Banjo music, reptiles in 2013 Children's Performing Arts Series The
Children's Performing Arts Series, presented by Albany Parks &
Recreation, continues its 27th season with two free performances in
February.
February 2 - Professor Banjo Paul
Silveria performs for families and children with sing-a-longs, dancing
games, and stories, all accompanied by lively old-time banjo music that
everyone can enjoy.·Professor Banjo's shows are fun for a wide range of ages - from toddlers to tweens who still like to get up and dance around! February 16 - The Reptile Man Educational,
humorous, exciting and fun, Reptile Man brings 17 reptiles for his
Albany visit: pythons, a tortoise, a rat snake, and lizards. ·The Reptile man has been bringing reptiles to kids for over 20 years. Both shows are at 10:00 a.m. in the Forum at Linn-Benton Community College. ·For more information, contact 541-917-7777 or visit the website at www.cityofalbany.net/cpas. Free workshops help with home buying, breast cancer awareness Two free workshops in February and March 2013 offer Albany residents some education on home buying and breast cancer awareness. Home Ownership: Am I Ready to Buy Now? 6:30-8:00
p.m., Tuesday, February 12, 2013, at Albany Public Library, 2450 14th
Avenue SE. Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, a local nonprofit
housing agency, will share valuable information about getting into and
keeping a home. Registration is required. Call 541-752-7220, Ext. 300;
e-mail info@w-nhs.org; or visit www.w-nhs.org Breast Cancer Awareness. 10:00
a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2013, Albany Senior Center, 489 Water Avenue
NW, presented by SCREEN, a local breast and cervical health education
program, designed to increase awareness about breast and cervical health
and the need for early detection. This presentation will cover the most
recent breast screening recommendations, resources for accessing
screenings, some of the risk factors associated with breast cancer, and
answer questions about who needs a mammogram and how often; breast
self-exams; and screenings for the uninsured. More information about these and other courses offered by Albany Parks & Recreation is at www.albanyparksandrecreation.org. Gardening in the Pacific Northwest Winter brown bag lunch series continues
Oregon State University Extension Service and Linn-Benton Community
College cosponsor a series of short lunchtime sessions on popular
gardening topics for Linn County gardeners this winter. Classes are at
noon Wednesdays at Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE, and
Thursdays at East Linn LBCC, 44 Industrial Way, Lebanon. The talks are free and no reservations are required. Bring a sack lunch and meet other gardeners with similar interests. Upcoming courses: - January 30 & 31 - Growing Hops: For the Home-brewer in Your Life; Instructor Shaun Townsend, OSU
- February 6 & 7 - A Crash Course on Pacific Northwest Plant ID; Joleen Schilling, LBCC
- February 13 & 14 - Indoor & Outdoor Water Conservation; Kim Kagelaris, City of Albany
- February 20 & 21 - How to "Grow" Healthy, Living Soil; Rich Little, OSU Master Gardener
- February 27 & 28 - Edible Landscapes: Grocery Shop from Your Yard! Miriam Edell, LBCC.
Spring outdoor burning season opens March 1 Some
open outdoor burning is allowed in the Albany area in the spring and
fall. Spring burn season starts March 1 and typically ends June 15,
though it could end sooner depending on environmental conditions. Residents
served by the Albany Fire Department are allowed to burn yard debris
such as natural materials from trees, shrubs, or plants; and no permit
or fee is required. Other outdoor recreational burning, such as
campfires or backyard fire pits, is also allowed. Before
starting a fire, call the Burn Information Line (541-451-1904) to
confirm that burning is allowed that day and during what hours and be
respectful of neighbors. The Open Burning Guide for
Citizens of the City of Albany & Albany Fire Protection Districts
has more information and a list of materials that cannot be burned
outdoors. Volunteers provide free help with income taxes
The AARP Tax-Aide program has trained and certified volunteers to
prepare and file federal and state income tax returns with the Internal
Revenue Service, free of charge, for taxpayers of all ages in Linn and
Benton Counties. All tax returns are prepared on computers and filed
electronically. Volunteers
are available February 4-April 16, 2013 at the Albany Senior Center,
489 Water Avenue NW, and Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE.
Appointments can be scheduled at each location and walk-ins are welcome.
Volunteers will be at the Senior Center 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays; at the Library, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and
1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturdays. For information about each site, leave a message at 541-602-5829 after January 15. A volunteer will return the call. In
2012, more than 70 Tax-Aide volunteers filed more than 3,300 federal
and state tax returns, with an earned income credit value of over
$870,000 within the two counties. Tax clients should bring these items when meeting with a tax aide: - Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents;
- Copy of last year's income tax returns;
- W-2 forms from each employer;
- Unemployment compensation statements;
- 1099 forms
- All forms indicating federal income tax paid;
- Child care provider information (name, employer ID, Social Security number);
- Summary of receipts or checks for deductible items if itemizing.
The AARP Tax-Aide program is locally sponsored by RSVP and its partner locations. Arbor Week kick-off set for April 13 Albany
Parks & Recreation Department will have an Arbor Week kick-off
event on April 13, 2013 and the annual Arbor Day celebration is Friday,
April 26, 2013. Visit www.albanyparksandrecreation.org/urban-forestry for more information. Is the Street Light Out? Pacific Power is responsible for maintaining most of the streetlights in Albany. ·If you see one that's out or not working properly, you can report the problem to the power company directly online, or by calling toll-free 1-888-221-7070. Albany Public Works Department will also report the problem. ·Call 541-917-7600. Whether
reporting the outage directly or to Public Works, provide the pole's
location and, if possible, the pole number, which is located on a
rectangular metal sign attached to the pole. ·It usually takes about two weeks to get the faulty light on the repair schedule. Police Chief search underway
The City of Albany is conducting a nationwide search for a police chief
to replace Ed Boyd, who announced his retirement last fall and will
leave the job at the end of May 2013. Applications for the position were
accepted through January 25 and will be reviewed over the next few
weeks. Boyd's
retirement caps a 26-year career in local law enforcement. He has been
Chief of the Albany Police Department since January 17, 2006, following
19½ years with the Salem Police Department, where his last position was
Deputy Chief in charge of the department's largest division, Operations,
with 120 employees. During
his Albany tenure, Chief Boyd has overseen 94 personnel providing
professional law enforcement services to the Albany community. City
Manager Wes Hare has commended Chief Boyd for his integrity and
leadership. "He is an outstanding chief who has led by example," Hare
said. "Ed has been a valued member of our management team, and he will
be greatly missed by those within his department and people throughout
our organization." "It
has been my absolute honor and privilege to serve as the Albany Police
Chief and to work with the dedicated men and women of the Albany Police
Department," Boyd said. "Our mission is 'excellence through service.' It
is demonstrated every single day in the work performed by our
outstanding department. "I
especially want to thank my staff for their tireless work and support
over the past 7 years. All the great things we have accomplished could
not have been done without their dedicated efforts." Hare hopes to have a new chief named before Boyd retires. More information will be posted as the process progresses. |