Upcoming City Meetings
These are regularly-scheduled meetings. Sometimes the dates or times are changed due to schedule conflicts among members, work session additions, holidays, etc. Last minute changes do occur at times. Please check the governing board’s website for updated information and agendas.
Charter School Board: Mon., May 4, 6 p.m., at Sand Ridge Charter School, 100 Sand Ridge Ct., Lebanon.
Sweet Home Planning Commission: Thur., May 7, 6:30 p.m., at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
Central Linn School Board: Mon., May 11, 6 p.m., at Conference Room, 239 W 2nd St., Halsey.
Sweet Home School Board: Mon., May 11, 6:30 p.m., at 1920 Long St.
Lebanon Fire District: Tues., May 12, 5:30 p.m., at 1050 W. Oak St.
Sweet Home City Council: Tues., May 12, 6:30 p.m., at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
Waterloo City Council: Tues., May 12, 7 p.m., at 31140 1st St.
Halsey City Council: Tues., May 12, 7 p.m., at City Hall, 100 Halsey St.
Lebanon City Council: Wed., May 13, 6 p.m., at Lebanon Library, 55 Academy St.
Lebanon School Board: Thur., May 14, 6 p.m., at Lebanon Library, 55 Academy St.
Lebanon Aquatic District: Mon., May 18, 6 p.m., at Lebanon Pool, 1800 S 5th St.
Sweet Home Fire Board: Tue., May 19, 6:30 p.m., at 1099 Long St.
Brownsville Fire Board: Tue., May 19, 6:30 p.m., at 600 E Blakely.
Sweet Home Park & Tree Committee: Wed., May 20, 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
Lebanon Parks, Trees & Trails: Wed., May 20, 2 p.m. at Lebanon Library, 55 Academy St.
Lebanon Planning Commission: Wed., May 20, 6 p.m. at Lebanon Library, 55 Academy
Sweet Home Planning Commission: Thur., May 21, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
Sodaville City Council: Thur., May 21, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 30723 Sodaville Road.
Sweet Home City Council: Tue., May 26, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
Brownsville City Council: Tue., May 26, 7 p.m., at City Hall, 255 N Main St.
The New Era publishes announcements of upcoming events at no charge, as space permits. Free and nonprofit events are prioritized, but free services or events offered by for-profit businesses will also be included as space permits. To submit an event, email information (description, location, date, time and any other necessary details, as well as contact information for questions) to [email protected] at least two weeks prior to the event. Questions? Call (541) 367-2135 or send a message to the above email.
Pacific Power
Wildfire Open House
Pacific Power representatives will talk about what the company is doing to increase safety and reliability in local communities during wildfire season, as well as the rest of the year.
The event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, 1040 S. Park. There is no charge and refreshments will be provided.
Get your questions answered by customer service team members, and interact with public safety representatives from the area.
For more information, contact the chamber at (541) 258-7164.
Model train exhibit
at Lebanon Library
Lebanon Public Library will host the Oregon Electric O-Gaugers Model Train Club model train event on Wednesday and Thursday, April 29-30 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 2 (12-3 p.m.), at 55 Academy St.
The room-sized interactive exhibit allows families to watch trains circle the track, complete with a trolley, lighted cities and hands-on activities for kids.
LCSWA tour of
Camas Springs
Linn County Small Woodlands Association will conduct a tour of the Camas Springs property from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 1.
The restored property at 38717 Crawfordsville Drive, Sweet Home, includes natural soda springs that attract band-tailed pigeons, which are expected to be present when the tour occurs, along with mature stands of Ponderosa pine and incense cedar, and fields of camas and other wildflowers.
Host Phillip Callaway’s wife Karyn, who passed away in 2025, will be honored.
Registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/camas-springs-property-tour-tickets-1986254226861?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Activities at the
Healing Gardens
Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation invites people to enjoy the hospital’s Japanese healing gardens through several upcoming opportunities. For more information, contact Brandy O’Bannon at [email protected].
May 1 at 10 a.m. – May Day Garden Clean Up: Volunteers needed who are willing to help with light gardening tasks at the hospital healing garden, such as raking and weeding. Email [email protected] to sign-up.
May 3 at 1 p.m. – De-stress With Your Senses: Experience the garden through guided activities that engage all five senses. A series of short sessions designed to awaken the senses and promote relaxation. Participants will rotate through five activities, including a therapeutic garden walk (sight), a succulent plant activity (touch), tea tasting (taste), sachet making (smell) and a musical experience (sound). Geared toward adults 18 and older; pets are not permitted.
Free WesternU Rural
Healthcare Equity Fair
Western University will hold its second annual WesternU Rural Health Care Equity Fair Saturday, May 2, at the River Center, 3000 S. Santiam Hwy., in Lebanon.
The public is also invited to attend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include free general screenings, youth and sport physicals, physical therapy screenings, nutrition and lifestyle education, osteopathic manipulation demonstrations, and other local
Free Saturday
garden lectures
OSU Extension Service’s Master Gardeners invite the public to their last free organic garden lecture this spring on Saturdays, May 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lebanon Senior Center, 80 Tangent St.
