It’s About Time

The turn of the calendar year comes, not coincidentally, at the turn of the solar year. It would be appropriate to celebrate New Year’s Day the day after winter solstice. The solstices are milestones in the cycle of nature, not end and starting points.

The peak of gray whale southward migration that began last month continues for a week or two in January. The mosses that began their new growth with October rains are developing reproductive branches. Spring flowering plants have leaves emerging from the ground and buds swelling on tips of twigs. Cold, rainy days give us reason to move slowly and contemplate.

Now is a good time to ponder that a century ago Einstein was polishing up his relativity theories of the cosmos that bracket the universe, from infinitesimally small to unimaginably expansive.

Just over a century and a half ago Darwin published the theory of evolution by natural selection. These are the fundamental theories of science that give us our deepest understanding of the real world. Natural history — recording direct observation of nature around us — remains, in my view, at the core of our common science experience.

Personal knowledge of nature being transmitted from one generation to the next by learning about the real, natural world is a wonderful thing.

Even as new subatomic particles are discovered and gravitational waves detected from across the universe, we can all participate in the practice of science by learning the birds and flowers and passing this knowledge to our children.

Botanist David Wagner has worked in Eugene for 40 years. His 2018 Oregon Nature Calendar is available at Down to Earth in Eugene or by contacting him at fernzenmosses@me.com.

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!