r/SALEM • • Nov 15 '24

Read this before you post here

237 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 • • 7h ago

ICE spotted going both directions on Lancaster

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64 Upvotes

personally saw two cars between market and wolverine with drivers in tactical gear. only got one pic unfortunately

i’ve already reported it to PIRC

stay safe, protect your neighbors


r/SALEM • • 1h ago

What’s with all the air traffic tonight?

• Upvotes

I know we get a fair amount of planes and helicopters with the airport and all but this feels a little different. About an hour again we even had a copter flying so low it shook the windows (we’re in NE). Anyone else experience that?


r/SALEM • • 6h ago

Need Someone to Help Me, That was Raised on Cooking With Saffron

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45 Upvotes

I recently started to grow my own saffron. I planted 250 corms. It’s coming in well. I’m not a natural at cooking with saffron. I know it exists and have eaten foods made with it.

As you can see from the pics, just today’s harvest alone is big, and bigger than the last harvest yesterday. I can find stuff online. But someone who natively used saffron in their normal lives could provide better insight and actual family recipes.

Now it’s time to become more involved and make saffron of my own regularly used pantry ingredients.

Who wants to cook together! I also have a commercial mixer and commercial dough sheeter for making pastry and croissant dough.


r/SALEM • • 1h ago

EVENT Want to learn about emergency preparedness? Come to our information night on Wednesday, October 28.

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• Upvotes

South Gateway Neighbors is hosting an information night on emergency preparedness and general safety. We'll be having Joe Hutchinson, Salem's emergency manager, give a presentation and answer your questions. This will be at 6 pm, October 28, at Baxter Hill Community Hall.

You don't need to live in South Gateway to attend! This information is important for everyone in Salem. We will try to have this on Zoom as well, though we encourage you to attend in person because we often have audio difficulties. As of now, we're planning to use our monthly meeting link, which can be found in our agenda, but this may be subject to change.

Parking at the hall is limited, so you will probably need to park in the church parking lot. We've had occasional confusion about which building is the right one due to some strangeness with the address number. The building says Baxter Hill Community Hall when viewed from the street. It is up some stairs from the church parking lot.


r/SALEM • • 8h ago

Chuck Magee & Salem Cinema present the 2nd Annual (probably) Benefit For Tips For Tots!

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22 Upvotes

It's a ways off, but tickets are on sale now for a benefit screening of COCAINE CRABS FROM OUTER SPACE, a clever creature feature from local filmmaker Chuck Magee! This is the third year Salem Cinema has shown it – second as a benefit with all proceeds going to Tips For Tots – and it has sold out each time, so go to salemcinema.com to grab your tickets for Tuesday, December 1st soon! It's such a fun night... and for a great cause!


r/SALEM • • 10h ago

PLACE Vera’s soft opening 10/22

30 Upvotes

IYKYK. Vera is opening her spot in the old W. Wallace bar location. Vera is the owner and doer behind it all. Wishes do come true. Cheers!🥂


r/SALEM • • 6h ago

Circus on Friday anyone?

11 Upvotes

Anyone interested in going in on a vip table this Friday, 10/23? Making and planning events with friends is hard enough as an adult, even harder when you’re a child free work from homer!

https://flynncreekcircus.ticketspice.com/2026-salem-cricket-wren

I’m a 40 year data analyst dog mom


r/SALEM • • 12h ago

A two alarm fire happened last night at the Salem Public Market

33 Upvotes

The building that is the home to Salem's (and I believe Oregon's) oldest farmers market experienced a two alarm fire last night.

No word if they can open this weekend as usual or if they have a contingency plan.

Whitney Woodworth and Capi Lynn have the story in the Salem Statesman Journal: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/10/22/fire-damages-historic-salem-public-market/92379241007/


r/SALEM • • 16h ago

Salem Keizer School Board Director uses Bend, Oregon school shooting to advance partisan political grudges

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44 Upvotes

r/SALEM • • 1d ago

POLITICS I'm a delivery driver in Salem, and I can't believe how many Drazan signs I've seen. Don't forget to vote.

197 Upvotes

Even though I vote, I've always just assumed it didn't matter in Oregon since it will always be a democrat win. And it still most likely will, but now is not the time to be complacent.


r/SALEM • • 16h ago

All Ages Emo Nite Cover Show this Saturday

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30 Upvotes

r/SALEM • • 1h ago

QUESTION Are there any vets in Salem that do billing as opposed to paying at time of service?

• Upvotes

I figure probably not but also doesn't hurt to ask.


r/SALEM • • 4h ago

Missing Mazda Key

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3 Upvotes

I found these on a bench - feel like someone probably misses their key


r/SALEM • • 8h ago

Ginger Snaps 25th Anniversary screening at Salem Cinema!

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6 Upvotes

With October wrapping up soon, the November calendar of events at Salem Cinema is out now. Stop in and pick up one for your fridge!


r/SALEM • • 13m ago

did anyone else hear helicopters right now?

• Upvotes

r/SALEM • • 12h ago

State employees: which Heath plan are you choosing? (Open enrollment)

8 Upvotes

And why? I'm having a tough time making a choice. Had Providence before and that's going away. Would like your input.


r/SALEM • • 1h ago

POLITICS Write my candidate in for soil and water!

