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Few people realize that West Salem was an independent town for over 30 years. From its early development in the mid-19th century--when valley homesteaders grew wheat, hops, and fruits--to the founding of Fairview School in 1868, the opening of the Center Street Bridge across the Willamette River in 1886, the rail line in 1909, and a city charter in 1913 to the surrender of that charter to Salem in 1949, the West Salem area forged its own unique identity. Today, West Salem is a thriving community full of cherished memories alongside physical reminders of its independence, such as the Art Deco-style city hall and jailhouse.

When you experience as much hurt and pain that I have throughout my life, it was very hard for me to expect anything different. When I went around family, they always found the wrong things to say to me, and it didn't bother them at all to say those horrible things out of their mouths. I swallowed it and laughed it off sometimes, and sometimes I didn't take it so well. Because I am working on my healing and forgiving process, I stay away from all negativity. I need to be in a peaceful environment in order to concentrate on my healing and forgiving process. With peace and tranquility comes happiness and a clear mind to think and use my wisdom to heal. I have been conducting a serious inventory on my life. After I clean out all the unwanted things out of my life, the healing and forgiving journey will begin. I feel great about this because it's what I need before I can move forward with life. Now I am happy. I still cry, but these are happy tears, and that's a fantastic feeling. I thank God for allowing my healing and forgiving process to go well. I know with all this joy comes belief, hope, and a great deal of faith. One thing I realized through this healing and forgiving process, it made my spirit very happy, and I was very proud of myself. Everyone should learn how to forgive because it will have a great impact on your life.

Factory Girl in the Rubber City - The Journal of Mary CableBy Debra Lape with Bob LapeAn effervescent story bottled for 100 years, ready to be uncorked.Meet Mary Cable.17-year old transplant from Pennsylvania farm country to Akron, Ohio boomtown, 1916. This is her first-person journal of events small and larger upon her arrival to a young city that needed her like gasoline to the combustion engine. She and 120,000 other Akron newcomers would fuel the rubber industry and a nation that reinvented the wheel - preferably vulcanized.As a young woman working for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Mary gives us the factory stories that bring this plant to life. With humor and directness, by turn mundane and grinding, others foreshadowing and heart-wrenching, Mary tells it like it was, and still is, working for a large industrialized corporation.Factory work filled her days, but Akron adventures filled her dreams. The city was her oyster and a culture club waiting to be opened. Horatio Alger had nothing on Mary Cable. Except that Mary did it all in heels and had a lot more fun.__Prologue by Debra Lape, Mary's granddaughter, is a Cleveland State University business graduate and controller in Cleveland, Ohio. Factory Girl is Deb's second book. Her first, Looking For Lizzie - The True Story of an Ohio Madam, Her Sporting Life and Hidden Legacy, was the culmination of a 40-year quest to discover the secret life of her great-great-grandmother, Mid-Ohio madam, Lizzie Lape. An Akron, Ohio native, Deb and her husband Claude have one son Perry and live in Westlake, Ohio.Epilogue by Bob Lape, Mary's only son, is an Akron-born, life-long journalist and broadcaster. He was first heard on Akron's WAKR, WADC, WHKK and WCUE. After graduating from Kent State University, he became news director of WICE, Providence, RI; and WBZ, Boston, MA. TV news work included starting Eyewitness News at WABC-TV in New York City, where he spent 48 years in local, network and print media. His food feature, Bob Lape's Dining Diary, was broadcast over the past 30 years on WCBS in New York. Bob resides in Olmsted Township, Ohio, not far from his four children and three grandchildren.

"Are you having trouble dealing with things like listening, patience, faith & fear, willingness, prayer, devotion, trust, and understanding? Then this is the book for you.....Life Lessons taught by a very special teacher who makes them so easy to learn that you will be standing there shaking your head and wagging your tail.......""Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Jade’s mixed feelings about her life and family had reached their toll on naïve meeting and experiencing different people. Jade felt she had to be someone other than herself to appeal to their standards, but her grandfather made her think she was perfect just as she was. Ultimately, it is all about the love of God, His Word, and the guidance in our lives.