Blood Drive
The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m, on Thursday, Nov 16, at the Evangelical Church activity center; 1347 Long St. For more information contact, (800) 733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org.
Holiday Sparkle Bazaar
The American Legion Auxiliary Albany Unit 10 will host its sixth annual bazaar on Nov. 17 to 18 at 1215 Pacific Blvd SE, Albany.
Crafters, culinary creators and home-based business representatives are invited to share their goodies as the community begins holiday shopping. Vendors are currently wanted. For more information or to book your space, contact Michelle at (541) 409-4170 or via email at [email protected]. Proceeds support programs for children and youth in Linn County.
Father Daughter Dance
The Sweet Home Club Cheer will host a father-daughter dance from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, in the High School Commons, 1641 Long St.. Admission is $25 per father and daughter duo, $5 per additional daughter. Music, hot cocoa bar and desserts will be available. For more information, call (541) 401-0772.
Spaghetti and
dessert fundraiser
The Sweet Home Veterans Club will host a spaghetti dinner and dessert auction from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, at 580 Main St.
Dinner is $12 a plate for spaghetti, garlic bread, green salad and dessert. A dessert auction will follow the dinner. Proceeds benefit the Grinch Christmas Bike giveaway.
For more information, or to donate a dessert item, contact Jennifer Joslin at [email protected], or text (541) 971-7560.
Processing
grief seminar
Sweet Home Evangelical Church will host a “Good Grief” support event for those grappling with the profound pain of loss on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1467 Long St.
Sponsored by local businesses and nonprofits, and organized by a team of compassionate locals who have experienced unimaginable losses themselves, “Good Grief” aims to unite their strength and resilience in order to help others navigate the difficult journey of grief.
Event organizers Rachel Maynard, Anita Hutchins and Ed Skipper came together after enduring personal tragedies and found solace in their shared experiences. Maynard lost her son, Zachary, in an accident at Foster Lake in 2020. Hutchins faced her daughter Carlene Erickson’s battle with illness, while Skipper struggled with the sudden loss of his father during his teenage years. Their collective resilience inspired them to collaborate with Pastor Jim Corley to create an event aimed at fostering healing, understanding and community support.
A Sunday morning worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. with Skipper sharing his story and offering a narrative of resilience, faith and hope. An afternoon seminar, “How to Process Grief,” will provide insight and practical strategies for processing grief.
Chili and
cornbread contest
St. Helen Knights of Columbus will host its annual chili and cornbread contest at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, at St. Helen Catholic Church, 600 6th Ave.
There is no charge to enter the competition or sample the entries. Donations accepted. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each, six for $5, or 25 for $20; available for purchase after Saturday and Sunday masses. Prizes include a handcrafted trout rod, wine, goody baskets, a bicycle, handmade crafts and more. Proceeds benefit annual K of C college scholarships and more.
For more information, call (541) 223-1413.
Fire Dept. Sharing Tree
The Sweet Home Fire District hosts its annual sharing tree for the holiday season. Tags will start showing up on the tree beginning Nov. 6. Applications for your child are due Dec. 1 and available at https://bit.ly/47dfw1K
Reminders for those submitting applications:
1) Make sure that the child’s other parent hasn’t already submitted an application. They can only be submitted once. And they must live with the parent submitting the application. Putting a child in twice puts them at risk of being taken out altogether. If you are unsure if they are already on the list, you can contact us to find out.
2) The child must live in the Sweet Home school district. If you don’t live inside the SHSD boundaries, you are not eligible.
3) If your child is over 12, you need to fill out an application at the PD.
4) Remember that people in our community are graciously providing gifts for your children so keep that in mind when giving gift suggestions. We will automatically delete suggestions for video games and gaming systems.
Gifts must be returned by Dec. 5. They will be delivered to the children Dec. 14-15. For more information, call (541) 367-5882.
