided to run for office themselves an OSU student who also ran for Corvallis City Council; and Carly Inez their campaign manager and OSU alumnus.  Core tenets of Olson’s platform were climate and housing justice with specific concern for the unhoused population in Corvallis She is working with community groups to propose a rolling moratorium which would rotate the areas people are permitted to camp outdoors and limit the frequency of “sweeps” where tents and personal belongings are forcibly removed by the city She also wants to work on increasing affordable housing locally she said the current council is focused on emergency preparedness and community resiliency with goals like developing community hubs and improving transit options “There’s a lot of stuff we can’t control at the local level but there’s a lot of stuff where even a little bit of action will make a difference,” Olson said “There’s a lot of steps that need to occur to make anything happen; it’s my job to make sure those steps happen as fast as they legally can.” Olson started her college career at George Fox University as a political science major before transferring to OSU to study environmental science with a focus on applied ecology She works part-time as a production technician at PRAx and also volunteers with the progressive Christian community center WestM Olson’s schedule leaves little room for anything else; during winter term her friends organized a meal train to make sure she got plenty to eat who really want to make a difference and get really stuck in this pit of hopelessness and it’s a hard thing to pull yourself out of,” she said and we do enough small things that it makes us feel like we’re making a change If I focus too large on the national scale She also encourages other students to pursue political office if they feel moved to do so “You don’t know until you try,” Olson said but I am loads better than the worst person for the job.’ Lots of imposter syndrome “It’s a very big step in just having faith and confidence in myself and my community It’s very helpful to have folks to depend on.” [email protected] Be A RockStar for Kids. Virtual Event. 8 am – 5 pm. Old Mill Center Online Silent Auction. Visit Old Mill Center Online Silent Auction for more info Cindy Ingram. Giustina and Murdoch Galleries, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis. 8 am – 5 pm. On exhibit thru July 10th. Known for the vibrant use of color and unique approach to form, beautifully merging the natural world with creative abstraction. Visit Giustina Gallery Art Exhibit: Cindy Ingram – Oregon State University for more info Dragomira Zhevela. Giustina and Murdoch Galleries, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis. 8 am – 5 pm. Free. On exhibit thru May 15th. Draga is a self described maker with a preference for relief printmaking. Visit Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center for more info Joanne Daschel. Giustina and Murdoch Galleries, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis. 8 am – 5 pm. On exhibit thru July 17th. Passionate about environmental conservation, Joanne makes work that reflects on the impacts and interactions of humans on the surrounding species. Visit Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center for more info Joint Services Review. Memorial Union Quad, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. 10 am. The Army, Navy/Marine, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Programs (ROTC) at Oregon State University will hold their annual Joint Service Review, a formal military parade that dates back as far as 1918. The reviewing official and guest speaker will be Col Dustin Ballard, U.S. Army. Visit OSU Joint Services Review for more info Ancestry: Roots, Wings and Seeds. Philomath Museum, 1101 Main St, Philomath.                             10 am – 4:30 pm, Wednesday thru Saturday. Exhibit runs until July 5. Features work by the Corvallis Art Guild. Visit Benton County Museum- Ancestry, Roots, Wings and Seeds for more info Firefighter Storytime with the Corvallis Fire Department. Corvallis- Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 10:30 – 11:00 am. A special storytime with the Corvallis Fire Department. Listen to stories read by fire fighters and meet Sparky the Fire Dog (a costumed character). Visit Firefighter Storytime at CBCPL for more info Annual Planting Days. Shonnard’s Nursery, 6600 Philomath Blvd, Corvallis. 11 am – 3 pm. Free. Bring 14 inch or less containers for staff to plant purchased plants in their premium potting soil. Visit Shonnards Classes and Events for more information Portuguese Conversation Circle. Einerson House, 2638 NW Jackson Ave, Corvallis. 12 pm. A casual space for intermediate to advanced speakers to practice Portuguese, build confidence and connect with others. It’s all about conversation, culture and having fun with the language.  Visit Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center Classes for more information Resting My Bones- Steve Erhart. The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Avenue, Corvallis. 12 – 5 pm through May 3. Resting My Bones is an exhibition in which Ohio artist Steve Ehret works through intimate struggles with death, separation and fatherhood. Visit Resting My Bones- The Arts Center for more info Monroe Tween & Teen Party. Monroe Community Library, 380 N 5th St, Monroe. 2:30 – 4:30 pm. Afterschool hang out with crafts and snacks. Visit Monroe Community Library Teen & Tween Party for more info Family Fun Night. Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave, Corvallis. 5 – 7 pm. The night features STEAM activities, art, and games to create a memorable family experience. This month features robotics, gymnastics, craft making and hummingbird information. Visit Family Fun Night Corvallis Community Center for more info Meet Your Streets History Tour. Meet at Courtyard Corvallis, 400 SW 1st St, Corvallis. 5:30 pm. Free, reservation required. A 45 minute, in-person gathering to explore and connect with the history of Corvallis’ vibrant streets. Engage with fellow learning and history enthusiasts while exploring downtown Corvallis. Visit Engage Corvallis for more info Hilltop Big Band and Ruune. The Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 7 pm. Visit Old World Center for more info My Fair Lady. Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 7:30 pm. Cost: $22/person, $20/students and seniors. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, with book, music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe. The tale of a cockney flower girl transformed into an elegant lady features one of musical theatre’s greatest scores. Visit The Majestic Theatre for more info Side Hustle. Whiteside Theatre, 461 SW Madison Ave, Corvallis. 8 – 10 pm. Cost: $10/advance, $15 at door. A 6-piece, Corvallis based band that plays funky soul-pop. Recognizable songs from the last 5 decades are done with unique & infectious grooves. Visit Whiteside Theatre: Side Hustle for more info Chromatics: Redline. PRAx, 470 SW 15th St, Corvallis. 9 pm. An all-night experience that moves from the sultry grooves of deep house and trance ending with a triumphant finish of DnB and Hard Techno. Dance shoulder to shoulder all night long. This isn’t a party, this is a rave. Visit PRAx Chromatics: Redline for more info Cars and Coffee. Shepherd of the Valley Church, Parking Lot, 2650 NW Highland Avenue, Corvallis. 8 – 10 am. The Corvallis Historic Auto Club’s monthly meeting for classic cars, coffee, and donuts. Visit Corvallis Historic Auto Club Calendar for more info City Council Legislative Breakfast. Benton County Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way. Possible Quorum. 9 am. Visit Corvallis City Legislative Breakfast for more info Flower and Bird Walk around Woodpecker Loop. Woodpecker Loop Trail, W.L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 26208 Finley Refuge Rd, Corvallis. 9 – 11 am. Gentle 2 mile walk. Visit Sustainable Corvallis Natural Areas Week for more info Corvallis Farmers’ Market. 1st St and Jackson Ave, Corvallis. 9 am – 1 pm. A bustling hub of activity and community connection. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Riverfront Commemorative Park, the market offers fresh and delicious locally sourced food and an opportunity to explore the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. Visit Corvallis Saturday Market for more info Ultimate Frisbee Youth Clinic. Linus Pauling Middle School, 1111 NW Cleveland Ave, Corvallis. 9 am – 3 pm. Free. Aimed at girls and gender diverse youth in grades 5th thru 8th. Topics covered include Ultimate Frisbee basics, navigating conflict, and being a leader. Pre- registration required. Visit Disc NW Ultimate Frisbee Youth Clinic for more info Discovery Day- Roots. Philomath Museum, 1101 Main St, Philomath. 10 am. Free. In conjunction with the Ancestry: Roots, Wings and Seeds exhibit. Explore the incredible root systems of different trees and plants with Starker Forests and draw a family tree picture with a genealogy expert. Visit Benton County Museum Discovery Day for more info Government Comment Corner. Bellushi Wing, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 10 am – 12 pm. Stop in and chat with local Corvallis government. Featuring Ward 4 Councilor Ava Olson. Visit CBCPL- Government Comment Corner for more info Oregon State University Pet Day. 700 SW 30th St, Corvallis. 10 am – 3 pm. Pet related activities including teddy bear surgery, Kid Zone, Picasso puppy, nail trims and more. Dozens of booths will be staffed by vendors and volunteers providing information on animal health and wellness, nutrition, adoption and therapy. Other booths sell animal-related products and gifts. Visit OSU Pet Day for more info Ancestry: Roots, Wings and Seeds. Philomath Museum, 1101 Main St, Philomath.                           