March 2021 VOL. 17, No. 3 The Mid-Willamette Valley's #1 Independent Newspaper Serving Salem, Keizer, Silverton, Dallas, and Independence Volcanoes Stadium is Back! VanNatta Wins Five Awards VanNatta Public Relations (VPR), a PR, marketing, and consulting firm in Salem, was honored by the Public Relations Society of America Oregon Chapter (PRSA) during its Spotlight Award ceremony. The company was recognized for five noteworthy PR campaigns in 2019-2020. VPR has won eleven PRSA awards in three years. The Oregon PRSA held its annual event (virtually) on Dec. 3, 2020. The PRSA Spotlight Awards draws hundreds of communication professionals every year to see the best campaigns in the state and honor mentors, young professionals, and lifetime achievement in the industry. The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes have announced the “Businesses will have the opportunity to sponsor a VPR won two awards (a community relations campaign and a creation of a new Independent Baseball League to team and/or sponsor an individual player(s). Fans branding campaign) for their work with The Reed (formerly Reed begin play this spring at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. will have the real chance to get to know the players Opera House) in Salem. The firm managed a successful campaign The Mavericks Independent Baseball League will as they will be very accessible, sign autographs and to showcase the renovation efforts in The Reed and establish its feature top level non-drafted and released players who will become a part of the community,” noted Walker. new brand in the community. hope to someday reach the Major Leagues. Players who would like to be considered for the VPR was also recognized for campaigns with the Salem Fire The four-team league will feature the return of the League and be added to the 'player watch list' should Foundation and the Salem Police Foundation. They helped e-mail their information to: promote the Salem Fire Foundation’s use of Community Connect, Portland Mavericks, a notorious and iconic team from a web-based program that allows citizens to share life-saving the 1970’s. In addition to the Portland Mavericks, the [email protected] information with first responders before responding to a 911 call. league will be highlighted with the return of the Salem All other inquiries should be directed to Mickey VPR also implemented a community relations campaign to Senators, a historic and legendary team that originally Walker at [email protected] fundraise for the Salem Police Foundation and purchase a TI began play in 1940. The Volcanoes and Campesinos Additional information about the Mavericks Training Simulator, which helps prepare police officers for de Salem-Keizer, will also become founding members League, the complete Maverick League 2021 dangerous situations. of the new League. Schedule, Managers and Coaches will be announced The final award was for an event campaign for TinyFest NW, an "We have an unique opportunity to bring baseball in the coming weeks. Businesses that would like to annual festival in the pacific northwest that features tiny homes. back the way it used to be," said Volcanoes CEO have first opportunity to sponsor a team and/or VPR helped promote the event and highlight alternative ways to Mickey Walker. "Kind of like the old glory sponsor an individual player(s) should call Mickey live small. Walker at 503-779-3389. VanNatta PR is at 3340 Commercial Street SE, Salem, OR 97302. barnstorming days of baseball – except rather than PRSalem.com traveling around the country, all the games will be Mavericks Independent Baseball League | played at Volcanoes Stadium. Many fans remember www.mavericksindependentleague.com | 503-390- the Portland Mavericks with great fondness – this 2225 | [email protected] | Great League will have that type of popularity. We'll have Fun, Great Friends, Great Baseball. open tryouts and select the best players from across the country. This will also provide a place for local athletes to aspire to play someday." said Walker. The League will begin play on Thursday, May 13th when the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will be challenged by the Portland Mavericks – game time is set for 6:35pm. Games will be played every Thursday (6:35pm), Friday (6:35pm), Saturday (1:05pm and 6:35pm) and Sunday (1:05pm and 6:35pm) for 16 consecutive weeks concluding Sunday, August 29th, with playoffs to follow. “We’re even bringing back afternoon baseball,” added Walker. “This will allow even more fans to enjoy the fun.” Season tickets and ticket packages are on sale now – please email [email protected] or call: 503-390-2225. Jerry, Lisa, & Mickey Walker Newsroom: 503-887-8842 [email protected] P.O. Box 93 Salem, OR 97308 Top Local Digital Coverage: SBJ.NEWS Page 2 Salem Metro Area • Population 400,408 March 2021 POPULAT SBJ.NEWS PUBLISHER