The mid-valley's weather is forecast to be clear and warm, topping out at 83 degrees, on Saturday, and organizers of The Big Pickup are hoping the favorable conditions will bring out volunteers in droves.

In Albany, more than 300 volunteers have signed up for "The Big Pickup: Albany Community Action Day," according to Marilyn Smith, public information officer for the city.

The event combines the semi-annual Down By the Riverside stream cleanup with neighborhood cleanups and recycling efforts.

Yard waste, junk and trash will be collected in the northeast Willamette neighborhood of First Avenue and Burkhart Street. The neighborhood group there has also organized a tire collection, said Meghan Lewis, a Building Division code compliance officer with the city. Tires will be accepted for a disposal donation of $2 each.

"They will also have a tire donation fund to help people who may not be able to absorb that cost," Lewis said.

Those interested in volunteering for Albany's activities may contact Heather Slocum at (541) 791-0058 or heather.slocum

@cityofalbany.net.

Volunteers need to report to registration areas to sign liability waivers, receive supplies and work area maps:

• Ray's Food Place in North Albany Village, 8 to 8:30 a.m. Litter Patrol.

• Bryant Park, 9 to 10 a.m., river cleanup/invasive plant removal.

• First Assembly of God parking lot near Taco Time, 8 to 9 a.m., litter patrol.

• First Avenue and Burkhart Street N.E., 8 to 9 a.m., neighborhood cleanup

Volunteers will meet at noon at Monteith Riverpark for lunch and prizes.

This is an Oregon 150 partner event, done in cooperation with SOLV.

Take Care of Oregon Days events happening in Linn County

Albany's Community Action Day - River Cleanup

City of Albany

05/16/2009

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cleanup of garbage along Albany's rivers and creeks. Willamette and Calapooia River, Periwinkle and Cox Creek are the focus. Activities: Cleanup, Drop Off Debris, Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup, Invasive Plant Removal, Litter Pickup. There will be pizza and prizes for volunteers after cleanup.

Contact: Heather Slocum, (541)791-0058, heather.slocum@cityofalbany.net

Lyons City Wide Cleanup

City of Lyons

05/16/2009

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Disposal for: metal, tires, glass, yard debris, appliances, etc. Activities include: Cleanup.

Contact: Mary Mitchell, (503)859-2167, marym@wvi.com

Minto Park - Ted Thompson Memorial Tables and Benches

NW Steelheaders-Salem Chapter

05/16/2009

Install the Ted Thompson Table and Benches permanently to site with cement.

Contact: Jim Johnson, (503)363-8628, jjsculpt@teleport.com

Sweet Home SOLV project 2009

City of Sweet Home Police Department

05/16/2009

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This will be a trail cleanup or a flower planting project. Activities include: Landscaping.

Contact: Byron Wolfsong, (541)367-4554, bwolfson@ci.sweet-home.or.us

Foster Lake Cleanup

USACE-Green Peter and Foster Lakes

05/16/2009

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to clean up lake and recreation areas and to remove invasive weeds. Volunteers will meet at Sunnyside and need their own transportation to travel to job sites. Boats are welcome. Activities include: Cleanup, Invasive Plant Removal, Litter Pickup, Roadside Cleanup.

Contact: Tami Schroeder, (541)942-5631, Tamara.R.Schroeder@usace.army.mil

Monteith House Museum Volunteer Day

Monteith Historical Society

05/16/2009

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clean up the museum yard and grounds in preparation for the summer tourist season. Activities include: Cleanup, Landscaping, Planting, Power Washing, Pruning, and Weeding. We will have a pizza party after the clean up.

Contact: Oscar Hult, (541)979-9108, hult@q.com

Community Pride Day

Lebanon Police Department

05/16/2009

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Powerwashing buildings and sidewalks. Planting flowers, general cleaning up of the area. Activities include: Cleanup, Landscaping, Litter Pickup, Painting, Planting, Power Washing, Weeding. There will be free lunch to all participants.

Contact: Dala Johnson, (541)258-4339, djohnson@ci.lebanon.or.us

The Big Pickup: Albany Community Action Day

City of Albany

05/16/2009

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Neighborhood cleanup, litter patrol, river and stream cleanup, recycling collection. Activities include: Cleanup, Drop Off Debris, Litter Pickup, Recycling, Roadside Cleanup. Pizza lunch will be served to volunteers after the work project.

Contact: Marilyn Smith, (541)917-7507, marilyn.smith@cityofalbany.net

North Santiam River Cleanup - Minto Park to Greens Bridge

05/16/2009

10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Starting March 7, five weekend days are scheduled for North Santiam River clean-up activities. Dates: March 7, April 4, May 2, May 16, and June 6. May 16 will include the placing of a memorial bench at Minto Park. Twenty or more boats per date are expected. Activities include: Cleanup.

Contact: Susan Chamberlin, (503)949-5965, suracha@wbcable.net

Albany's Community Action Day-Neighborhood and Litter Cleanup

City of Albany

05/16/2009

8 a.m. to noon

Neighborhood beautification, litter patrols, encouraging citizens to work together on community needs Activities include: Cleanup, Drop Off Debris, Graffiti Removal, Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup, Litter Pickup, Recycling, Roadside Cleanup. We will have lunch at noon for volunteers.

Contact: Heather Slocum, (541)791-0058, heather.slocum@cityofalbany.net

Mill City Clean-Up Day

North Santiam Chamber of Commerce

05/16/2009

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Community clean-up day including paper shredding.

Contact: Cathy Morris, (541)258-6940, cmorris@le.linn.or.us

Miller Cemetery Cleanup

05/17/2009

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ground work on pioneer cemetery, removing brush, debris, etc. Activities include: Cleanup and information on burials.

Contact: Charlotte Powell, (503)357-0944, ECPOWL@aol.com

Cemetery Cleanup

City of Brownsville

05/23/2009

9 a.m. to noon

Head Stone Restoration, Clean-up and General Maintenance Activities include: Cleanup, Construction, Painting.

Contact: Scott McDowell, (541)466-5880, admin@ci.brownsville.or.us

Mid-Valley Gleaners

The New Mid Valley Gleaners

05/30/2009

9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Paint building. Clean up outdoors. Haul garbage. Activities include: Cleanup, Landscaping, Litter Pickup, Painting, Power Washing.

Contact: Nancy Whitecotton, (541)286-1969, tjtkaj@yahoo.com

Periwinkle Place Painting Party

Albany Partnership for Housing and Community Development

05/30/2009

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Periwinkle Place is a multi-family affordable housing complex located in Albany where four of the manufactured homes are in need of two coats of paint each. In addition to painting there may be minimal litter pickup around the property. Refreshments will be provided.

Contact: Alix Stinnett, (541)926-5451, alix@albanypartnership.org

SHARE YOUR TAKE CARE OF OREGON PHOTOS

The Democrat-Herald invites participants to share their photos from the event, either online or for print. To share your photos online, go to "DH Extras" at democratherald.com, then to "Share Your Photos" and look for the album titled "Take Care of Oregon Days." To see your photo in print, e-mail it to news@dhonline.com along with a description, including names of those pictured and ages if they're children.

Visit the the Take Care of Oregon Days website for more information on other local projects: www.solv.org/programs/take_care_of_oregon_days.asp.