City Bridges Masthead
News & Information from the City of Albany, Oregon
January 2014
Does your neighborhood need The Big Pickup?
The City of Albany and Republic Services will team up again on Saturday, May 17, 2014, for The Big Pickup: Albany Community Action Day, a volunteer effort to help rid a neighborhood of junk and trash, pick up litter on City streets, and clear invasive plants and trash from local streams.

Organizers are looking for a neighborhood that could use some tidying up. In prior years, the effort has helped out in the Willamette/Front Avenue neighborhood, Hackleman Historic District, Deerfield/Pineway area, Sunrise neighborhood, and Century Drive area.

Here's how it works: A few weeks before the cleanup day, residents of the focus neighborhood will get a note on their front door letting them know the event is coming up. On Saturday, May 17, residents can bring unwanted junk, trash, and yard debris to a site nearby to off-load into Dumpsters. Tires will be accepted for a small fee.

Volunteers and some City staff will help at the drop-off site, while other volunteer crews will pick up litter and clear streams.

The Big Pickup coincides each year with Republic Services' annual Recycle Roundup at the company's Albany facility, 1214 Montgomery Street SE.

To nominate your neighborhood, volunteer, or get more information, contact Marilyn Smith, 541 917 7507, marilyn.smith@cityofalbany.net; or Heather Slocum, 541-791-0058, heather.slocum@cityofalbany.net.
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CARA urges private investment, new jobs, historic preservation

 

The Central Albany Revitalization Area (CARA) took several months off last year to review how potential projects in the urban renewal district are funded. This fall, the district announced a slate of new programs emphasizes creating new jobs while focused on increasing assessed value, eliminating blight, and restoring Albany's historic resources.
 

"The policy-makers went back to the basics of the CARA plan to see how our funding could best leverage private dollars and create the most change in our community. They listened closely and incorporated comments and suggestions they heard from members of the public," said Economic Development and Urban Renewal Director Kate Porsche.
 

The new programs concentrate incentives in the areas that need it most, such as the East Salem Avenue neighborhood area, the East Waterfront, downtown, and the Hackleman Historic District. "The goal is to make strategic investments that leverage the most private dollars and create momentum for change in an area," Porsche said. "These strategic investments make for a more livable community with a stronger economy, which is good for our entire community."
 

The first project approved through the new programs was a Focus Area Loan to fund Novak's renovation of the historic Broder's Meat Market building and to relocate this popular Albany restaurant to the downtown area.
 

Also, the Woodland Square workforce housing project on East Salem Avenue is moving ahead after receiving state tax credit financing. The project, a public private partnership between CARA and Innovative Housing, Inc. (IHI), will see the construction of 54 housing units on the former blighted mobile home park on East Salem Avenue at Periwinkle Creek.
 

New CARA Programs

Get Started...Get Fit!

 

Try Parks & Recreation fitness classes for free
January 6-11, 2014. 

 

Did you resolve to get fit in 2014? Mark Twain said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Get started with Albany Parks & Recreation fitness classes. They're absolutely free January 6-11. 

 

Choose from these popular classes: CORE-Rolling; Muscle Tech; S.E.T.; Step Challenge; Step Explosion; Tone ELEVEN; ZUMBA™ Gold; ZUMBA™; and ZUMBA™ Toning. 

 

The week of free classes gives participants a chance to check out different instructors and find a workout that fits individual fitness abilities, goals, and schedules. Participants may attend any or all of the specially marked classes listed in the winter Activate magazine or at www.cityofalbany.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/classes.

Albany officer honored for saving man's life

 

Police Officer Sam Posthuma has been honored with the Non-Criminal Lifesaving Merit Award for saving the life of a man on August 20, 2013.

 

Officer Posthuma received the award from Police Chief Mario Lattanzio at the December 4, 2013, Albany City Council meeting.

 

According to the Chief's account, Posthuma was on another call on Airport Road when he noticed police dispatch taking a call about a suicidal person in the area of the Knox Butte Road roundabout. Since Posthuma was close to the area, he began driving toward the roundabout, arriving about two and a half minutes later and found a man laying on the ground next to a small fire. When the man saw the police vehicle, he moved into the flames and his shorts caught fire.

 

Posthuma ran to the man and pulled him out of the fire, pulled off the burning shorts and removed the man from the area. The man suffered some second degree burns but escaped serious injury and is alive today, "because of Officer Posthuma's attentive, quick, and decisive actions," the Chief said. Posthuma suffered some minor burns to his hand and arm.

 

"Anyone in that situation would have done the same thing," Posthuma said when receiving the award. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time, just doing my job."
Posthuma has been an Albany Police Officer since February 28, 2011.

General Information
541-917-7500
 
Mayor
541-791-0300

Ward I Councilors
541-926-7348
541-928-2961

Ward II Councilors
541-928-0649

541-917-0490

 

Ward III Councilors
541-791-2494

541-791-0158

 

City Manager 
541-917-7505

Childrens' Performing Arts Series starts Saturday, January 18

 

The 2014 season of the Children's Performing Arts Series, presented by MOM Magazine, opens at Linn-Benton Community College on Saturday, January 18, 2014, with a performance in English and Spanish by Grupo Condor, Legends of Mexico.  Admission is free.

 

Grupo Condor is a touring folk music ensemble that embodies traditional musical styles throughout Spanish-speaking America.  The group's concerts and school programs focus on the blend of Spanish, African, and Native American influences that comprise the music and create a multicultural art form.

 

Additional artists are scheduled through mid-March, all at LBCC:

 

February 1 - Oregon Shadow Theater performs "Jack and the Dragon." 

 

February 15 - Comedy juggler Alex Zerbe

 

March 1 - Border Collie International, a performing canine team of rescued dogs.

 

March 15 - Wild Wonders Exotic Animals.

 

Each performance begins at 10:00 a.m.  Border Collies International will perform in the gym at LBCC; all other shows will be in the Forum.

 

For more information, go to the website.

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