8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 25, 2015 Polk County Living COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK Rose maintenance demonstration set A Prize Rooster For a Good Price The Friends of Gentle House is sponsoring a spring rose maintenance demon- stration Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Historic Gentle House, 855 N. Mon- mouth Ave., Monmouth. The rose collection at Gentle House contains roses from all periods of the 20th century, including climbers, rugosas, hybrid teas and ramblers. Polk County Mas- ter Gardeners will be on hand to demonstrate proper pruning, mulching and treatments to insure profuse blooms later on. The public is welcome to attend this free event. Atten- dees should bring gloves, hand pruners and any ques- tions. Refreshments will be served. For more information: Lois, 503-838-2131; or Madeline, 503-838-2995. Local church slates fundraising event Valley Life Center in Dal- las will host a fundraising dinner and auction Friday beginning at 5 p.m. at the church, 1795 SE Miller Ave., Dallas. Dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and will feature a Southern-flavored barbecue pork sandwich with all the fixings. A silent auction and vendor sales runs from 5 to 6:45 p.m., fol- lowed by a live auction from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost for dinner is $3 per person in advance or $5 each at the door; family tick- ets (up to six people) are $12 in advance or $20 at the door. Funds raised from the dinner and auction will go toward a new roof for the COMMUNITY CALENDAR EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Teresa Ryser of Salem pays Irv Brockett of Grand Ronde $5 for a buff-laced Polish rooster to join her flock of hens. “He’s just too cute,” she said. “I have nine hens at home that he’s going to get to roam with.” The rooster was just one of many chick- ens, ducks and rabbits who found new homes at the annual Oregon Poultry Swap on Saturday at the Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center. church. Tickets are available on- line at www.valleylifecen- ter.com or at the church. For more information: 503-623-4116. To view a list of items being auctioned: www.valleylifecenter.com. Workshop to offer garden prep tips The next do-it-yourself workshop at Rogue Farms will help get you and your garden ready for the upcom- ing growing season. Rogue Farms is hosting “Preparing Your Garden For Spring,” another in its series of DIY workshops, Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the farm, 3590 Wigrich Road, south of Independence. This free workshop for all ages will offer tips on when to plant, how to irrigate, making your own compost and more. For more information: Cheryl, 503-838-9813; email to cheryl@rogue.com. Chili cooks sought for upcoming event Do you make a mean pot of chili? If so, the 2015 Fire Chief Chili Challenge is for you. The event is scheduled March 14 at 3 p.m. at Eola Hills Wine Cellars, 501 S. Pa- cific Highway (99W), Rickre- all. It is a fundraiser to help purchase Rapid Intervention Team rescue bags, which are needed to rescue downed firefighters in emergency sit- uations, for the Dallas and Rickreall fire stations. A minimum of 10 chefs are needed, 15 maximum. Chili is to be cooked in ad- vance and brought to the competition in a crock pot, with enough to serve eight to 12 people. Awards will be presented for “best chili” and “best chili made with wine.” Deadline to sign up to participate is March 6. For more information: 503-623-2405. LIBRARY CALENDAR DALLAS 950 Main St. 503-623-2633 www.ci.dallas.or.us/library • Thursday, Feb. 26, 11:15 a.m. — Story- time • Tuesday, March 3, 11:15 a.m. — Story- time • Tuesday, March 3, 3:30 p.m. — Story- time — INDEPENDENCE 175 Monmouth St. 503-838-1811 www.ci.independence.or.us/library • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m. — Family Storytime • Thursday, Feb. 26, 4:30 p.m. — Chess Club for Kids (grades 1 and above) • Monday, March 2, 7 p.m. — Dr. Seuss Birthday Party • Wednesday, March 4, 10:30 a.m. — Family Storytime • Wednesday, March 4, 1 p.m. — Scrab- ble with Betty — MONMOUTH 168 S. Ecols St. 503-751-0182 www.ci.monmouth.or.us/library Get your customers ready for... SPRING Home Garden & Car Care 2015 1/8 pg............ $ 79 1/4 pg.......... $ 147 1/2 pg. ........ $ 266 Full pg. ....... $ 499 Back pg ....... $ 590 Purchase eye catching Full Color in your display ads for only $50 more. ($100 additional full page) Call Heidi, Rachel or Karen Today! 