First send of the new year!

2025 was honestly a blur. Seemed like a lot of good things happened in our community.

I feel really good about the work we did. Sending multiple emails each week. Having people tell me they learned about an event they loved in our newsletter. Or getting a DM from a restaurant letting me know a group visited from out of town because and a post they saw on Instagram.

We have an incredible team behind this movement. Can’t thank Em and Ernie enough for the consistency they bring to the newsletter. And huge thank to Zack Calvo for all his support on the IG page.

This year we are going to COMPLETELY revamp our podcast. We’ll be recording and live streaming all new episodes at Metrognome starting next Wednesday. This will be entirely different than anything in our current podcast space. Excited to connect with even more people in Salem this year.

Thanks again for being here for the ride. Your support means everything.

Jacob

You’re not failing — the fad programs just don't fit YOU. Most people struggle because they’ve never built the foundation: understanding what actually works for their lifestyle and how to form habits in a way that’s sustainable. No more all-or-nothing thinking. No more starting over every Monday.

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Parkside Nutrition’s Healthier YOU Program is a 6-month, habit-based group experience designed to help you create real, lasting change — without tracking, restriction, or burnout.

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A Republican-led referendum has officially secured enough verified signatures to pause Oregon’s scheduled transportation tax hikes and send the issue to voters next November. The effort, led by Sen. Bruce Starr and Rep. Ed Diehl, gathered more than the roughly 78,000 signatures required, blocking a planned 6-cent increase to the state’s 40-cent gas tax along with higher vehicle title and registration fees. A temporary doubling of the state’s 0.1 percent payroll tax for transit is also on hold.

The freeze leaves the Oregon Department of Transportation and local governments without the added funding they expected heading into 2026, even as the agency faces a projected $242 million budget deficit. Lawmakers are expected to revisit transportation funding options during February’s short session. Some parts of the transportation package remain in place, including simplified trucking taxes, more oversight of major ODOT projects, and a gradual move toward per-mile fees for electric vehicles. (Salem Reporter)

New Year, New You? If you a new hobby in 2026, there is a fun and fresh new game happening every month right here in town. Bounskee is the newest twist on the classic ping pong ball toss and combines the best parts of familiar Skee-Ball, Baseball, Blackjack, Poker, Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect 4, and BINGO. With multiple variations to play, you can switch things up every round and discover your favorite way to score big. There will be contests, stat tracking, and even a mini art project to keep the creativity flowing throughout the night.

For only $5 per person or $10 for a group of three, you get all you can play from 6pm to 9pm at Crazy Dough Artisan Pizza, 3981 Commercial St SE. Bounskee is also a fantastic way to meet new people and kick off the year with a little social adventure. This is your chance to step into 2026 with something exciting, interactive, and full of good vibes.

📚 Book BINGO for Kids @Salem Public Library • 2:00PM – 3:00PM
🚗 Magic of Lights @State Fairgrounds • 5:30PM

🧺 Indoor Winter Market @Wavra Farms & Nursery, 7882 Jordan St SE • 10:00AM – 3:00PM
🚗 Magic of Lights @State Fairgrounds • 5:30PM • FINAL DAY

🍳 New Year's Drag Brunch @The Vault Bar & Grill • 10:00AM
🧘 Yoga + Wine @West Hills Vineyard, 4785 Salem Dallas Hwy NW • 11:00AM – 12:00PM
💃 Bachata Night @VFW, 630 Hood St NE • 6:30PM – 10:00PM

🎲 Bounskee Game Night @Crazy Dough Pizza • 6:00PM – 9:00PM
🎭 Drop-In Improv Comedy Class @Historic Grand Theatre • 7:30PM • first class is FREE

🗣️ Intro to Spanish Club @Oregon Farm Bureau, 1320 Capitol St NE • 1:00PM

🧘 Yoga + Wine @Eola Hills Wine Cellars, 501 S Pacific Hwy W • 6:00PM – 7:00PM
🎤 Bricked Up Comedy: A Weekly Comedy Open Mic @Brick Room at The Grand Theatre • 8:00PM

🏛️ Special Preview of Oregon's Legislative "2026 Short Session" @Willamette Heritage Center Dye House • 12:00PM – 1:00PM
🧪Science Pub: Science of Creating Kombucha @Venti’s Cafe • 6:30PM
🎙️ Salem Poetry Project featuring Paulann Petersen @Marco Polo Global Restaurant • 7:00PM – 9:00PM

Interested in connecting with our audience and supporting the growth of this publication? Simply reply to this email and we can help you get started.

Thanks for keeping up with Salem this week!

Spotted something interesting in town? Drop us a note at [email protected] We love hearing from you.

See you next Thursday,

Ernie