Activist Alert 7-14-2016

• Some of the people from the Downtown Eugene Cohousing Group (that got crushed in the real estate bust a few years ago) have gotten back together, Martin Henner tells EW. They are trying to put together a group to develop a downtown senior cohousing community. Things are in the formative stage and they are recruiting members. For more info, email: eugenecohousingdowntown@gmail.com.

• “What to do with all those Green Beans” workshop: The OSU Extension Service and Lane County Master Food Preservers are offering a workshop on the preservation of green beans 10 am to 1:30 pm Saturday, July 16, at the Community of Christ Church 1485 Gilham Road in Eugene. Cost of the workshop is $30. The workshop will include canning, freezing, drying and making popular dilly beans. “Green beans are one of the most popular and versatile vegetables and can be preserved in many ways,” says Nellie Oehler, OSU Extension faculty. Participants will have a chance to learn to use a pressure canner to can a pint of beans along with making a jar of dilly beans. Go to goo.gl/DStc6g for more information or call 541-344-4885.

• Habitat for Humanity Blues Build featuring music by Curtis Salgado and more is 2:30-7:30 pm Sunday, July 17. There is a no-host bar with beer and wine. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets are welcome, food will be available for purchase, proceeds support the building of simple and decent homes for low- and moderate-income families by the Junction City/Harrisburg/Monroe Habitat for Humanity. The event is at Bennett Vineyards and Wine Company, 25974 Hwy. 36, Cheshire. $25 in advance, $30 day of event. Go to bluesbuild.org or 541-998-9548 for more info.

• A meeting of those interested in a city initiative to get a living wage for city employees, as was done in Corvallis in 1999, will meet 2 pm Sunday, July 17 at the AFSCME hall at 8th and Charnelton. The goal is $15 an hour minimum wage. Contact Bob Cassidy at 541-345-8628 for more information. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker in the Eugene area as a whole earned 10 percent less than the U.S. average in May 2015.

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!