Peruse info tables and magazines, select free seeds from the Seed Wagon, find free planting supplies, or ask questions to master gardeners. Each class also involves hands-on planting.
Register by emailing Sheryl Castee at [email protected]. Provide your first and last name, and phone number.
This class focuses on pests and predators in the garden – an insect pictorial from egg to adult, presented by Sheryl Casteen, MG, and Anna Sassalos, MG.
Also, stop in to pick up some free tomato plants and get some tomato-growing tips at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16.
Mother’s Day vendor event
Bodacious Babes will host its annual Mother’s Day craft & vendor sale event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3, at the Sweet Home High School gym, 1641 Long St.
As many as 44 vendors, crafters and collectors will be available to sell their products, including handmade foods, cute novelties, polished rocks, candles, bath delights, a variety of crafted goods, jewelry and more.
Vendor fees and raffles benefit a local woman battling cancer.
Support Lebanon
Pool fundraiser
The Friends of Lebanon Pool will host its second annual Splash for Cash fundraiser from May 3-9.
Patrons of the Lebanon Community Pool are being recruited to set goals for swimming laps or other pool exercise activities (water walking and water aerobics). For example, one patron pledged to swim 60 laps in an hour. The swimmers will collect pledges from family, friends and acquaintances to donate to the Friends of Lebanon Pool when the participants have met their goals.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will support current programs, expand pool use to new groups, and help fund future repairs and improvements at the Lebanon Community Pool. Friends of Lebanon Pool is a 501c3 charitable organization, and all donations are tax deductible.
Swimmers interested in participating can register at the pool or online at Friendsoflebanonpool.com/events. For more information, call Robert Waterhouse at 541-619-2125.
Samaritan Behavioral Health
and Recovery ribbon cutting
Samaritan Behavioral Health & Recovery Clinic invites the public to its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony from 3:30-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at 100 Mullins Dr., Suite C1, Lebanon. The ribbon cutting is at 4 p.m.
Visitors can tour the clinic, meet the care teams and learn more about their comprehensive, integrated services. Light desserts and refreshments will be provided.
The clinic provides personalized care through residential and outpatient treatment, peer support and skill-building programs that empower individuals. The clinic serves adults with serious mental illness, substance use disorders and complex medical conditions.
Care teams work closely with patients as partners in their care and collaborate with community organizations to provide holistic support.
To learn more, visit samhealth.org/BHRCLebanon.
Garden Club Plant Sale
The Lebanon Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale Friday-Saturday, May 8-9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Santiam Place Event Center, 139 S Main St., Lebanon.
After 5 Connections dinner, program
After 5 Connections – a gathering for women – will host “Tea and a Good Book” dinner/tea and program from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, at Lebanon Foursquare Church, 470 West C St., Lebanon.
Guest speaker will be Michele Ping, from Texas. She will share “NYC Stress to Real Peace.” She is a NYC native turned Texas farmwife. Ping is a speaker, humorist, caregiver, Tres Dias volunteer, wife, mother and grandmother. She shares laughs, life lessons and will even explain her talents to upgrade the look of her car and make it appear more stylish and “cool.”
Karen Barnett, of Albany, is the evening’s special feature. The award-winning author of seven novels writes historical romance and sweeps readers into the beauty and adventure of our national parks. A former park ranger and naturalist, she worked at several Oregon National Parks.
Jacob Looper, gifted musician and soloist, will provide background music and sing for this special evening.
Cost for dinner is $23; credit cards cannot be accepted. To RSVP, contact Sherri at 541-258-6414, or Nancy at 541-259-1396 or by email at [email protected]. Please contact if you have to cancel your reservation.
American Man award
nominations sought
The 10th annual Honoring the American Man Recognition and Dinner will be held June 13.
The annual event in Sweet Home honors men for who they are – husbands, fathers, pastors, co-workers, bosses, brothers, veterans , etc.
Applications to nominate a man in your life are available by emailing [email protected] or at the VFW and American Legion headquarters in Sweet Home.
Deadline for nominations is May 16. This is not a contest. All men are honored and recognized for who they are.
For more information, text or call Nancy Patton at (541) 409-4276.
Volunteers needed for
SH Sesquicentennial prep
The Sweet Home Beautification Committee is seeking volunteers to help plant various floral displays in the community, as well as maintain the Main Street median through the summer.
Here are planned events:
Tuesday, May 19: Volunteers will plant the median strip downtown in red, white and blue to mark the USA’s 250th birthday.
Wednesday, May 20: Volunteers will plant entryways to the city. Shea Point planting will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m.; Hwy. 228/Fern Ridge from 11 a.m. to noon; and Clover Park at the intersection of Hwy. 20 and 1st Avenue will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Regular bi-weekly workdays to maintain the Main Street median are from 8:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Volunteers meet at Key Bank, on the corner of 10th and Main.
