Senator to hold
Town Hall Feb. 1
Sen. Jeff Merkley will hold a town hall at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Russell Tripp Performance Center in Takena Hall at Linn-Benton Community College.
Merkley is the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee and on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, the latter putting him at the forefront of securing funding for wildfire prevention and recovery in Oregon and across the West.
Merkley holds town halls in each of Oregon’s 36 counties each year.
“I’ve had over 570 of these conversations since Oregonians first sent me to the Senate, and each one helps fuel my fight for working families, shape policies and ideas for bills, and keeps me laser-focused on where to target federal resources to meet local needs,” he said. “These direct community conversations also provide respectful, safe spaces for people to express their unique points of view and open folks up to new perspectives—essential to healing divisions and moving our state forward together.”
‘Charley’s Aunt’ on stage in Albany
Albany Civic Theater will present “Charley’s Aunt” starting Friday, Jan. 10, at 111 SE 1st Ave. in Albany.
The play runs through Jan. 25.Directed by Shauna Kiefiuk and Stephanie Schwarz, “Charley’s Aunt,” written by Brandon Thomas, is a tale of comic confusion of love, deception and crazy endings.
For tickets and information visit albanycivic.org.
Doors open 45 minutes before the show starts.
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.
For more information or to apply, stop by the Senior Center, email [email protected], or call 541.812.6015.
After 5 Presents ‘Self Defense’
After 5 Connection will hold its monthly dinner and program for local women from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Ma’s Restaurant, 2416 S. Santiam Hwy., Lebanon.
This month’s program, “Women’s Self Defense,” features Lebanon’s Community Policing Officer Dala Johnson, who will educate, empower, and equip women to protect themselves against various types of assaults.
Soloist Jan Day, of Sweet Home, will sing, and Donna Paris, of Portland, is the guest speaker. The former hairstylist and fitness instructor learned to overcome fears and devastating life situations, which she will use to inspire our guests. Join us and find out how she discovered these vital skills.
Cost for dinner is $18; 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].
Winter Rod, Speed Show at Expo
The Winter Rod and Speed Show returns to the Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17–18.
Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
The event will feature more than 100 vehicles, including hot rods, muscle cars, bikes, low riders, custom trucks, and race cars from across the Northwest. Enjoy live music on Friday night and bring a donation to support the food drive benefiting local charities.
Call for Local Authors
Friends of the Lebanon Public Library will host its second annual Author Fair, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at the Lebanon Senior Center, 80 Tangent St.
This year, Friends expects to have 12 speakers and more than 40 authors, providing a wide variety of genres including children’s and young adult, historical fiction, romance, mystery/thriller, sci-fi and fantasy, memoir, Oregon history, and more.
Attendees will have the chance to meet the authors, buy their books and merchandise; attend workshops, readings, and talks; connect with writers; and celebrate the literary talent in Oregon.
The Teen Advisory Group will also be there selling baked goods and snacks to raise money for teen programs at the library, while 3 Potato More’s food truck will be available for lunch options.
Please bring cash; some authors and the bake sale do not accept card payments.
Registration for authors to have a table is full, but to get on the waitlist, visit https://www.lebanonlibraryfriends.org/author-fair. Proceeds from author tables benefit the Lebanon Public Library.
Visit Inaugural Powwow
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].
Hygiene donations sought
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 Bereavement 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].