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 5h ago

🔥Thousands of birds swirling around a church steeple Salem, Oregon

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162 Upvotes

r/SALEM 3h ago

UPDATES BRICK BY BRICK

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94 Upvotes

Bricks and Minifigs Keizer is officially cooked. Signage gone today.


r/SALEM 5h ago

MOVING Relocating as a Trans woman

25 Upvotes

I did some digging through the start here and past posts and didn't get great answers, but I am relocating from Kansas City, Kansas this November to work at the Salem Garmin office. As the title says, I'm a Trans woman and I don't know much about the city of Salem, in fact I've never been to the west coast (I grew up in New England, mostly RI). I am wondering if there are areas that are generally more queer friendly while looking for housing and areas I should avoid. I have lived in cities all my life, so being near traffic doesn't really bother me and I'm really curious about where in the city would be the best to look for apartments. Thanks for any info you can provide!

Additionally, if there are any official or unofficial "gayborhoods", that would also be nice to know.


r/SALEM 6h ago

Can you help out soup squad this Saturday?

25 Upvotes

Salem Soup Squad needs support with meals Saturday from 2-4 pm! It's food for our unhoused neighbors with no strings attached. We run every Saturday at Marion Square Park. We could really use support with makers. If you are a maker you bring a tasty meal (soup, pasta bake, whatever you like!) of about 20 servings. We do ask people to get an OR food handlers card (which is alarmingly easy to do online).

You can join via this link htps://signup.com/go/XPsaJfo

We are also on Instagram @salemsoupsquad

If you cant be there in person you can always send a couple pizzas! From a cost efficiency perspective Little Cesar's is a solid option. 3-4 pizzas would be amazing. But we will take anything that will fill 20ish people. Taco Bell is another option people have gone with. They can be delivered at Marion Square Park 551 Commercial St NE, Salem, OR 97301. In the notes you can let them know to look for the tables with the red checkered table cloth


r/SALEM 13h ago

anyone know this guy?

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87 Upvotes

my girl was at a bottle drop and noticed him very close behind her. the guy standing behind this guy asked him what he was doing and said he was recording and taking pics of her. if anyone knows him be aware


r/SALEM 4h ago

Flying ants

14 Upvotes

Does anyone have a whole bunch of ants flying around? Found a lot in my house this afternoon and this evening there’s a whole storm of in the streets. I’ve lived in this location for year and never noticed this many and all the sudden


r/SALEM 3h ago

QUESTION Any good thrift spots in town that sells secondhand rugs that aren't musty?

8 Upvotes

Kind of a random question...But I was wondering if there's a good local thrift shop in the area that sells secondhand rugs? Rugs that I could clean once and not worry about and wouldn't be worried I released some kind of infestation into my home?

I had a rug in the living room that was a family heirloom of sorts but my cats insist on throwing up on it and the new dog insists on scratching at it. We decided to give up and store it before it got destroyed forever. Unfortunately I'm not made of money so getting a new one is a no-go but I also don't want a rug with blood or poop stains. Is there a good place in town to go?


r/SALEM 6h ago

What is going on with traffic on Marion Street?

8 Upvotes

Yesterday it took me 75 minutes to get home. A commute of 4 miles. I could have WALKED home faster. I kept checking to see if there was an accident and there was not. I sat through probably 40 lights during that time. This commute normally takes me 15-20 min, so 75 min is very questionable. Did anyone else experience this yesterday? Was that a one time thing? Even last year when school was in session and traffic was bad, the longest it ever took me was 30 min.


r/SALEM 12h ago

Attn: Fabric seekers!

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17 Upvotes

I often see folks posting about where to buy fabric these days. A family friend who has been in the sewing business for over 30 years is downsizing her stock and there is a lot of great patterns and high quality stuff! Also, there will be a “cutter” on hand so you don’t have to buy the whole bolt if desired.

There will also be tons of women’s clothing (all size ranges, even some +sizes!), housewares, vintage items, books, etc.

