Saturday Market
returns Dec. 20
Third Saturday Markets are returning this year, starting Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Church of the Nazarene, 415 Holley Road.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The monthly event will run through April, featuring local vendors and all sorts of goodies.
DAR accepting
scholarship applications
The Santiam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Scholarship Committee is now accepting scholarship applications for graduating high school seniors, and college and graduate students in specific areas of study who plan on or are already attending an accredited college or university in the United States.
The 2026 DAR Scholarship application portal is now open, and applications are being accepted through Jan. 31 at DAR AcademicWorks. To learn more about the different scholarship opportunities and to apply, visit the online application portal found on the DAR website at https://dar.academicworks.com/.
The DAR administers more than two dozen scholarships in fields including medicine, nursing, science, education, law, music, English and horticulture, and several of the scholarships are renewable for up to four years of study.
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the America 250! Scholarship has been expanded for the 2026 award year. Ten one-time awards of $25,000 each will be granted to students majoring in American History. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a minimum 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), and submit a one-page essay on either the founding of our nation or their personal volunteer service to community and country.
Christmas bell
ringers needed
Sweet Home Emergency Ministries is seeking bell ringers to staff Salvation Army donation buckets during the holiday season in Sweet Home.
Individuals, businesses, churches, civic groups or school groups are invited to sponsor a Tuesday or Saturday, through Dec. 20, at the Sweet Home Bi-Mart (west-end exit) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Four-hour slots can be divided up as sponsors wish, but they must be staffed during that period.
Proceeds go to SHEM programs that provide backpacks and supplies to local children in the fall.
SHEM staff will deliver and pick up the bell and kettle stand for each stint. Ringers are free to wear holiday attire, sing carols and generally provide festive cheer. Sponsors are welcome to bring a modest sign to display their group or business name.
For more information or to reserve a date, contact Cindy Rice at (541) 409-2803 or Julie Dedman at (541) 409-9093.
Pajama collection
The Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce will be a collection site to accept donations of pajamas for youth in Linn County foster care.
All sizes are needed, from newborn to XXXL. This is CASA’s annual pajama drive. For more information, visit linncasa.org/pajama-drive.
The chamber is open Tues-Fri, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at 1575 Main St. Donations accepted until Dec. 12.
Gingerbread bakers
competition Dec. 13
Got baking skills? Demonstrate them at the seventh annual Gingerbread Competition sponsored by Julegard: The Christmas Farm and the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce.
Entries will be judged on Saturday, Dec. 13, in the following categories: Child (5-8), Youth (9-12), Teen (13-17), Adult (18-plus), Group/Family and People’s Choice.
Entries can be dropped off between 1 and 3 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St. Judging begins at 3:15. Public viewing and People’s Choice voting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m.
For more information and to sign up, visit sweethomechamber.com/events/eventcalendar.
Parade of Lights
The annual Parade of Lights will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, in downtown Sweet Home along Main and Long streets.
This year’s theme, “Candyland,” celebrates the sweetness of Sugar City with a dazzling display of gingerbread and candy-themed floats.
Those interested in participating with their own float may contact the Chamber of Commerce by calling 541-367-6186, emailing [email protected], or stopping in at 1575 Main St. during office hours, Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Incorporate gingerbread and candy elements into your float, such as gingerbread houses, candy canes, gumdrops, lollipops, and candy swirls. Bright, colorful lighting is a must. Use a minimum of 1,000 lights per float to ensure your gingerbread and candy designs shine in the nighttime parade.
Oversized props and costumes are encouraged. Let your creativity sparkle by creating larger-than-life gingerbread figures and candyland scenes.
Entry fee is $10 for Chamber of Commerce members, or $20 for non-members.
Urgent need for Meals
on Wheels delivery
Meals on Wheels of Sweet Home is in urgent need of volunteer drivers, delivering free meals to local seniors and disabled adults in the Sweet Home area.
Delivery days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. The role is best suited for people available in the mid-day, as meals go out at noon. Volunteers work one to two days a week for about 2.5 hours each shift.
Meals on Wheels is managed by Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments and operated by local volunteers. Volunteers package fresh meals in the kitchen and the drivers deliver them. Many local people count on this food as a primary source of nutrition.
Email to [email protected] or call Heidi at 541.812.6015. Each volunteer must fill out an application and complete a background check.
Museum needs
help from locals
East Linn Museum is seeking volunteers and items that are needed for the operation of the museum.
The museum needs volunteers for its operations to replace retiring volunteers. New volunteers are not required to know anything about the museum or how to operate a computer. The museum operates three days a week from Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Supplies needed by the museum include: copy paper, postage stamps, legal size envelopes, paper towels, toilet paper, glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner and Ajax.
For more information, call the museum at (541) 367-4580.
Free dinners on Mondays
Sunshine Industries invites the public to a free dinner every Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at 1333 Clark Mill Road. Because everyone matters.
Free health clinic Tuesdays
The East Linn Community Clinic is held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 1600 Main St. in Lebanon.
This is a medical clinic that provides primary and acute medical care for under- or uninsured individuals. On select nights, Western U COMP-NW offers osteopathic manipulative medicine to treat chronic and acute pain. Patients may walk in or schedule appointments.
For more information, call (541) 758-3000 ext. 115.