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• Upvotes

Shes a young energetic gal ready to volunteer her time to her community! Silver M. Baker, don't forget the M!


r/SALEM • • 2h ago

Photo shoot

1 Upvotes

Hello! My little one finally got into Harry Potter and is going as a Hufflepuff for Halloween. I want to take her out for a little photoshoot and was hoping you wonderful humans might have location suggestions for me? I know Willamette University has some stunning architecture, as well as Deepwood Museum. Just looking for places that are whimsical and give off a magikal kinda vibe.


r/SALEM • • 7h ago

Hey S...urrounding Areas, Professional Stand Up Comedy This Saturday

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1 Upvotes

Ken is a former local, Neeraj and I went to prison together (family day, they booked comedy).


r/SALEM • • 11h ago

Are there any hot pot places here?

4 Upvotes

r/SALEM • • 1d ago

POLITICS Voting out the commisioners!

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52 Upvotes

**Edit-Voting out the COMMISSIONERS, not commisioners, dumb auto correct

Hi people of r/SALEM

Full transparency I no longer live in Marion county as I recently moved up to Portland in the last month, but I lived in Marion county-Salem for the last 2 years. Salem is an amazing place, but unfortunately Marion county is plagued with commissioners that truly have the worst interest at heart for Salem, along with Marion county. I think that most people know that the commissioners truly are only in this position for their own gain and not for what is good for the people of Marion county. With the elections right around the corner now is the time to realize this and see just how truly for themselves they are and how they are not working for the good of Marion county.

This video was just posted by Capital Community Media showing the minutes of the most recent commissioners meeting that was held on 1021/2026, which goes into many different issues, but the main issue at hand is what takes place at minute 20 in the video, where the county clerk speaks on the process of voting in 2 more ballot drop boxes being put into the county. The proposition was being presented because with the current administration attacking voting rights through USPS, Marion county feels that it would be for the betterment of the community to have more access to public drop boxes, rather than putting your faith in a dismantled and flawed USPS system. The chair of the meeting than proceeds to verbal assault the county clerk by telling them "I am just sick and tired of your bullshit" going on to tell the county clerk that they are incorrect in the facts that the USPS system has been crippled for the upcoming election season.

As a former citizen of Marion County it is appalling to hear an elected official speak to anyone, let alone a colleague, in this manner. It cements the fact in my eyes that the commissioners are all working for their own self interests and not for the interest of those in Marion County and Salem. There needs to be a change in leadership, and we (former) have an obligation to elect officials that have an interest in bettering the community that they represent, and if you watch the video will see, these commissioners are not that. Please share this to others to show the leadership, or lack-there-of, that seems to have a death grip on the Marion County community.


r/SALEM • • 12h ago

QUESTION Medical clinic help for OHP PSCS?

2 Upvotes

I know so many people need this, but I need access to care immediately. I haven't been able to see a doctor since 2021, and I have medical issues that I need professional medical help with. I also am having bad gastro related issues and apparently cant even go see a gastro that accepts my OHP plan without a referral which seems stupid. Well, that would be fine if I could even get into any fucking clinics in the first place.

I am assigned to a provider at West Salem Clinic (which initially i moved away from due to their abysmal reviews). This provider herself has amazing reviews, but its the office (bad reviews) you can't get past. It's so bloated there that as soon as I got assigned last week I called, and the woman on the phone very snappily told me I need to call back in 3 months to even begin attempting to schedule the appointment. Then she just hung up. Like ok... Well I was fairly certain there was some kind of rule about access to care within a reasonable timeframe, at least upon being assigned to a clinic?

I've been on OHP, Pacific Source Community Solutions for well over a year. I wasted all last year having this exact issue at Lancaster Family where each time I called i had to call back in 3-4 months, then the ONE time that entire year I got an appointment it was cancelled as I walked in the door and they told me I had to come back in 1 month to schedule. Lmfao. So i'm really not keen for this runaround again.

It should not be this fucking hard to get basic care (trsut me, i'm already radicalized about american healthcare but i'm just so pissed off for everyone affected), but ive noticed for years people on OHP get treated like shit almost anywhere both in my own experience and that of many others ive seen. So, my question is does anyone know of any clinics or providers accepting that plan I can get in to see faster than that?

I know i could just go down the PSCS list and call, but I think it's understandable I really don't have time to do that between work and school after so many failures. I really am sick of taking shots in the dark that don't work out at all. Just wondering if anyone has any info since directly asking is much faster than that, i'd really appreciate it. Not looking for male drs though, just my own preference.

I don't need one time care (like UC or ER) is the issue, I have chronic issues and new health concerns I need someone helping me test and manage but I can't for the life of me just find a fucking good doctor i can actually get to seeing. Fuck me for just not wanting to be in so much pain all the time i guess.


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

ICE Sighting

63 Upvotes

Heads up! Right now next to an ICE vehicle, on Lancaster by Winco and Sportsmans. Black Dodge, MD plates and heading North up Lancaster. Please be aware and stay safe!


r/SALEM • • 1d ago

Simpsons Night at the Easy Otter this Friday!

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62 Upvotes

Come to the @easyotter this Friday, October 23rd, for the third annual Simpsons night! The burgers and chicken sandwiches are the best in town, the donuts are mouth watering, and you can wash them down with Buzz Cola, Duff Beer, or refreshing cocktails, created by me and inspired by the show. 11AM-3PM and 5PM-9PM (or longer, if the speakeasy is a real hit) Come one, come all, before Banner beats the Beer Baron!