Haunted Ghost Tours seek hosts

Organizers of the Haunted Ghost Tours, which begin at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22-23, are seeking locations for stops on the tour.

This opportunity is exclusive to members or partners of the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce and who may have interesting or eerie connections to local history.

Participants are transported during the event by Linn Shuttle buses. The cost is $10 general to ride, with children 7 and under admitted free. Costumes are encouraged.

For more information, contact (541) 367-6186 or email sweethomecoc@gmail.com.

Women’s Bible Study continues

Mid-Valley Women of Christ’s Bible Study programs are held at locations throughout the area.

The seven-session study focuses on the prophet Elijah and will be led by best-selling author Priscilla Shirer.

Locations and times in Sweet Home are:

-- Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Freedom Hill Church, 2470 Main St .;

-- Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St.;

-- Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St .;

-- Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Sweet Home Church of the Nazarene, 415 Holley Road; and

-- Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. online through Freedom Hill Church.

Child care is not offered for any of the studies, which are facilitated by local women.

For more information, visit http://www.midvalleywomenofchrist.org.

Science Pub to focus on 'Star Wars'

Oregon State University’s Science Pub on Oct. 11 will focus on how science fiction like Star Trek movies and television programs may strengthen hope for building a better future when the world seems overcome with crises.

The virtual event, a joint effort of Oregon State University in Corvallis and OSU-Cascades in Bend, will feature a talk by Jose-Antonio Orosco, a professor of philosophy at Oregon State.

His presentation is titled: “To Boldy Go: Why Scientists and Social Justice Warriors Need Star Trek.”

For 55 years, the Star Trek science fiction series has influenced the creation of everyday technology from cell phones to computer tablets to video conferencing. It is also a series of stories through which people have explored social, political and ethical problems relevant to contemporary society.

At its heart, Star Trek is the story of humanity creating utopia out of dystopia, Orosco said. Part of that has to do with the development of technology and fantastic scientific discoveries, but Orosco believes Star Trek also helps shape the imagination so people can recognize their capacities to cooperate and better respect one another.

Sharing examples from the Civil Rights Movement to the work of Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, Orosco will demonstrate how Star Trek, and science fiction in general, is an important tool for those interested in fighting to make the world a better place.

Orosco is the author of the forthcoming book “Star Trek’s Philosophy of Peace and Justice,” which will be published in February 2022.

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 beav.es/Upe.

Blood drive held Oct. 13 at SHHS

A Red Cross blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the activities gym at Sweet Home High School, 1641 Long St.

Participants are asked to enter at the gym door by the swimming pool.

Sign up at http://www.redcrossblood.org.

ACT announces new season

The Albany Civic Theater has announced its lineup for the 2021-22 season.

Upcoming productions and presentations include “Dracula” (Oct. 15-30), “All Together Now!” (Nov. 12-13), “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” (Dec. 3-19), “Fly Babies” (Feb. 11-28, 2022), “Clue” (April 1-23, 2022), “The Dinner Party” (June 3-25, 2022), and “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” (Aug. 19-27, 2022).

Season subscriptions are available for $63 general, $47 for patrons aged 18 and younger or 60 and older. An ACT membership is $14. Individual admission tickets are $14 general, $11 for juniors and seniors. The theater is located at 111 First Ave. W.

Season subscriptions are available online at http://www.albanycivic.org or at the box office during performances.

After 5 schedules Oct. 12 event

All Women, Working Women, College Students, and Moms

After 5 Connection returns with “Adventurous Stories (Told by a Park Ranger),” a program to be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at Ma’s Restaurant, 2416 S. Santiam Highway, Lebanon.

All ladies and gentlemen are invited.

Karen Barnett, of Albany, will be a special feature at the event. Barnett is an award-winning author of seven novels who writes historical romances that illustrate the beauty and adventure of national parks. The former park ranger and naturalist worked at Mount Rainier National Park, Silver Falls State Park and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.

Guest speaker Linda Reinhardt, of Vancouver, Wash., will lead a talk called “Choices and Where They Lead.” Reinhardt is a writer and dramatist whose passion is helping women who make, and get stuck with, negative life choices.

Cost is $15, which includes everything. Credit cards cannot be accepted.

For reservations, contact Sherri at (541) 258-6414 or Nancy at (541) 259-1396 or by email at NancyPinzino@comcast.net. If unable to attend, please cancel your reservation.

Adapt gardens for climate change

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 each month through November at extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/growing-oregon-gardeners-level-series.

The classes, which include topics as far-ranging as Dazzling Dahlias to Adapting Your Garden and Landscape to Climate Change, are meant for those with a bit of gardening under their belt.

The topic for Tuesday, Oct. 12, is “Adapting Your Garden and Landscape for Climate Change.” Northwest gardeners and landscapers are accustomed to a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. With climate change, we can expect more variability in weather with more frequent and intense weather events. How will these extreme events affect your plants? Learn strategies to adapt gardens and landscape to these new conditions.

Before the pandemic, this series would have been held in person solely as continuing education for Master Gardeners, but the webinar format allows the sessions to be offered to the public.

The content, taught by horticulture experts from around the state, is meant to address current issues like wildfires, climate change and pollinators.

Whodunnit gala to help LB students

The Linn-Benton Community College Foundation is holding its annual fundraising gala as a virtual interactive mystery, “The Maltese Roadrunner,” on Saturday, Oct. 23.

The preshow begins at 6 p.m., followed by the gala at 6:30 and post-show activities at 7:15.

A private eye continues to work the case of the Maltese Roadrunner’s mysterious disappearance. Gather clues by watching Episode 1 of the series at https://bit.ly/3uujm4j and an Episode 2 preview at https://bit.ly/3mfnTnw. See the clues online at https://bit.ly/3mfrMZA.

The gala raises money to support LBCC students, 75% of whom cannot afford to pay for college without help. Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3uvrIsk.

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, Oct. 8, is a garden chicken mini-salad or chickpea salad over spinach romaine, minestrone soup, a whole wheat roll and a golden fruit cup.

The menu on Monday, Oct. 11, is home-style turkey patty with gravy or a Swiss-style patty with sauce, Delmonico potatoes, marinated zucchini salad, Brussels sprouts, cracked wheat bread and a hermit bar.

The menu on Tuesday, Oct. 12, is a chicken salad or egg salad half-sandwich, lentil soup, cucumber and red onion salad, whole wheat bread and diced pears.

For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.