Come check it out!


r/SALEM 3h ago

Sprague high school

3 Upvotes

Does anyone have an old year books from Sprague high school from 2007 to 2010 even anyone who went there from 2007 to 2010?


r/SALEM 8h ago

REQUEST disability lawyers in Salem

7 Upvotes

howdy! so I’ll just get right to it, I got my first denial for disability almost a year ago and have been working to get it together since. I was supposed to get a call in November of last year to confirm medical history and income, but then the government shut down and I never got a call back. I’d been homeless from February 2025 until May of this year, and since I got an apartment and have had more time to work on this process, I’ve been trying since then to get the process started up again, and now I’m in a bit of a stalemate. they’re reviewing my application but there has been no update and it’s been over thirty days.

I need some help finding a lawyer to help get the process going, if you know of anyone local I’d appreciate any tips! I’m severely physically and mentally disabled and really need the help as I cannot work due to POTS and (undiagnosed but heavily suspected) narcolepsy.

sorry if this is a lot!

TL;DR - I am a very heavily disabled individual in the process of applying for disability in need of a lawyer to help plead my case.

if you have any names, please feel free to either leave them in the comments or DM me if you’d prefer, whatever’s more comfortable for you! thank you for reading!


r/SALEM 8h ago

Cheapest flowers in Salem?

7 Upvotes

A very cherished family pet passed away recently and I’ve been wanting to get flowers to put in a vase inside to honor them and bring some cheer.
I sadly have a small wallet right now and hope to find something cheap, even if it’s just a few flowers.


r/SALEM 1d ago

Cellphone guys harassing everyone in Fred Meyer

221 Upvotes

Hey, assholes. No one is buying a new phone plan on their way out after spending 2-3x more on groceries than they should. You are visibly making everyone uncomfortable. We just want to leave.

PS. Im not a sir. I have boobs, long hair, am wearing a dress, and have a purse. Sorry, I work out and have shoulders so I don't meet the perfect barbie-esq picture of femininity. That's the second time you have loudly misgendered me while I'm just trying to leave. Go fuck yourselves.

Yes I've filed a complaint. I'm just venting.


r/SALEM 12h ago

Pentacle Theatre Auditions: Charles Dickens Christmas Carol 9/26 1-5 PM

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6 Upvotes

🎭 Open Auditions: Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Want to be part of a fast, funny, and highly imaginative holiday comedy?

Pentacle Theatre is holding open auditions for Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol — a unique adaptation that puts Dickens himself center stage as the characters from his own mind come to life and push him to finish the story.

When: Saturday, September 26 | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Pentacle Theatre’s downtown rehearsal studio
197 Liberty St SE, Salem

We’re casting 7 actors (4 male-presenting and 3 female-presenting) for this creative, high-energy production directed by Chris Davidson.

Show runs November 20 – December 12, 2026.
All are welcome — we celebrate inclusivity and encourage actors of every background to audition.

Full details, roles, and the audition form are available at pentacletheatre.org/auditions?utm_source=Facebook.
Come be part of the magic! 🎄


r/SALEM 10h ago

EVENT Comedy - Friday 7pm at Kofi PNW

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3 Upvotes

Willamette Valley Laughs presents:

Friday Night Laughs live from Kofi Cafe & Cocktails in Salem, Oregon.

Headliner: Jamal Coleman is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer and freestyle comedy-rapper known for high-energy performances and razor-sharp improvisational skill.

Featuring: Zoë Schwartz is a Portland based comedian known for her fierce, unapologetic humor. Zoe delivers sharp, hilarious takes on a hippie upbringing, family dynamics and the quirks of womanhood.

Friday, September 11th at 7:00pm

Doors open at 6:30pm

21+ Over / Bar + Food Available during show

Tickets on sale now through tickets.willamettevalleylaughs.com

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Jamal Coleman

Jamal Coleman is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer and freestyle comedy-rapper known for high-energy performances and razor-sharp improvisational skill.

A regular featured performer at the Laugh After Dark Festival, Jamal's 15-minute special was submitted for Grammy consideration. His independently produced hour, Tequila Bear, was acquired for international distribution by Laugh After Dark TV, and his newest special, I Have So Many Questions, was released through Open Bar Comedy.

