Salem-News.com Family articles Page 30

2009 Oregon State Fair Opens Today!

Fair opens Friday and runs through September 7th.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Big Tomato has returned from his adventures around Oregon to his fairground home in Salem, which only means one thing: opening day of the Oregon State Day is here!

Best Friend or Best Parent?

If we value our values, we have to risk not being our kids’ best friend and choose, instead, to be their best parent.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - We just returned from a boys trip to Vegas. By “boys,” I mean my two boys, who are almost 16 and 13 and me, the oldest of the “boys” (according to my wife).

The 2009 Oregon State Fair is a BIG Deal!

Low ticket prices, daily discounts, free shows and more make Oregon’s biggest event truly affordable.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregonians looking for big entertainment for little money need to look no further than Salem and the Oregon State Fair. For 11 days, the Fair is one of the best deals around, providing hours…and days…of entertainment at low prices.

This year, the Fair is introducing new discounts to make the fun even more affordable.

Back to School

So, it’s back to school and back to a regular routine and that is the comfort of the school year... for me.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - Recently, I saw a really funny commercial showing a man leaping with joy as he pulled something down an aisle. It was revealed to be a couch, with his two sullen kids sitting on it, and the background music was the famous Christmas song which extols, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

It was a back-to-school ad and that dad was jumping for joy.

Kidnapped Oregon Family Found Safe in Bakersfield, California

A combination of family and police efforts led to the safe recovery of four family members who were under threat by the alleged kidnapper.

(BAKERSFIELD, Calif.) - Salem Police say they were contacted by Kern County deputies in Bakersfield, California, over a family who had been kidnapped from the Salem area on Wednesday, August 12th.

They were found safe in Bakersfield Friday evening.

New Data Shows Nearly One-Third of all Mortgages Underwater

Salem Shows 24.55 Percent of Mortgages in Negative Equity.

(SALEM, Ore.) - More than 15.2 million U.S. mortgages, or 32.2 percent of all mortgaged properties, were in negative equity position as of June 30, 2009 according to newly released data from First American CoreLogic.

In Salem, 16,926, or 24.55 percent of all properties with a mortgage, are in negative equity. A total of 21,268 mortgages, or 30.85 percent, are in near negative equity or negative equity.

Summer in the City Music Features Musselwhite, 20 Bands

Organizers say 'Summer in the City' is a true family event.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Legendary bluesman Charlie Musselwhite will headline the second annual Summer in the City Wine and Music Festival in Downtown Salem Saturday and Sunday. It happens August 15th and 16th.

Local favorites Curtis Salgado, Pepe and the Bottle Blondes, Terry Robb, the $100 Jayhawks, rock violinist Aaron Meyer and Big Monti Amundson are among the 20 musical groups that will perform.

Persistence--The Only Thing That Works

If I allowed my impatience, ego, or pride to intrude, I’d be back at square one, staring at my computer screen and wishing for results.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - A recent e-mail from my oldest friend, a college professor, stimulated me to reflect on how we search and find work, as well as in small business how we promote and sell ourselves.

On this subject, I’ve observed my teen son’s failed efforts to find a summer job. And, finally, I’ve thought about my own recent efforts in designing and launching my own website brucesallan.com).

2009 Oregon State Fair Shows Appreciation for U.S. Military and Veterans

During with Two Days of Memorable Events, families of deployed soldiers will receive 100 free tickets to “Oregon! Oregon! 2009”

(SALEM, Ore.) - The 2009 Oregon State Fair is making a BIG deal out of honoring U.S. veterans and active military.

Friday, August 28 – opening day of the Fair – and Saturday, August 29, are Veterans’ Appreciation Days at the Fair and include a variety of special events for all fair-goers to enjoy. On both days, veterans will be admitted into the Fair free of charge with a voucher available both in Vet News and on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Website. Active military with ID get in for free.

Army Concludes Staff Sgt. Maseth Died From Electrical Shock

There have been 18 reported deaths due to electrocution in Iraq since March 2003.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The Army announced today that the investigation into the tragic death of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth has been completed.

The extensive, eleven-month investigation conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Command concluded that there is insufficient evidence to establish criminal culpability of any person or entity in the death of Staff Sgt. Maseth.