HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/30/15 City Council Newsletter
City of Eugene
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thnd
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
July 30, 2015
IN THIS EDITION
FREE VISION SCREENINGS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
DIGITAL DOJO EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR DIGITAL EQUITY
EUGENE SUNDAY STREETS A SUCCESS!
AROUND THE CITY
Free Vision Screenings for Young Children at Eugene Public Library
In August, the Eugene Public Library will host free “See to Read” vision screenings for children ages three to seven years
old. The screenings are non-invasive and take only a few minutes. This service is provided through a partnership among
the Oregon State Elks Association, Oregon State Lions Association, and
Oregon public libraries.
The drop-in sessions at the Eugene Public Library will be held Saturday,
Aug. 8. Come to the Bethel Branch between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., or
go to the Downtown Library between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
All Oregon children age seven or younger are required to have their vision
screened before starting school or preschool. The purpose is to check for a
number of eye diseases that can be treated successfully if caught early.
If the free, initial screening raises concerns, a full eye examination will be recommended. The most commonly found
diseases are refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism - and amblyopia, also known as
“lazy eye.” Early detection provides the best opportunity for effective, inexpensive treatment, which translates to the
best chance for successful learning as school begins.
For more information about See to Read vision screenings, visit
www.seetoread.net or contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316
or www.eugene-or.gov/library.
Digital Dojo Earns National Recognition for Digital Equity
Eugene’s Digital Dojo Coding Team Project was named the Community
Broadband Digital Equity Project of the Year this week by the National
Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Board of
Directors.
The Dojo launched last year, in the fall of 2014, as a pilot program
partnership between Lane Community College (LCC), the City of Eugene,
and Eugene School District 4J, with significant volunteer support from local
computer science industry experts and the University of Oregon.
Located in Lane Community College’s Downtown Campus, the Dojo is a
nationally connected and locally developed, open-source computer coding
program enabling elementary, middle and high school students from the
region to receive code training appropriate to their age, in a college
environment. The program aims to create an interest in the field of
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
July 30, 2015
computer science early in a student’s school career – especially among girls and underrepresented youth.
Since 2007, NATOA has been recognizing exceptional leaders and innovative programs that champion community
interests in broadband deployment and adoption in local communities nationwide. Recipients will receive their awards
at NATOA's 35th Annual Conference, to be held in San Diego, California, in September.
The Digital Dojo partnership brings together instructional specialists with expertise in computer science from the local
computer industry, LCC and 4J. Workshops are held in a state-of-the-art classroom in LCC’s Downtown campus with
funding from City of Eugene telecommunications project program funds. Students can receive information about, and
sign up for, sessions at the Eugene Region Coder Dojo meetup site at http://www.meetup.com/Eugene-Region-
CoderDojo-Hub/.
This demonstration program has one more year of pilot funding from the City, and is actively seeking long-term support
from the community to continue into the future. People interested in donating to the Digital Dojo’s ongoing efforts to
support youth, can contact the Lane Community College Foundation. For more information, please contact Anne Fifield
at 541-682-5451 or Pam Berrian at 541-682-5590.
Eugene Sunday Streets a Success!
“I had a grand time and wish this happened more often!” a participant raved. This was one of many uplifting remarks
that were heard along the two-mile downtown Eugene Sunday Streets (ESS) route this past weekend. Volunteers and
event-goers shared in the joy of being able to play in the streets in a car-free environment. Over 4,000 cyclists, runners,
rollers, families, and friends filled the streets to enjoy the largest Eugene Sunday Streets to date. (At last year’s
downtown event there were an
estimated 3,200 participants.)
This year’s downtown route was
more condensed - two miles
concentrated on Broadway - which
seemed to heighten the car-free
experience by filling the route with
participants and easy access to all
three activity centers. Music
extended this year into the route
with the addition of the NOW! pop-
up stage on Broadway and
Charnelton. The stage hosted poets,
a popular magician, and belly
dancing, to the crowd’s delight.
Each activity center’s array of
diverse music and interactive
clinics created three dynamic
experiences.
Kesey Square buzzed with music, and the local businesses filled up with guests seeking coveted outdoor seating. Red
Wagon Creamery reported a 30 percent increase in sales, and Thomas Pettus-Czar, owner of the Barnlight, was pleased
with double the normal sales on the day of the event. The upcycle design T-shirt competition blew everyone away as
kids and adults created entire outfits made from vintage Eugene Sunday Streets volunteer T-shirts.
A quick roll over to Monroe Park and the atmosphere was a mix of kids laughing from being soaked in the dunk tank to
enthusiasm over giant tricycle rides. Arriving by Bike and Bike Friday experienced higher than previous numbers of test
rides on their fleet of cargo and Bion-X pedal-powered rides. Ellen Currier, who assisted in the kid’s traffic safety garden
with Safe Routes to School, said it was her best ESS experience yet.
There are always lessons to be learned. Feedback from participants, vendors and volunteers is encouraged and may be
shared through an online survey at http://eugene-or.gov/esssurvey. Feedback will be used in preparing for the next
Eugene Sunday Streets on Sept. 20 in the Friendly Neighborhood. See you there!
For more information, go to www.EugeneSundayStreets.org, or contact Emily Farthing, Eugene Sunday Streets
coordinator, at 541-501-0390.
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July 30, 2015