HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/09/08 City Council Newsletter (2)
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
October 9, 2008
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
EPD HOLDS MASS PUBLIC SHOOTING TRAINING
ENRICHING LIVES – LRCS BY THE NUMBERS
FANTASY AUTHOR MELISSA MARR AT LIBRARY
FIRE CREWS VISIT SECOND-GRADE CLASSROOMS
AROUND THE CITY
EPD Holds Mass Public Shooting Training
School shootings can happen anywhere, and have taken place in this community. These are tragic and deadly
events as they usually involve multiple random targets or victims. Training by law enforcement for these incidents
can help result in a more coordinated and quicker response, and can ultimately save lives. Eugene Police are
conducting an Active Shooter in-service for all its sworn personnel during October. Scenarios will simulate
firearms, possible explosives, and shootings and will include role-playing. Volunteers have been recruited to help
stage the incident, role-playing as school students and teachers. SWAT and Defensive Tactics instructors are
providing the simulation. The training will be held on several dates in October, from 6:00 p.m. to midnight at
Willamette High School, so that all officers can rotate into the scenario on their shifts. Media has been advised in
advance so they will be aware of what they might hear on the scanner or from viewers about the activity in the
area, and so they could cover the topic for the public. For more information, contact Sgt. Scott Thomas, Eugene
Police Training, at 682-2752.
Enriching Lives – LRCS by the Numbers
Effectiveness can be hard to gauge, but for Library, Recreation and Cultural Services, one measure of success is
in the numbers. They are a barometer of how well the department meets its mission, to provide “all citizens access
to a diverse range of services and experiences that foster lifelong learning and whole person development.” In
fiscal year 2008, the Library sponsored over 900 free events reaching nearly 40,000 participants ranging from
infants to seniors. During the same time period, the Library
served more than 1.5 million visitors of all agesat the
downtown and two branch libraries, and almost 2.8 million
items were checked out, includingbooks, audio books, films,
music CDs, and magazines. The Library’s 68 networked
computers delivered more than 14,500 user sessions each
month, and Summer Reading programs broke records, helping
more than 5,000 children and teens keep reading skills up
while school was out. Recreation Services programs recorded
more than 650,000 patron visits during the fiscal year. Some
16,000 children and youth participated in the free summer
playground and lunch program, Fun For All. There were more
than 250,000 participants in aquatics activities, some 200,000
in youth and family programs, more than 100,000 in athletic
team sports, 74,000 in senior programs, and 26,000 in
adaptive recreation activities. In 2008, Cultural Services, with
the support of the entire LRCS Department and community partners, provided access to arts to 15,000 children in
the Eugene community at no cost. More than 30,000 individuals participated in free activities ranging from the
visual arts shows at the Jacobs Gallery to the summer concerts at Washburne Park. Additionally, the Hult Center
and Cuthbert Amphitheater sold more than 200,000 event tickets, with the Oregon Bach Festival and Oregon
Festival of American Music each setting attendance records. For more information, contact Kathy Madison at 682-
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
October 9, 2008
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Fantasy Author Melissa Marr at Library
Urban Faery fantasy writer Melissa Marr will speak at the downtown Eugene Public
Library on Thursday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m. The author of the best-selling novels
"Wicked Lovely" and "Ink Exchange" will talk about folklore and fiction, take
audience questions, and sign books -- or body parts. The free event honors Teen
Read Week. All ages are welcome. Books for purchase will be provided by the
University of Oregon Bookstore/Duck Store. After teaching folklore and fairytales at
the university level, Marr wrote her first young adult novel, "Wicked Lovely." In this
21st century faery tale, intrigue, romance, and the clash of ancient rules and modern
expectations swirl together around a bold, young heroine. The novel spent 11 weeks
on The New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into six languages. Marr’s second novel, "Ink
Exchange," is not exactly a sequel, but does follow some of the same characters. Marr is currently working on a
manga series with TokyoPop, set to debut in 2009. She lives in Washington, D.C. For more information about
Marr, visit her website, www.melissa-marr.com. For questions about her local appearance, call the Eugene Public
Library at 682-8316.
Fire Crews Visit Second-Grade Classrooms
October is National Fire Prevention Month, and the Eugene Fire & EMS Department is taking advantage of the
opportunity by visiting with every second-grade class in the city, delivering fire safety advice and answering
whatever questions the kids may have. With
36 visits scheduled during the next three
weeks, firefighters expect to engage
approximately 1,000 local youngsters, and
their teachers. A further goal is to encourage
the students to share the spirit of fire
prevention with their families at home. One
of the most important messages that the
department can convey is the importance of
practicing exit drills in the home, and having a
designated meeting place outside, away from
the structure. Children are also told to stay
away from matches and lighters, to call 9-1-1
in an emergency, and, if there is a fire, to get
out and stay out. They are shown how a
firefighter looks in full SCBA and protective
gear and, of course, they get a chance to see
a fire engine. The Fire & EMS Department
makes presentations to classrooms, senior
centers, neighborhood associations, and other
groups on a year-round basis, but the October second-grade visits are a longstanding practice that allows the
importance of fire safety to be shared with a new batch of kids each year. For more information, please contact
Deputy Fire Marshal Sandra Johnston at 682-5420.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
October 9, 2008