• The city of Eugene budget for FY 2014 is now available on the city’s website, Eugene-or.gov/budget. The city Budget Committee will meet and discuss the budget at 6 pm Thursday, May 23, at the downtown library, but no public input will be taken at this meeting. See the city website for feedback and schedule of public hearings.
• Cascadia Forest Defenders are planning a free evening of fun, music and trivia beginning at 7:30 pm Thursday, May 23, at Tiny Tavern, 394 Blair Blvd. Local funk/latin/rock band Maca Rey will play. “Meet your local frontline forest defenders and dance your ass off,” organizers say.
• The Lane Community Bill of Rights group is showing the latest Jeffrey Smith movie Genetic Roulette at 7 pm Thursday, May 24, at EWEB, with a potluck on the EWEB Plaza beginning at 6. The gathering is leading up to the March against Monsanto on Saturday. See letters this week.
• A MoveOn.org petition originating from Sen. Jeff Merkeley calls for repealing the “Monsanto Protection Act” in Congress that restricts regulating GMO seeds. See wkly.ws/1ha.
• A free Veterans Summit will be from 9 am to noon Wednesday, May 29, at the Salem Convention Center, sponsored by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. The event will connect providers that serve vets who face homelessness, mental health issues, transporation, employment, education and more. See oregondva.com or call (503) 373-2390 for more information.
• The 2013 Village Building Convergence with a theme of “Urban Succession: Shift and Sprout” will be happening May 24 to June 2 in Portland. The 10-day conference on urban permaculture involves more than 30 local communities “creating community gathering places and generating prototypes of sustainability,” organizers say. Sponsored by City Repair. See vbc.cityrepair.org or call (503) 235-8946, or email vbc@cityrepair.org.
• A town hall on immigration reform called “Realizing the Dream” is planned for 11 am Saturday, May 25, at the ORI building, 1776 Millrace Dr. Speakers include Thomas A. Saenz, noted civil rights attorney. Free, but space is limited. RSVP to smogart@lulaclanecounty.org
• A town hall on the state budget with Lane County’s state lawmakers will be from 6 to 8 pm Tuesday, May 28, at the LCC Downtown Campus building, Rooms 112-114. Planning to attend are Reps. Peter Buckley, Phil Barnhart, Paul Holvey, John Lively and Nancy Nathanson; and Sens. Lee Beyer and Chris Edwards. Email rep.philbarnhart@state.or.us or call (503) 986-1411.