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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2017)
Polk County Social Polk County itemizer-Observer • October 11, 2017 7A Dirty your hands and feed your brain Kris LaMar and Barb Cary live at opposite ends of state and have never met, but they’ve got a lot in common. Both women are up to their trowels as Master Gardeners. A shade under 3,000 Ore- gonians join the two women who went through the inten- sive two- to three-month course that covers everything from soils to disease diagno- sis. In return, they agreed to volunteer to advise garden- ers and potential gardeners with the research-based in- formation they learned in class. The program — part of Oregon State University Ex- tension Service — reached 106,000 people in 2016. “Becoming a Master Gar- dener is a fantastic way to in- crease your knowledge of sustainable gardening, to meet like-minded gardeners and to give back to your community,” said Gail Lan- gellotto, statewide coordina- tor of Oregon State Universi- ty Extension Service’s Master Gardener program. “People are excited about growing their own food and garden- ing for wildlife. Master Gar- deners help people under- stand how to meet their goals in a way that protects and conserves natural re- sources.” LaMar, who has been a Master Gardener for five years, knew nothing about the program until she saw something about it in the newspaper. At the same time she was qualifying to be a Master Recycler. Once she got her hands into compost and saw the overlap, she was hooked. She took both K YM P OKORNY These Polk County groups would welcome individuals who have time or expertise to volunteer. Organizations that would like to be added to this list should call 503-623- 2373 or email IOnews@polkio.com. Your Garden courses and has become one of the most active Master Gardener volunteers, teach- ing classes, monitoring the Clackamas County speakers bureau and, most of all, an- swering hundreds of ques- tions — 2,200 since she started a little over a year ago — in Ask an Expert, an online question and answer service through Extension. “I can stay home in my jammies,” she said. “I don’t have to drive. I can answer questions from all over the world. It’s wonderful be- cause I get to learn all this, too. Like an insect that lives in Mozambique or India or Norway. I’ve found my niche. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time.” LaMar makes a good point. Master Gardeners don’t stop learning after fin- ishing the course. When they can’t immediately diagnose and solve a problem, they turn to the wealth of re- search from OSU, other uni- versities and reputable sources. The breadth of activities Master Gardeners do for vol- unteer hours is wide. Some answer questions via email or phone hotlines, Langel- lotto said. Others spend time teaching in learning gar- dens, community gardens, even correctional institu- tions. Cary, a Master Gar- https://flic.kr/p/Z4xM73 Barb Cary fulfills her volunteer hours as an OSU Exten- sion Master Gardener by teaching preschool children about gardening. dener since 2013, works in a preschool that’s next door to a food bank where she vol- unteered. “They jumped on it,” she said. For an hour a week for 18 weeks, Cary spends time with 3 and 4 year olds, read- ing books, germinating seeds, planting, watering and harvesting. A tomato taste test is always a winner. “It’s fun, so fun,” she said. “The little kids are really en- gaged and we get positive feedback from the parents. We use it as a carrot for good behavior and it works.” You don’t have to be an ex- perienced gardener to sign up for the classes. In fact, many people join to learn more about their own gar- den. LaMar, who was a judge in Portland for 25 years, grew houseplants and container plants. Cary was too busy during her career days to garden, but once she retired and moved from Orange County, Calif., to Brookings she got busy. Both said being a Master Gardener has helped enormously. While Cary took the class in person, LaMar took the online course — a new op- tion — and recommends it to people who can’t make it to classes. “Master Gardeners tend to be retired,” she said. “I’d like to see more young people get involved, and the online course offers that flexibility.” The in-person course, which is given in most coun- ties, commits participants to 40 to 70 volunteer hours after completing the series. Call your local Extension office to see if one is offered near you. Each county has