The Creative Class

ArtCore brings the arts back to five Lane County middle schools

Not often do you hear something like “we had a small philosophical discussion of positive and negative space” in a typical middle school classroom.  But then again, the class that artist and educator Milla Oliviera is explaining isn’t anywhere in the realm of typical. Teaching a room of sixth graders at Cascade Middle School last year, her lesson combined Oregon ecology, Egyptian art and visual cognition to provoke students into thinking about space in completely new ways.  Continue reading 

How to reduce traffic fatalities

Traffic fatalities in Lane County make the news every couple of weeks. But solutions can be found through a Swedish approach being advocated at the Eugene City Council this week. See http://www.visionzeroinitiative.com or click on the image below to see the video about the Vision Zero Initiative. Continue reading 

Hike the Pipe Will Seize the Bay at Weekend LNG Protest

Hike and paddle your way to protesting liquified natural gas in Coos Bay this weekend. Hike the Pipe says it plans to "seize the day, save the bay" this weekend. The rally is a culmination of the 232-mile Hike the Pipe effort to raise awareness about the impacts of the climate change inducing LNG project. The Sept 26 event starts at noon in Coos Bay at Ferry Road Park. Continue reading 

Bike Ride for Missing Mexican Students Saturday

On Saturday, Sept. 26 starting around 1:45 pm at Kesey Square on Broadway, Eugene bike riders will cycle past Saturday Market carring photos of the 43 missing Mexican students from Ayotzinapa State Teachers College who were kidnapped a year ago.  The full press release is below. Solidarity Committe for Ayotzinapa of Eugene Continue reading 

Into the Institution

Hospitalization, communities and mental health

Last week I walked through the hallways of the Oregon State Hospital in Junction City. It felt like being locked into a Holiday Inn Suites … with psychiatric workers keeping an eye on you. Earlier in the week, strolling the halls of PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District felt like being in an office building — a little generic with some pleasant extras like art, comfy pillows and tinkling music.  Continue reading 

Activist Alert 9-24-2015

 • Lane County is taking public comment on its draft 20-year Parks Master Plan, which will guide the management of county parks from 2016 to 2036. This is the first comprehensive update to the original 1980 master plan. The draft plan is available at city libraries and an open house runs from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, Sept. 24, at Harris Hall, 125 E. 8th Ave. Continue reading 

Biz Beat 9-24-2015

Local businesses can benefit from a collection of useful web links regarding surveys, zoning, planning, building permits, flood hazard, wetlands, restaurant inspections and more at lanecounty.org. Lane County’s Geographic Information System and property records online have been updated into a new system that can be accessed by computer or cell phone. Look for “Maps and Property Info” under “Quick Links” on the county website’s home page.  Continue reading 

Ruth Weinberg

My inspiration is my parents

Ruth Weinberg

“My inspiration is my parents,” says Ruth Weinberg, who grew up in London, the daughter of German-Jewish refugees who felt welcome in England. “They created a nonprofit to provide affordable housing for international grad students and their families.” After graduating from the Dorset House School of Occupational Therapy, Weinberg got her first job at an old Victorian psychiatric hospital. When it shut down, she spent a year on an organic farm in New Zealand and two years with a group home for adults with developmental disabilities in Alaska.  Continue reading