10 am – 4:30 pm, Wednesday thru Saturday. Exhibit runs until July 5. Features work by the Corvallis Art Guild. Visit Benton County Museum- Ancestry, Roots, Wings and Seeds for more info League of Women Voters Legislative Update. Kalapuya Building, 4500 Research Way, Corvallis. 10:15 am. Talk with elected leaders. Invited guests include: Senator Gelser Blouin, Senator Dick Anderson, Representative Sarah Finger-McDonald, Representative David Gomberg and Representative Shelly Boshart Davis. Visit League of Women Voters- Legislative Update Event for more info Science Saturday. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 10:30 am. Preschool aged. A special garden theme story time followed by hands-on activities that encourage the exploration of literacy, science and math. Visit Corvallis Benton County Library Science Saturday for more info Teen Scene. Majestic Theatre Community/Rehearsal Room, 115 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 12 pm. Ages 13-17. The Majestic Theatre hosts this youth-led theater company featuring a series of workshops to build technical skills, leading up to brand-new productions for teens. Learn more about acting, directing, designing, and producing while making new friends. Visit Teen Scene- Majestic Theatre for more info Hello There Corvallis Speed Friending. The Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 2 pm. A fun, lighthearted and easy way to break the ice and start getting to know new people. Childcare and light refreshments provided. Visit Hello There Corvallis Speed Friending for more info Love Your Watershed: Spring Bird Walk. J2E Tree Farm in Philomath (location provided upon registration). 8 am. RSVP required. Whether one is a Padawan (beginning birder) or a Jedi Bird Master (bird expert), attending this leisurely-paced nature walk will definitely boost any avian identification skills. 2 mile hike, potentially muddy conditions. Visit Love Your Watershed: Spring Bird Walk for more info Beginning Birder Workshop. Willamette Park area, exact location upon registration. Registration required. 9:30 am. This outdoor workshop is a brief introduction to birding. Learn the basics about binocular use and bird identification. Suitable for adults and children 12 and older. Visit Natural Areas Week Beginning Birder Workshop for more info Nicasio Brunch Music. Old World Deli. 341 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 10 am – 12 pm. Hearty breakfast and melodious story songs with guitar, flute and cello. Contact fiddleroad01@gmail.com for more info Spring Garden Festival. At Arts Center Plaza/Madison Avenue, between 7th & 8th Streets. 10 am – 4 pm. Annual family friendly event. Vendors will offer a wide variety of items for sale, including annuals, perennials, specialty plants, garden art and more. Visit Natural Areas Week Spring Garden Festival for more info Harding Center: Thru Historic Renovation for Best Use Now. Front Desk at 510 NW 31st St, Corvallis. 11 am. Reservations required, tour spots limited. A tour showcasing the historic renovation of the Harding Center. Learn about the process of transforming this iconic building and see how it has been revitalized for current use. Visit Benton County Oregon Harding Center for more info The Early Birds of Star Wars Merchandising. Corvallis Museum, 411 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 1 pm. Registration required. Cost: $5. Fascinating stories and history behind the greatest merchandising property ever produced. Visit Benton County Museum Star Wars Merchandising for more info Celtic Music Session, Old World Deli 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 2 – 4 pm. Traditional Celtic Music Session. Participants should have some basic Celtic music experience or they can simply listen and enjoy. Contact Leslie Glassmire at glasslab@fastmail.fm for more info My Fair Lady. Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 2:30 pm. Cost: $22/person, $20/students and seniors. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, with book, music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe. The tale of a cockney flower girl transformed into an elegant lady features one of musical theatre’s greatest scores. Visit The Majestic Theatre for more info Ettihad Cultural Center. Student Experience Center, 2251 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. 4 – 7 pm. A celebration of cultures from the Horn of Africa, North Africa, West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. There will be cultural performances, live music, and amazing free food from Evergreen. Visit OSU Ettihad Cultural Festival for more info Willamette Valley Jaguars vs Salem Capitols. Corvallis High School, 1400 NW Buchanan Ave, Corvallis. 4 pm. Cost: $8.50 for ages 13 & up, $10 for students, seniors and first responders, $20 for general admission. Ages 12 and under free with a paying adult. Willamette Valley’s professional basketball team. Visit Willamette Valley Jaguars for more info Open 2 Mics. Old World Deli. 341 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 5 pm. Open Mic night. Visit Old World Center more info Tour of Historic Building Renovations. Meet at Everbowl, 425 SW Madison Ave, Corvallis. 5:30 pm. Join Lee Eckroth for a walking tour of downtown renovations of historic buildings and best practices to breathe new life into historic buildings. Visit Benton County Oregon Historic Renovations for more info Untold Stories of OSU Walking Tour. Meet at the East side of Reser Stadium, 660 SW 26th Street, Corvallis. 4 pm. Learn about ten significant people, events, and locations pertaining to the history of students of color at Oregon State University and how they strived to make OSU a more inclusive and equitable campus. Visit Benton County Oregon OSU Walking Tour for more info Climate Change in Oregon. Main Meeting Room, Corvallis- Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 4:30 pm. A talk by Natural Resource Economist Ernie Niemi about the economic impacts of climate change in Oregon. Visit Corvallis Benton County Public Library Climate Change in Oregon for more info Corvallis City Council Meeting. Downtown Fire Station: Council Chambers, 400 NW Harrison Blvd, Corvallis. 6 pm. Visit Corvallis City Council Meeting for more info Free Monday Night Meditation. Virtual event. 6:30 – 7:45 pm. Sessions are guided every week, often rotating through month-long themes from Buddhist and contemporary mindfulness practice traditions, which provide the primary perspective and frame. Pre-registration required. Visit Free Monday Night Meditation – Oregon State University for more info Cindy Ingram. Giustina and Murdoch Galleries, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis. 8 am – 5 pm.  On exhibit thru July 10th. Known for the vibrant use of color and unique approach to form, beautifully merging the natural world with creative abstraction. Visit Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center for more info Climate Change, Viticulture and Wine. Corvallis Community Center (C3), 2601 NW Tyler Ave, Corvallis. Virtual attendance available. 9:30 – 11:30 pm. Dues for the Academy of Lifelong Learning are $110/year. Dr. Gregory Jones, wine climatologist will discuss climate influence on agribusiness and the impact on wine production. Visit Academy of Lifelong Learning Spring Schedule for more info READ Dogs. Main Meeting Room, Corvallis- Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 3:30 pm. Kids can practice reading in any language to a trained therapy Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ Dogs). Sign-ups are on-site and open at the time of the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Permission form is required and filled out on-site. Visit CBCPL READ Dogs for more info Graphic Novel Club. 2nd Floor Board Room, Corvallis- Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 6 pm. This month’s selection is Women, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi. Visit CBCPL Graphic Novel Club for more info Public Hearing Day 3: Republic Services Conditional Use Permit Application Regarding the Coffin Butte Landfill Expansion. Holmes and Shipley Meeting Room, Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis. 6 – 9 pm. Continuing public testimony as needed. Visit Benton County Public Hearing Day 3 for more info Philomath Evening Book Club. Meeting Room, Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St, Philomath. 6:30 pm. Book Club selections available at the front desk. Visit CBCPL Philomath Evening Book Club for more info Cindy Ingram. Giustina and Murdoch Galleries, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis.   8 am – 5 pm.  On exhibit thru July 10th. Known for the vibrant use of color and unique approach to form, beautifully merging the natural world with creative abstraction. Visit Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center for more info Corvallis Farmers Market. Riverfront, Corvallis. 9 am – 1 pm. A relaxed midweek event highlighting local agriculture. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Riverfront Commemorative Park the market offers fresh and delicious locally sourced food and an opportunity to explore the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. Visit Corvallis Wednesday Market for more info Ancestry: Roots, Wings and Seeds. Philomath Museum, 1101 Main St, Philomath. 10 am – 4:30 pm, Wednesday thru Saturday. Exhibit runs until July 5. Features work by the Corvallis Art Guild. Visit Benton County Museum- Ancestry, Roots, Wings and Seeds for more info Philomath Storytime. Philomath Meeting Room, Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St, Philomath. 