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Hey Salem, hope your week’s off to a good start! In case you missed yesterday’s email, BaseLocal Business went live last week… and it’s going way better than I ever could have imagined!
If you run a local business and haven’t signed up, you can join here for free.
The more businesses we have on the platform, the more events, announcements, news, cool spots to check out, and deals we’ll have to share with you all every week. So if you know of a local business that belongs in the newsletter, forward this email to them or send ‘em here so they sign up too! The more the merrier 🙂
That’s all for today – let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Decisions shaping transit’s future: Last week, Salem lawmakers proposed a task force to explore transit funding. They reviewed a bill for TriMet and local agencies ahead of the short session, potentially affecting riders here — read the full story.
Battle over prescription costs: Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a $900 million lawsuit accusing major insulin makers and pharmacy benefit managers of inflating prices, saying Oregonians with diabetes paid the price — see who’s named and why.
What to know this season: Flu is surging in Oregon, and Marion County’s vaccination rate sits below the state average. OHA warns activity will rise into spring after December’s 15.9% positivity and school outbreaks — learn what officials advise.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Ingenious traditions come alive: Woodburn Public Library is hosting the traveling Native Innovation Exhibit now through February 17. It highlights Oregon’s Indigenous innovators, scientists, and engineers and shows how Native peoples have thrived here for thousands of years. Materials are available in English and Spanish. See what’s on display.
Dial in your stride: Whether you’re chasing a PR or just want shoes that don’t fight your arches, Gallagher Fitness Resources offers personal fitting, hosts low-key group runs, and stocks HOKA, Brooks, and Altra. Think of it as your neighborhood shoe brain trust.
Sip with hillside views: A mini reset after work awaits at Bethel Heights Vineyard… relaxed vibes, soul-soothing hillside views, and estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, plus a serene tasting room. In the Eola-Amity Hills, it’s close to town yet somehow a world away.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
📘 Book Release: Somewhere Long Forgotten @ The Book Bin – Salem | Friday (1/23) at 5:00 PM – Think you know small-town secrets? Pop into the downtown Salem Book Bin for the release of Somewhere Long Forgotten, a mystery where a cold case reignites small-town chatter. Meet the author, grab a signed copy, and savor the new book smell, no alibi required.
🧀 Fondue Friday @ Grazing Fields Cheese & Charcuterie Shoppe | Friday (1/23) at 5:30 PM – Kick off your Friday with a cozy pot of traditional Swiss fondue, the kind that makes small talk feel profound. Dip, sip, and linger with beer, wine, cider, and desserts, because melted cheese is self-care, and you’ve earned it.
🛼 Neon Glow Skate Night @ The Madhouse | Friday (1/23) at 7:30 PM – If your inner eighth grader still knows every line of the rink carpet, Neon Glow Skate Night is calling. Open skate for everyone, with blacklight nostalgia, questionable balance, and good laughs. Snag tickets online to lock your spot, door sales only if space allows.
This weekend
🌿 No Ivy League Event @ Minto-Brown Island Park | Saturday (1/24) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats No Ivy League ivy yanking at Minto-Brown. We’re tackling a cluster of trees near parking lot #3, and they’ll set you up with training and tools, so just bring shoes and good attitude. No experience necessary, maximum satisfaction.
🎶 Harmonies of Light @ Willamette University | Saturday (1/24) at 2:00 PM – Nothing beats warm harmonies on a cold night, and Oregon Spirit Chorus brings an a cappella concert that gives you chills in the best way. Award-winning women’s voices, lush chords, and zero instruments, just pure blend, sparkle, and glow your porch light wishes it had.
🏍 Race Day – Albany/Salem Arenacross 2026 @ Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center | Sunday (1/25) at 8:00 AM – Think you still prefer a quiet Sunday? Arenacross takes over the Salem fairgrounds for an all-day roar, with bar-banging motos, local riders chasing bragging rights, and the glorious aroma of race fuel, dirt, and kettle corn. Bring earplugs, patience, and your inner 12-year-old.
🎬 High Society @ Salem Cinema | Sunday (1/25) at 12:30 PM – High Society at Salem Cinema is a bubbly musical, and your reminder that love triangles age well, like martinis. Grace Kelly juggles Crosby and Sinatra to a Cole Porter score, with Satchmo in the mix and standards like True Love and Well, Did You Evah?
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Salem report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 49°F – Low: 28°F – Precip: 0%
Widespread frost before 11am. Sunny. High near 49, with temperatures falling to around 44 in the afternoon. North wind around 2 mph. Later: Widespread frost after 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind around 2 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 46°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 0%
Widespread frost before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. North northeast wind around 2 mph. Later: Widespread frost between 8pm and midnight, then widespread frost and widespread fog between midnight and 4am, then areas of freezing fog between 4am and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.
This house is wild
This 8-bed, 3 full bath NW Salem home on Waymire St leans into flexibility. Generous living areas draw in natural light, then shift to a sequence of private rooms for quiet downtime. One bath is ADA accessible, a smart upgrade for ease and comfort. Large common rooms support dining and activities, and the functional plan blends shared zones with tucked away retreats.
Set up for group living or creative reconfiguration, it suits multigenerational arrangements, co-housing, or live-work needs. The home is well maintained throughout, prioritizing function and comfort. Currently operated as a care home, license not transferable.
Take a peek inside →
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