Activist Alert 12-12-2013

• The Lane County Chapter of the ACLU will present a free program on “Human Rights and Mental Health Care: Managing the Intersection” from 5:30 to 7 pm Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Eugene Public Library. Speakers will include clinical social worker Ron Unger. Contact lanechapter@aclu-or.org for more information.

• A benefit for the Egan Warming Centers will begin at 9 pm Friday, Dec. 13, at the Oak Street Speakeasy at the corner of Oak and Broadway downtown. Music will include Mood Area 52, Caroline Bauer and Elizabeth and the Slow Kill. A follow-up benefit will begin at 8 pm Friday, Dec. 20, at Speakeasy featuring five local punk bands, The Wobblies, Pirate Radio, X Boyfirends, The Get and Cuntagious. $5 donation requested.

• Friends of Trees has rescheduled its canceled tree planting event for 9 am Saturday, Dec. 14, and will gather at the parking lot behind its offices at 12th and Lincoln. Call 915-1601.

• A “Bicycle Holiday Swarm” is being planned for noon to 2 pm Saturday, Dec. 14, along South Willamette Street to show support for local businesses and “let them know you’d like to see a street design that supports a ‘Willamette for All’ outcome with on-street bike access and a better walking environment.” Contact Shane MacRhodes at 556-3553.

• Muralist Esteban Steffensen is leading the Our Children’s Trust youth in the creation of a mural on the side of Arriving By Bike at 27th and Willamette from 1 to 5 pm Saturday, Dec. 14. A dedication will be at 2 pm and a video will be shown at 4:30 pm. These youth are calling attention to their local Climate Recovery Ordinance which they have submitted for consideration to the Eugene City Council. Related events will be part of the Second Saturday South Willamette Art Walk. Contact Julia Olson at (415) 786-4825.

• Rabbi Arik Ascherman, senior rabbi at Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel, will discuss “A Rabbinic View of Human Rights in Israel” at 7 pm Saturday, Dec. 14, at Temple Beth Israel, 1175 East 29th Ave. RHR advocates for Palestinians, Bedouins and Jews within Israel and in the Occupied Territories. The event is free and open to the public.

• The Cascadia Wildlands 11th annual Wonderland Auction is from 6 to 10 pm Saturday, Dec. 14, at the EMU Ballroom on the UO campus. Nearly 200 businesses have contributed to the fundraising event. See cascwild.org or call 434-1463. $40 in advance.

• Bikers, unite! The second public meeting on the 2014 repaving of West 13th Avenue between Garfield and Washington will be held 6 pm Monday, Dec. 16, at the Eugene Faith Center, 1410 W. 13th Ave. The city’s proposal to add bike lanes during the repaving is the meeting’s topic. See more at eugene-or.gov/13thAvePaving.

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!