Desperately Seeking Salem

As my girl Heidi always says: “Either you’re in, or you’re OUT.” For print publications, it always feels good to be out  in the world, getting lapped up by thirsty readers.

I’ve got three smaller stories in the June issue of Salem Monthly. For one, my appeal to the world to check out Salem’s coolest junk shops in this month’s DSS column.

When I finally told husband Adam what I was writing about this month he kind of freaked out, since he has this idea that I have portrayed him as a cheapskate. Well, let me tell you that all of my nonfiction stories are true. We are only cheap in some areas of our lives so we can eat out and travel a lot.

Also, I have played down the stories of my father-in-laws parsimony so as to make them sound more believable.

You will also find a story about our very own Salem’s Latte, which has made an appearance on this blog before, if only in the comments section. Here’s an insider’s view of the coffee stand.

I finally looked up Salem’s Latte – THE BEST LATTE IN TOWN! – a few months ago after hearing through the grapevine that there is indeed a place where you can pick up Stumptown coffee in Salem. I think you’ll find that it’s a nice little story of quiet people trying to do great things.Stop by and see Carrie sometime – no, the irony of sharing a name with a Stephen King character is not lost on her – and tell her I sent you.

Also, if you’re really into coffee, you’ll want to read a story of how New Yorkers responded to the arrival of Stumptown in a recent story called “The Messiah Hails from Portland.”

Finally, I’ve got a story on the Salem Public Library’s “Read to a Pet” program. As my feature writing students will know, Rule #1 for newspaper feature stories is to put a dog in it. People love dogs. Of course, that’s not always possible, but I do find myself drawn to animal stories and have been looking for them here in town.

I have long been fascinated by therapy dogs — actually, assistance monkeys are more my thing these days — and found that the Top Dogs at the library are doing a great job of getting kids to overcome their inhibitions towards reading. Hey, whatever gets kids picking up books!

Here’s a pic that didn’t make it to print, of  the two kids in the article reading to Snickers.

Doneva Milletta, the local woman who runs the program, sent me a really nice email that I received after the story went to print, so here’s two more of her cents:

“Because it is unusual to see a pet in the library in a public place, people are drawn to open their books more than not, just to pet and interact with the the animals. Since I started the program with the Salem library a few years back, their are quite a few children that continue to come back every month just to visit, read and even give the pets a few hugs or two. This has proven to be a positive experience for both the child as well as the pet. Unfortunately, some children don’t have a parent or special person that has made time for a child to read to them.  Coming to the library and reading to a pet, gives them this opportunity.”

And as always, there are other people writing great stuff in the Monthly, so be sure to check out:

Editor Eric Howald’s story on dying newspapers.

A story by the editors on NE Salem’s new community garden.

Nate Rafn’s column on food preservation, which is very HOT right now (I even checked out a pickle book the other day).