Tag: bc-featured

Phil Coleman, chair of the Hanging Around Town program, sits next to a painting by a Corvallis Art Guild member on display at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis, Ore. (Benton County, Oregon, photo by Cory Grogan)

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Local art is showing up in familiar places, including Benton County buildings. That’s thanks to the Corvallis Art Guild’s Hanging Around Town program, which currently features artwork at the Benton County Kalapuya Building on Research Way and other locations throughout Benton County. 

The Corvallis Art Guild has supported local artists with programs like this one for decades — in fact, it’s celebrating its 80th anniversary next year. Hanging Around Town helps guild members display artwork for one to two months at a time in public-facing venues across Corvallis.  

“The venues aren’t formal galleries, so this program exposes a wider range of the public to local art and artists,” said Phil Coleman, Hanging Around Town exhibits chair. 

Participating locations include Benton County buildings such as the Kalapuya and Sunset Buildings on Research Way, along with the Corvallis Community Center, medical offices, gyms and care facilities. Coleman notes that the variety of locations helps artists reach people who might not otherwise visit a gallery. 

“An art guild member is often very pleased to find that their arrival at the start of a month with fresh art is warmly received by the venue’s staff and visitors,” Coleman said. “That experience motivates the artist to keep creating new work.” 

Coleman took on leadership of the program in 2017 when the previous chair needed a break. As a photographer in a guild largely made up of painters, he felt the role helped him better to understand other artistic perspectives while also advocating for photography as an art form. 

“A good photo is a little more than just clicking the shutter,” Coleman added. 

Each displayed piece includes a small information card listing the title, medium and the artist’s name and contact information. This allows visitors to connect directly with artists to share feedback or inquire about purchasing artwork. 

An extra benefit of the program is that it often leads to meaningful connections beyond sales. 

“As a personal example, a photo that I showed at Timberhill Athletic Club not only led to its purchase but some subsequent great coffee shop conversations,” shared Coleman. 

Artists interested in participating must be exhibiting members of the Corvallis Art Guild in good standing and follow program guidelines for labeling, content, framing quality and scheduling. 

 Organizations interested in joining the Hanging Around Town program as an exhibition space are encouraged to learn more. To sign up or get additional information, email the exhibit chair at exhibitschair@corvallisartguild.net or visit corvallisartguild.net/members/hanging-around-town-member-info/. 

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Vina Moses Center is helping brighten the holidays for local families through its annual Giving Tree program, a community tradition that continues the legacy of the Center’s founder. 

For decades, the Vina Moses Center has supported Benton County residents with essential services like a food pantry, clothing assistance, school supplies and seasonal programs for families in need. One of its most cherished efforts is the Giving Tree initiative, which provides new gifts for children and teens ages 0–18 throughout the community. 

This year, Benton County was one of over 60 Giving Tree hosts. Tags printed with child ages and wish lists are displayed on a holiday tree in the lobby of the Kalapuya Building at 4500 Research Way in Corvallis. Community members and County employees were able to choose a tag, purchase a gift and return it to the tree or directly to the Vina Moses Center at 968 NW Garfield Ave. in Corvallis. 

The County’s participation was made possible by the efforts of Marriah De La Vega, executive assistant to the Board of Commissioners and the county administrator. Marriah’s colleagues admire the unfailing kindness and compassion she demonstrates daily in interactions with the public and County employees. 

“I had seen the Giving Trees around town and wanted to bring one here,” De La Vega said. “This means a lot to me because I feel like it is important to help people have a good Christmas.” 

The need and the impact are both significant. 

“Each year, support from partners like Benton County helps kindness shine brightest this season for families facing hardship,” said Peter Merten, program and development specialist with the Vina Moses Center.  

“Last year, our community collected gifts that went to 1,873 kids. Everything is given away for free in our seasonal, pop-up Vina’s Giving Tree stores. We are profoundly grateful for your kindness — you’re creating a positive memory for a child that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.” 

Community members who want to support the Vina Moses Center can learn more about enrolling in services, donating or volunteering by visiting the Vina Moses website, emailing info@vinamoses.org, or calling 541-753-1420.

###

Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone has been appointed by Governor Tina Kotek to lead the state’s new Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. The task force will continue the work, wrapped up in July, of the Regional Sustainable Materials Management Plan (SMMP) Task Force convened in 2024 by Benton County.

Malone learned of his appointment just before Thanksgiving when he saw the governor at the Association of Oregon Counties annual conference in Eugene.

