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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2020)
8A | OCTOBER 29, 2020 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL SNAP waiver expands options for food benefits in Lane, Douglas counties A waiver approved by the U.S. Department of Agri- culture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) allows Sup- plemental Nutrition Assis- tance Program (SNAP) and Disaster SNAP recipients in the Lane and Douglas counties, as well as the 21 other counties to purchase hot or prepared foods from authorized SNAP retailers until Nov. 20. Other counties include Benton, Clackamas, Co- lumbia Coos, Curry, De- schutes, Hood River, Jack- son, Josephine, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill. Normally, SNAP bene- fits cannot be used to pur- chase “hot food products prepared for immediate consumption.” This re- striction is being waived following the severe winds and wildfires that led to the displacement of many resi- dents and left them without access to a kitchen to pre- pare meals. Examples of allowable prepared foods include hot deli foods, fountain drinks, including but not limited to coffee and tea, a slice of hot/prepared pizza, hot soup, salad bars, and sand- wiches. This waiver will last through Nov. 20 and allows SNAP and DSNAP recipi- ents to use their benefits to buy prepared food at any participating retailer that accepts SNAP EBT cards. Restaurant purchases are still prohibited. For more information about the hot food waiv- er, visit www.oregon. gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ DSNAP-Hot-Foods-Waiv- er.aspx. Emergency Allotment Update: Oregon also received ap- proval from FNS to provide maximum emergency al- lotment benefits for SNAP recipients in November. The emergency allotments, see schedule below, will bring families not receiv- ing the maximum SNAP allotment for their house- hold size to the maximum for the seventh consecutive month. Issuance date (SNAP re- cipients will see the benefit the following day) • Nov. 10: Current SNAP households not receiving the SNAP maximum allot- ment • Nov. 27: New SNAP recipients between Nov. 10 and Nov. 27 from A1 Incentive applications must then be submitted within 60 days of installa- tion. For residents, the pro- gram is off ering incentives such as a $1,000 gas fur- nace rebate, up to $8 per square foot for Energy Star windows and rebates on wall, attic and fl oor insu- lation. While energy-effi cient investments can decrease residents’ utility bills, they may also help communi- ties meet growth demands by reducing the need for gas companies such as NW Natural to invest in costly infrastructure upgrades, eff ectively allowing com- panies to maintain output with existing equipment. Depending on results, similar future programs may pop up in the region, focusing on small commu- nities which can off er high- er incentives. Th e program is set to run until July 31, 2021. For pre-qualifi cation and to help confi rm a home’s eligibility, call 1-866-311- 1811 or email residential@ energytrust.org. More information can be found by visiting online at www.energytrust.org/in- centives/increased-incen- tives-for-select-nw-natural -customers. Pilot Energy Trust is encour- aging applicants to work with one of the nonprof- it’s trade ally contractors, which are listed on the website, in order to ensure qualifi cations are met. 150 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE ENJOYING A NEW SHOWER IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK Quality Cleaning Certifi ed Green Carpet Cleaning Specialists 541-942-0420 CALL TODAY newshowerdeal.com/grove | 855-408-9139 With traditional Halloween activities like indoor parties and trick-or-treating posing an increased risk for COVID-19 spread, the CDC recommends the following activity guidelines for safer celebrating this year: Carve or decorate pumpkins with members of your household. If you carve pumpkins with neighbors or friends, do so outdoors at a safe distance wearing masks. Create a “candy hunt” by hiding treats throughout the house or yard. Host a virtual costume contest or party. Have some fun crafting decorations and dressing up your home. Enjoy a Halloween movie night at home with spooky snacks. Plan a Halloween scavenger hunt. Give your kids a list of Halloween-themed things to search for while you walk the neighborhood admiring Halloween decorations at a distance. If you decide to participate in these activities, here are some tips to help protect your family and others: Trick-or-Treating • Set up one-way trick-or-treating with individually wrapped goodie bags lined up at the edge of your driveway or lawn for families to pick up while maintaining a safe distance. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing goodie bags. Outdoor Parties & Parades Haunted Trails • Stay outdoors in the open air. • Limit the number of participants to a small group. • Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between people at all times. • Wear protective masks. A costume mask should not be used to replace a protective mask, unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric, covers the mouth and nose, and leaves no gaps around the face. Wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth mask can make it diffi cult to breathe, so consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask instead. • Make sure these are one-way outdoor activities. • Make sure protective masks and social distancing are enforced. • If screaming is likely to occur, distancing of more than 6 feet between people is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus. Pumpkin Patches & Orchards • Use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples. • Wear a mask and practice social distancing. The CDC recommends avoiding high-risk activities like traditional trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treat events, indoor parties, and haunted houses and hayrides. Please remember, if you feel ill or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, avoid in-person Halloween activities and do not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. G ABRIELE W ELLNESS C ENTER G OODWILL I NDUSTRIES L ANE E LECTRIC 502 E Whiteaker Avenue 541-649-1450 1205 Hwy, 99 N 541-942-1571 787 Bailey Hill Rd, Eugene 541-484-1151 N ORTH D OUGLAS C OUNTY F IRE & EMS S TARFIRE L UMBER 531 S Cedar St., Drain 541-836-2282 2795 Mosby Creek Rd, Cottage Grove B OYCE & S ONS L ANDSCAPE & B UILDING M ATERIALS F OUNTAIN G UTTERS H OYER A CCOUNTING 32370 Picknell St 541-729-9515 516 E Whiteaker Ave 541-942-8241 P INOCCHIO ’ S P IZZA B RADS C OTTAGE G ROVE C HEVROLET 795 E Main St 541-942-5531 2775 Row River Rd 541-942-4415 79149 N River Rd 541-942-4664 T HE B OOKMINE 702 E Main Street 541-942-7414