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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2007)
the Pacifica Forum, says Weber has a bache- lor’s degree in history from PSU and a mas- ter’s in modern European history from Indiana University. Etter says the Pacifica Forum’s purpose is to “provide information and perspectives on the issues of war and peace, militarism and pacifism, violence and nonviolence.” In an EW Viewpoint column this week, Eugene blogger Mark Robinowitz has a dif- ferent take on Weber’s visit, saying, “We don’t need neo-Nazis to tell us that Israel vio- lates human rights. It is possible that some of the Holocaust deniers are provocateurs in- tended to give uncritical supporters of Israel an excuse to avoid examining human rights abuses against Palestinians, among other contemporary crimes.” — Ted Taylor ENERGY ROUND-UP The Lane County Energy Round-Up (LCER) Steering Committee is planning two fol- low-up meetings for all those who have been involved in Round-Up forums held over the past 10 months. The first meeting will be from 6 to 8:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the EWEB Training Room, 500 E. 4th St, in Eugene. On the agenda will be an update on what LCER has done and has planned to date and a discussion of the “best strategies to help slow and prepare for climate change and peak oil in Lane County.” The second meeting for the purpose of coalition building is planned for 6 to 8:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 14, also at EWEB. “We are including groups involved with ending the war in Iraq acknowledging the war is related to these issues and takes away necessary fund- ing and work for these urgent problems,” says Pamela Driscoll of the LCER. “Other groups invited are active in permaculture, localization efforts, renewable energy, conservation, eco- building, community building, etc.” For more information, OregonEnergyModel.org visit LETTER BLASTS DOWNTOWN LANDLORDS A letter critical of Eugene commercial property owners and developers Connor & Woolley was circulated at three downtown bars last week by bartender and stand-up comic Ty Connor. Copies of the letter gener- ated a total of 228 signatures in 72 hours, ac- cording to Connor’s count. The letter claims that Eugene’s downtown blight is "due di- rectly to the prolonged dis- use of properties owned by Tom Connor & Don Woolley," and C&W have "proven for years, beyond all doubt, that they couldn't care less about the quality of life in the West Broadway area." The letter calls for a no vote on Measure 20-134 and says, "This ballot measure is noth- ing more than a huge bailout for these do- nothing landlords. … Essentially, Measure 20- 134 hands millions of dollars of public money to these negligent property owners, rewarding their neglect while at the same time threaten- ing already established businesses with un- fairly subsidized competitors, displacement and/or destruction." Don Woolley was sent a copy of the letter by EW and said he was considering a re- sponse. No word was received by press time. The full text of the letter is included with other late election letters at eugeneweekly.com this week. — TJT BY PAUL NEEVEL TIM HELFERTY As a teenager growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tim Helferty got into music at 924 Gilman Street, a non- profit club in North Berkeley, where he mixed sound for a few punk and metal bands. “It was a similar venue to the WOW Hall,” says Helferty, who left the music behind when he moved to Portland in 1991 to work in the plastics industry. He worked his way up to head tech engineer, then relocated to Pak Tech in Eugene for five years. “I was working 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week,” says Helferty, who reor- ganized his life after heart and kidney failure in 2004. He quit his job and began volunteering at the WOW Hall, learning from the sound guys, picking up part-time paid work and eventually taking a salaried position as office man- ager. “I’d rather be happy and make others happy,” he says. “Everyone who comes here is happy to see a show.” Helferty oversees building maintenance and ticket sales, with a workforce of volunteers and teens doing community service. On the side, he and his girlfriend DJ KaatSkratch hire out as a sound and DJ team. See myspace.com/totalknockoutsound NOVEMBER 1, 2007 13
