OSU Extension preservation tips
The Oregon State University Extension Service Master Food Preserver program is offering a free hotline to help local residents preserve their fruits, vegetables and meats.
The toll-free hotline at 800-354-7319 runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. When the hotline is closed, callers can leave a message. The hotline is staffed by certified Master Food Preserver volunteers and is available statewide.
Also, in partnership with OSU Extension, Bi-Mart has placed sign-age and information in food preservation aisles in the employee-owned chain’s 80 stores in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
The Extension-designed posters and brochures provide tips on canning, freezing, smoking, pickling, drying, jerky, and jams and jellies. They come complete with a QR code that, when scanned with a smartphone, takes you to OSU Extension’s Home Food Safety and Preservation website with additional information.
Extension’s Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer service, is another way to get information. Post a question and an expert will get back to you within 48 hours. They can offer information about anything related to food preservation from safety concerns to recipes.
A free app, Canning Timer & Checklist, provides reminders of essential steps in the canning process. Also, check out the new Facebook page and Instagram page.
Additionally, many Extension offices offer free pressure gauge testing.
Friday night music at Marks Ridge
Marks Ridge Winery hosts its summer concert series at 7 p.m. Fridays at 29255 Berlin Road.
July 31’s performers will be Cashmere & Chaos. The duo specializes in a wide repertoire, from Sinatra to Lonestar to Maroon 5. They will perform an eclectic mix of popular covers from the 1960s forward.
Cost is $10 per person. Bring a picnic dinner, friends, blankets and law chairs. Wine is available for sale.
For more information, contact Janet at (541) 974-4457.
Bands and Brews Saturdays in Plaza
Summer Bands and Brews takes place Saturday evenings in Strawberry Plaza, 847 S. Main St. in Lebanon.
Performances begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
The Aug. 1 performers will be the Bandulus. The Bandulus (Ban-Doo-Loos) are the brainchild of Jeremy Peña, a musician from Austin, Texas.
Formerly of Los Skarnales and the Trenchtown Texans, Peña ventured out on his own to create the Portland-based traditional ska, reggae, and soul group that has released three albums.
Business support during COVID-19
To better support local businesses during the COVID-19 health crisis, Linn-Benton Community College’s Small Business Development Center has created a new platform for virtual business forums, called Let’s Keep Connected.
The site offers three virtual town hall forums per week, at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday.
Content will vary and include information on funding programs, other resources and updates, and Q&A sessions with SBDC Advisors and other local agencies and organizations.
Check it out at letskeepconnected.org and sign up for one of the upcoming town hall forums. All events are free, but registration is required.
More information is available at http://www.linnbenton.edu/extended-learning/small-business-development-center/index.php.
Free class on how to spot child abuse
ABC House will offer free virtual training in “Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect” from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3.
The online Zoom interactive training is intended to teach participants how to prevent, recognize and respond to all four types of child abuse: physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect.
Handling disclosures and situations of suspicions of abuse, are addressed in detail. Specific prevention strategies will be offered for protecting children in times of crisis or unusual circumstances such as what is happening now with the COVID-19 global pandemic.
To register, visit us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpdOivrjMrHNwePYOxFtV4ZwihbjVOzkEO.
For more information, contact Rebecca Simmons at (541) 926-2203.
Meals on Wheels weekly menu
Meals on Wheels offers take-out 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.
Suggested donation is $3.50. All meals are served with milk and diabetic desserts are available on request.
The menu on Friday, July 31, is King Ranch chicken bake or lima beans and turkey ham, broccoli, spinach, romaine salad, cornmeal roll and banana chocolate chip bar.
The menu on Monday, Aug. 3, is hearty chicken stew or scalloped potatoes and turkey ham, Brussels sprouts, tossed salad, whole wheat roll and spiced apples.
The menu on Tuesday, Aug. 4, is white bean chicken chili or mac and cheese Florentine, Key West blend vegetables, spinach romaine salad, cracked wheat roll and key lime bar.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.