Bruce Taylor [email protected] GENERAL MANAGER March 4: March: Chamber Public Ben Punley [email protected] Policy Meeting CIRCULATION March 5: Virtual Greeters Power Hour Chad P. Oxenford [email protected] ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Tim Knight MARKETING Jan Harris [email protected] Rob Conahey [email protected] Columnists & Editorial Contributors Mary Louise VanNatta Jolene Kelley Alex Rhoten Robert C. Cannon March 8: Forum Speaker Series Kevin Cameron Michael O'Connor Anthony Smith Lloyd Spangenberg March 12: Virtual Greeters Power Hour Ray Sagner Harvey Gail Alex Casebeer Rebecca Maitland March 15: Past Presidents meeting Andrea Foust Gerry Frank March 16: Chamber Business Patti Milne Keenan Emery Women Lisa Joyce Dick Hughes Angela LaBarbera Dave Sweeney March 19: Virtual Greeters Power Hour Jennifer Martin Pamela Prosise Emily Kerper Sue Karnosh March 26: Virtual Greeters Power Hour Salem Business Journal™ is published monthly by the Salem Business Journal, P. O. Box 93, Salem, OR 97308, The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce 503-365-9544. The opinions expressed in columns are has composed a guide to reopening for those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of Marion County for members to refer to. the Salem Business Journal or it's staff. ©2020 Salem Business Journal View the Reopening Guide now at salemchamber.org/now/ covid-19-resources/ March 2021 Salem Metro Area • Population 400,408 Page 3 How COVID-19 and the Pandemic Have Changed Language By Mary Louise VanNatta Language is always 8. Truthiness: Something that seems changing and true but isn’t backed up by evidence. evolving. Every time (Colbert Report) we have a new 9. Unconscious bias: Unconscious technology, product, prejudice against people of a certain or discovery we are adding words. The race, gender, or group. pandemic has changed 10. Covidiot: People who won’t follow much of how we see the COVID rules the world and hence 11. Blursday: How to quarantine days added hundreds of just run together words to our lives. 12. Maskhole: Merging of the words “mask” and “asshole.” (people who For fun, let’s look at some of the new won’t wear a mask) words that we’ve discovered; the first 13: Sharent: Parents who overshare ten have been added to our “official about their children online. language” by the Oxford English 14: Amirite: Am I right? dictionary this year: 15: Nothingburger: An event or 1. Adulting: The action of becoming something that didn’t turn out as or acting like an adult great as you’d hoped. 2. Awe walk: Taking a walk outside and making an effort to look at the While we’ve all been locked down I things around you have experienced some Lockstalgia 3. Contactless: Not having to (merging of "lockdown" and "nostalgia”) physically touch or interact with appreciating the simpler life of people staying home, While I’m anxious to 4. Doomscrolling: Reading the news return to my active life, I’m caution on social media and expecting it to be about a Twindemic where other bad – so much so that you become viruses, like the flu, might put us at obsessed with looking at updates risk. At the end of the day, I’m going 5. PPE: An abbreviation for personal to pour myself a Quarantini: protective equipment (added by Merriam-Webster 4-2020) (Merging of the words "quarantine" 6. Quarenteen: A teenager during the and "Martini") and try to avoid a COVID-19 pandemic Spendemic (The experience of 7. Thirsty: Having a need for excessive shopping while in attention or approval quarantine). Amirite? Mary Louise VanNatta, APR, CAE is CEO of VanNatta Public Relations. www.PRSalem.com, @PRSalem Page 4 Salem Metro Area • Population 400,408 March 2021 What can be more inspiring, and yet more daunting, than a blank canvas? SO much potential, and yet SO much intimidation - all at once! Serendipity by Dena I'm Dena Lynn, owner and artist of Paint-Fun, and also of Wonderland Art. For the past 5 years, I've made it my business to turn every-day humans into artists. I truly believe that every person has an inner-artist, lurking within, and I love to find it, and bring it out to play. I've led thousands of people, of all ages, of all levels of experience, into the joy of self-expression -- simply by walking them through an entire painting, start to finish. Since the restrictions on gathering have occurred, I've taken my Paint-Parties, both public and private, to the magic of Zoom. This makes it possible for humans all over the planet to create together - a wonderful way to celebrate holidays, or any other occasion, with far-away loved-ones. I offer a selection of public Paint- Parties each month, and I'm available to create private Paint-Parties, using the painting of your choice. In addition to that, I've been hand-painting 3D items (furniture, mirrors, lamps, decor items) in a whimsical, joyous style, for decades.