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• How could this happen? Four prominent Eugene progressives standing at the City Club podium May 3 arguing about Ballot Measure 20-211, the Eugene city services fee. Alan Zelenka and Steve Johnson support it, Bonny Bettman McCornack and George Brown oppose it. Five of eight city councilors oppose it. Conservatives must be chuckling. We wonder how City Manager Jon Ruiz, his staff and Mayor Kitty Piercy put out this seriously flawed measure. Continue reading
A series of community events are being planned to celebrate the upcoming visit to Eugene by the Dalai Lama May 10 and to raise funds for the creation of the Palmo International Peace Center. Continue reading
• The Nightingale Public Advocacy Collective is a new nonprofit “dedicated to advocating for the civil rights and well-being of those who experience harassment, discrimination and criminalization due to homelessness and poverty,” says Alley Valkyrie of the group. Continue reading
H&H Veterinary Care is a new animal clinic at 354 W. 6th Ave. in Eugene, site of the former City Center Cat & Bird Clinic. Sharleen Henery, DVM, is the new vet and Carolee Horning is her practice manager. Both worked previously at Banfield Pet Hospital. The new clinic cares for dogs, cats, pot-bellied pigs and even goats and other farm animals, says Henery, whose family has a farm in the Lorane area. Call 343-3419. Continue reading
In Afghanistan • 2,199 U.S. troops killed (2,194) • 18,429 U.S. troops wounded in action (18,418) • 1,353 U.S. contractors killed (1,353) • 16,179 civilians killed (updates NA) • $632.6 billion cost of war ($632.6 billion) • $189.8 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($189.8 million) In Iraq • 4,422 U.S. troops killed, 31,926 wounded • 1,594 U.S. contractors killed (1,594) • 122,757 to 1.2 million civilians killed* (122,591) Continue reading
• Ballots should be arriving in local mailboxes this weekend or early next week, and we are concerned that voter turnout might not be very high, even with three money measures on the ballot. That’s a lot of money to ask for in a recession, so it’s time to think hard about what you want to fund. For us, it’s schools. This is an off-year election and the campaigns are pretty low-key compared to the presidential year overload that made small children cry, and even some adults. Continue reading
• A community meeting about the 4J School District’s proposed common high school schedule is planned for 7 pm Thursday, April 25, at the Unitarian Church at 13th and Chambers. The meeting is in anticipation of the school board meeting at 7 pm May 1. “4J parents and students have grave concerns about implementation of the 3×5 schedule,” says David Zupan of Parents for Learning Effectiveness and Accountability (PLEA). Continue reading
The Emerald Feast is happening from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, April 25, at the First United Methodist Church at 1376 Olive. Tickets $15-25 can be purchased at www.emeraldfeast.weebly.com/tickets or email your reservation to emeraldfeast@gmail.com, and then pay at the door. Participants vote for their favorite local entrepreneur from the four presenters, enjoy enchilada dinner and send home the winning presenter with a grant check. Continue reading
• One week after the Boston Marathon, more than 35,000 athletes ran the London Marathon. Some 8,500 are expected in the Eugene Marathon races April 27-28, and hundreds of thousands more are running in cities around the world, many with tributes to Boston and renewed determination to carry on to the finish line. In our frustrating search for meaning in all the insanity that’s happening in the world, we are brought back to ponder the lines painted large on the Hayward Field east grandstand: “Believe in the power of the run.” Continue reading
In Afghanistan • 2,194 U.S. troops killed* (2,194) • 18,418 U.S. troops wounded in action (18,404) • 1,353 U.S. contractors killed (1,353) • 16,179 civilians killed (updates NA) • $632.6 billion cost of war ($630.8 billion) • $189.8 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($189.2 million) In Iraq Continue reading