From Neon To The Beach To Bling

When a layer of wildfire smoke erased any safe outdoor activity, the YMCA took note and postponed its August 16 Walk It Off With The Y. The Y hopes to resume the event August 23 (“Neon Beach Day” is the theme) and end the season August 30 in style with “Bling It On for our End of Summer Celebration,” both at Alton Baker Park. Kim Miller, the health and wellness director at the Y, says the Walk It Off program began a decade ago, sponsored by KMGE, 94.5 FM. The Y took over in 2021, just in time for people to reacquaint themselves to socializing after pandemic restrictions were lifted. “How do we walk off that lockdown mentality?” Miller notes. “It’s about meeting people outside our four walls.” The Walk It Off program has been a hit, Miller says, with 70 to 100 people participating each week. Miller adds that if wildfire smoke or excessive heat persists, everyone can check on Walk It Off’s status at the Y’s website (EugeneYMCA.org) or through the Y’s Facebook and Instagram.

The YMCA’s Walk It Off With The Y program is scheduled to resume 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Wednesday, August 23, with “Neon Beach Day” at Alton Baker Park. The season’s final Walk It Off With The Y — “Bling It On for our End of Summer Celebration” — is 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Wednesday, August 30, also at Alton Baker Park. FREE.

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!