Science Pub to focus on activism
Science activism and the role it plays in aiding communities vulnerable to environmental risks will be the topic of the Oregon State University Science Pub on March 8.
The virtual event, a joint effort of Oregon State University in Corvallis and OSU-Cascades in Bend, will feature a talk by Robert Melchior Figueroa, an associate professor of environmental justice and philosophy at Oregon State’s School of History, Philosophy, and Religion. His presentation is titled “The Moral Terrains of Science Activism and Environmental Justice.”
Environmental justice addresses the intersection of social justice and the environmental conditions in which people live, work and play. The environmental justice movement, now the largest and continuously growing social movement in the world, continues to mobilize people of color, the poor and marginalized communities impacted by a wide-range of environmental issues directly impacting vulnerable communities.
Since the 1980’s, the movement is recognized for its grassroots activism, 70% to 80% of which has been organized and led worldwide by blue-collar women who are predominantly women of color.
Figueroa has studied hundreds of environmental justice cases, and will discuss a range of examples that demonstrate how science activism and environmental justice connect.
These include the Hull House reformers, who set up a settlement house in the late 1800s to aid recently arrived European immigrants; Love Canal activists, who mobilized environmental cleanup efforts in a community in Niagara Falls, New York in the 1970s; as well as international cases, and people fighting today to address inequities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The free Science Pub will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be broadcast on YouTube Live. Registration is required and can be completed at: https://beav.es/J77.
Forestry series topic to be research
The annual Starker Lecture Series at Oregon State University will this year focus on resilience in the face of disasters and other disturbances and how people across the forest landscape work to overcome them and learn from them.
The series examines how communities, industries and organizations have responded to recent and previous disruptions and are poised to play critical roles in creating a better future in the areas of forest economics, recreation, education and research.
The series is free and open to the public via Zoom and Facebook Live. It features four panel discussions and concludes with a capstone workshop scheduled for a still to be determined date in April. Registration for each of the panel discussions is open.
The series began on Jan. 28 and has addressed recreation and education (Feb. 10) and economics (March 3) thus far.
The next session, on March 10, will focus on research. The capstone will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on April 7 or April 21, whichever date is ultimately selected.
More information and archives of completed lectures are available at starkerlectures.forestry.
Master gardeners to talk herbicides
The Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener program is offering a series of free virtual monthly classes, The Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series, which will be broadcast via Zoom webinar at 3 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month through November.
The content, taught by horticulture experts from around the state, is meant to address current issues like wildfires, climate change and pollinators.
The topic for Tuesday, March 9, will be “Dirt Gone Bad: When Your Soil Amendment has been Contaminated.”
Herbicides sometimes make their way into the regional composting system and unsuspecting gardeners purchase herbicide-contaminated compost and soil mix, which leads to damaged plants.
This class will teach how to recognize the damage, what to do about it and how to avoid the problem. Also learn how to use compost in the vegetable garden, landscape and lawn.
The classes are free but registration is required. To make them accessible to those who cannot attend the live session, the classes will be recorded and available at extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/growing-oregon-gardeners-level-series for anyone to watch.
SAFE Party can drive March 13
The Class of 2021 SAFE Party organizing committee will hold a bottle and can drive fundraiser from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 13, with drop-off at O’Reilly’s parking lot at the corner of 10th and Main.
Pick-up can also be arranged by contacting Brandi at (541) 401-7167. All proceeds benefit the SAFE event.
SHCF application deadline March 15
The Sweet Home Community Foundation has begun accepting grant applications for its 2021 cycle.
The Foundation’s goal is to provide funding and support to a wide variety of community projects within east Linn County. Special consideration is placed on projects that can provide lasting benefits to our community.
Once again this year there are two grant programs. Applicants may not apply for both grant programs within the same year.
SHCF Community Grants are given in the following broad categories: Children and Families; Education; Community Livability and Arts and Culture. Grants up to $2,500.00 are awarded.
The Alice Blazer Memorial Grant is for up to $10,000.00. This grant is specifically for projects able to demonstrate tangible long term community benefits; a positive wide reaching impact and have additional financial or in-kind support to achieve success.
Grant applicants must be a 501(c) 3 or other qualified tax-exempt organization or the proposed project may be implemented in partnership or affiliation with such an organization.
The initial application for both grant programs can be submitted online at giveshcf.org/grant2021 through March 15.
Support for the Foundation is provided through the generosity of local individuals and businesses.
Grant award recipients will be announced in April.
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, coffee or tea upon request and diabetic desserts are available on request.
The menu on Friday, March 5, is sloppy joe or breaded fish with Tartar sauce, Normandy blend vege- tables, baked beans, bun and golden fruit cup.
The menu on Monday, March 8, is cowboy campfire stew or chicken tetrazzini, green beans, creamy coleslaw, sunflower seed roll and orange whip.
The menu on Tuesday, March 9, is Mexican pasta bake or shepherd’s pie, Capri blend vegetables, romaine iceberg salad, rye bran roll and zucchini brownie.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.