10:30 – 11 am. Free. Children of all ages and their families are invited to join them for an interactive storytime full of books, songs, and music. Philomath Storytime | Corvallis-Benton County Public Library for more info Parent Café. Monarch on 4th, 520 NW 4th St, Corvallis. 12 pm. Parent Cafe is a group where parents can talk about stressors, challenge thinking with question cards, and develop small goals to work on. Snacks are provided and children are welcome. Visit Parent Cafe-Pollywog for more info Build It Day. Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St, Philomath. 3:30 pm. Open play with a variety of building toys. Each week a new engineering challenge will be issued for patrons to attempt. Visit CBCPL Build It Day for more info Benton County Courthouse Tour. 120 NW 4th St, Corvallis. 4 pm. Reservation required. Tour the oldest courthouse in the state that has been in continuous operation. This courthouse is a regional icon and graces the logos of both Benton County and the City of Corvallis. Visit Benton County Courthouse Tour for more info Lego at the Library. Main Meeting Room, Corvallis- Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 4 pm. Drop in Lego building. Bricks provided with optional theme. Visit CBCPL Lego at the Library for more info The Evening Brief: Chamber Forum Representative Sarah Finger-McDonald. Courtyard by Marriott , 400 SW 1st St, Corvallis. 4 pm. Visit Corvallis Chamber of Commerce Evening Brief for more info All Ages Craft Night. Monroe Community Library, 380 N 5th St, Monroe. 5:30 pm. Explore open-ended crafts. Each month will feature different craft mediums. Imagination encouraged. Visit Monroe Community Library All Ages Craft Night for more info Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at OSU: Gender in Cinema. Darkside Cinema, 215 SW 4th St, Corvallis. 6 pm. Experience powerful stories exploring gender, identity, and resilience on screen. Featuring Kristen Lovell’s “The Stroll.” Visit Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at OSU for Gender in Cinema at the Darkside for more info City Planning Commission. Virtual only. 6:30 pm. Visit City Planning Commission for more info Clue (1985). Whiteside Theatre, 361 Madison Ave, Corvallis. 7 pm. Cost: $8/advance, $10/same day. Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up. Visit Whiteside Theatre: Clue (1985) for more info Jazz Wrx Trio. Old World Deli. 341 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 7 pm. Visit Old World Center more info Jew Outta Know! Corvallis Museum, 411 2nd St, Corvallis. 10:30 am. In celebration of Jewish-American Heritage Month. Learn about pop culture phenomena created by Jewish-American artists and authors. Artist and educator, Jessica Rehfield covers surprising cultural contributions in a one-hour talk about Jewish-American culture innovators and influences in popular culture. Visit Corvallis Museum Jew Outta Know! for more info Monroe Baby Storytime. Monroe Large Meeting Room, Monroe Community Library, 380 N 5th St., Monroe. 10:30 – 11:15 am. Birth to 5 yrs. Join them to read, sing, rhyme and move, followed by free play. Visit Monroe Baby Storytime | Corvallis-Benton County Public Library for more info Drop-In Baby Weight and Feeding Clinic. Corvallis Birth & Wellness Center, 2314 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis. 10:30 – 11:30 am. A free drop-in hour to check baby’s weight, ask feeding questions, and get peer support. Open to human milk feeding parents and caregivers in the community. Visit Drop in Feeding Clinic for more info League of Women Voters of Corvallis: Housing Committee Meeting. Virtual Event. 2:00 – 3:30 pm. Visit League of Women Voters of Corvallis for more info Teen Anime Club. Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St, Philomath. 3:30 – 5 pm. Grades 6-12. Manga readers and anime watchers welcome. Topics include favorite characters, the culture and history of anime, practicing the art style, meeting other fans in the community, and watching episodes together. Snacks provided. Episodes shown may be rated from PG to TV-14. Visit CBCPL Teen Anime Club for more info Local Author Launch: Trauma Informed Design. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 6 pm. Talk by author J. Davis Harte, a Corvallis Resident and OSU alum, about the new book Trauma-Informed Design: A Framework for designers, architects and other practitioners. Visit CBCPL: Local Author Launch for more info City Budget Committee Meeting. Downtown Fire Station: Council Chambers, 400 NW Harrison Blvd, Corvallis. 6 pm. Visit Corvallis City Budget Committee Meeting for more info Corvallis School Board Meeting. Corvallis School District, 1555 NW 35th St, Corvallis. 6:30 pm. Visit Corvallis School Board Meetings for more info NAACP Monthly Membership Meeting. Location sent to members via email. 6:30 pm. Visit NAACP Events for more info Cindy Ingram. Giustina and Murdoch Galleries, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis.    8 am – 5 pm.  On exhibit thru July 10th. Known for the vibrant use of color and unique approach to form, beautifully merging the natural world with creative abstraction. Visit Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center for more info Italian Conversation Circle. Einhorn House, 2638 NW Jackson Ave, Corvallis. 1:30 – 2:30 pm. A casual space for intermediate to advanced speakers to practice Italian, build confidence and connect with others. It’s all about conversation, culture and having fun with the language.  Visit Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center Classes for more information Franklin School Tour. Franklin School, 750 NW 18th St, Corvallis. 3 pm. Tour the historic Franklin School and learn about its history and how preservation was combined with renovation to give the historic resource continued life and best use. Visit Benton County Oregon Franklin School Tour for more info OSU MFA Reading Series. Main Meeting Room, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. 5 pm. In partnership with Oregon State University, the MFA Reading Series brings a monthly rotation of literary readings to the community. Each month one Poet, one Fiction Writer, and one Nonfiction Writer currently pursuing an MFA at OSU will read. Visit OSU MFA Reading Series for more info The Story of Oregon: One Historian’s Journey. Grassroots Books, 251 SW Madison Ave, Corvallis. 6 pm. Grass Roots is hosting William G. Robbins for a discussion and reading from two recent books, A Place for Inquiry, A Place for Wonder: The Andrews Forest and The People’s School: A History of Oregon State University. Visit Grassroots Books Events for more info A clip of a City of Corvallis Townhall with Mayor Charles Maughan Corvallis leaders are poised to vote on establishing a task force to review the city's charter its "constitution" that recently came under fire from a federal judge Mayor Charles Maughan has proposed an initial charter review task force — and the possibility of sequential task forces to follow — all part of an effort to comprehensively review the document that outlines the structures and powers of Corvallis’ government, facets of which date back to 1948 That's when the council-manager form of government was first established in the city Historic copies of the Corvallis city charter shown at City Hall the council-manager setup has the elected officials legislating and the city manager carrying out the day-to-day functions based on those policy decisions If the task force proposes any changes to the current charter they would need to be put before the voters elements of the city’s charter are outdated and even inconsistent with state law Section 23(f), which prohibits the mayor and councilors from "influenc(ing) or coerc(ing) the manager in the making of any appointment or removal of any officer or employee,” was recently declared unconstitutional by a U.S. District Judge after it was leveled against Councilor Charlyn Ellis City leadership had cited that section of the charter in an attempt to oust her from office The 1948 Corvallis Charter and the 1972 revisions to the Charter photographed in the Valley Library at Oregon State University on January 5 If the city is looking for help from the organizations that usually guide them about best practices for city charters A spokesperson for the League of Oregon Cities referred a reporter to the National League of Cities which referred the reporter back to the Oregon association which serves as the lobbyist on behalf of the state's 241 cities Section 23(f) was described as “low-hanging fruit” for the task force’s early work which states that unless mandated by state law annexation to the city may only be approved by a majority vote of the electorate That section is now out of alignment with current state law according to Public Information Officer Patrick Rollens The city could aim to get both revisions on the ballot in November — though councilors acknowledged this timeline was a lofty goal and remain flexible Other charter-related areas of interest brought forward at the meeting included the length of councilor terms — currently just two years and out of step with much of the state — and establishing an urban renewal district for downtown which under the current charter must be voter-approved The work of the task force(s) will be painstaking and time-consuming Maughan envisions an initial task force that assembles priorities for the charter overhaul and gets to work on those ultimately deemed the most urgent The second task force would focus on second-tier priorities and the third would focus on third-tier priorities everyone in this room is going to be involved in charter review,” Maughan said at the Thursday meeting Maughan wants to keep the task force nimble and envisions sharing it with three councilors and three community numbers though he’s amenable to increasing the number of community members Which councilors will serve on the