Mmm, Mother’s Day is practically upon us, and this year we turn to local foodie extraordinaire Michelle Colomb for some tips. But before we let her reveal all the area’s best celebratory options, we have to deliver the news – mainly because we’re a newspaper, sooo….
A Fight, but Possible Solution: Some students in Oregon, often students who require accommodations, attend school on restricted schedules, or so-called abbreviated days. Now, disability advocates led by Corvallis’ State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin are pursuing legislation, Senate Bill 819, to remedy the situation.
Supporters include Disability Rights Oregon and FACT Oregon, who maintain that abbreviated days are illegal and harmful.
There’s Been a Lawsuit: Some students and families allege that school districts have denied access to their educational rights for years. In a recent lawsuit, these families said placing certain types of students on a schedule that is different from, and usually much less robust than their cohort peers get, hurts these students. The students’ advocates describe the inappropriate use of abbreviated day schedules as something “that robs [students] of the basic right to receive a full day of effective education at a public school where they live.”
What the Bill Tries to Fix: According to the Oregon School Boards Association, or OSBA, the bill would dramatically increase the ability of students and families to require more access to services.
- It would define “student with a disability” to be any student who requires special education (individualized education program) or a civil rights 504 plan, potentially including any students who have had these plans in prior years.
- It would supersede existing federally required processes. Currently, under federal law, students with a disability are given a placement by a team of experts. Usually this team, such as an IEP team, includes school employees and parents. The team’s placement decisions are final. SB 819 would change that. It would go beyond federal requirements and create an Oregon-specific process that would allow parents to revoke an abbreviated day placement and require a full-time placement, presumably in a neighborhood school.
- It would put strict process requirements in place for students on abbreviated days. The teams that placed a student with a disability on an abbreviated day schedule would have to meet every 30 to 90 days.
- It would have licensure repercussions for administrators. If a parent chose to revoke the abbreviated day schedule consent and have the student placed in a full schedule, the change must occur in as little as five school days or the administrator could face a professional licensure complaint.
- It would make it much more difficult, and potentially impossible, to offer entire programs that are abbreviated days for students with a disability. Some school and education service districts run programs or schools that have a shorter schedule specifically for students who might struggle with a full day.
The OSBA says that some of these aspects of the bill go too far.
Some Proposed Compromises: The OSBA has submitted testimony against the bill, but they also explain, that with some changes, they could support it.
“Given the testimony and the findings in a federal lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Education on this topic, students and their families have experienced harm and need access to school. The bill’s broad definitions, however, could mistakenly capture cohorts of students in non-traditional school settings, including charter schools, magnet schools and schools operating on an asynchronous model. If we can add language to remedy these concerns, we hope to be able to support the bill,” said Richard Donovan, a legislative analyst in an OSBA release.
New Principal for Letitia Carson Elementary: Effective July 1, Leigh Santy takes over from departing principal Eric Beasley.
It’s not Santy’s first stint as a principal, having served at Garfield Elementary from 2012 to 2021. When she left Garfield, she became the district’s Research, Assessment, and Growth Coordinator.
Before all that, Santy began her work in the district teaching at Garfield in the Dual Language Immersion Program. She later worked at the district level as the English Language Learner (ELL) Instructional Coach, ELL Coordinator, and Title I Program Coordinator.
She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Masters of Educational Leadership and administrative license from the University of Phoenix.
Beasley is moving on to Philomath/Blodgett Elementary.
Your Local Mama’s Day Meal Planner: Michelle Renee Colomb has the best job ever, she’s a food and beverage journalist, and sometimes she even gets paid to go travel and eat.
Like, she just travels and eats, and gets paid to do that, because she actually knows food inside-and-out. Colomb is based here in Corvallis, and is also founder of Corvallis Culinary Connections and the Corvallis Area Restaurants and Bars Alliance.
Sooo, we asked Michelle for some Mother’s Day tips of the culinary sort for around our fair little burgh, and without further ado, here’s her answer….
Michelle’s Delicious Mother’s Day Tour: Every 2nd Sunday of May the U.S. celebrates Mother’s Day. There are many ways to show our gratitude, but I strongly suggest supporting one of the many restaurants and food focused events happening around Benton County.
Now, many establishments are not open on Sundays, but why wait for the week’s end? After all, this is the person who stayed up late to help you finish that science project due the next morning at 8 am because you procrastinated.
They most likely lit up at your newest creation of Refrigerator Art, maybe even framed it for their office. When you fell and skinned a knee or came home frustrated by politics on the playground you were most likely offered a listening ear and something to eat.
Returning the favor, although I hope no one skinned a knee, can take a little pre-planning, and I have suggestions for you.
Let’s start with Castor in downtown Corvallis, they’re offering a beautiful gift basket with a $50 gift card, flowers, wine, and chocolate. Preorder on their website for pick-up on Friday or Saturday.
Reservations are recommended for the always popular, and 100% gluten free, Eats and Treats Mother’s Day Brunch, Sunday, 9 am to 2 pm.
Just outside Philomath is Hiatt Farm, who is offering a build your own quiche, fresh fruit and cream pie, and banana cream pie. Preorder by May 11, which is today.
Bluebird Hill Cellars is offering mom a complimentary tasting all weekend, reservations appreciated. Grazing Oregon Charcuteries in North Albany is accepting reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch with a 4-course menu and beverage options.
