• A benefit concert with Rob Tobias, followed by a discussion about community radio in the Eugene/Springfield community will take place at Reality Kitchen, 645 River Road (next to Countryside Pizza). Sponsored by Eugene Peaceworks and Reality Kitchen, the concert is a fundraiser for KEPW-FM. The event opens its doors at 6:30 pm Friday, April 29. KEPW says “KEPW 97.3 will be Eugene’s first grassroots, community-powered radio station, providing programming that is local to the core.”
• Ophelia’s Place, a community for girls, will host Girls Rule!, “Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead,” a one-day event for girls ages 9-14 and a parent or caring adult on 9 am – 3 pm Saturday, April 30 at Churchill High School. Highlighting the event will be keynote speakers, Kimberly and Rebecca Yeung, ages 9 and 10, who made national headlines when they sent a homemade aircraft to the edge of space and back, and recorded the entire journey on a GoPro. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) topics will include computer programming, fun with fractals, owl pellet dissection and more. Free with a suggested donation of $10-$50. Lunch is provided. Pre-registration closes April 29. Attendees may also register at the door. To register for Girls Rule! 2016, visit opheliasplace.net. Contact Celeste Yager-Kandle at 541-284-4333 for more information.
• Local filmmaker Timothy Lewis is fundraising for a new documentary about the first through-hike on the Jack-Ash and Applegate Ridge Trails, connecting Ashland to Grants Pass. “Although portions of each trail are already well known and heavily visited, other portions are little used and relatively undefined,” hikers and board members of the Applegate Trails Association Josh Weber and Luke Ruediger write on their Kickstarter campaign site. The entire 80-mile trail corridor has not wyet been hiked. “The film will be used to raise awareness, build support and inspire volunteers to get involved.” For more information go to kck.st/26szqBL.
• 350 Eugene is hosting “mobilization meetings” leading up to Break Free PNW. The next meeting is 5 pm Wednesday, May 4, at The Boreal, 450 W. 3rd Street. “This May we’re breaking free from an industry that plans to turn the Northwest into a dirty energy superhighway with the largest coal and oil terminals on the continent.” There will be updates on Break Free PNW actions and events, affinity groups, tactics, transport, lodging, art builds and more. More at world.350.org/eugene/.
• Randi Feland, president of Umpqua Strong, says that registration for the Umpqua Strong 9K and 5K in Roseburg is set to open May 1. The Oct. 1 race falls on the one-year anniversary of the Umpqua Community College shooting and “is meant to honor victims, first responders and survivors,” Feland says. Participants can register as individuals or as part of a team and are encouraged to fundraise, as all proceeds above event costs will go toward UCC student scholarships. Register at umpquastrong.org.