first task force is not yet known though Maughan did express that he hoped Ellis would He also expressed a desire to incorporate community members from different demographics as well as people who could examine the charter through a variety of lenses The charter review would also rely on the help of Corvallis’ legal counsel from Portland-based law firm Beery City Manager Mark Shepard also recommended leaning heavily on the League of Oregon Cities' model charter a foundational document for Oregon municipalities “We can get into trouble if we stray too far from model language,” Shepard said The charter section deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge in the Ellis v Corvallis lawsuit is on the table for reexamination Maughan envisions the first task force working until at least the end of the year and the council had robust discussion at the Thursday meeting about some of the finer details of the task force’s composition and goals The formation of a downtown vitality strategy task force which would focus on current issues related to downtown More Corvallis news Ella Hutcherson is a University of Oregon graduate who hails originally from the Southern Oregon coast. She covers Corvallis and Benton County and can be reached at ella.hutcherson@lee.net April 23, 2025 - A report released earlier this year revealed remarkable progress in Corvallis to increase multifamily housing. The City of Corvallis ranked #9 among small metros nationwide, as detailed in U.S. Cities Building the Most Multi-Family Housing a report released in January from Construction Coverage an online research hub for the construction industry By analyzing nationwide building permits tracked by the U.S the report cataloged efforts to increase multifamily housing in cities around the country divided into three broad categories: large metros Corvallis was one of just two West Coast cities in the top 10 among small metros (and the only Oregon city represented on the small metro list) The distinction comes amid a flurry of building activity in Corvallis mainly focused on affordable developments that will create rental housing aimed at income-eligible households Corvallis has created more than 350 units of affordable rental housing New affordable rentals in the pre-development pipeline are expected to add more than 250 new units on top of that in the coming years The recent multi-family construction activity can be traced to a series of high-impact local policy decisions made by the Corvallis City Council over the past decade starting with its creation of the Housing Development Task Force in 2015 Key changes include mapping additional high density residential zones around the city developing new financial incentive programs Those changes removed barriers to multifamily housing construction and created new tools that the City of Corvallis is using to encourage multifamily development in the community “Land use policy changes sometimes take years to show up in the market,” said Community Development Director Paul Bilotta “We’re gratified to see this sustained effort by the City Council beginning to provide critical housing for the community.” typically in the form of rental complexes serving individuals and families is a critical part of the housing continuum in Corvallis With its high population of students attending Oregon State University Corvallis has an outsized market for rental units which can create stress on other segments of the housing continuum Maintaining a healthy level of multifamily rental development can help ease pressure on other property types in the community For more data on housing and construction activity in Corvallis, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/cd/page/housing-data Pet Day at OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine is happening from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday with plenty of activities and educational opportunities for the whole family we think it’ll be a real… treat Pet Day is held mostly outdoors at Magruder Hall though they are not permitted inside Magruder because of university policy and must be attended by their owners at all times New this year is an activity called “Picasso Puppies,” where dog owners get to choose colored paints to go on a paper that is sealed inside a Ziploc bag The outside of the bag is then coated with sprayable cheese moving paint around inside the plastic to create a painting Pet Day is organized by the first- and second-year classes in the veterinary college with the funds raised going toward paying for graduation regalia and other associated costs for those two classes “I hope the community enjoys coming together to get some insight into what we are doing,” said second-year veterinary student and event organizer Meghan Schuster “This is our way to showcase our school and thank the community for their support of our mission Fellow second-year veterinary student organizer Kristen Bird said the event will highlight the many facets of veterinary science “I think Pet Day highlights the sincere passion shared by everyone in the veterinary and animal care community as well as the sacrifices the field requires,” said Bird “I hope Pet Day inspires the next generation of animal and science lovers is that it combines learning with a love of animals It is a privilege to be able to turn your favorite things in life into your job.” 2025 - It's that time of year - we're recruiting for volunteers to serve on the City's network of advisory groups These are great opportunities to get involved and help shape City policies and programs There are more than a dozen different boards We have vacancies on many long-running groups such as the Climate Action Advisory Board as well as new groups focused on active transportation and economic development We're also seeking volunteers to serve on the city's Planning Commission and Historic Resources Commission These two opportunities have slightly different deadlines and application requirements so be sure to read about those vacancies if you're interested Take a look at all the vacancies and apply online on the City website View the Mayor and Council Calendar Email the Mayor and Council 2025 - The City of Corvallis Public Works Department is beginning a project this month to replace a 20-inch underground water pipeline located along SW 35th Street and SW Western Boulevard The existing water pipeline in this area was constructed in the early 1950s and has reached the end of its useful life This is the sort of “hidden infrastructure” that must be replaced to ensure consistent service and to avoid bigger problems in the future including improvements to pedestrian crossings at intersections as well as adding buffered bike lanes along portions of each street Construction on the water pipeline is expected to begin in March with street repaving anticipated to wrap up by September This will be a complex project that will require the entirety of our short spring and summer construction season in Corvallis Weather conditions will impact the overall timeline This project will likely create some traffic disruptions at various points along the construction schedule Street closures and detours will be needed periodically during construction to facilitate safe work zones for workers and the public Households served by the new water pipeline will experience short service interruptions of up to several hours while they are connected to the new line – information about these interruptions will be communicated directly to affected households once construction gets underway View the Public Works Calendar and milkshakes are not the only reasons people head over to fast food joints the majority of fast food lovers cherish a delicious burger and fries combo but chicken nuggets are also a legitimate reason to go to your favorite fast food restaurant Demolition is underway on the building that previously housed McGrath’s Fish House in Corvallis, which closed in 2019. The location is slated to be filled by a Chick-fil-A which plans to open its first restaurant in the mid-Willamette Valley according to the Georgia-based chain’s website The fast food restaurant chain proposes replacing the McGrath’s building at 350 NE Circle Blvd with a new one that will include a dual drive-thru Demolition has began on the building that formerly housed McGrath's Fish House on the corner of Highway 99W and Circle Boulevard in Corvallis the property owner also took a nugget of nearby property where a K-Mart used to be located According to Corvallis Senior Planner Tracy Carter the building permit for the new eating and drinking establishment is still in review submitted permits to the city's planning office on July 31 the applicant submitted a revised civil plan review and approval of the revised civil plans are the only outstanding items before the building permit can be issued Initial news about Chick-Fil-A working on the new location sparked heated conversation online Some oppose the company’s conservative stances like past support for organizations that oppose gay marriage Editor's note: This story has been edited to correct Tracy Carter's last name Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly the majority of fast food lovers cherish a… Personalized news alerts with our mobile app Photos from a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Stevensville's Emmi Ross (6) runs to home during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Stevensville’s Lilly Newsom (3) slides into second during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Stevensville's Emmi Ross (6) runs to third base during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Stevensville’s Kenzie Frost (4) slides into second base during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Sophie Cooper (1) of Corvallis picks up