ALBANY

West science teacher receives grant

A West Albany High School science teacher has received a grant to set up her classroom to continue a research project on craneflies.

Sylvia Harvey teaches chemistry and AP chemistry at West Albany. The $7,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a supplemental fund that continues a grant she received two years ago.

West Albany High School contributed an additional $2,000 in matching funds.

Through the grant, Harvey worked two summers with Sujaya Raw at Oregon State University, refining a technique to use DNA markers to tell the larvae of different species of craneflies apart from one another.

Craneflies are pests that damage the roots of grass crops. Different species have different life cycles and place their eggs differently, so knowing which species is affecting a particular crop could lead to more direct methods of eliminating them.

Harvey's grant will allow her to develop curriculum and buy equipment to further the research. She said she plans to set up her classroom to do the testing.

Christmas Storybook Land officers appointed

The 2007 Board of Directors for Christmas Storybook Land has elected officers for 2007: Trish Pimm, president; Suzanne Jones, vice president; Joyce Moreira, secretary; Tami Chaput, treasurer; Karen Dahlinger, chairman of the board.

Storybook Land is also taking orders for DVDs of the 2005 and 2006 presentations. The cost for a 2006 DVD in a translucent case is $8; in an enhanced case it's $12. The collector's edition of 2005 and 2006 is $15.

You can order by calling Don Albright at 928-1612 or contacting any board member.

MID-VALLEY

Group seeks eyeglasses for Dominican Republic

A mid-valley group is collecting eyeglasses and sunglasses to give out on an upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic.

Jessica Norris of Eye Care Associates, and 10 others in a group called Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity, will travel to Santo Domingo on May 13 to provide free eye exams and glasses to residents. The group is working with the Santo Domingo Lion's Club and expects to see up to 200 patients per day and hand out up to 1,000 pairs of glasses during the week.

Prescription eyeglasses and regular sunglasses can be dropped off at the three Eye Care Associates offices: 2715 Willetta St. SW Suite B, Albany; 55 B Twin Oaks Ave. Suite 3, Lebanon; and 330 N.W. Elks Dr., Corvallis.