🌱 Council To Boost Early Literacy + Local Cannabis Industry Declining

Hey, hello! It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Salem Patch newsletter. Come along for everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Nice with plenty of sunshine. High: 80 Low: 48.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and nice. High: 72 Low: 46.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Salem Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Salem Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top three stories today in Salem:

1. Gov. Tina Kotek announced she will form a council to develop recommendations for elementary educator preparation to boost literacy rates across Oregon. The Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council, established by Executive Order 23-12, will have no more than 20 members and will be appointed this summer. (KTVZ)
2. The Cannabis industry in Oregon is no longer growing and annual sales have declined for the first time, from over $1 billion in 2021 to $994 million in 2022. Hunter Neubauer, president of the Oregon Cannabis Association, said the decline is caused by "archaic policy, such as 280E, and over-regulation and over-taxation." Neubauer also said the banking system does not recognize cannabis as a legal business, causing it to be a cash business. He continued, "It’s a significant public safety issue. There’s a lot of break-ins, there’s a lot of theft and we’re a target. We’ve got a big target on our back because we end up having to go pay our state sales tax in Salem in a duffel bag full of cash." (KOIN)
3. From May 27 through Jun. 11, StoryWalk® Project will be featured in downtown Salem, allowing families to read the story "Not So Small" by Pat Zietlow in storefront windows while enjoying a stroll. Pick up a map at participating businesses or print one out online to mark your progress, then turn in your maps to the Children's Corner in the Main Library to receive a prize. The story begins at Ricky’s Bubble and Sweets, located at 102 Liberty St NE. (Salem Public Library (Salem, OR) via Facebook)

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Today and tomorrow in Salem:

Monday, May 29

• Memorial Day Celebration With DJ Osvaldo Garcia At Cubanisimo Vineyards (12:00 PM)
• The Doug Fury's, Sad Snack, Simple Minded Symphony At The BAD Space (6:00 PM)

Tuesday, May 30

• Bloom Season 2023 At Schreiner’s Garden's (All Day)

From my notebook:

• The Salem Public Library's Teen Scene has a new PS5 with 14 games! The Salem Public Library Foundation gifted the PS5 to replace the PS3 and the Wii, which are outdated and unreliable gaming systems. (Salem Public Library (Salem, OR) via Facebook)
• The Salem Fire Department is hiring! Apply for a lateral firefighter/medic position
  here or entry firefighter/medic position here. (Salem Fire Department via Facebook)
• Interested in finding a new home or just curious about what's out there? Check out the latest homes for sale in the Salem area, including a four-bedroom on Devon Street for $728,000. (Salem Patch)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!