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Slant: Short opinion pieces and rumor-chasing notes News: News:
CALIFORNIA SUES EWEB The state of California has sued the Eugene Water and Electric Board for illegal price gouging during the electric crisis in 2001, according to an April bond prospectus filed by EWEB. Enron, the collapsed Texas electric trading corporation, has been sued by many power users for creating an artificial electricity crisis in 2001 that dramatically drove up power prices. EWEB had to pay more for power during the crisis, but apparently was also able to sell some power contracts to California at the inflated prices. California sued EWEB in February to get those contracts rescinded, its money back and also payment for unspecified damages. EWEB states in the bond document that they believe they have a valid defense and will "vigorously contest" the allegation in court. But, EWEB states, "no prediction can be offered at this time of the amount or ranges of any potential loss." — Alan Pittman
BUCKS FOR SMALL TREES The U.S. Forest Service recently granted $1 million to fund forest projects in Oregon. The grant was made possible by a partnership between Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, who supported a provision to the 2003 Healthy Forests Restoration Act that authorized $5 million annually through 2008 for projects to improve the commercial use of woody debris and small-diameter trees from public forests. Forrest Fleischman, policy advocate for Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE), views the provision as potentially positive for forest health — depending on where it's applied. Thinning small-diameter trees in dense forests allows larger trees to thrive, and developing commercial uses for woody debris eases some of the pressure for logging old growth. "Developing markets for smaller-diameter wood is very important, because a lot of what we have in our national forests and on public lands is dense, small timber," Fleischman says. "There are forests around Eugene that are like Douglas fir plantations, where it makes sense to take some of the trees out and improve the health of those forests." But Flieschman adds a note of caution: The provision could allow the Forest Service to cut small-diameter trees in places where they are critical to the ecosystem, such as removing slow-growing junipers from the high desert. "Location is important," he says. "Just because a tree is small doesn't mean it's good to cut it. It depends on what conditions it's growing in and the history of the location." In another move to allocate federal dollars for Oregon's environment, Wyden and Smith are pushing for more than $9 million for natural resource projects across the state, including land acquisitions at the Columbia River Gorge and the Upper Klamath Lake National Wildlife Refuge. On June 29, the U.S. Senate included the funding in its FY2006 interior appropriations bill, which will now head to a conference committee to work out differences with the House version. — Kera Abraham
SPEAKERS AT COUNTRY FAIR
People from all over the world flock to the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta each July to soak up art, music, entertainment, counterculture and ideas, and it all happens again this weekend. In recent years the OCF has drawn a growing number of noted speakers and this year's line-up includes: • Friday: Dr. Andrew Weil, alternative health authority; Francisco Letelier, Latin American poet and muralist; Laura "Piece" Kelley, poet, arts educator and student of life. • Saturday: Stephen Gaskin, '60s counterculture icon, on "What I Still Believe In;" Middle East panel on "Refusing to be Enemies: Jewish and Muslim Men: Growing up in the Middle East;" Jeff Golden on "Politics for grown-ups;" gender equity panel on "Transgender and Gender Queer people: Life, Issues and Identity." • Sunday: Winona LaDuke, Native American spokesperson; panel discussion on the influence of the '60s hippies on the 21st century; Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, who says "Raise hell and bring the troops home!" The list may be incomplete as of press time. An updated OCF performance schedule is available at www.oregoncountryfair.org SEWAGE 'BLENDING' The local sewage plant flushes partially treated sewage into the Willamette River during heavy rains. The Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission flushes the dirty water into the river through an unwritten loophole in federal clean water regulations. The loophole allows the plant to bypass secondary water treatment for part of its flow and then blend the dirty water back into treated water for discharge into the river, according to a MWMC memo this month. In a rarity for the Bush administration, the EPA proposed closing that pollution loophole in 2003. But the MWMC, other sewage plants and Republicans joined in successfully lobbying against the proposed rule change and it was withdrawn in May. MWMC staff said closing the loophole could have cost the agency $89 million to add peak flow treatment capacity. But while the sewage plant is off the hook from EPA, it still could be sued by a third party. The unwritten loophole isn't explicitly authorized in the treatment plant's discharge permit. Who might sue? Corvallis draws most of it's drinking water from the Willamette downstream from Eugene. So, after "blending" in Eugene and treatment in Corvallis, what we flush, they drink. — Alan Pittman
$12 TICKETS The city of Eugene has raised its parking tickets from $10 to $12. The city issues about 70,000 tickets a year for meter and time zone violations. Eugene's ticket cost will be higher than the $10 that Salem and Medford charge but lower than the $16 charge in Portland. The city last raised its parking fines 12 years ago. The additional revenue will help build and operate parking garages downtown and increase the city's general fund. Violators can now pay by credit card at the city's website, www.ci.eugene.or.us
GET NAKED Local residents have been celebrating independence from the Brits this week, and some are celebrating independence from clothing. Nude Recreation Week runs July 4-10 and local organizers are inviting first-timers to get naked and see how it feels. Members of the Willamettan nudists are observing the annual celebration at Terwilliger Hot Springs this week, though it might be difficult to tell them from independent nudists. Terwilliger is managed by Hoodoo Recreational Services as a clothing optional facility. The Willamettans Family Nudist Resort located in Marcola is hosting an open house on July 16. Call 933-2809 for further information. The annual celebration is sponsored by the American Association for Nude Recreation, whose mission is to "promote, enhance and protect in appropriate settings, nude recreation and nude living in the Americas." It is the oldest and largest organization of its kind, representing nearly 50,000 people who enjoy clothes-free recreation throughout North America.
CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS Our apologies to anyone who showed up early for a meeting on campaign finance reform at Growers Market July 5. Our story last week should have had the meeting times from 7 to 8:30 pm. For information on future meetings and how to get involved in two Oregon ballot initiatives, e-mail brooke@demaction.com, call 684-4408 or visit www.fairelections.com
Free
the Cuthbert A gravel walkway rings a towering chain-link fence topped with barbed wire in the middle of Alton Baker Park in Eugene. No, this isn't the site of a new Lane County prison, but it is instead the sometime-called "jewel of Eugene" — the Cuthbert Amphitheater.
The rising temperatures and lack of college students tell us its summer, but the Cuthbert lies quiet behind its locked fences along the Canoe Canal, waiting for its first event — which is not scheduled until July 12. Regional as well as national promoters have long been wary of booking acts at the Cuthbert, a venue which has had its share of silent summers broken only by a few shows, some of which are sparsely attended. History has proven that Eugene residents don't mind spending a few bucks on a ticket to a show at the Cuthbert. Past acts such as Lyle Lovett and James Taylor have sold out. But promoters are finding out that it doesn't pay to bring acts that aren't "big name" to the Cuthbert. And with the price of renting the facility, as well as paying for the light and sound crews, concessions, security, setup, and cleanup, many promoters are looking at a price they can't afford without a big act guaranteed to sell tickets. Hankins says one typical commercial show last summer sold about $60,000 in tickets to 1,700 people, less than half the capacity of the venue. Cuthbert rental was $12,000, leaving $48,000 to pay for performers, marketing, other overhead, and hopefully some profit. Local non-profits pay about half the commercial rental rate. Brendan Releford, who is in charge of booking for local promoter Big Green, said that the Cuthbert is definitely an asset to the community, but can become a financial washout to the promotions company. "As a promoter it can get a little bit pricey to put shows in there," Releford said. "But the city is really working hard to try and make it accessible, and at some point I really think they'll come up with a good plan for it." Indeed, plans are in the works for a new and improved Cuthbert. Robb Hankins is cultural services director for the city, overseeing the Hult Center and Cuthbert. Hankins receives his earful of suggestions from citizens concerned about the future of the Cuthbert. One frequent question is, "Why can't the Cuthbert be more like Roseburg or Albany? They have good shows, and they're free!" Roseburg's free summer concert series relies mainly on local businesses and industries who provide funding for the rental and running of the facility. But such sponsorship in Eugene is more difficult. Hankins said that the Hult Center and its resident companies already collect money from sponsors to fund such organizations as the Eugene Symphony, Eugene Opera and Bach Festival, so adding other events that need to be funded, such as concerts at the Cuthbert, would put more of a burden on local sponsors than they would be willing to bear. "For people to try and compare Roseburg and Eugene in terms of sponsorship is a little bit unfair," Hankins said. "Roseburg doesn't have a major performing arts center; it doesn't have a major symphony, opera, ballet, theater or dance company. Those organizations here in Eugene are already pulling hundreds of thousands of dollars of sponsorship from the community." Roseburg also operates its concert venue as a non-union house, so local volunteers are able to provide the light and sound for the shows. Cuthbert is a union-operated house, and despite the professional work done by the union crews, many promoters don't like to see the extra cost added onto their bill. While the heads of city departments are busy trying to figure out hypothetical costs, and citizens are calling to offer suggestions, Cuthbert still remains silent, underused in its chain-link cell. But Hankins has a plan. For the past four months, Cultural Services employees have been meeting with Eugene Parks and Open Spaces to come up with a better future for the Cuthbert. "In our meetings we put this idea on the table: what if we started thinking of the Cuthbert as truly being a part of Alton Baker Park?" Hankins says. "What if we opened it up year-round as an arts and outdoors facility?" Hankins said he wants to see the Cuthbert, which is situated near the center of Alton Baker Park, become a part of the community — such as the park around it. Local group presentations, music festivals and educational lectures are some of the possible uses for the Cuthbert that the planners have been tossing around. In an ideal future, Hankins says, the fence will come down and the Cuthbert grounds will be accessible to the community. "People could wander in on the weekends and have a picnic in or around the Cuthbert even if an event wasn't there," Hankins said. "If we would take down all the fences and open the Cuthbert up, it would be a part of Alton Baker Park, and not this fenced-in sort of island." But even if the Cuthbert were to be freed to the public, there would still be costs. "No matter if James Taylor or a local group comes in," Hankins says, "the only way it will be successful is if enough people want to come and pay some sort of reasonable ticket fee." The ticket fees, however, could be very low if enough support is generated in the community for such events. Ticket prices this summer range from $15 to $38.50. Upcoming concerts at the Cuthbert are The Chieftans July 12, OFAM's Emerald City Jazz Kings Aug. 13, Franklin the Turtle Aug. 19, Trick Pony Sept. 11, Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys Sept. 9, and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra Dance Party Sept. 11 (see http://hultcenter.org for details). As with any major renovation, though, the makeover of the Cuthbert will take time. Meanwhile, all Eugene residents can do is loosen their purse strings and enjoy the few concerts scheduled this summer behind the barbed wire at the Cuthbert. That or drive to Roseburg.
