I was filled with warm fuzzies and a big smile as I read about the founding and founders of What’s Happening/Eugene Weekly (EW, 9/22). I come from the same roots: Vietnam vet, Haight Ashbury commune hippie, back to the land and off the grid commune in Oregon, woods work where I became a Hoedad (Mudshark crew), which landed me in Eugene in the early ’70s.
The counterculture was an active and integral influence in this community. Although I was unaware of our similar backgrounds, I was not at all surprised to learn about the mighty women (and men) who made this newspaper a reality. From the Augur news letter and the Odyssey Coffee House came in-depth political conversations with legends like Bill and Cynthia Wooten, who went on to found the Oregon Country Fair, which was originally a benefit for a hippie free school. The OCF is still a major benefactor for arts and education.
The WOW Hall gave all us a place of unfettered discussion about workers rights and unionization back in the ‘20s. We Hoedads used it as our meeting place when the crews were in town. So many businesses sprouted from the marvelous counterculture movement in Eugene; many still operate today and are woven into the fabric of our community.
So, thank you, Eugene Weekly, for acknowledging your roots and sticking with free speech and seeking rational truth. As corporate straight-world insipidness seeks to undermine our successes, I am reminded of a line from one of my favorite movies, Papillon: (paraphrase) “We’re still here, ya bastards!”
Robert “Mouseman” McCarthy
Veneta
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!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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