503-623-2373 Deadline: March 6 publish: March 18 Itemizer Observer • Thursday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. — Little Builders Club (babies to preschoolers) • Tuesday, March 3, 10:15 a.m. — Family Storytime • Wednesday, March 4, 2 p.m. — Builders Club (children program) — WAGNER COMMUNITY LIBRARY 111 N. Main St., Falls City 503-787-3521, ext. 319 www.wagner.plinkit.org • Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Dr. Seuss Birthday Party • Contact library for other upcoming special events and programs American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Polk County Congratulates Laps for Life 2015 Feb. 8, Dallas Aquatic Center On Feb. 8th nearly 100 people gathered at the Dallas Aquatic Center to Fight Back against Cancer! Swimmers, river walkers, volunteers and spectators contributed over $4500 to the American Cancer Relay for Life of Polk County to support Cancer research, patient services, education and advocacy. Through Cancer Prevention Studies the American Cancer Society has determined without a doubt that four things would cut deaths from Cancer by 50%. They are: Don’t smoke, exercise daily, eat healthy and access screen- ing tools for early detection. Organizers of the event hope to get the word out about Cancer prevention and to allow par- ticipants a fun opportunity to exercise and raise funds to fight Cancer. The Dallas Aquatic Center (a Relay for Life sponsor) generously donated the facility and staff to make this event possible. Participants this year swam or walked as many laps as possible in one hour and included: The River Walkers who walked a total of 806 laps! The Lifeguards who swam 115 laps! Central High School Swim Team who swam 111 Laps! The Masters Swim Team who swam 89 1/2 laps! The Relay for Life of Polk County Team who swam 87 ½! The Dolphin’s swim Team who swam 83 laps, beating last year’s total by 10 laps! It is not too late to contribute to this event. Money can be dropped off at the Dallas Aquatic center, in an envelope marked Laps for Life, or donations can be made on line at relayforlife.org/polkcountyor. For more information contact Kay Graven 503-623-5495. Relay for Life of Polk County is May 30-31 at LaCreole Middle School Dallas “Give Cancer the Boot” Information: Tami Bookey-Kuhlmann 2015relayforlifepc@gmail.com To submit your items to the Community Calendar, email the Itemizer-Observer newsroom at ionews@polkio.com, send via fax to 503-623-2395, or deliver them in person to 147 SE Court St., Dallas. All events should be submitted two weeks in advance of the date of the event. — WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 • Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon, Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For eligible community members. 541-404-6517. • Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank — 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E, Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible individuals. 503-831-5634. • Yoga in the Hopyard — 6 p.m., Rogue Farms Micro Hopy- ard, 3590 Wigrich Road, Independence. Offered on the last Wednesday of every month. Free; bring your own yoga mat. 503-838-9813. • Trio Elf — 7:30 p.m., Western Oregon University, Smith Music Hall, Room 121, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. Classic jazz piano trio with modern sounds and improvisation style per- forms. Admission: General, $8; students and seniors, $5; WOU students, free. 503-838-8275. THURSDAY, FEB. 26 • Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club — Noon, First Baptist Church, 1505 Monmouth St., Independence. Weekly program and luncheon; visitors welcome. 503-838-4884. • “Mom and Me” Breastfeeding Support Group — 1 to 2:30 p.m., West Valley Hospital (Quiet Room, entrance through Emergency Department on Clay Street), 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. Free. 503-623-7323. • James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., Dallas United Methodist Church, 565 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas. Free; everyone welcome. 503-623-8429. • Dallas Senior Center Music Jam — 6:30 p.m., Dallas Senior Center, 955 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. All area musicians, singers and music lovers of all ages welcome. Free; attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. 503-507-5240. • “Our Town” — 7 p.m., Dallas High School, Bollman Audito- rium, 1250 SE Holman Ave., Dallas. Dallas High’s winter theater production. Admission: $5. 