Author: EW Staff

Activist Alert 9-17-2015

Activist Alert

• The South Willamette Special Zone Area is the topic at City Club of Eugene at noon Friday, Sept. 18, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette Street. Planning consultant Eben Fodor and local architect and Planning Commission Chairman Bill Randall will be the speakers. The discussion is in advance of an Oct. 19 public hearing before the City Council on the proposal to create a long-range development plan along the Willamette corridor between 23rd and 32nd avenues. Fodor is a critic of the plan and its impact on the neighborhood and Randall helped craft the plan. Continue reading →

War Dead 9-17-2015

War Dead

In Afghanistan • 2,363 U.S. troops killed (2,355 last month) • 20,071 U.S. troops wounded in action (updates NA) • 1,599 U.S. contractors killed (1,599) • 16,179 civilians killed (updates NA) • $713.4 billion cost of war ($709.4 billion) • $285.4 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($283.8 million)   Against ISIS • $6 billion cost of military action ($5.4 billion) • $2.4 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($2.2 million) Continue reading →

Slant 9-10-2015

Slant

• Mayor Kitty Piercy is concerned about the dozens of unkempt “travelers” sprawling on our sidewalks downtown with their dogs, guitars and harmonicas. We prefer to call them low-budget tourists, but regardless, they can be intimidating and offensive to some, and an irritation to storefront business owners who wish they would go away. Most will go away when the rain and cold returns; Eugene will be left with its regular population of 2,000 or so houseless folks. Continue reading →

Biz Beat 9-10-2015

Biz Beat

Last week in this column we wrote about Barbara’s Soaps, a booth at Saturday Market, and we hear from owner Barbara Hascall that her booth has been banned from the market pending mediation. “We went to the board meeting Wednesday (Sept. 3) and thought we had a sympathetic audience,” Hascall says. “I’m still surprised by this.” The market had gotten complaints about excessive odors emanating from the booth with its 50 soaps, shampoos and lotions. Continue reading →

Activist Alert 9-10-2015

Activist Alert

350 Eugene, a local climate activist group, will hold its fall gathering from 7 to 8:45 pm Thursday, Sept. 10, at First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive Street. The group is planning for the Paris 2015 United Nations climate summit Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. A global climate march is being planned in November. Continue reading →

Activist Alert 9-3-2015

Activist Alert

• The Metropolitan Policy Committee, a key intergovernmental panel that makes recommendations on local land use and transportation issues, meets from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Eugene Public Library. On the agenda (wkly.ws/229) is “Springfield Main Street Safety Update.” Contact is Paul Thompson, 682-4405. Continue reading →

Slant 9-3-2015

Slant

• Another week, more shootings, more senseless death — and not in some unfamiliar city across the country, but in our in our own neighborhoods. We have heavy hearts over the deaths of John Ramsey Tainton-Platts, 33, and Justin Gardner, 17, who were both shot and killed this past week (Aug. 28 and Aug. 30 respectively) in Eugene. Continue reading →

Biz Beat 9-3-2015

Biz Beat

Many people are drawn to the fragrance of handmade soaps and related products, but the aromatic booth at Saturday Market for Barbara’s Soaps has also offended some nostrils. The governing board of the market is expected to make a decision this week (Sept. 2) about new guidelines for scented products. Owner Barbara Hascall retired from teaching at South Eugene High School a few years ago and has grown her business through the market. Continue reading →

Slant 8-27-2015

Slant

• We keep wondering when the major media and leadership of this state are going to call for significantly more money for public education. Just ask a good teacher. It’s all about more teacher time per student and that costs money. The leadership to get us there is more than political. It’s business, arts, sports — every aspect of the state. Continue reading →

Biz Beat 8-27-2015

Biz Beat

Mosaic Fair Trade Collection is a new store at 28 E. Broadway, selling handmade homewares, accessories and jewelry from around the world “made by fair trade workers who get living wages and safe working conditions,” says owner Susan Costa. One line she carries is by Portland company Tropical Salvage offering furniture from Indonesia handmade from salvaged deforestation wood. Costa says her passion for international development started when she did a college study abroad program to Nepal for nine months. Phone number is (206) 427-4780. Continue reading →