League of Cities honors Corvallis

Corvallis was recently named co-recipient of the League of Oregon Cities 2008 Excellence Award. The award recognizes exceptional city programs that unite citizens within a community.

Corvallis was recognized for its Sustainability Management System. Implemented in 2005, the system seeks to identify the impacts of the city’s activities, develop and prioritize improvement projects, create metrics and measurement devices, and develop audit procedures, training, documentation and document management processes.

Philomath High gets garden grant

Philomath High School was one of six community garden projects in Oregon to receive grants this week totaling more than $20,000 to begin or improve efforts to grow produce for their neighborhoods.

The high school’s botany class, under the direction of teacher Jeff Mitchell, maintains a grape arbor, fruit tree orchard, large vegetable garden and plants for the school’s annual plant sale.

With the grant money, the class plans to rebuild 10 raised garden beds and purchase needed equipment, including 20 pairs of pruners, 10 pairs of toppers and two compost tumblers. The students also have designed signs that will be built and installed in the garden area.

The six community garden projects were chosen by a Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education partnership between the Oregon State University Extension’s community horticulture faculty and nutrition educators. Funding for the projects comes from a bonus award given to the food stamp program of the Oregon Department of Human Services by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Garden projects in Cottage Grove, McMinnville, Astoria, Roseburg and Tillamook also received grant money.

Meal on Wheels seeks Albany help

The Meals on Wheels program needs volunteers for its Albany site to help in the kitchen and deliver meals to clients. Volunteers can call 888-251-8392 for more information.

Route drivers will receive mileage reimbursement.

— Gazette-Times