503-623-8336. • Ned Roberts in concert — 7:30 p.m., Western Oregon Uni- versity, Smith Music Hall, Room 121, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. London-based acoustic finger-picker and song- writer performs. Admission: General, $8; students and seniors, $5; WOU students, free. 503-838-8275. • “Pride and Prejudice” — 7:30 p.m., Rice Auditorium, West- ern Oregon University, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. WOU winter theater production. Admission: General, $12; sen- iors, $10; students $7. 503-838-8462. FRIDAY, FEB. 27 • Altered Attitudes Alcoholics Anonymous — Noon, Dallas United Methodist Church, 565 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas. 503- 399-0599. • Arc of Polk County Dance and Karaoke Night — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Academy Building, 182 SW Academy St., Dallas. For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Admis- sion: $3 (staffers and providers admitted free). Snacks available for purchase. 503-949-5552. • Guthrie Park Acoustic Music Jam Session — 7 to 10 p.m., Guthrie Park Community Center, 4320 Kings Valley Highway, Dallas. Free (donations accepted). 503-623-0809. • “Our Town” — 7 p.m., Dallas High School, Bollman Audito- rium, 1250 SE Holman Ave., Dallas. Dallas High’s winter theater production. Admission: $5. 503-623-8336. • “Pride and Prejudice” — 7:30 p.m., Rice Auditorium, West- ern Oregon University, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. WOU winter theater production. Admission: General, $12; sen- iors, $10; students $7. 503-838-8462. SATURDAY, FEB. 28 • Polk Community Free Clinic — 7 to 11 a.m., Trinity Luther- an Church, 320 SE Fir Villa Road, Dallas. Free medical and men- tal health care for uninsured and underinsured. Held on the first and fourth Saturday of the month. 503-990-8772. • “Our Town” — 7 p.m., Dallas High School, Bollman Audito- rium, 1250 SE Holman Ave., Dallas. Dallas High’s winter theater production. Admission: $5. 503-623-8336. • “Pride and Prejudice” — 7:30 p.m., Rice Auditorium, West- ern Oregon University, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. WOU winter theater production. Admission: General, $12; sen- iors, $10; students $7. 503-838-8462. SUNDAY, MARCH 1 • Polk Flea Market — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Polk County Fair- grounds, 520 S. Pacific Highway (99W), Rickreall. Admission: $1; children 12 and under, free. Early admission from 6 to 9 a.m. is $5. 503-428-8224. • “Pride and Prejudice” — 2 p.m., Rice Auditorium, Western Oregon University, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. WOU winter theater production. Admission: General, $12; seniors, $10; students $7. 503-838-8462. MONDAY, MARCH 2 • Central Lions Club — Noon, Independence Elks Lodge 1950 Dining Room, 289 S. Main St., Independence. 503-606-2150. • Willamette Valley New Horizons Orchestra — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Central High School (music room), 1530 Monmouth St., Independence. Local orchestra for beginning through inter- mediate musicians. Meets every Monday. Players of all levels welcome. $25 monthly fee to cover expenses. 503-838-4884. TUESDAY, MARCH 3 • James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., St. Philip Catholic Church, 825 SW Mill St., Dallas. Free; everyone welcome. 503-623-8429. • Art Songs from the English Countryside — 7:30 p.m., Western Oregon University, Smith Music Hall, Room 121, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. Music to the poems of A.E. Hous- man. Featuring Scott Wyatt, tenor; Kevin Helppie, baritone; and Diane Baxter, piano. Admission: General, $8; students and sen- iors, $5; WOU students, free. 503-838-8275. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 • Scrabble with Betty — 1 p.m., Independence Public Li- brary, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. Scrabble games first Wednesday of every month. Free; refreshments and prizes available. 503-551-7687 or 503-838-1811. • Yarning for Others — 3 to 5 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. Knitters and crocheters gather to make clothing and accessories for those in need on the first Wednesday of every month. 503-689-7222. • “Pride and Prejudice” — 7:30 p.m., Rice Auditorium, West- ern Oregon University, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. WOU winter theater production. Admission: General, $12; sen- iors, $10; students $7. 503-838-8462. • Western Oregon Chamber Ensembles Concert — 7:30 p.m., Western Oregon University, Smith Music Hall, Room 121, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. Featuring WOU saxes and brasses. Free. 503-838-8275.