AudgePodge

  The aliens have landed! Well, quite literally. Thousands of people lined downtown McMinnville on Saturday, May 16, to watch the annual UFO Festival parade — full of alien-themed decor and whimsy.  I arrived with my counterparts; my younger sister, boyfriend, and friend. Feeling festive, I sprinkled green glitter around my visage and encouraged the others to partake. We all bore antenna headbands to “blend in” with the crowds.  People started accumulating: Tin foil hats. Neon green tights. Almond-shaped sunglasses. Brightly colored hair. Young children, families, visitors, travelers. All were welcome here. We waited in a long line at the Evergreen Aviation Museum for the complementary shuttle bus to take us to the center of town. The parade was supposed to start at noon but was delayed 30 minutes because of overwhelming attendance.  On 3rd Street, we waited, still swarmed by about 10,000 people, if I were to guess. At 12:30 p.m., the parade started with the first...

In South Santiam Hall, Room 211, six students meet to express their artistic creativity. Four of these students remain invested in their individual projects, while two of them ponder an upcoming school project with diligence.  These two students happen to be Art Club’s co-leaders at LBCC, Ryder LeBlanc and Mei Yung CwmCwlamare. The Art Club typically meets every Tuesday and Thursday. at 4:30 p.m., with hours subject to change. Currently, the club’s meeting times have been hectic because of the approaching Spring Festival — held on May 12 in the LBCC Courtyard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — but will return to normal after the event.  The Art Club’s main focus recently has been making Alice in Wonderland-themed decorations with other clubs for the fest, as well as preparing their own booth. This will consist of face playing cards, cheshire cat stickers, and a large trellis.  Toward the end of April there stood a giant paper maché pencil in the room, courtesy of club member Jay Un...

  Greetings, all.  Spring break flourished with potential as blossoms swirled through the streets. For some, this 10-day (give or take) break allowed for miniature vacations, educational and occupational opportunities, and maybe even volunteer work. For me, however, it was just monotonous time. I can’t provide an ever-intriguing article regarding my misadventures—or, lack thereof—but I can apprise you about my personal reflection as spring settles in the air.  Last term: news reporting. This term: feature writing. I am ecstatic. Adjectives and flowery language have been my best friends for years, and ever more so now that I am venturing into two different writing “worlds.” As of now, I continue down the path of journalism with my head held high and my confidence expanding faster than I could have ever predicted.  While I provided a few articles for the Commuter last term, my goals have, just like the tree-lined roads, blossomed into exemplary ambitions. I wish to wri...

ALBANY –  A spicy and sharp aroma filtered through Deluxe Brewing 's industrial building as guests lined up with small bowls in the entryway, eagerly waiting to try a variety of homemade chili. Country music played while the impeccably decorated room buzzed with lively conversation at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, some visitors focused solely on the tables promising palatable samples. Twenty chilis were on full display across multiple tables adorned with pepper-themed napkins, with a variety of toppings such as shredded cheese, corn chips, jalapenos , and freshly baked cornbread. Around 100 people attended, mostly older guests; an occasional child ran by, syphoning samples, and Coop the cat made his appearance on occasion.  This is the thirteenth chili cook-off that the brewery has organized, as well as their contributions to Fish of Albany , a local organization providing food and clothes to people in need. Chili scorecards were provided for optional evaluation. These cards featu...