• A community discussion on “Gun Violence: Let’s Talk Solutions” will be at 6:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 24, at the First Christian Church, 1166 Oak St. in Eugene. Panelists include Sen. Floyd Prozanski, Mayor Kitty Piercy and Craig Opperman, CEO of Looking Glass Youth & Family Services. Sponsored by the Democratic Party of Lane County, MotherPAC and CALC. Free, but donations accepted. Call 486-0960 for more information.
• The Lane Latino Leadership Forum 2013 will address where the Latino demographic might be headed in Lane County. Discussion will center on what role the Latino community could play in developing the next generation of political leaders and what expertise Latino businesses can provide to the next generation. The gathering will be from 6:30 to 8:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 24, at LCC Forum Building 16. Panelists include Juan Carlos Valle, James Garcia, Charles Martinez Jr., Andrea Ortiz and Commissioner Pete Sorenson. For more information, call 337-6391.
• “Whither Willamette: Sharing the Street,” a panel on the future of south Willamette Street in Eugene, will be at City Club of Eugene at 11:50 am Friday, Jan. 25, at the Hilton downtown. Panelists include Chris Henry, city transportation engineer, Scott Landfield of Tsunami Books and Paul Moore of Arriving By Bike. A public forum on the issue is scheduled for Feb. 27 before a final plan is presented to the Eugene Planning Commission and the City Council.
• The UO student group designBridge is planning a free community workshop for meeting the needs of Eugene-area homeless at 9 am Sunday, Jan. 27, at First Christian Church, 1166 Oak Street. Email Erica at thecommongoodeugene@gmail.com or visit thecommongood.designbridge.org
• Oregon Wild will give a presentation on the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to protect old-growth forests across the state at a public event from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Rogue Ale House and Eugene City Brewery, 844 Olive St. Speakers will include Chandra LeGue, Jason Morrow and Brian French.
• A panel discussion on “What We Can Do About Our Crowded Classrooms” will be from 7:30 to 9 pm Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the South Eugene High School cafeteria. Panelist include State Rep. Phil Barnhart, writer and EW columnist Anne Bridgman, activist Joy Marshall and SEHS Principal Randy Bernstein. Free.
• A meeting with the LaurelRidge PUD planning consultant is planned for 6 pm Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Comfort Suites Hotel at the I-5 Glenwood interchange. This meeting is to view the current development plans for the 126 acres southwest of Laurel Hill Valley adjacent to 30th Avenue near Spring Boulevard.
• Emerald FEAST (Financing Eugene Area Sustainable Talent) will be back from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, Jan. 31, at the First United Methodist Church, 13th and Olive. Dinner guests will hear short presentations by local very small businesses and projects and vote for their favorites, who will be awarded funding from the proceeds of the dinner. Cost for dinner is sliding scale, $15 to $25. So far about $1,900 has been awarded in four events, says Cary Thompson of the Helios Network, one of the organizers. See emeraldfeast.weebly.com for more information, email HYPERLINK "mailto:emeraldfeast@gmail.com"emeraldfeast@gmail.com or call 463-4619.
• The Oregon State Aviation Board will be holding a public hearing regarding Waldo Lake and seaplanes from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Ken Long Room at the Willamalane Center, 250 S. 32nd St., Springfield. Board members’ contact information can be found at http://wkly.ws/1f4