Extra mason bee
cocoons sought
Local residents who have extra blue orchard mason bee cocoons can donate them to the Oregon State University Extension Service, which will happily take them and find new homes for them.
Most home yards need about 50 cocoons. This amount would easily pollinate flower gardens with plants blooming from February through June. Those who have a few fruit trees and blueberries you might want 100 cocoons. A small orchard would likely require more than one house, with 50 cocoons at each site.
Donations will be used for “super-sites,” used by the Extension Service to add more native bees to habitat with an abundance of early-blooming native plants and trees.
For more information about donating, email Ranee at [email protected] or Rich Little at [email protected].
Pasture expert to
speak at OSU
Dr. Thomas Maxwell from Lincoln University, New Zealand, will present a free program on New Zealand Pasture Systems from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Oldfield Animal Teaching Facility Room 106, 3521 SW Campus Way (corner of 35th Street) in Corvallis.
Maxwell’s research interests are ecology, production and management of pasture, grassland and rangeland systems, with a focus on the sustainable function of grazing lands.
His research work includes hill country pasture production ecology, sown pasture persistence, forage species for reduced nitrate leaching, pasture and forage functional diversity, nutritional ecology of grazing animals, grazing for dual purposes of livestock production and ecosystem function, and testing precision agriculture tools (thermal camera imaging and remote-sensing technology) for pasture yield assessment and management.
He will discuss New Zealand pasture system function, current challenges and research.
For information, contact Shelby at (541) 236-3016.
Oyster feed for
veterans Friday
Sweet Home veterans will host an oyster feed fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Sweet Home VFW, 580 Main St.
The dinner will feature fresh oysters from Coos Bay, along with garlic parmesan linguine, salad, garlic bread and Louis Gourmet Cheesecake for dessert.
Cost is $12 with oysters or $8 without. Extra half-shell oysters will be available. Various shooters will also be available,
For more information, contact Denise at (541) 401-9874.
Livestock group dinner, meeting
Linn County Livestock Association will hold its annual meeting and dinner from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Brownsville Baptist Church, 27910 Seven Mile Lane, Brownsville.
Dinner costs $10 for adults, $5 for children. Annual dues are $20.
The program includes presentations on and discussion of:
– Predator issues and reports – cameras, cougars, coyotes, eagles (presentation on requirements and forms will be available for FSA reimbursement for eagle losses);
– Wool – market requirements, available buyers, options; and
– New spring forages.
For information and reservations, contact Lynden Brown at (541) 258-8263 or by email at [email protected]. Leave a message if no answer.
‘Squirrel Lake’ madness on stage
Albany Civic Theater will present “Squirrel Lake” starting Friday, Feb. 28, at 111 W. 1st Ave.
The two-act comedy by Brian Mitchell follows the travails of three siblings who gather at their summer home to read their late mother’s will.
Misunderstandings and irregularities of all sorts ensue. The production is not recommended for children under 16.
Evening performances, at 7:30 p.m., are Feb. 28 and 29 and March 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. Matinees, at 2:30 p.m., will be March 1 and 8.
General admission tickets are $14 and $11 for youths under 18 and seniors 60 and over, U.S. military veterans and holders of Oregon Trail Cards.
For additional details, visit http://www.albanycivic.org.
Local spelling bee deadline Feb. 28
Local students, including homeschoolers, are invited to participate in the Oregon Statewide Spelling Championship.
All contests are written. Students compete in one of three age divisions: Grades 1-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Students first compete in their classroom and then their school.
School winners from each division proceed to the district contest, which is usually held in April. Winners continue to the county contest, which will be held in May. County winners then qualify for the state competition, held during the Oregon State Fair on Sept. 5.
For more information, visit http://www.oregonspellers.com or contact Sharon by Feb. 28 at (541) 409-3794.
Fish advocates to
hold annual dinner
The Coastal Conservation Association will hold a dinner and auction at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Eagles Club, 127 Broadalbin St. SW, Albany.
CCA is a local fish advocacy group that works to protect and enhance hatcheries, protect fish from excessive sea lion predation, and reform gillnet laws.
The event will include dinner, games, hosted beverages, raffles and live and silent auctions.
Tickets are $65 per person, with discounts for multiple attendees. All attendees receive a one-year CCA membership.
For tickets or more information, visit http://www.ccaoregon.org or contact Doogie at (541) 214-3910 or Mei Li at (541) 220-8637.
Fundraiser for SH
accident victim
Casa de Reyes will host a fund-raising event for car crash victim Peyton Ullrich from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29.
Twenty percent of proceeds will go to Ullrich to cover medical bills.
Ullrich was injured in a head-on collision in Lebanon on Jan. 19. Since then, he has undergone multiple surgeries.
Ullrich is an employee at Casa De Reyes and a senior at Sweet Home High School.
Family Fun Day
at LBCC Saturday
Linn-Benton Community College will host Family Fun Day for families with children ages 1 to 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Activities Center gym, 6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany.
Children can participate in activities such as play dough, obstacle course, crafts, bounce houses, face painting, putt-putt golf and more. Safe Haven will bring “doggie ambassadors” for children to pet and love, Kidco Head Start will provide a themed reading area, and there will be a special visit from LBCC’s Rocky the Roadrunner.
Admission is free. Activity tickets are 25 cents each. A used book and toy sale will be held during the event, and there will be a concession stand with food and drinks for purchase.
Proceeds help support the more than 2,000 parents in Linn and Benton counties who attend LBCC Parenting Education classes each year.
For more information, contact LBCC Family Connections Pollywog at (541) 917-4884.
Dr. Seuss birthday
party for children
Albany’s Historic Carousel and Museum will host a Dr. Seuss Birthday Party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the museum, 503 W. 1st Ave.
The event, organized by Altrusa of Albany, will include games, prizes, a scavenger hunt, and a book for each child to take home. Admission is free. Carousel rides will be available for purchase.
For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/AlbanyAltrusa.
Meals on Wheels
weekly menu
Meals on Wheels offers 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.
First-time diners are invited to come in and have a free lunch to give it a try.
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, Feb. 28, is chicken pastina or broccoli omelet bake, Oregon bean medley, spinach Romaine salad, potato roll and frosted orange cake.
The menu on Monday, March 2, is chicken chop suey or sweet and sour pork, brown rice, imperial blend vegetables, hot spiced apples and banana pudding.
The menu on Tuesday, March 3, is beef enchilada bake or cheese and green chile bake, green beans, spinach Romaine salad, whole wheat roll and lemon blondie.
Volunteers are needed for both kitchen help and meal delivery.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.