Eugene Weekly

FROM THE OLD QUEEN Happy New Year, y’all. Talk about a happy new year — our win over Florida State could not have started the year off better. Being part of the exuberant Duck fans was thrilling. I do declare, I’ve never seen so many outstanding plays and touchdowns! Wish I could go to Texas to witness us as the champions. Oh fiddle de dee, I’ll get to watch it with my mom back in Nashville, Tenn. She turns 90 the day after the game. She, too, loves the Ducks. I’m giving thanks for her endurance — and of course, our mighty Ducks. Continue reading →

MANAGING THE HOMELESS There are more than 2,000 homeless persons living in Lane County, and I’m one of them. Our sleeping shelters include the Eugene Mission, women and family shelters and Egan Warming Centers when it’s cold. Due to the magnanimous decisions of city and county governments, a few outdoor refugee camps have been approved for tent and car camping. A constantly moving, unauthorized Whoville — rightfully flying an upside-down American flag — is also an alternative place to sleep. Continue reading →

NOT THIS GREEN Glad to see your mention in Slant last week [12/18] of the R-G’s littering — aka the viral green Emerald Valley Shopper every Wednesday — and in a town that actually “likes” green! Sure, it is a micro issue given all the major topics, but we do notice. I walk daily and I espied this hard-copy message on a south Eugene lawn in October. Someone just said NO! But does the R-G read? Douglas Beauchamp, Eugene   MIRROR, MIRROR Continue reading →

CORPORATE MODEL LACKING The university is not a business! Despite what Chuck Lillis says, his role at the university is to preside over the board of trustees of a “semi-public” institution of higher learning, not be a corporate CEO of the UO. Continue reading →

ANGELS AND TURKEYS We thoroughly enjoyed our attendance at a few of the community gatherings on Thanksgiving, those being at the old Whiteaker School and Friendly Street Church.  While the food, service and, in the case of the former, great live musical entertainment was excellent, it is all of the wonderful volunteers across the entire spectrum of operations and who gave their time and energy helping those of us in need, who are the true angels of humanity in society today.        Continue reading →

GAME VS. BIKE While riding my bicycle home from work Sunday evening, I found myself immersed in the buzz and hum of a most important event. Car after car after bus after 4×4 pickup after SUV were gleefully, if a bit impatiently and aggressively, packing the road, apparently on the hunt for a place to park to get to a big game at Knight Arena. Continue reading →

COSTLY CREDIT CARDS Many of us have been told that we use something every day because it is safer, faster and more convenient. There is a cost to this luxury of modern technology that needs to be realized. As a manager of a small business here in town I can tell you that at the end of the year 2013, our profits were cut down by the usual suspects — wages, energy expenses and maintenance — but what surprised me most was the charges incurred by customers using their debit/credit cards. In fact, we were charged nearly $24,000 last year.  Continue reading →