Special
Ed Squeeze Spirits at the Lane Regional Preschool for Orthopedically Impaired (OI) Children's June graduation were dampened by the knowledge of the school's closure. Students will have the option to move this fall to a different building, without daily contact with the typically developing peers that have defined their experience. Until now, OI children with walkers and wheelchairs have worked every day right alongside typically developing children. "The school has been a melting pot," says OI Preschool parent Carina Cooper. The new program will also provide specialists in a consulting capacity only, putting an end to the model in which occupational and physical therapists work continuously with children throughout their day. "For many years," says Sue Mathisen, director of special education for Lane ESD, "EC Cares has sub-contracted with 4J to operate the OI Preschool, and therefore, all of the staff were 4J employees. The service delivery model that 4J implemented was one in which an OT [occupational therapist] and a PT [physical therapist] provided direct services throughout the day. This was a rich service delivery model, relative to others, and one that has been unique to Lane County for many years. A couple of other similarly structured programs in other parts of the state were disbanded many years ago, due to the high cost of operating them." One option for some OI students may be mainstreaming into a class for typically developing children. But this is not possible for parents of children with multiple and life-threatening disabilities. The decision to close the Orthopedic Preschool, which has been in existence in various guises for 35 years, rests with the Lane Regional Program, a subcontractor for 4J, which receives state funds from the Oregon Department of Education through Lane ESD. Each year, the Lane Regional Program has struggled to find space and money for the OI program. Says Lane Regional's Diane Howard, "We've done the best we can with what we have." Nancy Latini, with the Oregon Department of Education, says, "The funds for Regional Programs are allocated based on the numbers of students served by disability as a percentage statewide. There are five disabilities that meet the regional requirements: autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), blind/vision impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and severe orthopedic impairment." The story of the school's "re-administration" is multi-faceted. The number of children diagnosed with ASD has been rising dramatically, while state money for all kids with disabilities remains unchanged. The three "urban" Lane County districts — 4J, Springfield and Bethel — felt that with their resources they could improve the programming for kids with ASD offered by Regional Programs, and so broke ranks with Regional Programs, taking these kids on themselves. In doing so, the districts received state funds for ASD, and the budget for kids with disabilities who remained with Regional Programs decreased proportionately. "Lane County had a precipitous drop in students enrolled in the ASD program – from 420 in December 2002 to 212 in 2004," notes Mathisen. "Our percentage of the statewide [education budget] is proportionately lower, due to the drop in ASD enrollment." Although the per-child budget for Regional Programs stayed the same, the kids who remain, students with ASD in harder-to-reach non-urban areas, and the visually, hearing and orthopedically impaired, cost more to serve. "Some of the most expensive kids to serve are in the programs for visually and hearing impaired. But the stakes are higher for all kids. ASD, OI, vision, hearing, because they're all being served with fewer funds," Howard says. Howard says that her goal throughout districtwide re-structuring is to "keep people." Most of the current OI teachers and therapists were offered new positions in the district, though with varied salaries and benefits. The OI Preschool is not a scapegoat, Howard says, but a harbinger of more severe budget tightening in special education. Current federal funding for special education programs is at 17 percent, with the state making up the difference. Howard says that with anticipated retirements in the vision and hearing impaired programs next year, exiting staff will not be replaced. This fall, some OI parents will enroll their children in the new classroom designed and administered by the UO's early intervention program, EC Cares, in the old Whiteaker School. EC Cares Co-Director Judy Newman is optimistic. "We have a long history of serving kids with all kinds of disabilities, including children with orthopedic impairments," she says. "I feel like the families will be in good hands." Programs for disabled children were created to ensure that people of all abilities have equal access to public education. But the closure of the OI Preschool, and its subsequent "re-administration," is a reminder that the nature of that access is subject to federal and state budgetary constraints and the hazards of bureaucracy. Debbi Farr, state representative for District 14 and a member of the state's Education Policy Committee, reflects on the OI Preschool closure. "Change is difficult," she says. It's hard on parents and it's hard on kids. We want to provide the best possible programs in the most cost effective way." This article was researched with the help of John Shin.
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