Century Farm
award applications
Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 award year for the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program. The application deadline is May 1. Families throughout Oregon who have continuously farmed portions of their family acreage for the past 100 or 150 years are invited to apply.
The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program began in 1958 to honor farm and ranch families with century-long connections to the land. To qualify for a century or sesquicentennial award, interested families must follow a formal application process.
Members of the Application Review Committee review each application against the qualifications, which include continuous family operation of the farm or ranch; a gross income from farm use of not less than $1,000 per year for at least three years out of five prior to application; and family members must live on or actively manage the farm or ranch activities.
Application documentation may include photos, original deeds, personal stories, or other historic records. These records help support Oregon’s agricultural history by providing valuable information about settlement patterns and statistics on livestock and crop cycles. All documents are archived for public access.
Successful applicants receive a personalized certificate with acknowledgment by the Governor and the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and a durable metal roadside sign to identify the family’s farm or ranch as having historic Century or Sesquicentennial status. Each family will be honored during a special ceremony and reception at the Oregon State Fair on August 24.
For more information or to apply, contact Andréa Kuenzi, program coordinator, at (503) 400-7884 or [email protected], or visit CenturyFarm.oregonfb.org.
Apply for Women’s Fire Academy
Lebanon Fire District is accepting applications for its second Linn County Young Women’s Fire Academy, to be held June 22 and 23.
The free two-day academy is open to Oregon women aged 16 to 19 years old who are interested in learning more about fire service. Female firefighters will teach several techniques including fire suppression, search and rescue, emergency medical services, vehicle extrication, and personal skills.
Applications are due by April 30. To apply, go to Lebanonfire.org, or Facebook.com/LCYWFA. For more information, call (541) 451-1901.
Hunters group to talk migration
The local chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association will hold a presentation on protecting animal migration from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the Evelyn Downing Room at the Old Armory Building in Albany.
Each year wildlife/vehicle collisions result in significant animal fatalities, injured motorists and costly vehicle repairs. Since 2016 a multi partner coalition has worked to save wildlife and drivers in the Hwy 97 corridor. The underpass at Lava Butte, south of Bend, has reduced deer mortality by over 87%. Plans are in place to continue these improvements throughout the state.
The Oregon Hunter Association and Protect Animal Migration are two of the partners involved in the effort to reduce collisions and improve migration efforts. The Mid-Willamette Chapter of OHA is hosting Suzanne Linford of PAM. The meeting will be an informative presentation on safe wildlife passage statewide and Linford’s effort to protect wildlife and drivers.
The meeting is open to the public. For questions email [email protected] or call (541) 971-3351.
For more information about the Oregon Veterans’ Affairs Home Loan Program and eligibility, please visit orvethomeloans.com.
High school play this weekend
Sweet Home High School Drama Department will perform an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” March 14-16.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. on March 14 and March 15, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on March 16 with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.
The play will be in the Sweet Home High School auditorium, 1641 Long St. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for seniors and students and $10 for a family (four family members).
LBCC choirs to perform Friday
Linn-Benton Community College’s choirs will present their winter concert, “Transformation,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the Russell Tripp Theater, 6500 Pacific Blvd., Albany.
The concert will feature LBCC’s award-winning Concert and Chamber choirs, and fan favorite a cappella groups The Sirens and Blue Light Special.
Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 seniors, and free for college students and children under 18. Purchase in advance at linnbenton.edu/tickets.
For more information, contact the LBCC Theater Box Office at (541) 917-4531
Free Concert Band
concert Saturday
The Willamette Valley Concert Band will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Russell Tripp Performance Center on the LBCC campus, 6500 Pacific Blvd., SW, Albany.
Featured music comes from composers of the 20th and 21st centuries from America, England and Belgium.
Richard Sorenson and other band directors will conduct the program, which includes “Amazing Grace,” “Canterbury Chorale,” “First Suite for Band,” “Star Spangled Banner,” “Summer Dances,” “Raiders March,” and “Emperata Overture.”
The concert is free, but donations are encouraged. For more information, contact Richard at (503) 838-3474.
Free seminar for new businesses
The Small Business Development Center at Linn-Benton Community College will offer a free Going Into Business Seminar from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at the Lebanon Center, 44 Industrial Way, Lebanon.
The SBDC focuses on providing advising and resources for new and existing business owners. Going Into Business seminars are designed to give basic information needed to begin planning a successful business.
Rules, regulations, financing, customer acquisition, markets and feasibility, and more are included.
The free seminar will be hosted by Marlene Peterson, business advisor for the SBDC. Peterson owned Campagna Foods, a successful specialty food manufacturing business she operated for more than 20 years.
For information on other free Going Into Business seminars held in the mid-Willamette Valley, visit linnbenton.edu/sbdc or call (541) 917-4929.
Personal safety for visually challenged
“How Not to Become a Crime Victim” will be the topic at this month’s Mid Valley Low Vision Support Group meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Brookdale Grand Prairie Senior Living facility, 1929 Grand Prairie Ave., Albany.
Laura Hawkins, crime prevention officer for the Albany Police Department, will discuss how preventative measures can be used by low-vision, blind and low-hearing or deaf people.
She will tell how simple sensory skills can aid self-safety, such as being aware of one’s immediate environment and noticing when unusual sights or sounds are out of place, or paying attention to a sense of being followed, a sudden aroma of perfume or body odor.
She will offer comprehensive advice on how to avoid identity theft and scams, as well as other types of criminal activity that target seniors.
The meeting is free and the public is welcome. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call (541) 928-5008.
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, March 15, is a St. Patrick’s Day menu of corned beef and cabbage or macaroni and cheese, green peas, marinated broccoli salad, cracked wheat roll and shamrock cake.
The menu on Monday, March 18, is chicken and dumplings or spaghetti with meat sauce, whole kernel corn, spinach Romaine salad, whole wheat roll and peaches.
The menu on Tuesday, March 19, is Mexican pasta bake or shepherd’s pie, capri blend vegetables, Romaine iceberg salad, rye bran roll and zucchini brownie.
Volunteers are needed for both kitchen help and meal delivery.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.