• Friends of Trees will be planting native trees and shrubs from 8:45 am to 1 pm Saturday, Jan. 3, near Beltline in the grassy field northwest of Elysium Avenue and Providence Street. Email jenniferk@friendsoftrees.org or call 632-3683 for more information. No preregistration required and gloves and tools will be provided. Weather is expected to be chilly and clear that day.

• Sen. Ron Wyden is scheduling town halls in our part of the state and the Lane County meeting will be at 2 pm Monday, Jan. 5, at Sheldon High School Auditorium, 2455 Willakenzie Rd. in Eugene. The Benton County meeting will be at 10 am Monday at Philomath High School Auditorium. Wyden will likely field questions about wilderness protection and federal forest legislation when Republicans take over leadership of the Senate. 

• Two State of the City addresses are coming up. Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg’s annual address will be at 5:30 pm Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Wildish Theater, 630 Main St. Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy’s annual address will be at 5:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Hult Center lobby. Both events are free and open to the public. 

• Health Care for All Oregon will meet at 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 6, at First Methodist Church, 12 and Olive St. The group is planning a bus trip Feb. 11 to lobby lawmakers in Salem for universal health care. A rally is expected on the Capitol steps Feb. 11 and about 4,000 supporters are expected to show up. Call 484-6145 or 485-3971.

• Cascadia Forest Defenders is having weekly meetings at 5:30 pm Mondays at Growers Market, 454 Willamette St. Find the group on Facebook for more information.