Thanksgiving Day meals offered in SH
Free meals are available on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, for local residents.
Angila Tack Food Services is offering a free drive-through Thanksgiving breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at 1255 15th Ave., between Main and Long streets.
Also, those wishing to donate to local Sharing Tree efforts for kids (see below) can do so as they drive through.
The Point restaurant and Sweet Home Elks Lodge are teaming up to provide a free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until the food runs out) at the Elks Lodge, 440 Osage St.
Due to COVID, all meals will be take-out and can be picked up in the drive-through area of the lower level of the Elks Lodge. Volunteers are needed. Masks are required.
Donations for the local Sharing Tree efforts for kids (see below) will be accepted.
For more information, contact Hope Coulter at (541) 409-1613 or Jan Moore (541) 325-9702.
Sharing Tree deadlines near
Monday, Nov. 30, is the deadline to apply to participate in the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District’s and Sweet Home Police Department’s Christmas for Kids Sharing Tree and Shop with a Cop programs.
Saturday, Nov. 28, is the deadline for applying to receive a Sweet Home Emergency Ministries Christmas food box.
Applications to the fire district, for children 12 and younger, are available at the “Sweet Home Sharing Tree” page on Facebook.
Applications to the Police Department program, for children in the seventh through 12th grade, are available on the city’s website, sweethomeor.gov/police/webform/teen-sharing-tree-2020-application.
Paper applications for each are available at the Fire Hall, 1099 Long St., and at the Police Department, 1950 Main St.
Donors can purchase and wrap gifts for the Sharing Trees by Dec. 9. Gifts can be picked up Dec. 16-17.
Cash donations to the “Christmas for Kids Sharing Tree” toy programs may be made at the Fire and Ambulance District office, 1099 Long St., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and Sweet Home Police Department, 1950 Main St., 24 hours a day.
Applications are also available for the Dec. 12 Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program on the city’s website at sweethomeor.gov/police/webform/shop-cop-2020-application. Paper forms are available at the department. The program is open to children 4 through 12.
Sweet Home Emergency Ministries will accept applications for Christmas food boxes through the mail slot on the front door at SHEM, 1115 Long St., until Nov. 28. The form is downloadable from SHEM’s website, shemfoodbank.org/christmas-box-app.
Christmas tree permits available
Christmas tree permits are now available from the Willamette National Forest and can be purchased through Dec. 31.
People are encouraged to purchase Christmas tree permits online at Recreation.gov. The Forest Service decided to move Christmas tree permit sales to Recreation.gov as an added convenience for visitors, as well as provide an alternative to in-person transactions at USFS offices, which remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an added bonus this year, fourth- and fifth-grade students who have an Every Kid Outdoors pass can apply for a free Christmas tree permit through Recreation.gov by entering their voucher or pass number when prompted.
Visit go.usa.gov/x7pMN to purchase a Willamette National Forest Christmas tree permit. For those without internet service, Christmas tree permits may also be purchased in person from local vendors, which, locally, include Coffee Hut at 2450 Main St., Dan-Dee Sales at 610 Main St., Bi Mart at 1980 Main St., and Foster Lake Mall at 5470 Highway 20.
It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit.
Local vendors will not be able to provide Every Kid Outdoors tree permits or passes. Permits are $5 per tree, with a limit of five permits per household. Recreation.gov charges an additional $2.50 service fee per order. It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will also need to set up or login to a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction.
Maps, which indicate where Christmas trees may be harvested, are available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/passes-permits/forestproducts/?cid=fseprd564462.
Closures are effect in both the Holiday Farm, Beachie Creek and Lionshead fire areas, so check the “Alerts and Warnings” feature on the above website for information on closures.
Winter weather in the forest can change rapidly. Most forest roads are not maintained for winter driving. Forest staff recommend bringing traction devices and a shovel, extra food, drinking water, winter clothing, blankets, a flashlight, and a first aid kit.
Additionally, bring a tool for cutting a tree and a rope or cord to secure it to a vehicle. Tree cutting and travel may take longer than anticipated. Let a friend or family member know where you are going, get an early start, and leave the woods before dark.
City Christmas tree lighting Dec. 6
The City of Sweet Home will hold its annual Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
Carolers from the Sweet Home Singing Christmas Tree will perform during the event, which will be live-streamed via Facebook Live on the city’s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/cityofsweethome.
For more information, contact Lagea at (541) 818-8029.
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.
No meal will be served Friday, Nov. 27, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
The menu on Monday, Nov. 30, is sloppy Joe or pork choppie with barbecue sauce, both with a hamburger bun, baked beans, hot German potato salad, and caramel apple pudding.
The menu on Tuesday, June 9, is beef cabbage bake or macaroni and cheese, spinach romaine salad, oinion roll and fresh apple slices.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.