October 2014 • FREE
All About Apples
Young dancers captivate the audience at the Samaritan Living Well Expo.
Heritage Mall Welcomes the 5th Annual Samaritan Living Well Expo Apples from the Antique Apple Orchard in Sweet Home.
by Karen Rogers Mankind has had a long and intimate affair with the apple. Ever since Eve, we have enjoyed this lovely fruit. First off, there are over 8000 known varieties of apple, of which about 1200 are in cultivation around the world. Apples are closely related to roses and, oddly enough, to strawberries! Apple seeds will not produce trees like their parents, characteristics can lie dormant for centuries. The first apples were probably from a region just south of the Caucasus, along with the “English” walnut. No wonder they go so well together! If you want to be sure of the fruit, you must get a grafted tree. The beginnings of grafting are lost in time, but the Greeks and Romans were adept at it. Romans brought grafted apples to Britain and the Normans in France were very good at propagation- many early apples have Gallic names. By 1688 seventy-eight varieties were being grown in the London ares. Apples reached North America early on. The Macintosh is a chance seedling of the French Fameuse (also known as the Snow apple) brought here by French fur trappers. Apples react to the climate and geologic influence of the areas- apples grown in N.J. taste differently from those grown here. On November 17, 1847 Henderson Lewelling brought seven wagon loads of grafted apple and other fruit trees to the Willamette Valley. In 1853 he was able to take his crop to San Francisco where he got the astonishing sum of a dollar per pound! In 1971, Joseph Brocard, brought his family to Oregon and established an orchard in Sweet Home. There are 213 varieties in his orchard and cider is pressed on a 1913 cider press in October. It will be October 18 this year. So if you need a tree in your yard, consider the apple. It will reward you for years!
by Rick Rogers Get ready to spend the day at Albany’s Heritage Mall for the fifth annual Samaritan Living Well Expo presented by Bi-Mart and Rife’s Home Furniture, 10AM until 6PM on Saturday, October 25th. Over 75 commercial vendors, home-based businesses and non-profits will line the interior of the popular mall. The show offers a chance to ask questions and see demonstrations of dozens of products and services. There will also be special door prizes, gift bags to the first 500, chair massages and a chance to collect millions of points for your favorite participating Points for Profit non-profit members. Samaritan Health Services and Senior Services Foundation will also be on hand to offer health screenings and vital information on how to keep your family healthy and fit. This year, the special All Star Staffing Main Stage, located in the mall’s food court, will feature a continuous array of entertainers ranging from dance to dramatics, and magicians to musicians, puppeteers, an all-star Tribute group and more! Performances will run through all hours of the event. The Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments will be presenting information for the many Senior and Disability Services (SDS) they provide. These include Oregon Project Independence for in-home care; Family Caregiver support services; the Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon or ADRC; Money Management services for seniors; the Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives or
Making a friend at the Samarital Living Well Expo.
PEARLS to reduce depression in older adults; and the Gatekeeper program where everyday citizens become the eyes and ears in the community for spotting a senior in need, including potential dementia and elder abuse situations. SDS will also feature the Senior Meals program including all the Meals on Wheels services for the region and the many services provided by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program or RSVP. They are joined by the Oregon Cascades West Senior Services Foundation which raises money for all of these programs and provides opportunities to invest in our seniors. Meet the staff of these essential senior programs and get your questions answered. Also this year, a major feature will be the updated “Hall of Honor”, presented by Harley-Davidson of Salem, featuring updated photos and biographies of all those military members who have given their lives in recent conflicts. The wall has been given a new look through the work of two mid-valley veteran’s groups, Tribute to the Troops and Vets Helping Vets HQ. The wall will stay in place near the entrance to Ross Dress for Less through the coming Veterans Day festivities in Albany on November 11th. Heritage Mall has expanded over the past year with many new stores such as the giant Hobby Lobby and others. Organizer Lauralee Beck says this year’s event will be the biggest and best yet offering something for every member of the family. For more information on the event or to reserves a space you can call: 541-7912901.
Crowds jam the Heritage Mall Food Court to enjoy great enetertainment.