Safety vests and trowels are provided for volunteers.
The public is welcome to attend the committee’s monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at City Hall, 3225 Main St.
For more information, contact Candice Snyder at (541) 971-1092 or [email protected].
Lebanon garden
beds available
Porter Park Community Garden in Lebanon has 15 raised garden plots available for rent.
The Community Garden was built by the city to give Lebanon residents a place to garden and promote a healthy community through fresh garden-grown produce and enjoy a community of gardeners.
Located at 2240 Porter St., the rental plot includes soil, compost, water, basic gardening tools to use on-site, and support from Master Gardener and Community Garden Coordinator Sheryl Casteen.
Impromptu garden classes or mentoring available upon request. Application documents can be found at LebanonOregon.gov/535/Porter-Park-Community-Garden, or send an email request to [email protected].
Free Sweet Home
electronic recycling
In partnership with Green Century Electronics Recycling, the City of Sweet Home will host a free household electronics recycling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at Sweet Home City Hall, 3225 Main St.
This event is open to households and small businesses. Green Century Electronics Recycling will perform secure data destruction (NIST 800.88) on data-containing devices.
Be sure to follow the guidance for what can and cannot be recycled. There will not be the opportunity to dispose of anything not accepted by Green Century Electronics Recycling on site.
For more information, contact Maggie Clark, of Green Century Electronics Recycling, at
[email protected], or call 503-764-9963.
Second annual
Lebanon Powwow
The second annual Lebanon Powwow will be held on Saturday, May 30, at Lebanon High School, 1700 S 5th St.
This is a family-friendly, drug- and alcohol-free cultural event that is free and open to the public.
The powwow is coordinated by Laurie Regalado through the Native American / Alaska Native Education Program. The purpose of the event is to celebrate and share Native culture, honor traditions, uplift Native youth, recognize elders and graduating seniors, and bring the broader community together in a respectful and educational way.
The event will include grand Entry and powwow dancing, drumming and singing, special dances – including tiny tots, cultural and educational components, and Native vendors offering handmade items, art and food. Several drum groups are expected to participate and the Ameyalmazatl Citlaltonal Aztec Dancers are scheduled to perform from 5 to 6 p.m. The Grand Ronde Color Guard is also scheduled to participate.
Vendor applications are being accepted. For an application, email [email protected].
Additional details, including the full schedule, will be shared closer to the event date.
Baby and Preschool
Storytime at library
Lebanon Public Library’s storytimes will continue on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 55 Academy St.
Baby and Me StoryTime is held at 10 a.m. every Wednesday. This is designed for ages 0 to 24 months and their caregivers. Those that attend will enjoy interactive time with their child through stories, finger plays, rhyme time and more.
Preschool StoryTime is held at 10 a.m. every Thursday. This allows children 3 years old through kindergarten to explore their world interactively through books, songs, finger plays and crafts.
For more information about storytimes at the Lebanon Library, call (541) 258-4926, visit www.ci.lebanon.or.us/library, or follow the library on social media.
Square dance lessons
open to public
Lebanon Square Circlers offers square dance lessons Sundays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lebanon Senior Center, 80 Tangent St.
No experience required. The first class is free and cost thereafter is $6 per person or $15 per family. All ages are welcome.
Shaun McKamey will be the caller/instructor.
Square Circlers also hold dances on the first and third Saturday nights of each month at the Lebanon Senior Center.
For more information, call (541) 401-9780 or visit www.lebanonsquarecirclers.com.
Church seeks hygiene help
Crowfoot Baptist Church operates a hygiene supply program for families in need. They are in need of toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, bar soap, hand soap, feminine hygiene products (tampons and pads), razors, shaving cream, dish soap, laundry detergent, bathroom cleaner, bleach, toilet paper, garbage bags.
To donate, or for more information, call (541) 258-3138, or visit the church during open hours (T, W, Th, and Sun from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m) at 699 Cascade Drive.
Suicide loss
support group
Lebanon Area Mental Health Alliance hosts a Suicide Bereavement Support Group every second Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 Santiam Hwy. in conference room 1 and 2. Park and enter at the back of the building.
For anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one by suicide, struggles with previous attempts or attempts from a loved one, or if suicide has had an impact on your life.
A licensed mental health therapist will facilitate the meetings. For more information, contact Dave Butler at (541) 936-2580 or via email at [email protected].
Animal rescue
helpers needed
Linn County Animal Rescue needs volunteers for its nonprofit work outside Lebanon. For those interested in a rewarding time spent with animals, consider joining LCAR which has horses, minis, cows, sheep and senior dogs. There are two shifts a day, morning and afternoon. Volunteers can work with the livestock or dogs, or both.
Donations and sponsorships are also welcomed. For more information, visit lcarhorse.org or call (541) 258-3422.
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.
VFW open events
The VFW & AUX Post #3437 invites the public to its open house events, located at 580 Main St., Sweet Home.
Breakfast every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Poker night every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Karaoke every second and fourth Friday
Cook-Off competitions once a month