:-) More progressive than we realized

In 1989, it took eight weeks for a woman to get an appointment with the Marion County Health Department to receive a prescription for the pill. Inspired - or perhaps ired - to change the situation, a group of women lobbied Planned Parenthood to open its first Oregon clinic in Salem and they won them over. Last month, a noisy minority nearly derailed plans to mark the the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade, but the organizers behind the sponsoring organization, Oregon Women Lead, pulled it off despite the opposition. We applaud their tenacity and continued good work. Only look back to see how far you've come.

>:-P Democratic bellyaching

Yeah, you lost your precious 60th seat in the Senate. It's not like you were doing anything with it.

:-( Overreaching authorities

In a slightly bizarre attempted burglary last month, a Monmouth man ended up injured after he attempted to hold two of the suspects, who were trying to steal his medicinal marijuana crop, at bay while waiting for the cops to arrive. Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe seized the opportunity to lambast Oregon's medical marijuana program.

"While I recognize and respect the rights of property owners to protect themselves and their residence what happened here is a situation which had all the potential of going terribly wrong over some marijuana. This is why the medical marijuana program is dangerous to our community," Wolfe said.

Well, Sheriff, since no one's seen fit to allow legal dispensaries, we've got to make this work. It ain't perfect, but it's hardly a reason to deny suffering patients potential relief.

:-) Clearing Mill Creek

In 2008, city officials and volunteers made it a priority to clear invasive species and ivy along Mill Creek. The project is now complete and the creek is even more beautiful. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all involved. The project is seeking new volunteers to keep up with continued needs, to volunteer contact Julie Curtis at city hall.

:-( Lack of new music from Fiona Apple

It's been five years. It makes us sad.

:-) Park grants

The Salem Parks Foundation is now accepting applications for a competitive grant program to improve local parks. Anyone with a desire to improve, restore or clean up their local park can submit a one- to two-page proposal through their neighborhood association for at shot at one of the grants. The deadline is March 19, contact Betsy Belshaw at 503-370-8789 for more information.

8-) Jobpocalypse

Our undying thanks goes out to the many, many volunteers and organizers who made calls and knocked on doors to assure the passage of Measures 66 and 67. You're all aces in our book. For the detractors, here's what we'll do to sate your need for vengeance: If the new taxes mark the demise of jobs in the state, the editor and publisher volunteer to eat a copy of this paper (instead of noodles) baked into a lasagna. Hell, we might do it just to see how it tastes.