Before we get started, we wanted to let you know our fair burgh is seeking some volunteers for the Planning Commission and the Historic Resources Commission.
Commissioner aren’t paid, but it’s a great opportunity to contribute to our shared community. Applications need to be submitted by Friday, Oct. 20, and you would interview with the City Council on Nov. 9. If you’re considering the Planning Commission, click here. For the Historic Resources Commission, click here.
Library Talks Books Folks Want Banned: Ashlee Chavez, director of Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, will discuss “The Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022” as part of the library’s Random Review series. The program is set for 12 pm, Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the library’s main meeting room. It is the first time this program has been held in person since February 2020.
The American Library Association compiles a nationwide list of the most challenged books each year.
The most common reasons for challenge on the 2022 list is LGBTQIA+ content, as well as claims of being sexually explicit, and depictions of abuse and drug use. Chavez will talk about some of the specific titles and types of content being challenged, and why these books do belong in libraries.
Chavez has been Library Director in Corvallis since 2017. She has a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Drexel University, and has worked in public libraries in Phoenix, Arizona; Lompoc, California; and San Antonio, Texas.
If you want to find out what’s on the ALA list, click here.
The Arts Center This Month: The centerpiece exhibit right now is Dualities, which expresses the delicate yet perdurable attributes of nature. Ceramic, stone, and wood convey feelings of permanence, while cotton, silk, and other such fibers are fragile by comparison. Gabe Babcock’s works of art are grounded in the natural world. Robert James is a fiber artist inspired by an aspect of nature or a specific geographical area and the environmental realities affecting it. This exhibit runs through Oct. 28.
At press time, you have only one more day until the Arts Center’s annual gala – click here to purchase tickets.
Also, Jumpstart Your Creative Business: Apply now for the Artist Accelerator Residency at The Arts Center. A 12-week intensive for artists and creatives looking to jump-start their creative business. Residency focuses on sustainable business basics, exploring business structures, and best practices. Peer group discussions and 1:1 coaching are included as well as excellent topical lectures. $333/month of Residency (Scholarships Available). Click here to learn more.
Sustainability Coalition Gathering: A diverse mix of local sustainability efforts will be highlighted at the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition’s next Quarterly Gathering on Monday, October 9, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. The gathering will feature brief presentations by three Coalition partners and one Coalition action team. The public is invited.
Presentations by Sally Starker and Wendy Starker Little of Ants on a Log Café, Ellen Tappon of Alliance for Recreation and Natural Areas (AFRANA), and Judy Smith of Home Share Oregon will highlight what their organizations are doing to help create a sustainable community.
There will also be a presentation by Dave Eckert of the Coalition’s Water Action Team about that team’s latest and greatest accomplishment. The gathering will include an opportunity for networking and information sharing by attendees, as well as delicious refreshments from First Alternative Co-op.
A special feature of the event will be the presentation of the first-ever Megawatt Awards by Electrify Corvallis, a local nonprofit dedicated to educating people about the need to make the shift away from fossil fuels and toward electrification. The awards will be presented to local individuals to recognize acts that educate, improve fairness and justice, make policies, provide creative solutions, and promote electrification together.
For more information, call 541-230-1237 or e-mail info@sustainablecorvallis.org.
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