🌱 House Passes Gas Pump Bill + Salem Awards $40,000 For Park Projects

Hello, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Salem Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with a shower. High: 60 Low: 42.

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Here are the top three stories today in Salem:

1. The Oregon House of Representatives here in Salem recently passed House Bill 2426, which would give drivers in Oregon the option to pump their own gas or let a gas station attendant do so. The bill passed 47 to 10 and will now move onto the Senate for review and voting. (Fox 26)
2. The City of Salem awarded more than $40,000 from the Salem Parks Improvement Fund to seven neighborhood park projects this year. The grants ranged from $3,500 to $7,500 with the largest fund going to Morningside Park to update a path that is currently a walking-only path to become a multi-use path. Other parks that received funding for improvements include McRae Park, Secor Park, Bailey Ridge Park, Edgewater Park, Fisher Road Park, and Bush Park. (The Salem Reporter)
3. The City of Salem announced that it has started the fourth and final phase of the Willamette Slough restoration project. To kick off this phase, the project's contractor will plant 12,850 native bare-root plants, which will serve as a deterrent to any future re-infestations by invasive plant species like Ludwigia. In early July and mid-August, the contractor will then go through two last rounds of herbicide to take care of any remaining Ludwigia. (City of Salem)

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Today and tomorrow in Salem:

Wednesday, March 22

• Finding Salem's Chinatown At Willamette Heritage Center (10:00 AM)
• Preschool Storytime At Salem Public Library Story Room A (10:15 AM)

Thursday, March 23

• Arthur Buezo At Taproot Lounge & Cafe (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Join the City of Salem for the Urban Streams Stewardship Symposium! The event will provide info on streamside resources and programs as well as talk about the accomplishments of the 2022 Stream Crew and will be followed by a Streamside Nature Walk at Bush Park. The symposium will be on Apr. 1 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Loucks Auditorium in the Salem Public Library. (City of Salem via Twitter)
• Your new home is calling you! Check out these newly-listed properties in and around the Salem area. (Salem Patch)
• Spring break is here, but breakfast and lunch are still on for nine schools in Salem-Keizer Public Schools. Spring break meal service will run today, Mar. 27, and Mar. 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Click the link to view details of what meals area available and what schools offer pickup. (Salem-Keizer Public Schools)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you soon with another update!

— 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!