Activist Alert 7-17-2014

• The Eugene Toxics Board meets at 3:30 pm Thursday, July 17, at the Eugene Emergency Services Center, 1705 W. 2nd Ave. Fire Conference Room. On the agenda is an Envision Eugene overview and other items. Call 682-7118 or email joann.c.eppli@ci.eugene.or.us for more information.

• Two benefits for CAHOOTS and LCC Student Nurses’ Association are this week. The first is an event from noon to 10 pm Thursday, July 17, at Ninkasi, 272 Van Buren, and the next is a showing of Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse at 8 pm Friday, July 18, at Wandering Goat, 268 Madison St. $5 suggested donation.

• An all-day block party benefit for the nonprofit Community Supported Shelters will be from 8 am to 8 pm Saturday, July 19, at 12th and Grant in Eugene. Local businesses will be holding sales, live entertainment is planned and a raffle prize is a Mazda Miata. CSS serves basic shelter needs, such as building Conestoga huts and supporting legal rest-stop camps. See communitysupportedsshelters.org.

• The Little Dog Corner park will have its grand opening celebration from 1 to 3 pm Saturday, July 19, at the southeast corner of the Amazon Dog Park along the bike path. The new half-acre, fenced park with its shade shelter, water source and small pool is open for dogs under 25 pounds. All construction and maintenance has been funded through community member donations. The park was inspired by the mauling death of a small dog by a large dog in the off-leash area five years ago. 

Umpqua Watersheds is planning River Appreciation Day from 11 am to 5 pm Saturday, July 19, at the Elkton Community Education Center, 15850 Hwy. 38 West in Elkton. Live music during the day and a barn dance to follow. Call 672-7065 for more information.  

Occupy Medical, normally providing free medical services in the Park Blocks downtown, will be heading to the coast this weekend. The bus will be open from noon to 4 pm Sunday, July 20, at the St. Vincent de Paul parking lot in Florence. The weekend visit is sponsored by the Florence chapter of Healthcare for All Oregon. The bus will return to the Park Blocks Sunday, July 27. Occupy Medical is  a group of health care professionals and support personnel who believe health care is a basic human right that must be made accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay. See hcao.org or call 997-2997.

Skateboard and electric bike regulations are on the agenda of the Eugene City Council public hearing at 7:30 pm Monday, July 21, at Harris Hall, 125 E. 8th Ave. One proposed new law would allow electric bikes to be ridden on off-street paths with the motor engaged. The other law would modify rules for skateboards downtown. Call 682-5471 for more information or see eugene-or.gov/bikeskatelaws. 

• A public hearing on Eugene’s proposed paid sick leave ordinance will also be on the agenda at the City Council meeting at 7:30 pm Monday, July 21. Those wishing to speak should sign up at 7 pm. See everybodybenefitseugene.org or call 868-7924 for more information. 

• A public hearing on the city’s draft of the Climate Recovery Ordinance will be at 7:30 pm Monday, July 21, at Harris Hall, 124 E. 8th Ave. Time is allotted for public testimony. The City Council will vote on the ordinance (with no public comment) at the meeting at 7:30 pm Monday, July 28, also at Harris Hall. Call (512) 712-0068 or email ebrown@ourchildrenstrust.org for information on public comments.