the ball during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Kenzi Frost (4) of Stevensville bats the ball during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Taylor Andersen (3) of Corvallis pitches the ball during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Sophie Cooper (1) of Corvallis attemps to tag a player during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Sophie Cooper (1) of Corvallis throws the ball during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Jaidan Oyler (10) of Stevensville bats during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Jaidan Oyler (10) of Stevensville walks to the dugout during a high school softball game between Stevensville and Corvallis on Tuesday Photos from a softball game between Billings Skyview High School and Bozeman Gallatin High School at Billings Skyview High School on Thursday,… Butte Central softball held East Helena at bay to defeat the Vigilantes at Stodden Park on Tuesday Photos from a softball game between Billings Senior High School and Billings West High School at Central Park on Thursday Photos from a softball game between Billings Skyview High School and Billings Senior High School at Central Park on Wednesday Bengals softball walked away with a win after narrowly leading the Bulldogs in the 7th inning 7-6 at Stodden Park in Butte on Thursday Photos from a softball game between Billings Central Catholic High School and Laurel High School at Urbaska Field at Rocky Mountain College on… Read through the obituaries published today in Gazette-Times Game Recap: Softball | 4/26/2025 9:31:00 PM E1 | SMC 0 - OSU 1Oregon State strikes first in the first, but a smart cut by Sam Buckley helps the Gaels record the final out of the frame. #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/sRLiP2bSXw E3 | SMC 1 - OSU 4Mia Nishikawa works her first 1-2-3 inning with some help from Victoria Castillo, making this nice play up the middle!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/HwOofxJIIb B6 | SMC 5 - OSU 4CAUGHT HER LOOKING! Mia Nishikawa wins the eight pitch battle with her second strikeout of the day!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/khfUwenBMY T4 | SMC 3 - OSU 4TAYLOR TANK NO. 1 OF THE YEAR! Taylor Lane smashes one to left to put the Gaels within a run!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/KvkKDrfqKT T5 | SMC 5 - OSU 4TWO RUN BLAST FOR TORI! Gaels have the lead!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/qIMwWAdA9K B1 | SMC 0 - OSU 0🚨🚨🚨WEB GEM ALERT🚨🚨🚨Tori Cervantes with the robbery in center field keeping us scoreless! #GaelsRise #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/us1lf1womM B2 | SMC 1 - OSU 1Odhi's first strikeout is one of the looking variety! #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/5FhBmg0s6A E2 | SMC 1 - OSU 2Odhi strikes out the side, but surrenders another run, as the Gaels fall back behind by one.#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/j2rFOd1aWY E5 | SMC 5 - OSU 3Not an easy play from Mia Zabat at short, but it gets the Gaels out of the fifth after a solo home run from the Beavers!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/4SurpVahMU E6 | SMC 5 - OSU 3ODHI...VASQUEZ...STRIKES...OUT...THE...SIDE...IN...ORDER! We head to the seventh, Gaels up two!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/Dz4MIS1Ikz T2 | SMC 1 - OSU 1A nice sacrafice bunt for Mia Zabat turns into an OSU error and a run scored as the Gaels level things in the second!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/SGSX9n7DQX T3 | SMC 2 - OSU 2The Gaels are once again beneficiaries of spotty OSU defense to tie the game in the third!#GaelsRIse pic.twitter.com/zF0Fus2dZ4 T3 | SMC 3 - OSU 2Tip of the cap to Justice Flores of Oregon State for a brilliant catch, but it results in a sac fly and the go-ahead RBI for Jena Amador, scoring Tori Cervantes!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/NT8E450ThU T4 | SMC 4 - OSU 2Camille Lara has four hits on today's doubleheader, and now has an RBI as well, cashing in Kiah Silva for a big insurance run!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/9vvSa5Zo3C T5 | SMC 5 - OSU 2The Gaels keep it going in the fifth! One out triple from Victoria Castillo, followed by an RBI groundout from Braxton Brown!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/ZqvfeOXLlq T7 | SMC 6 - OSU 3Another RBI for Braxton Brown!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/YHE5bFnjRi Thanks for visiting World Atlas recently named Corvallis, home of the Oregon State University Beavers, as the best college town in Oregon strong ties between the university and community a thriving cultural scene and an economy supported by college students and faculty are all reasons travel website World Atlas noted Corvallis as the best college town in Oregon Named for the Latin phrase "heart of the valley," Corvallis was established in 1851 and is located in the Willamette Valley It even briefly became the state capital in 1855 before the distinction went to Salem which provided land grants to states to establish public colleges to teach agriculture and mechanical arts led to the founding of Corvallis College in 1868 The school was later renamed Oregon State University OSU is considered one of the world's top universities "well-regarded for its programs in engineering and agricultural sciences," according to World Atlas OSU has an extensive online degree program as well as campuses in Bend Oregon is also home to several other college towns including nearby Eugene and the University of Oregon OSU's 422-acre campus is a central part of Corvallis. As home to more than 36,500 students and 2,800 faculty members that make up more than half of Corvallis' more than 61,000 residents OSU is one of the largest employers in the region The community often holds many events tied to the university including food and drink celebrations Corvallis and OSU collaborations are also common all of which reinforce the bond between campus and community," according to World Atlas The website also noted the OSU Advantage Accelerator program an initiative that focuses on the "entrepreneurial spirit" of Corvallis by supporting local start-ups and tech ventures The OSU Beavers also hold a special place in the hearts of the town's residents who show their support for the Beavers football team and other OSU teams Streets are often full of cars and crowds coming out to cheer on the Beavers on game day OSU's "picturesque campus" can also be a worthwhile way to spend time visiting Corvallis The OSU National Historic District is listed on the National Register for its "many significant old buildings" and is "the only such academic institution to receive this distinction in Oregon and one of only a handful in the country," according to World Atlas Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval Thanks for visiting Corvallis defeated Crescent Valley in game one of the two-game series 11-5 on Wednesday and Roy Bannister talk during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Luke Schoeffler runs in for a score during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Roy Bannister gets set for an at-bat during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Andrew Street steps up to bat during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Anthony Castro takes the field at first base during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Blaise Neil signals to his teammates during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday speaks with his team during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Quinn Sissel pitched 4 innings during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Luke Schoeffler steps up to the plate during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Korhan Haller throws the ball to his teammates after making a catch during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Carson Jacobs steps out during an at-bat during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Logan Lassiter steps up to bat during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday Dawson Richards warms up during the game between Corvallis and Crescent Valley on Wednesday 2025 - The City of Corvallis Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a planning level document and an important communication tool for the community The CIP identifies infrastructure projects planned to be initiated over the next five fiscal years The CIP is developed using various technical resources and requirements and balances competing priorities within financial constraints to efficiently address the growing number of infrastructure deficiencies across the City The CIP also informs the City’s budget process since projects identified in the first two years will be incorporated into the BN 2025-27 (biennial) budget Although heavily influenced by technical analysis and best management practices for the industry providing opportunities for public review of the CIP remains a high priority The proposed CIP is currently available for public review and will be considered by City Council during a joint meeting with the Budget Commission on March 20 The Proposed FY 2026-30 CIP document and instructions for submitting public testimony for the March 20 2025 meeting are available the City’s website at the link below Proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Plan Printed copies of the proposed CIP document are available for review at the Library 2025 - The 2025 Business Use of the Right of Way (BROW) program is accepting applications for the upcoming season The program begins on May 1 and runs through October 31 Home Instead Friends of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Register Online View the Parks and Recreation Calendar Request a Refund View all Parks