MID-VALLEY: Submissions sought for health quarterly

The Albany Democrat-Herald and Corvallis Gazette-Times are in the process of gathering material for the next edition of "To Your Health," a quarterly publication designed to give readers news they can use regarding their own fitness and wellness.

Medical professionals, exercise specialists and anyone else wishing to contribute to the section are invited to do so. Stories in "To Your Health" generally run between 300 and 500 words.

If you have a story to submit, e-mail it to D-H Associate Editor Steve Lundeberg at steve.lundeberg@lee.net. If you have questions, contact him at that e-mail address or at 812-6110.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, Aug. 13.

CASA announces drawing winners

Linn County Court Appointed Special Advocates held a drawing at the recent Linn County Fair. Winners included: Alex Thompson, bracelet and necklace; Nancy Crain, watch; Cork Jacoby, T-shirt; Dylan Vander-Heide, baseball and glove.

CASA members are specially trained volunteers appointed by a judge to be an independent, objective voice for an abused or neglected child in foster care.

To learn more about CASA, call 967-3807.

Credit union collecting school supplies

For the month of August, Central Willamette Community Credit Union will hold its annual "Back to School Tree Project" that collects supplies for mid-valley schools.

A tree with school supply decorations is set up in the two Albany branches, the Lebanon branch and the Corvallis branch.

Anyone who is interested in donating supplies may drop them off at any credit union branch.

ALBANY: Balloon rides to launch Art and Air Festival

The Albany Parks & Recreation Department and the Albany Visitors Association will offer tethered rides in a hot air balloon on Thursday, Aug. 23, to kick off the eighth annual Wah Chang Northwest Art and Air Festival.

Pilot Russ Reichert will provide the rides in his balloon, Sunrise Surprise, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of At Home Furniture, 930 Hill Street S.E.

Rides cost $5 per person. No reservations are needed.

The Art & Air Festival opens at dawn Friday, Aug. 24, with hot-air balloon launches at Timber-Linn Memorial Park. Art booths, children's activities, live music, wine tasting and food booths open at 4 p.m.

The Albany Visitors Association is taking reservations for hot-air balloon rides from the park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the festival at $200 each. To reserve a balloon ride or for more information about balloons or the tethered rides, contact Sharon Martin-Mogg at the visitors association, 928-0911.

For information about the Northwest Art & Air Festival, visit www.nwartandair.org or call 917-7777.

Summer Ensemble to perform Monday

The Summer Ensemble of the Willamette Master Chorus will perform Monday as part of the 2007 Mondays at Monteith concert series in Monteith Riverpark.

The ensemble features 40 choir members and soloists, compared to the full chorus of 70 or more amateur and professional vocalists from throughout the Willamette Valley. Several of the performers live or work in Linn and Benton counties.

Led by music director Paul Klemme, Monday's concert will offer a sampling of African American spirituals, popular music from the 1940s, and patriotic pieces.

The full chorus opens its 2007-08 season on Veterans Day weekend. Details about future concerts are at www.WillametteMasterChorus.org.

Monday's at Monteith concert admission is free, but donations are encouraged. No pets are allowed in the park during the concerts.

This year's series is presented by At Home Furniture and cosponsored by KGAL/KSHO Radio; the Albany Democrat-Herald; Boehme and Running, CPAs; Edward Jones; Brookdale Senior Living; Russ & Duffy Tripp; Tripp & Tripp Real Estate; and IBEW Local No. 280.

LEBANON: Club hires administrative assistant

The Boys & Girls Club of Lebanon has hired Kara Enright as an administrative assistant.

Enright graduated from Sweet Home High School in 2001, from Linn Benton Community College in 2004, and from Oregon State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, with a minor in athletic administration.

Enright was recognized as the business management student of the year at Linn-Benton Community College in 2004 and completed an internship with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in 2005. In addition to having responsibility for the front office operation, she will lend administrative expertise to the athletic programs at the club.

SWEET HOME: Quartzville Road traffic facing detour

The work schedule for the Road 11 retaining wall project has been changed, the Forest Service reports.

Work will be begin Monday and continue through Sept. 7.

The project will close a small section of Road 11 near milepost 35 east of Green Peter Reservoir and Yellow Bottom Campground. Traffic will be detoured onto Forest Roads 1155 and 1133. The detour consists of single-lane gravel roads with turnouts and may present difficulties for larger sized traffic and motorcycles and will lengthen trip times through the area.

This project will not affect traffic coming through Sweet Home to access Green Peter Reservoir or Yellow Bottom Campground.

Fopr more information, contact the Sweet Home Ranger District at 367-5168 or project engineer Josh Latham at (541) 367-3284.