Jobs for teens can pay off for bosses
Linn County employers who hire first-time employees ages 14 to 19 this summer, can qualify for a $4 per hour stipend provided by a Youth Wage Grant.
The program, in its 16th year, is supported by Video Lottery funds designated for economic development and was initiated by the Linn County Board of Commissioners.
To qualify, businesses must hire eligible employees between May 1 and Sept. 30. The employee must be legal to work in the United States and a resident of Linn County.
In 2019, the program included 20 businesses and 44 young people and the county provided a $2 per hour stipend that totaled $28,217.
Qualifying businesses must employ 35 or fewer employees and the young people must be first-time employees, who have not previously worked for the individual business.
Maximum reimbursement is $6,000 per employer and businesses can hire up to three qualifying young people at a time.
For additional information, call the Linn County Board of Commissioners office at (541) 967-3825 or visit http://www.co.linn.or.us.
SH blood donation event Thursday
Blood donors, especially those with type O blood, are needed in May to help ensure blood products are available for patients now and into summer.
Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in May will be automatically entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five, powered by Suburban Propane. Plus, those who make it in to give by May 15 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, courtesy of Suburban Propane.**
The lone Sweet Home event will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St.
To schedule an appointment to donate, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Friday is deadline for scholarships
Friday, May 14, is the deadline to apply for scholarships offered by the Linn County Small Woodlands Association to local high school graduating seniors looking to pursue forestry.
LCSWA is offering four $2,000 scholarships to students graduating from Linn County high schools who plan to pursue forestry or forestry-related natural resources fields of study in an Oregon college or in a duel-enrollment program (such as LBCC-OSU and LCC-UO). The scholarships are renewable at $1,000 to $2,000 rates depending on the success of the association’s Seedling Sales.
Academic achievements, honors and awards, school activities and community engagement will be considered. Application forms, to be postmarked or e-mailed by May 14, 2021, are available at Linn County’s high schools and from Katie Kohl, LCSWA Scholarship Chair ([email protected]).
OSU exhibit on indigenous history
An outdoor museum exhibition and series of talks recognizing native Kalapuya history and land stewardship in Oregon has opened at Oregon State University.
“This IS Kalapuyan Land” first opened at the Five Oaks Museum in Portland in 2019. The exhibition was guided by Five Oaks’ first guest curator, Steph Littlebird Fogel (Grand Ronde, Kalapuya) in collaboration with several Indigenous historians, artists and cultural experts, including OSU College of Liberal Arts instructor David G. Lewis (Chinook, Santiam, Takelma, Grand Ronde).
The exhibition prompts critical thinking around representation of Indigenous history and identity in non-Indigenous institutions. Five Oaks Museum later added a series of signs declaring “This IS Kalapuyan Land” that can be placed as pop-up exhibits in outdoor locations.
In addition to the sign exhibit, OSU will hold two of a series of three talks later this month:
Tuesday, May 18, 5 p.m. – A session about tribal histories and connections will be led by guest speakers David Lewis and Esther Stutzman (Kalapuya and Coos), a founding member of the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association and founding director of the American Indian Youth Camp. View it live on the Eena Haws Facebook page or register to view at: beav.es/3Se.
Thursday, May 20, 5 p.m. – The final session of the series will focus on the original art exhibition hosted by Five Oaks and highlight some of the artists who were involved. Speakers will be Littlebird Fogel; Angelica Trimble-Yanu, an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Nation from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota; and Whitney Al Lewis, a Chehalis Tribe member in Washington state. View it live on the Eena Haws Facebook page or register at: beav.es/3S2.
A third talk, on the original art exhibition at Five Oaks and its impact on reshaping the museum, was held May 11. It can be seen on the Eena Haws Facebook page. Guest speakers are Littlebird Fogel, an indigenous artist, writer and curator from Portland who guest curated the 2019 exhibition, along with Molly Alloy and Nathanael Andreini, co-executive directors of Five Oaks.
‘Li’l Art Show’ in Lebanon
Linn County Arts Guild is holding its first-ever “Li’l Arts Show” through May 29.
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event is made possible through a grant from the Linn County Cultural Coalition.
All artwork will be for sale, with 20 percent going to the gallery. For more information, stop by at 605 Main St. in Lebanon, or call (541) 497-0386.
Meals on Wheels weekly menu
Meals on Wheels offers take-out lunch at the Sweet Home Community Center to seniors over 60 at noon on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Senior Center serves a separate lunch on Wednesdays.
Suggested donation is $3.50. All meals are served with milk, coffee or tea upon request and diabetic desserts are available on request.
The menu on Friday, May 14, is shoyu chicken or country meatballs, Lyonnaise potatoes, steamed spinach, rye oat bread and apple crisp.
The menu on Monday, May 17, is broccoli omelet bake or BBQ smokehouse pork chop, red diced potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cracked wheat bread and golden fruit cup.
The menu on Tuesday, May 18, is spaghetti and meat sauce or sweet and sour pork with brown rice, green beans, romaine iceberg salad, garlic roll and frosted chocolate cake.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.