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movies, focused mini-courses (such as “Romance” in Italian), and the ability to create a user account so each visit begins
<br />where one left off last time.
<br />
<br />Children love Muzzy, the most widely-used language-learning program in the world. Created by the BBC, Muzzy targets the
<br />"window of opportunity" years when children can learn new languages naturally and easily in a full-immersion
<br />environment. The self-directed Muzzy program offers fun lessons, animations, games and more to explore in Spanish,
<br />English, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian.
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<br />For more information, visit www.eugene-or.gov/library or call the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450.
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<br />Aquatics Program Draws Crowds
<br />From July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, staff recorded 61,700 patron visits to Sheldon Pool, nearly 65,000 visits to Echo Hollow
<br />Pool, and an impressive 93,400 visits to Amazon Pool – despite the fact that Amazon is open only part of the year. That’s a
<br />total of 220,100 visits or 37.5 percent of the attendance recorded for all Recreation programs.
<br />
<br />Demand for the City’s pools is very high and comes from a variety of uses.
<br />Sixteen different competitive teams – from high school swimming to University
<br />of Oregon water polo – are accommodated at the pools. Other uses for the pools
<br />include: water aerobics, lap swims, rec swims, swim lessons, school physical
<br />education, Scuba classes, water volley, birthday parties, kayaking, triathlon
<br />training, military training exercises and even baptisms. To meet this demand,
<br />the pools are open for more hours than most Recreation facilities, hosting public
<br />and private programs from 5:30 a.m. until as late as 10:00 p.m.
<br />
<br />Swimming lessons are one of the most important uses for the pools. In FY14, the Aquatics program offered more than
<br />1,400 swim lesson classes, including every third-grade student from Pleasant Hill Elementary. The Parent-Teacher
<br />Organization has for many years raised money to transport students to the pool to learn this valuable life skill and gain
<br />knowledge about how to safely have fun in and around the water.
<br />
<br />It takes a lot of people to operate the pools. A busy Amazon recreation swim is staffed with 30 people to ensure guests have
<br />fun and stay safe. For this summer, Aquatics hired 51 individuals as lifeguards, instructors, or customer service staff. And,
<br />as staff point out, working at the pools brings many to experience Aquatics full circle. Numerous lifeguard staff were first
<br />introduced to swimming in lessons at a City pool and grew up with Aquatics through the youth programs offered (such as
<br />Summer Swim and Water Polo League or Junior Aquatics Staff) and the competitive teams supported by the pools.
<br />
<br />For more information about the Recreation Division’s Aquatics program, contact Aquatics Section Manager Rich Fay, at
<br />541-682-6336 or Rich.J.Fay@ci.eugene.or.us.
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<br />Get the Low Down on Low-Impact Living at BRING’s Home and Garden Tour
<br />Low-impact living is the theme of this year’s BRING Home and Garden Tour on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,
<br />featuring 10 homes and gardens that make the best possible use of space, energy, and resources. The tour includes green
<br />remodels, cutting-edge new construction, permaculture landscaping,
<br />and designs for downsizing and aging in place. Two of the sites are
<br />striving for net-zero energy use. Tour highlights include a solar
<br />shower, rainwater diverted for domestic use, reuse art, bees,
<br />chickens, shared gardens, and more. Experts will be on hand at all the
<br />sites.
<br />
<br />New this year: Free midday workshops and displays will be offered
<br />at Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) on the latest energy
<br />efficient technologies, LED lighting, sustainable gardening, and
<br />electric vehicles. Workshops begin at 11:00 a.m. and noon. Displays
<br />(including the City of Eugene’s Waste Prevention and Green Building
<br />Program) are open from10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
<br />
<br />Bonus Site: Tour goers are invited to stop in at Wildcraft Cider
<br />Works in the old QSL building, 4 and Lincoln Street, from 3 – 6 p.m., for a look at a green commercial renovation and a
<br />th
<br />chance to mingle with fellow tour goers over a glass of cider (discounted with tour ticket).
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<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
<br />August 21, 2014
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