Eugene Weekly : Best of Eugene : 2011-2012

Best of Eugene 2010-2011: Civics

Best Local Activist

1. Frog

2. Peter DeFazio

3. Kitty Piercy

We salute Frog as an activist and, perhaps more appropriately, as an icon of free speech in Eugene.

Best Local Politician

photo by todd cooper

1. Peter DeFazio

2. Kitty Piercy

3. Rob Handy

Of course Lane County loves Rep. Peter DeFazio. He is known to quote Lord of the Rings when making political analogies, and he drives around Springfield in his Dodge Dart with his dogs lolling out the windows on his way to chat constituents up while shopping at Bi-Mart. What more could you ask for? Well, politically he’s not bad either. The longtime congressman gets hot under the collar on the House floor about anything that affects Oregonians from Occupy Wall Street to trade and transportation issues. EW’s only complaint? We kind of miss the ‘stache.

Best Local Uproar

1. EmX

2. Civic Stadium

3. Anti-Ducks Football

It’s one of the best busters of Eugene’s “liberal haven” myth — the genesis of a Eugene rapid-transit system is one of the most loudly protested and least understood controversies in the area, with hyperbolic threats of failed businesses souring public opinion. Come on, who doesn’t love a friendly dragon?

photo by trask bedortha

Person of the Year

1. Kitty Piercy

2. Chip Kelly

3. Jacqui Willey

Mayor Kitty Piercy is a survivor, both politically and as one of Eugene’s favorite people, but this vote was close with football coach Chip Kelly and Jacqui Willey (Glenwood Restaurants) not far behind. Piercy has helped put Eugene on the map for work on sustainability, and downtown’s long-awaited revival is happening on her watch. She’s running for her third term and is already racking up endorsements from prominent people like Gov. John Kitzhaber. Will she have a serious opponent in the May primary? No one has filed yet.

Best Nonprofit

photo by todd cooper

1. Food for Lane County

2. Greenhill Humane Society

3. Planned Parenthood

If there’s one category where everyone’s a winner, it’s the list of Lane County’s nonprofits. FOOD for Lane County wins this category perennially, probably because we empathize with their work in our hearts and our bellies. While FFLC keeps thinking up new ways — produce stands, gardens, accepting extra home garden produce — to keep the organization giving, we hope Eugeneans who voted for FFLC can do the same.

Categories:

Civics

Eats

Spending

Nightlife

Arts

Miscellany

Staff Picks





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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!