Albany, Oregon News and Events

Salem-News.com is your source for events in Albany and the surrounding area.

Salem-News.com is your source for events in Albany and the surrounding area.

(ALBANY, Ore. ) - Some great events are taking place next month in the City of Albany, Oregon.

From an advanced class on the Kindle Fire, to the inaugural Willamette River Relay and Paddle Me Plunge, and there are still openings for youth summer camps. Albany Police are also now accepting applications for their upcoming Citizens Police Academy.

Albany Police Citizens Academy:

The Albany Police Department is accepting applications for the 2014 Citizens Academy.

The citizens academy will be held Tuesdays, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., September 2 - November 11. Two Saturday classes are also planned.

The academy is offered free to Albany citizens age 18 or older and who pass a criminal background check.

The academy is designed to promote awareness and understanding of the Albany Police Department’s role in the community, the criminal justice system, and to educate citizens about the department’s daily functions and operations.

Citizens will attend 40 hours of interactive classroom and hands-on instruction. Topics include police officer selection, training, and duties; investigation skills; tactical operations; use of force and defensive tactics; canine procedures; firearms use; narcotics investigations; crime scene processing; and crime prevention. Students will be actively involved in a variety of educational, interesting activities.

Limited spaces are available.

Completed applications must be returned to the Department no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 15.

One credit hour plus tuition costs are available through Linn-Benton Community College upon successful completion of the academy.

For more information, call 541-917-3206.

Kindle Fire Advanced Class:

Albany Parks & Recreation Department is offering a class to help Kindle Fire owners get the most from the electronic readers.

Tim Babcock is the instructor.

The class will cover file maintenance on all Kindle Fire models using the internet and other computer resources with detailed demonstrations of cloud resources; Microsoft Office file creation, reading, and playback; social networking; HP Eprint management; Skype; and file transfer from computer to Kindle and email using Amazon applications.

Babcock will demonstrate how Bluetooth hardware such as speakers and keyboards can be integrated into newer Kindle Fire models.

Students should bring notebook computers (Windows preferred) with necessary data cables to connect to the Kindle Fire.

Class is scheduled 9:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, August 9, at the Albany Senior Center, 489 Water Avenue NW.

Cost is $16 for Albany residents or $21 for those who live outside the Albany city limits.

For more information call 541-917-7777.

Willamette River Relay and Paddle Me Plunge:

The Calapooia Watershed Council will present the inaugural Willamette River Relay, a paddling/bicycling/running race, and Paddle Me Plunge in Albany August 8 and 9, to raise awareness and funding for river restoration efforts in the Willamette Basin, attract visitors to historic Downtown Albany, and highlight outdoor recreation opportunities in the mid-Willamette Valley.

Event festivities kick off Friday, August 8, at 4:00 p.m. with race participant packet pickup, free live music, and a screening of Willamette Futures in Monteith Riverpark.

Willamette Futures is a feature film from Corvallis-based Freshwaters Illustrated about the challenge of restoring the ecological value of Oregon's big river, the people who are rising to that challenge, and the growing community conversation about the future Oregonians want for the Willamette River and its tributaries.

The Willamette River Relay begins at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 9, with a 2.4-mile paddle from Hyak County Park to Bryant Park, an out-and-back 15.2-mile bicycle ride from Bryant Park following the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, and a 6.2-mile run from Bryant Park along the Dave Clark Path, finishing at Monteith Riverpark.

Following the race, participants will be greeted by a festival with live music, a Calapooia Brewing Company beer garden, and displays from groups engaged in river restoration throughout the Willamette Valley.

After the relay, participants can join Calapooia Brewing Company's Paddle Me Plunge, a fun float from Hyak Park to Bryant Park, with an after-party at Calapooia Brewing Company featuring live music from Orquesta Montecalvo and Just People. Plunge participants will be eligible for prizes for best costume, best floatation device, and most innovative paddle, as judged by a panel of local celebrities.

The Nature Conservancy and Calapooia Watershed Council are working up and down the Willamette River to improve wildlife habitat and water quality, provide place-based youth watershed education programming, and engage residents in the value of local rivers and all that makes the Willamette Valley a great place to play, work, and live.

Proceeds from the Relay and Plunge will benefit the Calapooia Watershed Council and efforts to improve the health of local rivers for people and fish alike.

For information on event registration, volunteer opportunities, and sponsorship, visit www.riverrelay.com or contact Kyle Smith of the Calapooia Watershed Council at 541-466-3493 or ksmith@calapooia.org.

Learn How to Draw:

Albany Parks & Recreation Department is offering a new class for ages 17 and older to learn how to draw. The class is scheduled 6:30-9:00 p.m. Tuesday August 5, 2014 at the Albany Senior Center, 489 Water Avenue NW.

The workshop will focus on drawing scenery, using basic art principles and techniques with graphite pencils. Lines, shading, light and shadow, shape, patterns, and composition will be discussed.

Handouts will encourage and guide further independent study. Each student will produce a pencil drawing.

Registration is required one week prior to the class start date.

Cost for the class is $20 for Albany residents or $26 for those who live outside the Albany city limits.

A supply list will be provided at registration.

For more information call 541-917-7777.

Summer Camps Still Open:

Albany Parks & Recreation Department is offering a variety of camps to keep children and youth active this summer.

Camps are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated.

All camps will be held at Maple Lawn, 1950 Salem Avenue SE. Space is still available. Register by calling 541-917-7777.

We’re All Mad Here: (ages 7-11): August 11-13. $97/$129

Hometown Heroes: (ages 5-7): Thursday and Friday, August 14-15. $79/$105

Source: City of Albany, Oregon