r/SALEM • • Nov 15 '24

Read this before you post here

236 Upvotes

Welcome to r/SALEM, and thanks for your interest in posting here. Before you do, please be aware that — like many city/area-focused subreddits — we have some topics that come up very frequently. Sometimes that’s okay, and is an inevitable part of being a long-running community-focused forum, and sometimes it is super annoying and will lead to people down-voting your post because they’re tired of seeing the same thing over and over again.

If you’re about to post about any of the following, please first use the search function (right up in the upper right hand corner, if you’re viewing this on the web!) to see if something similar has been posted recently. If it has, please contribute to that thread rather than starting a new one.

Frequently posted things:

Did you hear that boom/firework/gunshot/weird noise?

This comes up a lot; frequently folks are concerned they may have heard gunshots and/or fireworks and are looking for reassurance. First, know that it probably was not a gun shot. There is a very good chance that it was fireworks, or somebody with an altered muffler, or, if you also noticed a power outage or blip at the same time, a transformer exploding. Second, if you’re actually seriously concerned about gunshots, you should probably be contacting the police, not Reddit. Third, if you live near a vineyard (and, if you live anywhere in the Salem area, you do!), you should be aware that vineyards use acoustic devices — basically massive noisemakers — to scare birds away from grape vines. This is especially frequent in the late fall, near harvest time.

OMG what is that smell?

Salem, and many surrounding areas, lie in the Willamette River Valley. Due to the topography of the area, we experience temperature inversions) with some regularity. An inversion occurs when a layer of warmer, more elevated air overlies a lower, cooler air layer. Effectively, this traps the air in the valley underneath the warmer layer, which means that smoke, vehicle exhaust, rotting vegetation smells, etc., cannot escape. That’s probably what you’re smelling.

Is there any good <insert cuisine here> in Salem? Where can I buy <thing> in Salem?

These types of threads come up fairly often. The restaurant scene in Salem is decent, but not exceptionally dynamic — places do not close all that often, and new places don’t open all that often either. If somebody has asked this question within the last couple months (again, use that search function!), the answers that they got are almost certainly still relevant.

Why is the train stopped or blowing its horn?

There are a number of freight lines that route trains through Salem. Occasionally, they will need to stop to onload or offload cars, which may result in a longer-than-usual wait time at a crossing. This is normal.

Sometimes, unfortunately, there are train-versus-pedestrian collisions. When those happen, the train will need to be stopped for an extended period of time to allow police to investigate the scene.

Finally, while many portions of Salem are zoned (and signed) as “no train horn” areas, it remains at the discretion of the train engineer as to whether or not to sound their horn, and some of them, well, tooting their horn just toots their horn.

What’s going on with all the cops?

We don’t have any way of knowing. You may be able to consult PulsePoint, but they only report on fire and EMS, not strictly police. You may also be able to find an online police radio scanner relay; those are typically time-delayed.

OMG what is going on with the low-flying helicopters?!

The Oregon Air National Guard has a helicopter squad that is based near the Salem Municipal Airport. They do routine training missions, which frequently involve lower-altitude flights, most often at night. The Salem police department does not have a helicopter, so any low-flying helicopter you’re hearing is almost certainly the Oregon Air National Guard. frequently. Sometimes that’s okay, and is an inevitable part of being a long-running community-focused forum, and sometimes it is super annoying and will lead to people downvoting your post because they’re tired of seeing the same thing over and over again.


r/SALEM • • 2h ago

This guy is awesome

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58 Upvotes

r/SALEM • • 9h ago

EZEE Fiber is not being honest with anyone.

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75 Upvotes

Came home to holes dug all over my yard and the water shut off. City says they should not be shutting off any utilities and do not have right of way beyond the sidewalk edge with no grass strip. They claim they are being forced here by Salem utilities, Salem utilities just confirmed they were not asked or contracted to do any work. You can tell them to get off your lawn. Fair warning though, I asked them not to dig in my yard twice this morning, they said they wouldn’t, but still did.

Update - City came out as well as the company overseeing the whole project. Their right of way according to the city person is (I believe he said) 11' from the road in this situation. I got contact info for the company overseeing, they are in Keizer. They admitted there was supposed to be 5 day notice, said they did door hangers which they did not. Then claimed there were reports of someone randomly removing door hangers, which did not happen. Claimed they mailed notices, which I did not receive. Claimed they have a way to track notices which I doubt.

Best thing to do is take pictures of everything. I'd even go take pics now so you have a before. They will damage things and destroy your yard. They admitted they are responsible for getting back to original condition or better. We'll see.


r/SALEM • • 6h ago

Why Are So Many Bad & Inefficient At Life

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28 Upvotes

The truth is that most humans lack true efficiency.

For real though, how hard is it to match the carts in the return corral?! Did everyone fail the shapes toy as toddler? It would be more efficient for EVERYONE involved if the big carts were on one side [maybe the left] and the small carts on the other side [maybe the right side]. But then again y’all seem to drive ok on the right side of the road and then forget and go all over with carts down the aisles. Literally everything efficient isn’t the window with people.

