Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How one director transformed Salem’s Hallie Ford Museum of Art

Make time for Gaiety Hollow Open Garden Day on the Salem Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Tuesday September 22nd Patch AM
Tuesday September 22nd Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Salem! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How one director transformed Salem's Hallie Ford Museum of Art
  • How will Salem's new data center moratorium affect future development?
  • Investigators probe what sparked massive 47-vehicle fire in northeast Salem

Also on today's calendar: Caught Dead Handed (Grateful Dead tribute) @ Elysium Botanicals and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one wall say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and comfortable, with a high of 72 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Beautiful with some sun, temps: high: 72, low: 48.
  • Thursday: Cloudy with showers around, with a high of 69 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. The Hallie Ford Museum of Art found a friend in John Obrantz • Oregon ArtsWatch (orartswatch.org) — Salem's Hallie Ford Museum of Art is entering a new era as longtime director John Olbrantz retires after 28 years of building its collection, endowment, and regional reputation. The story traces how his leadership turned Willamette University's museum into a cultural anchor for Salem, and why he's choosing to remain in town as a consultant, author, and active arts supporter.
   

2. Salem City Council votes to place moratorium on data centers (statesmanjournal.com) — Salem's City Council has enacted an immediate moratorium on large data centers, citing concerns about strain on the city's water and power systems amid looming reservoir drawdowns. The pause, lasting at least until January 2027, gives staff time to rewrite zoning and land-use rules, potentially affecting future AI and other data center projects proposed within Salem city limits.
   

3. Salem wrecking yard fire under investigation after 47 vehicles involved (kgw.com) — Fire crews from Salem and neighboring districts contained a Saturday evening blaze at G&R Auto Wreckers in northeast Salem that ultimately involved 47 vehicles but caused no injuries or residential evacuations. Investigators are still working to determine what sparked the commercial fire, and officials say more information will be released as it becomes available.
   

4. Seattle parents sue Salem hospital, saying staff told them to drive their 9-month-old son's body home in the back seat (kgw.com) — A Seattle couple is suing Salem Hospital, alleging staff told them to drive their deceased 9-month-old son's body back to Washington in their own car after he died during a 2024 visit to Salem. The lawsuit claims negligence and seeks $10 million in damages, raising serious questions about how the hospital handled post-death arrangements and communication with the grieving parents.
   

5. Oregon Company's Robot Can Work Alongside Humans--Safely (newstalkkit.com) — A Salem-based company, Agility Robotics, has developed a new humanoid warehouse robot that's certified safe to work alongside people and is already drawing major orders. The Digit 5 model can lift up to 50 pounds, run for about 20 hours, and is being deployed in Amazon warehouses, putting Salem on the map in the fast-growing robotics industry.
   

📸 Around Salem

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Salem

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Salem Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Salem PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • AJ's Automotive was recommended here on NextDoor so I made an appointment.
    What a wonderful experience! The car was leaking oil. AJ's found that it was a simple loose bolt. They tightened it and sent us on our way without a… (Nextdoor Laurel Springs)
  • Any folks nearby or in Chandelle apartments missing a pup?!
    Looks like a little white Shitzu maybe, maybe mixed with poodle. I tried to get him to come in my unit just in case right when he was about to come… (Nextdoor Northgate)
  • Lucky Strike Entertainment posted a job opening for Greeter / Counter Desk Attendant in Salem. Apply here.
  • Les Schwab Tire Centers posted a job opening for Brake & Alignment Technician - Salem #34 in Salem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.

Ok Salem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I'll meet you at the corner! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Salem