a different price scale and schedule. Registration is taking place now in most areas for classes held this winter. The online class can be taken any time. MI TOWN It’s that time of year when grapes are ripening, and tomatoes and squash are just about at the end of their life cycles. We’re busily cleaning up the garden beds and preparing for the end of the growing season, while coping with those sometimes not-so-gentle autumn breezes that bring yet another crop of fir and pinecones onto lawns and driveways and sidewalks. — October brings us the Soup and Pie Sale at the Monmouth Senior Center, which is scheduled for Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Here’s your opportuni- ty to enjoy a bowl of fresh, homemade soup for $3.50 and a slice of pie for $2.50, and share in what’s been a community tradition for several years. A hardwork- ing team of dedicated vol- P ATTY T AYLOR D UTCHER Columnist u n t e e r s, i n c l u d i n g m y friends Phyllis Harriman and Angie Amos, have made sure this wonderful event runs smoothly for many years. This year’s soups include vegetable beef, chicken noodle, clam chowder, salmon chowder and split pea. Full disclo- sure: Over the years, I’ve tasted every one of these delicious soups and chow- ders, and they are awe- some. Considering the soups and pies come from the kitchens of some of the best cooks in MI Town, that should be no surprise. Pie selections are equally tasty and are made with love and expertise. Some pies are made from backyard ap- ples, peaches and other fruits that have been home- grown, and all are delicious. — Senior Center Director Sue Teal will be retiring in a few months, so this sale is as nostalgic and bittersweet as can be. Let’s all mark Oct. 19 on our calendars in big, red letters. This year, no- body wants to be the one to forget and miss out on all the good things offered right in our community, and to get together with friends and family. — Our Western Oregon Uni- versity Wolves host the Cen- tral Washington University Wildcats Saturday at 1 p.m. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for a cool and crisp day of winning football. See you there. — Since Halloween is hap- pening during October, we’ve all been busy with decorations, new recipes and tempting treats for those little (and big) ghosts and goblins who will soon be coming to our doors for goodies. There will be kid- oriented programs at both Independence and Mon- mouth libraries, where everyone can count on hav- ing lots of fun and treats ga- lore. Special thanks to the library workers and volun- teers who take the time and energy to be sure these ac- tivities are the best they can be. Funding for many of these special events is made possible by contributions from the Friends of the In- dependence and Friends of the Monmouth libraries. PEDEE NEWS After the Pedee Women’s Club monthly potluck on Sept. 29, June Clark took a motorcycle ride to get a mo- torcycle club checkpoint at the Lincoln Store on Wallace Road before joining some friends for dinner in Albany. Then on Thursday she took off to get two more check- points in Manzanita and Skamokawa, Wash., before enjoying the evening with friends in Battleground. Fri- day was a bit less fun as there were some rain show- ers on her way home. — Steve and Audrey A RLENE K OVASH Columnist Cameron spent last week- end in Astoria, where they attended Audrey’s 60th class reunion at Astoria High School. While there they vis- ited Audrey’s brother, Bill Moberg and family, who live in their childhood home, a beautifully remodeled older home full of memories for VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES the whole family. Highlights of the weekend were going to a tea party at daughter- in-law Xiao Hong’s home, staying with son Chris, and going to the Fisherman’s Memorial in Astoria. — Steve and Audrey also went to church with her sis- ter Georgia Marincovich and husband Jack, then vis- ited with older sister Eliza- beth Moberg in Seaside. They want to say a special thanks to daughter Stephanie Barth and neigh- bor Linda Smith for feeding the animals while they were • AARP Foundation Tax-Aide – 503-930-7636 • After DARC — 503-623-9501 • American Cancer Society Road to Recovery — 1-800-227-2345 • Arc of Polk County — 541-223-3261 • Ash Creek Arts Center – 971-599-3301 • Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Polk County inc. — 503-623-8473 • Central School District — 503-838-0030 • City of Dallas — 503-831-3502 • City of independence — 