and Recreation News Ordering wine can be overwhelming when you’re faced with a long wine list at a fancy restaurant Here are some of the most common mistakes you can avoid while ordering wine Avoid ordering items you can easily find at a groce… As I opened the door to Tommy’s 4th Street Bar & Grill in downtown Corvallis the sound of twangy country music over a speaker system and the soft glow of lottery machines along the right-side wall I encountered my coworker drinking a glass of Blue Moon beer with a slice of orange Server Josh tosses a thumbs up after serving up a Midsummer Nights Bean The Biere Library's take on a espresso martini Visit Corvallis recently launched a “Corvallis Dive Bar Crawl,” in which local or visiting dive connoisseurs can download a digital passport and visit nine of Corvallis’ — well one of Philomath’s — most noteworthy dives faces off against Albany reporter Hans Boyle during a clash of the foosball titans upstairs at Squirrel's Tavern Despite the whirlwind nature of my experience Corvallis has a lot of demographic factors uniting it showcasing the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make Corvallis a gem let’s get into semantics for a second — what exactly IS a dive bar simple selection of drinks to a regular clientele The term can describe anything from a comfortable-but-basic neighborhood pub to the nastiest swill-swinging hole.” I’ll tell you right now that no swill-swinging holes are traversed over the course of this dive bar crawl Visit Corvallis defines “dive” a little more generously what ‘dive’ means is it’s a way of describing a neighborhood watering hole,” Christina Rehklau Executive Director of Visit Corvallis said a lot of times.” This definition comfortably encapsulates the variety that I witnessed on my odyssey which taught me that there’s more than one way to be a dive Jess Hume-Pantuso and Nico Pantuso say cheers to the bartender at China Delight who did not laugh at us when we ordered four Shirley Temples Some of the nine bars I visited fit the bill more traditionally than others with fluorescent-lit pool tables and Shania Twain anthems the lesser-known Suds & Suds and the Meet’n Place Tavern in Philomath all performed as picture-perfect dives (Clodfelter’s Public House was unexpectedly closed but I caught glimpses of its divey-ness through the windows and am told by Rehklau that it’s a popular hangout spot for Oregon State University students) takes a different approach to the definition a friendly spot featuring shelves filled with books Tucked in the back of the China Delight Restaurant a dive bar from the bygone Prohibition Era I liked feeling like I was in on an open secret we tucked into non-alcoholic Shirley Temples (much to the amusement of our bartender) having just sucked down our drinks at Squirrel’s and still feeling the buzz A locked door on Thursday doesn't stop reporter Ella Hutcherson who uses her phone to check-in Clodfelter's Public House is to tap into the “character” of Corvallis This concept was on my mind throughout the crawl — what does a city’s dive bar scene say about its character I don’t pretend to be a Corvallis expert (not that anyone’s ever accused me of it) The beauty of being a journalist is constantly learning through the people that you interview the meetings you attend and the places that you visit And I knew there was something to be learned about Corvallis from these nine so-called dives When I asked Rehklau what these bars illustrate about Corvallis’s character she said they show an easiness and unpretentiousness to the community as well as a level of approachability commonly noted by those who don’t live here I feel like I saw each of these character traits in these bars At no location did I feel uncomfortable or out of place I interacted with people — of a variety of ages and backgrounds — who exhibited kindness And I noticed how many people seemed to know each other who came to these “neighborhood watering holes” as a way to gather and be together Reporter Hans Boyle contemplates a behind-the-back shot while playing pool at Meet N' Place Tavern in Philomath That’s an important part of this place’s identity That’s with my rose-colored — or booze-colored — glasses on Corvallis is not without its share of problems and some of those impact how it cultivates the very community it's so focused on white-and-black sign of Meet N' Place Tavern in Philomath guides us to the final destination on our dive bar journey on Thursday evening I was lucky enough to have coworkers and friends willing to humor my insane proposition to visit nine bars in one night Apples to Apples at The Biere Library and pool at the Meet’n Place Tavern And we got to spend time together outside of the newsroom out from underneath the firehose that is the news cycle in the modern age There’s a prize at the end of the crawl — made by a local artist — but I won’t spoil it With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food Greg Little has been working at Squirrel’s Tavern for so long that he knows the entire history of the building What started as a road trip from Colorado in a borrowed Volkswagen van over 40 years ago has become a Corvallis mainstay known as Woodstock’s … The City is in the process of updating its Transportation SDCs This is a standard practice following the adoption of master plans which This work will include a review of the Transportation SDC methodology to ensure consistency with state law the adoption of a new project list based on capital improvements identified in the 2019 Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the calculation of a new maximum allowable Transportation SDC fee Presentation to Council 03-06-25 Presentation to City Council 07-18-24 Transportation System Plan (TSP) For information on the City’s current SDC program System Development Charges (SDCs) | Corvallis Oregon the League of Women Voters of Corvallis has offered annual public forums on Corvallis city services and programs For 2025 the League is offering two programs on facilities managed by Corvallis Parks and Recreation and the city’s infrastructure managed by Public Works The two events will be held in the Corvallis Benton County Public Library Main Meeting Room Know Your City programs are sponsored by the League of Women Voters Corvallis Corvallis Benton County Public Library and the City of Corvallis Sign up for Corvallis e-News! (View this newsletter in your browser.) The new 2025-2026 Corvallis City Council will be sworn into office at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the year on January 6 The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Municipal Judge Larry Blake will administer the oath of office for new and returning elected officials: City Councilors will serve a two-year term from 2025 to 2026 The Mayor took office in 2023 and is currently serving a four-year term To sign up for email notifications about upcoming City Council meetings, please visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/notify and select "City Council" under the "Calendar" header People of all ability levels are invited to explore the new all-inclusive playground that opened last month at Avery Park in Corvallis The $1 million playground project was the result of a year-long community engagement process to assess community needs and desires followed by a six-month construction process The playground — complete with accessible swings and special surfacing for people using mobility devices — is the first dedicated play area in Corvallis to be designed from the ground up to serve people of all ability levels The City of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department led the makeover effort that upgraded the decades-old main playground area in Avery Park Funding came from a combination of sources including $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a $532,000 grant from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department The new playground layout leans into the concept of inclusive play says Parks & Recreation Director Meredith Petit “Inclusive Play is all about integrated play spaces so that kids and caregivers can play together,” Petit said “It’s not about just meeting the bare minimum by providing a few accessible elements in one section of the playground.” Visitors to the playground will notice colorful nature-inspired design elements that complement the site’s location in Avery Park (the oldest park in Corvallis Ramp access and a specially designed surface grants easier access for kids or caretakers who use mobility devices A sensory-focused play space encourages visitors of all ages to engage in rambunctious play while also providing quiet areas to spend time alone or socialize in small groups The project also features site improvements that will serve the broader park patron community A new restroom building with two individual drinking fountain and water bottle filler has been installed adjacent to the inclusive play area Also included is a new picnic shelter with four wheelchair-compatible picnic tables and ample circulation area Perimeter fencing adjacent to the parking lot and driveway adds additional safety measures to minimize any potential conflict between the playground and moving vehicles Integrated shade umbrellas provide shelter over the play structure City service fees are monthly charges that appear on the City of Corvallis City Services bill Fees represent a small charge shared among all Corvallis billing customers to pay for specific services Rate adjustments are considered annually by the City Council Each fee is used to pay for a specific service and funds collected for one service cannot be used to pay for other services the City does not use money collected through the Sidewalk Maintenance Fee to pay for Police Department expenses Fees are