07/25/13 - City Council Newsletter

Home Browse Search

Oregon Book Award finalist Toni Hanner will lead “Jump-start! Poetry Writing Workshop” on Monday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Leigh Anne Jasheway, winner of the Erma Bombeck Humor Writing Award for a true-life column about how her first mammogram caught on fire, will teach a comedy writing workshop titled “Be Your Own (A)Muse” on Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration for the poetry and comedy workshops begins Aug. 10. Create! Eugene is a project featuring nearly 200 creative workshops in the local area during the month of August. Create! Eugene is a collaboration of the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene, Travel Lane County, and the City of Eugene. For more information, visit www.eugene-or.gov/library or call the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450. Oregon Bach Festival and Hult Center Bid Adieu to Helmuth Rilling With a packed house in Silva Hall for the July 14 performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass, the Oregon Bach Festival (OBF) and Eugene community concluded an era of artistic leadership - the final concert of conductor Helmuth Rilling’s 44-year tenure as founding artistic director of the festival. In ceremonies following the concert, nearly 2,000 audience members in the Hult Center lobby raised a glass in salute. Rilling had symbolically passed the baton to his successor, Matthew Halls, at a July 6 concert in Silva Hall where Halls conducted the work “Alleluia,” written in Rilling’s honor by Scottish composer James MacMillen. It was a poignant moment for patrons, musicians and Hult Center staff who always knew when Helmuth was “in the house.” Over the years, the Hult Center has played a significant role in the growth and success of the Oregon Bach Festival. At the Hult’s opening of the 30 Birthday Post-It Exhibit, OBF’s Director Emeritus and co- th founder, Royce Saltzman, noted, “Building the Hult Center literally saved the Oregon Bach Festival. Helmuth Rilling would not have returned to Eugene had he not the promise of a venue – Silva Hall – in which to perform major choral-orchestral works. The festival is grateful and proud to be a resident company of the Hult Center.” While Rilling will be tremendously missed, the Hult Center looks forward to the future of this world-renowned festival under the artistic direction of Matthew Halls. For more information, contact Hult Center Events Manager Theresa Sizemore at 541-682-5242 or theresa.j.sizemore@ci.eugene.or.us. Wounded and Disabled Veterans Benefit from Recreation July is recreation month and Eugene Recreation is celebrating by sharing the many surprising benefits of recreation, including those for veterans. A research study of wounded and disabled veterans in three, week-long, adaptive and therapeutic recreation programs showed that “participating in outdoor sports and recreation activities assisted them in experiencing a sense of energy, vitality and enthusiasm.”(Landberg, Bennett, Smith, 2011) The researchers concluded that competency in sports and recreation “is one area that soldiers with acquired disabilities can experience success….further facilitating a positive self-view.” They also noted, “Previous research has identified that connecting with resources in a community is a critical component of quality of life for individuals with disabilities.” Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists with Eugene’s Adaptive Recreation program offer a variety of activities specifically for injured and disabled veterans and their families. Many are outdoor activities that are recommended by the study because they present a “challenging atmosphere.” Many Adaptive Rec activities for vets include family members because other research has found: "Families that recreate together tend to be closer and more cohesive, and have a greater chance of staying together.” For more information, contact Kathy Madison at 541-682-6342. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 July 25, 2013