Traditional glassblowing is returning to the Whit. The Gudger Hot Shop announced this week the opening of a studio in the Cornerstone Art Studios, 1068 W. 2nd Ave. Andrew Glenn Gudger and his fellow hot glass artists will be on the First Friday ArtWalk and the public will be able to watch them work. “Lane County is home to more lampworkers per capita than almost anywhere on the planet,” says Gudger, “and many are hungry for the opportunity to expand their skill set into more traditional glass art.” Gudger says StudioWest downtown and The Hot Shop no longer feature traditional glassblowing. “StudioWest now focuses on torchwork and The Hot Shop has moved to Veneta,” he says. “This hot glass studio will be a resource to all of the off-hand hot glass artists in Eugene.” Gudger is using a Kickstarter campaign to help finance the equipment for the studio. See gudgerhotshop.wordpress.com or call 729-7396.
The nonprofit Cascades Raptor Center is only a quarter of a mile from the Aug. 7 house fire on Fox Hollow Road and the center quickly implemented its emergency response plan and evacuation procedures. Executive Director Louise Shimmel credits Eugene Police Department, Lane County sheriff’s deputies, Eugene Fire Department, Forest Service responders and volunteers in the neighborhood for “quick work” that kept the fire from spreading to the center where some 100 birds are kept in a forested setting. “We were able to stand down right as we were ready to start loading birds,” she says, “all in the longest two hours of my life. Truly amazing.”
Catholic Community Services (CCS) now has a new space in Springfield to serve the city’s more than 15,000 low-income residents who seek services from the nonprofit. The $150,000 renovation of the Springfield CCS center at 1025 G St. was financed by the Murphy family, city of Springfield, the Collins Foundation, the Oregon Community Foundation and Oregon Food Bank. The Eugene CCS service center is at 1464 E. 6th Ave. Donations can be made online at ccslc.org or call 345-3628.
The nonprofit Jewish Events Willamette-valley and the Bijou Metro are beginning the second year of the Eugene Jewish Film Festival. “One Sunday per month we show a movie with a Jewish-related theme followed by a discussion, says Shmuel Shalom of the group. The film Beautiful Tree, Severed Roots documents the life of writer/director Kenny Mann, whose parents were Polish and Rumanian secular Jews and socialists who fled Europe to settle in Kenya as refugees in 1942. The movie shows 3 pm Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Bijou Metro, 94 W. Broadway. Tickets are $5. More information at JewishEventsWillamette-valley.org
Lane Arts Council and Arriving By Bike are sponsoring a free guided mural bike tour in the Whiteaker neighborhood from 10 am to noon Saturday, Aug. 16. The tour begins at the Washington-Jefferson Park.
Spencer Creek Grange is holding its seventh annual Very Berry Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 am Sunday, Aug. 19, featuring the Old Time Fiddlers. See spencercreekgrange.org.
McKenzie Flyfishers will hold its monthly meeting from 6 to 9 pm Monday, Aug. 18, at Lewis & Clark Catering Co., 2210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and non-members are welcome. Social hour is at 6 pm, optional dinner for $17 will begin at 6:45 and the program at 8 will feature John Rodriguez of Salem, a nationally known fly-tier and an expert on lake fishing for trout. See mckenzieflyfishers.org or call 913-0710.
Ninkasi Brewing Company will be donating all profits from the sale of its Conservationale to the McKenzie River Trust in support of its work to protect the source of the top ingredient in their brew, water from the McKenzie River. The special batch of golden ale, available in 22-ounce bottles in local grocery stores, also commemorates MRT’s 25th anniversary. Ninkasi is also partnering with LCC for a fundraising event called “Al Fresco! Beer & Bounty” Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the LCC Learning Garden on the main campus. The event begins at 4:30 pm and continues through the evening. Tickets are $75. See alfresco.brownpapertickets.com.