CC Newsletter - 02/24/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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system and the level of involvement from the community are amazing and will serve as a model for what we want to do in our community," said Greg Ruark, superintendent of Terra Haute Parks and Recreation Department. "By revitalizing our parks and open space, we hope to make our community more economically attractive." The exchange was an opportunity for POS staff to share with colleagues from other parts of the country the considerable knowledge and experience they have gained through the implementation of the 1998 parks and open space bond measure and developing the new Parks, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan. For more information about the visit, contact Parks and Open Space Division Director Johnny Medlin at 682-4930. Eugene Public Library Partners with Head Start In February, the Eugene Public Library (EPL) successfully completed an important literacy enrichment project, "Abriendo la Puerta a los Libros Infantiles" (Opening the Door to Children's Books). The 4-week program was offered to Spanish-speaking parents of children enrolled in Head Start of Lane County, and was presented by bilingual EPL Youth Services staff member Vicki Morgan. Abriendo la Puerta shows parents how to connect their young children with reading by taking advantage of the natural ways kids explore the world. Topics including exploring imagination, identifying patterns and shapes, counting and measuring, and nature appreciation are covered through discussion, picture books, and an activity guide. Of the nine families participating, half visited the Library for the first time due to this program. Twelve new library cards were issued to participants and family members. EPL staff adapted Abriendo la Puerta a los Libros Infantiles from the Mother Goose programs created by the Vermont Center for the Book, which EPL has offered in English with support by state Ready to Read funding. The first session of Abriendo la Puerta was held in the spring of 2004. The 2005 series received funding from the Eugene Public Library, the EPL Foundation, and Friends of EPL. For more information, contact EPL Youth Services Manager Mary Ginnane at 682-8315. New Sculpture at the Summit of Skinner Butte Unveils Tactile View of the City On a radiantly sunny afternoon this past Tuesday, Skyler Green, a student at Briggs Middle School who has been blind since birth, and several other blind people were able to "see" the view from the top of Skinner Butte looking south towards Spencer Butte for the first time. This breathtaking experience was made possible through a tactile bronze sculpture created by local artist Martha Snyder. Snyder was joined by Mayor Kitty Piercy, Rob Cook, a local accessibility advocate who is also blind (see photo at right), Robin Hostick, the park planner for Skinner Butte Park, and over 50 community members to dedicate the sculpture and celebrate the opportunity it provides to persons with visual impairments, as well as the artistic contribution it makes to the butte's summit for all visitors. The special sculpture is mounted on a pedestal at a height that is accessible for wheelchair users. The project was funded by grants from Lane Arts Council and the City of Eugene Cultural Services with additional funding from a Lane County Tourism Special Projects Grant and the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space. "This project has been in the works for the last three years," says Snyder, who has created similar tactile graphics of Crater Lake National Park and Fort Clatsop National Memorial and tactile translations of Oregon artist Maude Kerns' paintings. "1 am real tickled that it's finally up at the top of Skinner Butte in this permanent bronze casting at last!" At the base of the map is an inscription describing the piece in regular text and Braille. See The Register- Guard story about the tactile sculpture here: http://www, reg iste rg u a rd. co m/n ews/2005/02/21/b 1. ct. bra illesculptu re. 0221. htm l. For more information about Snyder's work, visit www'm°mentsintimeexhibits'c°m or call 484-0197. For more information about Skinner Butte Park, call Robin Hostick, park planner, at 682-4915. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 February 24, 2005