Donna Riddle

SoCal gal Donna Riddle spent childhood summers at Outpost Camp on the trail to Mount Whitney. “My mom, my sister and I ran a trail camp for a pack station that hauled people to the summit,” she says. “I have love-of-nature genes from that time.” Riddle got married just out of Corona High School, had a couple kids and did anti-war work in Orange County. “I went to a protest in Century City,” she says. “People sat down, and police attacked with clubs.” A year later, in 1968, she and the kids moved to Eugene. Her husband followed, and soon a third child. She got into raising kids, alternative education, the Children’s Community School and its fundraiser that became the Oregon Country Fair. After a divorce in 1977, she organized a summer food program for kids in Whiteaker that later became part of FOOD For Lane County. She got a UO degree in public affairs and spent two years in Washington, D.C., helping write the Child Nutrition Act of 1980. Returning for her daughter’s senior year, she found a new boyfriend, who lasted 15 years, and had a son in 1985. She ran a family day shelter for St. Vinnies and oversaw a clinic remodel for White Bird. An avid kayaker, she put volunteer hours into river clean-ups until the Occupy movement appeared in late 2011. “I got involved with the first-aid tent,” she says. “I’ve done intake for Occupy Medical since they opened on the Park Blocks. I’m the queen of tent-drying.” Occupy Medical offers free medical services from noon to 4 pm every Sunday at 8th and Oak in Eugene. Volunteers and donations are welcomed.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!