reviewed annually by staff and the City Council as part of a public process to ensure that they are operating as intended to generate adequate revenue for municipal services that the community relies on Rate increases for 2025 are displayed in the chart on this page showing the previous rate and the new rate that takes effect on February 1 The City of Corvallis Low-Income Assistance Program the program has provided financial assistance to 849 income-eligible households — an average of 212 households per month Financial assistance initially provided a credit of $25 per month to qualifying community members on their monthly City Services bills that amount has been increased by the City to meet community needs The current assistance credit provides $53.55 per month and is reviewed annually by the City Council To apply, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/billassistance Applications are processed throughout the year and eligible community members typically begin receiving credit on their City Services bills about one month after their application is processed by the City Eligibility is determined based on household income and applicants will need to show proof of eligibility through enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or direct certification through Corvallis School District 509J This is an annual program and must be renewed each year by submitting a new application The program is funded through a 96-cent surcharge that appears on the monthly City Services bill we’re always looking ahead to upcoming environmental regulations and rules that could impact services in our community One topic that’s been the subject of recent discussion at the state level involves PFAS and Phthalates — aka "forever chemicals" that you might have read about in the news These chemicals are byproducts of some common manufacturing processes for clothing They don’t break down easily in the environment so they often end up being detected in the air We’re excited to launch a comprehensive online resource on the City website to help the community understand what PFAS and Phthalates are and how they have not been detected in Corvallis drinking water The web page includes links to the latest information from state and federal sources. And, a detailed Frequently Asked Questions page will help keep you in the know We'll be sharing more material in the weeks and months to come What's new in the building department? We don't have a "building department" per se, but development and permit activity is handled by the capable team in our Development Services Division. They recently released their quarterly newsletter full of information for the development & contractor community Catch up with your elected officials at their regularly scheduled meetings and work sessions. Upcoming meetings are listed below, along with links to calendar entries with more information. You don't have to attend to share feedback on any topic that's important to you. Feel free to use the Public Input Form to get in touch with the Council anytime Meet your local government officials and chat about whatever's on your mind at Government Comment Corner Each two-hour session takes place at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library A rotating cast of elected leaders from Corvallis and Benton County will be available for open one-on-one conversations with anyone who wants to stop by Bring your questions about public services and learn more about how to volunteer and get involved The City Council's three-month calendar is a good way to track topics and learn about upcoming business items. The three-month calendar is available on the City website The schedule is subject to change, so be sure to contact your City Councilor to learn more about any particular topic you see on the calendar Winter Reading Bingo:  Through January 15 Complete a bingo card and receive a small prize Storytime:  10:30am Tuesday-Friday Tech Help Lab:     January 15 one-on-one tech help from a library staff member Bring your computer or device or use one of ours Free Employment Help:   January 15 Job-seekers can drop in to meet with an Employment Specialist from Worksource Oregon Digital Life Classes:   various Thursdays and Saturdays 11:00am:  Learn about various technology topics with library staff Pride Storytime with Haus of Dharma: January 4 Join us for an all ages Pride storytime with performers from Haus of Dharma Puzzle Swap:  Jan 11- Game Night at the Library: January 16 5-6:30pm Craft Night for Adults:  January 21   This month’s craft is mixed-media bookmarks Puppet Show:  Snow Soup:  Jan 30 Join Pegasus Puppets for a  wintry rendition of Stone Soup Get a Library Card: Sign up for a library card and get access to all services and materials including placing holds on materials Home Delivery Service:  Get your holds delivered to you Delivery is available to patrons with current library cards who live within the library service district Books & More from Home:  Read ebooks or watch streaming video all from the comfort of your home with your library card Library Newsletter: Want to get monthly updates, upcoming events, and other library news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our email newsletter! Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Gazette-Times Tumultuous 2025 teaches us many lessons to learn and remember: Lysenko science My happiest thought: Perhaps Trump's innumerable illegal failures will end the MAGA movement practical note: Save the city $150 million more or less by abandoning the Shepard Colossus (City Hall) and buy/lease/remodel the 40,000 empty square feet of the huge Tony Van Vliet ("Slipping into a nationwide meanness," April 24) once again put in writing what so many of us think these days .. I guess that's to be expected when this is what we see and hear from the leaders of our country I know I wasn't the only one that was appalled at the very public verbal attack on a world leader and the constant playground name calling That behavior is not amusing but rude and mean was raised by parents that expected me to treat others with respect or face the consequences Makes me wonder about the values of the Trump and Vance parents and I automatically smile at people whose eyes I meet in public places Not long ago a lady turned back from going out the door of a grocery store and thanked me for smiling We don't know what problems someone else has but sometimes a little smile or a pleasant greeting can make their day go better and it doesn't cost us anything How fortunate we are to have someone the caliber of Kris Mclaughlin running for the position of member at large on the GAPS school board I have worked with her on various committees in church and in the community and have seen firsthand her ability to listen to others and work collaboratively Kris does not work from a perspective of "us versus them." She knows that it takes the whole community to provide quality education for our GAPS students Her years as a middle school teacher will bring valuable insight as to the needs of students Join me in voting for Kris McLaughlin for the Greater Albany Public Schools board When my wife and I fled New York City for Albany four years ago our first act wasn't changing licenses or house-hunting — it was securing library cards those plastic talismans of community belonging As a Friends of the Albany Public Library volunteer I've witnessed our library's vital role serving everyone: disabled individuals immigrants and youth of all varieties who rely on these knowledge sanctuaries That's why I'm urging fellow citizens to contact Rep Bynum and Senators Merkley and Wyden to reverse President Trump's March 14 executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services — the only federal agency funding libraries nationwide IMLS represents a microscopic 0.003% of the federal budget yet provides essential Eliminating it would devastate communities and cost Oregon $2.5 million in library funding APL earned the American Library Association's Innovation in Summer Reading award — recognition as one of the nation's 10 best programs Yet the accompanying $5,000 prize money vanished due to cuts Must we penalize our award-winning children's reading program Congress reauthorized IMLS with overwhelming bipartisan support which President Trump himself signed into law The recent order contradicts this commitment to essential information services Join me in asking our representatives to overturn this executive order and preserve IMLS funding On May 20 the Albany community has an opportunity to vote for some school board members Kris McLaughlin is running for an at-large position a grandmother and an active community member she is positioned to understand the needs of students educators and the role the school district serves in the community a good listener and committed to solutions She consistently speaks respectfully about our community and about her experience with the school district Please join me in voting for Kris McLaughlin to serve on the GAPS board Andrew Gray makes some good points of how the executive orders are causing problems with destruction of public services and fewer people to help when you have questions ("Congress is so afraid of the billionaire," April 22) Add to this the threats against SNAP and Medicaid We can speak up to our members of Congress protecting these vital services and expand the Child Tax Credit and other anti-poverty actions instead of continuing to legislate to benefit the wealthy Perhaps the biggest reason for a short fall of funds for Corvallis and Albany schools is the proliferation of management positions We tend to focus on the salaries of the superintendents (and they are too high) but the real problem is the amazing number of management positions This happens because every high level