Holiday Traditions: A marrying of cultures
For both Manuel and Nevenka Gigena, childhood Christmases meant church, parties, dancing and special foods such as roast lamb or pig. Nevenka celebrated in chilly Cleveland, Ohio, where her Croatian parents ...
Rohse: Is a psychic power too much to ask?
On this year’s Christmas wish list, I have a request that I doubt that Santa can fill. It’s a gift I didn’t even know existed until I recently read about it. Rohse Colored Glasses McMinnville's ...
Savvy Senior: Social Security statements may contain errors
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I’ve heard that Social Security sometimes makes mistakes on our earnings record, which can reduce our monthly retirement benefits. How can I make sure this doesn’t happen ...
A love set in stone
Something about rocks appealed to Hollee McGrew as a young girl growing up in Dayton. “I guess I was just always fascinated by them,” she said. Her interest began on the playground. “I ...
Offbeat Oregon: Sting on secret saloon didn’t go well
In 1899, the spiritual leaders of Forest Grove had a problem: There was a serpent in their Garden of Eden. Forest Grove was founded by members of the Congregational Church — a denomination directly ...
Stopping By: Loving the food of Christmas all year
When Dario Pisoni was growing up in northern Italy, Christmas celebrations — all celebrations, really — meant a trip to his paternal grandmother’s house. He helped his nonna cook the ...
Carlson: The science of affection between pet, owner
During heroic rescue efforts following Hurricane Katrina, many people, knowing their own lives were in danger, refused to leave their homes because FEMA did not evacuate pets along with their people. My ...
Rohse: Birth of bloomers helped bury the odious hoopskirt
Amelia not only won the battle, she won the war. In doing so, she gave women of all ages a gift for which they can forever be grateful. Amelia Jenks Bloomer helped put women in pants. Rohse Colored Glasses McMinnville's ...
Offbeat Oregon: Sordid love triangle gone bad ended in deadly car explosion
Late on the evening of April 21, 1955, 35-year-old Portland attorney Oliver Kermit Smith left the Columbia Edgewater Country Club and walked to his car. He was probably a little tipsy; there had been a ...
Being George Bailey
Grant Stephens wanted to be George Bailey as soon as he saw “It’s a Wonderful Life” listed on Gallery Theater’s 2018 schedule. Caden Stephens wanted to be George Bailey, ...
Holiday traditions: Keeping the faith
Christmas ended in Cuba two years before Angel Aguiar was born. Officially, at least. But Christians quietly kept celebrating. Their belief in God led them to ignore the dictates of Fidel Castro, ...
Home tour: A very vintage Christmas
It could be Christmas in the mid-1960s, or even earlier, in the home of Melinda Mathiesen and Dave Anderson. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, from the 1964 cartoon narrated by Burl Ives, illuminates the ...
Home tour: Five decorated homes, party featured
Melinda Mathiesen and Dave Anderson are among homeowners who’ve decorated for the 2018 Wine Country Holiday Tour of Homes. This is the 30th annual Christmas tour sponsored by Soroptimist International ...
Rohse: A tree tale
Perhaps it is time to put Arbor Day on our calendars in bigger type so we’ll take greater notice of it. Arbor Day is “Celebration of Trees Day,” and our trees need all the help they can ...