And for the whiners who can’t put them away correctly… in the words of Frank on F is For Family:
“yit, dit, dit, dit”


r/SALEM • • 5h ago

Thoughts on the new downtown security presence?

15 Upvotes

I've been spending some time downtown recently and noticed the new security presence walking around.

For those of you who live, work, or hang out downtown: what are your honest thoughts on them being out there?
Appreciate any insights or experiences you're willing to share!


r/SALEM • • 13m ago

PHOTOS LMFAO... spotted at Freddies East Salem

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• Upvotes

r/SALEM • • 12h ago

Why the hell is Dutch Bros allowed to block traffic?

50 Upvotes

Talking specifically about the one by Firehouse Subs on Commercial. I saw like four cars go around the cars waiting in line out in the street.


r/SALEM • • 12h ago

Soup Squad Needs Help Saturday!

22 Upvotes

Hey folks! Salem Soup Squad could really use some help this coming Saturday from 2–4pm. We serve free meals to our unhoused neighbors, no strings attached. We’re out there every Saturday at Marion Square Park, just trying to make sure people have something to eat.

We’re a small group doing this in our spare time, so we rely a lot on the community showing up however they can.

If you’re someone who likes to cook, bringing a dish is a huge help. It doesn't need to be soup! Mac and cheese, pasta salad, sandwiches, and hot dogs are some of the stuff folks have cooked We usually say around 20 servings just so there’s enough to go around. If cooking that much isn’t doable, there are a bunch of other ways to pitch in. Some folks send pizzas or other takeout (honestly 3–4 pizzas can go a long way), and you can have it delivered right to the park. For Saturday that’s Marion Square Park (551 Commercial St NE). If you do delivery, just note to look for the tables with the red checkered tablecloth.

And if you want to be involved but not cook at all, you can always come help serve. You just need a food handler’s card, which is quick and easy to get online.

If you’re interested, you can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/XPsaJfo


r/SALEM • • 3h ago

Groups

4 Upvotes

Does anyone know if theres a group for single moms or younger adults in my area?


r/SALEM • • 7h ago

Circus of Curiosities is this SUNDAY the 18th

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6 Upvotes

It's ALMOST time for the show! Are you as excited as we are? We hope so!

Market for the Strange is returning to the Salem Convention Center for a day of clowns and fun before Halloween! One of the first of our October event, our day market is packed!

Performances start at 1pm in the south gallery but the market opens at 11!
Join the Clown Parade at 2:30pm in the market.
See the food trucks, take pictures, visit all of the vendors and have a good time with the community of the Strange!

Oct 18th 11am-6pm
Salem Convention Center
Salem Oregon
$5 to enter, 12 and under free
Community hour 5-6pm
tickets on website or available at the door with cash or card.


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Chemeketa CC suffers from administrative bloat, tone deaf CEO/College President hides behind a video to announce layoffs while pocketing $300k+ a year salary.

131 Upvotes

Chemeketa Community College is no stranger to controversy in this subreddit. They have felons, sex criminals, and thieves, they know it and they cover things up for them. Chemeketa's President Jessica Howard and Vice President of governance and administration Alice Sprague are the worst of them. They are anti-worker, anti-union, and just all around horrible people that will smile to your face and then stab you in the back when you are not looking. The President today announced layoffs will be coming again soon, layoffs that always only affect the Faculty and Classified staff, while the fat cat exempt staff continue trucking along with bloated salaries and ego's to go with them. There are so many managers at Chemeketa, 92 managers, their combined salaries and benefits in FY 2024-25 was $11.22 million. The 330 classified staff $14.9 million. So as the title suggests the cowardly Chemeketa Community College Chief Executive Jessica Howard sends staff a one line email linking this video because she can't even look us in the eyes to say it or answer faculty and staff questions. These people running Chemeketa are trashing it trying to run it like a money making corporate entity instead of an institution of higher learning. They are gross humans and I don't know how they can look staff in the face and smile with all they do to put them down daily. These are your tax dollars at work. They don't care about students, because if they did they'd cut out the rot in the administration instead of laying off frontline staff and faculty already understaffed since COVID working double or triple duty barely keeping up with their bloated task load and shrinking salaries. Share this video and click the dislike, let everyone know the community stands in solidarity with the Faculty, staff, and most of all the students whose education suffers under the. College being mismanaged by trash humans. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!

https://youtu.be/7Y0zzMgBWYY?feature=shared


r/SALEM • • 56m ago

Guy on commercial moving for emergency

• Upvotes

Sorry my partner and I misunderstood why you were moving the way you were, we've seen so many people try to take the wrong way down that one way. Thanks for being chill! Hope you made it to your destination safely.


r/SALEM • • 1h ago

possible ICE sighting?

