‘If I Were Mayor’ contest
Sweet Home students in fourth through 12th grade are invited to share their creative ideas for what they would do if they were mayor for a day in the annual “If I Were Mayor…” contest.
As mayor, would you declare a citywide ice cream day? Would you name a park after someone of local importance? Would you help coordinate a city event to help the less fortunate?
Entries will be judged locally, and winners from each category (below) will be sent to the state level contest. The deadline to enter is March 14.
Each of the statewide first-place winners in the three categories will win $500 and attend an awards luncheon held during the Oregon Mayors Association Summer Conference in Baker City at the Geiser Grand Hotel. The conference will be Aug. 14-16; winners will be contacted in June for travel arrangements.
Categories are:
Elementary School (grade 4-5) – Posters contest. A photo of the poster can be PNG, JPEG or PDF files.
Middle School (grade 6-8) – Essay contest. Submit as a Word document, PDF, PowerPoint or online essay format.
High School (grades 9-12) – Digital media (video) presentation. Submit video as MP4 or an online video format.
Submissions can be dropped off at Sweet Home City Hall during normal business hours, or emailed to [email protected].
For more information, visit the handy reference page at www.sweethomeor.gov/citycouncil/page/if-i-were-mayor.
Learn about
pollinators
The 11th annual BEEvent Pollinator Conference will be held March 1, at the Linn County Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E, in Albany.
This year’s speakers include: Abigail Lehner of U.C. Davis, who will speak on “The Houdini Fly: Management Best Practices;” Nina Miller, of the Oregon State University Garden Ecology Lab., who will speak on “The Hover Fly: Predaceous Pollinator?”; Dr. Silvia Rondon director of OSU’s Integrated Pest Management Center, who will speak on
Integrating Pest Management in our Daily Gardening Practices;” Linn County Master Gardener Rene Miller, who will speak on “Native Mason Bees;” and Dr. Gail Langellotto, director of OSU’s Garden Ecology Lab, whose topic will be “An Update from the Garden Ecology Lab.”
The event will give participants a chance to learn more about how to support pollinators for a sustainable future, and get updated information from experts’ focused research, which they can apply to their property. A Q&A session will be held after each speaker.
Mason bee kits and other native bee supplies will be available for purchase, as well as Willamette Valley-raised cocoons. Also in attendance will be local vendors and related non-profits.
Sunshine Industries
fundraiser March 1
Sunshine Industries will hold its annual fundraising dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at 1333 Clark Mill Road.
The event will include raffle prizes, a silent auction, dinner and a bar serving beer and wine.
Sunshine Industries provides a social and work environment for adults with developmental disabilities and serves a wide client base throughout east Linn County.
For more information, call 541.367.2765.
Mini Market
Moves Location
The 3rd Saturday Mini Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 15 at Church of the Nazarene, 415 Holley Rd.
Vendors offer items such as sourdough bread, soaps, crafts, jewelry, cookies and wellness products.
Gun show
Willamette Valley Arms Collectors Association will host its 2025 Collectors Display and Gun Show on Saturday, March 15 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Sunday, March 16 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), at the Lane Events Center, 796 W 13th Ave., Eugene.
There will be 220 tables for dealers, personal displays and more. Admission is $10, parking is free. Tickets purchased on Saturday are good for both show days. Active military, and kids 12 & under get in for free.
For more information, call Rolland at 541.729.7034, email [email protected], or visit www.wvaca.org.
Donut fundraiser
A fundraiser for the Mrs. Clause & Elves Workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at the Saturday Market at the Church of the Nazarene, 415 Holley Rd.
The elves are selling boxes of Krispy Creme donuts.
Remaining donuts will be available for sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, at 925 Long Street, Apt. 1.
One dozen glazed donuts are $18, one dozen assorted specialty donuts are $25. For more information, or for pre-orders (which are encouraged) call Patricia at 458-278-8069.
ODFW wildlife art contest
The Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife invites artists to submit their work for the 2026 stamp art competitions.
The winning artists receive a $2,000 award and their artwork is used to produce collector’s stamps and other promotional items with sale proceeds benefiting Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats. The three contests are:
Habitat Conservation Stamp – Art entries must feature a Strategy Species identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy in its appropriate habitat. Not all species in the Strategy are eligible, so please use the qualifying list of species. See the contest rules and entry form for more information and a list of eligible species. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/habitat_conservation_stamp.asp
Waterfowl Stamp Contest – Art entries must feature one of the following species in its natural habitat setting: Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, or Ruddy Duck. See contest rules and entry form for more information. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/contest/index.asp
Upland Game Bird Stamp Contest – Art entries must feature Ring-necked Pheasant in its natural habitat setting. See contest rules and entry form for more information. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/contest/index.asp
Artists are asked to use the Recommendations for Packaging Artwork on the Contest Rules’ final page.
A panel will judge artwork based on artistic composition, anatomical accuracy of the species and general appeal. Collector’s stamps, art prints and other promotional materials are produced from first-place artwork. Proceeds from product sales are used for habitat improvement, research surveys and conservation projects.
Interested artists are encouraged to visit ODFW’s stamp art competition webpage for more information on the contests and to view entries from previous years.
Entries will be accepted from Aug. 29 until 5 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the ODFW headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., SE, Salem, OR 97302.
For more information on contest rules and to order stamps and art prints, visit: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/stamp_contest/index.asp
Entries can be mailed or hand delivered. If you hand-deliver your entry, please call ahead to make arrangements at 503.947.6314.
