April
FREE
2012 The
News for the Mid-Willamette Valley
April Loc Events C al alendar Page 2
American Legion Post 10 Continues To Build
By Louie White Post 10 Member July fourth, 2010 started out like any day. Reality sat in about the time I turned off Pacific Boulevard in Albany to go to the Lions Club Breakfast at Eleanor Hackleman Park. I watched the home of American Legion Post 10 and Unit 10 Auxiliary settle into a pile of ashes at the hands of an arsonist. Inside that building were historical items and artifacts that were hard won by those Veterans that helped to keep us free for all of our lives. Hopefully, we will now complete a new home and begin the process of documenting once again the rich history of service that is the American Legion. Throughout the years, Post 10, along with the Unit 10 Auxiliary, have been an incredible team. Together we have provided much needed services to the community and to the Veterans in the hospitals in Roseburg and White City. We hosted numerous banquets and parties for local veterans and their families, worked to instill patriotism in our schools, and honor local law enforcement officers, firefighters and of course our local Veterans. With the completion of our new post home, we will have a banquet capacity of 500 and will be able to host multi-gatherings at the same time. We will have the potential to provide services to the community we never thought possible. The realities of the fire that deprived us of our home begin to set in very early on. The hoops we had to jumped through began to consume our insurance settlement. The delays as we waited decisions were expensive delays. Throughout all of this, we have been able to occupy a temporary home on First & Lyon in downtown Albany in order to have a “command post” for our membership. Over the years of our existence here in Albany, Post 10 has been a leader in the development of the community. We brought the first stoplight to town. The first ambulance. We brought about the Albany Municipal Airport, and the list goes on. We were on the cutting edge of the Armistice Day observance which began with a handful of WWI Veterans and a very few onlookers. That event eventually grew into and continues to be the biggest and best Veterans Day celebration in the nation. The Legionnaires and the Post 10 Auxiliary and the community as a whole are the victims here. We have come a long way towards completing our new home. Unfortunately, we are about $400,000 short of the funds needed for completion. Until that goal is achieved, we will have an empty shell. We deserve better than this, as does the entire community. Please help us to make Post 10 the command center once again come Veterans Day 2012. Donations can be made to Umpqua Bank in the name of the American Legion Post 10 building fund or sent to American Legion Post 10, First and Lyon, Albany Oregon 97321.
Kids and adults had a great time during last years Procession of the Species parade.
Photo by Oliver J. Anderson
Procession of the Species By Heather Slocum How will you celebrate Earth Day? The fifth annual “Procession of the Species Parade” in Albany on Saturday, April 21st is a perfect event for children and adults to have fun and celebrate the natural world. The Procession brings families, neighbors, businesses, schools, organizations, and all interested people together in a colorful parade that will serpentine in downtown Albany for several blocks. People of all ages will dress up as their favorite animal, tree, flower, or other natural element. The Procession of the Species Parade originated in Olympia, Washington, in January 1995 when a group of local residents wanted to organize an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Earth Day. In 2007, Albany residents Tiah Swanson and Patty Evans were looking for a way to unite people in Albany and the outlying communities with an event to honor and respect the natural world. They were impressed by the success of the Olympia Procession and in 2008 the Albany Procession began bringing hundreds of people together. Participants are asked to use art and music avenues when creating their “species”. Think of your favorite
Photo by Oliver J. Anderson
animal, creepy crawly insect, wiggle-waggle fish, picturesque plant or colorful bird. Create a costume, mask, puppet, flag, musical instrument, or whatever you might imagine. You can even take part in a fabulous pre-parade workshop on Saturday, April 14th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Albany Public Library at 2450 14th Avenue S.E. This FREE family workshop is sponsored by the Willamette Valley Puppeteers and will provide materials and assistance to prepare for the Procession Parade. The only guidelines are: No written words, motorized vehicles, or live animals Come celebrate and enjoy the activities on Saturday, April 21st starting at 10:00 a.m. beginning at 4th Avenue and Broadalbin in front of the Linn County Courthouse. The parade will end at the Albany Senior Center with snacks and a puppet show called “Cool, Clean, Water” performed by Central Elementary students. This year’s event is a partnership of the Albany Downtown Association, City of Albany, Community Before and After School Program, The First Christian Church, and the Willamette Valley Puppeteers. For more information, contact Heather Slocum at heather.slocum@cityofalbany.net or visit www. albanyprocession.wordpress.com.
Photo by Oliver J. Anderson