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<br />. <br /> <br />"1987 was a win, but it was also a year of hard work and cooperation. Welve <br />moved forward because we came together in pursuit of a goal--that goal being a <br />thriving and beautiful community--a community, if you will, with spirit. <br /> <br />"Now we always hear about the major things, the airport project, the EWEB <br />project, the office buildings, the new industries. But I perhaps move about <br />this community more than any other individual, and I want to tell you that the <br />spirit runs deep. I had two experiences this past year, among many, that hit <br />me very closely. <br /> <br />"On about the 10th of December, I cut the ribbon at a new St. Vincent De Paull s <br />store at four corners on (Hwy) 99 north. That store one year before, to the <br />day, had burned down. And with it burned the Christmas packages and meals for <br />well over 250 families. Between the 10th of December and Christmas, those <br />meals were replaced--those baskets were replaced--by members of this <br />community. <br /> <br />"It is obvious that this is a community that feels good about itself and wants <br />to lend a helping hand. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />"Another very cute but meaningful story lid like to relate to you: <br /> <br />"Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to cut the ri bbon at Hi rons. <br />Hirons Drug, as you know, burned down last year, and for a while there was a <br />question whether a 50-year-old institution was going to be able to rebuild. <br />Well, a few days after it burned down, John Hirons received a letter in the <br />mail--actually two of them--from two, 11-year-old girls. And these people had <br />noticed with regret that Hirons had burned and decided to create their own <br />store, sell pictures they had drawn, raised money, and sent that money to John <br />Hirons in hopes it would help him build his store. <br /> <br />"Now, I wish you were there with me as those two young ladies cut the ribbon <br />before your Mayor. It was a moving and dramatic moment and one that makes you <br />really appreciate what spirit and generosity is all about. <br /> <br />liAs we head into 1988, letls let those examples of cooperation and spirit <br />guide us. We must maintain the cooperation, we must maintain the commitment, <br />and we must particularly maintain the drive that has fueled the success that <br />we have. <br /> <br />"1988 will indeed be a pivotal, transition year for this community. It will <br />bring some of our greatest challenges to date. Now, youlve seen <br />accomplishments in the video earlier, and you know what's gone into our <br />community. But we have major milestones ahead of us--they are within our <br />reach. We have come too far to compromise our goals. <br /> <br />"Last year, the airport was at the top of our list. We asked for your support, <br />we got it, and together we succeeeded. The challenge, the first challenge for <br />1988, as I see it, is to move the Riverfront Research Park into the <br />implementation stage. I will put that at the top of my agenda, and certainly, <br />ask the community to put it at the top of its. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />January 4, 1988 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br />