The task force has 12 members. Eight voting members were appointed by Governor Kotek:                        

• Pat Malone, Chair, Benton County Commissioner, representing the Association of Oregon Counties
• Kristan Mitchell, Vice Chair, Oregon Refuse & Recycling Association, subject matter expert in the disposal of municipal solid waste
• Courtney Flathers, Governor’s Office, representing the Governor
• Julie Jackson, Republic Services, representing a private hauler of solid waste that operates a landfill in the Willamette Valley
• Brian May, Marion County Public Works, subject matter expert in the disposal of municipal solid waste
• Celeste Meiffren-Swango, Oregon Environmental Council, representing environmental organizations
• Crystal Weston, Oregon Environmental Council, representing environmental organizations
• Jason Williams, Public Works Director, City of Lebanon, representing the League of Oregon Cities

Four nonvoting Legislative Members were appointed to the task force by the Senate President and House Speaker to act in an advisory capacity

• Representative Ed Diehl (R-House District 17)
• Representative Sarah Finger McDonald (D-House District 16)
• Senator Courtney Neron Misslin (D-Senate District 13)
• Senator Todd Nash (R-Senate District 29)

Erin Pischke and Beth Reiley from the state’s Legislative Policy and Research Office will provide staff support to the task force, bringing extension experience and state connections.

Task force meetings will be open to the public, and other experts and interested parties will be invited to participate. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 16 in Salem to kick off work before the end of 2025.

After a year, the task force will submit a report by Dec. 15, 2026, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the environment. The report may include recommendations for legislation. The task force then will sunset on Dec. 31, 2026.

Commissioner Malone has been working on the solid waste problem in the area for more than four years, first in Benton County Talks Trash and then on the SMMP task force. Nearly everywhere he goes, he finds himself talking about the problem of solid waste. It is on the minds of leaders in counties and municipalities throughout western Oregon.

Malone feels growing urgency to begin the next phase of this work: “The clock is ticking – we don’t have a lot of time to put a real, long-term solution in place for this region.”

“If things go well, it takes about a decade to site and build a solid waste transfer station,” said Malone, “and that’s roughly the amount of life left right now in the Coffin Butte landfill.”

Building new transfer stations in four core counties — Benton, Linn, Marion and Polk —is part of a solution recommended by the SMMP Task Force. Tillamook, Lincoln and Yamhill counties would also be involved in the plan. 

Having a transfer station has the potential to greatly increase a county’s solid waste recovery rate — the percentage of total waste that gets diverted from landfills and incineration for beneficial purposes like reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery.

Malone cites Lane County as an example, with the highest recovery rate in the state at 52%. When the planned CleanLane Resource Recovery Facility is completed, the rate is expected to rise to at least 63% as an additional 80,000 tons of material annually are diverted from the county’s landfill.

Polk County just approved the zoning on a new solid waste transfer facility to be built on the site of the former Rickreall Dairy. The county first identified the need for a transfer facility in the 1970s and began working to secure a site about eight years ago. Even with the land use approval done, there are still other permits to obtain before building can begin.

Malone is eager for Benton County — with a recovery rate of only 31.5% when the most recent data were released in 2022 — to start the process of identifying and permitting a site for a transfer station that can bring that rate up to 44%, the County’s current goal. 

After seeing how much the SMMP task force was able to accomplish in less than a year, Malone is optimistic about what the state task force can do in the next year.

“Some of the task force worked on SMMP, and the state staffers are really savvy, so people are warmed up — we’re not starting from zero,” he said. “We’ll cover a lot of ground in a year, and we’ll keep asking ‘How can we keep things going?’.”

* Español a continuación *

A Flood Watch is in effect for Benton County today through Thursday, Dec. 11. County officials are encouraging everyone to take simple steps now to prepare for potential flooding and winter weather. 

As rain increases and water levels rise, Benton County Emergency Management, Public Works and Community Development encourage all community members to follow local authority guidance and sign up for local emergency alerts. 

“Flooding can happen quickly, including in areas that don’t flood often,” said Toby Lewis, Benton County floodplain administrator. “Small steps like keeping your foundation vents clear, moving valuables off the floor and staying informed can make a big difference in how your home or business weathers a storm.” 

County officials also stress the importance of safe travel during heavy rain and high water. 

Remember: 

• Always avoid driving through floodwater. Even a few inches of water can sweep a car off the road. Turn around, don’t drown. 