Organic gardening classes
Master Gardener Sheryl Casteen will host organic gardening classes from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for six Saturdays (March 22, 29, and April 5, 12, 19, 26) at the Lebanon Senior Center, 80 Tangent St.
The Food Garden Classes are free and open to the public and will cover different topics, including soil preparation, irrigation, seed starting, identifying plant diseases & pests, organic prevention methods, weeds, composting, container planting, raised beds, worm bins, and when to harvest. Plus there will be time to answer questions.
We will delve into exciting new discoveries for the backyard gardener, including insights into the soil-plant relationship, newly developed disease and pest-resistant varieties, inventive composting methods, and more.
These classes are good if you are new to gardening and want to get a great start, or an advanced gardener interested in new information about the latest methods for ‘growing successfully.’
There’s an opportunity to swap seeds, so bring yours and/or take what’s brought in. Each class will also have hands-on planting lessons; supplies will be provided.
Pre-teens and teens are encouraged to join if they are interested in learning how to grow their own food and flowers.
Register by emailing Sheryl at [email protected]. Provide your first and last name, plus phone number.
Art show at
City Hall
A new art exhibit is on display in the City Hall Gallery, 3225 Main St. featuring work of local artist Colene Wiley.
Wiley specializes in very fine line and pointillism ink, and watercolor pencil graphics. Many of her creations focus on animals. City Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, except for legal holidays.
Look back at pre-dam days
The Atlas of Drowned Towns will host a two-day event, “Green Peter & Foster History Jamboree,” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St.
The event will include activities as we explore life in Sweet Home before the construction of Green Peter and Foster dams in 1967 and 1968. Learn about Sweet Home and the surrounding area, share your stories, bring your historical artifacts to be digitized, discover more in presentations and workshops, chat with community members, and more.
This event is free and open to community members of all ages. For more information, visit www.drownedtowns.com.
Rock and Mineral
Show March 29-30
The 75th Annual Sweet Home Rock and Mineral Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, at Sweet Home High School.
This year’s theme will be “Knock on Wood.”
The event, hosted by the Sweet Home Rock and Mineral Club, includes raffles and door prizes, lots of rock and mineral displays, vendors, demonstrations, food and plenty of accessible parking.
Admission is $1 for adults and teens; children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
For more information on how to participate, call 541.451.2740, 541.451.1577, or email [email protected].
SHCF accepting
grant applications
The Sweet Home Community Foundation will begin accepting grant applications for the
2025 cycle beginning Feb. 15. The goal of the foundation is to provide funding
and support to worthwhile community organizations and projects in the Sweet Home area.
Special consideration is placed on projects that can demonstrate lasting benefits to our
community.
SHCF Community Grants are available for up to $10,000. Applications can be submitted
online at giveshcf.org/grant2025 through March 31.
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.
Grant funds are provided through the generosity of local businesses, individuals and the
Sweet Home Community Foundation-Tim and JoAnne McQueary, Leave a Local Legacy
Endowment.
Grant award recipients will be announced in April.
Lebanon chorus
seeks singers
The Lebanon Community Chorus is seeking singers as it starts its 2025 schedule.
Rehearsals have started at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Lebanon.
The Lebanon Community Chorus is an unauditioned, mixed-voice chorus often accompanied by piano. All voices are welcome. Participants should be able to carry a tune, enjoy singing, and can cooperate in a musical environment with others.
The chorus’ spring concert will be April 27. Director is Terence Madlangbayan and the accompanist is Bill Langdon.
For more information, visit lebanoncommunitychorus.org.
Stage directors
needed for 2025
Mid-Valley Productions, a non-profit live performing art and events company that aims to bring cultural, educational and entertaining experiences to the community, seeks directors for its 2025 season.
Last year MVP hosted 10 events, ranging from theatrical productions to documentary screenings to concerts at Russell Tripp Performance Center on the Linn-Benton Community College Albany campus.
For more information, email [email protected] by March 31.
Deliver for
Meals on Wheels
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.
Carriage Me Back
Brownsville’s annual “Carriage Me Back” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, and from 12-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.
Enjoy a carriage ride around town while being entertained by skits based on history and flavored with artistic license before being dropped at the Moyer House for more entertainment.
Ticket are $15 for adults, and $5 for under 12 years old. Full carriage rides can be reserved (20 people) for $225. Reservations are strongly recommended.
For more information, call the Linn County Historical Museum at 541-466-3390, or stop by the museum at 101 Park Ave., in Brownsville (open Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
Powwow planned
in Lebanon
The first annual Willamette Valley Powwow will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, at the Boulder Falls Event Center, 605 Mullins St.
Visit for traditional and contest dancing, drumming and singing, as well as Native arts and crafts, and food vendors. For more information, contact Laurie at [email protected].
Brownsville Pioneer Picnic
The annual Linn County Pioneer Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 20-22 at Brownsville Pioneer Park.
This year’s event theme is “Pioneer Logging Camps,” and includes a parade, dam run, car show, activities and more. Vendors interested in selling at the event can visit pioneerpicnic.com/vendors for more information.
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.
Farmers markets
on Thursdays
Weekly winter farmers markets will be held Thursdays from 2 to 6 p.m. from Jan. 16 through March 27 at Santiam Place Event Center, 139 S. Main St., Lebanon.
For more information on how to participate, contact Belinda at (541) 418-2603 or [email protected].