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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2010)
NEWS BRIEFS incest, rape or the danger to life of the mother. He also opposed stem cell research funding and supported allowing pharma- cists to refuse dispensing emergency con- traception. Castillo told the nonpartisan voter education nonprofit that abortions should always be legally available. Castillo told Vote Smart she supports sex education in schools. Maurer told Willamette Week sex education should be up to local school boards rather than the state. Maurer also told the Portland paper, “I am not a supporter of evolution.” Maurer told Vote Smart that he sup- ports “voluntary prayer in public schools.” He told the nonprofit that he opposes same sex marriage and state recognition of domestic partnerships between same sex couples. The Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC endorsed Castillo and said Maurer voted against extending non-discrimina- tion protections to gay and transgender Oregonians. Maurer opposed Measure 66 and 67 tax increases on the wealthy and corporations to save schools from big budget cuts. Castillo supported the measures and increased school funding. Vote Smart reported that the ACLU gave Castillo a voting record in the Legislature of 100 percent and gave Maurer a 0 percent rating. The Oregon Education Associated rated Maurer 43 percent and Castillo 100 percent. The League of Conservation Voters gave Maurer a 40 percent voting record and Castillo a 92 percent. Castillo got an ‘F’ grade from the NRA, Maurer an ‘A.’ Castillo served as the first Hispanic woman in the state legislature and told Vote Smart she supports affirmative action. Maurer told the nonprofit that he opposes affirmative action and supports state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws. — Alan Pittman SEEDBALLZ FOR FAST GARDENING From tossing seeds over fences to turn abandoned lots into gardens, to protecting seeds from birds in your backyard, Eugene- based SeedBallz is trying to make garden- ing easier, faster and more fulfilling. An interface between social and envi- ronmental consciousness, SeedBallz LLC employs developmentally-disabled work- ers to hand-roll and package balls of seed, red clay and organic humus. “It gives [the disabled] meaningful work,” said company co-owner Alice Strong. “It’s unique work because it’s tac- tile. They enjoy the process of it, it helps with behavior, and it’s simple.” To facilitate planting in garden beds and planter pots, each of the nickel-sized “ballz” uses around 40 seeds that germi- nate inside the ball with watering. Clusters of flowers form in just a few weeks. All the gardener does is insert the ball into the soil and give it plenty of water. There is a Native American tradition of rolling seeds in clay and compost in order to protect them from drying out, blowing away or being eaten by birds. A Japanese Endorsements at a Glance Deadline for dropping off ballots is 8 pm Tuesday, May 18. To mail in ballots, it’s best to post them by May 14. Below are our selected endorsements. See our explanations last week. For races and issues not listed, please refer to your Voters’ Pamphlet. CANDIDATE RACES U.S. Senator. Ron Wyden (D) Governor. John Kitzhaber (D) State Treasurer. Ted Wheeler (D) proponent of organic, non-invasive farm- ing methods, Masanobu Fukuoka, popu- larized the seed balling technique in his book One Straw Revolution. Strong decided to use this technique in order to offer gardeners a new way to grow flowers and herbs without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. “With traditional gardening, you’re either putting single seeds into the ground as you plant or you’re dry broadcasting,” said Strong. With SeedBallz, a gardener can yield mul- tiple plants from one ball. Such seed balls have also been a bas- tion of urban “guerilla gardening.” Environmental activists either purchase the pre-made Seedballz or make seed balls of their own from native seeds and clay and toss the lumps into vacant lots to turn them into gardens. Each rainstorm gradu- ally breaks the ball down and allows the plants to grow. Strong said her company has rolled over eight million “ballz” last year. In addition to donating to various gardeners on Earth Day, the company has also had its products used in New York’s Clinton Global Initiative, Seattle’s Seeds of Compassion event and U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken’s personal garden. “We’re having a lot of fun.” — Deborah Bloom ACTIVIST ALERT • A Fashioning Resistance to Militarism Fashion Show is planned for 7 pm Thursday, May 13, at Agate Hall on campus. Contact Gwyn Kirk at gkirk@ uoregon.edu • The Beyond Patriarchy conference is May 14-16 at the Erb Memorial Union on campus. See story last week about this “radical feminist gathering for men, women and everyone else.” Keynote speakers are Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore and Tobi Hill-Meyer. Email beyondpatri- archy@riseup.net or visit http://wkly.ws/jb for list of events and times. • The 2010 Commute Challenge begins May 15 and offers a full work- week of competition between businesses WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM and individuals. Prizes will be awarded. visit http://commutechallenge.org or find the challenge page on Facebook. • Coffee Party meeting from 5:30 to 7 pm Tuesday, May 18, at Gary’s Coffee House 525 High St. Facilitated by Wintergreen, email wintergreen@birthing- better.com • 1000 Friends of Oregon is celebrat- ing the opening of its new Willamette Valley office in Eugene. Executive Director Jason Miner and Willamette Valley Advocate Mia Nelson will meet and greet from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, May 20, at 220 E. 11th Ave., Suite 5. Light refreshments Superintendent of Public Instruction. Susan Castillo Oregon Supreme Court. Position 5. Jack Landau NONPARTISAN CITY OFFICES City Council Ward 5. Write in somebody City Council Ward 6. Pat Farr EWEB At-Large Position. John Simpson WAR DEAD In Iraq • 4,400 U.S. troops killed* (4,398) • 31,809 U.S. troops injured** (31,790) • 185 U.S. military suicides* (updates NA) • 1,123 U.S. contractors killed (updates NA) • 104,767 to 1.2 million civilians killed*** (104,754) • $721.4 billion cost of war ($770.7 billion) • $205.2 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($204.9 million) In Afghanistan • 1,049 U.S. troops killed* (1,045) • 5,730 U.S. troops injured** (5,677) • $270.0 billion cost of war ($269.2 billion) • $76.8 million cost to Eugene tax- payers ($76.5 million) * through May 7, 2010; source: icasualties.org; some figures only updated monthly ** sources: icasualties.org, defenselink.mil *** highest estimate; source: iraqbodycount.org; based on con- firmed media reports; other groups calculate civilian deaths as high as 655,000 (Lancet survey, 2006) to 1.2 million (Opinion Research Business survey, 2008) STATE BALLOT MEASURES Measure 68. Bonds for capi- tal expenditures. Yes Measure 69. Expands bor- rowing authority. Yes COUNTY MEASURES & CANDIDATES Measure 20-158. Extension Service local option. Yes Measure 20-159. Amends County Charter. Yes Measure 20-160. Amends County Charter. Yes Measure 20-161. Amends County Charter. Yes West Lane County Commissioner. Jerry Rust East Lane County Commissioner. Tom Brandt Springfield County Commissioner. Pat Riggs-Henson EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 13, 2010 9
