Community grant
applications open
The City of Sweet Home is accepting applications for its Community Grants Program until Dec. 31.
The program is offered twice per year. The City Council will its next set of grants in January.
To apply, complete the city’s application packet and return it to City of Sweet Home, Community Grants Program, 1140 12th Ave., Sweet Home, OR 97386.
The application may be found on the web at http://www.sweet-home.or.us/executive/page/city-sweet-home-community-grants-program.
For further information, call the city manager’s office at (541) 367-2135 or stop by City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.
Tax-Aide program
needs volunteers
The AARP Tax-Aide program is recruiting volunteers.
Training for volunteers starts in January. They offer this free tax preparation service in Linn and Benton counties, but their greatest need is for volunteers in Lebanon and Sweet Home.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax preparation help for anyone who cannot afford paid tax services, however those age 60 and over are their primary target audience. The Tax-Aide program is the nation’s largest free volunteer tax program, offered in conjunction with the IRS. There is no fee and no sales pitch for services, and AARP membership is not required.
Volunteer counselors are needed to work with taxpayers directly by filling out tax returns, using software approved by AARP and the IRS.
Those interested in volunteering should call (541) 971-5152 or email [email protected].
Galapagos Islands
photos and talk
Be an armchair traveler for an afternoon and join former photo tour operator Donald Lyons in a trip to the Galapagos Islands at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at Lebanon Library, 55 Academy St.
Lyons, who has 40 years of travel experience, will present a photo show and lots of knowledge that may benefit armchair and prospective travelers to the region. The event is free and library cards are not required to participate.
For more information, call (541) 258-4926, like the library on Facebook or follow on Instagram at lebanon_library.
Pre-holiday hike
Saturday at Foster
Sweet Home Trails members invite the public to join them for a short hike at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, beginning at the Gedney Creek Boat Ramp on North River Drive, about a mile east of the dam.
The hike will be an out-and-back two-miler on the North Foster Trail. Those who don’t want to go the entire distance can turn around at any point. The trail runs along the north shore of the lake, with many lake views. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for weather conditions.
For more information, email [email protected].
Master Recycler
class sign-ups
Sign-ups for the next Linn and Benton Master Recycler class, to be held on Tuesday nights from Jan. 9 through Feb. 27 at Oregon State University, are under way.
For more information or to register, which is required, visit tiny.cc/recycclass.
Genealogist to trace
his musical lineage
The Linn Genealogical Society presents “From Native American to Scottish” by Don Anderson at 1:15 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, at Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave. S.E., Albany.
Anderson, adopted at 6 months, received a copy of his pre-adoption birth certificate in 2000, and reunited with his birth mother in 2001. Then, beginning with DNA testing in 2006, he was finally able to confirm the identity and ethnicity of his birth father in June 2015.
A native Oregonian, Anderson was born in Portland and lives there today with his family. He has a degree in music education and performance and has directed the U.S. Army choir in Europe, Portland Chorale and Conchords Chorale. He has also performed with the Portland Opera and Oregon Symphony, and the New York City Opera ensemble, and currently operates a voice studio in Portland.
He will discuss how all this music background ties into his genetic genealogy.
For more information, call the LGS Library at (541) 791-1618 or visit http://www.lgsoregon.org.
Plant-based eating class at SLCH
Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital will offer a monthly series on plant-based eating.
The monthly classes will be held from 5 to 6 p.m., starting Wednesday, Jan. 10, with “Amazing Grains.”
Angie Frederic and Holly Weare, registered dietitians with the hospital’s Diabetes Education department, will host the series. They will present lessons on whole-food/plant-based eating, how to cook these types of food and offer new recipes. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Cost is $5 for each class, cash only, and all payments must be made prior to the class at the Diabetes Education office at the hospital. Payment will not be accepted at class check-in.
To register, call (541) 451-6313.
‘Three Musketeers’
on stage in Albany
The Albany Civic Theater will perform “The Three Musketeers” Jan. 12 to 27 at 111 First Ave. SW, downtown Albany.
Double crossings, kidnappings, and carefully guarded secrets keep the Musketeers and the writer in constant battle against their enemies, from looming deadlines to deadly assassins. Featuring lavish sword fights and sweeping romance, this adaptation of the classic novel evokes a time when honor and love ruled all.
Visit albanycivic.org to purchase gift certificates, season passes, and show tickets online.
Free ham radio class starts Jan. 17
The East Linn Ham Radio Club is offering a free 6- to 8-week class to assist those who are interested in becoming a licensed ham radio operator.
Classes will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., beginning Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Sweet Home Police Department’s training room, 1950 Main St.
Ham radio training manuals will be available for purchase at the beginning of the first class. This session is for the Technician License. Registration is required.
For information or to register, contact Edie Wilcox at (541) 401-0188.
Pain management
class at SLCH
The Mid Valley Pain Alliance will offer a class on “Understanding the Ongoing Pain Experience” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Hwy.
This is a free community presentation and discussion with local health care professionals.
For more information, email [email protected].
Hospital class on boosting health
A team of physicians and dietitians at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital will lead an 18-session Complete Health Improvement Program class from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays starting Jan. 22 through March 22 at the hospital for people struggling to get their weight or overall health under control.
CHIP is a lifestyle medicinal program scientifically proven to help people to improve their blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, BMI, sleep, resilience and depression. The class integrates optimal nutrition, exercise and behavioral psychology principles and tools to help participants achieve their health goals.
The hospital will host a free informational class as at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 8 in the hospital conference room 3 and 4. The informational class is highly encouraged, but not required, for anyone interested in taking the class.
For more information, or to register, call (541) 451-6313.
Meals on Wheels
weekly menu
Meals on Wheels, also known as Your Table or Ours, 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.
No meal will be served Friday, Dec. 22 or Monday, Dec. 25, due to the Christmas holiday.
The menu on Tuesday, Dec. 26, is pork choppie with gravy or chicken a la king, whipped potatoes, broccoli, oatmeal bread and pineapple.
Volunteers are needed for both kitchen help and meal delivery.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.