Social Security Information for those who serve in the military

By Alan Edwards
On Memorial Day, it’s important to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We at Social Security honor the heroism and courage of our military service members and mourn for those who have given their lives in defense of freedom.

It’s also important to recognize those service members who are still with us, especially those who have recently been wounded. They’ve served us; likewise we serve them.

Earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Social Security also has covered inactive duty service in the Armed Forces reserves (such as weekend drills) since 1988.

If you served in the military before 1957, you did not pay Social Security taxes, but we gave you special credit for some of your service.

You can get both Social Security benefits and military retirement. Generally, there is no reduction of Social Security benefits because of your military retirement benefits. You’ll get your full Social Security benefit based on your earnings.

When you reach age 65, you’ll also be eligible for Medicare. If you have health care insurance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or under the TRICARE or CHAMPVA program, your health benefits may change or end when you become eligible for Medicare. You should contact the VA, the Department of Defense, or a military health benefits advisor for more information.

If you’ve served in the Armed Forces and you’re planning your retirement, you’ll want to read our publication, Military Service and Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.html.

You also may want to visit the Military Service page of our Retirement Planner, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/veterans.htm.

Finally, find out about expedited benefits for wounded warriors at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10131.html

Second Annual Barrel To Keg Relay Race

A team from last year's race stops for a photo near the finish line.

Join more that 35 teams already signed up to take part in the Second Annual Barrel To Keg Relay Race taking place July 14th. The Relay Race is a race against poverty to benefit Community Services Consortium.  Join teams with names such as “That’s What She Said”, “Smells Like Bacon”, “Mullet Mojo” , “Real Housewives of North Albany” and the “Hagg Lake Harriers Teams 1 and 2.”

The race takes runners from the Harris Bridge Vineyard just out of Philomath to the coast through wonderful vistas of forests, rivers and coastal marshes to end at Rogue Ales Brewery in Newport’s south beach.

There is still time to get your team together to join in the fun. For information and to register go to the www.communityservices.us and click on Barrel to Keg.

Or go to www.runnerspace.com/EclecticEdgeRacing and click on the “Schedule” button and “July” to find the “Barrel To Keg Relay” listing.

No team? No problem. Individual runners may be matched with teams looking for additional runners by contacting Race Director Mark Barrett via email: info@barreltokeg.com.

Nonrunners are welcome to participate as well. Anyone interested in being a race official or volunteer or just looking for more information can contact Janet Hessel at jhessel@communityservices.us or 541-704-7626.

Find the Barrel to Keg Relay on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BTK.

BBQ Benefit For RSVP

Save the Date!


Sunday, July 8 at 1 pm

At the Albany Senior Center, 489 Water Avenue NW, Albany

Red, White & Blue BBQ

A benefit for RSVP

Featuring Chef Matt Bennett, Twice nominated NW James Beard Award

Tickets $25 in advance, $35 at the door, $20 for Veterans

Available in RSVP office at 250 Broadalbin SW, Suite 2A

Amazing Silent Auction Items, Entertainment

Plan to join us for a fun afternoon, benefiting a Community Services Consortium program.

Heart to Heart Resource Fair to benefit families in need

Need Help?   Whether it is applying for the SNAP program (food stamps) or want to find out about getting a birth certificate for your child, get a haircut or your teeth looked at, you can get a helping hand at the Heart to Heart Resource Fair at the Boys & Girls Club at 1215, Hill Street, SE Albany.

Look for the following resources, services and free items you will find there:

• Job searching resources  •  Blood pressure screening and general medical help  •  Addiction treatment and recovery resources  •  Public school information  •  Health insurance options for children and teens  •  Personal identification application help  •  Affordable housing resources  •  Haircuts  •  Reading glasses
•  Dental screening  •  Sunscreen, first-aid and grooming supplies  •  New socks  •  Pet supplies 
•  Free lunch

This event is made possible by Community Services Consortium and the City of Albany
WHERE: Albany Boys & Girls Club, 1215 Hill St., SE, Albany

WHEN: Thursday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, call 541-917-7507

Letter Carriers Food Drive May 12

Join in the Nation’s Largest Food Drive and Help People Locally
Put food by your mailbox on Saturday, May 12

Help stamp out hunger! Saturday morning, May 12, just place a bag of nonperishable food donations by your mailbox for the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive. The Letter Carriers or Linn Benton Food Share volunteers will pick it up.
On this day, everyone can help donate food to the families in their community who need emergency food.
The “Stamp Out Hunger” is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. The National Association of Letter Carriers food drive has collected more than one-billion pounds of food nationally since the food drive started.  This will be the 20^th annual food drive to help out millions of American families who are struggling to make ends meet.
In Oregon, more than 4,000 letter carriers in urban and rural areas will join the national effort to pick up food from postal customers. Locally, the letter carriers food drive benefits Linn Benton Food Share, serving people who are hungry in Linn and Benton counties.
How to help:

·         Place canned and dry food in the bags provided or any sturdy bag

·         Place the bag next to your mail box early Saturday morning, May 12 for the letter carriers or volunteers to pick up

·         No glass or home canned items, please

Most-wanted nonperishable foods include:

Look for foods high in nutrition and low in sugar and fat, such as: Canned meats and meals: Tuna fish, chicken, soups, stews & chili.  Canned fruits, preferably low sugar.  Canned vegetables, preferably low sugar and sodium.  Boxed meals: pasta, potatoes, rice and legumes.

Linn and Benton County Agencies receive Garden Grants

Linn Benton Food Share is pleased to announce that several of our partner agencies in Linn and Benton counties have received grants from Oregon Food Bank for gardening projects.