503-838-1212 • City of Monmouth — 503-751-0145 • Crime Victims Assistance Program — 503-623-9268 • Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce — 503-623-2564 • Dallas Fire Department — 503-831-3532 • Dallas Food Bank — 503-623-3578 • Dallas kids, inc. — 503-623-6419 • Dallas Police Department — 503-831-3582 • Dallas Public Library — 503-623-2633 • Dallas Retirement Village — 503-623-5581 • Dallas School District — 503-623-5594 • Delbert Hunter Arboretum — 503-623-7359 • ella Curran Food Bank — 503-838-1276 • Falls City Arts Center — 503-559-6291 • Falls City School District — 503-787-3531 • Family Building Blocks – 503-566-2132, ext. 308. • Friends of the Dallas Library — 503-559-3830 • Gentle House Gardens, Monmouth — 503-838-2995 • Girl Scouts of Southwest Washington and Oregon — 1-800-338-5248 • H-2-O — 503-831-4736 HART (Horses Adaptive Riding and Therapy) — 971-301-4278 • HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley — 503-363-1651 • Heron Pointe Assisted Living — 503-838-6850 • independence Health and Rehabilitation — 503-838-0001 • independence Public Library — 503-838-1811 • kings Valley Charter School — 541-929-2134 • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 503-837-0237 • Luckiamute Valley Charter School — 503-623-4837 • Meals on Wheels — 503-838-2084 • Monmouth-independence Chamber of Commerce — 503-838-4268 • Monmouth-independence YMCA — 503-838-4042 • Monmouth Public Library — 503-838-1932 • Northwest Human Services — 503-588-5828 • Oregon Child Development Coalition — 503-838-2745 • OSU extension Service - Polk County — 503-623-8395 • Perrydale School District — 503-623-2040 • Polk Community Development Corporation — 503-831-3173 • Polk County Community emergency Response Team — 503-623-9396 • Polk County Museum — 503-623-6251 • Polk County Public Health — 503-623-8175 • Polk County Resource Center — 503-623-8429 • Polk Soil and Water Conservation District — 503-623-9680 • Relief Nursery Classroom — 503-566-2132 • SABLe House — 503-623-6703 • SALT (Sheriff’s Auxiliary & Law enforcement Together) — 503-851-9366 • Salvation Army — 503-798-4783 • SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) — 503-391-8423 • Salem Health West Valley Hospital — 503-623-8301 • Victim Assistance Program-Polk Co. District Attorney’s Office — 503-623-9268 x1444 • Willamette Valley Hospice — 503-588-3600 • WiMPeG Community Access Television — 503-837-0163 COMMUNITY CALENDAR gone, no easy task. — Several little girls in the neighborhood had birth- days in the last two weeks. Mercy Heller turned 1 on Sept. 30. Mother Cassandra baked her a sugar-free cake and they invited family and family friends over for a party. Nothing huge, but for a first birthday it was big. Kalina Brotherton celebrat- ed her birthday with a slum- ber party, which included a scavenger hunt. Kailey Traglia turned 8 on Oct. 2, but didn’t tell me what she did to celebrate. Continued from page 6A — TUESDAY, OCT. 17 • 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. • James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., Unit- ed Methodist Church located at 242 N Main St., Falls City. Free; everyone welcome. 503-623-8429. • Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club — 6 to 7 p.m. weigh-in, 7 to 8 p.m. meeting, First Christian Church basement, 1079 Se Jefferson St., Dallas. Meetings offer programs and activ- ities aimed at losing weight. Open to anyone. First meeting is free. • Dallas Wingdingers RC Flying Club — 7 p.m., Whitworth elementary School library, 1151 Se Miller Ave., Dallas. 503-623- 7288. • Polk County Coin Club — 7 p.m., Monmouth Senior Cen- ter, 180 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-362-9123. • Overeaters Anonymous — Noon to 1 p.m., Salem Health West Valley, 525 Se Washington St., Dallas. Support group meets in the quiet room/chapel immediately inside the emer- gency entrance on Clay Street. Dee Ann White, 971-718-6444. • Dallas Rotary — Noon, Dallas Civic Center, 945 Se Jefferson St., Dallas. Lunch and speaker. Public is welcome. — WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 • 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 community members. 503-831-5634. • Day-2-Day Diabetes Support Group — 3 to 4 p.m., Salem Health West Valley (main conference room inside main en- trance), 525 Se Washington St., Dallas. 503-623-7323. • Pickleball — 9 a.m. to noon, Roger Jordan Community Park. Meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. karen Freeman, 503-871-4172.
