Activist Alert 10-11-2012

• The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be at 2 pm Sunday, Oct. 14, at Alton Baker Park. Registration begins at 1 pm. See http://wkly.ws/1d8 for more information or to donate.

• Occupy Eugene’s first anniversary Monday, Oct. 15, will begin with the Eugene Philanthropy Network gathering at noon at Ninkasi at 272 Van Buren, followed by a bank action at 2 pm beginning at the Park Blocks. Pro-women activists will gather at 4:30 pm at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at 8th and Oak, for “Women Amplified: Uniting Against the War on Women.” After the rally, the marchers will take to the streets. They ask that attendees bring signs or sign-making materials and pots and pans or other noise-making devices. Tabling will go on all day at the Park Blocks followed by entertainment and talks from 6 to 9 pm.

• Noted psychiatric survivors Celia Brown from New York City and Jacki McKinney, MSW, of Philadelphia will be speaking at a free gathering at 3 pm Monday, Oct. 15, at the Eugene Public Library downtown. Call 345-9106 or email oregon.united@gmail.com for more information.

• Author Greta Berlin, co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement, will speak at 6:30 pm Monday, Oct. 15, at Cozmic, 8th and Charnelton in Eugene. Free. Sponsored by the Al-Nakba Awareness Project.

• The Oregon Education Investment Board is holding community forums and webinars at which stakeholders can provide input and feedback on education funding. The Eugene forum will be from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the UO’s Ford Alumni Center, 1720 E. 13th Ave. Each speaker will be given two minutes. Public comments may also be emailed to: education.investment@state.or.us

• The deadline to apply for the daytime option of the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener Program in Lane County has been extended until Oct. 17. Orientation will be Dec. 5 and classes will meet Wednesdays, Jan. 9 to March 13, 2013. Contact the Extension Service office at 344-5859, or stop by 783 Grant St. to pick up an application.

• The Good Works Film Festival will be back Oct. 28-29 with multiple screenings of the award-winning labor film Brothers On the Line, which documents the leadership of the United Auto Workers union from 1946 to 1970. Director and producer Sasha Reuther will be available on Skype for all screenings at the Bijou. The showings will be free but seating will be limited. Get advance tickets at the Bijou or online at goodworksfilmfestival.org

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!