Linn County recipients are Albany Helping Hands, the SHEM Manna Soup Kitchen in Sweet Home and the Sweet Home Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam.

In Benton County, Jackson Street Youth Shelter and Parent Enhancement Program, both of Corvallis, received grants.

The grants are from Oregon Food Bank’s Network Support Fund, a set aside by OFB’s Board of Directors to help regional food banks and local agencies with unexpected costs or program improvement opportunities. These awards range from $145 to $500, and are for garden equipment such as irrigation supplies, kid-sized gloves and boots, tools, and a small hoop house.

Agencies will use produce from the gardens for their meal programs, and the experience working in these gardens will help participating children, youth and adults learn gardening skills.

Test Smoke Alarms

The Office of State Fire Marshal is urging residents to test their smoke alarms now.
To check your alarm properly, the Fire Marshal recommends that you do the following:

• Push the test button to be sure the battery is working.


• Vacuum the alarm to rid it of dust and cobwebs.


• Inspect your alarm to determine if it is 10 years old or older.

Replace any smoke alarm 10 years old or more and any alarm that does not operate.
working smoke alarms provide a critical early warning to a fire, allowing you vital minutes to escape, increasing your chances of survival.

Spring Food Drive

Girl Scouts stop for a photo after unloading and sorting donated food for the Spring Food Drive April 14.

Spring Food Drive Coordinator, Sue Long with Keller Williams Realty stands with Susan James, Gleaning and volunteer Coordinator from Linn Benton Food Share.

At the end of the day, Girl Scout groups had collected and sorted 6 delivery-truck sized totes of donated food. The food goes to Linn Benton Food Share where it will be distributed in Linn and Benton counties to people who need food.

Ed Dee to perform for We Care

Second Saturdays Benefit Concert Series for a better world
presents guitarist, singer/songwriter Ed Dee in a benefit concert for We Care,
Corvallis-Benton County Council of Religious Organizations
financial assistance to Benton County residents in need

Saturday, April 14th, 6-8pm
Sunnyside Up Cafe
116 NW 3rd St., Corvallis
We suggest a $5 donation at the door

Ed Dee is an acclaimed performing artist, singer/songwriter, guitar man in Corvallis, Oregon and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ed Dee has produced over 60 original songs and 3 professionally-produced CDs. His CDs feature some of the best musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a teenager, Ed was already recognized as an up-and-coming songwriter and musician by SF Chronicle entertainment critic, John Wasserman, and performers such as Country Joe McDonald, who performed one of Ed's songs on tour. For an evening of fine, local music for an excellent cause, please join us on Saturday, April 14th.

We Care provides one time assistance to Benton County residence who find themselves in urgent financial need, with more than 60% of available funds provided for children, our most vulnerable citizens. Although the greater percentage of assistance goes for housing needs, We Care also assists with medical costs, utilities, transportation, and other necessities. Requests are brought to the We Care staff from Community Services Consortium (CSC). 98% of funds go directly to those in need. We care is a non-profit agency with 503-(c) (3) tas status.

Second Saturdays Benefit Concert Series is sponsored by: Veterans for Peace, Linus Pauling Chapter 132, (vfpcorvallis.org) and Corvallis Alternatives to War

Volunteers Celebrated

RSVP Volunteers Dan Haake, Peggy Adams, Lucille Rapp, Ann Rice receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Will Tucker and John Lindsey

RSVP, a program of Community Services Consortium recognized volunteers in Linn County this past fall. Linn County Commissioners were invited to hand out 18 presidential awards Gold Awardees (500+ hours per year) and 4 Lifetime Awardees (4000+ volunteer hours.)

A Free Class to Understand Basic Medicare

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance – SHIBA – is holding Medicare classes in several locations in Linn and Benton County. The classes cover the basics of Medicare. The class is designed for anyone eligible or new to Medicare. It is a valuable class for current beneficiaries that would like a better understanding of their Medicare benefits and options for changes. Spouses and other relatives are welcome to attend the class as well.

SHIBA trained counselors:
· Provide confidential service
· Provide assistance to Medicare beneficiaries with unbiased information regarding health insurance decisions
· Provide advocacy services for consumers with claims, appeals and complaints

Preregistration is required. To register for any of the dates and locations
please call 541-812-0849

Corvallis: April 19, 2012 1:30-3:30pm Timberhill Athletic Club
2855 NW 29th S Street, Corvallis
Sweet Home: May 10, 2012 10am-noon Sweet Home Senior Center
880 18th Avenue, Sweet Home
Corvallis: June 21, 2012 1:30-3:30pm LBCC Benton Center
757 NW Polk Avenue, Albany

SHIBA (Senior health Insurance Benefits Assistance is a Community Services Consortium’s RSVP Program

Cookin' Up Good! Songwriters Food Share Benefit

Ralph Penunuri, Sid Beam and John Donoghue with songs to spice up and dish.

Cookin' Up Good! Songs to spice up any dish! Songs to fill your heart & soul

On March 31, three uniquely individual local songwriters are bringing their music on with jam to family-friendly Imagine Coffee Live Arts, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd. at 53rd St., Corvallis.

John Donoghue of Wild Hog in the Woods, Sid Beam of Gumbo and Ralph Penunuri of the Amazing Acorn Bros. are set for a rousing celebration of music, good will and food.

Event beneficiary, Linn-Benton Food Share, distributed nearly 5 million pounds of food around Linn-Benton Counties last year, with a half-time staff of eight, two drivers and many volunteers. This benefit celebration will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. There is a sliding scale donation of $5 and up, though no one will be refused admission.