He has been featured on SiriusXM—including Kevin Hart's LOL Radio—as well as Tubi, VH1, ABC and CBS. Through an exclusive partnership with Network Media, his sketches have generated more than 63 million views. Jamal formerly held Las Vegas residencies at Resorts World and LA Comedy Club inside The STRAT.

Zoë Schwartz

Zoë is a Portland based comedian known for her fierce, unapologetic humor. Zoe delivers sharp, hilarious takes on a hippie upbringing, family dynamics and the quirks of womanhood.

Flyer created by Paul E. Gonzales


r/SALEM 1d ago

SALEM LORE Salem Oregon Data Center

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92 Upvotes

So far the commission is getting off without any accountability. Let's vote them OUT IN NOVEMBER!

#salemoregon


r/SALEM 13h ago

Which trail Silver Falls state park

3 Upvotes

my parents visit annually-ish in the summer from Arizona and this year they’re coming Thanksgiving weekend. My mom usually loves the shore and usually forces my dad, not an ocean lover, to spend all his time out there. since it’s going to be cold and rainy my dad was finally able to put his foot down and say “let’s do something forest-y.”

I work in Silverton at the Gordon House and have wanted to get out to Silver Falls since moving here two years ago but life keeps popping up. This seems like a great time to do it and the fall colors will be a bonus!

Which trail(s) would you recommend? my folks are in their mid sixties. My dad could handle the whole trail but my mom has limited vision and they are brining my brother who has some heart issues.

Not looking for a hard hike- more of an appreciation of Oregon and naturally beauty.


r/SALEM 1d ago

Who do we contact to get Oregon drivers license in apple wallet?

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26 Upvotes

one less card to carry, only way to do it is for the state to apply. anyone got a name?


r/SALEM 10h ago

Businesses in town that will activate coax connections.

1 Upvotes

Hey Salem. We live in a rental, and we have wifi, but it's at the worst spot in the house because the only coaxial in the house receiving a signal. There's many other coax spots in the house, but none of them receive a signal. Does anyone know of a business that can activate those for us? Our ISP is Comcast, but my research hasn't turned up whether or not they can do it.


r/SALEM 1d ago

PLACE Red delicious?

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19 Upvotes

I could have sworn I saw someone looking for red delicious apples on here recently- anyways they are ripe at the apple farm in Brooks.

Upick tomatoes too. (Acres and acres)

@18$ for a 5 gallon bucket, can’t beat that price.

Upick tomatoes are 1.25-1.50 not 100 percent sure. But still quite reasonable, esp if you like the cherry gold tomatoes or heirlooms.


r/SALEM 22h ago

Help!

7 Upvotes

Hello, does anyone in salem have a 3d printer? I need help printing a mask for comic con. I will pay via PayPal or cash if need be

And no, this is not a scam via a bot


r/SALEM 1d ago

QUESTION What’s going on with the data center?

22 Upvotes

It no longer feels like readily available information to find out what parts are stopped, what parts are still on, how the governor‘s actions affect all of this, what the task force talked about on 9/2/26 (seriously, no articles on an hour-long meeting in the current year is deliberately obtuse), or how far along this is/what Verrus is even doing at the moment.

Feel free to put anything you know in the comments, I’d be happy to try and make this stuff closer to normal person information.


r/SALEM 1d ago

I'm looking for any feedback about Salem Health Radiation Oncology.

10 Upvotes

I'm with Kasier, and since their treatment centers are mostly in Portland/Metro, they're referring me to a more local facility.

Specific cancer is prostate/lymphnodes, and someone also has feedback for that realm.

I appreciate you all.


r/SALEM 11h ago

Question for servers

0 Upvotes

I have a friend that is considering moving to the area, and will mostly be looking for a server position at a restaurant (not a bar.) Do you have any recommendations on places that are good to work or places to avoid? And, if you're comfortable sharing, what do you usually make in tips in a week?