• Be ready to activate your flood safety plan to keep loved ones, animals and belongings safe while flood waters are high. Oregon Emergency Management’s Be 2 Weeks Ready tool kit can help you prepare for this and other emergencies. 

• Talk with your insurance agent right away about flood insurance. Flood insurance is not included in standard homeowners’ insurance and must be in place 30 days before a flood event. 

• Unsure of your property’s flood risk? Contact the Benton County Community Development Department to find out more. 

Find more information: 

• Flood safety and preparedness: https://www.floodsmart.gov    

• Current Flood Watch: https://bit.ly/4oL3Uv8 

• Sign up for Linn-Benton emergency alerts: https://sheriff.bentoncountyor.gov/linn-benton-alert/ 

Español

Alerta de Inundación vigente para el Condado de Benton; se insta a la comunidad a prepararse para la temporada 

Una alerta de inundación está vigente para el Condado de Benton desde hoy hasta el jueves 11 de diciembre. Las autoridades del condado animan a todos a tomar medidas sencillas ahora para prepararse para posibles inundaciones y el clima invernal. 

A medida que aumenta la lluvia y sube el nivel del agua, las oficinas de Gestión de Emergencias, Obras Públicas y Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Benton animan a todos los miembros de la comunidad a seguir las instrucciones de las autoridades locales y a inscribirse para recibir alertas de emergencia locales (seleccione español en el menú desplegable, en la parte superior derecha). 

“Las inundaciones pueden ocurrir rápidamente, incluso en lugares que no se inundan con frecuencia”, dijo Toby Lewis, administrador de las zonas de inundación del Condado de Benton. “Pequeñas medidas como mantener despejadas las aberturas de ventilación de los cimientos, alzar los objetos de valor que se encuentren en el suelo y mantenerse informado pueden hacer una gran diferencia en cómo su hogar o negocio resiste una tormenta.” 

Las autoridades del condado también enfatizan la importancia de viajar con seguridad durante lluvias intensas y aguas crecidas. 

Recuerde: 

• Evite siempre conducir a través de aguas crecidas. Incluso unos pocos centímetros de agua pueden arrastrar un vehículo fuera de la carretera. Dé la vuelta, no se ahogue. 
• Esté preparado para activar su plan de seguridad contra inundaciones para proteger a sus seres queridos, animales y pertenencias mientras las aguas estén altas. El kit de herramientas “Prepárese en 2 semanas” de la Administración de Emergencias de Oregón puede ayudarle a prepararse para esta y otras emergencias. 
• Hable con su agente de seguros de inmediato sobre el seguro contra inundaciones. El seguro contra inundaciones no está incluido en el seguro estándar de vivienda y debe estar vigente 30 días antes de una inundación.
• ¿No está seguro del riesgo de inundación de su propiedad? Comuníquese con la oficina de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Benton para obtener más información. 

Encuentre más información: 

• Seguridad y preparación contra las inundaciones
• Alerta de inundación actual
• Suscríbase a las alertas de emergencia de Linn-Benton

Benton County has joined many other local organizations in responding to increasing food insecurity in local communities. Noodles for Neighbors is a countywide effort through the end of December to collect nonperishable food and monetary donations that will help feed neighbors in need.

Collection boxes are in place in eight Benton County facilities. Community members are encouraged to bring the following shelf-stable items to fill the bins:

• Dry pasta, any shape
• Boxed macaroni and cheese
• Canned pasta sauce (many food banks don’t accept glass jars because of breakage)
• Canned ready-to-eat pasta meals with pop-tops, like SpaghettiOs and ravioli

Other nonperishable food donations are also welcome. All items should be unopened and not expired.

The most effective way to help in the fight against hunger is to donate money. For every dollar donated, Linn Benton Food Share can provide the equivalent of 5 meals to individuals and families in our community.

Linn Benton Food Share provides food to 29 member agencies in Benton County, including food pantries, meal sites, food boxes for seniors and distribution programs at child care centers, senior care facilties and group homes. The Board of Commissioners recently approved a $60,000, two-year grant to support this work.

On Aug. 5, Linn Benton Food Share Program Director Ryan McCambridge reported to Benton County administrators and the Board of Commissioners that the organization distributed more than 1.6 million pounds of food in the County in the 2024-2025 fiscal year ending June 30. This included 21,785 emergency food boxes with a 3-5 day supply of food for individuals and families.

“That 21,000 emergency food boxes was almost a 13% increase over the previous year. It also represents the highest number of food boxes ever distributed in the county,” said McCambridge. “We see those numbers continuing to increase both through the rest of this calendar year and into the next few years because of changes both at the federal and state level.”

