• Dr. Jim Sallis, a national expert on active living, will speak at a meeting between 5 and 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 9, at the LCC Downtown Center. Other speakers will include Claire Syrett, Dr. Rick Kincade and Shane MacRhodes. Sponsored by the American Planning Association’s Healthy Communities Speaker Series.
• A free public talk with scientist E.G. Valianatos, author of Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA, will be at 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Healing Matrix, 632 E. Main St. in Cottage Grove; 7 pm Friday, Oct. 10, at the LCC Downtown Center, Room 105; 3 pm Saturday, Oct. 11 at the First Alternative Coop, 1007 SE 3rd St. in Corvallis; and 3 pm Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Siuslaw Public Library in Florence.
• State Geologist Vicki McConnell and State Sen. Arnie Roblan will speak on “Oregon’s Geology: Scientists Warn of Hazards, but do Lawmakers & Agencies Respond?” at City Club of Eugene at noon Friday, Oct. 10, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette St. $5 for non-members. The Oct. 17 program will feature Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler.
• Microbiologist Ray Seidler, retired EPA senior scientist, will speak on “The Truths About Genetically Engineered Crops: An Ecological Perspective” at 7:30 pm Friday, Oct. 10, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 13th and Chambers. Seidler is an international speaker on health and environmental effects who has conducted many studies of genetic modification and dispersal of GM organisms and authored EPA’s biosafety plan regarding GM crops.
• The 2nd Annual Cargo Bike Disaster Relief Trials are 11 am – 6 pm Saturday, Oct. 11 in Alton Baker Park. The event demonstrates the capabilities of bikes in disaster situations and features a cargo bike race, a cargo bike and safety fair and preparedness-related activities as well as face painting, raffles and disaster kit giveaways.
• A National Coming Out Day celebration and potluck is planned for 4:30 to 7 pm Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Many Nations Longhouse, 1630 Columbia St., on the UO campus. A dessert potluck and movie showing will be at 5 pm. Free and open to all. Contact Ada Ball, community organizer with the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC) at 485-1755 ext. 203.
• “Schools Oregon Students Deserve” is the theme of the week of action across Oregon in support of public education. Locally, a gathering is planned for noon to 4 pm Saturday, Oct. 11, at Kesey Square downtown. The event includes “music, food and have fun with a whole family,” organizers say. Sponsored by the Oregon Education Association, Eugene Education Association and other education organizations.
• Peter DeFazio, Art Robinson and Michael Bielstein will debate in a special City Club of Eugene program at 7 pm Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the UO Law School, Room 175. Questions for the candidates can be emailed to administrator@cityclubofeugene.org.
• A free talk on “Surveillance, Suppression and Secrecy” with Nadine Strossen of the New York Law School and ACLU will be at 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 16, at the UO Law School, Room 175. Sponsored by the Wayne Morse Center on campus.
• Author David Hartsough will be in Eugene next week on tour with his latest book, Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist. He will speak at 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Friends Meeting House, 2274 Onyx St. Free.