Activist Alert 8-22-2013

• Occupy Medical will not be downtown during the Eugene Celebration Sunday, Aug. 25, but instead the mobile clinic will roll out to Cottage Grove to offer free medical care, foot care, nutrition guidance and even haircuts, with no appointment needed. Prescriptions will be written as needed, but the clinic does not dispense drugs. The clinic with two volunteer doctors and their trained assistants will be available from noon to 4 pm Sunday in the parking lot at South Lane Mental Health, 1245 Birch Ave. Call 316-5743 or 942-3939. Occupy Medical will be back on the downtown Park Blocks the following Sunday.

• Political entries in the Eugene Celebration Parade Saturday, Aug. 24, include the Peace Train, which will be entry #29 and will gather at 8:30 am at the Civic Stadium Parking lot, off Amazon Drive. Contact Michael Carrigan at calcpeace@gmail.com or call 485-1755. Opportunity Village Eugene and Community Supported Shelters will be entry #53, marching with a Conestoga hut “float,” and will meet at 8:30 am at 19th and High Street. Contact Cary at cdthompson58@gmail.com. The NAACP entry #57 will meet at 8:30 am at the South Eugene High School parking lot along 19th Avenue. Contact Eric Richardson at president@naacplanecounty.org. BRO, ACLU and PFLAG will march for marriage equality as entry #78 and will also gather at SEHS. Contact Jay at tojmoseley@gmail.com.

• A local group involved in the national coast-to-coast Climate March next year, and associated activities, is gathering from 10 to 11:30 am Saturday, Aug. 24, at the EWEB Fountain, 500 E. 4th Ave. See climatemarch.org or email johnca@ourpla.net.

• Mayor Kitty Piercy’s next one-on-one public session will be from 5 to 6 pm Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Albertsons, 4740 Royal Ave. Ward 6 Councilor Greg Evans will join the mayor. Piercy holds the meeting in a different neighborhood each month in an ongoing effort to make participation in civic matters more accessible for interested residents. Call the city manager’s office at 682-5010.

• The Eugene hearings official takes public testimony on Laurel Ridge PUD 5 pm Wednesday, Aug. 28, at downtown library’s Bascom-Tykeson Room. Speak your mind about the possible land use change and proposed 608 new dwellings on a 126-acre parcel east of the Ribbon Trail. More information at wkly.ws/1ja.

• The film Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse will be shown at 8 pm Thursday, Aug. 29, at Wandering Goat, 268 Madison St., as a benefit for White Bird Clinic. Suggested donation is $5 but nobody will be turned away.

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!