The weekend most likely starts with coffee in the morning. The historical area of Adair is home to Good Grounds Coffee, and on Saturday May 13, they are offering a $1 off a beverage for mom. “We recommend the rosemary vanilla latte (syrup is house made).”
Coffee Culture will have their usual selection of caffeinated beverages as well as mimosas and a special Mother’s Day cake. Tried and True in South Corvallis is cooking up shareable quiche and lemon tartlets on Sunday, $4.50 each, or two for $8. Wild Yeast Bakery has my favorite cardamon buns, seriously delicious and perfect with a latte.
Pollen, who offers healthy bowls perfect for a light meal, puts out their crowd favorite Mother’s Day bowl, topped with white chocolate chips. “We are big fans of Mother’s Day, now that we have a new addition making us three generation women owned business.” Also on the lighter side, Kinetic bagel and their must try shmears really hit the spot, as do their cookies.
Brunch is always a popular option for the occasion. Greenberry Tavern is worth the drive south on 99W, and this Saturday, the whole thing is in support of the Willamette Grange Community Gardening Event. They will first come first served for a limited menu of chicken fried steak, corned beef and hash, basic breakfast, and of course mimosas and bloody marys.
Also worth a drive is the Annual Thyme Garden Art in the Garden weekend, Saturday and Sunday in Alsea. This traditional event features, music, art, display gardens – and wine from Tyee, and beer from Oregon Trail Brewery for sale. Also, there’s food for purchase. Sunday will feature Corvallis Farmers’ Market favorite The Naked Crepe.
With the purchase of a meat pie, The Australian Meat Pie shop is offering a free lamington cake – a small vanilla sponge cake rolled in chocolate and coconut, or Anzac cookie, made with oats, golden syrup, and molasses. I’d love to try both, just out of curiosity.
The vegan care giver in your life will appreciate the Chocovore at Tacovore. Vegan chocolate mousse with coconut whip cream and chocolate shavings. Speaking of chocolate, Dirt Road Brewing in Philomath makes a delicious Pizookie (I think kids will love the silly name) it’s a brownie like cookie baked in a cast iron pan with vanilla ice cream and chocolate drizzle.
Something just as sweet but for adults is the raspberry truffle cocktail at Marcotte Distilling, also in Philomath. Think hazelnut moonshine and raspberry cream, you can treat mom to one Friday 12 to 6 pm, or Saturday 12 to 5 pm.
Not to be missed, and likely to sell out, is the Compton Wines Crawfish Boil featuring southern food truck Nick’s Soul Food. Word has it he is boiling up to 100 lbs. of crawfish, shrimp, andouille and beef sausage, potatoes and more for only $15 a serving, noon til sold out. I might be in line at 10 am – no joke. This one is also Philomath.
If sticking around downtown Corvallis is more your family’s style, ride your bikes down to the Saturday Farmers Market for some local produce, local sourced food vendors, and some of the best people watching. While downtown, stop by Kell’s Koffee, where owner Dillon is making more than just creative coffee drinks. On Saturdays you can grab limited supplies of Kalua pork and poke bowls from their adorable walk-up window.
Right across the street, Corvallis landmark The Peacock Bar and Grill is offering strawberry French toast and strawberry pancakes with whip cream – this is strawberry season in Oregon so I guarantee these will be delicious.
Cheesy Stuff Burgers is making red velvet milkshakes free to any and all moms. Also creating a red velvet special, University Hero has cupcakes with a heart featured decoration. If wine with dessert is more to Mom’s liking, The Brass Monkey will treat mom to a free dessert with the purchase of a bottle of 3 Fools Reverse Rose. Sundays are also a great day to pop into Corazon, the new wine bar next to American Dream Pizza, you can even have a pizza delivered while you sip one of their well curated glasses.
Sky High and American Dream are equally hopeful the weather will cooperate just in time for outdoor dining. The rooftop at Sky High opens at 4 pm with flavored mimosas and mojitos while American Dream will have a selection of flavored margaritas and mojitos. To really highlight the desire of moms to quench their thirst there’s the Rooftop Rita, a 64 oz. mason jar of margarita goodness in a variety of flavors. This is intended to be shared so bring your siblings and go in on one to wash down some of that pizza.
Save room for a New Morning Bakery sharable decorated heart shaped short bread cookie.
If all this wining and dining has you in a food coma, perhaps a bit of retail therapy, and some more coffee, would do the trick. Greenhouse Coffee and Plants is offering 20% off all plants Saturday and Sunday, they have great coffee. Perk, they promise good vibes are free. Also offering good vibes and a different form of edible, High Quality has WYLD brand gummies for 40% off Friday the 12th through Sunday the 14th. Sunday they will also have their community market with vendors selling various products, art, jewelry, and hand crafted gift ideas, 11 am to 3 pm.
Top off your day of appreciation with live music at The Biere Library, enjoy jazz from The Airlie Birds from 4 to 6 pm, or head to Common Fields food truck pod for a Paint and Wine night. No matter how you decide to celebrate I hope your parental person feels the love our local restaurants put into making their day special.
By Advocate Staff, with Michelle’s Delicious Mother’s Day Tour by Michelle Colomb of Corvallis Culinary Connections and the Corvallis Area Restaurants and Bars Alliance.