Beyond those surviving below the federal poverty level, emergency food supports community members who are housed and employed but unable to make ends meet. These households, often referred to as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE, represent a significant portion of our community.

“Statistics about the federal poverty level only tell part of the story of people in need,” said Benton County Administrator Rachel McEneny. “A much larger number of households are ALICE, with income above the poverty level, but not enough to afford basic expenses.”

Including those below the federal poverty level, an estimated 46% of households in Benton County were below the ALICE threshold in 2023. Since then, the cost of food and other necessities has increased.

“While these community members might not be in crisis, they are forced to make impossible choices,” said McEneny. “They’re deciding whether to pay for the electric bill or a car repair, whether to buy food or fill a prescription.”

Benton County’s food collection started with an internal food drive organized by employees on the County’s Benefits and Wellness Committee and AFSCME Local 2064. The public Noodles for Neighbors effort supports a broad community response as local governments, nonprofits and partner agencies work together to support families, expand food access and connect people with new resources.

A list of donation sites and food resources is available on the Benton County website.

Families and fungi fans gathered at Beazell Memorial Forest on Sunday, Nov. 9, for Mushroom Day 2025, an event that celebrates finding, identifying and cooking mushrooms. 

The annual event, hosted by Corvallis Parks and Recreation, brought together partners from Benton County, Oregon State University, the Corvallis Environmental Center and The Mushroomery. Visitors explored mushroom identification, cooking demonstrations, forest walks, crafts and family-friendly activities at the Beazell Memorial Forest Education Center. 

“Mushroom Day is a great way to celebrate the season and discover the hidden life of our forests,” said Jesse Ott, director of Benton County Natural Areas, Parks and Events. “Beazell Memorial Forest is a really special place. We learn together here, from looking at mushrooms under a microscope to going on hikes and getting people familiar with what to look for and how to enjoy fall mushrooming.” 

Ott said the Beazell Education Center is a unique part of Benton County’s natural spaces. The timber used to build it was harvested and refurbished from the same site.  

“We offer educational events, weddings, parties and conferences here,” he said. “It’s a really unique spot.” 

Lacey Moore, recreation coordinator for environmental health, education and creative programs with Corvallis Parks and Recreation, said this year marked the sixth annual Mushroom Day. 

“It started during the pandemic. People in Oregon love mushrooms, and we love mushrooms, so we made it an annual thing,” said Moore. “Now we have more partners like The Mushroomery, Oregon State and Benton County. I love this day. It’s a fun event, people are stoked to be out in the forest looking at mushrooms, and we’ve tried to make it more family friendly as time goes on. Now we have some mini-mycologists.” 

Joey Spatafora, department head of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University and a mycologist, said the event is one of OSU’s most important outreach efforts each year. 

“A big part of what we do at the university is outreach, and this is one of our major outreach programs of the year with respect to mycology,” Spatafora said. “I have a number of students here participating, and we just really enjoy interacting with the public, especially kids, getting them excited about fungi and mycology.” 

Vendors and educators also shared their passion for mushrooms.  

Jennifer Macome, owner of The Mushroomery, said she enjoys connecting with the community. 

“I love supporting local events, especially educational ones,” said Macome. “We’re bringing the public in, getting them excited about mushrooms, taking them for walks in the woods, and showing them different wild mushrooms.” 

At the Corvallis Environmental Center activity table, Evelia Verburg, nature programs and camp coordinator, said she loves helping kids get hands-on with learning. 

“This is my second year coming to Mushroom Day, and I enjoy helping kids learn about mushrooms with fun activities like the one we have here today,” Verburg said. 

Community members also came to learn. Danielle Silver, a Corvallis resident, said the event was a great way to start her foraging journey. 

“I am a beginner forager, still learning how to identify mushrooms,” said Silver. “I just want to learn more.” 

Organizers said this year’s event was another example of strong community collaboration.  

“This event is a lot of teamwork,” Ott said. “We all just come together and make it happen.” 

As mushroom hunting continues this fall, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office does remind everyone to be prepared before heading outdoors. The American Hiking Society recommends carrying ten essential items to help ensure your safety on the trail. Learn more about the essentials: https://americanhiking.org/resources/10essentials/ 

Mushroom Day was sponsored by Oregon State University, The Mushroomery, Corvallis Environmental Center, Benton County and Corvallis Parks and Recreation. 

View downloadable photos from the event on the Benton County Flickr page.