• Upvotes

white durango, all tinted windows, no plates. around 7:45pm , south on i-5 got off at exit 252 and banked left on kuebler. they were driving all crazy on i-5. one minute on the shoulder between off ramp exits and then speed weaving through traffic to move to the next. just moved here so i’m not sure if this is a police thing or ICE. yall stay safe!


r/SALEM • • 12h ago

Professional Resume Builder

7 Upvotes

Are there any businesses or freelancers in Salem who write resumes? I don't do well on my own and obviously AI is out of the question. I don't mind paying a reasonable amount of it gets me a better position than where I am now.


r/SALEM • • 12h ago

QUESTION Options for portrait photography?

6 Upvotes

My wife and I are needed to get family portraits done for out holiday cards but the Sears portrait photography isn't a thing anymore. Where would we go for something like this?


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

East Salem: Write In Mai Vang for City Council

61 Upvotes

As noted in the Statesman Journal, Mai Vang is running a write-in campaign for Ward 6 City Council. (Generally East-Northeast Salem).

Vang has been a solid and thoughtful councilor for the past year-plus but came up a few votes short in May to the big-money backed Betsy Vega. As you may have noticed, the city realized Vega didn’t live in the district, but an attorney said she intended to live in the district (don’t ask).

The thing is: Vega’s not elected until we revote this November, so we can still win this!!

Mai is running a write in campaign. Let’s make history and write her in!!

Article

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/13/mai-vang-write-in-campaign-salem-ward-6/91809973007/

Her web site

https://www.electmaivang.com/


r/SALEM • • 13h ago

Where to donate formula?

5 Upvotes

I have an unopened can of formula that I tried to post for free on Facebook Marketplace only to find out it violates their rules because it's a healthcare product. I don't need it anymore since our pediatrician had us change formulas. I'd like to get it to someone who needs it since formula is so expensive. Do any shelters or food banks take formula?


r/SALEM • • 6m ago

I know money in politics is behind this somehow

• Upvotes

We can’t keep having school shootings, this is ludicrous and frankly embarrassing.

Is the NRA the problem?

Can we publish and shame candidates who take NRA money?

Let’s make the pro life party face what they’ve done

God damn I’m so furious


r/SALEM • • 9h ago

QUESTION Temp Agencies in Salem or Portland for Remote Work

3 Upvotes

Hello all!

I'm looking for temp agencies in either Salem or Portland that have available work from home positions. I have experience in Medical Claims and Membership Accounting and can learn quickly. Been applying for months now with no responses, honestly just looking for some hope.

Thanks for reading and thank you for any advice or help you can provide.


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Ice in South Salem

77 Upvotes

While driving on Sunnyside, there looks like there is an ice vehicle traveling towards Woodmansey Park.

Stay safe.


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Do your cats have jank teeth? We can clean them!

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103 Upvotes

Here at Friends of Felines, we don't just send you home with cute cats. We can also spay/neuter kitties, do wellness exams, vaccinate against rabies and other common kitty illnesses and prescribe flea meds.

Now, we newly have dental care. Our cleaning package is $475, including the anesthesia, a veterinary exam, x-rays and cleaning. That's substantially less than commercial clinics charge. We're able to do that because we're a nonprofit, and because we are also a shelter and get shelter discounts on medications. We can also perform extractions for additional cost.

We're also accepting CareCredit now to give you more options for payment.

We know everyone is broke right now, and we're trying to expand what we offer to help cat owners take care of their kitties' health before problems get serious and need really expensive care.

There's more info on our website here about the particulars and scheduling: https://sfof.org/services/#dentalcare


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Confusing AYCE Pricing?

9 Upvotes

So an AYCE place charges 12% "for the restaurant" immediately. On top of the AYCE prices. Drinks are not included in pricing since they're not "eat". They recommend you still tip the wait staff. What is this model and why? Why isn't the random extra 12% (is it random, if not, what's it for) absorbed into the meal cost pricing? I don't do buffets or AYCE regularly so I'm struggling to understand what or why this is a thing.

Edit: I was going to not call the place out because I don't really like doing that, but someone pointed out the single online review mentions the 12% AND not tipping staff and that's gotta stop/change. It's Sumo Sushi & Grill SE Lancaster.


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Thrifts Spots

6 Upvotes

My kiddo (10 year old daughter) wants to go thrifting for clothes soon. Any suggestions on where to go or hidden gems around Salem?


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

EVENT Poster Variants For Kraftworks Halloween Night

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13 Upvotes

Myself, venue and guest DJ all made a flyer on the same day, I prefer the toxic ego boost but made the Kraft one, GraveDaze took her old school vibe to the last one.

Anyhow, we gotta talk about Susan Dell before she becomes Joker 2.0, how many are we allowing?


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Frozen Gyoza Product

17 Upvotes

I’m looking to upgrade my frozen gyoza game from Ling Ling. US Chefs store sells Shirakiku in pork, or beef. I’ve never been to a proper asian grocery store, feel mildly intimidated, and don’t know where to start. Cheers