Free Thanksgiving get-together
The Veterans Club invites the community to a free Thanksgiving dinner at 12 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, 580 Main St. People may join the club inside the building for a warm meal; “to go” meals will not be provided. Football can be watched on the club’s 85-inch television. The invitation is sponsored by Sweet Home Liquor Store and Sons of AmVets.
Holiday Bazaar
Sweet Home Genealogical Society announced its annual Holiday Bazaar is coming up and they are accepting reservations for vendors.
The bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2, at 1223 Kalmia St. Tables/spaces can be rented at $20 for a five-foot table and $25 for an eight-foot table (price is for both days). Cash or PayPal accepted. To reserve a spot, call 541.818.0578 or email [email protected].
Kids Christmas Store
The ninth annual Kids Free Christmas Store will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Hope Church, 890 Mtn. View Road.
Kids Store is for Sweet Home children ages 2 through 12 to shop free for the families they live with. The event is run through a non profit group and each year many community businesses and individuals step up to the plate and help sponsor. Not only do kids get to shop for the families they live with, but the presents are wrapped to take home. Refreshments and crafts are available while gifts are wrapped.
Cultural Coalition
accepting applications
The Linn County Cultural Coalition is accepting proposals for grants to fund projects involving the arts, the humanities and heritage activities in Linn County.
The LCCC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Oregon Cultural Trust, a statewide entity established to promote and strengthen cultural organizations and activities in Oregon. Through local coalitions such as Linn County’s, the Trust distributes funding to all 36 Oregon counties and nine federally recognized tribes.
The LCCC has $22,000 available for grants in 2024. Grants typically range between $250 and $2,000. Applicants may be awarded less than the full amount requested. The grants are available to nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status. An organization or individual sponsored by a qualifying nonprofit may also apply. Full guidelines for applying are available at linnculture.org.
The deadline for completed grant applications is Feb. 2, 2024. The coalition board will review the applications and decide on awards within a few weeks of that date. Grant applications are available online at https://linnculture.org/our-grants/. Applications can be submitted online or sent by mail to the Linn County Cultural Coalition, P.O. Box 69, Albany, Oregon 97321. For further information, contact Rebecca Bond at (541) 928-0911.
Local play:
“The Innkeepers”
Satina Tolman, a local playwright, author and artist, invites the public to her original play production, “The Innkeeper,” from 2-3:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, and 7-8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Sweet Home High School Auditorium, 1641 Long St. Admission is free thanks to the support of sponsors.
With the mission of bringing people together through the arts, cast, crew and supporters organized the event to spread holiday cheer and share the true meaning of Christmas. The story follows the innkeeper and his wife as they retell the nativity story from their unique perspective. Tolman describes it as a “captivating tale that reminds us of the power of compassion, love and the true meaning of Christmas.”
For more information and updates about the event, visit the Facebook event page for “The Innkeepers.” For other inquiries or to become a sponsor, contact: [email protected].
SHHS Ski Club Silent Auction Fundraiser
The Sweet Home High School Ski and Ride Club will be hosting a silent auction 6 to 8 p.m Nov. 29 in the Sweet Home High School’s Commons Area. For $10, there is an all you can eat soup dinner and a movie showing, Stoke the Fire. Silent Auction items include season passes to Hoodoo, a build your own ski/snowboard workshop, lumber and bark dust from Weyerhaeuser, Oregon Jamboree Tickets, and lots of gift certificates/baskets from local businesses. Cash or check only. For more information, contact Lindsey Haggas at (541) 401-4794.
Fir Lawn Lutheran’s Bake Sale
Fir Lawn Lutheran will be hosting an annual bake sale, Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, 845 6th Ave. Holiday goodies, pies, candy, sweet breads, cookies, danish and more will be available. Drink some coffee, visit old friends, or fill your holiday needs. All proceeds support Sweet Home Emergency Services (S.H.E.M.). For more information contact, Sharon at (541) 367-4212 or Patty at (541) 990-1487.