manager hires a team of managers to do the work for them — and to protect themselves from budget cuts It also happens because managers make the budget decisions and managers don't cut each other or themselves in the last budget cut in Corvallis they cut teachers and librarians but kept management positions We voters should only vote for those school board candidates who promise to reduce administrative overhead by cutting management positions this raising of administrative overhead through management growth Perhaps the worst case is health insurance companies Multiple studies have estimated that the state of Oregon could save almost $1 billion by going to a government-run One last example: When I was young college football teams had a head coach and seven assistants When I looked at the OSU roster today I found there are 18 assistants for 90 players Slightly better than the preschool room at a child care center the head coach blames/fires a couple assistants and stays safe I continue to see letters and articles with the desire to not allow expansion of local landfill I can only assume that if they are unable to expand that landfill the alternatives for waste disposal in Linn and Benton counties and at what cost The MAGA regime is imprisoning people without charge Trump and his functionaries claim to be deporting violent criminals despite knowing full well that the overwhelming majority of these people have no criminal records and are neither terrorists nor gang members in an El Salvadoran prison known for disease The regime is disappearing people in the process of becoming citizens and those whose visas they revoked without notification They are threatening tens of thousands with the same unjustified treatment if they don’t “self deport,” including refugees who were once welcomed to America His minions claim that the courts have no right to say this is unconstitutional And they all claim they can’t release the people they admit were imprisoned by mistake This is not deportation; this is abduction and false imprisonment and defending the Constitution; this is a fascist power grab This is MAGA “mass deportation”: going after parents neighbors and those who have done more to enrich our country and communities than any person serving in this monstrous MAGA regime Some axiomatic truths about Social Security inspired by Jacqueline Wilson's recent letter ("Look at whole picture when you complain," April 17): Everybody currently participating in Social Security Those older than you are being screwed to a lesser degree The current system takes cash from taxpayers on Friday and gives to recipients the following Wednesday With the retirement of the massive baby boom generation senator and president has known this for 60 years Anybody earning more than you is getting screwed more; those earning less are screwed less Today's 22-year-old earning $15 an hour generates $3,869 annually in Social Security tax Simply invest that in an S&P 500 fund for 40 years he'd have $261,337 per year starting at age 62 Had we been properly investing that tax money over the years any retiree you encountered on the street would be strutting in silk underwear Think about this: Do you like the idea of democracy or would you rather live under an authoritarian-style government Do you believe in the tenets of the Constitution of our United States Sending immigrants to El Salvador without due process of law is wrong Violent gang members and other criminals should be jailed or deported Trump is now defying Supreme Court regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s jailing in El Salvador despite Trump’s own admission that the deportation was a mistake Trump now claims that he can’t get Garcia back In government as well as the private sector DOGE purports to make the federal government more efficient discovering that much of the expertise is important Obviously this is inefficient and has caused much hardship to the American people Trump and Musk and our billionaires club administration do not feel the consequences of these indiscriminate cuts to the federal workforce and the imposition of tariffs on virtually all countries of the world This paper likes to print protests about the current administration When Biden was in office it printed only positives about him to carry out the mission we hired him for and only print one or two stories about the leftist's protests 2024 - The City of Corvallis Fall Leaf Collection Program for 2024 begins Monday 2024 and runs through the week of December 23 Republic Services will pick up leaf piles in the street once a week generally on the same day as normal garbage collection The final leaf pickup for a property will be on its scheduled service day the week of December 23 New for 2024: Free community leaf drop sites the City and Republic Services are partnering to offer additional leaf collection options We have designated four sites across the community where Corvallis residents may drop off their leaves The following locations will be available for leaf drop off: Community members are asked to help by following these simple guidelines to ensure a successful leaf collection program: The Fall Leaf Collection Program is the only time leaves may be deposited in piles in the street Using blowers to scatter leaves into the street is not allowed at any time are strictly prohibited from being placed in the street at any time and will not be picked up by Republic Services In conjunction with the Fall Leaf Collection Program Public Works will expand its street sweeping to include both day and night shifts Neighborhoods are scheduled to be swept once every two weeks More information can be found here: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/leaf-collection April 24, 2025 - The City of Corvallis Public Works Department’s annual water quality report is now available to download at www.corvallisoregon.gov/waterquality The report offers a snapshot of the municipal water system in Corvallis including an overview of how water is produced and affordable water supply for City customers As Corvallis looks ahead to the summer season, Public Works officials advise residents to save water by watering wisely. Visit the City website for more water conservation tips For more information on the Corvallis municipal water system and tips on reducing water use, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/water Corvallis is the quintessential college town it’s the ninth most populated city in Oregon it still exudes small-town charm and a strong sense of community You’ll find plenty of access to open spaces for hiking There are eight distinct neighborhoods in Corvallis all of which offer something unique to visitors and residents Let’s explore what makes each one special along with tips on what to do when you're visiting a Latin-American restaurant serving tapas and elegant entrees Located adjacent to the Corvallis Country Club this is a serene neighborhood in Corvallis In addition to charming mid-century modern homes built in the 1960’s and ‘70s you’ll also find some new construction in this mostly residential area Golfers will rejoice at living within such proximity to the Corvallis Club along with other amenities such as a fitness center The Chintimini neighborhood encompasses mostly renters and college-age students because of its walkability and proximity to the OSU campus The community wraps around Chintimini Park You’re within a nine minute walk to Fred Meyer and have a plethora of dining options along with paved sidewalks for walkability the West Hills and 53rd Street neighborhoods showcase a mix of rural and suburban homes According to the West Hills Neighborhood Association (WHNA) West Hills borders 35th street to the east with the railroad tracks marking the north The Grand Oaks neighborhood sits adjacent to West Hills, and is approximately 12 minutes from downtown. The development features upscale homes and a clubhouse that provides access to a pool, hot tub, and fitness rooms. The first houses were built in1999 and were eventually completed in 2006. Grand Oaks Apartments Whether you’re just visiting or hoping to make Corvallis your home the good news is that it won’t typically take you longer than 17 minutes to travel from one end of town to the other and there are diverse grocery stores and shopping areas scattered throughout town You're in good hands - their specialties are beer and handmade pizzas Article by Jean Chen Smith. Feature photo by Stacey Newman Weldon. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter The City of Corvallis plans to begin repairs this month on public infrastructure near the Oregon State University campus which spans about 2/3 of a mile along West Hills Road Workers will then resurface the road above the pipe City project manager Josh Bjornstedt said this line was built in the 1950s and staff are trying to avoid another major break "The old pipe's kind of reached the end of its useful life," he said "and we try to stay ahead of these replacements as best we can." Bjornstedt said the new water line will be built next to the existing one so there won't be long-term interruptions to utility services But he said the public should expect street closures and traffic detours beginning in April “It’s going to help us get the work done safely more quickly—not having traffic trying to get by us and in on the site," he said routes for bikes and pedestrians should mostly remain during construction the city plans to add buffered bike lanes on Western and on 35th Western will also see resurfacing from West Hills Road down to Highway 34 11th Street will be resurfaced from Filmore Avenue to Van Buren Avenue Bjornstedt said some of the repairs are planned for this summer to coincide with when OSU is out of session The city estimates the work will be done by September.