05/09/13 - City Council Newsletter

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The major traffic impacts will begin in mid-June, when the contractor starts removing the badly deteriorated road and rebuilding a new road in its place. This will result in extended full closures of several blocks at a time on Fifth Avenue and Blair Boulevard. The City of Eugene has worked with neighborhood groups and local businesses on a project phasing plan. The scheduling plan and other project materials are available online at www.eugene-or.gov/FifthBlair. Weekly construction updates will be provided at www.keepusmoving.info. Access to residences and local businesses will be maintained to the maximum extent possible. While delays and detours are inevitable on a project of this magnitude (more than a mile of roadway is being reconstructed), residents are encouraged to continue shopping and supporting local businesses in the area. When the project is completed later this fall, travel will be greatly improved for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. The primary source of funding for the project is the 2008 voter-approved bond measure to fix streets. Other sources of funding include approximately $180,000 from the City’s Community Block Grant program and funds from local stormwater and wastewater funds for underground pipe repairs. For more information, contact John Bonham, project manager, at 541-682-5300. KidCity Youth Give Back to the Community Youth in Recreation’s KidCity program will hold a “Carnival for a Cure” on Friday, May 17, from 6 - 8 p.m. at Sheldon Community Center. The school-age children selected Relay for Life as their community service project this year. The carnival is the first of two events they will hold to raise funds for cancer research. The family-oriented carnival will include free food, 10¢ carnival games, shaved ice and other opportunities to give to a worthy cause, such as a 10-minute massage for adults. Other fun, free activities include swimming at Sheldon Pool and music. The event is drop-in: no registration required. On June 7, the KidCity youth, who call their team, “Crayon Chaos,” will hold a donation-only car wash from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., at Sheldon Center. For more information, contact Kim McManus at 541-682-5312. Eugene Public Library Teen Services Librarian Wins Statewide Award At the Oregon Library Association conference in April, Traci Glass of the Eugene Public Library was honored with the 2013 OYEA!, (You’re Excellent Award)recognizing her “positive and significant contribution to teens in libraries in the state of Oregon.” Glass has served as Teen Services Librarian at the Eugene Public Library since 2006. In addition to her work managing the Library’s Young Adult collection and connecting individual teens with books to match their interests and skills, Glass coordinates events for teens. These include ongoing programs such as the volunteer Teen Team and monthly Teen Book Group, as well as special events ranging from talks by nationally best-selling authors of young adult literature to a Harry-Potter-themed rock concert. Glass also presents at conferences and writes about her field as a contributor to the Register- Guard, School Library Journal, Graphic Novel Reporter, and USA Today’s pop culture blog, Pop Candy. Teen library patrons, as well as colleagues, wrote letters in support of Glass’ nomination. Morgan Vauk credits Glass for “opening so many doors in my life,” from participating in Teen Book Group to volunteering at the Library to serving as youth representative on the City of Eugene Library Advisory Board. Vauk says, “She has also helped me aspire to new heights in my academics, encouraging me to aim high and far.” The OYEA! honor is given annually by the Oregon Young Adult Network (OYAN). For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450 or www.eugene-or.gov/library. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 May 9, 2013