Activist Alert 9-29-2016

• A fundraiser for Emily Semple, candidate for Ward 1 Eugene City Councilor, is at Tsunami Books, 2585 Willamette Street. The event will be from 5:30 to 8:30 pm Thursday, Sept. 29. “There will be good talk and good music,” organizers say.

• There will be a Stop Hate Now! rally 5:30 pm Sept. 29 at Willamalane Park, 1276 G Street in Springfield with speakers, spoken word, songs and chants. “The rally is in reaction to increasing levels of racist, xenophobic, homophobic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and classist activity happening in Lane County,” the Community Alliance of Lane County says. “There have been more Confederate flags seen in the area, vandalism targeting Asian owned businesses, a truck driving around with neo-Nazi and white supremacist messages on it and more.” For more information contact CALC at 541-485-1755 or calcb2b@gmail.com.

• The Eugene Police Department says 10 am to 2 pm Saturday, Oct. 1, is the 2nd annual Stuff the Cruiser at Home Depot on Green Acres Road. People are encouraged to come out and bring new, unwrapped toys for the Children’s Miracle Network, which is a PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation program, EPD says. The toys go to Sacred Heart’s pediatric units at RiverBend. “Every time a child is admitted, or comes in for surgery, a procedure or even an MRI, they are given a toy to ease their nerves about being in the hospital,” EPD says. At the same time, Home Depot is hosting a Safety Day where kids can build a firetruck craft, climb in an ambulance, sit in the driver’s seat of a firetruck and look at classic cars and motorcycles.

• Willamette Riverkeeper’s Great Willamette Clean Up is 8 am to 1 pm Saturday, Oct. 1. Locations include Maurie Jacobs Park, Alton Baker Park, Springfield’s Island Park, Peoria Park in Corvallis and more. Some locations require a boat, others are on land. Go to goo.gl/G7GP5A or Willamette-Riverkeeper.org for more info and to register.

• The Slow Way Home documentary and panel discussion is a benefit for Eugene-Springfield Safe Routes to Schools and takes place 6 pm Monday, Oct. 3, at Roosevelt Middle School, 680 E. 24th Avenue. Organizers say, “This event is free and we are asking that you support our work to increase the number of kids who can safely walk or roll to school by giving as you can.” To RSVP, find the Slow Way Home event page on Facebook.

• The Fall 350 Eugene Meetup is 7 pm Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive in Eugene. Topics include: No Dakota Access pipeline, no LNG pipeline, no bomb trains, DivestUO, Eugene’s climate recovery ordinance, Oregon climate legislation, electing climate champions and no TPP. Go to world.350.org/Eugene or facebook.com/350EUG for more info.

• White Bird has offered temporary housing to the Occupy Medical clinic, OM clinic manager Sue Sierralupe tells EW. Starting in October, White Bird is allowing Occupy Medical to share free healthcare from its building at 509 E. 13th Avenue. “This is a temporary loan but a huge gift to a group of volunteers used to providing care in freezing weather,” Sierralupe says, adding, “This is deep level activism.” Occupy Medical serves healthcare as a human right every Sunday from noon to 4 pm, usually located at the downtown Park Blocks.

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!