EDITORIAL
Co-existence or Confrontation—
What to do with the gypsy moth?
On Thursday, Jan, 31, Eugene will host
the last in a series of public meetings being
held by the Oregon Department of Agricul
ture to explain their proposed gypsy moth
spray program.
The Department proposes to spray ap
proximately a quarter of a million acres in
Lane County with a biological insecticide
known as B.t., a bacteria that kills the gyp
sy moth in its caterpillar stage (and other
caterpillars, too). This aerial spraying will
include most of Eugene south of the Willa
mette River.
In addition to this widespread spraying
of B.t., there will be a limited chemical
spraying in areas of high infestation. Thirty
acres of Hawkins Heights in Southwest
Eugene, for example, will be sprayed with
Orthene, a nerve poison which kills a wide
spectrum of insects and may disrupt nerve
transmission in other animals as well.
Another chemical, Dimilin, will be
sprayed in the Pleasant Hill area. This
chemical is restricted to rural areas—a
minimum of one residence per 10
acres—presumably because of potential
health risks.
The gypsy moth infestation is a real pro
blem which calls for serious and immediate
attention. However, the Department of
Agriculture's proposal has brought up
many disturbing questions which should be
answered before such a massive and costly
program be launched:
1) Is total eradication possible when the
moth will continually be brought back into
the state on cars, campers, etc.?
2) How much of a threat does the moth
pose to Oregon forests? (Has it not been a
pest primarily of deciduous, hardwood
trees in other parts of the country?)
3) Can the moth be controlled
—without the broad spectrum aerial spray
approach which may well throw out the
baby with the bath water, so to speak? Do
we really want to risk killing all caterpillars,
insects, spiders, and crustaceans? What will
the birds eat? What will happen to the gyp
sy moth's "natural predators"?
4) What are the health risks to humans
and other creatures? Have proper studies
been done or are we the guinea pigs?
5) What reasonable alternatives are there
to the chemical quick fix?
The Stop the Gypsy Moth committee, in
conjunction with the people at NCAP
(Northwest Coalition Against Pesticides)
have compiled some very thorough fact
sheets on the moth, the chemicals and the
alternatives to chemicals. They're available
at the NCAP office, 344-5044.
The meeting is tonight (Thursday, Jan.
31) at 7:30 pm, at Jefferson-Magnet Arts
School, 1650 West 22nd, Eugene. We urge
you to become informed and to let your
opinions be heard. As one person who
wrote to us about the spray program put it,
"When the helicopters are flying overhead,
it will be too late!"
RADIO SPOT_
Black
History
Month
KLCC 89 FM will celebrate
Black History Month throughout
the month of February by airing a
series of Black history specials.
The 28-part series of short
modular programs entitled "Com
ments on Black Culture" explores
the experiences of Black Ameri
cans and their impact on every
aspect of American life. "Com
ments on Black Culture" will air
weekdays at 3:25 pm on 89 FM be
ginning Feb. 1.
Phantom
Fundraiser
KWAX 91 FM has begun its
"Phantom Fundraiser"—a prelude
to the upcoming "Rite of Spring"
on-air fundraiser scheduled to be
gin Feb. 28. The Phantom Fund
raiser allows patrons to make
their pledges ahead of time, thus
reducing the amount of air time
set aside for fundraising. For
every $3200 received before Feb.
28, there will be one less day of
on-air fundraising.
Supporters may request a Phan
tom Fundraiser letter by calling
686-4238.
Discount Tickets Available
at the Hult Center
Accessibility is the key word be
hind a new voucher program be
ing launched by the Eugene Arts
Foundation for the Hult Center
for the Performing Arts in Eugene.
Under the program, the Eugene
Arts Foundation will cover $2.50
of the price of balcony tickets for
certain Hult Center shows to
make events at the Center acces
sible to as many Eugene-area resi
dents as possible.
The program is designed to
make live entertainment afford
able to people who ordinarily
could not buy full-priced tickets.
Last fall, the Eugene Performing
Arts Commission was aware of
i the community concerns that ex
pensive ticket prices excluded
some segments of the population
from attending the Hult Center,
and they wanted to find a way to
offer discounted tickets while not
creating financial difficulties for
the Center. The Eugene Arts
Foundation proposed to fund such
a program when it learned from
the PAC of the community's con
cern. Foundation spokesperson
Carolyn S. Chambers said, 'The
Foundation Board has a commit
ment to making live cultural
eVents part of the fabric of the
Eugene-Springfield community,
and that means insuring that as
many people as possible can at
tend them."
Here's how it will work: Vouch
ers will be printed in What's Hap
pening, the Eugene Register
Guard and the Springfield News,
and the program will be announc
ed on local broadcast stations.
People who would like to parti
cipate in the program can clip the
coupon and take it to the ticket of
fice at the Hult Center or can tell
ticket office personnel that they
heard about it on a particular
radio station. They will then
receive a $2.50 discount on up to
six tickets per voucher if they buy
balcony tickets for the per
formance. The program is not a
substitute for regular, full-price
admissions; consequently, pat
rons using the voucher system
may have a limited choice of
seating. For more information
about the Eugene Arts Foundation
discount ticket program, phone
687-5087.
Mark Cumer’s & Tom Noel's
SWEDISH & EUROPEAN
Automotive Specialties
FREE
Vehicle Safety Inspection
1198 Mohawk Blvd.
(corner of Centennial & Mohawk)
Call for appointment • 726*8573
OPTIONS] A CHOICE YOU CAN LIVE WITH
COMMUNITY BASED CARE) Care For Elderly and Handicapped People
OPTIONS can provide additional support when you need it:
• SHOPPING
• MEAL PREPARATION
• BATHING AND DAILY HYGIENE
• HOUSEKEEPING
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Certified Personnel Provide Reliable, Professional Care
OPTIONS 345-9174
NO COVER
Saturday, February 2
. HOT JAZZ
3* at deFrisco fs
deFrisco’s and 95 KZAM FM bring you a night of HOT
JAZZ featuring the Carl Woideck Trio this Saturday,
February 2. It all starts at 9:00 pm in the Atrium Building
- 10th & Broadway - Downtown Eugene.
9KZAN
fre
Discover deFrisco’s and discover a world of imported
and domestic beers, fine Lane County wines, a wide array
of snacks, great breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Discover
deFrisco’s and discover a world of enjoyment.
ON THE COVER
This City of the Future is
part of the Smithsonian's
exhibit, Tomorrow's Yester
days, opening at WISTEC
this week.
What’s
HAPPENING
Eugene/Springfield’s Arts &
Entertainment Magazine
Published every Thursday
Editors
Elisabeth Lyman, Lucia McKelvey.
Sonja Ungemach
Office Manager
Lucia McKelvey
Production Manager
Sonja Ungemach
Advertising Manager
Elisabeth Lyman
Advertising Representatives
Martha Wagner, Shelly Singer,
Rick Marcus, Jack Craig
Calendar Editor
Shelly Singer
Bookkesper/Receptionist
Sheri Longobardo
Production Assistant
Nancy Erskine
Distribution
Daybreak News Co.
Typeset
ProtoType
Camera
Production Department
Printing
Springfield News
Mil's HAPPENING
335 W. 20th, Eugene, DR 97405
P.O. Box 259, Eugene, OR 97440
(503) 484-0519