Activist Alert 2-20-2014

• The Eugene Budget Committee’s Revenue Team subcommittee meets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Atrium Building Sloat Room at 10th and Olive.

• The new 350Eugene chapter’s “Think & Drink” will be from 6 to 7 pm Thursday, Feb. 20, at Hop Valley Brewing at 990 W. 1st Ave. Thursday, Feb. 20. Call 343-5091 or find the group on Facebook.

• Bob Doppelt of the Resource Innovation Group will speak on “The Social Costs of Climate Disruption” at 7:30 pm Friday, Feb. 21, at 100 Willamette Hall on the UO campus. Contact Tom Titus of the Eugene Natural History Society at 484-4477.

• Friends of David Oaks (FODO) is planning a “living estate sale” Feb. 21-23 in the storefront next to Jasper’s Deli at Delta Oaks Shopping Center on Green Acres Road. Find the FODO sale on Facebook at http://wkly.ws/1os or call 343-8242.

• County Commission candidate Joann Ernst will hold a town hall and meet-and-greet between 1 and 5 pm Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Lowell Grange, 51 E 2nd St. in Lowell. Light snacks and coffee will be served. Her campaign manager is Dan Kinkler, (860) 389-1390.

• County Commission candidate Kevin Matthews will hold a fundraising event from 6 to 8 pm Sunday, Feb. 23, at Agrarian Ales on West Crossroads Lane in Coburg. Speakers will include John Sundquist, Jerry Rust and Matt Keating.

• Author, educator and artist Walidah Imarisha will lead an Oregon Humanities Conversation Project session on “Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon?” at 2 pm Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Eugene Public Library. Participants will receive free passes to see the exhibit “Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker’s Tales of Slavery and Power” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

• Eugene City Hall plans will be shown and discussed at two open house events. The first will be from 4:30 to 6:30 pm Monday, Feb. 24, at the Eugene Public Library. The second will be the same time Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Cal Young Middle School cafeteria, 2555 Gilham Road. Members of the design team will be at both meetings. Email Michael.J.Penwell@ci.eugene.or.us for more information or visit the city website.

• The Eugene Municipal Court is conducting a survey to gather public feedback on public safety concerns. The feedback will be used to focus work and gauge support for the inclusion of a Community Court into the current municipal court structure. The survey’s aim is to assess the needs of the community based on the public’s perception of the most prevalent offenses. Find the survey at Eugene-or.gov or pick up a hard copy at Municipal Court, 1102 Lincoln St. Surveys will be collected March 2.

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!