Extension seeks
extra bee cocoons
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].
Take a Christmas
season forest hike
The Willamette National Forest is hosting its second annual ornament hunt through Jan. 1.
Organized by the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, the ornament hunt encourages local residents and travelers to connect to public lands and increase outdoor recreation activities.
Two hundred glass ornaments have been hidden along non-wilderness trails on the Willamette National Forest for adventurers to find.
In addition to winning a locally crafted hand-blown ornament, those who discover an ornament can register to win one of three grand prizes that include an adventure and overnight stay in the Willamette Valley.
In 2018 the Willamette National Forest provided the Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. and ornaments were hidden on forest trails to encourage people to connect with public lands.
This year’s ornament hunt will highlight 1,700 miles of trails on the Willamette National Forest. The Willamette National Forest provides recreational opportunities, fishing, hunting, foraging, firewood, minerals, wood products and, of course, Christmas trees. Christmas tree permits are available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/passes-permits/forestproducts/?cid=fseprd564462
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association website http://www.oregonwinecountry.org/ornament
will serve as the hub for contest winners to claim their prizes throughout the contest . Find trail information and hints throughout December there as well.
Adventurers can also use the hashtags: #FindYourOrnament #FindYourTrail, and #IwonderWV.
Driving classes
offered by LBCC
Registration is open for driver education courses offered through Linn-Benton Community College Community Education starting in January.
Students learn skills in this course that can be life-saving. Course includes Oregon State mandated 30 hours of classroom instruction, a one-time parent/student orientation, and 12 hours behind-the wheel practice and driver observation.
Classes are offered in Lebanon, Albany and Corvallis. Cost is $265 for ages 17 and under, $445 for ages 18 and over.
Upon successful completion of the course, students under 18 qualify for a car skills testing waiver when obtaining their driver’s license.
To register or for more information go to http://www.linnbenton.edu/driver-education or pick up a packet at any LBCC location.
Submit a completed packet, fee, and bring original driver permit and one permit photocopy.
Business classes
offered in January
Registration is open for more than a dozen Small Business Development Center classes, many starting Jan. 6, through Linn-Benton Community College.
LBCC’s Small Business Development Center brings classes and resources to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the mid-Willamette Valley. Offerings include Going into Business seminars, QuickBooks training, Social Media and Marketing classes, Branding and Business Strategy workshops, the Small Business Management Program, pre-licensing courses, and more.
Free one-on-one business advising services are available year-round with 11 SBDC staff advisors. SBDC advisors come from varied backgrounds, including former CEOs of multimillion dollar companies, some who ran small businesses for decades and some who successfully grew and sold their start-ups.
For more information or to see a complete list of SBDC classes, visit linnbenton.edu/sbdc or call (541) 917-4929.
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, Dec. 27, is cranberry walnut chicken salad or chick pea salad sandwich half, both on wheat bread, potato salad, minestrone soup and mandarine oranges.
The menu on Monday, Dec. 30, is chicken pomodoro or beef enchilada bake, mixed vegetables, tossed salad, squash roll and lemon pudding.
The menu on Tuesday, Dec. 31, is a New Year’s Special menu of Swedish meatballs with sauce, or chicken with cordon bleu sauce, Delmonico potatoes, cabbage and carrots, sunflower seed bread and confetti New Year’s cake.
Volunteers are needed for both kitchen help and meal delivery.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.