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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2007)
TO THE EDITOR of a railroad and later came under BLM man- agement. When the management plan for these lands was written, timber was king. Forest management is now guided by an en- tirely different set of principles where any number of management activities might be prioritized over industrial logging. For exam- ple, the Bull Run Watershed, once roaded and partially logged, is now protected for the clean, fresh drinking water it provides for the city of Portland. We are incredibly fortunate that old- growth forest remains on these BLM lands and clearly it should be protected. Old- growth forests are storehouses of biodiver- sity, producers of fresh water, factories for clean air, banks of stored carbon and offer op- portunities for sustainable economies and refuge for human beings. Observation and science have shown that fire burns as a mosaic in old-growth forests, resulting in complex landscapes, whereas tree farms burn hot and fast, leaving few structural legacies and stark landscapes with damaged aquatic ecosystems. The BLM’s statistics show that old- growth forests are far below their historic level while dense, even-aged tree plantations represent more than 30 percent of the plan- ning area. Why doesn’t the timber industry focus on forestry that enhances the existing plantations with a mosaic of patterns and tree spacing instead of logging irreplaceable old growth forests? David Mildrexler Joseph KILLER TREE While I wholeheartedly agree on the value of saving trees, I thought I should tell you of one occasion where someone was killed by a failing tree. Working from memory here, but perhaps five or six years ago (perhaps longer) someone was driving down Jefferson, and at approximately 9th Avenue one of the big street trees on the west side of the street had a limb fall as the car passed underneath. It crushed and killed the occupant, a male I be- lieve, and the car ran off the street and crashed into a house a few feet away. I really enjoy the canopy on Jefferson street but I fear as the trees age we will lose their beautiful arching over the street. I can’t remember offhand, but I don’t believe a tree was ever planted to replace the one they took out after the limb fell. I have also worked to get the city to re- plant the big trees in Sladden Park as they fall every few years in the storms. We’ve lost about 10 trees in the last 25 years, and only about three or four years ago was I able to get the city to plant a few new trees. I think they E g e n e Wa l d o r f S c h o o l’ s planted five or six. I was amazed that the city tree “specialist” didn’t understand the concept of the small trees being planted on the west side of the park as a wind break for the big trees in the winter storms. He was particularly offended that I tried to discuss this with him and was rude and abrupt with me afterwards. I don’t know where the city hires their arborists, but they need to study nature more and build an understanding of how trees interact with each other rather than just having a knowledge of single trees. If we want to be a “Tree City” we should build a canopy, not just plant a tree. Thanks for the article (cover story, 11/12). Cathy Evans Eugene QUIT YAPPING A few simple requests: 1. Keep running the meth ads. They’re downright disgusting but I appreciate the practical approach regarding these thieving, drugged-up parasites who raise their children on the freakin’ dole (no shit, a couple of them live up the street from me). 2. Local companies — quit crowing about how goddamned green you are and do it for its own sake. Self-righteousness belongs to the right, not the left (if you robots want to categorize such things so simply). 3. Downtown has sucked since our glori- ous overseers dug out the fountain. Here’s my idea: Put the fucking fountain back in! How’s that for “revitalization”? 4. I’m glad my scooter is a classic so I don’t have to worry about its two-stroke engine being taken off the road, but for those greenies out there, I encourage you to support P-Town Scooters up in Portland regarding their biodiesel conversion for the older two-strokes. For now I’m just happy watching a thick cloud of two-stroke smoke waft down the street when I start the scooter (and I’ll get another one back on the road soon!). Suck it up, hippies! 5. WOW Hall — Quit booking preten- tious assholes like Bassnectar who won’t allow the local artists opening for their show to get paid. I went to see a friend spin, she got nothing, and “Suckcheddar” got everything. Sickening. 6. Quit yapping about “diversity” while you live in one the most white-bread cities in the country. It’s tiring. boorish and stupidly loud. I have a better idea: Follow the Golden Rule and shut the hell up. 7. Bier Stein — Find a distributor for Rebel. NOW. Klaster comes in a bottle too big for the lunch break and, by your own admission, Rebel has won most of your lager taste compe- titions. I promise to buy a six-pack every week. N e T I W R L IGHT e IR A F Saturday, Dec. th a.m. - p.m. Admission is Free! Live Music & Dance Performances Puppet Shows • Crafts Candle Dipping • Games Crystal Cookie Cave Russian Tea Room 1350 McLean Blvd., Eugene 683-6951 . www.eugenewaldorf.org Choose Waldorf for a rich and dynamic balance of arts and academics. WHO YOU GONNA BLAME? EDITORIAL Editor Ted Taylor BUSINESS Director of Sales and Marketing Bill Shreve News Editor Alan Pittman Reporter Camilla Mortensen Arts & Music Editor Molly Templeton Performing & Visual Arts/Copy Editor Suzi Steffen Calendar Editor Chuck Adams Contributing Editor Anita Johnson Contributing Writers Bryan Andersen, Sara Brickner, Jason Blair, Joshua Blanchard, Amanda Burhop, Jes Burns, Brett Campbell, Rachael Carnes, Michael Cockram, Rachel Foster, Phillip Getty, Anna Grace, James Johnston, Zach Klassen, Sarah Mazze, Sharleen Nelson, Mary O’Brien, Jeremy Ohmes, Aaron Ragan-Fore, Vanessa Salvia, Steven Sawada, Sally Sheklow, Lance Sparks, Eva Sylwester, Deanna Uutela, Adrienne van der Valk Interns Katie Cornell, Anne Pick Circulation Manager Jen-Lin Hodgden Controller Paula Hoemann Distributors Bob Becker, Kolia Guinsbourg, Ben Kraker, Susan and David Lawson, Robin Miller, Pedalers Express, Quickdraw Tim Risch, Jacob Zapata Printing Signature Graphics ART DEPARTMENT Art Director/Production Manager Kevin Dougherty Graphic Artist/Webmaster James Bateman Graphic Artists Shannon Browning, Barbara Cooper, Todd Cooper Baby Samara Cooper Contributing Photographers Kurt Jensen, Paul Neevel ADVERTISING National Sales Manager Mark Frisbee Display Marketing Consultant John Allen, Jennifer Donohue, Mary Hendricks, Rob Weiss Classified Manager Geneva “the Goddess” Miller Classified Marketing Consultant/Reception Jayme Fuller HOW TO REACH US BY E-MAIL: (letters): editor@eugeneweekly.com (advertising): ads@eugeneweekly.com (classifieds): classy@eugeneweekly.com (personals): personals@eugeneweekly.com (calendar): cal@eugeneweekly.com (music/clubs/special shows): music@eugeneweekly.com (art/openings/galleries): visualarts@eugeneweekly.com (performance/theater): performance@eugeneweekly.com (literary arts/readings): books@eugeneweekly.com (movies/film screenings): movies@eugeneweekly.com (circulation): distribution@eugeneweekly.com 1251 LINCOLN ST. EUGENE, OR 97402 • 541.484.0519 • FAX 541.484.4044 DECEMBER 6, 2007 7
