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The public is invited to attend this focused discussion about the future of the neighborhood at the Walnut
<br />Station Mixed-Use Center Community Workshop. For more information, please contact Allen Lowe,
<br />Planning Division, at 682-5113.
<br />
<br />Bethel Celebrates
<br />The 4TM Annual "We Are Bethel" Celebration, held on Saturday, June 4, was a tremendous success.
<br />From noon until 6 p.m., an estimated 3,500 people converged on Petersen Barn Community Center and
<br />Park to enjoy free live entertainment, a youth carnival, a community art gallery, food, and various
<br />community and business booths.
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<br />Started as part of the Bethel Weed & Seed initiative, this year's event kicked off the Hult Center's
<br />Summer Concerts in the Park series featuring Lo Nuestro. Other main stage entertainment was provided
<br />by school groups from Danebo, Malabon, Shasta, Cascade, and Willamette schools. Other popular
<br />components were the Club Bethel Youth Carnival, complete with a dunk tank sponsored by Echo Hollow
<br />Pool, a kickoff event for the Eugene Public Library--Bethel Branch summer reading program--and
<br />information about Summer Fun For All. The Eugene Police Department contributed to the event by
<br />hosting a booth featuring the Bethel Public Safety Station, providing event security, and supplying
<br />several invaluable volunteers to host event parking. Red Hats from the Petersen Barn Seniors Program
<br />could also be seen leading the annual Sidewalk Parade with the CABA Lion Dancers.
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<br />Councilors Andrea Ortiz and Jennifer Solomon, and Lorna Flormoe were all recognized during the
<br />annual Milk Toast for their contributions to the Bethel community. Lorna, as the grant coordinator, is
<br />finishing up the last year of the Bethel Weed & Seed initiative. Mayor Kitty Piercy appeared on the main
<br />stage later in the afternoon to recognize a large group of youth leaders in the Bethel area.
<br />
<br />Many organizations and businesses contribute to the overall success of the celebration; however, the
<br />vital partnership between Bethel School District and the City of Eugene really make it all happen. Seeing
<br />so many different City departments coming together at one time to provide their own unique services is
<br />very exciting. For more information, contact "We Are Bethel" Coordinator Jared Tesch at 682-6042.
<br />
<br />History Comes Alive at Grand Opening of Skinner City Farm
<br />About 80 people gathered on June 12 to celebrate the grand opening of Skinner City Farm, the City's
<br />newest community garden located at the west end of Skinner Butte Park. The festivities included the
<br />unveiling of historic, locally crafted gates to the site, tours of the community gardens, vermicomposting
<br />and worm bin demonstrations, and interactive presentations on local history, as well as old-time games,
<br />music, food, and fun for all ages. The design, construction and installation of the historic gates, the worm
<br />bin system with shelter, and the living fence were funded by the City of Eugene's Neighborhood
<br />Matching Grant program.
<br />
<br />City Councilor Andrea Ortiz (in photo at right)
<br />was on hand to dedicate the gates, along with
<br />the artists who created the them--Susan
<br />Applegate, descendant of the original
<br />Applegates, Mike Gould, Jan VanderTuin, one
<br />of the founders of the Skinner City Farm non-
<br />profit organization that manages the farm, and
<br />Karl Benedek. Ortiz related personal
<br />experiences about gardening and touted the
<br />project as a great asset to the community.
<br />
<br />While the children played potato sack and 3-
<br />legged races, adults enjoyed a live, historical
<br />presentation about Eugene and Mary Skinner
<br />near Skinner's Cabin, "talking circles," where
<br />members of the community shared their
<br />perspectives on local history and our community, a natural history presentation by Erik Burke, and blues
<br />guitar and kazoo by Eagle Park Slim. The talking circles were led by Bob Hart, director of the Lane
<br />County Historical Museum, and Alice Parman, local exhibit planner. Some of the stories shared will be
<br />
<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
<br />June 16, 2005
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