HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/14/09 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 14, 2009
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
2009 FAMILY FUN AND SAFETY FEST TO PROCEED ON LIMITED BASIS
“HEALTHY STEPS TO AGING WALK” CELEBRATES OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
FREE ARCHAEOLOGY FILM FESTIVAL AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
“SINGING WITH THE BROADWAY STARS” ANNOUNCES WINNERS
PROCLAMATION PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES
AROUND THE CITY
2009 Family Fun and Safety Fest to Proceed on Limited Basis
Responding to fiscal constraints affecting all departments, Eugene Fire & EMS has decided to reduce its level of
participation this year in the traditional Family Fun & Safety Fest at Alton Baker Park. The ninth annual Safety
Fest will take place on Saturday, June 20, but only from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and without the number of
firefighters and apparatus that have been
present in past years. Attendance at past
events has been estimated at up to
10,000 visitors, who have had the
opportunity to enjoy various types of
safety demonstrations, kids’ activities, and
displays of emergency response
equipment.
A key feature of Safety Fest each year is
the giving away – after proper fitting – of
hundreds of life jackets to community
members who need them, and the same
will occur this year. The life jackets are
acquired through corporate donations and
sponsorships. To date, Weyerhaeuser
Corporation has donated $2,500, and
additional sponsorships are expected.
The Fire & EMS Department considered
canceling Safety Fest for 2009, but the decision was made to move forward on a limited basis, relying more
heavily on volunteer labor from public and private partners, while reducing the department resources involved.
Considerations in the decision included the commitment already made by other agencies, the need to preserve
continuity, and a general recognition that Safety Fest is consistent with the department’s mission.
The Mayor and City Councilors are cordially invited to this year’s event. Although the scope will not be as wide as
in past years, a large turnout and beautiful weather are anticipated, along with the positive promotion of family
safety themes. For more information, please contact Cinimint Harper at 682-7120.
“Healthy Steps to Aging Walk” Celebrates Older Americans Month
To celebrate Older Americans Month, Recreation’s Senior Program is presenting the free “Healthy Steps to Aging
Walk” from 9:00 a.m. to noon on May 16. It’s a non-competitive event for persons 50 and older, to promote the
benefits of walking. Participants choose either a one- or three-mile walk, both starting in Skinner Butte Park.
Finishers receive a certificate and goodie bag, and are entered in a raffle.
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May 18, 2009
The Senior Program also offers weekly self-led walks
from Campbell and Petersen Barn Community centers,
and the ever-popular “Walkabouts,” a walk to a different
scenic spot each month for about 45-60 minutes. On
May 18, the Walkabout is in the Rhododendron Garden
at Hendicks Park.
Besides walking, the Senior Program offers hikes,
kayaking, biking, dancing, and many other activities, as
well as a variety of water and land fitness classes to help
older adults stay active and fit.
For more information or to register, call 682-5318 or browse www.eugene-or.gov/recenroll.
Free Archaeology Film Festival at Eugene Public Library
Eugene Public Library is pleased to host some of the wide variety of events planned by the 6th Annual
Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival. All programs at the Downtown Library will be free and
open to the public.
Visitors to the Video Bar can use an individual station to view their choice of 87 films from 25
countries. The Video Bar will be open Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., continuing
Thursday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Mayan Hieroglyphics Workshop
Learn decoding at a with John Lebrun, director of the film
Breaking the Maya Code, on Thursday, May 21, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. On Friday, May 22, 1:00
Symposium on Heritage Film
p.m. - 5:00 p.m., the public is invited to a moderated by Dr.
Native American Storytelling
Richard Pettigrew. At , Friday, May 22, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.,
Esther Stutzman will tell lively tales of her Kalapuya and Coos ancestors, accompanied by
drumming.
For more information about free events at the Library, call 682-5450 or visit www.eugene-or.gov/library. The full
film festival schedule and ticket information is at www.archaeologychannel.org or call the Hult Center at 682-5000.
“Singing with the Broadway Stars” Announces Winners
Several local singers are being given a chancetosing with Broadway stars on the Silva Concert Hall stage in a
Hult Presents presentation of Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadwayat the Hult Center on May 15.Contestants were
invited to upload short video clips of themselves singing a Broadway favorite on YouTube, MySpace, or Facebook.
A panel of industry experts (including producers, singers, and managers, as well as Neil Berg himself) chose the
finalists from among the talented contestants.
The winner was Ashley Apelzin, age 18, a senior at South Eugene High School, whowill sing asolo,Seasons of
,
Lovefrom the musical Rent.The runners-up were Skyler Sepp-Peterson, age 16, a junior at South Eugene High
School; Laura Mathans, age 20, a recent graduate of the Excel High School Online Program; Madeline Hicks, age
22, a senior at the University of Oregon (UO); Megan Williams, age 25, a student of vocal performance at the UO,
who is working towards a career in opera; and Tamar Mali, age 28, a graduate of the UO School of Music, who
sings in the Eugene Symphony choir. All are from Eugene, except the final runner-up, Joseph Bonnevie, age 53, a
soon-to-be Southern California transplant. The runners-up will sing in the chorus during Alpezin’s performance,
accompanied by five Broadway stars.
For more information, contact Billie Moser at 682-8380.
Proclamation Promotes Understanding of Public Works Services
Mayor Kitty Piercy has proclaimed the week of May 17-23 as “National
Public Works Week.” The proclamation recognizes the vital role
public works agencies play in providing for the health, safety and
comfort of the communities they serve and the importance of having
an understanding and informed citizenry to ensure the efficient
operation of public works services such as water, sewers, parks and
streets.
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May 18, 2009
National Public Works Week was instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works
Association (APWA) in 1960. This year’s national theme is “revitalize, reinvest, renew.” These words signal a
change in thinking and a new direction in practice for public works agencies. Revitalizing infrastructure means
finding new ways to sustain performance, using new materials, and increasing efficiency. Reinvesting in
infrastructure will ensure safety, longevity, and a positive quality of life. Renewing infrastructure means replacing
and reinvigorating the systems and structures on which we depend.
Typically, Eugene Public Works celebrates National Public Works Week with a local event called Public Works
Day. Due to current financial challenges, the department has decided not to hold the event in 2009. However,
there continues to be a need for the public to understand and appreciate the services Public Works
provides. There is also a significant long-term value in having the next generation -- today's school children -- see
what the department does, and imagine themselves someday helping provide public works services. To that end,
the department is producing a video called “Discover Public Works” that will be distributed to all area schools. For
more information, please contact Public Works Director Kurt Corey at 682-8421.
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May 18, 2009